First choice in Singapore, not here

That is the heading of a letter from a reader published in thestar 22 June 2006.

One particular paragraph summed up the dilemma.

"At first, I was reluctant to accept any of the offers by the Singapore universities as I thought I had a responsibility to serve my country.

Moreover, the Government has been working hard in addressing our country's brain drain problem."

That paragraph speaks volumes about the sentiments of “the others”, since it is usually this group that gets rejected from Malaysian universities despitfulfillingng all the requirements. Unfortunately, they could never cross to the other side of the road unless they become Muslims.

It is tragic, unsavoury and demeaning to say the least when your own country does not want you just because you are not one of them. The government may say otherwise but reality stares glaringly bright. This does not happen only in education but throughout the broad spectrum of Malaysian life.

The leading brains should just stop wasting their time trying to get back the brain that has gone away. If the so-called think-tank could not or would not point out the government's policy blunders, the trend will continue ad infinitum. All the talk about unity in diversity would just be paying lip service to higher ideals. No action, just talk.

Why the Malay Agenda won’t help Malays

This article sums up quite neatly what is happening among the Malays in Malaysia today - 2006. This article is in theedgedaily and the printed version appeared on 12 June 2006.

Some excerpts.

"But more often than not, it'’s not the community they are looking out for. They are looking out for themselves and for very narrow interests within the community, often at the expense of the very community they purport to represent."

"They" in this article refers to the leaders of the Malay community. How so very true but of course it is not acknowledged by "them". There are also supporters who do not mind being their lackeys as long as they get their share of the largesse. A continuation of the feudal lord-servant mentality, perhaps?

"The new Malay Agenda must recognise that a clean, efficient and incorruptible government serves the Malay's best interests and that what is good for the country as a whole is good for the Malays too because they form the majority in the country. In many ways, the new Malay Agenda will also be a Malaysian Agenda."

A most heartening wish. I do hope it will become a reality but I doubt this will happen in my lifetime. Maybe in the next generation or two if everyone is willing to put the good of the community first. That will be the day.

Fragile faith

It takes the Prime Minister himself, check thestar 16 June 2006, to put a stop to the so-called fatwa that the kongsi raya celebrations is a big no-no for muslims. I’m sure he’ll be cursed to kingdom come for being bold enough to issue such a statement. This will be another test whether the PM’s vision of a moderate Islam can withstand the pummeling from the established conservative religious scholars.

The fight will be an uphill struggle since the religious establishment is always adamant that their interpretation is the correct version of how we should lead our lives as Muslims. Any suggestions otherwise is dismissed as half-baked ideas from those not qualified to delve into religious matters.

We will wait and see what will be their next move.

Ulamas want kongsi raya celebrations reviewed

That headline appeared in the The Star 14th June 2006.

Here we go again. Why do Islamic religious leaders in Malaysia keep on harping on minor issues. There are other important and urgent issues to be discussed rather than a review of practices such as the 'kongsi raya' celebrations and open house. It seems this is to ensure that the celebrations do not contradict Islamic laws.

'the National Fatwa Committee had decided that celebrating the festivals of other religions could erode the faith of Muslims and could lead to blasphemy.'

Has there been any indications of such thing happening. I for one who is not well versed in Islamic laws cannot see what went wrong. I have always thought that once the fundamental allegiance that there is 'Only One God That Is Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger' has been made, all else will follow suit. The Muslims will learn about the good and bad guided by that oath.

The open house concept is just celebrating each others big day. I do not see any wavering from that fundamental oath. I'm sure there are some Muslims who partake of forbidden things during those festivities but I doubt they have forgotten that oath or have had a change of heart and change their allegiance to others.

The leaders must look again at what exactly is affecting the community. Are they afraid of losing the flock. If that really is the case, should not the way the religion has been thought be reviewed. At the moment the hell and brimstone aspect is emphasised and the beauty of the whole concept of Islam has been neglected. The Muslims in Malaysia seem to be Muslims in name but the love for their religion is missing. The externals are there but the fundamentals are not internalised. What a shame.

And who, really, is demonising whom?

That is the title in the New Sunday Times 11 June 2006 from the man who has been accused of masterminding a 'blackout' of the good doctor in the Press.

At least we know his point of view which generally reflects what a lot of people think of the current rantings of the good doctor. I'm not sure the good doctor sees the whole picture and consequences of his rantings. If push comes to shove will he come out squeaky clean. As the saying goes people who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

The good doctor is only human. He is not infallible. I have not detected an iota of humility when the good doctor speaks of his frustrations with the current administration's handling of national affairs. The good doctor's plans or vision is not for me at least my plan or vision for this country. The cabinet's agreement with the good doctor while he was in power is more a reflection of the yes-men mentality of the whole group that surrounded him. Any dissent is always dismissed. Just look at Musa Hitam and Daim Zainuddin's resignations.

