26 May 2013

A Poem and Art Work on Assimilation Questions in Malaysia




www.kopihangtuah.blogspot.com




fellow blogger recently wrote a poem on the question of assimilation in Malaysia; in light of the call for greater commitment for the multi-racial communities in Malaysia to coexist in peace and harmony. As we speak, there are already talks on making the ruling party, Barisan Nasional, a one party model rather than coalition of multiple component parties that are ethnic based. Whilst the call sounds heavy, nothing is impossible. Are we ready? Since we are on a political roller coaster anyway, why not throw the spanner into work. Whatever happens, let us not forget that in the end, we should all aim for a better Malaysia. It is only appropriate that I share with you that poem, that was also accompanied by an art work by the same blogger entitled Will Our Children Assimilate?, as shown below:


WILL OUR CHILDREN ASSIMILATE?

Have we not realised? Will our eyes see through Loyalty? Will our words truly mean Unity? Will our minds embrace Peace? Have we not analysed? What is Loyalty when there is no Respect? What is Unity when there is no Tolerance? What is Peace when there is no Love? Have we not rationalised? Will our children Respect each other? Will our children Tolerate each other? Will our children Love each other? Then why haven't we acted on it? Isn't the responsibility ours? Only when our children Respect, Tolerate and Love each other, will they assimilate. That only happens if we ourselves embrace this oath first. So the question is,

"To assimilate or not assimilate?"



                        ***

Title: Will Our Children Assimilate?
Medium: Poem & Graphics/Photography
Photographer: Johan Ishak
Artist: Johan Ishak
Model: Ian Zuhayr Johan
Date/Time: 26 May 2013; 2.34 pm
www.buanaseni.blogspot.com




* kopihangtuah





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23 May 2013

Tunaikan Kewajipan Pada Negara




www.kopihangtuah.blogspot.com




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Semua watak dan insiden di dalam cerpen ini adalah rekaan semata-mata dan tiada kaitan dengan mana-mana individu atau peristiwa di dalam dunia nyata melainkan fakta-fakta sejarah yang diguna-pakai. Jika ada nama tempat atau syarikat sebenar yang digunakan dalam cerpen ini, ia sekadar dimasukkan dalam konteks fiksyen dan tidak ada kena-mengena dengan tempat atau syarikat yang sebenarnya.

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Dunia kini sedang melalui suatu pengelutan yang amat menakutkan. Umat manusia seakan alpa akan mala petaka yang bakal menimpa mereka hasil perbuatan mereka sendiri. Mereka seakan tidak mengendah bencana-bencana yang menimpa kehidupan seharian. Malah, sejarah dan sastera yang hikmahnya sebagai pengajaran langsung dibuang sebagai sampah yang busuk. Kejahilan bermaharajalela. Kehancuran alam berleluasa. Politik dan agama dipersendakan untuk keuntungan materialistik. Ekonomi dan kesihatan semakin tenat. Budaya dan tamadun diperogolkan. Mungkinkah Tuhan sudah amanatkan kiamat itu diperbentangkan oleh manusia itu sendiri?
 
Di tengah pengelutan itu, seekor makhluk asing, Asdfghjkl, dari sebuah planet jauh berjuta-juta batu, Planet Poiuytrewq (Planet P), tiba di Bumi manusia, khususnya sebuah semenanjung yang bergelar Malaysia. Setelah memasuki tubuh badan seorang manusia bernama Ali Riziad, beliau mengharungi kehidupan sebagai seorang manusia untuk mempelajari konsep hidup makhluk bergelar manusia. Apabila dibandingkan dengan cara hidup di planetnya sendiri, manusia ini menjadi satu fenomena aneh. Dengan kewibawaan biologi manusia, mereka seolah-olah bodoh dan tidak tahu mengguna otak. Di dalam lautan negatif ini, Ali Riziad (ataupun jelmaan sebagai Ali Riziad) masih tertarik dengan manusia. Ada sesuatu yang unik dan suci mengenai manusia yang belum dapat dirumuskan secara logik. Ali meneruskan pengembaraannya di Bumi demi mencari jawapan untuk persoalan ini.


* * * * *



TUNAIKAN KEWAJIPAN PADA NEGARA

 

"Ya. Dah lah Melayu tak tunaikan tanggungjawab sebab tak turun mengundi, yang turun mengundi berpecah pulak tu. Ada yang sekular, ada yang fanatik Islamic, ada yang tak habis-habis dok bising pasal nak reform, nak reform. Bila yang pergi mengundinya cuma 35% dan 35% tu pun sah pecah dua, tak guna Melayu majoriti 65% population... "

 

ERLIS, nampaknya parti gabungan nasionalis dah sapu ketiga-tiga kerusi parlimen. Untuk Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) pulak, 13 diorang pengang. Lagi 2 kat kawasan Indera Kayangan dan Sanglang jatuh ke tangan pembangkang. Negeri kecik macam ni orang tak kecoh sangat. Orang ramai-ramai satu Malaysia dah tak sabar menunggu keputusan pilihanraya umum Malaysia secara keseluruhannya. Semua tertunggu-tunggu terutamanya negeri-negeri di bawah kuasa pembangkang seperti Selangor, Perak dan Kedah. Pulau Pinang dan Kelantan tu kira settlelah. Tak payah kira undi lah. Memang dalam genggaman pembangkang.
 
