NegaraKu ~ Malaysia

DAP PJ Thanksgiving Dinner

2008-03-24T23:13:00.002+08:00

I'm not such a social person but it was really not hard to start shaking hands and just talk. The topic of conversations with complete strangers -- politics! It's easy to just talk on and on about what if DAP do not perform, what about Najib & '69, what about Hannah Yeoh being naive, about Tony Pua living up to his manisfestation....

There's a public mutual agent and a property agent at my table, and im the cimbwa agent :P When Tony Pua and Dr. Cheah came to our table to shake hands, everybody stood up and camera-freak me volunteered instantly to help this lady-stranger-sitting-beside me to take group picture for her. She don't really know who are these politicians, she came with the hope to take a picture with Lim Kit Siang!

Anyway... I took home Tony & Lau's poster.... to keep la. The people at my table were warning me not to let my boyfriend get jealous for putting it up!

There were probably about 30 tables, alot of noise, clapping of hands here and there... people are not afraid to come out and be seen. Just like Hannah said "...suddenly you have many friends."

I'm not sure why they still need to translate word by word into chinese... I thought everybody bred in PJ could understand English. There were a minority of Indians and even Malays there, I wish the party would be not so chinesish, I wouldn't mind if they spoke English+Malay instead.

Just let us grow into a one big Malaysian community, where people love & respect people.

A Concerned Malaysian

2008-03-05T23:47:00.000+08:00

~*grabbed from my mailbox*~

In 2004, Morgan Stanley issued a report that estimated that over 100 Billion US Dollars (360 Billion Ringgit) had been lost to Malay patronage in the 20 years preceding 2003. (1984 to 2003) One economist estimates that in the 36 years of its' existence, the NEP has been used to channel over ONE TRILLION RINGGIT to the Malay community through ASN, ASB and other related Govt policies.

Since 1970, the Govt has used the NEP to divert education, employment and every other conceivable benefit to the Malays. These measures have largely been successful with all the top posts in GLCs, Government, Universities, Public listed companies and practically every single area that the Govt has any control over being reserved for one race. No company may be listed with a lower than 30% Bumi equity but there is absolutely no problem if it is otherwise. Some industries have a mandatory 51% Bumi ownership and some industries are reserved exclusively for them. Petronas for example only employs Malays for it's top managerial and executive positions and awards contracts only to Malays.

ALL Govt and Municipal contracts are reserved to class "F" Bumi contractors. All the proposed projects under the 9th Malaysia Plan thus far are reserved for 100% Bumi owned companies. Even open tender projects are awarded to Malays even if their prices are higher with blatantly inferior materials. Micro business loans, business licenses, discounts on property purchases, new Govt employment, EVEN LICENSES FOR HAWKER STALLS are reserved for one race. The list goes on and on but the summary is that the Malays now believes undoubtedly that he is racially privileged and it is their right ASLI's figures of 45% are opposed to the Govt's 18.9% because, firstly, equity value is calculated at par value. For example, if you hold 1,000 Maxis shares of RM 5/- market value each, the Govt
says that it is only worth RM 250.00 as these shares have a par value of 25 cents each. If you owned a company with a paid up value of RM 2/- but conducted business worth millions of Ringgit worth of transactions, the Govt values that company at RM 2/-.

The chief setbacks of the abuses of the NEP are rampant corruption and more cronyism, worsening racial polarization, unrelenting brain drains, warped educational system, thwarted economic competitiveness, ineffectual bureaucracy, retarded economic growth and perverted social values. Such anachronistic and regressive policy has no place in the present globalizing world, and for that matter, in any civilized society.

PM Badawi recently intensified the imprint of the perverted NEP philosophy by prohibiting inter-religious and inter-racial discourse which would otherwise have contributed to greater understanding and
harmony among the races. Consider the hegemony this has created.

The Jasin MP's saga of cheating millions from Customs over timber imports went unpunished. APs are reserved for Bumis only and despite the millions that each of them make year after year, a senator's son has the audacity to clone the APs several times and the whole thing gets swept under the carpet. A Port Klang councilor buys a 43,000 sq ft plot of land set aside for low cost housing valued at 1.8 million Ringgit for 180k and builds a palace without any approval. He gets fined RM 5,000 and still has 30 days from today to submit his building plans. Yesterday, despite all the bad press this issue got, the Selangor state Govt confirms his position and that of his son and daughter in law as councilors. The message is clear. Power has shifted from the people to the executive.

The whole issue of Bumi chauvinism started at last year's UMNO assembly when the very very vocal UMNO Youth leaders stated in short that "It's our turn to be rich." This greed is not going to end. We as a nation of loyal citizens have to put a dent into this rubbish for the sake of our children.

We don't need a change in Govt.
We need a stronger Opposition.
We need to send a message to the powers that be that we will not accept second class status for our children.

Colin Nathan
(A Concerned Malaysian)

Vote for Rakyat!

2008-03-05T23:26:00.001+08:00

I think this banner is reallllly cool! :) Woohoooo Vote for Barisan Rakyat!

Philosophy Politics Economics: V Ganabathirau

2007-12-15T22:49:00.000+08:00

Philosophy Politics Economics: V Ganabathirau

"My eyes were moist as I wrote this post" ~ Tony Pua

I just wanted to say my eyes were moist as I read this post.

Here's a really cool comment grabbed from Tony Pua's blog by anon --

We must be united together to vote BN out. It will be just waste of time to write long paragraphs to attack back one stupid idoit who dont use his brain to analyze.

We will loose him anyway. But try to put the words to strongly send the message to all our friends whether bumi or non-bumi, we need a change in the present government and make and decide a rapid change to deny 2/3 majority in the highest chamber that’s the Parliament.

Our rights as a citizen is drawn down in our federal constitution. So in order to get back the rights we need more opposition MPs in the Parliament. So work on this element and excel deeper to inform all our friends that we vote for the opposition if you want to gain back all your rights and freedom.

I wish to send regrets and sympathy to the 5 great hero’s who have been detained under the most draconian law ISA. No 5 for the Hindus means great victory. All of us are going to see how well the No 5 is going to work from yesterday for our great intellectual persons.

The ballot is in our hands at the coming GE to decide the next government. So from the various incidents which happened to our fellow Malaysians by now everyones will agree that we need major and rapid change.

So cast your vote for the opposition parties (DAP,PRK,PAS) and give them the opportunity after 50 years to deny the 2/3 majority in the Parliament.

Freedom, Where Art Thou?

2007-12-14T01:03:00.000+08:00

Why my country so lidat! As if you've not already heard about it, its all over the blogsphere. They sent all 5 of them to ISA. The prophecy is said that for the Malays to unite, they just have to push it further for the non-Malays to react, and then as they're pushed until they're on the brink of losing patience... they just have to raise the keris in the air. As simple as that...

It is not that opposition supporters are not peace-loving. I sincerely plead the ignorant public to never think, ever with any part of their brain, that not voting for you-know-what is going to cause more problem. If trouble do arise... it is only temporary. It will not hurt you in the long run.

Think about it... no fight, no winner, no competition, no fun, no exchange of opinions, no need for understanding, no need for thought, no say, no feedback, no adventure, no chance for change. Is change such a scary thing to people?

I read this is my mailbox & found it so meaningful. Wish it could inspire everyone ~*~

Dare to do things worthy of imprisonment if you mean to be of consequence. ~Juvenal

Laws control the lesser man. Right conduct controls the greater one. ~Chinese Proverb

Never do anything against conscience even if the state demands it. ~Albert Einstein

When leaders act contrary to conscience, we must act contrary to leaders. ~Veterans Fast for Life

It is dangerous to be right in matters on which the established authorities are wrong. ~Voltaire

If... the machine of government... is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law. ~Henry David Thoreau, On the Duty of Civil Disobediance, 1849

You're not supposed to be so blind with patriotism that you can't face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who says it. ~Malcolm X

Human history begins with man's act of disobedience which is at the very same time the beginning of his freedom and development of his reason. ~Erich Fromm, Psychoanalysis and Religion

Each man must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong, which course is patriotic and which isn't. You cannot shirk this and be a man. To decide against your conviction is to be an unqualified and excusable traitor, both to yourself and to your country, let men label you as they may. ~Mark Twain

Integrity has no need of rules. ~Albert Camus

If we desire respect for the law, we must first make the law respectable. ~Louis D. Brandeis

Laws are only words written on paper, words that change on society's whim and are interpreted differently daily by politicians, lawyers, judges, and policemen. Anyone who believes that all laws should always be obeyed would have made a fine slave catcher. Anyone who believes that all laws are applied equally, despite race, religion, or economic status, is a fool. ~John J. Miller, And Hope to Die

Disobedience, the rarest and most courageous of the virtues, is seldom distinguished from neglect, the laziest and commonest of the vices. ~George Bernard Shaw, Maxims for Revolutionists

