The Obama small deed

Obama Helped Stranger 20 Years Ago

Oct 05, 2008

The Norwegian newspaper VG has reported a truly amazing story about a newly-wed trying to get to Norway to be with her husband, and the stranger who helped pay an unexpected luggage surcharge.

The blog 'Leisha's Random Thoughts' has translated the story:

It was 1988, and Mary Andersen was in line at the Miami airport checking in for a long flight to Norway to be with her husband. When it was finally Mary's turn, she got the message that would crush her bubbling feeling of happiness.

"You'll have to pay a 103 dollar surcharge if you want to bring both those suitcases to Norway ," the man behind the counter said.

Mary had no money. Her new husband had travelled ahead of her to Norway , and she had no one else to call.

"I was completely desperate and tried to think which of my things I could manage without. But I had already made such a careful selection of my most prized possessions, " says Mary.

As tears streamed down her face, she heard a 'gentle and friendly voice' behind her saying, "That's okay, I'll pay for her."

Mary turned around to see a tall man whom she had never seen before. He had a gentle and kind voice that was still firm and decisive. "The first thing I thought was, Who is this man?"

Although this happened 20 years ago, Mary still remembers the authority that radiated from the man. He was nicely dressed, with brown leather shoes, a cotton shirt open at the throat and khaki pants, says Mary.

She was thrilled to be able to bring both her suitcases to Norway and assured the stranger that he would get his money back. The man wrote his name and address on a piece of paper that he gave to Mary. She thanked him repeatedly. When she finally walked off towards the security checkpoint, he waved goodbye to her.

Who was the man?

Barack Obama.

Twenty years later, she is thrilled that the friendly stranger at the airport may be the next President and has voted for him already and donated 100 dollars to his campaign:

"He was my knight in shining armor," says Mary, smiling.

She paid the 103 dollars back to Obama the day after she arrived in Norway . At that time he had just finished his job as a poorly paid community worker in Chicago , and had started his law studies at prestigious Harvard university.

Mary even convinced her parents to vote for him: In the spring of 2006 Mary's parents had heard that Obama was considering a run for president, but that he had still not decided. They chose to write a letter in which they told him that he would receive their votes. At the same time, they thanked Obama for helping their daughter 18 years earlier.

And Obama replied. In a letter to Mary's parents dated May 4th 2006 and stamped "United States Senate, Washington DC ' Barack Obama writes:

'I want to thank you for the lovely things you wrote about me and for reminding me of what happened at Miami airport. I'm happy I could help back then, and I'm delighted to hear that your daughter is happy in Norway . Please send her my best wishes. Sincerely, Barack Obama , United States Senator'.

The parents sent the letter on to Mary.

Mary says that when her friends and associates talk about the election, especially when race relations is the heated subject, she relates the story of the kind man who helped out a stranger-in- need over twenty years ago, years before he had even thought about running for high office.

UPDATE: Also, remember this was 1988, when 100 dollars was quite a bit of money, compared to today's value.

Truly a wonderful story, and something that needs to be passed along in the maelstorm of fear-and-smear politics we are being subjected to right now.

All the best to the two girls

Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz is the incumbent Chief of the Women's wing
and Dato Seri Sharizat Jalil is the incumbent Deputy Chief. So they
have decided to have a go at each other instead of adhering to the
compromy agreed earlier on. Shahrizat supporters do not want to
wait that long till June, 2009 and Kamiliah had pressured not to bow
down to all the understandings that had been reached amongst the EXCO.

In the recent General Election, Shahrizat lost to a younger woman, in accepting
to challenge Rafidah, she must have thought that her chances are and will be
better against an older woman. If young is strong and old is weak, than she had
decided on a risk which she can gain rather than lose. But if more nominations
means strong and less nominations means weak, she has to turn the table around.

Best of luck ladies. The men used to say BMW (best man win), but in this case of
BMW (may the BEST MOTHER WIN). Hopefully the women members of UMNO
can unite quickly after the contest to face the daunting task of winning the next GE.

