Mulai hari ini, aku nak buat ala CSI sikit (nak curi kata-kata seseorang kawan tu).
Kalau biasa kami disajikan 'kejutan' (yang jarang terkejut sejak musim ketiga), rasanya orang ramai pun mampu membuat kejutan yang sama. I mean there's so many of us, we can probably come up with something that even Astro's researchers can't put together right?
So anyway, inspired by a tip-off seseorang chatter kat msjbox aku, kita nak start siri baru kat blog aku nih to look into just how much reality we can take.
Dalam erti kata lain, aku mengharapkan korang semua yang membaca, untuk tip off aku pasal apa pun info, baik atau buruk, mengenai mereka yang kini bergelar calon-calon Akademi Fantasia 4.
Bukan je demi tujuan murni tuk mengumpat (gelak...gelak) tapi tuk kongsi ler lebih info mengenai budak-budak ni (yerlah tuh!)
Sekaligus, at least kita dapat pastikan, Astro kena kerja lebih keras tuk nak mengejutkan kita (kita kejutkan diri sendiri pun ok apa...)
So anyway, to kickstart the series, ni pasal Rich, mamat rock yang berasal dari negeri dibawah bayu.
Yang kelakarnya, sama cam kes Reza tahun lepas, mamat ni da lama based kat sini, so again, misleading ler nak bagitau dia ni asal dan dilahirkan (cuba cakap tepat sikit by where they are now) seolah nak mancing undi ikut negeri (kan?)
Still...here's the info on Rich that you probably didn't know.
For most from the underground, you would be already screaming "sellout!" for yes, Rich is a member of the band Estranged. In fact Rich ler vocalist of the indie band.
Estranged was formed in the year 2001.
From the biography of the band,  Estranged ditubuhkan Rich and another member  yang masa tuh bersama menuntut kat International College of Music (ICOM)
The band ada ler main gigs sana sini, with their first listed at TwelveSI.
Meka juga particicipated in the Asian Beat Competition for year 2001 and finished as second runners-up for the competition which was organized by Yamaha.
Kemunculan meka yang paling banyak exposure sekali, ialah masa meka bersama menjayakan banyak lagik band lain dalam acara Rock the World 4 (siri ke empat...Rich nak masuk Akademi pun siri keempat...lucky number kot)
Selain tuh, meka ada amik bahagian dalam high profile shows such as the Asian X-Games (2004), selain beberapa acara AXN (dalam tahun 2003 dan 2005), selain gigs bersama musiccanteen.com.
Rich sekali ngan bebudak Estranged pernah juga muncul dalam talk show Lo (yang juga pengelola and penganjur for Rock The World), iaitu Latte@8.
Meka menjadi guest band untuk pertandingan Linkin Park dianjurkan MTV dan setelah memacam lagik pengalaman, the band finally keluarkan its album yang mengandungi 11 lagu yang mengambil empat bulan untuk dirakam (siap pada bulan Disember 2004).
Tajuknya - In Hating Memory. Album tuh terdiri dari 10 lagu omputeh and one song in Malay.
Single pertama Velocity keudara June 2005 setelah diputarkan Burn and Rizal Xfresh FM dan Jakeman hitz FM.
Pepandai ler carik, both the band and Rich ada myspace, but I won't reveal here for reasons of privacy kan...tapi kalao korang rajin, carik mesti jumpa...
Ini beberapa gambar kumpulan Estranged (ketika ler sebelum Rich pepandai rancang nak masuk Akademi Fantasia). Apa ler rasanya masa depan band ni kalao dia dapat?

 

So setakat tuh info dan pics yang leh kami kongsi. Kalau korang ada info atau gambar-gambar, tak kisahlah ler ko sedara ke...kawan ke...bekas madu ke...cita ler sikit pasai buda-budak ni. Apa-apa, email aku kat auzin@hotmail.com segala info atau pics korang ada and I'll credit you as well. Kita tunggu apa maklumat seterusnya we can get on these kids...
Keep it coming ek!

Straight to business. Sorry for the delay in posting...more on reasons why. Ini senarai 20 orang yang dicalonkan untuk menjadi pelajar-pelajar Akademi Fantasia 4. First the bios, then we have the further details.

Nama : Amirul Azwan bin Mohd Ghazali
Nama Samaran : AMIRUL
Bangsa : Melanau
Agama : Islam
Jantina : Lelaki
Umur : 18
Asal : Kuching, Sarawak
Tempat Lahir : Kuching, Sarawak
Tarikh Lahir : 3 Jul 1988
Star Sign : Cancer
Tinggi : 176cm
Berat : 56kg
Hobi : Bermain gitar, makan dan membuat persembahan
Nota : Dikenali dengan imej hip hop, seluar besar dan baju besar serta bertopi, jejaka comel kacukan Melanau dan Cina ini tahu apa yang dia inginkan.
Makanan Kegemaran : Makanan segera (KFC,McDonald's)
Minuman Kegemaran : Coca Cola
Filem Kegemaran : Tiada
Lagu Kegemaran : Let Me Love You
Pelakon Kegemaran : Adam Sandler, Afdlin Shauki, Hans Isaac, Rosyam Noor, Erra fazira, Reese Witherspoon, Sarimah Ibrahim
Penyanyi Kegemaran : Kanye West, Vince, Radhi OAG

Nama : Syamsul Hirdy bin Muhid
Nama Samaran : DIDDY
Bangsa : Melayu
Agama : Islam
Jantina : Lelaki
Umur : 21
Asal : Kuala Lumpur
Tempat Lahir : Kuala Lumpur
Tarikh Lahir : 5 Oct 1985
Star Sign : Libra
Tinggi : 183cm
Berat : 63kg
Hobi : Menyanyi, mendengar muzik
Nota : Lahir dari keluarga berdarah seni, lulusan diploma pentadbiran perniagaan ini mengimpikan untuk mengecap kejayaan di Akademi Fantasia. Masa santai dihabiskan dengan sesi karaoke bersama keluarga dan rakan.
Makanan Kegemaran : Sushi
Minuman Kegemaran : Susu segar
Filem Kegemaran : Buli
Lagu Kegemaran : Keabadian Cinta
Pelakon Kegemaran : Afdlin Shauki, Rosyam Noor, Hans Isaac, AC Mizal, Erra Fazira, Nasha Aziz, Umie Aida, Erma Fatima
Penyanyi Kegemaran : Anuar Zain, Marc Anthony, James Ingram

Nama : Mohammad Faizal bin Ramly
Nama Samaran : FAIZAL
Bangsa : Melayu
Agama : Islam
Jantina : Lelaki
Umur : 22
Asal : Marang, Terengganu
Tempat Lahir : Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu
Tarikh Lahir : 17 Aug 1984
Star Sign : Leo
Tinggi : 157cm
Berat : 64kg
Hobi : Menyanyi, memancing
Nota : Menjadikan Sudirman sebagai idolanya, anak jati Terengganu ini gigih membantu ibunya menguruskan kedai emas dan memiliki kilauan bakat besar yang dipersembahkan serta bakal memukau dengan senyuman manis dan wajah tampannya.
Makanan Kegemaran : Nasi goreng
Minuman Kegemaran : Nescafe o ais
Filem Kegemaran : Castello
Lagu Kegemaran : Seroja
Pelakon Kegemaran : Rosyam Noor, Ako Mustapha, Maya Karin, Erra Fazira
Penyanyi Kegemaran : Sudirman, Broery Marantika, Zainal Abidin

Nama : Haider bin Arif
Nama Samaran : HAIDER
Bangsa : Melayu
Agama : Islam
Jantina : Lelaki
Umur : 21
Asal : Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Tempat Lahir : Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Tarikh Lahir : 7 Mac 1985
Star Sign : Pisces
Tinggi : 167cm
Berat : 73kg
Hobi : Menyanyi, main gitar, bola sepak
Nota : Jejaka Sabah ini seorang yang pendiam dan pemalu. Anak sulung dari sebelas adik beradik.
Makanan Kegemaran : Tiada
Minuman Kegemaran : Milo, Nescafe
Filem Kegemaran : Tagalog
Lagu Kegemaran : Belaian Jiwa, Mungkin
Pelakon Kegemaran : Misha Omar, Nora Danish
Penyanyi Kegemaran : Anuar Zain

Nama : Hazama bin Ahmad Azmi
Nama Samaran : HAZAMA
Bangsa : Melayu
Agama : Islam
Jantina : Lelaki
Umur : 22
Asal : Kuala Lumpur
Tempat Lahir : Perak
Tarikh Lahir : 28 Nov 1984
Star Sign : Saggitarius
Tinggi : 173cm
Berat : 57kg
Hobi : Pusing bandar naik kereta
Nota : Senyuman manisnya memikat sehingga terlupa dia memperjuangkan rock klasik. Berbekalkan vokal yang mantap, garau serta gaya rocknya.
Makanan Kegemaran : Nasi goreng
Minuman Kegemaran : Teh o ais
Filem Kegemaran : Rock
Lagu Kegemaran : Bukan Aku Tak Cinta
Pelakon Kegemaran : Tom Cruise, Rosyam Noor, Awie, Afdlin Shauki, Erra Fazira, Sheila Rusly, Fazura
Penyanyi Kegemaran : Saleem, Awie, Amy Search

