Merdeka 2009 Series: The Gen-Y Foundation

Seven days before Merdeka '09

By Lee Wei Lian

AUG 31 — At last Monday's mid-morning meeting, The Malaysian Insiders were tasked with writing a commentary about Merdeka. It was also assumed then that the fasting month would be dry in terms of news and we'd be hit by the journalistic equivalent of the global economic slowdown. But, as they say, the best-laid plans and all that.

The same day, Kartika happened. This Malay girl from Perak made global headlines and became one of the top five most popular stories on BBC and CNN, causing Women's Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil to wring her hands in worry that Malaysia would be labelled as a "fanatical" Muslim country.

Then MCA, a Chinese party despised by many if not most Chinese, decided that it would be a good time to plunge into one of its trademark leadership crises, with the Ong-Chua factions going toe to toe in a fight which some say may well be their last.

Then on Friday, Selangor's capital Shah Alam, which seems to be the new epicentre of ethno-religious earthquakes, shook the nation yet again with a nasty quarrel over a Hindu temple that involved threats of bloodshed and a decapitated cow head, possibly covered with dusty shoe prints.

And all this happening against a backdrop of political intrigue including deaths, power grab conspiracies, corruption scandals, soaring crime, racial and religious baiting and disappointing economic, social and academic conditions.

I met an old friend midway through the week, who was taking a break from a year-long project in London. He works for a large multinational and is actually based out of Malaysia but his business unit is being transferred to Madrid, Spain in October, yet another sign of the fluid, global nature of economies today.

"Look at what's happening in Malaysia," he sighed while shaking his head and sipping his Starbucks coffee. I could only nod. What was there to say?

Logging into my e-mail later, I scrolled through a barrage of messages from my primary school classmates.

They were commenting on a Standard Three class picture posted on Facebook, performing an online brain-link in order to put a name to each of the cherubic faces surrounding the teacher.

The photo was posted by a Malay classmate who was daughter to a Dewan Bahasa and Pustaka official, hence her archival skills. I recall that even the story books she lent me were stamped with her family library chop.

"Thanks everyone for those names! Takde gambar2 lain ke?" she typed. Obviously, the answer was no.

The names of my ex-classmates — Natasya, Wai Cheng, Jason, Illyas, Ilham, Jon Wei — are a delicious aural rojak of Malay and Chinese, but perhaps as a portend of the future of Sekolah Kebangsaans, no Indians.

The banter was light, the Malaysian co-operation impressive.

"Only four names left guys!" exhorted one of the 84 comments.

Back to today, Malaysia's 52nd Merdeka anniversary — a marker which sees the country older but evidently not really the wiser.

Unlike a bottle of fine cincaluk, we as a nation have not aged well.

For 52 years, like the past seven days, Malaysians have had to bear more sorrow, fear and heartache than it should have had to. Nobody knows what the future holds.

But I'd like to think there's a chance the next half century will be different — like my Standard Three class but even better — a time and place where race and religion meant something but at the same time nothing, and the future looked as glorious as the golden sunshine during recess.

Article source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/36443-seven-days-before-merdeka-09

Merdeka 2009 Series: Political Theatrics

The false Merdeka consciousness

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid

AUG 31 — Merdeka celebrations often force me to sulk. The fireworks, the countdowns, the reruns of old Malay war films like "Bukit Kepong" and Merdeka-themed emotionally evocative advertisements financed by Malaysia's most successful multinational companies on national television sicken me.

These are, to me, the imposition of a false consciousness. A cunning form of political chicanery aimed at unifying a divided nation under the pretense of a glorious history profoundly twisted to serve the interest of the ruling class.

And what better way to do that than to exploit a date that defines the very meaning of this country itself?

On this day, government leaders are transformed into poets, reading out poetic speeches intent on inspiring if not stoically rendering the denizens of this wealthy country to contemplate and appreciate in retrospect the multi-racial efforts that led to our independence.

Our hardworking countrymen, the pillars that stabilise the ample wealth of those above them, are heavily bombarded with the images of a younger generation oblivious and unappreciative of the race-transcending bonds of Abu, Ah Chong and Achiapan through beautifully-filmed advertisements.

