desiderata.civilsociety
Subtitle of Post:
THE MALAYSIAN DILEMMA – THE LAMENTS OF YOUTH TODAY (Part 2)
Today I’m engaging head on with JOHN LEEMK who wrote some thought-provoking comments (the emphasis in BOLD that follows is mine), and this engagement is in the spirit of the credo promoted by VOLTAIRE:“I may not agree with what you say but I will defend, to the death, your right to say it.”
“*******johnleemk said...
“*I am quite close to giving up hope on Malaysia. …the only glimmer of hope I've seen is in some isolated forums where the young and liberal (often living overseas) and dissasociated with any party congregate.
The government is hopeless. The country is being run by incompetent nincompoops. My water is worse than teh tarik quality. The potholes in the main road near my school and a major shopping centre are atrocious. At the confluence of half a dozen shopping centres in Damansara with an empty field right in the middle between them, nobody has thought of building an LRT station. Middle class folk have to hire private guards to avoid being robbed (not that these guards are you know, working or anything). Our schools are churning out brainless idiots.”
DESI: sdr leemk, some of those are astute observations, but you too must look at the positive sides.
It’s good at your age to look at non-partisan sources of discourse; indded, before you can plunge fully into any reigistered political parties, whether BN or opposition, I urge the YoungOnes, to weigh the pros- and cons-, as leemk has ddone.
I agree there are many nincompooks in Government, but all is not hopeless, if the Voters and voters-to-be, use your barins and sacred votes wisely. I am afraid at the end of the day (or pointedly, at the end of EACH GENERAL ELECTIONS, the people get the government they deserve. I had noted, not without sarcasm, many Malaysians suffer from masochism, where they sometimes get a high from self=flagellation … leemk, don’t you think so? For putting 90percent of BN MPs in Parliament, then whine, whine whine … I suggest it’s better to join those who WINE, WINE, WINE because it means you have arrived, despite everything… And Readers, don’t flame Desi preaching this-lah, certain times, things said are often IN CONTEXT, and this bloody writer has some Oscar wilde-ness in him, yet.
You exaggerate more than a little bit about the “water quality” and other subsidiary points because none of my Seremban folks and friends in Subang Jaya (where I Freelance parttime…)have lamented the same. On the infrastructure and malls, leemk, many have acknowledged Malaysia boasts quite high standard infrastructure, on par with First World (Petronas Twin Towers still ranks as tallest such buildings in the world, remember…) – the yardstick is, has the neighbourhood facilities improved over the years, as compared with your parenst’ era?
Let’s be very honest with ourselves, your neighbourhood is right up there in middle-class, or even upper middle-class – think a little of the Jinjang New Village, or Rasah New Village from where I first hailed? Still have a relative staying at the upgraded half-cement half-wooden house where I spent my childhood and teenage years. I must honstly say I've upgraded my lifestyle and stndard of living compared with my parents; and I have hopes yet that my children's lifestyles and starndards would surpass mine...
Just as I defended Sabrina Tan and brudder Imran their comparisions with Australia, New Zealand and even Singapore to model our economic mapping and planning,(benchmarking against the better off, not pattingour backs as compared with Ghana, Cambodia, or the neighbourhoods of Mombasa, Acheh, Timbuktwo?... So also I urge we must also look at our Malaysian poorer brethren and their environs, does that justify one's dismissal that “it’s completely hopeless, useless”?
Brainless idiots – some maybe. But generally, okay-lah, there's still room for improvement. I find some of the students I interact with – I have a brood of nephews and nieces and distant relatives to make up two footbrawl teams, you know, ah Digresser is my third name…
Some are good (like thee), even getting a British government scholarship to do Masters after a basic degree at local uni, most went on to University, again mostly home-based … so you do exaggerate…”brainless”, nah, half-used brains because of spoon-feeding mayhaps, some "lazY" because of pampering or subsidy mentality, yes .... But they are also many adults walking around with under-utilised brains, ask brudder Imran – they give the cops RM100 to get away from a speeding ticket, then yell ”blue murder” when they received a summons by post some months later?
Some “professionals” singing battle cries of meeting the police force for Corruption and Abuse, then scurry off like little mouse-sey just on the first sign of trouble? Ooops, I now recall the comparision I used was -- like a doggie going off into the sunset with his tail behind his two hind legs …
leemk: But ask yourself, is the opposition any better? They claim to champion such causes, but their most public writings and speeches, particularly in parliament, tend to focus on things only the rich or at least well off can relate to. The man in the kampung or the guy who has to ride a bus to work everyday probably doesn't care about APs, the ISA or OSA. He cares about being able to continue his way of life and/or have enough money and time to drop by one of those malls in Damansara to hang out.
DESI: hey, I agree with your criticism about the MPs, both BN and Opposition – I have termed the goings-on in that august House as a circus, or a Zoo, but that would be running down some of my animal friends, who are “incapable” of betraying the people’s trust.