Nama : Hazwan Haziq bin Rosebi
Nama Samaran : HAZIQ
Bangsa : Melayu
Agama : Islam
Jantina : Lelaki
Umur : 18
Asal : Kluang, Johor
Tempat Lahir : Kluang, Johor
Tarikh Lahir : 7 Jan 1988
Star Sign : Capricorn
Tinggi : 179cm
Berat : 60kg
Hobi : Bersukan, menyanyi dan bermain PS2
Nota : Jejaka tinggi lampai ini meminati permainan kriket hinggalah mengikuti konsert live. Anak jati Johor ini menggemari irama tradisional dan gilakan PS2.
Makanan Kegemaran : Mee goreng mamak
Minuman Kegemaran : Milo
Filem Kegemaran : Baik Punya Cilok
Lagu Kegemaran : Bunga Tanjung
Pelakon Kegemaran : Afdlin Shauki, Adlin Aman Ramli, Rosyam Noor, Fasha Sandha, Maya Karin, Azean Irdawaty, Nasha Aziz
Penyanyi Kegemaran : Jamal Abdillah, Ahmad Jais, Mawi AF3

Nama : Jeffry Haikel bin Muhammad Nasir
Nama Samaran : JEFF
Bangsa : Melayu
Agama : Islam
Jantina : Lelaki
Umur : 23
Asal : Subang Jaya, Selangor
Tempat Lahir : Klang, Selangor
Tarikh Lahir : 15 Jan 1983
Star Sign : Capricorn
Tinggi : 178cm
Berat : 75kg
Hobi : Berangan, menonton bolasepak, menyanyi, main game
Nota : Peminat lumba kereta ini menggemari muzik jazz dan peminat setia Manchester United. Seorang yang peramah dan apabila sudah rapat dengannya, semuanya bola, bola, bola!
Makanan Kegemaran : Nasi ayam, ikan keli
Minuman Kegemaran : Teh o ais
Filem Kegemaran : The Godfather, Scarface
Lagu Kegemaran : My Way
Pelakon Kegemaran : Al Pacino, Robert DeNiro, Ewan McGregor, Nicole Kidman, Catherine Zeta Jones, Natali Portman, Angelina Jolie
Penyanyi Kegemaran : Frank Sinatra, Broery Marantika, Michael Buble

Nama : Lotter P. Edwin Edin
Nama Samaran : LOTTER
Bangsa : Kadazan
Agama : Kristian
Jantina : Lelaki
Umur : 23
Asal : Membakut, Sabah
Tempat Lahir : Keningau, Sabah
Tarikh Lahir : 30 April 1982
Star Sign : Taurus
Tinggi : 157cm
Berat : 50kg
Hobi : Bermain alat muzik
Nota : Jejaka periang dan sentiasa ketawa ini ialah peminat Stephen Chow. Anak jati Membakut ini turut menyukai muzik rock alternatif dan memasak untuk keluarganya.
Makanan Kegemaran : Nasi ayam
Minuman Kegemaran : Nescafe ais
Filem Kegemaran : Seniman Bujang Lapok
Lagu Kegemaran : More Than Words
Pelakon Kegemaran : Fahrin Ahmad, Rosyam Noor, Maya Karin, Umie Aida
Penyanyi Kegemaran : Kurt Cobain, Amy Search

Nama : Richael L. Gimbang
Nama Samaran : RICH
Bangsa : Kadazandusun
Agama : Kristian
Jantina : Lelaki
Umur : 23
Asal : Penampang, Sabah
Tempat Lahir : Tenom, Sabah
Tarikh Lahir : 29 July 1982
Star Sign : Leo
Tinggi : 164cm
Berat : 56kg
Hobi : Bolasepak, membaca, bersahabat
Nota : Anak jati bangsa Kadazan Dusun ini merupasan seorang jurutera audio, peminat fiksyen sains dan kini mejuruskan dirinya ke arah genre rock.
Makanan Kegemaran : Spaghetti Bolognaise
Minuman Kegemaran : Milo ais
Filem Kegemaran : Star Wars saga
Lagu Kegemaran : I'll Be
Pelakon Kegemaran : Brad Pitt, Keanu Reeves, Jim Carey, Jessica Alba, Maya Karin, Fasha Sandha, Charlize Theron
Penyanyi Kegemaran : Axl Rose, Kurt Cobain, Brandon Boyd

Nama : Shazroul Fazlie Zahari
Nama Samaran : SHAZ
Bangsa : Melayu
Agama : Islam
Jantina : Lelaki
Umur : 20
Asal : Kuala Lumpur
Tempat Lahir : Kuala Lumpur
Tarikh Lahir : 11 Sept 1985
Star Sign : Virgo
Tinggi : 177cm
Berat : 57kg
Hobi : Membaca, menyanyi, menari, akuarium Nota : Anak manja yang ingin menjadi bintang ini bakal membawa 50 ekor ikan emas bersamanya.
Makanan Kegemaran : Burger
Minuman Kegemaran : Teh
Filem Kegemaran : Komedi
Lagu Kegemaran : Vida
Pelakon Kegemaran : Orlando Bloom, Hans Isaac, Ako Mustapha, Eric Bana, Ziana Zain, Adibah Noor, Ida Nerina
Penyanyi Kegemaran : Hazami, Josh Groban, Ello

Nama : Nur Farhana binti Azizan
Nama Samaran : FARHAN
Bangsa : Melayu
Agama : Islam
Jantina : Perempuan
Umur : 22
Asal : Seremban, Negeri Sembilan
Tempat Lahir : Kuala Lumpur
Tarikh Lahir : 21 Aug 1984
Star Sign : Leo
Tinggi : 163cm
Berat : 55kg
Hobi : Menyanyi dan bersukan
Nota : Shirley Bassey, Chaka Khan, Sehila Majid antara idolanya. Dengan imej muzik klasik dan meminati muzik band, Farhan mahu membuatkan anda terpegun dengan kebolehan besarnya.
Makanan Kegemaran : Asam pedas
Minuman Kegemaran : Teh o ais limau
Filem Kegemaran : Pendekar Bujang Lapok
Lagu Kegemaran : New York New York
Pelakon Kegemaran : P. Ramlee, Zain Ahmad, Zaiton, Saadiah, Siti Tanjung Perak, Umi Kalthom
Penyanyi Kegemaran : Shirley Bassey, Chaka Khan, Sheila Majid

Nama : Karen Tan Lee Suan
Nama Samaran : KAREN
Bangsa : Cina
Agama : Buddha
Jantina : Perempuan
Umur : 21
Asal : Kota Bharu, Kelantan
Tempat Lahir : Kota Bharu, Kelantan
Tarikh Lahir : 28 Aug 1984
Star Sign : Virgo
Tinggi : 153cm
Berat : 43kg
Hobi : Menyanyi dan menari
Nota : Mek Kelate kecil molek berbangsa Cina ini suka menari dan menggilai Coco Lee dan Fauziah Latiff.
Makanan Kegemaran : Makanan Siam
Minuman Kegemaran : Teh o
Filem Kegemaran : Azura 2005
Lagu Kegemaran : Dialah Di Hati
Pelakon Kegemaran : Erra Fazira, Ziana Zain, Eja, Nora Danish, Yusry, Rosyam Noor, Vince, M. Nasir
Penyanyi Kegemaran : Siti Nurhaliza, A Mei, Mariah Carey

Nama : Rosliza binti Rosli
Nama Samaran : LEEZ
Bangsa : Melayu
Agama : Islam
Jantina : Perempuan
Umur : 19
Asal : Kuala Lumpur
Tempat Lahir : Kota Belud, Sabah
Tarikh Lahir : 12 Nov 1987
Star Sign : Scorpio
Tinggi : 161cm
Berat : 48kg
Hobi : Menyanyi, membaca dan bersukan
Nota : Selesa dengan t shirt dan seluar jeans, gadis feminin ini memiliki vokal yang mampu membuat anda teruja.
Makanan Kegemaran : Laksa
Minuman Kegemaran : Jus oren suam
Filem Kegemaran : Puteri Gunung Ledang
Lagu Kegemaran : Jujur
Pelakon Kegemaran : Diether Ocampo, Jericho Rosales, Afdlin Shauki, Hans Isaac, Fauziah Nawi, Ellie Suriarty, Umie Aida, Kristine Hermosa
Penyanyi Kegemaran : Aishah, Shima, Jaclyn Victor

Nama : Lydia Iryani binti Mohamed Khairul
Nama Samaran : LIYA
Bangsa : Melayu
Agama : Islam
Jantina : Perempuan
Umur : 21
Asal : Bandar Baru Bangi
Tempat Lahir : Kuala Lumpur
Tarikh Lahir : 23 Mac 1985
Star Sign : Aries
Tinggi : 168cm
Berat : 51kg
Hobi : Menyanyi, berlakon, menari, menunggang kuda
Nota : Anak tunggal dari keluarga kacukan ini sangat bijak dan gemar membantu menyelenggarakan binatang yang terbiar serta melakukan kerja-kerja amal.
Makanan Kegemaran : Siakap tiga rasa
Minuman Kegemaran : Limau ais
Filem Kegemaran : Buli Balik
Lagu Kegemaran : Stand Up, Jeritan Batinku
Pelakon Kegemaran : Saiful Apek, Rosyam Noor, Afdlin Shauki, Hans Isaac, Umie Aida, Nasha Aziz, Fasha Sandha, Sharifah Shahira
Penyanyi Kegemaran : Beyonce Knowles, Siti Nurhaliza, Jaclyn Victor

