boon's log 0909.01: Oh Pening! What's happening?

From the last time I blogged, it seems like the Malaysian political scene is deteriorating - just like what the global economy - falling deeper and deeper into the abyss. When will we recover from this pointless political dispute and focus our energy and resources on how best to weather through this global "storm"?

As the rest of the world talks about economic recovery plans, it seems like our leaders are more interested about what (luxury) cars are the big guns driving (and how they plan to finance the maintenance of the car) or how many cows are being changed hands or how to spend money (unnecessarily) in sending lawyers and reprentatives on a free trip half way around the world to London in trying to get a second opinion from the Queen's Council or setting up an Anti Corruption body that now seemed to be taking sides when passing un-confirmed and pre-mature judgements on individuals.

Gosh, the list goes on and on.... and on. What is happening to Malaysia? It is indeed sad to see the state that we are in now - especially when we've just celebrated our 50 years of independance - an event we so proudly and gallantly declare to the world!

But seriously how far have we progressed from 1957?

Well, 50 years and 5 Prime Ministers later, we are still debating about cars and cows (and eggs).

50 years of independance from the British and 5 Prime Ministers later, we still run back to Big Momma's House, seeking the Queen's Council for their opinion. What a total embarassment?

"Mommy, Mommy, the other party bullied me!"

50 years of independance and 5 Prime Ministers later, the national anthem was changed twice - once in 1992 to a much faster marching beat (where some related it to a circus song), and another time, sometime in 2003 where the beat was reverted back to the original tempo - after much objections from Malaysians. It was during the second change also, when there was a proposal to change the Title of the national anthem from Negaraku, to Malaysiaku - which was later reportedly dropped.

We were asked (or told) to respect the monarchy, but does the monarchy respect the wishes of people whom He so openly declare that He cares so much about? That certainly remains questionable and many thinks that He's just doing a Milli Vanilli...

Well, in the same breath as we sing those powerful words of the National Anthem, in asking God for bessings of happiness and for our Kings (and rulers) to rule in peace, I'd like to add that we also pray that God will grant Them (our Rulers and Kings) wisdom and knowledge to rule the land in fairness and in truth, impartial to any individual or political party, knowing well that though all things may be permissible, but not all things are benefitial to the state, to the country and to the people living in it. They should work together with the government, i.e. the government elected by the people, for the betterment of the country and the people.

Oh, and for goodnes sake, please leave the personal lives of single female politicians alone. What else are they going to come up with next? Naked baby photos of them when they were 1 or 2 years old? It's not like she committed any crime or broken any law. It's not like she was married with 3 children and THEN stared in a scandalous DVD - well, even THEN you can still make a come back into the political scene - a magical feat that some folks have sucessfully proven to be working.

if you have the time, take a look at the people at the newspaper stands - how many of them, when picking up their usual dailies, shakes their heads upon reading the headlines these days? I, am one of them.

boon out...

boon's log 0709.02: Happy Chinese New Year?

Happy Chinese New Year to all. Quite a delayed post due to the unfortunate sequence of events. First Ab fell sick 11 days before CNY, and was later admitted into hospital for high fever. She was only discharged on the day before CNY. Our CNY plans had to be re-scrubbed in order to work around that. Then, not long after that, Ab handed the baton over to IL and she fell sick with a throat infection. I guess it's the weather and also the fact that both of them have not been drinking enough water... Anyways, thanks to all who've been praying for both my ladies. They are very much better now.

Being back in Malaysia, I guess it is very hard to not to know or hear or feel or talk about the policical tension/scene that is so real and so heated - not to mention so silly and embarassing. For some reasons, I cannot imagine the same exact political scene, that has been created by our so-called "leaders", happenning in any other country - I just cannot. It is like a kids playing with toy trucks in a sand box. It's like playing Hide-and-seek. It's like playing a game of tag or monopoly. Watching the Malaysian Political Scene unfold is like watching WWE on the telly - it's like there is no rules and no laws at all.

The recent events have really opened barrels and barrels of worms and maggots that reside in Malaysia Politics - something that I guess it is a known fact but not until recently, it has been so openly exhibited. And imagine, these are the people that we have leading our country; these are the people that we are supposed to trust; supposed to look up to and respect; these are people who are supposed to be role models for the community. Honestly, how?

I was at my local barber shop recently and hearing people laughing at our DPM for denying the fact that Malaysia is affected by the global economic situation that the world is in. What a joke! Politicians turning up at police stations lodging police reports against other politicians over a statement about an Egg.

An Egg?!

Imagine Senator McCain going to his local police station lodging a report against Obama about a statement that Obama may have made about a sausage that he ate while dining at a local Denny's?! What crap?!

Embarassing, utterly shameful. 50 years of democracy and we have not progressed from when we started. Perhaps instead of sending our "leaders" to Taiwan on a much "controversial" agricultural rearch study trip, we should have sent them to developed, first-world countries to learn about how to excel in running a political party and a country; to learn how to "see past the egg".

Trust me (written with hint of sarcasm), don't trust anyone who tells you that Malaysia is not affected by the current economic crisis. And as the world economy takes a deep dive (ours not excluded) I seriously think that they (our "dear respected leaders") should start to put more time and burn more calories in figuring out ways on how to weather through this storm and stop playing political games; start to think and work for the benefit of the people who voted for them and stop thinking only about themselves; start living up to your people's expectations and stop letting us down time and time again; ...

stop rallying for people to boycott the big brothers (i.e. US) - imagine what would happen to Malaysia if they (The US) backfired and remove all investments in Malaysia and ask all US companies to boycott Malaysia - who will be at the losing end then? Start strategizing on how to make the best out of the existing situation with all the friends and allies and networks that we still have. Will the US ever FEEL it if we boycott buying their products? Will they (The US) feel it if we boycott a US singer from holding her concert in Malaysia? - perhaps her fans will just travel to the next nearest concert venue - there goes a few duffle bags of ringgits flowing out of Malaysia. Really, we depend on them more than they do on us.

These are simple facts and figures and it is not rocket science. Irregardless of which party you stand by/support, i believe we cannot pin-point at one single party or coalition for the recent political embarassment. Everyone has their part to play. The elected should get their acts together and get them together quick!

Having said all that, I hope that 2009 will not be as bad as many of us feared and I sincerely hope, our "leaders" can get their act together and start acting like real leaders and make the right and mindful decisions and we brave through the storm together. Blessed New Year to all...


Lou Sang


Ninth-Day


This is like a scene from some HK ganster movie...


fireworks near our place during the CNY ninth day celebration


boon out...