brandoneu

FMM ICT Conference 2013 - Going Mobile

noreply@blogger.com (brandon) — Wed, 15 May 2013 14:15:00 +0000

FMM (Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers) held an IT seminar at the Royal Bintang in Kota Damansara today. Because the seminar was heavily subsidised by their sponsors, everyone could go to the event for free.

Nothing much to say tonight because I'm extremely tired. Till then, ciaoz !

My first pet shoot

noreply@blogger.com (brandon) — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:34:00 +0000

My first pet shoot at a lovely home in Sri Hartamas. I know I've got a long way to go, but I hope this is a start. How did I do it? A 50mm lens, a softbox, and a whole lot of patience. These shih tzu dogs just can't keep still ! :)

Perhimpunan Suara Rakyat Suara Keramat/ Tolak Penipuan PRU 13 @ Stadium Kelana Jaya, 08.05.2013

noreply@blogger.com (brandon) — Wed, 08 May 2013 20:10:00 +0000

Today was a really 'black' day for Malaysia. About 120,000 Malaysians from all walks of life made an effort to show up at this rally to protest against the recent results of the 13th general elections. The price for coming here ? Stuck in a 1 hour traffic jam to get there, walked in the rain, got squashed like sardines with many smelly and sweaty folks, and got stuck in another 1.5 hour traffic jam back home. The feeling of seeing the youth of Malaysia coming together to show that Malays, Chinese and Indians are united as one? Priceless ;)

Pakatan Rakyat Grand Finale Ceramah @ Stadium Petaling Jaya, Kelana Jaya | 4 May 2013

noreply@blogger.com (brandon) — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:58:00 +0000

I apologise for this late post. Initially I didn't have the mood to put the pictures up thanks to our country's 'magic show' elections. Once the lights go off, 'magic' happens.

Ever seen an uncle wear PAS merchandise? Well, you've seen one now !

This is one of the first times I've seen Rajiv's more 'aggressive' side on stage. Rajiv won Bukit Gasing with 21,168 votes and a majority of 15,842. He is a very hardworking person. Two hours ago, (at 930 pm!), he stated on facebook - Rushing to assess the situation in seksyen 5 where it is reported that a tree fell on a car.

Yeo Bee Yin triumphed in Damansara Utama with 37,303 votes and a majority of 30, 689. Shortly after her win, she shared 'Thanks to all Damansara Utama voters for your support. I'll serve this nation and you with great diligence'.

Hannah Yeoh of Subang Jaya retained her constituency of Subang Jaya with 40,36 votes. She had 28,069 more votes than her BN opponent.

There were not enough chairs for everyone, so most just stood or sat down on the floor /grass for the whole session.

Wong Chen of PKR won Kelana Jaya with 56, 790 votes and a majority of 28, 827. His trademark 'Harry Potter' style spectacles are here to stay.

Elizabeth Wong won Bukit Lanjan with a 17,200 majority vote. 25,808 Malaysians voted for her.

66,268 voted for Sivarasa Rasiah from PKR. He won with a majority of 26, 719 votes.

Tony Pua won the Petaling Jaya Utara parlimentary constituency with 57,407 votes and a majority of 44,672. It is the second largest majority win for the 13th general election.
Sekali lagi, saya dengan penuh rendah hati mengucapkan terima kasih kepada semua pengundi Petaling Jaya Utara (PJU) yang telah memberikan sokongan yang cukup tinggi kepada saya dan juga rakan-rakan saya di kawasan negeri Kg Tunku - Lau Weng San dan Damansara Utama - Bee Yin Yeo. Kemenangan majoriti sebanyak 44,672 undi di PJU adalah kedua tinggi seluruh Malaysia untuk kerusi Parlimen dan 30,689 undi di Damansara Utama adalah tertinggi untuk kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri. Sekali lagi, ribuan terima kasih dan semoga kita berjaya mencapai perubahan dalam perjalanan perjuangan yang akan datang!

Gobind Singh did well in Puchong with 62,938 votes and a 32, 802 majority.

At the end of the ceramah, it was estimated that more than 50,000 attended. What an awesome turnout.

Despite failing to conquer Putrajaya, the Pakatan Rakyat candidates of Selangor have much to be thankful for. They prevailed even though Najib pledged to return Selangor to Barisan. I am sure they will do their best to serve the rakyat for the next 5 years.

_____________________________________________

Today, Umno's utusan posed the question 'Apa lagi Cina mahu?' (What more do the Chinese want?). I think the question should be rephrased to 'What more do Malaysians want?' By blatantly blaming the political results on a 'chinese tsunami', they are sweeping more serious issues under the carpet - the failure to provide free and fair elections, allegations of corruption, so on and so forth. Furthermore, how could DAP candidates have an overwhelming victory in their constituencies if Chinese voters only constitute less than half of the residents?

I hereby end with a summary from the new york times:
It must be clear to Najib that to woo the Chinese he would have to take more serious steps than participate in the kind of events the National Front's corporate allies held for two Chinese constituencies before the elections -- a performance by South Korean rapper PSY and a dinner with Bond actress Michelle Yeoh.

