Malaysia decides ?

"Vote: the instrument and symbol of a freeman's power to make a fool of himself and a wreck of his country."
- Ambrose Bierce -

Election Commission chairman Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman said "Can anyone prove to us there is rigging? We are for fair elections. Rigging means you change the contents of the ballot box -- can this happen? .....There are no phantom voters....." No sir, I agreed with you 100% that it is difficult to change the contents of the ballot box. But, but, but, an honest question, is there a possibility of changing the contents of the electoral roll ? Malaysia decides on March 8 2008 ? Honestly, it does gave me an impression that those who cast their vote decide nothing, but those who control the voters list decide everything ! Is this misguided view compatible with the democratic mockeries of the despots ?

I received an email today highlighting some doubts in the integrity of our electoral roll. I checked the official website of the Election Commission ( http://daftarj. spr.gov.my/ daftar.asp ) to verify the following “eligible voters”, surprisingly, their records are still valid. All of them are over 100 years old. Rembau qualifies to be included in the Guinness World Record as the the “city” with the most number of oldest living person on earth. Our health care system must be one of the best in the world. Could it be due to the fresh kampung air of Rembau ? Bravo, bravo, clap, clap, clap, I take off my pants to show my most humbled salute to our government for the marvelous health care services to sustain Malaysians with such an unbelievable long life.

890211-05-0014 ( born 1889 )
961022-50-5236 ( born 1896 )
971219-75-0079 ( born 1897 )
991230-71-0156 ( born 1899 )
991025-74-0081 ( born 1899 )

Legally speaking, every citizen above the age of 21 are entitled to exercise their constitutional rights to vote in the general elections. Come elections day, I sincerely hope these “super senior citizens” cast their votes in the assigned polling centre. Let us hope, no ghosts or evil spirits come to the polling centre on their behalf. Perhaps, the Election Commission should engage the services of bomohs and sinsehs to conduct exorcism ceremonies. Eerie......

Dear Almighty, the most merciful, and the most knowing God, on my bended knees, I pray to you. Do you think it is possible to contain all these wondering spirits or ghost in the hell, to prevent them from mockerizing honest citizens' constitutional rights.

Donald Trump once said “One of the key problems today is that politics is such a disgrace, good people don't go into government.” Does it applies to Malaysia now ? Well, whatever it is, mari lah mari, pergi mengundi. Jangan lupa ada hantu ikut samaaaaaaaaaaaa...........

Tears for fears.......

"He knows nothing and he thinks he knows everything. That points clearly to a political career. (Sir Walter Besant)“ and "In politics stupidity is not a handicap. (Napolean Bonaparte) “

I was not born yesterday, and I kid you not. In 2004, I believed and got carried away with the euphoria of “Cemerlang, Gemilang, Terbilang” (Excellence, Glory, Distinction). I was also seduced by the grandiose romanticism of “Work with me, Not for me” charms. Boy oh boy, I was indeed got carried away !

4 years of my precious youth has gone by, was I Cermerlanged, Gemilanged, and Terbilanged ? Your guess is as good as mine. Like they said, I learned my lesson, the rest is history. Not wanting to be ungrateful to the “I had been working very hard” people, but, the four years of CGT experience is like a real scary ghost story. They politicized their unaudited achievements, but I don't see or feel anything positive ! SO are tens of thousands of people who participated in the BERSIH and HINDRAF rallies.

I honestly do not think I am better off than 4 years ago. At least, 4 years ago, I have high hope of the future. But now, looking ahead, I think the next four years is going to be riddled with migraines. Petrol price is higher, electricity rate gone higher, telephone charges are higher, toll rates are higher, etc. Maybe, the politics of “Cermerlang, Gemilang, and Terbilang” is too complicated for a simple peasant like me to comprehend. Or am I supposed to live like a pervert with the oxy-moronic philosophy of “That which doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger”. Thank you so much for putting me through such a wonderful and erotic journey of self deprivation of hardships.

From 2004 fast forwarded to the present, big banner of SECURITY, PEACE, PROSPERITY ( translated Keselamatan, Keamanan, Kemakmuran ) greeted me at strategic locations near my place of residence.. Another euphoric slogan to make me feel good ? Funny thing is, KKK does remind me of the white supremacists' organization in the United States of America. From CGT to KKK ? This sounds even more scarier than the previous ghost stories. Looking back CGT sounds like everything except the original meanings of the words. And, in my right mind, would I want to bet my hope on KKK for the next 4 to 5 years ?

