A Prime Minister of high calibre should always be impartial and act to protect his fellow countrymen regardless of their political leanings or religion. To say that he "cannot stop the people from gathering at mosques on Friday to protest over the 'Allah' issue" is a dangerous precedent which clearly shows how deliberately selective his decisions are. These careless words can be misconstrued by the overzealous as an endorsement for their proposed action and can lead to total mayhem. Refer to article in Malaysiakini entitled 'Najib: We can't stop people from protesting' at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/121331 .
I only hope that the people of Malaysia are more intelligent than that and are able to see past the political shenanigans of the ruling party. All that we need to do now is to sit back, remain calm and be rest assured that Barisan Nasional will definitely have a bleak future in the next General Elections.
This is the Prophecy of the Malaysian People.
Friday, 8 January 2010
Friday, 7 November 2008
A Flame is Lit in the Courts Today
Persistence, patience and practising what we preach - these are the values that will one day elevate our beautiful country Malaysia to become a nation of justice, freedom, equality and peace. Today, the High Court of Shah Alam has ordered the release of Raja Petra Kamarudin from detention under the Internal Security Act.
Perhaps all the previous candle light vigils around the country have finally managed to enlighten the judiciary about the plight of the nation and the need to abolish this draconian act once and for all.
Today, after weeks of abscence, Raja Petra will finally be free again!
May this be a good sign that our country is finally on the right road to success.
Abolish ISA!
For more information on Raja Petra's release, see Malaysiakini's article 'Court orders Raja Petra's release' at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/92620
Perhaps all the previous candle light vigils around the country have finally managed to enlighten the judiciary about the plight of the nation and the need to abolish this draconian act once and for all.
Today, after weeks of abscence, Raja Petra will finally be free again!
May this be a good sign that our country is finally on the right road to success.
Abolish ISA!
For more information on Raja Petra's release, see Malaysiakini's article 'Court orders Raja Petra's release' at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/92620
Saturday, 25 October 2008
Valuecap - Gambling the People's Money Away
If we remove the family theme park element and the resort façade from Genting Highlands, all that is left is Malaysia’s one and only legalized gambling den located 2000 metres above sea level. Millions of Malaysians have been enticed by the prospect of winning big money on this hill top casino only to realize that the only winner at the end is the casino itself. In fact the company has become so prosperous that it is helping to built one of the two mega casinos in one of the most conservative countries in South East Asia, Singapore.
Yes. Malaysians are gamblers at heart. Our ancestors risked their lives by coming to these shores to start a new life. In that sense, they were the first gamblers in our country. Until today, we continue to gamble with our lives as we live and work amidst the threat of draconian laws that often violates our freedom of speech, equality and justice. Many people have been jailed and detained for speaking out to protect these three pristine values of democracy.
But these are acceptable risks which we take in our gamble to create a better future for ourselves and for our fellow countrymen.
The present government has also taken to gambling in one of their latest move to prop up the economy of the country. The new Finance Minister has proposed to inject RM 5 billion from the Employee’s Provident Fund (EPF) into Valuecap Sendirian Berhad for the purpose of investing in the share market.
Don’t they realize that it is the people’s hard earned money that they are using, to place bets in the high risk world of the stock market? It is highly irresponsible of the government to gamble away the sweat and tears of millions of Malaysian workers especially during these times of economic recession.
The share market is but another major gambling den disguised as a legal mechanism for companies to garner capital for expansion. Judging from the world’s obsession with the ups and downs of share market indexes, one wonders whether the numbers actually represent the true economic status of a country or is it merely a roulette of speculation and chance.
My mother has always warned us to be wary of the stock market as it is a place which can drag a person from riches to rags. Penangites describe the act of investing in the share market as chi toe share (playing with share) or phuak share (gambling in the share market). Both these descriptions have connotations of frivolity and risk in them.
Indeed it is wise to avoid dabbling in these games of speculation if one is not familiar with the rules and regulations.
Does our government then think that they are experts who are capable enough of winning the lottery when they invest RM 5 billion of the people’s money into the stock market?
The government should have spent the money to upgrade our national education system, which in the long run will produce intelligent and creative Malaysians. This is a sure bet that will produce winners in the long run, as compared to the uncertainties of the stock market.
More money should also be spent to improve the infrastructure of both the cities and rural areas in order to provide a better quality of life for all Malaysians. The people deserve better facilities rather than the occasional random election promises that they are getting from the government now.
