Betel Nut Chronicles

Happy 3rd Anniversary Enlightened Malaysia

2011-03-08T12:19:00.000+08:00

The sound of silence is too loud for me to bear. And three years of abstinence from the blogging world has nearly made me stone deaf. With these few words, I hereby announce my return to Betel Nut Chronicles.

A new dawn brings with it a new beginning. And I am happy to say that ever since Pakatan Rakyat took over the helm three years ago, every new dawn that breaks in Penang is indeed a new beginning for all of us. Every sunrise is a celebration of a brighter future for the whole nation and every sunset marks another day of contentment, that finally; we have a government who listens to the people and works for the betterment of the people.

I am proud to say that we now have State leaders who listen to and respect the wishes of the people and in turn are respected by the people. Everywhere you go and everyone you meet in Penang these days seem to have an upbeat outlook of our future. There is no doubt that we are in for a rough ride to achieve our goals, but if the present government continues to stand for what is right and do what is right for the people, this ride will be a worthwhile journey.

Unfortunately, what is right might sometimes be unpleasant and unpopular with the public. Take for example the ‘No Plastic’ ruling which is now in full swing since the beginning of the year. There were some resistance at first and complaints of inconvenience and impracticality could be heard amongst shoppers. However, this is the right thing to do in order to curb wastage of plastic products and the ever increasing problem of its disposal.

I am glad to observe that with proper and gradual implementation coupled with continuous public announcement and education, this project has become a great success in Penang. It has managed to open the eyes of the people towards their environmental responsibility and to make us realize that each of us has the power to change the way we live and the world we live in.

In fact, the campaign itself has inadvertently conferred a sense of empowerment on the people.

The power to decide.

The power to choose.

The power to change.

I suppose this is precisely the reason why Penangites are generally more confident about their future nowadays. Before 2008, all we could feel was hopelessness and helplessness as we watch the previous leaders plundered our wealth and pulled our economy down into an infinite spiral. It was as if the whole State was out of control, and we the tax-paying public was being dragged into oblivion.

It became one of the major reasons why Penangites voted for change in 2008 because ‘casting the ballot’ seemed to be the only power that remained with the people and it appeared to be the only way out of all the negativity and foulness of that time.

CHANGE WE DID! And the rest, as they say, is history.

What I respect most about the present government led by The Right Honourable Mr Lim Guan Eng, is that it gives us a sense of empowerment. A government that is empowered by the people to govern, and in return, empowers the people.

Which other government, may I ask, has ever made us feel this way?

With that, I would like to wish everyone here a very Happy 3rd Anniversary Enlightened Malaysia and many more to come!

Edmond R

Happy 2nd Anniversary Enlightened Malaysia

2010-03-06T11:33:00.002+08:00

As we celebrate the 2nd. Anniversary of the March 8 2008 Political Tsunami that hit Malaysia two years ago, let us stand together in justice, equality, progress and a new freedom. A toast to the New Merdeka of Malaysia!

Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray!

Pantun Rakyat Merdeka
By See Teik Guan

Tanah pasir gersang terbentang
Anak pertiwi mencangkul tulang
Merdeka apa yang sering dilaungkan?
Terlepas kongkongan, masuk cengkaman?

Bumi hijau warisan bonda
Bencana insan rakus melanda
Hilang begitu sekelip mata
Tangisan sedih kampung ke kota

Pendekar palsu barisan negara
Keris dijulang sorak membara
Tatkala benak akal kemarau
Sembunyi dibalik panji harimau

Bulan tiga subuh menjelang
Bulan lapan terang benderang
Suara rakyat melambung angkasa
Permatang diharungi wira perkasa

Apakah ini babak kedua
Hikayat bangsa negara Malaysia?
Bebas dan adil terserlah di muka
Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! MERDEKA!!!

Commentary in English
1. The arid land lies far and wide before our eyes, despite the years of hard work and struggles of our forefathers and many generations after them. What then, is the meaning of Merdeka, if we still remain slaves after achieving freedom?

2. Our land was once rich and prosperous. But the greed of man turns out to be the greatest plunderer of our wealth. All our hard work has gone to waste in the blink of an eye and tears flow from the villages to the cities.

3. We are led by false warriors who scream and shout and raise their keris. And when their minds are devoid of plans and ideas, they cower behind the banner of the tiger.

4. In March this year (2008), we witnessed a new dawn. And in August, the sky is bright and sunny again. The people’s voices are heard throughout the nation as they cheer the new warrior’s success in crossing the ridge (permatang)

5. Does this mark the beginning of the second chapter of our nation’s history? The people’s faces are smiling with hope of a new freedom and justice for the country, as they shout Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! MERDEKA!!!

The Irresponsible Prime Minister

2010-01-08T12:48:00.002+08:00

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.

A Flame is Lit in the Courts Today

2008-11-07T11:59:00.005+08:00

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

Valuecap - Gambling the People's Money Away

2008-10-25T09:17:00.001+08:00

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.

The Insignificance of Lah

2008-10-20T18:12:00.004+08:00

“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?

Abolish ISA Candle Light Vigil TONIGHT at 9 pm Dewan Sri Pinang

2008-10-17T10:43:00.006+08:00

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.

Datuk Dr Sun Yat Sen, Posthumous

2008-10-13T16:36:00.003+08:00

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/91138

Perhaps 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…

Ugly Malaysians

2008-10-11T16:13:00.003+08:00

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.

Bangkok Pilgrimage

2008-10-08T15:27:00.003+08:00

Despite the massive street protests in Bangkok recently, many tourists are still unfazed by the uncertainties of the political upheaval and continue to visit this amazing Land of Smiles. I was there recently for my biannual pilgrimage to this wonderful land of delicious food, superb shopping and yes, countless smiles. In fact everyone there from the hawkers to businessmen seemed to be smiling so much that it became contagious.

Contrary to what the international media tried to portray about the riots and violent demonstrations in the city, the actual situation on the ground was calm and safe. During my stay there, I hardly noticed any police presence at all. It was business as usual for everyone.

If these protests were to be held in Malaysia, there would have been road blocks, traffic congestion and hordes of men in blue with water canons everywhere. And if things were to get a little heated up, we would have ended up having a Songkran Festival (Water Festival) with chemically laced water being sprayed into the crowds and tear gas exploding in place of fireworks.

I have been going to Bangkok for my holidays twice a year for the past few years and through my journeys, I must say that we Malaysians have a lot to learn from the Thais especially in the field of politics, tourism and social etiquettes.

Since 1932, Thailand has been through many elected government and military coups. But despite this constant change in power, the country has managed to achieve a balanced progress in the fields of agriculture, industry and business. Whereas here in Malaysia, despite having a single government who has ruled for the past 51 years, our agriculture, industry and business sectors are struggling in an ‘ai-si-ai-uak’ (half dead, half alive) situation.

Tuan-tuan dan puan-puan sekalian. We do not have to look East or West for inspiration. Just look North at our closest neighbour and learn from them. It is a positive move to liberalize air services between Singapore and Malaysia as reported in Malaysiakini’s article entitled ‘KL, S’pore further liberalise air travel’ http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/90782 but we should also look North and learn from our Nothern neighbour too.

Rice is the staple food of Malaysia and the rest of South East Asia. Rice is in constant demand. Theoretically those who are involved in the business of producing and selling rice should remain profitable. But what we get here in Malaysia are farmers who are constantly in a state of ai-si-ai-uak who depend of government subsidies to sustain their income and a nation who depend on rice imports to fulfill their needs.

What a shame indeed! It is not because our climate is very much different from that of Thailand that our yield of rice is lower. It is most likely due to the weak agricultural policies and lack of research and development that has caused the agriculture sector to remain static and non-competitive for years.

Another sector which Malaysia can emulate Thailand is the tourism sector. It would seem that the whole of Thailand is geared towards welcoming visitors and making their stay memorable. Not only are the hoteliers and shop assistants friendly, but the common people are generally decent and show the same amount of respect towards everyone, irrespective of whether you are a foreigner or a local.

In Malaysia however, the attitude of most workers who come closest in contact with tourists leave much to be desired. We have taxi drivers who refuse to go by meter and are easily provoked by the slightest criticism. We have restaurateurs who refuse to accept comments about their food unless they are positive comments.

And then there are the crappy tourists traps that leave tourists cheated and short changed.

Of course I must say that there are similar happenings in Bangkok but somehow, one does not get that feeling of emptiness despite having to pay a higher than the usual price for goods and services. I suppose the high value of service they put into fleecing you covers for the negative effect.

Tourism is about being a good host and making the tourists feel happy. I don’t think anyone would mind paying more for a good level of service.

So, tuan-tuan dan puan-puan sekalian. If our taxi drivers really improve their services and follow fair practices, then it is right that their fee schedule be reviewed and upgraded accordingly. If our restaurateurs are willing to accept the comments about their food and improve on it, then they may charge the customer accordingly.

Until then, let us wait and see.

At the same time, let us not be surprised that millions and millions of tourists, including Malaysians, continue to flock to Thailand for their vacation.

The only way to save ourselves is to, as the UMNO leaders like to say, ‘return to our grassroots’ and improve our social etiquette and attitude.

An Aidil Fitri for All Malaysians

2008-09-29T17:54:00.001+08:00

I would like to wish all readers of this blog Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri and Maaf Zahir Batin. If you are traveling this season, may you have a safe and happy journey back to your home town. As for those who are going on a vacation, like yours truly, I would like to wish all of you Happy Discovery and may you have a wonderful time, wherever you are.

I am sure most of you have met people who discourage us from wishing our friends of other faiths well during their festivities. Some say that it is not right for a person to celebrate the joy and spirit of another person’s religion. I find these people very daunting indeed.

Regardless of what the government and religious zealots (sometimes they are the same people) try to tell us, Malaysians have been celebrating each others’ festivals since we started living together in this beloved country long ago. We, the rakyat should stand united and reject the segregating prophecies of these doomsayers, who have been trying to divide our society all these years.

If you have noticed recently, a crescent moon has appeared over the banner of Betel Nut Chronicles to signify the arrival of Syawal.

Let us celebrate this wonderful feast in our own special way and join hands with our friends and family to propel the country towards freedom, justice and equality.

In the midst of our celebrations, let us not forget to light a candle for Raja Petra Kamarudin who has shown us the way forward as one united Malaysian nation. See “I Lit a Candle for Raja Petra” .

I Lit a Candle for Raja Petra

2008-09-27T17:07:00.007+08:00

(Photograph by Amiruddin of Wartawan Rasmi Laman Reformasi)

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?

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

The photo above is by Amiruddin of Wartawan Rasmi Laman Reformasi

View more photographs at these websites

Anil Netto

The Obnoxious 5x Mom

More comments in The Star

Candle Light Vigil Tonight at Dewan Sri Pinang

2008-09-26T16:41:00.003+08:00

There will be a candle light vigil in front of Dewan Sri Pinang tonight at 9.30 pm (Friday 26 September 2008). This vigil is open to the public and is meant to support the abolishment of the Internal Security Act. It is time each and everyone of us speak out for freedom, justice and equality.

Winter of our Discontent

2008-09-25T15:24:00.002+08:00

This is the winter of our discontent. The sky is gloomy and the region is being ravaged by typhoon after typhoon. President Bush has announced that his country is on the brink of an economic crisis. Oil prices are highly unstable and the world looks for a clear direction in the midst of darkness.

Here in Malaysia, Raja Petra Kamarudin has been detained under the Internal Security Act. Our economy is going to the dumps as reported in Malaysiakini’s article “FDI outflow at record high” http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/90345 and it looks like the situation is not going to get better anytime soon.

Suddenly there is deafening silence from both sides of the government. Pakatan Rakyat’s momentum for change seems to have ceased for the moment and the government continues to stroll along casually.

Is this the calm before the storm?

Race Relation Actors

2008-09-22T10:31:00.000+08:00

Unity and racial harmony cannot be achieved merely by parliamentary acts, laws or government policies. In fact it will worsen inter-racial relationships if there is no proper enforcement of the law and an efficient judiciary system to oversee its judicious usage.

Therefore it is quite unsettling to read in the papers that the Cabinet has approved the creation of a Race Relation Act. Malaysiakini’s article entitled “ISA – one for the dustbin of history” http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/90103 has demonstrated the ludicrousness of our country’s outdated laws. But it seems that our politicians are still behaving like actors in a fictitious play, absorbed in their own fantasies of being at the helm of power in a totalitarian world.

The only way to unite people is to identify a common thread that binds us all and not by imposing further punishing acts to highlight our differences. We already have adequate laws and acts to protect our citizens from racists and rouges who are out to create trouble. The actual problem lies in the high-handed implementation and biased enforcement of these laws.

That coupled with the questionable independence of the judiciary system has created a foul atmosphere of unfairness and injustice among the people of Malaysia. What is the use of enacting new acts and laws if they are going to be misused and misinterpreted again and again?

The latest example would be the incarceration of the reporter Tan Hoon Cheng of Sin Chew under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for correctly reporting Ahmad Ismail’s racially contemptuous speech during the Permatang Pauh by-elections. Everyone is perplexed as to why the messenger was arrested whereas the perpetrator received just a mild punishment, not from the police, but from his own political party.

If the government is serious about encouraging racial unity, then these prophets of racial tension should be investigated, arrested and tried in court. By muffling the voice of the people and shrouding the reality of the nation, the government appears to be sweeping problems under the carpet rather than dealing with them earnestly.

What is the use of enacting a new Race Relations Act when the government obviously could not or rather, would not execute the present laws fairly?

The common thread that all of us share is that we are, first and foremost, HUMAN BEINGS. Each one of us is a child of MOTHER EARTH, striving daily to exist in the company of billions of others. We are all equal in the face of nature.

It is only when we start to adorn ourselves with different skin colours and religious robes that we stray further and further away from this common bond of humanity. In Malaysia, these differences are made more pronounced and in fact, encouraged by the system of communal politics practiced since time immemorial.

How can we even try to look beyond our race and religion, if our leaders continue to harp on issues that separate us and at the same time impose laws which are against humanity on the people?

No amount of acts or laws can ensure racial and religious harmony if they do not respect the basic tenets of humanity. How can we expect people of different races and religion to trust each other if they are not treated with justice and equality?

If there is any act or law which should be enacted and upheld to unify the people, it should be called the ‘Law of Humanity and Human Rights’ and not ‘Race Relation Act’ or ‘Internal Security Act’. This ‘humanized Act’ will celebrate human beings simply as human beings, and it shall incorporate ideas of freedom, justice and equality.

People should be taught to appreciate their own differences and give equal respect and adoration for each other’s culture. We are what we are born to be – Malay, Chinese and Indian – but we can be a better human being if we understand other people’s way of life.

But after having said all that, let us take a step backwards and ponder on this question.

DOES MALAYSIA REALLY SUFFER FROM RACIAL AND RELIGIOUS DISCORD IN THIS TIME AND DAY?

Forty years ago, if Ahmad Ismail had said what he said in Permatang Pauh, chaos would have broken out throughout the country. Forty years ago, if Tan Hoon Cheng were to be arrested under the ISA for some silly reason such as self protection, people would have taken to the streets to demand for her release.

However, what we see today are civilized retorts and candle light vigils organized by politically matured civilians from all sides – the opposition supporters, concerned citizens and even political parties from the ruling coalition itself. Malaysians can now see through the veil of injustice that has clouded our vision for a long time.

But what makes me proud to be a Malaysian today is that although the government is on the brink of collapse and the Prime Minister is facing increasing pressure from within his own party and externally from the opposition coalition, WE, the common RAKYAT MALAYSIA are still going about our daily chores peacefully and orderly.

It is a shame that the largest party that governed the country for the past fifty years has not realized this important change that had occurred in our society. Due to their recalcitrant mindset and static policies, Barisan Nasional has not been able to adapt themselves to the present political realities of modern Malaysia. In other words, they remain stuck way below in evolution ladder of the nation.

We Malaysians should give ourselves a pat on the back for having the common sense to live together all this while despite the constant reminder about the threat of racial discord by the Government. We do not need more parliamentary acts to secure the social fabric that has already been strengthening by itself throughout these years.

What we do need is the abolishment of suppressive acts such as the Internal Security Act and the incorporation of humanity friendly laws which will ensure that the Malaysian society thrive in an atmosphere of freedom, justice and equality.

Change

2008-09-17T16:24:00.004+08:00

The only CONSTANT in life is DEATH. That makes everything else subject to CHANGE.

The wealthy man becomes poor overnight. The powerful is weakened. Happiness turns into sadness. The upright person falls into the temptation of corruption.

On the other hand, the destitute finds salvation. The accused is vindicated. Failure turns into success. And darkness dawns into a bright new day.

Yes. Change is the essence of life and the world we live in. And in politics, change is paramount to the survival and success of any nation.

So when we read articles in Malaysiakini like “Anwar:We’ve more than 31 defectors” http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/89807 and the dateline of September 16 to form the new government has passed by, people begin to question the validity of his claim.

Does Anwar Ibrahim really have the required number of Members of Parliament for the cross over to happen? Is Malaysia going to be governed continuously by an embattled and visionless Barisan Nasional government?

Malaysians are an impatient lot. They are akin to patients who would consume all sorts of unhealthy food and dubious herbs, but refuse to take medication prescribed by a qualified doctor, citing side effects and severe reactions. They would rather listen to stories and fabled treatment introduced by their relatives and friends.

Indeed it is said that a good doctor is one who can convince the ‘doctor’ within the patient.

It is a fact that our country is on the downward slide in the fields of economy, education, environmental protection and politics itself. We need a good doctor – a leader who can steer our nation away from this storm of uncertainty and lead us towards progress and success.

Unfortunately good doctors do not come by that easily. The last “doctor” – a real doctor that is – ruled for more than two decades and prescribed hundreds of unnecessary projects that mostly failed. Our current Prime Minister, although not as flamboyant or aggressive, continues to drain our national coffers by allowing the country to run on auto-pilot.

But for the past five months since the last election, the sky has become a little bit brighter as the whole country opted for change. Amidst all these excitement, there appeared a leader who has gone through tremendous and often tumultuous changes in his life and career.

Anwar Ibrahim – student leader, politician, Deputy Prime Minister, political prisoner, Oppostion leader – and now a potential Prime Minister in waiting. If anyone could understand the significance of change, it must be him.

It is obvious that the current leadership in Barisan Nasional do not know anything about change. To them a mere swapping of Ministry portfolio between the Prime Minister and his Deputy is already considered a great step. See “Najib takes over as finance minister” http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/89884

Our country has been stagnant for so long that people have forgotten about the difficulties to effect a change. The slight delay in forming a new government is seen as proof of Anwar’s defeat.

Let us not forget that he took only five months from the unexpected opposition victory in March 2008 to arrive at this stage, whereas the Barisan Nasional Government is still somewhat stuck in their feudal ways for the past fifty years. That is a victory by itself.

If we have waited for half a century for change, I am sure we can afford to be patient and wait for a few more days or weeks.

After all Malaysia is not going anywhere unless there is a change in leadership.

Read comments by viewers of The Star here.

Poem of the Mid-Autumn Revolution

2008-09-15T11:13:00.006+08:00

Poem of the Mid-Autumn Revolution

Though our leaves are evergreen
Autumn falls like it’s never been
Though gentle rain doth water fields
The drought of freedom doth prevails

This land was carved by sweat and tears
By hands and hearts, by hunger and fears
For those who’ve fallen for standing right
We’ll stand together to light a light

A nation stained with evil thoughts
By men with souls that the devil bought
We’ll rise again in unison
One voice towards a bright new dawn

By Edmond R
Malaysia is one of the most fortunate countries in the world. We are surrounded by volcanoes, and yet we have none. We are in the midst of typhoons, and yet they seldom make landfall in our country. Our land is rich and fertile, our forests are evergreen. And yet, autumn falls like it’s never been falling before.

The recent political maneuvering and crackdown carried out by the embattled government has cast a dark spell over our nation. We always talk about Merdeka and freedom, and yet our freedom is constantly being curtailed by restrictive laws and acts.

Our forefathers came to this land from the East and West, and with their bare hands, crafted our nation to become one of prosperity and success. And when the people stood up for what is right, they are made to fall into the net of incarceration. For these fallen people, let us light a candle to flame their courage.

Let us all come together peacefully as one to usher in a bright new dawn.

Long live the People’s Voice!

Also see
Poem to the Mid-Autumn Moon
Malaysia’s Mid-Autumn Revolution

Photograph downloaded from Anil Netto's blog

Poem to the Mid-Autumn Moon

2008-09-12T17:03:00.008+08:00

Poem to the Mid-Autumn Moon

Incense smoke the midnight sky
As lighted dragons come to life
Laughter, prayer soaring high
Happy children husband wife

Mountains carved in moonlight sheen
Rivers rustle through the land
What finest gem within this scene
That feasts the eyes and hearts of Man

Tea imbibed with sweet delight
Lotus paste and song birds croon
Poets chart the maiden’s flight
With paean to the autumn moon

By Edmond R

The Mid-Autumn Festival or Mooncake festival brings back childhood memories of a mystical night filled with magical creatures coming to life. Amidst the fragrance of incense from the altar set up for praying to Guek Neo or Moon Goddess, I still recall our childhood laughter as we paraded our colourful paper lanterns in the streets. These lanterns are of various shapes and sizes depicting mythical creatures such as the dragon, phoenix and other animals.

The full moon is always at its brightest at this time of the year and the sky is illuminated by the pearly glow of the moonlight. Indeed, if we use our imagination, we can easily make out beautiful mountains and rivers from the cloud formation as the moon glides gracefully across the heavens.

As the night progresses, friends and family gather around to savour delicious moon cakes and tea. This is also the night when poets recite poems in praise of the beauty of the Moon Goddess, as she looks over us from her throne above.

Betel Nut Chronicles would like to wish all of you a peaceful, elegant and fine Mid-Autumn Festival.

Malaysia's Mid-Autumn Revolution

2008-09-11T16:14:00.004+08:00

Fairy tales and politics have always been antagonistic and yet they maintain a symbiotic relationship. The Mid-Autumn Festival or Mooncake Festival as it is popularly known is no exception. This festival is celebrated every year on the full moon night of the eight lunar month of the Chinese calendar (September 14 this year) and its origin can be traced back to two widely accepted stories – one a myth about an immortal lady on the moon; the other about a people’s revolution in China.

The first story tells of the lady Chang’e who took the forbidden pill of immortality and floated up to the moon, where she remained until today with the jade rabbit by her side. It is said that the rabbit is still trying to recreate the pill to help Chang’e return to Earth.

The second story concerns the uprising of the Chinese people against the Mongol rule during the Yuan Dynasty in the 14th century. Notes asking the people to revolt against the Mongols on the 15th night of the 8th lunar month were secretly inserted into mooncakes and distributed among the Chinese people. The revolution was successful and what followed was the prosperous era of the Ming Dynasty.

Perhaps that is why, after so many centuries, people are still celebrating this mystical night vibrantly with exquisite mooncakes, colourful lanterns and romantic poems.

Nowadays with the advent of cosmetic surgery to create the semblance of ‘immortality’ amongst our vain Datins and Datuks, and the usage of short messaging services and the internet to spread information of national importance, the two stories about the origin of the Mooncake festival have taken a new twist as our nation witnesses its own Mid-Autumn Revolution.

As if combining the mystique of a fairy tale and the reality of revolution, Malaysians are experiencing a national awakening of our political consciousness after 50 years of blissful but ignorant slumber. We are going through a revolution, not of violence and bloodshed, but of intellectual discourse and passionate expressions of our hope for true freedom, justice and equality for all.

