I read today's newspaper headline in utter disgust. Another innocent Malaysian is victimized by the draconian laws of the ISA. And for what? For doing her job as a journalist. For reporting actual details of a situation. For letting the truth out for all to know.

Ahmad Ismail's actions can never be justified. Every other day we boast to the world about "how racially harmonious and peaceful" our country is. "COME VISIT MALAYSIA!" we shout out loud. "A MELTING POT OF CULTURES WHERE ITS PEOPLE HOLD HANDS AND DANCE AROUND SINGING 'IT'S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL'!"

Yet someone who made a racist remark like that could be let off so simply. What disturbs and sickens me is that by refusing to admit and apologize for his mistake, the very remark he made is actually what he believes in (who knows, his sentiments may possibly be echoed by many others as well) - that "Chinese are squatters and that as they are only immigrants it is impossible for them to achieve equal rights among races". Okay, so he has been suspended (not sacked) from UMNO for 3 years. What's the big deal. He can still go on with life as usual and is still allowed to roam the streets with all the money in the world to splash.

I am glad the MCA has expressed their shock over the arrest of Tan Hoon Cheng and not Ahmad Ismail (probably one of their few good deeds in many years), though expressing is one thing and doing something about it is another.

We are already in the 21st century. For decades we have lived together on the same land, breathing the same air. We go to the same schools and shopping malls. We work together. We stay in the same neighourhoods. Racism should never in a million years be tolerated. I am not angry because I am a Chinese and Ahmad Ismail has offended my race. If a Chinese were to degrade a Malay or an Indian it should not be taken lightly as well (though, trust me, if such a thing were to happen even our great-grandchildren will not hear the end of it.). I have Malay and Indian friends whom I like and care for, and I wouldn't be able to bear if such insults were to be thrown at them.

Sometimes I laugh at myself for having the desire to come back to Malaysia in the future. Many people would advise against that. I don't blame them. I wouldn't want my children to grow up to be idiots like more than half the population. I wouldn't want them to have a run-in with the law for something they didn't do. I wouldn't want them to be wrongfully detained under the ISA for having an opinion or for telling the truth. But this is my country and my heart is here, yet so many times I think the idea of coming home is undoubtedly absurd. How?

I feel so caged up. Even by writing this entry I have to be cautious with my choice of words and think twice before clicking on the "PUBLISH" button, because I'll never know who would stumble upon this and have ME arrested the very next hour. After all, the authorities are capable of such an inhumane act as we have seen time and time again. Freedom of words. Total BULL.

It is hard to say I love my country at the moment. There was a glimmer of hope after the March elections... but I am doubting everything right now. Whatever hope I had is dangling on a string. All I'm thankful for is that we are given the right to practice our own religion without being persecuted. But that is all. I don't know what else this country has given me or done for me.

How sad is that?

We're going backwards. Backwards backwards backwards. Soon we will see countries currently worse off, surpass us in every aspect. And then what else is there for us to boast about, huh?

3 Cheers For Chong Wei =)

Heeeeh at least a silver in his hands!

Malaysians can stop feeling like losers.

I've never felt so proud of my country (and by my country I mean Lee Chong Wei) since... the March 2008 Elections. =P

GP Posting was, to my surprise, really good. I actually learnt a lot. But more on that another day.

Athletics/Swimming heats now!

Childish Media

Our local papers are so stupid that all they publish are articles to ass-lick the government or articles about the frivolous topics they debate about in parliament or the most trivial of matters like the idiot who is taking a fourth wife and plans to have 40 children. Turn to the Singapore page and what do you get? Nothing but bad news to put down the country, like so-and-so raping his daughter or so-and-so getting charged for drug trafficking. I don't remember coming across any positive news whatsoever about Singapore.

Let's talk about the man taking a fourth wife issue. Wait, WHAT ISSUE? It's not even an issue worth highlighting. If anything it should be something to shelter from the world because it's just freaking embarrassing. A disgrace to mankind I may add. Then he goes on saying that he wants 40 kids. Like what the fuck for? He already has 25! A few more and he'll have more than the number of animals at our national zoo.

"When the 54-year-old recently expressed his wish to marry his newfound sweetheart, a woman 30 years his junior, his wives not only agreed to the marriage scheduled for the end of this month, they also agreed to let their husband spend more time with his new bride."...

"He also shared some tips with the media on how to be sexually active even at an advanced age. Among the techniques he employed was to bathe in the morning by pouring a pail of water on the right leg first before washing other parts of the body."

HAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAH. This is so absurd that it's hilarious.

I know the whole thing is probably none of our business but what I'm curious about is why this is in the newspapers in the first place. WHY?

Few days ago this was on the 3rd page of the Nation section. Today it's on the 12th page, but they still make it seem like it's such good news that the whole country should jump around and celebrate. Seriously, is this something to be proud of?

I used to love reading the papers until I realized most of the articles have a common theme: TRASH. Now reading the papers is more like a habit I cannot give up, or more like an excuse to not study.

I hate Malaysian media. Grr.

Power To Democracy

The people have indeed spoken! I'm glad that the belief of us being a democratic country ONLY ON PAPER has finally been proven wrong. What we stayed up to watch last night was, without a doubt, DEMOCRACY (or at least up to a certain extent). The results of the elections say it all : citizens feel that Malaysia needs a major makeover! 5 states going to the opposition (including my own Perak, which has been stagnant in every aspect since FOREVER), BN being denied a 2/3rd majority, big guns (particularly a certain someone with a wig and the face of a clown) having to hang their heads lowly while they pack their bags... people! Although there is still much work to be done, we are definitely moving towards a better future.

I hope that the opposition will be responsible to the people and fulfill their promises on their manifesto. We have put our trust in them and if they betray our trust, who else are we supposed to turn to? There will be nothing left for us in this place.

Staying up last night discussing the outcome of the elections with family and friends made me realize how much I love my country. It's really shitty, yes, but there is still hope! We shouldn't give up on it!

BN had better find a way to improve after suffering multiple slaps in their faces. This is a big wake up call. In a way I'm quite glad that they still retained their power as federal government because I don't think Malaysia is ready for a 180° change under the opposition just yet. Plus I can't imagine all the riots and racial tension that will ensue should the federal government be toppled over! We need to advance a step at a time... and I'm sure all of us are ecstatic to see that we have begun the transition as of today.

Thank you people of Malaysia! You have given each and every one of us a light of hope. Let's continue praying for peace and that those elected will carry out their duties responsibly!

(I think many of us have grown more mature over the years... I never thought I'd care so much about Malaysia. Never thought many of my friends would care as well (like HER. warning : only read that post if you're open to sarcasm. hahaha.). Haha. But turns out most of us do and it's amazing!)

Elections!

Today is polling day in Malaysia! I hope those who are eligible have exercised their rights to vote. It's interesting to see that more and more people especially those around our age have become increasingly concerned with the country's well-being and political state... probably because we spend more time on the internet than on anything else =P and we know that it is through the net (click) that we get all the inside scoop on the truth about the happenings in our country. After all, whatever news we get through our local media is lop-sided. I'm also glad that many Malaysians all over the world were responsible enough to send postal votes. It shows that there are citizens residing overseas who still care about our country.

Having said that, I'm also VERY disappointed that there were still many who didn't bother registering to cast their votes, when, ironically, they are always the ones who complain most about how our country is being governed. Shame on them. If you want something to be done, you have to contribute and not just sit at the corner forwarding SMSes about voting for change.

Tonight I will be camping in front of the TV eagerly waiting for the results. Let's all just pray for the best... and also for LESS dirty work behind closed doors this time around.