RO7ARIO RANTS

The Leopard And Its Spots

2011-10-20T16:39:00.004+08:00

So once again we see truism in the idiom about the leopard and its spots.

Barely 3 months has passed since the BERSIH rally where we saw an out poring of the sense of solidarity amongst the Malaysian people. Many commentators spoke about how the assembly reflected the true spirit of 1 Malaysia. I'll say it now. THERE ISN'T SUCH A THING!

People in general reeling from the hype of running around on the streets were gushing...

- How creed and colour mattered no more.

- How everybody now celebrated and reveled this meeting of minds and hearts.

- How this would change things for Malaysia and her people

- How "tear gas made us colorblind" (credit to the guy that came up with the line - probably a copywriter)

- How we finally came to the realisation that we are all the same, brothers even.

Barely 3 month ago we appreciated small gestures, "Malays/Muslims and non Malays/Muslims helping each other run helter skelter in the face of the police. Amongst those who could not move fast enough and got caught in tear gas and water canon blasts, simple table salt and water shared amongst strangers was God-sent and merited blog postings about how lives were apparently touched and new understandings formed.

Today, barely 3 months, later we are once again, we find ourselves at polarised ends.

There is a rally that is currently being planned to demonstrate against the alleged conversion of Muslims to the Christian faith.

All this has sprung from a charity dinner some Muslims attended. The dinner was organised by a church and was RAIDED!

The raiding party comprised of the police and Muslim authorities accused the organisers of trying to convert Muslims. The allegations were later dropped because they were unfounded. Why they would raid a church-organised charity dinner instead of some bunch of Muslims conspiring to cause some social unrest after Friday prayers is well beyond me. (well actually it isn't)

The Sultan of Selangor came up with the "statement of the year" - successfully at the same time saying something to the effect of the church had done nothing wrong but was guilty.

Here is an extraction of the Sultan’s statement to the press on the church dinner issue.

“Article XLVII of the Laws of the Constitution of Selangor 1959, Clause (1) Article 3 and Clause (1) Article 11 of the Federal Constitution have given the freedom to believers of other religions to practice their beliefs in peace and harmony. This freedom has been practised in harmony in this State. We wish that this harmony, which has existed for a long time, will continue to exist. Protect your rights and religion and do not attempt to subvert the belief and faith of Muslims.

Based on the investigations by JAIS, there is evidence that there were attempts to subvert the faith and belief of Muslims but that the evidence obtained would be insufficient for further legal actions to be taken. Therefore, after carefully deliberating the report by JAIS and after obtaining advice from religious authorities and legal experts, We are in agreement that there would be no prosecution against any parties.”

What a load of utter rubbish! Baseless allegations receiving pomp validity because the Sultan said it!

The allegations and subsequent investigations were obviously bias, therefore did not produce any evidence. The allegation in itself is bordering on being slanderous and baseless.

Furthermore, how does one in this case prove or disprove an act "to subvert the faith and belief of Muslims”?

- What about non-Muslim women who do not wear Muslim attire?

- What about the selling and consumption of pork? Alcohol?

- Cinemas, providing conducive environment for unwed Muslim couples to ‘khalwat’ should be burned then. Preferably while the Muslims are still inside.

So chief idiot having spoken - minion idiots follow.

Obviously the first thing they do is to organise a rally against what the Christians (according to the Sultan) did not do.

- Brilliant!

What happened to the solidarity of 3 months ago?

So today we learn…

- our parents knew what they were talking about when they used idioms on us.

- its not worth sharing your salt and water with Muslims (to be fair – most Muslims).

- it does not pay to help the Muslims (to be fair again – most Muslims) when the police are running down on them with tear gas, water cannons and batons in hand.

- and finally, Sultans are not infallible.

1 Malaysia? My ass!

Hate to say it here, but - I TOLD YOU SO!

I wasn't at the Bersih rally

2011-07-20T13:30:00.002+08:00

I wasn’t at the Bersih rally.

I have however followed all the developments leading to and after the rally closely. I am unequivocally in support of the general ideals of the movement.

Yet, I wasn’t at the rally.

There wasn’t a definite reason why I didn’t go; somehow throughout the build up, the sense of fanfare did not sit well with me.

I somehow couldn’t find that place in my gut that said “Yeah! This is the thing to do!”, that it would be worth it. I just couldn’t be sure.

As I am writing this I’m getting a sense that this isn’t going to be a piece that will be popular with many people, some, very dear friends, some, people I truly respect and look up to.

Yet this is my truth.

If you did attend the rally, well done! I’ll say it now. IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO! To stand up and be counted, to somehow send out a message to say “I don’t want to be short changed any more, and by the way I’m too fed up to be afraid!”

I am however becoming increasingly concerned with the emotional reactions generated post Bersih.

After the rally we’ve all seen many videos and written testimonies that were heartfelt. One theme rings through – SOLIDARITY. The claim that people of different races and creeds coming together, working towards a common purpose, against a common enemy.

The Lady Of Liberty.

The death.

The water cannons, tear gas, brutality, reluctant enforcers, lost, confused, inspired… hope.

Hope? Really?

Ever watched Pearl Jam live in concert, thinking it was the show of the century, and then watched the video of the same concert on VHS? Then realised that Vedder’s singing was nothing compared to the album you had come to love?

Missed notes, cracking voice all masked by the live band and you singing along.

