The Power of Prayer

In a small mid western conservative town, a new bar/tavern started a building to open up their business. The local Baptist church started a campaign to block the bar from opening with petitions and prayers. Work progressed, however right up till the week before opening, when a
lightning strike hit the bar and it burned to the ground.

The church folks were rather smug in their outlook after that, till the bar owner sued the church on the grounds that the church was ultimately responsible for the demise of his building, either through direct or indirect actions or means.

The church vehemently denied all responsibility or any connection to the buildings demise in its reply to the court. As the case made it's way into court, the judge looked over the paperwork at the hearing and commented, "I don't know how I'm going to decide this, but as it appears from the paperwork, we have a bar owner that believes in the power of prayer, and an entire church
congregation that doesn't.
Tags: Jokes, Humour, Funny, Power of Prayer, Baptist, Bar, Tavern

Unity Band in Malaysia

Came across this project initiated by Malaysians in conjunction with Malaysia's 50th Independence Day. It's called the Unity Band. As stated in its website, the red colour represents the blood that flows in each of our veins and it's the same red colour blood for all Malaysians irregardless of their race, religion or colour of the skin.

(as extracted from Unity Band's website) The following are some of the benefits for the owners of the Unity Band O:-

1) Of the Unity Bands O in circulation, 50 bands have a Gold Heart on it. These exclusive bands are worth RM$5,050 CASH to anyone lucky enough to acquire one.

2) From October 2007, we will run a series of competitions with Astro to spot random UB wearers and award them a whole bunch of goodies. It may include fully paid holidays, mobile phones, shopping vouchers, concert tickets, cinema vouchers, a Ferrari 360 Modena ( ok just kidding about the last one!), etc, etc.

3) Registered UB owners are eligible to participate in various online competitions including photographs, short videos, design, music etc.

4) Two lucky draws featuring attractive prizes will be held for registered Unity Band O owners. Dates and further details will be announced soon.

5) Six major events will take place over the next 12 months entitling registered owners of the Unity Band O special privileges at these events.

6) Finally when the UBs are available for retail to the public, we hope to bundle a whole bunch of freebies. Can’t announce all now la.. Hang in there, will be worth your time!

A very noble project and I really hope that all human race will understand and take heart of the charities that the project intends to assist. Importantly, it was put up by Malaysians. Read more about the Unity Band 0 project in their website.

Tags: Unity Band, UB, Unity Band O, 50th Independence Day, Malaysia, Charity

Was it Just Wasting or Corruption?

When Malaysian Auditor-General 2006 Report was made known to the public via newspapers, the citizens were not surprised with those reports that millions were wasted just like that.

Personally, I won't believe that nobody didn't know about those blatant spendings. Now, there are lots of finger pointing all over the place, the art of tai chi has emerged suddenly - Ministers blaming previous Ministers.

Then out of a sudden, almost every Minister whose ministry was implicated said that further internal investigations would be carried out within those ministries. Are the Ministers allowed to say "I Don't Know"? Anyway, what investigations are they talking about? It's already provided for in the Auditor-General's report of what went wrong and who was in charge.

Few days later, the Malaysian Prime Minister told the Anti-Corruption Agency Malaysia to swing into action in view of Auditor-General 2006 Report. The ACA stated that they have done some investigations and would reveal when the time is right. And this statement was made - "let justice run its course".

In Vietnam, Vu Dinh Thuan, a former deputy head of the Government Office was arrested together with other government employees caught for inflating printing costs of training materials and pocketed VND1.3 billion (US$80,123) ................. hahahahha..... when I saw that amount it was nowhere near the Malaysian figures. Vietnam did let justice run its course.

Now I know what it means for Malaysia Boleh!
Tags: Malaysia, Auditor-General, Audit, Malaysian Prime Minister, Anti-Corruption Agency Malaysia, Badan Pencegah Rasuah, Vietnam, Vu Dinh Thuan

Tsunami Warning!

I'm not issuing a tsunami warning and start calling for immediate evacuation at my condominium area but I was really bemused by the people in the state of Penang when a tsunami warning was issued by the police at the seaside, the same spot where tsunami waves hit the beaches taking away lifes unknowingly.

On 13 Sept, last Wednesday evening, I have blogged about the earthquake in Sumatera that shook my condo area. Right after that earthquake, tsunami warnings were issued to many countries that could be affected. Our Malaysian government tried their very best to issue the same warning via TV, radio and police went to the same beaches that were hit in the 2004 Tsunami immediately.

Shockingly after that police warning, many people stayed on and others made their way to Gurney Drive (the same spot that took away many lifes on 26 Dec 2004). Why? When interviewed, some said they want to see how a tsunami looks like.

Well, one thing for sure, that will be the first and last tsunami they will ever see in their life. Reallllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll numskulls. MALAYSIA BOLEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

I have read news reports that people in countries like Kenya, Seychelles, Tanzania, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka evacuated beaches in panic, running towards high lands, squeezing into packed buses leaving the cities, driving their family members away from seaside towns/cities (meaning next few minutes) upon hearing the tsunami warning issued by Indonesia which was thousands of miles away but the numskulls in Penang wanted to see it????????????

On another story, I was also shocked to read that the Malaysian government has just finalised the housing issues with the 2004 Tsunami victims (where they lost houses). These tsunami victims from an incident that had happened 3 years ago had just gotten their new house keys following disputes over pricing issue of the houses. Can you imagine that, depriving this group of people from a proper life for the last 3 years??????

Meantime, the same Malaysian government can extend an immediate helping hand to our neighbouring country, Indonesia, in view of the strong earthquake that strucked Sumatera on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. What fairness is the Malaysian government trying to potray over here? Please walk the talk.
Tags: Tsunami Warning, Tsunami, Sumatera, Earthquake, Penang, Gurney Drive

Rubella outbreak in Klang Valley?

