T for Three...Oooo

I was a big wrestling fan during my high school days. In wrestling, you are either a group or an individual. Then you are either a heel (bad) or a face (good). Some wrestlers are an enigma but it’s simple enough, the moment you are cheered on by the fans, even if you are a heel, they will turn you into a face.

Which brings me to the Datuk T err, Trio. Datuk T is obviously a group. Whether a heel or face, it’s still being debated. Well not too hotly debated, it seems like the pro-T supporters are a lot more dumbfounded than the anti-T supporters (especially since the revelation of the people behind the group). Why so quiet?

At the moment though they are more like a bunch of clown wrestlers who only enters the ring to make sure things are 'lively'.

The problem with this whole story is there are too many gaping holes at first but then too much revelation. All in a span of 2 days! We were not given much room to have fun with the available facts first (and speculate) - which really doesn’t work when you are trying to blackmail someone.

One day it is, mystery Datuk have a sex video of a senior opposition politician. Then 2 hours later, the senior

politician is the opposition leader - senior opposition leader denies! Not a day has passed when an opposition member nonchalantly reveals that the person behind Datuk T is so and so. Without giving much room for us to either believe or ignore this revelation, the Trio came out.

Damn. Give us room to breathe please.

I’m not done complaining about Nazri’s comment that showing porn to a group of people is not an offense (which by the way kind of give Mamak stalls a whole host of entertainment options to show their patrons).

I also wrote an entry yesterday which I had to scrap because it was essentially to condemn Datuk T as a coward and a dumbass and grumble on everything that is wrong with the media. I don’t think both points are exciting now – because when I wrote, it was based on pure speculative thoughts, now it is realized (no fun writing something which is just plain for everyone to see).

Well UMNO tried to distant themselves from the Trio just yesterday. Today UMNO can only cry at the corner, cry in the shame that the Trio has everything to do with them.

Now their best bet is to make sure nothing happens between today and the Sarawak state election.

As for the Trio. First of all, bravo. You three lot are the worst conspirators ever in the history of Malaysian politics.

Shazryl said he panicked when a group of 20 journalists clamoured to view the video. I guess all 3 panicked the moment Datuk Johari opened his mouth. They should really have ensured they got to the man first before deciding to be “mysterious”. Bunch of panics cannot be blackmailers.

Also, if you’ve revealed your identity to people from the other side, just abandon your strategy to be ‘mysterious’. It’s just plain dumb to think that you can survive a week in a shroud of mystery with someone opposing you knowing who you are.

If someone else is behind this, please and I sincerely plead that next time, pick someone who is not already in the same boat as the person whom these jokers claim to be ‘immoral’.

Now don’t be down yet because your claim may still be proven. But for the moment, prepare to be ridiculed because you are THE joke of the year.

PERKASA...Woodstock...7 Million unwanted youths?? Where is this heading?!?

I like how The Malaysian Insider twist things a bit with pictures. They usually do it with words and exaggerate matters a bit. Trust me when I say this happens as I have also been at the receiving end of it (not me personally, of course).

The most recent occurrence that I am happy to spot is the recent article entitled "Perkasa turns to ‘flower power’ for makeover"

First of all, bravo TMI for highlighting 'flower power' in the headline. People who have lived in the 70's (not me) or is fond of anything ranging from the Vietnam war to Jimmy Hendrix to President Nixon would note that 'flower power' refers to the hippie days.

You see, hippie is famously known for the youth movement in America back in the back-end of the 60's and early 70's as a counter resurgence to everything that is the US Government (at least that's my definition of it).

One of the most popular event that personifies this movement was Woodstock.

Now, here's what Perkasa's suggesting at the end of this year: "This year-end we are going to organize something like Woodstock for youths that are still undecided...". At least that's how they are quoted in TMI.

Now TMI probably didn't do much to their report in terms of actual reporting, but the headline and the picture...well, simply brilliant.

Perkasa has been known to be ultra-Malays and aren't too endearing to the more so-called "liberal thinking" youths of Malaysia (that's how they themselves would coin it). Pitting Woodstock and Perkasa is like pitting Caviar and Marshmallow. They just don't jive.

