Well, I’m off for my first conservation work in Malaysia (tag). I’ll be stuck in Terengganu and maybe even Kelantan for about a week. In the mean time, I present to you a picture of the moon.
Could you actually believe that this photo worth 28k?
Anyway, sing together now:
Blue skies
Smiling at me
Nothing but blue skies
Do I seeBluebirds
Singing a song
Nothing but bluebirds
All day long
Tata.
When I first heard that a Danish media published caricatures of Prophet Mohammad (tag) last year, to be honest, being a Muslim myself, I was slightly irritated. Though it’s an act of free speech, the Danish media abused its rights. That was that and I didn’t expect it to balloon up unnecessarily. I didn’t expect it because I don’t think it’s rational for such issue to take a center stage in world politics. Apparently, I have overestimated the Muslim world’s sensibility. Muslim Malaysians on the contrary are acting coolly. Comparing Malaysians’ response against Arabs and Indonesians’ reaction on it, I can’t help but feel proud to be a Malaysian.
In my opinion, what’s happening in the Muslim world is a gross overreaction followed by impossible demand. The side at fault is the rightwing newspaper Jyllands-Posten, not the Danish government. Moreover, the Danish government has no right to censor the newspaper. Nobody should but that’s another matter altogether. Hence, the Danish government has no reason to apologize.
I’m not sure whether it’s simply a refusal to understand the concept of free press or a thick skull but a lot of people are choosing to ignore why the Danish government is refusing to take the blame. Libya’s act of closing its embassy in Denmark is one of the overreaction and also an example of failure to appreciate free press concept. Another one is consumer boycotts in the Arab world. These boycotts, instead of hurting the rightwing paper, are hurting real people that have nothing to do with the paper. This is plain wrong. It’s as stupid as Republicans’ action of boycotting French fries during the invasion of Iraq – that boycott would only hurt potatoes farmers in the United States instead of the French economy.
Malaysian Prime Minister has been discrete on the matter, criticizing the paper instead of the Danish government. Apart from 50 PAS supporters that protested in front of the Danish embassy in Kuala Lumpur yesterday – which obviously doesn’t represent the majority – Malaysians are being quite rational on the matter. I haven’t heard Malaysians storming the Danish embassy like what happened in Jakarta or anybody calling a boycott of Danish or any European products here in Malaysia yet.
The ability to discern between the government and a private entity is not lost on Malaysians, unlike Arabic countries and Indonesia. In fact, I think, Malaysia is the only Muslim-majority country that is not blaming the Danish government for a private entity’s doing. I might be wrong but it seems like so.
To all Muslims out there, seriously, be sensible. The first thing to do is to realize that it’s a rightwing paper that started this, not Denmark the country. Differentiate the two and then comprehend that the Danish government can’t censor that paper. Blaming and targeting the Danish government and its people for things that they didn’t do only complicates the matter at hand and bring about a much unneeded clash of culture.
So Denmark, I stand by thee. But definitely not by Jyllands-Posten.
I will not treat a country that believes in green energy unfairly. So, buy Danish!p/s – stupid, stupid. This is way beyond overreacting.
pp/s – despite all this, it doesn’t change the fact that there is hypocrisy involved. This comic aptly captures the hypocrisy.
Quoting Wikipedia: Cartoon from Jordanian newspaper Al Ghad. Counter-clockwise: “This one is anti-semitic”, “this one is racist”, “those fall under free speech”.
The Sultan Abdul Samad Building is probably one of the most photographed structures in Kuala Lumpur (tag). One reason is because before all the tall towers and buildings were erected, this was Kuala Lumpur’s principle landmark.
I took this some time ago, on the same day I saw a lovely facade and framed it. I like this photo simply because it’s colorful. Well, maybe just because it’s bright. The photo however looks busy; too many distractions. But I still like it.
p/s – a good result before a scary match. Ajax faces Feyenoord this Sunday. Seeing Ajax’s current state, Ajax is going to get a royal beating. But with that 3-0 victory, maybe I shouldn’t be too pessimistic.
pp/s – Paracetamol is human’s greatest invention. For me, at least, at this particular moment.