          Rata-rata time macam ni, Melayu lepak sama Melayu. Cina lepak sama Cina. India lepak sama India. Tak taulah bangsa lain lepak macamana tapi untuk aku, perangai berpuak-puak ni amat aneh sekali. Aku perasan tapi sejak hari pertama aku turun di Planet Bumi ni dah aku rasakan bahang diantara manusia yang berlainan darah. Aku rasa kalau kat Planet aku, Planet P, dah lama hancur sebab perang. Apa taknya? Planet P tu penuh dengan makhluk perbagai warna. Aku ungu. Bapak dan mak aku biru dan merah. Kawan-kawan aku ada yang jingga, kuning, hitam, putih, hijau, coklat dan banyak lah lagi. Manusia ni nasib baik ada sikit variasi warna. Apa yang diorang ada? Putih, hitam, coklat, kuning, merah macam red Indian tu, dan apa lagi? Macam tu punya sikit warna kulit pun boleh jadi hal? Aku masih cuba memahami apa masalah manusia dengan warna kulit. Teringat aku kat lagu Search ‘Isi dan Kulit’ ataupun lagu Sudirman ‘Kulit’. Masalah bangsa yang berbeza ni. Aku tengok semua ada satu hidung saja. Dua tangan. Sepuluh jari kaki. Sepuluh jari tangan. Yang betina ada dua tetek. Yang jantan semua ada dua telur. Kalau ada yang cacat satu telur tu lain ceritalah kan. Untuk memahami masalah dunia Planet Bumi ni, aku sengaja lepak dengan kawan Riziad yang berlainan bangsa, Si Kenny dan Si Aravin.


Disebuah gerai mamak di Desa Sri Hartamas kami bertiga duduk meneguk teh tarik yang menjanjikan penyakit kencing manis dalam masa beberapa bulan lagi.
 
          “Bro, what’s happeninglah macha?” tanya si Aravin.
 
          “So far only Perlis lah bro. Parti yang memerintah sudah sapu semua seat parlimen dan majority seat DUN,” ujarku.
 
          “Not interesting. I am waiting for Selangor,” kata Si Kenny yang berasal dari Kelang. Ujarnya lagi, “Kena ada balance. Tak boleh lah semua negeri parti gabungan nasionalis pegang. Mesti mau ada shadow government maaa…. Macam kat Australia.”
 
          “Ehh,.. tengok lu punya jari warna apa?” tanyaku walaupun aku tau soalan tu soalan bodoh.
 
          “Birulah. Lu ingat ada pink, ada orange semua ka? Gila apa?”
 
          “Ye lah. What I meant was, ada lagi ke ink tu?”
 
          “Ada,.. ada, tapi dekat celah-celah kuku saja. Lain semua sudah hilang. Ehh,.. Rizzy, lu ada baca cerita pasal pengundi hantu tak? Ada orang jumpa satu bas habis kena pukui tengok-tengok memang Malaysian. Tapi ada jugak yang diorang jumpa Bangladeshi.”
 
          “Kau ni. Kalau ada hal macam tu biar polislah yang siasat. Janganlah jump to conclusion. Entah-entah Bangla tu satu bas nak travel satu Malaysia. Touristlah katakan sebab semua cuti hari ni nak mengundi. Tengok macam hal indelible ink tu. Semua komplen kata tipu punya hal,.. tapi, kan kuku kau tu biru lagi kat keliling tuh? In my opinion, tak payah ink pun takpe. Macam third world country aje. Kata nak jadi fully developed country by 2020… tapi pakai ink macam kat Indon. Serupa tak payah. Pakai aje biometric technology.”
 
          Aravin yang dari tadi sibuk dengan Blackberry dia tiba-tiba bersuara, “Ok, Ok, ni dah ada result untuk Kedah. Ada 15 seats untuk parlimen. 10 seats parti gabungan nasionalis menang. Pembangkang cuma dapat 5 seats dekat Pokok Sena, Alor Star, Kuala Kedah, Sg Petani dan Padang Serai. Untuk DUN pulak, out of 36, pembangkang menang 16 saja. So that is news because it was under pembangkang previously. Now parti gabungan nasionalis take over. Mesti anak former Prime Minister naik jadi Menteri Besar macam ni. By the way, aku dengar apa kau cakap Riziad. Biometrik mahal lah. Kalau dah pembangkang bising-bising, pakai saja ink tu.”
 
          “Ye lah. Pakai ink pun still jadi issue ink tipu lah konon. Setakat spend berbillion kat Putrajaya, Cyberjaya, I think ok kalau spend on biometric. Senang no one can tipu.”
 
          “No! No! biometric pakai computer. Lagilah senang nak tipu ngok! Anyway, nampak macam Melayu kat Kedah dah banyak switch from pembangkang to parti gabungan nasionalis,” kata Kenny.
 
          “Kenapa kau cakap macam tu Kenny?” tanyaku ingin tahu.
 
          “Well, aku rasa bangsa Cina kebanyakannya dah tak sokong parti komponen Cina yang di dalam parti gabungan nasionalis. So kalau Kedah boleh berubah balik kepada parti gabungan nasionalis, sudah semestinya orang Melayu yang ubah haluan. Ataupun mungkin sekarang dah lebih ramai orang Melayu mengundi?”
 
          “Hmmm,.. mungkin jugak. Tapi yang aku tau, statistic kat TV tadi bilang orang Melayu yang sampai umur mengundi tak ramai yang register. Cuma lebih kurang 35% saja Melayu yang patut register pergi register. Yang lain semua tak tunaikan kewajipan pada Negara. Kau tau tak berapa peratus Cina yang sampai umur register untuk mengundi?”
 
          “Tak tau.”
 
          “Apalah kau Kenny. Bangsa sendiri punya statistik pun tak tau ka? 65% Bro. What does that show?”
 
          “Errrr,.. Chinese is committed to look after their welfare in this country?”
 
          “Ya man,… but on the flip side, the Malays are blind. Diorang ingat just because they are the majority they can take things for granted. 35%? Pathetic turnout. Although overall it was a record breaking turnout of 80% of registered voters, the fact remains the same, that the Malays are still dreaming. What happened to the remaining 65% of Malays who have come of age to vote? Melayu bodoh. Bila tanya kenapa tak undi, tau apa diorang jawab?”
 
          “Apa?”
 
          “Oh! Saya tak suka politik. Oh! Saya tak sokong sapa pun buat apa sibuk-sibuk masuk kasi undi rosak? Yang paling lingkup sekali tau apa? Oh! Saya malaslah. Malas!? Malas?? Undi pun malas? Diorang ni paham ke konsep undi?”
 
