alfred ho - singer/musician

Sightless but not blind to his rights

noreply@blogger.com (Alfred Ho) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:58:00 +0000

Malaysian Mirror
Honeymah Dylyani
Wednesday, 28 October 2009 20:16

He may be sightless but veteran singer Alfred Ho is not blind to his consumer’s rights.

He was sore when a music store rejected his claim for a refund.

While it was only a matter of RM100, he felt that as a customer he had the right to make the claim for an item that did not meet his requirement. So, he went to the small claims court, instead.

The court, also known as the Tribunal for Consumer Claims, on Wednesday ordered Woh Fatt Music House Sdn Bhd to give back the money to Ho, a one-time recording artiste who now sings in pubs and lounges.

Ho said he had wanted to return a guitar case he had bought from the shop and to ask for a refund, but his request was rejected.

'Those with sight can do more'

The singer, who has made albums of some self-composed songs and evergreen numbers, said he was thankful for the outcome and advised consumers who felt cheated to refer their complaints to the tribunal.

"Although I'm blind, I still came here to fight for my rights. My message here is, those with sight should be able to do more for themselves when they feel cheated," he said after the tribunal handed its decision.

Ho, currently singing at a bistro in Jalan Gasing, Petaling Jaya, said he brought his complaint to the tribunal when Woh Fatt Music House refused to give back his money for the guitar case bought from the shop.

Company to pay within 14 days

Court president Rahazlan Affandi Abdul Rahim ordered the shop to pay back Ho after advising them to amicably settle the dispute through negotiation as the amount involved was small.

Woh Fatt Music House, which was represented by K.C.Liew, was ordered to pay back Ho within 14 days while Ho should immediately return the guitar case after receiving the payment

Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism deputy secretary-general (Consumerism and Management) Mahani Tan Abdullah said under the Consumers Protection Act, a consumer has the right to return the product if it is deemed defective and not because he or she does not like the product.

Defective goods can be returned

“Malaysian consumers should understand that they can return the good if it is defective. They can also exchange the goods with something of a similar value and not less.

“In Ho’s case it is different. He is blind and the judges have been using their discretion in awarding Alfred Ho his claims.

“Furthermore the claim is also reasonable. I do not think that the judge will side with him if he made unreasonable claims.

“In my opinion, the salesman did not explain to him accordingly. Since Alfred could not see, the salesman should be more detail in explaining the product, “ Mahani said.

She added that this case should highlight the importance of ethics in business.

"I am happy that the judge had awarded Alfred Ho’s claim because, sometimes, business people must be reminded to be more ethical in doing their business, especially with the disabled.

Tribunal Orders Music Shop To Return Blind Singer's RM100

noreply@blogger.com (Alfred Ho) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:45:00 +0000

Bernama.com
October 28, 2009

Blind singer Alfred Ho on Wednesday managed to get back his RM100 paid to a musical instrument shop after referring his case to the Tribunal for Consumer Claims Malaysia (TCCM).

Ho, who had recorded an album before, said he was thankful for the outcome and advised consumers who felt cheated to refer their complaints to the tribunal.

"Although I'm blind, I still came here to fight for my rights. My message here is, those with sight should be able to do more for themselves when they feel cheated," he said after the tribunal handed its decision.

Ho, who now sings at a club, said he brought his complaint to TCCM when Woh Fatt Music House Sdn Bhd refused to give back his money for a guitar case bought from the shop.

TCCM president Rahazlan Affandi Abdul Rahim ordered the shop to pay back Ho after advising them to amicably settle the dispute through negotiation as the amount involved was small

Woh Fatt Music House, which was represented by K.C.Liew, was ordered to pay back Ho within 14 days while Ho should immediately return the guitar case after receiving the payment.

CARRY ON ALFRED - 23RD AUGUST 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Alfred Ho) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 10:57:00 +0000

by Emily Gun
Malaysian Mirror

PETALING JAYA - Alfred Ho is a blogger. Reading his postings makes you realise he is an articulate man. Reading them also makes you feel despondent.

For he writes about the hurdles he – and other people like him - has to overcome in living a life as best as he can under the circumstances.

Alfred, you see, is blind.

But he has been blessed with a musical mind and has found his calling as a singer cum guitarist.

“I have been in this profession for more than 20 years now and my forte is singing the old western favourites. I also sing in several Chinese dialects, including Spanish and several languages. I mainly do the pub circuits and perform at company and wedding functions,” he wrote on his blog, which has not been updated since November 2007.

Drop by a pub sometime and if you are lucky, you might catch Alfred in action, playing a few mean tunes and getting the crowd all worked up.

You might even find old folks hitting the dance floor to do the twist, as if creaky, calcium-deficit bones are nothing more than a figment of the imagination.

His passion for singing was stoked in part by Cliff Richard, whose earlier tunes like Y'arriva, Catch me and Tell me has shaped his musical direction.

If you don’t know by now, Alfred has a penchant for singing songs from the 50s to 70s by such legends as Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and Elton John.

In today’s world dominated by rap, hip hop and pop fluff, such oldies still has an entrenched following.

I decided to catch him performing one night in a Petaling Jaya bistro. I went in with no preconceptions whatsoever. Guess what, I enjoyed myself enormously. He hit the right chords in my book, singing John Denver’s Leaving on a Jet Plane, my all-time favourite. He also had me giggling to the funny nuances of a Hokkien song.

All in all, it was a great night out.

