BUM2008 TOUCHES DOWN ON MAY 1: UPDATE

STOP PRESS!

The King of Bloggers residing at the most visited or gate-crashed cyberhome known as malaysia-today.net simply called by matey fans as "RPK" -- often mixed up with PKR, I often wonder about the connection! -- has confirmed he will be present at BUM2008 at the Lake View, Subang Jaya to celebrate Labour Day with fellow 150 Bloggers and Friends!

Yes, you heard Desi right! -- Raja Petra Kamarudin is gonna help raise the FUN-d and desibelles at the Hap Bloggers' Event of the Year with his story-telling and rumour-wining and dining which often proved later to be factual, to humour his legion of readers. As Chair, I won RPK over with a diplomatic request that he is allowed to deviate from the said Topic as long as he entertains the participants with his brand of byting sarcasm so famously engraved in reams of paper at Bukit Aman when a double Muhammad tried to trifle with a seasoned Blogger who not only could quote Shakespeare, but also the Quran from where this writer humbly continuaaly learns about Islam. I admit I also learn some 4-letter words -- like Hell and F***! Hey, spell it out for you guys thinking othervice - Fake!

Can you imagine the opponent being a confessed State CEO lacking English mastery that he could not fill up the Immigration forms properly to rationalise his departure with RM2.4million out of Ozland. Luckily for the bloke, some Oz courts also turned into kangaroo, but I digress. Except an observation that this same guy has been rewarded to Minister-level via the backdoor -- for carrying Pak Lah's bag?

So to now double state for the record, Raja Petra is that "Surprise speaker" flagged off in our earlier Post dated March 24, 2008 for the Evening Brainstormy Session. Just listening to this insider into Royalty and UMNO and Opposition goings-on, especially the shenanigans committed by self-deluded "untouchables", is worth thy RM50 investment! (Plus of course, the Lamb/s if it/they could get to Warren Buffet's table by 8.30pm on May the First, -- which is steal a rumour to humour Thee!)

So late-comers, as is won't of diehard Malaysian habit not just sighted at the nunnery, what are you waiting for? The Treasurer says the Registrations is in the last lap towards the number 110-mark. Make a dash for it, you may just break M Jegathesan's 100m sprint record! ~~ Desi

Pictures of BUM 2007 taken from Tengku Mohd Ali Bustamann's blog.

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This Post was originally written on March 24, 2008. The above was UPDATED on
April 23, 2008 on receiving confirmation from reliable sources -- which is good journalism practice -- that the rumour you heard that Raja Petra Kamarudin is gate-crashing BUM2008 is now proven to be true. Okay, gate-crashing's stretching a byte -- at our OC's diplomatic overtures, he's helicoptering in!:) ~~ Desi

Yes, First of May – your day, my day, our day, unless thou a tycoon-boss be. The majority of us are earning bread-and-butter working for others -- It is safe to assume this is the case for 95 percent of Malaysians, yes?. We would happily like to be proven wrong, And if any Blogger reading this here who is also that rare multi-millionaire Boss, please contact the BUM2008 Organising Committee pronto! YES, there is such a committee labouring for at last three weeks now laying the groundwork for BUM2008 to lift off.

In one way or another, celebrating Labour Day worldwide is giving recognition to the dignity of man’s labour, to be appropriately rewarded in remuneration that can provide decent Shelter, Food and Potential Development of the Individual, and a sense of Security and Well-being, especially in a country like Malaysia which is blessed with plentiful natural resources.

So holding this year’s BUM2008 is a double celebration of sorts as it is also working towards an annual initiative to mark World Press Freedom Day, which falls in the poetic month of May. Next year, to make it three consecutive years, the National Alliance of Bloggers (AllBlogs) ideally would take on the task and challenge of organizing bum2009.

As flagged off in a TEAser Post here on Sunday March 16, 2008, bum2008 is organized by a group of Bloggers in their individual capacities in association with a relatively young organisation called the Centre for Policy Initiatives. The bum2008 Organising Committee comprises the following:

Chairperson:

YL Chong aka Desiderata

Co-Chairperson:

Bernard Khoo aka Zorro

Helen Hoh, Webmaster Ipohlang who also designed the Banner above … Kudos!

Chris Chew aka mob1900 …who is famous for his lampooning posters, and will soon splash a Poster on Bum2008 that will become another Desi’s collectible!

Howsy, bum2007 Co-chair who made a last-minute re-APpearance on hearing that several APs are being offered as a Lucky draw this year, steal a rumour to humour Thee.

Other VIP Members: Liew Hui Mei, Capt Yusof Ahmad, Frances Yee,

who will welcome thee wit' broad s-miles seen even from de South China Sea. BTW, Kept de one and only Ancient Mariner in the 21st century, has promised the rest of the Commitee a cruise on his ship after bum2008 is successfoolly held once he can get it back from the Caribeen Sea!:) Meanwhile, Mei 0305 is busy scuba-diving helping the captain look for his Lost treasure, and Primrose is tending to her flowery gardnern.

REGISTRATION & PAYMENT:

RM50 per head to be paid into Treasurer TONY YEW's Bank Account; click here >> REGISTRATION & PAYMENT for payment procedure. There is limited seating for 120 attendees only, so it's on a "First-come, First-served"basis, and we hope Readers would not leave till the last minute to register.

PROGRAMME OUTLNE

Theme: TOWARDS A CIVIL SOCIETY

Venue: Lake View Club, Subang Jaya

Registration: 2.15pm to 3.00pm

AFTERNOON SESSION

To be chaired by Zorro,

from 3.00pm to 4.30pm.

The Topic is:

“Fostering Civil Society -- Various Voices”

Speakers:

Welcoming Address: YL Chong-Desi

1. Sdr Ahirudin Attan aka rockybru,
   President, National Alliance of Bloggers
   
   
2. Dato’ Syed Ahmad Idid,
   Ex-Judge; "Judge whose conscience divulged truth 12 years ago and now proved 'correct correct correct' via latest video-clip".
   
   
3. Dr Azmi Sharom,
   Academic
   
   
4. Dr Lim Teck Ghee
   Director, Centre for Policy Initiatives
   
   
5. Sdri Jacqueline Ann Surin,
   Journalist
   

Q and A: 30 minutes

____________ HI-TEA BREAK _________

EVENING SESSION

To be chaired by Desi,

from 6.00pm to 8.00pm.

The Topic is:

“The Fifth Estate (Bloggers) as Agency for Change”

Speakers:

1. Sdr Jeff Ooi, Blogger-MP
   
   
2. Sdr William Leong, Lawyer-MP
   
   
3. Sdr Haris Ibrahim, Human Rights Advocate
   
   
4. Sdr Steven Gan, Editor-in-chief, Malaysiakini.com
   (Apologies: withdrawn, on Urgent Foreign Assignment)
   
   
5. Sdr R Nadeswaran aka Citizen-Nades from theSun, award-winning investigative newshound
6. A special Guest Speaker? CONFIRMED: Raja Petra Kamarudin
   
   

Q and A: 30-45 minutes

_____ BUFFET DINNER starts punctually at 8.30pm_____________

There will be Updates on the progress of this Bloggers’ Hap Event of the Year in Malaysia, so:

Stay tuned!