Nama : Mazlinda binti Mat Khalil
Nama Samaran : LYNN
Bangsa : Melayu
Agama : Islam
Jantina : Perempuan
Umur : 24
Asal : Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor
Tempat Lahir : Klang, Selangor
Tarikh Lahir : 5 Aug 1982
Star Sign : Leo
Tinggi : 158cm
Berat : 47kg
Hobi : Menyanyi dan menjahit
Nota : Dia membantu perniagaan andaman keluarganya dan tinggal bersama sembilan ekor kuching peliharaannya.
Makanan Kegemaran : Yang pedas
Minuman Kegemaran : Ribena, Milo
Filem Kegemaran : Buli Balik
Lagu Kegemaran : Nirmala
Pelakon Kegemaran : Rosyam Noor, Afdlin Shauki, Hans Isaac, Ako Mustapha, Nasha Aziz, Erra Fazira, Umie Aida, Ziana Zain
Penyanyi Kegemaran : Siti Nurhaliza, Jamal Abdillah, Dayang Nurfaizah

Nama : Nordawati binti Daud
Nama Samaran : NORA
Bangsa : Melayu
Agama : Islam
Jantina : Perempuan
Umur : 20
Asal : Sandakan, Sabah
Tempat Lahir : Sandakan, Sabah
Tarikh Lahir : 12 May 1985
Star Sign : Taurus
Tinggi : 160cm
Berat : 47kg
Hobi : Menyanyi, menari, mengumpul aksesori, dan bersenam
Nota : Gadis comel dari Sandakan ini boleh menyanyi dalam bahasa Tagalog dan bermain gitar, piano dan dram. Menggemari muzik R&B dan klasik.
Makanan Kegemaran : Sup ayam dan ikan
Minuman Kegemaran : Susu coklat
Filem Kegemaran : Pontianak Harum Sundal Malam 2
Lagu Kegemaran : My Immortal
Pelakon Kegemaran : Rosyam Noor, Dato' Mustaffa Maarof, Saiful Apek, Hans Isaac, Nasha Aziz, Eja, Erra Fazira, Azean Irdawaty
Penyanyi Kegemaran : Sheila Majid, Anita Sarawak, Kris Dayanti

Nama : Nor Salima binti Habibi
Nama Samaran : SALIMA
Bangsa : Melayu
Agama : Islam
Jantina : Perempuan
Umur : 18
Asal : Ipoh, Perak
Tempat Lahir : Kuala Kangsar, Perak
Tarikh Lahir : 1 Jan 1988
Star Sign : Capricorn
Tinggi : 165cm
Berat : 54kg
Hobi : Menyanyi, bercakap seorang diri
Nota : Gadis bertudung ini terlalu manja dengan adik kecilnya. Seorang yang sangat peramah dan anda pasti terpukau dengan gaya bicaranya yang kental jiwa Arabnya.
Makanan Kegemaran : Mexican bun dan chicken chop
Minuman Kegemaran : Teh o limau suam
Filem Kegemaran : Pontianak Harum Sundal Malam 2
Lagu Kegemaran : Nirmala
Pelakon Kegemaran : Sheila Rusly, Fauziah Nawi, Kartina Aziz, Rita Rudaini, Zulhuzaimi Marzuki, Rosyam noor, Hans Isaac, Afdlin Shauki
Penyanyi Kegemaran : Pascale Mashalani, Siti Nurhaliza, Abah-Habibi

Nama : Natasha binti Nordin
Nama Samaran : TASHA
Bangsa : Melayu
Agama : Islam
Jantina : Perempuan
Umur : 24
Asal : Kuala Lumpur
Tempat Lahir : Seremban, Negeri Sembilan
Tarikh Lahir : 18 June 1982
Star Sign : Gemini
Tinggi : 165cm
Berat : 53kg
Hobi : Menyanyi, menari dan memasak
Nota : Model dan pelakon separuh masa ini merupakan peminat setia filem Titanic dan kumpulan Dewa serta sukakan muzik ballroom.
Makanan Kegemaran : Teppenyaki
Minuman Kegemaran : Limau ais
Filem Kegemaran : Cinta Luar Biasa
Lagu Kegemaran : Kesilapanku Keegoanmu
Pelakon Kegemaran : Aqasha, Adlin Aman Ramlie, Zulhuzaimi Marzuki, Rosyam Noor, Eja, Erra Fazira, Umie Aida, Emelda
Penyanyi Kegemaran : Celine Dion, Shania Twain, Siti Nurhaliza

Nama : Velvet Lawrence Aduk
Nama Samaran : VELVET
Bangsa : Dusun
Agama : Kristian
Jantina : Perempuan
Umur : 19
Asal : Penampang, Sabah
Tempat Lahir : Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Tarikh Lahir : 14 Feb 1987
Star Sign : Aquarius
Tinggi : 169cm
Berat : 67kg
Hobi : Menyanyi
Nota : Bekerja sebagai tukang masak pada waktu siang dan menyanyi pada waktu malam, gadis gipsi ini menyukai gaya nyanyian Nora. Sentiasa mengutamakan keluarga.
Makanan Kegemaran : Hinava
Minuman Kegemaran : Mila ais
Filem Kegemaran : White Chicks
Lagu Kegemaran : Tell Me Where It Hurts
Pelakon Kegemaran : Devon Sawa, Bradd Pitt, Saiful Apek, Hans Isaac, Drew Barrymore, Julia Roberts, Maya Karin, Erra Fazira
Penyanyi Kegemaran : Nora, Jaclyn Victor, Mariah Carey

Nama : Nur Azilah binti Seeron
Nama Samaran : ZILA
Bangsa : Melayu
Agama : Islam
Jantina : Perempuan
Umur : 18
Asal : Jempol, Negeri Sembilan
Tempat Lahir : Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan
Tarikh Lahir : 17 Nov 1988
Star Sign : Scorpio
Tinggi : 152cm
Berat : 47kg
Hobi : Menyanyi
Nota : Anak penoreh getah dari Jempol, Negeri Sembilan ini menggemari muzik dangdut dan terpegaruh dengan keseksian Inul. ingin membuktikan kepelbagaian bakatnya yang tersendiri.
Makanan Kegemaran : Masak sambal
Minuman Kegemaran : Limau suam
Filem Kegemaran : Hindi
Lagu Kegemaran : Nian Di Hati
Pelakon Kegemaran : Zed Zaidi, Rosyam Noor, Jehan Miskin, Ezani, Rita Rudaini, Fasha Sandha, Eja, Ngasreen Ngasri (Darling)
Penyanyi Kegemaran : Siti Nurhaliza, Mawi AF3, Kris Dayanti

*Gambar-gambar dan maklumat ihsan ASTRO

LIMA FAKTA PENTING AKADEMI FANTASIA 4

*12 orang akan terpilih dari Konsert Prelude untuk mendaftarkan diri di Akademi Fantasia. Lima lelaki dan lima perempuan akan dipilih oleh juri profesional manakala seorang lelaki dan seorang perempuan akan dipilih oleh penonton melalui SMS. talian undian akan dibuka pada penghujung rancangan Tirai Akademi Fantasia pada 20 Mei.

*Lokasi Akademi kali ini terletak di Shah Alam.

*Konsert mingguan akan kembali ke Dewan Sivik Majlis Perbandaran Petaling Jaya manakala konsert akhir akan diadakan di Stadium Putra Bukit Jalil. Tiket-tiket ke konsert mingguan hanya boleh didapati melalui pemenang-pemenang peraduan yang bakal diadakan oleh Muzik@RIA, Trek Selebriti, Astro@15, dan Era.FM. Hanya tiket-tiket konsert akhir akan dijual.

*Hadiah untuk musim ini adalah seperti berikut :-
Juara - Bernilai hampir RM400,000, hadiah termasuk sebuah kondominium tajaan A'Famosa Resort Melaka, kereta Toyota VIOS tajaan UMW Toyota Motor, wang tunai RM20,000 sumbangan Hotlink, pakej percutian ke Paris tajaan Loreal, barangan elektrik tajaan AOWA Electronic Sdn Bhd, telefon bimbit tajaan M Mobile Sdn Bhd dan lain-lain.
Naib Juara - Bernilai hampir RM120,000, hadiah terdiri daripada sebuah kereta Toyota VIOS tajaan UMW Toyota Motor, wang tunai RM10,000 sumbangan Hotlink, pakej percutian ke Paris tajaan Loreal, barangan elektrik tajaan AOWA Electronic Sdn Bhd, telefon bimbit tajaan M Mobile Sdn Bhd dan lain lain.
Ketiga - Bernilai hampir RM30,000, hadiah termasuk, wang tunai RM5,000 tajaan Hotlink, pakej percutian ke Paris tajaan Loreal, barangan elektrik tajaan AOWA Electronic Sdn Bhd, telefon bimbit tajaan M Mobile Sdn Bhd dan lain-lain.
Keempat - Dengan nilai hampir RM20,000, hadiah termasuk wang tunai RM3,000 sumbangan Hotlink, pakej percutian ke Beijing tajaan Pearl Of The Orient Travel & Tours (M) Sdn Bhd, barangan elektrik tajaan AOWA Electronic Sdn Bhd, telefon bimbit tajaan M Mobile Sdn Bhd dan lain-lain barangan.
Kelima  - Dengan nilai hampir RM12,000, hadiah termasuk percutian ke Beijing tajaan  Pearl Of The Orient Travel & Tours (M) Sdn Bhd, telefon bimbit tajaan M Mobile Sdn Bhd dan lain-lain barangan.

