Bloggers may have to register


BLOGGERS using locally hosted websites may be asked to register with the authorities, Deputy Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said.

He said registration was one of the measures the Government was considering to prevent the spread of negative or malicious content on the Internet.

Shaziman said this while winding up the debate on the motion of thanks on the Royal Address for his ministry.

He added that the ministry did not have any problem with bloggers who identified themselves, and he welcomed blogging activities.

However, he said there were about 50,000 websites registered under the .my suffix and there were a lot of avenues for anyone to host websites with malicious content which could harm the country’s security.

Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang, who interjected when Shaziman was speaking, said the negative comments of several ministers about bloggers reflected their lack of understanding about information flow in cyberspace.

“They should be educated on the vast benefits of blogging, which will help them to interact more with the people. Many politicians overseas already have their own blogs,” he added.

Asked to comment on the matter, Johor Baru MP Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said bloggers were very aware of their own ethics and responsibility for content on their sites.

While agreeing that there were bloggers who had inflammatory content, he said unidentified bloggers could still be traced through their website addresses.

He added that the problem was also about inflammatory comments by unidentified visitors to the blogs.

Ahirudin Attan of Rocky's Bru said the move to compel local bloggers to register was effectively the Government trying to control what Malaysians were writing online.

“This violates the Government's no-censorship policy with regards to the Internet,” he said.

He added that the move would just create fear among the bloggers and would encourage them to host their blogs overseas.

Marina Mahathir, a blogger and activist, said the Government really should “get real.”

She said the move “is just going to make Malaysia look ridiculous in the eyes of the world.”

Blogger Jeff Ooi wondered why the Government was pursuing this course of action.

He said the Government had already set up the Content Forum to deliberate on complaints by any party.

Source: The Star (5 April 2007)


Crap!! This government is getting from ridiculous to outright stupid with that kind of proposal!! They're making Malaysians look stupid in general! This is one of MANY good reasons to get out of this country for good. Grrrr.

"Obenoxious" is a new adjective I coined for a certain someone (who I've been ranting about for the past 6 months or so) because it just SO describes him.

It's like combining yummy + delicious to come up with "yummilicious", so guess what words the above word is made up of?

Really. If I have to put up with the obenoxious fuktard (hoho, that's another one) for longer than planned, I could just drop dead soon. Quick quick, where's the exit?! Someone please show me the exit! Arghgh.

Some kids are just TOO STUPID to "discuss" about serious political issues, such as North Korea's nuclear issue.

"It's ok to have nuclear test. If the US can have nuclear weapons, why not NK?"

HELLO?! STUPID PEABRAIN!! There IS a difference between the two!!

North Korea is headed by a lunatic!!

And why the fuck do you think it's ok to have nuclear tests/weapons?! Nuclear = threat to human existence!! You wanna vanish off the surface of this Earth??

If you don't know your science, history, politics, etc.. DON'T OPEN YOUR MOUTH!! Yes, I know you lead a cloistered and pampered life here in Malaysia. A nuclear test so far up north seems like a faraway matter. But seriously, THINK before you talk!!

Grr...

Scenario:

You have been working for Company X for 10 years when you were offered a better deal at Company Y. Company Y is smaller in comparison, and you have only one other staff working in the same department as you.

Things you ought to remember:

1. Learn to be adaptable / flexible. You’re not the catalyst of change. You change to fit the new company. Despite what all the management gurus tell you about CHANGE, most people are resistant to it and they will hate you if you try to modify their existing policies and methods that have proven to be effective and efficient so far.

2. Don’t bring your old work values and culture to Company Y. Never ever try to impose them on your new colleagues. Also, don’t ever try to impress them with your previous “success stories” and talks of how you could bring similar success to the new company. Prove yourself worthy by taking solid action, not just bullshitting.