The agriculture sector could also benefit from an increase in the allocation of funds for research and development. Efforts should be made to revitalize our basic food crops sector because this is one field which provides stability of food supply in the event of any economic downturn.
The new Finance Minister Najib Tun Abdul Razak might want to be seen as a decisive leader in these times of economic turbulence. But making a glorious entrance into a new job and making a decision that might cause the loss of billions of the people’s is surely not a wise thing to do, especially if one does not have any prior experience in the field.
The trouble with our government is that they never listen to the voices of the people. I doubt they will ever appreciate the interesting comments in Malaysiakini’s Vox Populi article ‘Why should Valuecap borrow from EPF?’ http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/91787 and ‘Valuecap: Explain how Average Joe benefits’ http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/91852
The EPF is a retirement fund for all Malaysian workers and will be an important source of money once they cease to work. The government should not treat this cash rich establishment like a candy jar from which each Minister has a free hand to scoop whatever sweets they like, to satisfy their whims and fancies.
Yes. Malaysians are gamblers at heart. Our ancestors risked their lives by coming to these shores to start a new life. In that sense, they were the first gamblers in our country. Until today, we continue to gamble with our lives as we live and work amidst the threat of draconian laws that often violates our freedom of speech, equality and justice. Many people have been jailed and detained for speaking out to protect these three pristine values of democracy.
But these are acceptable risks which we take in our gamble to create a better future for ourselves and for our fellow countrymen.
The present government has also taken to gambling in one of their latest move to prop up the economy of the country. The new Finance Minister has proposed to inject RM 5 billion from the Employee’s Provident Fund (EPF) into Valuecap Sendirian Berhad for the purpose of investing in the share market.
Don’t they realize that it is the people’s hard earned money that they are using, to place bets in the high risk world of the stock market? It is highly irresponsible of the government to gamble away the sweat and tears of millions of Malaysian workers especially during these times of economic recession.
The share market is but another major gambling den disguised as a legal mechanism for companies to garner capital for expansion. Judging from the world’s obsession with the ups and downs of share market indexes, one wonders whether the numbers actually represent the true economic status of a country or is it merely a roulette of speculation and chance.
My mother has always warned us to be wary of the stock market as it is a place which can drag a person from riches to rags. Penangites describe the act of investing in the share market as chi toe share (playing with share) or phuak share (gambling in the share market). Both these descriptions have connotations of frivolity and risk in them.
Indeed it is wise to avoid dabbling in these games of speculation if one is not familiar with the rules and regulations.
Does our government then think that they are experts who are capable enough of winning the lottery when they invest RM 5 billion of the people’s money into the stock market?
The government should have spent the money to upgrade our national education system, which in the long run will produce intelligent and creative Malaysians. This is a sure bet that will produce winners in the long run, as compared to the uncertainties of the stock market.
More money should also be spent to improve the infrastructure of both the cities and rural areas in order to provide a better quality of life for all Malaysians. The people deserve better facilities rather than the occasional random election promises that they are getting from the government now.
The agriculture sector could also benefit from an increase in the allocation of funds for research and development. Efforts should be made to revitalize our basic food crops sector because this is one field which provides stability of food supply in the event of any economic downturn.
The new Finance Minister Najib Tun Abdul Razak might want to be seen as a decisive leader in these times of economic turbulence. But making a glorious entrance into a new job and making a decision that might cause the loss of billions of the people’s is surely not a wise thing to do, especially if one does not have any prior experience in the field.
The trouble with our government is that they never listen to the voices of the people. I doubt they will ever appreciate the interesting comments in Malaysiakini’s Vox Populi article ‘Why should Valuecap borrow from EPF?’ http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/91787 and ‘Valuecap: Explain how Average Joe benefits’ http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/91852
The EPF is a retirement fund for all Malaysian workers and will be an important source of money once they cease to work. The government should not treat this cash rich establishment like a candy jar from which each Minister has a free hand to scoop whatever sweets they like, to satisfy their whims and fancies.
Monday, 20 October 2008
The Insignificance of Lah
“Pak Lah will be remembered and respected by all Malaysians if he chooses to courageously abolish the Internal Security Act during his last few months in office,” said the lady who shared an umbrella with me at the candle light vigil the other night.
“This last act will become his single defining moment which will gain him the full respect of the people and bury all the negativities surrounding his lackluster administration of the past four years,” she added with a slight tinge of hope in her voice.
But almost as soon as my mind began to paint a positive picture of the outgoing Prime Minister, the tone of her voice became sullen as she sighed on.