*Waktu siaran untuk rancangan-rancangan musim Akademi Fantasia keempat-
Tirai Akademi Fantasia (20 Mei, 9.30pm)
Nota Prelude Akademi Fantasia (22 Mei - 26 Mei, Isnin hingga Jumaat, 8.30pm)
Debaran Akademi Fantasia (siaran langsung, 27 Mei, Sabtu, 8.30pm)
Konsert Prelude Akademi Fantasia (siaran langsung, 28 Mei, Ahad, 8.30pm)
Diari Akademi Fantasia (mulai 29 Mei, Isnin hingga Jumaat, 12pm dan 9pm)
Konsert Akademi Fantasia (siaran langsung, mulai 3 Jun, setiap Sabtu, 8.30pm)
Imbasan Akademi Fantasia (mulai 4 Jun, setiap Ahad, 12.30pm)
Konsert Akhir Akademi Fantasia (siaran langsung, 5 Ogos, Sabtu,8.30pm)
Akademi Fantasia Eksklusif (sepuluh episod memaparkan klip klip eksklusif, 7 Ogos hingga 11 Ogos dalam slot Diari Akademi Fantasia)
Imbasan Akhir Akademi Fantasia (6 Ogos, Isnin hingga Jumaat, 12pm dan 9pm)

What do I think about pelajar-pelajar baru? Well secara jujur...antara semua musim Akademi Fantasia, the preview we had ketika press conference semalam menggambarkan suasana yang agak membosankan dari segi bakat ataupun rupa para peserta kali ini.
If before this, ada calon-calon yang outstanding, kali ini, semua bukan sahaja sama rata, mereka tidak menonjol dari apa segi pun. Daripada sejumlah 20 calon untuk Konsert Prelude kali ini, cuma empat orang je yang betul-betul menyerlah bagi aku daripada segi total package.
While some might not say that's a fair assumption, this is the decision I can come to based on what I saw (and unfortunately for me...heard!). Tatau ler nanti bila start diari kang ada yang wat perangai cam dulu-dulu kan...atau ada yang prove to have more substance than style (rare sangat ler tuh)
Apapun, the launch semalam was bloody long and draggy. Bermula dari lebih kurang 3pm, the event makan masa hampir dua jam just to get it over with, with all the introductions and such. Siap tengah-tengah bebudak nyanyi sikit tuk preview bakat mereka, ada audio blackout lak. I mean seriously...
But kudos to Aznil for working things out with his usual smoothness.
At the end of it, press conferece diadakan untuk sesi soal jawab. Focus banyak keatas Karen, kerana mungkin buat kali pertama, Akademi Fantasia akan mempunyai seorang pelajar perempuan berbangsa Cina.
Then there was also the focus kat Salima kerana dia bertudung (kalau berjaya another first gak nih) dan soal apa pantang lak kalau masuk Akademi.
And my early picks? Walaupun masih awal, daripada sedutan yang we got, these are my choices for now.
Most of the candidates secara vocal nya tak outstanding langsung, ramai yang bunyi cam tercekik tulang dan mengeran kesakitan jer. Mmmm...mungkin again terlalu awal to make a judgement but I think only these four yang stand out for a more complete package in my eyes.
Dari segi calon-calon perempuan, the easiest pick yang ketara the quality of her vocals is Farhan. With her strong tone, and a unique individuality, aku rasa the closest comparison I could draw to her performance with an existing artiste would be, Azharina. Dia easily stood out semalam masa the press conference despite being the last to perform. The other one I'd consider is Karen, not so much of vocal, though she does stand out more a lot of others.
Cuma aku rasa kekuatan dia, being Chinese, she will stand out, especially since mek Kelate ni fluent gila babas, dispelling stereotypes. Though she sounds a little thin.
Si Salima aku letak ler reserve on my favourites list. I like her character, she seems quite a confident character, cuma sayangnya, she sounds like a lot of other karaoke acts I've heard before.
Lain-lain calon? Entahler...Velvet dan Liya mungkin kot following closely, though I wouldn't say they're all that great. Lain daripada tuh...erm...senang nak describe...if they were in an album, the rest are confirmed fillers. And by the way, to the guys, yang cantik tahun ni semua tak laku bab nyanyian.
Calon-calon lelaki bagi aku lak...yang outstanding is of course mamat Ganu ni sorang, si Faizal. Rupa leh bagik ramai merembes gak ni (mesti ada yang nak jadi presiden fan club dia skang kan), sebab mamat ni sora ala Salim, but smoother. Entah...but very the lelaki Melayu terakhir kind of voice, cuma bukan dalam satu acuan ngan Mawi ler. So kira bagus ler...ada kelainan. Amirul has a packagable look, and he does sound half decent, though I would ask him to pay more attention in vocal classes. But generally, these two lead the pack.
Diddy boleh nyanyi, but he just tries too hard. Haziq lak sedap tapi takde individuality, and dari karektor dia cam nak jadik pak lawak lak, tapi fail.  Aku suka sora Lotter, though dia takde power sangat, and rupa nakutkan ler sikit and memerlukan makeover. Haider yang sora elok lagik...didn't shine sebab tiba-tiba mamat ni perasan nak wat R&B lak. Problem is, he should have studied what's the difference between doing R&B and rock before attempting anything...
So camna ler kali ni? Time will tell...but I think these four are the ones you can really look out for. The rest of the boys just sound cam ada buasir lak...(mungkin yer kot time tu sebab terpaksa jerit kerana microphone tak fungsi)
Apapun....some of them may be diamonds, but if they are...it's extremely in the rough for them.
And parting with the Akademi Fantasia theme, here's a group photograph from semalam that you guys may like. Harap-harap betul betul ler meka ni usaha menuju puncak and keep the tradition going.
Untuk ulasan dan pemerhatian lain, sila ke sultanmuzaffar atau ke laman rasmi Akademi Fantasia. Tunggu juga kemunculan kembali elkapitan yang akan kembali gegarkan dunia blogging setelah menghilang selesainya Akademi Fantasia musim lepas.  Kalau nak tengok gambar-gambar disini dengan lebih jelas, then head on over to my fotopages at [klubbkidd's rave] - the fotopages!

On a more personal note, pada mereka yang risaukan abang Badrul, he's ok, though I hope everyone will pray that he'll be fine. Jolyn called up semalam at about lunch after visiting abang Badrul, and said his blood pressure and such getting better though full details of his medical condition aku takleh cakap.
Met him the night before when he was warded, and he seemed ok, though amik kesempatan ler takleh kena stress so nak marah pun takleh.
Seksa ngan pak guard yang tak bagik masuk malam tuh on Tuesday night sebab dah lepas visiting hours, tapi nak wat apa kan...dah orang jalankan tugas. But after that abang Badrul came down to join a few of us in the lobby, and he was ok lah...cuma tuh ler...takleh marah nak torture. Tunggu ko sihat...
Apapun, to abang Badrul, get well soon...I want to have one of my best friends in tip top condition back again.
That's all for this entry. Esok ada berita Akademi lain...check out later in the evening again ok...plus on Friday ada berita lain pun yang nak dipaparkan...
*terima kasih pada dia kerana menjadi tempat ku mengadu dalam ketiadaan complaints centre aku...you're always special to me*