Now Perkasa might have a more simpler idea of Woodstock, i.e. youths grouping at one time and you know, getting to know Perkasa and listen to Faizal Tahir for 4 hours (or something). But TMI make it seem like it's actually Woodstock especially with the picture of "revelers kissing in the mud at Woodstock 2009".

But the idea of Perkasa organizing a Woodstock-like event is just too awry. It's just not Perkasa. In fact this idea is too liberal and just simply put, an idea Zaid Ibrahim would be proud of (given that they label him a liberal-Malay).

You know it's just an idea of indifferent consequences given that they target 7 million youths gathering for a 24-hours, music ladened event.

Hence the picture in TMI. Gives you a certain misconception of all that there is to know about Perkasa. But hey, they asked for it.

But get a kick out of this. They say they are targetting 7 million youths, the rempits, pregnant teens, extreme sport athletes, rockers and hip hoppers who are not wanted by either BN nor PR.

They actually generalized the whole youth community into this 6 category of people! Put the extreme sport athletes, rockers and hip hoppers into the same bracket as rempits (extreme sports?) and pregnant teens and!! basically say that 7 million youths are basically made of all these people!!!

Genius. Totally genius. Less said about it the better.

Whopper and Malaysia's Lack of Confidence

Malaysians lack confidence. This is not based on any formal observation, psychological or scientific research or coffee shop talk between friends. It is based on the goings-on around me that I come to this conclusion – which I will explain in a short while.

Is that our fault? Yes.

I came to this informal observation after helping myself to a Whopper burger yesterday (RM1, queued for an hour, worth it). I remember eating whopper burger in Saudi Arab a few years back, and it was enormous – managed to finish 1 burger and helping myself to leftovers of my mum’s and aunt’s. Yesterday, when I ate the burger at my office pantry, I received the common remark of “wow that’s a huge burger”. It was huge, but not as huge as the one I had in Saudi.

Why is it that our Whoppers aren’t as huge? Is it because we Malaysians don’t eat much? Is the Burger King franchise belittling our appetite? Maybe. Every time I watch the food channel or travel and living, I see Americans, Arabs and Europeans eating huge portions of food, unhealthy food, but food nonetheless.

This is very Malaysia (that everything is of little portion) because in Malaysia, no one thinks we can handle bigger plates.

This is not just the perception restaurants give us (Pizza, mcD, TGI-Chillis) but in most of everything around us as well. Government gives us countless amounts of subsidies – like Petrol (of course this is leveraged by the ridiculous duties on cars)

Malay also has the NEP which is by far the biggest stick anyone could give the helpless Malays to walk in this country of ours. Regardless of what you say, it is a lack of confidence that we’re given NEP.

Then there’s a whole load of needless regulations and laws. The lack of confidence by the government in the people’s ability to control themselves (after the racial riot 40 years ago when arguably the nation was in its infancy, and it seems we are still in that stage) results in the over-regulation on the press, free speech (even though enshrined in our constitution), writings (Hassan Sekodeng’s case is testament to this) and ceramahs as well as forums.

Proton needs the government to impose ridiculous tax on imported cars for it to survive. Why is that so? It is mainly because Proton themselves have no confidence in their car-making ability and feel they can’t compete with imported cars. I mean we buy more expensive Protons in Malaysia then let’s say those in UK or Dubai do. Why? If Proton can actually produce good quality cars, then the excessive tax is not needed and Malaysians can confidently drive Proton cars.

The confidence in talents within this country is also in tatters with the government’s dedicated efforts to bring Malaysian professionals abroad to do the job here. I don’t mind really if they can contribute, it is welcomed. But what about the millions that are already here? Can’t we contribute as much? Well I’ve raised that in my previous entry; need not dive into it any further.

Then of course, we’re not confident of our judiciary, police, graft-busters, taxi drivers, corporate leaders, media, city councils, maids and I could go on for days with this.

Hence, does Malaysians lack confidence? I’d say yes. But the reasons being we contribute as much to our lack of confidence by our lack of trust in ourselves. Therefore, we need to be a bit more liberated by trusting ourselves more.