I believe them not ? Honestly, I am constantly being reminded by the saying "The politician is an acrobat; he keeps his balance by doing the opposite of what he says." Whatever they are going to say from now on, I will have to take it with a few kilograms of polluted salts from the Straits of Malacca.

Give me not the longest bridge, tallest building, or fly me into the outer space. Give me not so many corridors where I have to wonder in the maze to seek a living. All I ever want is decent foods on the table, decent costs of living, decent clothes to keep me warm, decent space to differ in opinions, decent comfort to not unduly worry about the future, and of course, the decent respect for the sacredness of FREEDOM and EQUALITY.

From now till March 8, 2008, I am sure a lot of empty promises will be made. A lot of faked smiles will be flashed. And, there will be a lot of despot wanting to build bridges even when there are no rivers. What had we got ourselves into ? Would I still be succumbing to the fear of "When the Colosseum falls, Rome will fall. And when Rome falls,the world will end." ? God be my witness, I shall not waste my vote again ! Not this time. Maybe with tears in our eyes, and fears in our hearts, we should all join hands to sing together :

Everybody Wants To Rule The World

Welcome to your life
There's no turning back
Even while sleep
We will find you
Acting on your best behaviour
Turn your back on mother nature
Everybody wants to rule the world

It's my own design
It's my own remorse
Help me to decide
Help make the most
Of freedom and of pleasure
Nothing ever lasts forever
Everybody wants to rule the world

There's a room where the light won't find you
Holding hands while the walls come tumbling down
When they do I'll be right behind you

So glad we've almost made it
So sad they had to fade it
Everybody wants to rule the world
I can't stand this indecision
Married with a lack of vision
Everybody wants to rule the world
Say that you'll never never never never need it
One headline why believe it ?
Everybody wants to rule the world

All for freedom and for pleasure
Nothing ever lasts forever
Everybody wants to rule the world

A common man, a simple aspiration.

General Elections is on March 8 2008. The coming general elections will be the 12th edition after 50 years of independence from the British administration. I felt very proud that a least we are still able to go to the election booth to cast our vote. But saddened me most is, after more than 50 years, we are more narrow minded then ever before. Increasingly, racial and religious issues are being used as fear factors to intimidate the voters to support racist agenda. Umno, MCA, and MIC will go around claiming that the are the champion of the Malay, Chinese, and Indian respectively. While the PAS will go around championing the causes of Islam.

In a coffeeshop in USJ, I was approached by a MCA member. He stated to me that, as a Chinese, I must continued to vote for MCA to ensure the Chinese are represented in the government, otherwise, the Chinese will lose out the opportunities. A fair statements ? But I beg to differ. First of all, I am not a citizen of China, I am Malaysian. In the first place, there is nothing for me to loose what I already don't have. To paraphrase one of our greatest judicial comedian, “I look like a Chinese, Sound like a Chinese, but I am a Malaysian”. So, on this score, I will vote for a candidate from a multi-racial political party.

The saddest part is, when race based political parties play dirty politics along the racial lines, there will always be narrow minded racists supporting the race based political parties for fear of losing their racial and religious dominant over other groups of Malaysians. Bit by bit, the country will be further divided, and national unity will forever be an illusive dream. The country will never be competitive and progressive, because all elected representative will be selfishly looking at narrow minded religious and racial agenda to sustain their political survival, instead of strategic agenda to unite Malaysians to achieve excellence and competitive spirits in the global market place.

Now, as a common man, I am not interested in electing politicians to champion the superiority of my race and religion. I am more interested in whether there are any true Malaysians standing as candidates to champion the universal human rights and the economic well beings of all Malaysians.

Putting racial issues aside, what are the issues concerned Malaysians the most ?

I still can not comprehend why we have to pay such a high petrol price even though Malaysia is a net exporter of petroleum. Petroleum are natural resources gifted by God to all Malaysians. To make the matter worst, almost all the major highways are privatized roads where Malaysians are asked to pay substantial toll charges. It is disheartening to note that Petronas is making RM 80 billion profits every year, and these revenues are not being allocated to bring down the cost of petrol, and to finance construction of toll free roads for the benefits of all Malaysians. For a start, why can't the present administration make used of the petronas revenue to de-privatize the toll roads and make it toll free for all Malaysians ?

