Where is the Spirit of Merdeka?

It is common knowledge that the Utopian Malaysia does not and will never exist.

The best that we can do is to be aware, voice out where we can be heard, and hope that whatever that is mentioned is worth something towards development of new ideas in nation building.
The Malaysia as we know it today, isn't what was envisioned by the those who hoped for nationhood during “Merdeka”.

The spirit of Merdeka has been subverted by racists and the religious zealots over the years, and has been replaced by chauvinism – racial and religious.
It all somehow points to the political “coup” that was engineered during the events that led to the May 13, 1969.

So we had a social contract, wherein the people themselves didn't know the cancer that was prescribed as a medicine, which was to cure all the ills within. Unfortunately, we are a society so paralyzed by symptomatic solutions one has to wonder whether we will learn anything from this mindless atrocity.

What he have now is an idea that has been entrenched so deep in the psyche - that to remove this “cancer” called the New Economic Policy would be, akin to killing the “goose that lays the golden eggs” for the beneficiaries.
The beneficiary has become a hideously obese and grotesque, addict of a monster, who cannot live without his crutch and his regular “fix”. If he doesn't get his fix he would gnaw on his fingers till he bleeds, rave and rant, and wave his little weapon with threats against all those who try to help.

He does not see or understand reason.
His perception and values have become so twisted , that he does not recognize himself when he looks in the mirror.
He chooses to destroy his reflection by destroying the mirror , as he says that it is only an illusion – “it isn't and will never be real”. The only good that sees are ways to satisfy his gluttony and cravings.
To justify him, the audience of unthinking little monsters applaud. All who choose to disagree are said to be “biting the hand that fed them”.

The very hideous cancer that is destroying the nation as a whole, has become a symbol of pride and arrogance, for a political agenda so consumed by itself.
To abide by the contract, to the advocates, means defeat and shame - not honour.

They have failed so miserably to even convince themselves that they are on the right track, that they look for scapegoats all around them.

Having failed in its shortcut to an economic miracle, the advocates of the system (clamouring for issues and a new agenda to perpetuate their greed and envy) the now choose to preach intolerance, “arabisation”, and religiosity in the name of God, to further isolate, and “drug into a stupor” a beautiful people who were once open to change.

Even if we aren't too accurate in our assessment, much of what has passed off for Islamisation by the govt was nothing more than frothy God-talk,
.... mindless, thoughtless, and in its exploitation of people, heartless.
The “one upmanship” practised by the various institutions that espouse religious chauvinism, is in fact a pathetic display of their failures and insecurities.

They need to feel that they are “winning” and wish to gloat about their “success” in being the defenders of their misplaced priorities, while hiding the enemies within, behind a cloak (turban or beard) of religiosity.

Then again there are those who see the folly of race/ religion politics, but intend to oppose the system by simply voting for an opposition who are themselves part of this system of apartheid, by virtue of the racial make-up of their membership.
They, the people, vote because they think it makes difference, when in fact, these votes are only perpetuating the corrupt system- by lending it legitimacy.

All political parties in Malaysia are race based.
Most hide behind the façade of a non racist constitution.
At least the original members of the Alliance aren't hiding and make no apologies about that fact ..... in fact, they don't apologise about anything when flaunting their agenda of greed and robbery.

Dear Sir- lets call a spade, a spade.
Malaysia is a one party state. UMNO.
PAS is out of the equation by virtue of its religious political (state) convictions.
DAP is glaringly chinese. PKR - no agenda or alternative “formula”.
All are Lame ducks.

The rest (read component parties) are in it for their share/ spoils in the grand scheme of things, and to bow before the almighty powers.

There can only be one kind of a viable opposition – one that is truly multi racial in its membership. One that espouses universal values.
One that is led by a Malay majority.

In the Malaysian political landscape, these criteria are sorely lacking.
Sadly, it is the ruling party that is actually aware of this ( read today's Star p.38), and might just be working to reinvent itself ahead of the so-called opposition.
So, there is hope yet for Malaysia.

Malaysia today is a nation that has lost its conscience.
Lets hope that the soul still lives.

The Malaysian Race "Revolution" - "Buang"-isation.

(This was a Letter posted in reply to Dr. Azly article on the race factor in Malaysia, and the need for a "buang"-isation - an old Malay tradition of renaming a child so as to get rid of bad omen).

Dear Sir,
As you have correctly noted, there is a need for the people to reinvent themselves. However, there is a flaw( if I may say so) here.
It is not just the bumiputera that needs to do this. All Malaysians are responsible for the creation of the bumiputera.
How did they do it? Because they have voted in a system that has propagated the ideology of segregation and subtle persecution.

