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Who says we can’t be proactive?

Who says we can’t do anything?

Who says what we do won’t change a damn thing if you’re not willing to give us a chance?

Who decides the nation’s fate and who put us here?

Do something. Do anything. Just do it, now. Please.

Tagged from A Voice: Discuss an aspect of Muhibbah – what and why – and offer how we as individuals can promote Muhibbah. Try not to be too political and blame Government mode.

Thanks, bro. Here’s my two sen.

Muhibbah-ism.

First of all, I don’t believe in gawd. So much so, I don’t even type the word. Neither do I preach atheism. I have friends of all faiths, none of them have I ever fallen out with because we failed to understand each others’ beliefs. Faith to me, you see, has never been a factor in summing up a person, let alone a friend. I respect those who can’t eat pork because they are Muslims and I do not do so in their presence. But there has been instances where they feel slighted when I’m not willing to compromise on eating my char siew rice. So where do we draw the line in accepting each others beliefs and preferences before we become borderline ‘racists’ or ‘theists’?

Religion has always been tricky. While I try my best not to judge others, I on the other hand have been judged pretty badly. From being called ungawdly to demon-worshipper, I normally sit back and let those words bounce of me. It merely strengthens my views that religion continues to blind many and separates people.

Race is also another tricky question. I’ve been told I’m not Chinese enough. I’ve had problems with the language, with my dialect and with the way I carry myself. It’s fascinating how so many factors - from my parents background to the way I was raised - can differentiate my Malaysianess from yours. But embracing that difference has always been problem with all of us, I for one, love how we are so different and yet so alike. But there are just people who are obsessive with similarities and fail to leap out of their comfort zone.

Then there’s language, education background, geographical locations, professions and so many other factors that people can’t see beyond. I’ve shared my past and maybe some ideas for solutions are in order.

So where do we stand in terms of how muhibbah we are - I’m not sure myself but I most certainly remain hopeful.

I think the first step is to look beyond stereotypes. My approach has always been to correct individuals around me who make racist comments. We either don’t make them at all or we make them in jest and take it all in good spirits. I can say all Indian girls smell like coconut without feeling that was racist because they do and I love the smell of coconuts. I understand it is their faith or custom and I respect it. The onus is also on them to not take it to heart because we need to deconstruct these stereotypes and laugh them away. It’s not insulting if we don’t feel it.

I’ve been called a chink and a Japanese cunt by drunken Brits. I laughed and said thanks. What does that show about their moral fibre? And what does it show for mine?

We all don’t mix with other races enough. I think I have had the fortune to be in a more mixed public school in PJ. My best mates today remain Malay and Chinese. My first best friend was Indian. I’m dating a one-eight Indian-Chinese (betcha didn’t know that about Nat. lol). I say ‘insyallah’. I’ve been to churches, temples, mosques, synagogues and tokongs. I’ve attended weddings and funerals of all races. I try my best to correct people around me when they make racial slurs. I once wore a baju kurung and a pottu for a wedding dinner. In sum, I try to experience the cultures and habits of other races. And when I try, I try my best.

I can only hope for others to do the same. That’s the only way I know in suggesting how others can embrace the spirit of muhibbah. To step outside their comfort zone of their languages, race, religion and background and meet people. Start with your neighbours. Then on the road. When you see a bad driver, that’s all the person is. Not a ‘lousy Malay woman driver with a Penang plate’. Then the people you meet at work. Get to know the tea lady or the canteen operator. If you can’t stomach politics then talk about other things - food, places, movies, music, anything. From similarities, move into our differences. We must learn to understand other people first before we voice our personal views. Next, move beyond Malaysians, start treating non-Malaysians with the same courtesy.

I don’t blame the government in its entirety. I most certainly have issues with the education syllabus and how race-based politics have divided many of us. Our system is inherently racist and it all began with the Federal Constitution and later the New Economic Policy. But the fault lies largely with ourselves, if not our parents and their parents. It is hard to break the mould and I think the only way to do just that is through self-realisation. Now that is of course a tad difficult since we are all brought up in the racist and discriminatory system but hey - one just needs to look inwards and find out for themselves.