The good doctor always knows best even if the medicine kills the patient in the process. Take a look at the damage done to the environment in the name of progress. For a doctor, he has failed miserably to take account the fragile nature of this temporary abode we call Earth. He knows if we take step A, we will gain something in terms of economic and monetary progress. But what about the opportunity cost? There has been a lot of objections to his vision and the minority groups that were affected negatively by those plans. But since they are the small people who are inconsequential to the whole scheme of thing, their voices have been silenced.

That is our good doctor.

Some opinions on the good Dr's comments

A few opinion pieces today 9^th June 2006 from Rehman Rashid at NSTP as well as Wong Chun Wai and Joceline Tai at the Star sums up quite neatly what is happening.

I find this statement from Joceline intriguing:

'What he said on Wednesday was perhaps the deepest cut. It amounted to disowning his choice of successor and was as good as a severing of ties. But can one disown one's own decision without casting some aspersions on oneself?'

The good doctor has not come clean on why he chose Abdullah over Najib. Is Abdullah in his eyes a pushover, to be manipulated behind the scenes? That would be ideal for the circle around the doctor as they would benefit the most from any decisions that are in their favour.

But so far, Abdullah has been his own man. The business community might argue that the economic pace has slowed down compared to the halcyon days of the doctor. But has everyone forgotten the high price we paid and still are paying for those projects. The consequent social problems.

For example, the construction industry had a heyday with so many government spearheaded projects. The labour force comes from abroad with their own attendant problems. The local work force are set aside since the industry argues that the imported labour is cheaper. At what price. The hallmark of the doctor's schemes have always been 'implement the plan at whatever cost to the nation'. Whereas his successor tries to take a more holistic approach. An overall view of the opportunity costs that will accrue if this or that project is carried out. Of course he is not perfect. A different style entirely and that bugs the good doctor to the core.

Here we go again

Today the 8th June 2006 big news in most of the dailies is about the good doctor again as in the New Straits Times

Some excerpts:

Dr Mahathir complained that the new Government had cancelled several major projects initiated during his two decades in power, despite assurances they would be carried out after he left office.

Hmmm, I wonder whether he is talking on behalf those who have been left out of the money making machine. - big projects. The present PM is just continuing the previous administration's legacy in other areas and the spoils goes to the inner circle of the present leadership.

He is also upset that the pace of development of Putrajaya has slowed; peeved that the Johor bridge project has been scrapped; and angered that the National Automotive Policy has put Proton at a disadvantage.

All those projects mentioned and others as well have their detractors from the start. The previous leader has never entertained any disagreements to his vision, a classic example of doctor knows best. Some of the plans worked well but others seem more half baked than anything else. There are some projects like the Bakun Dam that should have been given more thought but it was just pushed through hurriedly.

"One cannot tell what a person will do when the person is out of your control," Dr Mahathir said yesterday. "I thought I had made the right choice."

A telling statement. He controls people. So why the surprise and frustration when the person is out of his control? It is just a logical progression for those who have been so long under the rule of one man to try and breath easier and try to do their own thing in their own way. It is just the wheel of fortune turning as usual if some of the things seem the opposite of what been agreed during his leadership.

He can continue his vigilance over the present administration but to harp on the change in attitude and direction seems naive. They are just implementing what has been learned during his leadership – power in one hand and be damned to all opposition.

Misyar marriages

I'’m not knowledgeable about the haram or halal of the arrangement. That would need further research. On first glance, a marriage just to satisfy the sexual needs of both partners by exchanging marriage vows without any financial responsibility on the man's part seems ideal. According to those well versed in Islamic laws there is nothing sinister about the arrangement since the woman has agreed.

I wonder whether this is just slightly above the usual cohabitation arrangements practiced by a number of couples nowadays or even the state of some legally sanctioned marriages, in terms of ethics and morality. One of the arguments supporting this kind of marriage is to lessen the incidence of sexual acts outside the legally sanctioned marriage institution. It seems this arrangement would be an avenue for single woman who are financially independent but with no luck in the man stakes to fulfill her sexual needs. This is where the man comes along to 'help'’. He is the proverbial stud but does not have to be responsible for the woman'’s material needs. How convenient. As the experts say, the woman has agreed. So there!!!!

Lelaki Komunis Terakhir - Curtains

At last, the final curtain has fallen on Lelaki Komunis Terakhir (The Last Communist). Would this be the harbinger of the future fate of independent, non-mainstream thoughts and ideas? We have always tried to push the boundaries of accepted liberalism in this country. The internet age has managed in a way to level the playing field. Alas, the internet itself is full of inconsequential gibberish that prudence is required.

The silent majority has to play a bigger role in demanding that differences in opinions are not evil incarnate undermining the security and prosperity of the country. The ban will definitely not stop others from starting their own "‘controversial"’ projects. I guess this ban will see pirated sales of the film in our night markets. Too bad the producers themselves would not be able to make any profits from the sales unless they make a pact with the pirates. That arrangement would certainly help the producers in recouping their investment and at least help finance future projects.

I wait patiently for the next Amir film which is still at the production stage, "Susuk" to gain its fair share of notoriety.