Check this out...!!
Interesting... looking to get hold of the comics soon....
hehe... got superhero from Mesia laaaa...
Interesting... looking to get hold of the comics soon....
hehe... got superhero from Mesia laaaa...
Her name is Mujibah...!! :)
Showing posts with label News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label News. Show all posts
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, December 4, 2009
Hmmm... finally....!!
What's the right expression for this....? "It's about time..."?... hmmm, not really, since I think that it has been long overdue.... Anyhow, tell me the right expression for this, pls...
Also interesting that the story was picked up from The Straits Times (Singapore), before being picked up again by The Malaysian Insider...
Also interesting that the story was picked up from The Straits Times (Singapore), before being picked up again by The Malaysian Insider...
Chinese-style mosques in three states
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 4 — Three new mosques with Chinese-style architecture will soon be built in three different states, in a bid by the government to win over the Chinese community.
The mosques, to be built in Rawang in Selangor, Malacca and Perak, will be ready in the next two years.
Like Malaysia's first Chinese-style mosque, which was completed recently in Kelantan, they will combine classic Chinese and Islamic architectural styles. Familiar pagoda-style roofs replace the usual domes alongside minarets.
And while sermons in mosques here are usually delivered only in Malay, they will be given in Malay and Mandarin at the three new mosques.
The government had given approval to the building of the mosques, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Mashitah Ibrahim, to help the Chinese community understand Islam better.
“It is a form of dakwah (spreading the message of Islam),” she told The Straits Times.
“We also want to get closer to the Chinese and help them to understand that Islam does not promote hatred towards other religions.”
Mashitah, who is in charge of Islamic affairs, added that the mosques will focus on promoting Chinese culture such as art, herbs and food.
The mosques, which are being funded by the government and the Chinese-Muslim community, will also organise non-religious festivities during festivals such as Chinese New Year and the mooncake festival. They are part of efforts to reach out to the Chinese people, many of whom believe that Islam imposes rigid rules on Muslim converts.
Many believe that embracing Islam would mean losing their racial identity and cutting ties with their family members.
Malaysian Chinese Muslim Association (Macma) president Datuk Mustapha Ma acknowledged this misconception among the Chinese.
“Perhaps it is our mistake for not doing enough to explain Islam to the community,” he said.
“But now, it will be easier for us as we can organise non-religious activities in Chinese mosques and invite the non-Muslims.”
According to Ma, the Chinese Muslim population has been growing, from only 57,000 a decade ago to an estimated 70,000 now.
The mosques, to be built in Rawang in Selangor, Malacca and Perak, will be ready in the next two years.
Like Malaysia's first Chinese-style mosque, which was completed recently in Kelantan, they will combine classic Chinese and Islamic architectural styles. Familiar pagoda-style roofs replace the usual domes alongside minarets.
And while sermons in mosques here are usually delivered only in Malay, they will be given in Malay and Mandarin at the three new mosques.
The government had given approval to the building of the mosques, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Mashitah Ibrahim, to help the Chinese community understand Islam better.
“It is a form of dakwah (spreading the message of Islam),” she told The Straits Times.
“We also want to get closer to the Chinese and help them to understand that Islam does not promote hatred towards other religions.”
Mashitah, who is in charge of Islamic affairs, added that the mosques will focus on promoting Chinese culture such as art, herbs and food.
The mosques, which are being funded by the government and the Chinese-Muslim community, will also organise non-religious festivities during festivals such as Chinese New Year and the mooncake festival. They are part of efforts to reach out to the Chinese people, many of whom believe that Islam imposes rigid rules on Muslim converts.
Many believe that embracing Islam would mean losing their racial identity and cutting ties with their family members.
Malaysian Chinese Muslim Association (Macma) president Datuk Mustapha Ma acknowledged this misconception among the Chinese.
“Perhaps it is our mistake for not doing enough to explain Islam to the community,” he said.
“But now, it will be easier for us as we can organise non-religious activities in Chinese mosques and invite the non-Muslims.”
According to Ma, the Chinese Muslim population has been growing, from only 57,000 a decade ago to an estimated 70,000 now.
Still, the community remains a minority among the Chinese, who make up 6.7 million of Malaysia's 28 million population.
The association had been asking the government to build Chinese-style mosques over the past 10 years, but their applications had been turned down.
One of the reasons, explained Datuk Abdullah Zin, religious adviser to the Prime Minister, was that the state religious authorities felt that there should not be various types of mosques as Islam promoted unity.
Some Chinese Muslims also said there was little need for such mosques and sermons in Mandarin.
“Most Chinese understand Malay here,” said Kedah teacher Ani Aishah Fatimah Leong Abdullah, 42.
Still, Macma's Ma believes that the building of the Chinese-style mosques could help to ease current racial tensions between Muslims and non-Muslims.
“We can show that Islam is a universal religion by building such mosques,” he said.
“Non-Muslims can attend non-religious activities there, and the mosques can be used by all Muslims, not only Chinese Muslims, for prayer.” — The Straits Times
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/45412-chinese-style-mosques-in-three-states
(errr... gambo2, gua cilok from internet, seperti biasa lah...!! haha...)
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
The Last of Their Kind...
7days UAE
Tuesday 1 Sep, 2009
In the language of the nomadic Penan there is no word for forest, it is simply their universe, and its destruction is snuffing out the ancient lifestyle of this tribe, who are among the world’s last hunter-gatherers.
Wielding spears and dressed in loincloths, one small band who emerged from the Borneo jungles to tell their tale, said that encroachment by timber and plantation firms has made their already hard life impossible.
They said they are ready to stop roaming and settle in villages, giving weight to fears that the 300-400 Penan thought to still be nomadic may all soon descend on local populations, or even that their way of life is already extinct.
“Our problem is that there is just not enough to eat, there are no wild boar to catch any more,” said Sagong, the headman of the group. “The companies logged all the teak already, and now they are going to clear the land for palm oil plantations.”
The young chief had brought 15 of his people to a blockade against the timber and plantation companies.
“If that happens, we lose everything, we cannot survive this,” he said. “Yes it is sad to leave this life of roaming. But what can we do? We have to strive for the best for ourselves. It is our fate to face this challenge.”
A lean and muscular man in his 30s, Sagong said their last hope was to join the anti-logging campaign that has escalated recently in Sarawak state, on Malaysia’s half of Borneo, an island shared with Indonesia.
“I came here to man the blockade and safeguard the land,” he said at one of the barriers built of logs and bamboo, among seven constructed in the region in recent months to force the timber trucks to a halt.
The Penan of Sarawak, who are estimated to number about 10,000, had mostly abandoned their nomadic ways and settled in villages by the 1970s under the influence of Christian missionaries.
Even the settled Penan still retain a deep connection to the jungle, foraging for rattan, medicinal plants, fruits, and sago palm - a starchy staple. Wild game are hunted with finely crafted blowpipes and poison darts.
