Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Beginning Of The End

Aku bukak paper hari ni, terpampang iklan satu gergasi telco di Malaysia, bercuti di xxxxx bersama yyyyyy. Wa hebat, bagi seorang selebriti yang antara sebab peminat sanjung sebab sifat /imej ‘Islamik’nya (how ironic!), pergi melancong di sebuah pulau di Lautan Hindi! Tu OK lagi, di celah iklan ½ page tu terselit salah satu program dia ‘Parti Pelancaran Album yyyyy’. Ya, Parti…P.A.R.T.I. Kalau dah parti tu mesti ada bersuka-ria lelaki dan pompuan kan? Maka makin hanyutlah dia ni dibuai dunia…sebiji macam lirik lagu hit dia.

Disini aku nak ucapkan tahniah kepada mereka semua yang telah berabis top-up dan bil tepon handset bagi memastikan kejayaan saudara Islam kita ini. Tahniah kerana anda semua telah berjaya merubah nasib seorang bakal bilal yang miskin hina menjadi seorang penyanyi pujaan ramai. Tahniah kerana telah membantu seorang pemuda Islam menyongsangkan arah tuju hidupnya. Secara materialnya ya, dia lebih baik dari semalam, tapi dari rohaninya??? Dulu katanya tak tinggal semayang, tapi kalau ditengok, masa konsertnya tempoh hari bila masa dia semayang isyak, dah tengah malam? Aku ni pun banyak kali gak lewat semayang (banyaknya dosa aku…takuttt) tapi aku terfikir, elok ke lewatkan semayang sebab nak menyanyi? Yang datang memberi sokongan tu lagi le…dan ka nak solat maghrib?

Sekali lagi aku teringat tepukan dan jeritan yang bergemuruh bila dia menjadi juara…hampir sempurnalah penyongsangan hidup kita, bila bilal menjadi penyanyi. Nasyid takpe lagi, ni siap campur mainstream, ada penari cun-cun lagi…dan kita kata, itu versatile namanya!

Aku buat entry ni untuk Jumaat, pasal aku off…

Associate Prof. punya cerita

Salah satu kerja aku kat sini ialah mengesahkan salinan-salinan dokumen dan juga buat surat perakuan kepada staf atau student yang perlukan benda alah tu. Masa IPTA tengah buat kemasukan sampai lenguh tangan aku mengecop dengan menyain. Selain surat bebudak masuk Novarsity ni, aku kena jugak buat untuk anak-anak staf yang dapat masuk IPTA lain.

Untuk kemasukan sesi 2006/2007 masa bulan Julai itu hari, macam biasa berlonggok dokumen aku kena sain. Tengah aku menyain, masuk sorang pensyarah ni, Prof. Madya ada Dr. bukan macam pengarah filem tu. Dia mintak aku buat pengesahan dokumen anak dia nak masuk IPTA. Sure, no problem. Tapi aku cakap kat dia kemudian sikit pasal aku ada satu pile nak siapkan, petang boleh la. Bila dah siap pile aku tu, aku tengok la dokumen-dokumen tu. First impression aku…anak pensyarah takde la semua hebat-hebat, aku punya result dulu lagi gempak. Dan bila aku sampai ke penghujung dokumen-dokumen tu aku nampak satu surat yang buat aku termenung kejap. Surat / borang permohonan biasiswa / bantuan dari Pusat Zakat…diulang, Pusat Zakat. Camne ye, kerja Associate Professor, gaji lebih RM8,000 ada hati mintak dengan Pusat Zakat?

Mungkin Pusat Zakat akan tendang application tu, tapi yang dia mintak in the first place tu…tatak malu ka?

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

RTM lagi! Special Appearance By Astro Ria featuring MBKS

28 Ogos 2006. Hari Siti bersanding. Ramai peminat (dan anti) yang menunggu, dijangka rating boleh mencecah 5 juta penonton. Atau dalam kata lain, orang tengok TV3 aje malam tu. TV lain tak laku. Tapi dalam masa seminggu nak sampai 28 tu tiba-tiba RTM keluarkan iklan akan siarkan perbualan dengan Ina ex Mawi. Dan juga secara tiba-tiba Astro Ria akan buat wawancara khas dengan Mawi. Siap ada Cit-Cat special lagi. Dan promonya bukan setakat jingles (ke hapekebende namanya) kat TV, siap iklan kat paper lagi! Pihak penyiar RTM dan Astro kata ‘kami dah rancang lama dah!’. Ye la tu….kalau awak dah rancang lama, sure awak dah pindah slot sebab tahu orang nak tengok Siti. Tapi ye la, sebab tak nak mengalah, awak pun keluarkan la rancangan sensasi tapi basi sebab nak kebas penonton! Yang bestnya tak sorang pun mengaku! Trick lama la bang!

