Sunday, December 14, 2008

Bill Clinton


Former US president Bill Clinton was in Malaysia on Dec 5, 2008.

He is said to have visited KL Bird Park. I went there to take photos the following day. Missed it! Sigh…

Clinton revealed to Malaysian journalists some of the political leaders he admired. They included South Africa’s Nelson Mandela, Palestine’s Yasser Arafat and China’s Jiang Zemin. He also praised Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir for pegging the nation’s currency to US dollar during the 1997 Asian financial crisis. However, Clinton did not make it clear that he admired Dr Mahathir. That’s was face-saving trick for the host country, I think.

When I read that Clinton admired China’s Jiang Zemin, I recalled a joke about his visit to the Middle Kingdom. I am not sure if that is a true story, though.

The joke says that Clinton complimented Jiang’s wife, saying that she was beautiful. Out of traditional Chinese humbleness, Jiang replied, “哪里,哪里?” The translator relayed the message to Clinton, “Where, where?”

Clinton was first confused. Then he answered, “Everywhere…”

9 comments:

  1. Haha! The joke may be true.

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  2. Hahahah!!! That's classic!

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  3. Great joke!!! Hahahahahahahahahahahaha...:P

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  4. the translator very "dai sei" hahaha

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  5. ahhhahaah hilarious! some times i think translator are very duhhhh

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  6. Wahaha, hilarious joke!

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  7. everywhere he says? did he get 'smack'?

    Was it polite in their culture to get compliment to wifey in China?


    I studying in Segi twinning to Southern Queensland Aus

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  8. Tsk, tsk. Bill is up to his naughtiness again.

    That said, he's actually one of my favourite US president.

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  9. Lisa
    I think in Chinese culture it is not common to compliment another person's wife.

    shingo
    Yeah, I like Clinton too. I mean Bill, not Hillary.

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