Categories
Politics & government

[93] Of criticizing the government of Malaysia

Out of rare events, this entry will criticize the Government of Malaysia.

I am one of the persons who believe that the current Government of Malaysia is doing the right thing for the country. Barisan Nasional or the National Front if you may has been in power since Malaysia achieved its independence back in 1957. In fact, it has monopolized the country’s politics even during the pre-independence period.

After all those years, they have brought a lot of improvement the country. They drove the country from a backwater third world nation to a technological savvy one. No doubt, the local populace needs to be thankful.

However, currently the top leaders in Malaysia are engaging immature political maneuvers. I could not believe what kind of craps they are doing at the moment (but this of course, minus Dr. Mahathir himself. I still fail to see why people hate him so much after all he had done for us).

My first complaint is concerning the national service issue. I would say that enlisting in the army is one of the best ways to enforce nationalism. However, forcing the civilian to join the reserve corps is certainly not the best way to inspire the spirit of nationalism. If the youth are going to suffer from this suggestion, Malaysia could say goodbye to the word patriotism.

Patriotism is not something that could easily be planted into one’s soul. If one tries to force a CD into a floppy drive, one will never be able to read the content of the CD. Worse, if applied sufficient force, one could break the CD into two. The same goes with loyalty.

All along when S’pore was doing this, M’sia have insisted that they will not do N/Services. Why now? Are they losing ground on the political grassroots? Why the N/service when the school should do this. You guys were from there and don’t tell me you’re not loyal to your country!”

The above are Mr. Veera’s words and they echo my own view.

Secondly, I just read the headline “Two Barisan reps face action over PORR motion” in The Star. All I could say after reading the content of the article was “WTF?” These representatives, who are the members of the ruling party is going to be punished just because they did not support the party proposal. What is this? Where is the freedom of expression? Where is the freedom to decide, the freedom to choose?

These reps did what they did because the people in their respective constituent are against the motion. They need not to agree with the motion just because the party says they must.

Of course, unity in the party is important but when it comes to the good of the society, the need of the people comes first rather than the party. They need to decide what is best for the people, not for the party in this particular case.

If the two reps are going to be punished for what they did, then freedom is seriously threatened. If this is going to happen, I suggest we change the name Malaysia to Oceania.

Finally, the dreaded water supply issue with Singapore. The leaders in Malaysia have acted very immaturely in handling it. All I heard for the leaders and the papers were accusations rather than constructive ideas. The same goes to the island across the narrow straits (Come on man, you want to declare a war against Malaysia? Yeah, you could do a surprise attack but the shock won’t last as long as you want. Instead, the outcome of the war may result in Malaysia gaining extra land!)

Nevertheless, whatever the accussations and the counteraccusations are, Singapore has agreed, more or less to meet Malaysia’s earlier demand. Why must we need to drag the issue further? I say we accept the offer and keep quiet. There is no need to be a kiasu.

After all this, quoting Mr. Veera again,

This is politically motivated and a waste of tax payers money.”

EOM.

p/s – you guys do know what EOM means right? Do you guys ever heard the word brb? I mean COME ON!!!

Categories
Personal Politics & government

[69] Of Mahathir’s announcement and Top of the Park

Malaysia … Don’t say it isn’t you … because you know, I do love you too! I am waiting for an answer..
– Cupcake, www.swirve.com

The World Cup is nearing its end with Brazil almost for certain will win this fight yet again. It’s a pity that the South Korean team failed to beat off Germany for if they did, being an Asia is cooler than I thought it would be.

People at Ann Arbor were excited and somebody even drew a huge South Korea flag at the Diag.

Well, the Asian teams lost but in the end, Asia managed to prove to the world that they’re worth more than being just a cheap labor market.

Another interesting development in Asia was a retirement announcement by Asia’s longest serving Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. What surprised me more was how that event received tons of attention by the Americans’ media. The Washington Post wrote an article about it. A few other major newspapers even printed the news at the front page! Imagine that. Malaysia has truly caught the eyes of the world. Or maybe it’s just Mahathir.

Nevertheless, Mahathir was irresponsible. Announcing his retirement at such an abrupt time will do nothing but hurt the country’s recovering economy. Mahathir shouldn’t have done that, whether he orchestrated it or not.

Seeing through my blurry eyes, I would say that Mahathir cannot leave the throne yet. He has no worthy successor. However, I’m not saying that Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is not a good leader but Malaysia needs a leader with visions; a leader better than Mahathir, or at least on par. Before the economy crisis, Anwar Ibrahim promised Malaysia something but his fall was unfortunate. From that day on, Malaysia has only Mahathir to steer her helm.

Well, whatever it is, right now, Ann Arbor is as hot as hell. (Despite my words, no, I haven’t been to hell. Oh c’mon, it’s just an expression.) I can’t believe Michigan’s weather. Last month, it was cold regardless we called the season spring and then suddenly, the Sun is baking the Earth.

Yet, summer is fun. At the Fletcher Structure, Top of the Park Summer Fest is going on at full stream. Staying near AA’s cultural sites, I visited the Fair with a few friends, namely David, JJ and Batcha. Ronnie was there too but he seems to be more excited of being with his other friend. Truly, the Fair was amazing.

Last Sunday, there were this famous Blues ban from Detroit performing at the Fair. They were versatile; playing trombone, saxophone, you name it for 3 straight hours without even taking a breath. I had a good time. I’m going to the Fair again this week. Hell, make it everyday.

