tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62559384966038001902024-03-13T12:42:26.941+08:00A Place between Reds and BluesRed implies passion, anger, and love.
Blue implies subduesiveness, gentleness, and sadness.
Where do you stand in between of them?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18198938245505253338noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255938496603800190.post-82370117158631386842012-01-17T22:36:00.000+08:002012-01-17T22:36:13.338+08:00CatsI don't like cats. I never liked them, except for Hello Kitty and perhaps Doraemon. (Coincidently, one is without mouth and another without ears!:D) Cats are arrogant, they think you are their servant and they are the evil masters that are plotting away about how to take over the world. Urgh.<br />
<br />
I'm a dog person. I like friendly creature. I refuse to respond to snobbish behavior (and i apply that to my relation with human too). I love mutual relationship. I need expressions for assurance.<br />
<br />
I frowned upon my housemate's request to bring her cat to the house. But I liked Shadow at the first sight. With a body bigger than a Chihuahua and furs as fluffy as a chow chow, she's not any ordinary cats but an elegant descendent of Russian blue and Persian. Just as the name suggest, he is grey and you will not be able to see him in the dark. And he pretty much live up to his name by his ability to bug you untill you give him food.<br />
<br />
Every morning, he never fail to remind you that he needs food. He waits for us to come home - though he never wag his tails, he purs everytime you play with him. He doesn't know how to catch a rat, just like my pampered and spolit pet-dog at home. You can't take him out for a walk of course, for he is a cat, but rather he wanders out on his own and knows how to come home - something I've never done to my dog.<br />
<br />
I always thought catowners are boring, inward-looking and somewhat foolish. But with my new encounter with cat (and its owner), I begin to think that perhaps they are the more sophisicated ones. They can love nonetheless without receiving gratitude. They can allow their 'loved one' to have more personal space and more rights to be the way they are. and they can tolerate snobbish looks! They expect less and are more at ease at themselves - just as how their cats do.<br />
<br />
But I still prefer dogs. Though Shadow shall be an exception. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjxb6TWH7Succ_gTzXb3lo9kOJ3tHX8t9dBYooABKCG1mx59a84XIww6vAWRG9IICIaS3Zwo_yNjufLJW0sA2iVGQHE0Lplti-d_He8wgC5bszSGeiqNrmjuoCb1DvVGfh1-E4SfDVnuY/s1600/IMG00678-20110426-2352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjxb6TWH7Succ_gTzXb3lo9kOJ3tHX8t9dBYooABKCG1mx59a84XIww6vAWRG9IICIaS3Zwo_yNjufLJW0sA2iVGQHE0Lplti-d_He8wgC5bszSGeiqNrmjuoCb1DvVGfh1-E4SfDVnuY/s320/IMG00678-20110426-2352.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Shadow the cat </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4V358GFAn2BuIdY9-HBapXsLusl1cN50wAU7qbMzxSok_fTaUHTSYuBzhYfIDpOg4leET649bRZ47bNE49I1nqv2PWklUhxTjMX7dsuVMEvj59-aRFIC414yDZ1qflj5-Y23eViab96W/s1600/IMG-20111008-00288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4V358GFAn2BuIdY9-HBapXsLusl1cN50wAU7qbMzxSok_fTaUHTSYuBzhYfIDpOg4leET649bRZ47bNE49I1nqv2PWklUhxTjMX7dsuVMEvj59-aRFIC414yDZ1qflj5-Y23eViab96W/s320/IMG-20111008-00288.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hail 'His Majesty'!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18198938245505253338noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255938496603800190.post-63402423967063401162012-01-11T18:12:00.001+08:002012-01-11T18:17:49.103+08:00Why I was not too worried about Anwar being jailed<div style="text-align: justify;">
January 9th, the day when all eyes were on Malaysia. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Somehow, I was not surprised by the verdict that Anwar has been acquitted. Before this, while Anwar and his team went on a nationwide campaign to rally for support, and when talks are high on the fate of Pakatan Rakyat assuming that Anwar is going to jail (and speculations on who should be the interim Prime Minister), I've shared with a few close friends to take a chill pill because I don't think Anwar is going to jail. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Firstly, by charging Anwar, Najib (assuming the conspiracy theory that the BN government is behind all this) risk repeating the history of 1998 Reformasi when the former deputy Prime Minister were sacked and accused for the first time, or at the least - as some argued that the reputation of Anwar has suffered some tarnishes by the continuous attacks from his enemies and might not reciprocate the same public anger of 1998 - Najib might still risk giving away the middle ground votes to Pakatan Rakyat out of sympathy. There is a chance that he might go the hard way to finish him off, but he is not usually a high risk taker, and my case were proven. </div>
<br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Secondly, if Anwar was charged, it will reinforces the claim by Pakatan Rakyat of the tyranny of BN and give them a moral boost that the fight goes on. Now that Anwar has been acquitted, Pakatan Rakyat and those who cried foul previously are caught in between by their own words. Does it mean you were right to say Anwar was innocent, or were you wrong to say the judiciary is not independant? Certainly, I personally do not think that a single verdict that is perceived as fair is substantial to justify the legitimacy of the entire judiciary system; for two reasons: 1) It could just be a game played by Barisan Nasional for the reasons I've just mentioned above, and 2) even within the worst system, there could be people with conscious that does a few right. </span>
<br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="text-align: justify;">Now that I'm doubly happy over the development, for 1) Anwar Ibrahim is finally released from the Sodomy case which is evidently a set-up to destroy him politically (and hopefully Malaysians will have less disturbing headlines about one's sex behaviour); and 2) that my prediction was proven right, I am curious to know if he and his counterparts in Pakatan Rakyat genuinely thought that he will be jailed, or if the campaigns and mobilizations of 901 (or 109, depending on how you read your calendar) rally is merely a political gimmick. That said, even if it's the latter, I personally see nothing unethical in it (it will only be to the advantage of Pakatan Rakyat because either way, it will be a show of political strength and one is better safe than sorry since anything can happen in politics) - I am just curious about their work mentality along the campaign trails and the goals they had in mind to achieve. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
What is interesting is, how will this development impact the winning chances of Pakatan Rakyat in the next General Election and shape the political landscape of this country? A friend comment, 'Anwar in jail is more dangerous than Anwar out of jail.' Perhaps, but I'm just happy that one less person need to suffer sentence unjustly, and the verdict has now killed a powerful political mileage of both sides - that Anwar is morally at fault and thus leadership questionable according to BN's propaganda, and for Pakatan Rakyat to harness sympathy votes by portraying Anwar as victim - and hopefully this will make the political contestation of the next general election focus more on the real policy issues and less on personalities. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And while all the limelight is on the man now made free, I'm more interested and worried for the explosion incidents. What happened could have been worse! Who did that? and what message are they trying to bring forth? One can develop a thousand conspiracy theories, but let's just leave it as that as it will be too simplistic to point fingers at this juncture. Let's just bear in mind that there are still instigators in our midst who will not withhold their hands from using forces and fear to achieve their agenda, and that's exactly the force that we are fighting against. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18198938245505253338noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255938496603800190.post-65072704156929751072012-01-02T23:17:00.001+08:002012-01-04T18:56:55.779+08:002011 Recapped<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Calendar is but a human way to document dates and time. And yet, there are something that make 31 Dec so far apart from 1 Jan, as if a chapter has to be closed on the 11.59pm of 31st Dec before the New Year is ushered in, and as if how you spend your first moments of the year will determine how your new year will be. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Surely, it is a good time of reflection, to be thankful for things that happened in the year and to plan for the next. Somehow, the emotional attachment is not as strong to me, this could have be the fact that my birthday is in November, merely a month ago, which served as a better checkpoint for the year-long goals for me. When I was studying, our academic year starts and ends in June, thus rendering the New Year celebration somewhat meaningless as it would be only half the journey. As I started working, it was November, and coincidently, twice I've resigned/decided to resigned in November too. Major events in my life simply does not happen at the turn of the new year. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nevertheless, seeing the many beautiful ways year-end reflections and new year wishes were shared on Facebook, I too felt the need of summarizing it (peer pressure effect, you can say.) It took me a while, but it summarized my 2011 adventure most aptly. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 10px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>"A sheer boldness and hunger for adventures brings me back to KL before last year ends. </b></i></span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 10px; text-align: left;"><b>This year, what I discovered is beyond what I expected:</b></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 10px; text-align: left;"><i><b>I learnt to love, </b></i></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 10px; text-align: left;"><b>Friends new and old, Families near and far;</b></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 10px; text-align: left;"><i><b>I learnt to care, </b></i></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 10px; text-align: left;"><b>causes great and small;</b></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 10px; text-align: left;"><i><b>I learnt to be different, I learnt to be normal; </b></i></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 10px; text-align: left;"><b>I learnt to cry in joy, and laugh in pain; </b></i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 10px; text-align: left;">I learnt to give, I learnt to keep; </i> </b></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 10px; text-align: left;"><b>I learnt that though feel far apart, God has never left :') "</b></i></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 10px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 10px;"></span></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 10px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 10px;">---</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 10px;">My 2011, was characterised by a decision to come to KL. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 10px;">Why? I thought, Penang is too comfortable, too secluded and I want to explore beyond it, getting to know more people here, having greater influence in the national scene. Overconfident, perhaps, but off I went.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 10px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 10px;">Life will never be the same if I chose to stay in Penang. Would I be better off, or not? That is the question I have been struggling with for the past one year. Things certainly did not go as i hoped for. I was supposed to finish a book before June, a project which has now been shelved indefinitely, and move on to another place. KL was meant to be a transitional stop. </span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 10px;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 10px;">I did not intend to be so involved politically; my passion has always be policy and issue-based research. But when the offer to work for Lim Kit Siang, the famous DAP stalwart come by, I just threw everything behind my mind and said, Yes! Who would have dreamt of working for one of the most dedicated politicians in the country, having grown up hearing so much about him? I plunged my head into it and the rest follows. Not quire what i'm looking for, but a rare opportunity to be working for such admirable man, and to be in the heart of action of the opposition party. Regrets? That's a question which I can't answer, and have stopped seeking for the answer. </span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 10px;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 10px;">---</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 10px;">2011, I met him. He is a pleasant surprise, I've always said. I did not come seeking for him, his arrival was not anticipated. But he felt like a soulmate at first sight, someone that make me feel very comfortable being with. Not quite the standard dream guy that make all girls'hearts melt, but charming in his own way and someone that I can rely on. Ironically, I made the decision to be with him based on that basic, nothing-fanciful characteristic of his, and i didn't take too long, unlike my previous relationships that has lengthy ambiguous courtship period but very shortly sustained. But over time, he has proven to be a good choice. I have great appreciation for his support and accomodation over me, especially some of my airy-fairy ideas and hyperactivity, not to mention those melancholic moments which he has to endure depressing conversations and never-ending worries, which he often over-simplistically concludes "you think too much". From him, I learnt to cherish simple things in life. I've always been a goal-oriented person, while he, seems to be much more at ease with himself. I always believe that God wants me to learn to be normal from him, learn to lead a simple life (though I sometimes still think that he is overdoing it and underperforming his potential in life, as reflected in his career that desperately need a breakthrough). That precious lesson, is not only learnt from him, but also from his interaction with people around him. He has friends, close friends that lasted for years, and do not mind meeting every other day just to talk emptily. Great friends that will always ready to help. </span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 10px;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 10px;">I've never had that in my life. Friendships failed me, left me; to me, friends are transient, they are for a certain period of life, and will be gone when we move on. It's not as if I didn't try to keep in touch, but my attempts have mostly been futile - they just don't seem to be interested to catch up with me, nor take the initiative to ask. Along the way, new friends came, wonderful friends that I couldn't imagined not having in this life away from home. It was from her that I learnt, that I should not feel sorry for friends that had lost touch, but always try, and seize the opportunity to be friends again when time is right. That was the mantra that I lived by, and i thanked God that some knots were loosened before the year ended. </span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 10px;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 10px;">---</span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 10px;">2011 has ended, did I achieve what I wanted? Some yes, some wrong turns and short-cuts, but the necessary have been done to keep myself on the right track. I've gain more knowledge about issues, I've come to know more amazing people, I've managed to write some articles, I've gained friendships - but I've also figured that this is a continuous process. 2012, will be a year of trying, as I made the decision to explore beyond my little pond again. But it is from 2011 that I've learnt that life is not about achieving, but trying - meanwhile, enjoy the process, and keep swimming. </span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 10px;"> </span></span></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18198938245505253338noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255938496603800190.post-62070414820416914042011-06-10T02:33:00.003+08:002012-01-11T19:31:32.805+08:00Postal Votes Which Are Never Posted<div>
