Selamat Menyambut Hari Malaysia !

D alam kekalahan kita kepada Jepun masa Perang Dunia Kedua, kekacauan komunis 60'an ; rusuhan kaum Mei 13, dan sebagainya, siapa yang menang, siapa yang kalah sebenarnya? 

Mereka yang menang merupakan musuh Malaysia, orang yang ingin membahagikan kita supaya kita tidak boleh berpadu. Bukan kaum Melayu, kaum Cina, kaum India, yang menang atau kalah. 

Bangsa Malaysialah yang kalah. Hampir 50 tahun selepas merdeka, apakah yang telah kita tercapai? Kita masih fikir sendiri sebagai kaum Melayu, kaum Cina, kaum India. Kita semua bersalah kerana hendak menegas identiti berlainan kita. Kita ada pemimpin kaum Melayu yang begitu kuat jerit "ketuanan Melayu" dan menghina hak rakyat Malaysia untuk menetap di sini.

Walaupun kebanyakan rakyat Malaysia yang bukan Melayu tidak pernah tahu sebarang negara lain sebagai tanah air mereka, tetaplah mereka diberitahu "ini bukan negara kamu. Kamu pendatang asing, jadi awaslah. Kalau awak tak suka, awak pergi balik tongsanlah. Kita rakyat Malaysia yang tulen tidak perlu kaum kamu di sini."Dan kita juga ada pemimpin kaum Cina dan India yang menegaskan pendirian mereka untuk berwaspada dan menjaga "budaya dan identiti" mereka. Sekolah-sekolah Cina dan Tamil tetap diperjuangkan agar "pendidikan Cina" dan "pendidikan Tamil" dapat dijaga.

Aku menganggap ini sebagai kebodohan dan ketamakan yang tinggi-tinggi belaka. 
Mana ada "pendidikan Cina" atau "pendidikan Tamil" di Malaysia? 
Mana boleh ada "pendidikan Melayu" atau "pendidikan Kadazan" atau "pendidikan Dayak"? 

Kita hanya ada satu jenis pendidikan -- pendidikan kebangsaan. Tetapi pemimpin masyarakat Cina dan India tetap menafikan hakikat ini. Pemimpin Melayu juga bersalah -- apa gunalah kolej sains MARA kalau hanya kaum Bumiputra boleh masuk? 

Adakah kita satu negara, atau tiga negara yang menetap di satu tanah yang dibahagikan antara tiga-tiga negara ini?

Kenapa kita mesti begitu tamak? Tak boleh kita nampak bahawa dengan masa, integrasi tidak boleh diberhentikan?
Ia sudahpun berlaku di sekitar taman- taman dan kehidupan harian kita diserata ceruk negara dan negeri kita. Kalau kau tanya aku, pendapat aku ialah politik arus perdana kitalah yang mambahagi belahkan kami sekarang.  

Buktinya,Kita senanglah makan  bersama sate di rumah terbuka pada Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Datang Tahun Baru Cina pula, kita semua menikmati mercun dan anak -anak kita diberi ang pow. Pada Deepavali, kita gemar makan chapati dan muruku. masa disember pulak, kita sakan shopping gila bersama !
Kalau setakat yang dikatakan musuh boleh hadir di open House kita dan makan bersama kita, itu bukan lagi consider musuh,bang.

Pada bila-bila masa, kita boleh menonton filem tempatan, filem Hollywood, filem Bollywood, apa-apa pula -- integrasi budaya-budaya yang berlainan. Sekolah-sekolah yang lain untuk setiap kaum memastikan setiap kaum hanya didedah kepada budayanya sendiri.

Inilah angkara politik arus perdana kita hari ini. Tiada fikiran langsung mengenai akibat  kecenderungan mereka memecah belahkan rakyat untuk tujuan agenda peribodi masing-masing.....