I seek to inspire because I don’t think it is my right to change people and their views. So we disagree on politics but we don’t use race as a factor (unless race is what we’re disagreeing on!) So I’m here sharing as usual and hope it enlightens whoever out there that may be touched somehow by my words. This is the part that I play in society, I guess.

What matters most is what part will you play? Share, you know I love sharings :)

I tag all of you, I’d love to hear everybody’s view about muhibbah-ism :) If it’s negative, we’ll try to address it. If it’s positive then let’s try to inspire others. I believe in collective effort. Nothing is ever the battle of one person alone.

Have you guys been to Bolehland.com?

Anyway, I moderate that site and I delete stupid comments which we get everyday. So what’s the beef if I delete comments? I’m finding it hard these days to engage in a quality debate without it spiralling downwards into this spew of personal attacks and seditious statements. So to save my time and my sanity, I delete them.

Of course I don’t randomly delete stuff over there, this bloke who gets on my nerves has a tendency to just advertise his own site with a link to his forum which generates income by diverting our traffic to his. Now I don’t see any money going into my pocket. And not only that, my intelligence is getting insulting from senseless decries that ‘Malaysia is a stupid country’ and ‘here’s how I make money by calling myself a Datuk in cyberspace because I’m actually far too retarded to engage in a logical discussion’.

Seriously. If you hate the country, fine. I don’t really care. My only pet peeve is those who bitch and do nothing about it. And worse, those who have the nerve to condemn those working and trying hard to fix the problem. Sure people take different approaches but I can’t stomach spineless, apathetic condemnation. Above all, I can’t stand people using provocative statements at my site to fish for visitors in order to generate income at theirs. It’s crappy marketing. Usually I won’t give any shit about sites who indulge in rubbish but please don’t use the sites I manage to feed that nonsense.

I’m not hesitant about deleting really mind-numbing comments. Most times, I just leave them in moderation to keep proof of IP address, time and nicknames. So if you plan to lambast me, sure go ahead but if you’re gonna come to my blog and scold my mother, I’m going to play a different ball-game. You will be traced and I won’t let up so easily.

Don’t give me shit about freedom of speech cos I damn well have the ultimate power and freedom over here in my own blog to delete your vitriol. Freedom vs freedom - now that is true democracy! I know we have plenty of stupid people in the world, I simply don’t have the time to engage them.

Come back with some brains, common sense and decent manners, then we’ll talk.

My first protest was back in May 28 2006 at KLCC. It was otherwise known as the Bloody Sunday protest. There will be another one this Saturday at the same spot at 3pm and I strongly urge those who have never attended a public protest to show up and experience democracy for yourself. Wear good shoes, bring an extra change of clothes and steer clear of harm’s way should anything untoward happen.

It actually quite fun and often very peaceful. But I need not say more, just go :) You won’t regret it.

:)

Gabungan Memprotes Kenaikan Harga Minyak (PROTES) yang terdiri daripada Badan-badan Bukan Kerajaan (NGO) dan Parti-parti Politik memandang berat suasana inflasi tidak terkawal yang sedang menekan kehidupan rakyat terutamanya yang berpendapatan rendah, seperti kenaikan bayaran tol beberapa lebuhraya, kenaikan harga barangan keperluan harian, kenaikan tarif bekalan eletrik dan air, serta kemungkinan besar kenaikan harga bahan bakar pada masa terdekat.

Ekoran daripada itu, PROTES akan menganjurkan himpunan aman bagi membantah kegagalan kerajaan BN menangani masalah ini. Himpunan ini akan diadakan seperti maklumat berikut:

Tarikh : 26 Januari 2008 (Sabtu)
Masa : 3 petang
Tempat : Hadapan KLCC, Jalan Ampang, KL

PROTES ingin menyeru rakyat yang prihatin untuk hadir beramai-ramai dan menyeru lebih banyak organisasi masyarakat menyertai dalam penganjuran himpunan ini.