RTM pun satu hal, terikut sama nak join gossip. Itu macam ka stesen kerajaan? Sanggup buat live pasal hang seciput ni. Ha, ni Pestabola dah berjalan, mana Livenya? Perabis RM11 juta tayang World Cup boleh, bola sendiri ‘delayed telecast’. Tau la rating Malaysia jadi 148, tapi masih ada peminat setia yang menonton baik di stadium mahupun TV. Walaupun aku dah malas tengok bola Malaysia, tapi perasaan patriotik aku masih nakkan ianya ditayangkan secara langsung di TV. Ini tak, nak join cerita orang putus tunang! Dan aku paraphrase salah satu ayat kontroversi Sifu M. Nasir…"Siapa Mawi?" Bagus sangat ke dia tu sampai nak buat rancangan khusus pasal putus tunang? Besar sangat ke sumbangan dia kepada negara selain bayar income tax (itupun kalau bayar la..) Yang Siti tu satu jugak…tapi sebab pasal kahwin, aku takde le hangin sangat. Hehe.

Monday, August 28, 2006

Military Joke

Sebab aku tengah kering idea, aku copy paste aje joke military ni..pasal camne approach unit-unit dalam tentera (dalam kes ni US) menghadapi musuh...dalam joke ni musuh diumpamakan macam ular...

Comparison of military operational tactics (Snake model)

Infantry: Snake smells them, leaves area.

Airborne: Lands on and kills the snake.

Armor: Runs over snake, laughs, and looks for more snakes.

Aviation: Has GPS coordinates to snake.Can't find snake. Returns to base for refuel, crew rest and manicure.

Ranger: Plays with snake, then eats it.

Field Artillery: Kills snake with massive Time On Target barrage with three Forward Artillery Brigades in support. Kills several hundred civilians as unavoidable collateral damage. Mission is considered a success and all participants (i.e., cooks, mechanics and clerks) are awarded Silver Stars.

Special Forces: Makes contact with snake, ignores all State Department directives and Theater Commander Rules of Engagement by building rapport with snake and winning its heart and mind. Trains it to kill other snakes. Files enormous travel settlement upon return.

Combat Engineer: Studies snake. Prepares in-depth doctrinal thesis in obscure 5 series Field Manual about how to defeat snake using counter mobility assets. Complains that maneuver forces don't understand how to properly conduct doctrinal counter-snake ops.

Navy SEAL: Expends all ammunition and calls for naval gunfire support in failed attempt to kill snake. Snake bites SEAL and retreats to safety. Hollywood makes shitty film in which SEALS kill extremist snakes.

Navy: Fires off 50 cruise missiles from various types of ships, kills snake and makes presentation to Senate Appropriations Committee on how Naval forces are the most cost-effective means of anti-snake Force projection.

Marine: Kills snake by accident while looking for souvenirs. Local civilians demand removal of all US forces from Area of Operations.

Marine Recon: Follows snake, gets lost.

Sunday, August 27, 2006

Weapons File : PT-91M Main Battle Tank


Bumar Labedy PT-91M Main Battle Tank
Weight : 46 tons loaded
Length : 10.03m (incl. gun)
Width : 3.7m
Height : 2.19m
Crew : 3 (commander, gunner, driver)
Powerplant : S-1000R diesel (1,000hp)
Speed : 60km/h on-road; 45km/h off-road
Armament : 1 x Konstrukta 2A46MS 125mm gun, 1 x FN MAG 7.62mm co-axial MG, 1 x FN Browning M2HB 12.7mm AA MG

In 2003, the Malaysian Government selected the Polish-made PT-91 Twardy as the country’s first Main Battle Tank (MBT). A contract has been signed for the supply of 48 MBTs plus 6 WZT-4 Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV), 3 MID-M armoured engineer vehicle and 5 PMC-90 Leguan Armoured Vehicle Launcher Bridge (AVLB). These vehicles are to be assigned to the 11th Regiment of the Royal Armoured Corps (Kor Armor DiRaja).

The Malaysian-spec PT-91Ms are derived from the original Polish PT-91/PT-91A which in turn is a development of the Russian T-72M1. The PT-91 features improved protection, fire-control system and powerplant, making it more survivable than the original T-72s. The Malaysian Army PT-91M improves on that further plus some requirements which are meant to simplify logistics.

Other features of the PT-91M
1. 2A46MS 125mm gun – a Slovak-designed weapon, it has a 23% increase in first hit probability as compared with the original Soviet 2A46. Ammunition includes APFSDS, HEAT and HE.