Every actual state is corrupt. Good men must not obey laws too well. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was "legal" and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was "illegal." ~Martin Luther King, Jr., "Letter from Birmingham Jail," Why We Can't Wait, 1963

We cannot, by total reliance on law, escape the duty to judge right and wrong.... There are good laws and there are occasionally bad laws, and it conforms to the highest traditions of a free society to offer resistance to bad laws, and to disobey them. ~Alexander Bickel

It is necessary to distinguish between the virtue and the vice of obedience. ~Lemuel K. Washburn, Is The Bible Worth Reading And Other Essays, 1911

I think that we should be men first, and subjects afterward. It is not so desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right. ~Henry David Thoreau, Civil Disobedience, 1849

As long as the world shall last there will be wrongs, and if no man objected and no man rebelled, those wrongs would last forever. ~Clarence Darrow

It is not what a lawyer tells me I may do; but what humanity, reason, and justice tell me I ought to do. ~Edmund Burke, Second Speech on Conciliation, 1775

I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do. ~Robert A. Heinlein, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress

Ordinarily, a person leaving a courtroom with a conviction behind him would wear a somber face. But I left with a smile. I knew that I was a convicted criminal, but I was proud of my crime. ~Martin Luther King, Jr., March 22, 1956

I joined the DAP Fund Raising dinner!

2007-11-09T01:49:00.000+08:00

Guess what! It's the first time I went for a DAP dinner it was a fund raising event, with the theme "Petaling Jaya -- leading Malaysia forward". And I didn't bother to understand the theme, but there's a reason behind why the organisers themed it in such a way...

At this dinner I had the chance to listen to Fong Po Kuan, Tony Pua, Lau Weng San, Dr. Cheah and to Lim Guan Eng. I can understand Tony Pua's speech better and I felt Fong Po Kuan's fiery passion in her speech ~ very charismatic. No comment on Lau and Dr. Cheah... but Lim Guan Eng spoke like a pro "politician". I mean I don't get connected to his way of insulting people and talk so proudly and loudly. Hello? Talking to a humble pleasant crowd of Petaling Jaya citizens?! I dunno, I just didn't feel inspired by his talk although he could speak so effortlessly like he's done this propoganda talk many times!

Tony Pua explained that it is in PJ that the people have the highest per capita income, more educated and reads more... so if people truly want change for the nation, if the change can start with people from Petaling Jaya, then it make more sense for the whole country to follow suit with PJ leading the way.

All in all... hope to see a strong fight for Petaling Jaya, it's just not fun to have parliamentary representatives for a huge Petaling Jaya population who don't voice out much in the parliament. Goodluck for a change in Malaysia!

Sayang Anak Bangsa Malaysia!

2007-10-27T01:03:00.000+08:00

Wow.. found this cool logo! Ahh.. its like my dream for Malaysia... for everybody to be almost the same... kita semua Anak Bangsa Malaysia!

Tunku...the musical

2007-09-19T10:15:00.000+08:00

I just have to find the time to pen this down, before the memory slips away. The memory of having the one opportunity to catch Tunku -- The Musical, for free courtesy of YTLcommunity. I'd actually wished to go get the tickets to watch it with sayang, but he said 'save money' so we didn't buy the tickets. Later, free tickets were given out by YTLcommunity, and sayang quickly register before the shows went full house.

I'm so grateful for this chance to be part of this oh-my-im-so-overwhelmed-by musical production directed by Joe Hasham, husband of Dato' Faridah Merican. I can't even tell what race they both belong to, but that's the case of the musical story -- the dream of all Malaysians being blind, colour-blind!

I first shed tears listening to the most impeccable light-hearted original score "Laksa", when all the performers dressed in respective cultural costume, praising their own laksa dish as the best. I was entralled and dumbfounded. The Malay laksa stall owner claimed that laksa is a Malay dish (dancing & singing to the Malay tune) and then the Chinese lady sung in Hokkien claiming the laksa is a Chinese dish. I just felt the instantaneous euphoria in my heart... I can't explain how I could cry. I love asam laksa. Wether its nyonya laksa, penang laksa, PJ laksa or Taiping laksa. When I worked alongside the government Malay staffs, I learnt about the difference btwn Kelantan laksa and johor laksa. There are just so many types of laksa, and even my grandma's laksa is different from my grandaunt's laksa. And I loved all of them. It never even occured to me, wether Laksa is a Malay or chinese dish. The music of Laksa together with the dance, melody and lyrics, captivated the essense of a true blue Malaysian culture -- beauty in diversity.

I really felt that the song had for a moment, binded all Malaysians into one, the Malaysian Malaysia. Reminiscence of my kolej uni days during the 1998 World Cup fever, I was sitting alongside a bunch of Malay girls, sharing some snacks watching football on tv in the common living room in the hostel.

The lyrically astouding score ensuite, brought tears to me eyes when Fauzia & Malik, the ahmoi & Malay dude embracing & passionately singing to each other -- Sayang.... Sayang....Sayang.... *ok I don't remember what were the words that came out after "sayang... sayang...". My sayang was glancing back at me and there.. *tissue please*

At the end of the show, of course there's a long-winded touching story behind it, this sayang went over to shake hand with Joe Hasham and Faridah Merican. Well, I'm not quite a PR person, its for me to know, that the musical striked a cord in my heart, and my eyes were still red when is the show is over. I guess when the performers saw me tearing up, they'd know how much I appreciated the show. I was seated only 5 rows away from the stage with my swollen eyes and wetty nose.

I appreciated so many aspect of the musical from the original score, to the talented vocals, to the passion in acting, to the fear and stir of audience emotions, to the detailed production... I would pay a hundred more ringgit to watch it again, bringing along as many friends and family as I could. The most important point to note about the musical, is the fact of history that was never covered in our school book, that was portrayed in the musical. I wonder why they'd not censored or disallow or caused a controversy with the brave portrayal of may13 1969 event.

Atleast I felt relieved to know my gal-friend who never bothered about politics, finally came to know know what actually happened in the may13 riot from this musical play. Politics had ruined the beautiful culturally-rich Malaysian Malaysia, but arts (and also football) could inspire us to dream for a beautiful vision and bring out the spark of patriotism within our heart.

I salute the entire director & producer, cast & crew, heart & soul that made Tunku the musical, so heart touching and pride brimming. Wonder what politicians would comment about this admirable ensemble....

Have You Registered As Voter Yet?

2007-09-01T17:16:00.000+08:00

When I received an email containing all these posters from NakTak I thought cool, I should forward it or atleast publish it. Not all of the posters are as cool, but I could relate easily with these 2 becauase I'm a 2nd class Malaysian and I'm a girl. Just ponder deeper into the politics being played in this country, it's just not easy to comprehend how there's any good in the powers that be... you decide!