Despite all the well-meaning government and private campaigns to promote a caring society, the truth is society is made up of people who are largely self-absorbed. When you are disabled, the lack of concern and consideration shown is glaring and hurtful.

Alfred has been through the grind and knows first-hand the prejudices and discrimination he had to face as an employee and as a citizen standing up for his rights and what he perceived as social injustices.

He can rattle off a long list of employers who have been less than kindly to him over the years and who have attempted to limit his career opportunities at every turn. To him, many politicians are no better in treating those who are disabled.

Once upon a time, he had to soldier on alone. But the burden is made more bearable now with wife Rufina Baptist, by his side.

Rufina, who is partially sighted, is his pillar of strength. Alfred also finds music to be a balm that eases the pain of a blind man living a life with all its imperfections.

Despite the challenges, Alfred has not come this far to be defeated by an unfair world.

He will continue to stand up for what he believes is just and right. And he will keep on crooning the evergreens for that is his calling.

* If you are interested to have Alfred Ho drop by to jazz up the mood of your event, get in touch with him at alfredho.music@gmail.com or call him at 03-7984 8560 or 016-635 9800 .

Last Updated on Sunday, 23 August 2009 18:35

THE STAR (STARTWO) - FRIDAY 3RD JULY 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Alfred Ho) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:28:00 +0000

Onward, Ho!

By N. RAMA LOHAN

The road’s been rough, but Alfred Ho’s burning desire to share the gift of music continues to spur him on.

ATTEMPTING to understand renowned local musician Alfred Ho’s predicament is simply impossible. Sure, he barely has a complaint about being blind and reaps an inordinate amount of joy by simply strumming his guitar and singing to an appreciative audience … and getting paid for the joy he loves sharing with his listeners.

But for those reading this (we who are bestowed with the gift of sight), we could never fathom what it’s like to be blind. It’s not quite like walking on a nature trail for a few hours in a cave or sitting in a dark room for a few quiet moments. Psychologically, we know we are still going to be able to see once we’re in the light or the lights are switched on.

Live energy: Local musician Alfred Ho’s greatest joy has been to perform before a live audience.

Ho has had a chequered career, though, from being an upstart on RTM’s Bakat TV in the early 1970s (when Jamali Shadat officially became the nation’s best loved funnyman), through his many years plying the pub circuit, right up to his current weekly stint (every Tuesday) at Ol’ Skool Bistro on Jalan Gasing, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

The corporate circuit was a healthy source of income for the musician who turns 60 on July 9, but he has fallen on hard times. “The lack of a manager has been my setback. I can talk and perhaps sell myself, but I am not mobile. Besides, very little is about talent these days … it seems to be more about marketability. I have faith in my ability, though. I believe I am good. In fact, my new policy has been to tell myself that I am good,” he says, his spirit clearly unbroken.

A rousing rendition of The Beatles’ (he likes Paul best) Lady Madonna at the Yamaha music store in Mid Valley Mega Mall (where the picture on the right was taken) in KL was enough to have store staff, manager and customers clapping and singing along.

“Music is in my blood. I love to play the guitar … and it’s good to have an appreciative audience.”

A ex-schoolmate named Benjamin taught a then 12-year-old Ho to play the instrument. “I used to be very jealous of him,” Ho guilty admits with a smile.

Ho has had a flair for music since he was a child (he lost his sight when he was three following a bout of measles). “I used to hear old Chinese songs from my neighbour’s radio. I learned to play the harmonica, ukulele … and than I made a tin-can guitar.”

His first proper six-string – a Suzuki acoustic – was a birthday present from his late brother. “It was a good guitar; perfect for playing all those songs in the mid-60s by The Beatles and Cliff Richard.”

Ho admits that envy of these singers spurred him onto his craft. “I joined a talent-time competition in school.” He would also form his band, The Sharks, then. “We played mainly instrumentals,” he says, citing The Shadows as a particular favourite.

“Then someone got us a show at a theatre one day, and I remember my knees shaking,” he fondly reminisces.

His initial career as a telephone operator sidetracked his musical pursuit momentarily.

“It was taking a toll on me. I was playing in the pubs in Penang until 1am, then I’d have to report to work the next day at 6am ... it was really tough. But the minute I was on the bandstand, I would be alive again and just love it.”

Stints at the now defunct Rediffusion (a nod to programme manager Royston Goh and Patrick Teoh) and his semi-final qualification for Bakat TV saw his stock rise. Then there were the string of TV show appearances on variety programmes like Hiburan Malam Minggu and Serbaneka. College gigs had him reaching out to a younger audience as well.

His recording career took off after Bakat TV, though. Armed with a taste for artistes like Cliff Richard, Elvis Presley, Marty Robbins, The Beatles, The Bee Gees, The Eagles, The Cascades, Connie Francis and a string of others, Ho was treated to the hallowed words, “Roll tape!”

“My first record was with Malaysian Musical Industries (MMI). My manager then, Stanley Joseph, whose father was the secretary to the minister of information then, (now Tun) Ghazali Shafie, helped me get into Bakat TV, and after that, the recording project came along. I recorded two EPs with MMI,” recalls the Perakian. The EPs included a mix of originals and covers. Some of his self-penned compositions included Train to Tennessee and Wendy’s Love Song.

Through the years, Ho has continued to record whenever opportunities have presented themselves. His greatest joy, though, has been to perform before a live audience. “It’s always nice when the audience participates,” he says appreciatively.