2. S-1000R diesel engine – the original PT-91 are powered by S-12 engine of 850hp. The Malaysian PT-91M has the more powerful S-1000R, rated at 1,000hp. The engine is manufactured by PZL-Wola S.A. Mechanical Works

3. Savan 15 FCS – The Drawa FCS is replaced by the French Savan 15 system, built by Sagem Defence Securite. The Savan 15 FCS is derived from a similar system used in the French Army’s LeClerc MBT. The system features gun stabilization enabling the tank to fire on the move, increased first round hit probability and the ability to operate at night. The system consists of day/night gunner’s sight, fire-control computer, gun stabilization sensors, lead-angle sensors and interface at the gunner’s and commander’s stations.

4. VIGY 15 optronics – also from Sagem, this is a gyro-stabilized panoramic sight for the tank commander. It has hunter-killer function – targets sighted by the TC are signalled to the gunner, or in emergencies, engaged by the TC himself.

5. SIGMA 30 laser gyro – another Sagem product. The system is used for navigation and stabilization of the MBT.

6. ERAWA-2 ERA tiles – dubbed dynamic armor, these explosive blocks are designed to improve protection from anti-tank projectiles / missiles especially HEAT rounds. Tests by the manufacturer have shown a 50-70% increase in protection against HEAT rounds and a 30-40% increase against AP rounds. The ERAWA system consists of 384 blocks (108 turret, 118 hull and 84 on each side of the anti-cumulative screen@side-skirt)

7. PCO SSP-1 Obra-3 laser warning system – placed on each quadrant of the MBT, the system gives warning that the tank is being ‘painted’ by laser – whether rangefinding or targeting. This allows the crew to find the direction of the laser emission and deal with it accordingly.

8. Wegmann 76mm grenade launchers – clustered around the turret sides are the launch tubes for this system. The system is used to lauch smoke/IRCM grenades to hide the tank from enemy visual/ thermal observation and targeting. It can be also used to launch HE grenades against enemy tank-killing infantry.

9. Secondary armament – The PT-91M is equipped with a 7.62mm FN MAG co-axial MG, located to the right of the main gun. It replaces the original PKT 7.62mm MG. On the commander’s hatch is a FN Browning M2HB 12.7mm AA MG replacing the 12.7mm NSVT. The single example taking part in the 2005 National Day Parade shows that the M2 is mounted higher than usual and the mounting somehow look ‘funny’. It also sported a Soviet-style ammo box.

10. Diehl tracks – the PT-91M replaces the all-steel tracks with Type 570P track from Diehl Remscheid GmbH which have long service life and low maintenance requirements. It is similar to the ones used in Leopard 2 MBT.

11. The PT-91M is also equipped with Western-style stowage basket at the rear of the turret.

In 2005 a single example of PT-91M was flown to Malaysia to undertake trials in local conditions before assembly / deliveries can start. Coincidentally, the tank also participated in the Merdeka Day parade of that year – which prompts certain individuals in a certain internet forum from a certain country to make allegations that the tank is specially flown for parade purposes. They didn’t see the big picture..from the looks of it. Deliveries are expected to commence later in the year or early in 2007.

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Anti Rempit

Mat Rempit. Sapa yang tak kenal mat rempit? Naik motor beramai-ramai sambil menunjuk aksi ala beruk sarkas – meniarap atas motor, wheelie, mencelah-celah dalam kesesakan jalanraya tanpa berhelmet atau memasang lampu. Polis dah jenuh buat operasi..senyap sekejap. Bila dah lama takde ops, menyemak balik. Kalau nak race sendiri-sendiri takpe tapi bakal menyusahkan orang lain (termasuk aku). Makes my blood go upstairs, you know?!

Ada yang salahkan kerajaan pasal tak sediakan kemudahan sukan bermotor yang mencukupi. Bagi aku kerajaan tak payah nak menyumbang kepada kegiatan tak ada paedah ni. Diaorang ni racing bukan sebab apa…sebab nak duit betting dengan bohsia dan juga sebab nak menunjuk skil beruk sarkas depa. Macam tak boleh pergi race kawasan sunyi macam industrial estate…ni pergi jalan2 besar jugak! Jadi tak payah le nak buat dedicated circuit. Takpun biar pihak swasta aje buatkan.

Aku selalu berangan kosong pasal mat rempit ni…camne nak hapuskan dia orang. Antara angan-angan Mat Jenin aku ialah dengan mendapatkan Barrett M82A1 12.7mm Anti-Material Rifle (AMR). Cari tempat tersembunyi kat route rempit ni, pakai ghillie suit. Tunggu depa lalu lepas tu tembak lead motorbike. Peluru ½ inci tu mesti boleh hancurkan block enjin, kasi enjin mati, motor tersentap dan rider bersama motor tergolek dog…bila dah tergolek dog, motor-motor lain pun boleh sama tergolek dog beramai-ramai…maksimakan death or injury. Polis rasanya takkan nak buat siasatan terperinci kot…yela buang karan aje nak siasat kenapa mat rempit boleh eksiden ramai-ramai kan?

Kepada yang tak tahu rupa rifle Barrett, ni ha dia....