A disappointing 13th general election

noreply@blogger.com (brandon) — Mon, 06 May 2013 07:33:00 +0000

Yesterday afternoon, DAP Petaling Jaya post up a notice on facebook saying that they will be at the ss2 basketball court to follow the election results. I initially thought not many would be coming, but a few hundred people showed up later around 8 pm despite the slight drizzle.

Excitement was in the air when the MC's announced DAP's wins one by one. But alas, we were not prepared for the bittersweet mood later in the evening.

Tony Pua was busy getting updates from a google spreadsheet document about the performance of DAP candidates throughout the country.

Rajiv won Bukit Gasing with a comfortable majority. His win was the first to be announced during the event.

Lau Weng San N35 Kg Tunku: Jumlah pemilih 32007, DAP 19762, BN 6077, Spoilt Vote 203, Unreturned vote 30, Majority 13685.

Admittedly, reports from PKR and PAS were sparse. Those in the crowd who had 3g devices managed to get the latest news from malaysiakini.com

Saudara Rajiv and wife.

A father's love never fades.

My good friend, Jason Lee whom I've known since my college days.

Participants bought DAP merchandise and asked the candidates to autograph them.

The MC congratulates Yeo Bee Yin

A reporter requests Tony to say a few words for the camera.

Yeo Bee Yin's win is announced. Like the rest, she also won with a comfortable majority.

The candidates disappeared for more than an hour to collect the official documents of their win at the MBPJ Hall. However the mood was getting more somber as the audience knew that despite DAP's fantastic win in Selangor, they cannot take over Putrajaya.

There are many theories circulated regarding why Pakatan could not win the seats in rural areas. Yes, its true that the 'ubah' message has successfully penetrated urban areas, but as for rural folk, they are more conservative and depend heavily on handouts from the government. PKR needs new tactics to reach out to the rural folk.

I noticed no one looking more dejected than Bee Yin. This is her message for today :

Cry Malaysians cry, but only for a short while, there are a lot more things to do to achieve our dreams. For those who have made great effort to go to vote, thank you so much! Your votes might not translate into a change of government for now, but they have surely contributed to a better Malaysia in the future. Only when you voice out, that the government will be vigilant and accountable to you. You deserve better. Your votes in GE13 have also translated into great determination in me to ensure that I will do all I can to ensure Malaysia will one day be free from corruption, abuse of power and racism. We will go forward in unity and good economic progress. Indeed, the journey is longer than expected, but let's don't lose hope, let's continue to believe that when all of us come together, our dreams will come true one day.

The MC did not feel like breaking the bad news, so Tony Pua had to do the honors.

He thanked the DAP supporters for waiting up during the night, and everyone dispersed quietly.

If 'Ini Kalilah' didn't work , then I guess we have to wait 5 more years. I'm sure the 'ubah' spirit will not be diminished that easily.

update: I'm watching ubah.tv now where there is a press conference at the DAP headquarters regarding the inconsistencies in the electoral process.They want to hold the Election Comission responsible for the failure to ensure free and fair elections in Malaysia.

Ceramah terakhir Hannah Yeoh & Wong Chen @ USJ 1, Subang jaya

noreply@blogger.com (brandon) — Mon, 06 May 2013 06:38:00 +0000

This was Hannah's last ceramah with Wong Chen at USJ 1 Subang Jaya before the grand finale at stadium kelana jaya. Both candidates gave brief and concise speeches, and mesmerized crowd stayed on till the very end. Hannah was able to get her team of volunteers onto the stage and thanked them for their contributions and hard work.

The story doesn't end here. After I left the venue, it took me half an hour to get back on the car because I forgot where I parked it ! Certainly not a good way to end the night.

Anwar @ Jalan Kelang Lama, PJS 6

noreply@blogger.com (brandon) — Thu, 02 May 2013 20:20:00 +0000

Although today is labour day, pakatan rakyat took the opportunity to organise events and ceramahs from morning till evening. I thought taking photos of najib was hard (he has a dozen bodyguards and the whole police force behind him). Anwar's bodyguards are more 'polite', but the crowd who was eager to meet him were quite rowdy which makes taking photos of anwar when he's on the move even more challenging. Hopefully my luck will be better the next time I see him !

Anwar 'pulls' the tea (acara melambung teh tarik).

Anwar answers questions to foreign reporters.

This is the closest I've ever gotten to Anwar. Too close for comfort for his bodyguards too.

2 more days left for campaigning. Who will emerge victorious? Only time will tell.

HyperSmash.com

The idiot's guide to attending ceramah

noreply@blogger.com (brandon) — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:25:00 +0000

Recently I've seen a number of traffic directed here when folks are searching for 'dap ceramah malaysia', or 'dap ceramah in pj/kl' or 'where is ceramah in pj?' Everyone wants to get into the hype and attend a ceramah, but some of you don't know how to. This is what this guide is about.

Disclaimer - I'm not an expert (aka. kutu ceramah), but I hope this gives you a summary of the basic things you need to attend one.

How did I get started in attending ceramah ? I read articles from The Malaysian Insider and Malaysiakini ardently about the latest political news. I also subscribe to youtube channels like mediarakyat and listen to the ceramahs there. You can also listen to the DAP ceramahs on ubah.tv. But why just be a couch potato ? Yes, you might get the message from a youtube video but you're missing out on a lot of things - the atmosphere, excitement, and joy of participating at the ceramah itself. For example, a lot of people whom I've met say that they've never been to a Bersih rally. Well, I have, and I can at least take pride in the fact that I have been there, unlike others who just read it in the papers and watch the videos on TV and on youtube. Its just different. You also give much needed support to your political party / candidate by being there.

