Merdeka Time Machine Week

The week from 30th August up to today was like a time machine ride for me. During the 9/9 Celebration (Malaysia`s supposedly Human Rights Day) organized by SUHAKAM, the participants were indulged in an intense discussion of human rights, culture, religion and freedom of expression.

Speakers and participants `s observation and dissection of real issues such as State censorship, apostasy plus a redefinition of Merdeka exhibited the complexity of our society. The complexity becomes messy when State`s inteference in the society `s exercise of religion, culture and freedom of expression are merely to maintain and ensure that we toe the line and hence protect the interest of THE minority of rich elites. Its bad that we are aware all along our perspective on what is Malaysian culture, what it means to be a Malaysian was very much policed and dictated by the ruling powers, but even worse when we were silenced by the repressive Acts available, thus give away to another troubling culture, Culture of Fear.

What happened in the past affects our present. Our chaotic present and if I could name one, failure to accept diversity by succumbing to monolithic outlook, (Oh, ignore the Muhibbah school of thought, it is damn superficial as it only goes as far as traditional cloths, food and dances), are very much a product of what happened in the past. Our definition of Merdeka and ideals of being a Malaysian was rooted deep in untold and mysterious fragment of histories that were bias-ly recorded to represent and strengthened those in power. It could aptly be described as "Winners write history". Yesterday night, the connecting point to the thinking I have been doing post-9/9 was a forum called "Pensejarahan Semula Kemerdekaan" organized by Youth For Change (Y4C). Drawing hidden facts from the past, I finally could make sense of some (if not all) the issues surrounding our tragic melting pot dream. Let me just share some of the interesting and important perspectives raised during the forum:

1. Malayan is a concept exist only after colonialization of British. The British coined the term Malayan people for those coming from the lower social background, especially the Chinese and Indian labours during that time. It is logical since idea of statehood which was popular in the 50s-60s was a sign that local people from all colonies were demanding for Independence. We derived our ideas of what a State is from our colonizers.

2. When did we actually get our independence? Answering the question now becomes a tiring quest. A-Could it be September 16 1963, after Sabah & Sarawak joined Malaysia? B- Could it be 1988? Here is an interesting fact; In October 1957, Malaya signed an agreement called The Anglo Malaya Agreement with the British. Among the important content of the agreement was that for Malaya to allow foreign troops from British, Australia, Fiji and other mentioned countries to be based on the Malaya `s soil. The last batch of the troop left our country in 1984! 5 years after the that, The Peaceful Treaty was signed between Thailand, Malaysia and Parti Communist Malaya. Are we really independent if we allow foreign troops to be based in our country for security purpose. Is it not a similar scenario like in Afganistan now? Even if the argument was because Communist has not retreated even after Merdeka, have we ever wondered if it is the other way around, that the PKM cannot compromise the existence of foreign military power on our free land?

3.The People`s Constitution proposed by AMCJA-PUTERA suggested a very daring idea that all races shall practice their culture and beliefs and yet unite and be known as "Malay". If we remember well our history books, AMCJA-PUTERA was a combination of diverse groups and not only predominantly Malay. It comprised of even ulama' from Hizbul Muslimin. It just shows how progressive were the Ulama' during that era! This fact demonstrated how "malay" during that time was seen as a socially constructed idea which was far from religious and racial influences. The people who came up with the proposal shared one cause which was to gain their rights from the local aristocrat power of that era who was later absorbed by the British into a very lame Durbar. hence, "Malay" was intepreted to have social and political origin as opposed to the divide and rule tactic speared by the British which manipulate the racial cards to reinforce submission, prejudice and fear to resist among the three main races that of course would curb any attempts of uniting and challenging the British empire. Of course we find it bizarre as we have been accepting the context that we are identified by our race and religion for donkey years. But if the proposal of the AMCJA-PUTERA was put in place, issue of malay special rights might not even arise as everyone will be treated equally. Of course this will be a threat to the Malay monarch.

3. Why was Tan Cheng Lock and Viti Sambathan never on the ship to Britain to negotiate Merdeka with the British? No answer yet.

