quaintly - Latest Comments in Not So Happy Merdeka

Re: Not So Happy Merdeka

ct — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:30:21 -0000

wah, apparently there are teachers, parents & elders who think of me as a chinese traitor!!!! i've heard "oh it's a shame you didn't learn chinese", but traitor... that's a new one. actually it's precisely these narrow-minded people with an inferiority complex, that drive me away from malaysia. it's not just the politics or the fact that i will never be able to do decent research in a decent position because of my race, but the fact that my own race looks down on me.

on a separate note (or maybe not so separate), switzerland IS a multi-cultural society. in fact it has FOUR official languages: German, French, Italian and Romansch. And a large majority can speak at least 2 of those, if not 3 (Romansch is pretty rare, only heard in one of the cantons). Having an Italian grandma and a German grandad is not uncommon. And yes, these are cultures worlds apart (even though only separated geographically by Switzerland). Perhaps Malaysia needs to have compulsory Mandarin and Tamil classes for everyone! Then maybe i won't be labelled a traitor.

Re: Not So Happy Merdeka

vincent — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 11:55:06 -0000

I have never really read your blog before, but today I found some time to check it out.

Never mind that your negativity and pessimism is overwhelming, but you write extremely well.

There are many things I can argue about this article but I won't bother because there are also many things that are true. However, it would have been a fantastic article if not for the biased 2nd last paragraph. Reading too much Malaysiakini causes otherwise sensible Malaysians to critisize irrationally.

Seriously, what is wrong with the Eye on Malaysia? And to call the Smart Tunnel 'dumb' is totally unjustifiable.

Otherwise,

Re: Not So Happy Merdeka

Calexial — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 02:34:42 -0000

Wow... First of all, Congratz Su Ann, for writing such a marvelous piece. U have spoken what others have no guts to say.

SongJun: Im not abt 2 start a war here, not dat much of free time. Its just from a 14 yr old's perspective, even in sch there is PURE discrimination. Get this, in the whole prefects board of my form, I'm the only Non-Muslim. In the whole form of my sch, there are only 8 Non-Muslims out of 158 students. And when there's any extra-curricular activities that the teachers-in-charge are Malays, there is no such thing as Non-Muslims having any chance to enter. For the past 30 years in my school, the highest posts of the board (Head Prefect down to SU) there hasnt been a single Non-Muslim. Yes, you may think im uttering non-sense here jus cos im still 14 and all my perspectives are too "kiddy", but don't u think its just because Im saying something that opposes ur thoughts? Get this, once, when my teacher asked my friend (a Muslim) in front of me to enter a competition, she actually asked the teacher why i shouldn't be picked because I did win the previous competition. The teacher said only Muslims were allowed to enter this one and she immediately screamed out "yer... RACIST!"

What I'm trying to say is, not all Malays are bad towards us, and not all are that nice either. Have you ever noticed that when WE choose to enter Islam, they welcome us with OPEN ARMS but when one of THEM tries to convert into Hindu or Buddhism, they make huge fusses out of it and PANTANG? What happened to KEBEBASAN BERAGAMA? Sure Islam is the AGAMA RASMI, but others exist too. Sure Malays have special rights, but since the government never officially announced that the rest of us are 2nd class citizens, why are we treated so?

Again, be reminded Im just purely voicing my thoughts as a 14 year old. After all, they do say that the children of today are the voices of tomorrow. Or do you still want to prove me wrong here? I would like to say theres no chance of me getting brainwashed anywhere... cause the only person dat can change me is myself. Again, Im not looking 4 a fight, war, debate or wadever u call it. its called VOICING MY THOUGHTS because Malaysia, with its pros and cons has taught me to do so.

Re: Not So Happy Merdeka

pro — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 05:43:37 -0000

Forgot to mention this, the Federation of Malaysia was not formed until 16 September 1963. So, the so-called 50th year celebration is complete bs, at least to ppl at my side of the world.
I spent the night of August 30th thinking: "Where the f is the fire works. This is so boring. Go home."