The three significant dates which Malaysians should be proud of are March 8, August 26 and September 16. On March the 8th, the people voiced their displeasure against a government which had turned into a destructive force to the nation. It was done decisively through a general election which was civil and peaceful.

On August the 26th, the nation was once again gripped with election fever, and once again the voice of the people propelled Anwar Ibrahim to become their leader to lead them towards the achievement of their hopes and ideals.

And now, we are getting closer to September the 16th, the date set by Anwar as the day he will replace the present inefficient government with one which will transform the hopes and ideals of the rakyat from fairy tale musings into reality.

The rakyat from both sides of the camp have found their voices and they want to be heard. Despite the looming threat of incarceration by the government, people have realized that they are the ones, who in the end hold the key to the future of the country.

Whether or not Anwar succeeds in his bid to become the next Prime Minister by September 16 is irrelevant. The important outcome is the rakyat have started to live up to their responsibilities as true citizens of Malaysia by taking control of the reins of the political horses that run the country.

Even the die-hard supporters of the ruling parties are questioning the validity of their own leaders one by one. The demand by Barisan Nasional leaders that UMNO’s Ahmad Ismail be swiftly punished for his racial comments revealed that the component parties of the coalition have started to realize their insignificance throughout these years and are now demanding for their equal rights and respect.

Here in Penang, the people are gearing up for a celebration or two. Colourful lanterns in various shapes of animals and objects are on parade in the streets of George Town. Mooncakes, both traditional and modern, are being exchanged between well wishers.

And two poems are being composed throughout the nation – “The Poem to the Mid-Autumn Moon” and “The Poem of the Mid-Autumn Revolution”. The former in celebration of a legend, the latter in celebration of the people’s political awakening.

Yes. Fairy tales and politics have always been antagonistic and yet symbiotic. In politics, we look for a legend to inspire and move the nation towards freedom, justice and equality. And legendary tales survive to this day because they are perpetuated from generation to generation.

May this Mid-Autumn Festival be a double celebration for all Malaysians.

Landslides and Floods

2008-09-08T17:30:00.001+08:00

The current landslides and flood in Penang is not due to heavy rain and the natural terrain of the island. It is due to Man’s insatiable greed for land and his blatant disrespect for Mother Nature’s modesty. Forgive me for sounding like President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa who once said that AIDS is not caused by the HIV virus.

But if we continue to blame Mother Nature for the disasters that happen on our island, then I suppose we deserve to be labeled as deniers and apologetics.

The current massive hillside development projects by Asia Green and Ivory Homes along the Batu Ferringhi coastline have caused massive erosion throughout the years. What is left of the once pristine green hills are naked walls of red soil held together by paper thin retaining walls that appear as if they are going to collapse anytime.

Many projects approved by the previous State government were hastily planned and most probably have not gone through any detailed and proper Environmental Impact Assessment. This is what caused the landslides and floods all over the island last weekend.

The present government should put a stop to all these rampant rape of our environment and reassess the development of these areas. Developers, and not the tax payers, should be made to pay for the damages caused by their own man-made disasters and compensate the people for their loss.

After all these greedy developers are the ones who are making huge profits from the massacre of our land. It is sad to see these people destroying our natural heritage for the sake of satisfying the fancies of a few luxury home owners.

Related Articles
Soil Erosion in Batu Ferringhi
Environmental Terrorism Alert

Between a Thai Chef and a Malaysian Civil Servant

2008-09-04T07:04:00.004+08:00

Politics is the only profession that anyone from any other professions can claim to be in practice. Malaysia has seen its fair share of these “pretenders to the throne” – a prince, a lawyer, an army man, a doctor and last but not least, a civil servant.

The princely Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman (who was also a lawyer) secured our country’s Independence from the British and governed Malaysia through tough but exciting times. The lawyer Tun Abdul Razak came in next and introduced one of the most destructive policies for a multiracial country. Then the army man Tun Hussein Onn took over during the years of relative peace and progress.

After that THE doctor arrived and prescribed hundreds of mega projects and monuments to cure the country of the plague of international obscurity. Economic progress was achieved amidst extreme feelings of love from his supporters and hatred from his opposers.

Lastly, and unfortunately the least of all, came the civil servant Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and the rest, they say, is history.

Malaysia is not alone when it comes to choosing the queerest of people to lead the country. Our neighbouring Thailand too, has a professional chef as its current Prime Minister. Perhaps that is the reason why both Prime Ministers Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Samak Sundaravej are facing increasing pressure from their own people to step down due to their ineffective leaderships.

The only difference between the chef and the civil servant is that the former has to deal with violent protests whereas the latter is still blissfully ignorant of the current silent revolution taking place in his own country.

The first jolt to Abdullah’s leadership was on 8 March 2008 when the ruling party lost its two thirds majority in parliament and five states fell to the opposition. The second eye opener was Anwar Ibrahim’s landslide victory in Permatang Pauh on 26 August 2008, which paved his way to parliament, albeit as an opposition leader.

Is our Prime Minister hoping to be ‘third time lucky’?

From the current state of affairs, if ‘third time lucky’ does come true, it will be the Pakatan Rakyat’s luck rather than his.

The gist of the story is, people should choose their leaders carefully. In countries where the people have a choice, they should assess the capabilities of their politicians and ensure that they have a certain amount of qualification before electing them. Experience, charisma and political agility are important, but the candidate should have at least a certain degree of academic proficiency, to put it politely.

The modern world is a different world from the one a century ago. We need leaders who are technologically savvy, economically well versed and ready to react positively to any developing crisis. More importantly, we need leaders who are pro-active and pliable to change when the need arises.

Politics is one of the most important professions required for the development and progress of any country. And yet it is sad to note that most politicians in the world today, including those from Malaysia, are not trained in politics.

Amidst all the feudal titles like Tan Sri and Datuk Seri; and professional qualifications like Professor, Doctor (Dr.) and Ingenieur (Ir.) that adorn our politicians’ names, shouldn’t there be at least a Degree or a Doctorate in Political Science to add to their already elongated pomposity?

Pantun Rakyat Merdeka

2008-08-29T17:21:00.011+08:00

I was not there the night when the flame of reformation was lit in Permatang Pauh. But after reading news articles and reports in the media, I could almost feel the warmth and excitement of the atmosphere there. The time is ripe for Anwar Ibrahim to carry this flame to Parliament and then onwards to Putrajaya, to lead the country towards a new era of justice, freedom and equality.

People are lamenting about the lack of preparation for this year’s Merdeka celebrations. Even Dr. Mahathir said that this year’s event lacks joy and exuberance. He, of all people, should know the reason why.

I suppose the rakyat is already so disillusioned by the present government that they are just waiting for the NEW Merdeka to bloom.

Below is a poem which was inspired by the events of August 26 and the imminent NEW Merdeka of September 16. May all Malaysians be blessed with many wonderful and successful years from now on.

Pantun Rakyat Merdeka
By Edmond R

Tanah pasir gersang terbentang
Anak pertiwi mencangkul tulang
Merdeka apa yang sering dilaungkan?
Terlepas kongkongan, masuk cengkaman?

Bumi hijau warisan bonda
Bencana insan rakus melanda
Hilang begitu sekelip mata
Tangisan sedih kampung ke kota

Pendekar palsu barisan negara
Keris dijulang sorak membara
Tatkala benak akal kemarau
Sembunyi dibalik panji harimau

Bulan tiga subuh menjelang
Bulan lapan terang benderang
Suara rakyat melambung angkasa
Permatang diharungi wira perkasa

Apakah ini babak kedua
Hikayat bangsa negara Malaysia?
Bebas dan adil terserlah di muka
Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! MERDEKA!!!

Commentary in English

1. The arid land lies before our eyes, far and wide, despite the hard work and struggles of our forefathers and many generations after them. What then is the meaning of Merdeka if we still remain slaves after having achieved freedom?

2. Our land was once rich and prosperous. But the greed of man turns out to be the greatest plunderer of our wealth. All our hard work has gone to waste in the blink of an eye and tears flow from the villages to the cities.

3. We are led by false warriors who scream and shout and raise their keris. And when their minds are devoid of plans and ideas, they hide behind the banner of the tiger.

4. In March this year, we witnessed a new dawn. And just this August, the sky is bright and sunny again. The people’s voices are heard throughout the nation as they cheer the new warrior’s success in crossing the ridge (permatang)

5. Does this mark the beginning of the second chapter of our nation’s history? The people’s face smiling with hope of a new freedom and justice for the country, as they shout Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! MERDEKA!!!

Return Our Nation's Dignity!

2008-08-26T22:36:00.009+08:00

After 51 years of mismanagement by the Barisan Nasional government, our nation has totally lost its dignity. But on the 26th of August 2008, a flame was lit in Permatang Pauh to dispel the darkness and gloom in our country. The people have entrusted this flame to Anwar Ibrahim who will carry it to Parliament and hopefully to Putrajaya, to enlighten the whole nation and return our long lost dignity.

Amidst the celebration of Anwar’s decisive victory in the by-election, let me tell you the story of our nation and the factors that led to our current sad state of affairs. We begin with our much beloved National Anthem – the Negaraku.

The original 1957 version of the national anthem Negaraku was a majestic composition of soulful musical notes accompanied by a stirring tempo that instilled a sense of patriotism and belonging in me whenever it was played. It didn’t matter whether the tune originated from the popular song ‘Terang Bulan’ or the Hawaiian serenade ‘Mamula Moon’ by Felix Mendelssohn.

To me, the original national anthem was perfectly arranged to carry those beautiful lyrics emanating from our hearts as they soar into the great Malaysian sky.

Then in 1992, the government changed its tempo into a marching rhythm and stripped our national symbol of all reverence. It became a vile piece of circus music which symbolized Barisan Nasional’s misrule and the rape of our country’s resources under Mahathir’s administration.

The draining of our nation’s wealth continued on and in 2003, during the period of power transition from Mahathir to Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the national anthem was once again altered by the composer Wah Idris. By then, the Negaraku has been transformed into an ambiguous piece of music with a nondescript beginning and a confused ending, reflecting the persona of our current Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

No doubt Wah Idris has added a few flourishes in the composition and reduced the pace of the tempo, but it failed to rekindle the romance and dignity of the original version.

The story of our national anthem resembles the nation’s progress from Independence until today. We started out full of hope and vision, and then in midway, our ideals were sabotaged by the very government we voted in to protect us. After 51 years of political rummaging and ransacking, the nation is left dry and deserted – stripped of all dignity, like our Negaraku itself.

For half a century, Barisan Nasional has done everything in their power to tarnish the image of our once vibrant country. Instead of hard work and resilience, our leaders have chosen short cut ways to develop the nation. Once sided policies, nepotism and cronyism have created a lazy and uncompetitive population who have no power nor drive to compete with the outside world. The government has effectively produced a whole new breed of ‘invertebrates’ that require continuous assistance for survival.

Corruption has become the norm rather than the exception in our once respected civil service. Prodded on by the laissez-faire attitude of our leaders, civil servants have risen to become the masters of the people instead of the other way round. These 1.15 million ‘mini-sultans’ have evolved into a monolith of lethargy and inertia; slowing down further whatever miniscule progress we have left in our country.

It is even more deplorable to see politicians who have been tainted with allegations of corruption and other crimes, being recycled election after election, some even going on to become leaders in the government. Do they not feel any shame at all even though they know the whole world is watching and most probably laughing at them?

When we have unqualified leaders like them, it is not surprising that our country lost billions of ringgit throughout the years from mismanagement and dubious bail-outs of politically affiliated companies. The nation’s wealth and resources are then further wasted on ‘white elephant’ mega projects which always seem to fill the bulging pockets of a few and bring little benefit to the common people.

And then, as if we have a hidden treasure chest with unending supply of money, our leaders sponsor ridiculous record breaking feats and built unnecessary monuments to lull themselves into thinking that the nation has achieved something momentous. These leaders and their followers might be blind enough to be easily satisfied with their self-proclaimed achievements, but the people of Malaysia are fed up with their antics.

To further fuel the people’s anger, our underachieving government has decided to award Datukships to our underachieving Olympiad athletes who only managed to garner a silver medal or two for the country. This confirms the government’s lack of commitment towards excellence; something which is ingrained in the government machinery all these years. How can the nation be successful if we continue to encourage Malaysians to be underachievers while the whole world is going for the ultimate gold?

I must reiterate here that rewards are important inducements for success and excellence. But the rewards should be in the form of proper and beneficial aids to propel the growth of the recipient, and not merely feudal titles which have been cheapened by our politicians throughout these years.

The dignity of the nation is further eroded when the government blatantly misuses religion to create fear amongst the multiethnic people of Malaysia. Religion is being used to frustrate the efforts of Anwar Ibrahim to enter Parliament and possibly become the next Prime Minister. UMNO has also used religion many times to exude a ‘holier than thou’ disposition when confronting the opposition party PAS.

But on top of all that, I believe the last remnants of our nation’s dignity have been completely swept away by the continuous use of the Internal Security Act to stifle dissenting voices and to incarcerate visionary leaders. We call ourselves a democratic nation but the government has no qualms in denying the people the very first tenet of democracy – the freedom of speech.

Malaysia will be celebrating its 51st year of Independence from the British this coming weekend and my fervent wish for this Merdeka Day is for our nation’s dignity to be returned to us. Only a visionary leader who believes in justice, freedom and equality will be able to do that. May Anwar Ibrahim’s path from Permatang Pauh to Parliament will be clearly lit and may he have the perseverance and strength to lead the nation to success.

Let us hope that this 51st anniversary will mark the 1st year of our nation’s reformation.

Very soon, we will be able to sing the Negaraku with pride, joy and dignity again!

View article in Malaysia Today and Malaysiakini.

Malaysia Today's mirror site can be accessed at http://mt.harapanmalaysia.com/2008/

Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Closing Ceremony

2008-08-22T17:51:00.005+08:00

The closing ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games is scheduled to start at 8.00 pm (Betel Nut Island Time GMT + 8) on Sunday, 24th of August, 2008. I am sure it will be another breath taking event that will mesmerize all our senses.

People here in Penang are still talking about the wonderful Opening Ceremony which was held more than two weeks ago. I am sure Zhang Yimou will present to us another spectacular display of Chinese culture amidst blasts of fireworks, dances, music and colour.

On this auspicious occasion, the Betel Nut Chronicles’ banner has been infused with a multitude of colours signifying the “Harmonious Diversity of the Human Race”.

May all Malaysians discard their ethnic and religious identities and come together as one Human Race to embrace the Spirit of Togetherness.

Goodbye Beijing. Hello London 2012!

Retardation of a Nation

2008-08-19T17:48:00.006+08:00

Malaysian leaders are hypocrites. On one hand the Ministry of Education continues to restrict students’ participation in politics through the University and University Colleges Act 1971 and on the other, education itself is used as a political issue and pawn by leaders from both sides of the government.

The recent protest by UiTM students in Permatang Pauh to oppose the opening up of its university’s enrolment to non-Malays is proof of our government’s biasness when the situation benefits their own political mileage. To make matters worse, the Prime Minister vetoed the suggestion almost immediately without so much as giving it a thought.

Adding to the hypocrisy, the Education Ministry approved an allocation of RM 1 million to the few Chinese vernacular schools in Permatang Pauh a few days later in an obvious attempt to win the hearts of the Chinese community for the coming by-election. If this is not considered mixing politics and education, then I suppose the world must be flat.

It’s amazing how the government spend taxpayers’ money to achieve their own goals as if it belongs to them entirely. The majority of schools in Malaysia are in serious need of funds and not only those in Permatang Pauh. If every school needs to wait for a by-election before getting due assistance, then this is definitely political blackmail at its worst.

In the case of Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) this tactic is also being used to retard the progress and development of a single community. This time, the blackmail works in a different way – that is by restricting the enrollment to a single community, the government effectively devoid students from being exposed to real competition and challenges posed by the multiethnic make up of Malaysian society.

How do we expect these students to excel in their studies and be competitive in the real world if they have never been exposed to any real obstacles at all? Isn’t it true that the government has wasted millions, if not billions of ringgit to produce graduates who are only fit to work as clerks and coffee-boys?

The only logical reason I could think of for this illogical education policy is that it has been implemented to produce unthinking and subservient young Malaysians who will forever be indebted to the ruling government.

After years of political intervention, our education system has grown into a jungle of malfunctioning institutions deprived of a unified vision. I have always wondered why there is a need for so many different types of schooling system in a country of only 27 million people. Is it part of the ruling party’s aim to segregate our future generation so that they will remain polarized and therefore easier to control through communal politicking?

It is no secret that the quality of our education system has regressed to such an embarrassing level as compared to our neighbours. Even our ministers and government leaders realize this decline and send their children overseas to be educated. But not many families can afford an overseas education for their children. The large majority of Malaysians have no choice but to accept the mediocre standard of teaching from the various public institutions, which I would label as ‘half-way houses’ for students with retarded goals.

In order to rectify the situation, we should start by voting in qualified leaders who are educated in various fields and not merely half-past six goons who depend on their charisma and racial rhetoric to put them in power. Secondly, our civil service should employ people based on meritocracy to ensure their capability in delivering quality service to the public.

Teachers and educators should be properly trained to provide the best education for all our students. They should be fluent in languages, professional and most of all able to instill a sense of excellence and creativity in our children.

The progress of the country depends on our future generation but just look at the abhorrent ways our educators and politicians treat our children. Not only do we produce teachers who are uninspiring and insensitive, but also a few who have no qualms about dishing out ethno-phobic remarks in class.

We need leaders in the education field who are brave enough to develop policies and education syllabuses which will enable our students to take over the helm of leadership in the future. Malaysia cannot afford to have selfish ‘sifoos’ or teachers who only teach half the knowledge to our children in the hope that they do not overpower the teachers themselves.

We must come to our senses now and admit that there are faults at every level of our education system – national schools, vernacular schools, smart schools, universities, colleges and religious schools.

It is not surprising that national type schools have been very much neglected and more parents are sending their children to vernacular schools. Even the Malay and Indian community enroll their children in Chinese medium schools as these are perceived to be more academically orientated and the students more disciplined. However, Chinese schools tend to emphasize a lot on academic achievement and rote learning; so much so that the faculties of creative and critical thinking are not well developed.

The various religious schools in the country might be able to produce students who are well versed in theology but not able to cope with the material side of life. Some of these schools could also be breeding grounds for political extremists cloaking themselves in religious robes to recruit their followers.

And of course we have the various government sponsored mono-ethnic institutions such as UiTM which continue to produce students who have not been exposed to the multicultural realities of our country and the world.

If we are to assess the situation objectively without looking through our own veil of different political ideologies, race and religion, it is obvious that the national type school education is still the best for the creation of a united, civilized and educated nation.

The first thing the policy makers should do is to stop the rot and retardation in these schools. This will require the whole hearted effort by our leaders and their willingness to abandon policies based on racial lines.

We need to inject new blood into the education system and create education policies which are based on meritocracy. Teachers should be well trained in their various fields and specialties. Promotions should be based on merits and achievements and not merely on seniority and preference alone. The standard of education syllabus in our national schools should be raised to international standards in order to produce students who are competitive world wide.

If we can revive our national schools, students will start to gravitate back to these schools and at the end of the day, fulfill the goal of national unity and progress. If we can provide an atmosphere of fairness in these institutions, then we can get rid of politicians who shout their lungs out upon hearing any sensitive suggestion about education policies.

At the moment, the only way to resuscitate our education system is to replace warlord politicians and archaic educators with visionary leaders. Fifty years of political ping-pong have damaged and retarded a few generations of potentially smart Malaysians. Let this be the final year of our regression!

Let us hope that a new beginning will dawn upon us soon.

More comments in Malaysia Today ,Malaysiakini and The Star.

Happy Easter, Malaysian Olympiads!

2008-08-18T12:13:00.003+08:00

I read with sadness, the article in Malaysiakini entitled ‘The Elusive Olympics Gold’ http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/87990 . Once again, Malaysia has failed to win any gold medal, again. However I must congratulate Lee Chong Wei for trying (his best?) in winning the silver medal.

Anyway, I would like to wish Happy Easter to all Malaysian Olympiads and Officials. Looks like we DID IT AGAIN!

I hope the Bukit Jalil Stadium is big enough to keep all the eggs we received.

Also view related article: Slaves to Symbolism

Evicting the Poor from Penang

2008-08-14T16:28:00.007+08:00

According to Malaysiakini’s report entitled “Another flawed land deal discovered” http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/87746 Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has found another mishandled land project by the previous state government which cost the State Treasury RM 500,000 in loses. It is disgraceful indeed to see people who were entrusted with taxpayer’s money acting in such a careless and irresponsible manner.

And the fact that these people are still walking about freely without being punished is a clear sign that the previous government was not accountable to the people at all.

Penang is a small state and land is pretty much scarce. We should be more careful in handling this precious commodity and avoid wasting the public’s money due to unnecessary mistakes.

We should also be using the little available land we have wisely and economically to benefit the larger population of Penang, rather than to satisfy the luxurious taste of a few. But as it is, most of the new housing projects are catered for the rich.

The whole stretch of pristine hills along the Batu Ferringhi coastline has been stripped bare by developers who are planning to built mega million homes. The newly reclaimed land in Tanjung Tokong has been transformed into a millionaire’s paradise even before the dust has managed to settle.

Very soon the poor and the middle income group will be homeless in their own island, driven out by the lust for land, luxury and lack of responsible town planning.

Olympiad Beggars of Pitt Street

2008-08-13T15:29:00.005+08:00

They have superb vision that could rival the best sharp shooters in the world. They could sprint like the best runners and shove like the strongest wrestlers on the planet. They are the Olympiad beggars of Pitt Street, 10200 Penang and they WANT YOUR MONEY!

Last Sunday I had the opportunity to experience an Olympic moment when I accompanied my friend’s mother to the Goddess of Mercy Temple in Pitt Street (now Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling). It was a busy day and my friend could not find a parking spot. So I followed his elderly mother into the temple for prayers while my friend waited in the car.

After performing the rounds, she went out into the courtyard to give alms to the beggars sitting just outside the main door. These were elderly people who appeared to be genuinely in need of help and they accepted the donation calmly and orderly.

Then suddenly as we turned to walk to the side exit door, another group of beggars who must have spotted us from across the courtyard, started stampeding towards us. This new group was mostly made up of able bodied middle aged men and a few women. I tried to usher the mother to the door as quickly as possible, but alas these sprinters managed to catch up.

As we were trapped within the small exit, these people started shoving us around while extending their hands for alms. It came to a point when the elderly lady nearly fell forwards due to their constant push. Someone in the crowd even snatched the dollar note which I held tightly, tearing it into half.

So like in a typical Hollywood B-grade zombie movie, I threw the torn note into the crowd to distract them, and quickly made our way to the awaiting car.

Almost immediately the ‘beggars’ realized that we have escaped and thronged into the street in pursuit. My friend’s mother had barely retracted her leg into the car when the gang rushed forward and slammed the door, trapping her left foot. Luckily she was not hurt and we managed to close the door and drove away.

I must say this is the first time I have had this experience in the Goddess of Mercy Temple. Perhaps the current economic downturn is also affecting this group of people. Sometimes it is difficult to choose whether to give or not to give alms to the beggars.

In Penang, there are various voluntary groups that provide food and drinks for the poor and homeless. Their efforts should be commended. But I suppose it is almost impossible to solve this problem completely, even with the combined effort of charitable organizations and the government.

Perhaps readers of this blog can give some suggestions on ways to alleviate the problem of the poor and homeless in Penang. I am totally out of words today.

