A Big Thank You To Helen

I couldn't believe it when the number of page views of my "Black Monday" post started soaring. Earlier someone had commented that I write in an unfocused manner.

He said my piece was all over the place ... "very rojak writing" ...as I had jumbled up state matters with strays issues in that particular post.

I will try not to do that, thanks for the feedback. 

I admit that I write whatever that comes to my mind. If I have offended anyone here, I humbly apologize.

The purpose of this post is solely to say "Thank You" to Helen Ang, a very prominent blogger, for mentioning that blog post. Just a mere mention and the page views "skyrocketed". Thanks to Helen and to all who have visited my blog

the garden of my mind.

Have a pleasant Tuesday everyone!

Bill Passed

Today I read Annie's latest post with a grim expression. I swear.  No more laughing. 

A Letter From A Johorean To His MB

The weather is also dark and stormy in Johor Baru.  And the wait is finally over. The bill has been passed with 10 amendments made to the state's Housing and Property Board Enactment 2014. The Johor MB said all 10 amendments were in line with a constitutional monarchy system.

Like I said yesterday, some supported the tabling of the amended bill, some are against it. It is like "State versus Federal versus Opposition" and also the Rakyat.

One state assemblyman had lashed out at the Federal Government and the GLCs for causing the property prices in Johor to spike. He said the enactment can safeguard Johoreans.

Meanwhile, in a news report former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he was worried that the MB will eventually bow to the Sultan's wishes.

Johor MB Might Bow To Sultan's Wishes

Well ...

When Tun Mahathir was PM, he was so so so POLITICALLY strong. I don't know much about politics actually but I know no one went against his wishes. And those who did ...

I also wondered why people are so against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.  He is so nice.  Won't you want someone nice to be your leader? But people everywhere also don't like their leaders.  There are people who don't like Obama.  There are people who don't like Yingluck. Same goes for Susilo Bambang. Why? That's just the way the world is.

If you say the ruling party is bad, how sure are you that the opposition won't be 7 times worst?

I guess I'm just rambling because I am bored.

Black Monday

I found dear Annie's latest post A Movie For Johor Assemblymen absolutely hilarious.

The movie clip in that post also got me laughing. Sorry, I know a beheading is never a laughing matter. Luckily it was just a movie. But then again, it was a historical movie so it did happen in the past.

On a separate issue, someone brought my attention to this video clip.  Skip it if you don't have the stomach for the gruesome killing of "man's best friend".

Video clip of dog catchers killing stray dogs

Now this is no movie. Isn't there a more humane way of getting rid of strays?

"THIS IS MALAYSIA WAYS OF KILLINGS STRAYS
SHARE THIS TO SHOW HOW THE LOCAL COUNCIL MAJLIS PERBANDARAN JOHOR BAHRU TENGAH AT JALAN MAKMUR, SKUDAI KILLS STRAYS.
7 DOGS WERE IN THE LORRY AND SUHANTHAN GHANESEN TRAILED THEM. WHAT HE SAW WAS SHOCKING. ALL WERE DRAGGED OUT, STRANGLED AND BEATEN TO DEATH WITH AN IRON ROD."  -   A Facebook user wrote this.

Earlier, I had written about the killing of strays  at the link below

Be A Responsible Pet Guardian

I have already asked the MPJBT to comment on the video. The spokesperson said she will get back to me on this.

But tomorrow is going to be a hectic day with the Johor state government's decision to make changes to the Housing and Real Property Board enactment concerning the role of the Sultan of Johor in the board.

Someone who calls himself a true spirited Johorean said  he supported the move. 'Who can safeguard the interest of the Rakyat better than the Ruler?" my friend asked.

That was my friend's personal view on the matter.

Well, have to sleep early tonight. A team from the KL Newsdesk is coming down.  Tomorrow is the big D-Day.

a selfie with my darling dog.

Flying High

Shella was all smiles at the Senai International Airport today. I told her to have faith, and that all will be well.

Before I left home today, I was actually quite worried about not being able to find a parking space because of the Explore Johor Fest. But I managed to find a space without much trouble. 

Everything did go well. The power of positive thinking. 

We visited the booths of the participating hoteliers and browsed through the tourism products that were on display.

According to some hoteliers, the change of rest days from Saturday and Sunday to Friday and Saturday which took effect from January this year has affected the hotel industry.

"It is not feasible for private corporations to standardize the official rest days on Fiday and Saturday because our headquarters operate from Monday to Friday," says a hotelier.