“But alas. That is if he chooses to do it. Judging from the constant indecisive manner in which he conducts his government, he will most likely choose to remain dormant and end up becoming the most insignificant Prime Minister since Independence.”
It was the sixth and last vigil in a series of gatherings at Dewan Sri Pinang to call for the abolishment of the ISA. As the event got underway, heavy rain started to pour down on us. I was offered shelter by the kind lady with an umbrella and although we were total strangers, we began sharing our thoughts and ideas as we stood in the rain with our candles and song sheets.
Yes. The world has seen the best in the likes of Alexander the Great of Macedonia and the worst, as in Ivan the Terrible of Russia. But in years to come the future generation of Malaysia will end up reading about the legacy of Pak Lah the Insignificant.
These days, Pak Lah’s name is mentioned everywhere – in the news media, blogs, coffee shops, offices, markets and eateries. I became curious as to the origin of the word lah and did some research on the internet. Lo and behold, I discovered the various ways in which lah can be used in grammar, music and science.
The most common usage of lah is as a suffix to end sentences in the Malay language and in our local version of the English language called Manglish (Malaysian English). Although lah is widely used in our daily conversations, the word remains just as a peculiarity of the language, of which the real meaning of its usage is hard to define.
We use the word lah to soften a retort such as in ‘Don’t touch me lah’ and to insinuate another person like ‘He is a stupid man lah’. We can also use it to express our utter disgust at someone by saying ‘Please lah!’ or when we are out of words in describing a hopeless person, we just bellow out loudly ‘LAAAAAH!’.
It takes only three simple alphabets to make up this one insignificant word. That is what lah is all about.
On a pleasant note, lah is also found in music. In the musical ‘The Sound of Music’ we were taught by Maria von Trapp about the fundamentals of music through the song ‘Do-Re-Mi’. As we all know by now, every note has a different meaning such as Do is a female deer, Re is a drop of golden sun and Mi, a name I call myself. But what about the sixth note La?
According to Maria, La has no meaning at all and is just a simple note to follow So.
Even the tiny note Ti is known as a drink with jam and bread! But La remains a meaningless sound in between So and Ti.
DO-RE-MI-FA-SO-la-TI-DO. So duh!!!
In fact the word lah or its shorter version la is normally used in replacement of forgotten lyrics during impromptu singing performances or just to hum a casual tune.
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la.
Finally lah is also found in the world of science. LAH is an abbreviation for Lithium Aluminium Hydride which is a reducing agent used in organic synthesis. Unfortunately chemistry is my worst subject in school and I can’t tell you much about LAH.
For those who would like to know more about LAH, please click here. But please be warned that LAH might be so boring that it will put you to sleep.
So, lah is an undefined suffix in language and an insignificant note in music. And lah can be so boring that it will put us all to sleep.
Coincidentally, the rule of our Prime Minister Pak Lah exudes all these qualities as it is beyond definition, insignificant and rather sleep-inducing at times.
In fact, he has sealed his fate as the most insignificant Prime Minister of all times when he said that the ‘controversial Internal Security Act will not be subjected to review’ in Malaysiakini’s article ‘PM: No review of ISA’ http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/91518
He had the chance to become the nation’s hero but he chose not to become one.
So what happens now lah?
“This last act will become his single defining moment which will gain him the full respect of the people and bury all the negativities surrounding his lackluster administration of the past four years,” she added with a slight tinge of hope in her voice.
But almost as soon as my mind began to paint a positive picture of the outgoing Prime Minister, the tone of her voice became sullen as she sighed on.
“But alas. That is if he chooses to do it. Judging from the constant indecisive manner in which he conducts his government, he will most likely choose to remain dormant and end up becoming the most insignificant Prime Minister since Independence.”
It was the sixth and last vigil in a series of gatherings at Dewan Sri Pinang to call for the abolishment of the ISA. As the event got underway, heavy rain started to pour down on us. I was offered shelter by the kind lady with an umbrella and although we were total strangers, we began sharing our thoughts and ideas as we stood in the rain with our candles and song sheets.
Yes. The world has seen the best in the likes of Alexander the Great of Macedonia and the worst, as in Ivan the Terrible of Russia. But in years to come the future generation of Malaysia will end up reading about the legacy of Pak Lah the Insignificant.
These days, Pak Lah’s name is mentioned everywhere – in the news media, blogs, coffee shops, offices, markets and eateries. I became curious as to the origin of the word lah and did some research on the internet. Lo and behold, I discovered the various ways in which lah can be used in grammar, music and science.