Bear in mind, you attend ceramahs at your own risk. Take into consideration the political affiliation of your boss, the nature of your job, the feelings of your family / loved ones and your safety when you attend ceramah. You have to be responsible for yourself if anything happens during or after going to a ceramah. Anything could happen really - you could get boxed in the ears by a BN supporter, or pelted with eggs, or splashed with paint. These are all worst case scenarios. But usually, ceramahs in Lembah Klang are quite civil and proper. You don't need to be too worried about such things.

So... back to the main question. How to attend a ceramah ? Well, its not easy to get information from the mainstream media due to the government not supporting free and fair elections. If your neighbourhood is popular, perhaps they would put up buntings on the dates and times of the ceramahs. But that isn't very helpful if you don't know that area. You could also befriend people who're active in the political scene (I've got the handphone contacts of campaign managers for a Keadilan and DAP candidate), but unless you know them, they remain quite anonymous.

The easiest way to attend the ceramahs is to 'like' pages on facebook. They often put up the schedules of their ceramahs on the fanpages - Nurul Izzah, Rafizi and Tony Pua for example. Their information is often up to date despite being posted on the same day. They list their schedule for the entire day - even minum pagi (breakfast) and minum petang (tea break) schedules are also listed. DAP lists their ceramahs under their ;event calendar' on their facebook page. The ceramah list for the whole of Malaysia is listed there - quite thorough, but not complete. Some candidates like Hannah Yeoh are not listed there, for example. You can also sync the ceramahs to your google calendar by clicking the button on the bottom right of the screen. Makes planning your day so much easier.

For Anwar ibrahim, you can find his ceramah schedules on www.anwaribrahimblog.com or http://www.keadilandaily.com/. Not so intuitive to find, but the schedule's there nonetheless. He also lists his stopovers on his facebook page.

After you've decided which ceramahs to go to, you've got some preparation to do.

Where is it? Google Maps is the answer. If its an unfamiliar route, save the maps data to your smart phone or use a proper GPS software. Sometimes the address is unfamiliar to Google maps, for example 'padang bola sepak PPR Kerinchi'. You would then have to do a google search and find the nearest approximate location. If all else fails, get the assistance of the locals. They'll usually tell you where to go.

How do I get there? Check the public transport schedule (LRT, bus, taxi). For those of us who drive, check the condition of your vehicle (eg. tyre pressure, engine oil, brakes, etc). Having a car break down on you during a ceramah is something definitely to be avoided. Otherwise if you're lazy to drive, carpool, and convince your colleagues, friends or relatives to give you a lift to the venue.

What do I bring? Here's a list of items to consider:

wallet - if you're in the market for some DAP shirts or writings by Lim Kit Siang, some money will do you good. If you feel like it, put in some money for the donation boxes being passed around during the ceramah
foldable chair / stool / plastic mat - Ceramahs are usually held in open spaces eg playgrounds, carparks, etc. Usually the organisers provide chairs , but they're often not enough. Bring along your own so that you can sit down and enjoy the session
umbrella / rain coat - The weather is pretty unpredictable nowadays, and it rains often in the evenings. You wouldn't like to sit in the ceramah feeling cold and wet, would you ?
shoes - Fields can be very muddy after the rain. I wear a comfortable pair of Hushpuppies leather shoes that keep the water and mud out from my feet.
water - Stay hydrated. The weather can be pretty hot even though it is at night. You might not find a cafe at the venue of the ceramah.
snacks - For a quick bite if required.
camera / ipad / galaxy tab - For taking photos with your favourite calon for bragging rights, and recording photos / videos for your facebook.

If you're driving, arrive there early (at least 30 minutes before) to find a good space to park your car. Otherwise you have to risk parking your precious vehicle beside the main road. When you arrive early, you also have the opportunity to pick the best seats in the house and be closer to your favorite candidate. Also factor in the time for traffic jams (a common occurence in Malaysia) and unexpected hiccups. Of course, ceramahs don't usually start on time (it's a Malaysian thing). They usually start about 30 minutes - 1 hour later than scheduled.

What do you do during a ceramah ? Listen, listen, listen ! Just kidding :) ! PR's ceramahs are usually candid and spontaneous. Have a great time, clap your hands, boo, respond appropriately and you'll do just fine. Take photos with your favorite candidate. Greet them, shake hands and tell them what an inspiration they are to you. I'm sure they'll appreciate it very much. Get to know their team members and campaign managers who can tell you when's the next event. Don't forget to talk to the person sitting or standing next to you. They're most probably as excited as you are to attend the ceramah.

If you feel like it, follow your local candidates' activities other than ceramah - for example their morning walkabout at the morning market, tai chi exercise, dialogue forums etc etc.

I hope this information is sufficient for you to attend your ceramahs. You have a few more days to do so. By midnight on May 4th, all campaigning will cease. By then, you will have to wait another 5 years for your next ceramah session !

Cheers.