Slaves to Symbolism

2008-08-09T16:08:00.004+08:00

The opening ceremony of the 29th Olympiad in Beijing last night was absolutely fantastic. Like all previous ceremonies, the event was filled with symbolisms that reflect the achievements of the host country. Amidst relishes of fireworks, music and dance, the audience was reminded of China’s four greatest contributions to the world – gun powder, paper, moveable type and the navigation compass.

People all over the world, including Malaysians, have a fondness towards displays of symbolism. This can be attested to by the frantic erection of symbolic monuments such as the Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur International Airport and the fairytale-like structures in Putrajaya during Tun Dr. Mahathir’s term as Prime Minister.

Not to be outdone by his nemesis, our current Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has also left a few monuments of his own such as the Crystal Mosque in Terengganu, an executive jet for his travels and sending an Orthopaedic surgeon on a holiday to outer space.

Unlike Malaysians who are merely being slaves to symbolisms, the Chinese (of the People’s Republic of China) uses symbolism to project their mastery over their achievements of thousands of years. Last night’s show was a celebration of the ingenuity and resilience of the people of China who have lived through the rise and fall of hundreds of dynasties and national ideologies.

It would be better for me to stop praising China at this point before I am labeled a Chinese sympathizer cum unpatriotic Malaysian especially when our own nation is going to celebrate its 51st Independence Day in three weeks time. But if we think carefully, what is the purpose of Merdeka if we are not encouraged to express views that will help improve our own country?

It would be more if we continue to remain blind to our own faults and mute about our government’s misdeeds.

We should accept the fact that Malaysians have all the while been using symbolism to cover up for our own inadequacies. How could the government send a man into outer space when we could not even build a proper highway that does not crack and chip off regularly? Why spend millions of taxpayers’ money blasting off a Malaysian into outer space and then spend millions more to bail out our national carrier MAS?

Does the government think that symbols of national ‘pride’ alone can lead us to prosperity without us having to plan and work hard for it?

We could all learn a lesson from Zhang Yimou’s grand showcase in the Bird’s Nest Stadium last night.

First of all we should appreciate our own country’s history and give credit to every citizen who contributed to the establishment, progress and independence of the country regardless of race, religion, gender and status. Never mind if they are British, Japanese, Malay, Chinese or Indians. Each one contributed to the formation of Malaysia one way or another. The British brought workers in from China and India to help open up the country. The Japanese made us realize that we have the ability to be free from Western colonization during the war. The Malays lead the way in the road to Independence and together with our Chinese and Indian forefathers; we finally achieved self-rule in 1957.

Our history, like any other country’s history, is tainted with periods of darkness. But if we ignore them and refuse to discuss them openly, we will never learn from our mistakes. Obviously there is truth in the saying ‘Learn from history to avoid repeating it’.

Secondly we should get rid of our old mindset and old ways of doing things if they obstruct our road to progress. Last night, I was expecting to see lots of dragon dances, flashing placards and Chinese nationalistic slogans in the stadium. But instead the show was a modern interpretation of China’s history, carefully choreographed to rid themselves of the stereotypical Chinese label.

The political parties in Malaysia should follow suit and dismantle their communal makeup and policies. We are now in the 21st century and the wave of globalization is starting to hit every shore of every nation. If we keep living separately in our own racial and religious cages, then we might miss the chance of surfing confidently on the wave towards prosperity and peace.

Thirdly, we should concentrate on giving quality education to our children. Out of the four Chinese inventions featured last night, three of the items are precursors to the quest for knowledge – paper, printing and the navigational compass. Our government should seriously consider revamping our much declined education system to be on par with world standards.

Yes. Instead of hiding behind symbolism and placating ourselves with fake rewards and accolades, let us all get down to serious work.

If we look at it, the greatest symbolism our country should be proud of is its people’s infinite tolerance towards the government. For fifty years, every Malaysian has tolerated the misdeeds and mismanagement of our leaders without so much as a whimper; let alone a bark.

China built their symbolic Bird’s Nest stadium because they are ready to receive the legendary phoenix which will bring fame and fortune to their country after years of hard word and dedication by both the government and their people.

However I can’t say much about our stadiums in Bukit Jalil, Batu Kawan and the Penang International Sports Arena (PISA). Either they were designed to cater only for PC fairs, political demonstrations and banned concerts; or they were meant to be symbols of birds’ nests ready to collect the many infertile eggs of failure from our government’s report card.

Nonya Kee, Mahu Makan Lagi?

2008-08-08T15:20:00.003+08:00

On this auspicious day of 8/8/2008, I looked through the newspaper and amidst reports of the impending Beijing Olympic opening ceremony tonight and Anwar Ibrahim’s political quest in Permatang Pauh, I found a small article featuring our beloved Datuk Kee Phaik Cheen, the chairperson for Penang Tourism Action Council.

Thank goodness it was not about her participating in the Olympics or the coming by-election in Permatang Pauh. She might pose as a serious contender and create upsets in both major events.

Buat aku teok chn’eh kiah saat tadi. (It scared me for a moment)

Unfortunately what she suggested in the news report was even more worrying than that. A chill ran down my spine as I recalled her tragic longest buffet in Batu Ferringhi back in 1994. See my previous posting ‘Kee Phaik Cheen – Penang’s Queen of Congestion’

In The Star article entitled ‘Fiesta for the taste buds’ today, Kee said that Penang will hold its first international food festival early next year. The festival’s highlight it seems is going to be another beach buffet at Batu Ferringhi! And this time there will be entertainers from Hong Kong performing on three pontoons set up along the coast line.

Ini yang betul-betul buat aku teok chn’eh kiah langsung! (This is what really scared me to death!)

Hasn’t she learned anything from her 1994 mistake?

Batu Ferringhi is a logistical nightmare when it comes to mega-events. The only narrow winding road that serves the beach resort is not good enough to cater for the sudden increase in traffic, even with buses ferrying passengers to the area.

Mdm. Kee must like Batu Ferringhi very much because this is the second time this year that she proposed a ‘mega-project’ in our tiny beach resort. The first was to build a convention centre here or in Teluk Bahang. This shows how insensitive she is to public sentiments and how bankrupt her idea bank must be.

The best place to hold an international food festival would either be in Gurney Drive or the Esplanade. There are ample parking spaces and they are easily accessible by public transportation. Furthermore, these two places are already famous as a hawker food haven and organizing the event there would further promote our local cuisine.

I shall keep this posting short today because I am closing early to go back and watch the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics which is being directed by famous Chinese director Zhang Yimou. I am sure it will be a spectacular show tonight.

To all athletes, I wish them good luck and go for gold! To those contesting in Permatang Pauh, I wish them success and hope that the winner will bring about a New Malaysia.

To Nonya Kee, I wish to say, “Mahu makan lagi?”

Why Do Bloggers Bitch?

2008-08-05T12:17:00.005+08:00

I have been accused of being partial by some readers of this blog because I referred to Malaysiakini and Malaysia Today too many times in my articles. I have also been likened to an Opposition mouth piece because of my partisan views. These comments are found in my postings entitled “Liars’ Lair” which can also be viewed at Malaysiakini and “Haze - Environmental Terrorism Resurrected”.

Thank you for your constructive comments.

Firstly I haven’t heard about the word ‘partial’ since secondary school when I learned about its meaning in the Red Crescent Society. At that time I was introduced to the opposite of the word – IMPARTIALITY. Impartiality is one of the principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Society throughout the world. It is one of the important factors that made it possible for members of the Red Crescent and Red Cross to enter war zones, prisons and detention camps.

I am not a member of the Red Crescent anymore and therefore I believe I am allowed to have partisan views.

Secondly, I do read The Star and The New Straits Times every morning on top of Malaysia Today and Malaysiakini, and I have referred to ‘government controlled media’ in my postings before, although not as many times as the ‘non-governmental media’. This, I assure you, is more for technical reasons of reaching out to a larger audience. After all, bloggers blog because they want their views to be heard by as many people as possible.

I also agree with Orang-orang Tua Kedah who pointed out that non-governmental media does not equate to opposition media.

Bloggers can generally be divided into two categories – the reporter type who reports events and happenings without giving his own opinion and the commentator type, whose main aim is to disseminate his view points to his audience. It’s rather difficult to remain mum and not comment on what you write, and therefore most bloggers fall into the second category.

But at the end of the day, it boils down to taking sides. Many people are afraid to take sides and they prefer to be fence sitters. In Malaysia, where there are lalangs (weeds) on both sides of the barrier, it is not surprising that many of us tend to perch on the fence rather than to step onto any side. I suppose being impartial is not a bad idea considering one might get lost amidst the lalangs should one decide to come down from the fence.

However I must admit that I am not good at any balancing act and therefore I shall take a risk and jump into the field with the least lalang. After all a lot of the Opposition Leaders today were arrested during the Ops Lalang of 1987 (Weeding Operation) and it is clear which side is more sincere in their quest for justice, equality, freedom and peace.

It is difficult to be impartial when there is a fence separating two ideologies. The best option would be to remove the fence and clear the lalang on both sides. This would be a difficult task but not an impossible one. At the moment it is obvious that the Opposition parties are the ones who are taking the initiative to break down this divisive barrier by inviting qualified people, even from the other side, to lead various departments and agencies.

I suppose all bloggers on both sides see themselves as a small part of this massive operation to un-weed our nation of corruption, mismanagement and economic malaise. In this process it is wise to remember that there are problems on both sides too which need to be sorted out.

I might be a partisan blogger but then again, if one has followed all my postings carefully, one would have also noticed that I have criticized the new state government before in my articles entitled ‘Of Road Signs, Road Science and Road Sighs’ , ‘Paving the Pavements of Penang’ and ‘Penang’s Queen of Congestion’ .

So, ladies and gentleman, bloggers from both sides! Malaysia is a grand opera in three acts. We are now at the end of Act 2. The show must go on. Let the great Malaysian Saga (not the car) continue!

Haze – Environmental Terrorism Resurrected

2008-08-04T13:06:00.006+08:00

Five years ago, I wrote an article entitled ‘Haze’ in my ‘amateur’ blog called Pelita Negara. That was in the year 2003. If I am to publish that same article here again, it will still look like I have just written it because all the circumstances, government rhetoric and the level of public awareness concerning that subject is still very much unchanged. After reading Malaysiakini’s report entitled ‘Sumatra forest fires spark haze fears’ http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/87186 , I realized that we have been talking about the haze every year but until today, nothing concrete has been done to overcome this regional act of environmental terrorism.

To prove my point, I shall reproduce the posting I wrote on 14 June 2003 for your reading pleasure below.

Haze
(Published 14 June 2003 in Pelita Negara)

Referring to the news report entitled 'Open Burning in Sumatra Causing Haze, says DOE', which was published in The Star on June 13, 2003, I feel very disappointed that the media and the government have not been paying enough attention to the situation.

Anybody who ventures out of his or her house would have noticed that the haze has been around for more than four weeks. We do not need the Director-General of the Department of Environment to tell us where this haze comes from because this problem has been repeating itself for years.

I can still remember the year it all began. It was in 1997, and the Asian economic crisis has just begun its domino effect. I can still recall that it was billed as a double tragedy at that time, because of the environmental pollution from neighbouring Indonesia, which added to the burden of the crisis.

At that time, the Department of Environment issued daily reports of the Pollution Index and disseminated advice on how to take care of our health and ways to avoid breathing in corrupted air. Where are the daily reports and the indexes now? The haze has gotten worse as years gone by, and our concern towards this environmental pollution seems to become lesser. Has Malaysians become healthier and stronger and therefore more tolerant of the various respiratory diseases brought about by the haze? Or are we just being nice to our Indonesian neighbour and do not want to sound too offensive by protesting against their government's lack of neighbourly responsibility?

Action should be taken at the ASEAN Ministerial level to stop this annual problem immediately. We cannot condone massive open burning by farmers in Sumatra, even though we know that it is the cheapest method of clearing land for cultivation. If the Indonesians do not have any knowledge of environmental protection, then leaders of the ASEAN nations should provide that knowledge to them. If the Indonesians do not show any concern about their own health or the health of its neighbours, then these leaders should censure the country and impose some sort of penalty on them.

What is the use of maintaining a squeaky clean Singapore and erecting all those glorious monuments in Malaysia, if we are destined to face months of vision blurring air pollution every year? What is the use of promoting Thailand as the Land of Smiles, if all these smiles are hidden beneath a protective mask to avoid breathing in the foul air?

In the same news report, the Director-General was quoted as saying, " According to them (the Indonesian officials), there has not been rain in Sumatra for the last five weeks and the visibility there is about 1 km." What I can interpret from this statement is that the authorities are waiting for rain to fall and the wind direction to change, and hoping that this will clear the haze. I am surprised that in this modern age, we still depend on passive hopes to solve a man-made problem.

It is obvious that due to the lack of political will and the dearth of environmental consciousness amongst the majority of people in ASEAN, the haze continue to make its annual pilgrimage to our shores. Let us hope that after several years down the road, we do not become a region, which is plagued by various respiratory diseases caused by this environmental tragedy.

PELITA NEGARA

Do you see the resemblance of the article’s content to what we are experiencing today? With the current state of political affairs in our country and ASEAN neighbours, I predict that all this commotion about the haze will fizzle out in the next few months when the wind direction changes. That is why I feel that it is not worth the effort to write a new article to comment on the haze, but simply to plagiarize my own writing five years ago.

This annual act of environmental terrorism by Indonesia since 1997 has to stop. It is reported in Malaysiakini today that there are 531 hotspots in Sumatra alone and the Air Pollution Index in Klang has reached an unhealthy level.

Are we going to wait until the whole country is choked with toxic pollutant before we even raise a whimper of complaint to our neighbour? Is the Health Ministry and the Department of Environment going to wait until Malaysians suffer from irreversible lung damage and other illnesses before they act?

The worst thing is that the Arab summer holidays fall in the months of July and August. These are the months when Malaysia is flooded with an influx of tourists from Middle East. I am sure if our guests want to experience hazy conditions like these, they might as well stay home and sit out the desert storms in their own country.

Other postings related to environmental issues:
1. Soil Erosion in Batu Ferringhi
2. Environmental Terrorism Alert

Liars' Lair

2008-07-31T17:42:00.007+08:00

According to Malaysiakini, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan is coming out from his hideout hole soon and will swear on the Holy Quran to proof his innocence. See ‘Lawyer: Saiful to come out of hiding ‘soon’’ http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/87007

Although I am not insinuating that Saiful the Backdoor Boy is a liar, it suffices for me to say that Malaysia is a liars’ lair, inhabited by flip-flopping politicians, pimps, prostitutes, sex fiends and murderers on the upper echelon; and the majority of the population who live in self-denial - entangled in the web of lies spun by our lecherous leaders.

Come on, my fellow Malaysians! Let us open our eyes and consider this case logically.

If a person can lie about being sodomized, what is there to stop him from swearing about it on the Holy Quran? Isn’t this making a mockery out of the holiest book in Islam? Isn’t this a blatant misuse of Islam, the religion of peace and tolerance?

After so many stunning revelations and dramatic twists in the story, the public’s opinion is already set. It is either you believe the young man or you don’t. Even if he swears on all the holy books of every religion in the world, the people’s mindset is not going to change.

If this case should ever go to court, public judgment will once again overrule and nullify whatever outcome the trial might bring. It is going to be the battle of the character which will determine who wins and who loses. In a country where the judicial system has lost its credibility in the eyes of the people, the public will take over as the holy trinity of prosecutor, defendant and judge.

Therefore swearing on the Quran will only prove two things – that this man is capable of misusing religion to facilitate his devious schemes and that he is willing to bring down his own religion with him if he should fall.

No one should ever use any holy book for this purpose. There are other more credible ways of doing it without blemishing one’s own religion.

And if he really decides to swear and later is found guilty of lying, what punishment can the religious authority impose on him other than waiting for him to be punished by God. As Raja Petra said in his blog, a Muslim can absolve himself of all sins by repenting, even after he had committed a thousand crimes.

We are all living in an extensive web of lies which is getting more complicated and entangled each day. Only spiders and snakes can survive in this predatory environment. The rest of us Malaysians will be victims of circumstances although I should add that we are NOT ‘innocent’ victims.

We are as much to be blamed for the political chaos that is happening today. For over fifty years, Malaysians have been feeding these liars by voting them into power election after election. The majority of Malaysians choose to remain in their comfort zone and try not to disrupt the ‘balance’ of the Barisan Nasional government despite the knowledge that this particular ‘dacing’ favours the ruling party more than the rakyat.

Enough is enough!

Are we going to allow a 23 year old university dropout to determine the fate of 27 million Malaysians?

Or should be rally behind a 60 year old man who has been fighting for justice, equality, peace and freedom for Malaysia throughout these difficult years?

The verdict is for us to decide. Let’s untangle ourselves from this web of complacency and escape from the liars’ lair.

Related article: Anwar to contest Permatang Pauh

The Spirit of Penang Lives On

2008-07-29T17:57:00.013+08:00

When people of different ethnicity and religion live together on a little island like Penang for more than two centuries, there are bound to be some sort of social cohesion and intermingling of aspirations. These aspirations or the so-called ‘Spirit of Penang’ was clearly demonstrated by all Penangites during last weekend’s World Heritage Celebration in George Town.

It was amazing how people of different clan houses, organizers, government officials, sponsors and volunteers got together and turned George Town into a celebration of heritage and culture within two short weeks. The fact that all the events were fully sponsored went to show how high the level of enthusiasm and support from the people was.

The official launch at the Esplanade and the concert that followed were tastefully choreographed and poignant. There was a downpour on Saturday evening but the weather cleared after that, and there was a lovely breeze frolicking happily in the air. It seemed like heaven was on our side too!

As the fireworks lit up the sky amidst cheers from the crowd, I could not help equating those beautiful flashes of colours with our equally beautiful and colourful cultures that have been living together throughout these years.

Perhaps amidst all the political madness that is going on in our country, there is still hope for a new dawn and a new beginning.

May the Spirit of Penang live on in all of us.

Special thanks to JC Studios for the wonderful photographs.

George Town World Heritage Celebrations 25-27 July 2008

2008-07-26T10:00:00.011+08:00

On the occasion of the listing of George Town as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, there will be celebrations in the inner city from Friday 25th July, 2008 until Sunday 27th July, 2008. The complete program list and map can be viewed at this URL http://pasalpenang.blogspot.com/

Come join us in the celebration of our heritage. Heritage in our streets, heritage in our hearts!

Mercedes Mentality

2008-07-25T17:43:00.005+08:00

It looks like the Terengganu State EXCO members are finally getting their Mercedes after all the hullabaloos. I suppose when it comes to the purchase luxury cars; it is not a matter of need or necessity that counts, but the level of desire for the object. It was the intoxicating craving for this status symbol on wheels that ‘drove’ Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said to see the Prime Minister last night, who then consented to the move of replacing their old Perdana V6 with fourteen brand new units of Mercedes E200 Kompressor. Read Malaysiakini’s article ‘T’ganu gets PM’s nod for Mercedes’ http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/86728

One could almost smell the greed and visualize the Menteri Besar’s salivating tongue as he wallows around the Prime Minister, crying and insisting for his early Hari Raya gift.

I have nothing against Mercedes. In fact I have friends who drive Mercedes Benzes and I will be assured of getting a knock on the head if I say anything bad about it. I too, would like to own a Mercedes one day, so that I can be driven around historic George Town, with the stately 3 pointed star emblem gleaming in front of the bonnet.

But at these times of economic upheaval and increased hardship amongst the people, I would like to ask the Menteri Besar and Prime Minister whether they have considered these three questions before making their decision?

1. Do the Menteri Besar and his EXCO members DESERVE these imported luxury cars?
2. Can the government AFFORD to purchase these cars?
3. What is the PUBLIC SENTIMENT concerning these new acquisitions?

If they have done their job well and governed the state judiciously, competently and free from corruption, then by all means, they deserve to be rewarded. Be who you are. Take what you deserve. No one will raise a doubt if they truly deserve these cars.

Secondly, with all the cost cutting measures being employed in the government, can they afford to purchase these luxury cars which amounts to RM 3.43 million? I am sure the state can come up with this amount, but will it bite into the budget allocation for other development projects especially those for the welfare of the people?

Lastly, they should take into account the public’s sentiment concerning the subject. In fact the people’s views should be the most important factor in any decision making. After all they are the ones who voted in the government and they are the ones who are paying the taxes which go into the purchase of these luxury cars.

Judging from the Prime Minister’s blessings for Datuk Ahmad Said, I suppose we all know by now that the power of desire has overtaken all logical thoughts. The need to feed and satisfy the starving ego has pushed aside all cost cutting measures.

What is so magical about the Mercedes car that people are willing to defy all odds to get it?

The Mercedes brand has been around for a very long time. In Malaysia, the locals call it ‘Masudi’ as they have difficulty in pronouncing foreign names. During the colonial days, British officers and Chinese tycoons were chauffeured around in their Mercedes by drivers who are also known as ‘Ahmad’s’.

Malaysia has come a long way since then. Now, an Ahmad will be driven around the streets of Terengganu in a Mercedes E200 Kompressor accompanied by wailing sirens of police outriders and the whole gamut.

This car is coveted by royalty and the rich. It is also the car of choice for dictators, drug pushers and gangster heads. I guess it must be a terribly good car as it is the preferred vehicle for these notable people. The Mercedes is stately enough to parade the rich and their riches along the streets; and powerful enough for criminals to make a quick getaway in.

Or nowadays it could be the other way around, where criminals cruise the streets confidently in these cars, while the rich drive off with ill gotten gains and the people’s money. Alas. The boundary that separates these two is not clear these days.

What can we do when the Mercedes Mentality is deeply ingrained in our nation’s leaders?

The clue to the answer was revealed on the 8th of March, 2008.

Let’s get rid of the Mercedes Mentality and all that come with it soon!

Of Road Signs, Road Science and Road Sighs

2008-07-23T17:11:00.004+08:00

The live telecast of the Penang State Legislative Assembly signifies a new direction for the state government. However, as reported in the article in Malaysiakini ‘Role swapped in Penang, but not mentality’ , hitches in adjusting to the drastic role reversal between the government and the opposition are to be expected. See http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/86569

Therefore it is not surprising to see Barisan Nasional members still displaying their arrogance and ingrained gangster-like attitudes despite being in the opposition and the new government leaders still trying get rid of their opposition mentality. After many decades of Barisan Nasional’s lording over the State Assembly and DAP’s continuous defensive streak, it might take a while before both sides settle down in their new roles.

After catching a glimpse of the broadcast over the internet, I must say that the proceedings went on quite well. Of particular note are the quality of speeches by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Chow Kon Yeow and Lim Hock Seng who each spoke with purpose and direction in eloquent Bahasa Malaysia. Let us hope they continue to do a good job and lead Penang back on the road to success and prosperity.

However I am a bit concerned about the government’s latest decision to put up street names and road signs in multiple languages at heritage areas here for the benefit of tourists and visitors. I agree that multiple language sign boards are helpful in giving directions to tourists and a short historical account of the road would add more colour to our heritage sites.

But I hope the government is not proposing to cramp four or five versions of a street name on one single metal plate. Any road sign should be large, clear, correct and direct so that drivers and pedestrians can recognize it at one glance. Road signs are not meant to be pieces of Shakespearean literature which require squinting and scrolling before we catch the meaning.

Perhaps the government should first consider these arguments below before putting up the new signs.

Size of the Sign
The size of street signs should be standardized to maintain uniformity and recognition. The current street signs with white letters on green background are quite practical. The Bahasa Malaysia version of the street name dominates the plate and the English version and the area postcode are displayed below.

Putting a few more languages on that small sign will defeat the purpose of putting it up in the first place. Not only will visitors be lost, but the locals will even find it hard to decipher its meaning.