Sebarang pertanyaan tentang PROTES, sila hubungi Dr Hatta Ramli (019-3398659) dan Arutchelvan (019-2537791)

From The Star:

“We discussed this matter. They said that during Thaipusam there would be traffic jams everywhere in Kuala Lumpur and it is difficult to get to work. So let it be a holiday,”

I was thinking to myself, how many ways are there to insult an Indian in this country?
Many considering even our PM can equate a Thaipusam procession as the cause of jams in KL ‘everywhere’!

That is just rude :(

There are jams in KL everydaylah. Make everyday a public holiday. The rakyat sure will vote for you then, so good for business wor.

Anyway, Happy Thaipusam to my Hindu friends! May it be more meaningful than our PM’s words.

… Opposition bashing has begun picking up steam from the local papers.

Behold!

PAS statement is extremely insensitive

I WAS aghast to read a news report that PAS wants non-Muslims to vote it into power so that it can implement Syariah law and include punishments such as stoning and hand amputations.

The report said: “The people want the best and there is nothing better than Islam,” Nik Aziz Nik Mat, 77, told Reuters after morning prayers at his home in Kelantan, ruled by PAS since 1990.”

In a multi-religious society such a statement is extremely insensitive and insulting.

It shows how out of touch PAS ideology is with a modern Malaysia and why it will never win the hearts and minds of most Malaysians.

The report further said: “Thieves steal from the rich and the Chinese are more well-off than the Malays. If a thief’s hand is amputated and he goes to the football field or to the market, people can see that he is a thief,” he said. “Everyone will be afraid and won’t steal.”

I don’t know whether to laugh or to cry. Who says thieves steal only from the rich or that the Chinese are the only rich Malaysians? It frightens me that such ignorance masquerades as politics unless all was said in facetiousness.

If somebody steals from me I would rather he keep what he has stolen rather than see his hand chopped off. How then will a thief be able to mend his or her ways and earn an honest living without a hand? Such measures have never been part of the Malaysian culture and I hope for our sake never will be.

I have seen video footage of a young boy who had his hand chopped off for stealing in a Muslim country. It was done in public but that and many other amputations have not stopped serious crimes, including rape and murder, happening.

I can’t help register my protest and disgust at the PAS suggestion. As one opposition politician said: “It appears they still have a political death wish.”

It is easy to see why Umno gets a walkover every time. I’d rather think the bizarre statements were only headline grabbing now the elections are around the corner. But I know who won’t be getting my vote and I certainly won’t be lending it a hand.

STEVE OH,
Perth, Australia.

Is this you, Steve?

lol.

I’m sorry, I don’t think PAS is running in Perth. Try harder.

Let’s place our bets on the outcome of the royal commission shall we?

VK Lingam took the stand today and reiterated that the person in the video clip sounds like him and looks like him. lol. For a lawyer, that’s pretty lame. He’s suppose to be cock-sure of everything, you can’t go to court and argue like some half-baked potato. He’s also denying that he was ever the lawyer for Loh Mui Fah. Ah the plot deepens. If Americk Singh Sindhu - lawyer for Loh - saw this coming, evidence that money was paid to Lingam for his services should be produced in court now.

It appears Lingam is still going on about the authenticity of the video. He’s also said it wasn’t Fairuz on the other line. But how does he know if he’s trying to say the man in the video which ’sounds like him and looks like him’ might not actually be him. It has to be him if he says it ain’t Fairuz on the other end, right? lol.

Anyway, it’s Fairuz’s turn soon. He’ll say ‘I don’t know, I leave it to God’. That’s the safest answer that I’m sure Lingam has ordered him to say. The trend is very unbecoming after Mahathir and Eusoff Chin took the stand. People have such poor memories. Maybe it’s the old age, maybe it’s past sins. Who knows. One thing is for sure …. nothing can possibly surprise me in this royal commission anymore.

From the start when the DPP prepared a witness list where Lingam wasn’t questioned first - I knew it’s all going to be very poorly conducted. And remember, the commission merely establishes the truth - and make recommendations in their report. At the end of the day, nobody goes punished. The truth is also subjected to what is revealed. If nobody says jack, then the truth is just that - jack shit, nothing.