The Penan have been opposing logging for decades, but the spectre of bulldozers coming in to clear-fell what is left of the jungles has proved too much to bear.
Jayl Langub, an anthropologist from the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, said the nomadic Penan are being thrust into the modern world through contact with loggers, satellite TV, and the boarding schools where some send their children.
“It would be better if they made their own decision and settled at their own pace, but these changes are coming very rapidly and I think it just overwhelms them,” he said.
“However much they want to remain nomadic, the changes to the landscape mean it probably would not be possible for them to continue anyway... unless they live next to a national park, or unless areas are converted into reserves.”
On a sliver of hilltop not far from the blockade, Sagong’s tribe from the district of Ba Marong has constructed three sturdy open-sided huts, raised from the ground and built of saplings and bamboo lashed together with vines.
In a tropical downpour that drenched the canopy and turned the ground into mud, they sat serenely with their children - including a five-month-old baby - who, despite these most basic conditions were clean, dry and healthy.
As she played with a baby monkey that the family kept as a pet, Sagong’s daughter Nili smiled and shook her head when she was asked whether she liked this life in the rainforest. “I would like to go to school,” she said shyly.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Yemeni Jews to immigrate secretly
For Educational Purposes...
with points to ponder...
with points to ponder...
(in relations to what is happening in Malaysia...
but then, frankly, I might be missing some key points in the issue back home..., just observing from far...)
Yemeni Jews to immigrate secretly
Gulf News
By Nasser Arrabyee, Correspondent
Published: May 16, 2009, 18:14
Sana'a: A group of Yemeni Jews will emigrate from Yemen to Israel this week in a secret trip organised by a Jewish agency, sources close to Jews said on Saturday.
"About 30-35 Jewish persons, from six families, from Raidah and Kharef, are scheduled to leave Yemen forever on May 19, 2009," said the sources, who asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue.
"A delegation from a Jewish agency has been convincing these families and arranging the trip in Sana'a since the beginning of this month," the sources told Gulf News.
The Jews will be transferred from Sana'a to Tel Aviv via Amman, the sources added.
The only remaining 332 Yemeni Jews have been living under growing threats and fear especially after a Muslim extremist killed one of them last December in Raidah town, about 50 km north of the capital Sana'a.
A total of 267 Jews are living in the two areas of Raidah and Kharef in Amran, one of the most conservative and tribal provinces in Yemen.
The government failed to implement an order by President Ali Abdullah Saleh to transfer them to the capital Sana'a after the rise in threats against them.
The security agencies have shown concerns over the suspended transfer to Sana'a where they are supposed to be accommodated in one or two buildings together.
"They can be easy target for the extremists or Al Qaida, and a massacre may happen," a security official said.
After the promise of the government to relocate them last December, the Jews offered their properties and houses for sale, but nothing was bought until now. An extremist local mosque speaker urged the Muslim neighbours not to buy anything from the Jews.
Despite the continuous efforts being exerted by Jewish agencies to Immigrate the Yemeni Jews to Israel, US, or UK, the poorly educated and religious Jews keep saying they will not leave their homeland whatever difficulties they face.
"We'll live and die here in our homeland, we cannot live with the Zionists in Israel; we disagree with them in a lot of things," the rabbi Yahya Yousef Mousa told Gulf News.
Mousa is the rabbi of a group of 65 Jews who have been living in a luxurious compound "tourist city" in the capital Sana'a at the expense of the government since March 2007 after receiving death threats from Al Houthi armed rebels in Al Salem in Sa'ada province. Each person receives 5,000 YR (25US$) monthly in addition to food stuff.
"By virtue of Allah and virtue of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, we are very fine here in Sana'a," the rabbi Yahya Yousef said.
However, those who are not transferred yet, are very disgruntled and their position, in terms of wanting or not to immigrate, is not as clear as their brothers who seem comfortable and relatively safe in Sana'a.
"If the government keeps procrastinating our transfer to Sana'a, we will not wait to see them (extremists) killing us one by one, we'll go to the hell not only to Israel," said Haeem Yaeish, head and rabbi of the Amran group, told Gulf News.
They face economic and social problems because of discrimination. For instance, the Jewish women, who represent about 70 per cent of this small community, face difficulties getting married.
"We either send them abroad for marriage or keep them in 'stores' like the farmers of grapes who store their grapes to make raisins," mocked Nemah, mother of the rabbi Yahya Yousef.
The human rights activist, Mahmoud Taha, who is interested in Yemeni Jewish affairs, warned against immigration of Jews, saying this will harm the values of Islam in Yemen.
"Immigration of the remaining Yemeni Jews will tell the world that Yemen has no room for tolerance and cannot coexist with others," said Taha who lives in Amran.
"But if there is no solution for their problem by transferring them to Sana'a and giving them houses and money to live, no one of them will be here by the end of this year," he said.
Yemeni Jews to immigrate secretly
Gulf News
By Nasser Arrabyee, Correspondent
Published: May 16, 2009, 18:14
Sana'a: A group of Yemeni Jews will emigrate from Yemen to Israel this week in a secret trip organised by a Jewish agency, sources close to Jews said on Saturday.
"About 30-35 Jewish persons, from six families, from Raidah and Kharef, are scheduled to leave Yemen forever on May 19, 2009," said the sources, who asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue.
"A delegation from a Jewish agency has been convincing these families and arranging the trip in Sana'a since the beginning of this month," the sources told Gulf News.
The Jews will be transferred from Sana'a to Tel Aviv via Amman, the sources added.
The only remaining 332 Yemeni Jews have been living under growing threats and fear especially after a Muslim extremist killed one of them last December in Raidah town, about 50 km north of the capital Sana'a.
A total of 267 Jews are living in the two areas of Raidah and Kharef in Amran, one of the most conservative and tribal provinces in Yemen.
The government failed to implement an order by President Ali Abdullah Saleh to transfer them to the capital Sana'a after the rise in threats against them.
The security agencies have shown concerns over the suspended transfer to Sana'a where they are supposed to be accommodated in one or two buildings together.
"They can be easy target for the extremists or Al Qaida, and a massacre may happen," a security official said.
After the promise of the government to relocate them last December, the Jews offered their properties and houses for sale, but nothing was bought until now. An extremist local mosque speaker urged the Muslim neighbours not to buy anything from the Jews.
Despite the continuous efforts being exerted by Jewish agencies to Immigrate the Yemeni Jews to Israel, US, or UK, the poorly educated and religious Jews keep saying they will not leave their homeland whatever difficulties they face.
"We'll live and die here in our homeland, we cannot live with the Zionists in Israel; we disagree with them in a lot of things," the rabbi Yahya Yousef Mousa told Gulf News.