In bid to win $20 worth of Greenpeace merchandizes. Haiku on ocean! In Malay though:
Di ufuk sana,
biru laut memikat,
mengejar mimpi.
Roughly means, still in 5-7-5 format!
On the horizon,
the blue ocean calling us,
us, chasing a dream.
Anyway, there is a very high possibility that I will travel go to Terengganu next week and lend a hand to a conservation project (tag). Well, a project cum holidays. I’m pretty much excited because it’s been more than ten years since I last bathe in the South China Sea. And sitting by the South China Sea, I will be vomiting more lame haikus for all to suffer!
The only thing I might about travelling to Terengganu is that, there is no rail service. And I don’t wanna drive either. So, looks like bus for me. Seven hours in a bus won’t be too kind to my ass.
While in the bus, penning a haiku or two for Proton (tag) might be something to distract me from boredom. Why Proton on all the sudden? Well, instaed of Volkswagen, Proton has a new ally; Mitsubishi. Again.
Mitsubishi Motors to form new tie-up with Malaysia’s Proton
38 minutes ago
TOKYO (AFP) – Struggling Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors will form a new tie-up with Proton that would help the embattled Malaysian carmaker develop new models, a newspaper reports.
The tie-up will include a technology transfer, mutual supply of auto parts, including engines, and allow Proton to create new models, the Asahi Shimbun reported, quoting unnamed company sources.
It has only been about about two years since since Proton and Mitsubishi last decided to part ways.
Proton and Mitsubishi should just marry each other. Enough with the flirting already. Hell, let’s do one haiku for Proton now.
Hail Mitsubishi!
A setting red giant star,
trying to save us.
Bush just had his 2006 State of the Union (tag) a couple of hours back. One of his points is:
Far from being a hopeless dream, the advance of freedom is the great story of our time. In 1945, there were about two dozen lonely democracies in the world. Today, there are 122. And we’re writing a new chapter in the story of self-government — with women lining up to vote in Afghanistan, and millions of Iraqis marking their liberty with purple ink, and men and women from Lebanon to Egypt debating the rights of individuals and the necessity of freedom. At the start of 2006, more than half the people of our world live in democratic nations. And we do not forget the other half — in places like Syria and Burma, Zimbabwe, North Korea, and Iran — because the demands of justice, and the peace of this world, require their freedom, as well.
Yes. When the Palestinians democratically elect Hamas into office, suddenly, it’s not acceptable, isn’t it?
A reminder for Bush: in real democracy, you can’t always get the result that you yearn for.
Contrary to Bush and several others’ belief, including Israel, I believe that this is a chance to establish greater peace between Israel and Palestine. Take the Hamas’ ceasefire for instance. Hamas is staying true to its words. Hamas has not launched any single attack on Israel for the last few months. Meanwhile, Israel’s unilateral withdrawal from Gaza Strip speaks well from Israel.
Both are signals that both sides could assume good faith. Because of that, I have high hope the ceasefire could a stepping stone for a comprehensive and viable peace plan if Israel and Hamas-led government could sort things out on a negotiation table. If Israel and everybody else won’t talk to Hamas, then things won’t go for the better.
Isolation just won’t work. It didn’t work with North Korea, neither did it work for Iran nor Myanmar. It didn’t even work with Arafat when he was alived. Isolation will only bring more trouble. The European Union, United States and Israel cannot pretend that Hamas doesn’t represent the people of Palestine.
While saying this, Hamas must realize that the state of Israel is not going anywhere. Israel has a right to exist regardless of history. The most viable solution is a two-state solution. The time for war has come and gone.
p/s – this is starting to become very ridiculous. Protesting Muslims don’t seem to comprehend free speech while German and French media can’t seem to appreciate diversity.
pp/s – well, somebody disagrees with me. It seems he prefers war to peace.