Perhaps there is a law of compensation at play where Ho’s blindness is concerned. While he may not be able to see, his sense of hearing and memory power are remarkable. Strum a chord on a guitar in front of him and there’s a good chance he’ll know what it is.

Ho also tried his hand at being a DJ but the short stint ended rather unceremoniously. “I would like to write a book to share some of my experiences ... good and bad, with people. I would especially like to reach out to parents of children with disabilities like blindness, and educate them on how to best care for their children and what potential problems they could face along the way,” he shares graciously.

His education may be nothing to brag about (he only completed Form 3), but Ho has some of the most irresistible and irrepressible qualities – he has the heart and stomach to do what he loves most, even when the going has been tough.

He is simply looking for opportunities to share his music.

“I play a variety of styles and am truly proud of this diversity. My talent is my product,” shares the singer, who sings in Bahasa Malaysia, various Chinese dialects, Spanish and Japanese, among others.

Ho’s requests are simple; he seeks a manager to help him with employment; he hopes to have some video footage of his performances up on the Internet, write a book to share his experiences and perhaps his most significant, to one day have a cafe of his own to perform at.

For those looking to give back, giving Ho a chance could be a worthwhile exercise in seeking inner happiness or contributing to the betterment of society. If it’s simply his music that entices, then head over to Ol’ Skool Bistro on Tuesday nights where he waits to simply entertain.

Alfred Ho can be contacted at % 03-7984 8560 / 016-635 9800 or e-mail: alfredho.music@gmail.com

FANS COMMENTS (SIT HIN KIN) - 04/06/2009

noreply@blogger.com (Alfred Ho) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Dear Alfred,

To be frank with you, prior to a couple of years ago, I never heard of you nor your songs. Thanks to the introduction by my old schoolmate, William Lim, I was persuaded to join William and his friends initially at The Ol' Skool Bistro in Jalan Gasing, Petaling Jaya. Since that night, I have tried never to miss your performance wherever you might be: at The Groove Junction, Sri Hartamas or Bonton Cafe Lot 10 or even at Pappa Rich, Jalan Bukit Bintang, that is if I am in town and not overseas.

If there is anybody in KL, or for that matter, Malaysia who despite visually challenged, can plug the guitar and sing like you, tell me so, for I have not seen one solo performer like Alfred Ho yet. Your ability to go down Memory Lane with songs from the Fifties and Sixties plus your talent of multi-lingualism (English, Malay, Chinese, Thai etc) not only just bring back sweet memories of times gone by, but also promote racial integration in harmonious sing-a-longs.

May the Good Lord Bless and keep you in Good Health to continually provide joy and happiness to those who listen to your world of music and songs.

Cheers!

From:
Sit Hin Kin & Gang

COMMENTS IN MALAYSIA TODAY - MY MOST SINCERE APOLOGY TO THE NATION (21ST MAY 2009)

noreply@blogger.com (Alfred Ho) — Thu, 21 May 2009 00:21:00 +0000

As an ardent fan of your blog I find that by far, this is your most frank and interesting article. your principles are most commendable. I'm sure that it takes a lot of courage to apologize to the whole nation with regards to your wayward son's outlandish behaviour. Personally, it is my opinion that you have taken the right decision by not complying to the wishes of the police, for had you given them a bribe, it will haunt you for the rest of your life and all your efforts to bring down the barisan government will be in vain. Like many of your readers, my heart certainly goes out to you but with God's intervention, I hope that your son will turn over a new leaf so that he can be an upright citizen again.

Finally, my regards to your family, and do stay safe wherever you are. For your information, I have copied all your articles thus far and will continue to do so to share with other Malaysians who are not politically motivated. Do keep up with the long and hard struggle for I am certain that through your efforts to bring about change in Malaysia, we will certainly be rewarded with success.

written by alfred ho the blind singer.

ALFRED HO "LIVE" AT OL' SKOOL BISTRO & PUB

noreply@blogger.com (Alfred Ho) — Fri, 15 May 2009 01:56:00 +0000

Catch veteran blind singer/guitarist Alfred Ho "live"at Ol Skool Pub, Jalan Gasing (opposite EPF building), every Tuesday nights (beginning 19th May 2009) from 9.30pm - 12.30am, as he sings the songs of your favourite artists such as Cliff Richard, Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson, Johnny Tillotson, Roy Orbison, Paul Anka, Pat Boone & Russ Hamilton to name just a few. He will also render the hits of The Beatles, The Bee Gees, Everly Brothers, Blue Diamonds and many more. Alfred will also entertain you with Chinese evergreen classics, as he can sing in several Chinese dialects such as Mandarin, Cantonese & Hokkien. His versatility knows no bounds as he will also perform songs in Spanish, Japanese & several other languages. You are also welcomed to dance to his music, so do not forget to put on your dancing shoes. You will certainly be amazed by the talents of this home grown veteran blind artist. So do not forget to give yourselves a fabulous treat as Alfred takes you down memory lane, where at the same time you have the opportunity of showing off your dancing skills.

For further details please call Rufina at 016 - 6359800
Bookings please call Azad at 017- 8838287 or 016 - 3720772.

Thank you

LETTER TO MALAYSIAKINI - 12TH MAY 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Alfred Ho) — Mon, 11 May 2009 23:51:00 +0000

Dear readers,

When I heard that ex Prime Minister Badawi was made advisers of both MAS and the Iskandar Corridor Project, I was quite astounded. Which person in their right mind would engage a failed ex premier to be an adviser of their company considering that he has no business experience at all. However, just like all other ex- top ranking government officials before him, Badawi has been given the above mentioned posts as an extension of his political career. The next time you
decide to fly on a MAS aircraft, my advice to you is to fasten your seat belt very securely and should you decide to visit the Iskandar Corridor zone in Johor, do ensure that you travel in a bullet proof vehicle for your very own safety.