AMERIKA SYARIKAT BOLEH

Barack Obama telah berjaya didalam pilihanraya Presiden
di Amerika Syarikat dan akan menjadi Presiden Kulit Hitam
Pertama Amerika sebagai Presiden Amerika Syarikat yang ke
empat puloh empat (44). Apa yang hendak diperjuangkan oleh
President Elect Obama ialah AMERIKA SYARIKAT BOLEH.

Pertabalan Barack Obama akan berlangsung pada 20 hb Januari, 2009.
Sejarah Besar Dunia akan di cipta dalam masa 76 hari lagi.

CONGRATULATIONS YAB Dato' Seri Mohd Najib

Congratulations YAB Dato' Seri Hj Mohd Najib bin Tun Hj Abdul Razak for winning the UMNO's Presidency without contest. Under the UMNO election rule, anyone contesting the President's post must obtain at least 30% of the nominations from the 191 UMNO divisions. As at 4-11 pm on the 2nd of November, 2008 - YAB Dato' Seri Hj Mohd Najib had obtained 134 nominations.
YBM Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah had obtained 1 nomination. By the end of the day, YAB Dato' Seri Hj Mohd Najib would have secured another 5 more nominations bringing it to a total of 139 nominations from 140 UMNO divisions. Even if YBM Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh gets all the balance nominations, he still will not qualify. There are another 51 UMNO divisions to complete their meetings and one foresees that the President's nomination will go to YAB Dato' Seri Hj Mohd Najib bin Tun Hj Abdul Razak. Congratulations to Pak Lah for making a very wise decision not to contest the President's post. Now UMNO can and should unite under the new President to move forward to champion the cause of the Malays and Malaysians.

PENGKHIANAT UMNO?

Kenapa kah UMNO akan hancur dan dihapuskan dari muka bumi ini?

Ini akan hanya dapat dilakukan oleh ahli ahli UMNO sendiri. Tidak ada musuh didunia ini akan dapat melumpuhkan UMNO kecuali ahli ahli UMNO sendiri. Tindak tanduk ahli ahli perwakilan UMNO pada pemilihan UMNO yang akan datang ini akan secara langsong mempamerkan sama ada UMNO akan boleh dipercayai atau tidak.

Sejumlah 191 Bahagian UMNO akan menghantar seramai ( 191 X 13 ) dua ribu dua ratus lapan puloh tiga perwakilan ke perhimpunan akan datang. Perwakilan bahagian ini dipilih oleh Mesyuarat Perwakilan Bahagian yang terdiri dari perwakilan dari Cawangan Cawangan UMNO. Cawangan cawangan UMNO bersidang dan memilih perwakilan kemesyuarat perwakilan bahagian. Di Persidangan Cawangan, pencalonan tidak dijadikan sebagai ajenda persidangan cawangan. Pencalonan jawatan jawatan tinggi UMNO diadakan sebagai satu ajenda didalam mesyuarat perwakilan bahagian.

Selain dari mencalonkan pemimpin pemimpin untuk memimpin UMNO, mesyuarat perwakilan bahagian juga memilih 7 orang perwakilan ke perhimpunan agong UMNO bersama sama dengan enam orang lagi (Ketua UMNO Bahagian, Timbalan Ketua UMNO Bahagian, Naib Ketua UMNO Bahagian, Ketua Wanita, Ketua Pemuda dan Ketua Puteri).

Maka apabila sesuatu Bahagian telah mencalonkan pemimpin pemimpin nya, menjadi wajib perwakilan bahagian itu mengundi mereka yang telah dicalonkan oleh bahagian nya. Dengan cara ini perwakilan bahagian ke perhimpunan agong telah melaksanakan tanggongjawab yang telah diamanahkan kepada mereka.

Jika 100 bahagian telah mencalonkan seseorang pemimpin, maka pemimpin itu sewajarnya menerima 1.300 undi. Dan jika seseorang pemimpin itu menerima 20 pencalonan maka secara lojik nya dia harus dan wajib menerima 260 undi sahaja. Ini tidak termasuk undi undi dari Majlis Tertinggi, perwakilan Wanita, Pemuda dan Puteri. (Lebih kurang 160 undi lagi).

