Thank God for Saudi Arabia

2nd last. If not for the Saudis, we would have been the worst CO2 emitter in the world, according to the latest Climate Change Performance Index! [See index here]. And thank God we have Azmi Khalid who, at least, did not blame our poor ratings on perception! Based on the Star's report here, Azmi blamed it on state legislation and members of the public. As to why we fared worse than Indonesia, it's because "we are more industrialized". Should we be concerned? Well, the minister is not:

“We are doing our best. We have also signed 20 international treaties and are committed to reducing carbon dioxide.”

The Muslim Yachtsman

I'm a Muslim, mate. Finally, Azhar Mansor, the sailing hero of millions of Malaysians, has come out in the open to declare that he is STILL a Muslim. Depending on the outcome of police investigation, he may sue the sender of the SMS who claimed earlier this month that Azhar the Christian Convert was going to help baptize hundreds of Malay-Muslims at an Ipoh church.

But while he considers that suit, Azhar should start suing publications worldwide which had "made" him a Christian that he is not. This one here, for example, was published way back in June and is still widely quoted and circulated. Because they were not immediately denied, such stories gained credence. And if not challenged now, such stories will become a gospel truth.

[click here to read the Bernama's "I Am A Muslim, says Azhar"; here for a most recent BBC piece on "Life as a secret Christian Convert"].

FOR UMNO, SOME HOPE YET?

Mukhriz Mahathir. This soft-spoken man, the youngest son of the previous PM, has always lived in the political shadow of his father. That shadow is still as long as ever but Mukhriz is finally emerging out of it and, at the just-concluded Umno general assembly, proves to be a personality to be reckoned with. Just saying he was "a little disappointed" here with Dollah Badawi's address on Wednesday was enough, it seems, to rattle an entire army of keris-waving Umno leaders who now want his head to roll! Umno Youth leader Hishammuddin Hussein was terrified and said he would have to reconsider Mukhriz's position in the Umno Youth executive council line-up if he made any more offending remarks. Such fear!

What did the PM say? Well, he said he was happy to be criticized ...

Abdullah said that he would get very worried if people just showered praises. "But everybody (at the assembly) has spoken very frankly on what they feel about certain things. And I think that's healthy, that's good."

but he ain't happy at all to all when it's Mukhriz who's criticizing him ...

"Well, he has said something which I thought was not right at all," was Abdullah's response when asked about the matter, adding that it was up to Umno Youth to tackle the issue.

[Mind you, the PM's flip-flop about being criticized came from the same article here! Also, check out Cuit-Sikit's take on why the PM was wrong to say that Mukhriz had broken the party law by criticizing him here and Lily's review of the year's scariest movie here].

["Mukhriz is Irrational, Refuses to Accept Reality - Ahmad Zahid ".. click here to read the story]

HISHAMMUDDIN'S KERIS

Letter to Rocky's Bru:
Hi Bro Rocky,

Re: NST, today, page 7 by Wan Hamidi Hamid
I am saddened by this article in NST today which quoted a speech by Perlis delegate Hashim Suboh venting his anger at non-Malays. He asked our Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein:

"Datuk Hisham has unsheathed his keris, waved his keris, kissed his keris. We want to ask Datuk Hisham, when is he going to use it?”.

I am shocked by his statement on being insensitive. Being a law-abiding citizen and truly loved to live in this beautiful country, Malaysia and after living more than half-a-century, I don’t expect it to come from a delegate. I have friends a lot of Malay friends and we get along so well. I don't think we need this type of comments.
I rest my case, Malaysia.

updated: 11pm Dollah delighted with debates. [click here to read how happy the PM is with all these].