Hari ni masuk ofis kejap singgah sebab ada appointment luar sebelum nak rush ke tugasan lain lain (termasuk pengumuman pelajar Akademi Fantasia untuk musim keempat.
Terkejut sat sebab ada member bagitau ada gambar pelajar sudahpun leak kat forum gossip online nih. Betul ke...
Erm...entah...berapa jam lagi aku dapat sahkan sendiri ler...tapi untuk tatapan semua...ini ler pic yang didakwa mamat yang posting, sebagai pic pelajar lelaki dan perempuan Akademi Fantasia baru.
And additional pic ni lak dikatakan salah satu mamat yang dapat. Kira screen capture dari Trek Selebriti. Kerja sedara mara ler nih kot yang leak. Takkan orang dalam setakat screen grab jer kan...mmm...apa pun good effort to leak...but not good enough (gelak puas hati sat)
Mmmm...tatau la...nampaknya demam dah pun bermula...(matilah bahana katanya....gelak lagik!).
Sources claim memang gambar ni genuine...but seriously man...for all the effort...cari ler pic quality sikit...(tatement makan hati lak...)
But seriously, I got another pic, yang dikatakan dari forum sama gak...pasal salah seorang tenaga pengajar yang ramai ngaku tangkap leleh tengok (geli aku....). Sapa lagik kalau bukan mamat bernama Kevin Zahri tuh...pakar nutrisi katanya. Tapi yang pentingnya, kalau dalam Akademi Fantasia nanti jadik mat smart dari segi dressing, ni masa di jadik cover majalah lak dulu. Elok ke? Merembes ler sekor sekor.
Gosh....look at the time...I got to run...be posting more later this evening on the OFFICIAL list of names and photos of bebudak yang layak bertanding dalam Konsert Prelude Akademi Fantasia 4.
Tertanya gak nih...tul ker ada minah tudung dapat masuk Akademi Fantasia? Ni yang besh nak tengok ni...camna lak plot kali ni kalau ada yang bertudung. Abih ler menari Menuju Puncak....kira ni nak mencari Mawi versi wanita ker...(gelak...dan gelak lagi)
Apapun...ni mesti nak fight competition dari Akademi Al-Quran yang nak kuar tak lama lagik...kita tunggu petang ini dan lihat ek!
By the way, thanks to budakbaru dari tagboard aku untuk tip-off pasal posting dalam forum tu, and thank you to syd kerana forwarding hasil pencarian dia kat aku...jasamu dihargai....bak kata Mas...semoga Tuhan murahkan rezeki....
nak ciao wat kerja....heavy schedule for the day ahead. Be posting later...
By the way...pada kengkawan bloggers yang kenal abang Badrul, semalam aku dikejutkan berita dia masuk hospital sebab chest pains. He's going for more tests today so do pray for him...ok...thanks...
I went to see him yesterday an happy to say he's none the worse...garang seperti biasa...nanti aku letak cita selanjutnya in the next posting...

Hari ni memang sibuk gila babas. Rasa nak pengsan je. Already i didn't really have enough sleep (no thanks to my insomnia), kena bangun awal lak. Lepas tuh back to bak lak ada meeting pelbagai.
Apapun, tengah nak rush for the fourth appointment ni, sempat update blog sat. Siang tadi lari-lari sana sini nothing much lor to blog. But coming back to the office this evening, ada appointment yang agak fun gak ler. Sheila Majid drop by the office sat tuk minum petang ngan teman-teman wartawan kat sini.
Aku sampai lewat sikit, tapi tak really miss apa-apa cause everyone was more focused on getting their interviews. The moment they were done, I got time away from the pack with kak Sheila sat.
Banyak gak cita nak catch up cause I remember the last time I spent any time talking to her was mada ada show Dayang Nurfaizah kat Planet Hollywood. Masa tu dia hadir sebagai tamu, and I was seated at the next table ngan Leo who had come down from Jakarta. That was about two years ago.
So had a nice chat...sampai lupa lak nak snap pics. Ni pun masa nak balik after I took her, Siti (PA dia kot) along with Sarah and Ayu from EMI jejalan kat the editorial floor tuk kenalkan ngan bebudak office baru teringat amik gambar.
Anyway...boleh ler kan...
Mmmm...guess pas ni nak review album Legenda dia lah...so korang kena look out for that lor.
Apapun, jangan lupa update siapa pelajar pelajar Akademi Fantasia 4 esok ek...nak ciao for another appointment. Mengantuk......

Whoa! Talk about a lousy weekend. Planned a lot of things, and memang jadi...but somehow they didn't yield the results I wanted.
Still I suppose things could be a lot worse...anyway on Sunday, singgah ke gathering msjbox yang diadakan kat Kajang (kat sebuah restoran satay popular - dia tak bayau aku iklan so aku tanak sebut nama leh?)

           

Apapun... sorry ler sebab aku lambat lewat sikit kerana sesat (sejak bila Kajang ada highway pelbagai ni???)
And minta maap ler kalau aku tak bertegur sangat. Segan lak sebab semua saling berkenalan, dan aku lak tak pernah join sebelum ni walaupun da lama hajat nak ikut sekali. Apapun, thanks to everyone for making it an enjoyable event. You know ler who you guys are kan...banyak sangat nama nak sebut satu-satu...tapi aku kena sebut tiga nama ler kot yang wajib. Satunya of course tokei msjbox sendiri iaitu Junaidix. Then of course the 'tuan rumah' yang sibuk melayan rumah (serta enter frame dalam setiap gambar iaitu Shai, and of course Neezie yang paling banyak layan aku sembang.
By the way...gambar pinggan-pinggan kosong sebelah ni semua hasil Shai sendiri ek...(gelak sorang-sorang aku naya dia nih).
msjbox ni or course nama tagboard ler yang aku gunakan...by the way promosi sikit, kalao korang nak guna the same one, just leave your request and your email dalam msjbox aku and I will send an email invitation to set up your own. Ok?
Nothing much to blog today. Got lots of events and meeting mulai esok...so aku akan try update blog though can't promise ek...
But on Wednesday, aku akan postkan entry mengumumkan siapa pelajar-pelajar Akademi Fantasia 4 yang akan diperkenalkan pada pihak media petang tu.
So tunggu lah ek...

Ok ni posting special tuk Wesak Day. Happy holidays for those who are not working today. Aku masih kat office dan baru abih keja ni. Yeah!!! ALL my work completed. Bloody amazing. Tak sangka mampu aku lakukan...tapi berjaya gak walaupun dua hari tak cukup tidur.
Anyway back to this posting. Nak cita sikit pasal project Afdlin Shauki yang terbaru. A couple of days ago gi press conference tuk announce Sumo-lah!
Walaupun Afdlin is shooting Los Dan Faun at the moment, but confirm yang Sumo-lah! akan ditayangkan dulu.
Anyway, kalau ada yang minat nak tau, cita dia basically revolve around an underground sumo tournament organised by sushi restaurants around Kuala Lumpur. Weird huh?
Still it sounds like a pretty cool premise for a movie, so I have big expectations for it. Kalau korang nak tau lebih, then kena tunggu ler. Sebab website Sumo-lah! pun lum ready walaupun alamat dah ada.
Kalau nak tau, just basic information, Sumo-lah! will star (apart from Afdlin himself) Gurmit Singh (Phua Chu Kang), Thai actress Inthira Charoenpura (Nang Nak) as well as locals in Awie, Erra Fazira, Radhi Khalid and Patrick Teoh. All star cast gak ni.
Ada bau bau filem ni leh ikut jejak Baik Punya Cilok dan Buli Balik score big kat box office ni. Anyway, kebetulan, I was reading up on sumo and all sebab nak tau background of the sport for my article, aku terjumpa article ni. I dedicate this to Afdlin (jangan marah ek bro!)

Sumo Wrestler Thinks New Loincloth Makes Him Look Fat
TOKYO - Kokkai Futoshi, a Japanese sumo wrestler, expressed concerned yesterday that the new loincloth he was wearing made him look fat.
The 423-pound Futoshi stood in front of his mirror, twirled around in a circle, and stared at his reflection with a furrowed brow.
"I am afraid that I look overweight in this loincloth," said the 20-year old Futoshi. "I don't know, maybe I'm just being overly self-conscious, but my ass looks huge in this thing. I can't go out in public like this. No way."
The loincloth was given to him as a gift from his wife, Keiko, who hoped he would wear it for his upcoming tournament in Tokyo.
"I bought it at the shop down the street," said Keiko.
"This is his first big tournament, and I know he wants to represent the western region well. I thought it was very nice. Look how silky smooth it is. It is elegant and regal and perfect for a man of his stature. But no. He is too self-conscious. If he was so concerned about his weight he never should have put on that extra 275 pounds last summer. Back then he was deeply committed to the ancient art of sumo, but now all he talks about is his ass. I fear he is becoming vain."
Futoshi insists that vanity is not the problem. He says that his previous loincloth fit him more loosely and didn't exaggerate his gargantuan buttocks.
"My old sash was a lot better," said Futoshi.
"I didn't want to be rude when Keiko presented me with this gift, but my true feelings are that I look better in the old one. It was loose and not so form fitting. My God, I knew I had a fat ass, but now it looks like it should have its own zip code."
Futoshi's colleagues believe that the young wrestler needs to get comfortable with his own body and accept the fact that he is overweight. They predict the embarrassment will fade once he experiences the glory and triumphs of sumo wrestling.
"Young Futoshi is experiencing some growing pains," said his coach, Ryoichi.
"He will soon learn that his oversized rear is an asset that will propel him to the highest ranking. It is normal for a young wrestler to be uncomfortable with his appearance, but he must learn to be proud of his girth. In sumo, he will be regarded as beautiful and majestic, even though in every other walk of life he will be regarded as an aircraft carrier."
Futoshi's best friend, Taku, actually envies the portly wrestler.
"Futoshi is lucky, believe me," said Taku. "While I am watching my weight, he is able to consume everything but the kitchen sink. Rice, delicious stew, meats, vegetables, anything he chooses. And he complains? Ha. Let us see him try this so-called Atkins diet. He would last about five minutes before he started eating his own hand."
Still, Futoshi insists he looks fat. The sumo wrestler is so bothered by his appearance that he may opt to insult his wife and go back to his old loincloth.
"Ugh, I am so fat," he said, shaking his head. "I am so disgusting. My ass cheeks are so gross and huge, I can't even look at them. That's it. I'm not wearing this thing. For one thing, it is white. White makes you look fat, black makes you look thin. That is common sense. Also, it is tight so that the thong part rides up my behind and gives me a wedgie. I look like such a fat pig. I'm sorry but I can't wear this thing."
Upon hearing the news that her husband was leaning towards using his old loincloth, Keiko became furious.
"No way," she said. "I will not allow that. Have you seen that thing? It is old and smelly and faded, there are strings of fabric hanging from it, and it sags like a baby's diaper. Plus, it smells. No matter how much fabric softener I use, it always comes out of the wash reeking of shit. The only reason it is so loose is because it is worn. The new one is snug like they are supposed to be. It will give him an advantage because it will be harder for his opponents to grip."
She went on to say that if she needs to dispose of the old loincloth herself, she will do just that.
"I will throw it away if I must. It is disgusting. Look at it," she said, dangling it in front of her.
"He is too much of a child to throw away his old clothes and sometimes I have to do it for him. This old rag is no longer appropriate for him to wear, just like the old Def Leppard T-shirt I had to dispose of last year. I was like 'Futoshi, you are not an extra large anymore. This thing can't even fit over your head.' So this loincloth will go the way of the Def Leppard shirt, and that's final."
In the end, Futoshi realizes he will probably have to acquiesce to Keiko's will.
"She wears the pants in the family, so to speak," said Futoshi. "I remember that Def Leppard shirt very fondly. It was black and had a picture of Joe Elliot on the front. He was surrounded by flames and scantily clad women. I admit, I should have disposed of it after I gained 275 pounds, but a man sometimes has a sentimental attachment to a piece of clothing. This is part of growing up. I know I cannot win this battle, and the loincloth will be disposed of. Perhaps I will grow to like this new one and I will no longer think I am so fat and gross and flabby."