The underlying message of these extremely well-packaged messages is clear. They manufacture a perception of a generation distant from the spirit which binds the different races of the nation together, a spirit crafted and solely credited to the wonders worked by the ruling party.

For the most part, the advertisements depict real truths. Many of the younger generation cannot truly grasp the spirit of Merdeka.

Syed Jaymal feels Merdeka celebrations are a cunning form of political chicanery. — Picture by Choo Choy May

Take, for example, the response given by young celebrities, artists, musicians, comedians and candid interviews of your average citizen. Their replies merely parrot the idea of Merdeka taught in national schools by teachers who in turn parroted their teachers.

The replies given are rewound and replayed falsities. The evidence of this is everywhere. From the drunks in pubs and clubs throughout the nation on Merdeka eve to the cities congested with fireworks zealots, the manner of celebrating the country's birth reflects their understanding of what it is: nothing but a day among the list of public holidays.

But really, who can blame them?

This is a generation desensitised and tired by the daily resonance of contradictions of the policy-makers. While racism is rejected on festivity months, it is accepted at other times.

While we are constantly reminded of those who sacrificed their lives to oust the British colonialists and their devastating divide-and-rule methodology, 52 years on, its remnants and essence remain rooted in our political culture, fertilised and nurtured further to serve and consolidate the interest of those wielding power.

While endless propaganda of equitable development and the promises of fair income distribution, made possible given the nation's abundance of natural resources, dominate the airwaves for 52 years, this generation is still treated with the sight of the Malay poor in Kepala Batas, the Indian poor in Tapah and the Chinese poor in Yong Peng.

So what we have in our hands now is a confused mass plagued by a sense of powerlessness which then triggers the instinct to forget about everything and just get on with their lives.

What is left of the Merdeka spirit then is a consciousness vacuum ready to be filled with a fictitious notion of a national identity, a fake identity celebrated on August's end which is more a way to reinforce the position of the ruling class as the unifier while removing any recollection that it is the very "saviour" that divides us.

This is, sadly, what Merdeka means to me.

Article source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/36447-the-false-merdeka-consciousness

Merdeka 2009 Series: The Real Heroes

Hail the real freedom fighters of MERDEKA!

I must thank the Malaysiakini team led by Kabilan for the great stories. I should visit the heros one day, hopefully in the near future.Merdeka!  

