I was supposed to go for a lunch together with my staff to celebrate one of their birthday. Just a minute ago I told them I'm not going as I'm mourning for our nation. I don't want to spoil a happy occasion.
How many more churches are going to be fire-bombed and burnt down? How many more threats are going to be issued to the non Muslims? How many more restrictions are going to be placed on us in the way we worship our God?
How can I eat? How can I celebrate? How can I even smile? When my country is burning. When it is engulfed with so much hatred and bigotry. I can only mourn and weep. Not for myself. But for our next generation.
May Allah have mercy on us.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Is this how you want to be remembered?
I think it's bad taste to pass negative comments on those who had died. But I shall make an exception. I read in Augustine Paul's obituary today in the Star these words
"I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith" - 2 Tim. 4:7
Perhaps the following epitaph is more apt.
"I have perverted justice. I have sucked up to the Executive. I am finished."
I think I'm already kinder than most of the comments found in Malaysiakini. Even before he is judged by his Maker, the rakyat has already passed judgment. And there was no mercy. You can read his obituary written by the ordinary folks here.
Is it worth it, Yang Arif? I wish you can come back and tell your fellow judges especially those at the appellate courts.
I'll be making another exception when our 4th PM dies.
Update: Read this article just after I've posted. I think it's a fair one. The Relevance of Augustine Paul.
"I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith" - 2 Tim. 4:7
Perhaps the following epitaph is more apt.
"I have perverted justice. I have sucked up to the Executive. I am finished."
I think I'm already kinder than most of the comments found in Malaysiakini. Even before he is judged by his Maker, the rakyat has already passed judgment. And there was no mercy. You can read his obituary written by the ordinary folks here.
Is it worth it, Yang Arif? I wish you can come back and tell your fellow judges especially those at the appellate courts.
I'll be making another exception when our 4th PM dies.
Update: Read this article just after I've posted. I think it's a fair one. The Relevance of Augustine Paul.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Happy New Year ? (2)
It was exactly a year ago that I wrote in this blog with the same title. The question mark represented the uncertainties that 2009 would bring. The world then was at the brink of a Great Depression and politically our country was in a transition period. Someone who has no moral authority was going to take over the leadership of the country.
Looking back, the only bright spot was the world didn't sink into a Great Depression. In fact, the recovery was amazing but it has yet to be seen whether it's sustainable. Even our stock market considered to be the regional laggard gained more that 45% this year. Although I'm not a chartist, I can't help but notice from the trading patterns that the local bourse is being artificially propped up.
On the socio-political front 2009 was a disaster for Malaysia. After the euphoria of 2008, the Pakatan Rakyat found governing not as easy as being in the opposition. It doesn't help when the institutions and some people in the country which were supposed to remain neutral conspired to sabotage their work. This led to the downfall of the Perak State Govt and eventually caused the death of a political aide of a Selangor exco member.
The racial and religious tension remain and even became worse with the cow-head incident and the exposure of the indoctrination of young undergraduates by the BTN. These young people from one race and religion were taught to hate people from other race and religion.
I wrote about how unsafe we are from crime in that same post. I didn't know after 10 months my family and I were to become the victims of an attempted car jack. I was beaten up by iron rods. Thank God apart from some bruises and cuts, I didn't suffer any serious injuries. However, my two young daughters were much traumatized having witnessed the whole incident. Even now we are afraid to go out too late at night.
Less than 10 minutes, another year, another decade will come to an end. Even as I type, I could hear the sound of fireworks. As depressed as I was last year, something I read just before writing this post, makes me want to believe that there is yet hope for our nation. Thank you, Candy. I pray that there will be more like you. I'm sure there are many who have not bow down to Baal.
The question mark may remain. But it doesn't matter anymore because in my own insignificant way, I will endeavour to make this country a place where my two daughters will be proud to grow up in.
Semoga Allah mencurahkan rahmatNya ke atas negara tercinta ini.
(Yes, we have won round one. It will take a miracle to win the subsequent rounds)
Looking back, the only bright spot was the world didn't sink into a Great Depression. In fact, the recovery was amazing but it has yet to be seen whether it's sustainable. Even our stock market considered to be the regional laggard gained more that 45% this year. Although I'm not a chartist, I can't help but notice from the trading patterns that the local bourse is being artificially propped up.
On the socio-political front 2009 was a disaster for Malaysia. After the euphoria of 2008, the Pakatan Rakyat found governing not as easy as being in the opposition. It doesn't help when the institutions and some people in the country which were supposed to remain neutral conspired to sabotage their work. This led to the downfall of the Perak State Govt and eventually caused the death of a political aide of a Selangor exco member.