The most common usage of lah is as a suffix to end sentences in the Malay language and in our local version of the English language called Manglish (Malaysian English). Although lah is widely used in our daily conversations, the word remains just as a peculiarity of the language, of which the real meaning of its usage is hard to define.
We use the word lah to soften a retort such as in ‘Don’t touch me lah’ and to insinuate another person like ‘He is a stupid man lah’. We can also use it to express our utter disgust at someone by saying ‘Please lah!’ or when we are out of words in describing a hopeless person, we just bellow out loudly ‘LAAAAAH!’.
It takes only three simple alphabets to make up this one insignificant word. That is what lah is all about.
On a pleasant note, lah is also found in music. In the musical ‘The Sound of Music’ we were taught by Maria von Trapp about the fundamentals of music through the song ‘Do-Re-Mi’. As we all know by now, every note has a different meaning such as Do is a female deer, Re is a drop of golden sun and Mi, a name I call myself. But what about the sixth note La?
According to Maria, La has no meaning at all and is just a simple note to follow So.
Even the tiny note Ti is known as a drink with jam and bread! But La remains a meaningless sound in between So and Ti.
DO-RE-MI-FA-SO-la-TI-DO. So duh!!!
In fact the word lah or its shorter version la is normally used in replacement of forgotten lyrics during impromptu singing performances or just to hum a casual tune.
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la.
Finally lah is also found in the world of science. LAH is an abbreviation for Lithium Aluminium Hydride which is a reducing agent used in organic synthesis. Unfortunately chemistry is my worst subject in school and I can’t tell you much about LAH.
For those who would like to know more about LAH, please click here. But please be warned that LAH might be so boring that it will put you to sleep.
So, lah is an undefined suffix in language and an insignificant note in music. And lah can be so boring that it will put us all to sleep.
Coincidentally, the rule of our Prime Minister Pak Lah exudes all these qualities as it is beyond definition, insignificant and rather sleep-inducing at times.
In fact, he has sealed his fate as the most insignificant Prime Minister of all times when he said that the ‘controversial Internal Security Act will not be subjected to review’ in Malaysiakini’s article ‘PM: No review of ISA’ http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/91518
He had the chance to become the nation’s hero but he chose not to become one.
So what happens now lah?
Friday, 17 October 2008
Abolish ISA Candle Light Vigil TONIGHT at 9 pm Dewan Sri Pinang
Every Friday night, for the past few weeks, there have been candle light vigils in front of Dewan Sri Pinang to call for the abolishment of the Internal Security Act (ISA). I was there two weeks ago, and for me, it was a moving experience to see so many people from all walks of life, coming together for a single cause.
The last vigil of this series will be held tonight at 9.00 pm Friday 17 October, 2008 at the same venue and I would like to encourage all readers to join in. To some, gatherings like these might seem to be a trivial and ineffective way to press for the abolishment of this draconian act. They say we need more constructive and direct negotiations with the government for the cause to be effective.
I am not part of the organising team nor any other non-governmental organisations, but I believe that FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS ONLY FREE IF WE USE IT. If we continue to refrain from speaking out for what we believe in, then we are paying a price for freedom.
The acronym ISA stands for Internal Security Act. We are internal – being citizens of our own independent country. But we feel totally insecure with the continuous existence of this act. How then are we suppose to be protected by the ISA if the act itself creates an atmosphere of fear and insecurity in all of us?
How are we suppose to feel safe when our freedom of speech is constantly under the threat of possible incarceration?
Therefore I urge everyone here, including your friends and family, to come and join us tonight for this last vigil to stand up for our basic rights. It doesn’t matter whether you come as a participant or a mere spectator. The most important thing is to make our presence felt to the powers that be. We must remind the government that the people have not given up hope for change.
I shall reproduce below the letter I wrote a few weeks ago after my first candle light vigil and hope that it will inspire you to join this peaceful gathering tonight.
“Dreams are little pockets of hope. And if we share the same dream, then our hope for freedom, justice and equality will come through sooner, rather than later.”
I Lit a Candle for Raja Petra
Posted on 27 September 2008
Dear Raja Petra,
I did something out of the ordinary last night, something which I would never have thought of doing in my entire life. I went to the anti-ISA candle light vigil in front of Dewan Sri Pinang and joined hundreds of others to call for the abolishment of this most draconian act and to secure the freedom of all detainees including your good self.
