What's The World Come To...

Secularism & Malaysia

2008-10-24T08:55:00.000-07:00

One cannot help but feel a sense of apprehension over the recent events concerning the plight of many individuals such as this poor fellow:

In all honesty, I wouldn't be surprised to know that the little girl would grow up hating the religion of her mother, despite being raised as a Muslim & all. This case, unfortunately, is but a growing trend in Malaysia. Although incidents of Hindu temples being demolish & (or so the story goes) non-Muslim individuals who have died & are subsequently buried as Muslims (much to the dismay of their loved ones) are becoming all too common, these signs are but the mere tip of the iceberg. In an earlier post, I discussed about the effects of Islamization, amongst other things. However I had failed to mention secularism (my bad...), which I will now address in this post.

It should come to everyone as no surprise that a secular state is generally (and I use the term loosely) prosperous as well as technologically advanced. The separation between church & state (or in this case, the mosque...) has always been popular in the West & also in some parts of Asia. Even the major power players like China & India are secular in nature, notwithstanding that China is essentially a pseudo-communist state in nature whereas India is too divided along religious lines (i.e. Hindu against Muslim, Hindu against Christian etc.) to be able to enshrine any religion in its Constitution as the national religion. But here in Malaysia it is different. The Constitution itself holds that Islam is the state religion. And not just any form of Islam. It usually must be Sunni Islam, in the Sha'fi school of thought. Any form of Islam other than the aforementioned are usually damned as heretical & deviant.

But there are times when the state takes things a little bit too far, at least in the eyes of the liberal Muslims & non-Muslims. Since our independence in 1957, sharia laws have always been respected by all, with few or none questioning the validity of such laws. The Muslims, for obvious reasons & the non-Muslims; the kafirs & mushrikeen (as some have derogatorily labeled us) because it generally did not impinge on their rights as freeborn citizens of the state. But that was in the past. Dr M began to Islamize Malaysia as early as two to three years into his reign. Nothing wrong with that; after all, one can be proud of the fact that one's country is looked up by other nations as a model Islamic country (no delusions of grandeur here, ladies & gentlemen). But it's not difficult to recognize the fact Malaysia is changing, for the worse, I fear.

The best remedy for such a solution is to apply secular principles to Malaysia. This does not mean that Islam is totally eradicated from all law & jurisprudence. Hardly. Islam ought to remain as the official state religion, as it has been all this while. The sharia courts still remain, handling affairs of marriage, divorce, personal injury claims, etc. for Muslims. But in truth, Islam has no right to interfere in the lives of non-Muslims. If an individual dies & it is claimed that he / she was a Muslim convert, concrete & reliable evidence must be shown in order to verify such a claim; something which was, IMHO, not done upon the death of former Mt. Everest climber Manian Moorthy. If the deceased left any issue, particularly those born before their parent's conversion, they should not become the object(s) of dispute by the deceased's Muslims & non-Muslim relations / friends. Rather, a suitable resort would be to raise the children in a neutral fashion, neither Muslim nor of any other religion. Once past a certain age, they can choose for themselves whether they wish to be Muslims or not. It goes without saying that children born after their parent's conversion will automatically be considered as Muslims. After all, one's religion is their own private affair, and no one has the right to infringe on that.

One of the primary reasons for my support in the secularization of Malaysia is my fear (overwhelming) should sharia law & hudud penalties be fully implemented à la the Taliban in Afghanistan, Malaysia would eventually suffer & regress into a backward nation. Progress would not be made nor achieved, as anything deemed un-Islamic would be automatically banned, forbidden & otherwise outlawed; these including the sale & consumption of pork & alcohol, segregation of the sexes (actually that isn't really a bad thing at all, for practical reasons), gambling, drugs (not that the state isn't already like so, except that marijuana can't truly be considered a dangerous narcotic, more of a herb of sorts), and the like. All these that they deem as vices can prove to be otherwise if they (the so-called vices) are properly regulated & controlled. True, too much of a good thing, including indulgences is most definitely unhealthy. But that is neither here nor there.

Frankly speaking, religion has never been the cause of Humanity's pain & suffering over the ages. Rather, it is Humanity themselves that are the root cause of their own problems. In our desire to fulfill & please the whims of the Almighty, we commit unspeakable acts of atrocity, all in the name of religion. Such hubris. Can anyone in this world or the next as a matter of fact claim to know what the One truly knows of. As it is said in the Book of Job 40:9 -

Has thou an arm like God?

Religion was meant to guide Humanity down the right path to the Almighty. To be a source of praise in times of joy, comfort in our moments of sorrow. But we in our own arrogance, have done otherwise. Religion is a personal thing, not something to be openly flaunted in the faces of others (just try & imagine how the atheists would react). The religious right have no place in politics; they who seek to impose their own brand of narrow-minded, conservative dogma unto others. And I'm not saying this just 'cause I'm not a Muslim. That isn't the case here. Were I born into a Muslim family, I would (for all intents & purposes) still hold the same beliefs I do now. Even with a religious upbringing. My religion & how I practice it is no one else's business. As far as they are concerned, so long as I pose no threat by practicing my faith, openly or otherwise, they have no say in the matter.

But I pity the child in the video, whose family has been torn apart by religion. I recall seeing this video with a friend who commented, "So this is how Islam destroys people. No wonder everyone but the Muslims hate it." Well, I don't hate Islam. To me, it is but another religion. That which is at fault is not the religion, but its followers...

...Damn...I think I may have overshot myself...

Greetings & Salutations

2008-09-30T14:13:00.000-07:00

Menjelang Hari Raya,
Berakhirnya puasa,
Bergemar takbir senja,
Menyambut Syawal tiba.

So goes the first stanza of the evergreen & ever-popular Eid-ul-Fitr song "Menjelang Hari Raya" by Malaysia's very own DJ Dave, back in the 1970's. Pertama sekali saya ingin mengucapkan selamat hari raya kepada semua orang yang sedang membaca posting ini. Kalau ada member2 aku yg. sdg membaca posting ni, saya nak minta maaf zahir batin kalau ada tersalah kata apa2 sepanjang tahun ni atau berbuat salah terhadap engkorang secara tak sengaja. Moga2 engkorang pergi & balik dari kampung dgn selamat.

Suasana riang-ria, Terlihat sini sana, Menyeri malam raya, Terhias indah rupa.

Let us reflect, my fellow Malaysians, on what has transpired over the past few months. Biarpun segala kekecohan politik yang telah berlaku semenjak kebelakangan ini menjejaskan kehidupan kami masing-masing sikit demi sedikit, namun kita sebagai rakyat negara yang berdaulat & disanjungi patutlah bersyukur kepada hadrat Yang Maha Esa kerana dengan Kemurahan-Nya, Ibu Pertiwi masih selamat dari ancaman luar. For this festive season, let us set aside our differences, be it race, religion, creed or culture, and celebrate in this joyous occasion as we do in every other cultural / religious festival alongside our Malaysian brethren as in the happy days of old. Though an uncertain cloud looms over us; an ill omen of things to come in our beloved nation's future, nonetheless let us rejoice in what may be one of the last golden days of our lives as a peace-loving people.