Kalau ada yang tertipu...which something must be really wrong if you were taken in, that 'news report' was of course lawak ler.
Banyak sites camtuh yang deliver funny crap like that, but this particular sumo one, I got from this site The Brush Back (bukan Brokeback ek....)
By the way, just to let fans of Nikki in Sabah know, she will be there on 20th May for the launch of Maharani. I will let you guys know the full details when I get it, tapi tak silap aku event tu akan take place kat KDCA. I will be going too. So hope to see all of you there.
By the way, aku dah berkali cakap kan, tapi jangan lupa membuat permintaan lagu Caramu yang featuring Zahid. The song is now at Number 5 on ERA (dengar minggu ni naik 4), Number 5 (weekly chart) and Number 1 on the daily chart (tetiap hari berkali kali dah at 1) and also Number 3 on Hot FM,
By the way, music video Caramu on the way, as well as video tuk single ketiga selepas Caramu. Tapi takleh ler nak cakap apa dia kan...anyway...ni ada pics Zahid dan Nikki photography bersama haritu. You may have seen some of them already...tapi kalau tak, untuk peminat kedua Zahid and also Nikki...enjoy!

             

Eh...ok ler...lewat dah ni. Yeay! Esok cuti! Leh sleep in! Yang peningnya nak plan la gi mana-mana...kalau tak cam terbazir lak kan the weekend? Kalau tak...carik kerja kot...masuk office leh claim overtime kalau ada benda nak buat...aiyo...matilah aku boss aku pun baca blog aku takleh buat...have a great Wesak Day guys!

Berkumandang lagu Anita Sarawak lak bila baca paper ari ni. Yes, I had time to read the paper, cause at nearing midnight, I'm still stuck to my freaking desk nak abihkan keja kejo deadline.
Yeah well, I'm almost done, and the next couple of days are going to be pretty much time off for me so tak apa la.
Back to cita sebelah mata ni....pada meka ler yang tak ikut berita, ni petikan daripada beberapa suratkhabar leading up to the events.
I think this is pretty much the perception a lot of people have about government servants, especially those int he position of power.
Enjoy the quotes from the articles and try and work out the timeline in your mind and see for yourself whether it makes sense. Kelakar gila aku baca...some people must really think the general public is so dumb that a twist of words can be easily bought for a genuine explaination. Tolong ler....
Keep and open mind and read these excerpts and see what you make of it all.

The Director- General of the Customs and Excise Department was the subject of criticism by a Member of Parliament in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
"He is fond of taking the media along on his visits and behaves more like a politician than a civil servant," Datuk Mohd Said Yusof (BN-Jasin) said during the debate on the Supplementary Supply Bill.
(New Straits Times - 3/5/06)

Datuk Mohd Said Yusof (BN-Jasin) semalam mempertikaikan kaedah digunakan Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Kastam Diraja Malaysia (KDRM), melaksanakan tugasnya yang disifatkannya lebih cenderung sebagai ahli politik berbanding penjawat awam.
(Berita Harian - 3/5/06)

The Member of Parliament for Jasin, Datuk Mohd Said Yusof, has admitted that he asked the Customs and Excise Department to close an eye over a case involving the import of sawn timber. He said he was the person mentioned in yesterday's front page report in the New Straits Times.
"I am the one in the story. I went to the Customs office after I got a complaint from an entrepreneur from the Sungai Rambai port. The port is in my constituency," he said.
"I went there to ask the Customs officials to be lenient. They did their job in seizing the sawn timber but I went there to seek their help in getting the sawn timber released.
"I asked for the agent to be compounded and the timber released," he said calmly in the lobby.
Mohd Said admitted he asked the department to "close one eye" (tutup sebelah mata) and to let the consignment through after issuing a compound.
"The Customs Department was right in holding back the consignment. I only asked for the compound to be issued and the consignment to be released. Mohd Said said he did not have an interest in the company of the agent who brought in the timber.
"Everybody knows I am a forwarding agent and an MP. I have operated an agency since 1990 and have an interest in the port. "But I have no stake in the consignment which was brought in or the company which brought it in," he declared.
(New Straits Times - 5/5/06)

Ahli Parlimen Jasin, Datuk Mohamad Said Yusof yang paling lantang mengecam Kastam Diraja Malaysia (KDRM) pada persidangan Dewan Rakyat Selasa lalu, mengakui beliau wakil rakyat yang disebut dalam laporan akhbar semalam berhubung kes rampasan kayu bergergaji di Melaka, baru-baru ini. Bagaimanapun, beliau menafikan sekeras-sekerasnya 'mengganggu' KDRM dengan meminta pertimbangan bagi 'menyelesaikan' kes rampasan kayu bergergaji itu.
Katanya, beliau juga menyokong KDRM yang mengenakan kompaun terhadap ejen berkenaan dan menafikan mempunyai sebarang kepentingan berhubung hal itu.
(Harian Metro - 5/5/06)

Ahli Parlimen Jasin, Datuk Mohd Said Yusof (gambar) mengaku menemui pegawai Kastam Diraja Malaysia (KDRM) Melaka bagi mendapatkan penjelasan berhubung kes rampasan kayu bergergaji yang dibawa dari Indonesia, baru-baru ini.
Mohd Said juga mengakui menerajui sebuah syarikat pengangkutan sejak 1990, tetapi menafikan mempunyai kepentingan dengan usahawan berkenaan. Beliau bagaimanapun enggan membuat spekulasi sama ada sumber laporan itu sengaja mendedahkan kes berkenaan kepada media sebagai tindakan balas berikutan kritikannya terhadap Ketua Pengarah KDRM, Datuk Abdul Rahman Abdul Hamid.
(Berita Harian - 5/5/06)

PUTRAJAYA: The Malacca MP who admitted asking the Customs Department to close one eye over a case involving the import of sawn timber has challenged that he be investigated.
Declaring his innocence, Datuk Mohd Said Yusof, the Jasin MP, said: "Investigate me, by all means."
Yesterday, Mohd Said confirmed he met Malacca Customs director Md Hashim M. Pardi and prevention chief Rumainor Sarif to discuss the seizure.
However, he argued that he was not abusing his power but only doing his bit as an MP "for a Bumiputera company in trouble".
"I asked them to issue a compound and not seize the whole consignment ... at least the company would only lose about RM500 in compound payment."
(New Straits Times - 6/5/06)

PUTRAJAYA: Ahli Parlimen Jasin, Datuk Mohd Said Yusof, berkata beliau lebih rela disiasat Jawatankuasa Hak dan Kebebasan Parlimen berhubung tindakannya yang dikatakan mengganggu tugas Kastam Diraja Malaysia (KDRM).
"Sila siasat saya. Saya lebih rela disiasat oleh Jawatankuasa Hak dan Kebebasan Parlimen daripada disiasat Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) dan polis," katanya. Beliau berkata, tindakannya bukan penyalahgunaan kuasa, sebaliknya hanya melaksanakan tugas sebagai wakil rakyat untuk membantu syarikat Bumiputera yang menghadapi masalah.
"Saya hanya minta KDRM mengenakan kompaun dan bukan merampas kayu bergergaji itu kerana jumlah kompaun adalah rendah iaitu RM500 berbanding kerugian yang terpaksa ditanggung jika kayu dirampas," katanya ketika dihubungi, semalam.
(Berita Harian - 6/5/06)