Yours faithfully,

Alfred Ho.

LETTER TO MALAYSIAKINI - 8TH APRIL 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Alfred Ho) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 23:39:00 +0000

Dear readers,

So once again the rakyat have spoken with a resounding voice, hence the handsome victory by the pakatan rakyat in both bukit gantang and bukit selambau respectively. All this goes to show that all right thinking Malaysians have had enough of barisan rule and that the arrogance that it has been displaying all these years is clearly being rejected by most Malaysian citizens including myself as a blind individual. It is my belief that part of pakatan rakyat's success is partly due to the power grab by the barisan government in Perak. Hopefully, it will just be a matter of time when the pakatan rakyat will take over the reins of power although at the moment it will still remain as a dream. Let us hope that my prediction will materialize in the not too distant future.

Finally, my heartiest congratulations to pakatan rakyat for their tremendous success in trouncing the barisan nasional candidates.

Yours sincerely
Alfred Ho.

LETTER TO MALAYSIAKINI - 1ST APRIL 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Alfred Ho) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:20:00 +0000

dear readers,

the statement made by the chairman of the CVLB that the wayward ways of errant taxi
drivers cannot be controlled is most disturbing and shocking to say the least. it is just like the police saying that crime cannot be erradicated as the criminals are too powerful and sophisticated. datuk makiman is certainly a disgrace and liability to the government, and the sooner he is relieve of his post, the better for all malaysians who have to rely on taxi services.

i wish here to congratulate karpal singh and his son for standing up to the might of the barisan nasunal government. the selective prosecution practiced by the ruling clique is most reprehensible.

touching on another matter, i wish to question the selangor government as to why they are wasting money and resources to hold the balkis enquiry, when at the end of the day none of the purpurtraitors can be proscecuted as they have been given immunity. this is certainly a sad state of affairs, to the point that even khir toyo and his wife cannot be compelled to attend the enquiry.

just like many other right thinking malaysians, i believe that the najib razak regime will be more oppressive than that of badawi's and that the pakatan rayat will have a much tougher time governing the states which they control. having been discriminated by the ruling government in the past, and even despite the fact that i am a blind individual, i have the strong urge to stand as a candidate in any future elections with the hope that i can help bring about a better malaysia where all citizens will be given equal treatment.

yours sincerely,

alfred ho.

Comments in Malaysia Today - Wishing for an RPK concert (17th Saturday 2008)

noreply@blogger.com (Alfred Ho) — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 05:55:00 +0000

My name is Alfred Ho and I'm a blind singer/guitarist by profession and I specialize in singing the old favourites. I sing mainly in english but can also sing in chinese, spanish and several other languages. I would be glad to offer my services by staging a solo concert to help raise awareness of RPK's detention under the ISA. Probably we could also start up a fund to help RPK and other ISA detainees. Please contact me if you wish to take up my offer. For your information, I have released 5 albums on CD and some of the track samples can be heard over my website. I wish also to inform you that I have given numerous public performances during my long musical career.

My website is as follows http://alfredhomusic.blogspot.com

For contact purposes my phone numbers are as follows

House 03-789848560, Handphone 016-6359800, Email alfredho.music@gmail.com

Letter to Malaysiakini - 13th October 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Alfred Ho) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:06:00 +0000

Dear readers,

The recent revelations made by both Nadaswaren and Terence Fernandez of the sun newspaper with regards to the corrupt practices going on at the tourism ministry is most troubling and shocking to say the least. I would not be surprised that this is only the tip of the iceberg and that a lot of wheeling and dealing is going around in other ministries. It is most unfortunate that in spite of the numerous scandals that have been exposed by these 2 brave journalists from the sun newspaper, everything seems to have been swept under the carpet, and what's more, to add insult to injury, none of the top officials in government have been brought to book for abuse of power. I think that it is appropriate for me at this juncture to remind the mca that if it is serious about reforming the barisan government, then it should take stern action against one of its top officials, namely, chew mei fun if she is found to be implicated in the tourism ministry saga, for 10,000 ringgit at the public's expense and having a chauffeur driven car is just not on. I would even go as far as to suggest that she be barred from participating in the forthcoming party elections to send her a clear message that abuse of power and corruption in any form will not be tolerated. At the same time, may I strongly urge Malaysiakini to start investigations on the tourism ministry scandal without delay so that the perpetrators of these crimes can be exposed and be made to answer for abusing the trust that have been given to them by the rakyat.

I also read with horror, an article that is doing the rounds over cyber space, with regards to the exchange of text messages between Najib Razak and lawyer shafee abdullah pertaining to the altuntaya murder mystery. Finally, may I caution all right thinking Malaysians not to rejoice at prime minister Badawi's exit from the top post of the land as I am quite certain that he is going to have the last laugh at all of us, for I am sure he knows only too well what is in store for us in the future when najib assumes power. Furthermore, it has been speculated that ex premier mahathir will become najib's top adviser which certainly spells disaster for all Malaysians. How can all law abiding citizens allow such a person as najib to be our next prime minister when he has been tainted and linked to several scandals. May I take this golden opportunity to remind all Malaysians who seek justice to remember our beloved hero, Rajah Petra who is now languishing in jail for exposing the corrupt practices of this very despotic regime. I am glad to inform all readers of Malaysiakini that despite the fact that I'm a blind inividual, I made it a point to attend a candlelight vigil last night to try and pressure the evil government to release RPK without delay and unconditionally, for he is certainly the voice and conscience of the nation and we should be proud of the sacrifices that he is making for all of us with the hope that we can have better leaders in the not too distant future.

yours sincerely,

Alfred Ho..