Ceramah DAP @ MBPJ Hockey Stadium

noreply@blogger.com (brandon) — Wed, 01 May 2013 12:46:00 +0000

And so it began with an ad was put out on the DAP facebook page signaling a large ceramah at the MBPJ Hockey Stadium yesterday. There was an A grade selection of speakers; most whom you would have to listen to their ceramahs at their own respective areas, but they were all gathered at the one single venue that night. A 'rare' opportunity you might say.

Dato' Ambiga arrives first...

... and soon thereafter followed by Nurul Izzah, and their bodyguards of course.

Despite being ridiculed in the media and by veteran politicians in the ruling party, Ambiga refuses to bow down and continues to advocate free and fair elections. She declares that she does not tell people who to vote for, but encourages voters to cast their ballots for a better Malaysa.

One of the brightest (if not the brightest) female politicians in our country today, YB Nurul's speeches appeal to both the lower and middle class voters of all races.

She can be polite and demure at one moment, while being aggressive and forceful at the next second. A speech with drama and suspense, like her father.

No more seats ? Bring your own instead !

I think its been a long time since the hockey stadium has been this packed.

The monk - saudara Lau Weng San. Most DAP speakers are well versed in Malay and the Chinese dialects (cantonese, mandarin and hokkien), which makes them effective tools to reach out to as much of the community as possible.

Yeo Bee Yin is popular to take photos with.

Rajiv's two main issues are public transportation and the rise in crime rates. Very relevant topics nonetheless, but I hope that he will be able to put his words to action. Very hard to do unless you're the minister of transport of course.

By the time Yeo Bee Yin takes the stage, the crowd has swelled up in preparation for Tony Pua's arrival.

He's the most popular candidate for PJ utara. Wherever he is, the crowds will follow, myself included.

Tony raises issues of the exorbitant tender prices of government procurements, most famously the royal navy's ships and armored personnel carriers.

Tony mentioned the issue below last night:

There is no fair play in the media. BN has spent tens of millions of ringgit on advertisements in non-Malay newspapers to instil fear into the hearts of the readers with highly inaccurate and misleading facts about PAS, our comrade in Pakatan Rakyat. And they tried to then convince them that "A vote for DAP is a vote for PAS". However when we wanted to respond to point out the fact that "A vote for MCA/BN is a vote for UMNO is a vote for PERKASA", mainstream press like The Star refused outright to print our advertisement, even when we were willing to pay for it.

Tony obliges to take photos with his fans and autograph DAP merchandise after the ceramah ended.

Anwar has said that the large attendance may not translate into votes, and reminds the Pakatan coalition to be on guard at all times. A dirty, sneaky election is right at their doorstep, and they must be prepared for war.

Ceramah DAP @ ss2, PJ

noreply@blogger.com (brandon) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:07:00 +0000

Hundreds thronged the open air space in ss2 for a DAP ceramah earlier this evening despite the rain. Notable speakers include Ong Kian Ming, Yeo Bee Yin, Rajiv, Lau Weng San, and two human rights lawyers - Malik Imtiaz and Edmund Bon.

Ceramah DAP @ PJ ss17

noreply@blogger.com (brandon) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 18:27:00 +0000

'Malaysian spring' flags at ss17.

A huge, mostly Chinese crowd flocked to PJ ss17 last night to listen to team of Pakatan Rakyat leaders despite the slight drizzle. The speakers included Khalid Samad, Yeo Bee Yin, Hee Loy Sian, Lau Weng San, local contestant Rajiv Rishyakaran and of course, Tony Pua. Despite delivering his 7th speech of the day, Tony projected his message to the enthusiastic crowd with ease.

We Chinese are typically apathetic to politics and mind our own business but the general election this time has seen them rallying for Pakatan (particularly PAS) on a scale never seen before in the course of Malaysian political history.

The next big ceramah this week will be at the MBPJ Hockey stadium where Dato Ambiga will be the special speaker there. Do attend if you can make some time for it (30th April, Tuesday).

Cheers.

Ceramah DAP at Jalan ss2/72

noreply@blogger.com (brandon) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:24:00 +0000

A small DAP ceramah was held at the goverment apartments next to ss2 mall yesterday evening. A small crowd came, comprising residents of the flats and the nearby residential areas. No big guns here - YB Rajiv representing Bukit Gasing and Yeo Bee Yin (candidate for Damansara Utama) came to give short ceramahs to the attendees.

Typical for DAP ceramahs, there was a proper video crew, mobile stage, lights, and on site personnel to ensure the live streaming to ubah.tv went about smoothly.

Of course one of the consolations of attending a ceramah here is the free food and mineral water, which you don't get when attending larger ceramahs.

For a Masters' graduate, I was surprised Yeo Bee Yin wasn't that fluent in the Malay language. But she is still to be applauded for making effort nonetheless. You can read more about Yeo's involvement in politics here.

I can't recall the name of this speaker, but he was an ISA detainee. Other than shouts of 'ubah' and 'reformasi', I expected more from someone of his calibre. But I guess the small crowd was just happy to hear the short story.

Perhaps I should have said this earlier, but I didn't plan to attend the ceramah tonight as I had a bad flu. But on the way driving home, I recalled that the ceramah was very near my house and made a stop instead. Indeed my insticts were correct.

I reckon not all ceramahs have to be big with thousands or hundreds of supporters. Even a small one can make a difference to the local community and help to influence their decision making on 5th May. And that's what really matters.