4.UMNO was claimed to be an idea thought of by Secretary General of Colonial Affairs in England. It was not actually a party inspired by the people. Independence hence, was merely a transition of power from the colonial powers to the local monarch. Of course it was expedite by the loss incured by the British due to PKM `s resistance which was around 100,00-300,00 dollars per day.

5.Does Merdeka means freedom as well? Are we really a free society now?

Being part of the Generation M, of course my identification with Merdeka was clouded by flags waving, procession across the city and the repeated image of Tunku punching the air to the spirited shout of "Merdeka". But it will not be fair at all to allow the young roots of the country to be misled and indoctrinated by a bias version of country`s history. I guess the redefining of history must be started with the revealing of actual events of the past to clear our messed up minds. How can the young generation inteprete the history and make it relevant to themselves if the version of history being fed to us are censored and was tampered with by the "victors of the war"? Until then, the past serve no crucial reminders to the Malaysian young breeds of what it means to be a Malaysian as we are forever entrapped in a planned disillusionment propagated by the powers that be.

On that note, I could say (with confidence) that it is not too late for me to say Selamat Hari Merdeka to everyone especially the fine young calibans of yesterday and tomorrow.

Aku di Common Ground News!

Hahaha.

Akhirnya hasil temuramah Mujtaba Hamdi, rakan aku seorang Editor majalah dari Jakarta bersama aku membuahkan hasil dalam bentuk satu artikel di sini. Kelakar juga membaca tentang diri sendiri serta persepsi Orang Kedua (Taba) mengenai diri kita. Banyak juga yang ditulis sedangkan semasa temuramah, kami lebih banyak gelak ketawa dari bercakap.

Namun, aku berterima kasih kerana ada maklumat yang terdapat di dalam temuramah itu yang merupakan maklumat yang telah lama ingin aku lampiaskan dari dalam diri. Justeru, aku sewaktu mahu ditemuramah oleh Taba, melihat temuramah tersebut sebagai satu cara untuk aku "reconcile" dengan diri aku di masa lampau. Seperti kata seorang teman platonic alias seorang psikologis-"You seemed much happier now compared to your schizo-life years ago,"

Aku masih seorang yang Assalamualaikum. Hendak tahu betapa lebih Assalamualaikum-nya aku dahulu, sila baca artikel tersebut.

Kepada Taba; Mengapa dimasukkan bab-bab pasal pejabat aku dalam perenggan akhir tu? Bikin malu sahaja! :-) .

Safety is no prank matter, beb!

Last nite, I watched Wakenabeb rerun on NT7. A carbon copy of "Punked", Kutcher`s MTV prank, show, for this local version, we have Adlin of AF fame as the leading prankster. It was Ziana Zain `s turn last nite to "dikenakan". I actually read a comment on this particular episode in The Sun by Shahnon Shah (I think) but I never get to watch it. Now I understand the angry tone of Shah`s article.

What can I say? It was far from being funny. You don't laugh at someone who is on the verge of hysteria because 2 guys are trying to abduct her. Ziana Zain, could be seen getting paled, almost in tears and could faint anytime as the 2 guys pretended to harass her and her manager and later on, blindfolded her and took her outside where her fan club members waited to throw a surprise birthday party for her. Some birthday party!

The joke was cruel and tasteless. I thought I saw Ziana fainted after Adlin revealed the prank but the scene was snipped. Giving someone a heart attack is not a joke. That actually spoil all the meaning of having fun and don't expect peeps to be a sport and take that as a laughing matter.

Why I am cranky over a "harmless" MTV-ish local show? Let me just tell you. In just this week, 3 of my female friends got robbed. Two got robbed in their own homes while another, faced the ordeal in Jalan Klang Lama. The ones who got robbed in their homes-one took place at 9 a.m in the morning, the other happened at 1.40 a.m.I am relieved to inform that none involved sexual assault and all have lodged police reports. But, the robbers who were armed with a knife, worked in a group of 3-4 people are yet to be identified and arrested. My chums were traumatized with their experiences and were having sleepless night since their terrible ordeal. One of them could not forget the greasy feel of one of the man`s hand on her shoulder....well, who can? In such predicament? I should understand their feelings. I was robbed too when I rented an apartment in Kerinchi. That is why my other half understand well why now, I always persuade him to put extra locks and even check for any hidden holes and exits in our new home.