          Aravin yang dari tadi masih tak bercakap banyak tiba-tiba bersuara lagi, “Haah! Brothers, ada lagi update ni. Kelantan aku rasa tak payah tengok result kot. Hahahaha,.. aku dah agak dah, pembangkang sapu 9 seats kat parlimen whereas parti gabungan nasionalis only got 5. So pembangkang still in power there. Untuk DUN, out of 45 seats, parti gabungan nasionalis cuma dapat 12. Ini negeri forever pembangkanglah.”
 
          “So Rizzy, what do you think about politicians using religion as their tools?” tanya Kenny bagaikan nak mengumpan aku.
 
          “Errr,.. this is a delicate question. Kau tanya aku ni nak trap aku ke?”
 
          “Ehh,.. tak… aku free thinker. What do I care about religion. You are Muslim. You tell me lah.”
 
          “OK, I think it is not ethical. Imagine how can a politician condemn rakyat to hell if the rakyat does not vote for him. Who are you? Are you God? Does not make sense that humans have the authority of the heavenly realm? Tuduh sana-sini kafir, tak Islamic dan sebagainya. This is not about religion. This is about democracy. Tapi kalau dah tahap main bontot tu, errrrr,… tu aku pun rasa jijik. Religion tak religion. Kalau dah main bontot, gua kureng sikit Bro. On a more serious observation, memang rata-rata Melayu dah jadi religious. Many go against secular government. Tapi macamana nak go full force religion as based of politics? Kau nak ke aku potong tangan kau kalau kau shop lift? Aku dulu pernah kena tangkap shop lifting. Nasib baik tak de hudud kat Ipoh. Kalau tak dah kudung tangan ni.”
 
          Kenny memikir seketika dan kemudian bersuara, “Betul tu. Kalau Islamic law, banyak non-Muslims sakit jiwa woooo. Tapi ramai bukan Melayu Nampak macam sokong pembangkang dan pembangkang kerja sekali dengan yang fanatic Islam wooo.. How?”
 
          “You jawab sendirilah. Bukan you undi sama macam Cina yang lain?”
 
          “Ehhh, gua punya undi gua punya undilah. Secret. Lu apa sibuk? Apa yang gua boleh cakap ialah, memang banyak Cina tak mau undi sama parti gabungan nasionalis. They want more from the government. Kalau dulu 2003 government menang sebab Cina punya undi. Sekarang Cina semua sudah lari wooo.. tsunami itu macam.”
 
          “Aku rasa ada sebab jadi Chinese tsunami. Kalau akulah Cina, mesti aku nak jaga welfare Cina kan? So, mesti mau put the bets on mana parti Melayu yang akan menang. Then later boleh jaga welfare ma…. Macam main poker lah Bro. Put the bets where the odds are favourable kan?”
 
          “Eii lu Rizzy memang celupar kadang-kadang. Lu ingat Cina buat pilihanraya ni macam Genting Highland ka? Macam gambling? This is our life. Our children’s life. We vote for what we feel is good for us and our children.”
 
          “Betullah tu aku cakap. You nak vote for what is best for you. The best for you is those who can give you better future. So, kalau you rasa parti Melayu yang pembangkang will control the country, mesti you logically pilih itu partilah kan? Jangan offended bro. That word Chinese tsunami is not a racist word. Not in anyway trying to portray negativity. It is simply an observation. So lu tunggu lah tengok whether lu punya bola roulette jatuh atas hitam ka, merah ka?”
 
          “Ok, Ok, macam ni. Rizzy. You say its Chinese tsunami. Tapi apa yang start itu tsunami? What is the catalyst?”
 
          “Errrr,.. catalyst tu apa ye?”
 
          Aravin yang dari tadi khusyuk membaca twitter dan facebook tiba-tba bersuara, “Mangkin. Pemangkin. Aku India pun aku tau Bahasa Malaysia lagi power dari kau. Kenny, lu mau tau apa catalyst of that tsunami? I am an India. We only represent 8% of the population. You Chinese and Malay can play roulette. We Indians we are the audience. Being an audience, aku boleh nampak yang Cina lompat kapal sebab Melayu pecah.”
 
          “Melayu pecah..hmmm.. Malay split. Betul tu. Rizzy, kau setuju?” tanya Kenny.
          "Ya. Dah lah Melayu tak tunaikan tanggungjawab sebab tak turun mengundi, yang turun mengundi berpecah pulak tu. Ada yang sekular, ada yang fanatik Islamic, ada yang tak habis-habis dok bising pasal nak reform, nak reform. Bila yang pergi mengundinya cuma 35% dan 35% tu pun sah pecah dua, tak guna Melayu majoriti 65% population. So kalau Melayu bersatu Cina sokong set yang ada parti Melayu bersatu?”
 
          Kenny menghujjah, “Well, Rizzy. Aku tak tau whether putting these arguments from racial perspective makes sense or not. Kau tak rasa macam it is more of urban tsunami? Sebab banyak Melayu yang sokong pembangkang semua professional and urban. Yang kat kampung, felda semua tu memang stronghold parti gabungan nasionalis.”
 
          “Kau tak jawab soalan aku Kenny. Tapi takpe. Aku jawab soalan kau dulu. Aku rasa urban tsunami tu is coincidence sebab kalau dah Cina semua pergi pembangkang dan secara historicalnya memang Cina conquer wealth and for that Cina duduk di Bandar, memanglah nampak urban. So happened that Melayu yang sokong pembangkang banyak dari Bandar sebab diorang ni semua kononnya lebih prihatin dengan corruption yang berleluasa dalam kerajaan dan yang kat kampung tu semua kononnya tak dapat info ni semua. In the end, actually, orang kampung pun baca newspaper jugak. Yang kat Bandar ni semua kena brainwash dengan information yang entah betul ke tidak? Zaman internet ni kan banyak tipu helah. Dengan emotional status dalam facebook lagi. Twitter. Blog. Semua tool-tool baru ni being used irresponsibly. Tu hah Melayu kampung kat Kelantan pendalaman semua tu, sokong pembangkang. So tak de maknanya urban tsunami Bro. I think I agree with Aravin. It is Malay divide which then has a strong ripple effect causing Chinese tsunami.”
 