<br />
<div>
[<a href="http://www.loyarburok.com/the-system/bolehland/postal-votes-which-are-never-posted/">LoyarBurok</a>] April 22th, 2011<br />
<br />
Having acted as a coordinator for polling and counting agents for the Opposition campaign in the recently concluded Sarawak State Elections has made me more confused about the rationale of the electoral system in Malaysia, in particular with regard to postal voting.</div>
<br />
<div>
</div>
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616290820366719906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvU3QTrV2zsdqzBU2yEzqpHmCHUI8xIbKkROYYSZVnrr1MIm_5RMcmQXs1WBR08Mf_Fp32-b8JRSJ7EJW81lq87Z8wmua23fb9ach93zYiUXY52kklDjEego56bqnwy0kEqQLqQ7qRAen/s320/sw_02postVote.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 164px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
Under Malaysian election laws, postal voting is mainly allowed for police personnel, members of the armed forces and Election Commission workers who are on duty on polling day. Six days before polling day, postal votes will be issued through a procedure which can be witnessed by agents from all contesting parties. The ballot papers are inserted into envelopes with an acknowledgment form attached to be ‘posted’ to the voters concerned .<br />
<br />
Don’t be fooled by the name, though. In actual fact, only a very small number of overseas votes are sent by post. The postal votes for police personnel and members of the armed forces are dispatched by police and military officials respectively to designated police stations and army camps, whereas Election Commission workers are required to collect their own postal votes from the issuing centre.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Upon arrival at the issuing centre, the EC workers have a choice of either voting on-the-spot (a polling station a la the normal voting procedure will be set up for them), or to take the ballot papers back and return them later. The postal voting station will be open for six days until polling day.<br />
<br />
Questions which immediately arise are: if the EC workers can come in person to collect their postal votes, why can’t they just vote on-the-spot under the normal voting procedure? Why the additional choice of issuing ballot papers in envelopes which involves more steps and make it more prone to abuse? Why should the EC workers be allowed to bring the ballot papers back while ordinary voters do not enjoy this privilege? Why do they need six days to return the ballot papers? Is it to wait for God’s vision of who to vote for?<br />
<br />
Such is the leniency given by the EC to postal voters. Not only did police personnel and members of the armed forces enjoy the privilege of casting postal votes, it was also extended to their spouses! Meanwhile, Malaysians abroad do not have such luck.<br />
<br />
In addition to that, a registered voter who is eligible for postal voting can apply to be a postal voter up until 3 pm the day before polling day. This is to say that less than 24 hours is required for the EC to process the application. Doesn’t such efficiency sounds all too ridiculously amazing considering that the EC needs 3 to 6 months to process the registration of an ordinary voter like you and I?<br />
<br />
The EC’s decisions caused the number of postal voters to skyrocket in the last few days before the Sarawak State Elections, as can be seen in the constituency of Kota Sentosa (Kuching) which saw an increase from 1,800 postal voters to a whopping 3,000 voters and Pelawan (Sibu) from 14 voters to about 300 voters. As party workers, we had no choice but to compare the list of newly-added postal voters with the electoral roll and cross out the names of the postal voters from the electoral roll in order to prevent double-voting, and to be sleep-deprived in the process!<br />
<br />
Postal votes can be regarded as a ‘fixed deposit’ for the incumbent government. This can be seen in the constituency of Senadin, where the PKR candidate was leading by a substantial number of votes but was eventually overcome by postal votes in favour of the BN candidate, causing the PKR candidate to lose the election by a mere 58 votes. In Dudong, one of constituencies which the DAP contested in, the election battle with SUPP, the other party contesting the seat, was close. The counting of the votes was a very tensed affair until, at least for a short while, the DAP finally took the lead by about a thousand votes. At that time, the counting of postal votes - which numbered about 700 in that constituency - has yet to be completed. Just as the DAP was about to celebrate its unofficial victory, a blackout occurred in the counting centre of the postal votes (one can only guess what can happen to the ballot papers in the dark!). Fortunately, the matter was resolved amicably between leaders of both parties without unnecessary chaos.<br />
<br />
Postal votes also make vote-buying easier, as its complicated process is more prone to loopholes and abuses. As the ballot paper can be taken out from the voting station unlike normal voting, it is easy for the voter to show an ‘interested party’ his or her vote in return for a monetary reward. On the second day after the postal votes were issued, a DAP polling agent in Sibu caught on video a group of people purportedly involved in vote-buying. A man was seen handing over to three or four ladies orange coloured papers similar to the postal ballot papers along the staircase in a building. When they realized that the ‘transaction’ was being recorded, they quickly dispersed into the crowd. Although the ladies later denied any wrongdoing when contacted, their acts remain highly suspicious and demonstrates the vulnerability of the system.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxjWKM7ZKxJtkwNJNRxNH9Hifg6fc_lcDedJy1vfbmUZyA7s7JJZinnyuUrXL2memS73jSFRM1zty3X_mWox618DLK3-X6JQujzO9OMbB7vo6-02B028ksrD46NqfsxAu08kpy0_zK1kc/s1600/3B20996C-EF72-49DA-A2B1-51156B2BA765.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616290955458984562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxjWKM7ZKxJtkwNJNRxNH9Hifg6fc_lcDedJy1vfbmUZyA7s7JJZinnyuUrXL2memS73jSFRM1zty3X_mWox618DLK3-X6JQujzO9OMbB7vo6-02B028ksrD46NqfsxAu08kpy0_zK1kc/s320/3B20996C-EF72-49DA-A2B1-51156B2BA765.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 202px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 250px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Party workers need to go along with the ridiculous system and try their very best to prevent any dirty tricks. In Sarawak, agents were sent to postal voting centres to ensure that postal votes are issued according to the official list. They stayed at these centres from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for six days to ensure that the votes were picked up by the voters themselves and to stare at the ballot box to make sure that it is not moved or stuffed with extra papers. For those votes that are despatched to army camps or police stations, they tailed the car escorting the ballot boxes to ensure that the boxes did not get ‘lost’ on the way.<br />
<br />
But that is only this much we can do. Until the Election Commission decides to get smarter, we will all need to do it the brain-less way.<br />
<br />
Ivy Kwek was in the campaign of DAP Sibu for two weeks and still has some trouble adjusting to the KL driving manners. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18198938245505253338noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255938496603800190.post-78671641052172985442011-06-10T02:29:00.002+08:002012-01-11T19:32:16.150+08:00The (Malaysian) King’s Speech<div>
[<a href="http://www.loyarburok.com/the-system/the-malaysian-kings-speech/">LoyarBurok</a>] March 25th, 2011</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<em>This article is neither about Colin Firth nor King George VI. It is about the High King of Malaysia, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, the speech he made in the opening of the 4th session of the 12th Parliament, and the institutional set-up surrounding it. <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616289721107808354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ14CVRTaoQ3plpUuM0Mw8E2SE9LczLuMIX5sBJVO-s6MWp24nOnO7HM-jTNERFvXRXqqF4V99k-5Th6k5HrCeP-lSMuNW-W4PJWrBIQnCES9nmCIKYaVTyZ_YZV7sQL8uWtrt2wykRYMS/s320/najib-and-the-king.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 213px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></em><br />
This season of Parliament opened in a bang- literally, as the ceremony was accompanied by a 21 guns of salutes when the national anthem was played. It is a convention of the Parliamentary system that the first meeting of Parliament every calendar year will be officiated by the High King a.k.a. Yang Di-Pertuan Agong. The first day was participated by member of both House, that is the Senators from the Senate a.k.a. the Upper House, and the Member of Parliament from the House of Representative a.k.a. the lower house. Together with invited guests (mostly diplomats and top civil servants) they gather in the lower chamber as the King speaks.<br />
<br />
The root word for Parliament is Parle, which mean "speak" in French. Parliament is an institution in Parliamentary democracy system that serves as the voice of the people. The Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives) is made up of members that are popularly voted, The Dewan Negara (Senate) represents the respective states and minorities group, while the YDPA is important as a national symbol, whose royal assent to all bills is necessary for it to become gazette.<br />
<br />
A former colony to the Great Britain, the Malaysia governance system is modeled after their Constitutional Monarchy system with adaptations to local scenario. As a matter of historical fact, the House of Commons of United Kingdom was originated in the 13th century to gather the knights and burgesses- representatives of the laypeople, when the monarchy of Britain seek to impose tax from the commoners, and hence the saying, "No taxation without representation". Parliamentary Democracy is a system where the people manage the country, while the monarchy remains the figurehead.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
In the age of democracy, the Kings under the Constitutional Monarchy system serve as a symbol of nation unity. As can be seen in the movie "the King’s speech", King George VI was to deliver a pertinently uplifting speech (painstakingly, as the movie tells) as the Great Britain declared war with Germany in September 1939. Similarly, Japan emperor’s speech in the light of the recent tsunami was meant to bring comfort to the disaster-struck nation.<br />
<br />
Contrary to parliamentary system is the presidential system, where the head of state is the head of government, that is, the president that is voted in by elections such as the United States. The President thus could come from a different party as the majority party in the Congress, unlike in the Parliamentary system, where the prime minister always comes from the same party as the majority party of Parliament. The Prime Minister is a person with majority confidence from the Parliament, who together with his cabinet act as the "steward"of the country for the monarchy.<br />
<br />
Whether which is a better system is subject to many debates. The fact remains that under the Constitutional Monarchy system, the monarchy is represented by the government, and thus his speech is to outline the policy of the government and the success of the government. In fact, his speech is known to be written by the government, a practice accepted under the constitutional monarchy system and is symbolized ceremonially with the Prime Minister handing the written speech to him before he start. The King’s speech is not meant to be absolute, but is subject to debate and can be amended with a move of a motion.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately in this country, questions regarding the royalty and their role are often a taboo. Any begs to differ are always seen as disloyalty to the monarchy and seditious, and often accused to be a threat to the Malay race, as the monarchy is seen as the protector of the special position of the Bumiputeras. Last year in the debate of royal address, Lim Kit Siang’s proposal to amend to royal address was met with great resistance and disapproval by the BN Backbenchers, calling him a traitor to the royalty.<br />
<br />
Thanking who?<br />
<br />