Oh, cantik berseri-seri,
Tua & muda berpakaian serba baru,
Oh, sungguh meriahnya,
Miskin kaya pun turut bergembira.

But let not others stand in our way as a united people, with one vision, one purpose; untuk membinakan sebuah Malaysia yang lebih kuat, lebih maju, dan lebih makmur. We have already achieved so much as a Third-World Nation; and we can achieve more again if we but try. Peluang pun jelas terpapar di depan kami. Apa yang hanya perlu kita lakukan adalah untuk mengenggamnya. Ibarat bak kata pepatah, genggam bara api biar sampai jadi abu. For the future lies before us, ready & willing. After all, fate is what we make of it.

Selamat Hari Raya,
Aidilfitri mulia, Semoga berbahagia, Hidup aman sentosa.

And that's all there's to it, really. Begitulah kehidupan...

Fifty-One Years of Independence

2008-08-31T08:12:00.000-07:00

The Ibu Pertiwi has come a long way after 51 years. Very long. For starters, we are an advanced nation, better off than most of our other ASEAN counterparts. At the very least, we can be proud that Malaysia has mostly Second World infrastructure & to a lesser extent, First World recreational amenities. Not many nations can lay claim to their cities being able to rapidly develop in such a short space of time. It took six decades for Kuala Lumpur to achieve its current status today; hell, it took New York City some four centuries to become a great megacity, something that it rightfully deserves today. And how many can say anything wholly negative about Putrajaya, the country's federal administrative centre and the very heart of the nation?! The architecture of the government offices & buildings are a sight to behold. Granted the fact that the architecture can be, at times, a little too Arabesque at times (none so more glaring an example than the Prime Minister's Official Residence cum Office), nonetheless these are not too shabby accomplishments for a Third World Nation.

There are, however, many obstacles that still remain in the path of true nationhood. True nationhood defined as a nation which is blind to all races, creeds and religions. Where Humanity can be finally free from the oppressive tyranny that is the hallmark of those who would seek to enslave us to their maleficent, twisted designs. In his famous public speech given at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. began by saying, "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." Whilst the term "all men are created equal" dates back to the 3rd U.S. President Thomas Jefferson (1743 - 1826) to counter to the popular ideology of those times, the so-called Divine Right of Kings; nonetheless they are as important to everyone today as it was to the young nation that was the United States all those centuries ago.

What many Malaysians, Bumiputra & non-Bumiputra alike, have failed to realize is that Malaysia is not for the one, but for the many. The non-Bumiputra have never sought to challenge the positions & rights of the Bumiputra as guaranteed by the Constitution; nor do we seek to make Malaysia a republic by overthrowing / weakening the power & influence of the Sultans. Yet all we can do is but stand aside & shake our heads in regretful sorrow at the ever-growing pit that the Bumiputra (or at the least those who are blinded by both power & mindless conviction) are digging themselves into. What is most saddening is that the innocent will suffer as well. The simple farmer, the peaceful fisherman, the average trader; every one of us will soon know what true pain is like. Mind you, I'm not asking for a civil war or unnecessary bloodshed. No one wants such a fate for their nation. But we would only be lying to ourselves if we kept repeating over & over again that Malaysia will never change. That the status quo will remain as it always has for nearly four decades, uneasy & fragile though it may be.

Peace is never an eternal thing. History has proven that all too well. Unless those in power awaken & grasp the actual situation that is now glaring into their very eyes, then we are done for. At the very least the May 8 Elections earlier this year has given them a rude jolt back to reality. Perhaps now they will listen to what the rakyat has to say ere it is too late...

...what am I saying?

I should be taking about what the future holds for us! The possiblities! They are endless! The vision of a fully industrialized Malaysia by 2020 is still within our grasp. Even the thought of Malaysia as the most advanced & cultured Islamic nation of our time is not out of our reach. Aspirations of being a regional or even a global superpower are somewhat farfetched...but hell, anything is possible. Even the most impoverished & underdeveloped nation can become the greatest amongst us. It may take centuries (personally, I hazard it to be at least one millenium) to achieve such a position. But it IS possible! For Malaysia, merely eradicating the racial polarization & divide is a major step towards those possibilities. The time for idle banter & casual inaction is past. Sekarang, Ibu Pertiwi memerlukan kami dengan lebih keinginan lagi. Sanggupkah kami tidak mengambil tindakan sedangkan Ibu Pertiwi menangis air mata berdarah atas kesusahan & penderitaan "anak-anaknya" yang bakal menimpa? Hiduplah Ibu Pertiwi, Hiduplah Malaysia Gemilang!

Intellectual Nationalism

2008-08-23T09:05:00.000-07:00

I'd like to have a say on something that has been bugging me for a while now. It has affected me deeply, in more ways than one. And I'd like to say it in my own national language in places here & there if you don't mind...

Dah berkali-kali ia dipertikaikan & dikatakan bahawa semangat taat setia orang bukan-Melayu, terutamanya orang Cina, adalah di tanahair asal leluhur mereka. Soalan-soalan macam ini langsung tidak masuk akal. What is it with some Malay people questioning where our loyalties lie? If they had questioned our migrant ancestors as to where their loyalties lied, then that would've been understandable. Memang pun monyang kita masih masih mempunyai taat-setia kepada tanahair asal mereka. Tetapi mengapakah kita sebagai keturunan mereka patut berdepan dengan soalan-soalan macam ini? Ingatkah mereka bahawa kesetiaan kami masih dengan negara China atau India? Jikalau mereka masih tetap berfikir macam itu, then they are sadly mistaken. Ia bukannya China ataupun India yang melahirkan kami. Ia bukannya kedua-dua negara ini yang membesarkan kami. Di manakah China atau India semasa kami membesar? Where were these two nations when we went through the motions of life? Was it they who clothed us, fed us, raised us to become good, productive citizens of the state? TIDAK! Habis megapakah terdapat soalan-soalan sebegini yang masih terapung?!

For my entire life I have been a proud Malaysian; hell, some have even told me that I was bordering on nationalism! Don't blame them, s'not often one finds a non-Bumiputra Malaysian who is patriotic, yet alone a nationalist. It is true that I am not a banal nationalist; that is to say, I do not believe in doing one's duty to the nation merely by paying their taxes, keeping out of trouble with the law, etc. as patriotism. But then again, that's just me. I am unashamedly patriotic, and yet I differ from my fellow patriots to an extent. Whereas nationalism is so often marked by the characteristic violence of those who follow it (this is true for all countries), I myself prefer a less radical approach. For example, if an individual or individuals insults another country in the presence of its nationalists, woe betide unto them. Even doing so in front of just one person is an act of provocation. But why lose one's cool in the face of such situations? Surely there is nothing to be gained by smashing a glass beer bottle onto the head of the insulter.

