Eid mubarak

My Raya wish goes out to my friends: Yamin, Ulul, Khairul, Azli. Not forgetting Datin Mahidah and Dr. Normi. May life be better and the journey smooth.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Maaf zahir dan batin.

Lighting up

Image from Susan Loone's blog

It hit me. Whilst lighting up this part of cyberspace with my thoughts and occasional rantings, I ought to attend, at least once, the candle light vigil. To be a part of the group of like-minded Penangites, as well as Malaysians in general, in opposing the use of Draco's law (ISA if you haven't know). God willing, I will definitely be there.

Camera ready. Batteries loaded. Candles... Now, do they provide free candles?

Then and now - Labour all the same

I believe that every man and woman has gone through, specifically, life as a student. Now, we can always expect two things from these people: 1) They'd make sure you live what they had lived or 2) They'd motivate you saying "I've been thru this, and I symphatize with you". Now listen...". The former does say "I understand" but in the manner of if-I-can-do-it-so-can-you. See?

Now, allow me to give a real example: There's this academician in university whose perception of the world is still ticking in the 70s and 80s. Says: "there's no such thing as no time but there is this thing called bad time management". Hello, we're not robots. Many a times, nary a word was said to compliment the amount of labour done. I said labour because of the long hours put in and the amount of task to be completed. Daily, it's a 12-hour (with a 20-minute break for lunch) crunch and if lucky, it's 12 minus 2. And what was said? "It's your job."

At this point, one may think students are cry babies but no. We're not after our supervisors to cuddle us and sing to us. We'd use a word of appreciation. Don't tell me "that's life, the world is like that, that's varsity life"! It's this kind of people that make the world hell.

Yeah, stop complaining and get back to work eh? Maybe you'd just stop comparing us to the 80s and show some kindness. Who says this generation is lazy and not up to par? Well, maybe there are - I've seen. Bah!

When the wise speaks, people listen...

"A politician who is educated and has credibility will not make a statements which can hurt other people’s feelings" - NST, Thursday Sept. 25 2008

If the above was made by the Sultan of Selangor (whom I hold in high regards) or the Regent of Perak, then it is something worth ruminating. But I was tickled when this statement was made by one Umno Liaison chairman. I have nothing personal against this man but shouldn't he say so 2 weeks earlier?

Jeopardizing the country's good name and hurting other people’s feelings? He went on to say that his party would have taken action. What do his party members know about hurting people's feelings and what action was taken if not, what appeared to me as just a slap on the wrist?

The country is well-known (read here and here) for using Draco's law (i.e. the ISA) to intimidate, "to protect" and silence the innocent, critics and dissenters.

I won't laugh at this statement:

Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. -(Matthew 5:7)

The Chicken and the Egg

The latest absurdity by our self-professed future leaders reminded me of a little discussion over meal about the order in which the chicken and the egg first appear. A simple and quick agreement: The chicken comes first. God created the chicken.

It's a joke seeing how they'd lodge a police report (a popular trend after issuing SD lately) over a comparison made. Would I be detained and labelled a racist if I make a (proven) fact that nasi lemak, kuih nyonya, nasi kandar and the like are both oily and unhealthy?

Unbelievable what these eggheads could join and connect. Perhaps if the dish was likened to cat food or any creatures other than dogs, then it may not have been so serious eh? Poor dog. You're insulted, kicked, killed and shot at if you wander in the wrong places.

Now, they're talking about insulting an egg. So much for valuing life.

Checklist

A kiss in the morning
For hurts to come, for damages done
A hug in the morning, an embrace at night
For anticipated coldness, for things undone

Greetings and notes all day
Serve to despair and dismay
Questions and answers every other day
To rekindle conflagration, war games replay

Say, "Thou art fair my love, thou art fair"
"Make her fair, make her fair", my prayer
Utter, "Yea, yea; nay, nay"
Turn the other cheek and live another day

Realize I'm more a mendicant than a noble
Stand on convictions and not grovel
Eat, when possible, the crumbs from the table
Talk to, and look at, Queens but don't waver

Lest you forget

Lest you forget that wild animals are being poached for their tusks, fur, eggs, horns, for longevity, for enchanced sexual libidos, and who knows what else.