The only possible solution is to maintain the current bilingual street signs and erect another unobtrusive sign next to it to include the various translations. This sign board should be elegantly designed to complement the surrounding area and it should also contain a historical description of the road and how the name came about.

Clarity
All road signs and street names should be clearly spelled out. Multilanguage signage is actually geared towards tourists and visitors who only know one language. I can see the government’s logic behind this move. But we must understand that the majority of tourists nowadays are multilingual and most of them understand English at the very least. Even the Arab tourists whom I have come across so far are proficient in English.

Putting too many languages on a sign board will confuse the reader. This is especially true when the government intends to introduce the local name for the road which at most times, are totally different from the English version.

Take for example the famous Campbell Street which is known to locals as ‘Sin Kay’, which literally means ‘new road’. If you are a bilingual tourist from China who knows Chinese and English, you will be totally confused because Campbell is the name of a person, whereas ‘Sin Kay’ would mean ‘new road’.

Then we have Cintra Street which is also known as “Jee-pun Kay” which in turn means Japanese Street. Do you know why it is called that? According to the elderly people in Penang, Cintra Street used to be lined with seedy brothels servicing the Japanese army during World War Two and the word ‘Kay’ does not mean ‘street’ but ‘chicken’; a word which the locals use to refer to prostitutes.

Now, wouldn’t it be embarrassing if we have to explain this to our guests from all over the world? Heaven forbids I have not even mention about what goes on in Lorong Gaharu (Incense Street) and Kampung Pisang (Banana Village)! Those who are interested to know may email me privately.

Spelling
Before we add more languages into our street signs, the government should make sure that the spelling of streets and places are correct and standardized first. For years, we have been in a quandary as to how some of these places should correctly be spelled.

Should it be Tanjung Bungah, Tanjung Bunga or Tanjong Bunga? Is Ayer Itam correct or should it be spelled Air Hitam? What about Batu Ferringhi which is sometimes spelled without the letter ‘H” as Batu Ferringi?

If we locals are already confused, imagine what sort of nightmare tourists will encounter.

Get the names correct first. Hold a dialogue with locals and experts if necessary. Organize a conference to get the names straight once and for all. This is what we should have done years ago.

Quick Glance Test
A street sign is only trustworthy if you can read it within one second of glancing at it. If it takes longer than that, you will end up hitting a trishaw across the road or run over a motorcyclist. I foresee many accidents in the near future if our sign boards are cluttered with multiple languages.

I believe the government’s decision to erect the new street signs are mainly to provide better directions for tourists and locals. However I am sure it is also part of their effort to fulfill DAP’s election promise and to response to Gerakan’s latest taunt, in which the latter put up their own Chinese language road signs in various places.

Let us put politics aside and stop littering our beautiful city with unnecessary road signs and signboards. I have seen signboards that are so big that it hides the whole building it is supposed to highlight. Then there are signboards which are hidden by tree trunks and Municipal Council rubbish bins. I am sure many of you have also road signs being used to hang clothes for drying.

If at all, it is necessary to place street names and road signs with multiple languages, then it should be done professionally and aesthetically. As I have prescribed above, we should keep the current bilingual street signs as they are and erect a non-obtrusive sign board beside it to provide the various translations and a short historical significance of the road. A general map of George Town can also be incorporated in the sign board to show the tourist where they are and what’s in store in the surrounding area.

A proper road sign should be more of a ‘road science’ and less of a ‘road sigh’.

Also see article in The Star entitled ‘Penang Government agrees to multi-language signs for tourists’ benefits’ .

Jeanne Makes Me Green

2008-07-22T19:16:00.006+08:00

I refer to the recent speech by Jeanne Abdullah in Rembau, urging housewives to grow vegetables in their gardens to help reduce their expenses in view of rising food prices (due to her husband’s misguided decision to raise fuel prices). You can find this laughable article in the government controlled New Straits Times but definitely not in Malaysiakini or Malaysia Today.

The speech was utterly ridiculous and downright condescending towards all citizens of modern Malaysia, especially when it came from the mouth of a Prime Minister’s wife.

First of all, how much can planting vegetables in our tiny backyards be economical enough to counteract the accelerating inflation rate of the country? Secondly, not all people live in landed properties. In fact, poor people are now forced to live in tiny pigeon holes called flats and apartments. Does she expect us to plant taugeh in our washing machines and brinjals on our balcony?

Lastly, does she know that there are actually Malaysians who have to work hard at two or three jobs in order to keep their families alive? Hello, not everyone can afford to hire a MAID to water the plants okay?

The root cause of inflation in this country is none other than fifty years of mismanagement by the powers that be. The solution – remove these people from power.

Now, let’s talk about the deplorable state of our agriculture sector.

Malaysia is blessed with fertile soil and constant weather throughout the year. We are safely enthroned between two big oceans rich with marine life.

And yet, why has our agriculture sector deteriorated to such a state that we have to import rice from Thailand to replenish our supply? It is a shame indeed that Malaysia has regressed to become a handicap that depends on neighbours for our staple food.

Instead of giving illogical speeches that showed one’s lack of knowledge on the subject, one should have suggested ways to revive our agriculture sector through a change in the government’s policies.

After so many decades of research and millions of ringgit spent, MARDI should have developed better strains of padi and modernize its cultivation. Sadly, as we can all see, this is not happening.

Where have all the millions gone to? Has it all gone into subsidizing farmers, when in actual fact part of the money should have gone into helping them improve their yield? Has the government forgotten the wise saying “Give a hungry man a fish, and he will not be hungry for a day; but teach him how to fish, and he will be able to feed himself forever”?

Malaysia needs to seriously revamp its agriculture policies. The real focus should be on providing adequate food supply for the people’s consumption instead of just concentrating on cash crops.

Instead of giving garden tips in their speeches, our government should be talking about ways to improve our methods of cultivation and productivity.

Below I reprint the article from New Straits Times.

2008/07/18
Jeanne: Grow more vegetables
By : Dharshini Balan and Heidi Foo

REMBAU: The prime minister's wife, Datin Paduka Seri Jeanne Abdullah, has urged housewives who like gardening to also grow vegetables as this could help reduce their expenses in view of rising food prices.

She said such efforts required minimal capital while the benefits could be reaped as early as four weeks after the seeds were sowed. "Apart from being a food source, these vegetables can beautify our surroundings. We can also work with neighbours to grow different kinds of vegetables."For example, one could plant chilies, while the other plants tomatoes and then you can do some barter trading. "This will not only help us reduce our household expenditure but also bring some profits."

Jeanne was speaking at the launch of the state-level Green Earth Project at Taman Rembau Utama here yesterday.Also present were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and Rembau member of parliament Khairy Jamaluddin.

Jeanne shared her experience growing vegetables, saying she and her husband shared a passion for gardening and would try to find time to indulge in the hobby."Although our garden is not big, we are happy to spend time working on it, especially when we are able to enjoy the fruits of our labour with our family and friends."

At another function, Jeanne said more should be done for the disabled.She called on private companies to show that they care by intensifying their corporate social responsibility programmes.

She was speaking after launching the "One Product, One Community Rehabilitation" programme at the Craft Complex in Seremban. More than 100 disabled people from seven districts participated.

Nation Without a Common Philosophy

2008-07-17T17:34:00.010+08:00

The country has lost its direction and gone bonkers - long time ago. Judging from news reports in Malaysiakini and Malaysia Today concerning the arrest of both Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Raja Petra, I am now totally confused as to what the government’s priorities are.

See ‘Anwar arrested outside his house’ http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/86195 and ‘Raja Petra arrested, charged in court’ http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/86264

Is alleged sodomy (which if it is true, is most likely to be consensual) a greater crime than abusing captives in police custody and then denying it? Is alleged defamation a more lethal crime than alleged involvement in the murder of a foreign national, that the former has to be arrested and brought to court, while the latter is still scott free?

We are a nation without a common philosophy. That’s what we are. And that is why for the last 50 years, Malaysia’s progress lacked direction due to the absence of a single common set of philosophical belief and guidance. We are a nation heading everywhere and nowhere at the same time.

In other words, we are LOST.

The Government insists that we should follow the principles of the Rukunegara. But the Rukunegara is merely a set of national ideology and not a philosophy. We must understand that there is a big difference between a philosophy and an ideology, as clearly illustrated in this well written article entitled ‘Philosophy and Ideology’.

According to the writer, philosophy is a guide and a general construct meant to help us think whereas; an ideology is rigid, dogmatic and doesn’t respond to facts or circumstance. In fact ideology ‘brooks no dissent’ as proven by our Prime Minister’s recent accusation that bloggers are treacherous because they have blemished the Rukunegara.

Even the various government policies and countless battle cries of racially biased politicians are actually divisive ideologies which further widen the cracks in our multicultural society. The New Economic Policy which was supposed to address the gap between the rich and poor had been manipulated throughout the years by the ruling party to enrich and empower itself.

There is no single national philosophy that binds us all together as a nation. Each level of society seems to have their own ideas about the purpose of their existence in this country.

The Barisan Nasional government behaves like a huge corporation that treats our natural resources and wealth as their very own. Civil servants who are supposed to serve the rakyat become servants to the ruling party instead. The rich are busy accumulating their wealth through any means possible. And the poor rakyat continues to be exploited by all of the above.

Yes. Without a common philosophy to guide the nation, it is the poor rakyat who are at the loosing end; in the end.

The grassroots which many politicians are suddenly talking about nowadays need to be nurtured properly for the country to grow. Otherwise the roots will just rot away into oblivion and the whole country will eventually fall. Unfortunately, even after their major loss in the recent elections, Barisan Nasional leaders fail to understand the real needs of the rakyat.

After 50 years of lack luster performance, our country seriously needs a collective philosophy to propel the nation through these uncertain times of global economic and political upheaval. For that we need leaders who are able to INSPIRE the nation, MOBILIZE them towards achieving their goals and at the same time, always be in CONTROL of situations.

Sadly, these three qualities are absent from the present leadership. Our present batch of leaders is devoid of any philosophical stance except that of filling their own pockets with the toils of the rakyat.

The present leadership could barely stay awake during meetings and international conferences, let alone INSPIRE the nation. He could only MOBILIZE the police force into setting up road blocks and quelling peaceful demonstrations with water canons and tear gas. And let’s not talk about being in control because ever since the year 2003, everything under him is totally out of CONTROL, including his own party.

Malaysia needs leaders who are able to spew forth the fountain of philosophy to quench the thirst of the nation. We need creative and visionary people to lead us out of years of stagnation. We need leaders who can formulate a new set of national philosophy which is acceptable and practical to all Malaysians – one which flexible, non-dogmatic and free from discrimination.

So what is this great Malaysian philosophy that we should yearn and strive for?

First of all, we need to identify the main causes of segregation in this country. If you are a government supporter, you will say that the reasons for our disunity are RELIGION, RACE and RICHES. If you are in the opposition, then you will most likely say that it is the politicians themselves who are the main cause of religious discrimination, racial intolerance and widening wealth disparity in our country.

In any case, both sides are correct. That is why the first thing we should rectify is to remove bigoted politicians from power and replace them with capable leaders who have the whole nation at heart. Only then can we start to address the three segregating factors of religion, race and riches.

RELIGION
Although the first principle of the Rukunegara is ‘Belief in God’, it is obvious that almost everyone does not want to believe in the same God! Islam and Christianity originated from the same God and yet their followers try their best to highlight the differences rather than rejoice in their similarities. Then you have the Hindus who believe in the many manifestations of God and the Buddhists who uphold the idea that they only way to salvation (Nibbana) is through our own efforts.

And then there are the atheists who do not believe in the existence of a supreme being at all.

We can all argue and defend our religion ‘till Kingdom comes’; but the universal truth is, we will never get any closer to the ultimate answer at the end of the day.

That is the reason why, in order to safeguard harmony, religion should never be included in any national ideology or philosophy. Religion is a private matter and should only be confined to the hearts of its followers.

Malaysians should instead take advantage of the multi religious nature of our country to celebrate spirituality. Judging from the thousands of mosques, temples and koils all over the country, it is obvious that Malaysians are truly spiritual people. So why don’t we celebrate this abundance of spirituality by absorbing the good values from each religion?

After all, it is safe, acceptable to everyone and contributes to the strengthening of our moral values.

RACE
Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban, Kadazan and others. The only way you can change your race is to change your parents. If you can’t do that, then I am afraid you will have to stick to being who you are.

It sounds profound, doesn’t it?

Yes, but not as profound as creating a Malaysian race or Bangsa Malaysia, which is much touted by both the opposition and the government. I for one, used to believe that we should all strive to become one single Malaysian race. That is until someone pointed out to me, the futility of this effort when he posted a comment in one of my previous articles. He said that it is impossible to change the genetic structure of a person and that our real goal should actually be to strive for a single Malaysian identity which is inclusive of all races in the country.

However, we Malaysians are typical hard core ‘racists’. We seem to adore the word ‘race’ so much that it features in almost everything we say and do. The word is found everywhere - in our identification cards, passports, official forms and documents.

But we have totally forgotten that the ONE race which we all belong to is the HUMAN RACE. Perhaps this is what we Malaysians should be aiming for – a human race with Malaysian identity.

RICHES
Everywhere in the world there are rich people and poor people. Even in communist and socialist countries, the distribution of wealth is not as balanced as they would like it to be and we can still see a disparity between the rich and poor. Malaysia, being a capitalistic democratic country, is not exceptional in this case.

We will never be able to eradicate poverty and inequality in Malaysia totally but we can eradicate government policies that contributed to this problem. Firstly the much manipulated New Economic Policy has to go. It should then be replaced by a new policy which encourages meritocracy and distribution of wealth based solely on needs.

The philosophy behind this is that people should work as hard as they are able to, and they should be remunerated according to their achievements. Those who have tried their best but are still unable to make the mark, should then be helped further through other constructive methods.

As opposed to the previous policy which differentiated between the rich and the poor, our new philosophy should be aimed at sieving out the lazy section of society from the hard working group. In that way, funds are not wasted and the disparity of wealth will commensurate with the amount of hard work a citizen contributes to nation building.

We are now at the crossroads of our destiny. If we choose to be led by a rigid, dogmatic and unresponsive government, Malaysia will end up in the backwaters of the world. If we choose to change our old ways, and get ready to embrace the new philosophy of nation building, then we will be on the right track that will take us to greater heights.

I hope we choose the latter. 50 years of stagnation is more than enough to make anyone puke.

George Town - The Little City That Could

2008-07-10T18:16:00.007+08:00

By George! Our beloved city now belongs to the world! George Town, with its timeless heritage buildings and centuries old streets has been listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Congratulations to the people of Penang especially those who have fought hard and contributed to this wonderful success. See Malaysiakini’s article ‘Georgetown, Malacca win world heritage status’ at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/85735 .

Heaven must be smiling at us for this is the second victory of the year for Penang. In March, we had a change of government and now, in July, we have been given the much sought after title of a world heritage site. Indeed, with such a title, comes great responsibility for both the Government and all Penangites.

But are we ready to welcome the world to our island? Is the Government actively planning to enhance and conserve our heritage city? And most of all - are Penangites ready to play the gracious host to guests from all over the world?

Just like the fall of the Barisan Nasional government during the last election, the listing by UNESCO is also an unexpected surprise for everyone. After nearly twenty years of trying, the people involved in the lobbying have given up almost all hope of the city being accepted by the UN body.

On top of that conservation efforts have not been able to keep up with the rate of deterioration of our heritage buildings. These efforts have been carried out in a sporadic and disorganized manner that left our streets dotted with little pockets of majestically restored mansions lodged in between rows and rows of crumbling buildings.

How then did we manage to win the hearts of the people in UNESCO?

I was informed by a reliable source that a group of Penang-loving foreigners played a large role in the push to achieve this heritage status. In fact our own Federal Government has been lackadaisical about the idea and only participated half heartedly. This was reported in the news media a few years ago when they encountered problems during the submission of the city for consideration.

So, are we ready to forge ahead and make full use of this opportunity to enrich our city? Right now, everyone is talking about how much money they can make from this new found status. It was predicted in the media today that the property price in Penang will increase further and the surge in tourism will boost our economy.

I find these speculations quite obnoxious indeed. It is quite embarrassing to note that Penangites are more concern about making money from this unexpected windfall rather than concentrating on the original purpose of conserving our heritage for future generations. In normal circumstances, working hard and making money is a good thing. But we must realize that the main purpose of UNESCO according us world heritage status is to ensure that our colourful history is preserved in the beautiful buildings and streets of George Town.

Let us not desecrate our forefathers’ legacies by tainting them with talk of money all the time.

The State Government should make use of this pleasant surprise to institute the ‘shock and awe therapy’ in order to change the mindset of Penangites and rejuvenate the state in a concerted and well organized manner. This treatment has been used in other countries such as the United States after major disasters such as the Katrina incident in New Orleans, in which new schools were built according to a new system which benefits the people.

Of course in our case, winning the heritage status is obviously not a disaster, but still a pleasant shock to all of us. Thus, in this short window period of elation, the government should act fast and introduce radical plans to transform our city into a ‘world-class world heritage’ metropolis.

The most effective way to initiate this is to follow these simple rules of good governance – LEGISLATE, EDUCATE and ENFORCE.

If there is a need to enact new laws and policies to protect our buildings and streets, then just DO IT. That is the job of the politicians and with a large majority in the Penang State Assembly, I am confident that the Government of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng will be able to push through much needed conservation laws.

Secondly we need to educate Penangites concerning the significance of our newly bestowed title. Instead of daily political bickerings and mud slinging, the media should start dispensing valuable information to the public on ways people can participate in the conservations efforts. The people will only start to support these efforts if they know the purpose behind them.

Lastly the Government should seriously begin to enforce the laws and acts to ensure that people comply with our new standards. This can be done through the enforcement arm of the Municipal Council. Streets should be cleared of illegal structures and rubbish. Sign boards should be standardized so that they do not hide the whole intricate façade of their buildings. Colour coding and zoning of buildings should be introduced to achieve aesthetic uniformity throughout the area.

The ultimate aim is to transform George Town into a vibrant, functional and livable heritage city for both Penangites and guests. Penang has been a trading post since its founding in 1786 by Captain Francis Light and George Town has served as the melting pot of many cultures.

It is time we celebrate our diversity and show the world what Penangites can do. Let us forget about the rhetorical phrase of ‘Malaysia Boleh this and Malaysia Boleh that’. That is passé.

It is time we Penangites lead the way and just DO IT.

After all, George Town has shown that it is ‘The Little City That Could’.

Penangites, one and all! Let’s DO IT!

I hope you enjoy the Flash video presentation of George Town which I have created to celebrate our World Heritage status. The music is from an instrumental orchestration of Musetta's Waltz from Puccini's opera 'La Boheme' (Quando me'n vo)

Rukunegara, Rukun Badawi

2008-07-07T19:00:00.003+08:00

In his latest salvo against dissenting Malaysians, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi labeled the deliberate attempts to create negative perceptions of uneasiness and distrust in the people via SMS and internet as TREACHERY. He claimed that these people have blemished the principles of the Rukunegara. See article in Malaysiakini entitled ‘Rudd decides against meeting Anwar’ at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/85674 and in New Straits Times, ‘Abdullah labels attempts to create negative perceptions on country via SMS, Internet, as treachery’ at http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/Frontpage/20080707110106/Article/index_html .

Since primary school we were taught about the concept of Rukunegara and its five guiding principles towards the formation of a united and harmonious Malaysia. But one question that puzzles me until today is that - if the Rukunegara is so important, why is it relegated to the back cover of our exercise books when instead it should have been printed in the front page?

Such is the mystery that surrounds our National Ideology that it has become as mysterious as the disappearance of our famous bipolar private investigator Mr. Balasubramaniam. But that’s beside the point of this article.

The reason we are here today is to analyze our Prime Minister’s accusation that the views and writings in our blogs are treacherous. This is a serious allegation indeed and one which I am sure the majority of us bloggers find disdainful. If the Prime Minister believes that exposing the truth behind the misdeeds of the ruling government is treason, then let the real TRUTH be told!

Let us cherish our school days once again as we raise our right hand and recite the Rukunegara. This time, we shall compare who are the people who have blemished these sacred vows for the past fifty years – the rakyat or the government?

BELIEF IN GOD – Kepercayaan kepada Tuhan
Malaysians are generally very religious people and religious festivals are celebrated with zest amongst the people. Religious harmony does exist at this level of society and celebrations are usually inclusive and participated by everyone regardless of their beliefs.

People who truly believe in God are respectful of other religion and they rejoice in their neighbour’s celebration of spirituality. People who truly believe in God do not go around knocking down temples and stop the construction of religious symbols.

People who truly believe in God do not need to create their own brand of their religion and sell it to the Malaysian public as part of their political gimmick.

LOYALTY TO KING AND COUNTRY – Kesetiaan kepada Raja dan Negara
The people have always been loyal to the King and Country. In fact during the recent political turbulence, the people have been turning to His Majesty The Yang Di-Pertuan Agong and Their Majesties The Sultans for inspiration and reassurance. The stability and neutrality of this apolitical institution is important towards the protection of the people’s rights.

On the other hand, there were disagreement between the government and the palace in two States concerning the appointment of the Chief Ministers following the March 2008 General Election. And going back two decades ago, the government voted to change the Constitution in order to restrict the power of the Monarchy.

UPHOLDING THE CONSTITUTION – Keluhuran Perlembagaan
Malaysians regard the country’s Constitution as the highest document that protects our rights. Everyone considers the Constitution as sacred and should be upheld at all times.

Unfortunately, our Constitution has undergone so many changes since Merdeka that it is now barely recognizable. The people didn’t do that. It was the Government who altered it throughout the years to facilitate their strangle hold on power.

SOVEREIGNTY OF THE LAW – Kedaulatan Undang-undang
The political tsunami that hit the ruling party created so much instability amongst the parties in the ruling coalition that the government is at the brink of chaos.

On the other hand, we, the law abiding citizens of Malaysia continue to go about our daily chores in peace. There are no nation wide street riots. There is no anarchy. Although faced with rising fuel prices and its consequential hardships, the people of Malaysia still believe in the sovereignty of the law.

GOOD BEHAVIOUR AND MORALITY – Kesopanan dan Kesusilaan
Politicians and leaders should lead by example and in order to do that, they should strive to be wholesome and pure. They should be hard working and be concerned about the welfare of the people. They should be free from corruption and nepotism.

However, just look at the names listed below. I shall not comment on what they did because the names speak for themselves.

Dr Chua Soi Lek, Datuk Zakaria Md. Deros, Tan Sri Rahim Noor, Balkis, Persatuan Bunga Tanjung...

The Prime Minister should do his homework first before commenting on issues which are sensitive to the people’s hearts. Charity begins at home, and so does cleaning your own compound.

People who stand up for their rights are not treacherous. Malaysians are in fact practicing the principles of the RUKUNEGARA by voicing out their concerns for humanity, justice, equality and peace.

The Prime Minister should stand in front of a huge mirror and look at his own Government first before accusing us of blemishing the nation’s ideologies.

Saiful the Backdoor Boy

2008-07-05T17:32:00.002+08:00

No, I am not talking about the ‘I sodomize you, you sodomize me’ allegations being hurled around Malaysia’s political court. Those are merely allegations in which the truth remains unknown. We shall let Malaysiakini and Malaysia Today dwell upon that subject. See ‘Anwar vs Najib: Liwat meliwat’ http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/85562

What I would like to talk about is why a 23 year old boy (he looks very boyish indeed) was allowed to meet and seek a scholarship from the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia in the first place? This fact was confirmed by Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak himself when he recanted his initial denial, and said that he had met Saiful Bukhari Azlan at his office before.

But hang on there a minute!