But if opposition say something, oh people will say they are hijacking the commission. If the Bar Council makes noise, government will accuse them for being conduits of the opposition. And once this is over, the government washes their hands clean saying they’ve given in to the demands of the people who asked for a royal commission of inquiry.

So who wins and what’s gonna happen after this? You tell me.

I’m just going to court tomorrow to pick up some acting lessons :)

Does the rakyat need a government more than a government need the support of its people?

I know. It is one of those tautological, chicken and egg or Catch 22 conundrums that academicians spend much time arguing about without offering any real and viable solutions. Let me change that, academicians and bloggers.

Everyday I hear people whining and ranting about how disunited the opposition is, how they can never form a credible government, how they want the best and not settle for the lesser of two evils.

Here’s how I see it and the explanation are a bit crude so please bear with me.

I think the rakyat has the opposition by the balls. DAP, PKR, PAS, PRM, PSM, DLL (dan lain-lain) are at our mercy. I mean what I say. They need our votes and support because without us, they are nothing. I think that’s a better bargain for the rakyat to have at least some kind of leverage over them.

As for the ruling BN coalition government now. They have all of us by the balls and are squeezing it so tight that we are nothing but mere shells of what a decent citizen is entitled to. That’s what happens when you have a government that has raped the system so thoroughly, that rewards come without even needing to ask for it.

They just take it all. And they take it from us (and Petronas - which belongs to the people!!)

Sure, I sound like some opposition campaigner … well, I’m not. I read law and politics and I’m a journalist. I have little personal interest whether Jeff Ooi becomes an MP (but he would be an interesting test case from an academic perspective concerning the first blogger cum politician in the country) or whether some bloke I date just so happens to be Nat Tan of OSA remand infamy. C’mon, go beyond what I do, who I date and what I believe; instead, engaged me on what I know and what I don’t. Engage me in epistemological arguments. Challenge me with examples. Delight me with your fire for change.

I’ve been wrestling with this rock the vote idea to get youths and adults in Malaysia to vote. I’ve been blogging about elections pretty darn early, even before the wave in other blogs began around late-2006. It was just getting friends to register to vote. Whether they vote or abstain is entirely their choice. In the meantime, I tried my best to highlight issues in my blog that is close to my heart. The most recent was a teary email to friends venting my frustration when the Hindraf 5 were arrested - these people were my friends and not merely contacts I meet through work. It was quite hard for me to accept what happened when their arrests were confirmed but what do any of you know? Some just swallow the mainstream media’s spew of their yet-unproven terrorist links hook, line and sinker. How many of you have ever experience a loved one incarcerated, held incommunicado over something illogical as an official secret in a blog comment? Have you experienced Uthayakumar’s humour? Or Ganabatirau’s kindness? Or Manoharan’s always-available help? And to have all of them arrested under the Internal Security Act without solid evidence. Geez.

The point is that I knew these people and it still crushes me that that are still in Kamunting. Nat’s case remains unresolved with nobody held responsible. I still remember Kampung Berembang. Demolished temples. Arrogant ministers. Arrogant cops. The Orang Asli. Everything hike. The shit I read everyday is a stark reminder that the country is going to the dogs because we feel the opposition isn’t the best and oh, have to vote for BN cos I dunno, dacing what.

Fuck that, you moronic robots.

So, you don’t wanna vote? Then you’ve just deprived yourself the chance to make the teensiest of change. You’ve also revoked your right to complain about the government or the opposition. Your decision not to vote, to me, is as good as a foot set in migration.

The only difference that sets you apart from those Badruddin has labelled ‘kalau you tak suka, you boleh keluar dari negara’ is that somewhere deep down inside, you love the country but you’re not willing to bear the responsibility of actually DOING something. The responsibility is shared and not solely for the opposition to bear. Just as criticisms can come from you, so can ideas and positive suggestions. Of course everybody just LOVES being a critic. So much easier isn’t it? I’m not surprised. You lot ain’t got no more balls left, that’s why.

I just feel so sorry for Nat having to deal with the opposition’s opposition. Sometime I agree the opposition isn’t doing enough, but there are more outsiders bitching about them more than joining it to make it better.

