the nature of things

“We should be thankful that we’re living in Malaysia where none of those things happen, even though corruption happens a lot…” This is what my wife said while we were discussing current events while watching the news. ‘Those’ to which she refers to is concerning the Nargis typhoon in Myanmar and the 7.8 Richter scaled earthquake in China. It made me think, are we that lucky? Does not encountering any serious natural disaster compensate any ill-doing of the nation’s leader?

Yes to some level she had a point. The natural disaster is something worth avoiding and that the death toll it causes is so great that I am thankful Malaysia is in such a strategic location and we do not have to worry as much on that front. Thus, enters the second thought; if we are that thankful for our fortune, does it then turn to under appreciating it? In terms of having to face natural disasters we are by far, even in the region of Southeast Asia, quite fortunate. Even Sabah and Sarawak doesn’t face the dangers others in the neighboring countries have to face.

What is under appreciating the fortunes that we have? To this, we have to kinds. The commoner’s kind of under appreciating and the leader’s kind. The commoner’s kind are always, and I mean always, addressed to by everyone, be it the conservatives, the politicians, environmentalists, the media, even the celebrities. Uhuk! Well they too would like to seem important and wants to be seen to be doing their part.

What’s the common message? Here are some: Take care of the environment, take care of mother earth, take care of what you have, don’t be a litterbug, recycle, don’t smoke in public, use paper and not plastic, bag your cooking oil, don’t spit out gum, don’t waste energy and water, don’t burn in the open, don’t emit more carbon in the air, don’t you know the atmosphere is getting thinner?, don’t’ contribute to global warming, do your part in saving the earth, don’t let our children suffer, don’t burn forests and so on and so forth. Does this not ring a bell? Yes, we hear it everyday. The message usually comes from the environmental friendly politicians we have. We are that damn lucky.

Let’s move on to the next kind of people, the leaders. What’s the message? Well since the messages are coming from them, we could be pardoned for supposing that they know how to behave. That is of course, what I thought at least. Now, what are they doing? Do they under appreciate their own fortune of having to rule over a country that does not have to fear typhoons, earthquakes, volcano eruptions and such? Well let’s consider.

Deforestation; the Selangor government is currently investigating an illegal logging during the time of the former state government. It’s not just a hectare or 2. Its 650 hectares (70 million square feet!) Are we blind? How can anyone do that without alarming the government? I mean, one day we drive beside a forest and the next day its bare land…doesn’t anyone notice? It’s not like they are stealing cables from electric towers or anything (this is a whole other kind of incompetency), it’s a whole forest! These are water catchment areas by the way. We need paddy cultivation so these water catchment areas are important. Why aren’t they aware of these things if it is indeed done illegally? We can catch juveniles stealing motorcycle parts, but not a whole forest? Haih…

Don’t you think Myanmar, with all its power struggle and confrontations between the people and the leaders, and China with its Tibetan protests, anti-China rallies throughout the world and having to organize the upcoming Olympic, could do without any natural disasters killing thousands of their people and having to channel all their effort towards that? Well, you would think so. I wonder how our government would handle those kinds of situations. Hmm…

First of all, floods are still happening in Malaysia. The solution is simpler than having to deal with typhoons or earthquake but requires quite a chunk of the federal reserves. Right? Better sewage system, better drainage system, better roadwork, better housing system and other ‘betters’ should do the job.

Let’s take a look at Kuala Lumpur; it’s called Kuala Lumpur presumably because it is muddy. It is muddy because it attracts water to the land. In the good ol’ days, floods happen often in KL, because it is naturally so and the country does not have the means or technology to prevent it. Nowadays flood happen often in KL because we are not doing enough to prevent it. Why? Isn’t it the country’s capital? Ibu Negara (country’s mother) as we say it in Malay. If say you are in a situation where your mother is sick and in need of treatment, would you let her be? Wouldn’t you send her to the hospital? That’s not what’s happening though. We hear stories (and also watch a lot of Malay movies, and I mean a lot – do we not have any other ideas for movies? RTM, yes you, please grow up) regarding people who neglect their parents, well this is another version of that story. Flood causes damage, and in turn causes loss. Reparation inflicts loss but in turn causes a lot of good. Do the math.