COMMENTS IN MALAYSIA TODAY - 23RD SEPT 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Alfred Ho) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 05:03:00 +0000

Yesterday was certainly a dark day for all right thinking Malaysians. As RPK has been instrumental in helping Pakatan Rakyat wrest control of five states during the last general election, I feel strongly that Pakatan should now return the favour by forming a pressure group to seek his freedom. I also think that all the people who regularly read Malaysia Today should stand out to be counted at this critical time. They must stop hiding behind fictitious names and do something for RPK for a change. Perhaps they can form a group to pressure the government into releasing him. RPK’s detention under the ISA is certainly a desperate act by the government to prevent its secrets from being revealed in court. Why is the government so afraid of RPK? Maybe this courageous man does indeed have proof of all the outrageous claims he makes in his blog? The government must be held fully responsible for this very cruel act. I hope Pakatan comes to power soon and puts right all the wrongs of this government, starting with the draconian ISA.

Finally, my prayers go out to RPK and his family during this very trying time and let us all right thinking Malaysians do what we can to pressure the government into releasing RPK unconditionally.

BY THE WAY, I'M ALFRED HO THE BLIND SINGER AND TO FIND OUT HOW I'VE BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST BY THIS GOVERNMENT,

PLEASE VISIT MY BLOG AT http://alfredhomusic.blogspot.com

LETTER TO MALAYSIAKINI - 13TH SEPTEMBER 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Alfred Ho) — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 08:40:00 +0000

I wish to condemn in the strongest terms the arrests of Raja Petra and Sin Chew reporter, Tan Hoon Cheng by the police on the instructions of the oppressive Barisan government. This owardly act by the Barisan regime will certainly not go down well with all right thinking Malaysians. My thoughts and prayers go out to Marina as she goes through the ordeal of having her husband taken away from her. It is my sincere hope that Pakatan Rakyat will not disappoint her and all other Malaysians by arresting power from this cruel regime so that all Malaysians will be treated equally.

Finally, it begs me to ask the question, when will both Ahmad Ismail and Azahar be arrested under the ISA for stirring up racial hatred. I wish to take this golden opportunity in wishing Pakatan Rakyat all the very best and may you succeed in forming the next government.

yours sincerely,

Alfred Ho

LETTER TO MALAYSIAKINI - 4TH SEPTEMBER 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Alfred Ho) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 23:44:00 +0000

Dear readers,

It is most distressing to note that there are 2 sets of laws in Malaysia, 1 for the members of the ruling clique and its supporters, while the other for the common man and members of the opposition parties. This is certainly a most disturbing trend and it looks like selective prosecutions have been practiced throughout the years. A very good example is how Anwar was recently arrested and humiliated even before he was charged, not to mention the fact that he was made to stay 1 night in prison, and the ordeal that he had to go through. We now hear that a member of the ruling party has had 5 reports made against him for sedition, and he has now made himself scarce in spite of the fact that he has been summoned by the police to have his statements recorded at the police station. Why was not Ahmad Ismail given the same treatment as Anwar? In my opinion, it is very glaring that the police is practicing double standards when it comes to dealing with people who are accused of breaking the law. If this trend is to continue, then we citizens of Malaysia have every cause to worry and fear as it is most certain that we have to bear the injustices being practiced by the police force. I recall that numerous police reports have been made against people in high places within the government, but alas, no action seems to have been taken, and these people have continued with their misdeeds as they know that they are untouchable where the law is concerned.

Finally, I am very excited to hear the announcement made by PKR that they can convince 40 members of the ruling administration to cross over thus making it possible for Pakatan Rakyat to form the next government. However, being the skeptic that I am, I fear that this is near impossible as the Barisan government will fight tooth and nail just to stay in power. I would even go so far as to say that top leaders of the opposition parties might be arrested and detained under the draconian ISA and that our freedoms will be further curtailed . We are certainly living in exciting times, but let us hope and pray that Anwar's plans will materialize so that all Malaysians can have a better deal, otherwise, our country is doomed. In conclusion, I wish to remind the Pakatan Rakyat that should it manage to arrest power from the current government, to prosecute Barisan government officials and their cronies if they are found to be involved in corruption and may the full force of the law be brought to bear upon them.

Yours faithfully,

Alfred Ho.

Letter to Malaysiakini - 27th August 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Alfred Ho) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 23:25:00 +0000

Dear readers,

Once again, the people of Permatang Pauh have spoken on behalf of all right thinking Malaysians who desperately want change, and that is what happened last night when Anwar Ibrahim regained his parliamentary seat. I wish here to convey my heartiest congratulations to Anwar for his resounding victory against the Barisan Nasional candidate. While we celebrate Anwar's huge success, let us not forget the many people who were behind the scenes to make this election victory possible for him. I am quite certain that many PKR members and supporters would have worked tirelessly to ensure Anwar's victory. We must not also forget to acknowledge our thanks to people such as Rajah Petra and the leaders of the Pakatan Rakyat parties for their kind assistance in helping make Anwar's win in the much talked about bi elections possible. With a dynamic person such as Anwar returning back to parliament to head the opposition, I have no doubt whatsoever that the Barisan government will try all ways possible to deprive Anwar of his sweet victory by continually putting obstacles in his path to prevent him from toppling the ruling administration. The impending court case against Anwar for sexual crimes is just 1 good example. The Barisan Nasional crooks will stop at nothing to prevent Anwar from forming the new government just so that they can continue to plunder the nation with impunity. As I have said many a time, all right thinking Malaysians are desperately crying out for change and Anwar is just the right person who can help us effect change in this respect by forming the next government.