Tetapi apabila ada perwakilan UMNO yang tidak amanah oleh kerana kepentingan kepentingan lain, maka timbul lah segala masaalah yang dihadapi oleh UMNO sekarang. Apabila perwakilan UMNO mengkhianati kehendak akar umbi UMNO yang diwakili nya dari peringkat cawangan ke peringkat bahagian, maka perjuangan nya sudah mula tidak diberkati kerana mereka telah pecah amanah. Dan pecah amanah ada lah satu jenayah. Apabila jenayah politik ini berleluasa, maka segala amalan buruk saperti politik wang, rasuah jawatan, rasuah peluang kontrak dan perniagaan, rasuah penganugerahan akan berlaku. Secara langsong kredibiliti UMNO akan runtuh dan orang ramai tidak akan mempercayai UMNO sebagai satu pertubuhan yang bersih dan amanah yang boleh di yakini dan di percayai untuk memerintah Malaysia.

Tanggongjawab sebagai perwakilan disetiap peringkat adalah berat. Jika iman mereka tidak kukuh dan mantap maka sudah tentu akan dapat dipengaruhi oleh kepentingan kepentingan yang lain. Dan apabila penyakit ini ujud dalam UMNO, maka harapan diberi kepada mereka yang walau pun mendapat pencalunan yang sedikit, ada peluang untuk memenangi jawatan yang ditanding nya.

UMNO tidak logik lagi, sifir dalam UMNO tidak akan dapat dikira lagi dan oleh kerana itu UMNO akan hancur dan musnah. Apabila pimpinan tidak diberkati maka banyak masaalah akan dihadapi.

Kepada ahli ahli UMNO yang telah sesat, tidak terlambat untuk balek ke pangkal jalan. Jika amanah dari cawangan dan bahagian tidak dapat dilaksanakan dengan baik, bagaimana kah UMNO hendak memikul amanah untuk memerintah negara.

Semua Ahli UMNO boleh menawarkan diri untuk berkhidmat kepada Parti dan Negara dengan mendapatkan pencalonan dari akar umbi UMNO. Apabila pencalunan telah di buat, mereka perlu akur dengan keputusan itu. Jangan lah mengharapkan untuk membeli undi, mempengaruhi undi dan mula membuat segala amalan yang akhirnya tidak memperkukuhkan UMNO sebagai satu pertubuhan yang disegani dan dihormati dan dimana rakyat boleh bergantung untuk masa depan mereka.

Jangan jadi pengkhianat kepada UMNO!

Dato Seri Najib pass the century

As of the 27th October, 2008 at about 8-00 pm, the status of the nominations for the UMNO leadership positions are as follows:

President:
YAB Dato' Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak with 104 nominations

Deputy President:
1. YB Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin with 64 nominations
2. YAB Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam with 23 nominatons
3. YB Tan Sri Muhammad bin Muhammad Taib with 17 nominations

Vice Presidents:

1. YB Dato Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein with 83 nominations
2. YB Datuk Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi with 63 nominations
3. YB Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie Apdal with 48 nominations
4. YB Dato' Mohd Khaled Nordin with 49 nominations
5. YB Dato Seri Syed Hamid Albar (20)

Other Vice President hopefuls are:

YB Dato Seri Rais Yatim (10)
Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Tambychik (9)
Tan Sri Isa Samad (9)
YB Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (6)
YB Dato' Seri Jamaludin Jarjis (7)
Tan Sri Rahim Tambychik (5)
YAB Dato Seri Muhamad Hassan (4)
YAB Datuk Seri Panglima MUsa Aman (2)
YAB Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam (1)
Dato' Seri Anuar Musa - telah menarik diri (1)

UMNO Elections update 25th October, 2008

As of the 25th October, 2008 at about 10-00 pm, the status of the nominations for the UMNO leadership positions are as follows:

President:
YAB Dato' Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak with 80 nominations

Deputy President:
1. YB Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin with 52 nominations
2. YAB Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam with 17 nominatons
3. YB Tan Sri Muhammad bin Muhammad Taib with 11 nominations