In this session of Malaysian Parliament, the King (without stammers) congratulated the government for their successes in the Ninth Malaysian Plan, the stabilizing economy growth, and the achievement of Malaysian football team in Suzuki AFF cup, among others. He also reiterated the government’s plan such as the Economic Transformation Programme, NKRA and NKEA, and not forgetting to warn against racial instigators, questioning of constitutional position of Malay rulers and Islam, and, to everyone’s laughter, the misbehavior of Members of Parliament in the Chamber.<br />
<br />
After the King’s speech is a two-week long debate session in the Dewan Rakyat, where the Members of Parliament will debate about the royal speech, which in actual fact is everything under the sun. Ninety Members of Parliament had participated in the debate to thank the Royal Address.<br />
<br />
The wide scope allowed in the debate also make the session very prone to abuse. Debate often used as an opportunity to put across certain political point as contrary to policy issue pertaining the people, or to upset the rivals. In fact, the proposer of the motion to thank the royal address (a must under the parliamentary procedure), Member of Parliament for Jasin, Datuk Wira Ahmad bin Haji Hamzah who is a Barisan Nasional backbencher (government MPs who does not hold a ministerial position), opened his speech by congratulating his colleagues for their victories in the recent by elections.<br />
<br />
Datuk Wira Ahmad bin Haji Hamzah [Jasin]: … Keputusan tersebut jelas menunjukkan bahawa bermula di Manik Urai, disusuli pula di Bagan Pinang dan juga di Batu Sapi, kini rakyat telah kembali yakin dan memberikan sokongan yang padu kepada kepimpinan kerajaan Barisan Nasional sebagai parti pemerintah.<br />
<br />
<br />
Sometimes, MPs backed up their speech with twisted facts. Dato Haji Lilah Yasin, the MP for Jempol for example, states that Barisan Nasional had never acted draconically, conveniently ignoring the historical fact of Ops Lalang and records of detention without trial of opposition politicians.<br />
<br />
Dato? Haji Lilah Yasin [Jempol]: Kita dalam Barisan Nasional tidak pernah berlaku zalim terutama sekali kepada pembangkang. Kalau kita berlaku zalim sudah ramai kita penjarakan ini.<br />
<br />
On another instance, MP for Kinabatangan, Datuk Bung Mokthar called Tony Pua an agent for Singapore without any basis given. When Tony Pua raised to the point of order to ask him to retract his irresponsible statement, the Speaker ruled that it was not necessary as the latter ‘was only joking’.<br />
<br />
Cut the Crap<br />
<br />
Having said all that, it does not mean that all that were spoken were craps. A lot of pertinent issues were raised by MPs from both sides. People’s welfare and poverty issues in Sabah and Sarawak were popular topics from both sides of the Chamber, perhaps because of the upcoming state election in Sarawak. Among the opposition MPs, a lot of concerns were raised over the Malaysian government plan to build to nuclear plant, as the nuclear crisis in Japan unfolds. "Interlok", the controversial case of the fifth former literature syllabus, was put forward a few times especially by the Indian MPs. The detention of Alkitab and the Cabinet’s conditional release was also a cause where many opposition MPs championed, especially those from DAP. Other issues raised include the housing schemes, MRT Project, warships procurement to name a few.<br />
<br />
Backbenchers MPs on the other hand often make speeches that express their gratefulness to the government. Even if they are putting forward certain issue, they are less harsh to the government. Their pleas are often constituency-based, especially those who are representing a rural area who will use this opportunity to address the grievance of their constituents or ask for more infrastructural development.<br />
<br />
As this is penned, the two weeks of debates by backbenchers and opposition has just finished. After this, the minsters from each ministry will make their speech as a respond to the issue raised by the MPs in the debates. It would be interesting to see how it unfolds as the tug-of-war continues.<br />
<br />
In theory, this whole exercise of Royal Address, followed by debates and then reply by ministers is good in a working democracy, however, it depends on the MPs whether they could make good use of the session to discuss matters of public importance and not for their own political benefit.<br />
<br />
<em>Ivy Kwek watched both "The King’s Speech" and the speech made by the YDPA and is quite sure that no speech therapists were involved in the latter case. She is sometimes annoyed by the childish behavior ofcertain MPs but has started to take it as a form of entertainment.</em></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18198938245505253338noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255938496603800190.post-10033621227068161422011-06-10T02:26:00.001+08:002012-01-11T19:32:48.138+08:00Towards electoral reform in Malaysia[<a href="http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2011/03/12/towards-electoral-reform-in-malaysia/">New Mandala</a>] March 12th, 2011<br />
<br />
“The [Malaysian] Election Commission only conducts and manages elections… I wish you would have gone to the Cabinet or the Attorney-General with your reform proposals as the commission doesn’t have the power to make laws”<br />
<br />
– Datuk Wira Wan Ahmad, deputy chief of the Election Commission.<br />
<br />
A public forum with the Election Commission (EC), organized by Bersih (the Coalition for clean and fair elections) on 22 February 2011 in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, turned out to be one of the most frustrating yet entertaining sessions for many activists longing to see electoral reforms in Malaysia.<br />
<br />
The deputy chief (of the EC), Datuk Wira Wan Ahmad Wan Omar was the center of attention. He was stormed with questions right from the word go.<br />
<br />
The Member of Parliament for Lembah Pantai, Nurul Izzah Anwar, questioned the delay in the use of indelible ink. Prior to the 2008 General Election, the government purchased indelible ink as a response to the civil society’s demands. The plan was however scrapped at the last hour, quoting security and public order issues.<br />
<br />
Wan Ahmad explained that it was scrapped following instructions from the government. However, Nurul Izzah argued that the Deputy Commissioner was passing the buck, quoting Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz, the minister in the Prime Minister department, who had explicitly denied the directive and stated that the cabinet merely ‘expressed their concern’ (over the use of indelible ink) to the Election Commission.<br />
<br />
The deputy commissioner however evaded further attacks by stating that the EC was now working on a biometric system. He argued that the use of indelible ink is a sign of ‘going backwards’, as only countries like India and Bangladesh which has ‘huge population’ and ‘young democracy’ utilizes it.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Question remains on what harm would it make if the country uses indelible ink? Does the commission have the credibility to talk about a sophisticated biometric system, if they had failed to even implement indelible ink, the simpler and inexpensive method?<br />
<br />
Furthermore, it is widely believed that Prime Minister Najib is likely to call for general election in the near future (possible as early as June 2011). The next general election is vital in determining the country’s political landscape – the Barisan Nasional (BN/National Front) to seek a return of two-third majority in Parliament, while the Pakatan Rakyat (People’s Coalition) is hoping that the Tsunami of 2008 will once again visit Malaysia and with larger force, to topple the BN.<br />
<br />
When asked if they will consider indelible ink in the next general election, given that biometric most probably won’t be ready by then, the deputy chief seems adamant that biometric system was the way to go.<br />
<br />
Another key question was on automatic registration. Currently there are some 4 million eligible voters who are not registered. The second man in the Election Commission did not think that it is a good idea and quoted the five following reasons:<br />
i) Many do not take the initiative to change their address and might be residing in area that is not in accordance to their identification card;<br />
<br />
ii) Many can’t be bothered to vote and their rights must be respected;<br />
<br />
iii) All registered voters’ particular will be made public in the electoral roll; privacy should therefore be respected as some might not be comfortable with it.<br />
<br />
iv) The drastic increase in voters will cause imbalance in the population of voters in the respective constituencies;<br />
<br />
v) There are legal aspects which need to be amended to allow the change.<br />
<br />
Among other issues raised were the increase in postal voters. There are 134,000 army officials and spouses alone. This highly opaque system has led to much electoral fraud in the Malaysian experience. No forthcoming answers were provided.<br />
<br />
On another issue, one campaigned by the MyOverseasVote, Wan Ahmad clarified that overseas students can vote as absentee voters and assured that the mistake had been clarified with Malaysian embassies.<br />
<br />
With regards to phantom voting, the deputy commissioner declined to comment as it has not been proven despite many allegations.<br />
<br />
Towards the end, Datuk Wira Wan Ahmad reiterated that the Malaysian Election Commission is only empowered to conduct and manage election, and has no say over law-making. All reforms that need provision from law, will need the passing of bill/s in the Parliament. While the Commission can make proposal, the deputy put it bluntly: ‘but this is not the practice of this country, having been under this government for so long’.<br />
<br />
The chairperson of Bersih, Ambiga Sreenevasan however assured him that if the EC is committed to reform, then civil society is ready to stand behind the EC’s reform agenda.<br />
<br />
It’s time for the EC to do its duty and stand with the people by ensuring free and fair elections, rather than legitimise the regime in power.<br />
<br />
Ivy Kwek is a Malaysian with a special interest in socio-political issues.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18198938245505253338noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255938496603800190.post-28967874831539541452011-06-10T02:23:00.001+08:002012-01-11T19:33:22.801+08:00Making sense of campus politics[<a href="http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/breakingviews/article/making-sense-of-campus-politics-ivy-kwek/">The Malaysian Insider</a>]MARCH 1,2011 — The recent campus elections in local universities have been no short of drama and emotion. From the missing candidate of University of Malaya, to the protests and broken glass, the public has been fed with news where students have appeared to be barbaric and university is portrayed as no longer a safe place for learning. Various comments flooded the media: some expressing worry over the decline of student security; some condemning the authorities for being undemocratic; while others simply concluded that the students were being immature.<br />
<br />
Interestingly enough, despite the perceived ‘barbaric’ behaviour, the Pro-Student (Pro-Mahasiswa) faction had marked the greatest success in garnering support, capturing the student council of two main campuses, namely University of Malaya, and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. In Universiti Putra Malaysia and Universiti Sains Malaysia where they are the ‘opposition’, there was a tremendous increase in support for the candidates of the so-called ‘illegal faction’.<br />
<br />
The devil is in the details. It is therefore the purpose of this article, to invite you to look beyond the populist view and to take a closer look at some of the causes of the problems, by listening to those at Ground Zero.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
THE BACKGROUND<br />
<br />
Student politics were largely unrestricted in days of yore, until post-Reformasi days, when the then deputy prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, was ousted, causing the anti-establishment spirit among students to rise to a new high. Recognising the increasing discontentment with the government, UMNO at that time allegedly conspired a major makeover in public education institutions by replacing ‘neutral’ vice chancellors with UMNO/Barisan Nasional (BN) insiders. Students who aligned themselves with the establishment were funded and trained to contest in order to curb the influence of the anti-establishment front whose activities were subject to a massive clampdown on as well. Faced with hard times, the support for the anti-establishment faction declined drastically, until 2009’s mini-success, which inherited the impact of Election 2008, and this year’s ‘little tsunami’ that heralded their huge comeback.<br />
<br />
It is an open secret that the Pro-Establishment faction, who identify themselves as Penggerak Mahasiswa, has the backing of the university authorities, while the Pro-Student faction, or the Pro-Mahasiswa, who resonate much of the Pakatan Rakyat’s ideology and policies, is allegedly associated with opposition parties at the national level. The role of the university in the Pro-Establishment is obvious — though unproven, candidates of the faction apparently utilised the residential colleges’ secretariat as a central operation room.<br />
<br />
The rules of the game are greatly imbalanced — candidates who were not ‘on their (Pro-Establishment) side’ were not allowed to campaign in residential colleges. Students were threatened with being denied accommodation in the college if they were found to be supporting the opposition. Several years ago, an incident was reported in which student numbers were jotted down beside the series number of the ballot paper in University of Malaya so that your choice of candidate wass traceable by the authorities. Money is never a factor to worry about for the Pro-Establishment candidates. Pro-Mahasiswa, meanwhile, have to raise their own funds, mainly from alumni. External political parties allegedly fund the student movement of both sides.<br />
<br />
Chow was an active member in the Pro-Mahasiswa faction of University of Malaya about five years ago. Commenting on this year’s elections, the alumnus believes that the reason Pro-Mahasiswa won big is that students want their voice to be heard. It is a protest vote to university authorities, particularly the student affairs department (HEP) for its bias, partly encouraged by recent events in the Middle East — students are beginning to realise that they can make a difference.<br />