It is quite idealistic of you to say that race (words like Malay, Chinese, Indian etc) have lost their connotative and denotative power. I'm sorry to say that it is indeed a very, very powerful idea - more so when you are insecure. This is what is exploited by racists in general- insecurity, and distrust- to destabilise in order to retain power.

Let's face facts – everyone is racist to a certain extent. Race, is in your genes. It is part of your heritage. Race is, simply put, a larger family upholding similar values. Most people with any conscience, wouldn't abandon their families or heritage no matter how rich, poor, funny or weird, without a good reason.

Do we have this good reason to give up on our race? I don't think so .... and hence the race appeal shall endure, until we do.
For a Malaysian “race”, we do not seek to suppress or destroy the identities, but rather promote the diversity, positive values and take pride in it. However, in promoting it, one has to be able to be involved, with “appreciation of sensitivities” within each element of this diversity, rather than having it only exclusively for a certain segment of society. Over time, out of this great melting pot of ideas, traditions and practices, would evolve, a people with a dynamic and unique culture that all can be proud of. This would bring about trust.

This cohesion of people cannot take place, unless we have a common interest. A common denominator. In my humble opinion, it is language. Unless and until we can learn to think and communicate in a common dynamic language, successful integration and evolution of a people cannot happen.
A simple example is China, with Mandarin.

The present state of affairs in Malaysia, is the result of the feudal and British formula of race politics, NEP and “Islamisation”( read arabisation) preaching values of chauvinism, isolationism and subjugation.

Somewhere along the way, we lost the ability to criticise constructively, appreciate humor and laugh at ourselves for our mistakes and inadequacies. Each community has become increasingly, irrationally chauvinistic as a “defensive mechanism”. What was taken as wit and good humour 40 years ago, could be an insult today.

I read somewhere, “ one should not let schooling in the way of good education”.
If the establishment can provide a good education system in the language of choice, these vernacular schools would become redundant and disappear altogether, as it would become an obvious liability to the interested parties.
It is not through the suppression vernacular schools, but rather, integration and competition to produce better students/ adults that would render the weaker system irrelevant through choice.

Interestingly, the word university means “to bring unity in diversity”, and the idea of the academy was to impart knowledge and virtue. Neither of these goals are recognizable today.

Our Universities aren't what they are supposed to be.
Today, they are merely schools of learning for crafts and trades.

The students in docility, need to “toe the line” rather than challenge established ideas (as is also seen in the political culture of Malaysia). The teachers and leader merely advise “thinking out of the box” giving lip service to the cliché; but in truth, forbidding it through actions, as directed by the politicians.

It is this paralysis of thought process, that has become the illness of our teaching institutions. Suppression of thought, in itself churns out a people incapable of civilised expression, thus creating frustration. Resulting volatility and “explosive irrational behaviour” is exploited and glorified by “leaders” as true patriotism/ martyrdom/ faith, thus breeding extremism and terrorism.

While allowing for freedom of expression, it is essential that teachers/ students are exposed to various ideas that promote rational/ critical thinking and proper debate on various ideas without prejudice. Plato often reminded his students that the true mark of learning, was to recognize where one was ignorant. It must possible for them to engage in discussions of any nature without resorting to primitive instincts of “flight or fight”.

Freedom and discipline of the mind would inevitably bring about a “buang-isation” and reinvention of the culture and political structure in a nation.

“Once you can laugh at your own weaknesses, you can move forward. Comedy breaks down walls. It opens up people. If you're good, you can fill up those openings with something positive. Maybe... combat some of the ugliness in the world.” -Goldie Hawn

Political Rhetoric and the National Conscience

Below are excepts from a speech entitled Political Rhetoric and the National Conscience by Ravi Zacharias. I thought that there might be some relevance here .......

........ "Too many words, not enough ideas."

........ As biting as those words seem, they reflect what many of US have felt at the end of a speech or lecture, or for that matter, a sermon. This is a readily identifiable sentiment, I might add, for we are at a time in our nation's history when we are condemned to hear political rhetoric crowded and clouded by words ad infinitum, ad nauseam. It is the price we pay for free speech in search of ideas that are worth pursuing. As one whose living is intrinsically tied to proclamation, I shall not come down too hard on those with whom I have at least one aspect in common, i.e. word usage.
But I do want to raise the crucial issue of meaning behind the words. .....