....dan ini rupa ghillie suit


Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Aku Darah A

Baca entry dalam blog Sastri pasal jenis darah dan personaliti orangnya. Aku darah A. Aku tau pun pasal aku derma darah tahun 1994 dulu. Mari tengok, kena tak dengan aku

Obedient – ha’ah..aku tak berani lawan cakap parents aku..kalau kerja apa bos suruh buat aku buat aje…
Careful – ini payah sket pasal aku ni borderline negligent!
Sympathetic – tengok anak kucing tak makan berapa hari pun aku dah nak teriak…
Self-sacrificing – takde la sampai tahap Special Attack Corps @ kamikaze Jepun…tapi banyak kali aku korbankan kepentingan aku untuk orang tersayang (cewah!)
Polite – lembut gigi dari lidah tau…terutama bagi yang first time aku jumpa
Honest – ermmm 90% of the time aje kot? Haha!
Loyal – Hang Tuah pun boleh kalah dengan aku…
Emotional – kalau aku marah sampai aku nak sepak terajang, kalau aku gelak sampai tak ingat dunia…kalau sedih…..
Introverted – Yep…keeping all to myself, senyap..tak banyak cakap
Nervous – Yeah..kena kalau menghadapi sesuatu yang tak biasa.

“Are reserved, calm and even tempered” – Aku rasa ya…kecuali jika ‘pushed to the limit and beyond’. Kira aku ni macam Jedi Master la…

“Sensitive to public opinion” – err ya. Terutama kalau public opinion yang merapu macam kes MBKS. Juga aku kengkadang risau apa pandangan orang ramai ke atas aku.

“May be Introverted, shy and nervous or ill at ease with others” – Yes to the first three, not really on the last.

“May be Pessimistic” – Hey, I’m the King Of Pessimists!

“Value relationships and are loyal” – indeed, aku sanggup mengalah walaupun aku tahu aku betul sebab nak maintain long-term relationship.

“Hesitant to change” – Well, that depends on what change you are talking about.

“Nature lovers and dislike crowds - need a private place or secret hideaway” – NatGeo is one of my favorite channels, I feel Zen-like calm at seasides, mist-covered hills and lakes..and when I was at UK..snowfall. I feel uncomfortable in the crowd unless they consists of relatives..OR pretty females…I do have a secret hideaway…mana boleh bagitau, secret la!

”Can be indecisive. Good at team work and obey rules.” – Hey I’m not Lone Ranger OK?

“Dislike to touch or be touched by others” – If I touch others, I may get a pelempang up my cheek. Yes, I don’t like others touching me unless they are those I am familiar with…or that they are pretty ladies!

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Cuci kereta

Aku ni nak kira sebenarnya malas nak basuh kereta sendiri. AKu lebih suka hantar kedai. Bayar RM8, kereta bersih dari luar sampai ke dalam. Ada 2-3 establishment kat Changlun yang aku selalu pergi dan salah satunya kat bawah pokok ceri Jalan Kodiang. Tempat ni dah takde dah pasal dah jadi deretan kedai. Ada satu kenangan yang kelako masa tahun 2001 dulu. Masa tu aku pakai Accord lama aku lagi. Ada macam besi kat luar tempat duduk…bawah pintu (aku pun tak pasti apa namanya)..tapi ada la besi tu, ada engrave ‘Honda’. Besi tu dah tanggal dah gam dia..dia lekat kat situ lagi pun pasal graviti dengan sisa-sisa gam. Dah banyak kali pun tanggal pasal tersepak.

Lepas serah kereta kat ane tu, aku pun melepak baca paper dengan mag yang aku beli kat kedai sebelumnya. Dan masa ane tu tengah mengelap area yang aku kata tadi tu, aku terdengar bunyi besi jatuh atas batu. Aku jeling aje dari celah paper…pasal aku tahu benda alah tu tanggal lagi. Aku tak kisah la pasal aku tau benda tu memang dah tanggal. Tapi yang aku nak ketawa bila tengok ane tu dengan muka cuak dan tertoleh-toleh letak balik besi tu. Aku rasa mesti dalam hati dia kata ‘ayooo mati la gua…ini barang sudah lekang’. Bila aku ambik balik kereta aku, aku tengok muka ane masih cuak lagi…hahaha.

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Busy daaa....

Salam kepada semua. Aku lama tak update blog ni pasal sepanjang minggu lepas aku kena outstation. Memula pergi Sungai Petani, ada kursus tiga hari. Lepas tu selang sehari lepas aku balik, aku kena pergi ikut student buat lawatan ke UIA.
Minggu ni pun tatak ong la...aku punya handset jatuh dalam sinki masa aku tengah basuh muka...ranap! Tunggu masuk gaji le baru aku ganti! OK..lepas2 ni aku buat entry macam biasa....InsyaAllah!

