Last weekends just concluded state elections was indeed a a bombshell for the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN).. yeah they got the two thirds majority and 62 of the 71 seats contested, but the opposition suprisingly did very well with DAP taking 7 seats, Keadilan taking 1 seat and an independent taking one. All in all the opposition held seats increased from 2 in the previous assembly to 9 for the new assembly. By normal standards this isn't much, but here in Bolehland it is a significant development. For starters the opposition swept up the the urban constituencies in Kuching and Sibu, and these are predominantly Chinese areas. The Chinese electorate is clearly not happy wit the goverment, non bumiputras suffer from institutionalised discrimination in education and business oppurtunities, on top of that Sarawak has been ruled by the same chief minister for the past 25 years who has treated the state as a personal fiefdom.
The latest developments in Sarawak are very encouraging, it implies that people are starting to think and realise that the current state of affairs are just not right and plain wrong and that they deserve better. Its amazing the opposition did well when pitted against the financial might of BN and also one sided media coverage by the mainstream press, and also Keadilan seen as many as a predominantly Malay perty (they are in fact non race based) won a seat in a Chinese majority area against the traditionally Chinese SUPP a component party of BN. But then of course BN being BN, they would never admit any of their shortcomings and would never acknowledge the real issues that ultimately made them pay dearly. Chief Minister publicly dismissed the real issues by commenting the electorate was "influenced by their propaganda" or ammusingly "perhaps because of betting". Issues such as corruption,cronyism, hike of petrol prices etc are ignored, as acknowledging them would just open a whole can of worms and expose their shortcomings.
Can there be ever a democratic change of government in this country? I believe so, its not easy but possible. For starters the opposition themselves must fashion themselves in a manner that leaves no doubt that they are representing the rights of all Malaysians regardless of race or religious beliefs. We certainly can't afford opposition politicians who make silly statements about divorcees and pretty women etc,these people are simply just a liability. Come up with credible policies on issues that effects people of all races and ages such as the economy, inflation, healthcare, education, cost of living, civil liberties, affirmative action based on needs not race etc. If you just keep on harping on issues such as an Islamic state ( i.e. PAS), you will not get anywhere. The opposition should also realise the younger Bolehlanders these days are generally ignorant and indifferent to the current state of affairs. Target these people, convince them you can give them a better deal . None of these are easy we all have to admit, but it can be done. With stringent media controls in these country, spreading the gospel is indeed a hurdle, come up with ways to sidestep these hurdles...aggresively use the internet, come up with independent underground press which appeal to the younger set. I believe it can make a difference in the long term. Sooner or latter with BN in power, the culture of cronyism, corruption and of course blatant stupidity will not be able to sustain the system.
Monday, May 22, 2006
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
The Last Communist-- how stupid can they get?
The banning of Amir Muhammad's musical documentary The Last Communist or Lelaki Komunis Terakhir is certainly suprising but nonetheless a sad development for local cinema. Grounds given were that the movie was glorifying leaders of the Communist Party of Malaya(CPM), "protecting the best interest and feelings of Malaysians"-the lies these buggers come up with, since when did they ever do that?- and of course this year UMNO celebrates its 60th annivesary-wouldn't want a bunch of Commies spoiling the party would we?- However the reality is that CPM leader Chin Peng was only mentioned once, he was not shown in person save a carricature satirising the Baling Peace Talks. Interviews conducted were mainly with locals talking about present realities, their experiences etc, whats so provovative about that?
The sad truth is that the movie was judged based on hearsay, prejudice and plain ignorance. The entertainment editor of Berita Harian even had the audacity to claim that the Jan Vrijman Fund,the organisation that funded this production was actually an organisation that propagates and promotes communism worldwide!-total bollocks, truly the mind of an ignoramus and an intelectual bancrupt we're dealing with here-and then theres the Informatin Minister Zainuddin Maidin who says the younger generation does not appreciate ths struggles of the older generation in the fight against communism. He said "... it was we who fought the communist", I would just like to ask him this: what about the thousands of Brits, Aussies, Kiwis, Gurkhas and Rhodesians? will they be offended? Its a known fact that they fought against the Communist too in the jungles of Malaya and suffered heavy casualties..have we even acknowledged their contributions? nah,i don't think so.
