Friday, June 6, 2008

Under Renovation

What's Abd?!!
What's Abd?!! is undergoing renovation
In the meantime, blogging is still being done at alternative site
TeBaBoM BaMbOm!
Date begun: 6 June 2008
Completion Date: Once contractor gets his tools of trade

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Thursday, June 5, 2008

One Nation Under Harry - The Review

What's Abd?!!

A really interesting video screening by Honest Productions (What a name for a production house!)

This video actually deserves airtime on Arts Central or ChannelNewsAsia (impossible of course) or on History Channel or any other television channel that airs Political, Historical and Law Documentaries. I actually thought that this video presented a really good view of the political history, media history and evolution of law gazettes in Singapore.

However, I dislike the fact that the director of the video had to resort to such alterations to certain individual faces. The normal representation of the face of the individual would have made the director look more respectable. With what he’s done to the faces only makes him look like someone who’s unleashing the anger and hatred that has resided within him (comparing to a volcanic eruption) and now he’s throwing a big tantrum (similar to Dear Neighbour).

Nevertheless, the video managed send out a good message to viewers. I would recommend this video to all foreigners who are interested in the study of Singapore. I also strongly recommend this video to History, Political Science, Communications and Law students. This video is also a good teaching tool in the classroom for a more left-wing view on the political climate in Singapore.

In another separate note, I was informed that this video was actually private screened at the basement of some hotel a few weeks back in May 2008. Members of the Singapore Police Force then came in to stop and to seize all documents involved in the screening of this video. The Media Development Authority (MDA) had also come. There is of course a law governing the screening of all movies/ videos in Singapore – It must be censored by the MDA prior to screening. I’m not sure if it applies to private screening and what are the restrictions to private screening but obviously, private screening would mean out of public view.

I was also told that anyone who visited the link at youtube would have their IP addresses tracked by the Police or more rightly so, Internal Security Department assisted by the Computer Crimes Department. So, here’s me saving you from the trouble to get your IP addresses tracked at youtube.

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Wednesday, June 4, 2008

The House Visit

What's Abd?!!

To begin, Barrack Obama won the Democratic Presidential Nomination despite Hillary Clinton garnering more votes. Guess 'Super Delegates' find Barrack Obama a more promising candidate (What's with the title Super in Super Delegates man? Do they have special powers like Superman??). Hillary Clinton is now probably gunning for the Vice-Presidency which is her best bet to be elected President in the next nomination.

Closer to heart, today my block received a clean up of complete scrubbing and clearance of all kinds of rubbish on all the lift lobbies that I'd otherwise come across. The occasion being, Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Mr Hawazi Daipi was on house visit. Just the night before, the 1st floor lift lobby stank so much of urine. Well, the residents in this area are mostly old and senile and therefore, most of them do inconsiderately just pee anywhere that's most convenient to them. I have seen twice for myself.

Well anyways, the Resident Committee (RC) members sent their first squad of people to inform the residents that the MP was coming to their unit and will be talking to them. So yeah, I sat and waited. When MP finally arrived, well he seemed alright. A checked short sleeved t-shirt, black pants, black belt and sports shoes. Sports shoes? This guy needs a Fashion Police before he goes for his house visits!

Well so he asked me how long I been staying and if I had any concerns about living here. I told him about my concerns of how filthy staying here was and perhaps he should reconsider about the Lift Upgrading Program (LUP) and instead focus on issue of Spalling Concrete that is rampant in this block.

His reply to filthy living conditions with regards to people peeing:

"What can we do about it right?"
(Well maybe you can do some proper education or perhaps install public toilets at void decks to accommodate this issue)

Our exchange of conversations with regards to spalling concrete:

Him: "Well you see, HDB has this rule whereby anything inside the house is the owner's responsibility"

Me: "Well you see, I don't think any of the owners here are aware of such a thing called Spalling Concrete until its too late. By then, preventive measures are too late and only when it happens, then we are aware that there is such preventive assistance measures in place by HDB".

Him: "Well, if you have any problem about this, do inform HDB. They will definitely attend to you."

Me: "It already happened. I'm just informing you only as in recent months, there has been several cases of Spalling Concrete. Perhaps you might want to reconsider LUP and focus on fixing basic necessities in home first".

Him changing topic to run off before he gets caught in my trap: "Oh by the way, have you submitted the form to indicate whether or not you are supportive of the LUP?"

Me: "Not yet. I didn't attend the polling the other time"

Him: "Okay, well you can fill this in and submit it now. Anyway, we're having another polling session later this year."

HDB stands for Housing Development Board. Established to destroy kampong houses and move citizens to smaller units allowing more space for development and to ensure that all citizens has a home regardless of income level.

A guy holding the forms steps forward and hands it to me and MP walks off.

Pretty smart ay being a politician? You learn how to divert attention and scoot off before you get caught in a trap. I just didn't like the standard diplomatic answer. I know how it works. I know what needs to be done. I just needed you to say, I'll look into the matter and give it consideration.

But anyway, he was listening intently to whatever I was saying. Unless he was a really good actor and was able to pretend to listen intently. Politicians do have to learn all these body language and facial language too you know!

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