Sunday, August 13, 2006

Weapons File III - Laksamana class FSG


Displacement : 675 tons full load
Dimensions : 62.3m (length) x 9.3m (width) x 2.8m (draught)
Propulsion : 4 x MTU 20V diesels, 4 shafts.
Power output : 20,400bhp; 36 knots
Endurance : 2,300nm @ 18 knots
Electronics : RAN 12L/X surface/air search radar, Kelvin Hughes 1007 nav radar, IPN-S command and control system, two NA21 FC systems, DARDO FC system, INS-3 radar interceptor, TQN-2 radar jammer, two OTO Melara 105mm decoy dispensers, ASO 94-41 hull sonar.
Armament : 6 x OTOMAT Teseo Mk II anti-ship missiles, 1 x four-cell Albatros SAM launcher (with 8 reloads), 1 x OTO Melara Super Rapid 76/62 76mm DP gun, 1 x single Otobreda 40mm L/70 AA gun, 2 x triple ILAS-3 324mm Torpedo tubes for Whitehead A244/S ASW torpedoes
Crew : 56
Ships : Laksamana Hang Nadim (134) [ex-Khalid ibn Al-Walid], Laksamana Tun Abdul Jamil (135) [ex-Saad bin Abi Waqqas], Laksamana Muhammad Amin (136) [ex-Abdullah ibn Abi Serh], Laksamana Tan Pusmah (137) [ex-Salahuddin Al-Ayoubi].

The Laksamana (literally ‘Admiral’) class fast missile corvettes are the second class of ships brought from Italy (the first ships are the ‘Mahamiru’ (Lerici) class MCMVs). The Laksamanas are originally Iraqi ‘Assad’ class FSGs ordered from Fincantieri. They were however not delivered to the Iraqi Navy following sanctions imposed by the UN because of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. The ships remain languished at Genoa until a contract was signed between the Malaysian Government and Fincantieri in 1995 for the supply of two of the hulls; the other two was purchased in 1997. The ships are delivered in two batches in 1997 and 1999. Some specific features were modified and refitted to suit TLDM’s needs. The Laksamanas are broadly similar to the Libyan Wadi M’ragh and the Ecuadorian Navy’s Esmeraldas class corvettes.

The ships pack a mighty punch for a small hull. The OTOMAT anti-ship missiles have Over-the-horizon range enabling it to engage ships hidden by the horizon. It will be assisted in this task by the Super Lynx helicopters of No. 502 Squadron which provides OTH data and mid-course correction. The anti-air weaponry are superior to the larger Kasturi class and even surpasses the Lekius (which have the shorter-ranged Sea Wolf missiles). There are unconfirmed talks that these ships will remove their ASW suite (sonars and torpedoes) in order to improve the ASW capabilities of the Kasturi class corvettes / light frigates.

The ships are named after admirals (more accurately, minister of defence) of the old Malay sultanates. The ships are currently serving in the 24th corvette squadron.

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Speaking of Devils....

Season 2006/2007 of the English Premier League is just around the corner. Clubs have been busy preparing for the new season by buying and discarding players with many big bucks transfers going around. Somewhat disappointingly (for a Red Devil) there has been a relative lack of activity at Old Trafford. Big name players have gone like Roy Keane and more recently, Ruud van Nistelrooy. Ruud’s departure is another evidence of Sir Fergie’s no-nonsensical approach when dealing with ‘problematic’ individuals like what Paul ‘Charlie’ Ince, Andei Kanchelskis, Roy Keane, David Beckham and a number of other players have found out. Ruud’s departure is quite a loss as he has been the most prolific striker for the Mancunians for the past few years. We are now down to Rooney, Saha, the recently recovered Alan Smith, the returning (but older) Ole Solskjaer and the still-developing Giuseppe Rossi. Anyway, it’s good to see Gabriel Heinze, Ole Solksjaer and Paul Scholes back in action

But what is more needed are new midfielders. So far Michael Carrick has signed on – but still no real big name has come to Old Trafford. Patrick Vieira, despite expressing his interest, has been transferred to Internazionale. United is still negotiating to bring Marcos Senna of Villareal to Old Trafford, hopefully he’ll be a Red Devil this coming season. Rumours however have linked United with Adriano, Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt and Carlos Tevez. But as the saying goes, it's just rumours.....

It is sad to see a massive club like Man U being practically left behind in the transfer race – we need big names to add more steel in defence and attack. What have the Glazers done? They should have given a large transfer kitty to Sir Alex. Big name players would attract more crowd – more crowd means more income and quality players would help United regaining its lost crown…even more money. Isn’t that what you want when you buy MU, Mr Glazer?

I read with envy that Roman Abramovich’s money has brought Michael Ballack and Andriy Schevchenko to Chelsea…now they have strength in depth…Heck, Mourinho could even rotate his players to avoid overburdening them! What now, MU?