Cheers.

Ceramah DAP @ SS4, PJ

noreply@blogger.com (brandon) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:50:00 +0000

Frankly speaking, the DAP ceramahs were better organised and had better logistics than the PKR ones. They had a proper sound system, stage, lighting, videographer for ubah.tv, etc. Although the mood is not as supercharged as Anwar's or Nurul Izzah's, the more conservative ceramahs appeal to the local residents of the area. Many came from their houses , while some were still dressed in their office wear. Interestingly, the MCs unveiled several DAP products for purchase during speech intervals, such as the ubah mascot, t shirts, books by Lim Kit Siang and Guan Eng, etc.

noreply@blogger.com (brandon) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 18:48:00 +0000

This was Anwar's last visit to Lembah Pantai before the start of the elections. Thousands, mostly residents of the government apartments thronged a football field at the Kerinchi flats in Lembah Pantai. Father and daughter alike delivered emotional and powerful speeches despite having a slight disturbance due to music from Barisan supporters. It is interesting to notice that YB Nurul has two sides, friendly and warm with the local folk while having a powerful and aggressive character while delivering her ceramah. The night ended with the cutting of a glutinous rice cake (nasi pulut) to symbolise good luck for Pakatan as the general election looms ahead.

Mmmm... sedap !

Forum Bersih 2.0: Manifesto BN vs PKR

noreply@blogger.com (brandon) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:59:00 +0000

I just finished covering a event at Shangri-la, Jalan Sultan Ismail when I remembered that there was going to be a debate between Najib and Anwar tonight. Here were the details listed on facebook:

Debat Anwar - Najib

17 April 2013 (Rabu)

8.00-10.00 malam

Forum Bersih 2.0 Manifesto BN vs PKR

Datuk Seri Najib Razak vs Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim

Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall

Although I arrived late, I wasn't surprised of the outcome, as summarized in the picture below:

There were camcorders and video cameras everywhere around the main stage from the media and amateurs alike.

Hundreds of PKR and Bersih supporters were packed inside the hall.

Although there was no air cond, they persisted to hear what Anwar had to say about Pakatan's Manifesto.

L-R: A Samad Said, Rafizi, Ambiga, Marina Chin

Despite being a serious forum, Anwar manages to win over the crowd with his wit.

After the forum, Anwar promptly left to rush to another ceramah in Putrajaya.

Rafizi took over from Anwar to explain parts of the Pakatan Manifesto, such as the economy, education, corruption, and reducing the rising living costs of the rakyat.

Closing speech by Ambiga.

She presents a copy of Bersih's new book to Rafizi.

Rafizi greets his supporters.

Ambiga signs a copy of Bersih's latest book 'Bersih: The voices of rhyme and reason'.

Ceramah Isu Semasa Pakatan @ Bukit Kerinchi

noreply@blogger.com (brandon) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 02:35:00 +0000

YB Nurul went to Lucky Garden roundabout this morning to officiate an art installation of flags representing the 'Malaysian Spring'. A few hours later, DBKL came to remove them because of 'arahan atasan'. Who controls DBKL ? No one other than her competitor, Raja Nong Chik!

Calon Sekinchan DAP, Ng Suee Lim

Chegubard with his famous expose on diamonds

Khalid Samad, calon Shah Alam

Ceramah Perdana Pengumuman calon-calon Keadilan Wilayah Persekutuan

noreply@blogger.com (brandon) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 23:20:00 +0000

I have a confession to make - I am a PKR virgin. I have never attended one of their 'ceramahs', nor have I witnessed Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim speaking in person... until tonight. Oh well, there's always a first time for everything.

At first, I was still deciding whether or not to go to this event since it was raining. But the weather finally got better, and I arrived at a football field in in Bandar Puteri by 11 pm.

Like Dr M, Anwar has also amassed his own group of supporters. Unlike BN supporters who're given pocket money, food and goodies, a few hundred supporters braved the rain and muddy soil to listen to Anwar's speech. They came because they want to listen what are Anwar's plans for the country in case the opposition takes over.

People were listening attentively despite the light drizzle and stepping into puddles of mud.

Anwar pauses briefly as he shows the video of Saiful's father saying that the whole case with his son is a conspiracy to topple him.

DSAI gets ready to endorse Tian Chua on the podium.

Ready.. set....

... armpits ! ;)

Anwar is a difficult person to get close to because of his personal bodyguards. That's because he's one of the country's most wanted during this important election time.

Will Pakatan take over Putrajaya ? Political analysts say its highly unlikely, and I concur. Nonetheless I agree that Anwar ran the race and put up a very good fight.

Cheers.

Korea Trip Day 3

noreply@blogger.com (brandon) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 15:11:00 +0000

The third day of our trip was a Sunday. We had to get up at the ungodly hour of 5.30am for prayer meeting downstairs in the main hall. Because it was conducted in Korean (duh!), I had a hard time to keep myself awake !

At 7am, we were to fill our stomachs in the church canteen with some preserved spicy vegetables...

... as well as some kimchi pork soup.

If my mom wasn't an avid fan of bread making, I'd certainly wouldn't mind having rice for breakfast.

The air was still chilly when I stepped out of the church. I made my way to the back alleys hoping to find something to shoot in the early morning sun.