The hotelier went on to say things had been looking bright from year to year. However, come Vist Malaysia Year 2014 --- the MH370 incident and the change of rest days, among others --- created a slight dent in the hospitality industry.

I then went over to the booth of MPH Bookstore which was offering books at slashed prices. The discount was up to 70%. I bought four books.

Meanwhile, my colleague Rizalman Hammim has this story.

Khaled: Executive power of Johor Housing and Real Property Board lies with MB

SENAI: The executive power of the Johor Housing and Real Property Board will lie with the chairman of the board, said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

He said under the enactment, which will be tabled on Monday, the Johor Menteri Besar will automatically be the chairman of the Board with the state Housing and Local Government committee chairman as his deputy.

"Under the enactment, the Sultan of Johor can appoint members of the board with the advice of the Menteri Besar, which is similar to the power that the Sultan has at the moment," said Khaled at the launch of the Explore Johor Fest 2014 here today.

He said the enactment is similar with the Johor Corporation Enactment 1968 and that it must be read together with the Johor State Constitution (Undang-undang Tubuh Negeri Johor).

Khaled said this in response to a report on an online news portal that said the enactment will grant the Sultan of Johor the power to appoint members of the board, oversee its accounts and dissolving the board.

Read more: Khaled: Executive power of Johor Housing and Real Property Board lies with MB - Latest - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/latest/khaled-executive-power-of-johor-housing-and-real-property-board-lies-with-mb-1.612687#ixzz33rQhYgFf

And here is an interesting read

http://chedet.cc/?p=1379

Explore Johor Fest 2014

Datuk Tee Siew Kiong said there would be more than 120 booths promoting tourism products and destinations of the 10 districts in Johor at the Explore Johor Fest. Pic by Roslan Khamis

Don't forget to head down to the Senai International Airport June 6 to June 8, if you are a player in the tourism industry.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin will launch the event and reveal the state's Master Tourism Plan for 2014 to 2023 at the airport tomorrow (June 6).

Read more: 800 prizes up for grabs at Explore Johor Fest - Johor - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/streets/johor/800-prizes-up-for-grabs-at-explore-johor-fest-1.611525#ixzz33itgbMNQ

Meanwhile, a very long but thought-provoking piece by Datuk Tengku Putra Haron Aminurrashid Tengku Hamid Jumat titled Protecting Johor's sovereignty

Read more: Protecting Johor's sovereignty - Columnist - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnist/protecting-johor-s-sovereignty-1.611546#ixzz33isqIhCH

Classy and Modern

By Chuah Bee Kim 

ELEGANT LOOK: MyDezigner Label boutique offers chic and trendy clothes and Muslim attire

JOHOR BARU: FOR those looking for designer wear that screams class and modern casual, head down to MyDezigner Label (MDL), a newly-opened boutique in Bandar Baru Uda here.

The boutique, located at No 39, Jalan Padi Emas 1/3, is a branch of MDL in NEO Damansara in Damansara Perdana, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Owner Nora Zakaria, 47, said her daughter Muniera Syaza Johari, 22, is also one of the partners of the boutique.

Nora Zakaria (centre) with her daughter Muniera Syaza Johari (left) and Ain Abd Majid operate MyDezigner Label boutique.

Another partner is Ain Abd Majid, 34, who is known for having founded the Label Hijau Gallery which specialises in Islamic clothing for women.

Nora, who has her own NORA of Galeri Muslimah label, is also well-known in the fashion industry as her fashionwear has found its way into markets in Singapore, Doha in Qatar and Dubai in United Arab Emirates.

Nora said her daughter Muniera Syaza, who graduated from Raffles College, designs for the young and trendy.

"She is a very creative girl and her designs are modern and chic. The younger clients love her creations.

"As for me, I did not graduate from any fashion course. After I got married in 1991, I was encouraged by my husband to start a business.

"So, I opened a shoe shop in Kuala Lumpur. Although business was thriving, I was not satisfied. It just did not bring me the satisfaction that I was craving for.

"Most of the shoes that I sourced from a supplier were of the same design. Soon, life got monotonous," she said.

Nora said her boredom prompted her to take up sewing lessons.

"In 1996, I was ready to open a tailoring shop and the orders started pouring in, some from prominent designers."

After several years, her husband opened a factory for Nora to mass produce tudung and clothing for Muslim women.

Nora, who idolises renowned fashion icons Yves Saint Laurent, Dries Van Noten and John Galliano, got her own designer label (NORA) last year.

Read more: Classy and modern wear - Johor - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/streets/johor/classy-and-modern-wear-1.611517#ixzz33im59zJ3