Deleted from victors' history: The other freedom fighters

At midnight on Aug 30, 1957, millions of Malayans rejoiced the momentous occasion of the nation's father Tunku Abdul Rahman replacing the Union Jack with the Malayan flag.  About 450 kilometres away, deep in a thick jungle at the border of Malaya and Thailand, a smaller band of brothers (read: armed comrades) was huddled in front of a fire, pondering what would that act of lowering the Union Jack mean to them.  Fifty-two years on, they are all bitter that the truth about their role in gaining independence for the country remains unrecognised, and are worried that it would die with them.  This group of men and women – all members of the fearsome 10th Regiment of the Communist Party of Malaya led by Abdullah CD – have been based in this border area since the end of 1953 following a continuous onslaught against them by the British forces.  Numbering about 550 people, these guerrilla fighters had waged a war to get rid of the British since the formation of their regiment on May 21, 1949. They were part of a larger CPM war unit under its Malaya National Liberation Army which had about 8,000 fighters at its peak.  However, with the declaration of Emergency in 1948, the party was banned and for the next 12 years, they were in constant battle with the authorities (first the British, then the Malayans with the help of the British) who were adamant about getting rid of the communist guerrillas.  The resulting offensive drove many communist guerrillas into the Thai-Malaysian border, where the subsequent Malaysian government continued their attacks until a peace deal was struck in 1989.  By 1989, the strength of the CPM had dwindled and following the peace agreement, they settled in four 'peace villages' in southern Thailand.   What remains now is a history in the perspective of the victors where these CPM guerrilla's are demonised as terrorists.  In view of the nation's 52nd Merdeka, Malaysiakini recently visited one such communist 'peace village' in Sukhirin, southern Thailand, to talk to some of these battle-hardened "communist insurgents" on their role in gaining independence.  The village – Kampung Chulaborn 12 – is home to about 460 people, made of the families and extended family members of the original Regiment 10 members.  It had about 260 people – mostly ex-communist members – when it was established in 1989. Today, the remaining war veterans include Abdullah CD, his wife Suriani Abdullah and about 20 of his comrades.  People were suffering under the British  The 10th Regiment was established in Temerloh by Abdullah CD and as such most of its members had come from Temerloh and other parts of Pahang.  One of them is Shukor Ismail, now 80, who was taken in by the communist ideology in 1948 and was a pioneer member of Regiment 10.  "At that time the people suffered under the British rule. We had just come out of the Japanese occupation, which was also a painful period. Many had already started feeling that we did not need the British to rule us," he recounted outside his attap house in the peace village.  "The farmers were feeling the economic pinch as they were not getting enough. It seemed as though all our hard work and money was being shipped off to London for the empire.  "I started my war against them because of this – they took what's mine to enrich themselves," said Shukor, whose body was clearly showing the evidence of hardship it had undergone.  He added that the people of Temerloh had an early start in nationalism as a result of the anti-British war initiated by Dato Bahaman in 1891 to 1895.  "His failure was the key to our struggle. The descendants of Dato Bahaman in Temerloh always knew that we had to get rid of the British and we managed to do that with CPM and our regiment."  Shukor also had no doubt over the role played by his comrades in freeing this nation from the occupiers.  "This was our revolution and we were successful, despite what the rulers of Malaysia say today.  "It was our campaign which brought about the change in the mindset of the people that they could self-rule and that they could chart their own future without any outside interference.  "What had the others done actually? They were colluding with the British. And now they are denying us of our role," he said with a tinge of anger in his voice.  'We drove them away'  Shukor went on to say that it was a falsehood to state that Malayan independence was gained without shedding a drop of blood.  "That makes no logic at all for the politicians to say we gained our independence peacefully. For me, the price of independence came with our blood being shed.  "We drove the British away. They left because they couldn't outwit us in jungle warfare and they were defeated as they knew they could never stop us from attacking them. They did not want to continue with that burden so they handed the country to Umno, knowing that the armed struggle would be between Malayans after that.  "And even when they gave the country to Umno, the British were still holding much influence, be it in security matters or in financial matters. They were also reaping the benefits of our economy," he added.  He said that it was never the intention of the communist to fight among Malayans. The enemy was the British and "their stooges", he added.  "I'm sad that the people in Malaysia today are unaware of this truth. They only believe in what has been told to them by the present rulers, who find it suitable to give prominence to whatever role they played in getting the independence.  "The present government is still living in that lie. It's in the history books, it's in their national monument… look at Tugu Negara. What do you see? You see British soldiers kicking local fighters. That does not reflect the correct historical fact," said the former guerrilla who spent 40 years in jungle.  He also added that he felt independence was not fully attained by the people of Malaysia as "the residues of British rule are still prevalent in our system".  "When it comes to political power in the nation, it is still a leftover of the British concept of race-based rule. Are the people fully empowered to do what they want for the nation? Is everyone equal in Malaysia today?  "What is different from the British divide-and-rule policy? Economically, is everyone well-to-do? Who is controlling the economy? Just like the British period, it is still in the hands of a group of people, not with the rakyat," he noted.  The victor's version is skewed  This was a point which was agreed to by his colleague Awang Yaakob, a former team leader of the 10th Regiment.  The 67-year-old born in Temerloh, who goes by the name Hatta, joined the movement at the age of 15 in 1949.  He lamented that the youth of today had no inkling of the role played by his comrades in gaining independence. "Our revolution was a success and it brought about independence for the nation but sadly our role is being kept in the dark by the politicians who ultimately benefited from our struggles," said the pint-sized but valiant-hearted man with plenty of battle scars in his body.  "The younger generation today have no way to find out about the respective roles played by CPM, Umno and other nationalists in gaining independence because what we have now is only the version of one party - Umno."  However, he said that he was glad that his family back in Temerloh and other friends knew the truth.  "My family back in Temerloh applaud me for that. Forget the politicians, for the rest, we have done a service for the nation," he said.  Like his comrade Shukor, Hatta too spent almost 40 years in the jungle for which he bears many scars from gun-shot wounds on his body as evidence of his part in getting the British out.  "Of course we killed them (the British), but they also killed us. Don't just blame us for the all the atrocities. It was a war, you had to kill to stay alive and to keep up your struggle," he said without a hint of regret.  "We were clear in what we wanted and we had achieved that," he said wile insisting that it was time for the Malaysian government to reveal the truth about the roles played by his communist comrades. "The government is just fearful that its influence will wane if the people know the truth," he said.  Women fought just as fearlessly Another former communist guerrilla, Siti Mariam Idris, 83, meanwhile said it was the independence movement mooted by the Malay nationalists, who later joined the CPM, that paved the way for women participation in politics.  "In CPM we had so many women leaders, people such as Shamsiah Faker, Zainab Baginda and Suriani to name just a few.  "They played a big role in emancipating the kampung women on issues of being independent and free.  "Are these facts reflected in the history today? Are these heroines mentioned anywhere by the government?" she asked.  Siti Mariam, known as Atom among her comrades, joined the revolution in May 1949.  She hails from a little waterhole called Lubuk Kawah, the hotbed of nationalism in Temerloh at that time.  Atom was a section leader and was involved in major fights "with the enemy", especially in Bukit Tuel and Bukit Rambutan in 1968/69.  Her ever-smiling face and down-to-earth persona clearly masks the fortitude she had in carrying firearms for the sake of her nation.  "I took up arms to free my nation, for my race and religion. I have no regrets for doing that.  "Women fought just as fearlessly for our ideologies as we had an equal role to play and were accorded the same level of support and respect.  "My only regret is that our fight for independence is being sidelined by the others," she said.  Nowadays Atom is much more interested in mundane matters such as getting a new broom instead of tackling enemies.  But never for a moment can one dismiss this as a mark of people like Atom having forgotten their cause and revolution. That spirit of loving their nation is still pretty much burning bright in their hearts.