South Korea's version of 7 Eleven.

Even their telephone poles are so complicated..

Immanuel Methodist Church has 2 services - one at 9am, and the other at 11am. Our troupe was to perform at both events before we had to rush out to the bus for a trip down south.

Immanuel Mthodist is really big. The worship hall successfully maintains its traditional appearance while at the same time incorporates modern technology for the Sunday worship.

The church choir is large - at least a 100 strong.

Dad was very impressed with the choir conductor and the use of brass instruments.

This is the Reverend's son who also happens to be the senior pastor of the church.

After the sermon was the music performance from our group.

During the trip down south, we visited a small church in the country side.

They welcomed us warmly with desserts and fruits. The mini oranges and strawberries were very sweet and juicy !

Performance number 3 of the day.

Apparently Reverend Peter and this pastor were good friends since bible college.

Group photo for the road.

We arrived in another town after being in the bus for an hour.

We thought we were getting down from the bus, but were sent instead to our accommodation for the evening.

Its in the hills with lots of trees everywhere.

We hauled our bags up the hill to the log cabins, only to find out that the resort proprietor had the keys missing -_-"

Our mates for the night.You can notice my purple bag at the balcony because we couldn't check into the cabins yet.

Nonetheless we returned to the church for a nice homemade meal of beef stew with glass noodles.

Cute dance by the kids.

Performance number 4. Looks like the folks love what we do :)

Last group photo for the day.

Before we headed back to the accommodation in the hills, the church pastor generously sponsored a pair of socks for each of us in the tour group. What a blessing !
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The story doesn't end here. Back at the log cabins, it was to our dismay that the water heater was not functioning. However I couldn't have a good rest feeling icky, so I dared myself to take a shower in sub zero water.

Although I only sprayed a little bit of water on my head, it felt like my head was going to split into two. Fortunately I managed to complete my shower despite taking a longer time than usual. Hurrah !

...to be continued...

Korea Trip Day 2

noreply@blogger.com (brandon) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 07:46:00 +0000

We woke up to the smell of a delicious food for breakfast courtesy of Mrs Yang. Although the weather outside was quite chilly, the sun shone brightly through the living room windows.

This young fellow must be wondering why are there so many guests staying in her house.

Mrs Yang cooked our family a full on breakfast in preparation for the upcoming journey to Seoul. On the plates you can see preserved lotus root, cucumbers, spinach, bean sprouts and tofu.

The grilled beef slices smelt absolutely wonderful after being marinated in bulgogi sauce for the night.

Strifried kimchi and pork stew.

This superb dish, 'tteokguk' is usually eaten during the new year. It consists of beef brisket, eggs, sliced rice cake, sesame oil etc. You can refer to the recipe here.

The wonderful cook with her granddaughter.

We rendezvous at the church before getting on the bus to Seoul.

This is one of, or perhaps the biggest Methodist church in Korea - Immanuel Methodist Church. From its humble beginnings after the war, it now has a office, bookstore, tuition classes, and accommodation for international visitors such as our tour group.

The church is situated right across the road from Olympic Park. Only from this view could I really appreciate how vast was the city of Seoul.

Towards the mountains at the horizon, the city has a neatly planned grid of roads, townhouses, apartments, shop houses, and so on and so forth.

Interestingly Koreans have unique uses of English. On the left of the alley you can see a 'Mate Hotel'. I don't think I need to elaborate further on what is the hotel used for.

What does 'Diesel warning, absolutestyle speederdesign' have to do with a fuel tank ?!

In the alleys of the bar and restaurant distrcit behind Immanuel Church, there is a blistering array of colorful signage and words interspersed with Korean characters.

Frankly speaking, I don't know what some of the words mean.

On the way to Lotte Mall, we saw some church ladies setting up a coffee station near a traffic light.

Another monstrous Lotte tower is being build opposite the road from where the old Lotte World is.

In the evening, I had a pork cutlet steak for tea in one of the cheaper shops in the area.

One thing's for sure, this meal ain't cheap - after converting, this is about RM 24 (about 8000 won) !

I was meeting a long lost friend - Jay at Olympic Park. Due to the sheer irony of NOT being able to purchase a prepaid SIM card in Seoul, I was forced to use a public telephone instead to contact me.

The rays of the setting sun shine brightly through the center of the monument.

The Olympic Council of Malaysia left this stone here way back in 1988 during the 1988 summer Olympics.

It didn't take me long to find the Malaysian flag here.

I finally managed to meet Jay together with his wife. We went to an awesome Korean barbecue restaurant nearby.

Unfortunately I couldn't snap photos of the food as: 1. I didn't want my camera to smell like beef. 2. I was too hungry. But the food was really awesome, I must say ! ;)

Thanks Jay and wife for a wonderful evening. I certainly had a blast talking to you guys !

Hendak Seribu Daya, Tak Hendak Seribu Dalih

noreply@blogger.com (brandon) — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 17:10:00 +0000

For those who understand the Malay language, the idiom above means that if you really desire something, you would do everything that you possibly can to achieve it no matter what difficulties you face.

The story behind this ? Well, I've been having some issues at my current workplace for some time now, and the only way around this is to find a new employer. Hence last Friday, I met up with the editor of a very popular media company inquiring about this possibility of having me in his team.