Lest you forget that black is indeed black and not by any other name; and poaching (or illegal hunting, fishing, harvesting) should be outlawed and not only during the "closed season".

Lest you forget that humans are created beings (or evolved creature if you like) and having developed senses and thought doesn't entitle us the rights to dictate the life of all living creatures. What's the use of having the ability to think when it gives rise to selfishness, cruelty, or malicious intents? Has the world got better ?

Enjoy the ingenuity of our race. Lo and behold...

20 months old butchered female elephant (Source: Born Free Foundation)

Video grab: Slaughtered alive (Source: PetaTV)

Video grab: Skinless but still alive (Source: PetaTV)

Destined for the cookpot (Source: IPPL and Patrick Brown)

Good day!

SPP Interview Expose

Jumped upon this post (by one Joshua) and decided to reproduce it. Original article available here.
__________________

I was at Jabatan Perdana Menteri on 25th July 2007 for an 8:00 a.m. interview with the Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Pelajaran. It was an interview to confirm my placement into the government service as DG41.

The interview letter didn’t state anything about attire. The SPP website stated "baju kemeja berlengan panjang dan bertali leher." See http://www.spp.jpm.my/temuduga-faktor.php. I wore my grey slacks, dark blue long-sleeve shirt, and a silver tie. Upon arrival at Bilik Temuduga 10, we were told by our room's interviewer that we need to wear a coat.

Nobody brought any coats from our room. We went out to search for a coat. Around 5 other guys in the entire interview had coats. So we borrowed their coats and passed them around.
When my turn came, I put on the coat and went in.

Right after I said "Selamat pagi Dato," he asked me where I got the coat from. I said I borrowed it. He said how come I don't even own a coat. I said the interview letter did not state that I have to wear a coat, or else I would've found one before I came. He scolded me and said I did not know how to interpret the letter.

He asked what kind of pants I was wearing. I said my grey slacks. He said how can that be formal. I said only have 2 pairs of slacks. One black, one grey. The black one, I wore to school on Monday, and now it is being washed. So, today I'm wearing my grey slacks.
He threw my documents aside and chased me out of the room.

He called me in again after a very long time. It wasn't an interview. It was a dressing-down, humiliation session. He didn't really ask me anything much. Here's the gist of what he said:

"Bapa kamu tahu tak, kamu seluar hanya ada dua? Kalau dia tahu, dia malu tak, anak dia macam ini?"

I said hidup saya susah. I explained my family background. And why I have banyak tanggungan.
"You are wrong!! Saya pun tak pernah tanggung orang macam itu. You must change the way you live."

He looked at my shoes, and he said, "Kasut kamu tak gilap."

I said I cycle to school everyday. How to gilap?

"COME ON... YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT!!"

Well, if I don't have a car, and my school is nearby, what's wrong with cycling to school?

"Kamu pakai baju apa itu. Cina tak boleh pakai gelap."

I said I'm a Christian, I don't abide by such superstitions. I said by the way, my shirt is blue. Not black.

"Kamu bukan Cina kah? You must be proud to be a Chinese... Malaysian Chinese..."

What does he know about being a Malaysian Chinese? We don't get Datukships and awards like him. We can't afford to be wearing designer clothes like him. We are not supported by the government's silver spoon in our mouth from the day we were born. We have to struggle to take care of our families. What does he know?

He said, "Dalam PIPP, ada dinyatakan kita harus memartabatkan profesion keguruan. Apa yang kamu faham tentang itu?"

That is the Teras Kelima in the Pelan Induk Pembangunan Pendidikan. I explained that according to the PIPP blueprint, we are supposed to upgrade the intake system of teachers and improve the working environment of teachers. I wasn't taking rubbish. That was the textbook answer.

He said, "Tak payah, tak payah. Kalau untuk kamu saja, macam mana?"

I said, "Kena memperbaiki imej, kalau menurut Dato."

He said "Gaji satu bulan berapa? Pergilah beli seluar..."