<br />
Upon his graduation, Chow’s passion in politics carried on to the national platform. He believes that campus elections should go beyond campus issues. “Politics is a stream of thoughts, what more the issues affecting the students are issues beyond the campus,” he says. To him, the well-being of society is inseparable from politics.<br />
<br />
“The university authorities shouldn’t be afraid of confrontation; look at universities overseas, New York University, for example, allows clubs that take political sides such as the students Republican club.”<br />
<br />
SHATTERED GLASS AND DEMOCRACY<br />
<br />
Prior to the election, the Pro-Student faction in University of Malaya had protested at the Student Affairs’ Department (HEP) office to demand for a dialogue with the deputy vice chancellor on a cleaner and fairer electoral agenda. The official version of the story is that the deputy vice chancellor allowed two representatives to meet in her office. However, the protestors insisted that the deputy vice chancellor should meet them downstairs; if not, they would all crowd her office. When their request was not met, clashes between protestors and university staff occurred, and a glass door was broken.<br />
<br />
Amos, an ex-council member from the Pro-Establishment faction in 2009, condemned the Pro-Student faction for their lack of “logical reasoning” and “adherence to rule” in response to the ‘glass-breaking’ incident. “If they were less barbaric and aggressive, HEP wouldn’t be lopsided in their standings,” he said. His colleague, Timothy, also previously wrote in an article that the Pro-Student faction seems to enjoy being caught by the authorities and resorting to violence. “If that (the official explanation) is true, I would think that they need to know their limit in demands,” said the Timothy, now a final year medical student.<br />
<br />
The supporters of Pro-Mahasiswa would beg to differ and blame it on the unwillingness of the authorities to hold a dialogue. Fitrah, an ex-council member from the Pro-Student faction in 2009, who participated the recent ‘glass-breaking’ protest, counters, “Takkan nak jumpa TNC pun macam nak jumpa PM.” (How can it be that a request to meet the deputy vice chancellor is as hard as a request to see the Prime Minister).<br />
<br />
The question remains, can the voice of the students be heard if they do not resort to protests? Chow thinks that there’s nothing wrong with a student movement being ‘radical’, quoting examples of revolutions in China and France. Indeed, history shows that fundamental change often requires bold, radical, and sometimes seemingly ‘barbaric’ moves.<br />
<br />
IT’S ABOUT THE STUDENTS AFTER ALL<br />
<br />
Much politicisation somehow derailed attention to the periphery of the centre stage — the objective of the election itself. Student council members, like our national politics, are elected to represent the ‘people’ and champion issues pertaining to the welfare of students.<br />
<br />
Given that the Pro-Student faction stands in direct opposition to university authorities, what were the chances that when voted in, their demands would be met? Chow admits that the Pro-Student faction’s hands are tied in the student council and lack real power. However, they managed to increase awareness among students by endorsing statements on national issues, such as the Perak crisis and the call for the abolishment of the Internal Security Act (ISA) using the platform of the student council of University of Malaya in 2009, the year they won and ‘ruled’. The fact that students vote for the Pro-Student faction despite knowing they might not be able to deliver infrastructural promises shows that the political education of students is high enough to choose democracy over development. “Or maybe, they don’t have faith that Pro-Establishment can do it anyway as they are subject to the HEP as well,” comments Chow.<br />
<br />
Amos admits that there are flaws in the system and realises that the authorities could be bias. Nonetheless, he notes that things have improved greatly in UM. There is greater openness in allowing candidates from the Pro-Student faction to talk to students in colleges these days. He also opined that the fact the Pro-Student faction won this year shows that the electronic voting system, which was implemented since last year, does not lack transparency as deemed by the Pro-Student faction.<br />
<br />
For Amos, he has aligned himself with the Pro-Establishment faction because he believes in fighting within the system. “If you cannot beat the system, you go around it. I believe in the water philosophy — go with the flow and accommodate resistance, rather than go head-on and cause controversy,” he says.<br />
<br />
Timothy opines that voting should be based on candidacy, not party, as “there are bad apples in all bags.” He didn’t even know the differences between the two factions when he decided to contest in campus elections. He simply volunteered himself to his senior (a Pro-Establishment student, understandably) because he wanted to serve his fellow students.<br />
<br />
THE CHANGE WE [DIDN’T) MAKE<br />
<br />
While Chow takes pride in the success of the Pro-Mahasiswa-led student council in making a clear stance on key national issues, both Timothy and Fitrah think that the council did not succeed in promoting public awareness. “The council members are aware of the issues and have a stance of their own, but it does not permeate the student body at large. We did try to organise issue-based public forums but we had difficulty getting approval from HEP. That said, we didn’t push hard enough as we also were distracted by a million other things,’ says Fitrah. As she spoke, Timothy made notes using his phone, with the intention of using the information as advice for juniors.<br />
<br />
Within the council, there wasn’t substantial intellectual discussion either. Timothy believes that the role of a student council should be student-centric, much like how a government should be people-centric. “While national issues are important, issues that affect the students directly are more pertinent and should be given more emphasis,” he comments. This is in reference to issues like student transportation, security and academic facilities. He did not deny his admiration for the courage of Pro-Mahasiswa students to fight head-on to see their electoral reform demands through, but he thinks that the protest seems a little self-serving and there are better causes to fight for: “If they are organising an anti-smoking demonstration, I will certainly be there.” Fitrah, too, agrees that more effort needs to be made in educating less politically inclined students on the relevance of the macro national issues.<br />
<br />
Samuel from Universiti Putra Malaysia, the campus where protests similarly turned sour after the university’s decision to annul the legitimacy of the victory of Pro-Mahasiswa candidates, shares the same sentiment as Timothy. While he acknowledges that university authorities were “too arrogant” and “treat the students like kids”, he also thinks that the Pro-Mahasiswa camp seems to be “fighting for their own rights”. “I need a student council that really helps the students,” he comments. Nevertheless, he remains sympathetic to the Pro-Student faction for being suppressed by university authorities and strongly disapproves the undemocratic approach of university authorities to the elections, such as the short campaign period and the blocking of the internet in campus during the campaign period, possibly to prevent students from accessing information.<br />
<br />
AFTERTHOUGHTS<br />
<br />
When I was a student, among the first things first-year students were told in orientation week, was that we should focus on our studies and not get embroiled in campus politics and illegal organisations. We were shoved leaflets with testimonies of dropouts from ‘misleading’ unions on their regret over the fact that they neglected their studies. Towards the end of the week, I really believed what they said and thought that is what university is all about. Only after we were released to our respective faculties, I heard the story from the other side — stories of how students are forced to vote Pro-Establishment to secure college accommodation; of how your vote can be traced; of how candidates are harassed for running against the establishment.<br />
<br />
Later, I found out that under the Universities and University Colleges Act (AUKU), which was compulsory for us to sign, I cannot participate in a gathering of more than three people, as it is deemed illegal. I also found out that I, as a 21-year-old, can vote and even contest in national politics, but under the act, is not allowed to be a member of any political party. (Following an amendment, students are now allowed to join non-government organisations that are pre-approved by the vice chancellor).<br />
<br />
In retrospect, I feel that I’ve been treated like a fool. Politics or political thinking, in its ideal sense, is the pursuit of a good society, a science of the common good. In denying the younger generation an opportunity to be politically active, we are in effect denying them their right to patriotism.<br />
<br />
It gave me great comfort to conduct the various conversations with the student interviewees — though they differ in approach and platform, all are genuine in their aims to make their university a better place. Despite years of suppression of AUKU, students of local universities have managed to rise up and to think for themselves and the country they are about to inherit. While it is true that the discourse of student politics should go beyond protests and boycotts, one should not neglect the determining role played by university authorities. The campus elections are far from being a level playing field, and it is of utmost importance that the Education Ministry and university authorities restore public confidence that they are impartial, non-intervening bodies.<br />
<br />
Student leaders, on the other hand, need to go beyond the chants and memorandum. More effort is needed for them to remain relevant to students — the ordinary students whom they claim to be representing, and not just a talk shop among the enlightened ones who are in tune with political issues. Now that the Pro-Mahasiswa camp has gained much support from the universities, it is a golden opportunity for them to show that collectively, they can provide more constructive recommendations and alternative policy to the authorities’ mismanagement. It is also high time for them to ride the momentum to organise more students into having a stronger influence on national issues.<br />
<br />
In the case of UM, recent attempts to make elections fairer are encouraging. The willingness of the authorities to listen is commendable, yet one should not undermine the good fight fought by the students in the past that exerted pressure on the authorities to act and to keep them accountable. It could be said that it is the fruits of their reform agenda, and it could be a form of motivation for others who are working hard against the tide.<br />
<br />
The truth is, no matter how hard you try to contain it, the spirit of youthful idealism is irresistible; even the most indifferent student, if sufficiently riled up, would feel the urge to demand for truth and justice.<br />
<br />
* Ivy Kwek is an aspiring writer who reflects on life in this country. She is proudly local university-bred despite all odds.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18198938245505253338noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255938496603800190.post-44675764001799782012011-06-10T01:43:00.003+08:002011-06-10T02:07:25.776+08:00My other writings: SERI, New Mandala, The Malaysian Insider, LoyarBurokIn between my time I also write briefly on a freelance basis. I self-initiated to write one on campus election as it was an issue too close to my heart for me not to write. I sent it to the Malaysian Insider and it was picked up! It was the first time my article got accepted by such prominent national media (well, except for those statements i drafted in my ex-boss' name la) and I was totally thrilled.<br /><br />My friend invited me to write for an Australian-based website which focusses on southeast asia called New Mandala. It was indeed an honour to me as the website receives some international readership. Unfortunately I didn't sustain well with this as I stopped after the first one, similarly with The Malaysian Insider.<br /><br />Upon arrival in KL I discovered a community blog (sorry it's Blawg as they called it) called LoyarBurok. I didn't know about them when I was in Penang and apparently they are doing very actively well! Made up mainly by lawyers, they also include social activists, students, and journalists. I wrote twice for them. <br /><br />In fact, prior to this I actually was writing for the Penang Economic Monthly, a subsidiary production of SERI, my ex-working place which is a semi-state government think tank. I started off writing for it with absolutely no clue about writing an article - i'm lucky to get editors who are so tolerant and kind in 'endorsing' my experiments - the articles are somewhat heavily edited. To kick it off, I started by interviewing interesting peoples or organisations in Penang (I've since write in a different fashion these days, perhaps I should try the interview approach again one of these days.). I wrote three for them (plus one more recently after I left the job) and one of them, to my pleasnat surprise, was used as an cover issue of the month. That meant a lot to a new writer like me and it kept me going.<br /><br />I'll certainly try to write more and hopefully, more regularly and more diversely. Keep the ball rolling!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18198938245505253338noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255938496603800190.post-51071324487492371952011-06-10T01:37:00.001+08:002012-01-11T19:34:23.540+08:00Rocket#3: Yang Berhormat at Your Service<em>My favorite thus far!:)</em><br />
<br />
[<a href="http://therocket.com.my/en/index.php/2011/03/02/yang-berhormat-at-your-service-by-ivy-kwek/">The Rocket</a>, March 2011]As a child, I used to look up to those with titles in front of their names.“Yang Berhormat, Dato’, Tan Sri.” I did not know their exact meanings, but it made them sound important. This impression was enhanced when I realized that adults spoke to them with a respectful, even fearful tone. On my first day of work with my current boss, a Member of Parliament, I felt so nervous, as if I was about to meet a supernatural being.<br />
