What a time to be Malaysians!

May 8, 2013 - Kelana Jaya Stadium erupts.

Under the dark cloud of treachery and fraud, 200 thousand Malaysians brave the rain to stand shoulder to shoulder to declare our 'Merdeka' - freedom from racism, corruption, cronyism and ultimately freedom from fear. This was our baptism into a new nation.

I witnessed the largest crowd in a stadium. I have been to the MCG packed to the rafters with 100,000 people. I have heard the cheers of 100,000 fans in a footy game. But this was another level. It was easily 200,000 people. The noise level was deafening. In part due to the many vuvuzelas blasting away BN's ears. 

Young and old, from Johor to Kelantan and all proudly Malaysians. Flag waving, cheerful and hopeful. I could hardly hear the speeches. The speakers were mostly doing cheer leading than speaking with any meaning. No one cares. Everyone was hell bent on cheering and making noise. When it came time for Uncle Lim - the cheers went up a decibel. Then the crowd went goo goo when Anuar step up. I could not hear a word. 

I was close to 4 elderly gentlemen which i discovered by introduction to be from Kelantan. They drove all the way from Kelantan since 10am just to make it to the stadium. That's commitment. I wonder how many of us Selangor people would do the same if the venue was in JB for instance. I wonder if 200,000 of us would show up there. They will be making the journey home tonight. 

A few minutes before, a group of chinese fellas shook hands with these 4 elders and wanted to take pictures with them. It was then that I also discovered there are plenty of people who are there in the event not just to show solidarity to a cause but to take photos. Now, dont tell me this was never in your speculations before. I am merely expressing what i believe many could be wondering. I wonder about this because i know there are some who arent there to listen but mostly there to be in a carnival or party. Perhaps to be seen. Perhaps curious. Perhaps also make a point on FB, to show that they have friends from other races. I think in a historic event like this would attract all kinds of folks. Loud folks, crazy folks who are shouting UBAH and INIKALILAH every half a minute.

Then there were the multitude of youngsters. I asked a few of them whether they voted. Many said yes. I was glad. I am also a little envious. These young Malaysians are experiencing something we waited a long time.

The birth of a new Malaysian soul. 
An identity we could not really pin down for a long time. Is being a Malaysian just about enjoying food and eating great food? Or Is being Malaysian something deeper and more personal.

Those of us born years after the Merdeka from British Rule cannot really feel the comradeship of our forefathers. We knew nothing of their struggle together. We knew nothing of their fight against the Japanese or the British. Today, this season - Malaysians of all walks of life, are entering a new baptism. A baptism into a new nation.

The election was the doorway and the stadium, the cauldron. The soul of this nation is being molded in the black cauldron of fraud and foul play in the election and yet, hope and unity is being forged like a sword against a common enemy by our PR leaders into our core. Malaysians are becoming one in heart and soul.

What a time we live in. What a time to be Malaysians!

Have I invested in Malaysia?

In the aftermath of EC's Blackout magic and announcement that snatched away the people's victory.

Soul searching starts not just with the PR but for each an every Malaysian who has hopes and dreams for a New Malaysia.

 For PR, even if all the disputed electorate were won, will they reach 122 seats? I doubt it. They fared so poorly in the Rural places by fielding mostly "parachute" leaders into these zones and the rural people rejected them. The Rural and Urban divides widens. Have PR invested enough in the rural places over the last 5 years? The results have not changed.

For us Malaysians who seek change and have dreams for a new Malaysia - have we invested ourselves in reaching the Rural heartlands - have we created business / job opportunities for our youth to work in their home towns and stay there to make a difference? Have we put our money to work in these places?

Winning the Urban places is also a given now, but winning the hearts and minds of the rural Malaysia - is not with propaganda or money. It's by investment of time and growing leaders from these places. Have we as new Malaysians given birth to new leaders in these heartlands?

That's the question i ask myself and my friends. If change is what we seek, we need to seek to change ourselves first and invest in change. Investment doesn't mean praying alone or giving money to ngos, church or political parties etc.

Will we as Malaysians with hearts full of dreams and fire, move to invest our time and money and business in creating jobs, business and educate the rural people in Malaysia? It is a fallacy to believe that just because of election fraud alone that we are robbed of change. I think we are robbed of change if we Malaysians don't change - if we don't invest in reducing the gap of rural and urban people. If we create business only in cities and towns. If we just give money to build bigger more comfortable churches. I am asking myself, have change really happen in me? Or it is just dreams and hopes. Dreams and hopes is still one leap away from change. That leap is making an investment.

 Have I done enough? Have i invested in Malaysia?

You cannot make the weak strong by making the strong weak!

An economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before but had once failed an entire class. That class had insisted that socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.
 
The professor then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in this class on socialism. All grades would be averaged and everyone would receive the same grade so no one would fail and no one would receive an A.

After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. 
The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy. 
 
As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little.  The second test average was a D! No one was happy.
 
When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F.

The scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else. 
 
All failed, to their great surprise, and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great but when government takes the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.

Could not be any simpler than that.

What a profound short little paragraph that says it all:

"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for,that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it." Dr. Adrian Rogers, 1931

This however is happening in Malaysia.

Technorati Tags: Socialism, Freedom, Equality, Malaysia

The Racist Rant

Video of the statements by the Racist Member of Parliament.

This video blatantly shows how recalcitrant the man is. The good thing is the majority of us aren't like this. But unfortunately, this is exactly the kind of propaganda that Umno and Biro TataNegara has been preaching for more than 20 years!

Is it surprising that this ugly head is now turning up in numbers?

Yes, we don't have to react to these folks as we Malaysians have already moved beyond race politics! And yes, he might be baiting some of us to react - and some political parties have already bitten the bait!

It is funny that a Professor from USM is calling this a form of mutated Mad Cow disease renamed as "Mamak Disease."

Related Post: Must Read - Real Story of May13 by RPK

Hands to Heaven

Today – 26th August 2008 – is another Day of Destiny for Malaysia. The decision of 58,000 voters will determine the destiny of 26 million Malaysians.

How apt that that the meaning of “Permatang” in Malay as “divider”, would divide the history of Malaysia. A victory by Anwar would certainly rewrite the history of this nation.

Yes, history is always written by the victor. Lets hope & pray as the elderly lady above, that we banish the corrupt, illegitimate, and fascist ruling coalition to the annals of our dark history and rewrite a new chapter of history and celebrate our patriots.

Pic Credits: malaysianinsider.com

Technorati Tags: Permatang Pauh, Malaysia, Election

Ismail - the Last Days Musical

This musical production is loosely based on the final years of Tun Dr Ismail the deputy to Tun Razak and is performed at KL Pac until the 2nd September. The life of Doc Ismail (as he is referred to in the past by his mates) is documented in a book "The Reluctant Politician")

I went to watch this production because I think Doc's life and his passion is someone that all Malaysians should know and learn from. His non-ethnic approach to politics is what we need today as well.

Quote from Wikipedia: Ismail was particularly known for his non-ethnic approach to political issues. Expressing concern over racial polarisation in the country, he once asked:

“

Why did we fight for Merdeka? So that the different races can be divided? That can't be the way, right? That can't be why all these great Malay and Umno leaders fought for this ... Something is wrong... I hope the new discussions will start. Why are we building Malaysia? What Malaysia are we building? What kind of symbol is Malaysia supposed to be?

After watching the performance, I have to say that I wish that it had a bit more drama and story and less singing! So what if its a musical, it can't be all singing. Definitely not repetitive singing!

Some plus points however can be found - the lead actor Malik Taufik was for me the saving grace. He sang well, spoke clearly and was the more polish of actors. The other cast were average and bordering on amateurish at times - what do one expect as a few were in fact part time actors!

Some songs were interesting but most of them were rather sedate. I loved the selection of Malay songs. At some point, the singing becomes irrelevant and self-indulgent. The song by Doc's Aussie girlfriend near the end was totally irrelevant and poorly delivered.

The poems were good but suffered for poor rendition.

The story wasn't fully developed as one would have loved. Given that its a musical perhaps that was an impediment. However, if the songs were short and sharp, there would have been more time for a bit more bite on a few potential dramatic moments.

The addition of a villain or two in this story would have added a new dimension not explored in this musical.

There was a lack of clarity in the conflict that play out between Tun Razak & Doc, leaving the uninformed rather confuse as to why they disagree in the first place.

No one cried, few laughed, no one got angry. In fact a few yawned. In fact, a few orchestra members actually looked bored!

It is just unfortunate that a great hero like Tun Dr Ismail story was not given its due dramatic treatment.

His perspective on Malaysian politics and nation building is truly what we need to hear at such a time as this.

All in all a 7/10 for a local act. Under broadway standards, it would score rather poorly.

Technorati Tags: Tun Dr Ismail, Malaysia, Merdeka, May 13, Musical, KL Pac, Malaysian Performing Arts, Ismail - the last days,

Money Talks

My pal pointed this out to me -

What was Chong Wei doing in a BN Campaign?
Didn't he know he is being used by BN?
BN paying for his RM300,000 reward mah! And his pension!

True true, but what if the BN government falls after Sept 16? Who is the government then?

