http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/Current Affairs and anything else that tickles my brain and heart.en-EUMokoFeed10http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/http://data5.blog.de/design/preview/01/28cf3b3488be8adefe386956a9f4da_160x200.jpghttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/09/26/privacy-invaded-7044565/tag:bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk,2009-09-26:/2009/09/26/privacy-invaded-7044565/Sat, 26 Sep 2009 16:59:45 +0200 <p>I would like to share an unfortunate incident during a recent holiday in Langkawi. I was out with my older son, we checked into Langkawi Beach Resort which is a five-minute drive away from the airport. The resort was like any other and we did not sense anything amiss.<br> On the next morning after i had checked in, my room was broken into while me and my son were still sleeping at 5.13 am in the morning. I was woken up by lights in the room and i saw an intruder but i could not twitch a muscle to do anything about it. My friends say it could have been ' pukau' and i cant help but admit it could be the reason. I saw the intruder walk about in the room ransacking and he walked through the front door of my room. He had known for sure that the resort has no CCTV and no security personnel on duty and this i sensed must be an inside job.<br> I lost all my cash, cards, personal documents and handphones. It was a wake-up call for me that the word ' careful' has no meaning at all these days. How careful can one be? I dont know. I was traumatised by the event. I was angry and frustrated that i could be a victim of such a scam and the hotel would not take responsibility.<br> My advise is when on holiday, keep cash stashed in more than one location. Dont carry cards and documents you may not need and dont stay on the ground floor of an open resort. More importantly, check the hotel security features before booking. Finally, never stay at Langkawi Beach Resort. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/09/26/privacy-invaded-7044565/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>robbery-in-langkawi-hotelhttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/09/26/privacy-invaded-7044565/#commentshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/06/15/women-why-the-burden-on-them-6305524/tag:bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk,2009-06-15:/2009/06/15/women-why-the-burden-on-them-6305524/Mon, 15 Jun 2009 08:26:15 +0200 <p>was flustered about two reports I read in the papers yesterday ( 11 June ) on a similar subject . The news about Kota Baru Municipal Council imposing restriction on what women should wear in recreation parks and the other on the ban on girls wear jeans to college in a state in Uttar Pradesh, India.</p> <p>I am vexed, but not surprised that the PAS-run state government has gone for women’s clothes, after the slapstick on lipstick and heeled shoes. I laud Wanita MCA Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun’s plucky statement criticizing this latest attempt to further thwart women’s freedom, or the little they have in the state.</p> <p>She rightly pointed out that,“ … no one had the right to infringe on the way people dress whether for sports or work and even when resting at home”, and I totally agree.</p> <p>We being Asians are brought up with the cultural values that define what is decent and what isn’t and going by this we should be given the liberty to be what we are. I am sure an average woman on the street would know when she had infringed on public decency without having the municipal council playing the schoolmaster.</p> <p>Further from home, if we recall early this year there was an attack on girls at a certain pub in Mangalore, India by some activists and self-proclaimed guardians of religion and culture. Scores of female patrons in the pub were beaten and sexually molested by these champions of morality, a shameful irony.</p> <p>Also in the news yesterday ( 11 June), we have colleges in Uttar Pradesh enforcing blanket ban on girls wearing jeans to colleges, supposedly as a crackdown on sexual harassment. This is like chopping off the entire hand to treat a cut on a finger.</p> <p>I fail to understand why is the entire burden of maintaining culture and tradition always on women and not men, mostly in Asian cultures? Women have been an epitome of oppression and exploitation in the name of religion and culture practiced by the conservative male chauvinists and social patriarchs. Will we see any positive digression?</p> <p>We are in living in cyber world today and we have far more important things to busy ourselves with than to be fussing over women’s clothing in the park and in colleges.</p> <p>Sadly, save for Chew, the few women we have in power and position have chosen to be silent on this.</p> <p>BHAVANI KRISHNA IYER<br> Petaling Jaya</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/06/15/women-why-the-burden-on-them-6305524/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/06/15/women-why-the-burden-on-them-6305524/#commentshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/06/10/freedom-what-a-scam-6273623/tag:bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk,2009-06-10:/2009/06/10/freedom-what-a-scam-6273623/Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:54:17 +0200 <p>THEY say the best things in life come free. Can freedom be one of them? But of late we are slammed with reprimands time and again that even basic freedom of expression comes not without a cost. I am confused and it has turned into fear and I have downgraded myself to being just an occasional blogger.</p> <p>Freedom is a bottomless pit and the end is not seen but only imagined; the better your imagination, the better you enjoy this commodity. </p> <p>Coming to personal freedom, do we realize how much of our net worth as a person is being compromised in the name of dos and don’ts that come dressed up as rules and regulations, at work place for example. In addition to these we also have the codes of conducts and ethics that everybody talks about but nobody is able to clearly define.</p> <p>A friend who is lucky to be have a plump job complains that her freedom as a person is at stake. Her workplace dictates just about everything for her, from what time she has to hop out of bed, to what she wears to work and how she should conduct herself. This, she considers a severe encroachment into her privacy as person. I was all ears but I thought she was over-reacting. </p> <p>I know of a friend who has discarded her stilettos for flats so that she could marathon her way to swipe in by 8 am or she is darned. She is also monitored on how many times she leaves the office for pees and poos and whatever else. The toilet happens to be outside and she has to swipe in an out to get to the toilet.</p> <p>And then there is the most abused term called ‘office-attire’. No this and no that but only those that do not ‘provoke’ and ‘distract' other fellow workers are allowed. I, for one get provoked by attitudes more that clothes and so can we have people wear the right attitude to work?</p> <p>My friend is distressed and I was careful not to add salt to her wound and so I went along. Yes, it can be troubling every morning when I have to decide on what to wear taking into mighty consideration that I am not a source of provocation and distraction, tough choice it is and a daily ordeal. </p> <p>Another friend of mine thinks switching jobs is fashionable and she lives in that inflated pride and ego that she is in demand. She was telling me about how she had to subject her entire wardrobe for an overhaul in line with a memo from her new office. No more pants, no more short (even knee length) skirts. “I hated myself for the three years I was there as I appeared in work dressed in what might as well have been a pillow case with holes punched”, she fumed.</p> <p>While it is recommended that employers should have a code of ethics which would include code of conduct and dressing, there are over-zealous HR personnel who stretch it too far. There are also employers who take complete control of their employers’ lives during office hours and beyond.</p> <p>We have also come across companies which has clock in and clock out as a yardstick of performance. If you are, for example, 6 minutes late (with allowance of five minutes given as grace time) one is doomed. And you have five late-ins, for example, you will have a show-cause staring at you from your desk. For all anyone cares to know, it could probably be a female employee clocking in late as she had to pacify her wailing two-month baby before leaving for office or she could have been stuck behind a caterpillar making its way to work as well on the so-called highway. </p> <p>Do we want quality of work output or quantity of time? Both would be ideal but can we have reasonable expectations? We instill fear in people, what we will have is far from commitment.