          “OK, Rizzy. Aku jawab soalan kau. Kalau orang Melayu bersatu dan orang Cina tak da channel nak pertahankan hak orang Cina, sudah semestinya Cina akan cari jalan paling kuat. Mungkin jugak parti komponen Cina dalam parti gabungan nasionalis akan dapat sokongan balik. But this is just hypothesis lah ye. Don’t go tell everyone I said that.”
 
          “Kenapa? Kau takut kawan Cina kau yang lain maki hamun kau? Bro. I can see many Malays who are my friends sokong pembangkang but I still tell them, aku sokong parti gabungan nasionalis. Siap buat tshirt lagi tu Bro. Diorang nak maki, makilah. Ni aku punya hak nak pilih.”
 
          Aravin dari tadi melihat aku dengan waspada entah kenapa. Langsung dia bersuara, “Riziad, kau emotional ni kenapa? Apa masalah kau? Biarlah Kenny nak undi sapa pun.”
 
          “Ehh, aku bukan pertikaikan sapa dia undi. Dia punya pasal lah nak undi sapa pun. Aku bilang kenapa kena takut-takut. Lu ada pendapat lu bagi tau lah. Tak payah sembunyi. Takut jadi macam Dato’ Sri Scarlet Lim tu yang kena kecam oleh kaum Cina sebab dia declare to public yang dia sokong Prime Minister? Tak adil. Kesian kat dia. Dia punya pasal lah nak suka sapa pun.”
 
          “Yelah, aku tau Rizzy, tapi kau ni macam emo semacam je. Tell us what is bothering you?” tanya Aravin dengan penuh curiosity.
 
          “Aku marah dengan Melayu. Bila ada yang tak kena bising sana-sini. Tapi bila tanya kau dah register untuk mengundi? Diorang jawab tak. Bila diorang tak dapat project atau duit, bising lagi. Tapi bila aku tanya kau dah bayar income tax? Diorang jawab buat apa bayar tax untuk kerajaan. Seolah-olah bodoh tak faham yang duit tax tu pergi balik kepada rakyat. Nak buat jambatan. Nak buat sekolah. Nak buat LRT. Nak bagi biasiswa. Nak bagi subsidi baja. Subsidi petrol. Pencen. Gaji polis. Gaji cikgu. Gaji askar. Tu semua faktor-faktor yang mustahak untuk negara terus membangun. Bodoh. Itu yang aku bengang. Tiba-tiba bila ada election, semua bising macam babi sedangkan diorang tak paham macamana negara ni membangun. Kadang-kadang aku rasa macam ada kuasa besar dari luar saja nak porak-perandakan orang kita. Entah sapa? Economic hit man agaknya.”
 
          “Ada jugak aku baca buku pasal economic hit man. Apa? Errr,.. yes,.. John Perkins who used to work for the Americans. He wrote Confessions of an Economic Hit Man. How they took over countries using 3 alternatives. First through economy. Then kalau tak berjaya, pakai politik instability. Lastly, hantar military campaign terus.”
 
          “Hah…. Aravin. Kau tak rasa macam diorang tengah buat plan No. 2 ke Bro? Dulu masa 1997/1998 penguasa kewangan antarabangsa yang di bawah kelolaan Amerika cuba masuk Malaysia. Nasib baik Malaysia wujudkan syarikat pengurusan harta nasionalnya sendiri untuk address issue non-performing loans dan seterusnya menyelamatkan industry kewangan negara. Kalau tak, jadi macam Thailand dan Indonesia. Kalau tak silap Filipina sekali. Habis semua di bawah belenggu kuasa kewangan Barat. Sebab tak berjaya masa 1998, sekarang diorang attack via political instability.”
 
          Kenny pula menjampuk, “Are you saying that it is a conspiracy by those super powers via the pembangkang?”
 
          “Well, I have no evidence. But I certainly do not want to take chances. There may be some rumours about these super powers financing the opposition tapi what if rumours tu memang betul? I don’t want to take chances. Nak gadaikan negara macam tu saja? Mana lagi you mau pergi?”
 
          “Errr,… gua boleh lari Australia ke, London ke, Hong Kong ke.”
 
          “Yelah,.. Chinese memang pandai jaga diri. Mana pergi boleh survive. I admire them in that respect. Melayu nak pergi mana? Nak lari Singapore? Jangan harap. Melayu situ dah Me’Layu’. Brunei not interesting at all in terms of development. Indon already under the super powers. So we will have to protect this country from being taken over by foreign powers. What do you think?”
 
          “Hmmm….. I don’t know about Australia and London. Sounds good. But, if you ask us to go back our homelands. It does not feel right. I went to India for holidays. Sure it was nice and all but I still feel Malaysia is home. Although I know my ancestors came from Chennai, India. What about you Kenny?”
 
          “Aravin, aiyooo,… gua orang Kelang. Yes mata gua sepet tapi gua tak mau duduk Republik China. Tadi gua cakap Australia, London semua sebab itu tempat semua mana ada ethnic-based political parties. Itu semua tempat liberty ma. Ohh,… I forgot,.. America sekali. Democracy and Liberty maaa.”
 
          Aku membalas, “You are right, Australia does seem like a good place to migrate tapi you must understand why Malaysia can never be like that. So, to try to change it is almost impossible Bro. So, why not live together? Malaysiakan dah lama ada perikatan of the ethnic-based parties working together. Continue sajalah. Why want to break what is working well? Kalau nak tukar jadi macam US or UK where political party changes every term dari Republican to Democrats and vice versa, ataupun between Tory government and Labour government in UK, then we cannot have ethnic-based parties. Boleh ka?”
 
          “Hmmm,.. betul jugak. Rasanya nak abolish ethnic-based parties tu agak problematic because the truth is, we never assimilated well anyway. We are still holding on to our own ethnic groups. What do you think Kenny? I know from the Indian’s side, I do not think they will let go ethnic-based political party. Like what you said just now,.. welfare ma.”
 
          “Aravin, maybe you have a point. Perhaps that is the reason why Rizzy concluded Chinese tsunami. Unlike Indonesia or Philippines or Thailand, the Chinese in Malaysia has managed to preserve so much of their culture that the word assimilate itself has no meaning. The truth is, we never did assimilate. I still want to send my kids to Chinese school. That in itself is one major factor of non-assimilation.”
 