It is Saturday today and I wish I could wake up late. But there is a lot of work to be done including writing this letter to you. No, you do not know me personally, but like most Malaysians who have been reading your thoughts and ideas for a better Malaysia, I could feel a certain bond that your articles generated in me and millions of others in this country – the bond of humanity.
I did not know what to expect at this gathering because it was the first time I attended such an event. I thought that it would be as dark and gloomy as the current mood in our country, and that there would be hordes of angry people shouting inflammable slogans.
But as I approached the Esplanade, the sight of hundreds of candle lights flickering in between the brightly lit iconic Dewan Sri Pinang and the majestic court house, lifted my spirits. I began to feel a sense of purpose in my trip and a renewed surge of confidence arose in me.
The crowd that had gathered comprised of decent looking people of all ages. There were many elderly people who have lived through turbulent years and the younger generation who are starting to discover their own voices. But last night, all of these people shared a common purpose – to execute their duties as responsible citizens and to speak out for truth, justice, equality and freedom.
Suddenly, I was not alone.
There were a few speakers including a Member of Parliament and an ex-ISA detainee. Some of the speakers claim to know you personally. But I suppose, all of us there know you too, through your eye opening articles and the constant persecution by the authorities.
The question is - why did the government arrest you under an act which was meant to curtail terrorist activities during the Emergency, when all you ever did was to expound your thoughts and ideas by putting them into words?
It is true then, that the pen is mightier than the sword and the Internal Security Act is just a convenient eraser which has been constantly misused by the government to silence its critics. The original intention of this act was for the protection of the public. But now it has been used again and again for the protection of the government.
They say that you have insulted Islam to the extent that it might cause unrest among the people. I am not a Muslim and therefore unable to comment much on this. But I must say that you – Raja Petra Kamarudin – has taught me more about your religion than all the tedious Tamadun Islam (Islamic Civilization) lecturers during my first year in university. Yes, apart from the subjects we majored in, we also had to complete two semesters of Islamic Civilization course work.
It is sad indeed that the government arrested you just when you are starting to make the multiracial people of Malaysia understand more about your beautiful religion. They say that education is a continuous process that occurs throughout our life time. Indeed I learned three important lessons last night.
Firstly I learned to overcome my fear of participating in public expressions of my personal stand on issues. Secondly I discovered that I am not alone in this quest for freedom, justice and equality as I could see so many other people of all ages and ethnicities making their stand for the same ideals.
Of course we can find these comments and opinions in blogs all over the internet. But seeing real people coming together for the same cause with our own eyes generates an overwhelming feeling of contention and brotherhood in our souls.
The third lesson I learned was that it is time for us to speak out now before our voices are muffled further by the powers that be.
Yes Raja Petra. Even when you are behind bars, you are still able to reach out and teach us a thing or two. Doesn’t this make the government’s effort to stifle your voice appear fruitless?
In fact Malaysiakini’s report ‘Cops foil anti-ISA leafleting bid’ http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/90441 further proofs that it is a futile effort to curb the dissemination of knowledge amongst the public.
The people at the vigil in Dewan Sri Pinang last night share a common dream. Some cynics might say that vigils and protests are also fruitless efforts which do not bring about any concrete results. They say that dreams shall remain dreams.
I, however, believe that dreams are little pockets of hope and if all of us share the same dream, then our hope of achieving real freedom, justice and equality in Malaysia will come true sooner than later.
I hope that you are not feeling too cold or lonely in your detention cell, sir. There were a lot of dreamers holding candles in their hands last night, and the numbers seem to multiply each week. We hope that the glow from these candles will keep you warm until the day brightness shine upon our country once again.
Until then, I wish you good health and peace.
Sincerely yours,
Edmond R
It appears that there is indeed a ray of light and hope as I read Malaysiakini’s article today entitled ‘ISA detainee allowed to visit sick son' http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/91304 . Perhaps our effort in holding candlelight vigils throughout the country is starting to produce some positive results after all.
The last vigil of this series will be held tonight at 9.00 pm Friday 17 October, 2008 at the same venue and I would like to encourage all readers to join in. To some, gatherings like these might seem to be a trivial and ineffective way to press for the abolishment of this draconian act. They say we need more constructive and direct negotiations with the government for the cause to be effective.
I am not part of the organising team nor any other non-governmental organisations, but I believe that FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS ONLY FREE IF WE USE IT. If we continue to refrain from speaking out for what we believe in, then we are paying a price for freedom.