</p> <p>Can we have moderacy employed in our daily lives so that we can live out life and not merely exist fulfilling the scores of requirements, rules, regulation, blah blah blah. I end with a poem written by a great poet, thinker and philosopher Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) and Asia’s first Nobel Laureate </p> <p>Where the mind is without fear<br> and the head is held high;<br> Where knowledge is free;<br> Where the world has not been<br> broken up into fragments<br> by narrow domestic walls; ...<br> Where the clear stream of reason<br> has not lost its way into the<br> dreary desert sand of dead habit; ...<br> Into that heaven of freedom,<br> my Father, let my country awake. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/06/10/freedom-what-a-scam-6273623/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>freedom-ironnyhttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/06/10/freedom-what-a-scam-6273623/#commentshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/04/27/uncalled-for-headline-nst-6014770/tag:bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk,2009-04-27:/2009/04/27/uncalled-for-headline-nst-6014770/Mon, 27 Apr 2009 08:25:34 +0200 <p>Poor Karpal Singh had fallen off his wheelchari at the court in Kuantan and the NST found it fit to riducule his fall as if he had fallen from grace. My heart went out for Karpal who, despite his handicap is making himself useful to the profession as a lawyer and the nation as an MP. In fact the Govt should be laughting at themselves for having facilities which are not friendly to the handicapped, instead of throwing unsavoury words at him and hurting the sentiments of the physically challenged.<br> What an uncaring society we are breeding and living in. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/04/27/uncalled-for-headline-nst-6014770/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>karpal-and-fallhttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/04/27/uncalled-for-headline-nst-6014770/#commentshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/03/21/foreign-tourists-5802744/tag:bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk,2009-03-21:/2009/03/21/foreign-tourists-5802744/Sat, 21 Mar 2009 17:27:05 +0100 <p>I was in Genting Highlands recently and at the skyway cable car station there was a queue which was not too long. We were waiting for our turn to board the cable car when several times over some chinese-looking tourists shoved past us with no regard for the people before them. It went on and on and the people on duty at various stations at the sky way did not seem to notice this gross lack of curtesy. On enquiring I was told that they get a bunch of such tourists from mostly Taiwan and China who do not know what waiting even means. </p> <p>I thought the workers should not let such tourists off easily. I was angry and wanted to tell off the guy who pushed past me to get into the gondola but Alas, how do i tell him ? They speak no English and this was the problems faced by the workers as well.</p> <p>Next time around i thought i should give them a taste of their own medicine.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/03/21/foreign-tourists-5802744/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/03/21/foreign-tourists-5802744/#commentshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/03/21/best-employer-in-town-paari-5802627/tag:bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk,2009-03-21:/2009/03/21/best-employer-in-town-paari-5802627/Sat, 21 Mar 2009 16:59:31 +0100 <p>There was this talk floating in town last week that a certain employer would be win the Employer of the Year Award this year. I had a few friends who even thought it would be wise to put in an application to this employer for a possible employment. After all, it is not often we come across such caring employer. Buying a condo for over RM200K and standing as guarantor for a sports car loan are indeed exemplary deeds . All this for free or a fee we dont know but what if one's life is the cost of these ' favours'??? </p> <p>Girls these days are threading on risky ventures these days all for temporary bliss without knowing the hidden perils. If a single woman traps a married man for money and power, she must know and take responsibility of the consequences. If she has to pay for her misdeed with life, it would be too late to repent. We have women whose preoccupation these days seems to be serving married men and that becomes a salaried occupation. And married men we have would think nothing of having a side pillow. They say variety is the spice of life and all the more married men find this extra-marital engagements quite fulfilling. </p> <p>So, in every instance of extra-marital affair, we must always remember that there is a willing giver and a willing taker. Why blame one and protect the other? </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/03/21/best-employer-in-town-paari-5802627/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/03/21/best-employer-in-town-paari-5802627/#commentshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/03/11/maika-sale-of-the-century-5736615/tag:bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk,2009-03-11:/2009/03/11/maika-sale-of-the-century-5736615/Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:49:37 +0100 <p>A day shy of International Women's Day, I was coaxed into watching this play by ST Bala titled Iruvar 2. I am not a regular play-goer but this time I thought why not and what a mistake it was. </p> <p>The play started off with an aged couple exchanging warm words on the ocassion of their 35th wedding anniversary. I didnt think much of this till the play went on with other couples coming in to juxtapose the first couple. Every couple was heading for divorce and the chief issue is educated wife in high jobs. The men found such pursuit hot and were incapable of handling the situation. The men were still expecting women to be the maid in waiting at home and when this does not happen, the women are faulted. The first couple surpased three decades of marriage because the wife was a home make and she tolerated all the scoldings and beatings from the husband. She was the ideal wife as portrayed by Bala. The message was loud and clear that the verbal and physcial abuse must be tolerated by the wife as it is assumed that the husband beats her as he cares for her. Holy Shit ! </p> <p>While the play had excellent casting and dialogues, i was taken by shock at the sheer ignorance shown by the director ST Bala. With a play like corrupting the young mind ( especially that of boys), all the efforts by the various women's groups seeking emancipation and equal rights is down in the drains. ST Bala is at least 50 years behind time. He appears to me a very immatured man with chauvinistic ideas and ideals for women. I was distured with the message ST Bala was trying to relay to the masses and i would strongly oppose a play like going public.</p> <p>The unfair and judgemental statements made on working and divorced women screams of chauvinism. The cruel part is these statements were made by the female casts. As one one main cast obsrved that divorced women are always viewed as second hand it would be impossible for such women to find genuine life partners was absurd and uncceptable by any standards. </p> <p>ST Bala needs to grow up. I havent seen his other plays so I would not want to pass comments on his other works and neither would I want to stereotype him but Iruvar 2 needs reworking. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/03/11/maika-sale-of-the-century-5736615/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>chauvinism-in-iruvar-2http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/03/11/maika-sale-of-the-century-5736615/#commentshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/02/25/of-slums-and-dogs-5645392/tag:bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk,2009-02-25:/2009/02/25/of-slums-and-dogs-5645392/Wed, 25 Feb 2009 05:56:02 +0100 <p>I had no doubts that The move Slumdog Millionaire would sweep a couple of Oscars and I was right. The eight categories under which the movie made the headlines is not surprising. Incidentally, I was watched the moview on DVD and I thought i will put in my two-sen worth here.