........ I knew something was wrong, radically wrong, systemically wrong, ..................... the modern malady in the political arena is one of a fundamental contradiction—there is an unblushing moralizing on politics and a shameless politicizing of morality. Just think about that statement and it becomes evident that it may well be the quicksand of contemporary wordsmiths as they smother us into moral suffocation.........

........ You may have noticed a trend in university curricula. Once there was a discipline called theology; now they call it religion. The reason is plain. Theology begins with God, religion with man. The same dethroning has taken place with ethics. In our "salvation by survey" society, values are now defined with fluidity, never finding a level except in each individual mind. Words flow in speeches, punctuated by "values" they have no point of reference, and hence, no possibility for debate............

......... But after all the verbose moralizing on politics has run its course, there comes the acid test when specific moral issues come before US as adjudicators. And masterfully, each issue becomes politicized as the wordsmiths pounce on the words like predators determined to mangle and spit out the remains.

Alas! What a bleeding has taken place.
It is not so much the death of God as it is the death of conscience.

A Kampung Story

A short Kampung Story.

A man from another Kampung once set up an orchard in a backward Kampung. So successful was the orchard, that it brought in many other people and trade prospered.

There were neighbours though, who got some fruits out of goodwill. However their appetite for the fruit grew with the prosperity and fame of the Kampung. So, they decide to steal , saying that it is their right, as it is their Kampung. As contract, the theft was to be stopped after 3 years.

The stolen fruit is always too tasty for the thieving neighbour to give up.
So they keeps on stealing as they now have to feed more members of the family in the Kampung, until there's no more fruit to steal.
Little does he know that the planter has transferred his operations elsewhere, to make ends meet.

What does the thief do?
Blame the planter for not planting enough trees.
Now the planter has become a 'bad' neighbour and a traitor.
So, what can this thief do except make "the traitor's" life miserable by answering the call of nature in front of the planter's house.
Unable to tolerate the stink, the planter tearfully leaves his beloved Kampung.
Now, the thief stands for election to be Penghulu and says that he has proven himself right all along - the planter's allegience was never to the Kampung.
Landslide Victory!!

08/01 22:01:32

A Malay Mindset For a Better Malaysia.

(This was first publish on Dr Azly's blog- Republic of Virtue, in Malaysia Today).

There are always necessary evils in all revolutions.
They do not have to be armed struggles. Malaysians and Malays generally aren't violent, and are very good at “table talk” (unlike the Arabs). So, we have reason to be optimistic (unless the propagation of intolerance and “arabisation” is left unchecked).

The “sandiwara” of “strife” will be created again as was done repeatedly by the powers that be, since independence from British rule.
( What's a few lives that belong to Ali, Ah Kow and Muthu compared to the wealth that can be stolen?) After all, the NEPists being the new colonialists, would want to use their trump card of “fear politics”, to continue the rape that the “white man” started in the name of God.

Principles of nationhood has to change, or else the history of the Malay Peninsular will only repeat itself.
Meanwhile, the “sellout” continues.

The fact is, they, the leaders, have to realise that the “piggy-back ride to prosperity” via the legalised robbery through NEP, will never bring them prosperity even after millenias, has to end some time or other.
They also should also realise that, “prosper thy brother/ neighbour” is not a bad policy, as the prosperity that they can gain from this approach would be more stable.

The Malay public on the other hand should also realise that they, and ONLY they, hold the key that free themselves from BONDAGE of complacency, distrust and poverty.
.... That their chauvinism is only the result of their insecurities, that are economic in nature due to their ignorance of realities which are not racial or religious.
... That these (race and religion) are only “tools” used to rally them to support the very people who are robbing them of their rights and riches, and would not satisfy their hunger for respect.
... That as long as they remain docile by enjoying the pittance given to them by the NEPists, nothing would change.
... That titles of “putra”, “datuk” etc. are only words that are meaningless, and brings them to greater disrepute.
... That the NEP “crutch” will only turn them into handicaps and will only bring about their downfall in the long run.
... That has to be an “enlightenment” in their mindset towards achieving prosperity and nationhood.

Until then we can only do our best to keep the nation afloat .........

Religion - The Politician's Playground

All religions have gone through an almost identical chequered history, as mentioned by you. Not one theocracy or religious institution has been spared of these acts in their evolution to be “the one true faith of God”.
The only difference is the geopolitics, traditions etc.

The prophets are not to blame for the “state of God” in the mind of man today.
What is true, what is false, who was “godly”, who was “satanic”- is up to the leaders to “propagate and educate” (true or false) using the power of the media, politics, economics and Law.