Facing such insults from others for a while now, I have never lost my calm so far. It is one thing that many of those who have done so are comparatively bigger in physique than me & can throw me across the room with one swipe, but instead of reacting violently to their taunts, I remain silent. On my part it is not cowardice or the fear of getting beaten up; getting beaten up has always been there. Rather it is rational thought that appeals to me. For one, these people have a right to say what they want to say; after all this is a free world. If they find my country so dissatisfying then by all means speak out thy mind. Secondly, I find it absolutely unnecessary to resort to violence. Let them say what they will; if anything else their childish verbal abuse makes them look like absolute idiots. This is not an insult from me but rather an observation. Some of those who have mocked my country are my closest friends. One does not stand to gain anything by fighting back with greater violence when provoked, but by thinking. It still does not make me any better than them, as I have never felt more superior over others simply because I choose to think rather than fight. Admittedly, I am less then happy when others spit on my nation's good name. But I do nothing save put on a solemn & somber face. Let other men say what they wish, just as it should be when other men worship what gods & goddesses they so desire. In then end, when we have proven ourselves to all doubters & deniers, there shall be none left to jeer at us.

For one, you would not see me resort to such infantile behavior. I do not take pleasure in mocking the nations of other people. After all, I consider everything else that these nations have to offer to me & the world at large, even I haven't been there before. Simply because of the actions of a select few from those nations or the actions of its governments in general does not mean that they should all be damned & be done with. Each nation has its own flaws & qualities, as endowed by the Almighty Creator. That is what makes the world a more colorful if not less peaceable place to live in. I suppose this is another form of intellectual nationalism.

But of all the things that I can't visibly stand, ungrateful Malaysians tops my list. In an earlier post, I mentioned that a family friend of my god mum once said that she hated this country to me. This had to be, what, some four, five years ago. Firstly it was odd for her to say such a thing, considering that she was a Sabahan, where it is said that nationalist sentiment there runs deep. Secondly, she was seemingly unaware that I was an intellectual nationalist, even then. If I was of a less temperamental disposition...well, only the Almighty knows what I would've done there & then. But that is neither here nor there. In most instances, whenever a Malaysian expresses desire to be rid of their ibu pertiwi or a former Malaysian spewing out vitriol about their former homeland, I lose my grip. Just a little. Surely the Almighty will righteously punish unmercifully those who have (or will) callously turn their back on their nation when she needed them most. Not even a clean death is good enough for such treachery. But once again it's just me.

I'm an asshole. I admit that. A selfish, fearful (kiasi), egotistical prick with an even worse attitude when in a bad mood. But despite these flaws, I still love my country and its people. I owe no loyalty to the nation of my fore bearers. Sure, there is nothing wrong in being a little curious about one's origins. I do not mind going back to China & having a good look for myself what life was & is like there. But that is where I draw the line. My ancestors fled China to escape the grinding specter of poverty & oppression that so easily chews at the hopes & dreams of Humanity & turn it into worthless dust & ashes. It is here that I was born, and by the Almighty's Will, I shall die here. Or at the very least be buried here. Di mana aku dilahirkan; di situ juga aku ingin mati dan dikebumikan. Frankly, I am unable to bear the thought of being buried in a land so far from my own. As for the government...so long as those whom we have elected to power can fulfill their duties to the People, then there should be no problems. If not...so much the worse for them.

Well, that's all there is to it, anyways. At any rate, excuse me if I have offended any who've read this post. And do excuse my choice of visual aesthetics this time 'round, but you've got to admit, both Francisco Goya's The Third of May 1808 & Eugène Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People are powerful nationalist works of art!

Homosexuality in Malaysia

2008-07-17T10:53:00.000-07:00

We are at at crossroads, my fellow Malaysians; in which we must make a firm stand on things. To begin with, rising fuel prices & political unrest fomenting within the ranks of our nation's political parties aside, one matter above all has managed to elude the general attention of the Malaysian public. Homosexuality is an extremely sensitive matter in our predominantly Muslim nation & as such, has always & still remains a topic subjected to heated debate & generally being swept under the rug. Despite this, Malaysia has a somewhat vibrant if not colorful LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender/Transsexual) community, particularly in KL, that has survived to this day hiding underground in fear of the local law enforcement (supposedly, the police have very little mercy on homosexuals) The unique thing abut the Malaysian LGBT scene is that a vast majority of LGBT are composed of transvestites. These transvestites, called by the locals as mak nyah or more derogatorily, bapok, account for at least 65% of the Malaysian LGBT scene. Moreover, the transvestites are often subjected to harsh treatment at the hands of the law whenever they are arrested; having to suffer in silence. But it is not merely the transvestites who are marginalized in contemporary Malaysian society. Both gays & lesbians face discrimination once they have "come out of the closet" or are revealed to be as such, unintentionally or not. Worryingly enough, discrimination against the LGBT community in Malaysia is on the rise; be it in terms of employment, housing, even social state benefits. Most pitiful of all fates in the Malaysian LGBT community are the ones who are born Muslim. (From what I am able to glean, many gays & lesbians in Malaysia are Malay; this fact is disputable on its own.) Therefore, the rakyat must make a clear stand on this. Admittedly, I am sympathetic with the Malaysian LGBT community. These are people who want nothing more than to live their lives the way they see fit & to love the ones that society has forbidden them to simply on the basis of gender. Indeed, my support comes mainly from an experience I had as a teenager. I had caught 2 classmates kissing in the upper classrooms after school, during the co-curricular activities. Initially threatened with bodily harm if I blew the whistle on them, I reassured them that I had no intentions of the sort. But my curiosity was piqued. Familiarizing myself with their routines, I casually dropped by one day on one of their little trysts (apparently, there was no sex involved; just kissing.) Observing them whilst having a fag (no pun intended & yes; I've been smoking since I was 14.) I was struck by a sudden impulse & I asked them; what exactly was it that attracted them to the same sex? The answers I received were an eye-opener, of sorts. The more good-looking of the two gave an answer that made me want to burst out in fits of laughter. Berasmara dengan lelaki adalah benda yang paling indah di dalam dunia / Making love to a man is the most beautiful thing in the world. I merely nodded & turned to his partner. The latter's response was as such;

Engko nampak dia tak? / You see him? (pointing to his partner)
I nod.
Aku...sayang dia. / I...love him.
Maksud engko... / What d'ya mean?
Aku sayang dia bukan kerana jantina dia ke, ato kaum dia, mahupun agama dia. Tak, I ni sayang sebab dia ni...dia. (a pause) I sayang dia untuk dia, diri sendiri & apa yang di dalam ni. (pointing to his partner's heart, who reciprocates with a tender kiss on the lips.)

In other words, he said; I love him not because of his gender, or his race, or even his religion, No, I love him for what he is. I love him for...him. (a pause) Himself & what is inside here. (pointing to his partner's heart, who reciprocates with a tender kiss on the lips.)

His response, oddly enough, moved me. Was it their fault that they loved each other, but both state & religion forbade them from doing so? Most unfair, but then again, life & the world has always been unfair. I felt an odd sense of sadness for them. But who know, mayhap fate is kind & by the will of the One, they can go on with their relationship for the rest of their natural lives...