Kan lebih baik kalau setiap kaum dapat berkongsi budayanya dengan kaum lain? Itulah cara menjaga budaya dan identiti -- dengan menggabungkan budaya-budaya berlainan kita untuk mengasaskan sebuah budaya Malaysia. Bukan sahaja kaum Cina yang akan tahu membuat tarian singa. Bukan sahaja kaum India yang boleh membuat muruku. Bukan sahaja kaum Melayu yang boleh membuat persembahan dikir barat. Kalau tiap-tiap rakyat Malaysia dapat menikmati setiap unsur daripada budaya-budaya berlainan kita, kan lebih baik?

Tetapi nampaknya, kita masih terperangkap dalam mentaliti pengepungan -- "siege mentality". Kita semua hanya fikir tentang kaum sendiri, bukan negara.Aku tidak benci mana-mana kaum. Tetapi aku berhasrat dengan penuh bahawa kita boleh menepikan perbezaan antara bangsa dan budaya lain kita, dan fikir sendiri rakyat Malaysia, bukan rakyat Melayu, rakyat Cina, atau rakyat India. Aku mahu cintai Malaysia. 
Aku mahu menganggap diriku sebagai seorang rakyat Malaysia. Aku tidak mahu tiga masyarakat yang asing di Malaysia.Aku mahu satu masyarakat sahaja -- masyarakat Malaysia. Tetapi betulkah ini mungkin? 

Mana boleh aku menjadi rakyat Malaysia apabila aku senantiasa diberitahu aku pendatang asing sahaja? Kalau diIkut suka arus polemik bangsa hari ini, pencaci -pencaci ini semua aku hantar untuk kursus menjadi rakyat sehati sejiwa Malaysia tapi wait a minit, itu kuliah Biro Tata Negara bukan ?
Harapkan pagar, pagar makan padi pulak !

Bolehkah aku percaya kita bersepadu sebagai sebuah negara apabila kita ada pemimpin Melayu, pemimpin Cina, dan pemimpin India? 
Mana pemimpin Malaysia? 

Aku amat hampa dengan penduduk-penduduk negara ini. Aku tidak menganggap seorang antara kita sebagai rakyat Malaysia. Kita semua cuma rakyat Melayu, rakyat Cina, dan rakyat India yang menetap di sebidang tanah yang dipanggil Malaysia.

Apabila perlu didirikan konsep "bangsa Malaysia", ada dua jenis bangsa -- bangsa rakyat "tulen" dan bangsa rakyat "pendatang".

Walaupun aku ada seribu nyawa untuk berkorban demi negara Malaysia, aku tak boleh menjadi bangsa rakyat tulen.

Walaupun saya dikebumikan, saya masih pendatang asing -- itu sahaja.

Dan kalau ada seorang Melayu berkorban demi negara Malaysia, dia tetapi dianggap oleh "seorang Bumi tak guna" oleh kaum bukan Melayu -- itu sahaja.

Kita bukan rakyat Malaysia, walaupun bersatu dalam mati untuk negara. 

Dan itu nasib yang amat sedih, untuk kita semua -- penduduk-penduduk Malaysia yang rakyatnya dalam nama, tetapi sebenarnya masih dibahagikan kepada rakyat tulen, dan rakyat pendatang.

Gripes and Grimaces

Since the mobile phone became commonplace in pockets and palms around the world, its capabilities have grown inexorably.
The Smartphone in particular has gobbled up other gadgets with a ravenous appetite. From the simple – alarm clocks and torch – to the complicated – MP3 players and cameras – there’s little the designers who design them haven’t managed to shoehorn into ever more slim line devices. 

This growing gadget convergence isn’t set to stop. The Smartphone is the most important tool in our lives, always with us and always ready to do our bidding (reception and battery allowing).

But at what cost?

Willie Foo Birthday 2012

I have some second cousins who are 18 and 21, and who live several states away from me here. Recently I visited them and their parents for the first time in several years (the younger one was graduating from high school), and found the self-absorbed little so-and-sos CONSTANTLY Face booking, texting and Twittering with their electronically-connected friends. Even when they were conversing with someone in person, they were mostly looking down at their screens and clicking away with their thumbs -- even at the dinner table. There was almost no real-life activity they considered incompatible with using their devices. They would just glance up now and then to check whether the other people present were still awake enough, or engaged enough despite their own obvious lack of interest, to justify continuing the face-to-face 'conversation'.