Give us enormous Whopper burgers!

Why Woo When You Can Wow Me (on retaining talents)

PM is working hard to woo Malaysians back from across the horizon. Of course to do this, as with any other initiatives by the Malaysian government, there is a need to actually set up a whole corporation/body/task force/working committee/agency/club/coffee shop/mobile clinic/booth etc.

In this case it’s the Talent Corporation set to be up and running by next year. Their main objective is basically to woo professionals from abroad. The corporation would engage these lucky chaps who managed to secure a career (I’m guessing prosperous careers) in a foreign land, seeking them out and addressing their concerns. We will be begging them to return to this beloved country, that’s the gist of it.

All is well and good there. However, apart from sentimental values and nasi lemak, what other reasons could there be for them to consider returning here permanently?

I’m happy to be in Malaysia, to work in Malaysia and be a part of Malaysia. I see this country as having a lot of potential and I feel no real burden living in this country. Sure cars are ridiculously expensive and I’m stuck with a run-down Waja that has “v-tech” sticker which is impossible to peel out because the guy who owned it before was probably trying to convince himself that it is as good as driving a Camry, house prices makes me noxious and I can only dream of owning a house in the next 7 years (I’m playing Lego a lot more now), the public transport system is the government’s way of promoting fitness and health as opposed to travel convenience and salary prices have been rising dramatically slow for decades despite our rush to be a developed nation by 2020 - developed nation under-developed people.

Not to mention all the racism (a rising concern), politicking, red tape, corruption, half-open market, leadership crisis, the lack of good Nasi Lemak stalls (unlike 10 years ago) and the Ramadhan Bazaar losing its appeal after the 12^th day of fasting month. Also, the illogical and yet accepted pricing of Nasi Goreng (fried rice), Mee Goreng (fired noodle) and other Goreng-Goreng (fried-fried) food from breakfast to lunch/dinner - how can Nasi Goreng be worth RM1.50 during breakfast (pre-prepared) and RM3.50 after breakfast (add fried onion to the mix) and no one questioning the rationality?

In any case, I think the government is aiming wrongly in this case. Sure we want talents to come back to Malaysia especially if there are talents out there who might go on to be Jimmy Choo or that Saw movie creator guy who might do some good to our lackluster movie industry. But they have gone on to another country, they are getting higher salaries, they are living the dream perhaps even. Judging from comments in blogs, newspapers, online portals and forums, most of these leavers seem to be happy and not too many regret their decision.

If indeed we are able to woo them back, how many would want to come back? My next question is, what can these woo'ed boys do that those who are already here can’t potentially do? Why not aim to retain those who are still here, those in the university, those young entrepreneurs, engineers, doctors, academicians, etc.

Instead of promising high salaries for these woo'ed boys to come back, giving them benefits and discounts on stuff, give that to us. I’ve never considered moving abroad to work but I do realize that I’m not earning much here - considering my talent for looking busy whilst “at work”. I can’t afford a lot of things, definitely cannot live a life of luxury with my family, can only dream of traveling at the moment, but I’m happily working in Malaysia still.

I say, reward me, reward us.

I can understand those wanting to work abroad and become a resident of other countries. Look at our salary scale and compare them to our neighbor. In 2007, the average household income was only RM3,500 monthly (USD 965, i.e. USD 11,500 yearly) whilst in Singapore, the median household income in 2005 was USD30,000 yearly. I’m not really sure about the difference between “average” and “median” in economic-lingo, but since the numbers are hugely different (considering the year as well) it is disturbing anyway. (Median is the middle right and average is like the middle as well? If I’m wrong correct me please)

Then consider the fact that 45% of expats living in Singapore earns more than S$ 250,000 you would be blind to not see the gold that is raining on our neighbor.

In any case, many those who have left would probably not come back. But there are a lot more talents in this country that may or may not be considering other opportunities abroad. Fix the problems that are here (some already listed above), retain the talents you already have by giving them added benefits, the promise of brilliant career progression, fair and equal treatment and not screw up too much. Now that would be a better initiative.

Again my point is, reward me, reward us.