Mousa is the rabbi of a group of 65 Jews who have been living in a luxurious compound "tourist city" in the capital Sana'a at the expense of the government since March 2007 after receiving death threats from Al Houthi armed rebels in Al Salem in Sa'ada province. Each person receives 5,000 YR (25US$) monthly in addition to food stuff.
"By virtue of Allah and virtue of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, we are very fine here in Sana'a," the rabbi Yahya Yousef said.
However, those who are not transferred yet, are very disgruntled and their position, in terms of wanting or not to immigrate, is not as clear as their brothers who seem comfortable and relatively safe in Sana'a.
"If the government keeps procrastinating our transfer to Sana'a, we will not wait to see them (extremists) killing us one by one, we'll go to the hell not only to Israel," said Haeem Yaeish, head and rabbi of the Amran group, told Gulf News.
They face economic and social problems because of discrimination. For instance, the Jewish women, who represent about 70 per cent of this small community, face difficulties getting married.
"We either send them abroad for marriage or keep them in 'stores' like the farmers of grapes who store their grapes to make raisins," mocked Nemah, mother of the rabbi Yahya Yousef.
The human rights activist, Mahmoud Taha, who is interested in Yemeni Jewish affairs, warned against immigration of Jews, saying this will harm the values of Islam in Yemen.
"Immigration of the remaining Yemeni Jews will tell the world that Yemen has no room for tolerance and cannot coexist with others," said Taha who lives in Amran.
"But if there is no solution for their problem by transferring them to Sana'a and giving them houses and money to live, no one of them will be here by the end of this year," he said.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
6 Babies After Twin Daughters....
Earthquake....!!
Yesterday, when it was about 3h10pm, (20mn to go before office officially ends during Ramadan), suddenly I felt a bit dizzy.... "feel like "terhoyong hayang" like that"... strange... I thot may be I was having a slight dizzyness due to my fast (well, since I didn't eat much for sohor)... but after blinking my eyes a few times trying to refocus on the laptop screen, I suddenly realized... hey...!! the earth is moving....!!!
at the same time, the guys in the office said.... "guys... earthquake...!!"... it lasted only a few seconds... so we were not alarmed about it... we didn't even decide to evacuate the building, however, may be a minute later, the same thing happened again... at that time, I noticed that the blinds were hitting the windows...
everybody evacuated the office buildingwe then decided to check what the other guys in the other offices were doing... guess what...? they were all gone downstairs alrdy... haha... so we decided then to evacuate as well...
eleh....!! nothing much laaa...!! only tremors... nothing to worry about... kepochi la you all wanna go run downstairs la, wanna call security laaa, wanna call bomba laaa... aiyoo...!!
really huh? got like that meh...? people holding a signboard for each company? huaa so efficient one...!! at my building, the security guards were the first to leave the building...!! haha... joking jer....
we actually experienced tremors due to earthquake which took place in the southern part of Iran (Bandar Abbas)... 6.2 on Richter scale... it is reported that in Sharjah (where my apartment is), the tremor was recorded at 4.9 on the Richter scale... now, 4.9... that can be considered as an earthquake... so unfortunate that I was not at home... if not, it would be "fun"... hehe...
hmmm... that's more like it...! just an excuse to "not to work" and lepak sembang2
when back into the office at 3h45pm, took my stuffs and left for home...
this would be my 3rd time, 1st time earthquake in Manila (3.5 on Richter scale) was having a meeting with customer then, kelam kabut customer suruh "nyorok" bawah meja meeting... hahaha... then the Tsunami, I was doing somework alone in the office when it happened, felt dizzy for a few minutes and just couldn't understand why it seemed that the world was spinning a bit, only discovered about the earthquake & tsunami in the evening when I watched the news... and this time around in Dubai....
well, at least I can say that "I have been there..."
aiyooo auntie....!!! so kepoh oneeee....!!! calm down laaa... only tremor maa... not earthquake...
maka pada jam 4pm, adalah sorang nih from Mesia anto sms to me... asking me if I felt the earthquake, or was I dead sleeping at home...? (letih puasa....; and he got the news from CNN).... bukan dia nak tanya aku OK ker tak? dia tanya "ko rasa ker, atau ko tido masa tuh...?" such a "caring friend"... buang duit jer anto sms...!! hancus...!!
photos taken from Gulfnews, more news about it at below weblink :
Monday, September 8, 2008
Bazar Ramadan - keluar TV Mesia mlm nih
Kengkawan...!! jangan tak
tengok, k...!!
malam nih Berita TV9
Bazar Ramadan di Dubai...!!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Ada hantu kat Dubai....??
true story, experienced by fellow Malaysians in Dubai... took the below extract from : http://dperantauan.typepad.com/dperantauan/2008/06/ada-hantu-bang.html#more
Ada Hantu bang!
Malam tadi sebelum ke masjid untuk solat Isya' terima panggilan. Panggilan yang pada awalnya nak d pendekkan menjadi panjang.
"Bang, ada kenal tak sesiapa yang biasa dengan benda-benda halus?", tanya pemanggil.
"Apa hal?", aku bertanya.
"Ada kawan-kawan ni ha...dia orang nampak benda yang patut tak nampak", tambahnya.
"Apa dia bendanya", aku nak dapat kepastian. Dia tak mahu bercerita dengan detail. Sekadar sebut benda yang patutnya tak nampak.
Katanya 3 orang yang nampak dalam rumah mereka. Masing-masing masih terperanjat. Ada yang lemah semangat, masih merah matanya.
"Apa yang kamu dah buat?", aku bertanya.
"Kami dah baca Yaasin, tapi kawan sorang tu masih cam tu je bang..".
"OKlah, saya nak Isya' dulu. Bacakan ayat Kursi dan surah Baqarah. Pas Isya' saya call balik". Kita pun bukanlah tahu sangat, sekadar pernah dengar beberapa tips Ustaz dan teman. Boleh jugak refer pada Pak Arab d masjid.
Mujur juga ada yang pernah kena. D kongsi sama treatment. Katanya:
Bacakan Surah Al Baqarah dengan air d sini. D tiup ke air. Minum dan basuh muka dengan air yang dah d bacakan Surah Baqarah. Air lebihan jangan d buang ke dalam tandas. Siram ke luar rumah. Baca juga surah Jin, Dukhaan, As Saffat (5 ayat pertama) dan ayat Kursi. Better baca sendiri, kalau tak mampu pasangkan kaset.
Rupa-rupanya ada kedai d Dubai ni yang menjual bacaan d atas d samping beberapa ayat lain. Kaset ini d jual sebagai menghadapi sihir.
Kalau dah ada d jual sebegitu rupa, maknanya perkara begini lazim jugalah berlaku.
Terlepas peluang melihat Dr. Haron Din hadapi masalah begini jika dia masih d UAE!
Ada Hantu bang!
Malam tadi sebelum ke masjid untuk solat Isya' terima panggilan. Panggilan yang pada awalnya nak d pendekkan menjadi panjang.