Why we stay here, even when we love home

Kampung Chulaborn 12, or Ban Chulaborn Patana 12, in Thailand is no ordinary village. It is located deep in a jungle with the nearest town Shukirin about an hour's drive.  The distance to this village from the border town of Golok is some 70 kilometres but the rugged terrain and poor road conditions mean a travel time of almost two hours.  The residents of this village are also a group of 'special visitors of the Thai government' for they are all members of the 10th Regiment of the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM).  This village used to be their base camp and after the 1989 peace agreement between the CPM, the Thai government and the Malaysian government, these former members of the party were permitted to remain living there.  When it started, the village had about 260 people, most of whom were CPM members and their families, who had agreed to lay down their weapons. They were led by their revered leader Abdullah CD and his wife, Suriani Abdullah.  Today their number stands at about 460 – including extended families and outsiders, and they are still under the watchful eye of their 'protectors', Abdullah and his wife.  "This is beautiful, peaceful village. We have what we want here. The crime rate is almost non-existent. We are a close community," said 52-year-old village head and ex-communist Dome Za, a Malay-speaking Thai.  "Although I'm the village head, we still seek advice from Abdullah and Suriani on the running of the village," he added.  About 20 veteran communist leaders, all peers of Abdullah, are still living in this village. Almost all of them were from Malaya originally.  They had joined the 10th Regiment in May 1949 and then moved to the Thai-Malaya border in 1953, to remain in the jungles until the peace deal was signed in 1989.  But why didn't these former guerrilla fighters return to their homeland? 'Guiding lights' of the regiment Abdullah and Suriani, who had visited Malaysia a several times, including a visit to the Perak Sultan, were adamant in remaining in the village.  "We have our home here… our family is here, our friends are here," Abdullah told Malaysiakini. "Also I'm against the Internal Security Act as well as a host of other laws in Malaysia. I don't want them to catch me using any small excuse," he said with his trademark laughter and slap on the thigh.  The influence of this couple is visible in the village but that is understandable as they were the guiding lights of the regiment during their war years in the jungle.  "We realise that it is time for the younger generation to take up the leadership role. We also realise that both Abdullah and Suriani are getting older and are not as healthy as they once were," said Dome. "We will surely miss them when they are no longer with us but I think we can manage somehow." For others, such as veteran guerrilla fighter Asi (left in photo), Abdullah and Suriani are like his parents.  "I joined the movement at the age of 11 and I have known them since I was 13," said the 70-year-old Sungai Siput-born man of Indian parentage.   He is also the only remaining Indian communist left. (His story will be published tomorrow).  "I can't imagine my life out of this village," said Asi, who is married to a Thai communist and has a daughter.  After the peace agreement, each communist member who wanted to return to Malaysia was given RM300 per month for three years by the Malaysian government.  Those who elected to stay put at the village got a Thai government financial assistance of 540 baht (about RM54) per month for three years, a house and six acres of land. First batch of university graduates "The Thai government has helped us a lot and continues to support us," said the village head.  He added that the Thai princess Chulaborn Mahidol adopted the village in 1993 until 2004 and during that period, the village was supplied with electricity and water supply.  Today almost all houses have a television set with their distinctive long antennas to get better access. One or two houses even have Internet access using a satellite receiver.  There is a government clinic for the villagers with a hospital attendant on stand-by on all working days.  A museum to highlight the historical moments of 10th Regiment is a must-see at this village but it is in need of financial aid to continue running. They also have a primary school attended by children from the village and other neighbouring villages. This year's intake stands at 88 pupils.  "We also have six of our young ones studying in universities in Thailand. They are our first batch of university students. We also have about 100 of our children studying in secondary schools outside of this village, either in Narathiwat or elsewhere in southern Thailand," said Dome, whose son is one of the pioneer batch of undergraduates from the communist village.  'We don't want to return home'  Most of the villagers tend their plot of land with rubber or fruit trees but complain of a low return due to over-supply of fruits and low yield of rubber due to the climate.  "But I guess we will still call this place home. Back in Malaysia, we have nothing… only bad name perpetuated by the government's lies against our contributions although we had fought so hard for the sake of Malaya in the first place," said veteran guerrilla fighter Shukor Ismail, 80.  "Even though I have no blood relations here… these are all my comrades, my friends and I want to be with them until the end. Not with some strangers, though relatives, in Malaysia," he added, with a touch of irony.  "Malaya is still my country. I still have feelings for it. I love Malaysia, or I would not have struggled and sacrificed my life for it. However it just makes better sense to live in Thailand now.  "Not just because they have taken better care of us but also because of the fear of how we will be looked at if we return home," added Shukor.  "For that reason, we don't want to return to Malaysia, our beloved homeland," he said with a tinge of sadness and regret in his voice.  And this sums up the sentiment of almost all communist veterans in this village although some of them are in regular contact with their families in Malaysia.

Article source: http://colour-blind.org/wordpress/?p=1162 

Merdeka 2009 Series: Not quite like previous years...

Eh, why like that this year?

By Debra Chong

AUG 31 — I am disappoint. Yes, I am disappoint because this year I have been cheated out of my share in celebrating National Day with fireworks.

As a dutiful taxpayer, I am seriously disappoint. Seriously, what gives?

Every year for the past — well, goodness knows how many — years, the Gomen has always rewarded its dutiful tax-paying citizens with a no-expenses-barred, jaw-dropping, gobsmacking, grand display of coloured gunpowdered explosions at night.

And then, this year, they decide to take it away, not because the global economic crisis has finally made its way to our shores but because the hina sekali H1N1 virus landed.

So what?

What's the difference between the rakyat getting caught up in the daily stampede to and from work and getting caught up in another crush on Aug 31 to view fireworks?

Come on-lah, does anyone seriously think there's a higher chance of catching the dreaded bug on this one day of all days than any other day?

It sounds suspiciously like a blatant excuse to hide the fact that the Gomen is too poor to afford some measly explosives.