The acronym ISA stands for Internal Security Act. We are internal – being citizens of our own independent country. But we feel totally insecure with the continuous existence of this act. How then are we suppose to be protected by the ISA if the act itself creates an atmosphere of fear and insecurity in all of us?
How are we suppose to feel safe when our freedom of speech is constantly under the threat of possible incarceration?
Therefore I urge everyone here, including your friends and family, to come and join us tonight for this last vigil to stand up for our basic rights. It doesn’t matter whether you come as a participant or a mere spectator. The most important thing is to make our presence felt to the powers that be. We must remind the government that the people have not given up hope for change.
I shall reproduce below the letter I wrote a few weeks ago after my first candle light vigil and hope that it will inspire you to join this peaceful gathering tonight.
“Dreams are little pockets of hope. And if we share the same dream, then our hope for freedom, justice and equality will come through sooner, rather than later.”
I Lit a Candle for Raja Petra
Posted on 27 September 2008
Dear Raja Petra,
I did something out of the ordinary last night, something which I would never have thought of doing in my entire life. I went to the anti-ISA candle light vigil in front of Dewan Sri Pinang and joined hundreds of others to call for the abolishment of this most draconian act and to secure the freedom of all detainees including your good self.
It is Saturday today and I wish I could wake up late. But there is a lot of work to be done including writing this letter to you. No, you do not know me personally, but like most Malaysians who have been reading your thoughts and ideas for a better Malaysia, I could feel a certain bond that your articles generated in me and millions of others in this country – the bond of humanity.
I did not know what to expect at this gathering because it was the first time I attended such an event. I thought that it would be as dark and gloomy as the current mood in our country, and that there would be hordes of angry people shouting inflammable slogans.
But as I approached the Esplanade, the sight of hundreds of candle lights flickering in between the brightly lit iconic Dewan Sri Pinang and the majestic court house, lifted my spirits. I began to feel a sense of purpose in my trip and a renewed surge of confidence arose in me.
The crowd that had gathered comprised of decent looking people of all ages. There were many elderly people who have lived through turbulent years and the younger generation who are starting to discover their own voices. But last night, all of these people shared a common purpose – to execute their duties as responsible citizens and to speak out for truth, justice, equality and freedom.
Suddenly, I was not alone.
There were a few speakers including a Member of Parliament and an ex-ISA detainee. Some of the speakers claim to know you personally. But I suppose, all of us there know you too, through your eye opening articles and the constant persecution by the authorities.
The question is - why did the government arrest you under an act which was meant to curtail terrorist activities during the Emergency, when all you ever did was to expound your thoughts and ideas by putting them into words?
It is true then, that the pen is mightier than the sword and the Internal Security Act is just a convenient eraser which has been constantly misused by the government to silence its critics. The original intention of this act was for the protection of the public. But now it has been used again and again for the protection of the government.
They say that you have insulted Islam to the extent that it might cause unrest among the people. I am not a Muslim and therefore unable to comment much on this. But I must say that you – Raja Petra Kamarudin – has taught me more about your religion than all the tedious Tamadun Islam (Islamic Civilization) lecturers during my first year in university. Yes, apart from the subjects we majored in, we also had to complete two semesters of Islamic Civilization course work.
It is sad indeed that the government arrested you just when you are starting to make the multiracial people of Malaysia understand more about your beautiful religion. They say that education is a continuous process that occurs throughout our life time. Indeed I learned three important lessons last night.
Firstly I learned to overcome my fear of participating in public expressions of my personal stand on issues. Secondly I discovered that I am not alone in this quest for freedom, justice and equality as I could see so many other people of all ages and ethnicities making their stand for the same ideals.
Of course we can find these comments and opinions in blogs all over the internet. But seeing real people coming together for the same cause with our own eyes generates an overwhelming feeling of contention and brotherhood in our souls.
The third lesson I learned was that it is time for us to speak out now before our voices are muffled further by the powers that be.
Yes Raja Petra. Even when you are behind bars, you are still able to reach out and teach us a thing or two. Doesn’t this make the government’s effort to stifle your voice appear fruitless?
In fact Malaysiakini’s report ‘Cops foil anti-ISA leafleting bid’ http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/90441 further proofs that it is a futile effort to curb the dissemination of knowledge amongst the public.
The people at the vigil in Dewan Sri Pinang last night share a common dream. Some cynics might say that vigils and protests are also fruitless efforts which do not bring about any concrete results. They say that dreams shall remain dreams.
I, however, believe that dreams are little pockets of hope and if all of us share the same dream, then our hope of achieving real freedom, justice and equality in Malaysia will come true sooner than later.