The racial and religious tension remain and even became worse with the cow-head incident and the exposure of the indoctrination of young undergraduates by the BTN. These young people from one race and religion were taught to hate people from other race and religion.
I wrote about how unsafe we are from crime in that same post. I didn't know after 10 months my family and I were to become the victims of an attempted car jack. I was beaten up by iron rods. Thank God apart from some bruises and cuts, I didn't suffer any serious injuries. However, my two young daughters were much traumatized having witnessed the whole incident. Even now we are afraid to go out too late at night.
Less than 10 minutes, another year, another decade will come to an end. Even as I type, I could hear the sound of fireworks. As depressed as I was last year, something I read just before writing this post, makes me want to believe that there is yet hope for our nation. Thank you, Candy. I pray that there will be more like you. I'm sure there are many who have not bow down to Baal.
The question mark may remain. But it doesn't matter anymore because in my own insignificant way, I will endeavour to make this country a place where my two daughters will be proud to grow up in.
Semoga Allah mencurahkan rahmatNya ke atas negara tercinta ini.
(Yes, we have won round one. It will take a miracle to win the subsequent rounds)
Sunday, October 11, 2009
The winner of Bagan Pinang - Corruption
The ex-MB of Negri Sembilan has won the by-election with a landslide victory. His win was not unexpected given the size of the postal votes. But what was unexpected was the margin of of the victory. It is more than 2 times the previous majority.
It goes to show that the people does not mind someone who is corrupt as long as he can deliver. Is this true only of Bagan Pinang or it's true for rest of Malaysia? I don't know. What I know is it doesn't bode well for Malaysia. From bribing over traffic offences to approval of projects, corruption has became very much a part of our lives. Now the signs the voters from Bagan Pinang is sending out is that it's OK to have corrupt people representing them as long as he takes good care of them.
A society that tolerates corruption will soon become enslaved. Its people will not only become slaves to corruption but slaves to others as well. When the country is bankrupt, its people will have no choice but to become migrants in other countries, becoming slaves to their host countries.
Of course, one can view this humiliating defeat of PR positively. Hopefully this is a wake up call to the PKR, DAP & PAS to stop all their internal bickerings and to start behaving like a government in waiting.
It goes to show that the people does not mind someone who is corrupt as long as he can deliver. Is this true only of Bagan Pinang or it's true for rest of Malaysia? I don't know. What I know is it doesn't bode well for Malaysia. From bribing over traffic offences to approval of projects, corruption has became very much a part of our lives. Now the signs the voters from Bagan Pinang is sending out is that it's OK to have corrupt people representing them as long as he takes good care of them.
A society that tolerates corruption will soon become enslaved. Its people will not only become slaves to corruption but slaves to others as well. When the country is bankrupt, its people will have no choice but to become migrants in other countries, becoming slaves to their host countries.
Of course, one can view this humiliating defeat of PR positively. Hopefully this is a wake up call to the PKR, DAP & PAS to stop all their internal bickerings and to start behaving like a government in waiting.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Do we know our neighbours?
I was quite disturbed this morning after reading an article in the Sun by Maria J. Dass - 'When herd mentality ruled the day'. What disturbed me was the last 2 paragraphs in her article.
If anything, the encounter has forced some Hindu residents of Section 23 to take a hard look at their neighbours.
One woman said: “We have been close to our neighbours all this while and have looked out for each other, but this incident has shown how our neighbours view us and where we stand.”
Some of the genocides in recent history showed that it was not a invading foreign army that committed these atrocities. The perpetrators were often neighbours and friends whom the victims have known for a long time. This happened in Nazi Germany, Rwanda and Serbia. In fact there is a documentary film, 'My Neighbour, My Killer' that captured what happened in Rwanda.
All it took in most cases were incitement to hate someone from a different race and religion. You will then be slaughtered by ordinary people like your neighbour whom you have known for ages. Somehow this kind of incitement based on race and religion will turn an ordinary person into a monster.
As such, it is extremely dangerous to continue to play this kind of game. We know the ultimate purpose is to topple the Pakatan Govt in Selangor but they don't realize the evil that is being unleashed when inciting hatred against a people group based on race and religion.
Though the decision by the AG to charge all those who took part in the demonstations is to be welcomed, it could take years before the trial will be concluded. At the end of the day, they may be found guilty and just be fined.
We must demand our pound of flesh. But we can only do that through the ballot box. And do that we will and we must.
If anything, the encounter has forced some Hindu residents of Section 23 to take a hard look at their neighbours.
One woman said: “We have been close to our neighbours all this while and have looked out for each other, but this incident has shown how our neighbours view us and where we stand.”