PUTRAJAYA: Cara terbaik untuk menangani tuduhan Ahli Parlimen Jasin, Datuk Mohd Said Yusof yang dikatakan `mengganggu' tugas Kastam Diraja Malaysia (KDRM) ialah dengan merujuk kepada polis atau Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR). Ini disebabkan tuduhan itu berlaku di luar Dewan Rakyat, bukannya dalam Parlimen, kata Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.
Nazri berkata, adalah satu kebiasaan bagi Ahli Parlimen membantu pengundi di kawasan mereka dengan merayu kepada mana-mana jabatan kerajaan bagi pihak pengundi.
"Jika kita tak boleh tolong mereka, tak guna jadi Ahli Parlimen. Terpulang kepada pegawai kerajaan untuk menerima rayuan kita atau tidak. Sebelum ini, banyak permintaan kita yang ditolak. "Cakap-cakap mengenai Ahli Parlimen menggunakan kuasa mereka untuk menekan pegawai kerajaan hanya tuduhan semata-mata," katanya yang juga Ahli Parlimen Padang Rengas. Nazri berkata, tindakan Mohd Said merayu KDRM bagi pihak orang lain adalah `perkara biasa' kepada seorang Ahli Parlimen.
(Berita Minggu 7/5/06)

KUALA LUMPUR: Ahli Parlimen Jasin, Datuk Mohd Said Yusof akan membuat penjelasan berhubung dakwaan beliau 'mengganggu' tugas Kastam Diraja Malaysia (KDRM), di Dewan Rakyat, hari ini. Katanya, beliau akan membuat penjelasan mengenai kejadian itu bagi membersihkan namanya dengan menceritakan perkara sebenar.
(Berita Harian 8/5/06)

PUTRAJAYA: There's something peculiar in the name of the company on whose behalf Jasin MP Datuk Mohd Said bin Yusof interceded with the Customs Department. He had asked them to "close one eye" on the illegal import of sawn timber by a company named "Binyu Sof Enterprise".
In operation since 1990, the Malacca-based company this year alone breached the law 14 times by bringing in sawn timber exceeding the 60-square-inch cross-section area limit permitted by the Malaysian Timber Council.
Mohd Said in recent days has reiterated that he had only intervened in his capacity as an MP and that he was "helping a Bumiputera company in trouble".
He said he appealed to Customs to compound the agent and not seize the consignment. A senior Customs officer said yesterday that while it was the duty of an MP to help the rakyat, "it was not proper for them to help smugglers".

KEKECOHAN di Parlimen minggu lalu berhubung tindakan Ahli Parlimen Jasin, Datuk Mohd Said Yusof yang dikatakan meminta Kastam Diraja Malaysia (KDRM) 'tutup sebelah mata' dalam menjalankan tugas mereka menimbulkan pelbagai persoalan mengenai kuasa pentadbiran dan eksekutif. Walaupun, Mohd Said berkata, tindakannya untuk membantu seorang usahawan Bumiputera dan bukannya cubaan mengganggu atau campur tangan kuasa pentadbiran KDRM, ia boleh disalahertikan, malah boleh dilihat sebagai satu cubaan meletakkan tekanan kepada pegawai kerajaan supaya akur dengan permintaan mereka.
(Harian Metro - 10/5/06)

PUTRAJAYA: Syarikat yang terbabit dalam isu import kayu bergergaji haram dari Indonesia, sudah 14 kali membawa masuk balak dengan ukur lilit lebih 60 inci tahun ini, saiz larangan yang ditetapkan Lembaga Perindustrian Kayu Malaysia (MTIB). Binyu Sof Enterprise, yang berpangkalan di Melaka, dikenal pasti sebagai firma yang mana Ahli Parlimen Jasin, Datuk Mohd Said Yusof meminta kerjasama Kastam Diraja Malaysia (KDRM) 'menutup sebelah mata' terhadap pengimportan haram itu.
(Berita Harian - 10/5/06)

MALACCA: Details of Jasin MP Datuk Mohd Said Yusof's interests in Binyu Sof Enterprise were obtained through a check with the Companies Commission of Malaysia. The company is a sole proprietorship registered under Mohd Said bin Yusof (IC: 530424045447), with a house address at 676-A, Batu 2 1/2, Padang Temu, 75050 Malacca. A further check with the Malacca Government 2006 official diary, which lists the names, designations, addresses and contact numbers of all elected representatives and government offices, found that Jasin MP Mohd Said lives at the same address.
(New Straits Times - 11/5/06)

KUALA LUMPUR: It's no coincidence - Binyu Sof Enterprise is indeed a company owned by Jasin MP Datuk Mohd Said Yusof. In an open admission at a Press conference in the lobby of Parliament yesterday, the Malacca politician said he was the sole proprietor of the company which transported a consignment of imported logs seized by Customs last month.
He had earlier admitted he was the one who went to the Malacca Customs office to ask officers to "close one eye" over the seized timber.
"I am the sole proprietor. It is my forwarding company. I have, from the start, declared my interest in this company. I have never hidden my interest," he said, although he maintained that the consignment of logs seized was not his. "I have no interest in the logs or the companies which brought them into the country. Binyu Sof only acted as a forwarding agent."
(New Straits Times - 11/5/06)

"Saya sudah berjumpa, berbincang dan meminta maaf kepada Perdana Menteri jika saya bersalah dengan perkara itu selepas memberi taklimat kepada semua pemimpin Umno bahagian di Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra (PWTC), malam tadi (kelmarin).
"Saya tahu saya tidak bersalah dan kalau bersalah sekalipun, saya tidak berasa tercabar. Ahli Parlimen Jasin, Datuk Mohd Said Yusof mengaku beliaulah pemilik Binyu Sof Enterprise, ejen perkapalan dan penghantaran import kayu bergergaji dari Indonesia, yang dirampas Kastam Diraja Malaysia (KDRM) baru-baru ini. Katanya, Binyu Sof Enterprise ialah syarikat miliknya yang terbabit sebagai ejen perkapalan dan penghantaran bagi import kayu bergergaji di pelabuhan tukar barang Sungai Rambai dan Kuala Linggi, Melaka. Beliau bagaimanapun, memberitahu sidang media di lobi Parlimen semalam, kayu yang diimport itu bukan milik Binyu Sof Enterprise kerana syarikatnya hanya menjadi ejen bagi urusan berkenaan.
(Berita Harian - 11/5/06)

It's just ridiculous the spin some people will put on all sorts of matters in the papers. For the common folk, nak paham apa yang berlaku ni, cam nak ikut telenovela. I mean...get real!!!
Someone do something already about people who are supposed to serve the public but are more inspired for business dealings than anything else.
At the end of all of this, isn't this an episode yang familiar? Like the Whitney song goes...same script different cast!

I must be freaking psycho!
For some reason, meeting some old primary schoolmates and talking about those nostalgic days - has gotten me all gooey eyed about the things I did way back then and my interests.
One of the biggest things I was into back then was this cartoon called M.A.S.K. While other kids had collections of an array of cartoons, my thing was just that.
M.A.S.K.
All in all I accumulated dozens and dozens of vehicles from the cartoon series, all of them on the bad guys' side, V.E.N.O.M. Tapi sayangnya, time tu, mana ler kita reti nak jaga kan? Konon nak realism, main kat pasir ler, tanah ler....pasang bunga api konon kuar api ler...nama underwater or amphibian vehicle terus celup dalam air ler...add that to the fact my mom gave away all my toys to my cousin when I wasn't home when I was in my teens (cause she didn't understand the value of nostalgia - and collector's items), I have nothing to show for my little obsession back then.
Anyway, semalam Azlina called me...she was my classmate from primary school and we've been in touch (except we seem to have drifted apart in the last three years or so), so it was great that she called me after I got her number.
We spoke and spoke...I got back to the office later that evening, and started surfing things that reminded me of my childhood obsession (M.A.S.K. ler...what else) and got hooked on it.
Later after dinner with some friends (thanks oh feeder of many mouths, the undernourished and the overnourished), I came back to the office to finish some work.
Somehow popped open a window and surfed on some retro toys after I came across some old toy catalogues, which somehow diverted to ebay. And before I know it, I've placed nine bids!!!
Within minutes, I've lost two bids, with another seven still in contention. The lowest bid I have on my list is USD$1 while the highest is USD$30. The total of my seven bids USD$84.92 for a huge assortment of M.A.S.K. vehicles. Aiyo!!!
Ok so I suppose I got a little carried away, and I don't want to win ALL of them...but I do want to win some of 'em. Kenangan lama banyak maa associated with the whole thing.
I do hope I win at least a bid....and I hope I don't have to win all of them cause the shipping and handling is positively going to kill me. Tulah akibat tak focus kat kerja kerana ada Internet connection.
Damn!
Anyway...kalau I don't win any of these bids pun aku disappointed sebab I really want these toys back in my collection, no matter the condition. Unlike 'real collectors' (people who want to make a profit by reselling them later) I don't care about mint condition or not.
So take a look below and see if you recognise any of these scenes from the cartoon below.

If you do remember the cartoon back in the late Eighties, and you have, or know anyone who has the collectible vehicles, figurines, or even the Boulder Hill playset, or know where I can get the DVDs, please let me know cause I'd purchase them for a reasonable price.
Yang dulu one of the vehicles, codenamed Rhino, I remember was sold back then for RM49.90 is now being sold at BB Plaza for something like over RM400!!! Gila ke haper!
Anyway...that's all my rantings for now...nak sambung kerja....dah kul berapa ni. Hari ni dah ler banyak meeting...