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Antara lapar dan hi-fi Sony

Ada satu kes terjadi. Seorang pelajar telah keciciran wallet di dalam kampus. Belum sempat dia buat aduan kat bank, ada orang dah kebas duit dari akaun dia (tu la budak-budak bijak pandai ni, simpan nombor PIN dalam wallet!) – RM1500. Tapi sebab ada kamera maka dapat la unit keselamatan cekup si pencuri..cara camne dia orang tau, jangan tanya aku. Dan si suspek dibawa ke bilik siasatan. Dia mengaku dia jumpa wallet mamat tu dan guna ATM tapi katanya untuk dia buat makan pasal biasiswa tak masuk lagi dan juga untuk beli buku dan bayar hutang…kesian kan? Sampai terpaksa mencuri. Tapi….Ha! ada tapinya. Guard yang check bilik dia terjumpa satu resit dari kedai letrik berhampiran…tarikh yang sama dengan hari mamat tu draw duit. Kat resit tu tulis ‘Hi-Fi Sony RM1200’. Selepas diinterrogate lagi baru la dia mengaku perkara sebenar…dia guna RM300 aje untuk tujuan makan, hutang dengan buku aje…bakinya dia ngapppp!

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Faizal...Guane nak berjaya?

"MB Terengganu mahu Faizal bimbing remaja capai kejayaan". Itu tajuk suratkhabar semalam. Aku bukan pandang rendah kat juara AF tu…tapi saranan seorang pemimpin supaya seorang ARTIS membimbing anak-anak muda adalah sangat tak sesuai. Apa kejayaan yang boleh Juara AF sarankan kepada remaja? Jadi penyanyi? Mungkin…tapi AF ialah pertandingan populariti dan bukan bakat seni. Kejayaan dalam AF ditentukan oleh peminat samada peserta pujaan mereka menepati citarasa mereka iaitu kelurusan diri, gaya blur, ciri ala-ala kampong dan lelaki. Walaupun juara AF mempunyai merit mereka sendiri tapi kejayaan adalah berat kepada sokongan dan undian (pembaziran) penonton! Aku rasa tak perlu la artis dijadikan sumber inspirasi mencapai kejayaan dan kerajaan negeri tak perlu nak ‘tumpang glamor’. Sumber inspirasi / idola seseorang mungkin bukan dalam bidang yang sama..macam aku, role model aku Field Marshal Erwin Rommel dengan Saidina Khalid Al-Walid…jeneral tentera sedangkan aku cuma pentadbir.

Sekali lagi - bagi aku artis hanyalah penghibur dan bukan seseorang untuk dijadikan idola biar baik manapun kelakuan mereka…sorry I have to say that. Dan aku tengok artis-artis hebat dulu pun tak dijadikan role model atau disanjung melangit. Tapi kini nyanyi bergelek-gelek pun boleh dapat Datuk…baru menang pertandingan SMS dah dapat kereta 5-6 biji dan anugerah seni (berbanding dulu-dulu dimana ilmuan, ulama dan cendikiawan diberi anugerah oleh pemerintah…yang OK la, pemerintah yang tak OK pun sanjung artis gak…macam sesetengah pemerintah Empayar Moghul)

Rasanya cukuplah kerajaan Terengganu ucap tahniah kepada salah seorang penduduk negeri Penyu tu…

Monday, August 07, 2006

Konsert...Fantasia?

Aku sebenarnya nak buat entry lain hari ni tapi sebab aku tertengok TV malam tadi, ini yang keluar. Walaupun aku dengan wife tak suka…tapi tengok juga la ada satu konsert oleh ‘bintang yang semakin bersinar’. Aku sebenarnya lebih berminat nak tengok supporting act aje…ye la supporting act lagi bagus berkali-kali ganda dari hos konsert! Itu pun aku tak tengok dari mula pasal nak abiskan tengok berita dengan Edisi Siasat.

Bila aku tengok, aku pun tak tau mana datang tag ‘World’ dengan ‘bintang yang semakin bersinar’. Yang aku tengok ‘Darat’ dengan ‘Bulan Gerhana’. Komunikasi lemah…sikit-sikit gelak…kena sawan gelak agaknya. Dah la tu tak kena tempat pulak gelak. Bila berbicara dengan Sifu, dia panggil sifu aje..dengan Raja Pop dia panggil nama aje, takde ‘abang’ aje. Lepas tu lawak lembik pulak…katanya kalau Sifu botak camne, kalau dia rambut panjang camne..lepas tu gelak sendiri. Persembahan nyanyian pulak banyak supporting act yang ‘steal the show’. Masa berduet dengan finalis Akademi Nyanyi-Nyanyi, aku rasa macam dengar tape rosak bila part dia suara macam ada kertas pasir dalam tekak + radio rosak volume control; kejap tinggi kejap rendah.

