Hal Politikus

Kickdefella

“Shit, Dang . . .” I just can’t believe it.

How the hell did he get here?

The ‘he’ I’m talking about is none other than kickdefella– blogger extraordinaire, film director, political commentator, social satirist - and if I may, grand-nephew of the current CM of Kelantan. What a resume, huh.

What I couldn’t believe was - ‘sheih’ as he calls himself, had a paid a visit to my blog and left a comment. Man, in the realm of Bolehsian blogosphere, I’m just one of the many, many, many anonymous bloggers out there. In the normal course of things, my site is visited by some former classmates and close associates and only when I implore them to. Don’t even ask why I bother to do it, because frankly, I don’t even know. Maybe because it’s free, and if there’s an internet connection than there’s a will.

But for ‘sheih’ to come waltzing in, well indeed it was a surprise, albeit a very pleasant one. This guy probably gets tens of thousands of ‘hits’ per day mind you, but still has the time to scour the net for some obscure blogger (humble me?) thoughts. I’m still scratching my head, because I have never posted a comment on his blog, but have mentioned him somewhere in one of my articles. But even if one were to Google for one’s own name, especially someone as famous as he – he’d surely have to sift through thousands of potential sites to come to mine. Hmmm.

In the event, I was flattered that my story moved him. Not only that, he even linked mine to his. Now I’m really going to get creamed – because I noticed on my ‘sitemeter’ that the ‘hits’ have come in, mainly directed from his site. Hmmm.

Thanks for dropping by sheih. And I hope you find what you’re looking for in Kelantan, for I know a mother there might be very pleased indeed.

Hey, mung nok masuk tanding gok ke? (Chuckles . . . internet rumors saper ni weh?)


* * *

RR - the Pot calling the Kettle black.

RR made the news (well actually, as an editor of the pseudo-Government of Bolehsia broadsheet, the Enesty – he is the one making the news these days) recently by suggesting that internet bloggers are a bunch of semi-literate, rumor-mongering shitheads. At least that’s what the editorial reprimand felt like, if you’re an internet blogger like me. Be that as it may, once upon a time as a Budak Kolek, I had only utmost and profound respect for this ‘super-senior’ of mine, a wordsmith of the highest order.

Well, not any more. I had even bought a book of his once, detailing his ‘self-imposed’ exile from Bolehsia. To refresh you a bit, this MM contemporary (some say they were once more than just friends?) was a high-flying scribe until ‘Ops Lallang’ came along. Then he went on to Hong Kong and London as a luminary foreign correspondent with London broadsheets and premier magazines. After Doc M won by the skin of his teeth in '87, and the Star came to life again, all was forgiven. Journalists and opposition politicians were released from ISA detention to the bosom of their families. Some years later, the prodigal son came home, published a book about his ‘exile’, and started a new life.

Then Brendan Pereira (some had allusions of him being a Kiasulander ‘operative’, along with K Mullah MH) had created a booboo in his Enesty column by allegedly committing the crime of plagiarism. So he was given the boot, and in stepped our hero RR.

One Bolehsian Member of Parliament (of Whores – to borrow a phrase from PJ O ‘Rourke’s excellent satirical insight into the workings of the US government – buy it!) and Minister, a born-again Tengku, fired the first salvo. Essentially what he said was, 80 percent of the bloggers are women, housewives who like nothing better than to create rumors. A furor of the highest order was thus established. And who better to drive the proverbial nail in the coffin but RR?

It didn't help that a Deputy Minister called Fu Manchu said he was not averse to calling Bolehsia's major newspaper editors to 'scold' them when the news didn't favor the government's version.

So now you have it. We have a Deputy Minister running the newspapers in Bolehsia.

And to RR, what exactly happened to you, sir? Does the term ‘turncoat’ mean anything to you? Even your once erstwhile colleague MM is against you. Can money, wealth (I heard you drive a Porsche) and political favors change a person?