Why should a student be knocking on a politician’s BACKDOOR to apply for a scholarship? I am sure there are other proper channels to go through for this sort of application. Shouldn’t this kind of action be considered ‘skipping the queue’ or ‘pulling strings’?

Does this mean that the Malaysian government awards scholarships only to students who are connected to politicians?

By the way, Saiful has gone through the wrong BACKDOOR if he really wanted to apply for a scholarship. Shouldn’t he be banging hard on Hishammuddin’s BACKDOOR instead, since he is the Education Minister? Or maybe our clean Hishammuddin isn’t into all these BACKDOOR businesses?

We live in interesting times.

Paving the Pavements of Penang

2008-07-03T17:42:00.003+08:00

I refer to the article in Malaysiakini entitled ‘BN ‘buruk siku’ isu monorel, PORR’ http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/85488 . After the cancellation of both these projects by the Federal Government, many people have advocated the use of public transportation as the better alternative for Penang. I beg to defer.

“Walk to work? Absolutely not! You must be out of your otak-otak mind!”

“But it’s only a five minutes walk. Surely you can save on fuel and save the environment at the same time.”

“I would rather save myself first!” I said. “Do you know how dangerous it is to walk along the pavements of Penang? First of all you have to find the pavement; if there is any. Then you have to pass through countless obstacles such as the ubiquitous DVD seller, hokkien mee hawker stalls and a few vagrants strewn along the path. At the same time you have to keep your eyes wide open to avoid the periodical manholes with missing covers, all eagerly waiting to engulf you into their dark smelly belly.”

With the increase in fuel prices lately, many people are turning to public transportation to move about. For the past two weeks, Rapid Penang recorded an 8% increase in commuters using their buses. This is an encouraging sign that shows Penangites ‘rapidly’ adapting to the changing environment and it is good news for the environmentalists whom I am sure are jumping green with delight.

But is Penang really ready to go GREEN?

The success of public transportation also depends greatly on the efficiency of the roads and pavements connecting the network. It is obvious that people will now have to walk more often and for longer distances to reach their point of embarkation. Judging from the sorry state of our pavements, I am afraid the only green thing we will ever see is the thick algae that cover these underused paths.

The majority of pedestrian pavements that were built in Georgetown throughout these years are basically non-functional and purely ‘decorative’ in nature. Some of these pavements were so badly constructed that I would not dare call it decorative at all. Millions of ringgits have been wasted on these projects due to bad planning and lack of supervision of the contractors.

Sometimes I think the previous government allowed the contractors to simply design and build these mindless pathways themselves. That is why Georgetown is encased with kilometers upon kilometers of haphazard walkways that appear as if they have been built by primary school drop outs.

1. The most obvious fault is that most of our pavements are inconsistently short and frequently end in abrupt stops. There is no continuity in the path and pedestrians need to walk onto the street alternatively to continue their journey. Clearly the city was not designed for pedestrians.

2. Most of these pavements are too high for elderly people to get on and they do not have slope access for handicaps.

3. Tiles are used to lay these paths instead of flat concrete slabs which are more practical. Almost all our tiled walkways are ridden with uneven and missing tiles which makes it dangerous for people to walk on. Apart from that it is very difficult to upkeep and maintain tiled pavements due to our tropical weather which encourages the growth of weeds through their cracks and holes.

But the main problem with our pavements is that they are usually filled with obstacles. It is like an obstacle course for the pedestrian to get from one place to the next. Rows of trees are planted right in the middle of the path when it should have been planted on the side if they are meant to provide shade. It is ridiculous to see this mistake repeated everywhere. It is as if these pavements have been built for the trees instead of pedestrians. If only trees could walk. Sigh.

Penang is famous for its street food and these places are usually crowded day and night. Most of the time, restaurant and coffee shop owners arrange their tables and chairs until they extend out onto the five foot ways and pavements of their shops. Not to be outdone, various other shops also display their products right onto the road side.

This irresponsible act is not only restricted to hawkers and shop owners, but the Municipal Council is guilty as well. Road signs, lamp posts and other utility structures are erected everywhere regardless if they are blocking the walkway or not. I have heard of many people who were injured by the sharp edges of these structures as they walked by.

So if we want Penangites to use public transportation and walk more, then we have to revamp the pedestrian walkways of George Town drastically. The authorities should ensure that the design of new pathways meet international standards and are practical. We do not need ugly tiles and cobbled stones to impede our journey. We need continuous and unobstructed pavements so that people can enjoy their walk. It is terrible enough to endure the heat of our tropical weather let alone walking on rough and uneven surfaces.

Ever since the Penang Outer Ring Road and Monorail projects were cancelled by the Federal Government, many people have advocated public transportation as the better choice for our island. Obviously these people have overlooked the derelict state of our useless pedestrian walkways.

Merdeka! Merdeka. Merdeka?

2008-06-30T15:58:00.005+08:00

I view with great concern the recent incident in which PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had to seek refuge at the Turkish Embassy for fear of his own safety. After 50 years of Independence, it is a shame that our government is not able to provide the basic security needs of our people. It is sad indeed to see a citizen of Malaysia seeking refuge in a foreign embassy in his own homeland. What is the meaning of Merdeka if it fails to ensure the protection of the basic rights of our citizens?

MERDEKA!

In 1957, we exclaimed ‘Merdeka’ with the full spirit of patriotism. Every citizen was full of hope that our country will be free from colonial rule at last. Everyone was raring to move ahead together to build our nation.

MERDEKA.

In 1969, Merdeka came to a full stop and the nation was faced with racial tension and animosity. It was the start of the government’s efforts to implement various policies to correct the social imbalance. Initially the plan to reduce poverty and create equality amongst the people appeared to be solid and trustworthy. However not long after that, those policies were misused by the ruling party to keep themselves in power.

MERDEKA?

In 2007, we celebrated the Golden Anniversary of our nation with a big question mark. Is Malaysia really a free country? Have we been hoodwinked by the government all these years into thinking that we are really free?

For 50 years, we have been shouting ‘Merdeka!’ whenever 31st of August looms close by. But after fifty years of this so called independence from British rule, the nation’s mindset remains caged-in with our own fears of racial discrimination, religious discords, corruption, injustice and most of all veiled suppression of our basic freedom.

And yet not many people seem to worry about that.

Except for politicians and activists, the general population does not seem to care about their own predicament. We allow our leaders to decide what is ‘good’ for us and accept their actions without the slightest blink of an eye. For the last fifty years, Malaysians have given our politicians an easy life. Even the Opposition could not give the ruling party a run for their money; not until recently.

Fortunately there are a few amongst us who manage to realize the ongoing systematic erosion of our basic rights. These are the people who dare to voice their dissent to the government despite threats of incarceration and punishment. But then, time and again, it is the same few people who are behind these heroic acts.

The rest of us either remain mum or criticize them for being trouble makers, power grabbers and disturbers of peace. Anwar Ibrahim, the de facto leader of Parti Keadilan Rakyat, has been accused of being too obsessed in taking over the reins of the Federal Government. Lim Guan Eng, the Chief Minister of Penang has been told by certain quarters to start working and stop harping on land scams issues in Penang. The list goes on – BERSIH, HINDRAF, PROTES etc.

Even our endearing Raja Petra is considered to be out of his mind when he made his famous Statutory Declaration about the Altantunya murder case.

But let us pause and dwell deeply into our hearts. Who do we really want as our leaders? What kind of leader does Malaysia need to propel it from its current stagnant state of affairs?

Do we want leaders who are willing to stand up for what they believe in? Do we want people who risk their own freedom so that the rest of us can be free?

Or do we want to be led by people who claim to represent us, but in reality are more concerned about their own welfare and power status? Do we still want to stay in our comfort zones and remain oblivious to their countless attempts to ravage the country’s resources for their own pockets?

Malaysians should realize that they are the ones who choose their own destiny. Whether we like it or not, each and every one of us is responsible for the state of our nation. Therefore we should swiftly recover from our stupor and start participating in the process of rejuvenating our beloved country again. There must be a collective awakening of political consciousness amongst all citizens for real democracy to work.

Fortunately this is starting to happen as more and more people are waking up from their slumber after the shock of the election earthquake in March 2008. Bloggers are becoming more vocal and activists are more organized in their various quests. The Pakatan Rakyat governments are also helping the nation by appointing members from Non Governmental Organizations into their local councils to encourage the involvement of people in the administration of the State.

Just a few years ago, all these might seem impossible. But with the ever growing network of internet accessibility and other modern modes of affordable communication methods such as mobile phones and messengers, people like you and me suddenly realize that we are not alone anymore. Through sharing of information and ideas, Malaysians of every race and religion are beginning to see that they share a common aspiration. We are now capable of bypassing the barriers set up by 50 years of partisan rule of Barisan Nasional and come together as one people again.

However this section of society only represents a small fraction of our population of 23 million. We need to spread this self realization to the general populace – those who do not have access to the internet, those who are caught up with their work to even bother about politics and those in the rural areas of the country. These people form the bulk of Malaysians who have the potential to MAKE MALAYSIA WORK!

It might seem like a gargantuan task to bring 23 million people to their senses but I believe not an impossible one. The first step is to make sure everyone who is eligible to vote, VOTES. It is stated that there are still 4 million eligible voters who have yet to register with the Election Commission. This represents nearly 30% of those eligible. We need people not only to talk about politics but also to act and participate in the process of democracy.

This can be done by legislation and making it compulsory for all Malaysians who have come of age to vote. Some might view this compulsion as an infringement of our basic rights to choose. They say that ‘choosing not to vote’ is also part of human rights and making it compulsory will therefore remove this right.

In my opinion, their case might hold up for Western countries where the governments are more transparent and fair. But in Malaysia, it would serve as a good way of ensuring we vote in the right leaders and prevent the ruling party from abusing the election process to suit their goals.

We should educate all Malaysians to be brave, honest and truthful to ourselves. We must be brave to stand up for our rights. We must be honest and avoid giving in to the temptation of corruption. We must be truthful and admit to ourselves that our nation has not really progressed as much as we should since Merdeka.

Malaysia was formed with its citizens’ rights enshrined in the Constitution. If we do not practice our rights, it is a form of abuse by itself and one which is brought about by our own neglect. If we don’t use our rights, it will slowly erode away with the help of an ever suppressive government. These politicians who are already in power are more than happy to help you give up your rights so that they can remain in power forever.

Malaysians tend to think highly of their politicians and leaders, so much so that we are willing to ignore their wrong doings and hyper inflate their minimal achievements. It is time to change our mindset and judge them according to their actual deeds.

Not many have realized it but our freedom has been continually and systematically restricted year by year since Independence. There have been so many changes in the Constitution that it is now barely recognizable. Throughout the years, the government had enacted various prohibitive acts that curtail our freedom of expression.

We are now at the cross roads of our destiny. If we choose to remain silent and be led astray, our nation will regress and end in failure. If we choose to voice out our stand for justice, humanity, and equality, then we will definitely be taking a bold step towards the birth of a new era.

Malaysians are tired of full stops and questions marks. After 50 years of independence, it is time we shout MERDEKA together with three exclamation marks!

MERDEKA! MERDEKA! MERDEKA!

Natural Born Drivers of Penang

2008-06-26T15:36:00.001+08:00

It was a tragedy to read in Malaysiakini about the Government’s decision to stop the PORR and Monorail projects in Penang. Please refer to the article entitled ‘Penang’s monorail, PORR projects shelved’ at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/85072.

Penangites are natural born drivers. We drive anywhere and everywhere. People staying on the island drive across the bridge to work in the mainland and not to be outdone, the mainlanders travel to the island to work in the Bayan Lepas factories. Everyone complains about traffic congestion on the bridge, but we still insist on commuting to and fro by the thousands everyday.

Driving must be a passion of Penangites or perhaps it is a form of ritual that must be performed daily. Alas! Some people even drive to the sundry shop next door to buy their groceries.

Surprisingly the decision to stop the Penang Outer Ring Road (PORR) and Monorail projects have met with mixed reactions from Penangites. Judging from our trigger happy driving habits, I would expect everyone to be angry that the highway will not be built. But many people are now saying that it is good that the PORR project is shelved. On the other hand, I predicted a neutral stance towards the scraping of the Monorail project but it seems that many people are also happy that the project has been halted.

The only conclusion I can make from these confused reactions is that Penangites object to these projects not so much because of their impact on the environment, but because we are disgusted with the idea that these billion ringgit projects are to be handed out to family members and cronies of the present Federal Government to develop.

Actually we should not be happy with the decision at all. Has anyone asked where the unused allocation of RM 1.5 billion for PORR and RM 2 billion for Monorail will be diverted to? Isn’t it absurd that the government can add a hefty RM 30 billion into the 9th Malaysian Plan and yet cannot afford to build these much needed infrastructure and mass transportation projects in Penang?

Surely our Prime Minister and his highly paid advisors are not that bad in mathematics. All Malaysians know that our Prime Minister is indecisive and likes to make U-turns on his decisions, but this is surely the worst U-turn that he has ever made.

The traffic in Penang is becoming increasingly congested throughout the years as more housing and industrial areas are being created on both sides of the channel. With the completion of the second bridge in a few years time, more traffic will flow into the island and that will eventually clog up and choke the whole island.

In my opinion, PORR is a necessary part of the bridge system to divert traffic away from the city centre and the Monorail is one of the components to reduce vehicular flow into Georgetown. These three projects have been designed to complement each other. If we remove one of them, it will surely create chaos in the traffic flow, more than what we are experiencing now.

Many people say that the Monorail can be done away with if we improve our public transport system such as buses and taxis. Don’t they realize that Penangites have given up hope on these unreliable services? Would anyone put their lives into the hands of these crazy and unscrupulous drivers who know next to nothing about traffic safety?

Penangites are not against development. We are only against corruption, cronyism and careless environmental degradation. I am sure the majority of us support the building of PORR and Monorail if they are free from these three evil elements.

These projects should be continued but with proper environmental impact assessment. They should be awarded to developers through a transparent open tender system as prescribed by the government of Mr. Lim Guan Eng. The Monorail network should be designed to cover all the populated areas around the island to ensure its profitability.

No matter what excuse the Federal Government has, the people are now viewing the Prime Minister’s decisions as a vindictive act to punish Penangites for voting for the Opposition in the last General Election. It is so obvious that even the Barisan Nasional apologetics are beginning to feel uneasy.

Come on, Mr. Prime Minister. Be a gentleman and prove us wrong. Make us happy. Give our natural born drivers back their PORR and let them drive passionately around the island. At the same time don’t forget to be kind to our environmentally conscious Penangites by giving them back their Monorail.

Life, Death and Karma

2008-06-25T17:20:00.002+08:00

After reading Malaysiakini’s news article entitled ‘Ex-Perwaja boss Eric Chia dies’, my mind kept hovering upon the topic of life, death and karma. View the article at this URL http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/84979

What is death?

All major religions in the world talk about death and where we go from there. Some say we either go to heaven or hell, depending on the judgment of a higher being. Some say we are reborn as soon as we take our last breathe. We can either become a higher being or a lowly creature, depending on the deeds we have done in the previous life. Some religions are nihilistic and they say that there is nothingness after death.

Which is true? Which is not? Death remains a mystery because NOT a single dead person has ever returned to tell the story of what goes on after death. So let’s not talk about something we don’t really know for sure. Let’s forget about DEATH and talk about LIFE instead.

What is life?

If a person is caught committing a crime, he is put on trial and punished with a fine or a jail term. That is LIFE.

But what if a person is charged with Criminal Breach of Trust, acquitted by the court and then subsequently dies? What if he suffers from a multitude of illness during his last years of life? What if his family distance themselves from him because of the shame brought about by the court case? What if even in death, the public still hold him accountable for the millions of ringgit lost?

I would say that is KARMA.

The question is should a criminal be absolved from his crimes after death? One might escape from the judgment of MAN but he cannot run away from the law of cause and effect. What you sow is what you reap. That is karma.

Looking at the comments in Malaysiakini and Malaysia Today on Eric Chia’s death, I would say a lot of people subscribe to this idea. The law of the universe dictates that for every action, there is a reaction. This is what the scientists say and not only what the religious people believe in.

Lately, we have witnessed a lot of political upheaval, shocking judicial revelations and of course the many deaths of well known figures in Malaysia. The people are starting to realize their potential in changing the course of their own lives. They have become outspoken and brave enough to challenge the leaders who have misled them all these years. And it looks like the forces of evil are fast being overcome by the forces of justice, equality, humanity and humility.

Now, that is POLITICAL KARMA.

Corporation to bankrupt the nation (CORRUPTION)

2008-06-21T16:39:00.005+08:00

Malaysiakini’s article entitled ‘The end of BN is nigh’ is more likely to be a fact soon rather than a mere premonition. Everyone knows how corrupted our politicians and civil service have become and it is time to halt this hypocrisy. View article at this URL http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/84783

It takes two hands to clap. Therefore it also takes two pockets to corrupt – one pocket to hold the goodies for payment, and the other to receive the presents. With so many pockets on both sides of the fence, our country has become one big Disneyland of greed and lawlessness.

If you read the news reports daily, you can easily deduce even from the most guarded and conservative government owned media, that corruption is happening at all levels of the government and private sector.

CORRUPTION comes from the phrase ‘CORporation to bankRUPt the naTION’ and our government is the biggest such corporation hiring more than 1.15 million sweet toothed civil servants and thousands of greasy politicians. For the last 50 years, they have drained and wasted our nation’s resources and wealth to the tune of billions of ringgits. Because of them, our country has missed out on countless opportunities for progress and development.

Malaysia could have become one of the most advanced and prosperous country in the region, if not the world by now. We have natural resources such as gas and petroleum. Our land is fertile and able to support all kinds of economic crops. Malaysians of all communities are relatively hard working and resilient. And most of all our country is blessed with calm weather throughout the year and free from natural disasters that plague our other less fortunate neighbours.

Truly Malaysia is paradise on Earth.

We should be standing tall with the rest of the developed world today, but instead we remain stunted years behind. Some even say that we are on the verge of falling backwards into the throes of third world countries. What a shame for a land once known as the Golden Chersonese. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Chersonese

Corruption is like the music of the sirens that enthralls you so much that you will never want to let it stop. For years and years, our government has become a well lubricated network of corridors for channeling public funds to undeserving people. While the giver and the taker stand to gain from this marriage of convenience, the people of Malaysia are the losers at the end.

There is NO WAY corruption can be eliminated by efforts from WITHIN the ‘corporation’ itself. Every Prime Minister that came into power promised to rid his administration off corruption and yet the situation has become worse every year. No one wants to get incriminated by exposing corruption within their organization especially if one is deeply involved. The corporation is akin to a brotherhood of greed and to scream out corruption is like drawing out a double edged sword.

Even the Anti Corruption Agency is under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister’s Department. It doesn’t take a genius to know that the agency’s independence and freedom to investigate the government is restricted. After all, which dog is stupid enough to bite the hand that feeds it?

The only way to get rid of corruption is to have a sea change in the government. The political tsunami that swept through the nation last March is starting to uncover some dirty linen in Penang and Selangor. This is proof that we need a total change in the composition of leaders in the government to expose previous misdeeds. However the bulk of our nation’s wealth is still under the control of the Federal Government and we need a second and bigger political tsunami wave to stop this carnage.

Even with full control of the federal government, I foresee difficulties in Pakatan Rakyat’s efforts to halt corruption altogether because they would still have to deal with the 1.15 million civil servants who have gotten used to the old ways. It takes more than political will to change the attitude of this mammoth institution and to jump-start it from its own inertia and tardiness.

The eradication of corruption requires honesty, integrity and persistence on the part of the government. The people should also be informed that it takes two persons to commit this crime and therefore should refrain from doing it. The Anti Corruption Agency should be an independent body free from government control to be able to function as a vigilante for the nation. Only then are people able to report corrupt practices without the fear of being victimized.

It is said that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Barisan Nasional’s 50 years of unopposed rule has created such a situation. The ‘corporation’ which we placed our trust in to lead us, has bled us dry from left and right. It has wasted every single drop of sweat from the hard working Malaysian on countless dubious projects that never seem to benefit the nation.

The Barisan Nasional government should be replaced immediately before they bankrupt the whole nation.

What our country needs is a political system in which there is a balance between the ruling party and the opposition. There should be a change in the composition of the government every few terms or so to ensure that there is a check on misappropriation.

Fifty years is more than enough for one party to dominate our political scene. It is time they take a bow, leave gracefully and let the new cast from Pakatan Rakyat to come on to the stage.

Kee Phaik Cheen - Penang's Queen of Congestion

2008-06-18T16:13:00.004+08:00

Penang Chief Minister Mr. Lim Guan Eng marked his 100th day in office by saying that he would ‘rather fail trying than having failed to try’. This is truly a wise saying that reflects the sincerity of his efforts to bring Penang back to its glory days.

And then I turned to The Star newspaper on the same day and came across the news report entitled ‘Ideal site for centre (i.e. Penang International Convention Centre) – Build project at tourist beach belt, Kee urges state’, and I was reminded again that amidst our newly elected innovative leaders, Penang is still harbouring a few antiques from the past.

Datuk Kee Phaik Cheen, the federally appointed Penang Tourism Action Council chairperson has preposterously suggested that the new convention centre be built in Batu Ferringhi or Teluk Bahang. It was not a surprise that she came up with such an environmentally unfriendly suggestion. As we all know old mindsets are deeply ingrained with ideas from yesteryears and they find it difficult to change and adapt to current times.

Penangites will surely remember the disastrous ‘Longest Beach Buffet’ organized by Mdm. Kee Phaik Cheen many years ago in Batu Ferringhi. I could not recall the exact year, but it was during the era when the government was preoccupied with breaking world records of all sorts. Hotels, local restaurants and hawkers were invited to participate and offer their culinary delights all along the beach starting from Rasa Sayang Resort to Park Royal Hotel (Now Grand Plaza Park Royal).

It was the worst buffet which I have ever attended. Despite the appointment of buses to ferry people from designated points in George Town, there was a massive traffic jam on the only narrow road leading to Batu Ferringhi. After arriving, we were forced to wait for more than an hour along the access lane to the beach because by then, the whole shore line was cordoned off to prevent non-paying participants from entering.

Then, just as the event was about to start, the sky decided pour down on us and strong wind began to blow leaves, twigs, food, plates, drinks and table cloth all over the place. And when the buffet finally started, the huge crowd surged forward ‘Penang style’ and attacked the buffet line.

It was a total disappointment indeed and many people were outraged that there were not enough food and drinks to go around. In fact my friend and I only managed to grab a tiny morsel of food and had to share a little glass of lassi drink.

That night everyone left the party feeling tired, wet, hungry and thirsty. Everyone EXCEPT the VIP’s of course, who arrived on a luxury yacht and dined on the manicured lawn of Rasa Sayang Resort.

I suppose we could blame God for the thunderstorm and call it the‘I-ak of Gott’ (‘Act of God’ pronounced Samy Vellu style). But the lack of food, traffic congestion and poor organization were definitely logistic problems created by the organizers’ lack of common sense.

And now Mdm. Kee Phaik Cheen has suggested building the proposed Penang International Convention Centre in either Batu Ferringhi or Teluk Bahang, citing that there are enough hotels here that can provide 6000 rooms and a lot of unused land in the area which is suitable for the project. I agree that the ready availability of accommodation for future convention delegates is a good reason for locating the centre here but I would strongly advise Mdm. Kee to take her hands off the pristine land in Batu Ferringhi and Teluk Bahang.