Tapi kat TV show tutup awal…tak tau kenapa.lepas tu aku dengar ada dapat medallion? What for? Oh…pasal nanti mesti ada dikeluarkan Franklin Mint ke, Royal Mint ke, Selangor Pewter ke sebagai tribute kepada dia…oh please la, as if we don’t know that it is another ploy to part those naïve supporters and fans of his with their cash! Kat Cari, ada peminat kata konsert tu AWESOME! Friend, are you on medication? Aku cuba mencari, tapi tak jumpa part mana yang menyebabkan orang berkata persembahan MBKS hebat. Ada juga kata..alaa tu baru konsert solo pertama. Ai…dah berpuluh2 show, kebanyakannya bersendirian takleh nak improve jugak? Dan rasanya tu bukan konsert solo..pasal banyak lagu orang lain nyanyi!

Tapi yang ironi ialah bila mula-mulanya nyanyi lagu yang bercorak nasihat dan nasyid. Lagu pasal Nabi la, pasal Tuhan la, pasal kesedaran diri la. Tapi lepas tu menyanyi lagu-lagu yang diiringi penari-penari termasuk wanita yang kiut-miut…dan seksi. Camne yek? Tapi kepada fanatic itulah yang dikatakan ‘versatile’. Yang menariknya, masa berduet dengan satu kumpulan nasyid tersohor dia punya feeling tu melebihi kumpulan tu…macam insaf sangat la! (Tapi dressing macam nak pergi disko). Juga aku rasa seeloknya lagu 'biasa' dulu dinyanyikan, baru finishing dengan nasyid. Kalau tak camne nak menepati slogan 'World, world jugak...akhirat jangan lupa'. Ye la...dah puas berdansa macam lupa diri diiringi gadis berkebaya, bergoyang-goyang dan terjerit-terlolong..kena la cover balik kan? Tapi yang paling aku rasa tak sedap ialah…rasanya baru sebulan lebih bapak dia meninggal..kubur pun masih merah, anak dia dah tergelak2, terjerit pekik atas pentas…..isssyyy isssyy.

Sunday, August 06, 2006

Weapons File II - Kasturi class FSG / FFL


Displacement : 1,900 tons full load
Dimensions : 97.3m (length) x 11.3m (width) x 3.5m (draught)
Propulsion : 4 diesels, 2 shafts
Power Output : 21,460hp; 28 knots
Armament : 8 x MBDA MM40 Exocet Block II Anti-ship missiles, 1 x Giat 100mm DP gun, 1 x Bofors SAK Mk1 57mm DP gun, 2 x twin Emerlec 30mm AA guns, 1 x Bofors 375mm ASW RL
Aviation : helicopter landing pad aft; no hangar.
Crew : 124
Ships : Kasturi (25), Lekir (26)

These two corvettes, sometimes classified as light frigates were ordered from Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werf AG (HDW), Germany and were delivered in 1984. A general-purpose design, they are equipped with anti-submarine and anti-surface weaponry. Anti-air capability is somewhat weak as they are only equipped with guns for this task. Originally, the Kasturis were equipped with four MM38 Exocet AShMs. These have been replaced by the more advanced MM40 Exocet, with subsequent increase in firepower (more missiles) and range. The Kasturis are assigned to the 22nd Corvette Squadron.

They are named after two of Hang Tuah’s five companions – Hang Lekir and Hang Kasturi.

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Melepak di rumah jiran

Aku kengkadang kalau ada masa aku suka menjenguk rumah jiran. Rumah jiran ni kecik aje tapi macam-macam ada kat dalam semua yang high-end punya. Anak-anak dia pun berlagak semacam aje. Bila rumah aku nak beli barang yang baik-baik macam-macam la diaorang kata…tengok la kata-kata dia orang ni….

“Let them brag. I personally will be laughing at the irony that more than half of those arm chair generals have not spent a single day as a real soldier & have never even fired a BB gun let alone an M16 or Steyr, but talk as if they're some military strategist.”

Aku kata : Korang pun baru setakat NS dah rasa macam editor Jane’s, Sun Tzu, Karl von Clausewitz, Rommel dengan Patton rolled into one. NS = real soldier jugak ke? Aku dengar nak buat BMT boleh pilih nak buat dalam gym berhawa dingin!

“yup... somebody.. in fact.. lots of people spoke about them... just read black hawk down.... laugh till you rolll down the hill.....”

Aku kata : Masih ada kutu yang mempertikaikan peranan 19 Mekanis di Somalia ye….

“lol... true... but still... lol! I think u forgot about the Sabah pirates incident where they overkilled the enemy with thier cannons from sea. he he~”

Aku kata : The truth is actually more sinister than that…all I can say that the ‘pirates’ aren’t really pirates.