Re: Not So Happy Merdeka

pro — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 05:38:08 -0000

Very nice little piece. Well written. An older person once told me this: "If you can tolerate it, then you can stay." Things will ultimately change, whether it is from good to bad or from bad to worse. The important thing is if you can stay around to see that. You most likely will not, but your children might.
The benefits of sticking around here is another issue. For the moment, just think about what you really want for yourselves and your children.
ciao.

Re: Not So Happy Merdeka

Jov — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 11:41:14 -0000

What is patriotism but the love of the food one ate as a kid?

Re: Not So Happy Merdeka

bee hoon — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 10:58:50 -0000

*lag*

You've spoken for many of us, and I thank you for it.

Re: Not So Happy Merdeka

ALEKS — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 22:03:58 -0000

May God bless us all!

Re: Not So Happy Merdeka

songjun — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 23:59:40 -0000

sheon : regarding mega projects, im really really glad now that we HAV Emega projects like KLIA, KLCC, Putrajaya and the F1 race circuit because its hard enough already to explain that im malaysian chinese to foreigners and without those, i wouldnt be able to even explain where or who we are. At least when i say im malaysian.. (after the initial but u look chinese!! -.- ) they will go OH YEA the twin towers! or oh yeaaa the f1 circuit because really.. without those things they would realy think we still lived on palm trees.

Re: Not So Happy Merdeka

songjun — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 23:46:30 -0000

john and michael : what determines whether a business flourishes or not?

We are not where we could be due to many factors and i was not arguing about economic growth. I am talking about civil freedom. I agree that as an economy we're pretty lagged behind other countries but this is due to more of a cultural problem (also bad management but that arises from culture too and money leaking thru many seams in the process) The chinese and Israelites are a very money minded culture and we would expect them to flourish where ever there is money to be dealt with. I Dare say the only country out there that would have such multi racial, culture and religion would be america, but even then they did not start out with such a sensitive mix of religions. And u say i cherry pick, i made comparisons with both crap ass authoritarian countries and with liberal ones. You talk about wanting to have more political freedom and when u compare us with singapore we have so much more. Taiwan's political process is full with scandals and conspiracies its like watching a korean drama unfold.

IF you're talking about economical opportunities, then yes, we are a very lagged nation. We have lost any edge we could have exploited especially with the opening up of China. We have nothing much anymore to offer foreign investors as of late. But that is the result of cultural and leadership problems.

Michael: and well im not blaming u for feeling the way u feel, i am quite racist as well especially when growing up. Yet, the more we grow and mix around and expose ourselves, u find that situations like this exist everywhere in the world, and it ultimately boils down to a 'war' between the 'haves' and the 'have nots'. Next time if some ma chan says "balik cina la" then u just reply " kalo i balik, u ada kerja tak?" haha but then have a parang with u just in case la ;) Ppl dont like it when you're quite right haha

Re: Not So Happy Merdeka

Michael — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 14:24:03 -0000

hmm...i'll pick up the book once i have the chance. And no one trusts those government schools history la =.= got mer... johnlee, i agree with u that keep voting this ruling regime would not keep anything fine, just waiting for things to change in a better way is also a stupid thing to do. Would there be a better way to solve of all this, within our limited power? I also think that songjun way of drawing history parallel is kinda vague and unclear to this whole issue. Though i agree that the whole nation needs some time and patience also. Maybe he can describe more and use other methods so supplement his view.

Re: Not So Happy Merdeka

johnleemk — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 13:12:44 -0000

Michael:

Solutions are something I've devoted a lot of thought to, but solutions to complex problems are not simple - definitely not simple enough to be encapsulated in a blog comment. But if you would like some, I cannot recommend Dr. Bakri Musa's The Malay Dilemma Revisited more highly. I think he has more solutions than all of the opposition leaders put together.

I think all of you are reading far too much into what I've said. I'm not defending the view that all our problems must and can be solved straight away; I'm saying we have to acknowledge that the problems are there, and not dismiss them thinking they will go away in time, or that by simply voting for this ruling regime, everything will be fine.

The opposition is far from perfect, and I'm not huge fans of theirs, but their niat, as the Malays would say, is at least in the right place, as opposed to the present regime's niat. The more you study Malaysian history (and not the whitewashed version given in schools - but having said that, avoid a lot of the opposition's tripe as well), the more you realise that nothing has changed - that the same complaints we have today were being made three or four decades ago, with nothing being done.