I beg to disagree a mite lots with thee on the kampong folks not concerned with APs, ISA and OSA. Maybe they are too beesy trying to put three meals on the square table (unless Desi, of middle class like you, I hazard a guess…leemk, ok?), those issues are better left to those with time, resources and higher on their priorities to face and tackle. It’s a matter of principles -- ALL MALAYSIANS IN ADVANCING THE V2020 TO BE CONCERNED. The AP issue goes into the very root of corruption, cronyism and in some cases, nepotism.
Oh, ISA and OSA are precisely the impediments of a more eduacted, informed and critical-thinking public – maybe the BN government wants the citizenry to be kept in the dark? – hence we see the legislature cowed, and the Fourth Estate selling out. I did somewhere in passing urge some mGf not to join Journalism as a first career option unless, like Desi, they harbour some sense of nigh-madcap’s fervour (not even close to those answering the calling to be true missionaries of the soul…), ah, ‘nuff said for now.
On the point of POLITICS, I plan to do a 3rd parter …as that would not exactly answering the point you wrote, hence I’ll separately do another dish next Monday. (Tomorrow it’s politics-free Sundaes; Also an excuse for Desi to R&R, for normally I resort to Cut&Paste for desiderata.english, only some mGf know this, especially YAN (visit her at http://yancorner.blogspot.com) , she's Da ReAson I worked till thieves' hours to eArn DA CON BF tomorrow...-– please keep this secret!
leemk: The only party with enough ties to the grassroots to recognise this, PAS, is hell-bent on establishing an Islamic theocracy, a concept more Muslim Indonesia has largely abandoned. So ask yourself - can anyone effect meaningful and successful change in our country? Oh, sure, a new opposition party might be able to capitalise on the common man's discontent with his daily life. But unless this party has the bling-bling and money to finance its operations, it won't have the support and workforce it needs to get the word out. And unfortunately, those holding the pursestrings either have vested interests in the government, an Islamic state, or some off-beat cause like overturning the ISA.
DESI:
I salute thee for an astute and IMHO, well justified observation about PAS, its grassroots support, and its Islamic theocracy which won’t win them enough friends or supporters to form the “federal government”, at present. But they did make headways at certain states! I’ll elaborate on this point again on Monday, but suffice to say now that Desiderata thinks a cleaner government (as seen in Kelantan) under PAS serves the people’s interests than money-grabbing politikus (I’ve used the term ROBBER BARONS in politics and their business cronies…please refer Essay Series LOSING OUR COUNRRY…?). I’d rather deal or place my trust in the Menteri Besar Nik Aziz who granted an appointment to former DPM Tun Ghafar Baba with one day’s notice … hey, that’s what the literal and spirit-filled meaning of the wonderful word called WAKIL RAKYAT!...
Ghafar had told the media that even after a few months, some other MBs had not gotten back to him on his request for a humble appointment. That’s another Money-EYED-MB looking at thee: dear Voters, for you stoopid idiots gave your mandate to me, term after term, decade after decade – how MASOCHISTIC can the voters get?
An aside from Desi, can or knot?
See, a former MB of my home-state was found guilty of Money Politics, and all the punishment he got after dragging for short, shorter months .. they were trying to sight the rising sun on the Western horizon, eh? ...was mere SUSPENSION FROM PARY MEMBERSHIP, and the mini loss of A CABINET POST. Wow, the ACA has no bloody business in such million-dollar buyouts of people’s souls?...Like Sabrina, I too sometimes shake my head, sigh “I give up”, yet after a short hiatus, I return, but what to do, I go on with my writ(H)ings, I’m a writer with MayDay! MayDay!2, MayHaps3, that Maso – wat? Streak…!
leemk: The conclusion I have come to is that only the voters can make a difference, and not by voting the opposition in or the government out, but by casting a spoilt vote. A spoilt vote means discontent. It means "I'm fed up". It means "I think you're both bloody crazy". And like it or not, there's nothing anyone can do about, oh, say, a rate of 40% spoilt votes. The global media institutions will be all over it. And both sides of the political divide will have to ask themselves: Where did we go wrong?
The way I see it, that's the only hope we have now for effecting change. It's crazy, and it probably won't affect the composition of parliament much. But hey, it'll make the world headlines, and wouldn't that be much greater than just placing a lousy opposition in office? It'll be something new for the Malaysia Book of Records - Malaysia, the first country in the world with a rate of 50% spoiled votes.
(Hey, you're never going to get those apathetic unregistered voters to vote for the opposition, so wouldn't it be worth a shot asking them to spoil their votes?) *******”
DESI:
I agree partially with your conclusion – that VOTERS CAN MAKE THE WORLD OF DIFFERENCE.
But on the strategy of “casting a spoilt vote” – man, that’s something I would not advise as initial options. There’s just very limited and short term effects, I can tell you based on my humble journalistic experience. Now going a little back back to history, THE THEN STRONG OPPOSITION PARTY “SOCIALIST FRONT” boycotted the 1969 (?) General Elections, and after that, it DIED A SWIFT – I add, NATURAL – DEATH.
By casting that as spoilt vote, you only make the Barisan Nsional nimcompoops laugh their way to the bank – and it’s a fast-emptying national coffers, I add, you would NOT want to hasten the process to see a completely empty mine, do you?
