"Scholars, intellectuals, editors, and pundits too must share the blame.
When the nation sorely needs sober analyses and critical evaluations, they grovel themselves to be apologists and spinmeisters for the establishment.
They do not serve the nation with such postures, nor are they being true to themselves or their calling."
-Bakri Musa, Towards A Competitive Malaysia #107
"The inspiration to form a unity government came from Umno and they are obviously happy with what is happening in the party."
- TG Nik Aziz, Nik Aziz accuses ProUnity Govt PAS leaders as "Umno Puppets".
****************************************When the nation sorely needs sober analyses and critical evaluations, they grovel themselves to be apologists and spinmeisters for the establishment.
They do not serve the nation with such postures, nor are they being true to themselves or their calling."
-Bakri Musa, Towards A Competitive Malaysia #107
"The inspiration to form a unity government came from Umno and they are obviously happy with what is happening in the party."
- TG Nik Aziz, Nik Aziz accuses ProUnity Govt PAS leaders as "Umno Puppets".
.....................................
Firstly, I'd like to apologize to Hakim Joe for not being able to answer him on Malaysia Today. As I logged in today to reply, it just so happens that my "login has been blocked" by the admin.
Probably it's just a "technical error" - I wouldn't know.
Anyway Hakim, I don't know who these guys (Elijah Kok and cllim123) you suggest are- it is possibly you who know who or where they are, or maybe even why they might have "been blocked".
But I don't think I'm interested in being part of the comments section anymore .... getting too boring these days. Just like RPK, I too don't read the comments sections that much these days- too much of "hentam-keromo" comments, with little substance. Maybe I too was occasionally guilty of the same. It's time I "retired" myself from MT comments anyways .....
So, I wouldn't "contact administrator", as the popup suggested I do.
What a coincidence (not clairvoyance, okay)- I was telling a good friend of mine (let's just call that person- "nas") just last night, that there is a chance that I will get blocked by the MalaysiaToday Admin very soon, as I have been quite critical of the "slant" in certain columns of late.
Possibly, what I commented yesterday (given below), touched a raw nerve somewhere ( i.e. beyond the "mamak" word), in highlighting the "spinmeistering" in MalaysiaToday. That means, saying something without actually mentioning it.
Maybe it was the words - "mamak teh tarik", or the "rat called Hadi" (to mean - just as TGNAziz's "Umno Puppets")- and once again, I wouldn't know. Though I understand the "current necessity of this tilt", I believe that there is no need to resort to "spin" - while thumping your chest about being some sort of psy-war expert for the gullible masses.
However, true to the Malaysian fashion, they'll need "bogeymen" to put the blame on, for all these.
I said what I said in my comment, because I believe, there was a little spinning that needed to be cleared, in the way words are used to get certain subtle messages across. It was pathetic to see people resorting to wordplay, instead of saying it as it is.
Anyway, I guess that is the last of my participation on Malaysia Today. It was good while it lasted. Maybe, it was a mistake for me to participate, and be critical these days- after all, RPK thinks I should "get professional help" for being critical ..... (ha, ha)
Indeed, RPK was right (some boot-polishers might add, "as usual" to these kinda words) - the quality of debates in the comments section has been quite pathetic. Those were the days when the comments were often very vibrant and gave food for thought (despite the occasional profanity, which RPK himself indulged in - without apologies). It was a time when MT provided issues and the time to debate matters, so as to get people thinking.
But not anymore.
Now, I guess that's history...... and it seems like Mahathirists and "unitarians" would be more welcome in the "free forum" presented in MalaysiaToday today. Some may claim that this is part of the "psy-war" on the masses, or maybe simply self-preservation (some call it "sellout").
These days, it has become a "tabloid-like news portal" with umpteen updates per day, and no time for a well thought-out debate/ comments. Too many distraction s with "breaking news" stuff. It is a far cry from what it was before it became a pop phenomenon - but then again, I guess that's how things go ......
Besides the numerous idiotic comments that are there now, maybe we'll soon be getting commenters who start competing to be the first to comment as in CheDet.com of old - that will be the day, I guess ...... haha!