Political Evengelism

2007-05-18T18:26:00.000+08:00

B:
they "apologized" but not really... if they are ever re-elected, I dunno what to say!
A:
say that these countries are full with i-dont-care-about-politic-citizen who never read what's happening
A:
nobody really appreciate history in school, everyone just swallow and vomit out, 95% of public is ignorant
B:
i'm thinking... how to be a political evangelist like those christian evalngelist... have FAQ to rebut everthing "official" spit out by govt...
A:
a friend asked "what makes u support opposition, and what u not satisfied abt BN?" - how wud u answer?
B:
because of the hp6 individuals in BN
B:
#1 = abdullah badawi, sleeping PM who is clueless headless chicken unable to lead his cabinet and letting his DPM make all the decisions and he fly around in his private jet and private yacht and eating nasi kandar in perth
A:
so ur like gandhi
B:
#2 = najib razak, racist DPM who threaten to bathe keris in chinese blood and defending sexist MP's
B:
#3 = samy vellu, arrogant and rude minister and lifetime dictator of MIC, making mistakes and blaming everyone but himself for the mistake, rude in answering questions posed by reporters and public, and arrogant in all his press release and conferences
B:
#4 = .... need i count more?!
A:
#A = why our friend doesnt know these facts at all
A:
#A1 = why so many other ppl also dunno about it
A:
#A2 = leading me to think... maybe only intellectual can relate to opposition, cos they really go digest & think
B:
that's why i think there should be a evangelist movement!
B:
...u mean malaysians are majority not intellectual!?
A:
bingo , bell shape graph
A:
majority of people = average
B:
imagine if we have a "good question good answer" book but for explaining this type of things...
A:
democracy is useful tool to be exploited becos of majority's mediocre mentality who doesnt want what they shud deserve
A:
ppl in power can exploit democracy
B:
actually our election ssystem is flaw, we don't have proportaional representation... 60% popular votes = 90% seats
A:
..leading me to think.. maybe im abit too socialist minded
B:
and our democracy is not real democracy...we can't choose who to contest in election... party decides the candidate...
B:
u are quite left wing i wd say
B:
and democarcy is not power of majority...it's rights of minority
B:
haih... no point to discuss with u and me.... need to get it out to more ppl!
A:
i just do it... eg. tell all my relatives / friends who not to vote in election
A:
write FAQ -- u good at writing hor
B:
tony pua might have a chance to win
A:
he gotta show face more...
A:
alot of aunties in market who recognise the sweet charming chew mei fun
A:
how do u sell equality / fairness to aunties who dont read
B:
indeed... how? how? that's the question been bugging me
A:
u got answer.. can tell tony pua.. i think the DAP ppl oso cracking the head
A:
i remember mchang saying.. with BN's powerful mechinery.. very hard to win them
A:
the EC is totally not fair
B:
ur right in saying ppl are still not very intellectual
B:
still thinking mundane things
A:
if just talk abt 'who got most flag, who get my vote' -- lose
A:
talk 'who more lenglui/lengchai' - maybe now got chance
A:
talk 'who more popular & helpful (by appearance in media)' - lose
A:
talk 'who got more $ to buy ur vote' - lose
B:
I'm wondering...since internet is not ban
B:
can we print articles from blogs and distribute? is that illegal?
A:
i just talk to my family alone - enuff to kill u liow
A:
my grandma vote BN
A:
my businessman uncle vote BN
A:
why grandma vote BN in hokkien she replied "ee hor wa chap kor gin ma"
B:
seriously!
B:
so blatant!
A:
they just know got ppl give them 10 bucks and tell them who to vote
A:
its true.. its happening
A:
we lose to the machinery hands down..
A:
BN volunteer get paid rm50
A:
easy money
A:
who dun wan rm50 sit down help for 4 hours
A:
i get paid nil.. for volunteer DAP for 12 hours
A:
soooooooooooo pathetic
B:
for RM10 sell out 5 years
A:
somemore 2 BN volunteers sitting beside me
A:
ppl think 'we are peaceful and stable'
A:
why rock the boat
A:
got one guy, almost got me strangle him, when he said 'this country belongs to them... we shudnt cause stir in the country'
A:
u want me to whack him or box him better
A:
there's too many stupid ppl in the country
B:
stupid because of education system...
A:
EXACTLY
A:
if i can change one thing
B:
how to evangelize.... that should be the strategy...
A:
i want to change the stupid education system
A:
i hated to hafal stuff in school and uni
A:
stupid gov uni suck
A:
every stupid idiot hafal all the entire calculus and vomit out
A:
nobody know how to derive it
A:
the best girl in class is not the one who can think
A:
but the one who can hafal and dictate everything out in exam
B:
... how to evangelize?
A:
take a gun point at urself.. stand infront of the public and speak out loudddd and mean in what u say
A:
"YOU MUST CHANGE!!!"
A:
"I WILL DIE FOR YOU!!!"
A:
and so jesus got cruxified, and he got all the ppl following him many years later
A:
because he was sincere and really trying to help save ppl, like Gandhi.
B:
imagine if mahathir or abdullah actually did that...by sacrificing themselves for a better future
A:
but all the good ppl will die
A:
this planet is ruled by axis of evil
A:
buddha say all human born with 3 evil roots
A:
big nations exploit poor nation
A:
and poor become poorer, rich become richer
B:
i will seriously think about this.. how to evangelize... it can be as simple as providing free internet access via strategically located cafes in "less educated" parts of the country and just playing all the youtube videos
A:
cos all rich countries = democracy
A:
all human = wants to be rich
B:
or adopting MLM model
B:
but how to convince the unconvinced..that should be the issue...
A:
talk to tony pua la
B:
tony pua... busy "pai hua" but he's very intellectual
B:
he will do well if he tunjuk muka more
B:
tunjuk muka in PJ utara and not follow LKS/LGE around
A:
in the markets.. cos market aunties VERY kaypoh
A:
word of mouth - best publicity tool, cheapest and easier / effective tool.
A:
one aunty say "waa chew mei fun was in the market say hi to me wooo" and she start bragging
B:
i wonder if all those MSM editors have balls, they will risk losing their publishing license but run a full issue just expsoing all the govt scandalsz.... one day of fury that will explode into a nationwide frenzy
A:
then may13 repeat lor
A:
then isa come into action
A:
LKS, karpal, anwar all ISA before
A:
personally i think DAP shud recruit more malays, speak more malay, work with KPR
B:
i dun think may13 will repeat
A:
split the malay votes
A:
KPR to recruit more indians
B:
how to recruit if they are not interested... PKR has no intention of sharing power..neither DAP.. netiehr PAS
B:
that's a problem too but beyond our control
A:
that's my answer to ur evangelism
B:
so..by educating public to join oposition..that's the answer?
A:
talk to these big guns in power in dap / kpr.. and find out who is their advisor, and ask them "WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?"
B:
DAP=LKS, PKR=AI
A:
by 'showing' public how diff race of ppl can work together and sincere in bring positive change
B:
ask them to form a true barisan and start focusing on real issues, real policies, real debates
B:
instead of throwing money and insults
A:
i dunno how ppl can be educated, due to the flawed education system, where ppl cannot think
B:
then how?! back to square!
B:
ppl still stupid
A:
visual & illustration
A:
pictures of LKS smiling standing with AI
pictures of LGE helping malay girl splattered all over
inspire ppl to think..
instigate ppl to see things differently & then start to think
B:
seriously opposition wrong strategy during ijok.. too personal attacks already
never talk about how to counter BN's development promise
ok...what do we write to LKS and AI ?
A:
sometimes i wonder who are the DAP strategist... why they dun have any concept / strategy?
B:
strategy = none
only know how to firefight
A:
so ur 1st step.. go and join dap and become advisor
A:
give letter to the politics inside the party
and 'teach' them some strategy
B:
wah... multimillionarie former CEO tony pua only get to become LGE's assitant ... u ask me makan gaji to become advisor hahaha
A:
since they dunno how to think
got politics inside poltical party
B:
that's the thing la... what's the strategy, and how to communicate it to the public... so that they can see the truth
B:
internal power play sure got. so another factor beyond control
A:
if u wanna write using internet
write what can DAP do for u in the end
DAP must wake up and coorpoerate with KPR
B:
i believe it's kind of chicken and egg... opposition is supressed media exposure and perception and monetary support
A:
atleast there's something to write on -- 'what can DAP + KPR partnership do for u'
B:
because of that they difficult to get their policies straight and attract new members
because of that they are weak and unable to show a good perception
and because of that they get lousy media coverage
A:
fall back into the mind of LKS and AI.. what do they really want? do they have a vision for the country?
B:
LKS wants chinese to win
AI wants to be prime minister
A:
die.
can i form a new party?
A:
i get all the sangkancil ppl be member
B:
i think can...
A:
appoint raja petra kamarudin to be president
B:
but depoends if the registrar allows ur society to be registered
A:
mgg pillai (but he died) to be secretary
B:
ask RPK to be president ah? he lagi controversial but he got big following la...advantage
A:
he got chinese wife!
and he's malay
B:
ya but his criticism all personal attack
A:
and he dun like neither dap nor kpr nor pas nor bn
atleast i think RPK got same vision like me.
B:
unless the new party that u form can have substance in the policies and issues
and civilized, not resort to firefighting all the shit nonsense from BN
then this new party has a good chance!
A:
sure got mix of malay indian chinese
all love malaysian food
all love malaysia
B:
that will be nice
B:
but the party mesti ada substance
not a mirror of BN or PKR or DAP
must have workable shadow cabinet
must have smart ppl
A:
sure la. else it wudnt be a new party
B:
must be civilized and not lose temper
and not kena trap by BN
B:
actually it will be nice if PAS come in and start debunking all the BN practices as unislamic...
A:
PAS sure dun get coverage
B:
sigh...
B:
how... i seriously feel strongly about this...
B:
how how...
time to go liao
B:
see u

The Malaysian Breakfast

2006-06-16T00:10:00.000+08:00

Imagine you're sitting at a roadside stall having one of the finesh freshly tossed Roti Telur with Milo, and your mom having her nasi-lemak with cham-tarik. Surrounding you, there's a table with 3-old-Chinese-ladies talking and laughing away after morning exercise, there's a few more tables with Malay dudes indulging in their teh-tarik & puffing away before heading to work... the Malay-girl waitress is taking order, the older Indian man is making the drinks, the other talkative Indian man was explaining how sugar price has not affected the quality of his Roti that he's made.

Could you see this scene in anywhere else? It's right here at my door step.