Germany is a country haunted by its Nazi past, the current generation is horrified of the atrocities commited by their countrymen during the second World War. Yet they come up with movies portraying war time Germany i.e Das Boot and Die Untergang- the latter portraying Hitler as a mere human with emotions and showing the softer side of him- to great acclaim from abroad. Didn't the English and other suffer in the hands of the Germans? They were not offended,in fact Das Boot was widely acclaimed to be one of the greatest submarine movies of all time. UMNO politicians and certain journalist have a lot of catching up to do in terms of intelectual ability, the ability to see first and then judge and stop blurting out absolute rubbish based on ignorance,hearsay and prejudice. In the end to the layman on the street, its they that look like total idiots. Finally to Amir Muhammad --keep up the good work mate, don't let stupidity to get in your way,its just how Bolehland is these days and it will be for a long time to come.
The sad truth is that the movie was judged based on hearsay, prejudice and plain ignorance. The entertainment editor of Berita Harian even had the audacity to claim that the Jan Vrijman Fund,the organisation that funded this production was actually an organisation that propagates and promotes communism worldwide!-total bollocks, truly the mind of an ignoramus and an intelectual bancrupt we're dealing with here-and then theres the Informatin Minister Zainuddin Maidin who says the younger generation does not appreciate ths struggles of the older generation in the fight against communism. He said "... it was we who fought the communist", I would just like to ask him this: what about the thousands of Brits, Aussies, Kiwis, Gurkhas and Rhodesians? will they be offended? Its a known fact that they fought against the Communist too in the jungles of Malaya and suffered heavy casualties..have we even acknowledged their contributions? nah,i don't think so.
Germany is a country haunted by its Nazi past, the current generation is horrified of the atrocities commited by their countrymen during the second World War. Yet they come up with movies portraying war time Germany i.e Das Boot and Die Untergang- the latter portraying Hitler as a mere human with emotions and showing the softer side of him- to great acclaim from abroad. Didn't the English and other suffer in the hands of the Germans? They were not offended,in fact Das Boot was widely acclaimed to be one of the greatest submarine movies of all time. UMNO politicians and certain journalist have a lot of catching up to do in terms of intelectual ability, the ability to see first and then judge and stop blurting out absolute rubbish based on ignorance,hearsay and prejudice. In the end to the layman on the street, its they that look like total idiots. Finally to Amir Muhammad --keep up the good work mate, don't let stupidity to get in your way,its just how Bolehland is these days and it will be for a long time to come.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
The dodgy state of todays Parliament,the Monster we have unleashed
I've been closely following reports on the "close one eye" scandal involving the MP for Jasin , its interesting to note he first says he was "helping" a constiuent,and then it was helping a Bumiputra company and then the cat gets out of the bag....the company in question was his all along and has the cheek to ask " whats wrong with that?". It strikes me that a man who has come up with 3 versions of a story which involves himself clearly has something to hide, and is blatantly beng untruthful. At the same time Shahrir Samad MP, who is also the chief backbencher is ostracized by the top echelon of the ruling party for breaking rank from the party by supporting an opposition motion...which is a big NO NO in the ruling coalition. Here's a man who voted on principle for parliamentary integrity (an issue which I"m sure surpasses party and ideological lines) being dumped a side by top echelons fr being not a Yes man, and another MP with a dodgy scandal and an even dodgier excuse getting away with it.
The problem here is just a subset to a bigger problem as a whole,when an MP can make a racial slur in Parliament and get away with it with no reprimand and no retraction of the offending word its indeed worrying. With a parliamentary majority of 92% the rulling coalition can just do as they like in parliament with impunity, this is parliament where name calling and mud slinging rules the day where motions are voted along party lines not based on merit and where integrity is non existent among the ruling MP's. At the end of the day its up to the people to decide wheter to put an end to this , or just let it continue at the expense of the electorate. We all ultimately get what we choose, we have unleashed a monster but we can also leash it back and reduce its bite.Its all up to the voter himself.
The problem here is just a subset to a bigger problem as a whole,when an MP can make a racial slur in Parliament and get away with it with no reprimand and no retraction of the offending word its indeed worrying. With a parliamentary majority of 92% the rulling coalition can just do as they like in parliament with impunity, this is parliament where name calling and mud slinging rules the day where motions are voted along party lines not based on merit and where integrity is non existent among the ruling MP's. At the end of the day its up to the people to decide wheter to put an end to this , or just let it continue at the expense of the electorate. We all ultimately get what we choose, we have unleashed a monster but we can also leash it back and reduce its bite.Its all up to the voter himself.
Monday, May 08, 2006
Invictus
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be,
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance,
I have not winced nor cried aloud,
Under the bludgeonings of chance,
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears,
Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years,
Finds, and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be,
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance,
I have not winced nor cried aloud,
Under the bludgeonings of chance,
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears,
Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years,
Finds, and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.
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