When the euphoria fades all that’s left is the engineered memory of a great concert, influenced by nuances of the mosh pit moving in unison, communal pot being passed around (amongst strangers no less) and the guttural sound of 50,000 fans singing the chorus of Jeremy.

The truth however remains, missed notes and a cracking voice, pale in comparison to the promise of the album.

If you are still reading this well done, don’t write this off just yet.

The problems for Malaysia sit on many different levels. They all begin with the people in power. A corrupt, manipulative bunch that have been around for 2 generations - over 50 years.

Therefore I say a call for fair and transparent election practices that will likely erode the death grip of this bunch of monkeys on Malaysia is indeed the right thing to do.

I also said earlier, the problems with Malaysia sit on different levels.

The definition for a ‘level’ differs amongst individuals.

For me personally, I couldn’t care less if it was really Najib or his ape that actually ran the country. My problems aren’t even really about the questionable moral standing of the administration.

They are about what affects me.

I am denied equal opportunity in Malaysia, the land in which I am born.

I am subject to unfair taxation practices based on race and religion.

Oppressive limitations are set on the practice of my faith.

I have always stood against the illogical, vicious defense of the enshrined Malay position.

Not the Malay position itself, not the NEP, but it’s simple-minded defense. This is no doubt a product of propaganda put in place by the government to buy in the masses to create a secure grass root base that would continue to elect the same monkeys into position provided the gravy train remained.

How would you expect the gravy train to last when Najib, his ape and countless others think its ok to go on RM 73,000,000 jewelry shopping excursions?

Yes, it does seem now that we are all victims of circumstance. The mass Malays at one end of the spectrum having grown used to the gravy train and now not getting enough against the rest of Malaysia, some 30% of it, with even less propping up the country through taxes paid saying “Hell! I’ve had enough!”

The mandate previously given by the mass Malay population to the government to systematically subdue other races, for they own benefit is now evidently eroding. I am convinced it isn’t because they recognise the injustice and oppression. It simply is a case of the house - dog turning feral on its owner when it isn’t fed enough.

I personally don’t think they should have the cake and eat it.

I should have been at the Bersih rally to claim what is mine (constitutionally) from an oppressive government. If I were there with a bunch of people wanting more for themselves, I wouldn’t call it solidarity.

If I were there with those wanting political reform to form a Muslim state to enforce Huddut laws, I wouldn’t call it solidarity.

If I were there with those wanting to further exploit other races for their benefit, I wouldn’t call it solidarity.

Not by a long shot.

It has always been the Malay thing to take their demonstrations to the streets and wear their emotions on their sleeves.

They’ve done it so many times, 9 out of 10 against non - Malays and our beliefs. Dare we forget the cow head issue in Shah Alam? The Cina balik China? use of the word Allah? They almost seem to like demonstrations.

They demonstrate against their neighbours, to the government whom they claim has failed to protect their rights. The government slaps them on the wrist then moves to offer some form of solution to make them happy. It’s all wayang kulit.

Just because we happened to march along side at the same time, this time, does not make us brothers in arms. It did not mean we achieved a common goal. It did not even mean we had the same goals to begin with. It certainly does not mean they will stop marching against others, when they see an opportunity to.

Yes, I am generalising here. I know there are Malay individuals who truly believe in the equality that we strive for, I acknowledge and thank you, you are the hope we are so in need of, on the other hand there are also Chinese and Indian sell-outs who take on the name Abdullah to avail themselves to government contracts and Bumiputra privileges, these are just as bad if not worse.

There must be some change to convince me there is hope. Change either in the psyche of the Malay community or the composition of the government.

Change to affect some semblance of equality and fairness. One party needs to accept it and the other to facilitate it.

So did Bersih 2.0 work? Depending on what you wanted it to achieve.

We did make noise.

We got noticed.

Got the Queen of England to wear Yellow.

Free and fair general elections? I don’t know.

Free and fair in general? No.

So what's next?

An open letter to our dear Prime Minister

2011-02-19T10:38:00.002+08:00

Dear Sir,

If you are reading this, thank you very much for taking the time.

I’ll take a very simple and straightforward approach in writing this, I don’t want to be misconstrued and get into trouble for all the wrong reasons. I merely want to say what is on my mind and perhaps hope against all hope that I‘ll be able to see changes that I think most Malaysians (except those who enjoy having their fingernails pull out for the fun of it) would like to see.

I’m a Malaysian citizen and as you may have read in my previous writings, I’m really not quite happy.

There are many things that are wrong in this country and I am sure that as Prime Minister, you are aware that the country has gone to the dogs. We seem to be in an endless downward spiral. At the very least, you must know that the people don’t really like what you’ve done (or not done, depending on how you’re looking at it) for the country so far.

I understand that in the prominent position that you are, you will always be subject to many politically motivated attempts to undermine your position. This is not one of those.

But Sir, the situation is really quite crappy for the man on the street.

For one I really cannot understand how we seem to be doing so badly economically. Can you not ensure that at least some of the policies carried out by the government benefit the people at large and not just the principals of those endeavors? Are our leaders really so incapable of coming up with something that works?

