1BlackMalaysia

Wear black tomorrow (May 7th) if you want to oppose the unlawful Perak State Assembly sitting. A representative from Bersih suggested that and was subsequently picked up by the police under the Sedition Act.

Wow.

I'll be in black. You?

But It's An Awfully Robotic Country

Should I emigrate to Singapore? Their forward thinking policies are certainly enticing. I especially like the simple way Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew puts it:

“For the last 44 years since 1965, we have assiduously insisted on 'regardless of race, language or religion' in everything we do: schools, housing, health, jobs, education, promotions. So we are becoming an integrated society.”

The emphasis on English as a common language created a slightly more cohesive society in Singapore, although Lee was unsure it would stay so in a time of stress.

Malaysia, by contrast, had segregated vernacular schools, which meant communities grew up separately, and had differential yardsticks for jobs and contracts.

“It's openly a Bumiputera country,” he said, referring to the preferential treatment of indigenous groups.

“I've often said this about Malaysia ... If you would educate your Chinese and your Indians like we do our Malays and others, you will equal if not surpass us.”

Can the countries simply acknowledge they are organised on different principles and yet seek to work together in areas where their interests converge?

Replied Lee: “You are assuming they can have two compartments in their minds.

“With the Malaysians, if you read the Malay papers, there's a certain regret that they allowed us to be independent.

“They didn't expect us to succeed. But we have, and our very existence is a challenge to their policies.

“And so they say, look, our Malays are dispossessed, are oppressed and so on. But they come down (to Singapore) and they know it's not true, that the Malays are completely part of our society,” he said.

“They share the same benefits in housing, health, education, everything. They have their mosques, they're not deprived of any freedoms as Malays. So the angst is there (in Malaysia).” — The Straits Times

>> Full article (Rhetoric from KL not official stance)


On the other hand, from my travels there I have an opinion that Singaporeans are too closely sheltered by the government and certain liberties are not there. Plus, they all seem like robots working in a clean, sterile environment. It's like a whole country of Stepford Wives!

I also wonder how Singapore can do without MM Lee. Will scientists clone him or preserve his consciousness, so that he can continue advising the government 500 years in the future?

Razzle Dazzle

One of my favourite songs from the musical Chicago is Razzle Dazzle. Watch the clip from the movie adaptation on YouTube.

As we head into a new dawn for Malaysia (or is that dusk?) with Najib as our 6th Prime Minister, I'm sure he will take the advice contained in the song to heart. I expect to see more razzle dazzle to the public while the backroom politics continue at a fever pitch. But hey, 98% of the public will be hooked by the three ring circus to even care! Question is: are you in the 2%?

Lyrics (emphasis mine):
Give 'em the old razzle dazzle
Razzle Dazzle 'em
Give 'em an act with lots of flash in it
And the reaction will be passionate
Give 'em the old hocus pocus
Bead and feather 'em
How can they see with sequins in their eyes?

What if your hinges all are rusting?
What if, in fact, you're just disgusting?
Razzle dazzle 'em
And they'll never catch wise!

Give 'em the old Razzle Dazzle
Razzle dazzle 'em
Give 'em a show that's so splendiferous
Row after row will crow vociferous

Give 'em the old flim flam flummox
Fool and fracture 'em
How can they hear the truth above the roar?

Throw 'em a fake and a finagle
They'll never know you're just a bagel,
Razzle dazzle 'em
And they'll beg you for more!

Give 'em the old double whammy
Daze and dizzy 'em
Back since the days of old Methuselah
Everyone loves the big bambooz-a-ler

Give 'em the old three ring circus
Stun and stagger 'em
When you're in trouble, go into your dance

Though you are stiffer than a girder
They'll let you get away with murder
Razzle dazzle 'em
And you've got a romance

Give 'em the old
Razzle Dazzle

Give 'em the old Razzle Dazzle
Razzle dazzle 'em
Show 'em the first rate sorceror you are
Long as you keep 'em way off balance
How can they spot you've got no talent
Razzle Dazzle 'em

Razzle Dazzle 'em
Razzle Dazzle 'em

And they'll make you a star!

First They Came...

Do we want this to happen to Malaysia?

They came first for the Communist,
and I didn't speak up
because I wasn't a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up
because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up
because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak up
because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me,
and by that time
no one was left to speak up.

- Martin Niemoeller

Speak out and be heard! Don't let it happen here.

Find out more: 'First they came' on Wikipedia

Agreed, Dr. M

During the campaign trail for today's tri-elections, Dr. Mahathir (former UMNO outcast and current mascot, again) mentioned in regards to street demonstrations:

“What do we get by demonstrating on the streets, except to cause damage? Dialogue is the best way to resolve unhappiness and differences. If we are still unhappy with the government, then show it through the ballot boxes”

I totally agree with the statement. But dialogue is a two-way street and we've been waiting for too long to be heard. That's why showing our sentiments through the ballot box is so crucial. If you are not yet a registered voter, do it now! Registration at post offices and Election Commission counters take only 5 minutes and are painless.

In the meantime, I'm waiting with bated breath for the outcome of the tri-elections. How will it swing? Are voters bamboozled by the popularity tactics so quickly employed by our new Prime Minister? We'll see.

52 Years

If we don't stand up and be heard, our children's children will look back at 2009 and ask tearfully, "What went wrong?" We were such a prosperous country with a rich heritage, plenty of natural resources, and peace-loving people who contribute to the country.

Also highlighted at Malaysia Today, you should read the opinion piece in Sydney Morning Herald, an Australian newspaper.

If home is where the heart is, I fear my heart is becoming a pariah state!

Cops and Crooks

RPK excerpt of the day (Another day to go and Najib is going to eat humble pie):

"The police have visited the gangsters in Bukit Gantang and told them to make sure that Barisan Nasional wins this seat. If Barisan Nasional loses, then the police will launch an operasi and crackdown on the Bukit Gantang underworld. This means two things. First, the police are more gangsters than the gangsters. Second, the police make deals with gangsters. Now, are we surprised by that?"

Some may question RPK's sanity and writing, but every generation needs a martyr (of sorts) to open our eyes and encourage more critical thinking. After 11 years of brainwashing by our national school system, my eyes are opening. Are yours?