Desi will think more on this point, and take up more meat for Monday’s dish to chew on. Meanwhile, a BIG terima kasih with a bucket of Haridas' tehtarik, plus susu lembu2 if the cowws found their way home, to leemk for feeding us the dishes so far, we’ll look at DESserts, eh?
On the international media raising a ruckus and putting Malaysia on the world’s map for scrutiny, my XXperience again as a media man tells me the adage: today’s news is tomorrow’s history, always applies.
This episode of 40perecnt spoilt votes in a faraway land called Malaysia (they may even spell it as Malaysiah or Melaysia…and still fugure we are part of Singapura or they are steal a part of us …last digress,I promise, for todie…)will just be a blip on their radar-screens for 24 hours, and the following day, those leaders and media people would be looking at the welloils in Iraq and Iran, and whereelse, then counting the War-Dead usually not their kithORkin by suicide bombers... I wonder if this makes sense to you?
Ah, my 3sen’s worth with respect to leemk’s the concluding point, but I urge this articulate&awesome lad, and his friends, please come back to continue the dialogue, conversations, whatever, even decibels-raised debate, What The Hell! – I can do even with some Xpl…… no-lah, not XXpletives,just some XXplosives-man, can. Seya!;););););););) for Thy Patience, which must be your SE7EN-th nick if you plan on coming regularly to Desi’s Place.
REQUEST TO ALL READERS: I appeal to my EstemedReaders to think over what younger than YoungKyels johnleemk – for he’s just sat for his PMR (as disclosed in another near post commento, go find out…) – and what DESIDERATA had taken a long time to ponder over and come back with my hopefully sen(S)e-making responses.
Please do engage leemk, or Desi, it does not matter who you field your views or questions to, we will find the time to exchange views on issues that remain part of THE (PRESENT AND FUTURE) MALAYSIAN DILEMMA, won't we?
17 comments:
Desi,
Who is John LeeMK?
You exaggerate more than a little bit about the “water quality” and other subsidiary points because none of my Seremban folks and friends in Subang Jaya (where I Freelance parttime…)have lamented the same. On the infrastructure and malls, leemk, many have acknowledged Malaysia boasts quite high standard infrastructure, on par with First World (Petronas Twin Towers still ranks as tallest such buildings in the world, remember…) – the yardstick is, has the neighbourhood facilities improved over the years, as compared with your parenst’ era?
I am looking at potential, not at what we've already achieved. It's pathetic to say we're better than Indonesia or the Philippines when South Korea and Singapore who started from the same baseline as us are far, far ahead. And sure, the water most of the time looks clean, but does anyone drink straight from the tap? I doubt it. Compared to most developed countries (whose ranks we aspire to join), our infrastructure does suck. It doesn't matter if we have the tallest twin towers in the world if our electricity supply can't be depended upon. It doesn't matter that we have so many millionaires owning Mercedes Benz cars if they travel to their country clubs along bumpy potholed roads. It doesn't matter that new middle class housing is being developed when a stone's throw away, there are people living in houses with corrugated metal roofs and wooden walls. (All these situations are real, and taken from my own experience.)
So also I urge we must also look at our Malaysian poorer brethren and their environs, does that justify one's dismissal that “it’s completely hopeless, useless”?
If you look in the long term, yes, it is. Our leaders, especially on the local level, are self-serving and incompetent. When they discuss a new project, what's on their mind is not "how will this serve the people?" but "how big a cut can I get?" The federal government itself is tainted and has no interest in changing anything. Pak Lah is trying; I know he is clean. The problem is, all of his underlings, including many ministers, are corrupt and enjoying the system's gravy train. If Pak Lah overturns it, he will be in serious shit. Unless he musters support from some rising stars in the Youth Wing to turn the government clean (a rather remote possibility), his anti-graft drive will likely die with him.
I beg to disagree a mite lots with thee on the kampong folks not concerned with APs, ISA and OSA. Maybe they are too beesy trying to put three meals on the square table (unless Desi, of middle class like you, I hazard a guess…leemk, ok?), those issues are better left to those with time, resources and higher on their priorities to face and tackle. It’s a matter of principles -- ALL MALAYSIANS IN ADVANCING THE V2020 TO BE CONCERNED. The AP issue goes into the very root of corruption, cronyism and in some cases, nepotism.
Quite simply, the problem is, much of the electorate doesn't care. The young are growing up apathetic. Either they focus on materialism and earning loads of money, or they eye the political system with hopes of being able to milk the gravy train themselves. The rural voters are too busy earning a subsistence living to bother with the ISA or even APs. As long as they can live their life, they are satisfied.
A party that can defeat the government must be able to appeal to these base motives and promise a better living. Everyone (not just the idealistic and civic-minded) can relate to cleaner water, better roads and more security. A government that seeks to deal with the more abstract issues like transparency must first tackle the concrete problems of the people's welfare. Our current government has no plan to handle either of those issues. Its only goal is to milk the system, much as Ferdinand Marcos did in the Philippines, and then perhaps make a clean getaway when the crap hits the fan (as Marcos did).