Other than the economic performance issues (I’ll come back to this in a while), the Malays and Muslims are also getting rather rowdy. I mean people like Ibrahim Ali cannot be doing well for you when you are the Prime Minister of a multi cultural country like Malaysia. Unless I got it all wrong and you are the Prime Minister for the Malays then you’re doing fine. But then again, I don’t want the likes of Samy Vellu and Soi Lek the porn star to represent my interests in Parliament… I don’t trust them

I know and submit that the constitution enshrines the rights of the Malays and Islam as the official religion of the country, but really, do these Malay/ Muslim commentators have to rub it in our faces? You see, I am Christian, as a follower of Christ, I firmly believe that Christianity is the only true way and only those with Jesus Christ in their hearts go to Heaven. You don’t see me going… “all you misguided Muslim are going to Hell!”… so what makes it alright for all kinds of crap to be said to non Muslims and about their beliefs and practices? I mean at the end of the day being privileged is one thing and fair is fair.

What’s happened to the 1 Malaysia slogan you were touting? Even here, it seems that the idea has been abandoned. Why? Are the minority races not Malaysian? Truth be told, we don’t need the slogan to become a truly integrated country, the way I see it, we need more, intelligent, progressive Malays that are more concerned with real progress than becoming “Jaguh Kampungs”.

You have to know there is a problem when you see the idea of Malay supremacy being forced through every channel available, at every opportunity, sometimes at the cost of the truth.

When we get into arguments with neighbours on the origins and authenticity of our arts, when we change dates in school text books to suite our agendas and when we suppress facts that don’t show Malays as the “first” and the “best” in our history we compromise the foundations that this nation is built on.

It doesn’t augur well for your cause (should it be to develop Malaysia and her people) when the Internet is so readily available for thinking people to research basis for arguments that put your political and politicians’ thinking to shame. Collectively as a country we all end up looking like idiots.

Mr Prime Minister.

I’m sure at some point in your life you had a plan of what you wanted to do for the country, I’m sure it was a grand scheme that would heal the country and empower its people, that didn’t involve jackals and snakes that poison and tear at the already existing wounds.

You might have a term or two left in you. What’s beyond your political shelf life? A book? Speaking engagements at a few of seminars? Then what? See the next guy tear up the country further. How much further do you think it’ll go?

Do the right thing.

Denounce all practices that don’t go inline with the progress of the nation. By all means keep the Bumiputra Privileges, I don’t think it really does that much damage to the non Malays but more importantly look to the development of Malays, ensure their commercial viability by developing their character.

The simple fact is they cannot be commercially viable when the majority cannot speak two words of English.

Unable to be of value and fend for themselves, they will always be dependent on protectionist policies.

The population is growing fast the costs of protection is rising, how long can this be sustained? We may already be too late. But still, we have to try. If not, we’ll eventually start to export Malay domestic helpers to Singapore and Hong Kong (our pride will not allow us to send them to Indonesia) because protectionism will become too expensive, and the people will have to fend for themselves. What’s to happen to Malay supremacy then?

Please look into these issues, I know you have lots to do but sometimes it would be nice to know that you are indeed looking our way as well.

Regards

Ben Rozario

Stop ripping me off... please.

2011-02-18T17:48:00.004+08:00

I wonder what it takes for a politician to totally lose all sense of dignity and principal. They must have had some form of moral standing previously. I'm sure they too had parents who tried to teach them to be good people as well.

Imagine the stakes for a politician... voted into position by the people, thinking... well not actually... rather, hoping, that he would have their best interests in mind, the idea of having an entire nation holding them accountable for their actions.

Look at the previous Public Works Minister... Dear old Samy. The butt of criticism of the entire nation. Does it bother him? No... He's happy ripping off millions (well to be fair I really can't say that for sure, haven't had a chance to audit his assets, but if he isn't, he's just stupid and not very competent then) in the course of overseeing the development of shoddy highways and government projects across the country.

Everybody on the streets see how badly managed the finances of the projects are, they come in over budget and at sub par quality. Highways crumble and nothing seems to ever be done right, requiring new developments to be torn up to enable the laying of some pipe or wires or whatever else. You would think that he and his bunch of monkeys have some idea of how to get the job done right once and for all right? Apparently not, leaves me thinking that something was compromised and for what else if not money?

Whatever happened to the idea of "Ministerial Responsibility"...? Seems like it doesn't apply in this country. Ministers apparently are not held accountable, who's there to be accountable to when the they don't recognise the very people that put them in power.

Khir Toyo, another prime example of a useless corrupt politician. Spends twenty plus million on his mansion. Ringing alarm bells across the country. But apparently not enough in the offices of MACC for someone to push him out the window (wouldn't be a huge deal to anybody, except for the cleaners maybe, having to deal with all the bull shit coming out his arse).

I don't really care that they made millions, well... I hope it's millions and nothing more... What irks me is really the state of hypocrisy of the administration.

Look at these statutory bodies, they go after the small fries that will never make an impact on anything, while the real culprits go scott free.

What's really at stake here? Entire communities could be empowered through provision of basic amenities, the provision of services like education and healthcare. Instead the millions are now siphoned off by the echelon to feed their lurid wants.

Where is the justice?

Is there not one person of upright character in the government today? How did we get so jaded that we just don't seem to care enough to make sure the right people represent us anymore.

The people need to understand that the ultimate mandate lies in their hands. It might take time to wrest the power back from these people but for now I think a check and balance based on the morality of the people is in very short supply.

Playing by the rules.

2011-02-16T22:24:00.001+08:00

My previous entry has sparked a lot of discussion amongst people who care for me. They are concerned that the piece, obviously hitting out at irresponsible Muslims, might incur the wrath of the authorities.