What outbreak? What's Rubella?

Picked this up from Uncle Lim's blog where a University of Malaya internal email has warned their staff/students about the Rubella virus which has infected a number of students:-

Date: Sun, 09 Sep 2007 13:03:23 +0800
From: International & Corporate Relations Office
To: uminfo@list.um.edu.my
Subject: [Uminfo] RUBELLA ON CAMPUS
YBhg. Dato’/Datuk/Datin/Profesor/Tuan/Puan,

Please be informed that a number of students had been infected with Rubella, an infectious disease caused by a virus. A main concern with the rubella disease is the effect it has on pregnant ladies as it can be very harmful to the foetus. Therefore, it is imperative for staff and students who are pregnant to seek consultation at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinic at the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC).

The symptoms of Rubella are fever and rashes. Apart from that, there may also be:
1. Conjunctivitis
2. Sore throat
3. Headache
4. Nausea
5. Tenderlymphadenopathy (particularly behind the ear areas - posterior auricular and suboccipital lymph nodes)

The University Management has taken several steps to address this issue and would like to seek lecturers’ assistance to inform and advise students of the above.

Thank you.
************************************************
International & Corporate Relations Office (ICR)
Level 1, Chancellery Building
University of Malaya
50603 Kuala Lumpur
MALAYSIA
Tel: 603-7967 3273 / 3423 / 3575 / 3334
Fax: 7956 0027
E-mail: icr@um.edu.my
Website: http://www.um.edu.my/

In that case, I would appreciate if blog readers who has friends/contacts in University of Malaya to verify the seriousness of the situation there and then share with us here. And if you are lazy to comment back here, at least inform your friend/contact to be careful if it's true.
Tags: Rubella, Rubella Outbreak, University of Malaya, Rubella Virus, Rubella Disease, Pregnant Ladies, Foetus, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinic, Health, University Malaya Medical Centre

Guess the Civilian Death Toll in Iraq

I read about this Los Angeles Times article where it states that an opinion poll was conducted to estimate the civilian death toll in Iraq. The Iraq war has gone on for the last 4 years since 2003 without a slightest clue of where it will be heading if the USA and British were to decide to withdraw their troops by end of this year.

ORB, a British polling agency, has put the civilian death toll at ONE MILLION !!!!!!

Can you believe that? That works out to 250,000 death per year or 694 per day. It's really really sad to see this happening. I'm sure many innocent lives had been lost for no reason. It was estimated that each Iraqi family has lost at least 1 family member.

Very disheartening to read this. But sad to say, the US Military has disputed the figure because if the US Military was to accept it, it tells the world that their war strategy was totally wrong all this while, that it didn't help Iraq at all and thus the high death toll. Another attempt to cover-up again?
Tags: Iraq, Iraqi War, Civilian Death, Opinion Research Business, ORB, Polling Agency, US Military

Oriental Hearts & Mind Study Institute

This morning I attended the Inaugural Dialogue conducted by Oriental Hearts & Mind Study Institute ("OHMSI") held at PJ Gospel Hall, Jalan Gasing, Petaling Jaya.

Rev Dr Hwa Yung, Bishop from the Methodist Church of Malaysia was the moderator for the dialogue and both main speakers, Dr Lim Kar Yong, a lecturer in New Testament Studies with Seminari Theoloji Malaysia and Dr K. J. John, Executive Director of OHMSI gave us an interesting insight on the topic of "Was Jesus Political?"

Thereafter, five commentators gave their viewpoints on the topic:-
* Rev Dr Hermen Shastri, General Secretary, Council of Churches of Malaysia and Christian Federation of Malaysia
* Dr Beth Baikan, Catholic Scholar from Stella Maris Parish, Sabah
* Brother Goh Keat Peng, Executive Secretary, Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism
* Brother Steven CM Wong, Chairman, NECF Research Commission
* Sister Tricia Yeoh, Senior Policy Analyst, Centre for Public Policy Studies

It was well attended with more than 300 people and two Members of Parliament were there to lend their support for this event, YB Lee Hwa Beng and YB Theresa Kok. Ivy Josiah from Women's Aid Organisation was there too. Glad to see brothers and sisters from various denominations namely, Methodist, Brethren, Lutheran, Anglican, Baptist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Evangelical Free Church and Assemblies of God.

At this dialogue, I was able to meet up with a number of bloggers:-
* David Chang
* Steven Sim
* Tricia Yeoh
* Lim Kar Yong

OHMSI - was set up in 2004 with the goal to create frameworks for dialogue and engagement where followers of Jesus Christ and members of society become relevant and significant in the public spaces of national life. But, is the Bride of Christ in Malaysia ready for this task of public space engagement? Can Christians be political without getting involved in party politics? What is the role of Christians on public issues and the related public policy dialogue? Are we an Islamic State? Can we evolve a Bangsa Malaysia? Who will fight corruption and for integrity? Whose responsibility is it to ensure the application of universal valuesIn the light of many challenges facing Malaysia, what is our role as Christians in Malaysia to continue to be the salt and light of the Gospel on these issues and concerns?
Tags: Oriental Hearts & Mind Study Institute, OHMSI, Anglican, Baptist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Evangelical Free Church, Assemblies of God, Lee Hwa Beng, Theresa Kok, PJ Gospel Hall, Dr Hwa Yung, Lim Kar Yong, New Testament Studies, Seminari Theoloji Malaysia, KJ John, Dr Hermen Shastri, Council of Churches of Malaysia, Christian Federation of Malaysia, Dr Beth Baikan, Stella Maris Parish, Goh Keat Peng, Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism, Steven CM Wong, National Evangelical Christian Fellowship, NECF, Tricia Yeoh, Centre for Public Policy Studies