I’ll elaborate on this point again on Monday, but suffice to say now that Desiderata thinks a cleaner government (as seen in Kelantan) under PAS serves the people’s interests than money-grabbing politikus (I’ve used the term ROBBER BARONS in politics and their business cronies…please refer Essay Series LOSING OUR COUNRRY…?). I’d rather deal or place my trust in the Menteri Besar Nik Aziz who granted an appointment to former DPM Tun Ghafar Baba with one day’s notice … hey, that’s what the literal and spirit-filled meaning of the wonderful word called WAKIL RAKYAT!...
True, but you also have forgotten the theocratic part of PAS' aspirations. I think we have enough mixture of mosque and state in our country, and it would be a terrible step backward if we were to allow the implementation of hudud and othe repressive laws to take place. Besides, we're never going to get the average non-Muslim voter to go for PAS in the first place.
But on the strategy of “casting a spoilt vote” – man, that’s something I would not advise as initial options. There’s just very limited and short term effects, I can tell you based on my humble journalistic experience.
Well, first of all, it would appeal to voters who don't like BN but don't like the opposition either. There are so many people out there frustrated with UMNO but fear PAS' theocracy; who think MCA is just UMNO's dog but don't trust the DAP; who are fed up with the MIC and Samy Vellu but can't see themselves voting for PKR or the DAP. This in itself would eat into BN's margins, putting them on edge. And besides, let's face it - BN is going to have to do something once it realises how untenable its grip on power is.
The main reason BN and the opposition continue behaving like animals in a zoo instead of like legislators in a legislative assembly is because they think they can get away with it - because they don't have to fear the people. The voters are something you bodek for a few weeks every half decade, and then after that, you go back to milking juicy government contracts and the prestige of your position. Casting a spoilt vote appeals to people who abhor both sides of the political divide and are stuck in the middle with nowhere to go, and still sends a powerful message to the government as well as its opponents.
By casting that as spoilt vote, you only make the Barisan Nsional nimcompoops laugh their way to the bank – and it’s a fast-emptying national coffers, I add, you would NOT want to hasten the process to see a completely empty mine, do you?
The problem is that by being idealistic, we have forgotten that most of the voters will never be able to share our views. The future generation might, but as long as the government maintains its policies of dumbing things down in schools, this won't happen. The only avenue for change is to get the apathetic voters and those who fear overturning BN out to spoil their votes. I'd rather go for a solution that might start the process of change than one that would get change going full-blown but only has a small chance of working.
kyels:
johnlemk is tat "surprise" visitor lAST saturday whose comments, then later a link to his Weblog, where I readsome posts plus one chapetr of a book (on the school system...)-- and I was going WoW! woW! and more wow! -- hey, not that Doggie in da window Wows!
That post title I picked that says Awesome WoW!
So sdr leemk -- I hope you can RESTORE the links to thy writings? cos I tried before answering kyels, you lead me to THE LOST HORIZON, worse than the Seremban Maze.
Back to serious mode, yes, john, can shAre with sis kyels, she's at Uni year 1, you'll have many things to talk about -- leAve Desi alONE, I'll just "referee" the debates so that I can call the Bomba when the flaming gets a wee bit not!:)
PS to KYELS: maybe you ENGAGE thnew bro here in conversations, Almost Persuaded from Desi may not succeed.
leemk:
First off, thanks for taking time to respond, I like the engagement -- no ring OK, I dont have no boxing gloves nor ...I shall refrain from wordplay, bro Imran may MISSinterpret!
Secong, as kyels wishes to know more of this YOUNG&ARTICULATE voice, can thee oblige with the links I referred to which were available last Saturday...
I'm stopping here 8.30pm now, and won't "comment" on thy rebuttals at this moment, adjourning for dinner-cum-sat football MU, my fav teAm is playing ...meanwhile, -- I request my OTHER ESTEMED READERS to engage leemk. either pro or con, does not matter, Just bantai, oops, just banter! (be back round midnite...:)
PS to ALL EsteemedReaders:
The return at midnite saw Desi catching up with Comments (longish ones!...) at Friday's musings, which must be read together with today's, Part 1 remember?
By the time I'm here it's about 1AM, feelkling dog-tired I'm retiring to dreAm sweet dreAms of ...:) no challengia or prize for gu'sssing rite!
Need to prepare sundae's BF too, desiderata,english is the entree...
***"Till DeAth Do Us Part"****
Sweets,
Where are you? Haven't heard from you for such a long time!
*hugs*
kyels:
Sweets may be beesy watching house, OR she told me by Email
she'll try to do an acrylic painting interpreting my Midnight Voices to be used in an anthology planned for next May 06 -- that month of da year that makes poets and writers go more than a li'l crazy!
keys -- aren't you taking on leemk's points in debate -- you all YoungOnes have much of the future in thy hands -- me, I'm retiring in 1-2 years time when I hit dat Man Hooker Prize, even Woman Booker, one will do.:);)
You guys msut set your eyes on the sky as the limit, even when you fall a l'il, yuou steal get the Nobel! Dr Yang Chen Ning is a mainland Chinese,then much educated abroad, did lots reasearch in the USofA, his blood line is not much diff from yours!