I am a strong believer of quality tertiary education. The most sacred commitment a government can have towards education in this country should be the preservation of academic excellence at all costs. Universities are nurseries for producing the country's future talents and human capitals. The most talented and best students must be retained in our local universities. Likewise, the local universities must also ensure that the best lecturers and professors are engaged to train and teach these young brains. Of what benefits can the nation derive if unqualified and undeserving students are engineered into the local universities merely to derive political satisfaction of achieving higher number of graduates ? Instead of expanding the existing local universities capacities or building more universities to accommodate more numbers of unqualified students, perhaps it makes more sense to built more community colleges and voccasional colleges to prepare these unqualified student with better employable skills for the employment markets. The question we need to ask ourselves is, is it fair and economically justified to deny deserving students fair opportunities to tertiary education, while unqualified students are given scholarships and places in the local universities ? Let us not be euphorized by the political shouting of Malaysia Bolih. Our record speaks for itself. Our universities' ranking are the lowest in the world. Some of our universities are ranked even lower than Universities in Burma !

The barometer of racial tensions between races is slowly increasing to an alarming level. Malaysia is a country blessed with abundance natural resources, good whether and fertile land for agriculture, a strategic location in the global map, and a unique mixed of races. With slightly more than 10 million registered voters, the economic cake is big enough for everybody. Sad to note that, incompetent and corrupt politicians resorted to stir racial sentiments that each race's entitled wealths are being deprived by other races, and to strike fears into the minds of uneducated and racist voters to perpetuate racial politics to sustain their relevancy and stay of office. May 13 1967 is a classic case of racial bastards and pariahs stirring racial sentiments and instigations to cause great disharmony and pains to all Malaysians. May the souls of all these racial bastards forever rot in hell. Malaysians has to realize that, the enemies within are not between races, but corrupt and race based politics.

On the issues of religion freedom. Let us respect our supreme constitution which emphasized Malaysia being a secular nation, and the respect for freedom of religion for all Malaysians. It saddened me to see fanatics are trying to remove this fundamental fabric of secularism in Malaysia. My heart bleeds to see sacred places of worships are being demolished without due consideration to spiritual needs of the followers of the affected religions. It is also very disturbing to see churches are being located in shop lots within the hub of commercial activities. Malaysia has abundant land reserves, why can't the local authorities allocate lands and provide development fundings to these religions to built proper places of worships ?

I honestly hope that, the politicians who stand in this coming general elections are qualified, competent, and open minded individuals capable of understanding and managing economic issues, create environment of academic excellence, support equality of races, and respect freedom of religion. I sincerely hope we can all think and act as responsible Malaysians to refrain from supporting politicians who are only capable of shouting racial rhetorics, making rent seeking demands, and championing fanatical religious intolerances.

Be fair and play fair for a united Malaysia.

Encounter of an eerie kind

A few days ago, a good friend of mine called me up to say he will be coming to my house to collect some documents in the late evening. Towards the evening, the same friend called me to tell me that he is on his way. About half an hour or so later, I heard some knocking noise outside my house, I open the auto gate, and went outside the house expecting to see my friend. But he was nowhere in sight, the street in the late evening was quiet. Suddenly I smelled something resembling the “kemiyan”. I look around the neighborhood, at 10:00PM, I presumed most of my neighbors are already asleep, I don't quite like the fragrant and went back into the house.

Later, my friend turned up at my house with his children. As usual, I brewed my favorite Taiping's coffee, have our smoking session, and we chat.

After mid night, noticing that the children are a bit sleepy, we called it a day. I walked my friend to his car which was parked direct outside my house and wished them good night. After my friend left, I manually secured the gate, and went back inside the house. A few minute later, my friend called to inform me that, his son saw a headless woman in apron inside the garden of my neighbor house. His son described in details the image he saw. It is already past mid night, the description does sound a bit eerie to me.

The next morning, I decided to call my neighbor to relay to him what my friend's son saw. But strangely enough, I was not able to retrieve the telephone number of my neighbor from my hand phone. Maybe I could have deleted the telephone number by accident. I checked with my wife, and equally surprising, my neighbor's telephone number was not registered in her hand phone also. I told my wife to check it and let me know later. As a neighbor, I just wanted to inform my neighbor as soon as possible the unusual sighting at their house. Not wanting to sound too superstitious, perhaps, if they are informed, my neighbor may want to perform some religious rite to cleanse their house spiritually.

The funny thing is, within half an hour, I was “spiritually attacked” in my office. For no apparent reason, I was hit with painful palpitations and sweating profusely. I almost blackout in my office ! I was too weak to even talk. Luckily, one of my office supplier turned up, I seek his assistant to send me home.