Vice Presidents:
1. YB Dato Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein with 66 nominations
2. YB Datuk Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi with 47 nominations
3. YB Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie Apdal with 37 nominations
4. YB Dato' Mohd Khaled Nordin with 37 nominations

Other Vice President hopefuls are:
YB Dato Seri Syed Hamid Albar (15)
YB Dato Seri Rais Yatim (8)
Tan Sri Isa Samad (8)
YB Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (6)
YB Dato' Seri Jamaludin Jarjis (5)
Tan Sri Rahim Tambychik (5)
YAB Dato Seri Muhamad Hassan (3)
YAB Datuk Seri Panglima MUsa Aman (2)
Dato' Seri Anuar Musa - telah menarik diri (1)

As at 5.15 pm today, another 10 nominations for DSN

Dato' Seri Najib have got 77 nominations as of this evening for the President's post of UMNO

For the Deputy President's post:
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin 49 nominations (qualified)
Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam 17 nominations (still to qualify)
Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib 11 nominations (still to qualify)

Transition Plan - the big question?

In reality, there is no transition of power. In reality YAB Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi did not contest the UMNO's President post only. In reality there is no transfer of power. YAB Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak still have to be nominated and if there is a challenger needs to win the contest for the top UMNO position.

For the Deputy President's post, even though YB Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had qualified, he still need to slug it out with his contenders if they too qualified.

In reality, time is bought for four months for the present holder to pass it to the rightful owner. In reality UMNO and Barisan Nasional will lose four months of valuable constructive time so that Pak Lah can complete his reforms which should have been done two, three or four years ago.

Weather Alert-Time for BN to act

The cabinet committee on disaster should be activated and act fast to help the Northern States.

Stormy weather wreaks havoc in northern states

The newly formed government of the northern states may not have the experience to cope with the natural disaster that they are experiencing now. The Barisan Nasional federal machinery should be activated to help and assist them.

MONEY POLITICS BACK IN TOWN

This message is only for the eyes of those who had reached maturity and are already immune to the dark ages of the Malaysian Political Scene where vote buying in UMNO politics was rampant and to a certain extend abusive.

The UMNO divisional meetings is progressing normally until this week when desperate candidates who want to qualify for positions are not getting the required nominations. So strong supporters of the candidates are accused of using money to get the nominations. It was claimed that previously the Divisional Heads will take full responsibilty in getting the nominations but now the nominations are the authority of the floor. So if the accussation is true, then money need to be spent not only on the divisional leadership but also the branches delegates. It looks like money politics is back in town.

UMNO need to resolve this matter urgently. If not UMNO will no longer be relevant because only people with money to spend will rule UMNO but not necessarily getting the support of the Malaysian Citizens at large.

When money is used to gain position then the positions will be used to cover back whatever money that is spent and may even be much more to sustain the position.

UMNO has to be serious about curbing and cleaning money politics from its system.

Muhyiddin Yassin surges ahead

As of the 20th of October, 2008 after 64 UMNO divisions had completed their meetings, Honourable Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who is the incumbent Vice President of UMNO vying for the Deputy President's post had secured 43 (forty three) nominations.

Thus he had already qualified himself to contest the Deputy Presidency of UMNO.

Trying to make the promotion in UMNO

As of the 20th of October, 2008 there are 64 (sixty four) UMNO divisions that had completed their meetings. The aspirant Deputy President candidates Right Honourable Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam (DAR) had secured 13 nominations whilst Honourable Tan Sri Mohd Muhamad Taib (TMMT) had secured 8 nominations.

Its a long way to go and supporters of both candidates are praying very hard for their nominations in the coming weeks.

Keahlian Terus Barisan Nasional - sebagai penawar

Pendahuluan:

Masyarakat berbilang kaum dan agama diMalaysia memerlukan satu forum politik yang baru untuk menempoh fasa Malaysia sebagai negara maju (developed country) apabila Wawasan 2020 berjaya dilaksana dengan sepenohnya dalam masa 12 tahun lagi. Asas nya(foundation)wajib dimulakan sekarang untuk di uji dalam sekurang kurang nya dua pilihanraya umum.