Johnleemk:
Although you may have raised some interesting points, I beg to differ on your opinions.
First of all, talk is cheap. You can talk bad about Malaysia till the cows come home, but what are you doing about it? People always use Singapore as a benchmark for Malaysia to follow, but have you ever considered the reason for their success? Comparing Malaysia and Singapore is like comparing an apple to an orange, because the population does not match. Of course, Singapore only having 1/4 of our population makes it easy for them to implement things, because they have less people to control and monitor, hence making enforcement easier. Singapore is also smaller compared to Malaysia, that's why they can afford to implement new and modern things, for example broadband, because they don't have to spend a lot but yet still able to provide the basic facilities to their people. Malaysia on the other hand, is so much bigger, and any plans to develop a certain part of the country, requires a lot of expenditure, time and effort. But I for one am proud of what has been done here, but there's still room for improvement. Singapore boasting this and that, but why do we still see them clogging up our roads and malls every weekend? Have you ever wondered why? To them, Singapore is all work and no fun. So if you were to compare Malaysia with another country, place compare it with one of the same size, not something smaller.
About the water issue, let me ask you this. Which would you prefer? Drinking water that is dirty, or drinking water sourced from human waste? I'd settle for drinking water that's dirty, rather than the so-called 'Nu-Water' they have, which is among others recycled water from sewage.
Secondly, I don't see why you are berating our infrastructure, especially the malls. I'm sure you frequent this place quite often. Imagine if there was no malls, then what would you do? I believe our government is smart by turning Malaysia into a shopping paradise because the income we get from the exchange rates help to pay for the development programs.
Thirdly, we all know BN is an ailing party. But look at the opposition? They are also burdened with internal politicking, but their problems are not highlighted as often as UMNO. For example, election time, the chinese newspapers are all out sucking up to MCA and Gerakan, and I don't see them being critical of them. Hypocrisy exists whether we like it or not, it's just the degree of it's occurence that matters. But what matters most is that Pak Lah has acknowledged that this problem exists, and is doing something to overcome this. Can the same be said of MCA and Gerakan for that matter? I don't think so.
Casting spoil votes. What does that achieve? Nothing really. It just shows our cowardice. I believe if you really want to see change taking place, then you should be bold enough to vote for the opposition. Give them power, and see if they are any better than BN. Don't chicken out by sitting on the fence. Practice what you preach.
And now for the clincher. I truly hate people who brings in religion and race into any discussion. We are living in a multi-racial country, and have you ever made the effort to understand the culture and teachings of other races other than your own? My observation is that you didn't, especially by reading your take on PAS.
First of all, Hudud is not something PAS came up with. Hudud laws is enshrined in the Holy Quran. And if you took the time to research on this matter, you'd understand that Hudud only applies to Muslims. Hudud is not repressive, but the way Hudud works is to serve as a deterrant to others. And to prove something under Hudud is not easy to do, as it has many clauses to fulfil before someone can be punished under these laws. Hudud is not all about chopping a person's limbs for crimes he comitted. And I'd definitely won't want to discuss this with you because you have not made the effort to understand it, and all you have done is to make shallow observations. So the next time you choose to talk something that involves religion, please do a thorough research on it, or else please refrain from making uninformed comments.
First of all, do not bring religion into this debate. Religion is something holy and should be respected therefore one should not say anything about it unless one has concrete and broad knowledge about it. I am sure that you know religion is a sensitive issue in our country.
You should be proud of being a Malaysian because no matter what you're still a Malaysian. Yes, it may seem unfair sometimes but I am sure you know that politics will never ever be fair or clean... If it's fair why a man of integrity like Datuk Chua lost the battle (MCA General Elections).
Everyone wants to see a change in Malaysia, even me too but do you know that Malaysians aren't united enough to make any changes here?
brudder imran and kyels:
now I'm just joining the discussion on religion -- the other issues have their pros and cons, but on the matter concerning PAS politics, leemk's views "about Islamic theocracy and hudud law"has indeed hot a raw nerve with brudder Im.
Just for the meanwhile, yes, I agree witn keyls this issue on Religion, also on Race, can prove "sensitive" unless participatnts adopt the agree by some basic rules:
(1) have an understanding of certain points one makes before posturing them as FACTS;
(2) adopt a mutually respectful manner in putting across one's points, and be prepared to accept others' more convincing or better infomred arguments;
Imran, thanks for the "informayion re garding hudud law" and this understanding will clear misconceptions.
Desi has stated on a previous occasion wrt "religion" my core belief (as related to discussions on Malaysia's politics) is that: "If you say you are a Muslim, or a Christain, or a Buddhist, or a Hindu, etc...Be a good Muslim, Christian,Buddhist and Hindu respectively".