It has always been the nature of man to be tempted to “trade” his way into anything – even heaven, at least in the eyes of society.
Politicians, being in their “trade”, are in a popularity contest and hence, would use any means to gain power- unless he has a foundation of moral/ intellectual/ philosophical ideals.
Those who have these qualities will be remembered in history as true leaders, visionaries and “prophets”.

The majority though, would buy themselves their popularity through whatever means, even if it means that they have to be stooges of the real players. Sadly, the vast majority, often kept ignorant of simple truths, would gladly be led to “the slaughterhouse of the mind” at the whim and fancy of their so-called leaders. It would be a sad day for mankind should there be another theocracy to be established in this world.

Not only would it corrupt the state, but even further desecrate the sanctity of the religion it professes to uphold. In a roomful of politicians, the least trustworthy would be the “pious and religious politician”, for he uses the veil of “God” to hide the hypocrisy and deceit that he nurtures at heart, in his oblivion of self-righteousness. Politics and religion, as with state and religion, like water and oil, don't mix. At best, it would only create an “emulsion” with the help of self-serving interests acting as the soap(emulsifier).

Each element in this “unholy alliance” would take great pleasure in corrupting the other, in this great “emulsion”. All their doings would be justified and absolved by their religion, and all in God's name! However, a state with an absence of moral guidelines (read God) is doomed to chaos.
As a wise man once said- “.... even if there was no God, man has to create one for himself....” - (or something like that).

The catch here is .... the wise guys who “speak the word of god” - They often overstep the boundaries of their domains, and move into the world to “speak the word of Man”. The religious institutions (read priests/ ulamas/ evangelists) should learn some compassion,humility, and learn to guide through love and wisdom, rather than edict and condemnation. The wise politicians on the other hand, while maintaining the supremacy of the constitution, should permit and encourage the free discussion of theology (without fear of religious retribution), so as to provide a foundation of sorts to the development of progressive, vibrant and ethical ideas.

What corrupts man is the ego and greed that comes with the power to influence minds. With these so- called “men of God”, there is never a lack of “religiosity”. Their “spirituality” on the other hand, leaves much to be desired. It is only fair that these leaders of respective institutions learn the limits of their jurisdiction/ domain and duty. There is hardly any religious or political institution today that truly practices the teachings of the prophets they claim to venerate or honour. The credit should indeed go to the “holy guardians” of each.

Great nations are built on great Ideas.
It is the oasis of freedom, Education, Philosophy and discipline that would determine their viability and progress.

Arrogance brings forth its destruction.

Thoughts for the Day

Thoughts for the Day
We swallow greedily any lie that flatters us, but we sip only little by little at
a truth we find bitter.
- Diderot



A “man” doesn't begin to attain wisdom until he recognizes that he is no
longer indispensable.
~ Richard E. Byrd

It takes courage to love, but pain through love is the purifying fire which
those who love generously know. We all know people who are so much
afraid of pain that they shut themselves up like clams in a shell and, giving
out nothing, receive nothing and therefore shrink until life is a mere living
death.
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

At all times, day by day, we have to continue fighting for freedom of
religion, freedom of speech, and freedom from want — for these are things
that must be gained in peace as well as in war.
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

So much for the pearls of wisdom.
It is actually quite tiring – the thinking involved when you ponder on thoughts of
others, whether true to your ideas. At times you tend to wonder how it is that man
actually goes through life all the happier, in total ignorance of “self” and the
complex philosophies of life, based on ideas that shaped the evolution of
mankind.
Well, what can one say, except that ignorance is definitely Bliss. I do find myself
wishing at times that I belonged among the “ignorant” - would have found myself
married, working a regular job at a regular place, leading a regular life .............
hmmmmmmmm, how nice.
When I read the Screwtape Letters ( C. S. Lewis ), what I gather is that it was
knowledge that the “dark forces of evil” targeted to enforce ignorance – to
“educate man into imbecility”, and create confusion in the minds so that one does
not see the blurred line between them. With the information overload that we are
faced with, it is small wonder that getting the right message across to the relevant
party, is quite an arduous task.

It isn't the knowledge that creates this problem, but rather the abuse of little
knowledge of specifics, with which self-declared “little geniuses” are born every
day. Humility appears to be a dying virtue in todays world.
Those who actually promote pride and ignorance, through flattery apparently are
better off in their “marketing” of their wares. Whoever preaches humility in any
form, are doomed to fail. Flattery – “boost to the ego”, is the most effective tool to
sell any product, as long as the lie comes with the style that flatters the senses.