The hills and beaches here should be conserved and kept for recreation purposes. As it is, the current massive development projects in Batu Ferringhi have caused a lot of pollution and deterioration in the environment. Does Mdm. Kee know that the amount of tourists to Batu Ferringhi has been dwindling year by year? If we were to build a high density convention centre here, wouldn’t it cause over crowding which will lead to the destruction of the beauty of this area?

First of all, ever since that fateful buffet evening many years ago, there is still only one narrow winding road from George Town to Batu Ferringhi. Secondly the public transport system is still inefficient and not trustworthy. Thirdly the massive hill cutting activities being carried out by luxury home developers along the way have increased the risk of landslides during heavy rain. In fact many accidents and soil erosion have occurred during the past few years due to unsupervised development.

Even now, the road is already congested during weekends and holidays. I could not imagine how choked up it would be with a new convention centre here. I would not even want to think about the disastrous consequences of landslides.

Perhaps Mdm. Kee has not learned her lesson from the Longest Buffet tragedy. What she is proposing will ultimately strangulate Batu Ferringhi and cause it to die of congestion.

Malaysian politicians tend to have the notion that whenever we need a new venue for some purpose, we have to build a new structure. That is why our country is dotted with so many ugly mega structures which are only used occasionally and remain vacant throughout the rest of the year. It is a waste of public funds indeed.

Instead of building new structures, perhaps our new Penang leaders should be more radical and creative. There are many empty heritage buildings and warehouses all around George Town, in particular the Weld Quay waterfront which can provide large floor space for events and functions. It would be an exciting challenge for designers and architects if they could convert these places into MICE facilities. It will be a boost to the efforts to conserve Penang’s heritage buildings and at the same time Penangites will be at the forefront of this radical idea.

Komtar is another suitable building which can be converted into a convention centre. In fact it is already equipped with meeting facilities such as the Geodesic Dome, large atrium for exhibitions and other areas. It will only take a bit of ingenuity and Penang’s creative touch to transform this building back to its glory days again. See ‘Komtar – Let’s do a Madonna’.

With this new idea of recycling old buildings and making it useful again, we will be able to inject life back into old George Town. In fact our city has been a meeting place for travelers and merchants from all over the world since its founding in 1786. People from the Arab countries, India and China have been coming here for centuries to do business and to settle in our beautiful island.

From the article in Malaysiakini, Chief Minister Mr. Lim Guan Eng and his team are doing a great job leading the state. I hope that they are also receptive to this concept of useful conservation. Times are hard due to rising fuel prices and reduced budget allocation. The government needs to be both practical and radical to try out new ideas and make full use of our limited resources.

Sometimes we do not need to look far to other countries for solution. In the case of Penang, all we need is to do is to look around our own island to discover the many treasure boxes that beckon to be opened again.

Heritage in our Streets. Heritage in our Hearts.

Has the Nation Stopped Breathing?

2008-06-17T18:28:00.001+08:00

Nowadays the articles in Malaysiakini are either about politics or the rise in fuel prices. After reading the three reports below, I was overwhelmed with an acute sense of doom.

‘2 gov’t parties may defect’ http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/84590,
‘Crossovers: What if nothing happens/’ http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/84574
‘Syed Hamid: Fuel price won’t go down’ http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/84595

My mood has been down for the past few weeks. In fact, the whole nation is in a state of depression. Everyone has been affected by the political and economic aftermath of the recent general election. Although the political tsunami of March the 8th provided us with the initial thrill and excitement of a roller coaster ride, those feelings are long gone now.

Today Malaysians are faced with rising fuel prices and the impending chain reaction which will lead to escalating costs of food, utility bills, education, housing and other basic necessities. Everyone is struggling to find ways of coping with the extra strain on their budget. The poor and middle income group are the most affected as the increase in fuel price is more than 40% and 60% for petrol and diesel.

The rich and the privileged will still be able to continue their lifestyle. As the Prime Minister said during the announcement of the cost cutting measures by the Cabinet recently, Ministers are still able to enjoy their expenses paid holidays with their families in Asean countries.

The political situation is also adding to the stress level of the people. At one hand, Pakatan Rakyat is working hard in its attempt to take over the reins of the Federal Government. And on the other, Barisan Nasional is trying to appease East Malaysian states by promising billions of ringgits to them.

The feeling of the unknown and sense of anticipation have made the whole nation ground to a halt. Everyone is either fixated on the big screen of our national theatre of politics or they are stunned silent by the sudden increase in fuel prices. Our senses are continuously being assaulted by political rhetoric and the rising cost of living.

The nation has STOPPED BREATHING.

The Prime Minister does not know whether he is coming or going. The Cabinet does not have any bright ideas on how to tackle the situation. The people are starting to suffer from the after effects of over-politicking.

If this situation continues much longer, the economy of the nation will die a painful death. If we hold our breath a few seconds more, our lungs will burst with anger and civil unrest.

Therefore let’s START BREATHING again. Let’s start working and get the country moving . We cannot leave it to the politicians to satisfy our needs. Haven’t we learned our lesson these past 50 years?

Politics, Religion and the Cloth in Between

2008-06-13T16:44:00.004+08:00

Let’s face the facts. LIFE is all about controlling lesser beings that fall under our dominion. Even in highly advance democratic countries, it is the government who wields actual power over the people despite them being elected into office by the people. Forget about People’s Power and Makkal Sakhti for the moment. These are merely slogans that we use to propel our chosen leaders to the top.

The truth is it only takes a small fraction of the population to run the lives of the other millions below them. It seems like a heavy task for a few people to control the whole nation, but that is just what leaders have been doing everywhere throughout history. This is where religion and other mass control tools such as race and class come into play.

Religion has been used, misused and reused by figure heads throughout the centuries to exert control over tribes and nations. Unscrupulous leaders use it to create fear in people and then offer the promise of salvation. They label and brand religion according to their needs in order to propagate and expand the number of their followers.

The introduction of Islam Hadhari by the Prime Minister was essentially a rebranding exercise that he had hoped would gain him more support from the people. However he did not take into account that Malaysians have generally become a well informed society. Most people do not see the need to change their way of practicing Islam, least of all one which expounds more or less the same values they have been following all these years.

I suppose that is why Islam Hadhari remains controversial and has not really gain any ground in the general populace. And that is why the Pakatan Rakyat governments are slowly dismantling this concept in their states. After all, there is only one teaching of Islam – the religion of peace.

The other reason for its unpopularity is because people are fed up of being told how to practice their own religion. Many consider religion to be a private matter and in my opinion it should remain so that way. Once religion becomes a state matter, it will somehow turn into a political tool which will ultimately destroy its own sanctity. No matter how sincere a politician is, it must be noted that he is STILL a politician.

We should leave religious matters to the imams, priests, monks and rabbis. These men of the cloth are the ones who are qualified enough to expound the teachings of their various religions. Politicians should not don the robes of religious men and vice versa, religious men should not preach behind the masks of politicians.

All the major religions of the world teach their followers to be at peace with oneself and to exist in peace with others. If you put a priest, a monk, a rabbi and an imam together in a room, I am sure there will be no quarrels. But once a politician enters the scene, the chances are high that sparks will be ignited.

The war in the Middle East and other parts of the world today are not due to religious differences. We don’t see rabbis dropping bombs on imams and imams throwing stones at rabbis. The real war is actually between greedy politicians who misuse religion for their own selfish gain.

It is dangerous for politicians to step into the sacred grounds of any religion. If they do, it will be like a flame walking into a tinder-box.

Fortunately Malaysians are wise enough and they can see through the crystal clear facade of Badawi’s Islam Hadhari just like they can see through the walls of the Crystal Mosque of Terengganu. Even PAS has realized that politics and religion should be treated separately by restricting the aspects of religion to themselves and joining hands with other parties to build the nation. This, I truly respect.

On the other hand, will UMNO ever learn from their mistakes?

Great leaders do not need to hide behind the cloak of religion to lead the nation. Neither do they need to play the racial card to gain support. Great leaders should simply adhere to the values of justice, equality, humanity and humility.

The dismantling of Islam Hadhari in the Pakatan States is a good start towards the elimination of religious enmity and segregation in our society. It is time we move forward and leave behind 50 years of unfounded fears generated by preachy politicians. Let’s remove the cloth that has been hiding their ulterior motives all these years.

Orang Minyak...The Haunting Begins

2008-06-10T15:26:00.019+08:00

There is a ghost in the old Malay paranormal culture called the orang minyak (oily man) who was said to have made a pact with the devil to acquire the power of the black arts. In return he was ordered to worship the devil and rape 21 virgins within a week. There are many versions of the story but basically the orang minyak has always been described as a supernatural serial rapist who has powers of invisibility and is hard to catch. See Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orang_minyak

Apparently the orang minyak is still very much alive in Malaysia. It was last sighted just after midnight on Thursday 5th of June 2008 when the price of petrol suddenly increased by more than 40% to RM 2.70 per litre. This time around, he is not stopping at 21 virgins, but will continue to rape more than 27 million Malaysians off their current lifestyle and livelihood in the coming months.

Who is this Orang Minyak? Why is he punishing the people by bringing on so much hardship?

Unlike the invisible ghost, this Orang Minyak appears stark naked in broad daylight to haunt every decent working Malaysian. He is not ashamed of his own inadequacies and continues to mismanage the country by running it on autopilot. He likes to make ambiguous statements and frequently does a complete U-turn with his decisions. Some people refer to him as being a ‘flip-flop’. I would rather think that he is just a big flop.

The Orang Minyak is surrounded by less brighter beings, but nonetheless just as greasy; who help him dispense of our nation’s wealth and resources on wasteful projects. These feudalistic beings come from all over the country to form a national coalition which act as a front for their activities.

This latest punishment meted out by orang minyak and his gang will ultimately cause a nuclear chain reaction. With the drastic increase in fuel price, everything else will follow suit. It will only be a matter of time before the cost of food, clothes, education and basic utility are raised beyond control.

From what I can see, their action will only serve to fuel the anger of the people. I just hope that we are calm and clear headed enough to see through the scams of this heartless person. We must remain united and ride out these tough times together. The last thing we need now is civil unrest that will give Orang Minyak and his gang the excuse to mete out more severe punishments to restrict our freedom.

Orang Minyak must be disposed off immediately. It must be a nightmare for a simple worker to go to sleep one night and wake up the next morning having to pay 40% more for his fuel. And that does not even include the cost of providing breakfast for his family, food, clothing, utility bills and education.

No matter how slippery he might be, it is of utmost importance that we catch this scrooge before he drives our economy to shambles. It is said that if the flame of anger of the people are directed at the orang minyak, he will be set on fire. It is only fair that he feels the heat that was generated by himself.

The latest cost cutting measures introduced by him is a mere hog wash. A 10% reduction in allowance and other trivial limitations imposed on his gang is nothing compared to the amount of suffering the people will have to face. The Orang Minyak will still be able to travel comfortably in his ‘kenderaan bersayap’ (winged vehicle ie jet plane) and cruise along boulevards in his many limousines. But the common man might not even be able to ride his motorcycle to work because he cannot afford to buy fuel anymore.

Orang Minyak, oh, Orang Minyak!

Where are you?

Who are you?

Malaysia Today should run a contest among its viewers to guess who the real Orang Minyak is. However there will be no prize for the winner though as the answer is quite obvious.

Does Dr Koh think he is a Durian tree?

2008-06-09T15:11:00.003+08:00

In Malaysiakini today, it is stated in the article ‘Koh gives up Gerakan chief post in Penang’ that he has decided to relinquish his position in order to concentrate on national issues. I guess it is better to be late than never since most Penangites are of the opinion that his contribution to the state was just a hyped up show.

Last week Dr Koh proclaimed that his previous government’s efforts at bringing in investors are bearing fruit now. He cited that Penang will get RM 10 billion worth of total manufacturing investment by the end of the year. I do agree that wooing investors require persistent effort over a long period of time.

But we could also interpret the situation in another way by saying that since the Pakatan Rakyat government came into power in March, the investor climate in Penang has changed for the better. Thus companies who were initially hesitant to invest have changed their mind and finally decided to come to Penang as they are more confident about the Pakatan Rakyat’s ability to govern the State.

Perhaps Dr Koh Tsu Koon thinks that he is a durian tree, which typically matures and bears fruits after many years of infertility. If so, then the Pakatan Rakyat government is currently enjoying the ‘durian runtuh’ of Dr Koh. (Durian runtuh is a Malay simile for sudden unexpected windfall).

Forgive my ignorance on economic matters, but does it take five long years of wooing (since 2003) to win over these companies? I shall leave it to the experts to comment on this.

But as for me, I would rather think that the surge in investment is due to the change in the political climate of the state. I am sure international investors are more decisive than Dr Koh makes them out to be. They would have invested in our country earlier if they had found it beneficial at that time.

Perhaps it is just the good feng shui of the new government that we see improvement in the investor climate here. Perhaps it is purely good luck that the durian tree suddenly bears fruits after so many years. Only time will tell whether this current trend will continue and foreign investment multiply throughout the coming years.

Surely the incoming tide of foreign investment signifies their renewed confidence in our present state government. I am sure these companies are spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a particular country to set up their factories. We are surrounded by neighbouring countries who can offer cheaper workforce, and yet these investors chose Penang.

Let us hope the Pakatan Rakyat government will built upon our strength and attract more companies to set up their businesses here.

The People's King

2008-06-05T17:07:00.010+08:00

Malaysians will celebrate the official birthday of His Majesty The Yang Di Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan on Saturday, 7th of June, 2008. Long live the King! May His Majesty and Her Majesty The Raja Permaisuri Agong be blessed with happiness, wisdom and good health.

To mark this happy occasion, Betel Nut Chronicles have changed the colour of its header to yellow. I have also created a Flash presentation which I would like to share with all viewers. You may embed the Flash file in your blog by following the instructions at the end of this article. I also invite all bloggers to join me in showing our utmost respect to His Majesty by introducing the colour yellow in our blog headers for a week.

As we Malaysians have witnessed for ourselves, His Majesty Tuanku Mizan is indeed an exemplary King who is fair and steadfast in his views. Despite the constraints of our constitutional monarchy system, Tuanku Mizan has indeed shown us that his heart belongs to the people of Malaysia. In these times of political turbulence and uncertainty, His Majesty is the fountain of honour, stability and hope for our beloved country.

I have always admired the qualities of the man mentioned in Rudyard Kipling’s poem entitled “If…”. In my opinion, the qualities expounded in the poem below truly resemble that of our King.

IF
By Rudyard Kipling

IF you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or being hated, don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;

If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

Truly Tuanku Mizan is the PEOPLE’S KING!

DAULAT TUANKU!
DAULAT TUANKU!
DAULAT TUANKU!

Instruction: To embed the Flash presentation into your blog, please open this TEXT file and paste the code into your web page when you are in Edit HTML mode. The URL to the TEXT file is http://edmondsee.googlepages.com/daulat.txt

Datuk! Datuk!

2008-06-04T17:39:00.004+08:00

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.

Although these titles are awarded by His Majesty The Yang Di Pertuan Agong, Their Royal Highnesses The Sultans and Their Excellencies The Governors of various states, it is the government who plays a major role in choosing the recipients. They are supposedly chosen for their significant contributions to the country and community.

Pardon me for being over simplistic, but with thousands of Datuks running around doing good deeds for society, why do we still have so many impoverished people in the country?

The criteria used in the process of awarding Datukships remain quite vague to me. But if we scrutinize the yearly recipients’ list, it would seem that the conferment of awards correlates to the amount of wealth and power the recipient has. If it really was about recognizing the achievements and contributions of Malaysians, there would have been more recipients from the fields of education, security forces, voluntary organizations and NGO’s.

But as it is, we see the bulk of Datukships going to businessmen and politicians. I am sure businessmen contribute to the economic success of the nation and politicians work hard to lead the country. But are their achievements significant enough to deserve such a highly esteemed award?

Uncontrolled proliferation of Datuks in this country will ultimately dilute the prestige of the title itself. On top of that, misbehaviour and misuse of the titles will hasten the deterioration of the situation.

To protect the sanctity of these awards, a stricter selection process should be instituted. We must ensure that the conferment of honorific titles is not degraded to the level of a marketplace, where it can be traded like meat and vegetables.

The best rule is to only give out honorific titles to those who do not have any personal financial gain from receiving the awards. A lot of people might disagree and see this as a crude and undemocratic attempt to stifle their prerogative. But if you think of it, aren’t these awards given to honour people who have given their best to society in the first place? Wouldn’t it be logical then if these awards enhance their efforts to serve society rather than for self enrichment?

Recipients should be screened thoroughly to avoid future embarrassment. Only those who truly deserve the title should be conferred. Sometimes I wonder whether these people asked themselves truthfully if they deserved the award or not.

Honorific titles can serve as an inspiration to all Malaysians to strife harder to improve themselves and the country. We just have to ensure that the process of awarding them is transparent and truthful.

And for those who have worked hard, but have not been accorded these recognitions, they should continue to work hard, and be proud of their work. They should be content that they are earning merits in the eyes of the people whom they have helped. We do not need so many Datuks parading around the country in order to create a greater Malaysian society. All we need are hard working people who are steadfast and humble.

However, I am sure most of us wouldn’t mind having more of the spiritual type of Datuks around the corner of our street. That is because they do occasionally confer us with lucky lottery numbers. Furthermore it is quite simple to appease these deities with just an offering of betel nut leaves complete with lime (kapur), sliced betel nut (pinang), Javanese tobacco (tembakau Jawa) and palm cigarette leaves (rokok daun).

As for our real life Malaysian Datuks, I suppose it is harder to appease them in some cases.

The Real Bunga Tanjung

2008-06-02T17:59:00.006+08:00

Let’s take a break from politics and enjoy the beauty of Penang today.

Remember the article called ‘Si Bunga Tanjung’ which I wrote earlier last month? It was about the dubious transfer of funds by Persatuan Bunga Tanjung to Bakti after the fall of the Gerakan/Barisan Nasional government in Penang. Ever since then, I have been searching high and low for the real bunga tanjung tree (Mimusops elengi) in Penang.

And yesterday, after much difficulty, I found them at last.

They are planted all around the open air car park behind the Pulau Tikus Market. To my surprise the flowers are quite small and not distinctively pretty. In fact I wouldn’t have noticed it if not for the beautiful fragrance of the flowers that seem perfuse the air as I walked out of my car.

So if you are around Pulau Tikus area, do walk around the car park and enjoy the wonderful smell of the REAL Bunga Tanjung.

Feasting the Arab Tourists

2008-05-30T18:03:00.006+08:00

I applaud Deputy Tourism Minister Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Abdul Taib’s acknowledgement in Dewan Rakyat that the Arab tourists in Malaysia spend the most compared to visitors from other countries.

The question that comes to mind is do we really deserve these tourists who come all the way from the Middle East to visit us?

From my observation, the treatment that we Malaysians accord these guests is downright appalling. Every year there were reports of Arabs who were fleeced by street vendors and taxi men who charged exorbitant rates. There were complaints of Malaysians being rude and arrogant starting from immigration officers at various entry points, right down to the general public. In fact here in Batu Ferringhi, it’s not uncommon to hear of fights that erupted between burly Arab men and the locals over simple disagreements, which in most occasions, were due to our own mischief.

I believe this is all due to our misconceptions about Middle Easterners. For decades, we have been fed with biased Western views about these people through news reports and fictional movies. Their portrayals of the Arabs were usually negative in nature and that was how Malaysians, and the rest of the world, came to perceive of them. The various conflicts in the Middle East and Hollywood’s exaggeration of these events also affected our paranoia towards them.

Through the daily course of my work, I come across many tourists including the Arabs. For two months each year, they arrive in hordes on our shores accompanied by family members. Many of them are newly married couples who chose Malaysia and Penang as their honeymoon destination.

Behind each Arab man’s thick moustache is a husband, father or son, just like any husband, father or son in our own country. Under each Arab lady’s black hijab is a wife, mother or daughter, similar to any wife, mother or daughter in our land. And just like when we go on a holiday, they too have brought their family on a trip to a far away land.

To be a good host, we must first identify what experiences our guests look for when they travel. From my conversations with them, it is generally agreed that most of them want to get away from the boring routine of work and home. They want to experience the relative freedom that is found in other countries. And YES – contrary to our own perception, Malaysia is highly regarded by them as a relatively ‘FREE’ and ‘BEAUTIFUL’ country.

“Cay, cay cay. Lang ay boay kiao liao.”

“Wow, wow, wow. Our tails are standing straight up now.”
(It means we should feel proud of ourselves now)

But please don’t start clapping our hands just yet. These ‘freedom’ and ‘beauty’ are fading fast judging from the horrific ways we treat our guests. The Malaysian Tourism Ministry does not seem to understand that tourists come to see our local heritage and experience local culture through interaction with our people. If we do not upkeep our national treasures and educate our people about international courtesy and manners, very soon these guests will be going elsewhere for their holidays.

Take Penang for example. The previous state government emphasized on efforts to build huge shopping malls and luxurious condominiums that destroys our pristine environment, and left our beautiful heritage houses to rot. With the increased pollution, loss of greenery and decaying buildings, what do we have left to offer our guests?

The Tourism Ministry should formulate programmes to educate the general public on the importance of tourism to our country. There should be ongoing efforts to train tour operators, guides, drivers and all those involved in the industry to be more courteous and kind. Every Malaysian should be made to realize that they have an important role to play in the tourism industry. And that role is to be kind and courteous to our guests when we encounter them. Only then will these tourists feel welcomed and safe.

And YES – we do need to be taught about all these things. Malaysians tend to assume that we are kind and courteous right from birth.

Let's get our act together before inviting these precious guests to our home. This year, the Arab tourist season will be in July and August. We should start cleaning our house for we will be FEASTING the Arab tourists very soon.

But please remember NOT to FLEECE them!

This article also appeared in Malaysiakini with the title 'Do we deserve our Arab tourists?'

Soil Erosion in Batu Ferringhi

2008-05-29T16:29:00.003+08:00

It rained heavily this afternoon, and the emerald bays along Batu Ferringhi coastline are again boiling red with soil washed down from the construction sites of Ivory Homes, Asia Green and Shamrock Beach. Please see my related article entitled Environmental Terrorism Alert.

The Penang State Government should issue a stop work order on all these sites immediately. They should also start an investigation to elucidate why hill slope developments were approved by the previous state government in the first place. As evident in these photographs, the impact on our beautiful beaches and forests is tremendous.

The local tourist season has begun and the Arabs tourists will be arriving soon in July and August. As a Penangite, I am deeply embarrassed to show this carnage to our guests.

Please get our act together before inviting tourists to come to our island. Get these developers to stabilize the slopes and prevent further erosion. I don't see any good reason why these greedy developers should be allowed to continue raping our virgin hills and forests just to gratify a few luxurious home owners.

I shall repost the article 'Environmental Terrorism Alert' for your easy viewing below.

Environmental Terrorism Alert
By Edmond R

I read with frustration, the various disappointments echoed in Malaysiakini towards the International Court of Justice’s decision to award sovereignty of Pulau Batu Puteh to Singapore and Middle Rocks to Malaysia. I found it absurd that we should be so concerned about these two little geologic formations, when in reality, we are still unable to protect our very own land from the continuous onslaught of environmental terrorism.

Politicians and the public are too busy setting their sights on this tiny ‘white-washed’ island and those ‘rocks in the middle’ of the straits that they fail to see what is happening to the islands in their own backyard. The green hills and forests of Penang, Langkawi and other places are constantly being raped by greedy developers. And on the international front, we are being terrorized by the annual migration of haze from neighbouring Indonesia.