...so anyways, I suggest that the best option is to place the LGBT community on an autonomous area specially created for them & other individuals that society has defined as deviant. There they can live their lives the way they see fit. After all, Malaysia has a plethora of habitable islands surrounding the Peninsular. True, we cannot allow same-sex marriages as in other parts of the world, lest it destroys the very moral fabric of Malaysian society. Bu we can, as the rakyat, give to such individuals a certain degree of freedom to pursue their own lifestyles, so long as it does not affect us in general or becomes a threat to national security. As for the matter of Muslim homosexuals; it had occurred to me that a great many of these individuals have very little iman, or faith. In other words, their aqidah has all but disappeared from their consciousness. From personal experience, to restore a person's iman is notoriously difficult once it has been shattered; even by sending them to religious camps, as is the wont of our government, will ultimately prove to be of no success. The best way to deal with them is to move (for a lack of a better word) them to this island; this autonomous region of the country, and make them reside there. A harsh alternative indeed, but the only one that we are faced with. Allowing homosexuals to live their lives they was they want to in our borders proper poses a threat to the Asian values that our forebearers have inculcated into us & which we will pass on to our descendants in the future. This proposition alone does not mean that we are eradicating them from our streets or isolating them on an island; on the contrary, they are free to come & go as they please, provided they abide by the Peninsular & East Malaysian laws. Hopefully this does not mean the end of Malaysian morality & religious values which we have successfully defended from utter foreign influence, but a new dawn in which we as the rakyat can be tolerant of those that we do not fully understand nor are able to view as ordinary people.

Unsurprising Facts...

2008-07-03T14:50:00.000-07:00

Recently in the news, private investigator P. Balasubramaniam, working for Abdul Razak Baginda, the accused in the Shaariibuugiin Altantuyaa murder case, came up with some startling new evidence. Upon filing a 2nd statutory declaration a few days prior, Mr. Balasubramaniam stated that the accused had revealed to him that our Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Dato' Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, had a sexual relationship with her; something that the Malaysian police omitted when they forwarded his statement. Altantuyaa was a 28-year old Mongolian fashion model who was murdered on the 19th of October, 2006, somewhere in Shah Alam. What is most interesting is that she was either murdered with C-4 explosives or her remains were disposed of with C-4. The case received widespread media attention, both locally & internationally (I can imagine the press in Ulaan Bator having a field day); particularly when Abdul Razak Baginda was arrested during investigations under charges of abetting murder (apparently, he didn't do the deed himself; 2 police officers who served as his bodyguards did it) His status as a prominent political analyst as well as a close associate & adviser to the DPM created a media frenzy. He wanted to get rid of her due to the fact that she was harassing him after the ended their "friendship" (for undisclosed reasons) The case was a hot topic amongst the Malaysian public. For a while.

Altantuyaa, as seen in
her passport photo.

Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, wife
of the DeputyPrime Minister of Malaysia

But now, after nearly 2 years down the road, these new accusations of the DPM having a sexual affair with Altantuyaa will most likely prove to be damaging to his reputation. Worse still, his wife (rather, his second wife) Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor was also believed to be at the scene of the crime when Altantuyaa was murdered nearly 2 years ago. This, of course, comes as no surprise to me. There were rumors going on that the DPM had a child by Altantuyaa (later proven to be untrue, of course). Undoubtedly, Datin Rosmah must have acted on her gut instincts. I myself have heard a lot of tales concerning our Second Lady. How she was a coldly arrogant individual who looked down on everyone that didn't meet up to her expectations, preventing the children from her husband's 1st marriage from seeing him, etc, etc. Personally, I don't know her myself so I can't say anything much on the matter; only telling it as I have heard; though I must comment with some cynicism, on the fact that the rich & powerful always seem to get away with almost everything. But the one aspect that deeply concerns me is that she has a tendency to control her husband too much. He can't say no to her, or so it goes. This bodes ill for the nation should Dato' Najib ever ascend to PMhood. A man who cannot learn to say no at the right time, especially to his own spouse, is bound to invite malapetaka (disaster) unto us all. I met the DPM several months ago, at the Asian Media Summit, a gathering of media organizations & individuals from all around Asia & beyond. Frankly speaking, I was unimpressed. When we all lined up to shake his hands, I found out, to my distaste, that his hands were excessively effimate, as in soft and slightly moist. Plus, he treated us with a slightly condescending manner. Maybe he was tired from work or had other matters on his mind, but that is neither here or there.

The accused in the Altantuyaa murder case,
Abdul Razak Baginda.

Rather, what amuses me to a certain extent, is that the now-embattled PKR leader, our former DPM Dato' Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim, has called for a Royal Commission of Inquiry to look into the case. This is coming from a man who is fresh of another sodomy case thrown at his face. Truth be told, I'm starting to have my own misgivings about the man's capabilities. Hell, I'm also starting to wonder if many of my friends allegations of Anwar possessing a hidden agenda is true. He seems (to me, at least) to be too...subservient (for a lack of a better word) to the United States. Like Najib after him, this is an ill omen for us all as well. It would be unthinkable to have a leader that wants to transform the nation into a client state or a lapdog of another superpower. Absolutely out of the question. Malaysia has always prided itself on being a Third-World country that has never let itself be bullied by other more powerful nations (kudos to Dr M for that). Yes, the more conservative elements ala PAS & the Islamofacists have vigorously protested against Israel (can't blame 'em) and all that, but we've never interfered in the affairs of others. Such a status quo should be maintained at all costs; lest Malaysia be condemned to an ignoble fate such as that of other servile nations before us, both in the past & present.

A Saddening Thought

2008-06-22T07:11:00.000-07:00

I was driving with some friends through Kuala Lumpur the other day when our banal ramblings veered towards Malaysia. Truth be told, I was not prepared for I was about to hear. They blatantly mocked Malaysia and insulted Kuala Lumpur (one even spat out the car window onto the road when we passed by a Sayangi Kuala Lumpur sign; even they knew what it meant in Bahasa) Apparently, they had a bone to pick with the Malaysian people. Notwithstanding the fact that they were foreign nationals (well duh), I could hardly blame them. Listening to them mentioning the faults that Malaysians possessed, many of which were true enough, such as our discrimination against foreign laborers from poorer nations than our own, the rampart hypocrisy that ran throughout Malaysian society, etc; I was suddenly reminded of something that a family friend of my godmother told me some years back:

"...God, I hate this country!"

She was, unsurprisingly enough, a Malaysian by birth hailing from Sabah (if memory serves me correctly), who is, as of this posting, currently residing in Michigan (dunno whether she lives in Detroit or not) & working for a luxury car company as a designer (again if memory serves me correctly) Listening to the rantings of my friends, I recall, with so much clarity, her utterance & the venomous hatred in her voice as she said those words. And it saddened me. Malaysia, my country which has so much to offer the world; and more even!...despised by those whom she gave birth to. The fact that my friends where so casually venting their steam towards Malaysia & her people mattered not to me; after all, another foreign country could never compare to one's own motherland. But what they said triggered the memory of what she had said, and that grieved me. No surprises that she's not a Malay.