The Malaysian Dinner

2006-06-15T23:46:00.000+08:00

Imagine you've bungkus the most delicious dried-chilli-chicken dish that you can find in Brickfield's Indian stall, then dine at home with hot Chinese-style ABC soup mixing with the rice, with a sidedish of Malay-style kangkung belachan vege.

Ahhh... heavenly!

How to define Malaysia?

2005-10-29T23:11:00.000+08:00

It is a multiracial country? Is it a land with many wonders and natural resources? Actually I dont know what is the answer. Somebody just prosed this question to me, and according to him "Malaysia is a multicultural country" is a wrong answer. Like there is something more to define about Malaysia.

But who has the right / correct answer? We see Malaysia as a brand "Truly Asia" in the tourism industry, does that applies to politics, history and socio-economy?

I am starting to get confuse myself, as to what Malaysia's vision is. What does Malaysian want to grow up to be? To be success in what aspect?

Malaysia do have a weird history. It is going to be so hard, if ever possible, for all Malaysians evolve into a 'Bangsa Malaysia', like it is only one race, with one synonymous culture or identity, would that mean losing our respective diverse plural cultures?

Yet, my unprocessed thought just visualize a 'dream' that Malaysia would be far better off in terms of social mentality, intellectual-inspired education system and narrowing the socio-economy gap of all people. Seems more like utopism. If only things are more simple, or if only I have more desire to gain more knowledge through reading.

Still wondering for answer.

Dont complain if you didn't vote

2005-09-29T14:09:00.000+08:00

What it is with some people. Let me calm down before I start shooting and hurting people. I just blasted a friend whose simple mind agigated me. He asked why dont I post up opposition articles in the mainstream media, to advocate the people and to voice out people's concern to the government? Then I ask do you think these government controlled media will air the views of opposition?! *sigh.. I didn't really manage to talk sense into him, when he can tell me "if DAP or u dun voice out in the proper channel, everyone thinks that nothing is wrong to our society".

Why are there so many 'naive' people in my country?!?! Dont they have any sense of logic... as to WHY the country is behaving the way it is behaving? What wrong with these people!

The grandmother of all jokes is... some people would vote for BN, YET have the cheek the complain about the government. Isn't that what you ASK for? What you deserve? YOU, the people VOTED for it. Why complain?!

Exactly... this country has a majority of naive citizens who just watch TV and read the main newspaper daily, end of story. What do they really know?! Should I just shut up and mind my own business, and maintain friendships with people and not hurting people gradually.

*Breathhh....

A gift of the holy "Quran"

2005-05-01T15:21:00.000+08:00

... speechless ... that's how I felt. I felt the sincerity KS was trying to shower me with. She's proud of her religion, she is a dutiful follower of Islam. On the last day of 2 year stint within the government department, I've grown to make friends with tudong-wearing Malays and seeing their way of life.

I accepted the 'special' token from Kak Sarah, and hopefully I'll keep it nicely. She'd specifically reminded to treasure the book with utmost respect. Do not simply place it anywhere. I guess this the same way I'd treat the Bible or the Buddhist books.

"Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." This saying I totally agree.

Utimately, as I'm not an avid reader, I know I wouldn't finish reading the Quran. Not in this buzzing life period. Maybe when I've developed 'powerful concentration technique', then I could patiently read through books, which to me is just like interpretation of an author's really long note. Yes, Quran or Bible, they're written by people, human beings.

Anyway, I'll give my thoughts about God in the future. For now, between Islam and Christianity, the basics are the same. If I have to had to choose, I'd probably relate to Islam more than Christianity. More so because of my creeps of my personal encounters with Christian people, where as I've never really been approached so aggressively by a Muslim to try to 'safe' me.

The world's interpretation of Islam is quite unlike how a sincere moderate Muslim would practise her religion. And I guess I have a problem with the higher class or better off people by and large, and in any football matches I'd probably support the underdog. That's just me.

I just felt that it's a wonderful experience knowing the people that I've been wanting to get to know all these while, through my 1st job. As I didn't have much chance in Uni days to mix with them. I'm refering to the typical Malays. Although there were some Malays back in school, but it was an urban school where everyone spoke English with each other, and the Chinese girls wore baru kurung and the Malay chicks do not wear the tudong.

I've never regretted my experience working in this mostly-Malays culture and I'm glad that I could fit in comfortably, and even improve on my verbal communication in Malay! (Ahem, I hardly spoken Malay in school you see).

Now if only I could make out what are the various Malay slangs: the Johor slang, the Kelantan slang or the 'pas-tu' Penang anak mimi slang.

The Politics of Race

2005-04-25T21:58:00.000+08:00

Below is the excerpt of (kononnya, more like copy & paste :P) this piece of antogonising writing that I can totally agree with. Let's hope you can relate to what's in my mind through the years. Read it with an open heart.

~~**~~**~~
As a Malaysian, there is nothing more I detest than the politics of race. I am not a member of any political party in Malaysia because each seeks in one way or the other to represent the interests of its communal constituency: for UMNO and PAS, the Malay Muslim community; for the MCA, Gerakan and the DAP the Chinese community; for the MIC, PPP and other smaller parties the Indian community. Over in Sabah and Sarawak, the politics of communal politics is also practiced in full earnest.

Ever since the late 1940s and the 1950s when UMNO, the MCA and the MIC were first formed, they found convincing support from the various races and together they achieved electoral victories that led to independence and government under the Alliance government. It seemed the concept worked, until 1959, when UMNO in rejecting the new leadership of the MCA choose to nominate the old leadership to Parliamentary seats in the general election and began a pattern of dominating the MCA and the MIC. The lie in the A-lie-ance coalition of the 60s was the impression of an equality of partnership in its origins and foundation when in reality, the grouping was completely and totally dominated by UMNO.

This domination of the Alliance by UMNO resulted in the non-Malay communities seeking protection under other parties. Although new non-communal parties were formed, they took up representation of interests of the non-Malay communities who saw the MCA and the MIC as being ineffective. This led to the polarisation of Malaysian politics which resulted in the electoral gains for the non-Malay oriented parties and losses for the UMNO-dominated Alliance in 1969. Malay political supremacy threatened; the racial riots were sparked.

The National Front soon formed thereafter included the victorious opposition parties of the Gerakan, the PPP and the PMIP, now known as PAS. It seemed initially liked an across-the-board type of coalition representing all the races in the country with consensus as its philosophy and approach in response to the racial polarisation of the late 60s. The new component parties soon found out that by joining the National Front they were weakened under the domination of UMNO; PAS was forced to leave in 1977; PPP disappeared overnight as a major political force and the wings of the Gerakan were clipped, domesticating it completely. Each party that joined the National Front saw its constituency eroded as in the 1970s and in the 1980s, the interests of UMNO; the dominant party in the coalition was advanced first by the implementation of the NEP and then the NDP in the 1990s. Any party that tried to challenge it found that its position was untenable and like the PBS, had to leave and remain in the opposition.

The longer the National Front remained in power, the greater UMNO had a hold over its component parties; dispensing its token Ministerial positions, coveted seats on various statutory Boards and other vestiges of its power. In the later part of the 80s and in the 90s, the members and associates of the minor parties in the National Front were accorded preferred treatment in the allocation of contracts and sub-contracts from, projects and partnerships with the members and associates of the dominant party UMNO. ...

In the meantime, picking up the discontented and disaffected in Malaysian politics were the other opposition parties; PAS (and Semangat 46 for a time) for the Malay Muslim; DAP for the non-Malay and PBS for the Kadazan voters. So what we have in our country is the compartmentalisation of race in politics and in political representation. A leader in UMNO earns his stripes by championing Malay dominance; he graduates to national leadership and practices Malay leadership of the political dwarfs within the National Front for UMNO. When the economy is favourable (the cake is growing); he can afford to be a generous Malaysian leader and distributes his favours to all and sundry. The opposition parties loses ground because the component parties representing the non-Malays in the National Front for UMNO are seen to be doing their work.

When the economy is unfavourable (the cake is shrinking) he has to retreat to his position of Malay dominance and take care of the Malays first as is what is happening now. The opposition parties gain ground because the component parties representing the non-Malays are not performing. During this time UMNO uses whatever resources it has to keep its members and keep PAS at bay.

So the pendulum swings back and forth, back and forth within the confines of the zero-sum game of communally compartmentalised politics. More for you means less for me. Less for you means more for me. But always, because of its incumbency, UMNO wins; its gerry- mandered constituencies ensure that it has the most votes in the most (usually rural) constituencies. In borderline cases, it has the advantages of the Election Commission registration process and postal votes of police and military personnel to make the difference. This is usually enough to win a simple majority; by the way, most of the MCA and MIC seats are heavily populated by Malay voters; so it is really UMNO delivering the victories in those seats and not the MCA or the MIC. To deliver a two-thirds majority so that it can freely amend the constitution and do all other things to further its objectives, National Front for UMNO ensures that the economy is booming when it calls an election. ...