</p> <p>What makes the movie so exceptional? Is it the realism in the movie or the theme. I think it is a bit of both and the third factor is, loads of luck. The fact that it was an English moview made it all the more viewable. I have seen harsh realism in lots of other Indian movies and frankly this is no big deal but again, the moview reached a wider audience outside India.</p> <p>I must say that i took offense of the title. Why must slums dwellers be referred to as dogs. It is grossly deragotary. Secondly, the showmaster who must at all times remain impartial was full of ridicule and cynicism? I dont understand why Anil Kapoor was presented in such bad light. Is this reality of reality shows? </p> <p>The kids were great in their roles and the director deserves accolades for his fine casting. However, there were comments in bits and pieces in print and electronic media that the kids from the slums who were cast in the movie are still living the life of a slummer.</p> <p> While on one hand we have the Indians rejoicing over the new found fame for Slumdog, there are industry epople who thought the movie was a 'pornogrpahy'of sort , showing the destitutes in bad light. I think , the movie capures reality. Behind all the huzz and buzz in the city of Mumbai and Calcutrra, we have slummers living the life of squalors and when has destitution ever been good? </p> <p>Did i enjoy the movie? I suppose i did only after reading all the hype about the movie in the media. I was neither disappointed nor elated. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/02/25/of-slums-and-dogs-5645392/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>slumdog-reality-often-suckshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/02/25/of-slums-and-dogs-5645392/#commentshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/02/19/the-perak-delirium-5605145/tag:bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk,2009-02-19:/2009/02/19/the-perak-delirium-5605145/Thu, 19 Feb 2009 05:04:21 +0100 <p>What madness is it in the silver state? They are running the state like running a teh tarik stall in the slums. I was talking to a friend of mine who has been a long time resident of Ipoh and words were hard to come by. This is typically the sentiments of the average people in the Perak. </p> <p>The tit-for-tat is not doing any good for the state or the nation. Both BN and PR are going to the extremes. Where will all these end? As an ordinary citizen, I fear the worst. </p> <p>The excessive show of power and greed is at the expense of the Rakyat. I see more by-elections coming ( on hindsight) and I dont know at what price. </p> <p>I cant imagine how much money must have been thrown around so far but it is wasteful indulgence. </p> <p>God save the nation - everyone( including the PM ) for himself and God for Everybody. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/02/19/the-perak-delirium-5605145/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>politicshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/02/19/the-perak-delirium-5605145/#commentshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/02/17/elizabeth-wong-the-downfall-5593762/tag:bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk,2009-02-17:/2009/02/17/elizabeth-wong-the-downfall-5593762/Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:18:16 +0100 <p>I have not seen the pictures and I have no regrets. What has happened to EW is a disaster brought by those in power and wanting to destroy her and her political future. I must say that i was pleased with the kind of support shown to EW by some, including some ministers. However, Albar's was disgusting and i am not the least surprised knowing him and the kind of stinking statements he makes in the Press on various issues.</p> <p>Now, what i cant understand is the need for EW to quit. What she does in her room is a private matter. The pictures are nothing but an invasion of her privacy and people should just discard them and move on. </p> <p>Perhaps EW has been too straight, she should have tried Lingam's 'looks like me, sounds like me' stuff and it would have been ok.</p> <p>Gosh, whoever it is behind this dirty deed will one day pay for it. He must have a mother, a sister, wife and daughter in his life who will be the one through whom he will be made to pay.</p> <p>To EW, all i can say is just move on. Be strong and May God Be With You</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/02/17/elizabeth-wong-the-downfall-5593762/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>elizabeth-wong-just-move-onhttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/02/17/elizabeth-wong-the-downfall-5593762/#commentshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/01/02/pkr-and-the-indians-5310624/tag:bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk,2009-01-02:/2009/01/02/pkr-and-the-indians-5310624/Fri, 02 Jan 2009 08:51:57 +0100 <p>I was reading with interest the Open Letter in Malaysiakini. (http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/95689). It got me thinking as well. Frankly I have no clue as to what the Indians really want. There has been this hue and cry about marginalisation and the all that crap but it is a political phenomenon and as Quek rightly pointed out, it is the flawed policies that have caused marginalisation and itindiscriminate to a large extent.</p> <p>I really think the one who are ranting and raving should seriously look at how to make it without expecting special treatment and handouts. I am an Indian and I have survived purely on my own merit and I am proud of it.</p> <p>I get this feeling that Indians generally lack drive and ambition. I would not want to brand all Indians as lazy but the noisy ones, it appears to me are expecting windfall without sweat.</p> <p>And the Indians guys in Pakatan are a real disappointmnet. Mike for example is unhappy but what about, we do not know? For heavens sake, stop all this bickeing and get down to work. This Mike guy has done very little but a load of talking is what he is capable of.</p> <p>Wake up guys and gals, we need to work you butt out wherever you are.If you think you can be in the Forbes' list without a toil, you are living in dreams and time to wake up!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/01/02/pkr-and-the-indians-5310624/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>indians-and-pakatanhttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/01/02/pkr-and-the-indians-5310624/#commentshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/01/02/title-5310598/tag:bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk,2009-01-02:/2009/01/02/title-5310598/Fri, 02 Jan 2009 08:35:49 +0100<p> <small> <a href="http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/01/02/title-5310598/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2009/01/02/title-5310598/#commentshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/12/26/hollywood-movie-price-hike-5279112/tag:bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk,2008-12-26:/2008/12/26/hollywood-movie-price-hike-5279112/Fri, 26 Dec 2008 07:55:31 +0100 <p>I think it is ridiculous to make te hollywood movies pricey and expect people to watch the Malaysian made movies. Be they Indian, Malay or even Chinese movies, most local movies are no value for money. I have done reviews for several locally made Tamil movies and sitting through them had always been a daunting task. There is no way i will watch local movies even if you make imported moives 20 times more pricey. Why cant the local movie learn to compete on equal grounds ? Naturally, if the movie is good there will be viewers. I cant believe that the Government is even entertaining such dastardly thought. After all we have given Shahrukh Khan Datukship in the hope that he will do more movies here and that we can learn from him , so i suppose the local moview makers will need to just wait and work. I cant believe that the we Malaysians are always looking for an easy way out for success.<br> Real skunks!!!! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/12/26/hollywood-movie-price-hike-5279112/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>local-movies-vs-imported-movieshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/12/26/hollywood-movie-price-hike-5279112/#commentshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/12/10/air-asia-delay-delay-delay-5196541/tag:bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk,2008-12-10:/2008/12/10/air-asia-delay-delay-delay-5196541/Wed, 10 Dec 2008 07:37:31 +0100 <p>My recent trip to Bali was a frustrating experience flying with Air Asia. We were booked for the 3pm flight to Bali. We arrive at the jam-packed LCCT two hours in advance , religiously following the requirements for the check-in. I herded myself into the departure hall, with air-con functioning at the barest minimum. At 3.30pm we hear announcments of delay in the flight. At 4pm, another delayed is announced. We finally get to board the plane at 4.45pm. Into the flight, I am tired and just want the flight to take off. We are made to sit there for 30 minutes and nothing happens. I then enquire and I am told " we will be taking off soon". Then the captain comes with his overdue announcement that the flight could not take off as they had not got clearance from the airport authorities. I again approached the ones in red and the girl says , " dont worry sir, you will be entitled to your vouchers in 20 minutes, ".I was angry. I do not want the voucher, my time is more important. Does Air Asia think that money can buy everything ? The flight finally took off at 6pm, some three hours behind schedule and the rest is history. My return flight was delayed by 1 1/2 hours and i felt relatively at ease compared to the three hours delay on the flight to Bali.<br> That was not my first trip by Air Asia and I really pray this is my last. I had plans to try the recently introduced route to India, but i thougth enough is enough. Air Asia treats people like dirt just because it is a low cost carrier. I would rather save up and have the dignity flying in a decent airline that emulates the basic ethics of keeping to its flight schedule. I just cant understand the delay that has become part and parcel of the flight operations. Incidentally, on the same day I was leaving for Bali, I saw in the papers ( 5 Dec ) Tony Fernandez receiving the prestigious Brand award and i was wondering for what. Here we are left high and dry, fuming from lack of air-conditioning and i must mention the toilets. I went into three different toilets at the airport and all of them had heaps of used toilet papers on the flooor inside tne culbicles. There was no water in some toilet. Really, is this what service is all about ?<br> Air Asia has evolved into a giant or a monster, over the years and its arrogance and complascency is rearing its ugly head.<br> Tony Fernandez needs to fix this first, instead of finding new routes and not being able cope with the passenger volume. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/12/10/air-asia-delay-delay-delay-5196541/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/12/10/air-asia-delay-delay-delay-5196541/#commentshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/12/01/of-yoga-and-the-fatwa-5145155/tag:bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk,2008-12-01:/2008/12/01/of-yoga-and-the-fatwa-5145155/Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:38:08 +0100 <p>I must say i am a little amused with all the debates that is going on in the media regarding Yoga and the muslims. I find it even more unacceptable that the non-muslims are so concerned for their muslim brothers and sisters that the latter will not be able to participate in Yoga and the likes.<br> Frankly, why are the non-muslims getting involved in this tangle?I was at my in-laws over the weekend and our casual conversation steered towards this topic and my my!, there was so much anger and frustration from the floor. I had a simple question; do we know enough about Islam to comment on the Fatwa, naturally i dont and neither do the people whose enthusiasm ran amok. And that brought the topic to a grinding halt, much to my pleasure and there we were talking about movies. </p> <p>Ha, I thought, what a relief! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/12/01/of-yoga-and-the-fatwa-5145155/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>yoga-why-botherhttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/12/01/of-yoga-and-the-fatwa-5145155/#commentshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/11/21/gomobile-2008-big-joke-5073423/tag:bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk,2008-11-21:/2008/11/21/gomobile-2008-big-joke-5073423/Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:50:27 +0100 <p>I decided to forsake my lunch to catch the much talked about GoMobile at PWTC today and am I disappointed. Half the booths were empty and the rest were still setting up. Come on la, it was advertised that the 'event of the year' opens from 21 November and there was even a launch at 11 am by some VIP and we have a bunch of exhibitors who are not serious about promoting their ware. The recently launched model under Sony Ericcson was not even there for viewing.</p> <p>Also, i found most items exhorbitantly priced.Most handphones were more expensive that what we would get from our friendly outlets at shopping malls. I fail to understand the objective of this event, seriously.</p> <p>I think the organiser or promoter of this event will neecd to relook at the objectives and the purpose of such an event . Our disappointment as visitors is the failure of the event.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/11/21/gomobile-2008-big-joke-5073423/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>gomobilehttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/11/21/gomobile-2008-big-joke-5073423/#commentshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/11/03/of-raya-and-open-houses-4974810/tag:bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk,2008-11-03:/2008/11/03/of-raya-and-open-houses-4974810/Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:33:32 +0100 <p>I heave a sigh of relief after having gained at least 2kgs from all the buka puasa and open house events the past two months. I was far from enjoying all these food fiestas for a simple reason that as a vegetarian, I am often a forgotten lot.</p> <p>I have been to countless open house events and there had not been a single occasion when there was a dish that is worthy for a vegetarian. Of course there is plenty to splurge at the deserts corner but that is about the best and worst that can happen and that explains my weighty issue.</p> <p>I was shell shocked when an organization invited me for a Deepa-Raya open house and again, there was nothing to signify the deepavali spirit and not vegetarian dishes either.</p> <p>I have decided I will not attend any more of these open houses event next year and gain unsightly weight for no good reason. So long as people do not think catering for vegetarian guests are not important, my absence will not be felt, so I wish to think</p> <p>So , sayonara to the Open Houses.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/11/03/of-raya-and-open-houses-4974810/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>vegetarianismhttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/11/03/of-raya-and-open-houses-4974810/#commentshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/10/14/moview-review-chakkara-katti-4868370/tag:bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk,2008-10-14:/2008/10/14/moview-review-chakkara-katti-4868370/Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:16:41 +0200 <p>MOVIE REVIEW<br> CHAKKARAKATTI</p> <p>THE Western lifestyle is often showcased in Indian movies as being emulated by the rich and famous as a show of having gained wealth and reputation. </p> <p>In Chakkarakatti the exaggerations somehow works well for even the middle class. With Shantanu playing the lead alongside Ishita and Vedika, the lifestyle portrayed appeared like an overzealous attempt, but if you don’t put on your thinking cap, the movie will come on just as fine.</p> <p>Juices straight from the refrigerator for breakfast and girls visiting male friends in the bedroom at the family home are just some of things I found too westernized in the movie, but again why not for a change?</p> <p>Chakkarakatti is typically a love story- two girls and a guy.</p> <p>Taking after his father, actor turned director Bhagyaraj, , Shantanu acting skills seemed polished in the movie despite this being his maiden entry. His dimpled smile and rustic teenage outlook was refreshing, leaving the girls trying very hard to keep up by doing the best in the glamour roles assigned to them.</p> <p>Both Divali ( Ishita) and Rhema ( Vedika) are in love with Raj ( Shantanu) but Raj loves only Divali and the whole movie is about the three coping with the pitfalls of college love affair.</p> <p>The casting of Raj’s friends was excellent as the boys kept the humour tone high throughout the movie. There was no need for a comedian and without a villain, the movie was just as good. </p> <p>The animation-laced movie has lots of technology gone into it and A.R. Rahman’s feet-thumping music bombarding the movie will keep you appeased. There were two songs I particularly liked, Taxi , Taxi and Marudhani, one for its fast rappy beat and the other for a touch of old and new sentimentalism.