"Bang, ada kenal tak sesiapa yang biasa dengan benda-benda halus?", tanya pemanggil.
"Apa hal?", aku bertanya.
"Ada kawan-kawan ni ha...dia orang nampak benda yang patut tak nampak", tambahnya.
"Apa dia bendanya", aku nak dapat kepastian. Dia tak mahu bercerita dengan detail. Sekadar sebut benda yang patutnya tak nampak.
Katanya 3 orang yang nampak dalam rumah mereka. Masing-masing masih terperanjat. Ada yang lemah semangat, masih merah matanya.
"Apa yang kamu dah buat?", aku bertanya.
"Kami dah baca Yaasin, tapi kawan sorang tu masih cam tu je bang..".
"OKlah, saya nak Isya' dulu. Bacakan ayat Kursi dan surah Baqarah. Pas Isya' saya call balik". Kita pun bukanlah tahu sangat, sekadar pernah dengar beberapa tips Ustaz dan teman. Boleh jugak refer pada Pak Arab d masjid.
Mujur juga ada yang pernah kena. D kongsi sama treatment. Katanya:
Bacakan Surah Al Baqarah dengan air d sini. D tiup ke air. Minum dan basuh muka dengan air yang dah d bacakan Surah Baqarah. Air lebihan jangan d buang ke dalam tandas. Siram ke luar rumah. Baca juga surah Jin, Dukhaan, As Saffat (5 ayat pertama) dan ayat Kursi. Better baca sendiri, kalau tak mampu pasangkan kaset.
Rupa-rupanya ada kedai d Dubai ni yang menjual bacaan d atas d samping beberapa ayat lain. Kaset ini d jual sebagai menghadapi sihir.
Kalau dah ada d jual sebegitu rupa, maknanya perkara begini lazim jugalah berlaku.
Terlepas peluang melihat Dr. Haron Din hadapi masalah begini jika dia masih d UAE!
it seems that it is not the first time that such thing happens in the building where these 3 guys stay. the phenomenon also explains the reason why there are still a lot of vacant apartments in the building... apa2 sajalah Labu...!!
Malaysian shot in UAE - true story...!!
Man shot on RAK golf course
By Nasouh Nazzal, Staff Reporter
Published: June 22, 2008, 23:54
Ras Al Khaimah: A man was shot in the shoulder on Sunday while playing a round of golf in the Khuzzam area.
A police investigation is under way to find out who was behind the shooting. The bullet penetrated the shoulder of the 29-year-old victim, who was identified as B.S.S. Police sources said the Malaysian victim was in the middle of a game of golf when he was suddenly shot at and fell to the ground unconscious, onlookers were shocked.
Police officers arrived at the scene and initiated an investigation to find out the source of the bullet. The victim was referred to Saqr Hospital for treatment.
Police investigators have questioned witnesses on the golf course and they are still working on determining who fired the shot.
Medical sources said that the victim's condition is stable and they were able to stop the bleeding. The victim was able to spend a few moments with police investigators to talk about the incident.
(note : the guy is Alan Beh, working with WelMix Concrete (Dubai) LLC based in RAK - Ras al Khaimah. Peluru tembus lengan dia dan calarkan perut. He is doing fine now)
By Nasouh Nazzal, Staff Reporter
Published: June 22, 2008, 23:54
Ras Al Khaimah: A man was shot in the shoulder on Sunday while playing a round of golf in the Khuzzam area.
A police investigation is under way to find out who was behind the shooting. The bullet penetrated the shoulder of the 29-year-old victim, who was identified as B.S.S. Police sources said the Malaysian victim was in the middle of a game of golf when he was suddenly shot at and fell to the ground unconscious, onlookers were shocked.
Police officers arrived at the scene and initiated an investigation to find out the source of the bullet. The victim was referred to Saqr Hospital for treatment.
Police investigators have questioned witnesses on the golf course and they are still working on determining who fired the shot.
Medical sources said that the victim's condition is stable and they were able to stop the bleeding. The victim was able to spend a few moments with police investigators to talk about the incident.
(note : the guy is Alan Beh, working with WelMix Concrete (Dubai) LLC based in RAK - Ras al Khaimah. Peluru tembus lengan dia dan calarkan perut. He is doing fine now)
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Case against Sheikh - II
US businessman: Videos show torture by UAE royal By MATT APUZZO
WASHINGTON (AP) — As a trusted adviser to a member of United Arab Emirates royal family, Texas businessman Bassam Nabulsi says he safeguarded the sheik's most important documents: financial records, investment documents, and videotapes showing the sheik torturing people with a cattle prod and a spiked plank.
When the business relationship began to deteriorate, Nabulsi says, he also was imprisoned for months and tortured by jailers trying to get the tapes back.
Now, the tapes could become evidence in a federal lawsuit against Sheik Issa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a son of the late UAE president and brother of Abu Dhabi's crown prince.
The lawsuit and the tapes could prove embarrassing to the UAE, a U.S. ally that promotes itself as a pro-Western nation catering to business travelers and tourists.
The tapes have not been made public but The Associated Press viewed 11 still frames from one of the videos. They showed a man who appeared to be Sheik Issa beating another man with lumber, firing an automatic weapon into the sand around him and forcing an apparent cattle prod into his anus. The victim also appeared to have been partly run over by a SUV and had salt poured on his wounds.
Lawyers said the video also showed the victim's genitals being lit on fire. They said the abuse began because the sheik felt he had been overcharged in a grain deal.
"Ultimately this video, or certainly large portions of it, will be played in court," said Anthony G. Buzbee, who represents Nabulsi in his lawsuit.
Neither the UAE Embassy nor a Washington public relations firm working with the UAE government had an immediate comment on the case or the videos.
Nabulsi is suing for millions he says he is owed for various business deals. He also charges Sheik Issa and other members of the royal family with false imprisonment and with torturing him. Buzbee says he has three other torture videos.
If he prevails, his lawyers said they would try to seize Issa's U.S. assets, which could include portions of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, which is the largest sovereign wealth fund in the world and has an estimated $875 billion in assets. Last year it invested $7.5 billion in Citigroup.
The lawsuit has been languishing in a Houston federal court for nearly two years as attorneys tried to serve Issa and others with court papers. Efforts to deliver the documents to the royal family through UAE lawyers have failed and a confirmation of mail delivery was returned unsigned, according to court records.
A federal judge gave Nabulsi's lawyers until the end of the month to try again and, if unsuccessful, explain why the case should not be dismissed. The lawyers filed an amended lawsuit Monday describing the videos in greater detail.
Nabulsi worked for years making arrangements for Arab investors and dignitaries who traveled to Houston seeking medical care. According to the lawsuit, Sheik Issa recruited him to work as his personal business manager.