Another thought that induces sorrow in me is the hatred between the South-East Asian countries that literally thrives in the region. The Singaporeans despise the Malaysian rakyat (people) for their backward nature and the "ignorance" of its people. In turn, the Malaysians loathe the Indonesians for their tendency to commit crimes and rowdiness. And vice versa! Such distrust & discord, whether real or imagined, will do the region no good in the end. Certainly I am in no position to poke fun at the Singaporeans & Indonesians for their perceived flaws & faults. Siapakah saya untuk memaki-hamun kedua-dua negara & rakyat mereka tersebut? (Who am I to denigrate both nations and its people?) Admittedly, whilst the crimes committed by the Indonesian laborers & the arrogance of the Singaporeans (who could blame them?) are deplorable, we as the rakyat should not generalize all of them in the same category. Regrettably, I had the same mindset myself in my younger days (damn, I feel like an old man). But as I said, can they be blamed? Were we in the same place as the Singaporeans or the Indonesians, and they in the opposite end of the spectrum, we too would react the same way. The Singaporeans cannot be accused of being arrogant for their nation has indeed accomplished much; I mean, just look at the cleanliness that prevalent island-wide! (Having been there myself several times, like any good Malaysian, I can testify to that) Neither are the Indonesians to be blamed; after all, poverty drives men to excesses that only criminal greed can achieve. There are a few reasons as to why the three nations are not hurling bombs and trading bullets at one another right now; namely that we have family & relatives in all three countries, that an all-out war between 2 or all of us would cost everyone dearly; be it economically or populace-wise (the casualties of such a conflict alone would be unimaginably horrendous); and finally, each and every one of us has seen enough bloodshed & tears through our respective nation's oft-turbulent history. At least there is that much we share in common; the unwillingness to trigger & participate in hostilities that could potentially become a holocaust (in its own right), destroying us all & damning our descendants to a bleak & uncertain future. For one, the other nations throughout the world will do nothing to help us unless they or their interests are at stake. Again this is but human nature, arguable a negative aspect of it.

So therefore, wahai rakyat Malaysia, ingatlah segala-gala yang leluhur kami telah bersusah-payah untuk mencapai supaya cucu-cicit mereka dapat menikmati hasil mereka tersebut. Penjajahan oleh Empayar Jepun, ancaman daripada Parti Komunis Malaya, Konfrontasi Indonesia-Malaysia & kemudiannya pemisahan Singapura daripada Malaysia. (my fellow Malaysians, remember all that our fore bearers have struggled to attain so that their descendants after them can enjoy the fruits of their labor. The conquest by Imperial Japan, the threat that the Communist Party of Malaya posed, the Confrontation between Indonesia-Malaysia, and the Separation of Malaysia & Singapore) Lest we forget, my fellow brethren in Humanity, those who forget history are condemned to repeat it.

Something For You...

2008-06-03T11:01:00.000-07:00

Hello ev'ryone. S'been a long time since my last posting, so I gotsa lil' something for you. Here's a music video that embodies the true essence of Bangsa Malaysia. Hope y'all like it! Till next time, cheers & salaam wa'at!

39 Years Since May 13

2008-05-14T09:32:00.001-07:00

Sorry all. Been so busy with college life that I nearly forgot of my blog! But I was abruptly reminded of something when I glanced at the calender...

...My dad was, what, eight or nine years old when it happened. Even though it took place in KL, the aftershocks could be felt throughout Selangor; including Kuala Kubu Bharu, then a sleepy little township that was also a hotbed of highly secretive communist activity. He recalls the entire family; him, his folks & his other 10 siblings being herded into the house by their frightened elders and locked in for the whole day. There was a lot of commotion outside, from the streets of the pekan (town) to their village of Kampung Asam Kumbang (literally translated as Sour Beetle Village; don't ask...) Shouting and a flurry of noise could be heard for several hours. The next day; when my grandad (somehow I could just picture him with a shotgun in his hands; back when he used to own one legally to keep the wild boars of the property) peeked out, there was a whole lotta mess in the village streets. Garbage everywhere! But apart from that, the entire village AND town was relatively undamaged...

...But the same could not be said for those in KL. Earlier this year, when I went back for to celebrate Chinese New Year, I went to the pekan to have a bite at any Malay warung (stall). So I stopped at the nearest one to the bus station. The owner of the warung was a kindly old mak cik most hospitable and friendly, just as any other Malay would be (Almighty bless them all). Sweetest person I'd ever met. We got into a little chat (not much business at the time; despite the festivities) and I asked her where she was from. Turned out that she was from Kampung Baru, KL. Eventually I asked her, in a somewhat subtle manner, whether she was around during the May 13 Incident. At the mention of that, she suddenly grew quiet, oh so quiet. Afraid that I had offended her in some way or brought up an unwanted part of her past, I apologized. But she said that I had done nothing wrong to warrant my apology. And so she told me her tale. She was a young lass at the time, having just been happily married & a child on the way. On the morning of that fateful day, she was out buying something when a group of men jumped on her & attacked without impunity. She was four months pregnant then. The only thing that prevented her from being gang-raped was a young man with a shotgun (the gun laws in those days were more lax than they are now) who was, of all things, Chinese. When he saw her lying on the ground, he took pity on her & brought her to his home, where his family awaited him anxiously. These were not the stereotypically wealthy Chinese, mind you. They were but poor folk, who struggled & toiled daily to eke out a living. Back home, he called for a doctor, whom I was told was an ethnic Malayalee Indian, who treated her wounds gratis. But the most tragic part of it all was that she suffered a miscarriage. Upon being told of her miscarriage by the doctor, she sunk to the floor in a dead faint. Upon regaining consciousness, she lamented her fate in such a piteous wail that it drew tears from all bystanders. The next day, she was sent home by the aforementioned young man, accompanied by the doctor. But the mood of the people in Kampung Baru was ugly; she barely managed to convince the villagers not to lynch the two men. Her husband, upon being told of her miscarriage, flew into a rage & swore to hunt down and kill those responsible. Only his wife's tearful pleading and the calm reasoning of the young man and the doctor prevented him from doing so. At that her hands dropped to her sides and she grew silent.

I asked her what race were those men; the one who attacked her. Looking at me, she quietly whispered, "Cina, orang Cina..." I also asked her whether she harbored any hatred for those men or even for Chinese people in general. Her response moved me to tears. She said that she did, but through prayer & faith she realized that life was too short for hatred. That she preferred not to remember the crimes & sins of men but their selfless deeds; their courage so rare & hard to find in this time and era, such as the young man & the doctor. Besides, the doctor had assured her that she would still be able to have children despite the miscarriage & sure enough she did; two beautiful children were born to her & her husband the following years. One is now an engineer in the UK and another runs a small but prosperous keropok ikan (fish crackers) company in Kuala Terengganu. After her husband's death in 1998, she moved to KKB two years later to live with some relatives who were living there. With what money she had, she opened up a warung to earn some income, with the children of her relatives helping her to run it. She never saw them again; the young man & the doctor. But she told me that she would always remember them for their kindness & bravery in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Had she the chance, she told me, she would repay their deeds back; tenfold if necessary. But, as she herself put it, only Allah the Almighty would be able to do that now.

