My Thanks To...

It's business as usual for most. Some has the dull look of knowing what another mundane day would bring. Some look excited. Some wear the scheming expression; plotting the downfall of their colleague in the workplace. To some, only money matters warrant their attention. As for the others, an accident or a funeral/wedding procession would be something worth stopping and see.

Did anyone notice the painters? My best guess is that they did - the inconveniences caused by the painting work in progress. Crude scaffold all the way to the top of the building. The flakes of old paint just pressure-stripped a day before. Risking life and limb, they paint so we have a structure to show off.


Or the sweepers/cleaners? Do we give disapproving look at them for sweeping their weathered broom a little too near our Midas-inherited feet?


These people don't put on their best clothes complete with a tie nor do they wear the best smelling perfume. The have a face but without a name to go with it; much less a prefix to their name. Some are addressed as, "Oi!" or "Hey!". To these men and women, their job is their responsibility and they do it wholeheartedly. Meticulously.

So, my thanks and my prayers to them. That their hard work will be richly rewarded in due time. And I'm sure they'd better appreciate food and every other things they possess.

Heaven? Haven't!

I'm not working in heaven. I always tell myself that and to people who comes to me complaining over their cursed workplace.

Their grouses are understandable. Idiotic bosses. Equally imbecilic colleagues. And I've seen them all. My take? These people are pathetically insecure and they have to behave in that way so that they no longer get trampled on or get bullied. They have the notion that if they were to let up in any way, then the surrounding will collapse on them. They're happy with how they are right now and cloistered in their comfort zone. Never will anyone expect them to change 'cos they will think it's the end of the world when anything disrupts their routine.

As much as I understand such people from Psychology professors, I still can't stand their view on life and of work. No one should be better than them and they're so selfish to the extent that a simple request for help is turned down. They feel better if people don't gain the same knowledge. Some will look at you and think to themselves, "I'm taller, no, I'm better than you. Look at my wry smile".

Others find joy in seeing you suffer or humiliated which prompt me to think they might be a victim of sadomasochism during the their growing up years. Well, so as not to be like them, I always suggest that we yield to such people and whenever possible steer clear from them. When you need to address them, remember no first name. Just greet them by their last name/family name. Say your thank you and get out.

We can't rid the world of such people who can't live a day without competition. One who wouldn't be satisfied if they can't derive pleasure out of your suffering. So be wise and be on the lookout.

Again, yield and be meek. Always say, "I don't work in heaven". Good luck, people!

O Ye Faithful, Love the Animals!

Preachers in some Malaysian mosques will urge worshippers to help stop the poaching of tigers, elephants and other endangered animals after similar sermons on turtle conservation were well received, an environmentalist said

-The Star, March 16

Ah, isn't that something? To remind people, regardless of religion, the importance to love God's creations and that includes the animals and of course the environment. Let us not stop at tigers, elephants, or any other endangered animals.

Broaden the subject to commonly seen animals: the dogs/cats, as well as the environment. Apart from man-God relationship and practicing some religious routines, it'd be great if mosques, temples and churches do a little more for the aforementioned. After all, aren't we stewards of His creation?

So beloved ones, remember to turn off your lights on the 28th this month.

Lights Out, People!

March 8: Mark of Change

The day itself isn't much of a fanfare and I needed a text message to remind me that "Tomorrow's March 8". I went, "Oh, March 8." I began thinking of the significance of March 8. It's been a year already but the day isn't as big as, say, the National Day but it's the events that occur after March 8, 2008. Hitherto, nothing's the same anymore after that fateful day where the nation saw the loss of the two-third majority of the government and where the so called tech-savvy voters, both young and old alike, began turning the tide in an election. Many attributed the Opposition's win to the cyberspace; where blog sites have been instrumental in the dissemination of ideas, opinions and manifestos. What more, readers find that news-reporting in the net is impartial though some are mere personal opinions whilst others are professionally reported, the latter by journalists thereby lending more credibility. Some attributed March 8 to voters handing the victory to the opposition to 'teach BN a lesson'. Whatever the underlying reasons may be, change has come and that change has finished one revolution.

Suddenly, everyone is more aware of their rights. Of the Constitution. Of the ISA. And everyone is more interested with matters pertaining to corruption, the judiciary, as well as the principles of separation of powers. I do at least. I'm somewhat pleased with a louder and stronger Opposition now. Like they say, check and balance is important.

March 8 also led to a string of events like the September 16 attempt to takeover of the government, invocation of the ISA and the ensuing weekly candlelight vigils, the Cycle for Change organized by JERIT, wins in by-elections, assemblypersons jumping ship and caused a crisis in Perak, and the State Assembly in session under a rain tree. The people seem to be brave enough to stand up for injustice and courageous enough to make sure their voices are heard. It isn't a bad thing at all. True, things are no longer that 'uneventful and mundane' but it sure is great to see how everyone is becoming more conscious of how important good governance is. We may not yet be mature enough to sit down and openly discuss issues deemed sensitive, no thanks to 50 years intimidation and stifled mental growth, but slowly society is heading towards rational discourses and debates. Gone will be the days when voices of dissent against injustice will be heard and it's come to pass when a show of solidarity by lighting candles be met with water cannons, tear gas, and truncheons. It is the hope of every single person that from here onwards, people is free to voice their opinions, be respected for their views, be treated equally and their rights enshrined in the Constitution be protected. I sure hope that as the gears are set in motion, the racial chasm be narrowed and that racism and extreme chauvinism be snuffed out.