The sense of euphoria will be fueled by the national propaganda machine made up of the all-important Ministry of Information, the "independent" local media and an advertising campaign orchestrated by a particular ad man. It is crystal clear that the general elections in Malaysia are stacked heavily in favour of the incumbent National Front for UMNO. With the majority of seats in UMNO hands and in effect in Malay hands, the non-Malays play musical chairs with their representatives in Parliament; alternating between the non-Malay parties in the National Front for UMNO and the opposition parties. ...

As a Malaysian, there is nothing more I detest than the politics of race. As a non-Malay I am forced to vote for the Opposition non-Malay parties which have no chance of coming to power because the arithmetic is not on their side. More important, they are perceived to be communal by the Malays and if I support them, I am considered anti-Malay by the Malays.There is no way I could appeal to the Malays to join my cause.

As a Malay, I am forced to vote for either the incumbent party in power represented by the National Front for UMNO or the Opposition Malay parties which have no chance of coming to power because the arithmetic is also not on their side. More important, PAS and others like it is perceived to be communal by the non-Malays and if I support them, I am considered anti-non-Malay by the non-Malays. There is no way I could appeal to the non-Malays to join my cause.

As a Malaysian, I am concerned about why I am forced into this Hobson's choice of choosing the National Front for UMNO as a Government either way I vote. As a Malaysian, I am concerned about why I am forced to be either a Malay or a non-Malay when I vote; supporting the party of one race, means opposition for the party of the other race. As a Malaysian. I am concerned why our country is still in the tight grip of the racial politics, more than fifty years after it first surfaced.

...fighting for the right of individuals is currently still caught within the contradictory values of Malaysian communally compartmentalised politics which has not yet made the transition into the intellectual phase which is pre-dominated by the values of individual rights and freedoms. This is a tragedy, because the reform movement may die stillborn. Unless Malaysians themselves are ready and begin to discard the politics of race and adopt the politics of ideas.

As a Malaysian, I think that the National Front for UMNO has stayed too long and led by leaders that has become too self-serving, too ready to argue that its "ends" justify its unwholesome and unacceptable means. Yet it stays in power because we are all trapped within its politics of race. ...

Yet as a Malaysian I do not think that UMNO will so readily give up its hold on the Malay constituency and by extension its hold on power on its National Front and on the country. The last time any UMNO leader tried that was Dato Onn Jaafar in 1949, but he was branded as a "traitor to the Malays and the country" for advocating that UMNO admit non-Malays into the party first as associate members and then suggesting in 1950 that UMNO be renamed the United Malayan National Organisation. Given the ignominy that Dato Onn suffered as a consequence in spite of his Ghandian vision, no UMNO President in the forseeable future will dare propose that UMNO be renamed the United Malaysian National Organisation.

~~**~~**~~

Now did u understand that?!

Thoughts that came about during Cheng Meng

2005-04-11T00:49:00.000+08:00

What will happen tomorrow (to the Chinese culture), if the children of today are not educated nor brought up to appreciate the custom?

Then we ask - how important is upholding the tradition & custom for the family, community and the country?

To my non-Chinese educated uncle who is proud to be a Chinese, but has converted to Christianity, thought that it is not important to follow the old ways. Infact, to him, the reason for the practise of 'leaving behind bits of food' at the graveyard is because Chinese is Kiasu! They want to show that they've come and visited the ancestor's grave first.

What will happen one day, if all Chinese got converted to Christianity, and they'll think it's irrelevent to uphold any of the tradition, i.e. holding the joss stick, lighting of red candles, placing cups of tea etc. Can you imagine that happening in Malaysia?

Why am I only referring to born-again Christians? What about like minded people me! I do not agree with the idea of paper burning, its illogical, completely meaningless and is utter polluting the air.

Yet when I try to revamp our Cheng Meng style, my parents do not agree. They are more 'traditional' than 'religious' in this aspect. If we were to follow the teachings of Buddhism, we do not have to follow any rituals. But my parents are so righteous (I'm not sure if that's the right word) that they are just trying to uphold what my grandmother had always been doing in the past until she's gone.

Back to my uncle, how can he say "I feel more Chinese if I'm in Singapore" like he's deprived of his chance to be a Chinese here in Malaysia? What makes him a Chinese, (aside from his name and his roots) when he is willing to discontinue the Chinese tradition, and he couldn't speak nor write in Chinese?

How many Chinese family here still maintain a Chinese alter in their house? Who else is making offerings to the sky-god, earth-god and mother of all gods? The younger generation will never really bother why is new moon and full moon so significant. Chinese New Year is all about angpow and money. Is there other Chinese family that will take the trouble to clean up the altar in the most respectful way?

It's so 'convenient' to just convert to modernisation and clap your hand to wash away your responsibility of 'traditions' that one must follow. No need to remember when is the death anniversary, no need to remember when to clean the altar.

If nobody remembers any 'link' of our family & culture, what will the future generation be?! Westernized? Modernised? Globalised? Uncivilised?

Already, it was baffling when I once asked my little cousin "What is your race?", you know what she replied? "I'm English!".

I ask her why is she English, because she said she's speaking English! Hmm.. what have you gotta expect from a 4 year old kid? If the whole world population and every nation started to pick up English from young, then everyone would be English?

What's harder to perceive is how most non-native-mainland-China Chinese (like Malaysians themselves) would feel disgusted with the attitude of the people of China?! My parents who's travelled to China for holidays would complain about how rude the Chinese people are, and how snobbish the Chinese girls behaved. One Malaysian-Chinese friend who's studied in UK, alongside mainland-Chinese flatmates felt embarassed that the Chinese were so dirty! (i.e. rarely bath)

What is the term for people like me?! What am I wishing for, for the future of the Chinese in Malaysia? Why do I even care if I was ever a Chinese or not? But then I am still proud to be a Chinese, though I'm more patriotic towards my country Malaysia.

Just like I'd boldly tell everyone, I'm first a Malaysian, second a Chinese, third a Buddhist. Maybe all I have to do is just accept the differences in other people, and hope for others to accept me for just me. That's probably it!

Friday long lunch break

2005-04-08T15:33:00.000+08:00

The interesting part about being in a multiracial work place is how I can gradually get to know about people from the other race. But I'm not suppose to let anyone know why F didn't went for his Friday prayer. His excuse was - no teman. Doh.. so anyway, here's what I've discovered during our long Friday lunch. The conversation goes something like this: -

me : so how many siblings you have?
F : I have one sister and one brother.
me : they're older than you right?!
.. blah blah..
F : My brother is 34 years old and not married.
me : Why not?! Isn't that too old to remain single for a Malay?
F : Well.. actually he almost got married. Remember the last election? was it 1998 or 1999?
me : 1999.
F : Yeah.. that time, got election, you know lah.. my brother and my family all Umno, but the girl is Pas!
me : So?
F : So different lah... didn't marry.

~~~

and I rolled my eyes, wondering to myself... wah so if I wanna find a man to marry must find somebody of the same political ideology?!

~~~

Lunch ended so late, because the akah who prepared my food took soooooooo long. Sigh.

How much would you give to a street guitarist?

2005-03-25T17:57:00.000+08:00

Lately I came across with many street guitar player, strumming and singing along in restaurants and sidewalks in my neighbourhood. Last night while celebrating my friend's birthday in a typical Chinese restaurant, we unashamedly requested the guitarist to play the 'Happy Birthday' song, he sang it twice.

How much do you think we should give him? If we're Malaysians, what's average sum people would give for street musician or entertainer that stood there and sang for the crowd for the whole duration of your meal?

Will street musicians become popular in Malaysia where they'll be more appreciated by the people? :P Hmm.. just wondering.

Is it me?

2005-03-24T13:51:00.000+08:00

Dear Salim,

So i got this letter in my mailbox last weekend from Deloitte =( that doesn't look good, u know ppl only send u reject letter thru the conventional mailbox!! aaaaarrrhh... nevermind, but it looks like I've lost all opportunity to join analyst / consulting in all the big 4.

The hot topic now is why are there so many jobless graduates around? Sometimes I seriously wonder, is it my problem? If so, what cause me to be 'unemployable'? Isit becos I have too high expectation of myself? But who was it that pushed me to have high aim and ambition since young? Is the government, industry or real-world implying that it is wrong to be picky or choosy or have high hope?

Of course, I guess the best person to win it all is one who is adaptable to changes, I wouldn't blame it all on myself, just that I felt unjustified that the real-world / government / industry are not being held at all guilty or answerable to the very least, to the problem of supply exceeding demand. Hitz.fm morning crew and all the listeners called in to add salt to the wound, nobody is really giving justifiable solution.

