President Trump - Iran checkmate

 Trump seemed to have misjudged Iranian political  and military  fire power. At the beginning, he thought just by his positioning his naval power to the nearby shores of Iran would make Iran nervous and forcibly come to some sort of agreement that Trump desired. But that was not to be. And he, together with Israel, began to show their  aerial power to  Iran, launching missiles after missiles. After almost 3 weeks, and losing its leader in the aftermath, Iran is still fighting back tooth and nail. And there was also no regime  change in Iran that Trump was so eager to see manifested. 

One can't help but look at Iran with mouth agape! Self acclaimed 'Superman' Trump thought he alone could bring Iran to its knees. His allies in NATO were scornfully ignored of their opinion prior to the attack. Now after almost  3 weeks, realizing Iran is no easy meat, he began fishing for assistance, desperately blackmailing his NATO allies saying that bad things were in store for NATO if no help was forthcoming to clear the passage way in the Straits of Hormuz,  controlled by Iran. But to the ignominy of Trump, his allies in NATO were staying put. 

Poor Trump. He seems so weary now, His old age is showing. It is anyone's guess what is going to happen now. Bur one thing is sure. Oil is turning into gold!

Trump, oh Trump!

Trump,  oh  Trump! What happened to you, suddenly attacking Iran, while the talk on that nuclear thing was still going on between you and Iran. Even if the outcome was not to your liking. it is really shocking to see what you did on the 28th February  2026. Your friend Isreal also joined in immediately. Luckily, Russia is preoccupied with Ukraine and China seems to be more concerned  for its economy. 

The whole world, maybe with the exception of a handfull of countries friendly to you, is cursing you. You did not even consult  your nation's Congress, as is the norm, before you did what you did. The people in your Congress are pulling their hairs out  in dismay and confusion.  Even many of your supporters in your country  seem to have illusions about you now. It almost looks like these attacks had been preplanned long before between  israel and you.The reason you  gave  also varies. At one time, you said the reason for attacking was to disable the nuclear capabilites of Iran. Then, when their Supreme  Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed along with atleast 20 other personnels, you said the Iranian regime had been killing thousands of protesters in their country, protesting against the regime's rule, and that you were paving the way for them take over and form the government they desired. Again, later you said Iran has been  threatening  USA all the while, with it shouting " Death to America! Death to America!" 

So far, about  over 1000 had died in Iran, sadly, including 165 primary school girls,  which you blame on Iran itself. Another 400 were killed when your  friend Israel attacked nearby  Lebanon, the target being the Iran-backed Hezbullah militant group. I am afraid  the casualties may increase as Iran, in its moment of madness, is also attacking the those gulf countries with USA military bases, namely, Qatar,  Saudi  Arabia,  Kuwait, Bahrain,  and UAE. 

Another thing, you did not even discuss your devastating action with your European allies and they were aghast at seeing Iran being attacked and were feeling  dismayed and disgusted. And you have the gall to tell them that they were not helping you with your...well, misadventures. You said you are cutting off trade with Spain and subsequently, belittled the Prime Minister of the UK, Keir Starmer, saying he is not Winston Churchill. Actually, in response, Keir Starmer  should have said you are not Franklin D. Roosevelt either! Ha ha! That would have been funny, hitting the headlines, next day! I am sure, as the President, you would have analysed his work but just to remove any unintended confusion, Franklin  D  Roosevelt or, FDR, as he was conveniently called at that time,  was the 32nd President  of USA, when Sir Winston Churchill was the Prime Minister of Britain during World War 2 . 

Coming into the presence, it is strange that you seem to make leaders of nations nervous to speak to you by your daring and don't-care type of talk and attitude. Their awareness of your old age and your consistant boasting of possession of power, and your glee in demeaning people don't help matters.

Come on, Mr President Donald J. Trump, sir. Yes, you are getting on in age, will be 80 in about 2 month's time. Take a rest. Occupy yourself with something beneficial. Former presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama are making themselves engaged in philanthropy, civic activities, writing, giving lectures in universities etc, etc. Maybe, you can go back to your real estate business which you were so good at and which made you a billionaire. Or, since you are so fond of firing people, you can produce a sequel to your once popular reality tv show - The Apprentice. You can name it, The Apprentice 2!

Mudslingers of Malaysia

 

It is Chinese New Year,  the time of the year when the politicians of Malaysia,  namely,  the Malays, Chinese and Indians from their various parties get together, in a so called 'open house' of the Chinese New Year celebrations. In an 'open house" party, the public, no matter what race or religion they are, are cordially invited to join in the celebrations.  The foreign tourists are also free to join in. There are traditional dances and songs to enjoy and the attendees can have a go at the several dishes that is provided. Well, that is mainly why the public came for. Free food and drinks! 

I mentioned politicians,  didn't I? Yes, the politicians, who had been  mudslinging against each other  on the days, prior to this, now, suddenly, are very  cosy and buddy-buddy with one another,  very jovial with ear to ear smiles! They happily join in the Yee Sang event, a prosperity toss of unique mixture of a food dish, a special tradition of the Chinese  New Year revelry. They try to show they have got nothing against each other. What a rotten lot of pretenders. Just wait, after the new year celebrations  are over they will start throwing  mud at each other again!

It is the same thing over and over again at the open houses of the festivals of Deepavalli of the Indians, and the Hari Raya Puasa open houses of the Muslims, and also during Christmas celebrations. Yes, it happens year in and year out! No, not the Yee Sang part! It is not found in the other festival celebrations. I mean the mudslinging and the pretense! Ha ha! This is my Malaysia!

Malaysia, the land of beauty, but.....

In these not so good times of unsavoury messages  in the social media platform, tiktok,  between  many netizens of Malay and Indian Malaysians, mainly touching on the controversies around the locations of the Indian temples in Malaysia, it was very pleasing, indeed, and also quite relieving to see the Malay Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim visiting the famous Indian Batu Caves temple of Kuala Lumpur, on the occasion of the Thaipusam festival celebrated by the Indians. The date was January the 30th of 2026. I am quite sure that this was his way of showing that he, as the Prime Minister, also cares for the activities of the Indians  and, in a way, to also imply  that he desires their support and help in the continuous administration of the nation. 

He was welcomed warmly by the temple delegation and given the all Indian cultural honour of  being wrapped with a golden shawl around his shoulders and being garlanded. The Prime Minister was no less irresponsive. He, happily  and respectfully,  greeted the people around him the Indian way, pressing both palms together in front of the chest.

Correspondingly, the honorable Inspector-General of Police,  Dato' Sri Mohd Khalid Ismail visited the temple on Thaipusam day itself on February 1, 2026, to oversee the security aspect, due to the huge congregation of people to the multicoloured and multifarious celebrations. He seemed honoured and happy to be given the respect that was due, by the  temple delegation, in that ceremonial way that was accorded to the Prime Minister, two days earlier.

Not to be outdone, the main TV channels of Malaysia which are mostly managed by Malays, generously telecasted long live reels of the Thaipusam festival activities of the celebrations. 

This is Malaysia, the land of beauty, the country of tolerable  skirmishes amidst happy faces of the mainly Malay, Chinese and Indian communities of the Peninsular, and the fewer Kadazan-Dusun, Bajau and Murut of Sabah, and the Iban, Bidayuh and Melanau of Sarawak.