Yours faithfully,

Alfred Ho.

Letter to Malaysiakini - 26th August 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Alfred Ho) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:48:00 +0000

Dear readers,

I wish to take this golden opportunity to commend both Lim Guan Eng and his personal assistant for their bravery by not giving in to the death threats that they have received as a result of the numerous land scams that have been unearthed recently. The death threats made on these 2 honourable gentlemen is most despicable and the police should take this matter very seriously by proceeding with investigations immediately so that the perpetrators of this hideous crime can be brought to justice and that the culprits be made to face the full force of the law. From my observations,the death threats made on Lim Guan Eng and his personal assistant is the work of high ranking officials from the former ruling administration who are now feeling the heat and have every reason to fear the retribution that is slowly but surely coming their way. I wish here to urge Lim Guan Eng and his administration to expose all the corruption that has been practiced by former government officials without fear or favour and may the full force of the law be brought upon them as an example to other officials in his administration who might plan to involve themselves in corruption in future. The people of Penang have been taken for too long a ride by the former administration as revenue collected from Penang tax payers have been greatly abused by greedy and incompetent officials of the former ruling government.

Finally,it is my fervent hope that the DAP ruling administration will continue with the good work so that Penang can get back its former glory and have the pride of being known as the Pearl of the Orient once again. To find out how I've been discriminated against by the Barisan Government, please visit my blog at http://alfredhomusic.blogspot.com.

Yours faithfully,

Alfred Ho.

Letter to Anwar Ibrahim - 25th August 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Alfred Ho) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:27:00 +0000

Dear Datuk Seri Anwar,

I strongly urge you to continue fighting the good fight in spite of the dirty tactics of the barisan government to thwart your chances of winning the forthcoming elections. Just like all right thinking Malaysians, we are all desperate for change and you are our saviour to prevent our country from total destruction. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I am quite certain that you will be victorious in the elections and it is hoped that you will lead the next government where all Malaysians will be given equal treatment regardless of race or religion. Allow me to wish you all the very best in your quest to be the next prime minister of Malaysia. For your information, I was the blind individual whom you met when Kim Quek was inducted into your party. As a singer musician by profession, I offered to perform at one of your functions as I am very much aware that you enjoy listening and singing the songs of Elvis, Cliff Richard, Paul Anka and Johnny Tillotson, to name just a few.

Finally, it will be my pride and joy to be able to perform at any one of your functions in the very near future.

To find out how I've been discriminated against, please visit my blog at http://alfredhomusic.blogspot.com/

Yours Sincerely,
Alfred Ho

THE BORNEO POST - SATURDAY AUGUST 23rd 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Alfred Ho) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 10:53:00 +0000

Surely, the government can do more for disabled people.
----------------------------------------------------------------
By Paul Sir
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BLIND musician Alfred Ho was on the line with me last Friday. He called to say his piece on a news report that “only 50 disabled people have applied for the 10,000 jobs made available in the public sector.”

The report quoted Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen as saying that all kinds of jobs were available, from rank and file such as office boys to management level, but unfortunately, there have been few takers.

Alfred was particularly offended by the minister’s remark that “I have mentioned about the vacancies available many times in the newspapers. You (disabled people) cannot expect us to knock on your door and inform you of the opportunities.”

The reason why Alfred was unhappy with Dr Ng’s statement was that he had personally gone to parliament two months ago to see the minister seeking her help to find suitable employment. He did not get to see the minister but Dr Ng’s assistant came out to receive Alfred’s letter of appeal.

“It has been two months now and I haven’t heard from the minister or from her office. Now she is saying that the disabled are not applying for vacancies available.

“But I came knocking on her door and she did not attend to my appeal for a suitable job,” Alfred lamented.

I believe many in Sarawak are also familiar with Alfred Ho, the blind singer/musician. He had appeared many times over RTM and other TV stations. His melodious voice and his uncanny ability to croon many oldies almost to perfection had endeared him to those who love old time favourites.

However, Alfred never had the opportunity to perform in Sarawak. “So far, I have never been invited by anyone to perform in any function in Sarawak,” he said.

But he was in Sabah on several occasions to sing at private functions of the Lions Club and the Association of the Blind in Kota Kinabalu.

Blind since he was three, Alfred recalled that his interest in music started at a very young age. He even formed a boys band in his teenage years.

Upon leaving school, Alfred worked as a telephone operator but as he realised soon after that his calling was in music and singing, he became a professional singer in 1985. He was a regular at the pub circuit and at many premiere social events throughout the country. He also wrote his own songs and had produced some decent albums.

At 59 now, Alfred has not slowed down — he could not afford to. “The problem is, life as a musician does not provide you with a stable income. It also gets tougher when you’re older to land a gig. Also, I do not have a manager because I cannot afford one.”