“You know why they serve in UN peace keeping missions ? Because by doing so U.N pay for them !!!”

Aku kata : Well how about Timor Leste, where we have to dig our own pocket? And why should we go to others’ battle zone even though we are paid for it? It’s not our war! And why also u join UN Peacekeeping Missions too? Do you do it for the money or what? Why you also join in the US’s occupation of Iraq?

Tapi tu kira dah minority…tak macam dulu. Tapi yang aku concerned ialah sorang ni. Nick dia aku tengok kat forum Cari tu ada. Kat forum jiran pun ada…coincidence? I don’t think so…what’s the probability of two different persons sharing the SAME alpha-numeric nickname? Kat forum Malaysia yang femes tu dia letak lokasi dia KL. Anyway, kat forum rumah jiran ni bukan main dia mengutuk rumah sendiri (kalau dia Malaysian la…) Siapa dia ni? Agent Provocateur? Tak patriotik? Sewel? Ini postings dia:

whatever it is, the RMN is still no longer a match for RSN..period. unless some nuts have excessively wet dreams every night, the RSN could make toufu out of the RMN everytime.

wahhh...malaysia just issued a letter of intent for two lousy British designed light frigates, the nuts here go bonkers. All in, the RMN currently has four light frigates whilst RSN has six full fledged modern frigages. Look at the geography and tell me who's top heavy.

true. the sensors and harpoons on those formidables can reach and touch the lekius and kasturis without getting their hands wet. The perdanas and other fast attack crafts are desserts for the six formidables.

really? i thought the SAF could eat the MAF for breakfast. let alone the RMR.

Orang macam ni…mengkritik (mengutuk sebenarnya) di tempat orang…merendah-rendahkan keupayaan negara sendiri…apa patut buat kat dia?

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

Ni..orang sebelah ni!

Kisah berlaku 2 tahun dulu. Member aku yang jadi pengetua kat salah satu Kolej ni cerita….Satu malam dia orang buat fire drill. Kalau dah fire drill maknanya tengah malam buta le. Dan sebab dah malam buta, pastinya akan ada penghuni yang dikira mati hangus – kutu2 yang tak keluar turun berkumpul. Bila fire drill tamat dan penghuni kolej balik ke bilik masing-masing, salah sorang ‘mangsa kebakaran’ ni didapati terbaring tak sedarkan diri depan pintu bilik dia. Jadi member dia tanya (lepas dia dah sedar balik la!) apasal dia ni terbaring kat situ? Jadi mamat ni pun cerita la…

Bila dia dengar siren dengan alarm firedrill tu dia tak ambik port dan teruskan tidur dia la dan bila ketua paras ketuk bilik pun dia buat dek. Keadaan pun lepas tu jadi sunyi sepi..dengan lampu emergency aje menyala. Dalam senyap tu dia dengar bunyi pintu diketuk lagi. Dia pun buat bodo la sebab ingat orang masih mencari dia. Tapi ketukan masih berterusan seolah-olah yang mengetuk tu tahu ada orang kat dalam (dia tak terpikir plak kenapa bilik lain tak diketuk). Last-last dia tanya
‘siapa tu?’
Yang kat luar menjawab
‘orang sebelah le’
‘masuk le, aku tak kunci pintu tu’

Tapi orang tu masih tak bukak pintu dan sambung mengetuk. Mamat tu mesti pikir..apahal neighbour aku ni? Jadi dia pun pergi la bukakkan pintu…dan bila dia bukak pintu tu yang menyebabkan dia pengsan….sebab yang kat pintu tu bukan orang sebelah (neighbour bilik dia) tapi literally orang sebelah…macam ikan sebelah, no, worse than that – mata satu, hidung sebelah, mulut sebelah….orang dibelah separuh kat tengah…

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Maghrib

Aku selalu pergi solat kat masjid UUM, biasanya waktu Maghrib. Satu benda yang menghairankan aku bila ke masjid. Ada kira-kira 5,000 lelaki dalam kampus. Tolak non-muslim mungkin ada 3,000. Dan dari 3,000 tu seharusnya majoriti besar orang Malaysia. Tapi kalau aku pergi masjid, ada la dalam 100 orang berjemaah. Dah la tu, majority dalam 60% pak Arab. Mana pergi bebudak Melayu ni? Semayang kat surau kolej? Aku tengok takde la penuh surau. Semayang sendiri kot. Boleh tu memang boleh tapi sayang le masjid dekat takde sapa pergi. Sekarang ni dah OK sikit…adala dalam 50-50. Tapi bila consider foreigner ada dalam 200-300 orang manakala local ada beribu….ehmmmmm percentage lari!

Dan yang paling teruk, aku tengok lagi seminit-dua nak Maghrib, masih ada kutu dok main bola kat padang…..aku ingat jin-jin menjelma ke...tapi sah orang.