When I reached home, I was still very weak, and the pain at my chest was unbearable. I took a nab with the hope of soothing the pain and letting the palpitations subsides. I managed to doze off and took the much needed rest. When I woke up an hour later, I was still experiencing chest pains and palpitation. A prelude to heart attacks ? It simply doesn't made sense. Could it be a spiritual interference ? It could be. How else could I explain the sudden physical degradations ?

Calmly, I walked outside my house, standing facing my neighbor house. Quietly I whispered “Whoever you are. I meant no harm. I had no wish to challenge you. Please let me go and do not disturb me again.” Surprisingly and suddenly, my palpitations stopped, and my chest pains ease substantially.

I quietly walked back inside my house. I told myself, I see nothing. I hear nothing. And, I will not do anything further. So what is the important lesson here ? The realization is, do not be a busybody when dealing with unusual spiritual encounters. No matter how real is your spiritual encounter, do not interfere.

See No Evil, Hear no Evil, and Speak No Evil.

Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves

A childhood friend of my mine who overcame personal tragedies had recently converted to Christianity. He was preaching to me his new found love and commitment to his new religion. He was cheerful, expressive, enthusiastic and packed with lots of positive energies. Perhaps Christianity and his recent attachment to spirituality has done him a lot of good. He was once bitter about his experiences dealing with deceitful friends and relatives. Out of curiosity, I asked him how he managed his past bitterness. He impressed upon me that he had learned to love his enemies, and make it a point to pray for those who wronged him. It is refreshing to see his 360 degree changed in personality and outlook for the better.

The power of religion can be miraculous and indeed changed a person. No medication is needed to alter hormonal imbalance of the body, or to suppress depressions. Come to think of it, spirituality, if accepted unconditionally, can be a very holistic cure to mental deficiency.

To those who are suffering from stress and emotional instabilities, perhaps, they should seek out religion and spirituality to remedy those negative mental state of mind. In the case of my friend, it worked very well for him. I presumed it may not worked for the majority, maybe for a small group of people. But a soul liberated from hatred and revenge is a soul saved.

Way before Christianity, the ancient Chinese did practice certain aspect of this cultured civility of loving thy enemies. This philosophy of life was best reflected by Confucius' saying of “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves” ( 冤冤相报何时了). In other words, let bygone and move on with life ? Perhaps, maybe we should adopt this ancient wisdom, and the world would be a much better place to live.

The Cantonese has a common saying that “If the sky fell on you, use it as a blanket to keep you warm” ( 天塌下來當毯蓋 ). For better or for worst, in good times or bad times, ill intent people can do whatever they want against you. These are their rights. Their actions are beyond our control, why should we bother ourselves with all these unwarranted and unproductive actions ?

Human being are born with criminal minds and animal instincts. It is always easy to forget the good deeds of others, and easy to remember those deeds that wronged us. Human minds are dangerous playground, between forgetting and remembering, our inner self has a tendency to hold on to things that wrong us that eventually breeds contempt, hatreds, and urges for revenge. The question is, when confronted with these negative urges, how do you manage it, and dissipate it into insignificant ? I have come to term with the fact that, different people had different morality, and are motivated by different values. It is not my mission to save the world. I don't know about others' intentions, the need to be accountable and responsible for my own actions are my bigger life mission than to react negatively to unwarranted and ill intents actions.

Why would a sane man allows himself to carry unnecessary emotional baggages that cause him to be unhappy and emotionally burdened to face the real world ? At my age, I am already on reversed journey home. I want to go home feeling happy and have a sense of achievement of life well lived. I would like to walk the middle path, learn to forgive, forget, let it be, and move on with life.

Now, if you think that I had been unfair to you, you are probably right, because a selfish and narrow minded person will always resort to blame others for their failures and wrongdoings. I respect your rights to live with hatreds and burdened with urge for revenge. Now, GIVE ME YOUR BEST SHOT !!!!!

I will pray for you.... Namo Amithaba Buddha.

Life in the fag lane

There are just too many things in my mind that need to be prioritized today, and many chores for tomorrow running through my head. It is just one of those typical day of too many things to do with too short a time to accomplish. But, the effect of the long Chinese New Year holiday still lingering around. I am still in holiday mood and admittedly, I am also not in the best of my health ! I am going to take on today on a more relax pace, and let not the outstanding matters rush me through the day.

I took a short walk from my office to the nearby field, intending to find a shady spot, and sit there to enjoy smoking my cigarettes. I was thinking, maybe the lazy and relax pace will calm my troubled minds.