Erm...first to recount yesterday. Yesterday, thanks to tokei funfair, aku gi ler GSC MidValley to catch the opening of Poseidon. Was quite enthusiastic about it, so it didn't matter that only Juan joined me sebab abang Badrul sendiri yang provide tickets couldn't make it, and neither could that mentally disturbed pal of mine yang tak abih feeling workaholic.
Speaking of workaholic, Muzaffar pun tak dapek joinbecause he had tons of work to finish. Or so he claimed lah kan...
Anyway there was a huge crowd of fellow freeloaders yang dapat tiket pree. Bloody hell, had to turn in my three miobile phones, sebab takut rakaman dan sebagainya lah...masaalah aku punya Panasonic yang blue screen, recorder dan video, apa lagi camera takde...cuma blue screen pun kena turn in kah???
Our smuggled McDonald's however made sure we had sustainence throughout the two hour flick, which was decent at best.
Kalau korang nak tengok, I would say it's only worth catching if you like excessive special effects. It's a popcorn movie all the way...
To summarise it, the whole duration of the movie seems to be an extension of Titanic time kapal nak karam. I dunno...seeing bodies flung around, corpses with bulging eyes and all that around is fine...but the whole movie is about them...erm...getting out of the ship.
It's a rip off every bloody movie I've watched...some parts of Ghost Ship part chaos orang kena bunuh, and also a little Armageddon when Kurt Russel as the dad does a Bruce Willis by selfless act of sacrificing himself demi laki anak pompuan dia yang mula mula dia tak restui.
The wrong people died (the cute waiter who tried to save them, the gorgeous Latina stowaway, the sizzling, sexy Stacy Ferguson - or Fergie from Black Eyed Peas, who was the main act on the ship) and the wrong people didn't (the old fag who wanted to kill himself for not getting over his  ex boyfriend - making it obvious why he got dumped int he first place, that bratty kid who irritatingly got into every frame either squealing for his mom or got orgasmically excited atr every bloody thing).
Of course another message of Hollywood that if you're ethnic minority and gorgeous, you're just eye candy and first to die no matter how morally outstanding your character is, but the white trash will always survive.
Bleurrghh!!!
Cliches are abundant....and expected...mmm..not a very intelligent movie. But how intelligent can it be kan? Keep these ten commandments handy and you won't be surprised by anything in Poseidon.

Things that are pretty obvious on a sinking ship in the movies which you never question the logic of
1. It has to happen just after the prime moment of celebration (in this case New Year)
2. Because the focus is on the Titanic like grandeur of the vessel, obviously it's a prime target for that sudden killer wave.
3. If a small band of people breakaway, you can be sure you're counted in as among the survivors (the fine print is unless you're a minority ethnic race)
4. When the music turns up, you can be sure the person in the frame is dead.
5. If you walk among dead bodies, and the focus is on a heap of them, one of them is bound to jump up.
6. If the movie is singled on you, then it's understood you'll survive despite some 100 over people clambering over your trapped body.
7. If you're in the safe list, you can hold your breath underwater for at least two minutes.
8. There's the typical mushy I love you to bits cause we might not live to see tomorrow scenes.
9. A life raft will miraculously appear out of nowhere complete with all your requirements like a flare gun handy the moment you bump off the ship - which is enough to get to a safe distance before the who thingh just sinks and plunges into the icy depths.
10. The most ridiculous route is always the sure fire way out.

Anyways, erm...the movie wasn't too bad lah...simply because it was a free movie (not that cheap considering the amount spent on tons of food and snacks, parking and later supper)
Anyway...nak ucap tima kasih ler kat abang Badrul, not just for the movie invites but also his gift from Bangkok. Best gak dia ingat aku nya hobby of collection Zippo lighters. Kalau nak tengok, ni ler koleksi aku setakat ini.
The grand total of my collection at the moment is a total of 26 lighters with one original Zippo leather case. Aku punya koleksi sebenarnya lebih besar lagi, tapi sebab biasalah, kengkawan nak go off here and there mintak kenangan dan sebagainya...and plus lagi yang hilang sebab dulu I actually used my Zippos...so pepaham jer ler koleksi perlahan perlahan mula berkurangan,
Anyway, aku tak dapat pergi ke Bangkok kali ni untuk MTV Asia Awards tahun ni (first time sejak ia bermula - which brings my total of three times ke Singapore and once ke Bangkok for the event)...and it was so sweet for abang Badrul to bring back a little present untuk add to my collection.
It's a Hard Rock Cafe Bangkok signature Zippo, which is a very nice addition to my hobby yang da lama aku tak layan sebab somehow Zippos have stopped being a priority lor...kena start lagik ler collection aku ni. Kalau sesapa nak tolong, my birthday is on July 17 (memang tak malu mintak nih...)
Sebut bab Zippo nih, aku ada something yang unique. I have this matte silver Zippo yang biasa, tanpa design. Anyway, satu hari tuh aku jalan kat Uptown lama (zaman sebelum MPPJ wat hal halau meka semua) aku ada beli Zippo tak original dua ketul ni disebabkan keunikan mereka.
Cantik tak? Yang paling kecik tu yang ori, and both of the others actually work. Tapi mak aih...yang besar tu, sekali tuang minyak dia satu tin pun tak penuh. Aku penah bak keluar pakai...pening member member layan lighter aku yang campak sekali leh membunuh.
Pic ni aku amik semalam, and of course the brand I smoke tuh Marlboro, so sekali ngan koleksi kotak Marlboro ler nak tunjukkan size meka. Again the smallest is the original box size while the second was a limited edition double pack. The biggest is satu yang aku beli airport ala ala sekarton tapi bentuk seperti an actual box.
Mmm...by the way, nak bagitau pasal Akademi Fantasia IV nih, (or Akademi Fantasia 4 - saja je nak tulis roman numerals...looks better) thank you to pembaca blog aku yang point out pasal yang dari 22hb sehingga 25hb tu dan juga seorang kawan, itu bukan Diari Akademi Fantasia ek, tapi Nota Prelude Akademi Fantasia 4 kalau ikut listing dalam Astro Guide.
Bebudak hari ni check in camp, sekaligus pelbagai briefing dan persiapan sebelum mereka diperkenalkan kepada media dan bersiap untuk Konsert Prelude.
Ikut nak nak spy gak meka check in....tapi banyak keja kat opis tak sempat. Sesapa yang ada sedara mara yang layak...apa agik? Cepat email aku info atau call aku. Leh aku post apa apa info selebihnya kat sini...ok ler...nak ciao for dinner.

Ini akan menjadi kali pertama apa apa information on Akademi Fantasia IV akan di postkan sebelum pengumuman rasmi dikeluarkan oleh pihak Astro.
Lupakan sumber sumber sahih yang memang takkan buka mulut sebab nak surprise kan, kononnya....kalau tak nak spoiler apa apa, jangan baca from this point ok.
Tapi kalau anda peminat Akademi Fantasia, dan ko nak start marking on your diary for when Akademi Fantasia is going to start, then these are the important dates you SHOULD know.
Calon calon Akademi Fantasia musim baru, akan check in suatu lokasi (terpaksa dirahsiakan) pada 10hb Mei 2006, iaitu lusa.
Sudahpun aku katakan meka ni da berminggu lepas diberi kejutan masing-masing atas kelayakan mereka, so their actual journey begins the day after tomorrow.
Sidang akhbar untuk memperkenalkan mereka yang layak akan diadakan pada 17hb Mei 2006, tapi lokasi pun belum ditentukan oleh pihak Astro.
Manakala Diari Akademi Fantasia akan bermula 22hb Mei 2006 sepanjang minggu.
Konsert Prelude Akademi Fantasia akan diadakan pada 27hb Mei 2006.
Pada peminat Akademi Fantasia, mesti tahu dari mana aku dapat sumber berita ini yang belum pun di beritahu oleh pihak Astro kan? Kalau tak tahu jangan tanya....cuma kalau nak find out anything, it's never impossible. Apapun, this is the list of event scheduled to take place.

MAY 2006
10	Check-in of AF4 students
22	Diari Akademi Fantasia 4
23	Diari Akademi Fantasia 4
24	Diari Akademi Fantasia 4
25	Diari Akademi Fantasia 4
26	Diari Akademi Fantasia 4
27	Akademi Fantasia 4 Prelude Concert

Maklumat lebih akan aku post kan mengikut perkembangan. Ada information yang aku rasa orang ramai tak perlu tahu seperti mana budak-budak check in so aku rasa no need lah kan...
Soalnya, kenapa antara 22hb sehingga 26hb tu ada Diari Akademi Fantasia? Adakah ini kejutan pertama oleh pihak Astro? Yang kedua puluh orang yang layak Konsert Prelude juga akan duduk dibawah satu bumbung sebelum bermulanya Konsert Prelude?
Well, soalan tu walaupun dinafikan kengkawan kat Astro, aku rasa itu kalau yer pun kejutan yang menarik...tapi takder ler kejutan sangat pun.
Camna pun blog ni tetap akan be the first (second kalau bab masuk sultanmuzaffar sekali sekala) to reveal exclusive up to date news on musim baru Akademi Fantasia.
Keep tuned for more developments...