</p> <p>Director Kala Prabhu, the son of legendary producer Kalai Puli Thanu has given the typical teenage love story a new lease by refashioning some of the regular love-failure scenes.</p> <p>Adults were all pictured flat in this flick, leaving the plot to evolved with just the’ kids’ in the picture. There is absolutely no ‘interference’ from the parents and again, for a change it was good.</p> <p>I would recommend Chakkarakatti for its simple story line and entertaining dialogues and it would appeal to the young and old. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/10/14/moview-review-chakkara-katti-4868370/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/10/14/moview-review-chakkara-katti-4868370/#commentshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/08/25/kl-draft-plan-deputy-minister-up-in-arms-4632719/tag:bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk,2008-08-25:/2008/08/25/kl-draft-plan-deputy-minister-up-in-arms-4632719/Mon, 25 Aug 2008 01:52:35 +0200 <p>I was shocked at the outburst from the FT deputy minister Dato' M Saravanan carried exclusively by Malaysiakini. To begin with, i cant understand what the fuss is all about. A deadline is given for the people and communities to revert with comments and Malaysian Hindu Sangam sent in their comment ten days before the deadline about the missing temples and the crematoriums in the draft plan. Why is Saravana creating a deadline within a dealine? The ministy has an obligation to wait till the last minute of the deadline to compile the comments and then to objectively view them from all standpoints.</p> <p>Why does Saravanan fear the Media? This is not the first time that he has critcised organisations and individuals who go the Media. It is complete ironny though that the very man who chides people for going to the Media does so himself at every available opportunity. The war of words between Saravanan and Selangor MB Tan Sri Khalid is a classic example. Finally both received a 'slap' on the face when the Kampugn Baru folk shut them up for good.</p> <p>"Watch your thoughts, for they become words.<br> Watch your words, for they become actions.<br> Watch your actions, for they become habits.<br> Watch your habits, for they become character.<br> Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny"</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/08/25/kl-draft-plan-deputy-minister-up-in-arms-4632719/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>politics-saravananhttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/08/25/kl-draft-plan-deputy-minister-up-in-arms-4632719/#commentshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/08/04/kuselan-film-review-4539457/tag:bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk,2008-08-04:/2008/08/04/kuselan-film-review-4539457/Mon, 04 Aug 2008 06:39:01 +0200 <p>KUSELAN FILM REVIEW</p> <p>WITH great enthusiasm we made it a family affair to watch Kuselan over the weekend and luckily we had enough popcorns and bites to sustain us through the waiting game. Forty-five minutes into the movie, there was no sound or sign of Rajni and the pomp was definitely missing. I then knew this was not the typical Rajni movie I had anticipated it to be.</p> <p>It was a frustrating wait for Rajni, who makes a rather delayed but definite grand entry as himself, the Superstar. At this point, I wait with bated breath not knowing what to expect and worse still there is still no villain, confirming my worse fear. </p> <p>For fans of Rajni, please take note that Kuselan is more about the impoverished Barber Balu ( Pasupaty ), eking our a meager living in Maraiyur. Balu values ethics more than anything else and his humble wife Sri Devi ( Meena) complements his character quite well by giving all and asking nothing in return. </p> <p>The small town of Maraiyur is turned abuzz overnight with the arrival of the shooting crew and with this entourage Rajni arrives, as Superstar Ashok Kumar. It appears to me, Kuselan is an autobiography of sort for Rajni as we get a good glimpse of Rajni, the person, completely dressed-down from fame and prominence.</p> <p>The town is launched into frenzy to meet Rajni and the people arrive in droves to meet him but for security reasons they are kept out of view. The Superstar’s desire to meet all his fans is often thwarted by the middlemen, the security officers and the police. We get a good sense of the kind of hero-worship people generally have for film stars in this flick.</p> <p>Balu’s claim that he and superstar were school mates creates ripples in an otherwise calm life of his and the rest of the story revolves around how he and his family members get into awkward situations from this revelation. </p> <p>The village people start offering favours to Balu in return for some kind of face-to-face chance with the Superstar. But Balu is apprehensive and rightly so as he is unsure if the Superstar who is now a celebrity would want to associate himself with a downtrodden barber’s.</p> <p>We see Vadiveloo, Balu’s business competitor filling the humour quotient but Livingstone , the self-proclaimed rich man of the village and his bunch of followers turn out to be chief irritants in the movie. Their unruly behaviour and language were disturbing to say the least.</p> <p>Nayanthara is herself in Kuselan , part of the shooting crew and her role gives her a good platform to publicise her trim and slim figure she now wears.</p> <p>We see outstanding costumes and impressive settings during the shooting scenes but the songs do not really sink in memory. Kuselan is really an ode to friendship and it provides Rajni an opportunity to communicate to the world all that he really is as a person, beyond and behind the Superstar image he has earned.</p> <p>Balu’s failed attempts to meet the superstar shows the wall that is created by not the Superstar himself but are put in place by various authorities in the name of security. </p> <p>Will Balu meet his childhood friend before the latter leaves the village at the end of the shooting period? Watch the movie for the answer, and believe me, the last twenty minutes of the movie leaves you tearing. </p> <p>Let us give producer K. Balachander and director P Vasu a break. Kuselan is made for a larger purpose and with a deeper message to coincide with the World Friendship Day on 3 August.</p> <p>Some comments from my family members; the seven year old found the movie tolerable after Rajni’s delayed appearance, the teenagers found it quite a bore with Rajni’s fights missing, while the senior citizens thought they should have stayed at home for the TV serials. And I missed Rajni’s as a Superstar in Kuselan.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/08/04/kuselan-film-review-4539457/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>movieshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/08/04/kuselan-film-review-4539457/#commentshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/07/27/benz-vs-perdana-4506389/tag:bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk,2008-07-27:/2008/07/27/benz-vs-perdana-4506389/Sun, 27 Jul 2008 15:49:17 +0200 <p>The Benz fiasco in Terengganu was quite a revelation for quite a bit about the quality of Proton cars came to light. But what amuses me now is I am lost on who is the more intelligent of the two: the MB who bought the 14 Benz cars or the Prime Minister who allowed the purchases to stay and the cars to be used by foreign visitors to the state. So, the state will continue spending on the Perdanas ( or purchase new ones maybe ??? ) and allow the Benz cars to lie idle and depreciate in value.<br> I am truly at wits end. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/07/27/benz-vs-perdana-4506389/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/07/27/benz-vs-perdana-4506389/#commentshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/07/20/anwar-where-are-the-answers-4474092/tag:bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk,2008-07-20:/2008/07/20/anwar-where-are-the-answers-4474092/Sun, 20 Jul 2008 15:24:27 +0200 <p>Anwar is now released but the nation is abuzz with want of his blood sample. The cat and mouse game between Anwar and the powers that be is too much for the average man on the street. I met an old friend of mine and we were not talking about us when we met. Inevitably ever so often out discussion veered towards Anwar and the injustice that have befallen him for a decade now and there seems to be still no light at the end of the tunnel.