          Apa yang diperbincangkan memang isu-isu yang harus kita tak perdulikan taboo. Lantas aku menyapa Kenny, “So Kenny, if assimilation is already too late, then wouldn’t it be appropriate to maintain the perikatan of ethnic-based parties?”
 
          “Hmmmm,… maybe so.”
 
          Aku masih mencari isu-isu berbangkit di dalam kepalaku, “There are also other factors that influence the voters this round Bro. Ada hal corruption. Ada hal Gen Y. Ada hal hak istimewa Melayu. Ada hal video lucah politicians. Ada hal agama yang digembar-gembur macam isu perkataan ‘Allah’. Ada hal sejarah Kemerdakaan. Ada hal popular vote where number of seats not representing the headcount spread of voters. All these have got effects to the result. Ehhh,.. Aravin, bukan kau patut update kita ke pasal result?”
 
          “Oh ya,.. tulah korang ni suka sangat nak debate. Before anything wait ahhh,… yo macha!!!! kasi teh tarik kurang manis lagi tiga. You guys ok kan teh tarik?”
 
          “Ok. Tak guna kau cakap kurang manis. Si Bangla tu letak satu kilo gula jugak dalam teh tarik tu.”
 
          “Bukan gula lah. Susu pekat.”
 
          “Whatever.”
 
          “Ok. Let’s check the latest update. Here we go. Terengganu ada 8 seats for parlimen. Half-half between pembangkang dan parti gabungan nasionalis. DUN pulak, parti gabungan nasionalis menang tipis 17 versus pembangkang 15. Penang macam Kelantan lah kot sure pembangkang. Ada 13 seats for parlimen di mana parti gabungan nasionalis dapat 3 saja. Ni memang Cina control punya state. DUN ada 40 dan hanya 7 jatuh kepada parti gabungan nasionalis. Perak dulukan pembangkang pegang? Ehhh. No! No! got issue last time then it changed to parti gabungan nasionalis. Out of 24 parliamentary seats, half-half again. Wahhh!! crazy man. Perak is half-half. Tapi DUN dia, out of 59 seats, 28 goes to pembangkang and 31 to parti gabungan nasionalis. Wow! Perak is really at critical slim split. All you need is just a couple of MP’s to jump ship, then the whole debacle of changing state government will resurface again. So you have Kelantan and Penang under pembangkang and Kedah, Perlis, Perak and Terengganu under parti gabungan nasionalis.”
 
          “Ok. Let’s continue our discussion. Banyak orang sokong pembangkang sebab banyak corruption. Aiyo,.. this corruption is everywherelah. You change government also it will happen again and again. But it is an issue nonetheless. Yes the current government must clean up their own closet. Get rid of the dead wood and inject fresh blood. Especially to influence the youngsters. The Generation Y. Those who have not yet come to age tapi in the next general elections, they will be voting. Diorang ni semua kena dapat info yang betul and not corrupted with false information. Tu pun kalau diorang nak vote. Kalau more than half don’t give a damn, tak guna jugak kan?”
 
          “Riziad, hal corruption tu is one of the biggest reason why banyak orang pilih pembangkang. We pay tax. Then tax payers monies are being used to pay as corruption, cronism and nepotism profits to those very rare few who have been in the position to do so. So how? Macamana orang bukan Melayu tak marah. Duit semua hilang.”
 
          “Betul tu Aravin. Cronism, nepotism semua tu tak ada kena mengena dengan orang Melayu. Why you suddenly bring up that matter? For all intent and purposes, to make Malaysia a level playing field, Melayu sudah sacrifice itu 30% quota untuk market equity. Itu big sacrifice woooo…... Dulu bukan-Bumi semua bising tak mau itu 30%. Sekarang,.. ehhh bukan,… since 2009 lagi, PM sudah buang itu quota. Apa lagi mau? That is such a big sacrifice by a 65% majority of the population.”
 
          “Ok, ok, maybe cronism, nepotism and corruption happen regardless of ethnic groups but tell me, sapa yang control duit tu semua? Bukan orang Melayu yang jaga scholarship? Jaga subsidies? Jaga grants? Jaga soft loans?”
 
          “Ya lah ramai Melayu masuk civil service ma….. sebab Cina dan India banyak tak mau masuk civil service. Sapa punya salah? Esok lu masuk askarlah. Mau? Tak mau kan? So sapa masuk askar? Melayu. So sama dengan civil servant. Sapa masuk? Melayu jugak. Cina dan India semua bikin duit in commercial. Your coffers getting fat by the day. Semua project government sampai jugak kan? Alibaba companies sana-sini… sempoi. Duit masuk poket jugak kan?”
 
          “Aiyo,… Aravin,… Riziad. Lu orang jangan gaduhlah.”
 
          “Ehhh,.. lu senanglah cakap. Sapa pegang 80% ekonomi Malaysia? Chinese kan?”
 
          “Ya lah. Kita Cina rajin buat business. Kalau Melayu tak rajin buat business, semua mau kerja jadi cikgu, jadi pegawai kerajaan, memanglah tak boleh buat duit. Tapi pencen dapat kan?”
 
          “So tak payah komplenlah kan. Semua ada pros and cons tersendiri.”
 
          “Ini politik banyak kotor sekarang. Itu hal liwatlah. Hal video prostitute lah. Macam-macam. Sudah lama Kristian kat Sabah dan Sarawak pakai the word “Allah” dalam Bible, sekarang itu pun jadi masalah. Ni semua nak pecah-belahkan rakyat Malaysia ni,” rintih Kenny.
 
          “Eh,… Aravin. Check lu punya Blackberry. Apa update lagi?”
 