I chose to post this story because it reminds me of a time when Malaysia was truly harmonious, when it's people actually understood the meaning of racial harmony; unlike the facade that we have to put on for the sake of appearances. Such was the era before my birth; the era which I long for, not just me but for my descendants as well. Alas, only time will tell...

Only time will tell...

Congrats!

2008-05-11T07:33:00.000-07:00

Heartiest congratulations to our former Deputy Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim, who was voted as one of Time's 100 Most Influential People in the World. To date, he is the only Malaysian ever to make it on that list. A voice of democracy (albeit a radical one) in a country whose government generally practices pseudo-democracy & where fundamental Islam is on the rise, Anwar Ibrahim has endured a lot of pressure from all sides; even going to prison in 1999 after being unfairly charged with sodomy & corruption. One can only hope that in time, he may bring change to Malaysia for the greater good of all, firstly by changing his ways to a more reasonable and less extremist level...

The Rapid Islamization of Malaysia & The Effects of Ketuanan Melayu

2008-04-19T12:37:00.000-07:00

Here is a topic that I have found to be, at times, rather provocative & most likely to cause much ensuing arguments. That topic is Islam & its role in Malaysia. Islam, the world's fastest growing religion with at least 1.2 billion adherents globally, has always been a force to be reckoned with in Malaysia. Deep religious sentiments pervade the local populace, in this case the Malay people, an offshoot of the Austronesian family of races & the largest ethnic group in Malaysia. Although Islam did not fully take root in what is now modern day Peninsular Malaysia until the early 13th century, nonetheless its presence could be felt by all layers of society at that time. Therefore when Parameswara, semi-mythical founding father of the Malaccan Sultanate, embraced Islam in 1409 CE after marrying a daughter of Malik ul Sahih (sultan of Samudera Darulssalam; also known as Pasai) & took upon the Islamic name of Sultan Iskandar Shah, it came as little surprise to the neighboring kingdoms (many of which were non-Muslim i.e. Buddhist or Hindu) Islam, even then, was spreading through the peninsular at a swift rate & Parameswara's conversion merely hastened the pre-Islamic belief of the Malay people to an 2.1 billion adherents on a global scale, has always been a force to be reckoned with in Malaysia. Ever since Islam first made it's presence known in the Malay Archipelago as early as the beginning of the 10th century, it has subsequently dominated all aspects of social, political & economic life that are integral to the indigenous population; in this ignominious & ignoble end (Traditionally, if the ruler took upon himself/herself a new religion, the population would soon follow suit; such is the case of Parameswara)

An artist's depiction of Parameswara

For several centuries, Islam was the chief & dominant religion in the Malay Peninsular (although what is now modern-day East Malaysia proved to be more resistant to the religious overtures of the Islamic preachers) Even when the Malaccan Sultanate fell to the more technologically superior forces of the Portuguese armada led by the fidalgo Dom Afonso de Albuquerque in 1511 CE (a year or so after Martin Luther visited Rome & was disgusted by what he saw there; marking the beginnings of Protestantism) the people still managed to defy their conquerers, who were hoping of forcing Roman Catholicism unto them. This defiance would go on very well until the mid-20th century when the then-Malaya was finally given its independence from the declining British colonial power. In sharp contrast to the Malaysia of the 21st century, the local Muslim populace in general, although certainly more devout than now, did not force their beliefs upon the non-Muslims. That however, is not the case in Malaysia right now.

The 4th Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi

During the rule of the Malaysian Federal Government led by Barisan Nasional (pre-2008 elections), the Prime Minister Dato Seri Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi has constantly denied that Malaysia was an Islamic state. The truth, however, is far from that. For the time being. It is true that Malaysia is not yet officially an Islamic state (I shudder to think as to what might happen if PAS took over the federal government) and that the rights of non-Muslims in general are relatively intact, this too is slowly changing. Prominent examples that can be taken as instances would be the seemingly long delay in approving permits for non-Muslim religious institutions (particularly Christians) to construct places of worship & burial grounds, pressuring non-Muslim religious groups into not proselytizing to Muslims (this at least is understandable & once again attributed mainly to international Christian missionaries who are not familiar with local laws & regulations) and most infamously, the demolishing of non-Muslim religious buildings such as Hindu & Buddhist/Taoist temples (particularly Hindu temples) This matter, which is deeply sensitive in terms of politics & religion (though this may also extend to racial relationships & tensions) has often more than once incited severe arguments & even violence; though this is rarely, if ever, seen.

And now, for the matter of ketuanan Melayu...

Arguably the most chilling aspect of Malaysia's rapid Islamization would be the second rise of the aptly-dubbed "ultras". Historically speaking, the term ultras was first used by the then-Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kwan Yew in 1964 to describe the political agitators within the ranks of UMNO (abbrevation of the United Malays National Organization) when he publicly demanded that they be "smacked down". These ultras included politicians of high standing within Malaysian society such as the late Tan Sri Syed Jaafar bin Hassan Albar (b. 1914-d. 1977; father of the current Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid bin Syed Jaafar Albar, formerly the Minister of Foreign Relations), Tan Sri Syed Nasir bin Ismail (d. 1982), a speaker for the lower house of the Malaysian Parliment Dewan Rakyat (People's Hall / House of Representatives) active from 1978 to 1982 (his death); even the 4th Prime Minister of Malaysia Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad & his future deputy Tun Musa bin Hitam (then a young UMNO MP). Of these four individuals, Tan Sri Syed Jaafar bin Hassan Albar & Tan Sri Syed Nasir bin Ismail were the most vocal in voicing their views on Malay supremacy (or known as ketuanan Melayu in Bahasa Malaysia) While Tan Sri Syed Nasir was more focused on the linguistic aspects of ketuanan Melayu (for instance he advocated for the pre-eminence of the Malay language by closing down the Chinese & Tamil vernacular schools; an endeavor in which he did not succeed in), his fellow UMNO member Tan Sri Syed Jaafar championed ketuanan Melayu in general. His actions then would have been considered unthinkable by today's standards, such as referring to the non-Malays (specifically the Chinese) as kaum pendatang or pendatang haram (the immigrant race & illegal immigrants) when he accused Lee Kuan Yew & several others in his People's Action Party (PAP), circa 1964. Another more offensively derogative term used against the Malaysian Chinese would be balik tongsan (the best translation for maximum effect would be "go home Chinks"). It is here that Islam is dragged into the negative limelight. When Tan Sri Syed Jaafar visited Singapore shortly after its state elections in 1963 (in which the UMNO branch of Singapore lost badly to the PAP), he denounced it's Malay members as un-Islamic, anti-Malays & traitors to their own race. To quote from the al-Quran on Tan Sri Syed Jaafar's lack of patience with Lee Kuan Yew & the PAP:

Surah Yunus (Chapter of Jonah), verse 109:

وَاتَّبِعْ مَا يُوحَىٰ إِلَيْكَ وَاصْبِرْ حَتَّىٰ يَحْكُمَ اللَّهُ ۚ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ الْحَاكِمِينَ
"And follow what is revealed to you and be patient till Allah should give judgment, and He is the best of the judges."