If you haven't read it, it is basically me voicing my dissatisfaction at JAKIM for insensitively and irresponsibly capitalising on Valentine's Day (which is not a Christian celebration) for religious one ups man-ship. I personally couldn't care less for the celebration itself, but because they implicated Christianity for the sole purpose of making it look bad, I am taking the offensive to defend my beliefs and my faith.

The country is built on a platform out lined in the constitution to among other things, uphold the rule of law, while the constitution recognises Islam as the official religion of Malaysia, it does not justify nor allow muslims to enjoy wonton bouts of verbal and intellectual diarrhea. It is not justifiable, for any person of any religion to put down another, no matter how compellingly stupid the person or group might be.

If the tables were turned and a non Muslim commentator were to comment on how the psyche of Muslims have indeed contributed to the rise of social ills, I would expect the person to be picked up by the authorities for "inciting social unrest".

Why?

It really wouldn't matter if he had put forward a justifiable case or demonstrated a real understanding of the issues to state his case, he would be by default wrong because he had made Islam look bad.

I'm not saying it is wrong to maliciously (or through utter ignorance/ stupidity) to put down Islam, I am saying it is wrong to put down any religion which propagates positive morals.

I am not asking for Christian commentators or commentators of any other religion to be given the privileges as Muslim commentators have, I recognise the rule of law and the enshrined position of Islam in the constitution. I am asking for authorities to recognise and enforce a minimum standard of decency.

As a Christian, I firmly believe that eternal life is only attainable through the blood of Jesus Christ. It is the fundamental truth of Christianity, yet you don't see Christians making statements saying "the rest if you are going to Hell".

In fact you don't see Buddhists telling their Muslim brothers... " bro, I really think you are coming back as a cockroach in the next life".

It boils down to being fair, the idiot uztazah with her biased research implicating and portraying Christianity as a religion that promotes free sex and and other forms of moral decay should be taken to task for sheer callousness, causing unrest amongst Christians across the country.

JAKIM and its counter parts should be disbanded for sheer stupidity and ineffectiveness. If JAKIM really wanted to make a difference, may I suggest that they run "Ops Tangkap Anak Anak Datuk" in Selangor, any day of the week, at any club, pub or bar. I personally don't think that will happen any time soon, but i'll save that rant for another day.

Valentine's Day fiasco.

2011-02-16T08:01:00.001+08:00

It doesn't take much to get me going these days.

Recently, all it took was the Selangor Religious Authorities, their counterparts in other states and a handful of bloody idiots.

Valentine's Day to me means nothing more than a huge commercial celebration, probably thought up by some jeweller or florist somewhere in the west to boost dying sales. Much like how dear Santa was probably thought up by Coke... But let's keep that for another day.

I have refused to be a part of the worldwide celebrations to the chagrin of my dear wife. How unromantic! She'd chide. No matter how you spin it I couldn't bring myself to pay RM15 for a single rose, or some obscene amount of money for a candle lit dinner for two that she would not finish.

So there you have it my context for Valentine's day. I am definitely not a fan.

But recently a bunch of overzealous Muslim fools went and made a huge issue about Valentine's day being a Christian celebration and it propagated immoral Christian values. JAKIM (Selangor's religious authorities) went so far as to embark on a "Beware The Valentine's Trap" Campaign, naming it as such. The goal was to deter Muslims from celebrating Valentine's Day, educating them of it's "Christian" origin and to enforce laws to up hold Muslim morality (as if they understood the concept).

According to JAKIM Valentine's day - the Christian celebration, was one of the reasons there were so many unwanted pregnancies amongst Muslims, it was also cited as a reason why Muslim couples had pre marital sex amongst other things.

As a Christian, I am enraged.

Did JAKIM and their band of idiots just imply, if not outrightly say that Christianity promotes a sinful lifestyle? Sure seems like it to me. If the goal of every Christian is to be Christ like, is it not a huge insult to the character of Christ?

Dear idiots at JAKIM, I address the following directly at you and your like minded band of idiots.

Your unfounded, fear feeding policies have in one fell swoop insulted my faith and the faith of my fathers. If you show me no consideration, why other than the fact that that Christ said "turn the left cheek" should I show you any?

The Muslim prophet purportedly consummated his marriage with his "wife" when she was just nine (he was 54 at that time). Do I hear cries of pedophile/ rape? shouldn't he be then recognised as the patron for pedophiles and rapists? Isn't Islam then the religion of pedophiles and rapists? Why then are we, innocent non Muslims, subjected to a national holiday to commemorate his birthday? I don't know about you, but I personally don't identify with pedophiles or rapists.

Since you recognise the work of those who bomb churches and airplanes in the defense of the faith. Is Islam then the religion of murderers as well?

OF COURSE NOT!!!

I don't think anyone capable of intelligent thinking would think so. The world generally would not consider a notion to brand you as such. To do so would show such callowness that is only reserved for the likes of you.

Why I Believe God is real.

2011-01-13T16:56:00.004+08:00

It’s a fundamental question that logically should be answered simply enough by any Christian. Funnily it isn’t.

This is my testimony.

Many times in our daily attempt to live Christian lives in a secular world, we are seen as an outdated people. Our non-believing friends tend to question our motivations to “stick by” a set of “outdated values”, honestly believing that it is indeed better to get ahead, un-hindered by said values.

I’ll attempt to communicate why I believe in God from a totally secular stand point, to prove that the message can in fact be delivered coherently to a non believer without requiring any Christian leaps of faith.