Well, spring has gone away with the wind and a few friends have gone home, back to Malaysia. I wish them safe journey.

Paeh, sorry aa. Nanti aku belikan ko sweat shirt bile aku balik nanti.

Tod, ko datang aa Michigan kalau ko nak baju tu.

Cherap, I’m so sorry because I won’t be able to send you off to the U.K.

Zeff, singgah aa US haram.

Adam, please accept my apology for not going home. I have more important thing to do. By the way, I think you would rather spend more time with that girl than me huh? :p

Apad, kenape ko tanye aku balik ke tak? Ko rindu kat aku ek? :)

Categories
Politics & government

[65] Of deteriorating Indian-Pakistani relationship

That’s me; drawn by Azwan. Sigh…

It seems that Human has never quenched his thirst for blood.

In the recent weeks, the relationship between India and Pakistan is deteriorating with both countries starting to test their nuclear weapons as an act of intimidation. This latest development has prompted the world to stand on its toes for a war between those two countries could be the first nuclear war in Human’s history.

The South Asia subcontinent does not need another event to destabilize the region. If war is going to be conceived as an option, it is only fair to say that the whole subcontinent will be having its own World War. This notion is not too absurd as South Asia is mainly consisted of Pakistan and India while Sri Lanka itself is having its own internal conflict from time to time. On the western horizon, Afghanistan is already in chaos.

The flashpoint of this crisis is Kashmir, a Moslem state under the Indian rule. The Kashmiri separatists want an end to Indian superiority and they are receiving aids from Pakistan. Pakistan act is understandable as India did the same when East Pakistan wanted to form Bangladesh.

Never in the world has a nuclear war is seen as a possibility except during the Cuba Crisis where the USSR was caught red-handed by the United States transporting nuclear warhead to Cuba’s shore.

Fortunately for the world community, both sides have agreed to not use their nuclear capabilities on each other. The informal agreement is a “thank God” phrase for the United Nations because a nuclear war will bring a catastrophic result to the world. Worse, the environment will be at stake. Kashmir, which is a paradise will be turned into a wasteland and the Ganges River will be polluted, no more a sacred place for the Hindus. Human should be thankful if a conventional war will be fought between those two foes. The Ganges will only be turned red instead of being polluted.

A nuclear war, once a science fiction, today’s possibility.

Nevertheless, I personally think that a war will not be fought between India and Pakistan. Their words are merely words although they do have the vertebra to back their words. They had tested their Agnis and Ghauris for years but it ended with nothing but war of words and a few exchange of bullets up in the mountainous area of Kashmir. If you don’t trust me, that’s because we are humans and humans tend to disagree with each other. The Tower of Babel was never completed due to the same reason.

Even so, let’s just hope that I am right. I believe none of us would be glad to see another Hiroshima and Nagasaki. To be more accurate, most of us would want to see New Delhi and Islamabad still standing after this crisis ends.

Read this for a related post.

Aaa… it’s raining in Ann Arbor. A refreshing spring rain…

Categories
Politics & government Society

[41] Of secularism is an answer to religious hatred

Looks like this web log won’t be moving out of Blogger after all. Geocities will be charging fee for FTP service and I won’t pay anything for that service. Oh well, it seems that I have to stay here a little bit longer. I have to get out from Blogger because I found out that Blogger’s servers are quite unreliable at times. The University of Michigan’s servers will be more reliable.

Moving on the world news…

India is suffering its worst civil unrest in this new millennium. It is sad to see the Muslims and the Hindus are killing each other just because they are having different religions. History has told us that the Muslims and the Hindus can’t get along very well. The greatest manifestation is the separation of British India into two single entities, India and Pakistan. Mahatma Gandhi regretted this but it was necessary to prevent what is happening in Gujarat at that time.

India, one of the giant of Asia and I want nothing but its success for I believe in the Japan’s Asia for Asia.

I just want to see peace, not war. It hurts me even more when I saw a picture where a Muslim man stood in the middle of a Hindu mob, begging for his live. I hope he received mercy from the Hindus.

While the Hindus are doing what they are doing, certainly the Muslims will retaliate. Nobody will just sit down and see their brothers and sisters being burnt to death. I will certainly not but an eye for an eye makes the whole world goes blind. Truly, the solution to this could only be one thing – secularism, a state where religion plays no important roles in the executive administration. This word is one of the most misunderstood ideas in the Muslim world.

Secularism is not bad for Islam or for any other religion. Of course, I would dream the era when the Islamic Civilization ruled supreme to return. The greatness of another Alhambra or Baghdad would be the best thing to see. Unfortunately, the world is becoming smaller and smaller, allowing everyone to meet everybody; ideas and beliefs clash. Only secularism allows a peaceful interaction between different ideologies.

Secularism doesn’t mean religion is not acceptable to any kind of social life. I believe a belief in God is necessary to maintain some social order but the freedom to believe freely without being discriminated must be allowed. Only through this, peace can somewhat be attained.

This notion doesn’t clash with my idea of restricted freedom. I believe in restricted freedom of expression and secularism does this best. However, my view of secularism doesn’t book a place for Turkey’s style. I don’t believe in Turkish secularism for it is restricting the very freedom for different societies to interact with one and another freely.
For India, secularism might the answer to its woe. Its ruling party is an Hindu-biased party and this must be the fuel that is burning hatred among its people although I can certainly see some restrains in that party in enforcing Hindu-styled state.

It’s sad to see the world is suffering from hatred.

It’s sad to see Ann Arbor is snowing again. Sigh…