</p> <p>What happened to the blood sample taken during the 1998 sodomy fiasco? What is the need to draw fresh blood? </p> <p>And what is to become fo RPK ? As a blogger rightly pointed out, it seems like a one man's fight against the masses and RPK is going against the waves. What is to become of him?</p> <p>While the police has its hand full with Anwar and RPK, the average citizens of Malaysia are suffering the consequences.</p> <p>I was in UH on 14 July to do my MRI for which i waited for seven months and I was asked to be at the Xray dept by 7.30am on the dot as there were patients back-to-back. I made it by 7.25am as I was against peak traffic. However my procedure was delayed by half hour as the medical assitants arrived late and subsequently other staff were arriving later and later caused by the road blocks. </p> <p>We could only stand and watch the nation's resources being depleted by people in power. The police blocks for a fact an act of intimidation and not particularly to thwart the demonstrations- if there were any. If the Anwar was the issue, the police should have erected blocks around his house and not at all entry points leading to the city. This reminds of a man destroying a whole lot of forest to kill a single mosquito.</p> <p>Another friend asked me what i thought of the country's political scenario now and i said a good disinfectant was critically needed.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/07/20/anwar-where-are-the-answers-4474092/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/07/20/anwar-where-are-the-answers-4474092/#commentshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/07/16/movie-review-dasavatharam-4454526/tag:bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk,2008-07-16:/2008/07/16/movie-review-dasavatharam-4454526/Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:34:18 +0200 <p>FILM REVIEW<br> DASAVATHARAM</p> <p>By Bhavani Krishna Iyer</p> <p>THE wild goose chase for tickets took me from several failed telephone bookings to an-hour long queue at GSC One- Utama and I finally ended up at Lotus with the first row seats, and didn’t mind risking my neck for Kamal. My family thought I was crazy.</p> <p>Having gotten the ticket with such hassle, I walked into the cinema with loads of expectations ( and popcorns) and what more; Kamal Haaasan is known for some novelty in most of his films. Ten avatars ( reincarnations) or roles as Kamal would have it, I thought would appease my expectation. </p> <p>The opening scene was grandiose with the first fifteen minutes bringing us back to the 12th Century conflict between the Shaivites and and the Vaishnavites. The setting is in Chidambaram during the Chola empire and the costumes made the scene very telling, exemplifying Kamal’s perfectionism. </p> <p>Having said that, the events that follow, after the execution of Vaishnavite Rangaraja Nambi ( Kamal) at the beginning of the show, have history woven in delicately but I felt that the relevance was apparent only to the discerning few.</p> <p>For the next two hours and 45 minutes, it was Kamal running after a tiny box the size of a match-box containing a deadly bio chemical </p> <p>Biotechnologist Dr Govind Ramaswamy ( Kamal ) takes to heels to save the world from his vicious colleagues and partners, thwarting their plan to mint money from the deadly virus with the potential of being used as a deadly bio weapon, capable of wiping out the entire world population. Govind is part of this prestigious research project on bio weapons in the United States, directly under the Bush Administration.</p> <p>The run and chase begins when the little box with the vial finds its way out of the laboratory and to India, in Chidambaram more precisely and as it would have to be. We see Govind, the villain, the FBI and the Indian police trailing Govind and Aandal played by Asin the Brahmin girl and the unwitting accomplice to Govind.</p> <p>I would say Chance, Chaos and Coincidence are the mainstays of Dasavatharam, a movie built over almost three years, with a thin and mediocre story line and predictable twists and turns. </p> <p>The costliest movie ever made in India ( at a cost of Rs 65 Crores), Dasavatharam was released simultaneously in India and Malaysia on Friday the 13th . Movie critics have since torn Kamal apart for the lack of many-things in the movie, topping the list is the absence of depth in this character and story. </p> <p>The popularity of this movie runs on Kamal doing ten different roles, a record breaking feat where one actor appears in the most roles but there is no added value or justification for Kamal to appear in so many roles. Some critics say the roles were fished out just to add to the numbers. </p> <p>Compared to his previous accomplishment such as Michael, Madhana, Kamaraja ( 1991) where he played four roles, Avvai Shanmugi( 1996) , Thennali (2000) and Panchatanthiram (2002), Dasavatharam does not live up to the expectations, I would say.</p> <p>K.S. Ravikumar who needs no introduction is seen here pairing with Kamal for the fourth time, all three previous ventures were roaring successes. He takes credit for the direction of the movie and shares credit with Kamal, the late Sujatha and Crazy Mohan for scripting the story. </p> <p>Crazy Mohan’s dialogues are a class of its own. Known for his slapstick flicks, the movie had several of them. Mohan, Kamal and Ravikumar have worked to big success in Panchathanthiram, Thennali and Avvai Shanmugi. </p> <p>For humour, if you expect to see Vadiveloo or Vivek, you will not be disappointed by their a absence as the pair Kamal and Asin is equally good, if not better. </p> <p>Now, Kamal’s other roles in this movie, some of which disguised beyond recognized through the good work of American make-up artist Michael Westmore will not be revealed so as not to kill the only suspense in the movie.</p> <p>Keeping up to the Jackie Chan-like action-packed scenes, there were no dream, dance or song scenes and this contributed to the momentum staying high.</p> <p>My advice is to catch the movie on the big screen or you will not reap the full benefit of the special effects which are generously provided for and check out the nonagenarian Krishnaveni, she is more than just hilarious</p> <p>The end</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/07/16/movie-review-dasavatharam-4454526/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>movieshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/07/16/movie-review-dasavatharam-4454526/#commentshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/07/16/anwar-vs-shabery-shame-ry-4454492/tag:bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk,2008-07-16:/2008/07/16/anwar-vs-shabery-shame-ry-4454492/Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:28:36 +0200 <p>A vs S – a fiery debate</p> <p>I am neither a great fan of the opposition nor a foe of the Barisan Government but I was tickled pink during the recent debate between Anwar and Shabery. And watching it live made all the difference for we could see who the thinker was as opposed to the other who was grinding on redundancies.<br> To begin with, Anwar emerged the nobler of the two, by strategy or otherwise and Shabery was a shame to himself and the Government whom he spoke for.<br> Despite Anwar repeatedly warning or reminding, if you like, that the event at hand was not Anwar vs Shabery but more to counter or support the opposition pledge to reduce the fuel hike if they were to be given the opportunity to lead the nation, Shabery was only a loaded machine gun, losing ammunition but mostly not hitting the target.<br> Anwar had his mind and insight clear, he talked about reducing the fuel by not just any sum but by 50 sen and he came up with his reasons and justifications backed with facts and figures. </p> <p>Shabery, on the other had was hiding behind the Barisan Government and saw it fit to defend his paymasters without there being a need to do so. It also appears that Shabery might have worked really hard on researching the history for the history seems to be his preoccupation rather than issues at hand plaguing us every dawn and dusk.<br> Never once did Anwar condemn </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/07/16/anwar-vs-shabery-shame-ry-4454492/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>anwarhttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/07/16/anwar-vs-shabery-shame-ry-4454492/#commentshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/07/11/wanita-mic-4432285/tag:bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk,2008-07-11:/2008/07/11/wanita-mic-4432285/Fri, 11 Jul 2008 02:25:27 +0200 <p>JULY, 2008</p> <p>NEW WINE IN OLD BOTTLE OR VICE VERSA ?