So if leemk premised that PAS's religious ideology may not find favour with certain groups, so be it -- but realpolitik will dictate that the Party has to reach out to convince the non-acceptors to their side if they harbour any intentions to form the government at the federal level. I already noted that they made headways long ago in Kelantan, later In Terengganu, then lost it back to the BN in GE 2004.
My stand here is that in nation building, it's the RACE=Based politics that will forver be the main barrier towards seeing a truly Malaysian nation. I've advocated at Desi's Place NEEDS-based, NOT RACE-based policies to overcome this stalemate. and to make progressive steps forward. My take is that we have MOVED BACKWARDS, not forward, IN THE LAST 10-15 YEARS (anyone here can beg to differ, of course ... becos this is a subjective opinion ...sometimes one has to be honest to say one innermost felt perception, don't we?)
The Govet would of course like us to believe by organising the OPEN HOUSE during Deepavali, Hari Raya, Chines New Year at a national level to showcase "UNITY and HARMONY" among the races. Such superficial displays at festive seasons may impress the foreign tourists, and trumpted by BN leaders who know better ...but do the Rakyat feel the same in the inner sanctums of their hearts?
I've called for a BOLD NATIONAL ICONIC LEADER (it's still not late PAK LAH) to do away (de=register) all race based political parties -- UMNO, MCA, MIC and anyone registered with a particular RACE as its raison de'tre (did I get this ringht, the raeson for being ...?), we would be making a QUANTUM LEAP towards nation-building. Unless and until this happends, my humble opinion is that we're just a few initial steps at the STARTING LINE!
Hence, kyels, I did mention somewhere, all is need is ONE GRAT LEADER (by definition of "great", like a 'miracle"), such a leader is a rare breed. On the spititual front, our present PM gives me tremendous confidence -- but on the realpolitik front, he is on HESITANCY territory.
Well, let's wait and se.
But somewhere out there I see a GreAt Role for the YoungPeople of today -- don't depend on the olderones -- often preserving the status quo is what "most of the elites and power-holders and brokers" are good at. They are well entrenched -- leemk went so far to say "all the underlings" under Pak Lah cannot be depnded on, they don't instil confidence -- I will not be as dismissive as he is -- THEY ARE AMONG MALAYSIANS some truly caring and genuine leaders in the image of Pak Lah, we only wish to see them stand up and be counted. I count as one among them BBC chairman Sharir Samad. On the other end of the spectrum, I fear for the rise of second ecelon leaders like those waving the keris or pormoting the Eat, Drink and Be Merry cultures. 'Nuff said for today, we'll promote some discussions to FrontPage as Part 3 tomorrow, OK!? (half rhetoirical and half-not because this is a guided democrazy!
Hey, loosen up, my dear ESTEEEMEDREADERS, it's still a rainbow that will follow after a storm. I didn't say this, it's God's way.
imran:
Comparing Malaysia and Singapore is like comparing an apple to an orange, because the population does not match.
Of course. However, if you look at the things that matter, Singapore is ahead of us. Indeed comparing Singapore and Malaysia is like comparing apples and oranges. However, Singapore itself has its own natural disadvantages. For instance, LKY, chauvinist that he is, mentioned in his memoirs that Singapore was like an island in a sea of Malays - or in other words, good luck trying to get more than token help from your neighbours. Another thing is that while we in Malaysia are very rich in natural resources (our oil and natural gas fields are a real cashcow, to give one example), Singapore has practically nothing except its strategic location as a port.
I never mentioned the extreme advancements Singapore has over Malaysia because I know it's pointless to expect similar standards in Malaysia when it comes to things like broadband penetration. However, look at Singapore - can you find anyone begging on the streets? Sure, life is hard for the poor - is it any easier for the poor here? At least the poor there still have a roof over their heads. Many here, especially in our cities, can't say the same. In another comment on desi's blog, I believe I also named South Korea as a country to benchmark ourselves against. Of course, SK has the advantage of a homogenous population, but they were pretty much run by a corrupt authoritarian government until the 80s - and look where they are today? Their broadband penetration rate is phenomenal, their football team was brilliant in the 2002 World Cup (which we haven't even qualified for) and they are one of the leaders in cutting-edge technolgy in Asia.
Or we could look at Japan, which might have even been worse off than we were, what with the devastation of the American bombing in WWII (which went far more than just the atomic bombs). And anyhow, the point is simply that Malaysia has wasted a lot of potential through corruption. We are rich in natural resources. Neither Singapore nor South Korea are, yet they have advanced far ahead of us, especially when it comes to education. Education does not require much more infrastructure than we already have, yet our politicians continue to press for better facilities, while Singaporean and South Korean politicians ponder how best to improve the syllabus and quality of teaching. Despite our blessings from God, we have not made best use of them, much as the useless servant in Jesus' parable of the talents.
Drinking water that is dirty, or drinking water sourced from human waste?
If I can't tell the difference between water made from human waste and ordinary water, then yes, I'd opt for Nu-Water. After all, in the end, all water has been human or animal waste at some point in time.
Secondly, I don't see why you are berating our infrastructure, especially the malls.