I hope that you are not feeling too cold or lonely in your detention cell, sir. There were a lot of dreamers holding candles in their hands last night, and the numbers seem to multiply each week. We hope that the glow from these candles will keep you warm until the day brightness shine upon our country once again.
Until then, I wish you good health and peace.
Sincerely yours,
Edmond R
It appears that there is indeed a ray of light and hope as I read Malaysiakini’s article today entitled ‘ISA detainee allowed to visit sick son' http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/91304 . Perhaps our effort in holding candlelight vigils throughout the country is starting to produce some positive results after all.
Monday, 13 October 2008
Datuk Dr Sun Yat Sen, Posthumous
The Malacca Government has awarded Shah Rukh Khan a Datukship for promoting the state in one of his movies. It goes to show how low the value of our national award has become these days. Many people are disgusted with the idea that a bump-shaking-hip-gyrating actor who relies on his pretty boy looks is soon to be called a Datuk whereas many more deserving Malaysians who have sacrificed their whole life to nation building are still not recognized. See Malaysiakini’s article ‘Outcry over Datukship for Bollywood heartthrob’ http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/91138Perhaps in this modern era where entertainment takes priority over the serious handling of the country’s socio-economic woes, it is normal for awards and titles to be given so freely to these frivolous clowns of music, song and dance.
If Shah Rukh Khan is able to get an award for slotting a tiny segment of Malacca into one of his movie scenes, then we should consider showering the director, producer and cast of the movie ‘Road To Dawn’ with the same honour. In fact this movie deserves more recognition as it is shot entirely in Penang and is an historical epic of Dr Sun Yat Sen during his stay on our island.
In fact, wouldn’t it be more meaningful if we decorate this Chinese nationalist who founded Modern China with a posthumous Datukship?
Our nation, or to be exact, the leaders and the upper echelon of society are so obsessed with titles and awards that they are willing to do anything to get them.
I wrote an article on this topic in June this year and I shall leave you here with the excerpt below:
Datuk! Datuk!
Posted 4 June 2008
Malaysia is currently overpopulated with Datuks. They are found everywhere – from business to politics, education to entertainment and factory owners to factory employees. If you throw a stone in any random direction, the chances are high that it will hit a Datuk’s car. There are so many Datuks and their variants these days. And I have not even included the spiritual kind who are enshrined and worshipped under shady trees, between rock crevasses and behind anthills on every street corner.
Nowadays everyone can claim to know a Datuk or two; not so much as for their good deeds and contribution to society but for their notoriety, mischief and infamy. These traditional honorific titles have been dished out profusely by both the State and Federal Government throughout the years and thus it is not surprising that one or two should fall into the barrel containing rotten apples. A recent example would be the late Datuk Zakaria Md Deros, the former Port Klang assemblyman, who illegally built a palatial mansion for himself. Read more…
Saturday, 11 October 2008
Ugly Malaysians
Malaysians have become an ugly lot and the billions of ringgit spent to promote our country through glossy advertisements can barely hide this ugly fact. We claim to welcome our visitors with open arms and open hearts, but push them away with our unfriendly attitude and fake hospitality.
Mind you, I am not even talking about foreign tourists yet. It is enough just to look at the way our leaders treat our own Malaysian guests at their open houses. A friendly visit to the Prime Minister’s Hari Raya open house recently by supporters of Hindraf and Raja Petra Kamarudin has been construed as an illegal assembly and a trespass.
If our leaders could not be amicable to our own people on such a festive day, what else more could we expect from the people running the tourism industry in this country?
Last night I went for a buffet dinner at a “6 stars” beach resort in Penang with a group of friends, which included a foreigner. Despite our table reservation being confirmed the day before, the staff could not find it on the list. After a period of blank stares and exchanges between the restaurant staff, we were finally ushered to a table in dead silence. The gloomy looking staff made no effort at all to apologize for their mistake.
The only jovial mood last night came from the guests. The chef, cooks, waiters and waitresses appeared to be in a perpetual state of sadness and at times, inattentive.
Comparing their service to the ones I received during my holiday in Bangkok recently, I would say that the Thai hawkers and food peddlers were more polite, respectful and intuitive to the needs of their guests.
It is sad indeed to witness their lack of capability in what is touted to be the best hotel in Penang, if not Malaysia. These are the front line people who come into contact with guests most of the time during their stay and the impression they leave on the guests will remain in their memory for a long time.