That just shows the typical tidak apa attitude we’re so famous for. Bitch, bitch, bitch and complain only. I’ve heard so much that days when I use to get angry at such people seems so far away. Right now I’m just waiting for retribution because I believe in karma. And it will come back and bite you on your arse so hard, you’ll be sorry. Heck, I think many of us are already paying for it now.

You reap what you sow. You get what your put in and who suffers? - fellow Malaysians, your children, your family, your friends. Sure people always think me me me!!! Fucklah, I’m happy for Kelantanese who think PAS is doing a fucking good job. Don’t see a mass exodus of them moving to KL cos PAS is treating them like dirt. How well do you know PAS? Have you ever done research or speak to people from the party? I guess not. Whoever bothers these days. Just set up a blog and say PAS is evil because our ministers say so. Our ministers said we are an Islamic state. Vote them in again lah, dickheads.

I’m sick of you ranting Malaysians who can only complain about opposition, the government and how imperfect every damn thing is. Pleaselah, look at your bloody self. Having your balls squeezed til they’re black and blue; and many of you are licking the ones of your masters. You fuckers deserve it. And don’t vote. You will STILL be a loser.

If you wanna migrate then migrate lah. We don’t need pussies in the country taking the easy way out. If the Orang Asli has never had the urge to migrate although they are treated worst in the country, then the lot of you sure have a sorry excuse to be Malaysian.

I’m voting and I’m not sorry, tossers.

:P

I have been out of action since Wednesday. Around noon that day, I started to shiver in court and I began to have trouble concentrating. I knew something was wrong because I ran a slight fever the night before. By noon, I began to wish the commission would wrap up their questioning so that I could go home. I was already on the verge of collapsing. Nat was, of course, there to save the day. The moment I got home, I laid in bed and I pretty much didn’t get up until this morning.

I’m still sick. I’ve been diagnosed with throat infection, cough, cold and fever. The colour of my phlegm is appalling. This morning it was the hue of industrial glue yellow, with a more solid consistency as if it was about to dry. I swear I’ve never felt so good spitting anything out. Fever is still on and off, hopefully it’s getting less frequent and severe. Headaches are the main problem now with sharp pounding at the back of my skull. It’s making typing really difficult. I just left a short comment at Nat’s blog. That took me about 30 mins to type. Reflexes are beyond stupor. Imagine being drunk but not high or happy. Stomach is also in protest. Mixture of gastric and stomach cramps, feels like.

And this body is sore. Like after one mass orgy of … paintballing. lol. Seriously it really hurts. Getting out of bed was really tough these past few days. Reminded me of how I fell off my bed back in Bristol after one paintballing session. I believe I was trying to reach the phone to call my boss up and say I’m not feeling well or something to that effect.

I’m going to lie down now. Life seems better when seen horizontally. BRB!

Life always comes to a halt when I’m covering a court case. This time, more so with the royal commission. I mean the ‘Commission of Enquiry of the Video Clip Recording of Images of a Person Purported to be an Advocate and Solicitor Speaking on the Telephone on Matters Regarding the Appointment of Judges’.

lol.

I was quite amused when I got the last media pass on Monday morning and read that. I guess they tried to make it as ‘wide’ as possible eh? :)

Sorry that this blog is going to slow down a little bit. I’m trying my best to balance between work and play. Sadly blogging isn’t top of the ‘play’ priorities. Right now, I’m typing this in my room with Nat next to me on my laptop (no, it’s not on my lap). I’ve got Smashing Pumpkins’ Ava Adore album on. It’s making me reminisce a little about college and a friend I miss dearly. He’s still around, just no longer as I know him. I’m drinking water from a Sigg bottle that my brother gave me. My computer area illuminated by my Ikea lamp. My phone’s being charged. The album’s gonna end soon … For Martha is playing and I love the pianos.

Anyway, I’m also mentally preparing myself for tomorrow. Big shots are coming and office expects top notch quality reporting. Tension! lol. This year I’m taking things in my stride so I’m training my mind to chillax. So yeah.

Breeeeaaaathe.

:)

Will try best to be back asap, this weekend latest! I promise :)