Four years ago, Alfred was lucky to get a job as a deejay in RTM. However, after six months, he lost his job. He has been making an issue about this over the past years as he claimed that he is still unaware up till today of the real reason why he was asked to leave RTM. As he suspected discrimination (because he is visually impaired), Alfred remains bitter over the incident.

Alfred married 10 years ago but the couple has no children. “No, I think I have to be responsible. With my irregular income, it’s not fair to let the kids suffer later,” he added with a tinge of sadness.

He told me that his last performance was at a private event two months ago and his next one is two weeks away. “So in between, I am actually jobless,” Alfred lamented.

Alfred’s predicament and difficulties he encountered being blind is shared by many of the disabled in our community.

In a way, I’m glad that Dr Ng Yen Yen has said that the government needed to find out why the disabled group had been reluctant to take up the jobs. But I thought that should have been known to her people in the ministry a long time ago. She may be new in the job but the Welfare Ministry has been around for as long as I can read ABC, I think. So it’s another tedious time-wasting process for the government to find out why when the answers are already there. Another Malaysia Boleh mentality, is it?

However, in case the minister wants answers, several NGOs have responded immediately, citing a lack of an integrated transportation system, a failure in communication, and the language barrier.

Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Mobility Association president Anthony Arokia said transport posed a major problem for the disabled. “The trans-port system is a stumbling block. The moment we step out of our houses; we cannot get to the work places,” said Anthony, who is wheelchair-bound.

Taiping Community Services Association vice-chairman Chow Chee Keong said it was unfortunate that some information about the job opportunities did not reach those staying outside the Klang Valley, such as in Taiping, Ipoh and Penang.

“I had, on several occasions, enquired about job opportunities from the Welfare Department office in Taiping, but the officers said they did not know much,” he said.

Beautiful Gate Foundation executive director Sia Siew Chin said many disabled persons were lowly educated and did not speak fluent Bahasa Malaysia.

There you go, Dr Ng Yen Yen. Very familiar answers, don’t you think? I would have thought that her ministry would have studied all these issues before advertising the vacancies for the disabled. So it’s now back to the drawing board again!

I am also glad that the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008 has been gazetted and came into force on July 7. This is the first rights-based legislation for people with disabilities (PWD).

With the enforcement of the Act, PWDs will be able to enjoy better public transport facilities, amenities and services. They will also have equal opportunities to health, education, information, communication and technology and rehabilitation, improved employment opportunities as well as sports, leisure and cultural life.

However, I sincerely hope that the provisions of the Act will be strictly enforced as its effectiveness is para-mount to ensure that the disabled in our society are protected too.

Here, I hope that my talented friend Alfred Ho may find gainful employment soon somewhere, somehow. Alfred, like all our disabled friends, certainly deserve better.

Letter to Malaysiakini - 21st August 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Alfred Ho) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 06:23:00 +0000

Having heard last night's debate between Lim Guan Eng and his predecessor Koh Tsu Koon, it is my personal opinion that the former is not as dynamic as his father, namely, Lim Kit Siang. Had Lim Kit Siang been allowed to face Koh Tsu Koon in the debate, I am quite certain that the latter would be trounced in the debate. It was rather unfortunate, that Guan Eng allowed himself to be mercilessly attacked by Tsu Koon during the debate, and Koh's attempt to defend both himself and his former administration was most reprehensible to say the least. I wish here to take to task the moderator of the debate, Yohan Jafaar for being very biased by asking a question such as, "is the current Penang government going on a witch hunt against the former Gerakan administration instead of delivering it's promises to the electorate of Penang to rule fairly without fear or favour". In short, I feel that Koh Tsu Koon won the day, not because he was not involved in wrong doing, but because he was the better speaker. However, like many other right thinking Malaysians, Guan Eng and his administration should pursue the numerous land scams with vigour and bring the perpetrators to justice without delay as millions of dollars are involved.

Letter to malaysiakini - 17th August 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Alfred Ho) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 11:48:00 +0000

As usual, the BN government is at it again, by engaging saboteurs, disguised as pkr supporters to harass press photographers to put Anwar and his party in a bad light. Not surprisingly, home minister syed hamid has threatened that the opposition will be charged for sedition if racial issues are brought up during the election campaign. The BN government is certainly bankrupt of ideas, in preventing Anwar from winning the permatang pauh elections. However, in spite of the dirty tactics of the ruling administration, I strongly believe that Anwar will win the elections with a thumping majority which will certainly put fear in the barisan leaders. Here's wishing Anwar and PKR all the very best in their crusade to bring about a better Malaysia where all Malaysians will be given equal treatment in every respect.

LAKE CLUB - AUGUST 2007

noreply@blogger.com (Alfred Ho) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:57:00 +0000

SATURDAY NITE LIVE
BATEK BAR
LAKE CLUB KUALA LUMPUR
AUGUST 2007

by LUCY PANE

THOSE WERE THE DAYS
===================

Saturday Nite Live artistes have always been a favourite with the Batek Ba crowd and none more so than Alfred Ho, the visually-challenged crooner. His versatility and the range of his repertoire were truly displayed when he sang Chinese songs such as Francis Yip's "Shanghai Beach" to Teresa Teng's "The Moon Represents My Heart" and a couple of numbers later, switching effortlessly to a Spanish number and then a Thai evergreen "Loy Krathong".

He was word-perfect with such childhood songs as "Burung Kakak" or that school day campfire favourite "Ging Gang Gooli-Gooli".