But at the same time, historical parallels ought to be drawn correctly. Songjun's arguments are baffling - what does economic growth have to do with whether or not Malaysian citizens deserve freedom of speech? And mind you, at independence, if we want to draw absolute historical parallels with the United States, the Americans had freedom of speech and even the freedom to bear arms!

I find this line of argument a bit silly anyway - historical parallels should be supporting evidence, not the main proof. "It has never been done before" is a very poor main argument. If songjun thinks certain things are unrealistic and unachievable within a certain time frame, he should point them out and explain why - not make vague references to history, wave his hands, and insist that therefore this can never be accomplished within a certain time frame.

Re: Not So Happy Merdeka

Michael — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 10:54:22 -0000

Calvin P: i'm also a elite that being handpicked to HK to get a full all-covered scholarship with no strings attached. Do you think that i trust in supernatural forces or things like that? When i say ties, i mean the food, the culture, the kampung malays that always gives a helping hand, the history, and all that makes Malaysia unique. Its blind, cos patriotism is always partially-blind in some instances.

You can check to my previous comments here. Do u think i;m not angered with how the government treats me? Do u think i never complained and criticised it? If so, ur vry wrong.

As wat boohoo quoted here: "to those who are “keen to be appreciated elsewhere”, good riddance to bad rubbish." ur just trying to complain about Malaysia problems and life comfortably in another foreign country. If u really dont care and will choose to live/work in elsewhere, y should you complain? Like some singaporean complain bout malaysian chinese being ill-treated? Thats just doesnt make sense to me.

I never said i love this country corrupted bureaucracy, money politics, racial disintegration and sorts of other problems. This is my birthplace, and i think, though u may deny it, u can never ever forget this country forever.

To johnlee and songjun: i agree and disagree with both of u actually. Songjun is right when comparing our history timeline with the whole world, but i still think that you are too "dont worry be happy" in some matters. Something really needs to be changed urgently and while some needs Malaysians to be more mature in due time. Johnlee, actually u see many problems, that is, same with me. We cannot really tolerate the fact that some really serious problems is already ruining this country bit by bit. But as so, can u provide any good solution to these problems? Me and my folks complain and complain, but are there anyone who are capable enough to think of some feasible solution to it? I agree that some problems are way to serious and needs to be fixed right now, while some problems needs time. Be patient for sometime.

Re: Not So Happy Merdeka

johnleemk — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 09:33:21 -0000

songjun:

Granted, we have not had the same amount of time to develop ourselves as a nation as the US or UK. But you are also cherrypicking examples; why not compare ourselves to Singapore, with a similar history but also without a real national identity until about 40 or so years ago? Why not compare ourselves to Taiwan, which was a quiet backwater until Chiang Kai-Shek and his cronies fled across the straits? Or Israel, which only became a nation state 60 years ago? You might argue these countries have a long civilisational history, but doesn't our country have three of the grandest civilisations on record - India, China and Melaka?

Your "don't worry be happy" stance is not ultimately reasonable because you are comparing apples and oranges. The Americans had 300 years less worth of experience to learn from than we did at independence. You can't expect our country to have a similar growth and maturing curve as they did. There is every reason to expect us to better them because we have 300 years more of history to learn from; 300 years worth of mistakes not to make because other countries have already made them.

Mistakes will be made; we're only human. I'm not expecting us to be the ideal or perfect state. But as I said, how can you justify a government whose second-highest leader thought nothing of threatening to bathe his keris in the blood of Malaysian citizens, and a government led by a party which threatened violence live on national television last year if they didn't get their way? You might say we've gotten as far in fifty years as the Americans did in a hundred, but that would completely ignore the fact that humanity has moved on two centuries. We no longer indulge so easily in genocide and murder of our own citizens.

The fact that you justify the ruling regime's presence with a "don't worry be happy" perspective only indicates you have cherrypicked historical examples. We should not be looking backward; we should be looking forward. We should not be comparing apples and oranges; we should look at countries which have gained independence at similar times, and take into account different historical backdrops.