On that note, why must the government set up a whole corporation just so there could be professionals whose job is to beg other people to come home?

I say, you would be wasting your time. Leave that job to capable NGOs. There are plenty of NGOs who would be willing to do the job if you fund them the right amount. Then you can focus on other more pertinent issues like healthcare, education or Pak Ali’s English.

Is Gideon Levy the most hated man in Israel or just the most heroic - The Independent

A snippet of Johann Hari’s interview with Gideon Levy

Johan Hari of the UK’s Independent’s interview with Gideon Levy which was recently published tells a different story. It is hardly a different story if you’ve been living outside of Israel or the US – but a different story coming from an Israeli.

Levy is a patriotic Israeli, who loves his country. But he feels deep empathy for the Palestinian. Levy is an Israeli journalist who covers the occupied territory and reports things as he sees it. I highly recommend everyone to read this article. Given the Independent’s stance on the Israel-Palestine issue, one might think their reporting is biased. But this one comes from an Israeli who has not only witnessed justice being undone, but has himself experienced the brutality of such injustice.

Below are excerpts of the article –

He related several stories, true stories, to which he witnessed himself:

“As twenty little children pulled up in their school bus at the Indira Gandhi kindergarten, their 20 year-old teacher, Najawa Khalif, waved to them – and an Israel shell hit her and she was blasted to pieces in front of them. He arrived a day later, to find the shaking children drawing pictures of the chunks of her corpse.”

The writer also related one article which Levy wrote entitled “The last meal of the Wahbas family” which goes:

“They’d all sat down to have lunch at home: the mother Fatma, three months pregnant; her daughter Farah, two; her son Khaled, one; Fatma’s brother, Dr Zakariya Ahmed; his daughter in law Shayma, nine months pregnant; and the seventy-eight year old grandmother. A Wahba family gathering in Khan Yunis in honour of Dr Ahmed, who’d arrived home six days earlier from Saudi Arabia. A big boom is heard outside. Fatma hurriedly scoops up the littlest one and tries to escape to an inner room, but another boom follows immediately. This time is a direct hit.”

He also described how the people of Israel have been brainwashed to believing that Palestinians are monster and whatever is done by the Israeli army is legit.

“The brainwashing machinery is so efficient that trying [to undo it is] almost like trying to turn an omelette back to an egg. It makes people so full of ignorance and cruelty.” He gives an example. During Operation Cast Lead, the Israel bombing of blockaded Gaza in 2008-9, “a dog – an Israeli dog – was killed by a Qassam rocket and it on the front page of the most popular newspaper in Israel. On the very same day, there were tens of Palestinians killed, they were on page 16, in two lines.”

In one incident he was shot by the army who had no idea he was an Israeli!

“At a certain stage the army stopped us and asked what we were doing there. We showed them our papers, which were all in order. They sent us up a road – and when we went onto this road, they shot us. They directed their fire to the centre of the front window. Straight at the head. No shooting in the air, no megaphone calling to stop, no shooting at the wheels. Shoot to kill immediately. If it hadn’t been bullet-proof, I wouldn’t be here now...They were trigger-happy, as they always are. It was like having a cigarette. They didn’t shoot just one bullet. The whole car was full of bullets...”

“They shoot at the Palestinians like this on a daily basis. You have only heard about this because, for once, they shot at an Israeli.” He added.

Levy did describe his past. He was from Germany. His father, a PhD holder, was a lawyer. But they later became refugees (Nazi). He ended up in Palestine.

“We were so proud going to see Rachel’s Tomb [in Hebron] and we just didn’t see the Palestinians. We looked right through them, like they were invisible,” he says. “It had always been like that. We were passing as children so many ruins [of Palestinian villages that had been ethnically cleansed in 1948]. We never asked: ‘Who lived in this house? Where is he now? He must be alive. He must be somewhere.’ It was part of the landscape, like a tree, like a river.”

He went on to say.

“The swimming pool where I swim every morning was the irrigation grove they used to water the village’s groves. My house stands on one of the groves. The land was ‘redeemed’ by force, its 2,230 inhabitants were surrounded and threatened. They fled, never to return. Somewhere, perhaps in a refugee camp in terrible poverty, lives the family of the farmer who plowed the land where my house now stands.”