"As the Sheikh's moods grew darker, he began a habit and custom of torturing his employees and anyone else with whom he disapproved, " the lawsuit claims. "As his degeneracy increased, Sheikh Issa began to have such torture sessions taped, so he could enjoy viewing them later."
The torture sessions became a wedge in the business and, when it became clear the relationship were falling apart, Sheik Issa allegedly had Nabulsi arrested on marijuana charges. He was ultimately acquitted of those charges but the lawsuit says Nabulsi was interrogated about the videotapes while being held for more than three months.
"He was told daily that his wife would be raped, his children would be killed, that he would be killed," Buzbee said.
His original lawsuit sought more than $1 billion but the amended lawsuit filed Monday does not seek a specific amount
rich people are nuts..!!!
WASHINGTON (AP) — As a trusted adviser to a member of United Arab Emirates royal family, Texas businessman Bassam Nabulsi says he safeguarded the sheik's most important documents: financial records, investment documents, and videotapes showing the sheik torturing people with a cattle prod and a spiked plank.
When the business relationship began to deteriorate, Nabulsi says, he also was imprisoned for months and tortured by jailers trying to get the tapes back.
Now, the tapes could become evidence in a federal lawsuit against Sheik Issa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a son of the late UAE president and brother of Abu Dhabi's crown prince.
The lawsuit and the tapes could prove embarrassing to the UAE, a U.S. ally that promotes itself as a pro-Western nation catering to business travelers and tourists.
The tapes have not been made public but The Associated Press viewed 11 still frames from one of the videos. They showed a man who appeared to be Sheik Issa beating another man with lumber, firing an automatic weapon into the sand around him and forcing an apparent cattle prod into his anus. The victim also appeared to have been partly run over by a SUV and had salt poured on his wounds.
Lawyers said the video also showed the victim's genitals being lit on fire. They said the abuse began because the sheik felt he had been overcharged in a grain deal.
"Ultimately this video, or certainly large portions of it, will be played in court," said Anthony G. Buzbee, who represents Nabulsi in his lawsuit.
Neither the UAE Embassy nor a Washington public relations firm working with the UAE government had an immediate comment on the case or the videos.
Nabulsi is suing for millions he says he is owed for various business deals. He also charges Sheik Issa and other members of the royal family with false imprisonment and with torturing him. Buzbee says he has three other torture videos.
If he prevails, his lawyers said they would try to seize Issa's U.S. assets, which could include portions of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, which is the largest sovereign wealth fund in the world and has an estimated $875 billion in assets. Last year it invested $7.5 billion in Citigroup.
The lawsuit has been languishing in a Houston federal court for nearly two years as attorneys tried to serve Issa and others with court papers. Efforts to deliver the documents to the royal family through UAE lawyers have failed and a confirmation of mail delivery was returned unsigned, according to court records.
A federal judge gave Nabulsi's lawyers until the end of the month to try again and, if unsuccessful, explain why the case should not be dismissed. The lawyers filed an amended lawsuit Monday describing the videos in greater detail.
Nabulsi worked for years making arrangements for Arab investors and dignitaries who traveled to Houston seeking medical care. According to the lawsuit, Sheik Issa recruited him to work as his personal business manager.
"As the Sheikh's moods grew darker, he began a habit and custom of torturing his employees and anyone else with whom he disapproved, " the lawsuit claims. "As his degeneracy increased, Sheikh Issa began to have such torture sessions taped, so he could enjoy viewing them later."
The torture sessions became a wedge in the business and, when it became clear the relationship were falling apart, Sheik Issa allegedly had Nabulsi arrested on marijuana charges. He was ultimately acquitted of those charges but the lawsuit says Nabulsi was interrogated about the videotapes while being held for more than three months.
"He was told daily that his wife would be raped, his children would be killed, that he would be killed," Buzbee said.
His original lawsuit sought more than $1 billion but the amended lawsuit filed Monday does not seek a specific amount
rich people are nuts..!!!
Case against Sheikh - I
UAE sheikh to face assault trial
Mr Orsi says he has been too ill to go to work since the alleged assault
A Swiss court is preparing to hear a case against a brother of the UAE president who is accused of assaulting an American citizen in a Geneva hotel. Silvano Orsi alleges Sheikh Falah al-Nahyan made homosexual advances to him in the bar of the hotel and severely beat him when rejected. The allegations date back to 2003. Mr Orsi said it has been a "five-year ordeal" to get the case to court. The sheikh denies assault and has said he is sure "justice would be done". Mr Orsi, 39, says he was drinking at Geneva's La Reserve hotel with a Saudi friend when the sheikh ordered a bottle of champagne to be sent over to their table. A few minutes later, Mr Orsi claims the sheikh came over and began molesting him, and when the advances were rejected the sheikh attacked him and whipped him with his belt. Mr Orsi says he sustained a herniated disc, nerve damage and post-traumatic stress disorder from the assault. In a pre-trial hearing in 2007, Mr Nahyan, 37, said there had been a short scuffle in the hotel bar after he was accused of being gay. The three-judge tribunal will begin hearing the case on Thursday and it can impose a sentence of up to two years in prison if the defendant is found guilty. Mr Nahyan is the son of the late Sheikh Zayed, who died in 2004 and was succeed by Mr Nahyan's older brother, Sheikh Khalifa.
Mr Orsi has said he wants to bring a civil case against Mr Nahyan in addition to the criminal case, because he says to have been too ill to work since the alleged assault.
* taken from BBC
you will never get this news in UAE for sure....
Mr Orsi says he has been too ill to go to work since the alleged assault
A Swiss court is preparing to hear a case against a brother of the UAE president who is accused of assaulting an American citizen in a Geneva hotel. Silvano Orsi alleges Sheikh Falah al-Nahyan made homosexual advances to him in the bar of the hotel and severely beat him when rejected. The allegations date back to 2003. Mr Orsi said it has been a "five-year ordeal" to get the case to court. The sheikh denies assault and has said he is sure "justice would be done". Mr Orsi, 39, says he was drinking at Geneva's La Reserve hotel with a Saudi friend when the sheikh ordered a bottle of champagne to be sent over to their table. A few minutes later, Mr Orsi claims the sheikh came over and began molesting him, and when the advances were rejected the sheikh attacked him and whipped him with his belt. Mr Orsi says he sustained a herniated disc, nerve damage and post-traumatic stress disorder from the assault. In a pre-trial hearing in 2007, Mr Nahyan, 37, said there had been a short scuffle in the hotel bar after he was accused of being gay. The three-judge tribunal will begin hearing the case on Thursday and it can impose a sentence of up to two years in prison if the defendant is found guilty. Mr Nahyan is the son of the late Sheikh Zayed, who died in 2004 and was succeed by Mr Nahyan's older brother, Sheikh Khalifa.
Mr Orsi has said he wants to bring a civil case against Mr Nahyan in addition to the criminal case, because he says to have been too ill to work since the alleged assault.
* taken from BBC
you will never get this news in UAE for sure....