Re: Not So Happy Merdeka

sheon — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 07:52:52 -0000

pinkpau: regarding the smart tunnel. yes, you have a strong point of which i agree. the same goes to...why do we need an airport soo freaking far away?...why do we have so many mammoth projects going when it is obvious we cant afford them and possibly dun need it in the first place. but, the take is this, if there is no spending..there is no earning ....(includes illegitimate earnings...*winks)........
rm2billion?...hehehe.........have you heard of alibaba contracts?...THEY have to make some cuts one leh......... :) welcome to construction in malaysia.

coming to the tunnel....yes..the machines are from germany...but locals operated both of them eventually. i can safely say, malaysians did most of the job.

Re: Not So Happy Merdeka

Calvin P — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 07:49:16 -0000

Michael, you said "Its bout the tie that lies deep within us connecting us with this land"

What ties are you talking about? Spiritual ties? Sounds all too supernatural to me. Either that or you love Msia blindly just because you were born in Msia.

Re: Not So Happy Merdeka

Michael — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 03:54:45 -0000

the future perspective of young profesional and elites maybe dim compared to other advanced countries...but i still love my country. Its not bout the career, the politics, the racial problems, the whole government system. Its bout the tie that lies deep within us connecting us with this land.

Re: Not So Happy Merdeka

Calvin P — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 01:01:11 -0000

I was referred to this site by my dad, and boy was I totally awed by it! Well done girl, I couldn't have written it any better myself. I heard you're going off to Singapore on an ASEAN scholarship. Now, if you ever need any advice on that, I'd be happy to offer some to you as I did the same thing in 2001. It is weird but you'd probably feel more at home in Singapore than Msia. Currently, I'm a 5th year medical student at the University of Melbourne, and I rather work in Pluto after I graduate than in Msia. In fact, ALL of my Msian friends are not going back to work. Singapore is currently offering a lot of incentives to pull the dejected and unfairly treated but otherwise bright and skilled professionals from Msia. A lot of countries elsewhere are doing the same to Msian professionals. This seems to be the current trend whether the government admits it or not, which raises the question of the sustainability of Msia in the future.

Someone here said "If you can't beat them, join them". No point joining them if they don't treat you like one of their own. I'd say "If you can't beat them, go somewhere else"

Re: Not So Happy Merdeka

Michael — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 12:58:24 -0000

Maybe i'm just being educated and being "brain-washed" with all the darker side of Malaysia without appreciating what the country gave me and the advancement of it throughout these years. i have no solution to these problems, but just wasting time rambling about the same problem everyone knows.

I really do accept ur point Songjun this time. I can see in the future, the Malays will improve in time and then maybe all these would dissappear slowly. They themselves would do something to the problems they cause today. Its still a young country and it still too early to talk about a complete racial integrity to a common accepted nationality. China also needed few thousand years to make every race (ethic such as mongolians) to be integrated in the whole chinese identity thing. US, Britain, Europe countries also have a far more history than us.

Who knows what would happen 50/100/200 years after? I just do hope the problems we have now would not cripple the chance of us to have a bright future. Certain problems need to be solved immediately and while some really needs some time. Patience is the key, i think. I do love my country. really.

Re: Not So Happy Merdeka

zewt — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 10:51:03 -0000

looks like ppl are really enjoying your work... keep writing... dont disappoint us!

Re: Not So Happy Merdeka

pinkpau — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 10:32:48 -0000

songjun dont argue with me. u know i always win

Re: Not So Happy Merdeka

songjun — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 10:24:30 -0000

pinkpau : and dont tipu laaa what follow closely :P hahaha that time have to call me and ask me give u sum of what we're arguing about hahaha :P

Re: Not So Happy Merdeka

songjun — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 10:23:23 -0000

pinkpau : oi if it reduces traffic im all for it regardless whether its main purpose was to reduce floods :P

And like every engineering projects, they're NEVER finished on time and on budget. The proposed carbon reduced power plant in peterhead, scotland by BP was such a big promise till recently it was shelved after years of planning, research and development because it was taking too long for the british government to clear their red tape.