But credit to the champ, he said this (reported by Malaysianinsider)-

“I am here just to collect the cheque. They have already announced that I would receive the reward. I don’t want to comment anything on politics. I don’t know much about it,” said Chong Wei, who is not a registered voter.

Dont get me wrong, I like this champ. It is just opportunistic of BN to use him for political mileage. Credit to him that he said - he just came for the cheque!

What my pals and I are cheesed about is - what Ismail Sabri claim that Chong Wei's success shows that Chinese are not discriminated."Our sports programme is for all Malaysians".

Yeah, it is something needless to say! Malaysians of all race (although RPK claims 90% of taxes are paid by non-bumis) pay their taxes so why shouldn't it be the case!

That said, I can't wait to hear Ismail Sabri or whoever in BN to say "Our Higher Education is for all Malaysians".. especially to UiTM?

Technorati Tags: Politics, Malaysia, BN, Lee Chong Wei, Discrimination, Hypocrisy, UiTM, Racism

I am Too Sexy for Malaysia

In case you didn't know Avril will not be in Malaysia and you can blame that on our Islamic Government.

Read AP news here.

"The Arts, Culture and Heritage Ministry said it had decided not to permit Lavigne's show because it was unsuitable to Malaysian culture and could not be held on Aug. 29, two days ahead of independence day."

I suppose what is suitable for Malaysian culture is exposing "sodomy" on national media for kids to learn about it?

"Malaysia requires all performers to wear clothes without obscene or drug-related images and be covered from the chest to the knees. They must also refrain from jumping, shouting, hugging and kissing on stage" claims the report.

So I suppose our local rock bands - don't jump, don't shout on stage? No wonder the local bands are not popular!

"We don't want our people, our teenagers, influenced by their performance. We want clean artists, artists that are good role models," he said.

Yeah, we not only want clean artists on stage, more importantly we also want clean politicians in the parliament.

Yeah, you politicians better be good role model if you insist the artists to be one! Funny how our politicians tend to forget about their own responsibilities, yeah?

By the same reasoning, since they are now baning artists who are not good role models for our kids, they should also ban football on TV because players like Ronaldo and Rooney are really bad role models for sleeping with hookers, using foul language, and for unsporting behavior on the field etc.

Why dont cha ban the Premier League too!?

Technorati Tags: Avril Lavine, Malaysia, Concert Cancelled

This Question not asked about Lee Chong Wei

Pic: Lee's parents watching the Badminton Finals at home.

I believe at least a few million Malaysians watched the Gold Medal Badminton match yesterday and was gutted by the lost. Many questions were asked about what happened to Lee Chong Wei and why he buckled under pressure etc.

My question is why on earth is his parents watching their son from their home in Cheras!?

Being the first Malaysian to qualify for the Olympic's men's singles final is already a significant achievement. It puzzles me why our government did not sponsor his parents to cheer him on?

Our Olympic Council probably paid lots of money to send "officials" (it is known that some people take this trips as paid holidays) to Beijing why can't they spend a bit more to send his parents there since it is the first time a Malaysian actually reached the final of this event?

Malaysia is rich enough to send a space tourist cum astronaut but can't give his parents this honour of watching their son?

Its an utter shame that his parents are watching at home accompanied by scores of reporters.

The thing is, one suspects if Lee was not a Lee but born into a different race, this question will not ever be raised.

What do you think?

Technorati Tags: Badminton, Malaysia, Olympics, Lee Chong Wei

"Here in my home" ready for download

Get this banner and put it on your blog to support this Bangsa Malaysia initiative.

Download links:
Video for your mobile phone
Video for PC playback
Mp3 version of the Here in My Home



Spread the word - use Facebook, Email, Digg - links below.

'Here in My Home' by Malaysian Artistes for Unity

I heard over Hits.fm today about this noble project to celebrate Bangsa Malaysia and foster unity. I love the music and the video. This is a step in the right direction and right timing, especially when some politicians are stirring back 'outdated' racial sentiments. Here's to the NEW Malaysia, we all want to be part of!

Who is Malaysian Artistes For Unity is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit national unity project made possible by the participation of over 120 notable Malaysians. Enlisted to the project over a short period of two weeks in April 2008, these participants range from artistes, celebrities, arts activists, media-personalities, musicians, dancers, sportsmen, filmmakers, web designers, producers, technicians, poets, models and more.

All participants contributed their effort on a pro-bono basis. The project has a production budget of exactly zero.

What is its objective? The project seeks to celebrate cultural diversity and the ideal of Bangsa Malaysia through video and music. Its central message is one of racial unity. By being made freely available to the public, the project is also a gift from all the participants to the nation.