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Haziq pelajar gigih...!
Ini adalah koleksi photo journalism dari pemenang Best Photo Essay category of the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) – Petronas Malaysian Press Awards, Azhar Maarof dari surat khabar Star. Photo essay ini menangkap sehari kehidupan Mohamad Haziq 12 tahun , seorang pelajar cacat yang gigih menghadapi kehidupan harian berdikari.
Mawi melawat Dubai... Dubai menakjubkan
Oleh SHAKILAWATI ABD RAHMAN
shakilawati@ hmetro.com. my
DUBAI melengkapi kembara Langkah Mawi World. Destinasi ke-13 ini membuka mata dan minda Asmawi Ani terhadap kehebatan seni bina unik yang menjadi kebanggaan masyarakat Islam.
Bersama enam krew, bintang paling popular tiga tahun berturut-turut ini berkampung di kota canggih itu bermula 22 April hingga 1 Mei lalu dengan kerjasama Dubai Tourism Commerce and Marketing (DTCM).
Dibantu pemandu pelancong dari Lama Tours, rombongan yang menetap di hotel lima bintang, Movenpick ini memanfaatkan hari pertama dengan berkunjung ke Muzium Dubai yang mempamerkan tinggalan sejarah seperti senjata, pengangkutan air, alat muzik, perdagangan, peralatan mencari mutiara dan rumah di padang pasir yang dipanggil Al Kaimah dan Al Arish. Uniknya, setiap rumah ini mempunyai menara angin yang berfungsi sebagai penyejuk suhu.
Pemandangan indah Dubai dapat dinikmati dari atas bot yang dipanggil Abra Water Taxi ketika menyeberangi Dubai Creek dengan bayaran semurah 90 sen. Menurut Mawi, meskipun Dubai bandar moden, bot masih menjadi antara pengangkutan penting.
Penggambaran turut dilakukan di pasar rempah, bazar emas (Gold Souk) dan di Jalan Sheikh Zayed yang megah dengan bangunan mercu tanda dan bangunan tertinggi di dunia.
Lebih bererti apabila Mawi berpeluang meninjau projek terbesar Nakheel, syarikah hartanah terbesar di dunia, merasai pengalaman hebat di hotel enam bintang The Palace Old Town, Bab-Al Shams di tengah padang pasir dan Burj Al Arab yang terkenal sebagai mercu tanda Dubai.
“Tidak lengkap perjalanan andai tidak menempuh pengalaman mencabar di Desert Safari dan Hatta Mountain Safari. Jika Desert Safari saya mengharungi lautan pasir dengan pacuan empat roda, Hatta yang terletak berhampiran sempadan Oman pula terbentang indah gunung batu yang kehitaman warnanya.
“Di tengah gunung kering-kontang ini ada mata air yang dipanggil Wadi. Sungguh menakjubkan, airnya sejuk dan nyaman. Ramai juga pelancong mandi dalam kolam sedalam lapan meter ini.
“Menyaksikan Jumana — Secret of the Desert Laser Show juga tidak kurang hebatnya. Pertunjukan pantulan cahaya laser, hologram yang diperkemaskan dengan kesan bunyi ini memaparkan cerita raja dan pahlawan Arab. Persembahan ini boleh disaksikan kira-kira 500 pengunjung setiap hari,” katanya.
Tambahnya: “Dari pemerhatian saya, orang Dubai suka membina bangunan terbesar, tertinggi dan tercanggih. Pendek kata, semua yang terbaik belaka seperti Emirates Mall yang diiktiraf sebagai pusat beli-belah terbesar di negara Timur Tengah dan Ski Dubai, pusat ski tertutup terbesar dunia. Mungkin dengan ekonomi yang baik, mereka mampu merancang dan melaksanakan projek mega seperti ini.” Menerusi kembara ini juga, pengikut setia Langkah Mawi World dapat menyaksikan keunikan Chill Out yang dibina daripada batu-bata. Lounge yang terletak di Dubai Time Square itu mencatat suhu -6° Celsius. Lebih menarik, hiasan dalaman, cawan dan gelas semuanya dibuat daripada air dan diimport khas dari Kanada.
“Saya sempat membeli kain untuk keluarga di bazar Naif yang popular sebagai pusat jualan tekstil dan barangan elektronik. Rambang mata dibuatnya; sutera, renda dan sifon dijual dengan harga jauh lebih murah berbanding Malaysia.
“Penggambaran berakhir di Dubai World Trade Centre. Di kesempatan ini saya ingin mengucapkan ribuan terima kasih kepada Astro Ria, KTO, Visit Britain, DTCM, Gulf Air, media, kru dari Ethnic Network, Maestro Talent dan semua individu yang terlibat secara langsung dan tidak langsung menjayakan Langkah Mawi World,” kata Mawi yang berharap penonton tidak melepaskan peluang menonton empat episod rakaman penggambaran di Dubai di Astro Ria, setiap Ahad, jam 5 petang.
note : desert safari - done, ski dubai - done, hatta mountain - done, abra to cross the creek - done, Jumana secret of the desert - done, spice souk - done, Gold souk - done, Dubai museum - done... yang tak cuba lagi - Chill out (bar ais batu, sejuk weh!!), and Naif Souk - tak minat lah nak pegi shopping2 kain nih... lagipun Naif souk baru jer terbakar sebulan lepas... now you see, now you don't!!!
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Pride or Shame...?
First Muslim Battalion Guards the Queen
120 soldiers of the Royal Malay Regiment have become the first all-Islamic Company to provide a British monarch's ceremonial guard. Report by Shell Daruwala.
read on here : http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/HistoryAndHonour/FirstMuslimBattalionGuardsTheQueen.htm
komen2 dari kengkawan kat Dubai:
"Maybe next time we can ask British Guard to provide our DYMM Agong'sceremonial guard as exchange..."
"Hmmm, mengingatkan kembali nostalgia penjajah..anak- anak watan yang dijajah dipanggil semula ke bumi penjajah.Penuh simbolik. Menjaga Raja empirialis yang pernah menjajah.."
"Janganlah kita terlalu angkuh umpama Malaysia ni dah maju sampai tak payah merendahkan diri (humble). Kalau RMR pergi guard kat palace tu, dapat dijadikan publisiti untuk mempromosikan sektor perlancongan kita, apakah salahnya? Hakikatnya, dan ia akan kekal dalam sejarah selama lamanya ialah Malaysia suatu ketika dulu merupakan sebuah negara di bawah jajahan Great Britain. Ini merupakan satu hakikat dan kita harus menerimanya. Tak payah rasa malu malu."
apa kata survey...??
more comments from kengkawan Dubai :
"I truly agree with you on this and my father was an ex-Army (butRanger la, masuk hutan tembak komunis during 60s-70s), hence due to its elite status I feel uncomfortable with the idea of RAMD performing ceremonial guard to the former Colonialist.