Debra is 'disappoint' with National Day celebrations this year. — Picture by Choo Choy May

Even better is the other one — and I'm probably gonna get a whole lot of flak for this — insisting that because it's the "Holy Month" there can be no entertainment whatsover.

In that case, why not shut down all TV stations, radio stations and cinemas altogether? In fact, why not fence up all theme parks and playgrounds too? Close all roads too, just in case someone finds a way to get a kick out of driving. Board up the trees as well, in case another person decides to swing from one for a Tarzan thrill.

Sheesh...

Honestly, whoever thought up deprivation to stir patriotism needs to have another serious think again. Get out of the padded cell, open up the window, sniff the real air.

Patriotism, real love of one's country, for one's country cannot be manufactured. It does not happen through putting people in a room and subjecting them to droning mantras. You only get droids that way and we all know what happens to droids — think Star Wars and the storm troopers, or even the last Terminator. Or the Wizard of Oz. Even Tin Man went looking for a heart in the end.

I love Malaysia, I really do. It's my kind of place, Malaysia, it's got my kind of people too, people who smile at you, people who eat like you, and drink teh tarik and kopi-o and cola too. And each time I roam, Malaysia, is calling me home, to my beautiful kampung.

From coast to coast, across the valley and hillside; from the west to the east, it's the best place to — uh, I forget the lyrics — but it puts a smile on my face, it's my kind of place, it's got my kind of razzmatazz, and all that jazz.

That's why I long for my fireworks. Not the ones plotted by political parties that blow up in your face.

Because the ones, lit by fire and go kablooey in the dark void is a beautiful reminder that our little universe, like The Universe, needs to go bang before it can boom.

Article source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/36429-eh-why-like-that-this-year

Merdeka 2009 Series: Feel Good channel

How to feel good about this Merdeka?

By Sim Kwang Yang

I write many columns for many publications under various names, and I was asked by one editor to provide a "feel-good" piece on Merdeka.

If you take one of those correspondence courses on how to write saleable articles, you will be taught to write on topical and seasonal subjects.  A professional columnist like me must learn to write on important dates of the calendar, and August 31^st is one of these dates.

Any writing course will also teach you to have an ending that make the readers feel good.  If you just hantam with a long string of negative toxic expletives and whining, like many people who leave comments on blogs and websites on the Internet, nobody will want to read your stuff, and you will not be able to sell your articles.

I understand the world of commercial journalism, so I finished my assignment of "feel-good" piece on Merdeka, without becoming a ball-carrier for the BN government.  It tested the dexterity of my skills as a writer, but it can be done, because there are a lot of nice things about Malaysia and Malaysians in particular.

When it comes to writing for my home blog the Hornbill Unleashed on Merdeka, then I hesitated.  My feelings are much more complex and mixed than just feeling good or bad about our 52^nd Merdeka anniversary.
My lived experience and my long memory tell me that Malaysia came into being on September 16, 1963, and not August 31, 1957.  But for UMNO and their nationalist narrative, the great Malay nation of Tanah Ai Melayu came into historic existence on August 31^st, with Singapore, Sarawak and Sabah being attached to form Malaysia on September 16, 1963.  Our state was added as an appendage, as an after-thought.

You try arguing with the Orang Malaya of all races, and you will die of frustration.

Then again, in my ageing years, I have metamorphosised into an ambiguous position that increasingly distances my consciousness from nationalism and the myth of the nation-state.  They are abstract human theoretical construct, the ontological existence of which is still under probe by numerous scholars who have made their career on the subjects.

The official images of citizens carrying and waving the national flags and shouting slogans move me little.  The patriotic jingo emitting from RTM turns my stomach year after year.  I protect the health of my stomach by not watching and listening to all Malaysian TV and radio stations during this Merdeka season of hysteria.  Patriotism has to be much more sophisticated than that.

But Merdeka this year comes at a unique moment of our nation's history.

Of course, we have versions of the old narrative.  A Malay woman has been sentenced to be whipped six times with the rotan for drinking in public.  To call the punishment barbaric is an insult to those barbarians.  (Remember Conan the Barbarian; he was a hero warrior!)