</p> <p>I have not missed a single of the MIC Wanita National Conventions for a decade now and the recent was my 11th.</p> <p>For obvious reasons I was hoping this year’s gathering would be different. Was I disappointed? Read on for the answer.</p> <p>The day-long event took off with the ceremonial launches and this is where we get to hear the MIC President covertly reprimanding delegates while overtly showering accolades and praises for the favoured few. After the morning tea, the crowd broke into three sections. I have always looked forward to this session where we are able to meet the Wanita leaders at close proximity and share our thoughts on various topics. This session also gives one a good “perception vs reality” understanding.</p> <p>The president opened the Wanita session with his two-sen worth of stories to drive some messages across but more importantly, he had wanted to hear for himself the voices from the ground. He told the Woman leader that the usual tabling of annual reports should be dealt with much later, much to my delight</p> <p>He wanted to know the grouses from the women and what it was that they hoped for in MIC and I was all perked up to hear the voices that would bring about the much talked-about changes.</p> <p>Marched the first lady to the rostrum to start the ball rolling for the day, with her first question, which turned out to be grumble. Her fatuous concern was not having been given ‘due recognition’ as a division woman leader as was made to sit in the back row. There was no tagging on the chairs and the ladies sat on first-in basis and that did not augur well with this division leader. </p> <p>Well, some ladies sacrificed their morning tea to be able to take the front seats and I don’t think it would have been fair to uproot people who were already seated, and the organizing committee (if there was one ) let it be.</p> <p>I thought respect and recognition are not reflected on where one sits but how eloquently one is able present her thoughts and ideas. And this is something, MIC needs to address urgently within party in the rejuvenating exercise; to do away with the form and focus on substance. </p> <p>Also, why create fractions within the MIC wanita community. Someone asked me why were the women clad in so many different sarees defeating the purpose of uniformity. I remained silent when she asked if the intention was to segregate the ‘ elites’ from the commoners. </p> <p>Time was limited and we were approaching lunch, I was edgy with frustration from the first question. The next lady raised a question about teenaged girls going astray and getting hitched from school by the young bikers. Now, we all know that this issue is not unique to the Indian community, but this was the topic that took centrestage with every other women deliberating on it. I am not undermining the severity of this problem but when the president agrees that it is an issue needing attention and concerted effort, the cue is to move on. There were more and more hands going up pleading for a chance to speak.</p> <p>Subsequently, there was another lady who wanted some reprieve for a young local university graduate who had been jobless for some time now. The contention was she had applied to many organisations and her attempts had been futile. As the girl was present in the hall, the president asked her to speak.</p> <p>She was not able to string a sentence in English and she was fumbling to make herself understood. There were uneasy whispers from the floor and I was happy I was not the only one who noticed her lack of the basics. A good lady seated behind me was correcting, every word the girl was pronouncing with gross inaccuracy. In an aside, we were asking how she could have graduated with a degree in business administration.. It was apparent that she was seeking high handed recommendation to land in a job but I thought if indeed she secured a job through such means, it would be any employer’s nightmare.</p> <p>She is typically one who thinks MIC owes her a living. This is a perennial problem with most young graduates. They think they have got it all with a degree and would not want to enhance their skills. This girl could do with language and presentation skills to begin with.</p> <p>There was also a long debate on how MIC could further help single mothers. Let me tell you that this subject has been hogging the convention for as long as I can recall. The Wanita leader would agree me that middle class wage earners are also a lot who need attention.</p> <p>I know for a fact that lots have been done through the MICs Yayasan Strategik Sosial for single mothers and this is a bottomless pit where it will never be enough. Young professionals and graduates and middle income wage earners’ status must also be enhanced to achieve the 1.5 corporate equity for Indians, announced by MIC recently.</p> <p>Coming to Resolutions, they are formulated, presented, discussed, amended and then adopted or voted and the resolutions will be the basis on which actions plans be determined for the coming year. I might ruffle some feather if I were to say that the resolutions churned out this year did not have the vigour and zeal that the MIC is talking about to rejuvenate itself. </p> <p>It is time that the Wanita leaders are given KPIs as MIC is in a ‘ do or die’ situation and we need to make it happen together. The MIC Wanita leaders and members alike should have a holistic understanding of the national issues and be able to place them in Global perspective for out-of –box suggestions and solutions. For this to happen, a K-culture must be instilled.</p> <p>By Bhavani Krishna Iyer</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/07/11/wanita-mic-4432285/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/07/11/wanita-mic-4432285/#commentshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/07/05/mic-walk-the-talk-4407849/tag:bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk,2008-07-05:/2008/07/05/mic-walk-the-talk-4407849/Sat, 05 Jul 2008 18:32:10 +0200 <p>I read with interest Dr Subra's news on Malaysiakini and I must say I am a tad amused.<br> The headline reads:<br> <u>Subra: New plans show Indians not marginalised</u>.</p> <p>Dr S goes on to reveal that<br> " Among the key decisions or those agreed in principle by the government at the cabinet committee include:</p> <p>- To convert 372 partially-aided Tamil schools into fully-assisted schools.<br> - Consolidate schools which had an enrolment of less than 50 students.<br> - To ensure at least eight percent of Indian representation at all levels in the civil service. To achieve that, it will also see more promotions for Indian civil servants.<br> - The MIC-run Asian Institute for Medicine, Science and Technology (Aimst) to be re-categorised as one of the five private universities which recognise government-sponsored students to boost the intake of Indian students into critical sectors like medicine and engineering. At present, students who receive government scholarship were only given a list of choice of universities which does not include Aimst.<br> - To allow Indian contractors to take part in government projects at all levels. For government’s mega projects, it is suggested that certain sub-contract jobs be given to Indian contractors.<br> - Indian entrepreneurs to be given more opportunities in the development of vendor development scheme through companies like state-owned oil firm Petronas and national car-maker Proton.<br> - Easier access to government loans for Indian entrepreneurs.<br> - More taxi and bus permits for Indian companies.<br> - To increase the Indian corporate equity from the current 1.1 percent to 1.5 percent in 2010. To do this, the government is planning to set up a unit trust scheme based on the Permodalan Nasional Berhad model to allow Indians to invest in the scheme to increase their equity in the market."</p> <p>Looks okay on print but is there going to be some machinery keeping tabs on these deliverables. Dr S of all persons should know that we need KPIs and they come with quantifiable output against time frame or deadlines and i dont see them in the items listed above.</p> <p>It is high time MIC had professionals come together to plan, strategise and then achieve all of the items listed above but more importantly, MIC needs to be heard by the Indian community at large. Is MIC loud enough anymore??? One man speaking inside a cave with his voice amplified for himself will not do, not anymore. Dr S, we need people who can walk the talk. People who make statements come and go and so do people who make SDs, they come, go and then disappear but we need real people with real actions.