Always proud of Malaysian ARMY!"
"Each year, several Malaysian military cadets are been sent to various international military academies all over the world to enhance their skills i.e. Westpoint, Waiouru, Duntroon, Dehradun and also traditionally before all, Sandhurst in United Kingdom.
Annually, at least one cadet from Malaysia offered a place at Sandhurst for the gruelling 44 weeks course before being commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the Malaysian Army. Even former Agung,Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin also underwent training as a Cadet Officer in Sandhurst from January 1964 until December 1965.
Since the academy runs by the former colonialist"
Annually, at least one cadet from Malaysia offered a place at Sandhurst for the gruelling 44 weeks course before being commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the Malaysian Army. Even former Agung,Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin also underwent training as a Cadet Officer in Sandhurst from January 1964 until December 1965.
Since the academy runs by the former colonialist"
"Yes, it should be differed..."
"Then it shall apply to other educational institutions situated there as well..."
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Lima Menteri Besar bakal gegarkan Stadium Perak
Read this news at this blog: http://idhamlim.blogspot.com/, YB Lim Chuan Hing is also ADUN Titi Serong, Paghit Buntaq...!! (http://aduntitiserong.blogspot.com/)
Huaaa...!! If only I can be there (am wondering, would my father be going...? He is a staunch supporter of Pas, Bendahari kawasan lagi...!). Would love to hear what msg would be delivered during this gathering...
IPOH, 8 April (Hrkh) - Stadium Perak yang selama ini digegarkan sorakan 'Kejo Yop Kejo' pada setiap kali pertandingan bolasepak Liga Super, buat pertama kalinya stadium ini akan digegarkan oleh puluhan ribu rakyat negeri Perak dengan laungan takbir, reformasi dan 'makkal sakti' apabila lima Menteri Besar Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat berpidato pada 14 April ini bermula jam 8.30 malam.
Lima Menteri Besar Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat, iaitu Menteri Besar Kelantan, Kedah, Pulau Pinang, Perak dan Selangor akan berpidato di hadapan puluhan ribu sempena Himpunan Rakyat Negeri Perak anjuran Urusetia Penerangan Kerajaan Negeri Perak.
Demikian dinyatakan oleh Ketua Penerangan PAS Perak yang juga Setiausaha Politik Menteri Besar Perak, Misbahul Munir Masduki, dalam satu pertemuan dengan wartawan Harakah di pejabatnya sebentar tadi.
"Seluruh rakyat diminta hadir untuk mendengar amanat daripada lima orang Menteri Besar, inilah buat pertama kalinya dalam sejarah Stadium Perak akan bakal menyaksikan himpunan puluhan ribu atas nama pakatan rakyat," katanya lagi.
Acara dimulakan dengan solat Isyak, diikuti dengan solat hajat, selepas itu pidato lima Menteri Besar akan bermula dan orang ramai yang hendak hadir dinasihatkan membawa sejadah.
"Kalau di Stadium Melawati, Shah Alam, Selangor himpunan seumpama itu dihadiri lebih kurang 30,000 orang, insya-Allah puluhan ribu juga akan hadir di Stadium Perak bagi mendengar pidato lima Menteri Besar," katanya.
Huaaa...!! If only I can be there (am wondering, would my father be going...? He is a staunch supporter of Pas, Bendahari kawasan lagi...!). Would love to hear what msg would be delivered during this gathering...
------------------------------
IPOH, 8 April (Hrkh) - Stadium Perak yang selama ini digegarkan sorakan 'Kejo Yop Kejo' pada setiap kali pertandingan bolasepak Liga Super, buat pertama kalinya stadium ini akan digegarkan oleh puluhan ribu rakyat negeri Perak dengan laungan takbir, reformasi dan 'makkal sakti' apabila lima Menteri Besar Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat berpidato pada 14 April ini bermula jam 8.30 malam.
Lima Menteri Besar Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat, iaitu Menteri Besar Kelantan, Kedah, Pulau Pinang, Perak dan Selangor akan berpidato di hadapan puluhan ribu sempena Himpunan Rakyat Negeri Perak anjuran Urusetia Penerangan Kerajaan Negeri Perak.
Demikian dinyatakan oleh Ketua Penerangan PAS Perak yang juga Setiausaha Politik Menteri Besar Perak, Misbahul Munir Masduki, dalam satu pertemuan dengan wartawan Harakah di pejabatnya sebentar tadi.
"Seluruh rakyat diminta hadir untuk mendengar amanat daripada lima orang Menteri Besar, inilah buat pertama kalinya dalam sejarah Stadium Perak akan bakal menyaksikan himpunan puluhan ribu atas nama pakatan rakyat," katanya lagi.
Acara dimulakan dengan solat Isyak, diikuti dengan solat hajat, selepas itu pidato lima Menteri Besar akan bermula dan orang ramai yang hendak hadir dinasihatkan membawa sejadah.
"Kalau di Stadium Melawati, Shah Alam, Selangor himpunan seumpama itu dihadiri lebih kurang 30,000 orang, insya-Allah puluhan ribu juga akan hadir di Stadium Perak bagi mendengar pidato lima Menteri Besar," katanya.
Air Arabia again... Let's pay a visit to the Yetisss!!
"Sharjah: Low-cost carrier Air Arabia has announced the launch of daily flights between Sharjah, UAE, and Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia in a joint venture with FlyYeti.com.
Air Arabia will operate the Sharjah-Kathmandu leg of the journey, while FlyYeti.com will manage the flights between Kathmandu and Kuala Lumpur."
Guys, a quick check from Air Arabia website shows that the promotional fare is up to 31st May 2008. The lowest fare return ticket is AED1,400 per person (inclusive all taxes and charges). However note that there is an 8 ½ hour transit time in Katmandhu for the connection to KL and 6 ½ hours to Sharjah from KL on the return flight.
Guys, a quick check from Air Arabia website shows that the promotional fare is up to 31st May 2008. The lowest fare return ticket is AED1,400 per person (inclusive all taxes and charges). However note that there is an 8 ½ hour transit time in Katmandhu for the connection to KL and 6 ½ hours to Sharjah from KL on the return flight.
Sempat tak pegi jalan2 pay a visit to the Yetisss...?
Honesty first: Cabbie returns Dh1.75 million
Would you do the same...?
Honesty first: Cabbie returns Dh1.75 million
By Jay B. Hilotin and Faisal Masudi, Staff Reporters
A taxi driver from Dubai who did not have money to even repair or replace his old mobile phone, has returned gold and cash worth Dh1.75 million left behind by a passenger.
On March 26, Ramin Khan, 45, dropped a passenger near the Gold Souq in Deira. But unknown to Khan, the passenger forgot to take his bag, which contained gold and a cash box, which he had put in the car boot.
It was his next passenger who alerted Khan about the open boot.