<br />
After growing up, I learnt that ‘Yang Berhormat’ (YB) is a title reserved for elected representatives. Im intrigued how a person can earn the title overnight, simply by scoring more ballots than their competitors in an election. These are often fierce contests; a slight change on voting patterns could be crucial to the final result. Yet, a victory at the ballot box, however narrow it is, instantly transforms a person – who before the election does whatever it takes to woo voters –into an ‘honourable’ person. Were they less honourable before they were called so? Or does it mean that the party who lost is less honourable?<br />
<br />
Unlike doctors, engineers or architects who earn their titles through education; politicians earn theirs by convincing voters that they are the best candidate to carry out the job. They do not pass exams for this; the title is given before they prove themselves worthy of it. In other words, the voters are taking a bet on them. Winning the trust of the people earns them titles, but whether they live up to it remains to be seen in the days to come.<br />
<br />
Titles do not an honourable person make. Exaltations are given to elected representatives not because of what they deserve, but because of what is expected of them. The question then is, what should be expected of the YBs?<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
In a 1979 study by Musolf and Springer, 29.2 percent of the Malaysian MPs interviewed felt that ‘resolving local conflicts’ is the single greatest expenditure of their time, while 20 percent spent most of their time ‘dealing with civil agency on behalf of constituents’. Only 6.3 percent spent most of their time debating and amending bills. Clearly, activities to meet specific needs of constituents took centrestage, while their legislative roles as parliamentarians were diminished.<br />
<br />
Thirty years on, not much has changed. MPs are still preoccupied on the grassroots level, attending social function after social function – it is not uncommon to see them at five events on the same night during festive seasons. Even when Parliament sits, most MPs invariably shuttle from capital to constituency to juggle multiple duties.<br />
<br />
In a recent survey by Merdeka Centre, 29 percent of the participants felt that the main responsibility of an MP is to attend to local issues such as drainage issues. This sentiment was especially prevalent among the Indians (41 percent).<br />
<br />
In theory, Malaysia’s three-tiered government system places local issues under the local government. Unfortunately, most voters do not know how to differential between the roles of the federal, state, and local governments as stated in the Constitution.<br />
<br />
Potholes, clogged drains, falling trees, and other related issues are the duty of the local council. Welfare aid and scholarship applications could just as well be conducted directly without elected representatives’ ‘recommendations’. Squatters’ issues (in which MPs are often asked to step in) could be easier resolved with legal reform. The bottom line is, many of the complaints brought to MPs service centres could be solved at the local government level, aided by a competant and efficient civil service.<br />
<br />
In many ways, Malaysian MPs have inherited the role of traditional authority-figure in a kampong, where the village head is the go-to person for all things big and small. Today, a wakil rakyat also acts as welfare officer, land officer, family counsellor, and everything else in between.<br />
<br />
In some cases, citizens expect their MPs to contribute to local infrastructure. But many are not aware of the lopsided distribution of parliamentary constituency allocations. Only MPs from Barisan National receive this allocation, which should rightfully be given to all parliamentarians equally regardless of partisanship. Opposition MPs are forced to operate solely from their personal salary or from funds raised on personal initiative.<br />
<br />
Indeed, a personal touch does garner publicity and political mileage. But what exactly did we elect our elected representative for? Although our vote gave them their jobs, it is not their job to fulfil our demands. They represent the aspirations of our entire constituency at a national level, and hence should be freed from focusing on the specific requests of particular constituents. In this way, they can concentrate on their role as legislators and policy-makers.<br />
<br />
It indicates that we are still trapped in a feudalistic system if an MP’s success is judged by his ability to deliver resources, or if ‘showing face’ at local functions overtakes policy formulation an MP’s list of priorities.<br />
<br />
Before they fault MPs unduly for neglecting local issues, voters should consider the importance of MPs parliamentary duties. Scholars have noted that without MPs thoroughlly scrutinizing bills, a weak Parliament will pass haphazard laws. Elyas went as far as to note that the historical New Economic Policy was developed by an economic task group of civil service officials, and swept through at a time when Parliament was prorogued.<br />
<br />
Today, we see history repeating itself, when as many as seven bills are rushed through in a single day of sitting. During the last Parliamentary session, certain bills were passed with only an hour of debate among 222 parliamentarians. No bill has ever been subjected to a bi-partisan select committee for substantial deliberation.<br />
<br />
Even the New Economic Model – supposedly the economic document that will chart the development path of the nation – was not tabled for debate. Without a proper platform for policy deliberation, the passing of bills is more often according to party stance rather than reason.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18198938245505253338noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255938496603800190.post-47556835041040291062011-06-10T01:33:00.003+08:002012-01-11T19:34:50.325+08:00Rocket#2: Mr. Speaker, make up your mind!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_kB8ER0Ek9ddtzf-Nguty-enrp4QlXY05PG4PkU_mBp6X2vsH1iFPUsERG_oBOYsf7D5FNCe_tAApogu__KBYhy3aNfuyEnP3Vcsl2CAn_VJBcm1eRhiOliTHjBzjC00MKHEzs1JOp46/s1600/5325858883_6ae58fd65c_m.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616275323041480050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_kB8ER0Ek9ddtzf-Nguty-enrp4QlXY05PG4PkU_mBp6X2vsH1iFPUsERG_oBOYsf7D5FNCe_tAApogu__KBYhy3aNfuyEnP3Vcsl2CAn_VJBcm1eRhiOliTHjBzjC00MKHEzs1JOp46/s320/5325858883_6ae58fd65c_m.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 137px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
[<a href="http://therocket.com.my/en/index.php/2011/01/05/mr-speaker-make-up-your-mind/">THE ROCKET</a>, January 2011] The recently concluded House of Representatives sitting has seen to be a season of cutting salaries. A total of ten motions to cut the salaries of the Attorney-General, the Chief of Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission, the eights Ministers i.e. of Energy, green technology and water, defense, tourism, works, transport, information and communication technology, health and women, family and community development, respectively, were brought forward, which is a significant number.<br />
<br />
The attack mode in Parliament was somehow interspersed with some humour, when the deputy Speaker of the House, Ronald Kiandee, made a careless mistake twice in the house. In the motion moved by Lim Kit Siang to cut the salary of the Attorney-General by RM10, the deputy Speaker caught the House by surprise, judging wrongly on which vote got a ‘louder’ voice, almost causing the motion to be passed and granting the opposition an accidental score. Interestingly, he repeated the same mistake several days later when the pay-cut motion was moved again, this time, against the minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water Peter Chin Fah Kui, almost jeopardising his credibility.<br />
<br />
For those who are not familiar with parliamentary procedure, this process, which is called voice voting, is a customary procedure in the passing of bills and motions. In usual cases, BN MPs will collectively say ‘ayes’ to the passing of the bill, while the opposition usually say ‘noes’ to it. Although the standing order 46 (2) states that the Speaker shall collect the voices and declare the result, it is almost an open secret that the Speaker will always judge in favour of the government.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
In these two cases, however, the pay-cut motions were being moved by the opposition, thus it would be the other way round with the government saying no and opposition saying yes. The deputy Speaker, at the first instance judged that there are more voices saying ‘ayes’, which implied that the motion would be passed. Although he later retracted his remarks, the ambiguity has led to the protest of the opposition.<br />
<br />
The opposition made good use of Standing Order 46 (4) which states that a Division can be called if more than 15 members ask for it. Division by its definition is recorded votes by name-calling. Though both the motions were eventually rejected with the government majority, the confusion of the Speaker, possibly by his mundane obligation, undoubtedly raised questions on whether the Speaker was acting impartially.<br />
<br />
A pass to the motion, although not of serious financial harm to civil servants nor to the government, would nonetheless have been seen as a vote of no confidence for the government and would also have earned some political mileage for the opposition. Though the day was eventually saved for BN, these incidents shed some light on the institutional structure that is worth pondering.<br />
<br />
Choosing a Speaker is one of the first things a newly elected House does. Selecting a Speaker by voting also means that Speaker is usually from the government’s camp. It is usually preceded with internal negotiation within the party, or in the case of Malaysia, between the component parties in the coalition, to decide who the agreed candidate is.<br />
<br />
The partisanship of a Speaker, thus often leads to the contestation of the issue of his independence in judgment. How does the House ensure the independence of their Speaker? By convention, a Speaker will resign from their party position once they are elected, as in the case of the current Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia. However, this is not an obligation. In order to ensure that the Speaker can function without financial ties, United Kingdom law has it that the salary of the Speaker should come from the consolidated fund, not subjected to the approval of Parliament (House of Commons Act (Speakers) 1832). In Zambia, it is an obligation to choose from outside of the Parliament.<br />
<br />
It is perhaps worthwhile to note that unlike the presiding officer of other countries’ legislative body, the Speaker of the Malaysian Parliament does not enjoy as much power, as our Parliament does not draft its own budget nor does it have control over its personnel. The budget of Parliament comes under the Federal Budget, while personnel are subjected to the supervision of the Public Services Department.<br />
<br />
All things said, the author’s personal opinion is that ultimately, a Speaker earns his credibility by judging with reason and impartiality, not by acting in an authoritarian fashion. The discerning power of the Speaker should be practiced decently, with reasons given that convincing to all parties and the public. The recent decision of the Speaker in rejecting an emergency motion to admonish the teacher who made racial slurs (on the grounds that the motion has no urgency), and the emergency motion on the shooting of three teenagers by police (on the grounds that the motion was not specific, urgent and of public interest) are incidents that have raised doubts amongst the opposition members of Parliament concerning the Speaker’s professionalism.<br />
<br />
Perhaps, someone should consider moving a motion to cut the Speaker’s salary instead.[THE ROCKET] </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18198938245505253338noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255938496603800190.post-59777489201612501512011-06-10T01:05:00.005+08:002012-01-11T19:35:18.518+08:00Rocket#1: Parliament as the INSTITUTION OF DEMOCRACY deserves a Bigger budget<em>I've been writing for the Rocket since last December when I first assumed work in REFSA (research of social advancement) which is an autonomous yet DAP-affliated think tank. The Rocket is a party newspaper of the Democratic Action Party which has served as its mouthpiece since the formative years of the party, but as it faces the new era of politics, it aspires to move from a mere propaganda machine to a research-based magazine. It fits me well as I too believe that votes shall be won with reasons and not emotions alone. Though partisan, the arguements are substantiated with facts.<br /><br />I was originally approached to write on parliamentary reform and I stuck to it. It is a relatively dry subject and if you finds it boring, it's normal :) It's like trying to cook a dish that is healthy and at the same time tasty, I'm still finding the balance between information and entertainment.</em><br />
<em>So, here's the very first one (The Rocket, December 2010):</em><span style="font-size: 180%;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 180%;"><strong>Parliament as the INSTITUTION OF DEMOCRACY deserves a Bigger budget</strong></span><br />
Standing at RM214 billion, the 2011 budget is the largest budget that Malaysians have received thus far. However, much of the hype has overshadowed an institution whose importance is often neglected – the Parliament. This year, the Parliament received an allocation of only RM78 million. Last year, RM66 million was allocated.<br />
<br />
Though there has been increase in value, the amount Parliament received is actually insignificant compared to other agencies and ministries. The Prime Minister’s Department, the mega-ministry of Malaysia, received an operational budget of RM5 billion and a developmental budget of RM10.8 billion. A mere bureau in the Prime Minister’s department, Biro Tata Negara (BTN), is already costing RM66 million. Even the ministry that is smallest in budget size, Ministry of Federal Territories and Urban Well-Being, will be receiving RM584 million. In fact, the amount received by Parliament is actually only a 0.05% share of the total budget.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