Then there is the case of the 50 protesters allegedly from a Malay majority area who protested the relocation of a Hindu temple to "their area" by carrying a cow's severed head as a symbol of hate for the Hindus.

I have problems with this perception of "Malay-majority area". "Chinese-majority area", and "Indian-majority area".  If we divide Sarawak and Sabah in like manners, we have 60 or so similar areas.  The nation is then broken down into 63 different enclaves, and the concept of one Malaysian nation would fly out the window.  Then there is no need to celebrate Merdeka at all, because the nation of Malaysia has virtually disappeared from the common imagination of all her 26 million citizens.

I remember the numerous cities and towns that I have visited throughout Malaysia.

In the old parts of the urban centre such as in Penang built before Merdeka, the Chinese temples, the Indian temples, and the Mosques are all sited within shouting distance of one another.  Half a century of politics and race has made handiwork of the beautiful race relations that existed before the British colonial masters left our shores.

(At this juncture, some readers are bound to throw up their arms in despair and proclaim, "Malaysia is going down the drain.  We have become a failed state."  But wait! Let me try to make you feel good.)

This Merdeka is unique, because we witness the racial basis of power sharing within first the Alliance and then the Barisan nasional being destroyed from implosion.

The hottest news in all news papers and net portals is this impending fight between Chua Soi Lek and Ong Tee Kiat.

From their long history of internal factional fight, this Ong Chua fight will be worse than the gun-fight at OK corral.  It will be a fight to the death.  Then, UMNO would intervene at the critical moment to lend their weight to one side, and the other side would disappear.  MCA will be halved, waiting to be completely wiped out from the Malaysian political map in the next general election.

MIC is also facing some internal struggle in their coming party poll.  But who cares?  As Samy Vellu continues to be president, he has signed a death warrant against the MIC.

The Gerakan has been reduced to the status of a mosquito party anyway, and they cannot even canvass for Chinese votes in the recent Permatang Pasir by-election.

In short, the so called "social contract" worked out in 1957 between component parties of the Alliance then has now disappeared into thin air.

That is the one thing that I feel good about Merdeka this year.  I will celebrate this with a few bottles of beer in public.  At least, I will not be whipped for that.

Article source: http://hornbillunleashed.wordpress.com/2009/08/31/3585/

Merdeka 2009 Series: 52 years of Tension

Bovine 1 Malaysia

By Neville Spykerman

Truth, Sir, is a cow, that will yield such people no more milk, and so they are gone to milk the bull. — Samuel Johnson.

AUG 31 — Really, what's there to celebrate? Fifty-two years of simmering tensions?

The ugly episode by the bull-headed protesters who showed no cow sense last Friday illustrates that 1 Malaysia is really just a load of bull.

The organisers, who must have been infected with some strain of mad cow disease, should give themselves a pat on the back for literally taking the bull by the horns to illustrate their intolerance.

Neville feels there is nothing much to celebrate. — Picture by Choo Choy May

Knowing full well that the cow is sacred to Hindus, they carried a severed bull's head by the horns from the state mosque in Shah Alam to the state secretariat to voice their beef against the relocation of a Hindu temple to their pastures.

The bovine adventure by the herd numbering 50, some with children in tow, captured headlines around the world and successfully put Malaysia in the world's spotlight again.

"Protesters in Malaysia march with severed cow head to protest building of new Hindu temple", headlined the Associated Press story in the StarTribune.com.

"Muslims protest with butchered cow head against Hindu temple", headlined the story in Fox40.com.

The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Jakarta Post; you name it, all carried the story of the cow-head demo in Shah Alam.

If that's not enough, the senseless acts of desecrating the sacred cow is also now on YouTube for the world to see.

Here at home, people must ponder, was this protest about cowing the state into backing down from relocating the temple or was it about regaining the cash cow Selangor?

In the meantime, the government will continue to promote 1 Malaysia till the cows come home.

Happy Merdeka?

Article source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/36436-bovine-1-malaysia