If this attitude continues to fester in all of us, more tourists will bypass Malaysia and head to Thailand where they are welcomed with smiles. One has to take note that Thailand is a non-English speaking country, and yet millions of tourists converge there every day to experience their charm.
Indeed a smile is one of those things that do not cost a single cent to produce, and yet worth a million.
Genuine hospitality comes from the heart and not merely the lips. The easiest way to inculcate this quality is to put ourselves in the shoes of our guests and be aware of their needs. We should always practise the concept of doing onto others what we want others to do upon us.
After two Visit Malaysia Years (1990 and 2007), most of our countrymen have still not managed to shed their self centred image. We have been duped by our politicians into thinking that we are invincible and can remain independent without foreign help and patronage. In reality, we are loosing out in all fields at an alarming rate, even to our poorer neighbours.
The most we can offer our guests these days are paper thin cosmetic smiles which seldom emanate from the heart.
Malaysia’s Tourism Ministry has been wasting a lot of taxpayers’ money on over-budgeted launching ceremonies and events. But they have overlooked the basic step in creating a tourist friendly and tourist driven culture amongst the people in the industry and all Malaysians in general.
That basic step is education and the dissemination of useful information to the public. Even in a small island like Penang, one would usually read about events and functions in the newspapers after they have happened. It seems like the tourism authority does not recognized the importance of pre publicity to encourage the local masses to attend these organized events.
I always believe that the most difficult thing to do is to look at ourselves in the mirror and accept the true image that is being reflected. We Malaysians should overcome this self denial and learn to be more courteous to everyone, irrespective of whether they are our own countrymen or guests from other nation.
Mind you, I am not even talking about foreign tourists yet. It is enough just to look at the way our leaders treat our own Malaysian guests at their open houses. A friendly visit to the Prime Minister’s Hari Raya open house recently by supporters of Hindraf and Raja Petra Kamarudin has been construed as an illegal assembly and a trespass.
If our leaders could not be amicable to our own people on such a festive day, what else more could we expect from the people running the tourism industry in this country?
Last night I went for a buffet dinner at a “6 stars” beach resort in Penang with a group of friends, which included a foreigner. Despite our table reservation being confirmed the day before, the staff could not find it on the list. After a period of blank stares and exchanges between the restaurant staff, we were finally ushered to a table in dead silence. The gloomy looking staff made no effort at all to apologize for their mistake.
The only jovial mood last night came from the guests. The chef, cooks, waiters and waitresses appeared to be in a perpetual state of sadness and at times, inattentive.
Comparing their service to the ones I received during my holiday in Bangkok recently, I would say that the Thai hawkers and food peddlers were more polite, respectful and intuitive to the needs of their guests.
It is sad indeed to witness their lack of capability in what is touted to be the best hotel in Penang, if not Malaysia. These are the front line people who come into contact with guests most of the time during their stay and the impression they leave on the guests will remain in their memory for a long time.
If this attitude continues to fester in all of us, more tourists will bypass Malaysia and head to Thailand where they are welcomed with smiles. One has to take note that Thailand is a non-English speaking country, and yet millions of tourists converge there every day to experience their charm.
Indeed a smile is one of those things that do not cost a single cent to produce, and yet worth a million.
Genuine hospitality comes from the heart and not merely the lips. The easiest way to inculcate this quality is to put ourselves in the shoes of our guests and be aware of their needs. We should always practise the concept of doing onto others what we want others to do upon us.
After two Visit Malaysia Years (1990 and 2007), most of our countrymen have still not managed to shed their self centred image. We have been duped by our politicians into thinking that we are invincible and can remain independent without foreign help and patronage. In reality, we are loosing out in all fields at an alarming rate, even to our poorer neighbours.
The most we can offer our guests these days are paper thin cosmetic smiles which seldom emanate from the heart.
Malaysia’s Tourism Ministry has been wasting a lot of taxpayers’ money on over-budgeted launching ceremonies and events. But they have overlooked the basic step in creating a tourist friendly and tourist driven culture amongst the people in the industry and all Malaysians in general.
That basic step is education and the dissemination of useful information to the public. Even in a small island like Penang, one would usually read about events and functions in the newspapers after they have happened. It seems like the tourism authority does not recognized the importance of pre publicity to encourage the local masses to attend these organized events.
I always believe that the most difficult thing to do is to look at ourselves in the mirror and accept the true image that is being reflected. We Malaysians should overcome this self denial and learn to be more courteous to everyone, irrespective of whether they are our own countrymen or guests from other nation.
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