A caller said she's got a good job, becos she got foreign degree and can present better than local grads. Then she shudder to think about the fact that her office clerk holds a science degree and she know of many graduates doing only charity work. That is problem statement again!

After whining all that, my underlying concern is myself - where did I go wrong? I can write and speak english better than most of my local grad comrades with a recognised degree. From what I see, its really the "way" to self presentation which might hold the key to graduates failing job interviews. English is not the issue, and what is the "way"? I can never see how others presented in their interview. I will always be wondering what the hell did I do wrong, why in the world did they call me up for interview and ask so many questions and in the end turn you down?

I just could not help but wonder if it's wrong to just be myself?

Update on the UNDP job, it is just an admin post. Doing reports, letters, write up etc. So mundane, which is what I'm actually good at. Is that it? Settle for less challenging job although suitable for my competency? Whatever happen to the notion of 'challenging' oneself to reach higher?!

I think in the end of my life, I could write a book about my grueling encounters with umpteen job interviews. Enough of crapping. Industry could really make or break me. It can actually demotivate my high spirit!

What has a concert gotta do with morality?

2005-03-23T13:51:00.000+08:00

So the Force of Nature concert was a blast! I finally got to meet the Backstreet Boys, my idol during my teenage years. When I'm in a big event like this, I like to observe the people around me. Who came, who wore what and who was caught doing what. Doesn't that makes me a 'kaypoh'?! In English that means busybody :P

I got off work from a typical government office, with all the tudong-wearing ladies and went to a stadium full with young Malay chicks clad in tight baby-Ts, mostly very pretty. And then I wonder, wahh.. so this is how many other rich Malays wear. Where do they come from? Who are their parents? Do these rich Malay youngsters think like the holier-than-thou akah from work?

How come Malaysians are so diverse socially speaking? Even within one same race, i.e. Malays, there's different types of Malays. I remember once I had an online friend, half-Malay-half-Chinese, who's born to a very rich father, who wrote superb English, and very well-verse on philosophy and social science, but clueless about the bumiputera policy that is affecting the local tertiary education. :( Surely this Malay boy belongs to the elite class, probably just like all the chicks who came for the FON concert with a VIP ticket or RM500++ worth ticket!

Did you see how groovy they danced standing (while some were still sitting around them)? See how much passion they have for music, how they jumped around ecstaticly. What overwhelmed me most is the number of people who went outside during every break of the concert and puffed away! :( Those young girls included. It was so smokey along the corridor outside, even when lining up at sales counter, you have to hold your breath as the person infront had a burning cigaratte between his fingers, hand behind his back. Many of them were probably still in their school going age, why did the government's "Tak Nak" campaign fell into deaf ears? Maybe its only me who is so naive who doesn't smoke and dont even think of trying. Now I see the relevance of needing a No-Smoking campaign targetted at youths through the media. Anyway, from that night concert, I felt that the campaign will never be effective, although for a good cause.

Can I simply judge the moral decline among youths in our society just by going for one concert? Who am I to judge another person, in the aspect of upholding morality. How important is practising morality in a society especially for the youths? How can I say that smoking equate lesser moral? That could turn me into the same category as my office holier-than-thou akah, trying to preach goodness to other people.

Why did I go to the concert in the first place?! Well it's an eye-opener of course, to see and observe the people around us. I guess I too behaved like one of the Malay chicks by screaming and yelling until I almost lost my voice that night, prancing around. Was that a problem?! Maybe its like an individual expression of some sort. Every youth now seem to has a stand, always having a a voice to say what they want. I believe in allowing every single youth freedom of expression, through using intelligence and logic to connect themselves with this world.

When relating to that, do we give total freedom for youths of today without any form of control or discipline? Where do we draw the line between enforcing abiding moral code of conducts and allowing complete freedom for individual expression? How far do we want to see the discipline and morality of youths decline (in the eyes of those holier-than-thou old fashion people) or we never give a stop to individual expression. A naughty but smart kid can earn lots more money than a boring kid. Observers may conclude that a naughty kid can be linked to creativity and think-out-of-the-box, but the average child might not think as big.

How do we see the future of Malaysia with the set of youths that we have nurtured today. Who is to judge that Malaysia is going on the right or wrong track with social etiquette, and is it even a relevent question for our country's overall progression? How important is morality for the country, and how much emphasis should be given to this matter?

If only I can change and manipulate the country into what I want, with my own hands!!