He even stood up to show me his slacks. He said a pair that costs seratus lebih would be a good one.

I cycle to school everyday. My shoes aren't shined. I can't afford a pair of slacks that cost over a hundred bucks. I don't have a coat. I guess I'm not fit to be a teacher.

Well, if they can pay me 4 grand a month, certainly the profession guru's martabat will be dipertingkatkan, isn't it?

If what I wear matters so much more than how I teach, then my workplace should not be in a musty classroom. I should be on the catwalk runway.

Here is the Dato’ that should be brought to the public’s attention.

Blog Action Day 08 - Poverty

15 October 2008

Global issues like poverty are extremely complex. There is no simple, clear answer. By asking thousands of different people to give their viewpoints and opinions, Blog Action Day creates an extraordinary lens through which to view these issues. Each blogger brings their own perspective and ideas. Each blogger posts relating to their own blog topic. And each blogger engages their audience differently.

Read more about it here

The Big Bad World

This goes out to people who call themselves a leader, superior, boss or any by any other names so as to exude an air of, or rather exert, authority. To these men and women, I say this to you: To command respect, you need not make subservient everyone with a lower pay grade than you. Do you raise your voice to your old folks when their motor skills failed? If you're paid to work, then why push your work for others to complete? And if you love politics so much, why not take a dive into politics?

Lastly, why'd you show disdain for a fellow colleague just because he's new or because you don't like some features on his face? Do this contemptuous behaviour in you command respect?

Note to newbies (my friend included), do command respect for yourself by first respecting your superior. Show them you have what they severely lack as this trait is degenerative with position. By respect, I mean to say be polite, smile, turn theother cheek whenever possible but never brown-nose them. The latter bring you some favours but at the expense of what?

Then, ensure you finish up your work first before lending a hand to a senior colleague; knowing full well that they ought not to be lazy! Lastly, know that maybe a handful are true but then again, discount the fact that you'd find friends in the office. Less politicking and more productivity alright?

All the best, WC! Blessed day at work.

Happy Birthday Malaysia

Happy Birthday Malaysia!

May you continue to be blessed from this day on.

My constant prayers and well-wishes:
*May you be free from corruption and bigotry
*May truth, justice, and fairness prevail

Love,
Julian
xoxoxo

September 16 may just be another ordinary day except for historical events where the Federation Malaysia was formed. Ordinary? All these years, this date wasn't given much fanfare compared to Independence Day.

This year, it may be different given the fact that there are emphatic calls for change as well as the knowledge that we need to be one. It's also comforting to see how Datuk Zaid Ibrahim stood by his principles and beliefs (enough said about this already) instead of blindingly following the government's decision; or what Khairy calls the principle of collective responsibility.



I especially like this image (Source: TV Smith) of the crowd at Kelana Jaya. Whether or not there are major changes on Putrajaya, it's good to know that Malaysians want a change. Just like the words of Uncle Lim: "it did not matter whether the change is 916, 1016, 1116 or 1216. What is important is for all of us to be united to make the change happen.”

Come what may, I'm proud to be in this country and if the status quo doesn't benefit the people then I welcome changes. Make haste but not empty promises.

I Say, it's the ISA

It’s a sweltering day with strong 4pm sunlight
As if to bring a burning hope after what transpired last night
I-S-A invoked and 3 people dragged off without being tried
Aiseh, man, TRUTH died when the powers that be displayed its might.

With organised violence as the key to its preamble
To detain Communist insurgents so they go no further
Do you see any of it in a reporter, MP, and an editor?
Aiseh, man, they are not Commies so detain them not any longer.

Was it a desperate act or that of retribution?
Some call it a ruse but I call it a thoughtless and impetuous decision
Worse, it was blindly used on the wrong people with careless ease
Aiseh, man, use it on one with inflammatory disease.

On the 51st lap-year of independence albeit with a blurred vision 20/20
Where speaking up is still a taboo and is discouraged
Where hearsay reports and reporting facts could book you a cage
Aiseh, man, that’s Draco’s way and is most archaic.