One should be reminded that the Parliament is made up of members that are elected by popular votes. Parliament, therefore, is the representation of people, at least in theory. It is meant to scrutinise the workings of the government, to legislate laws, to enable the government’s financial provisions and to address public grievances. Thus, it is ideally a channel to allow the public to have a say in the government policy.<br />
<br />
Theoretically, the MP from the party or a coalition of parties that secures that confidence of the majority will be the prime minister and will form his or her own government. As Malaysia practices the parliamentary democracy system, it also means that the government will always be the majority in Parliament, as opposed to the presidential system in United States, where the president and the majority of Congress can come from a different party.<br />
<br />
That would also mean that the policies proposed by the government will most likely be passed. But as ironic as it may sound, Parliament still has a role to play particularly in raising contentious issues. This has become apparent with more opposition MPs elected into the parliament in the last general elections.<br />
<br />
Sadly, the lack of emphasis in empowering the democratic institution has longed handicapped the Malaysian Parliament from unleashing its full potential. Under the long domination of the governing party prior to the last general elections, the Parliament has turned into a mere rubber-stamp of the government.<br />
<br />
Nonetheless, parliament should not be a centre stage for political drama, but the place where serious policy debates with substantial intellectual input that would lead to the better outcome for decision-making in the country.<br />
<br />
Up to 2011, the budgets allocated to Parliament are all of operational nature – which is to say, the RM78 million is for the maintenance of Parliament and not for its expansion, whether through soft or hard infrastructure.<br />
<br />
General Administration<br />
RM22 million<br />
<br />
House Management<br />
RM51.7 million<br />
<br />
Overseas Duties<br />
RM3.4 million<br />
<br />
Association of Parliamentary Librarians of Asia and Pacific (APLAP) KL 2011<br />
RM200,000<br />
<br />
Emolument for Contractual Staff<br />
RM643,000<br />
<br />
Considering that an MP gets monthly allowances of about RM 13,000 and that we have 222 of them, the amount alone will come near to RM35 million, almost half of the total budget already! Factoring in the paycheques of the 314 staffs in Parliament, there are virtually nothing left for value-added activity for the institution.<br />
<br />
Much indeed can be done for Parliament in order to promote democracy.<br />
<br />
First of all, more parliamentary committees should be formed to discuss specific bills or to investigate contentious issues in greater details, which is hardly possible in the formal House setting. An uncommon practice in Malaysia’s Parliament, this approach is widely used in other countries such as Australia and the UK. Such committees can help to facilitate the legislative process as it allows more meaningful bi-partisan discussions to happen. It also leverages on the expertise of different MPs by arranging them into committees according to their areas of concern.<br />
<br />
These committees will then submit a report of recommendation to the House for consideration. In countries such as Philippines and New Zealand, the committees also actively engage the public by holding open hearings and forums. In South Africa, an institution called the People’s Assembly which meets once a year was established to bring people of all sectors together to reflect on the impact of the Bill of Rights and the Constitution on their lives.<br />
<br />
In Malaysia, though it is provided for in the Standing Orders, committees are rarely set up to discuss bills except the Human Rights committee and the Public Accounts Committee (the other three committees are set up for internal administration issue).Here, after the second reading of the bill, the House will simply enter a ‘committee stage’ and pretend that they are a committee with 222 members. The only difference would be that the mace, which is lifted up to signify the house in meeting, will be lifted down during this period. As the result, most bills will only be able to secure a pathetic three to four-hour debate session.<br />
Secondly, there are no provisions for individual research staff for MPs. In fact, other than the ministers, there are no individual office spaces provided for MPs, opposition and government backbenchers alike. According to the Senarai Perjawatan 2011 (list of jobs and positions), the research unit under the Parliament is staffed by 15 Grade 48 research officers, which leaves it clearly understaffed as there are 222 MPs that they are supposed to serve. In comparison, the Australian Parliament houses an extensive and well-established parliament research unit of 75 members including section directors, executive assistants, and researchers.<br />
<br />
Workshops and awareness programmes organised by the Malaysian Parliament has been minimal, whether for the parliamentarians or for public. More efforts can be done in the capacity building for our MPs to empower them in their roles as policy-makers. Similarly, awareness programmes for the public should be conducted to help them understand the rationale of the institution and its relevancy to the nation’s well being. New Zealand, for example, publishes a handbook that advises the public how to make submissions to lobby the parliamentary committees on key issues.<br />
<br />
Live broadcast of the House proceedings should be made available to the public, either via the web or television. Currently, only the first half hour of each day’s sitting is broadcast through national channel RTM 1. While the viewership is a separate matter, the move will show the government’s sincerity in promoting greater transparency and the acknowledgement that the people have the right to know the goings-on of Parliament. With the technology now available, this is a reform that can be easily accomplished.<br />
<br />
These are a few proposed reforms that will not come at great financial expense of the country. If adopted, it will bring great impact to the policy-making process that will eventually benefit the people. Thus, it is up to the government of the day if they have the political will to make it a reality.<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616273473508158690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0wq6M8WgWABvsyaHDl_vS39AV-TFEMWeceDDJHatHvMtGgmKxFowK51PCQsAR7bYKU9EoUeLLyEHuyUVq0E_AuOORki5-F5BiozsgQAoXyLoyfYcgvpagWUt1ONhzNZ4Z4IV_nDXf2u9P/s320/5220073641_3f57d47263.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 249px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
<br />
<div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18198938245505253338noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255938496603800190.post-56830208211041663782011-04-02T20:01:00.002+08:002011-04-02T20:35:48.336+08:00Boredom.Big Heart.Being thereBoring - Today is arguably one of the most boring day I've ever had. I am supposedly on a campaign trail in Sarawak for DAP, but because of the late delivery of some material, works didn't get to progress as I wish.<br /><br />Big Heart - Today I have to learn to stay put with people that i'm not comfortable with. I learnt that I need to have a big heart to love and tolerate the different kinds of humanbeings around me. <br /><br />Being There - I grumbled a little about having had to come so early. Because of this assignment, I'm missing my mum's birtday for the first time, and his first birthday we would ever celebrate. Is this struggle worth the sacrifice? I convinced myself to cast away all doubts, for this is about a greater good, and though being early means unavoidable boredom, it is also an act of making myself available for what needs that might arised.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18198938245505253338noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255938496603800190.post-69156994967644363152011-04-01T23:59:00.003+08:002011-04-02T20:37:30.005+08:00A Time for EverythingMy friend challenged me to enroll on this April Challenge to blog from A-Z everyday this month except Sundays. <br /><br />Blog, hrmph... I used to be a fan of it. Somewhere along the way, I stopped. I stopped telling people about my life, for I felt that noboday will be interested. I stopped penning down thoughts, for there are a degree of difference of difficulty in thinking, and writing down your thoughts.<br /><br />There was many attempts to revive my blog (as you can see from my previous post), but it doesn't sustain long. The only consolation is that, well, I still tweet (with @kwekii) :)<br /><br />Perhaps this challenge can get me on track again, but it would not be easy. Anyway, I'm giving it a try, like I always do ;) <br /><br />How should I start if off then? First thing that came to my mind is the verse from Ecclesiastes - 'There is a time for everything'. Indeed, I had traveled (in ages) long enough (though not too long) to learn that human embrace different passion, values and obsessions in different time of their life. There will be time when you do things that you would never imagine yourself doing, time when you'll be in places you've always dreamt to be. Time when you regret for what you've done, and time for what you've not done.<br /> <br /><em>1To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: <br /><br />2A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; <br /><br />3A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; <br /><br />4A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; <br /><br />5A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; <br /><br />6A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; <br /><br />7A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; <br /><br />8A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. <br /><br />9What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? 10I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. <br /><br />11He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. <br /><br />12I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. 13And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God. 14I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. 15That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past. <br /><br />16And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. 17I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work. 18I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. 19For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. 20All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. 21Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? 22Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him? <br /><br /><< Ecclesiastes 3 >><br />King James Version </em><br /><br />C'est la vie! We just have to keep hoping.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18198938245505253338noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255938496603800190.post-72163449939113339962010-12-24T14:31:00.000+08:002010-12-24T14:32:35.296+08:00Christmas wish from YB Liew Chin TongChristmas is a season of love and giving, of the hope of peace and goodwill. <br /> <br />As we gather with our beloved on this joyous day, lest we forget those who lost theirs – the orphans, the homeless, the abandoned senior citizens in our midst – those are the people whom government has the responsible upon to formulate long term policy to assist, besides giving out ‘goodies’ during the festive seasons.<br /> <br />As we enjoy our festive meals, lest we forget those who struggled to make ends meet for the family, bearing in mind 40% of our fellow Malaysian household which still earn a collective income of less than RM 1500 per month. Lest we forget there are more than 2 million undocumented migrant workers and refugees in our midst, often discriminated by the xenophobic segment of the society. Lest we forget the 34% of the workers of Malaysia who are being paid monthly salary below poverty level i.e. less than RM700 per month, who will be the most affected as the government is withdrawing the subsidies of basic food. <br /> <br />As we sing and dance in joy, lest we forget those physically disabled, who suffered from the inadequacy of disabled-friendly facilities. Lest we forget those whose freedom has been stripped away by draconian laws, those who had been or still detained without trial under Internal Security Act and Emergency Ordinance, and the 1,535 who had died in custody between 2003 and 2008 (and the number is increasing).<br /> <br />In this season of love, let us call for our country to be ruled by justice, to be freed from corruption and monopoly of cronies, to be a place where the people can live, learn and work without fear or insecurity, to be a place where all would call home. <br /> <br />In this season of hope, lest we forget that we are meant to be the good steward of God, to bring forward public good in the exercise of our faith. Let us keep our faith, that with genuine institutional reform and good governance, we can strive forward to make our country a better place. <br /> <br />Merry Christmas. <br /> ~ Liew Chin Tong ~Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18198938245505253338noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255938496603800190.post-14701086485198261712010-11-09T11:15:00.003+08:002010-11-10T09:22:50.435+08:00二十二岁的最后二小时二十二岁的最后一晚,选择了在房里独自一个人过。<br /><br />这次生日,来得格外平静。要不是几位友人提前祝贺,我还真可能会把它给忘了 。也许是心情, 也许是忙碌,也许是长大了。无论如何,少了对生日的期待,多了对岁月的情怀。<br /><br />想起小时候,常担心长大后会不会出人头地,就像那首西方童谣, 'Que Sera Sera' 中的小女孩在问,Will I be pretty? Will I be rich? 歌里歌外母亲的答复,也成了小女孩的安慰和肯定:What will be, will be. <br /><br />记忆中,成长过程中,也是那么好胜,那么kiasu. 凡事都要做得最好,凡事都要胜人一筹。 就连衣着, 虽提倡穿得简单,却又要在简单中找到不平凡, 然后享受人们投于羡慕眼光的那一刻。小学和中学时的各样大小成就,塑立了必要的自信,无意间也养肥了不必要的自傲。<br /><br />十五岁那年,出现了信仰的邂逅,认识了基督,让我对生命的定义大大改观。同时发生的校园人事危机,更让我看清楚自己那副不可一世的丑陋模样。十八岁考中六,成绩预想不到的不理想,毁了我儿时的医生梦,前途急转弯下选择了生物系。隔年,爸爸因病呈辞,家里财务状况出现问题。 <br /><br />笔时,是风浪稍微平息的一年后。一年前,毕业后立刻回槟城,一是想家, 二是想为这个家尽一份力。 毕业前已决定自己的未来不属于实验室,却不知何去何从-只知道想为社会做一些事,而‘政策’这字眼一直在脑海里荡漾。偶然的机会下到民主行动党当实习生,还以为政治嘛,玩玩就算,怎知遇到的正是一位常把政策挂在嘴边的年轻政客。这样误打误撞,其中肯定有上天的安排。<br /><br />风浪稍微平息的一年后, 家人关系显见的好转,恢复了教会生活,最近也完了拥有属于自己的屋子的心愿。工作上有了起色,也找到了很大的满足感。虽然会因为其政治及服务性质,难免有质疑的时候,却只有往前走, 才知道下一步要怎么抉择。感情生活零分,有点失落,却开始相信,这是用苦难包裹的祝福,因为单身,所以可以单飞。<br /><br />有人说,十多岁的女生是待放的花苞,而三十岁的女人最为盛放美丽。那,二十余岁,就是在绽放中咯!二十三岁的我,还是和小时一样,不要平凡,要轰轰烈烈。