I believe in God because He is REAL to me. He is physically present to me and interacts with me in the same way I interact with other people. I see Him in the form of His actions in my life, the lives of those around me and in the environment I am in. I experience Him through deep and interactive dialogues and am able to understand what he expects of me personally. He is aware of me and I am aware of Him at all times, just as with anyone else, I might overlook or misunderstand Him because of my personal traits and limitations.

The relationship I have with God is akin to that of a child and a nurturing parent.

The child always finds reassurance in the presence of the parent, never questioning the wisdom of the parent but at times refusing to cooperate because of it’s inability to see beyond the wisdom of the parent’s prohibition of the proverbial “forbidden fruit”.

How can God be physically real to me while He is totally non-present to the guy next to me?

As I love my children just as any parent would theirs, how I deal with the needs of my children could differ totally from another parent. A parent’s reaction would be determined by sets of physical, physiological and psychological variables ranging from the availability of time and money to the aspirations of the parent for the child to how well the parent recognizes and understands the needs of the child.

Just because a parent does not personally send and pick up a 5 year old attending preschool everyday, but defaults the duties to some hired driver, does not mean he or she does not love the child as much as one who does.

You might not recognise either one scenario as your reality, but you’ll agree that it is still reality, non-the-less.

Now you see and understand how something can be life-changingly real for me but not affect the guy next to me. It might have been easier to relate to this scenario because we all see and know children, therefore can anchor our understanding to this.

What if we were talking of something that had no form or matter?

Imagine a radio, if you had your radio tuned to a particular channel, lets call it Metal fm, heard the music and felt really disturbed. That would be your reality. Mine is simply tuned to God fm and I hear a different reality, the better my training to tune the reception the clearer the message.

The reality is that transmissions are there in the form of radio waves but it will never manifest its coherent form to us if we do not attempt to tune into the channel.

Just as you cannot disbelieve the existence of another radio channel from the one you tuned into, you cannot disbelieve that I do indeed listen to a different genre apart from the metal you are listening to during your morning drive to work.

What if my channel offered a prize for those who engaged, called in and answered some questions? Would you question the existence of the prize, until the time you actually got through and got rewarded? Just because you had difficulties getting through, would you question the legitimacy of the competition? And finally would you still remain skeptical if the guy next to you had actually won a prize from the channel?

Cina balik cina la (Chinese go back to china-lah)…

2011-01-10T15:45:00.004+08:00

This line or some other equally distasteful one was recently used by a government official to gain cheap popularity amongst hardline malay supremacists and other Malay opportunity seekers. Justifying the statement, it was said that the Chinese locally don’t really engage and identify themselves as Malaysians anyway.

The only reason the Malaysian pure blood argument has come into place is because of the NEP (New Economic Policy) introduced in the 60′s to safeguard the rights and bolster the economic development of Malays in what was then a time of economic change, markets were emerging, the local economy was developing immensely and along with it came success from and in communities that were more adept to urban industrialisation and were commercially savvy.

The Malays then found themselves utterly out classed because they had never used an abacus in their lives and sickles that were used in the paddy fields were of so little value that even the pawn shops then didn’t want to take them in.

The government at that time saw no other option but to placate the mass Malays by introducing biased policies designed to enable even orangutans to achieve some measure of success in this country, so long as they were born of the predisposed lesser race. The fool proof policy was meant to last 20 years.  Lo and behold almost 50 years later the policy is still enforced and far from raising the standards of the Malays, it has plunged the standards of all Malaysians.

Look at Singapore, broke away from us and is now a sovereign nation, a country that has literally no resource and has to buy WATER from us today reports double digit growth figures industrialised nation status and one of the lowest tax rate in the region all achieved with no bolstering policies.

Why?

While others have made positive growth movements, the bolstered group here has become lazy socio-economically. They have come to expect to buy houses at 7% discount, land ownership rights, access to better government backed investments and quota protected education opportunities.

The fact that these privileges are given purely based on ethnic considerations, has caused a vicious movement amongst the malays to protect what they recognise as essentially the ticket to a free meal… the continuance of the “I Am Underprivileged Syndrome”. So much so, this is how they think…”even if I am STUPID, I deserve the right for admission into local universities, it is my right under the NEP (it does not matter that the NEP is no more in force, I’ll just threaten the current Malay Government that I’ll vote for the opposing Malay Party if they actually consider that it’s time to level that market and work towards meritocracy). I don’t actually have to understand English although the world speaks it… Malay will do fine just as long as I stay in Malaysia and become a Jaguh Kampung”.

Nett result?

Fucked up education system that produces scum.

These and a series of other tragically hilarious ironies are the cause of so much shame Malaysians bare.

I am not proud to be Malaysian. There is really nothing to be proud of. It is a country of lecherous leaders and a lazy majority.

Now can you blame the Chinaman in Malaysia for not wanting anything to do with the Malays?

It has taken a lot from all Malaysian (note I said Malaysian) quarters to get to wherever we are now. Wherever now is.

Many assume that there is such a thing as a "Malaysian Identity" to begin with.

The concept of a collective Malaysian identity must be justified true before it can be recognised as a valid term. For lesser arguments I would normally let the concept fly. I would normally say its ok to recognise the ability to produce "a warm and friendly smile" as a Malaysian trait. But in truth it is common courtesy. I believe that for a trait to be unique to us it needs to not just be substantial but also harder to replicate. Perhaps the use of the "...lah" is a good place to begin.