Uh, I didn't berate our malls. If you reread my criticism of them, I criticised the local authorities for not being attentive enough in providing better transportation services. While I can take the LRT to Midvalley Megamall, there exist half a dozen shopping centres roughly centred on an empty field near Bandar Utama, and no wise guy seems to have proposed building an LRT station there. Every weekend there are thousands of people in each of those malls, and the carparks are jammed. Thanks to this, the shopping centres now have to provide free bus rides from there to the Kelana Jaya LRT station. Pure madness.
Thirdly, we all know BN is an ailing party. But look at the opposition? They are also burdened with internal politicking, but their problems are not highlighted as often as UMNO. For example, election time, the chinese newspapers are all out sucking up to MCA and Gerakan, and I don't see them being critical of them. Hypocrisy exists whether we like it or not, it's just the degree of it's occurence that matters. But what matters most is that Pak Lah has acknowledged that this problem exists, and is doing something to overcome this. Can the same be said of MCA and Gerakan for that matter? I don't think so.
Eh? I'm sorry, I'm not sure I catch the point. MCA and Gerakan aren't part of the opposition - last time I checked, MCA's been in the government for half a century, and Gerakan for about 30 years. And anyway, as I said, I have no love lost on the opposition either. I think the ratio of good to bad politicians is about equal in both BN and the opposition. And as for acknowledging the problem, at least MCA has taken some concrete steps like setting term limits for its ministers. (Don't get me wrong, I hate the MCA. It's just that for once, they actually did something right.) Pak Lah's anti-graft drive seems to have lost so much momentum, I wouldn't be surprised if it died the moment he left office.
Casting spoil votes. What does that achieve? Nothing really. It just shows our cowardice. I believe if you really want to see change taking place, then you should be bold enough to vote for the opposition. Give them power, and see if they are any better than BN. Don't chicken out by sitting on the fence. Practice what you preach.
The problem is you are not thinking about the averge voter who is a chicken. They don't like the govenment, but don't like the opposition either. Therefore, most of them either vote for BN or don't vote at all. I'd rather see all of these people spoiling their votes - it'd eat into BN's majority and make them look bad at the same time (even if only for a while).
First of all, Hudud is not something PAS came up with. Hudud laws is enshrined in the Holy Quran.
(Where did I say PAS invented hudud?) The problem is Malaysia is a secular state. It says so right in our constitution. Islam is indeed our official religion, and syariah law is allowed to be practiced. However, several of the punishments hudud law entail are inhumane and barbaric, and I think that as a citizen of Malaysia, I have the right to protest inhumane treatment of my fellow citizens, whatever race or religion they are. (Stoning in particular strikes me as a very painful and slow way to die.)
And to prove something under Hudud is not easy to do, as it has many clauses to fulfil before someone can be punished under these laws.
Perhaps so, but under the laws PAS proposed in Terengganu, a woman that cried rape but could not bring four witnesses to prove it would automatically be charged with adultery. I have no love lost on the DAP either, but I think Lim Kit Siang hit the nail on the head this time.
And I'd definitely won't want to discuss this with you because you have not made the effort to understand it, and all you have done is to make shallow observations.
I'm rather satisfied with how things are done now in Malaysia, and I'd really like to see them go no farther. IMO, hudud is not just inhumane, but also against our constitution, which proclaims Malaysia is a secular country. We're free to disagree on this, of course, and I think it's best that we just agree to disagree, since it's clear neither of us is going to change either of our minds.
Johnleemk:
The comments you made just show how ignorant you are. And you being a non muslim, you don't qualify to have any say about Islamic rules. You do not see the greater meaning behind the laws of Hudud, so please stop talking as if you know everything about it, which obviously you don't.
And by quoting the references you gave, does not prove you know anything about Hudud. So what if you can quote from here and there, the bottom line is that you're not a muslim, and you don't have the right to talk about Islam. You don't see me talking about the rules of your religion, do you?
And say whatever you want, it does not change our opinion about you.
desi:
A preview of my book is available here; my blog in general is here.
imran:
So what if you can quote from here and there, the bottom line is that you're not a muslim, and you don't have the right to talk about Islam. You don't see me talking about the rules of your religion, do you?
When it (religion - even if it were my own) becomes the law of the land and part of our government, then yes, I do have the right to talk about it. Even if it does not directly affect me, the fact remains that my tax ringgit will be paying for inhumane punishment inflicted on my fellow Malaysians. I can tolerate paying for mosques and the upkeep of syariah courts, but hudud law just goes too far. We are a secular country, and hudud law is the first step down the slippery slope towards the blurring of the line that separates religion and state. (If you didn't read what LKS wrote, he said that PAS officials confirmed hudud law would eventually be imposed on non-Muslims as well, so you can see why many non-Muslims aren't too eager to jump in bed with PAS.)
And as for the rules of my religion, it's one thing for me to follow them. It's another thing for me to make it law that all people who profess to follow my religion that they must adhere to the same rules I follow.
brothers Imran and leemk:
I urge both brethren here to be "very objective" in separating FACTS from OPINIONS.
