The Day When I & Family Watched DUYUNG

(Mermaid) is a Malaysian fantasy comedy film that was released on March 6, 2008[2]. The film is directed by A. Razak Mohaideen and produced by KRU Films (now known as KRU Studios) in association with Grand Brilliance Sdn Bhd and Line Clear Motion Pictures. It stars Saiful Apek as a kind-hearted man who encounters a mermaid, portrayed by Maya Karin.
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Plot

The story take places at the east coast of Sabah. Duyung tells the tale of a young man named Jimmy who has this habit of taking care of the environment. He also has a weird habit which is not well received by the other villagers. Jimmy befriends Orix an apeman species. Quietly he developes this feeling for Aspalela the daughter of Tok Mudim the leader of the villager.

One day Jimmy visited Tok Mudim's house to ask his daughter's hand in marriage but was denied approval from Tok Mudim. He furthermore challenged Jimmy to have a land of his own if he wishes to marry his daughter. With a struck of a genius idea using recycled items he created his own land but to his surprise, every morning as he wakes up his land seemed to expand bigger and bigger not only just that but the trees grow taller as well. He assumed that Aspalela had something to do with all of these changes to motivate him. After all he has worked for Tok Mudim still refused to give his daughters hand in marriage. Kordi the most successful guy at the village also wishes to marry Aspalela. Kordi also is very much displeased with Jimmy as he forbids him from fishing. Kordi who has had enough of Jimmy's attitude forced him out of the village and comicly told him to marry a mermaid instead. Kordi destroyed Jimmy's land and fled off.

After all that had happened, Jimmy began to build back his island. While rebuilding the island he had not noticed that a real mermaid had got caught in one of the knots on the island. He managed to give a helping hand to the mermaid and since then they became close friends. Jimmy also became rich after the many gold gifts the mermaid gave him. Kordi was not pleased seeing Jimmy with all of his riches and decided to investigate where his wealth was coming from. It led him to the capture of the mermaid.


Cast

* Maya Karin as Puteri the Duyung
* Saiful Apek as Jimmy
* Yassin Yahya as Orix
* Yasmin Hani as Aspalela
* Awie as Kordi
* Raja Noor Baizura as Ma kOnah
* Abu Bakar Omar as Pak Keoi
* Hafidzuddin Fazil as Wan Pagek
* Rosnah Mat Aris as Mak Tungkik
* Iqbal Mydin as Apai
* Azhari Mohd Zain as Joli

Election 2008: Barisan Nasional holds on to seven states

KUALA LUMPUR: It was a day of shocks for Barisan Nasional as some of its big guns tumbled in the general election.
Though it had managed to secure a simple majority in parliament, the loose opposition alliance of the DAP, Pas and PKR managed to take control of Penang, Kedah, Selangor, Perak and retained Kelantan comfortably.

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, Gerakan acting president and outgoing Penang chief minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon and Wanita Umno deputy head Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil were among the main casualties for BN.

Samy Vellu lost the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat on his 72nd birthday, which virtually ended a long and colourful career in politics spanning more than 30 years.

Koh, who moved from a state seat to contest the Batu Kawan parliamentary seat, lost to DAP newcomer P. Ramasamy, while Shahrizat was also beaten by a newcomer, Nurul Izzah Anwar of PKR, in Lembah Pantai.
The tide against BN also saw the ruling coalition losing its two-thirds majority in parliament and suffering casualties in Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin, Umno treasurer Datuk Seri Mohd Azim Zabidi, and deputy ministers Datuk M. Kayveas (Prime Minister's Department) and Datuk Tan Chai Ho (Home Affairs).

However, the BN retained control of other states, although it saw some of its margins shaved from the previous election in 2004.

It reigned supreme in Johor, Sabah, Sarawak, Pahang, Malacca, Terengganu, Perlis and won Negri Sembilan by a simple majority.

But the sensation was in the unexpected defeats that took a huge toll on Umno's main partners in the BN, namely the MCA, MIC and Gerakan.

MCA, which already did not have its deputy president Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy and vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek in its lineup, was further crippled with the defeat of Tan, central committee member Datuk Fu Ah Kiow, deputy Wanita chief Datuk Chew Mei Fun and vice-president Datuk Donald Lim.

As for Gerakan, of the 12 parliamentary seats it contested, it lost 10 and won only in Gerik and Simpang Renggam. It also lost 26 of the 31 state seats it vied for.

Apart from Samy Vellu, all of the other top leaders in the MIC were also ousted - deputy president Datuk G Palanivel in Hulu Selangor, vice-president Datuk S. Sothinathan in Teluk Kemang, Youth chief S.A. Vigneswaran in Kota Raja and Wanita chief P. Komala Devi in Kapar.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi retained his seat in Kepala Batas as did his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Razak in Pekan.

They and other top BN leaders monitored the results from the BN's headquarters at the Putra World Trade Centre.

The results and the upsets in many places put paid to opposition claims that the election process lacked transparency and that the Election Commission was biased towards the ruling coalition.

The results in Penang were stunning as it was the first time in 39 years that the opposition has managed to take over the state.

Koh, who was chief minister for 18 years, had an audience with the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Rahman Abbas shortly before 9pm to concede defeat.

In 1969, Gerakan, which was then a newly formed opposition party, captured the state government, winning 16 of the 24 state seats, with Dr Lim Chong Eu as chief minister.

Up against the challenges of running an opposition state government and the political realities of the day, the party formed a coalition government two years later and shortly after, it joined the ruling federal coalition in an expanded Barisan Nasional.

(articles taken from The New Straits Times Online)

The dawn of new era in Selangor

THE people of Selangor woke up on Sunday morning to confront a new government for the first time in Malaysian history.

With a majority of seats won over by the former opposition parties, the Selangor can expect a new administration, both at state and local government levels.
Derek Fernandez

The most ostensible change the people will witness is the replacement of the Menteri Besar (MB) and the members of his office.

“The new MB will appoint new people. My take is that all the existing councillors in the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) and Subang Jaya Town Council (MPSJ) will be removed, and there are good chances that the new councillors appointed are those who live within the constituencies,” said Derek Fernandez, an expert in local government and town planning law.

He said under the Local Government Act 1976, the appointment of councillors is the prerogative of the MB.

Which meant that political affiliation would not hold weight in the appointment of a councillor, as was the practise in the old regime, added Fernandez.

“For instance, Edward Lee (Bukit Gasing assemblyman, DAP) has promised to appoint to the council community leaders and professionals in their own fields,” he said.

This would pave the way for local government elections; however, the same Act would have to be amended at the Federal and state levels for it to be possible.

“The new MB would have to consult with his legal experts to find out if a unilateral amendment can be made to move for elections at the local government level.”

Fernandez believes the appointment of new officers would result in a check on the revenue situation of the council.

“The change in the people in office, will follow with structural changes and implementation of policies which may translate to substantial enhancement in the quality of life for the people of Selangor.

“I hope there will be transparency which translates to prosperity for all levels of the community in PJ,” he said.

(articles taken from The Star Online)