Fear not and be strong, ye who are in presumed Oblivion
For where light is, there is no darkness
Be ye encouraged, for ye shall be delivered from the paw of the lion
Aiseh, man, I likened Draco to a lion and I’m out of rhymes.

I'm PISSED

pissed [pist]
adjective (slang)
1. an offensive term meaning extremely angry or upset

Microsoft® Encarta® 2006. © 1993-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
___________________

The title said it all. Need I say more?

Update 2350hrs: I'm sick to my guts. First it's Raja Petra and then Tan Hoon Cheng (Sin Chew reporter; for reporting racially sensitive controversial statement). Now it's Teresa Kok (Seputeh MP) for all the wrong reasons. Read more

Update 0113hrs: Sweet show of solidarity in Penang with candle light vigils outside the state police HQ. On a lighter note, USM graduates do have some substance, after all the varsity don't get an APEX recognition without something to show.

The APEX and Nadir in Penang

What goes up do, occasionally come down - quite true given the post-March events. Never mind that. Was having an after-dinner talk when the subject of Penang came up - the elections, USM, war cries. Think zenith-nadir or crest-trough.

With the APEX status conferred upon USM, I do hope better equipments and also a revamp in its syllabi come along. All I hear is money and more money. It's true what one says how local varsities churning out less-than-able graduates. Not that I'm any better; I feel there are much more things that ought to be incorporated into the 14 weeks of studies each semester. One would rebut by saying students are suppposed to learn and find out by themselves. Why bother going to lectures since what was thought is so basic that one could look it up on the net or better still, past year examination questions.

They could extend the period of study to four years and cut down on the amount of courses for a given specialization instead make each one more detailed. What's the use of Immunology when you only study B-cells? A year (two semesters) consists of only 28 weeks. Only 84 weeks is needed to complete a 3-year degree programme. Fantastic.

What's the rush in pumping out so many graduates? Hmm... Since when did I intend to rant about local varsities, USM in particular? Who am I to speak out against it? It'll take another five years before anyone will pay any thoughts to it.

Let's just hope the status wouldn't mean more money for research but also for the undergraduates as well since what goes up do come down and I hate to see that happen to USM. Perhaps, an up and a down would give rise to a more harmonic state of living for Penang and the nation as a whole?

-untitled-

Yet another composition without an apt title...

Here I am
‘Neath the dark expanse of the universe
Sparsely studded with twinkling diamonds
As the Northern Light unfurls in the night skies
So is my memory as it unfolds before my eyes

Not long ago on a similar plain
Two souls were seen laughing as they ran
Sharing and reaping the rewards of life
Facing and experiencing, too, the cruelty of life

Up the highlands and down the valley
Spending hours together on the prairie
Talking, laughing and sometimes arguing
Till the sun sets late in the evening

Off they go exploring the landscape
On an ever-faithful beast till late
Although a goodbye at the end of the day
Never a sorrow as they’ll meet some other day

Come fall, winter, spring and summer
In a jiffy it’s already a year
Still they hold each other dear
Not knowing that the end is near

Came the blizzard in the winter
Swept them apart none the gentler
Off they go in different directions
Taking along sweet memories and quiet emotions

Here I am
Beholding as the aurora fades away
Into the orange hue of dawn
As the sun sets to rise in the horizon
Yet I’m still deluged by nostalgia in my mind’s thoroughfare

O, how beautiful as the eye of heaven opens
Bringing life to the otherwise sleepy land
For another new day returns
And beckons me to complete the tasks at hand

Abandon ship!

The man at the helm
Steering tirelessly for over 2 decades
Going through storms and waves
O'er bergs and raging seas
Into tranquility
Greeted by the golden rays of sunshine.

The man at the helm
Steering tirelessly for over 2 decades
Into the age of development
Of Science and of Technology
Achievements after achievements
Are recorded in the pages of history
From the highest peak to the sub-zero pole
Thus, we are no more behind
But are known to the world.

The man at the helm
Steering tirelessly for over 2 decades
Going against gravity
When everything's down and flat
Rising again by our own effort
Holding on to our Vision and the 'Malaysia Boleh' spirit
Setting an example for the Third World nations.