It was not reported in the media, but after a heavy downpour last Friday, there was a landslide at Batu Ferringhi Road, which obstructed half the road and halted traffic from both directions. The incident occurred at Moonlight Bay where Ivory Homes have carved out the whole hill for their luxurious housing project. Despite the flimsy retaining wall which they have built, frequent landslides and soil erosion occur whenever there is heavy rain. This river of red soil flows into the emerald bay below and turn it red like a boiling bowl of blood.

The rape of our virgin forests has gone unnoticed for far too long. It should be considered as a first degree murder of the environment. The developers have tried to cover the exposed hill surface with blue plastic sheets, but that does not conceal the fact that the hill has been scarred beyond recognition. During the landslide, they even had to assign a tractor to clear the road but this temporary solution will not reduce the risk of further accidents.

Nowadays driving along Batu Ferringhi Road is like driving through a war zone. There are four major housing development projects along the road, namely IGB’s Ferringhi Heights, Shamrock Beach, Asia Green’s Hilltop Villas and of course Ivory Homes’ massive project at Moonlight Bay. All along the way you can see huge area of hills being flattened and exposed.

It has been going on for years now, but I suppose the previous state government was too malaise to take any positive action against these environmental rapists.

Another threat which happens throughout Malaysia is the haze that blankets us every year without fail. It is a known fact that this haze is caused by atmospheric particles blown over from the burning fields in Indonesia. Each year, our politicians will display their typical knee-jerk response by promising to deal with Indonesia concerning the cross border pollution. This haze and the public outcry that accompanies it, usually last for a few months. And when the skies are clear again, our demands on Indonesia withers away too.

The two examples above reveal how unconcerned Malaysians are for our environment. We allow terrorists from within to rape our precious land. We also allow terrorists from other countries to smother us with toxic air every year.

Why bother gaining more territories and expanding our borders, when we can’t even take care of the land we already have? Why bother fighting for two tiny land outcrops when we don’t even want to fight the war on environmental terrorism that stare right into our faces?

When will we ever learn?

There are some good photographs concerning the carnage in Batu Ferringhi at Anil Netto’s website at http://anilnetto.com/2008/05/26/penang-govt-should-establish-its-green-credentials-fast/ which accompanies his well written article.

Guan Eng is PRETTY Thorough; NOT PETTY

2008-05-28T15:20:00.004+08:00

As reported in Malaysiakini under the article ‘Koh in no hurry to meet Lim’, we should view with great concern the reluctance of Dr Koh Tsu Koon to meet with Mr Lim Guan Eng. It is said that Dr Koh told Mr Lim not to bring up petty issues and asked him to start governing the state. See http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/83504 .

I believe the petty issues which he meant were the land scam controversy and Bunga Tanjung’s dubious transfer of funds to Bakti. Millions of ringgit was lost by the State Government in the PGCC land conversion scam and thousands worth of state charity money were transferred to Bakti, a federal based organization.

If loosing millions of ringgit is considered petty, then I suppose Dr Koh’s standards must be very high. Should we wait until the level reaches billions before we start to consider the issue as important?

What Mr Lim is doing now is anything but petty. In fact he is being meticulous by going through all documents and decisions with a fine tooth comb. This will help remove all the lice and parasites that have fed on our state coffers throughout the years. As I have said in my earlier posting, we have to plug a leaky ship before setting sail for bigger oceans.

A Chief Minister’s job includes safeguarding the people’s interest and wealth. We need to know how our state’s allocation was spent by the previous government to avoid making the same mistake. It is common knowledge that the Penang state budget is now running at a deficit.

Perhaps if Dr Koh had been more PETTY when he was Chief Minister, Penang’s economy would have been PRETTY vibrant by now.

For example if he had checked with his sources before inviting the Prime Minister to launch the PGCC project, he would have known that the project had not even been approved by the Municipal Council yet. If he had been more vigilant about the spending of Seberang Perai Municipal Council, it would not have become so poor as it is now.

And if Dr Koh and Gerakan have listened more carefully to the voice of the people, they would still be in power today. I am sure many readers of Malaysiakini will agree to that.

Environmental Terrorism Alert

2008-05-27T16:02:00.009+08:00

I read with frustration, the various disappointments echoed towards the International Court of Justice’s decision to award sovereignty of Pulau Batu Puteh to Singapore and Middle Rocks to Malaysia. I found it absurd that we should be so concerned about these two little geologic formations, when in reality, we are still unable to protect our very own land from the continuous onslaught of environmental terrorism.

Politicians and the public are too busy setting their sights on this tiny ‘white-washed’ island and those ‘rocks in the middle’ of the straits that they fail to see what is happening to the islands in their own backyard. The green hills and forests of Penang, Langkawi and other places are constantly being raped by greedy developers. And on the international front, we are being terrorized by the annual migration of haze from neighbouring Indonesia.

It was not reported in the media, but after a heavy downpour last Friday, there was a landslide at Batu Ferringhi Road, which obstructed half the road and halted traffic from both directions. The incident occurred at Moonlight Bay where Ivory Homes have carved out the whole hill for their luxurious housing project. Despite the flimsy retaining wall which they have built, frequent landslides and soil erosion occur whenever there is heavy rain. This river of mud flows into the emerald bay below and turn it into a bowl of red boiling blood.

The rape of our virgin forests has gone unnoticed for a very long time. It should be considered a first degree murder of the environment. The developers have tried to cover the exposed hill surface with blue plastic sheets, but that does not conceal the fact that the hill has been scarred beyond recognition. During the landslide, they even had to assign a tractor to clear the road but this temporary solution will not reduce the risk of future accidents.

Nowadays driving along Batu Ferringhi Road is like driving through a war zone. There are four major housing development projects along the road, namely IGB’s Ferringhi Heights, Shamrock Beach, Asia Green’s Hilltop Villas and of course Ivory Homes’ massive project at Moonlight Bay. Along the way you can see huge areas of hills being flattened and exposed.

It has been going on for years now, but I suppose the previous state government was too malaise to take any positive action against these environmental rapists.

Another threat which happens throughout Malaysia is the haze that blankets us every year without fail. It is a known fact that this haze is caused by atmospheric particles blown over from the burning fields in Indonesia. Each year, our politicians display their typical knee-jerk response by promising to deal with Indonesia and to stop the cross border pollution. This haze and the public outcry that accompanies it, usually last for a few months. And when the skies are clear again, our demands on Indonesia withers away too.

The two examples above reveal how unconcerned Malaysians are for our environment. We allow terrorists from within to rape our precious land. We also allow terrorists from other countries to smother us with toxic air every year.

Why bother gaining more islands and expanding our borders, when we can’t even take care of the land we already have? Why bother fighting for two tiny land outcrops when we don’t even want to fight the war on environmental terrorism that is staring right into our faces?

When will we ever learn?

There are some good photographs concerning the carnage in Batu Ferringhi at Anil Netto’s website which accompanies his well written article.

The UMNO Trilogy

2008-05-24T09:40:00.008+08:00

Based on reports from Malaysiakini , I have written the following articles concerning UMNO and its purported struggle, power mongering and the current ambiguous direction our country is heading to in these times of economic turbulence. They were posted on three consecutive days from 21 May 2008 to 23 May 2008. The article below is a collection of this Trilogy of UMNO.

Part 1 UMNO - What Struggle?

Time and again we hear UMNO leaders shouting about their struggles. We see it on television and we hear it on radio everyday. Those in the party harp about it. Those who are out of the party too, like Tun Dr. Mahathir, keep ranting on the subject. It would seem like UMNO has forever been inundated with struggles throughout its 62 years of history.

“Gua punya telinga sudah sakitlah,” lamented a disgruntled old man in the coffee shop.

“Hari-hari sorak pasal perjuangan, tapi apa perjuangan yang depa maksudkan?”

(I am getting an ear ache from hearing about their struggles. But what struggles are they talking about?)

Animals struggle for survival because they are vulnerable to predators in the wild. The people of some African countries struggle against hunger and famine brought about by climate change and civil war. Millions in Myanmar and China are struggling to cope with the massive destruction caused by recent natural disasters.

But here in Malaysia, the paradise of all paradises, Malaysians live peacefully and subscribe to the tenets of democracy and civilian rule. We are blessed with bountiful harvest and a relatively vibrant economy. And most of all, we have always been free from the threat of natural disasters, famine and extreme poverty.

So what are these struggles that UMNO has been drilling into the minds of their members and the general public, day in day out?

The word ‘struggle’ connotes a constant action perpetuated to counter a specific threat and to achieve a certain goal. In this context, UMNO’s purported struggle to safeguard the interest of the Malays should be considered null and void.

This is because since Independence, we have been living under a Constitution that guarantees and safeguard the rights of the Malays and also that of all Malaysians. It is not written anywhere that this task is solely under the purview of UMNO. The onus is on every citizen of Malaysia to protect these rights. And all of us regardless of race or religion have been doing so ever since.

There was never any threat from the Chinese and Indian communities, except the threat fantasized by the people in UMNO. There was never any real fear of the Malays, except the fear created by the other racially based parties in coalition with UMNO.

Ordinary Malaysians are practical and sensible, and we have been living together under the courteous rule of give and take. It is the blind politicians who try to blind us with their sentiments and rhetorical statements in order to divide and rule us.

Are UMNO and the rest of the component parties of Barisan Nasional ‘struggling’ to protect the interest of all Malaysians? Or are they struggling to hang on to power?

After their big loss in the recent General Elections, Barisan Nasional leaders have been reminding members to be loyal to the party amidst the mud slinging and back biting. But what about the people who elected them in the first place? Aren’t elected representatives supposed to serve the people?

So, in actual fact, do Malaysians really have any cause to struggle for?

The answer is a resounding YES.

We should struggle to excel in the field of education. We should struggle to keep our economy afloat in turbulent times. We should struggle to eliminate poverty and create a level playing field for all. We should struggle to end corruption and wastage of the people’s wealth and resources.

These are what Malaysians should be struggling for. And these we should do with total insight into the needs of everyone but with total blindness towards race or religion.

UMNO has only two directions to proceed from here. It can either UPGRADE itself to become a multiracial party with open membership to everyone regardless of race or religion; or it can DOWNGRADE from being a political party to become a community based service provider.

If it chooses to evolve into a multiracial national party, it will earn the respect of all Malaysians for being brave and in tune with the sentiments of the people. If it chooses to disband and become a community based service organization, it will still be applauded for being brave and innovative.

But if UMNO, and the rest of the component parties of Barisan Nasional decide to continue their ‘struggle’ based on racial composition, then they will surely meet their own demise in the near future.

While waiting for them to decide, we should start working hard and struggle for our common ideals immediately. Malaysians have started to move a step forward into the right direction after the March 8th General Elections. It is time these errant politicians follow suit.

Part 2 UMNO's Saga of Kings, Warriors and the Common People

Malaysiakini’s latest report on the Mahathir’s resignation ‘saga’ further enhances our view that UMNO is all about people who value power more than anything else. Look closely at who is going and who is staying and you will notice that those who resigned are members who are no longer in power. The best example would be their former President Tun Dr. Mahathir. See 'UMNO accepts Mahathir's resignation'.

And as expected, the people who chose to stay behind are those who are still in office, like his own son Mukhriz, who has just been elected for the first time as a Member of Parliament.

It is not because of sentimental reasons that these people refuse to resign. It is not because of party loyalty that they chose to remain in UMNO. It is because they are still drivers and passengers aboard the gravy train that they hope will ultimately take them to honey heaven.

As I have said in my previous posting entitled “UMNO – What Struggle?” our country needs a focused and decisive government to lead us out of this feudal mentality that has plagued our political system for 50 years.

Malaysians are tired of watching UMNO’s constant drama of ‘kings and warriors’. What we want now is a real government who acts on behalf and for the common people regardless of race or religion.

Part 3 Why Doesn't Pak Lah Fight Back-lah?

The news report in Malaysiakini entitled ‘Why Doesn’t Pak Lah Fight Back?’ by Ong Kian Ming and Oon Yeoh is the inspiration for this article. It is the last of the trilogy of articles concerning UMNO which I will post in Betel Nut Chronicles. This is also the toughest one to write as I could not have imagined myself singing praises about someone whom I have hated so much throughout these years.

I am sorry to disappoint you readers, but despite his name being in the title above, this article is actually about his nemesis, Tun Dr. Mahathir – former Prime Minister of Malaysia, former President of UMNO and recently, former member of UMNO. And despite Pak Lah being the Prime Minister by law, it is Tun Dr. Mahathir who seems to be running the country at the moment.

Growing up in the 80’s and entering the real world in the 90’s, I and the rest of my generation were directly affected by this man’s policies. Many of us belong to the disadvantaged section of the Malaysian society which did not gain from his rule.

But age has made us more objective in our thoughts, and it is fair to say that Tun Dr. Mahathir has been and still is, a good leader, albeit in a bad way. His recent resignation from UMNO is testament to his true leadership qualities of being DECISIVE and CONSISTENT in his own beliefs; two qualities which we find lacking in our current Prime Minister, Pak Lah.

Let’s face it. During his tenure, Tun Dr. Mahathir did bring about development, success and much happiness to some amount of people. It was his decisiveness and consistency that made that possible. On the other hand, Pak Lah remains shrouded by his elegant cloak of silence which ironically reveals his naked indecisiveness and inconsistencies. This is what irks everyone including the layman.

Today, all sides are calling for his resignation. Some, like Mahathir, are more vocal than others, whereas those in Pakatan Rakyat, chose to be more subtle. Malaysia cannot afford to have an ambiguous leader in these times of economic turbulence. With all this bickering going on in UMNO and Barisan Nasional, it will take a long time before our country finds a new direction.

In summary, this article is not about praising Mahathir and denouncing Pak Lah. It is about leaders having the right qualities to make decisions and to be consistent in their beliefs. The question now is do we have such capable leaders in our midst?

The three months assessment period for our various newly elected leaders is coming to an end soon. From my observation, the Pakatan Rakyat state governments seem to be the only ones who are DECISIVE and CONSISTENT.

What more can I say?

Why Doesn't Pak Lah Fight Back-lah?

2008-05-23T12:16:00.003+08:00

The news report in Malaysiakini entitled ‘Why Doesn’t Pak Lah Fight Back?’ by Ong Kian Ming and Oon Yeoh is the inspiration for this article. It is the last of the trilogy of articles concerning UMNO which I will post in Betel Nut Chronicles. This is also the toughest one to write as I could not have imagined myself singing praises about someone whom I have hated so much throughout these years.

I am sorry to disappoint you readers, but despite his name being in the title above, this article is actually about his nemesis, Tun Dr. Mahathir – former Prime Minister of Malaysia, former President of UMNO and recently, former member of UMNO. And despite Pak Lah being the Prime Minister by law, it is Tun Dr. Mahathir who seems to be running the country at the moment.

Growing up in the 80’s and entering the real world in the 90’s, I and the rest of my generation were directly affected by this man’s policies. Many of us belong to the disadvantaged section of the Malaysian society which did not gain from his rule.

But age has made us more objective in our thoughts, and it is fair to say that Tun Dr. Mahathir has been and still is, a good leader, albeit in a bad way. His recent resignation from UMNO is testament to his true leadership qualities of being DECISIVE and CONSISTENT in his own beliefs; two qualities which we find lacking in our current Prime Minister, Pak Lah.

Let’s face it. During his tenure, Tun Dr. Mahathir did bring about development, success and much happiness to some amount of people. It was his decisiveness and consistency that made that possible. On the other hand, Pak Lah remains shrouded by his elegant cloak of silence which ironically reveals his naked indecisiveness and inconsistencies. This is what irks everyone including the layman.

Today, all sides are calling for his resignation. Some, like Mahathir, are more vocal than others, whereas those in Pakatan Rakyat, chose to be more subtle. Malaysia cannot afford to have an ambiguous leader in these times of economic turbulence. With all this bickering going on in UMNO and Barisan Nasional, it will take a long time before our country finds a new direction.

In summary, this article is not about praising Mahathir and denouncing Pak Lah. It is about leaders having the right qualities to make decisions and to be consistent in their beliefs. The question now is do we have such capable leaders in our midst?

The three months assessment period for our various newly elected leaders is coming to an end soon. From my observation, the Pakatan Rakyat state governments seem to be the only ones who are DECISIVE and CONSISTENT.

What more can I say?

The other postings in this trilogy of articles on UMNO are as follows:
1. UMNO – What Struggle?
2. UMNO’s Saga of Kings, Warriors and the Common People

UMNO's Saga of Kings, Warriors and the Common People

2008-05-22T10:08:00.007+08:00

Malaysiakini’s latest report on the Mahathir’s resignation ‘saga’ further enhances our view that UMNO is all about people who value power more than anything else. Look closely at who is going and who is staying and you will notice that those who resigned are members who are no longer in power. The best example would be their former President Tun Dr. Mahathir. See 'UMNO accepts Mahathir's resignation'.

And as expected, the people who chose to stay behind are those who are still in office, like his own son Mukhriz, who has just been elected for the first time as a Member of Parliament.

It is not because of sentimental reasons that these people refuse to resign. It is not because of party loyalty that they chose to remain in UMNO. It is because they are still drivers and passengers aboard the gravy train that they hope will ultimately take them to honey heaven.

As I have said in my previous posting entitled “UMNO – What Struggle?” our country needs a focused and decisive government to lead us out of this feudal mentality that has plagued our political system for 50 years.

Malaysians are tired of watching UMNO’s constant drama of ‘kings and warriors’. What we want now is a real government who acts on behalf and for the common people regardless of race or religion.

UMNO - What Struggle?

2008-05-21T17:02:00.005+08:00

Time and again we hear UMNO leaders shouting about their struggles. We see it on television and we hear it on radio everyday. Those in the party harp about it. Those who are out of the party too, like Tun Dr. Mahathir, keep ranting on the subject. It would seem like UMNO has forever been inundated with struggles throughout its 62 years of history.

“Gua punya telinga sudah sakitlah,” lamented a disgruntled old man in the coffee shop.

“Hari-hari sorak pasal perjuangan, tapi apa perjuangan yang depa maksudkan?”

(I am getting an ear ache from hearing about their struggles. But what struggles are they talking about?)

Animals struggle for survival because they are vulnerable to predators in the wild. The people of some African countries struggle against hunger and famine brought about by climate change and civil war. Millions in Myanmar and China are struggling to cope with the massive destruction caused by recent natural disasters.

But here in Malaysia, the paradise of all paradises, Malaysians live peacefully and subscribe to the tenets of democracy and civilian rule. We are blessed with bountiful harvest and a relatively vibrant economy. And most of all, we have always been free from the threat of natural disasters, famine and extreme poverty.

So what are these struggles that UMNO has been drilling into the minds of their members and the general public, day in day out?

The word ‘struggle’ connotes a constant action perpetuated to counter a specific threat and to achieve a certain goal. In this context, UMNO’s purported struggle to safeguard the interest of the Malays should be considered null and void.

This is because since Independence, we have been living under a Constitution that guarantees and safeguard the rights of the Malays and also that of all Malaysians. It is not written anywhere that this task is solely under the purview of UMNO. The onus is on every citizen of Malaysia to protect these rights. And all of us regardless of race or religion have been doing so ever since.

There was never any threat from the Chinese and Indian communities, except the threat fantasized by the people in UMNO. There was never any real fear of the Malays, except the fear created by the other racially based parties in coalition with UMNO.

Ordinary Malaysians are practical and sensible, and we have been living together under the courteous rule of give and take. It is the blind politicians who try to blind us with their sentiments and rhetorical statements in order to divide and rule us.

Are UMNO and the rest of the component parties of Barisan Nasional ‘struggling’ to protect the interest of all Malaysians? Or are they struggling to hang on to power?

After their big loss in the recent General Elections, Barisan Nasional leaders have been reminding members to be loyal to the party amidst the mud slinging and back biting. But what about the people who elected them in the first place? Aren’t elected representatives supposed to serve the people?

So, in actual fact, do Malaysians really have any cause to struggle for?

The answer is a resounding YES.

We should struggle to excel in the field of education. We should struggle to keep our economy afloat in turbulent times. We should struggle to eliminate poverty and create a level playing field for all. We should struggle to end corruption and wastage of the people’s wealth and resources.

These are what Malaysians should be struggling for. And these we should do with total insight into the needs of everyone but with total blindness towards race or religion.

UMNO has only two directions to proceed from here. It can either UPGRADE itself to become a multiracial party with open membership to everyone regardless of race or religion; or it can DOWNGRADE from being a political party to become a community based service provider.

If it chooses to evolve into a multiracial national party, it will earn the respect of all Malaysians for being brave and in tune with the sentiments of the people. If it chooses to disband and become a community based service organization, it will still be applauded for being brave and innovative.

But if UMNO, and the rest of the component parties of Barisan Nasional decide to continue their ‘struggle’ based on racial composition, then they will surely meet their own demise in the near future.

While waiting for them to decide, we should start working hard and struggle for our common ideals immediately. Malaysians have started to move a step forward into the right direction after the March 8th General Elections. It is time these errant politicians follow suit.

Komtar, Let's Do A Madonna!

2008-05-20T18:22:00.003+08:00

The Honourable Mr Ng Wei Aik
State Assemblyman for Komtar
Email: ngweiaik@penang.gov.my

Love it or hate it, Komtar remains one of Penang’s most prominent icons. To put it kindly, it looks like a giant joss stick rising to the heavens from the heart of old George Town. It is a building that defies all the rules of good feng shui with its oddly shaped podium and cylindrical tower. Sadly, the popularity of Komtar has declined tremendously within the past decade as newer shopping malls were built all over the island and mainland.

But it was not always like that.

Komtar was born in the disco era and achieved its heyday in the 80’s when Miami Vice was the rage on television. It was THE place where youngsters made their Don Johnson white jackets at De Jazz and bought cassettes of the latest disco music from DB and Infiniti. I remember having my first taste of ‘imported’ ice cream from the Italia Ice Cream restaurant located next to Dalit cinema.

Back then, everything was super! Families used to throng Super Komtar Departmental Stores during the weekends, and Penang’s socialites held lavish banquets in Super Tanker Restaurant. I still have fond memories of these places, but sadly, most of the shops are now gone. Super Komtar has become an empty warehouse and Super Tanker is now an obscure coffee shop.

The remaining shops dotting the sleepy corridors continue to operate daily, but the sound of their shutters opening and closing is reminiscent of a deep yawn. There is lethargy in the air as shop owners wait eagerly for the few shoppers who walk by.

Leaving feng shui aside, anyone with eyes can see that Komtar was poorly designed right from the start. With so many sharp corners linked by a confusing network of alleyways, there is bound to be collection of rubbish, dust and the occasional homeless person, lodged in every nook and cranny. I doubt the architect himself would like to walk through the cathedral of his own creation today.

Recently, there were suggestions to turn it into a hotel or an IT centre. Some even went on to say that Komtar should be torn down completely. But jokes aside, no matter what we plan to do, we should first analyze the cause of the initial problems. The structure of the building should remain as it is because any alteration would be too expensive and impractical.

Thus I have categorized the other rectifiable problems into five groups:

1. Shop Variation and Zoning
2. Transportation and Access
3. Security
4. Cleanliness
5. Attraction and Draw of other Shopping Malls

Shop Variation and Zoning
It is quite boring to shop at Komtar nowadays because the goods sold there lack variety. Furthermore shops are scattered all over the massive complex and there are only a few sign boards to guide shoppers. We need to regroup and rezone the various shops so that they are easily accessible.

I believe most of the lots are individually owned as oppose to newer malls in which shops are rented out on a monthly basis. One of the major problems faced by the management of Komtar is invariably the lack of participation and cooperation from the shop owners. Therefore it will be almost impossible to control their business activity and institute the rezoning programme.