Some of the genocides in recent history showed that it was not a invading foreign army that committed these atrocities. The perpetrators were often neighbours and friends whom the victims have known for a long time. This happened in Nazi Germany, Rwanda and Serbia. In fact there is a documentary film, 'My Neighbour, My Killer' that captured what happened in Rwanda.
All it took in most cases were incitement to hate someone from a different race and religion. You will then be slaughtered by ordinary people like your neighbour whom you have known for ages. Somehow this kind of incitement based on race and religion will turn an ordinary person into a monster.
As such, it is extremely dangerous to continue to play this kind of game. We know the ultimate purpose is to topple the Pakatan Govt in Selangor but they don't realize the evil that is being unleashed when inciting hatred against a people group based on race and religion.
Though the decision by the AG to charge all those who took part in the demonstations is to be welcomed, it could take years before the trial will be concluded. At the end of the day, they may be found guilty and just be fined.
We must demand our pound of flesh. But we can only do that through the ballot box. And do that we will and we must.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
The 3rd Generation Curse (Updated)
There is a Chinese saying that wealth cannot last for 3 generations. The 1st generation worked hard to create and accumulate wealth. The 2nd generation seeks to preserve it instead of creating more wealth and the 3rd generation who has no experience of the blood, sweat and tears of the previous generations just squanders it.
I think similarly a family reputation can also be destroyed by the latter generation. I'm thinking of Dato OnnJaafar, the first president of UMNO who dreamed of a united Malaysia, who was colour blind. Alas, it was that dream that caused him his political career and perhaps being the first PM of Malaysia. But his son, Tun Hussien Onn became the 3rd PM of Malaysia. A man of integrity. He was the PM when I was just growing up as a kid and I always remember this kind faced man. His integrity and sense of justice caused him to die outside UMNO.
Now, the 3rd generation, Hishammuddin Hussien who is infamous for drawing out keris in UNMO assemblies. As the Home Minister he is trying hard to be more idiotic than the previous one. Maybe idiotic is not an apt description. Evil. Otherwise how can you explain his support for those cow head protesters of Shah Alam. The 50 or so racist scumbags and religious extremists/hypocrites.
Well, it's not surprising as only UNMO can create such monsters and only a UMNO minister can defend these monsters. But I really feel sorry for Onn Jaafar and Hussien Onn for having a 'bai jia zi'.
Update: In less than 24 hours there is a complete turnaround from Hisham. Is there hope for Malaysia with leaders like that? To redeem his family's reputation he should just apologize and resign. But that will never happen in Malaysia. Never in our history has a Minister resign for being an idiot. Simply because if they do the Government would collapse.
I think similarly a family reputation can also be destroyed by the latter generation. I'm thinking of Dato OnnJaafar, the first president of UMNO who dreamed of a united Malaysia, who was colour blind. Alas, it was that dream that caused him his political career and perhaps being the first PM of Malaysia. But his son, Tun Hussien Onn became the 3rd PM of Malaysia. A man of integrity. He was the PM when I was just growing up as a kid and I always remember this kind faced man. His integrity and sense of justice caused him to die outside UMNO.
Now, the 3rd generation, Hishammuddin Hussien who is infamous for drawing out keris in UNMO assemblies. As the Home Minister he is trying hard to be more idiotic than the previous one. Maybe idiotic is not an apt description. Evil. Otherwise how can you explain his support for those cow head protesters of Shah Alam. The 50 or so racist scumbags and religious extremists/hypocrites.
Well, it's not surprising as only UNMO can create such monsters and only a UMNO minister can defend these monsters. But I really feel sorry for Onn Jaafar and Hussien Onn for having a 'bai jia zi'.
Update: In less than 24 hours there is a complete turnaround from Hisham. Is there hope for Malaysia with leaders like that? To redeem his family's reputation he should just apologize and resign. But that will never happen in Malaysia. Never in our history has a Minister resign for being an idiot. Simply because if they do the Government would collapse.
The Unholy Trinity
If a vote is to be taken as to who are among the most hated Malaysian Cabinet Ministers, I'm sure they would be Muhyiddin, Hishammuddin and Nazri (in no particular order). It amazes me and I'm sure most Malaysians that never in the history of Malaysia has so much nonsense and rubbish being spewed forth from the mouth of our Ministers. Some of the positions that they took for example justifying Utusan seditious articles and now the cow-head protest can only mean that they treat us the rakyat with utter contempt.
Well, we must not forget who is their boss. Don't be fooled by him. It was him that orchestrated the Perak coup and now openly wishing to topple also the Selangor Govt. I will never forget what he did to my state.
Well, we must not forget who is their boss. Don't be fooled by him. It was him that orchestrated the Perak coup and now openly wishing to topple also the Selangor Govt. I will never forget what he did to my state.
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