Today, I read this in the newspaper. Scarrrrrry.

A friend commented that the sudden interest on crime stories and news by the media is a political ploy to divert the people`s attention from issues that are currently disreputing the government. It is to tighten people`s faith in the ruling regime. He added that crime has always take place in our society with/without the media exposure. Fine, I said. Even if that is true, I don't see how that can help overcome these "real" problems. The victims don't care about political ploys or strategy of diversion, they want protection and they want to be able to go to sleep at night in peace.

They still can't, unfortunately. So, do I.

ORBITUARY

Herein lies a blog,that suffered from unexplainable cause of death. The only explanation offered by its quiet owner is "he is bored with this blog". Its cyber presence and contribution either to cheer bored cyber surfers or to provoke moral guardians online will be "sorely" missed by every Abu, Ah Chong, Muthu, swingers and assalamualaikum dudes and dudettes who are familiar to his writings and ramblings.

But oh well, life goes on.... :-)

Perks (and not…. ) of the Budget 2007

September 1 2006 was Budget 2007 Day. Despite some of my friends observation that Budget 2007 was strategically revealed earlier than usual as a counter tactic for Pak Lah before UMNO`s G.A, I listened to the presentation all the same. Here `s some of the important positive allocations:

1. Childcare centers in all government ministries and departments. A positive step in acknowledging the importance of good early childhood development plus respecting working moms `s dual role at home and in the office. Corporate sectors are encouraged to do the same thing. Do you think they would make use of the money exempted from the corporate tax towards social good? Corporate=profit. Go figure.

2. Abolishment of ALL school examination fees. I think this is an important step towards realizing a free education for all. It will strike just the right chord with Article 28 of the Convention on The Rights of The Child if the government would also take heed of the other additional hidden costs in education which are imposed in schools such as fees for computer, sports, joining associations and etc.

3. Teaching Chinese and Tamil in national schools. I just commented on this matter here. I hope the move is seen by all sectors as a sincere strategy to instill unity since young and to encourage all races to receive education under one roof. Let’s hope it is not seen and undertake as a political propaganda to champion some plastic cause for “muhibbah”.

4. Tax relief increase for purchase of books. Books are indeed expensive especially good ones so the tax relief is great to inculcate interest in the society to take up reading as an “affordable” habit. Anyhow, I was hoping for taxes on imported books to be reduced too so I could make that trip to Kinokuniya and Borders more often. Well, we can’t win all, can we?

However, these are the things that I hope could be better….What an unsatisfied scoundrel I am, huh?

1. Reduction in corporate tax. I understand this to be seen as a strategy to boost competitiveness and all that’s great and beautiful in the corporate world but I am very concern on what kind of responses will the corporate sectors hold especially in dispensing their social responsibility. I always viewed taxes as not only resources for public revenue but also a step to control and maintain a certain standard of social accountability among giant corporate. Take for example environmental tax imposed in the Scandinavian countries. Would such reduction rectify the current VSS trend in the corporate sector? Beats me.

2. Safety measures by installing more CCTVs in crime prone areas and deploying an additional 2,000 patrol cars for the police force. These are fine, really. But what about threat to public safety by the force itself? Bloody Sunday…does that ring a bell? If IPCM seemed offensive to the police force, what about some allocation for human rights and social awareness education for police personnel? Safety measures require both - the mechanics of technology and also “appropriate and humane” responses from the authorities especially where public is concern.

3. 91M for youths - in sports and training programs. Are all youths jocks? What about other areas concerning youths? Capacity building other than NS, physical space for youths to be engaged in creative process and community activities in urban, suburb and rural areas. If lack of control is the fear, let’s discuss the fear together but somehow, I think there is a reason for Mat Rempit, Mat Skateboard and Mat Graffiti to use unauthorized public sphere for their so-called unruly activities; because there is no space for ordinary young people to hang out and do things constructively except for overcrowded malls or old abandoned buildings. Not every youth would like to be or could be Nicol David, hence sports scholarship might not be the thing for them, but my interviews with young people revealed that they crave for physical space to expand their artistic skills. So, macamana?

So, that’s all folks. Maybe you guys terjumpa other parts about the Budget that you like or dislike, feel free to drop by and share your excitement and worries.