          “Ok. Ok. Tunggu ya. Wei Macha!!!! mana teh tarik da?????? Dah 10 minit tunggu. Ok, gua upload info baru…… ya… ini dia,.. Pahang parlimen 10 parti gabungan nasionalis against 3 pembangkang. Itu dah semestinya maggi. Home state Prime Minister maa. DUN Pahang 30 goes to parti gabungan nasionalis dan 12 to pembangkang. Selangor maintain pembangkang at 16 parliament seat against 5 with parti gabungan nasionalis. DUN 44 with pembangkang out of the total 56. So far pembangkang got Penang, Kelantan and Selangor. Ahhhh.. and my state Negeri Sembilan parti gabungan nasionalis won with 5 versus 3 parliamentary seats. DUN of 22 which is higher than pembangkang’s 14 seats. Melaka has 4 parliamentary seats going to parti gabungan nasionalis and 2 to pembangkang. It’s 28 DUN seats with only 7 to pembangkang. Johor, the Malay stronghold, got 26 parliamentary seats and 56 DUN. The former has 21 seats and the latter has 38 seats going to parti gabungan nasionalis.”
 
          “Wow,.. looks like the parti gabungan nasionalis is winning. What’s the story with Sabah and Sarawak?”
 
          “Sabah has 25 parliamentary seats of which, 22 went to parti gabungan nasionalis. Its DUN of 60 seats has 49 earned by parti gabungan nasionalis. Sarawak is a bit weird man. No DUN? Apa ni? Only parliamentary seats? Memang macam tu ka? Anyways, only parliamentary consisting of 31 seats, 25 sudah jatuh dalam tangan parti gabungan nasionalis. So in total, parti gabungan nasionalis won with 133 seats out of the total 222 parliamentary seats.”
 
          “OK, itu number of seats. Popular vote macamana?” tanya Kenny.
 
          “Errrr… apa tu porpular vote?” aku kebingungan.
 
          “Number of seats memang lah parti gabungan nasionalis menang tapi kalau ikutkan headcount, jumlah orang yang vote, lain dari seats. Ada seats yang population rendah. Ada yang population tinggi.”
 
          “Ohh,… kalau macam tu seats yang dekat Bandar memang lagi tinggi concentration of populationlahkan? Kat Bandar ramai non-Malays. So sah, sah, votes untuk seats dalam bandar melambung given the tsunami.”
 
          “Well that is something inefficient about the system where representation in parliament is by seats.”
 
          “Apa yang inefficientnya Bro? Dah memang parlimen mechanism dia pakai seats. Habis tu takkan nak letak kesemua 13 million registered voters dalam Dewan Rakyat? Tak masuk akallah kan? Itulah sebab kita panggil konsep ni konsep Wakil Rakyat. Ikut wakillah. Ikut seats. Buat apa ikut headcount,… apa nama? Popular vote?”
 
          “Ok, Ok, here it is. Based on statistics, the popular vote goes to pembangkang at 5.4 million voters voted for pembangkang. 5.2 million to parti gabungan nasionalis. How now? Isn’t this going to cause an issue? A big issue? How can when majority of population voted for a party but that party cannot rule?”
 
          “Like I said just now. The mechanism in place is based on seats. So if for majority seats a particular parti menang, so be it lah. Kalau tak puas hati, kena tukar perlembagaan Bro. Orang yang draft perlembagaan semua rasanya dah mati. Lu mau komplen dengan sapa? Kat US, kat UK, kat Australia semua pakai the same konsep. By seats. Not by headcount.”
 
          “So it is what it is then. Life goes on. Ok Bros. I have to chow. My family waiting for me. Tomorrow got family wedding happening,” kata Kenny meninggalkan aku dan Aravin sambil meninggalkan note RM20 baru warna jingga di atas meja untuk menampung kos bergelas-gelas teh tarik yang kami minum.
 
          “So?”
 
          “So what?” tanyaku.
 
          “So are you happy now? Are you going to celebrate?”
 
          “Ehh,.. Aravin, Apa hall u marah-marah gua ni?”
 
          “Nolah. Aiya,… I want the government to be a clean government. I really hope that the parti gabungan nasionalis will do the necessary to clean up. They should throw away all money politics and be fair. I just want a fair government.”
 
          “So you think if pembangkang wins they will be a fair government?”
 
          “I don’t know but naturally we should pick them as we know that the current one has already been infested with corruptions.”
 
          “Well,…. those people in the pembangkang was previously in the ruling government. Diorang pun dulu banyak corruption. Diorang can still be corrupted.”
 
          “I guess we will never know.”
 
          “Better the devil we know than the devil we don’t know.”
 
          “Lesser of 2 evils?”
 
          “Yes.
 
          “What if that other untested evil is an angel?”
 
          “Well we will have to wait for the next elections in 2018 then,… if pembangkang still have the stamina to fight.”
 
          “Well, the statistics show that pembangkang dapat majority popular vote. Ada stamina tu Bro.”
 
          “I am a Malay. You are an Indian. Kenny is Chinese. In 1957 our forefathers sudah agree. Kalau Cina dan India mau citizenship, kena mau terima perlembagaan. Kalau perlembagaan digubal untuk keadilan mengikut majority, dan Cina sama India dulu sudah agree, maka sahlah perlembagaan diguna-pakai. Semua orang ada chance untuk hidup selesa, buat duit dan bebas memegang agama dan adat masing-masing. So kenalah tolerate. Kita tak boleh dapat semua benda dalam hidup. Kan kita semua manusia? Serba tak lengkap. Lu kena baca buku Interlok by Abdullah Hussain lah. I know you won’t agree because of certain Indian taboo words but if put that aside, the book has got strong message for unity. Imagine apa yang kita discuss tadi bila Kenny ada. Kau noticed tak banyak jugak disagreements. Tapi kita semua belajar untuk,.. apa ye,.. errr.. ya, agree to disagree. Ok Bro. I have to go too. Aku, ada meeting dengan Kementerian esok. Banyak benda belum settle. Ni nak tukar menteri sebab new cabinet ni lagi lah haru…entah bila Kementerian ni nak settle hal-hal ni semua…. Harapkan PTD tapi PTD tak boleh decide. Semua mau tunggu Menteri. Oklah Bro. Chow.”
 
          “Ok chow Rizzy. Jumpa lagi nanti aku call. Kita buat game of poker when everyone is free again.”
 
          “Ok, Bro. Bye.”
 