He also denied that Israel is “democratic”.

“Today we have three kinds of people living under Israeli rule,” he explains. “We have Jewish Israelis, who have full democracy and have full civil rights. We have the Israeli Arabs, who have Israeli citizenship but are severely discriminated against. And we have the Palestinians in the Occupied Territories, who live without any civil rights, and without any human rights. Is that a democracy?”

“How can you say it is a democracy when, in sixty two years, there was not one single Arab village established? I don’t have to tell you how many Jewish towns and villages were established. Not one Arab village. How can you say it’s a democracy when research has shown repeatedly that Jews and Arabs get different punishments for the same crime? How can you say it’s a democracy when a Palestinian student can hardly rent an apartment in Tel Aviv, because when they hear his accent or his name almost nobody will rent to him? How can you say Israel is a democracy when? Jerusalem invests 577 shekels a year in a pupil in [Palestinian] East Jerusalem and 2372 shekels a year in a pupil from [Jewish] West Jerusalem. Four times less, only because of the child’s ethnicity!.. Every part of our society is racist.”

He defended Palestinians actions – saying that it is a reaction to years of injustice rather than a terror act.

“What would happen if the Palestinians had not fired Qassams [the rockets shot at Southern Israel, including civilian towns]? Would Israel have lifted the economic siege? Nonsense. If the Gazans were sitting quietly, as Israel expects them to do, their case would disappear from the agenda. Nobody would give any thought to the fate of the people of Gaza if they had not behaved violently.”

The people who defend Israel’s current course are “betraying the country” by encouraging it on “the path to disaster. A child who has seen his house destroyed, his brother killed, and his father humiliated will not easily forgive.”

Israeli-Palestinian peace talk? Nothing but a scam. They are continuously occupying Palestinian territory. According to Levy, they are just entertaining the US to get their backing to bomb Iran. He feels that Israel needs to told.

“The facts are clear. Israel has no real intention of quitting the territories or allowing the Palestinian people to exercise their rights. No change will come to pass in the complacent, belligerent, and condescending Israel of today. This is the time to come up with a rehabilitation programme for Israel.”

He also feels Israel is highly hypocritical for opposing a boycott on them. Well, this one I think no one can actually deny much – they put blockade on poor Palestine!

“Firstly, the Israeli opposition to the boycott is incredibly hypocritical. Israel itself is one of the world’s most prolific boycotters. Not only does it boycott, it preaches to others, at times even forces others, to follow in tow. Israel has imposed a cultural, academic, political, economic and military boycott on the territories. The most brutal, naked boycott is, of course, the siege on Gaza and the boycott of Hamas. At Israel's behest, nearly all Western countries signed onto the boycott with inexplicable alacrity. This is not just a siege that has left Gaza in a state of shortage for three years. It's a series of cultural, academic, humanitarian and economic boycotts. Israel is also urging the world to boycott Iran. So Israelis cannot complain if this is used against them.”

He also has hopes – which I share.

"I am very pessimistic, sure. Outside pressure can be effective if it’s an American one but I don’t see it happening. Other pressure from other parts of the world might be not effective. The Israeli society will not change on its own, and the Palestinians are too weak to change it. But having said this, I must say, if we had been sitting here in the late 1980s and you had told me that the Berlin wall will fall within months, that the Soviet Union will fall within months, that parts of the regime in South Africa will fall within months, I would have laughed at you. Perhaps the only hope I have is that this occupation regime hopefully is already so rotten that maybe it will fall by itself one day. You have to be realistic enough to believe in miracles.”

Sufficed to say, Israeli treatment of Palestine is well documented and well known. This man has been campaigning against it for three decades and nothing has changed. What is really needed is a concertive effort to educate the public and condemn Israel. If this man, a man who loves his country to death dare do it in such open manner – subjecting him to hostility, condemnation, a beating and many other things by his own country - I think we should at least try to do something.

These are just excerpts, do go to the website to read more:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/is-gideon-levy-the-most-hated-man-in-israel-or-just-the-most-heroic-2087909.html