While I recognize that I am not part of their usual social or family circle (and am also from a different generation -- I am 45), I was still surprised that during an entire day spent in their home, neither young person asked me ONE question about me or my life.

In fact, I was privately shocked at how abominable their manners were, and at the fact that their parents seemed to accept their way of behaving as perfectly normal. Many young people appear to be ADDICTED to their devices -- and I mean this in the most literal sense. As far as I can see, they are seeking constant gratification or validation from the latest text, tweet or whatever, just as the thoughts of a drug addict rarely stray far from their next hit or fix.

It's as if they don't feel they exist in any meaningful sense if they aren't constantly connected. It's a behavioral disease, a social-come-technological pathology. If my cousins' way of being was typical, I can't help thinking that the wider implications of how they relate to other people face-to-face are quite alarming: our society will become even more fractured, self-absorbed and self-segregating than it already is as it becomes possible for all of us to have increasingly little real contact with each other.

It's paradoxical indeed that this is the consequence of the so-called 'communications revolution'. Unfortunately, its technologies have developed so fast that I feel they are actually controlling our behavior much more than they are serving us as tools. They have also allowed employers and complete strangers alike to encroach on our time, activities and privacy in a manner that would have seemed unimaginable 30 years ago. These communications technologies have provided us with tremendous convenience in many ways, but they are also imposing costs on us that we have yet to fully acknowledge and deal with.

Interesting Facts about Religions

The facts about religions, whether you are believer or not that is secondary matter, the following facts have some sensible things, which all literate persons must admit.

Christianity: One Christ, One Bible, One Religion BUT the Latin Catholic will not enter Syrian Catholic Church. These two will not enter Marthoma Church. These three will not enter Pentecost Church. These four will not enter Salvation Army Church. These five will not enter Seventh Day Adventist Church. These six will not enter Orthodox Church. These seven will not enter Jacobite church. Like this there are 146 castes in Kerala alone, each will not go to the other's church to pray...! So much for One Christ, One Bible, One Jehova..... What a unity! Islam: One Allah, One Quran, One Nebi....!  AND ALL MUSLIMS CALL THEMSELVES BROTHERS! BUT,  Shia and Sunni cannot see eye to eye and kill each other anywhere and everywhere. The Shia will not go to Sunni Mosque. These two will not go to Ahamadiya Mosque. These three will not go to Sufi Mosque. These four will not go to Mujahiddin mosque... There are 13 castes in Muslims and these brothers can't share their places of worship.  The brothers have been killing/bombing/conquering/murdering/raping each other in the name of Islam for the last 500 years, since the day Islam existed...!  They have never been or never will be at peace with Jews or Christians in the name of religion, yet all 3 pray to the same God of Abraham.  The American attack on the Muslim land of Iraq and Afghanistan is fully supported by all the Muslim countries around them! One Allah, One Quran, One Nebi....! Great unity! All Muslims are not Terrorists, but all Terrorists are Muslims. and 60% of all victims of Muslim terrorism are Muslims. THEY ARE KILLING THEMSELVES IN THE NAME OF RELIGION. Hindus 1,280 Religious Books,  10,000 Commentaries,  more than one lakh sub-commentaries  for these foundation books,  330 million gods,  variety of Aacharyas,  thousands of Rishies,  hundreds of languages... still everyone goes to the SAME TEMPLE ... Hindus never quarreled each other for the last ten thousand years in the name of religion. Only Politicians had tried to divide and rule.          Buddhism: Buddhism is the world's first religion Fourth-largest religion behind Chistianity, Islam and Hinduism Buddism is both a religion and philosophy largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama Three concepts, Karma, Rebirth, Samsara They classify themselves as Theravada or Mahayana Both accept the Buddha as their teacher Both accept the Middle way, Dependent origination, Four Noble Truths, Noble Eightfold Path and Three marks of existence Both accept that members of the laity and of the sangha can pursue the path toward enlightenment (Bodhi) Both consider buddhahood to be the highest attainment They do not believe that this world is created and ruled by a God They consider that the purpose of life is to develop compassion for all living beings without discrimination and to work for their good, happiness and peace and to develop wisdom leading to the realization of the Ultimate Truth The moral is: KEEP RELIGION OUT OF POLITICS AND POLITICS OUT OF RELIGION The killing will stop and there will be peace on earth!!!