 
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09 May 2013

Malaysian 13th General Election: A Risky Landscape




www.kopihangtuah.blogspot.com



I fear that such glory has been overshadowed by a tainting perception that Harmony is history. The 55 years of evolution has been destroyed by the sentiments uncovered in the recent General Election. We are back to square one like what it was before 1957

ALAYSIA has evolved for 55 years since its independence, Merdeka, in 1957. The evolution sought to address many aspects of nation development ranging from sovereignty, economics and socio-cultural elements. Such endeavours proved to be successful when Malaysia transformed itself from an agricultural country to a neo-industrial country simultaneously putting its name on the World map. Its international political opinions were respectful on par with other independent nations that cover a wide range of issues such as Anti-communism, Apartied and of course, the Palestinian struggle. Its calibre is demonstrated in aesthetics such as the Petronas Twin Towers as well as knowledge-based expertise like Islamic Finance. Most importantly, the ability to assimilate its multicultural society has been taken as a benchmark by many. However, I fear that such glory has been overshadowed by a tainting perception that Harmony is history. The 55 years of evolution has been destroyed by the sentiments uncovered in the recent General Election. We are back to square one like what it was before 1957. Have we forgotten history? Perhaps we should all now re-read Interlok.

At late night of 5 May 2013 (or rather early morning of 6 May 2013), Malaysia was hit by a tsunami, a political tsunami, a repeat of what had happened in 2008 and a shock that came not by surprise actually. This tsunami breaks old taboo almost reminding ourselves (Malaysians) that there are many possibilities for our country. We must not forget that the Americans experience numerous Government switching between Democrats and Republicans (A struggle between a small Government and a big Government) and so did the British relaying between the Tory Government and the Labour Government. What is the difference actually? (as compared to Malaysia). Are we becoming like those countries where political instability becomes a real threat given the slim margin in the victory of the ruling parties? (Referring to the simple majority instead of two thirds). Are we ready to go for a political roller coaster? Are we ready to call ourselves Malaysian instead of Malay or Chinese or Indian or Iban or Kadazan or Punjabi? If we are ready, then perhaps we should all abolish ethnic-based political parties as well as ethnic-based practices such as SRJK schools? I know the Malays have given up the 30% quota in equity ownership of the capital markets (as declared by the PM in 2009). The truth is, we can never abolish ethnic-based political parties. The truth is, we have not assimilated well amongst ourselves. The truth is, we will never assimilate anyway. Therefore, we will continue to live together with ethnic-based political parties forming the foundation of the political landscape. With such conclusion, suffice to say that we shouldn't even compare ourselves to the Americans or the British political landscape. Just to poke everyone, do you see any Black or Hispanic based political parties in the US?

It is unfair to say that an urban tsunami is related to any particular race but what else can you deduce when the placements of the population (referring to votes from the cities) has been historically linked to wealth; and wealth has been historically linked to certain ethnic group?

The headcount voted for the opposition accounted for 5.4 million votes surpassing the votes for the ruling Government of 5.2 million. But yet, the ruling Government achieved majority Parliamentary representation seats of 133 versus opposing seats of 89. You do not need to hire a professor to figure out that the opposition votes were mostly from high density populated areas surrounding cities and towns. The supporters of the ruling Government were dispersed over many seats giving a lower average headcount per Parliamentary seat. If that is the case, certain assumptions can be made quite fairly. Given the demography fit of the distribution of voters, we have indeed experienced an urban tsunami. It is unfair to say that an urban tsunami is related to any particular race but what else can you deduce when the placements of the population has been historically linked to wealth; and wealth has been historically linked to certain ethnic group? Could this (results of the General Election) also mean that there was a Chinese tsunami? One can always argue that the tsunami also contains Malay votes that swung toward a perceived more-Islamic party or a perceived more-Adil (fair) party. You can fit in the jig-saw puzzle pieces whichever way you want but as soon as you find a fit, it would probably say that the Malays were split instead of riding a tsunami.

Logically, the Chinese reaction is natural. When there are indications that significant Malay votes will swing towards the opposition, their bets will go towards where they feel their future will be brighter with encouraging propensity to benefit. They are merely looking after their welfare - Just like how a fish-and-chip hawker, Pauline Hanson of Australia, had reacted when she felt that Asians were invading Australia. Protection is required - not only for contemporary generations, but also future generations (of Chinese). A fair reason to fuel a calculated decision making. However, when you put down a straight flush, that smile on your face disappears as the opponent throws a royal flush. To sum it all, I believe, after much deliberation, that the catalyst for Chinese tsunami is actually the Malay split. The Malay split is then a separate matter for discussion. Some say they are fed up with the corruption and some say that they are inclined to follow what they feel to be of better Islamic value. Whatever the case may be, the Malays are not as dedicated as the Chinese in influencing their future. Close to 60% of Chinese went for voting with the Malays only registering a pathetic 30% - quite the opposite to the population ratio of 30:60 for Chinese and Malays respectively.
 
The almost half decade 30% Bumi Quota was abolished to allow fair opportunity for market equity across the multiracial society - a brave and bold action which ought to have captured the hearts of the non-Bumis.

The Government under Y.A.B. Dato Sri Najib Tun Razak's administration embarked on extensive programmes to transform the economy as well as the Government. Under the Pemandu (driver), Dato' Sri Idris Jala, Economic Transformation Programme and Government Transformation Programme were implemented at various levels and angles resulting in a strong economic foundation despite the ill progress of the World economy. The almost half decade 30% Bumi Quota was abolished to allow fair opportunity for market equity across the multiracial society - a brave and bold action which ought to have captured the hearts of the non-Bumis. The poor are given monetary incentives in the form of BR1M and PR1MA to boost the aggregate demand component of the economy as purchasing power fuels consumption expenditure. There were many more efforts being done by the Government but to their surprise, no impact worthy of any celebration. Instead, the more procedural matters surfaced - Bersih (electoral reform protest), Indelible Ink and Phantom Voters. I really don't know what to say to this. In my mind, the Government can't be that foolish to be dishonest when the limelight was actually directed to these matters since the 2008 General Election. It is as if this whole thing is a Wayang Kulit (theatre) of character assassinations between politicians instead of actually caring for the citizens' needs.