On Islamic matters, I'm the first to plead I'm no authority; even brought up in the Christain faith and environment, Desi will be the first to humbly admit I won't be able to participate in a discourse on inter-faith religion.
What I'm trying to do is strive for a United Malaysia, based on the promotion of a CivilSociety and the Five Pillars of the Rukunegara.
Imran is not totally right in adising that Islamic matters be not subject to debate by non-Muslims, just equally it's not right for Christinas to urge Buddhists to lay off discussing Christianity.
What I urge Conversationists here do is be mutually respectful of the others' opinions. When it comes to facts, I urge both parties to do research properply and thoroughly before making claims what they state as FACTS.
At this juncture, I'd urge both brothers Imran & Leemk (we are Malaysian brodthers aren't we -- because we all love OUR COUNTRY equally, I don;t doubt anyone here otherwise -- that's my starting point premise, otherwsie any discourse becomes meaningless...
When I say 2plus 2 equals 4, that's conventional "fact".
When I say the bsuman charging RM30 per child per month is too expensive compared with last year's RM15, it's just my opinion.
May Lee and Im take a respite here and see if they have in their "longish" debates (I encourage that...) they have not been able to sift out the two classes.
Just 1 concrete example follows: Kyels may think Chua a "man of integrty" and yet lost the MCA presidency contest (against incumbent Ong Ka Ting).
(i) first part of Chua being a man of integrity is Kyels' assessment -- tis which desi or for that matter any other readers, may agree or nt agree, it's just an opinion;
(ii) he lost te contest -- this is a fact, an political event with a definite outcome at a certain point in time in MCA's history. Period. No one can contest this fact.
It's important, that's why I always impress on my Readers to use their rational mind.:)
I'm going to try to sift out the major dilemmas confronting us in Part 3 tomorrow -- Insya-Allah, God-willing ...we'll examine the various points (I want to focus on the key issues that matter ...), but others may beg to disagree... you are always welcome, bearing in mind the dictum that Voltaire has preached well for democratic dsicourse, OK! (And in desi's tradion, that remains a rhetorical question beacuse whether you like it or not, the rappoteur or chair has to make a ruling ...or we can't proceed with our fun, yes?
GOoDNite,to All, Sweet Dreams, the rainbow will always follow after some storms.
I didn't mean to stay at this bench at 1.06am as I type this line lest someone say I have nothing to do...I indeed have much on my lap, the silly cat from Catsville is pulling me to complain he's misssed his deadline for sup.:(
Whoosh...what a debate about religion. Haven't read all the comments in full yet but Imran's first comment here sorta said it all. Will come back in full soon when I am done with my marketing assignment.
John, as a non-muslim and as a young girl who have frequent and have practically spent her childhood holidays (till now) in Kelantan (which is ruled under PAS), here's my thought again from my entry about Malaysian - It's Meaning.
"Kelantanese, for example (those who're still living there) represent what being a Malaysian is all about. Forget politics, just look at the people. They live harmoniously side by side as neighbours. They do not look at other races or religion differently or judge them by their skin color. If one man from that kampung gets whacked up for no reason, the whole kampung would back him up and help him out (Malay, Chinese, Indian..they're all the same). Walk around town and you'll bump into friendly makciks greeting you with a smile. They do not compare but live each day the best they can. Earn an honest living out of what they have. Yeah, sure, the media & the government made PAS look so bad that not many wants to visit the state. Trust me, go there, walk around and you'll wish that the people here can be half of what the people there are"
The point I was trying to make was, despite being ruled under PAS, the people there (of all races) are not affected at all by it. No, don't say that most of the ones there are all old hags who have nowhere else to go because there are so many young ones still living there and there are so many city folks whom I know who have left Kelantan not because it is being ruled by PAS but it was because they had nowhere else to seek a better living. And my friend, the development of Kelantan was impede by the government themselves as they found no need to help an opposition (that much).
I think that was irrelevant =P but heck, it's quite unfair to look at PAS that way sometimes.
Hey Imran,
I was wondering...you know sometimes when there are certain laws of conduct made by some ulamas, they're not directly from the Q'uran rite? (I mean of course the basis to why they made the law was from the Q'uran). Because I was curious..the world is evolving and people are interpreting the Q'uran so differently now (eg: Those who kill others in the name of Islam. That was a crazy interpretation of Jihad by them. What were they thinking?)
Desi dear, sorry to have sidetracked so much from the topic =) Will come back with more...soon..I hope
Monday, 1.44PM:
kyels"
Brudder leemk has obliged with his LINKS -- you won't regret paying him a visit, take a bucketful of TehTarik from Haridas! :)
PS: Now you act on Desi's LATES CHALLENGIA ...
and the DEADLINE is when Desi's dead and gone!
and the PRIZE is
THATBETTERMALAYSIA
we all aspire for,
until I can REALISE spiritedesiNATION!:)
s-kay: thanks for midnoght voice.
I've taken thy views to FrontPage treatment on Monday as I promised a Part 3. Feel free to add on to leemk's, and others, I'm sure, who wants to add to Desi's 3sen worth,
OPleAse also note MY LATEST CHALLENGIA!:)
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