Being Malaysian is simple... be born in this country. Buying into the concept is a little harder. It requires one to understand the parameters of being Malaysian, primarily its laws and socio-economic practices and subsequent result of these laws and practices.

The notion that the NEP benefits non-Malays is offensive. How do you see that playing out? Just because a Non-Malay aligns himself to a Malay for a better chance at a contract hardly constitutes a benefit. All it does is it further inflates the fake value of, in this case, a Malay "property" whilst all the time ignoring that real value of merit and ability.

This is also not consistent with class communal politics as you may like to point out the problem to be. If it was class communal the ruling rich would just simply make it more difficult for the masses in general to achieve affluence and therefore independence. Push me for a term, I’m more inclined to offer diluted ethnic enginnering.

I never said that there were no non-Malays that were well off, neither have I said that Malays don't have problems, just that the scenario is grossly and unjustifiably biased. Nothing more.

The argument that problems are not of a racial nature but rather economic is also a non issue (or the crux of the issue, depending on how the government commentator is feeling that day).

Taking the Class communal route, to solve the problem, lets level the bar and allow equal opportunities to education and subsequent success, with a smattering of welfare equally across the board. That would pretty much solve your problems.

Can it be done? Will it be done? Answers? First a "Yes" then a "No", with a resounding cry of "What about the (unequal) opportunity rights of the Malays?" form PERKASA.

The reality is, spin it whichever way you like, being "Malaysian" boils down to what, on the race classifications fields one ticks on a form, Malay against any other race.

This plays huge role in determining the make up of a "1 Malaysian" society, you cannot call it one thing - simply close you eyes and say that it exists but not work at it. The talk has to be walked.

Because of a pre existing biased disposition in society, people of lesser opportunities have banded together to create a stronger form and offering to remain relevant. How is this reaction unjustified? To distrust and question and oppose a biased system.

Malaysia is made up of many things, from the people to the culture to the natural resources. The context has to be right. Pride has to be owned for it to have any value.

The people in all the wrong places in government and opportunists enjoying a biased system would love you to continue feeling proud of our ability to smile while we are literally robbed under our noses, while they enjoy pride for OUR NATIONS natural resources and tax ringgit.

Since this to me is the real context of Malaysia and being Malaysian, I have no choice but to be repulsed and least of all proud of my country.

Through my daughter's eyes.

2008-09-21T01:52:00.006+08:00

Sierra is two years old. It has been a wild ride for my wife Anna and I ever since her arrival.

There are times I catch myself looking at Sierra, wondering what the world holds for her. I look at the setting she has grown up in and I feel I recognise so little of it from my childhood. She had learnt to speak when she was one (I’m told that its normal. Since when? I’m quite sure when I was one, I had the vocabulary of a potato).

Sierra makes observations from throughout the day and often gives us a commentary (not repetition) later. She tries to process the information to make conclusions of right or wrong. Of course she does not have a deep understanding of these complex concepts but she takes bearing from the boundaries we set her.

Her personality has also set in – she has developed a mischievous vein, just like her mother, she also broods like me when she sits quietly to observe and process the happenings around her. She is also caring and loving, often displaying true concern when people around her are distressed – an unsolicited first-time “don’t worry Grandma, I help you” left us dumbfounded and grandma in stitches.

What does a two-year-old process? You may ask.

Sierra observes behavior displayed around her, either on TV or in real life and uses the information to plot a series of coordinated actions to achieve her intended result be it mischief, fun or to show concern.

I am convinced that Sierra will carry on doing and learning things at a pace much faster than my generation did.

I remember in my time we were made to stand up and count from one to ten in class. Most of us used to get it wrong. Let’s not even talk about the alphabets. Sierra is doing twenty now and has no problem with her alphabets – maybe some work on annunciation. She has five years till the time comes where she’ll be asked to stand up and say these things in class – I’m sure she’ll nail it by then.

I used to worry when I felt that she would not have my childhood. I used to play in the monsoon drains behind my house, climb the neighbor’s mango trees to steal fruits and foster friendships at the playground that I’d remember for life.

I also remember dreaming there were better toys to play with like radio controlled full-function robots and helicopters.

Today Sierra plays with my Robosapien, which is a full-functioned remote controlled robot and pico-Z remote controlled helicopter. I don’t feel so bad about her childhood anymore, I’ve come to realise that it is just different – too much has changed. She is living her life at a point that is beyond the threshold of my childhood experience.

She will push the limits of curfews Anna and I set for her by doing other things, find new forms of mischief to get punished for and foster life-long friendships over the internet.

It excites me to think about the potential the world will hold for her when she steps out of my house on her own will. Where will she go? What will she want to do?

The parameters are changing and changing fast! My worry for her now, is the pace of us, as today’s guardians in providing an environment that is safe and conducive her pursuit of a better future.

Playing Chess

2008-09-19T22:32:00.001+08:00

When I was in primary school I learnt the game of chess. I enjoyed playing the game. My classmates and I would make up the rules when we came to points where we could not agree on what was to be done. We had fun! It never became a serious thing for me. I still however play it recreationally – my record on “Yahoo Games” is a miserable average of two losses to one win.

Over the years as I grew up, I’d see that chess was a game that was played by generals, spies, politicians… anybody in a leaders position. The TV portrayed the game as a thinking man’s game. The players used it as tool to measure the competence of the opponent. Usually the smarter man won – the one who was able to read the opponent better.