As I mentioned earlier, the results of the 13th General Election did not come by surprise, but, shocking nonetheless. The cyber space of facebook, twitter and blogs all of a sudden becomes active beyond control with accusations and bad words being shot left, right and centre. If 10 years ago youngsters of the age not matured for political involvement couldn't give a damn about politics, now they are being fed with political information almost on daily basis. In Kelantan, I saw with my own eyes that there were kids of probably the age of 6 to 8 years old following their Dads roaming around the town with green flags. When asked, they willingly answered that these kids were trained to reject blue flags even at kindergartens. They wear tshirts that say Kekal (maintain the opposition controlled state) with their counterparts wearing Tukar (Change the State Government) shouting Gelombang Merah (Red Wave denoting action of the red mark of UMNO). Wow! such is the age we are living in - an evolution that gives very little space to conventional partisan newspapers and TV stations. Everything is either cyber or demonstrational. I even get sms'es from both ruling party as well as opposition on daily basis. That did not happen even once during the 2008 General Election.

The sad thing is, we may be so stupid that all it takes is just a 4-step move to checkmate us - Destroy Peace, Destroy Stability, Destroy Progress and finally Destroy the Only Country We Have Even Known To Be Our Home. I hope not.

All these observations actually raise a question in my mind. Does the concept Wakil Rakyat (Citizen Representation) still work? You can see Malays voting for DAP Chinese and Chinese voting for PAS Malays. It is a statement. It is as if a declaration is being made that says, "We don't care who the Member of Parliament is as long as the ruling Government is pulled down". This behaviour is dangerous. It crushes stability and makes the country vulnerable. Have we not learnt from others who suffer? This is exactly what they (Foreign Super Powers) want. They tried to grab hold of our economy in 1997/1998 by tempting us with national loans to repair the non-performing loans infested financial system. We were lucky that our masterminds thought of Danaharta to look after ourselves and not sell our country to foreigners (like some of our neighbours). When economic measures fail, they attack political stability (Suggested reading: Confessions of an Economic Hitman by John Perkins) - what better scenario best fit such attack if not a highly-sensitive multiracial country like ours? Are we that naive that we are being made pawns in our own game? The sad thing is, we may be so stupid that all it takes is just a 4-step move to checkmate us - Destroy Peace, Destroy Stability, Destroy Progress and finally Destroy the Only Country We Have Even Known To Be Our Home. I hope not - open your eyes to see who is the Wayang Kulit (puppet) that is connected to these Super Powers.




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08 May 2013

Things I Did That I Never Thought I Would




www.kopihangtuah.blogspot.com



(Not in any particular order)

1. Performed at Hard Rock Cafe in front of the general public

2. Performed with Amy Search on stage in front of the general public

3. Shook hands with Slash, the ex-guitarist of Guns'n'Roses

4. Became a Chief Executive Officer

5. Climbed to the top of Eiffel Tower

6. In the campaign crew for the Prime Minister of Malaysia touring an opposition controlled state, Kelantan.

7. Visited a Pacific island, Guam, that just got thrashed by a cyclone

8. Stranded for a couple of months on a Pacific island, the Republic of Marshall Islands, that has majority of its population infected with HIV virus

9. Being interrogated by the British police under the suspicion of terrorism

10. Being interrogated by the American immigration under the suspicion of terrorism

11. Worked at the world's largest accounting firms in Britain, Australia and the United States of America territories

12. Stared face to face with the mummy of the Egyptian Pharoah, Ramses

13. Rode an elephant in the villages of Thailand

14. Underwent a tumor removing operation

15. Witnessed the Halley's Comet crossing the sky in the 80's

16. Witnessed the discovery of the true tomb of Mahsuri in Langkawi

17. Being robbed at gunpoint on the head

18. Had Awie, Joe, Eddie and Jojet of Wings for dinner at my home in Australia

19. Wrote the speech for the Prime Minister of Malaysia

20. Gave consultancy sessions to McKinsey rather than getting one from them

21. Climbed up in the Pyramids into the chambers of the pharoahs

22. Interviewed M. Nasir for Radio Melayu Melbourne

23. Lost my wedding ring on the rail tracks of London Underground Tube.

24. Shot with a gun

25. Ate kangaroo meat

26. Ate whale meat

27. Ate horse meat

28. Bought paintings from Malaysia's top 10 contemporary visual artists, Shukri Mohamed and Hamir Shoib

29. Stood a metre away from the original Mona Lisa painting by Leonardo Da Vinci

30. Witnessed the grand opening of the first Proton plant by Tun Mahathir in the 80's

31. Audited and became the bearer of the results of Juara Lagu 2003 in secrecy one day prior to the final Juara Lagu concert - The year Misha Omar won

32. Quit smoking

33. Being grilled by BFM89.9

34. Stepped on Greenwich Meridian International Time line in Greenwich

35. Escorted by Police Riders for a 400km on-road journey

36. Witnessed hundreds of penguins mating at Phillips Island

37. Visited the Istana Negara to pay respect to the body of the late Agong, the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah

38. Had a personal non-formal conversation with ex-Chief of Police of Malaysia, Tun Hanif Omar, on the subject matter 'Malaysian politics'

39. Encountered sea snake in the waters of Pulau Tioman

40. Owned a Gibson Les Paul

41. Attended a live show by Donny and Marie Osmand

42. Attended a live concert by Metallica

43. Attended a live concert by Guns'n'Roses with the original Use Your Illusion line-up

44. Attended a live concert by U2

45. Ate marijuana carrot cake in the red light district of Amsterdam

46. Sailed in the gondola of Venice

47. Leaned on the leaning tower of Pisa

48. Fired an employee

49. Rejected a rare offer to enter Malay College Kuala Kangsar

Why only up to 49? What happened to 50? Well,.... item number 50 has not yet happened but I have already booked tickets, hotels, etc to make it happen. Wish me luck!!!! Item number 50 is, or will be:

50. Climb Mount Kinabalu




* kopihangtuah



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