To argue or not to argue with a friend

2005-03-15T18:44:00.000+08:00

Me -> do u know who is mggpillai?
He -> duno
Me -> www.mggpillai.com i had lunch with him
Me -> political writer la damn famous in the arena.. tsk tsk tsk
He -> hai........
He -> those opposition politics again
He -> sigh......
He -> all are opposition in the name of "independent jounalism"
Me -> i think that question is reversed
Me -> any ruling party can also be 'opposition' if the other party won, that dont justify 'opposition=independent journalism'
He -> not in malaysia
Me -> but since our media is controlled by ruling party, hence only sure way to get news across is thru 'independent journalism' which is only a tool
He -> for me in malaysia, no such thing as independent
Me -> u're stating a fact that everybody know
He -> if they said it's independent, then it's opposition. simple as that
Me -> that is for the average people who do not question, who do not seek to find out the whole story.
He -> nah
Me -> and who are "they" are you implying? the less educated people who do not read, do not have access to internet? internet penetration is still low in m'sia
He -> finding a true story doesn mean we have to go to "independent"
Me -> opposition channel to speak is still minimal
He -> that;s a very naive thinking
Me -> "independent" means do not rely on one side only, here i suspect ur understanding of the term "independent" is hostile, like its a bad thing?
He -> being an opposition should have xpect minimal channe; to speak
He -> u get me wrong
He -> "independent" in malaysia is bullshit............it means opposition
He -> searching for a true story....... have to check and balance
He -> that's pro and anti govt
He -> that;s all
Me -> i sense u're coming from a different mindset in totality, having predefined judgement on "how" x-y-z is "supposed" to be.. when x-y-z is only a substance that needed to be discovered
Me -> by all means
Me -> u are quite a pro government guy, who probably will not vote for opposition at the end of the day, hence u may not understand what opposition wants.
Me -> and u think opposition is a bad thing. although opposition fights for "check and balance".
He -> as much as i dun fancy those editors in The Star, i am not not fancy about the writers in malaysiakini or Harakah
Me -> if u fancy "neither" side it means u're neutral and sitting on the fence
Me -> and u probably cannot decide what to vote for, not having a stand for urself.
He -> im not sitting on the fence
He -> im sitting on the wall
He -> opposition's main fighting propaganda is of course "for check and balance"
Me -> people who are sitting on the fence, need to "pour away" ur teacup, if its full before you start discovering news from both sides.
He -> without this, they won even have a single support if not because of "balance" etc
Me -> agree.
Me -> this is the whole idea of opposition in malaysia
Me -> as ruling party won >90% resulted in check and balance imposible
He -> i dun agree
Me -> <10% how to balance?
He -> there;s no such thing as ruling party cannot have a check and balance on their part
He -> the problem is, in malaysia, that is not happening
Me -> (ur statement do not have a sound justification)
He -> thats why some ppl are still in opposition
Me -> can u speak in malaysian context only, since u are in malaysia
Me -> what will happen if the whole country supports one ruling party?
He -> nope
He -> im not a politician
He -> it won be a good thing if whole country support 1 party
Me -> by the look of it, the trend of malaysia has always been that..
He -> no govt in the world is perfect
Me -> 90% is a big big majority, compare to the rest of the world... it is quite unbelievable
He -> if we could improve it, yes
He -> but by all means, we should not sacrifice a lot by just achieving it
Me -> there must be "reason" for why u think there will ever be "sacrify" for achieving something.
He -> we have to scarifice something to achieve something else
Me -> the only scarify i see is poor opposition leaders struggling their way out, scarifying their own time / youth to fight for something good.
He -> i would have xpect u to understand that from the lessons of life
He -> well.........i do agree with u on that
Me -> u cannot judge people / party / concept without seeing from every angle
He -> neither do u
He -> the problem is, how do u know u have seen all angle?
Me -> have I made any judgment in this conversation so far?
He -> of course
Me -> atleast i feel that i cud see more angle than u, as i read all of local newspaper AND online news
He -> no judgment = no point = no debate = no conversation at all
He -> there u go again........another judgment
Me -> that is not 'judgement' that is 'opinion'
He -> of course, u can say it's an "opinion"
He -> just like opposition that says "we are for check and balance"
Me -> "opinion" - i think durian taste bad.
Me -> "judgement" - durian IS very bad!
He -> "we are for justice" etc
He -> u judge by your opinion
He -> no matter which one u still feel durian is bad
Me -> do u think opposition people are fighting for fun, for glamour, for money, for fame?
He -> judgement is based on how u deliever it...........by thinking or saying it out
He -> u still judge it in either way
He -> nope.......i dun think so
He -> but just that i dun think so, doesn mean they are fighting for the people
Me -> then what is opposition fighting for?
He -> themselves
Me -> say, I wonder, Lim Guan Eng go to jail 2 years, lose his practise license, for himself?
He -> that is because he has gone to the limits
He -> i think he;s stupid
Me -> the point - did he fight for himself?!
Me -> or he wanted to fight for the girl?
Me -> i think from ur statement, u will be thinking i am stupid and all opposition supporters are stupid.
He -> watever or whoever he fight for, the rule of law prevails
Me -> i think talking to u makes me sound stupid
He -> u cannot just murder someone because he has a knife pointing at u
Me -> when u know law can be bribed
He -> nah.........dun wori
Me -> dun tell me u never cheated in exam
He -> it's just a clash of "opinions"
Me -> and dun tell me UPM is fair
He -> i would have xpect u to be happy coz someone wana to debate tis with u
He -> wat's the relevancy of yer questions anyway?
Me -> its not just "clash of opinion" its a sad case scenario, where I've never met a malaysian like u, who thinks like u, whom nobody can ever understand.
He -> haha
Me -> i wud be happier if I know i cud convince u to see things from a bigger angle
He -> believe me, there are many out there like me
Me -> do u know i "feel" strongly about it when i debate abt my opinion
He -> i duno
Me -> i serious do not think I'm stupid
He -> im not so easily to be convinced
He -> i said lim guan eng stupid
Me -> I know, but i seriously in my heart think u're sad case
He -> i dun say u stupid........
He -> dun relate everything
Me -> when u say lim guan eng stupid - i feel so sad.
Me -> when u say "opposition fights for themselves" I feel like crying and cutting my heart out for u.
Me -> when im willing to fight for anything.. to make this country a better place, and u just lepak ur kaki (shake ur legs) there thinking opposition fighters are stupid.
He -> then it's up to u
Me -> i feel this battle is too sad to battle for.
He -> coz i could not agree with yer statements. perhaps u should start to accept what other ppls think
He -> u could easily label me as sad case
He -> it's ok 1. u can fight for wat u think is right
Me -> i know its ok, becos u will let me say anything i want, and i shud be able to let u speak ur mind. and its a total complete utter distinct opinion
Me -> that can really turn u off
Me -> i respect freedom speech
He -> debating is ok
Me -> but i have to "let go my heart" when i start debate with people or else i'll go nuts
He -> but not up to the extend on saying "i think u r idiot"
He -> the most we could say is "i think u r wrong"
Me -> i've been called stupid and "naive"
Me -> what more shud I expect?
Me -> idiot is almost same like stupid + naive
He -> then do u have any problem in that, when ppl called u idiot etc?
Me -> at the end of the day, i feel that opposition leaders have SOOO much to lose for, in the name of a better Malaysia.
He -> do u seriously get offended wit that?
Me -> BUT the ruling party are sitting nicely in their grand office, with nice suit and bank account, and having everything, but you didn't think it's stupid - ofcos they're so smart, they gain votes, they gain money, they gain fame. that's what you think it's smart. (probably)
Me -> (i dun have a problem with name calling, if ONLY opponent can take MY name calling)
He -> i dun think those in the office are smart
Me -> but they gain ur support - the ruling leaders who didn't have to lose anything, fight for nothing, but gain ur vote.
Me -> the opposition ppl who lose so much, esp the "mental energy" to keep on changing for improvement for Malaysia - gets misunderstood by people like u.
He -> did i say i voted for them?
He -> and even if i do, what if i say i voted for a better malaysia?
Me -> and they are sooo many ppl like u will "potentially" vote for ruling party, whom I dont see fights for anything real.
Me -> ur idea of better M'sia is being painted by the idea of the ruling party.
Me -> what if a better M'sia can be really cool, of better standard, with no poverty in the rural area, everyone can speak english, and all races are happy?!
He -> we got to be practical. no single country can achieve that
He -> trust me, we are far off better
Me -> what if a better M'sia can take in all the students regardless of Matriculation or not? what if M'sia can give every SAME scholarship regardless of race?
Me -> we can be better.
Me -> what is ur benchmark?
Me -> i suspect my benchmark of "better malaysia" is very high compared to urs
He -> wat if all those happens, but ppl are fighting ?
He -> our kids,,,,,,,,although they have fair chance of going to Univ, but the country is in civil war
Me -> wat if i call u "naive" to think that THAT would happen?!
He -> it's ok
He -> i think it;s h ghly posible to happen
Me -> i can never imagine Malays fighting Chinese, if NOT because of constant "reminder" of the ruling party
Me -> IF you let society be..
Me -> let society grow..
He -> maybe not in the future, but definitely will if it happens today
Me -> society WILL grow peacefully, effectively, esp with the asian roots, where Malays are humble, and Chinese are apathetic.
He -> not at this lifetime
Me -> i will think that u have a pessimistic opinion, to think that potentially fighting will happen if everything is fair.
Me -> becos u have to read what malays themselves wrote..
He -> no
Me -> i've read many malays blog, that support abolishment of bumi policy..
He -> i think it;s practical , not pessimistic
Me -> becos they know it's not doing them any good.
Me -> What do u think of Malays like that?!
He -> that still doesn justify we are ready for it
Me -> u're limiting malaysia the chance to grow.. its like u have 2 children, and u prevent fighting, u give 1 go oversea, 1 go local uni, and justify that by saying it's for their own good, (although 1 is so unhappy) but no choice must give in.
Me -> "when" is malaysia ready for it? when u're 50, 70? 100?
He -> there are limits to everything
Me -> is there limit to growth?
He -> i duno when we will be ready............i only feel we are still not ready
Me -> can u stop a smart boy from being too smart?
Me -> u cannot stop energy
He -> bear in mind that malaysia is still young by default
Me -> i have a good example.
Me -> do u "want" to see malaysia grow in the future?
He -> in wat sense
Me -> if now is not the time, how abt in the future? wud that be possible?
He -> of course everything is possible
Me ->grow in terms of equal rights, no disparity of wealth,
Me ->good.. wud that posibility become so diffucult, if u do not start to change them now? if u do not start to change them now - there wont be any change now - and if there's no changes now - tomorrow will always BE THE SAME.
Me ->journey of the 1000 miles begin with the 1st step.
He ->just that we dun start now doesn mean we won start forever
Me ->to go to Harvard uni, u gotta start from somewhere, and "when" do u start to study hard for it?!
Me ->tomorrow?
He ->but if we begin the 1st step at the wrong time, we may not go any further
Me ->have u got any proof on that statement, research done, experience felt before?
Me ->that it "may" go wrong?
He ->13 /5/1969
Me ->who is to justify that time-x is wrong time?
Me ->that was a wrong time? go and read the actual truth of what May 13th means..
Me ->u lack alot of info due to the fact u've not done research enuf
He ->again
Me ->i asked u before alot of history facts u dun now.
He ->u have yer own judgements
He ->i have mine
Me ->but i wish that u cud read MORE before making ur judgement
Me ->always remember a coin has 2 side.
He ->nah
Me ->to stop urself from reading more, is to limit ur viewpoint
He ->u can choose not to argue with me if u think im not so knowledgable
Me ->there is a reason behind everything. i do not think this is an argument..
Me ->my ultimate game plan is to MAKE U MORE knowlegable than u already are.
He -> more knowledable will make me wiser?
Me ->yes!
Me ->wisdom come with knowledge / experience / what u've learnt
Me ->how do u think an old man is wiser?
He ->wat if sometime we become stupid because we are too wise?
He ->an old terrorist man isn't that wise, is he?
Me ->wise is wise, if u become stupid, means u've NOT reach wisdom yet.
Me ->wisdom is within u
Me ->u will know / sense / feel if somebody is "high wisdom" or "high intelligence"
He ->i dun
Me ->some people are only "high intelligence" not "high wisdom"
He ->at the end, it's up to one;s opinion
Me ->u need people to "test" u to tell u if u're wise enough?
He ->no need
He ->i dun appreciate this thing
Me ->an opinion will be useless if opinion cannot make a difference in other ppl's life.
He ->that;s what u think
Me ->I have inkling to want to make a difference while Im alive, if i have the capacity to.
Me ->"thinking with opinion" is not good enough for me, to be as a human.
Me -> im saving this chat. need further analysis.

A Confused Young Malaysian

2004-06-02T05:03:00.000+08:00

So as I was reading this really long letter by Confused Malaysian Muslim, makes me ponder even further when trying to understand the Muslim people in my country, me being a non-Muslim.

I'm very confuse why some Muslim can drink beer like drink water, some so faithful to Islam they really search for surau in everywhere they go and dutifully follow the Quran.