This is where the politicians and the authorities should step in. Private developers should be invited to buy these shop lots en bloc from individual owners. They can then redevelop and reassign shops according to the type of business and rent it out to these former owners again. It might seem like a draconian idea, but the creation of a more conducive shopping environment is beneficial to both shoppers and shop owners in the long run.

Transportation and Accessibility
Penangites are passionate about driving and we are known to drive almost everywhere. Some would even drive their cars to the sundry shop next door! That is why parking at Komtar is a hassle. The various car parks including the two multi storey facilities are not enough to cater for everyone.

Therefore, we either need to build more car parks or improve the public transportation system especially the bus. I would rather prefer the latter as it would bring less traffic into the heart of George Town and reduce pollution level there.

Security
Due to the large area, security can be lax at certain parts of the building. It is common knowledge that people get mugged frequently in dark corners and staircases in the complex. Even the car parks are not safe as there have been cases of cars being stolen or broken into during broad day light.

The whole security system should be spruced up and more lights should be installed along corridors and car parks.

Cleanliness
Walking through Komtar is like walking through a long rubbish chute. Toilet odour seems to permeate the air interspersed with jolts of musty smell from the food stalls. Most of the shops are disorganized and rubbish is strewn all over the place.

The easiest way out is to change the company that provides the cleaning services, but that will only be a temporary measure. More importantly, the authorities should be more vigilant in supervising their workers.

Attraction and Draw of other Shopping Malls
One of the main reasons why Komtar is not attractive anymore is because not many events are held there. Most of the concerts and promotions are now concentrated in Gurney Plaza and Queensbay Mall.

Komtar has a lot of space designed for this purpose and yet not many companies use it as a venue. Perhaps the management should start giving more incentive to these organizers to bring events into the building once more.

I just could not help but wonder how the previous Barisan Nasional government allowed this state icon to deteriorate so badly. The suggestions which I have listed above are quite simple and do not cost too much money to implement. Perhaps it is because of this (the lack of money involved) that they did not want to revamp Komtar in the first place.

Komtar should do a Madonna. Her fame began when Komtar was at its prime, and after so many years, Madonna is still famous. Pardon me for borrowing Penang Barisan Nasional’s election slogan, but the reason why Madonna is still successful after all these years is because she KEEPS REINVENTING herself.

Forget about the empty shelves and missing data that Pakatan Rakyat government inherited from the previous one. At least they left us with one great slogan – KEEP REINVENTING!

With that I hope that the state government will be able to rejuvenate our dear old Komtar once again.

Happy Wesak Day - 19 May 2008

2008-05-16T17:00:00.003+08:00

“Do good. Avoid evil. Purify one’s mind. That is the teaching of all Buddhas”

May I be free from enmity and danger
May I be free from physical suffering
May I be free from mental suffering
May I be take care of myself happily

May all beings be free from enmity and danger
May all beings be free from physical suffering
May all beings be free from mental suffering
May all beings take care of themselves happily

Happy Wesak Day to everyone!

National Service or Barisan Nasional Service?

2008-05-15T19:01:00.005+08:00

I refer to Malaysiakini's news article entitled 'Najib lashes out at accusation of the Mongolian woman' concerning his statement on the National Service programme.

Everybody will die, sooner or later. Such is the nature of life. But when seemingly healthy teenagers start to die one by one in the National Service training camps, everyone starts calling for heads to roll. People across the country are urging the government to discontinue the National Service programme but unfortunately, their voices fall onto the deaf ears of our politicians.

To add salt to an already open wound, the Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak defended the hastily implemented programme by uttering these insensitive statements in Parliament yesterday.

He said since the programme started in 2004, there had been 16 death cases, of which 11 trainees died in their camps.

“The people are very happy with the programme despite the death cases. Their response is proven in the increased number of voluntary trainees from 929 last year to 1,137 this year,” said Najib.

I wonder how the people can be ‘very happy’ when there are cases of death in the camps. Did Najib meant ‘the people’ as the Malaysian people or the people running the programme? As I can recall, the general public have been up in arms against his baby project even before it was launched years ago. After four years and 16 deaths, can anyone seriously believe that Malaysians have turned around to support the National Service?

As for the increased number of voluntary trainees, 208 (ie 1137 minus 929) is too miniscule a number to be compared to 24,000 conscripted trainees. Najib must have thought that our mathematic skills were so poor that we could not see through his cosmetically covered up data.

Death can occur anywhere at anytime. It is sad that these people died at the prime of their youth. I could not imagine the sadness and loss that their family and friends have to go through.

The National Service programme should be scrapped immediately. It should be stopped not only because of the loss of lives, but because there are other ways to achieve the initial objectives of the programme. Why must we expose our youngsters to battlefield siutations when we could easily inculcate the same values of unity, patriotism, volunteerism and confidence in schools? Our politicians should have the courage and will power to revamp our education system and incorporate these objectives.

The objectives are good and should be lauded, but the motives behind the programme are questionable. Is the National Service another one of Barisan Nasional’s propaganda machine? Should it be called Barisan Nasional Service instead of National Service?

May 14

2008-05-13T17:14:00.010+08:00

When I was a child, I was warned by my parents never to utter the word ‘May 13’ in public. It was a word that will land you in jail, they said. So terrified was I, as with the rest of my generation, that we never really discussed it in school or at university. We knew it only as a day in the year 1969 when the Malays and the Chinese clashed, resulting in dire consequences. It was a fearful day for all Malaysians, and a sad one for those who lost family members and friends in that tragedy. As a mark of respect for the lives lost, this article will be entitled ‘May 14’.

May 13 was considered the darkest day in the history of our nation. But what happened on May 14 and onwards was a greater tragedy for all living Malaysians.

The New Economic Policy was formed to eradicate poverty and to distribute the wealth of the country equally amongst all races. The ideals of the policy were good, but not so the implementation. As it has been said over and over again, the government has misused it for their own selfish purpose to stay in power.

Instead of bringing prosperity to the poor, it only made a small portion of people extremely rich. Instead of uniting everyone to form a single Malaysian identity, it further isolated each race and increased the schism in our society. Instead of enhancing cooperation, trust and respect, it caused jealousy, mistrust and hatred amongst our people.

The only reason how we managed to hang on to the thread of this thinned out social fabric was because of our common sense and self-realization that the actual imbalance was caused by the politicians themselves.

These are the politicians who refuse to look beyond colour and creed to form a single party to represent all Malaysians. These are the very politicians who line up rank and file behind different banners but refuse to listen to the needs of the people they claim to represent.

Alas, the universal law of cause and effect has started to reveal itself. Two months ago, Malaysians sent a strong message to the ruling party in the General Elections. After years of silent obedience, the people have voiced out their unhappiness towards government policies and administration.

However, despite the big loss that they suffered, Barisan Nasional leaders are still oblivious to the current state of affairs. From their recent speeches and actions, it seems that they still subscribe to the old ways of ‘divide and rule’. The composition of ministers in the current Cabinet still reflects the product of patronage and reward.

But then again, no one should expect them to change their political mindset overnight. It will take great effort over a long period of time to scrub off fifty years of ingrained values and ideas. Or perhaps the Barisan’s rusty ship is beyond salvage?

The people of Malaysia have lost out to our neighbours and the world in all fields due to misguided and misused policies of Barisan Nasional. It is time we Malaysians salvage whatever we have left of our wealth and resources, and move forward to a new future, guided by meritocratic policies.

If the Barisan Nasional government refuses to keep up with the people’s new aspirations, then it is time we board another ship that can take us to bigger oceans.

Today is May 14.

I believe the time is ripe for us to pay our last respects to the people who lost their lives on May 13 and bid farewell to the old policies that have incarcerated us throughout these years.

Let all races come together and move forward as one, beginning today.

This article can also be viewed at Malaysia Today's website at http://www.malaysia-today.net/2008/content/view/7348/84/

Anti-Isa Rally versus Spartans at Gurney

2008-05-12T16:07:00.002+08:00

I refer to Malaysiakini’s article entitled “Anti-Isa Rally: 7 Arrested in Penang http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/82659" which reported on the protest at Gurney Drive on Sunday.

I was driving along the road at 11.55 am yesterday when suddenly a large group of riot policemen with shields and batons, marched towards my direction. They were advancing towards a group of protestors who appeared to be walking casually on the pavement carrying anti-ISA banners. They would have appeared like just a bunch of weekend shoppers walking towards Gurney Plaza, if not for the riot policemen charging behind them like Spartans in battle formation.

Do the police need to put on such a show of force to counter these protestors? If I hadn’t known earlier, I would have thought that these men in armor were going after Xerxes and his battalion of soldiers. The riot police outnumbered the protestors by at least double. And the joke is these people weren’t even rioting.

I learned later from Malaysiakini that 7 people were arrested in connection with the rally.

Now, compare this to the protest held at the Myanmar Embassy in Kuala Lumpur recently. I am sure there are many more people in that rally. But how many were arrested?

It seems like Malaysians are being treated worse than foreigners in our own country.

Persecuting the Pimps of Penang

2008-05-09T17:37:00.005+08:00

I read with amusement the various reports in Malaysiakini about the current waves of persecution which are being carried out by both the government and the opposition. On one hand, the Barisan Nasional government has apprehended two bloggers for charges of sedition and is now in the midst of charging a famous lawyer for speaking out about the constitution. On the other hand, the Pakatan Rakyat government has begun their own investigations into shady land deals and dishonest charitable organizations.(Please refer to these articles: “Raja Petra out, explains U-turn on bail” and “Wives continue to slug it out over Bunga Tanjung”)

Who is right? Who is wrong? We can debate till Kingdom comes, but in the end we will not get anywhere closer to the truth. The purpose of this article is not for us to deliver our judgment on who is right or wrong, but to elucidate the sincerity of their intentions in conducting these persecutions.

It suffices for me to say that one party is doing it to hide their misdeeds whereas the other party is trying to reveal the truth.

The effort seems to be gathering momentum on both sides as if it is a competition to prove who is more righteous. Some say that Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng should stop finding fault with the previous government and start working to rejuvenate Penang. I beg to differ from these cynics and apologetics, as I find their reasoning wrong on both accounts.

The first rule of good governance is to discover the problems plaguing the administration and to rectify them as they appear one by one. If we do not find the leak and plug the hole of a sinking ship, how do we expect to sail to greener pastures?

I suppose that is why the Federal Government is still facing so much malaise and lethargy in carrying out its duties even after two months of being formed. The present Cabinet is an odd mixture of dysfunctional and controversial ministers, both old and new. If Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi does not remove old warts from his Cabinet, how does he expect the Government to perform smoothly?

On the other hand, the Penang State Government has broken with tradition to from its present administration. They have set a positive precedent by appointing a former member of the Gerakan party, Mr. Lee Kah Choon, to head the Penang Development Corporation and also pledged to work closely with the Federal appointed Chairman of the Penang Tourism Action Coucil, Mdm. Kee Phaik Chin. The Chief Minister did this despite facing resistance and criticism from the Federal Government because he was able to put aside political differences and see the value of having experienced people at the helm. This inclusive policy is a marvelous idea and signals a new direction for politics in Malaysia.

If the skeptics insist that Mr. Lim is still busy persecuting people and has yet to start work, then they should take a closer look at the other side. After two months of winning the General Election and despite having a majority in Parliament, the Barisan Nasional parties are still bickering among themselves with no proper direction in governance. The only actions they have taken so far are to arrest two bloggers who were merely expressing their opinions and frustrating the efforts of the Pakatan Rakyat State Governments by withdrawing various financial aids.

Our politicians need to embrace a new way of thinking in order to form an effective government. After 50 years of independence, politicians of this country still adhere to feudal ways where patronage is power, and any opposition is considered to be the ultimate enemy.

We need to work together, both the ruling party and the opposition, to create a Malaysia that is progressive, prosperous, stable and safe. Racial and religious politics should be pushed into oblivion and in place of that, we should all concentrate on solving issues that affect the lives of every Malaysian. We need a government who listens to the people and carry out the wishes of the people.

Persecutions should not be tolerated at all by modern day civilization as it impinges on our civil rights.

But we should persecute the pimps of Penang, who have sold out our beautiful island to greedy developers for a song. We have to persecute the pimps who put up the Penang Turf Club land for a fire sale. We have to persecute those who have destroyed our environment and turned Gurney Drive into a brackish swamp. We have to persecute shameless charitable organizations who mishandle money meant for the poor and sick of Penang.

In other words, we should prosecute the pimps but not the prostitutes. Most prostitutes have no choice but to sell themselves in order to survive. There is of course the exception of the “Malaysian” Happy Hooker from Oxford, who is happy doing what she does. It is time to catch the pimps who bled our island dry.

Penangites are definitely not prostitutes. So please get rid of the pimps.

PGCC and the Rape of Penang

2008-05-08T18:23:00.004+08:00

I refer to Malaysiakini’s news report entitled “Yet another poser in Penang’s PGCC project” (http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/82544) in which the Penang Turf Club land at Batu Gantung was sold at a ridiculously low price to the developer.

It is a blessing that the new State Government has put a stop to this project pending investigations into its improprieties and shady dealings. This is one mega project which Penang does not need at the moment.

At the same time, the authorities should also look into the various luxury home and condominium projects which are sprouting up along the hills in Batu Ferringhi. These projects have turned our beautiful coastline into a war zone, complete with monstrous concrete retaining walls and barren landscape.

If I am not mistaken, hill slope projects were completely banned a few years ago. How then did the previous state government allow these developers to rape and plunder our precious hills?

Readers can refer to my previous posting regarding suggestions to bring the shine back to our beautiful island of Penang. The URL is at http://betelnutchronicles.blogspot.com/2008/04/azalina-wicked-step-mother_26.html

Free Spectacles for Blind Politicians

2008-05-07T17:15:00.005+08:00

This article can also be viewed at Malaysiakini at the URL http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/82716. It was a case of the blind leading the blind when the Penang State Education Department denied Dr P. Ramasamy, the Deputy Chief Minister II, the opportunity to distribute free spectacles to 223 poor students in Penang recently. The reason cited by Deputy Education Minister, Dr Wee Ka Siong, was that they did not want the students to be disturbed during school hours and that schools should not be turned into political platforms.

Both the Education Ministry and the State Education Department must either be blind or too short sighted to see the usefulness of this social program. How do they expect students to follow lessons in the classroom if they can’t see well? How can they relate a sincere effort like this to politics?

Due to the Ministry’s own political insecurities, 223 students are now unable to receive their much needed spectacles and be on par with other students in their quest for knowledge.

Clearly, this is another case of political retribution by the Federal Government to frustrate the Penang Government’s effort to improve the lives of the people. I am sure even the blind can see through the Education Ministry’s rhetoric and political game plan.

The Education Minister should take a few moments to reflect and see who is being more political? Is it the State Government, whose sole intention is to provide aid for needy students, or the Ministry, who is trying their very best to stop this effort? This preposterous claim is like the pot calling the kettle black. Unfortunately in this case, the real losers will be the students.

I have always thought that the Education Department is suppose to be an apolitical entity. Obviously this is not true as their current action clearly reflects their biasness and affiliation towards a certain political party. The final proof came when it was revealed that the free spectacles program was actually started by the previous State Government and it did not encounter any resistance from the Education Department back then.

Perhaps the Education Minister would like to step up on the podium with his keris and explain to us once again the aim of our national education policy. When I was in school, we were taught about fairness, equality and justice. Perhaps the education system has regressed back to the feudal days when children were inculcated with values of hate and retribution?

“Your parents did not vote for us in the General Elections. I have come to take away your spectacles so that you cannot follow the lessons on the black board. Muah ha ha ha ha!” shouts the warrior as he rides away into the sunset, waving his keris triumphantly.

Barisan Nasional has been in power for fifty years and yet they are unable to differentiate between politics and administration. State education departments are being used as command posts to further their political aims and schools are being converted into propaganda factories.

On the other hand, the new Pakatan Rakyat state governments have shown their potential and capability to govern with equality and justice within two short months.

Therefore, I strongly urge the State Education Department to allow the program to be carried out without any hindrances. Let these children have their spectacles. Let them see and learn about benevolence and fairness, instead of hate and retribution.

And to all politicians, blind or otherwise; please remember that four years is going to pass by very quickly.

Si Bunga Tanjung

2008-05-05T16:23:00.014+08:00

“Sungguh nasibmu si bunga tanjung
Bagai cahaya ditutup mendung
Malang dudukmu di dahan tinggi
Kini bertabur di atas bumi”
(Lyrics from the song Bunga Tanjung)

Honestly speaking, I have been a Penangite for forty years but I have never heard of any organization by the name of Bunga Tanjung, let alone the good deeds that they have done for the poor and desolate of Penang. That is of course until the news of their dissolution and distribution of their wealth came to light in the news media lately.

Pardon me for my ignorance.

Perhaps I am not much of a socialite, unlike the kebaya-clad ladies who helm this lofty group of state assemblymen’s spouses, to know about their existence. Or perhaps their organization’s activities were so covert that it escaped the social radar screen of this little island.

Whatever it is, the hasty disbandment of the group and dubious transaction of funds following their husbands' hefty losses in the March 8th General Election, reeks of notoriety that even the sweet fragrance of the bunga tanjung (Mimusops elengi) cannot disguise. I am sure these ladies had good intentions when they set the organization up in 1992. And I am sure many people have benefited from their charitable work.

However, I am deeply unsure of their need to dissolve this legitimate organization so hastily, such as to raise suspicion later on. As we can see now, alarm bells are being rung and thousands of questions are being asked by the people.

It seems rather peculiar that a charitable organization should hang on to such a large amount of money (RM 590,665) when in fact it should have been distributed regularly to needy people and voluntary societies throughout the year. I am sure these organizations are consistently in need of help and not just on a single particular month of the year.

Another disturbing question that begs to be answered is why almost 60% of the fund (RM 350,000) was transferred to Bakti, the organization of wives and spouses of the leaders in Parliament instead of being channeled to local charities. Was Bakti in such dire straits that it needed donation from the now defunct Bunga Tanjung? Or was the transfer another attempt by the Federal Government to divert the money to Bakti as ‘wang ehsan’?

Persatuan Bunga Tanjung should be an organization for all assemblymen’s spouses. I do not know the actual content of its constitution, but in my opinion, this sort of charitable organization should be open to everyone, and not only those from the ruling party of the day.

The spirit of altruism should not be confined to any particular race, religion, gender and most of all, political affiliation. Unless of course the real purpose of the organization was to serve as a vehicle to promote the advancement of their husbands’ and wives’ political aim. In which case, Bunga Tanjung was not a real charitable organization in the first place, but an advertisement for the previous ruling party.

As our wise Chief Minister Mr Lim Guan Eng said it is not the amount of money that matters, but the principle behind it that counts. Indeed, the amount left over by Bunga Tanjung pales in comparison to Balkis’s transaction in Selangor. Nevertheless, both needs to be investigated thoroughly, to elucidate the legality of these transactions and if not, then to prove the innocence of the ladies and gentlemen in these two organizations.

I can’t help but compare the predicament of Bunga Tanjung to that of the flower in the famous keroncong song with the same title. This song describes the fragrant white flower as being beautiful and pure, yet difficult to obtain because of the height of the tree. Unlike the jasmine and lotus which are easily plucked and enjoyed by many young ladies, the bunga tanjung dances high up in the tree and in the end wilt and fall to the ground.

I shall end this article by presenting to you the complete lyrics to the song Bunga Tanjung and a video of Hetty Koes Endang singing it with volcanic gusto and emotion. I leave it to your good self to interpret the song and catch the similarities.

Bunga Tanjung
Bunga tanjung putih berseri
Kembang jelita harum baunya
Gagah sungguh pohonmu berdiri
Tegap rimbun gagah perkasa

Harum jelita si bunga suci
Idaman dara gadis rupawan
Sangat sombongnya bungamu menari
Melenggang-lenggok dihujung dahan

Walaupun engkau si bunga tanjung
Hiasan sanggul gadis rupawan
Tiadalah kamu sangat beruntung

Bagai melati
Bagai melati dilembah sana
Lihatlah senyuman kembang melati
Disunting kelana hati...
Di lembah sunyi

Lihatlah pula bunga teratai
Dijunjung musafir lambai melambai

Sungguh nasibmu si bunga tanjung
Bagai cahaya ditutup mendung
Tiadalah tangan menyunting kamu
Menunggu gugur di angin lalu
Malang dudukmu di dahan tinggi
Kini bertabur di atas bumi

Link to same article in Malaysiakini http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/82477

Penang Botanic Gardens - A Musical Animation

2008-04-29T17:12:00.004+08:00

I would like to invite you to view my musical animation entitled “On a Clear Blue Day” featuring a walk through the Penang Botanical Gardens during one sunny afternoon. The video is set to the joyous music of P.A. Grainger called “Country Gardens” which captures the uplifting mood as I stroll along this beautiful garden. Enjoy!

This video may be used freely for the purpose of promoting Penang, our Pearl of the Orient. Thank you for your support.

Penang Botanic Gardens Revisited

2008-04-28T16:54:00.012+08:00

On a clear blue day, I took a walk in the Penang Botanic Gardens. It was a hot day and within minutes I was drenched in sweat, as I made my way from the car park to the entrance. Honestly speaking, I am not an outdoor person. But occasionally I like to come to this century old park to feast my eyes on the green undulating hills and valleys. The Penang Botanic Gardens or Waterfall Gardens, as it is fondly known, is one of the pristine treasures of Penang that has remained untouched throughout these years.

After getting all worked up writing the article about Azalina, the Wicked Step Mother last week, I decided to cool down my mind on this hot sunny day by coming to my much beloved Waterfall Gardens. This is one place I have been coming back to since I was a child.

I remember my father catching red and blue dragon flies by the stream and tying their back with a piece of string so that I could hold them. It was also there that I caught the little peacock fish to inhabit my first aquarium at home. These are memories which I still treasure in my heart.

The garden was also the place where my best friend Richard and I used to come to during our primary school holidays. My parents would fetch him from his house in Pulau Tikus, and then we would be driven to the park for a morning outing. On one particular day, we were chased around by a group of aggressive monkeys, and I remember both of us running helter-skelter.

When I first bought my Nikon SLR camera, it was the Botanic Gardens that I first tried it out. And when I had my first digital camera, it was also here that I took photographs of the beautiful flora and fauna.

I must congratulate Jabatan Kebun Bunga for keeping this park generally clean, organized and healthy throughout all these years. Indeed, it is one of the best places to visit in Penang, as it is easily accessible from town and has ample car parking area. The pavements are well kept and it takes you around the scenic garden. In fact it is a haven for people from all ages who come for their daily exercise in the morning and evenings.

There is of course the bunch of mischievous monkeys that keep visitors entertained with their acrobatic antics and human like behaviors. They remain a feature of the Penang Botanic gardens.

Let me take you around our beautiful tropical oasis on this hot sunny day.

I think this park will survive for centuries to come and will continue to be enjoyed by everyone. There are however a few suggestions which I would like to make to enhance the quality of this state treasure.

There should be more people-friendly but animal-proof rubbish bins in the gardens to encourage people to throw their rubbish properly. The current souvenir shop run by the Friends of Botanic Gardens should be enlarged and made into an educational centre to disseminate information about the garden.

Other than that, I think the authorities are doing a fine job. I am glad that the much talked about and cursed Penang Global City Centre project has heaved to a stop. I can’t imagine what destruction it would bring to this garden if the construction had been allowed to be carried out. The Botanic Gardens and the Penang Municipal Council Youth Park is located just next to the proposed site of PGCC, and massive development will surely kill off these two recreation areas.

As for now, let us all come to the Penang Botanic Gardens and let nature elevate our senses of joy and aesthetic.

Visit the official website of the Penang Botanic Gardens at http://jkb.penang.gov.my/