3. You’re not indispensable. Behave yourself. Don’t blatantly apple-polish your boss. Don’t fan the fire of rumors. Don’t harass your colleagues with lame or sexist jokes. Bear in mind that everything you do and say could be used indiscriminatingly against you, so please just shut the fuck up.

Welcome to the real world!

For those of you who have been reading my journal for some time, I think you'd remember those few rants about some Sinocentric people in my social circle. These friends of friends are typical Chinese-educated traditionalists with backward ideas on social and political issues, are pro-China and anti-Japan but think Japanese AV idols are hot and drive supped up Hondas and Toyotas. Oh and they just enjoy making fun of my love for J-rock music, among other insufferable things.

Well, today I had the misfortune to spend lunchtime with them. If I knew these idiots would be there, I wouldn't have gone. Seriously. They had nothing better to say other than stupid stuff and to show off photos from their China trip, which they just got back from last week. Yadda yadda they went on and on about beautiful China and beautiful Chinese girls. ~_~

The purpose of this post is to point out an unforgettable (but decidedly daft) opinion from one of the guys, who gushed about historical sites and the extensive Chinese empire of bygone days:

You notice, we were never a "bowing" culture. People bow to show respect and awe for superiors, but only like a servant bowing to his lord. Bowing is for lowly serfs. Ordinary Chinese people don't bow to each other. I mean, not to every Tom, Dick and Harry they meet. Not like the Japanese or Koreans, who bow to everyone, regardless of status. That kind of mentality has been in practice for so many centuries. I think it began when they were lowly ancient states, in comparison to the Chinese empire. Chinese contributed so much to Japan and Korea, like our language and traditions. Japan even paid tribute to us in the old days. That shows we're actually a more sophisticated and confident race. We don't bow every second or grovel at people's feet but walk and talk with confidence. I'm definitely proud to be Chinese in that sense.

(Bear in mind the guy didn't use those exact words. I'm interpreting from his Manglish usage, which was a mishmash of broken English and Hokkien.)

Soooo... what the friggin nut is that all about?!

THAT is a sad lot of distorted and outrageous trash. The fool had the gall to speak them out. I felt sooo embarrassed listening to him, but his two other equally stupid friends agree with him. Please read up on actual Asian history and cultures before you speak, you peabrain. "Bowing" is about being respectful AND courteous, not being inferior. The way he put it, made it sound a lot like as if Chinese people are arrogant and impolite who refuse to give in to a simple bow, although he meant it the other way round. Stupid huh?

The other two guys couldn't stop talking about "hot authentic Chinese girls" and the clubbing scene in Shanghai. They described everything in such a show-offish, we-are-so-elite manner that it was seriously intolerable. Our other lunch companions looked like they could punch them in the face or something. Well, it ain't my idea to invite those primates along and put us through an ordeal over pizza! It's a wonder I didn’t suffer from indigestion after lunch.

Fuktards. I seriously wonder what people learnt at those independent Chinese schools? Was their education really that nationalistic? Most of my Chinese friends were from national Malay/English-medium schools like myself, so I don't really know. I think it's high time I find out, so at least I know where these fools stand.

Hah! Chinese lent its language and culture to its neighbors eh? Now, I don't think the fools would fancy having nationalistic Koreans hear a word of that! They'll probably get shredded to pieces for daring to suggest that the Chinese had anything to do with the 5000 years of unique Korean culture. I guess they have yet to encounter a first-hand experience with true "Korean Pride" and its intensity. :P

Some time last year, 嫌韓流 (Kenkanryuu, literally means “Disliking the Korean Way” but most take it as “Hate Korean Wave”), a controversial manga was released in Japan that brought up issues between Japan and Korea. Since its release, it has stirred up a lot of debates. Apparently there are nuances of anti-Korea, based on existing issues such as Japan’s militaristic past and Zainichi Koreans. The controversy is where the Japanese protagonist in the manga was enlightened to the fact that Japanese colonization had brought modernization and development to Korea and that Koreans should be grateful for that. It was a major bestseller in Japan and an equally successful sequel was released just last month.