While I remember playing the wonderful game in school, I also remember the not so wonderful aspects of what Malaysian government schools had to offer in the teaching department. But before I go on to say what I am about to, I must add that I am NOT generalising my critique on teachers because I do remember having the honour of being thought by gems as well.

When I was in school we were made to memorise all the patriotic songs, we sang them at every assembly, which usually happened on Mondays. We also professed the “Rukun Negara”. We were thought to respect others, to understand the races that made up this great country. We would dress up in the traditional garments of our classmates when we collectively celebrated festive occasions.

One day I noticed that some pieces of the chess set that was kept in the school resource center were broken. I never realised before that all the “King” pieces were broken. We had 3 sets in school and all the “kings” had the crosses on the crowns snapped off.

It was about this time that I also noticed that some of the students in school being referred to as “Kafir” which translates to “heathen”.

I noticed too that the traditional costumes that we were made to wear for special occasions were always the “Baju Melayu”.

Eventually I also understood why some teachers always referred to Christmas as X’mas. I had thought that Christmas was a long word, perhaps they had a problem spelling it so they abbreviated it. I was wrong. Articulating “Christ” in Christmas must have made them feel like they were saying a bad word. Perhaps it was the same for tiny crosses on the little chess pieces. Maybe they were afraid if they looked at it long enough, some form of exorcism would happen to dispel the demon of bigotry.

This trend of discovery continues till this day. In fact it’s become more blatant.

I’m sure this flawed system was well in place before I began school and I know for a fact that it is worse now. The students that were in school with me have since left, having graduated from years of bigot infested teachings and now know no better.

These students have themselves become teachers. They have retained what was well thought to them and have let less “important” learnings like the English language decay. Each batch of educators that come into the market amplifies this phenomenon.

Today we have teachers that can hardly speak English but have no problems referring to Indian students with the derogatory – Kelling!

This is a brief look at what most of our teachers are made of. This problem becomes amplified when you see that our new political leaders also went to these same schools. These politicians are now taking up offices in youth wings of parties.

Change needs to happen now. What we experience today is the fruit of decades of either cleverly planned diluted ethnic engineering or utter callous oversight by the government. Either which way enough is enough!

I want to say this again, while my last few years in school were not the best, I did have a few teachers that I will remember for life. All of them spoke perfect English, they thought me chess and were all heathens.

Think about it.

2008-09-18T15:36:00.000+08:00

I am the average Malaysian, all I do different is - I choose to speak what I think – very often I feel many issues are not brought to the surface because people just don’t want to say out loud what they think for fear of being “abrasive”. At times I really feel we Malaysians are too polite. Too often we accept what is handed to us and move on… we console ourselves by saying “it’s God’s will”.

The sad truth is; more often than not we are made to become the victims of circumstances brought upon by a leader’s will that was based on some calculation of some portion of percentage on some form of payment that was originally to be made to someone else – we are made to suffer the consequences of choices that are the byproduct of some deal some higher-up made for a quick buck. What can I say? Crumbling highways that cause months of inconvenience to thousands have become almost acceptable.

As a person who believes in God, I am thought that he has made man with a conscience and free will. In the instance where we surrender our free will by blindly swallowing the hogwash that is constantly shoved down our throats, I believe we commit sin just as the person that propagates against his conscience.

There is a movement as read in the press now that discredits Pakatan’s stand on the September 16 date. Multiple leaders from the ruling government liken Anwar to the Boy that cried wolf, they say that a new government will not and cannot be formed on the fateful date (I am writing this at 8.22 pm, September 11, 2008).

I am amazed by the justification given; some have gone on to denounce the date by meticulously explaining the complicated process that has to take place for a new government to be sworn in. Some has dismissed the claims that contact has been made with the brave leaders that are to shift parties. All in the hope that nothing happens on September 16 and Anwar will loose credibility with the people.

I personally believe I would be just as happy if the change happens on October 16 or November 16 - all I have to say is, the sooner the better.

The fact of the matter is - there is a huge problem that the government needs to address. After all, here is someone (a very qualified someone) claiming he has the ability to form a new government (one that the people will accept, I must add).

The government however chooses to ignore the matter and rubbish the claims. They choose to side skirt and play-down the matter when the rest of the world is generally concerned and the population of the country have sat-up and paid attention to the claims.

All the actual action that the government has been seen to do is send it’s MPs for an educational trip overseas which it claims has nothing to do with the impending formation of the new government. Therefore officially they have done absolutely nothing to better the situation for themselves.

I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t dare expect someone who cannot do anything for himself to do anything for me.

In the beginning...

2008-09-14T19:57:00.001+08:00

I've decided finally that enough is enough. I am Malaysian and I am fed up with how we are being treated with absolutely no respect. The political state of the nation is an affront to the intelligence of any thinking Malaysian.

I'll start with something i've just written to be shared with a local newspaper.

I think (therefore) I am, Malaysian

This piece is political, I however, am not a person who has anything to gain from writing this. These are my views (and I sincerely believe the views of many thinking-citizens) of what is happening to this great country.

The aftermath of the March 8 general elections have successfully brought to the surface many unstated truths. It was crystal clear that the people have had enough of the mismanagement that was running the country into the ground – now it was finally “safe” to act on their unhappiness. The looming sense of the heavy blanket of political policing was gone.

