AirAsia’s female cabin crew uniform is under fire during the UMNO General Assembly. A Wanita UMNO delegate had strong words against the AirAsia uniform for female cabin crew, deeming it an ‘embarrassment’ to women. [Malaysiakini]
“The uniform is too revealing. We don’t want to look at their thigh and knee,” said Zaleha Hussin, an elderly woman delegate from the northeastern state of Kelantan.
“Malaysia is an Islamic nation and we are ashamed of the AirAsia uniform,” she told the meeting.
Male delegates also supported the change of dress code. “It should be implemented by explaining that we are a Muslim country,” said Azman Ruslan, a lawyer. [Reuters]
I think AirAsia’s female cabin crew looks great in their uniforms. If they feel comfortable working in it, and not embarrassed of revealing their knee… why should we feel embarrassed or ashamed about their outfit?
I have been on flight in a few occasions (twice with Air Asia); most of the time I would be sleeping, reading or watching movies (if available), just like what most others would do… only perverts and idiots would keep staring at the cabin crew.
According to Lim Kit Siang, UMNO youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin had said in the UMNO General Assembly debate yesterday morning (Nov 8): “Today is the first time the Umno president’s speech is not being read by the masses because a particular ethnic group controls the distribution line of newspapers and they are on holiday.”
I am not sure that if he is blaming the Indians or meant something else, but the words are uncalled for regardless. It shows no sensitivity and is on the blink of being racist.
There is nothing wrong for the Indians to control the newspapers’ distribution line; it’s a free market… Indians are not protected by government policies or provided any special privileges.
It’s not like the Hindus have chose to celebrate Deepavali during UMNO General Assembly, it’s UMNO who chose to have their annual assembly on Deepavali instead… now, who’s fault is it that the speech was not being read on time?
UMNO Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin said during the UMNO General Assembly about our subsidy system…
“Why should we give subsidised petrol to the already rich, who drive luxurious cars with high capacity engines? It should be meant only for the man riding a kapcai (low-cc motorcycle).”
He added that billions of ringgit could be saved and the money used instead to develop village roads, build more public infrastructure and construct schools.
His statement is half true. Malaysians have been pampered with all kind of subsidies all these years… perhaps it’s time to let the petrol price roamed freely and save the money for other benefits, to help the poor for example.
I would applaud if the billions Ringgit saved could be used to develop our villages… but I am afraid that we might use it for something else… paying for a crook bridge (that was never built), spending on new toys or sending a traveller to space. Who can guarantee that the money saved from the cut subsidy would be well spent?
In my words…
“Why should we spent money to send a man to space, who rides on a billion dollar spaceship with super capacity engines? It should be meant only for the men riding on wheels.”
A new version of Lingam video has been released; the extra 10 seconds at the end of the video shows that Ahmad Fairuz’s name was mentioned… it’s difficult to determine if it was VK Lingam who mentioned AF’s name though.
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Prime Minister and UMNO president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi opened the UMNO General Assembly on Wednesday (Nov 7) at the Putra World Trade Centre. The following is the full text of his opening address [TheStar]…
STRENGTHENING CONFIDENCE – VENTURING INTO A NEW ERA
Alhamdulillah, with God’s will, we are convene for the 58th UMNO General Assembly.
2. Our assembly this year takes place in the glow of the 50th Merdeka celebrations. This is also our first assembly for the next 50 years. Beginning the first national elections, UMNO, as part of the Alliance and subsequently Barisan Nasional, has formed the national government based on the principle of power sharing. It also spearheaded the drive towards independence.
3. The Malayan Government, considered to be lacking in experience, faced myriad challenges. Twelve years after independence, the nation was riven by racial riots that threatened its survival. Thanks to mutual understanding and a strong spirit of cooperation, we overcame this test. That dark time in our history became a valuable lesson that taught us the need to strengthen our unity.
4. In the aftermath of this tragedy, the Government introduced three major measures. First, the Rukun Negara was introduced as a national ideology to ensure national unity and safeguard the integrity of the nation. Second, the New Economic Policy was designed to develop our economy based on fair and equitable growth. Finally, the Barisan Nasional was introduced as an effective and inclusive political vehicle. The implementation of these three measures has brought success, guaranteed our survival and brought us the prosperity that we enjoy to this day.
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Keris can’t kill; a person with the keris can.
I accept that keris is a cultural symbol for Malays, for Malaysia in fact. Some people might not be aware, but we are seeing the keris almost everyday everywhere… with our Yang di-Pertuan Agong carrying it in his photo. There is nothing wrong with keris.
The issue lies in the person who carries the keris, and the agenda behind it.
UMNO youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein has made a decent statement at the 2007 general assembly that the kissing and hoisting of the keris symbolises the protection given to not only the Malays but also to other races in the country. [Bernama]
It could be a genuine statement, or probably just a PR stunt… but it doesn’t erase the fact that the ‘keris protect all Malaysians” ideology was not what he managed to portray when he played with his keris for the past couple of years.
I can’t blame too much on Hishammuddin though; it was a trend for UMNO youth to raise racial sentiment. Mahathir, Najib, Anwar etc. had all been criticized for their radical gimmick when they were in their early political days.
All these people need to build their network and support to move up the political rank… Hishammuddin won’t be the last person to play with sensitive issues in UMNO assembly.
Some Malaysians might not be happy about what Hishammuddin did, but there is nothing much to do against it besides ranting online or in coffee shops. Hishammuddin will march forward in his political career regardless of how we feel… we have to move on as well regardless of how he feels.
We have often heard about suggestion for heavier penalties and punishment for rapists, particular on child rapists.
Puteri UMNO has raised the suggestion again (castration and death etc.) during the general assembly. I do understand the rage of the delegates, I share the same sentiment once in a while… but there are a few reasons why the penalties cannot be too severe.
One of the major reasons is to protect the life of the victim. It is cruel to be raped, but it is still better to stay alive than to be dead. If a convicted rapist would have to face castration or death penalty; he could resort to killing the victim once and for all… since that the punishment for raping is nothing less than killing.
The recent cases of Nurin and Preeshena suggested that the rapists are killers regardless, but do mind that there are hundreds and thousands of other sexual assault cases that didn’t get as much attention by the press… and the victims have managed to stay alive.
There will be arguments that the mental torture could be as close to death for the victims; I can understand that… but as long as the victims are still alive, they will have their chances to overcome the nightmare and carry on with their life.
There might be room for more severe punishment to rapist (extra jail terms perhaps), but the law would have it limits. We have to resolve to other solutions to fight sex crimes.
ONLY if you are an UMNO member…
At the Umno General Assembly next week, party members registered as voters with the Election Commission (EC), will stand to win prizes totalling RM5.25 million.
Umno executive secretary Datuk Husainay Hashim told Bernama this today.
He also said that Umno members who had registered with the EC would also receive membership cards. Umno had issued 2.8 million membership cards and would deliver them to those who had registered with the EC tomorrow, he said.
“For Umno members who have yet to register, we will provide the facility for them to do so during the assembly and the membership card will be made for them,” he said. [Bernama]
If PAS or DAP are doing this… UMNO will yell that it is money politic. However, since that it is UMNO that is doing it… I guess it is ok, right?