I guess I was rather naive. I did think that since elections were around the corner, there would be some opportunities open for me. Well, unfortunately it didn't turn out that way. Despite my decent portfolio, I couldn't be offered the full time position that I so desired. Turns out that I have to find my own way instead to climb up the ladder as a freelancer first.

I was advised to shoot whatever that was relevant to the coming elections. But what was I to know? So far everything I had wasn't up to their expectations because it was not significant enough to be added to their news roll.

I mean, how was I to know? All this while in my current company, I just shoot whatever is in front of me. I don't need to think so much and plan my shot in such detail.

It all boils down to this issue. For every work that I do, I need to get paid for my expenses. Never mind the charges for my full frame camera and equipment - even my petrol and meals don't get paid for !

Some people say that if you love what you do at work, it doesn't matter whether you get paid doing it. Unfortunately for me, it does.

I'm not saying that I am a generous spender, but life in Kuala Lumpur is hard without a decent source of income. Rent, utility bills, meals, petrol, handphone all need moolah !

I'm currently being asked to do a picture story - submit 8-10 images and hopefully that will bring in some income. But I'm not too optimistic about this deal. I have been disappointed too many times to know that people will willingly not pay for your images, even though they're not that bad at all.

My patience is wearing out even though I've managed to be an 'unofficial' photographer with this company for a few days. I don't think I can use the line - " Hi I'm Brandon. I'm currently a photographer for company X and I'd like to take some photos of you'.

Coming back to the idiom 'hendak seribu daya, tak hendak seribu dalih', if things don't work out the way it should financially, I reckon I need to look someplace else. Its impossible for me to keep shooting and not get paid for it, unless its just a wonderful hobby for me.

Hopefully this week will be a better one. I've another interview in the next few days, but the job requires me to also be in a shop, and outdoor assignments will almost a rarity. Not my cup of tea.

Sometimes you just have to close the door to something although you really believe in it. Dreams are over. Its time to live in the real world.

Wish me luck guys. A brand new week has begun.

Adios !

Korea Trip Day 1

noreply@blogger.com (brandon) — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 15:09:00 +0000

Last year, my parents suggested hat we visit South Korea on a mission trip. We would be visiting places of interest, but the main agenda would be to visit the Methodist churches there and have fellowship with their people. So on 1st March 2013, we left Kuala Lumpur about 9 am and arrived in Seoul about 4pm. We were joining a Chinese church group from Sibu. Aside from our family, there was also a couple from Singapore and a church worker from PJ.

To be honest, I underestimated how chilly Seoul could be. I got a real good blast of their winds in springtime (mind you it isn't winter). I had to put the thick sweater I got in Melbourne immediately.

After placing our luggage on the bus, we headed out to the suburb of Nonhyeon to visit a church there.

The weary travelers dug into the food immediately.

I was very excited to savor authentic Korean dishes cooked by the kind 'ajima' (aunties). There were lots of vegetables, a soup dish and a pork bulgogi.

This is how the food looks like when I stuff them on my plate.

This is a simple Korean beansprout soup. The beansprouts there are larger and crispier than the Malaysian ones !

This is Reverend Peter Shin, our tourguide, interpreter, luggage handler, preacher, etc. Our family first met him 7 years ago when he came over to our house for dinner. He is active at work among the local indigenous people of Sarawak. I really admire his tenacity in getting the group together and making sure that we attend all the activities on time.

Well there is no such thing as a 'free lunch'. The group had to prepare 3 chinese songs as our presenation each time we visited a church.

Nonhyeon suburb was still way up north. In the coming days, we would be travelling south to Seoul and Jeju Island.

After our little practice we had to go up into the church hall for a short service.

In Malaysia its pretty hard to convince churchgoers to attend service in the middle of the week. In South Korea, they attend it by the bucket loads ! Of course, most of the attendees are working adults and senior citizens. The teenagers and children are usually busy attending tuition classes.

Church choir.

As the main group were chinese educated, I had to train my ears to understand what they were talking about. Of course, I had absolutely no idea what the pastor was saying in Korean.

Presentation time.

The pastor from Sibu presented his Korean counterpart with a Iban head gear.

My dad was asked to share a little in English...

... and so was the pastor's wife.

We had a unique one night homestay experience at the apartment of a Mr Yang.

Look at all the goodies on the table ! We had Korean donuts, fresh fruits, and pumpkin juice. Compared to our local satay and char kuey tiaw we have for dinner, even their supper is very healthy.

Mr Yang's daughter knew sufficient English to have a meaningful conversation within both families. It was an honor to get to know them during this short period of time.

Mr and Mrs Yong are florists, hence the abundance of potted plants in their apartment. This is a 'happy tree', and they're very proud of it.

Mom looks very healthy with her new handbag.

One family portrait for the road. Mr Yang presented my dad a book while my mom got a handmade ladies bag. At the row behind is Mr Yang's son and daughter-in-law.

Mr and Mrs Yang were kind enough to let my parents sleep on their bed while my brother and I were sleeping in their study room. The floors were adequately heated and I'm pleased to say we had a good night's rest.