Also, I long for the day when politicians walk their talk and behave in a civilized manner; that they act according to their titles the Right Honourable or any other titles preceding their names. Rubbish should no longer come out whenever they speak and when it comes down to work, they ought to stop thinking of making headlines with unnecessary politicking. In this respect, change should come so as to transform a bunch of ragtags in a circus into first-class lawmakers working for the good of the country and the people. There are many pressing issues but none from both sides are taking it seriously. Rising food prices, education quality, and environmental issues are among the many things that worries us all. And, and, I don't even understand the stimulus packages at all, how it'd benefit us. We're going to be 52 but it's a shame how we've lagged behind many countries and many are thinking only of ways to fill up their coffers.

I just hope they'd stop joking. So, whether or not you're a swollen head or a sore loser, it's over and a year had passed since the last time we all woke up to a different landscape. Live with it and adapt accordingly or do nothing and extinct.

Oh yeah, it's the International Women's Day today!

English, I Command Thee

"Dude, your English sucks", said the Chinese guy with squinty eyes.
"Oh no, my command of English is good enough", Danny denied.

We don't need another human being to gauge how good or how refined our English is. Danny may not speak like a native speaker but as long as he doesn't reply "I'm 47 years old" when asked "How are you?" then things would pick up well from there on out. I don't know how he performed at the international exposition but then Malaysians speak English like how Arabs speak English too.

This isn't so much about Danny ('cos he has to step up to the plate when appointed to that position) but looking at the bigger picture, our command of English isn't that strong and it isn't given the attention it ought to have. At school level, kids can't even write a sentence properly and putting their s-es all over the place. I is not the best but I know that criticism should be directed where it should be - the root.

I don't envy Malaysians who speak flawless English with the pure accent but I'd tell when someone tries too hard to speak English. The tongue-rolling is all but nauseous. I speak flat English, the Malaysian way, without much peak and trough throughout a sentence and people don't say, "Could you please repeat?"

A language professor once said people care so much for performance but these "performer" lack competence i.e. ask them to write and you'd spot grammatical errors right away. I believe in excellence on both aspect. As I learn to pronounce water as "wor-der" and not "wah-ter", I make extra sure that my message, be it speech or in writing, is intelligible.

So, save the criticism and channel it elsewhere. We don't need someone more superior to make a mountain out of a mole hill. Like my teacher used to say, "Volunteer yourself and don't nominate others". I say, "Step up and offer your expertise. If not, live with it that though good command of English is paramount in this time, success of a deal hinges on other factors too.

So, to the person-in-charge and to school teachers too, buck up now and speak English more often. And don't be too proud of how many days in a week you use English as you'd speak English all year but if you don't do it consciously, you'd master rubbish English and then make yourself a laughing stock when you open your mouth. Speak up and learn it well. No one's laughing. I'm off to learning English too.

Life in Motion: By the Left, Right, Center, March!

"It's crazy!", someone remarked.
"Yeah, it's noisy", another added.
"I'm really busy", I replied.
"I think I'm pretty", the girl next to me blurted out.

We did a double take and roared with laughter. The atmosphere isn't that charged now. The month of February has come and gone and March greeted me with surprises. I see how God moves, how the love for money and the craze for power dictate man's actions, and how a day is over and the events thereof remained a fuzzy mental recollection.

It's the 4th now and life here is crazy and noisy; and I meant life in varsity and in Malaysia as a whole. We witness how a simple action motivated by greed reverberate into an upheaval of sort, with a significant magnitude.

It's the middle of the week and work piled up, deadlines coming at me unrelentingly. I'm really busy I said.

Not sure if there's anything pretty in the month of March, especially the power tussle in the silver state which has already damaged her image and democracy there losing its lustre. Alas, it's sad how after 51+ years, instead of marching on, we have clowns heading every possible directions the compass needle points. These people showed very well that with power, in whatever forms seen or otherwise I may add, democracy and the Constitution amount to nothing but be made a mockery.

Many, like me, still hold on to the flicker of hope in that Malaysia will be freed from such plague. Without a common goal, the formation is but a bunch of ragtags on parade. For now, I'd just hold on to my dream; brushing aside suggestions to pack up and forgetting calls to get out of this God-given land. So help us God.

In the light of the recent power struggle and with no end in sight, the blogosphere is alive with commentaries and equally enlightening comments too. Together with stomach-churning abuses, the following is one I'd agree on (edited):

Before the Berlin wall came down, before the disintegration of the great USSR, would anyone dare dream that one day, freedom will come to them? For as long as we don't lose faith, for as long as we don't forget, for as long as we keep dreaming, one day, Malaysia will be free from tyranny. We are not there yet, but one day, we will surely be free.

Some of us may lose hope and bundle all we have and emigrate... we can say, lets bring our wealth and our talents and leave Malaysia. We must not do that! This is our God given land, we cannot leave our brethren behind... we must stay as one people and keep working to bring true democracy to our land

Forward March!