You should look at America's defense projects, 100 million on things that would probably not be very useful in this day of guerilla type warfare and yet they ALWAYS run over budget and are a bane to tax payers.

But yea, till u start driving, it would probably be the best thing around :P If only someone would do something about sammy velu and our damned tolls.... -.- Damn idiot should go retire with his wig collection

Re: Not So Happy Merdeka

songjun — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 10:18:22 -0000

john lee : what i am doing is putting things INTO perspective and not lack perspective. You don't get my point as what i'm trying to say, as much as we bitch about how scandalously crappy our country is, we are only 50 years as an Independant nation state and have only started identifying ourselves as such for what.. another 100? The US and other countries have an identity ingrained within themselves as their HISTORY is much longer than ours.

See, you are drawing parrellels where you think it would fit your argument most but ignoring the fact that i am drawing a perspective glance at where our country is in the growth ladder. America has taken its time to develop their moral integrity and has had already gone thru what we are going thru now. That is what im trying to say. In fact we have it much better then they had it then. American democracy has advanced so much that it has a system of OFFICIAL 'corruption' ; lobbying. Can we compare yet with that level as a people? We cant even set aside our own racist thoughts and you want to jump into a position where we have so much freedom. And besides, as much as the CHINESE complain, i dont see many indians doing the same about their situation. And their poor outnumber their middle and upper class.

And come on, a country like Russia who's been around for so long hasn't even reached the level of justice and freedom that our country has. Maybe quiet quaint little countries like england and switzerland have managed to get their act together in integrity wise, but england has also been thru the same crap before. Switzerland? Japan? Japan has an honour culture but a very enclosed one too. The swiss also. Yet, these are not multi racial countries and have remained closed off to themselves.

I read that you're just 17 and have strong opinions. Granted that and congratulations! When i was 15 i was lamenting about all this also. However, you do not have yet the ability nor experience at the moment to grasp at the larger picture and appreciate market and political information other then sources such as the opposition and media. Why do you think everyone still votes for the main party? Isit because we're ignorant? Or businessmen/owners that are 'oppressed' are forced to vote for MCA/BN ? No. They get the bigger picture. They want a balanced and stable country. All these will come and go and you will one day realise, all u want is to live and make a living and live without much problem. We have foreign investments and confidence. Maybe not as much as we would like, but still, i'd rather invest my money in Malaysia currently then in say any other low cost countries. China would be the same but now they have improved themselves too but they are still far from the apple of the moral police. I have been away from here for a year and just came back recently, pleasantly surprised at wat one year has actually changed. The busses look more efficient, i see our government offices modern and customer friendly, our town council doing their job in brickfields where usually its double / triple parked, police cars and men patrolling the streets.

Granted, i think our root problem lies in many factors; ie; not being able to accept critiscism (thus the surpressed media), GIVING idiots rights to do business where better ppl can do it, monopolist tendencies, the dislike towards transperency, and just the basic mentality of like.. the malays have only recently come to terms with liquidity in their earnings, when most of their old life was just 'kais pagi makan pagi'. Like what boohoo said, the kind of things u mention in your blog are just repeated ramblings that have been on every political activists minds, a very indepth but pedantic approach to our life.

Take it easy, we're still a work in progress. The first step to building our country is to integrate and build a national identity. Think malays are getting it easy? wait 40 years and the bigger malay middle class will realise that its not worth molly coddling lazy bums who suck on our tax money.

Re: Not So Happy Merdeka

pinkpau — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 09:44:32 -0000

thank you all for the very gracious comments :) john, michael and songjun, i'm following your tete a tete with much interest :P

regarding the smart tunnel, i stand by my opinion that it is a wastage of public funds. while it boasts great technology (which is not msian, as we all know, but that is pardonable), it also reeks of bad planning. the fact that there's so much ambiguity regarding the tunnel's use for stormwaters is testament to that. you dont just spend 2 billion of taxpayers monies and make all these promises that later have to be retracted cos 'there was not enough time' or 'oops it seems we need more facilities for this tunnel to work, which also means we're gonna need more of your money for the plan B!'. re the easing of traffic congestion- again, you dont need 2 billion to do that; just better planning.