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/07/05/mic-walk-the-talk-4407849/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/07/05/mic-walk-the-talk-4407849/#commentshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/07/05/the-missing-sd-champ-4407762/tag:bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk,2008-07-05:/2008/07/05/the-missing-sd-champ-4407762/Sat, 05 Jul 2008 18:06:24 +0200 <p>We now have three SDs circulating, one is being investigated, the other two SDs are on 'trial' as to which is the correct one. Maybe the "correct, correct, correct" specialist should be called in to solve this puzzling SDs.</p> <p>BTW, was watching the news a while ago, TV3 actually and Najib is full of himself, swearing upon Allah that he and his wife were innocent. Just then, a family family who was with me said this is a shame, somebody has to do something to bring justice and I asked her who that someone might be? The people are wallowing in ambarrassment and sickened by the scandals, one after the other but that is to be expected as when there is politics, there is bound to be scandals. However, the PM's 'deaf and dumb' attitude makes me puke. </p> <p>Incidentally, the question on my mind is who is hiding the SD champ who has gone missing? It has to be either of the two and from the look of it, if the champ ever comes back , the SDs will get him into enough trouble.</p> <p>What kind of police and law makers do we have here? Nothing is right, the rights are wronged and the wrongs are righted. Cheez this sounds like Indian politics someone said the other day, and i said hey dont underestimate us, we can do better.</p> <p>And what is to become of the people who will be gathering tomorrow? At the mercy of the army? God help these people and those who are celebrating for successfully masterminding the Missing SD Champ, for better of worse,the truth will come out today, tomorrow or one day.</p> <p>Meanwhile, I cant wait to read RPKs account of the questioning this time, the last was really hillarious and even more mind splitting was Nades' narration of the questioning episode.</p> <p>Hail RPK and the rest who are fighting for justice and truth.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/07/05/the-missing-sd-champ-4407762/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>politicshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/07/05/the-missing-sd-champ-4407762/#commentshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/07/04/sd-malaysia-boleh-4404094/tag:bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk,2008-07-04:/2008/07/04/sd-malaysia-boleh-4404094/Fri, 04 Jul 2008 18:03:25 +0200 <p>Dei Bala, what is happening la.<br> SD pun boleh tukar ka<br> kalau sd tukar sudah<br> itu jadi tipulah</p> <p>I need to be educated. I thought if one goes against an SD, he can end up in prison. How come Bala can pull it on and off?<br> I was hard at work the whole of yesterday trying to get a peak of RPK's Malaysia Today but alas, i was waiting to eternity and nothing appeared. Thank God, Malaysiakini appeared the saviour. The scaled down version pun jadilah but i was waiting for the next and next updates like a little child waiting for toffee. What a drama man! </p> <p>The plot is getting thicker and very convulated for my simple mind and cant wait for the climax.</p> <p>Long live Anwar and more revelations please</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/07/04/sd-malaysia-boleh-4404094/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>politicshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/07/04/sd-malaysia-boleh-4404094/#commentshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/02/05/of_men_and_marriage~3683101/tag:bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk,2008-02-05:/2008/02/05/of_men_and_marriage~3683101/Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:40:21 +0100 <p>Lily: Have u heard of this contract marriage?<br> Vani: No, what is that ?<br> Aya: This is the latest in town. Marriage of convenience between Middle Eeatern men and local women. On the basis that men cant live without sex for more than three days, they marry local women for a contract of five years<br> Lily: Yes i have heard of that too. But what is the harm as long as there is willing buyer and willing seller.<br> Aya: Yeah, why not. The women get a husband on contract and for entertaining the contract husband the contract wife gets a monthly allowance ( or salary), house and car of her choice. Easy money la.<br> Vani: I suppose so, but how does this work ?<br> Aya; oh, this is just by word of mouth and it travels faster than the jet.<br> Vani: But what happens to the woman when the contract is up?<br> Aya: I suppose there is gratuity when the term is up and in any case what is there to worry about. With a house and a car, the woman will look for the next contract until she is ' saleable'.<br> Vani: What happens when she gets old ?<br> Aya: Live today, die tomorrow. Who worries about tomorrow when today is right before your eyes with all the luxuries of life.<br> Vani : I dont think it is wrong but i do not think it is morally and ethicallly right.<br> Lily: What morals and ethics? Men and women have become commodities in this nonsensical world. Marriage and divorce have become a norm and like kacang putih it has become fashionable swapping partners.<br> Vani: Yeah but two wrongs do not make a right.<br> Lily, Aya: Haiyaa, just go with the tide la. Easy for me and you. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/02/05/of_men_and_marriage~3683101/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/02/05/of_men_and_marriage~3683101/#commentshttp://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/02/05/stand_up_and_be_heard~3682988/tag:bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk,2008-02-05:/2008/02/05/stand_up_and_be_heard~3682988/Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:18:37 +0100 <p>Good Consumerism Starts with Self</p> <p>On a recent brief visit to Bali, I was at a reflexology centre in Kuta for some pampering after hours of scouring the streets and the beach front. Being a non-peak season Kuta was relatively breezy and at this massage centre I was in, there were at least ten girls, dressed in their batik pant suit waiting for clients. A white man ( an American , I presumed from his accent) walked in and after selecting the option from the ‘menu’ that best suited his need, was about to walk into his cubicle. The average looking lass perched on a low stool at the reception told the white man he would have to pay first before going in for the massage. A curt and an epigrammatic ‘ No’ was the reply. He then explained he had the money ( he flashed wads of US currencies from the pouch tugging his belly ) but as a matter of principal he would not pay for a service until after.</p> <p>An exchange ensured with the girls insisting ‘ pay first’ while the white man was determined not to give in. For the next ten minutes I was all ears with amusement. All the guy was trying to say was that that it was bad business ethics to demand payment prior to the service being taken up. The lady was as polite as she could possibly be but she wouldn’t budge from her stand which she says was the policy set by the centre owner. </p> <p>After the stand-off, the white man threatened to walk-out and I liked the way he put it, rather bluntly, “ money later, or no massage” and even this could not do the trick. The girls would rather lose business then to bend the so-called rule. However, in a dramatic twist, pragmatism prevailed and the white man relented. He was muttering as walked past me into his cubicle and there ended my entertainment. My mother always told me never seek pleasure from another’s misfortune, but I couldn’t help it.</p> <p>The whole point of this narration is the extent to which some people stand up for their principles and rights, especially when it comes to unethical business practices. I felt like a fool having paid for my service upfront without even batting an eye lid. </p> <p>Frankly how, many of us make it a point to voice our discontent as a consumer? We Asians are to a large extent voiceless, compromising and silent consumers. </p> <p> The incident in Bali will serve as a reminder to me that standing up for one’s rights as a consumer is a responsibility of all of us. In this context, the efforts by the Domestic Trade and Consumers Affairs Minister to educate the public at large on smart consumerism is a commendable effort.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/02/05/stand_up_and_be_heard~3682988/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://bhavaniyer.blog.co.uk/2008/02/05/stand_up_and_be_heard~3682988/#comments