Tujuan dan matlamat:

Mengujudkan satu forum dimana rakyat Malaysia dari pelbagai latar belakang agama, keturunan dan kaum dapat menjadi anggota kepada satu badan siasah untuk melaksanakan tanggongjawab politik mereka bagi menyelesaikan masaalah ekonomi dan sosial yang dihadapi oleh negara sebagai satu bangsa Malaysia.

Perlaksanaan:

Pada peringkat pertama nya Barisan Nasional perlu menerima keahlian secara terus (direct membership).

Syarat keahlian terus ialah sesaorang yang ingin memohon mestilah seorang pengundi yang berdaftar dan mempunyai alamat email.

Kelulusan keahlian adalah secara otomatik.

Keahlian nya sah di lokaliti nya sahaja (bila ada perpindahan perlu mendaftar semula).

Sistem perwakilan:

Ahli ahli di caucus lokaliti (L) akan memilih seorang wakil ke caucus daerah mengundi (DM).

Ahli ahli di caucus daerah mengundi (DM) akan memilih seorang perwakilan ke caucus Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN).

Ahli ahli di caucus DUN akan memilih seorang perwakilan ke caucus Parlimen.

Ahli ahli di caucus Parlimen memilih tiga wakil untuk menganggotai Majlis Tertinggi Barisan Nasional.

Pemilihan perwakilan di setiap peringkat akan dicapai dengan pengundian secara sulit melalui pengundian secara pos dan atau online yang ditadbir urus oleh Bahagian Keahlian Terus Barisan Nasional (HQ).

Ahli di setiap peringkat akan mendaftarkan minat untuk menawarkan diri sebagai perwakilan di peringkat mereka ke Bahagian Keahlian Terus Barisan Nasional (HQ) melalui borang atau template online yang disediakan.

Jadual pemilihan perwakilan:

Januari – Wakil (L) ke (DM)‏

Februari – Wakil (DM) ke (DUN)‏

March – Wakil (DUN) ke Parlimen

April – Wakil Parlimen ke Majlis Tertinggi

(Perwakilan disetiap peringkat dipilih satu tahun sekali dan boleh menjadi perwakilan sekali sahaja seumur hidup).

Perwakilan di setiap peringkat akan bertindak sebagai Pegawai Perhubungan HQ di peringkat masing masing.Untuk tempoh tahun yang disandang jawatan sebagai perwakilan peringkat

ahli itu memainkan peranan sebagai pegawai perhubungan (moderator) diperingkat yang mereka dipilih sahaja.

Data Keahlian:

1. Nama

2. Tarikh Lahir

3. Negeri

4. Kod Lokaliti

5. Kod Daerah Mengundi

6. Kod Dewan Undangan Negeri

7. Kod Parlimen

Nota:

Untuk keberkesanan perlaksanaan, satu sistem pengkalan data perlu dibina dan komunikasi diantara ahli dan juga dengan ibu pejabat dilaksanakan melalui email.

Log in Ahli ialah nombor kad pengenalan nya sementara password peringkat pertama ialah kod pemilih pilihanraya nya. Ahli boleh mengubah password nya satelah lulus keahlian.

The Barisan Nasional.

Kota Melaka UMNO Youth Divisional Meeting

The Guest of Honour, Acting Division Head Hon.Datuk Latip Tambychik with Mr.Ashakari Hj Abu Noh the outgoing UMNO Youth Kota Melaka head who is the UMNO Melaka Youth Head flanked by the Permanent Chairman and the Assistant Secretary of the Youth movement.

Seen here from left Mr Abidullah Salleh (Treasurer), Mr Ibrahim Fadhil (Vice Chairman), Datuk Naim Mohamad (Guest of Honour), Mr Kamaruddin Ali (Committee Member) of UMNO Kota.

The UMNO Kota Melaka UMNO Youth convened its annual General meeting on the 10th of October, 2008 at the Grand Continental Hotel,Melaka. The meeting elected in Mr Abdul Razak as the new Youth head and Mr Shadan Osman as the new vice head of the Youth division.