一直觉得过去做得不够,要趁年轻做大事,所以会对自己有些苛求,不想自己耽误宝贵的光阴,哪怕就那一分一秒。 <br /><br />走下去,也许还要哼着那首'Que Sera Sera',the future is not for us to see, what will be, will be. 更重要的,是对神存一份信心,相信祂都明瞭,相信祂会赐下最好的。<br /><br />12.37am 9 Nov 2010Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18198938245505253338noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255938496603800190.post-60059444239351406362010-10-30T03:24:00.014+08:002010-10-30T05:19:29.780+08:00Bangkok 2010After working in SERI for a year, I am now moving on. Looking ahead to my new job, which I think will be both exciting and challenging, I thought I really need do a little seeing of the world, before I engage into the right gear for work. Traveling has also been a luxury in my family’s dictionary, hence I travelled much less than I wish I had. It is only made possible now that I earn my own salary. Initially, I was thinking of Cambodia, but was too timid to travel alone in that country. My immediate second choice was Bangkok. I don’t know much about Bangkok and Thailand, the choice was indeed impulsive and instinctive. It’s just that the name rings a bell on me, seemingly mysterious and lively at the same time. Mum was nagging me a big deal as she worried of my safety due to the recent political instability in Thailand, but I was silently hoping for see some sort of protest taking place during the trip - perhaps it was the recent political hype to cause the curious me to start to show interest in the people, to get to know what life mean to them.<br /><br />Sera, a friend from Korea, needed to get out of Malaysia to get her immigration record renewed, so it fits well that we could go on a trip together. We soon roped in Erica, and Sera’s mum while the other colleagues looks in admiration. They later proved to be good companions and had added a lot of joy throughout the trip.<br /><br /><strong>The moving Smarties</strong><br />As we arrived, the first thing that caught our eyes was the colourful vehicles bustling on the road of Bangkok. As Erica puts it cheekily; they are like moving Smarties (those choco beans people similar my age grew up eating)!<br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533564913937202978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiEIhu5JeYHZPnvQiGQUv4fR4ElYDJSat-50zpF9z2-bQyyJgcSXZCA4uTfHg_lK1h3XNGjZM1aC5MAeMK_LjFTjq97lwVwwwtqRYe7aihE-RkalGtD6EMbHIrB7tKp4Gc4bq7dRiQJMk3/s320/IMG_4509.JPG" />Well thanks a lot to her, the imagery has now stuck in my head. Traffic was heavy, albeit messy with the Tuk-tuks and motorcycles criss-crossing between other bigger vehicles. This, with the eye-catching choice of colours of the taxis, gave Bangkok otherwise boring landscape some form of life. Yet, mess doesn’t equate chaos. In the irregularity of Bangkok, there seems to be an unspoken order.<br /><br /><strong>The monarch and his people</strong><br />We started our journey with a visit to the National Museum. The museum displays a chronological history, from the early kingdom of Sukhothai and Attuthaya, the gain and loss of land to and from Burma, Laos and Cambodia, to the unification of Siam up to the current Ninth reign. Given my nature of work and the political philosophy I am accustomed to, I can’t help but ask: what about democracy? Indeed the museum doesn’t talk much about it, except that constitution was written in 1932 that gives birth to an elected government. I do not recall the museum talking about the 1997 reformist constitution, and certainly not the military coup took over in 2006, supposedly with the backing of the monarch and ousted out the former Prime Minister Thaksin who was allegedly corrupted. The following political developments are much complicated, depending on which side you hear from, and only time will tell how the current political instability of Thailand will unfolds.<br /><br />Even so, one should notice that the status of the King has remained relatively unchallenged amid the political instability. I was always amazed by the Thai people’s love for their king. Last year when I visited Khuan Niang, a small town in South Thailand, I was rendered speechless to see that every house proudly raises their national flags and hang the pictures of the royal families. How many Malaysians will do the same?</p><p> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533565831343087282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BAJotR7peJv61Fyyd__s1QEg7RDHAV4ApY4kCLy_4NzVxt96f3q5ykpYEgTdX0QzsqRKVtFn3C2aiC-ZxXBhdAi6RK_7WyiP6eV9pGl-1tjrv8-Jz2U34PU_4kLmCKoMeAg8zPIoKzZq/s320/IMG_0239.JPG" />In Bangkok, the King’s presence is constantly felt, with His Majesty’s portrait displayed at the obvious corner of every street. Monuments are common in the city, almost fell like one for each of the previous kings of Siam (except for two: the democracy monument which celebrates the transformation from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy in 1932 and the Victory monument which celebrate Thai victory against French in Laos in 1939).<br /></p><div><div><div><div></div><div> </div><div>While it is perhaps over simplistic to think how the money used for the royal propaganda can be better spent so that more can benefit from it, it is nevertheless a justified thought. The practice of this sort is in principle nothing new, but seemingly a tradition that the royal lineage inherited. The Grand Palace of the King of Siam was indeed a century masterpiece of architecture, magnificent almost beyond the comprehension of a working-class Malaysian daughter like me. As the King of Siam was (and still is) the provider and protector of Buddhism, Wats are almost always built upon and only upon the King instruction. Temple of Emerald Buddha, Golden Mount, Wat Arun – they are, I can only say, breathtaking.<br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533567410460359570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2qa_VEqilcTs4qhYibPBe66mfolFkBlR87539IM7-3qSso_AbkhnQnaxFB7rp3VcQnsqoDWYz74VrWyq7O76WcXD5bv0lxUterenqf33ENS3DkCcXyanyvvSkxqlKA2dV11n-202FG4o/s320/IMG_4625.JPG" /><br /><div><strong>The God of Thai</strong><br />Having spent most of my childhood years in Buddhist Dharma Schools, I took the liberty to claim some expertise in it. Buddhism, as I know of, teaches simple living and self-enlightenment. Lord Buddha, an Indian Prince born with great status, leaves the riches of the world, to pursue answers to life fulfillment. He, in his own words, is a teacher, not a supernatural power that is able to dictate nor protect. Yet, the God-like treatment he got from the Thai believers, are seemingly contrary to his teaching. What would Buddha thinks, if he sees<br />the glorification he received as such? </div><div> </div><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533568711508728674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdGrhBhGP9n6mN58Z0o1iF9Y31aaVqbwsnfcT988N8_hmbkm5uqjz2suFhsfUSR7yQqnOhXj9pk36f-daIBy51CGuHbv3AK8_hlfHnpiq_eCkE2ejS08-FR14G9zdugzL_rjIgGmy-VhG/s320/IMG_4665.JPG" /><br />There is less doubt that Thai people are a religious nation. Thailand has also been the heartland for Buddhism. The Wats are always full of devotees. The Erwan shrine even stood tall right in front of a shopping mall in the city center, with many shoppers worshipping in between their shopping schedule. I see a close proximity between religiosity and modernity.</div><div> <div></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533578594831988738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfO6lRT46sAaePMrDA3WNOuOTK4yvauf3EzxbRI-l2fanQpvNXHAUXoeYF2MDDGr35TuZXcUNltW5imyBXmimVfDknh4ZVvWrHB2ufB84UiU2e5XuYGnnMcOQRoCkQtMvxxd-8K92NBbV/s320/IMG00097-20101025-1903.jpg" />As we walk past the King Chulalongkorn’s stature, we similarly found a crowd worshipping the statue. It could be that it was the King’s memorial day, but the point is that kings had indeed taken a place of deity in the mind of the Thais. </div><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533576330889005842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54CWxah8-mA5mrid4vm-PLMD5J9jQyPe4FN7nnmBK8TIFShQaDOFpQTFJ2AUEwb3w3XDIPYSlxscM9vDlgrVepAEhX_KWU6fNiIhNHzTSRHsX5SHCgmk1UelRNCI7QnNfS9BhDhnvhiKA/s320/IMG00078-20101025-1556.jpg" /> While we are attracted to the bright colours choice on the streets, we also notice that pink appears the most. Pink houses, pink taxis, Bank with pink as theme colour (!), pink bicycles (rode by a male!)… We just couldn’t figure out why Thais like pink so much. </div><div> </div><div></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533574979409142482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcUtMZLmJykHojF8ioMq63n9_yP1ZsymlMJkrl_RPGdNdEjuNU26vsOJKA32m8PLCoehbyZrQX-uTGJCdcGjYgaBIvimRdo4H_mp-jspbnoQgNEhFa1tFI568izr9g3Nglyt231GMuJeD/s320/IMG_4555.JPG" />Interestingly, I later read that on the 7 Nov 2007, when the king emerged from hospital after nearly four weeks of illness, he was wearing a propitious pink shirt and jacket. Because of that, loyal supporters rushed to change the special yellow royal shirts they had been wearing for over a year to pink ones. Astrologers suggested that the planet Mars, which is associated to Tuesday and the color pink, would help restore the King to full health. Could that be the reason why we see pink everywhere? If that is true, such is their love for their king, and such is their faith in the supernaturals!<br /><div><br /><div><strong>The city of smiles</strong><br />Apart from a few ‘bad apples’ among the tuk-tuk drivers who tried to offer crooked tour package, I find Thais generally very friendly people – so friendly that before you approached for help, they might just offer themselves when they see your confused faces. On one occasion, a total stranger lingered on for more than five minutes just to help to get us a tuk-tuk that offers a cheap rate. This sort of courtesy is rare to get in Malaysia; I did receive the first few ones with much skepticism and bit of hostility.<br /></div><br /><div>Speaking of tuk-tuk rates, one really needs to acquire good bargaining skill to be in Bangkok. Unlike most developed country where all prices are well regulated, almost everything can be negotiated, at least in the older Bangkok. Customer rights are perhaps less protected, but perhaps that is the way of life for the Thai. Whether it is tuk-tuks or market goods, you can easily find sellers that will halve the price from the original he offered. Along the way, I wondered if we bargained for value, or just for the thrill of it, because even the original prices are actually rather reasonable. But oh well, who can resist a 50% discount like those in the mega sales? :P<br /></div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533576334024407858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFatKIoI3zn8Q8WCp0Ti8rnisgLsWRb1MpDnHtO7GAZCp98ams5qISLB1IpW_sqZYvYQjieWUbMNLHnbwbDQaiADhz9CHJgkoNPgas4sYRT6mFb28CTRcP8oTQFisYVwpXmLBuKsf2t9Cu/s320/IMG_4544.JPG" /> <strong>Sufficient, efficient</strong><br />Earning the maximum doesn’t seem to be the agenda of most Thai small businesses. I do not stay long enough to learn the Thai mentality, but perhaps for them earning enough is enough, or perhaps actually earning is better than not earning at all. Either way, somehow Thailand always reminds me of one word: Sufficient. The feeling is especially strong when I travelled the rural areas, when I see the paddy fields, the orchards and the farms. The common Thais are certainly not rich, but they don’t seem to be living in poverty either. Interestingly, I later found out that the the principles of ‘Sufficiency economy’ was indeed promoted by one of the King named Bhumibol, who emphasized ‘gross national happiness’ rather than gross national product. If I can be allowed to stretch the thought further, I think the ‘just-nice’ concept is also reflected in their transport system – they don’t provide extra comfort nor fancy speed, but they get you to where you need to be – sufficiently efficient.<br /><br /><div>That were what I gathered from my four days Bangkok trip. It was a short trip, I apologize for any misinterpretation. At a personal level, I meant it to be reflective, but it turns out to be more like a discovery. Nonetheless, it works well; in fact it works better that way. My perceptions enriched, my mind reenergized – I’m ready for the new job! </div></div></div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18198938245505253338noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255938496603800190.post-46800726521775770742010-08-24T21:09:00.003+08:002010-08-24T22:07:30.777+08:00Writing againMum says one stops writing when trauma strikes one's life, or when he or she is going through major uncertainties. She stopped during Charcoal tragic death, and then again when Grandpa passed away.<br /><br />I stop writing somewhere in between the end of my last relationship and the start of my new job. Transition out from a broken relationship was not easy, yet it ironically interspersed with the excitement of what the new job could offer. Either it was emotionally too much to handle, or it was all too exciting that got me going, I stopped writing, at least stopped writing to my own satisfactory.<br /><br />Today I return to this blog that I once held so dearly and yet dumped aside so abruptly, I wonder if i should pick it up again. Many comments received, almost all of them from anonymous selling online products. None from friends that I know. Perhaps, with the convenience of Facebook and Twitter, no one bother to read blogs anymore. Or perhaps, they just stop being bothered with mine. Perhaps it is good, so that I can write without consideration of the audience.<br /><br />Dr Chan says writing is actually thinking. I say, it is also about the articulation of thoughts. Many times, it is also about confronting yourself with realities that are unpleasant. Either way, I often felt depressed for not being able to write. I come to realize that it is not just about my uselessness in giving new ideas and conceptualizing thoughts, as I often made myself believe, but also because of my fear of failure and my pride in being the superior among peers. That, of course, has a lot of to do with my upbringing and childhood experience:) <br /><br />Having returned to Penang, doing a new job that could potentially lead me down a career path that is unexpected and unimaginable prior to my graduation, settling down in new church and reuniting the family, I often find it needful to 'reconcile' my 'new' life with the 'old' one. Perhaps, by starting to write again is the first step i can take.<br /><br />IvyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18198938245505253338noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255938496603800190.post-29445884864974613322010-01-28T23:00:00.001+08:002010-01-28T23:08:08.695+08:00All with a hopeful spirit and a passionate heart/My dayToday...