Note that when Tan Sri Syed Jaafar used these terms, he was chiefly referring to Othman Wok, PAP's most respected Malay member. Most ironically, Tan Sri Syed Jaafar himself was not a Malaysian (rather, Malayan) by birth. An Indonesian by birth, he migrated to Malaya shortly before the start of the Second World War at the grand old age of thirty (give or take a few months).

Fast foward several decades later. May 13th 1969 has come & gone, along with the infamous Ops Lalang (Weeding Operation) in 1987. Four prime ministers & eleven kings thus passed on through the course of 20th-century Malaysia. Enter in the new age; the second millennium. A new era dawns upon Malaysia; a promise of hope, success & prosperity to come. Yet even now, as like then Malaysia had to deal with the odd radical politician or two. The saddening truth is that there never really was a racial harmony in Malaysia. True, granted that there were instances in which racial harmony were evident; but this was never fully the case with the rest of the nation. Malaysia remains divided on the brink of racial lines. The subtle yet all-too present struggle between the bumiputra (lit. "sons of the earth" / "princes of the soil") & non-Bumiputra. And what more frightening a method to further alienate the non-Bumis (and thus their oh-so crucial votes) than with the championing for an Islamic theocratic state within the ranks of UMNO & PAS.

Already there are signs that Islam is slowly taking over the government, pre & post 2008 elections. It began in 2001 (some six days prior to the tragic September 11 Incident) with the introduction of the MyKad. Billed as the world's first ever smart identity card, it was a cause of pride amongst Malaysians who felt that it was an accomplishment for the country in it's own right. But the pride quickly turned into outrage when it was discovered that the MyKad had the label "Islam" underneath the photographs of Muslim citizens whereas the non-Muslims had no label whatsoever under their photographs. Although I myself did not see anything wrong with the concept, other were not so amicable & saw this as discriminatory against the non-Muslims. Even before the advent of the MyKad there was noticeable discomfort & wariness amongst the non-Muslims during the last decade of Tun Dr. Mahatir Mohamad's leadership. As early as 1994 / 1995 (perhaps even before that), Dr. M initiated several projects that were meant to pave the way for Malaysia into becoming the center of Islamic civilization (indeed, a year into power he announced the establishment of the IIU, or the International Islamic University), much like how Baghdad was in the 13th - 14th century. In this sense, he also (in my point of view) reassured his fellow UMNO members (some who thought him as too soft when it concerned Islam) on the organization's commitment to Islam. This policy of sorts did indeed bring about positive benefits. Many renowned scholars & thinkers of modern Islam saw Malaysia as a beacon of hope in a world that was growing increasingly distrustful of the Muslim world & of Islam; with esteemed institutions dedicated to Islamic education left in their wake. Hitherto, the non-Muslim populace were silent on the subject as they did not want to cause any trouble (a combination of fears towards Islam & a repeat of the May 13th incident) Yet even they could not but express their wariness at the rise of fundamental Islam in Malaysian society. Many Muslims react negatively upon facing these worries of the non-Muslims. It is no secret that non-Muslim Malaysians have very little or no wish to challenge Islam's position as the nation's official religion, save for a few radicals here & there. Unless of course, it threatens to destabilize the status quo of religious freedom as guaranteed by the Perlembagaan Malaysia (Malaysian Constitution). But I fear that unless our leaders take a firm stance on how to handle such a delicate and potentially explosive matter, we may be several steps closer to achieving what was once thought of as impossible; a fully theocratic Islamic state rather than a secular one which upholds above all, the separation of church & state.

So what then can be made of this? Truth be told, the logical conclusion in this matter is if the people of Malaysia, either moderate or fundamentalist; Muslim or non-Muslim, do not take a clear stand on the issue, then the nation is destined for self-destruction. We must, at all costs, remove the cancerous influence of fundamental Islam from our society lest it spreads throughout the whole nation like a plague. Only when it is finally disposed of & a moderate form of Islam re-emerges; one that the world will come to know as the true religion of peace that I myself have come to know and honor, then can Malaysia truly move on & look forward to the Vision 2020. As for the matter of ketuanan Melayu & the oh-so controversial hak bumiputra, the answer may very well surprise everyone. The bumiputra rights should not be abolished; that option is, for the time being, completely out of the question. Rather, it should be modified so that only those who truly need it to ease the burden in their lives are eligible for it. In other words, the existence of the hak bumiputra should be for the benefit of the impoverished Malay people, particularly those living in the rural areas and working as farmers, fishermen, etc. Certainly their more wealthier counterparts residing in the city do not need it. The upper and middle-class Malays will not suffer without it; in fact, they would be much better off without it. It is not only the poor Malays, but the struggling young newlyweds and students that need its benefits as well; those whom have no rich relatives to financially back them up. Make no mistake, dear Readers; apa yang saya mencadangkan bukannya pemansuhan hak bumiputra tetapi pengubahsuaian supaya apa yang sepatutnya dimiliki oleh lapisan masyarakat Melayu yang miskin and bersusah-payah tidak disalahgunakan oleh mereka yang lebih kaya di dalam masyarakat Malaysia moden. (what I am suggesting is not the abolishment of the bumiputra rights, but its modification so that what the poorer and constantly-struggling Malays should have is not abused by those of wealthier standings in contemporary Malaysian society)

They're At It Again...

2008-04-16T12:49:00.000-07:00

It seems to me that the world at large is feeling rather displeased with the People's Republic of China (PRoC) over its less-than-glowing human rights record along with all that cack going on in Tibet. Some over-enthusiastic juppers have been attempting to politicize the 2008 Summer Olympics using these as their main points of attack. Even musical celebrities like Björk have jumped into the Free Tibet! bandwagon? Remember this?:

Yet, somehow I don't blame 'em. Looking back on how the PRoC has committed various deeds that are against the very spirit of human freedom, one can only be surprised that the international protests have only come in full force at so late a time? Could such things like the PRoC's supression of political freedom & it's practice of hukou (restriction of movement) have managed to create a flurry of global controversy like this one? True, granted the fact that the world began to pay close attention to the PRoC's human rights record after the 1989 Tiananmen square student protests (more like the Tiananmen massacre of '89) And lest we forget the other little things that the rest of the world (or rather its leaders) seem to ignore, need we also remind ourselves that the PRoC is slowly regressing into the same kind of state that South Africa was in; pre-Nelson Mandela & his African National Congress faction? It sure as hell ain't no joke when I say that the PRoC practices apartheidism, albeit in a more subtle manner. One need only to go to China & see for themselves the extent of such practices. Urban citizens of the state are seemingly entitled to political, social & economic benefits that the more rural population (comprising of at least eighty percent of China's population) are unable to have for some mysterious reason. So much for the old communistic belief in equality for all men. Bollocks to that! The PRoC doesn't even practice true socialism; it's leaders being nothing more than pseudo-communistic capital mongers who would no sooner sell out their so-called cherished beliefs if it could line their pockets with gold & their stomachs with fine meat & drink. Truly the old order of East Asian communism died along with Mao Tse-tung. For even he would've not treated religious institutions as harshly as his successors have, despite his contempt for religion as influenced by the Marxist ideology i.e:

"Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opiate of the people."