Merdeka" Blue Moon" Weekend

                                                Happy 55th Merdeka, Malaysia !

Merdeka is a word in the Malay language meaning Independence or freedom. 

It is derived from the Sanskrit Maharddhika meaning "rich, prosperous and powerful". Such was the passion in the word that men were willing to die for it and women prayed we would achieved it, once upon a time in this land of ours.But today it is just another opportunity for politicians to shout as a slogan and the general public to enjoy a hard earned day off from work amidst the fanfare of a parade and a general air of festivities.

Such is the small attention span of the human consciousness that within less than an average life span of an individual, the dreams, the once cherished hopes and desires of an entire nation of proud hard working and true believers in self ruling people can be boiled down to political sloganeering and watered down to hopes of an evening of fireworks & a morning filled with youthful parades.

But, I really shouldn't complain. This nation still manages to offer it's citizens with the peace and security that many others pine for in other parts of the world. And for that I give Thanks.

The Tourism Association (MTA) that I am a party to recently decided to shine a beacon of light on the issue of Crime awareness and public safety in shopping malls in view of the coming holidays whence almost everybody would be in a happy spending atmosphere and crowds of people will flock the many shopping malls here in melaka in anticipation of a good time.

Criminal minded parties take this opportunity to ply their trade on the unsuspecting public with almost reckless abandon as people sometimes feel safer in crowded areas not realizing that is when most pick pockets and other kinds of theft happen. Many people also lose their cars to thief's while parked in basement carparks or open carparks- due to their negligence in not locking the doors/ leaving valuables in the cars,etc.

So, as a timely reminder for the general public to assess their surrounding carefully at all times the crime awareness reminder was mooted. The event was proudly supported by the malls with support from the local Police Dept, Corporate Sponsors and association members.

Good Food and Great Drinks All Night long

Later that same evening, my SFA buddies drove michelle and I to Seremban for the annual Paulian Dinner for more feasting and good companionship !







As usual, the Paulians event was held at the Royal Bintang Hotel in the Town Centre (this year they managed to get 124 tables!) with lots of camarederie, joy and happiness. Though I suspect, the smooth flow of the Finest Scotch whiskey and Danish Beer probably had a lot to do with contributing to the generally happy mood throughout !

 Chan Wai Seng & I

                                                                                                                                                                                     


On another happy note, it had also been brought to my attention that the moon on this particular day was an exception to the norm as today's full moon had something to do with the idiom "Once in a Blue Moon" ; which was used to mean something that happens rarely and on this particular occasion the full moon had been  shining on us twice in a 30 day calendar period (which was the exception)- hence the title of this entry: Merdeka Blue Moon Weekend;



I also realise it could also signify how less we Alumni members actually get together nowdays as everyone and their dog is busy enjoying life !

But, such is life.




These nights of good will and fine companionship often reminds me of why we bother to associate ourselves with certain groups and causes. Some turn out better than others while others make you grow weary once you see the internal dealings and self resolute desires of the common man given an opportunity at power and control.

Thomas Cho, Gan Kong Hoe & Wife

I must note however, a recent conversation with a rich and much respected former client from Singapore who came down to visit my wife and I here in Melaka recently, brought this closer to my scrutiny.A man who voiced his consternation and jealousy at the various privileged strata of society that I have privy to and am often invited to divulged in (seemingly almost without having to work at achieving that level of bon-homie with those groups); given my humble status as a mere former worker, who has neither the family connection nor the fancy wealth to spread around.