When he went to close it, he found the bag and the cash box. The cash, amounting to $40,000 (Dh147,200), and 15kg of gold items worth Dh1.6 million belonged to a Chinese trader.
The Pakistani driver immediately took the items to Taj Baksh, an official in charge of service quality of Arabia Taxi's 771-unit fleet, and later handed them over to the police.
A smiling Khan said: "I came here to do honest work. I can't feed my family with money that's not mine."
Khan, who hails from Peshawar, has five children. He previously worked as a driver for a family in Al Ain for eight years.
Mukhtar Ahmad, Arabia Taxi's Operations Manager, said: "Ramin is an honest man. We are all proud of him. God will also reward him. It's an example for all of us."
In his two years of service with Arabia Taxi, Khan has had an exemplary record.
He has found and returned three mobile phones, a luggage and a wallet containing Dh1,800 and 12,000 Indian rupees in cash. This despite not having enough cash to fix his second-hand Nokia 6230, which dies on him intermittently despite a fully charged battery. "I need to get it repaired," he admits.
The grateful Chinese customer rewarded Khan with Dh1,000, while his employers also pitched in with Dh1,000, besides giving him an appreciation certificate and displaying his jumbo-sized picture on the company's notice board.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
What the F--k...??
Gua memang terkejut beruk...!! memang tak boleh dipercayai...!! tak pernah gua nampak benda yg sebegini memberanjatkan...!!!!
1 liter petrol = SAR 0.66...!!!!!
66 sen utk satu liter petrol...!!! Ya Rabbi...!!! errr... kat Mesia berapa harga petrol sekarang...? Dekat MYR2.00 kan? Kat SIN pulak berapa minyak seliter...?!
Masa bapak gua beli kete dia yang pertama pun harga minyak kat Mesia dah lebih MYR0.80... tak percaya gua dgn mata gua...!!!
Kalau sempat ambik gamba, gua ambik & post gambar tuh kat sini...!!
Memang tak caya beb...!!
Friday, March 21, 2008
The Village of Fucking!
Believe it or not...!
What's the F---ing joke?
September 3, 2005
September 3, 2005
Leave me in peace with this F---ing! - FRANZ MEINDL, the town's new mayor
The 104 inhabitants of F---ing, Austria are tired of pesky tourists - and they're fighting back, writes Toby Harnden.
For those travelling to it across the border from Germany, it is a long way further on from Petting - where some people prefer to stop for a while rather than going all the way. It might appropriately be twinned with the Amish town of Intercourse, Pennsylvania. Or perhaps with Condom, France. Or Climax, Colorado.
In the world of crosswords, cryptically the name of the village, which begins with F, has seven letters and is not for those under 16, could be: "Monarch follows soccer team, you hear."
A quick crossword clue might ask you, po-faced, for the gerund form of the English profanity that refers to the principal act leading to procreation.
An etymologist would know that its verb was derived from the Latin futuere and the Old German ficken, meaning "to strike or penetrate". The lexicographer can trace its first recorded use to John Florio's A World of Words, a 1598 dictionary.
D. H. Lawrence used it in Lady Chatterley's Lover in 1928, but it was 32 years before it could be published legally. The playwright Kenneth Tynan was the first one to utter it on television four decades ago.
But for the conservative inhabitants of a settlement called F---ing in rural Upper Austria near Salzburg that comprises just 32 houses (population: 104), the English meaning of their village's name is just one giant headache.
One night, tourists stole all four road signs on its approaches. Since records began, there has been no crime there - apart from the perennial theft of what officials call "street furniture".
Now the authorities are fighting back. The signs have been set in concrete bases and Kommandant Schmidtberger, the local police chief, hints at clandestine operations to combat what he calls "foreign criminals" disturbing the alpine order.
Around the village, corn grows in neat rows, stacks of wood seem almost geometrically arranged and every lawn is clipped each week. "God bless our work" is painted over the threshold of one rustic dairy farm.
"Let's just say there are plans in place to deal with this," the Kommandant warned darkly. "What they are, I am not at liberty to disclose, but we will not stand for the F---ing signs being removed. It may be very amusing for you British, but F---ing is simply F---ing to us. What is this big F---ing joke? It is puerile."
Local guide Andreas Behmuller said that each nationality had its own priorities when visiting the area. "The Germans all want to see the Mozart house in Salzburg. Italians and Russians always celebrate New Year here. Every American seems to care only about The Sound of Music (filmed around Salzburg in 1965). The occasional Japanese wants to see Hitler's birthplace in Braunau. But for the British, it's all about F---ing."
The village is believed to have been founded in the sixth century by a Bavarian noble called Focko. The Germanic ending "ing" means "family of". Its existence was first documented in 1070 and records show that 20 years later its lord was Adalpertus de Fucingin. By 1303, it was known as Fukching and in 1532 the official designation was Fugkhing. It was not until 1760 that the village took its modern name, which is pronounced in German with a guttural "oo" sound.
After World War II, British and American soldiers stationed near Salzburg noticed the name and, to the bemusement of villagers, began to visit the place and be photographed beside its signs while striking jocular poses.
The number of tourists who take a quick detour has been increasing ever since. Now there is even the occasional tour bus.
"Here we have tranquillity, clean air, lakes, acres of forests and some of the most breathtaking vistas one could imagine," says Augustina Lindlbauer, who runs a guesthouse in a medieval pile just outside the village.
"Yet still there is this obsession with F---ing. Just this morning I had to tell an English lady who stopped by that there were no F---ing postcards."
The one local who tried to cash in on the village's growing fame was threatened and shouted at in the street. Josef Winkler set up an internet site selling T-shirts featuring the village sign and carrying the message: "I like F---ing in Austria." They were selling well and there were even discussions with the men's magazine Maxim about a possible promotion.
"It was a bit of fun that didn't hurt anyone, but I found out that in this region you just can't do something like that," says a chastened Mr Winkler. "The whole thing became a real trial for me and I had to stop. People are very traditional here."
Newly elected mayor Franz Meindl refuses to discuss the issue, on the basis that any publicity would simply lead to more signs being stolen. "Leave me in peace with this F---ing," he says angrily, before slamming down the telephone.
His predecessor, Siegfried Hauppl, was equally dismissive when he was interrupted playing a game of Skat. "I am no longer the mayor so this F---ing problem is nothing to do with me," he growled, turning his back and studying his cards.
At the area council offices in adjoining Tarsdorf, a young planning official called Gabriele, who asked for her surname to be kept secret for fear of provoking reprisals, revealed that each sign cost at least EUR300 ($A490) to replace and this was reflected in local taxes.
"There was even some discussion about changing the name because it has become such a serious issue," she says.
"But everyone decided that F---ing had been here for so long that it would be a shame to consign it to the past.
"The older people don't like being laughed at by some of the younger ones from other villages, but we are proud of our beautiful F---ing."
- The Sunday Telegraph
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