How can I understand why a Malay guy friend can say "girls who wear tudung are hypocrites" and as for he himself, he doesnt go to the mosque on Fridays (that's a bad enough offence I believe) yet doesn't dine in Chinese coffeeshop (I thought he's not afraid of going to hell yet why is he afraid to enter Chinese makanshop? Hmm... :{ )

The Malay friend said, what's the point of wearing Tudong if the girl does not behave and is in 'disguise' to pretend to be a goodie good girl when in fact is on the look out to find pakwa? Or sell herself cheap to be hooked up just about any other guy?

I certainly agree on the fact that I could respect a Malay girl who's well behaved even without her tudong, rather than a tudong wearing girl with attitude problems.

Just take my experience lining up infront of gate for a concert, then suddenly a group of young Malay girls all wearing tudong came from no where, pretending & cutting queue. Took another 'modern' looking Malay couple to scold them.

I just observe all the people around me and got more confused.

I was quite disappointed with the fact that during CNY (Chinese New year) when we invited Muslim guests to our house, they cannot use our plate & spoon!

I knew about respecting other ppl's religion by not serving pork and all, but I didn't know that when they come to our house, very mafan, my parents have to specially tapau food from the nearby mamak stall and buy paper plates.

Like dohhh... what's the point of inviting my friends over and you can't even try my mom's delicious home cooked food?

But what really amazed me was this year, I befriended a Malay girl from work and I invited her for CNY open house. Guess what??! (she's from Penang btw, they say Penang people are more chin chai).

She sat down on the same table with us and ate the food my mom cook using our plates!!! Of course it was only vegetarian meals - 1st day of CNY usually people go for vegetarian for a day lah.

My parents was glad to know I could prove them wrong - that not all Malays are THAT fussy like their generation of colleagues.

I'll also not forget how confused I was one day, when I volunteered to make salad for office jamuan.

Goodness gracious.... my only humble intention was to try make simple halal dish for everyone to eat (I work in a government department, btw), then this akah asked me to just buy the fruits, she said she'll bring knives along to help me cut. In my mind I thought how thoughtful to help me out...

little did I know... yeahhh you guess it. How silly of me - next time don't volunteer to make anything for those typical tudong wearing akah... even fruit salad for that matter.

Did you know WHY?! For non-muslim, if you didn't know yet, according to the Quran, anything that comes in contact with pork, you cannot use it UNLESS you wash it with clay water 1 time, clear water 6 times. Then as confused as ever, I asked "you dont need to use soap?"... "oh no need".

Looking at this whole country in general now, I couldn't be more confused! How there could be soooo religious Muslims who would vote for PAS (yeah yeah you know how government staff are inclined towards supporting the religious mullah lah)... but they will NEVER support DAP because they think its a Chinese party that is against Islam (which shows how lack of knowledge they are).

Thus making this lot of Muslim very difficult to get along with in a plural society, as much as I try to understand them.

I'm just confused, why during my parent's schooling days, according to dad, there was no such nonsense as Malay dun enter Chinese makan shop. Kids just lepak together, go the same school, play in the same field, even the English language was used for mixing the people together.

Even back in the old days, there were lesser female wearing tudong in universities compared to these days.

As much as I try to mix with the Malays in Uni, it was not easy when everyone stick to their own race. It was also so hard for the Malays to speak English, what more with the fact that half of my Chinese friends speak terrible English - how to blend in together? Can try, but fighting this battle alone is one struggling battle!

Anyway, although I claim that I'm more confused being a minority Malaysian, compared to a being Malaysian Muslim - who cares right?

In this land where majority rules, there I can be rocket scientist makes no difference. Everybody is confused in their own realms and only kiddin' no one but ourselves.

Makes no difference who am I.

Race Politics

2004-03-14T18:07:00.000+08:00

Race politics - Swinging Pendulum
(A stirrinng, passionate plea by a Malaysian girl that cuts into divisive politics.)

Dear ReEngineering Opposition (relevant reference below) ..and others.
I feel really sad reading (what you wrote) ... I'm a rookie in politics and I've only just began reading so much about opposition news through the net (as its no use reading the newspapers)...
But i really felt like crying when you say "forget about Malaysian Malaysia"... and I dun get it why the Chinese are being Islamic here by only thinking about making money.

All my years of studying hard in school and make sure I get a place in local university (knowing my parents cannot afford to send me overseas) leaves people like you think we're "thinking about making money".

I dunno to laugh or to cry...when I see the Malay students who din't have to study so hard, mostly cannot speak fluent English... they REALLY dont have to slog as hard as the laziest chinese girl on the block and YET still cruise through entrace for university.

At a time when I'm only a school kid, do not know much about politics nor care much for history, but holding a firm pride of being Malaysian - YET, I have to succumb to the heartwrenching truth that I'm not equal to my fellow Malaysians.

A lazy girl like me, why probably think last about making money... infact I'm such a contented person, I dun get it... READ MY WORDS, I CANNOT TAHAN (stand) MALAYSIA (the way it is now)!!!! WHY WHY WHY?!! Am I being an idealist for wishing for Malaysian Malaysia?

You know that's why I'm really inspired to vote for DAP becos of the leadership that seeks for the unchanging tune of Malaysian Malaysia. How difficult is it to realise this ultimate dream of mine, a Malaysian born & bred youngster?

I was so proud of myself, when I perform during Merdeka parade in school, I cheered for Malaysian badminton team for Thomas Cup finals as if I'm ONE with all the supporters in the stadium.

In fact, I do support Selangor football team. I mix with the awek in school (non-tudong wearing English speaking girls) pretty fine, and now at work in government department, I just blend in with the Malay staff fine, I call them akah.

I wish to see more Chinese & Indians blend in with the Malays, and let us all portray ourselves as respectable human beings, rather than isolating ourselves and not feeling at all SHAMEFUL on you adults out there.

My boss is an indian, I work fine under him. For Crying OUT LOUD, WHY cant my dream for Malaysia ever be achieved in my one and only life time?!

The dream for equality for all Malaysians, young and old at heart, ambitious or spiritual, speak english or not, eat halal or not, went to Mariah Carey concert or not, earn gaji buta or not, lazy or hardworking, smart or nut.... why cant we PROUDLY call ourselves MALAYSIANS?

I once admired my 1st year lecturer, who's a Malay but boast to be smartest Malay student in his form 5 year... I felt that for once I was truly fitted in class as a Malaysian.

His political philosophy is not of the ruling party, he wears the white cloth on his head like the PAS leader, but I see him as my most respectable lecturer.

He said, you Malay, you Chinese, you Indian... what is so different? When you take the knife and cut ur skin, the color of the dripping blood is the SAME COLOUR!

I wish I can find more people who think like me in this community that I live in. I am quite fed up of mixing just only people of my race all the time, and not having any channel for me to roam freely in this country, a place I call home.

How to talk about China, when I dont speak proper Mandarin? I think I speak more Malay than Chinese now due to my work. Just a simple question to all the Malays out there, can shake hands and be real friends?

I am writing to each and everyone of you from the bottom of my heart. Sometimes, I wish I can form my own party, that could bring everyone together.

I guess this is too unrealistic, but a 1000 thousand miles journey begins with the first step. Maybe, my 1st step is to cast my one vote.

For a general election to come every 5 years is quite a long time to me. I'm just a kid, but I'm glad to know a forum like this existed that I could write freely... but I'm also sad to read all the "truth" that I found out about Malaysia that they never cover in the textbook in school.

And most of my Chinese friends are really like what most of you think, so shallow in politics, arguing with them is like banging your head on the wall.

Well, thank you very much for reading. Appreciate your feedback, hopefully I can take it and not feel more disappointed, but if it hurts, it's probably the truth.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(The relevant part what Reengineering Opposition had written:-)
The problem with the DAP is their philosophy (Malaysian Malaysia, socialism etc - don't believe please visit bungaraya.com) is only slightly younger than the Jurassic Age. They are not changing their thinking.
You can forget about 'Malaysian Malaysia.' What the Chinese want is the opportunities to make money and live a good happy life. The Chinese are being very Islamic here and we should all have the same Islamic ideas as the Chinese. As long as they are not disturbed and prevented from doing this, the Chinese are very happy.
So the DAP is way behind time. They dont even know what the Chinese want or what is important for the Chinese. Can someone forward this to the DAP website - bungaraya - I tried to get in but they blocked me off.)

Khalid Ibrahim : -
I read with interest that the Malays have made good progress abroad, especially in England. But one does not have to look so far as to see how Malays progress themselves.
Look at Singapore Malays. They have made tremendous progress. They have to compete with other races for their survival. They have no special "lorong" to the universities.
Their qualifications are at par with others and they are proud of their achievements. I have four children, three of them are university graduates and they had their education with my own many. I am proud of it.