<br /><br />I found myself walking again in a campus, I unknowingly ordered my classic dish i used to made in my make-shift hostel room 'kitchen' (Garlic Speghetti!), and my mind was consciously reminded that a campus election is going on in my old campus, just like the one i used to be involved.<br /><br />I realized that bygones are bygones. I need to let go of the past.<br /><br />Today...<br /><br />I heard the experts discoursed on the better international order of the world, nationalism? globalization? all with a hopeful spirit and a passionate heart.<br /><br />I see people of different disabilities coming together to advocate for the less priviledged, with sign language, with Braille, with clutches, all with a hopeful spirit and a passionate heart.<br /><br />I realized that my path lies ahead. Future is awaiting me to shape.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18198938245505253338noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255938496603800190.post-43652375053638014302009-09-08T20:23:00.002+08:002009-09-11T01:25:47.459+08:00UnequalIn the book Economic Explained (by Robert Heilbroner and Lester Thurow), a parade of incomes was depicted in the analogy of a parade of flags. The population is lined up in order of its income. 'Assume that the height of the middle houshold to be 6 feet, representing a median income of $34,000 in 1995. This will be our height as observers. What would our parade look like?<br /><br />It would begin with a few families below the ground, for there are some hosueholds with negative incomes; that is, they report losses for the year. Mainly these are families with business losses, and are not matched by general poverty. Following close comes a longline of dwarfs who make up about one fifth of all families, people less than three feet tall. Some are shorter than one foot.<br /><br />Only after the parade is half over do we reach people whose faces are at our level. Then come the giants. When we reach the last 5 percent of the parade - incomes above $100,000 - people are 20 feet tall. At the end of the parade, people tower 600 to 6000 feet into the air - one hundred to one thousand times as tall as the middle height. What is the largest income in the country? Probably our sixty-odd billionaires have incomes of over $100 million. '<br />- adapted from Jan Pen, Income Distribution, (New York: Praeger, 1971).<br /><br />It blows my mind away to imagine the two extreme ends of the parade. The analogy provides a very interesting way to see how unequally is wealth distributed throughout the world population. Why is this happening? Is capitalism to be blamed?<br /><br />Many would agree the saying that the poorer you are, the harder is it for you to get out from poverty. Another interesting logic that I heard (from Chin Tong) was that families with higher income which afford to hire maids, will have more times to go out to work and earn more, and vice versa.<br /><br />Are our systems built to help the less fortunate?<br /><br /> ***<br />These findings were coupled with the <a href="http://malaysiakini.com/columns/112186">article</a> I read on Malaysiankini on the health service in the rural area in Sarawak. While the urban dwellers are so blessed with high-end medical devices and hospital facilities, villagers in the interior of Borneo has to walk hours by foot just to go to a clinic. If the medical condition get serious, the only way, other than laying to death, is to fly them off to hospitals in town such as Miri. Yet even that, the contractor has failed to fulfill their contract in providing helicopter service. Upon reaching the hospital (if they successfully do), some villagers face the rejection from the hospital as they do not have identity cards. Remember, they live in rural area which is far far away from the National Registration Department, and might not even know how to get there. Yet for those that managed to receive medical assistance, who will help them to pay the bills?<br /><br />Indeed, these are the people that are 'long forgotten by the nation 46 years after their independence from British rule', as the writer puts it.<br /><br />One story on unequal distribution of wealth in the world of humankind, and another one on the unequal treatment of social welfare to people who are all being called the same - Malaysians.<br /><br />I understand neither of them.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18198938245505253338noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255938496603800190.post-44471495308855542412009-08-30T01:13:00.004+08:002009-08-30T09:10:06.334+08:00Cowhead bloodshed is to be condemned!<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dynrcC5DmHFa8qQL9K-aFIJceqR1lakz7QzzYgOjc5Vk8XXnDR7J_GttXGM7BGylZYQ8QuCQMYEtVFhI4VobQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />This is barbarian. I can't believe that this is happening to my country.<br /><br />Paraphrasing Yasmin Ahmad, 'Someone please wake me up from this nightmare and tell me it's not true and it doesn't happen in my country'<br /><br />No greater religious offence is than to downgrade one's deity publicly.<br /><br />Does the fact that you're a 80% majority means the religious rights of the 20% minority shall not be protected?<br /><br />Does the fact that Islam is the official religion of the country means that the existence of other religion shall be suppressed?<br /><br />We Malaysians are so narrow minded that we can't even allow 'anOTHER' to co-exist.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18198938245505253338noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255938496603800190.post-55977051138550919022009-08-14T10:25:00.002+08:002009-08-14T10:42:48.803+08:00Convocation<img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/ADMINI%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.jpg" alt="" />Convocation is finally here!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tomorrow, 3.00 pm at Dewan Tunku Canselor, Universiti Malaya</span>.<br /><br />My Convo Message sounds: <span style="font-style: italic;">To God be the Glory, To YOU be my many thanks</span>.<br /><br />Indeed no words can express my gratefulness to you. Yes YOU. Tomorrow will not happen without you.<br /><br />Welcome to join me on the joyous event! (will be out at 5 pm)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18198938245505253338noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255938496603800190.post-29003871674031094592009-07-17T00:33:00.002+08:002009-07-17T00:41:25.984+08:00The cronicle of my name(s)<span style="font-size:180%;">薇</span><br />苇<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">艾薇<br /></span>ai wei<br /><span style="font-size:130%;">ivy</span><br /><br />ai wei!!!<br />Ai Wei<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">薇(啊!)</span><br />ai wei...<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">ivy</span><br />wei...<br />AI WEI<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Ivy</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18198938245505253338noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255938496603800190.post-58370227260454334272009-07-16T19:46:00.002+08:002009-07-16T20:21:55.283+08:00Political secretary found deadToday's lastest headlines: Sri Kembangan Assemblymen's political secretary dead at MACC<br /><br />The news is not much different from the many recent chains of political scandals, only thing is that this time, someone's LIFE is involved.<br /><br />It's still uncertain why is this happening. Does he committed suicide due to some unspeakable reason? Or is this another dark plot that we the commoner can only imagine through what the dramas potray?<br /><br />I admit that my daily work emotion has been shaken albeit. It doesn't really concern me, after all my current given task now is none other than to set up a contact database for the team. Yet it DOES concern me, not just as a DAP employee but more importantly a <span style="font-style: italic;">Rakyat </span>Malaysia.<br /><br />It makes one wonder, how dirty can politics get? It makes me wonder, how does one continue the fight for a better Malaysia in such corrupted environment?<br /><br />I was asked this morning whether the recent scandals are true. Yet, who can know the truth? Who can understand the truth? Who can be sure, that what he thinks is truth, is really true?<br /><br />Guess only by the discretion from Above. And may we find strength in fighting for what we believe in.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18198938245505253338noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255938496603800190.post-51621013698591140522009-07-02T22:24:00.004+08:002009-07-16T20:49:23.904+08:00The Squatters<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSoz8JzvgbEXkdmxRzZ9GW8OCHsLpFLuqNp1-W97fhDrvYZb1j5FkgnO7XVgTeGPjd2zGU9CD1FdxmFH68ziNmhZm46VY0cnbIInPdOFNn1l1S4_W4L32XGKGi7rDOpmr-I6bmWvcoCeT/s1600-h/tg+bungah+house.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSoz8JzvgbEXkdmxRzZ9GW8OCHsLpFLuqNp1-W97fhDrvYZb1j5FkgnO7XVgTeGPjd2zGU9CD1FdxmFH68ziNmhZm46VY0cnbIInPdOFNn1l1S4_W4L32XGKGi7rDOpmr-I6bmWvcoCeT/s320/tg+bungah+house.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359038644186948498" border="0" /></a> (Picture courtesy by Miss Pek Bee Hong)<br /><br />A substantial amount of my time at work has been spent on the squatters issue. It is a main and frequent issue in Penang, due to the limited land that we have.<br /><br />Yesterday and today morning were spent visiting the squatters area. I managed to contact one of the residents to be our guide. What welcome us next was, to my surprise, a quiet path with tree growing messily besides it. As we walk down the road, i met vegetation farms and orchards. We visitted every houses, they are simple, but most of them includes a big compound in front of the door. A river flow across the land, which, according to one of the residents, was their childhood natural playground before some families start raising pigs and pollute the water.<br /><br />One step away from the entrance, is another world that is full of high rise buildings, hotels, and 'classy' neighbourhood.<br /><br />A few months later, this place would see yet another building emerging, and perhaps, a new landmark that will goes down the history.<br /><br />It was the story of the last generation, how they settled down on land that they didn't own, and how their children multiply from a registered house to many unregistered houses. As the places are to be demolished, what would the story of the next generation be like? Who, would remember this place anymore? Once the bulldozers are in, it will be gone forever.<br /><br />Yet all these sentiments would not save the place from the demand of development. Undeniably, building new apartments boost the economic growth of the state and country, providing job opportunities, allowing companies to have higher spending power which will eventually contribute to the society. Failing these, we'll lose out and will be of under advantage compare to others countries.<br /><br />It is similar in the cases of people choosing cellular phones despite reports on the danger of radiation to human's health.<br /><br />Perhaps, this is the path the we the human races has chosen. And as we chose it, we soon realize that we can't stop choosing it anymore.<br /><br />We chose to evolve, but do we know how?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18198938245505253338noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6255938496603800190.post-17946843110339709852009-06-14T23:45:00.003+08:002009-06-15T00:44:31.279+08:00TodayMark the completion of my first week as an MP intern. :)<br /><br />As some of you might have known, i am currently attached to MP Bukit Bendera Office as an intern, thanks to the attachment programme anchored by PJ Utara MP Tony Pua, and Rachel who told me about it.<br /><br />Why? First of course I believe that this would be an invaluable experience in life, if not a great opportunity to learn and explore the political arena of the country. I wanted to come out from my shell, in which I criticize about injustice and bad governance, and get a feel on the real ground.<br /><br />It started off with a 'Penang Outlook Forum' which aimed to offer a new blueprint for the state development. I then attended a workshop on Gender Equality, a talk on media freedom, a meeting on housing development, and two dinners. The highlight of the week would be the welcoming of Singapore Minister Mentor, Mr Lee Kuan Yew. It earned me a ticket to go in the the CM's office together with the press. Too bad the day was photographically quite unsuccessful, but I guess I was fortunate enough! :P<br /><br />Basically I followed my 'tauke', YB Liew Chin Tong around. It was first quite frightening at first to be in the presence of the many big shots, but slowly I learnt to confidently approach them and humbly learn from them (when chances arise), at the same time respecting their wisdom and experience. The rest of the time, in fact most of the time, I helped out in the service center. There were many issues involving a wide range of people, from the old to the young, the educated to the uneducated, the reasonable, to the unreasonable. It definitely a different kind of office work. Well, that's politic for you :)<br /><br />Whether I would get involve in politic in the future, it is still uncertain. My underlined principle for my future undertaking is simple: I want to make the world a better place, and I do acknowledge the influence a leader has on the people, how the use (or misuse) of power can affect the lives of many. Yet, ultimately the GOD factor has to be considered to determine which path to choose.<br /><br />The fact that I come a science background generated a lot of curiosity in the people i meet. Once Carol, the Chief of Staff of YB Liew, cheekily helped me to answer: <span style="font-style: italic;">She wants change!</span> and I responded jokingly: for myself, or for the country?<br /><br />Both, maybe.<br /><br /> ~~~<br /><br />Today is also my first Sabbath after the attachment. I intentionally kept in rather 'apolitical'. As I was feeling a little empty inside and wonder what is lacking, I decided to turn on some music and do some strecthing, something that I haven't been doing for a long time. Ah, it filled the holes in this soul!<br /><br />And tomorrow would be a new week. Hope it would get more and more wonderful!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18198938245505253338noreply@blogger.com12