If more proof is needed on how harsh the treatment meted out to religious and/or spiritual institutions such as Falun Gong / Falun Dafa , all they need to do is ask those who've seen it & the full horrors of the Communist Party of China will be revealed. And it doesn't just end there. No, they've got Taiwan to deal with as well. As they have so bluntly put it when they published the so-called "White Paper - The One-China Principle & the Taiwan Issue" in 2000. In their very own words, "The sovereignty over Taiwan belongs to all the Chinese people including Taiwan compatriots, and not to some of the people in Taiwan." It's conclusion was that unification with mainland China was the only feasible option & that all others were irrelevant. I may not be an expert in Chinese culture & history (admittedly, though I am Chinese myself, I can't even read or write in Chinese) but this much I can say; the past century has changed China in very little ways. One would've thought that with the fall of the Manchu Qing dynasty in 1912 (and the two Anglo-Chinese Wars before that; colloquially known as the Opium Wars) along with other various maladministration incidents that seriously affected the prestige of the ruling Qing dynasty (and as a whole, the pride of the Chinese people), their descendants would've learned some humility & respect for others. But no. Wars come & go, revolutions follow one another in quick succession over a period of a century & before you know it, China is once more on the fast track to regional (arguably even global) dominance once more. And along with it, the old ethnocentric superiority still remains, to a certain degree. Even though the "we-are-the-Middle-Kingdom" mindset no longer exist, the notion lives on in many different ways. Hardly a bolt from the blue if one looks at how Chinese people tend to segregate from the greater whole, mix almost exclusively amongst themselves & even treat others with a slight hint of contempt. Mind you, I'm not dissing my own people. True, my inability to converse in Mandarin & my horrid butchering of the Cantonese, Hakka & Hokkien dialects has rendered me an outcast of sorts amongst my own, nonetheless what I've just said is but an observation over the course of my life. And not all of 'em are negative there. Some Chinese folk are of the friendly type, just that their limited proficiency in other languages keeps their interaction with non-Mandarin speakers at an unhealthy low. Still, the best that can be said about them when it comes to their willingness in learning other languages is that they neither have the opportunity nor the inclination.

Anyways, back to the topic at hand. Isn't the 2008 Summer Olympics supposed to be a celebration of athletic ability, of the human body as well as the mind? A time when every civilized nation on earth places aside all its political debates & even war for just a little while to participate in an event that for one fleeting moment in time, unifies humanity in a way that no other forms of kinship can? Evidently the ability that the Olympics has in unifying mankind no longer has any effect on anyone anymore. Not even when it comes to the basic rights that human beings are entitled to, something that these morons in this video supposedly
fight for:

It is somewhat ironic that the pro-Tibetian activists in this video claim to fight for human rights & that sort of thing whilst at the same time they callously attempt to put out the Olympic torch & in the process molest (the OTHER meaning, mind you) a clearly disabled young woman & not caring that she gets hurt in the process. Bloody idiots. The whole lot of 'em. Kudos to the young lass who courageously defended the Olympic Flame from coming to any harm. Her act alone proves that despite the insurmountable odds, anyone, even the physically disabled can aspire to acts of great valor, if they are willing to do so.

Well, that pretty much sums it up here. Gots nothing more ta' say.

2008-04-11T12:29:00.000-07:00

As I was cruising thru the Web today, I came across a very interesting subject. It concerns Islam & the very core of humanity; freedom. Lookie here:

And here...

AND HERE...

So, what do you think? Personally, I think that these retards are all a bunch of morons for protesting against something that is so important to humanity as a whole it makes their lot a laughable breed of fools. And their reasoning for this? They've given various reasons for this but the most ridiculous and (probably the greatest oxymoron in the 21st century) would be that things such as freedom, democracy, human rights, gender equality, right to live out one's sexual orientation, racial unity (we get that a lot over here) are all contrived by the enemies of Islam & Allah; such as the Zionists, American imperialists, European neo-colonialists, homosexuals, aethist etc. Even worse is their claim that such phenomenas like these originate in the human mind & anything that comes from the human mind should be rejected as ungodly or un-Islamic. "We only want what Allah decreed to us through the Prophet Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wasalam or peace be upon Him) All else is against Allah & must be destroyed!" or some other crap like that. Yet I call this an oxymoron of epic proportions because whilst they claim that democracy & the sort are un-Islamic as it originates from the human mind (in short, rational thought) they are seemingly unaware (for all intents & purposes) that it was the Almighty who gave them the power of rational thought in the first place. Was it not the Creator with His awesome power who imbued us with the capability to think rationally also gave us the edge of reasoning, logicality, creativity? Therefore whatever man has come up with; freedom, democracy, human rights, gender equality & so on & so forth, are they not but proof of the One's handiwork? Such is the brilliance of the Divine One that He has created man as such. So who are THEY to question the basic principles of humanity & the wisdom of the Almighty. To quote from my high schooldays studying the mysteries of the al-Qu'ran in Tasawwur Islam:

Sura Az-Zukhruf (Chapter of the Ornaments of Gold), verse 84:

وَهُوَ الَّذِي فِي السَّمَاءِ إِلَٰهٌ وَفِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَٰهٌ ۚ وَهُوَ الْحَكِيمُ الْعَلِيمُ
And He it is Who is God in the heavens and God in the earth; and He is the Wise, the Knowing.

Surah Ash-Shura (Chapter of the Counsel), verse 3:

كَذَٰلِكَ يُوحِي إِلَيْكَ وَإِلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ اللَّهُ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
Thus does Allah, the Mighty, the Wise, reveal to you, and (thus He revealed) to those before you.

Surah Al-Hadid (Chapter of the Iron), verse 1:

سَبَّحَ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
Whatever is in the heavens and the earth declares the glory of Allah, and He is the Mighty, the Wise.

In other words, do not dispute the wisdom of the One.

A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins but with One Step...

2008-04-11T11:59:00.000-07:00

At last...my own blog! Been meaning to get to it all this time though. Still, been busy with life & all that. I'm gonna post mainly my thoughts on politics ('specially Malaysian politics) as well as stuff on religion, culture, philosophy & the like, along with the odd cultural comment here & there.

Hope you'll enjoy reading & commenting on them as much as I did contemplatively reflecting & writing about them. Don't hesitate to leave your comments on any of my postings. I ABSOLUTELY live to read people's responses; good or bad. Enjoy!