How could this happen? The sheer audacity of the ruling coalition to undermine the will of a thinking people has done them in. They had become weak in complacency. The onslaught of demands for a true democratic government of the people and for the people can not and will not be ignored any further.

The situation seems almost worse now than it was when we were under the unquestioned reign of the previous Prime Minister (who was more akin to that of a dictator). He at least had a “plan” and was able to stick to it – albeit through various means that most people had not the nerve to question.

The series of events following the disastrous elections for the ruling coalition saw a government in panic. Nobody in the government knew how to handle a rakyat that expected him or her to be responsible for his or her actions and deeds. It was no more a situation where anything that the government wanted - it got! More people found their voices. And it seemed that they knew how to use it!

Individuals who recognised the weakness in the leadership of the government saw it as a time to push further for greater political “change”. While the opposition whom were now a lot stronger and better represented in the legislature were looking for political change; many from the ruling collation themselves saw it an opportunity to go for change – albeit in this case “loose change”.

In the past months the rakyat has witnessed the unfolding comedy of the Malaysian political scene that has started to look like the badly written mindless slapstick banter that our local TV channels produce. Had the issues not been so dire it would actually have been quite funny.

I find it amazing that the concept of Ministerial responsibility is totally ignored in government. Perhaps the rakyat has not been educated enough to expect high standards of the government. After all it has only been a recent occurrence that the table has been turned and that the government has to actually listen to the needs of the rakyat; previously the main criteria in the unquestioned decision making machinery of the legislature was - what percentage?

Is it not clear enough with everyday occurrences that we are in dire need for change? Every facet of our lives seems to be mismanaged, from sports (don’t get me started on Malaysian football and FAM) to basic rights (ISA for protection?).

The educational system is a joke. What can we really expect when the very people that decide on these policies don’t themselves have a grasp on progress. The people that advocate the prominence of the Malay language do it with a misguided fear that recognition of the importance of English in an ever-shrinking globalised world economy would result in a diminished perception of the Malay race. They simply don’t understand the fact that it is impossible for Malaysians to remain competitive on a global arena if they cannot string two sentences of English together when they need to communicate the very message that would advocate Malaysia’s competitiveness. Would you not think that this would surely result in the diminished significance of the Malay race (note that I am not saying Malaysian).

The flip-floping of the use of Malay versus English in schools is a clear example of how things are not thought out before implementation. Who do you think suffers? Who is held responsible? Nobody! I wouldn’t dare suggest the Education Minister at that time – I’m sure there were more important things to think about than the Education Policy of the country!

A few months back following the 40% fuel price hike, there was a move to make it more difficult for Singaporeans to come into the country. Somebody was afraid that they, god forbid, would take advantage of our fuel subsidies. The move lasted a total of one day. Thankfully somebody got thinking and figured that while we safeguarded our fuel subsidies we would lose out on Singaporean spending at retailers, food outlets, golf clubs and everything else that they would spend on when they come over to “steal” our fuel subsidies.

The move successfully highlighted our short sightedness to the world. I cannot speak for other presses, but the presses in Singapore had a field day, and rightly so! Was anyone held responsible for this gross misjudgment that has tarnished the image of the entire country? No. We however, would rather go on witch-hunts to punish a teenager for using the Negaraku in a rap song.

It does seem that the government has been pulling at straws of late. Everything done seems to be in haste and not thought through. Every move made seems to be in response to and external stimulant – one wonders if the government now realising that it has to be answerable for it’s actions has in turn put aside all planed actions?

The tone of voice has changed too from its once omni powerful bellow to what now seems to be a whimper of an old man asking for understanding while holding up traffic.

While the rakyat does enjoy the fresh new voice, the daily antics of a few key political players and faulty administrative machineries (which I’m sure will be corrected soon) do seem to tire the thinking man.

The latest of a long series of faux passes is that of a certain Ahmad Ismail. It seems he has somehow forgotten how he was helped out from the wooden huts he and his kin used to live in by the very people he is now calling squatters. If not for the collective hands of the people who have built businesses in this country where would you be, oh little man?

With the race card once again played. All sort of responses have been garnered by the silly unthought-of remark. The most puzzling of all was from the last vestiges of an administrative function that was once (in fact it still seems to be) greatly influenced by the government. The police arrests the reporter that reports the misdeeds of a politician – only to realise a day later that the world and more importantly the thinking Malaysian public does not seem to cower in fear anymore.

A statement was made that the arrest through the use of the arbitrary Internal Security Act was indeed for the good of the arrestee. If this action did not demonstrate just how the ISA is arbitrary it would have been so funny. I wonder at this point what true value of trust and respect the general population has in the police. Maybe if they did the right thing and arrested the politician that called the Chinese citizens of this great country squatters this can slowly be put right but, god forbid, the Internal Affairs Ministry has not told them to do so - yet.

An interesting point to ponder is that the Minister was in fact “consulted” on the arrest but had chosen not to get involved. A great man once said, “all it takes is inaction for evil to prevail”. Ministerial responsibility, anyone?

Today’s political climate of the country has created a unique phenomenon. It has changed the way newspapers are structured – they have brought the daily funnies to the front page headlines – a spot once reserved for the most news worthy piece of the day - spot that would determine the conversation content of millions of Malaysians for the day to come. As a result we now see a sillier Malaysian population – one that would laugh at the words and actions of the very people we collectively elected into office to govern this country.