Well ... what can you say, except that self-aggrandizement does take it's toll!
Maybe, in future, MT will end up being just another "tabloid" news portal with a diarrhoea of "hot news" overload, with little of the substance which gave it "character" in the past. Not much "zing" to it these days ....
Aah .... nostalgia does creep in.
But I guess I'll still be visiting for the "hot news" and "spins", just as I browse other MSMs online.....
p.s.
Dear Pete,
Remember your "Otak Udang" days?
Interesting fella, this clown - wasn't he? "HakimJoe" is quite an interesting fella, too .... and so are a few other characters in the comments section. Miss those guys in the pre 2008 days who use to have heated debates, and yet remain civil (with the occasional outbursts, of course). (In fact, I even copied some of the interesting ones onto my hard drive & some onto this blog...)
Quite unlikely, but do you remember the "spat" we had (one among many) when you were writing about the virtues of "Islamic government" and started calling me names? Well, what goes around comes around to haunt you, doesn't it? Strangely, it is the word "mamak" and not "Thamby".
How about writing to a commenter by the name of "creeper" to tell him that you knew that he was "Chinese" from the way he used "513" instead of "May13"? I'm sure he was impressed with your amazing powers of deduction!! Haha!
Don't worry Pete - we know that the agenda is still the "unity government" proposal. Just like TG Nik Aziz, I'd rather call it the "sell-out" (a la post 513) proposal. It does make me wonder why you cannot grasp the philosophical ramifications of such an endeavour (as I might've written in the comments section each time you proposed it).
Nevertheless, good luck & enjoy your "mamak teh-tarik" yah?
Cheers, mate!
************************************************
...The following are a few comments (and my last) on MalaysiaToday:-
written by cruzeiro, June 10, 2009 19:50:46
And Tok Guru Haji Hadi Awang graciously introduced the new Terengganu state government as the Barisan Alternatif government and not the PAS government.
I thought that this was jolly nice of him.
Yeah ... I'm sure kids thought the same when Jack the Ripper handed them lollipops!!
============================================
I started getting feedback from Terengganu that the civil servants are not happy and that they are thinking of giving the state back to Umno. I triggered the alarm bells but my pompous ******* of a boss pooh-poohed my report.
Excuse me Pete - you lost me here. You mean that Anwar is to blame for that rat called Hadi's incompetence? How is it that the loss of Terengganu becomes your ex-boss's headache when he had only one miserable seat, and it was Hadi's govt that ruled? First you bang Anwar, then you bang Khalid, while your guru Hadi is blameless. Like as if they don't know how Umno has subverted the civil service since Mahathir's time! Duhh!!
What's with this sudden warpath you take Pete? A little too much of "mamak teh tarik" perhaps - it can sometimes fuddle, muddle & eff-up your thinking, y'know.
Oh yes, I forgot - Mahathir said Malaysians will be stupid while hiding the fact that they were forced to be stupid since his time in office .....
...
written by cruzeiro, June 10, 2009 20:17:09
Ok - I just read your reply to Littlebird. So this boss of yours was "Haji", and not DSAI. Could it have been this "Haji Unity Hadi" by any chance?
...written by Littlebird, June 10, 2009 20:43:52
Well cruzeiro, it certainly looks like him, sounds like him but only Pete knows if its him.
... written by apa jadi, June 10, 2009 21:29:56
Hahaha....Cruz, good thing you brought out how Hadi "lost" Terengganu to BN. It actually slipped my mind. Now, he is talking about UNITY. Hehehe....I see a mole surfacing.
...
written by Hakim Joe, June 11, 2009 00:49:40
Hey cruzeiro, where are your friends Elijah Kok and cllim123?
...
written by Littlebird, June 11, 2009 08:34:40
Hi Pete, I wasn't mocking you but said it in a jest when I was replying cruzerio but I am out of line there. Apologies. Tuan Haji is not involved here and nothing you have written implicated him and moreover he was your teacher whom you have a lot of respect. Apologies, once again. Just little bit of lingam effect.
p.s. Why the curiosity of someone's bird?
-Remember "Yes, Minister"?, MalaysiaToday
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