But his most endearing quality must be his ability to play any song from the 50's and 60's at the shout of a title. About half a century ago, I remember sharpening the metal stylus for my uncle's gramophone and playing Marty Robbin's "The Story Of My Life" and Pat Boone's " Bernadine" and Alfred Ho was able to magically remind me of my carefree childhood.

He rekindled our admiration for artistes such as Cliff Richard, Elvis Presley, The Platters, Jose Feliciano, CCR and even Russ Hamilton and Frankie Lane.

The crowd at the Batek Bar just wouldn't let him go and thanks to the good sense of Alex Bremmer, the GC member on duty, Alfred stayed on for an extra session and entertained us with "Red sails in the sunset" and "Only you", among other golden oldies. Many of the members present could be seen humming the words or singing along with gusto. Beatles hits such as "I saw her standing there" and Mary Hopkin's "Those were the days" reverberated along with "Obladi-Oblada".

Alas, all good things must end and many of us went back, happy and contented to be least momentarily transported back to the good old days when songs were so singable. Nostalgia isn't what it used to be. (sigh)

Letter To malaysiakini (24th July 2008)

noreply@blogger.com (Alfred Ho) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:38:00 +0000

Dear readers,

It did not come as a surprise to me as it was already a foregone conclusion that the judge in the altuntaya trial would reject karpal's application for both najib and PI subramaniam to testify in the well publicized case. it is my contention that some hidden hands have been manipulating this sensational trial all along. if both najib and rosma have nothing to hide, why has popular blogger rajah petra been harassed and that charges have been brought against him in court. if the above mentioned couple are innocent in this matter, then the proper thing to do would be to bring a civil suit against rajah petra for defamation instead of using the powers of the government to charge him. as the 2nd most powerful person in the land, najib should have no qualms about suing the pants off rajah petra so as to retain his good reputation. anyway, it would be most interesting to hear the explosive revelations that rajah petra will be making in his trials. we should not be surprised if the charges against rajah petra are suddenly dropped and the 3 accused in the altuntaya trial are found not guilty for lack of evidence.

touching on another matter, i wish to express my shock and horror at the way anwar was badly treated recently. the way that anwar was arrested was most deplorable and a waste of police resources. the ruling administration must have sanctioned the way that anwar was arrested, where 15 police cars were utilised and a force of policemen in ski masks were sent to capture him as though he was a notorious criminal. then anwar was further humiliated by having his private parts examined at the hospital to be later denied by the director herself. to add insult to injury, anwar was made to spend 1 night in a prison cell where he had to endure a lot of pain by sleeping on a cold cement floor. i wish here to congratulate anwar ibrahim for winning the debate against sabri cheek prior to his arrest. anwar being the orator that he is certainly gave a good performance, whilst his opponent sabri cheek made a fool of himself in spite of the fact that he was a former lecturer, by hitting below the belt in trying to brand anwar as a rebel by being involved in demonstrations in the past. however, although sabri broke the rules of the debate by digressing, as usual, anwar kept his cool thus allowing the debate to continue smoothly. where i am concerned, sabri was not in the least convincing as he was rather evasive when answering certain questions put forward to him.

at this juncture, i wish here to express my fury at the barisan government for trying to create trouble within the pakatan rakyat by instigating PAS to join them in forming the new selangor government. fortunately, nik aziz and his party has wised up to the dirty tactics of the ruling clique, thus averting such a great disaster from taking place. by the way, why was P.M abdullah badawi discussing with PAS about malay unity. as lim kit siang rightly said, wasn't badawi supposed to talk about malaysian unity instead? on behalf of all right thinking malaysians, i wish to take home minister, syed hamid alba to task for ordering the recent road blocks for no rhyme or reason at all, although he tried to justify himself miserably but without success. doesn't he realize that a lot of inconvenience was caused to the general public not forgetting the vast amount of petrol dollars that was cruelly wasted just to try to keep anwar ibrahim in check. in my opinion, this is certainly the workings of a government that is bankrupt of ideas, and who have no compunction about ruling over its subjects with an iron grip. as written by one of the columnists going by the name of george hong over malaysiakini recently, malaysia could go the way of Romania, if the barisan government continues with its apartheid policies and does not check corruption practiced by its leaders and cronies which is at an all time high.

To find out how I've been discriminated against by the barisan government,
please visit my blog at http://alfredhomusic.blogspot.com/

yours faithfully,

alfred ho.

How they arrested Anwar

noreply@blogger.com (Alfred Ho) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:52:00 +0000

The road blocks ordered by the government was most outrageous and unnecessary. Nothing will be achieved, if we as right thinking citizens of this country are not prepared to leave our comfort
zones but just continue to bombard and criticize this oppressive regime over the Internet without revealing our true identities for I fear that our nation will be doomed.

RPK is certainly a shining beacon for us all malaysians to emulate as his bravery knows no bounds. It is my sincere hope that he will form a political party before too long as a person of his integrity is what we desire before our country is completely destroyed by this evil government.

BTW, Raybeam is Alfred Ho the blind singer.

please visit my blog at http://alfredhomusic.blogspot.com

Malaysians left wondering

noreply@blogger.com (Alfred Ho) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:15:00 +0000

I must admit that I am no big fan of the pakatan rakyat as I have been greatly disillusioned by 2 of the component parties, namely, the DAP and the PKR. Nevertheless, I still feel that it is better for the pakatan rakyat to rule the country as this is the better alternative. I would advice all readers of this blog not to watch parliament proceedings as the speakers of the house are always biased towards the opposition when they are supposed to be neutral towards all the MPs.