Politicians are now smoking in the Parliament lobby…what the hell? Why are these things done by those very persons who want to take care of each constituent? Yes, I’m grouping all of the politicians as one entity and whether or not they champion the same cause (no smoking in public places or closed spaces) they should behave properly. Kesian la Dr. Lo’ Lo’ tu (have pity – the Malay version seems more dramatic) and others who do not smoke. You want to die, do it at your own time and don’t drag others with you. Mind you, taking care of your constituent also relates to taking care of the environment, and thus, smoking does not help. If you can’t even do that (quit smoking) then how can we expect you to take care of bigger stuffs? There should be a rule that MPs and Aduns should be non-smokers.

I can go on for hours writing on the environment and its relation with politicians and leaders but I think the message is clear. Appreciate what you have, especially the leaders. You’re lucky the only environmental problem you have to face everyday is people littering and not recycling. Why not make the best out of it and help the people in need. One has to stop thinking only of them while others suffer in front of their eyes. How can you servants of the people let the people rot in agony and discontent while you lounge at your mansion? It does not make sense.

Peace (disgruntled – no smiley face)

hah in the interest of justice!!

I am a concerned Malaysian...in the interest of justice i feel that all Malaysian should address the simple issue of what is happening to our judiciary? Whether its reform is necessary and what are the steps that needs to be taken.In any case, I feel that the current state of our judiciary is sad, and as it goes, an illness that is not cured would only make matters worse.

It all started in the late 80's when some judges did what was deemed to be correct by most people but not to some (who, on their part, had the power to change the nation - so they count more than the majority itself) After that, the judiciary is just not the same. Some cases went against the interest of justice, while some cases are just plain and obviously wrong in nature.We take one example, the case of Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the charge of sodomy that raised many eyebrows not just in Malaysia, but also the world itself.Well, to charge a man of such exaggerated offence is easy when you have the power and you are able to control anyone as you please. Anyway, that was then. Anwar has now been released from prison and he is making a comeback on the national front.

Now what about Lingam?Is he really the power broker behind recent judicial postings?The video seems to suggest so, and the Royal Commission's finding would also lead to such a presumption.Is it really that easy to be made a top notch judge in Malaysia?Hell, I'm a law graduate, I have no intention of practising but I would fancy my chances of becoming a Federal Court judge when I'm 50.Is this how we want our judiciary to present itself?Questions often leads to answers,but with 50 years under our belt as an independent country, the questions still lead to confusions.
I cannot understand why some people feel the need to cheat the whole nation that brought them up. Why is power such a big deal?Well for one thing, it makes it easy for you to find a parking spot when you go to a mall with your family.Is that what it is?Is it about wealth and money?Have you seen Warren Buffet's (the richest guy in the world) house?He still lives in a house he bought like 3 decades ago.Modest and yet respected.The nation's leaders are Muslims for the most part and doesn't Islam teach us modesty?I cannot imagine any of the 4 righteous caliphs staying in a big mansion; because that is not the way they want to represent their people.If Buffet can do well with modesty, why must politician whose interest are supposed to thwarted towards the people cannot do the same?

Recently the government wants to revamped the whole judiciary and reform its current state.Though I laud the effort but why now?Why not then.At least at the very moment when Dr.M handed over the power this effort should have been suggested.Doing it now, i.e. only when the power's that be have lost its popularity, only creates a notion that it is done out of political interest and not out of sincerity.The effort should in any case be made as an urgent and top priority matter.No time should be wasted.The judges that are chairing their positions at the moment should be reviewed.I am not very well versed on this matter but I feel that the it must be done without any interruption by the government.Let the judiciary sort themselves out with minor help from the government.Restore the separation of powers!


>> On a totally unrelated story; Mukhriz Mahathir (the son of the 4th Prime Minister) has said that the people should be wary of Anwar Ibrahim because of his connections with Paul Wolfowitz (former US Dep. Sec. of Defence) and the latter's involvements in the war in Iraq. The latter had produced a write up on Anwar in the Times 100 Most Influential People list. Of course, Wolfowitz did mastermind the war in Iraq, but did Anwar knew about it when they first knew each other?Was Anwar that great that he could predict that in the future Wolfowitz would mastermind the killings of 1 million people?I seriously don't think so.In fact, the war happened when Anwar was in prison.If he had he not been, he might have a say against it.Anwar himself had declared his opposition against the war.Wolfowitz came to Anwar's defence in 1999 when Anwar was sacked and at that time,Bush wasn't even President yet.Wait, was he?Well in any case, 9/11 didn't happen yet.That's all I have to say.