Sins can be forgiven, but stupid is forever

"The moral test of a government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life - the children; the twilight of life - the elderly; and the shadows of life - the sick, the needy and the handicapped." - Hubert H. Humphrey

Never do anything twice that you don't have to do at all!" .......that's stupid


Umno Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein was today accused of stirring up racial tensions again by brandishing a keris to thunderous applause at the party’s annual congress, reported Malaysiakini, and from "The Star" :

Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said "The keris is a protector of not just Malays but everyone as the Government will protect Malaysians of all races

With this assurance, he hoped to lay to rest concerns about the keris which had been a bone of contention among non-Malays.

He said that the keris had been misinterpreted last year by some quarters, who questioned why he had unsheathed and kissed at the Youth assembly.

"They said the keris is a symbol of fighting. It looks like 50 years after independence, there are still some of our people who do not understand the culture of our people and country," he said in his speech at the Umno Youth assembly on Tuesday.

Saying that the keris is a symbol of strength and for centuries a part of Malay heritage, he said it signifies sovereignty, power, dignity, and responsibility.

He added that the keris is unique in the way it is made, sheathed, worn and used, and it carried with it specific dos and don’ts.

Unlike the axe which is used to chop or the parang (machete) which is used to slaughter, the keris is not an everyday weapon and is carried to official functions and to the palace.

He noted that the ceremonial keris used by the King has its origin from iron derived from 11 keris from the different states in Malaysia.

Thus, he said, the keris was not just a symbol of strength but also of unity, wisdom and knowledge.

Hishammuddin said that he kissed the keris because he accepted the power and the responsibilities that came with it and pledged to be fair in discharging his duties.

"The keris is unsheathed with the aspiration to defend our people and country, not just the Malays but also the non-Malays in the country.

"The Malay keris is a protector of all, just like the Government of today will always protect people of all races. So don’t let anyone be fearful or nervous about this everlasting symbol," he said."

(Taken from The Star)

The three wings of Umno -- Wanita Umno, Umno Youth and Puteri Umno -- began their respective general assemblies this morning at the Putra World Trade Centre here in the midst of Umno's preparedness to face the country's 12th general election.

The assemblies are most meaningful as they come at a time when the country is celebrating its 50th anniversary of independence and is drawing up plans to realise Mission 2057 -- the plan to develop Malaysia over the next 50 years.

The assemblies began at 8.30am, with Wanita Umno meeting at the Dewan Tun Hussein Onn, Umno Youth at Dewan Merdeka and Puteri Umno at Dewan Tun Dr Ismail.

The non-Malays need not fear if there were a handful of Umno delegates who touch on sensitive racial issues during the debates at the four-day Umno General Assembly this time, said Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad.

"The non-Malays will understand that it involves only a small fraction who wants to have fun, the others will understand. We have been together for 50 years since the country's independence," he said here today.