Obviously it sparked outrage in the neighbouring nation across the East Sea, amidst an-already troubled times in the bilateral relations of both countries.

As retaliation, some guy came up with 혐일류 (Hyom Il Ryu, Hate Japan Wave). However, unlike Kenkanryuu, this has been strongly criticized as being a lame and uncouth attempt with no logical backing, driven by the Korean ingrained prejudice towards the Japanese. It depicts denigrating images of Japanese physically and socially. The entirety was just to portray the Japanese as crude barbarians. Some critics say that how [some of] the Koreans view Japanese people is actually a projection of themselves onto other cultures.



Also, Kenkanryuu is presented in a true manga format with a flowing story, whereas Hyom Il Ryu resembles a full-color comic strip but with a lacking plot. Overall, the latter was just an outlet to hurl insults at the Japanese. The cover of it tells much of its unprofessional approach.

It’s somewhat of a relief that a lot who disapprove of Hyom Il Ryu are Koreans themselves. That is, educated and prudent Koreans, which the author is probably not. According to people who had read it, it’s very obvious that the author did not do any prior research to support his “accusations” and had probably never read Kenkanryuu before.

This is not saying that Kenkanryuu is better in any way. In fact, despite it’s better-researched ideas compare to its Korean counterattack, it’s still a deplorable attempt. Both are products of highly insensitive and irrational behaviour of trying to project their respective national prides. Definitely not helping to mend ties that are already in tatters! And I can understand the woe of certain people who’re trying very hard to advocate good relations between the two nations in question. Stupid things like these are making the process difficult.

Nonetheless, I’m hoping to get my hands on Kenkanryuu and its sequel. I’m very keen to see what the fuss is all about. Now if only my proficiency in Korean is beyond what I know so far, I wouldn’t mind to get Hyom Il Ryu either. As it is, that would have to wait. Heh.

Gotta love controversies!

I remember someone asked if I wanted to make a trip to China some time last year. Not to any Chinese city, but the boonies otherwise known as Dai Bu Village (or something similar) in Guangdong province, supposedly to visit our “roots”. A trip that I had politely declined because I had other [better] places to go.

Today, the same people asked me the same question again. This time it’s a trip to Shanghai sometime in June this year; apparently they remembered me saying that I wouldn’t mind a trip to the big cities! :S

So I was upfront when I told them that I have no actual intention to visit China because I’m not attracted to it as a tourist. Besides, I’ve heard enough horror stories about the people and the infrastructure (or the lack thereof) there to put me off travelling to any part of that country. And anyone wanting to visit Northern Asia right in the middle of the year has gotta be out of their minds, weather-wise! -__-;;;;

What did I get in response? Some hmmphs, frowns and scathing comments that I’ve got racial issues with my own race.

I’m like, o_O? Excuse me?! Here we go again! The so-called I’m-not-Chinese-enough accusation. Bearing in mind, these are the same nationalistic people who argued about me being less of a Chinese because I “know too much about Japan than I know about China”. Don’t ask how I got to know these bunch of narrow-minded primates because I don’t know either. We’re talking about people who drive Hondas and Toyotas, who go ga-ga over Hamasaki Ayumi and Morning Musume *gags* and who probably own every possible brand of Japanese electronics.

You point that out to them, they will be like, Oh, that’s different. It’s pop culture mah, everyone can be interested in that. Japanese girls very hot, you know, especially in “those” movies. It’s normal lah. But you interested in too much Japanese stuff, even their history and literature… blah blah blah..

Blatant hypocrisy and male chauvinism? You decide.

HAHAHAHA!!

Yes, go ahead and laugh. Very funny huh? The joke’s on YOU but you’re just too dumb to get it. It’s amusing to see you laughing along heartily.

The one who laughs the loudest is usually the biggest fool.

Stupid BITCH. -__-