His interpretation and opinion of my lifestyle took me aback as I never once looked at my current largesse in that manner. 

Meaning, having to work for/ earn the privilege to be happy and respected.

Roasted Chicken with Crackers

I’ve always thought that to be a predestiny, a birth right even, of every man and woman or seen another way what I wanted to achieve in life…Happiness, Respect and Health. Never crossed my mind that others would see my choice of living my life as a UNEARNED PRIVELEGE that had to be paid for…either through familial connection, money or influence.

I am a dum-dum in that sense.

Alfonso Nathan from Penang -St. Xavier

To bring clarity to the issue, I’ve been thinking of submitting my resignation letter to the Local Indian Chamber recently in view of all the distrust, poor leadership and complex bi - partisanship displayed amongst the few running the present Chamber.

.

I was invited to join them in 2010 but did not pursue the matter seriously until 2011 when the position to sit on the Chamber Exco presented itself. Funny thing was, I’d often earlier thought the Business Chamber in Melaka had wasted many opportunities to upgrade the Indian Business Community and wanted to do something about it myself

The Secretary doing the honors

Our President and Vice President and their better half's

So, resigning my current position as the under secretary of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and industry in Melaka is not a decision I take lightly.

But unfortunately, being inside the inner circle of this group (for the last two terms) of power hungry and position craving group shows me the stark reality that I can never happily contribute to this batch of conniving power mongers. They exist only to enrich themselves with the society and common man used as a window dressing for their hungry appetite.

I pity the marginalized Indians commoner. Things have not changed for the better  for them but it is packaged in a better dressed deal to get their votes.

Why do I say that? 

Remember this, my dears - society always operates by means of barter.  That barter can be in form of money or in form of privilege. (Those who give and those choosing to receive.).

The problem is that once the leaders or the givers gain control of this form of doling out money and or privileges, it progressively ceases to be a medium of exchange for the benefit of material production  of a society and becomes a medium of control of the ruling group.

That impinges on the functioning of markets  and human material production which in turn impinges on the maintenance of rights. (ideas, property, assets etc)

Thus, we come full circle from a free society to a command society. This is happening to Malaysia congruently, without the realization of it’s masses but affects the Indians more directly due to their marginalized position in society.

There has never been any shortage of those who want to rule. The problem has always been with the vast majority who are content to be ruled. Today’s global outcry for the manufacturing of more and more “money” out of thin air is an eloquent testimony. It shows that most people have no understanding of freedom, markets or money.

Lacking such understanding - and having no desire to gain it - most people have accepted government  and current leaders as their masters.

But, if I know anything it is that for every fault perceived, there will be time for comeuppance and in the case of these positions seeking “rent seekers”, such a time is very near.

The phenomenon known as “declining marginal utility” is well known. Economists cite it from time to time. Even butchers refer to the ‘point of diminishing returns.’ And poets warble about fading light and failing love.

No proof necessary. Everybody knows what happens to fat people when they eat too much. Everybody knows what happens to banks that lend out too much money or to plants when they are given too much water.

“Too much” is an expression that covers a lot of ground. It is what happens when you pass the point of diminishing returns…and keep going. Give the plant some water and it flourishes. Give it more and it doesn’t help. Keep giving it water and it will die. That is when you have gone too far and done too much. That’s when you have reached the downside. Many power hungry and position seeking individuals whether they be politicians or just petty individual disguised as a Community Leader have learn this much to their forlorn regret.

There are some things, of course, which are excessive from the get-go. For those things even a little bit is too much. Time will always reveal the wheat from the chaff.

But, coming back to the reason I’m penning this thoughts down, it is that you choose how your life needs to be. Ultimately, it is your choices in the past that will decide your future. You do not need influence or power to be respected and favored in this life. You  only need clarity of thought, ethics and a desire to do good.

The rest is assured to be in your favor…always.