First post for 2013

noreply@blogger.com (brandon) — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 13:56:00 +0000

Dear followers,

This is officially my first post for 2013. I could begin with how slow the year began, the subdued Chinese New Year celebrations, or the fact that I just returned from a evangelical trip to South Korea. I was thinking in my head how all the pictures I captured during the trip would be written into several concise posts.

But alas, this is not to be. On Monday, an opportunistic fellow broke into our rented house and carted out all my precious Olympus glass and E3 camera body I've accumulated over the years. I bear not to list them all - you can see them on my previous posts on Olympus gear.

I've heard of break ins before involving camera equipment. A regular customer lost all his Nikons when he was away on vacation. But he was affluent enough to get them replaced. Its a real pity that I did not get to say goodbye to them. The remaining equipment is with my youngest brother. I pray that he will be able to put to good use whatever that is left.

Its been a sweet journey, that has been brought to an abrupt end. An end that I, and many other photography enthusiasts loath.

Goodbye Olympus - If I do not find you again, I hope that your new owner takes care of you nicely and not throw you up and about.

Sincerely,

Brandon

Willie & Sophie ROM

noreply@blogger.com (brandon) — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 02:10:00 +0000

I had the wonderful opportunity to photograph Willie and Sophie on the day of their Registration of Marriage (ROM) in Putrajaya. Willie happens to be a client of my boss, so I had to do a good job.

I brought along the trusty D3, 24-70, 14-24, an ancient but working Tokina 80-200, and a ridiculously sharp 50/1.4 G.

It so happens that the 50mm was the most used lens of the day. Its light, focuses accurately, and gives a moderate degree of background blur due to the large aperture.

For most of the group shots, I used the 14-24 or 24-70.

We had to wait quite a while for our turn, but while doing so I got some splendid shots.

Fortunately the room lights weren't so orange so a colour gel wasn't necessary.

Willie and Sophie are a spontaneous and fun couple. I admire their energy and spirit.

Heading back to Pullman Putrajaya for some outdoor photos.

I shot all the photos using normal quality jpegs and edited them in adobe bridge only.

I tried some shots in the harsh noon sunlight although I'm more comfortable with taking photos under the shade.

A unique place for a final group photo. Love the view from the top !

Hope you guys like this series of pictures. For more pictures please view the rest of the album here.

Cheers !

BRAND'S 2013 Haha CNY Campaign Preview

noreply@blogger.com (brandon) — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 14:24:00 +0000

Cerebos Malaysia, which markets the reknown BRAND'S Essence of Chicken had a media preview of their products for the upcoming Chinese New Year at the Westlake Garden Chinese Restaurant in Sunway. They invited a whole host of media personnel from various news agencies, magazines, tv stations, bloggers, etc. I had the honor of being the main event photographer for this wonderful occasion.

The tables were elegantly decorated with goodies such as this cute doll, and of course, a bottle of Brand's Chicken Essence.

Looks like the ladies are enjoying themselves.

Finally, the five celebrities unveiled themselves. I only know two of them unfortunately due to my limited background of chinese music - Guang Liang, and Orange.

A group photo session with the mascots, Mr Koh Joo Siang and Carmen Lee from Cerebos Malaysia.

Tossing the Yee Sang for good luck and fortune for the coming year.

The restaurant, despite its small size was elegantly decorated.

Having fun dancing with the mascots.

Yaaammmm Seeennnggg ! - BRAND'S style.

Media session with the writers and tv stations.

Guang Liang says his bit for the tv stations.

Mr Koh and Ms Lee wih the newly launched Chinese New Year themed hampers.

A closer look at the hampers.

The celebrities will be featured in the local media in the next few days, so stay tuned ! Cheers...

My first Hari Raya photoshoot

noreply@blogger.com (brandon) — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 15:53:00 +0000

I can still remember the early days of Hari Raya going visiting with my grandfather, who was once a government official in the welfare department. We went to the houses of VIPs and ministers, eating the wonderful spread of Malay dishes in front of us - lemang, satay, lapis cake, rendang, curries etc. However since I moved to Kuala Lumpur 3 years ago, I have not been to a single Hari Raya open house celebration.

But this year, its refreshingly different. I was invited to shoot for a close knit family in Kelana Jaya. And I had quite a good time with them. I reached their house early - about 9am and proceeded to set up my 'mobile studio'. Yes, my wrists were still giving me some trouble, but I endured it anyway.

The client had a nice garden, so I was glad I came a day before to check out the place and recommend a good spot to shoot the formals. First, a formal shot,

... and the informals.

Asking for forgiveness from elders at the start of a new year is always a good thing, I reckon.

One of the neighbors. I wonder whats running through his mind when I point my big camera at him.

Lovely family. The girl looks very much like her mum !

This bloke is trying eagerly to help his mum with some of the house chores.

After a while, I managed to convince him to sit down and take some candids.

The relatives came in droves just before noon. Its kinda nice to see them once a year, especially for the elders.

Like the Chinese, Malays also have their own version of 'angpows', or 'duit raya'. Its mainly given to the younger family members, especially children, or teens who have not been married or don't have a job yet.

The baby is definitely enjoying the celebrations.

The guys wanted their share of the fun.

...but I didn't leave out the aunties either.

Hope you guys enjoyed this short post. I've definitely enjoyed this years' Hari Raya celebrations. Hopefully there will be more to come in the future.

Cheers !