The man at the helm
Steering tirelessly for over 2 decades
A great captain he is
Gaining honour; earning respect wherever he sails
We owe it to him and his crew
Who made this country the best place to live in
Although the leadership is passed on
The ship never stops sailing
Memories to be cherished
He is the living hero; the national hero.
Beloved Captain, we salute thee!

We're now well-known for all the wrong reasons. Then there's this statesman undoing things he's done for the last 2 decades. Bravo! A toast to the captain and thence a toss overboard.

A Year of Light-Ups

Its a year and 10 days of lighting up, albeit intermittently, in this inconspicuous corner of cyberspace.
The word cloud piccie was created at Wordle based on the frequently used as well as recent words.
No price for guessing the most common words used though.
Cheers!

Oh yes, the name of a racist is in the cloud. I have no choice.

Anak siapa? Example of the undergraduate years

An eye for an eye. Stern actions. Sedition Act. Those are the calls. Google along these keywords: Ahmad Ismail, penumpang, pendatang and you'd get hits commenting on the recent remarks made by Ahmad "I don't mean it" Ismail.

No, not another bashing but a piece of my mind on the Bangsa Malaysia everyone (well, not everyone) hopes to achieve - in the distant future.

Whilst many hope that the "Race" column in application forms would be romoved and say, a political party which would do away with these 51-year racial policies and mentalities, it wouldn't be a success save on in a superficial manner; no different than the superficial call of equality for all races we that we have now.

Perhaps with time and the passing of the current generation that the next generation would be thought this concept of Satu Bangsa - but don't count on no parents who wouldn't inculcate some forms of racism in their children, however minute.

I see myself fortunate to be studying in a school (missionary school actually where there were calls to remove the crucifix, that's beside the matter) which subscribes to the national syllabus and to be able to mingle with people from various races. Fast forward to now, I've graduated from a local university whereby in my three years of studies, the nicest people I've met are my Malay friends.

It's not particularly comforting to see - in words and actions - a one-race group that thinks they're suppose to stick together or they'll lose out. Fear.

Fear is the thing that drives one to behave in an antagonizing way towards another and it affects, evidently, both the majority and the minority. With fear comes polarization and division and you end up with discrete colours even in a sea of crowds. It may not be excessive to say that coming from a mono type of school do actually causes culture shock and it needs some getting used to. If the latter fails, alienation thus sets in.

(From Left: Yamin, Myself, Amar)

Get one or two friends (better still of different colours) and you'd get a snapshot like the above but frankly, it was taken that day when I called out to them as they walked by: they happily obliged. Then there's this university photographer who ask us to post for her camera. Guess such pictures are hard to come by except if one would look for paid posers. Lol.

My point? To achieve things such as Bangsa Malaysia or to be more current, Muhibbah/Perpaduan, it doesn't take one party or one race to start/stop doing a certain thing but it's more than that. To the bigots out there, it's to stop having the impression that your race is more superior, richer, more hardworking, the pioneer, or better off doing things alone. Stop pointing fingers at others, whichever group you belong to. After all, none of us are not guilty of being a racist at certain points in our lives.

Sometimes, it doesn't take a racist politician's sanctimonious drivel to fuel a racial dislike towards another but rather, the policy of the nation (call it a contract if you'd like to deny) and the blatant one-sidedness favouring certain groups of people that causes much discomfort and disappointment. What more, our founding fathers didn't sign us up for less of a citizen.

P.A. Lesson: Perlembagaan merupakan undang-undang tertinggi negara ini... I love the words supreme law as it gives a kind of security - and security for all. It takes more than just requests to change the Constitution. No fear, aite?

In a nutshell, I have but a few friends and not all are Chinese but all are Malaysians. It may draw laughter and ridicule when I answer to these questions: Hang anak sape? Hang ingat hang leh buat ape yang hang suka? Saya anak Malaysia. Ini tanah tumpah darah saya. Save to say, the last phrase entitled me to the rights guarded by the Constitution.

PS. Woe betide you, bigoted leaders/politicians who drive the wedge between races for your own selfish gains.