A group of children were playing in the field joyously and innocently. They ran erratic paths in the field, they fell, and they help each other to get up. From afar, they gazed at me, waving their hands to acknowledge my presence. One little boy ran to me, offering his ball said “Uncle, you want to play ? Papa said smoking is bad for your body”. Instinctively, I apologized and snuffed out my cigarette. Such a well mannered and caring boy. His parents must be very proud of him. I enjoyed watching the children play. I asked myself, when was the last time I enjoy watching children playing in the playground ?

Life is short, and good times won't last. In our haste to get thing done, we often worked long hours, cultivated unhealthy habits, and neglected our health. From the facial expressions of the little boy, I see through his eyes, the sorrow of my wife and children watching me wasting my health away with my chained smoking habits. Indeed, I had lost touch with my sense of wellbeing. In my chauvinistic way, I had unknowingly throwing away their invaluable caring gifts unopened.

Perhaps, I had been living on the philosophy that I should only live life long enough to sustain my usefulness. I do not wish to be a burden to myself and my family member as I aged. I just want to live my productive life according to my own fancy, so that when I died, I can just let go smilingly and without regret to meet my creator. How selfish I was, living life the way I intend it to be on my own terms, expecting my loved ones to comply.

Perhaps, tomorrow I will cut down my cigarettes smoking......... hopefully, I would be able to wake up tomorrow morning to see the aurora before sun rises, smell the flowers, watch the birds and the bees, and, watch the sun sets.

Om Mani Pedme Hum........

Gilding The Lily

A must Read !

Gilding The Lily is authored by Shekar and Liew Suet Fun. The book is scheduled to be launched by Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil on Tuesday in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.

Read HERE for a preview of the book.

Unchained Melody ?

Part of Article 8 states that (a) All persons are equal before the law and entitled to the equal protection of the law; And, Article 10 of the federal constitution of malaysia states that (a) every citizen has the right to freedom of speech and expression; (b) all citizens have the right to assemble peaceably and without arms; (c) all citizens have the right to form associations.

The supreme law of the land guarantees free speech and assembly. Really ? Nice wordings ! But free speech and assembly that resulted in differing opinions and view points are often being labelled negativelly and subject to harassments. How do we promote and protect these sacred rights of all Malaysians ? Chemically laced water cannon ? Tear gas ? Detention without trial ? Political condemnation of peaceful assemby ? When would we be able to have the maturity to allow others to enjoy the privilege of freedom of expression even if it the expressions are not compatible to our ingrained preferences and biases ?

Are we supposed to be the perverted party that accept all the craps of freedom of illusions in the name of hypocrites' self serving interests of illusory national security, public order, and morality. Since when it has become morally legitimate to achieve maintenance of public order through unconstitutional violation of people's rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly ?

What is our achievement thus far in upholding free speech and assembly ? Reporters Without Borders in its 2007 annual worldwide index of press freedom report ranks Malaysia 124th out of 169 countries surveyed. Amnesty International USA, in its official website condemns Malaysian Government for failing to respect the right to freedom of assembly. The Amnesty International Report 2007 doesn't have a good impression of Malaysia either. Does India has good opinion of Malaysia ? Read this News Article by The Times Of India.

Increasingly, like all other Malaysians, I am disillusioned with our model of democracy and the perceived freedom of expression and assembly. It has incresingly become acceptable and politically correct where actions are not neccessary need to be consistent with words. I believed this disillusions are caused by the glaring political arrogances and decadences perpetuated by self serving rent seeking politicians. For the country to progress, we need to rid ourselves of unfair, unjust, and unequal treatments. We also need to rid the country of race based political parties and politics.

On March 8, 2008, go to your polling station and VOTE WISELY or VOTE ACCORDING TO YOUR HYPOCRISIES. In the mean times, perhaps, we should all sing in unison the song "Unchained Melody" to brighten up our spirits.

"Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too. " - Voltaire

The Malaysian Dream

20 years ago, a young man started his life in Kuala Lumpur with less than RM50 in his pocket. He left his 1 year old son with his mother while he initiated his search for a better future for his young family. With swallowed tears, he kissed his young son and promised in silence to return soon. With a bag of few decent clothes and his other little sentimental possessions, he drove 400 KM to Kuala Lumpur to search for better life.

His brother was kind enough to provide him with temporary free lodging. With little money, he budgeted RM2 a day for meals. With his college degree, he went from office to office to hunt for a job. He took the first job that came along. he also took two other part time jobs in the evening and weekends. The image of his young son drove him on. He knows, his only chance to a better future is to swallow his pride, and work even harder. He worked as seemed he did not need to be paid.

Life was tough, he was living below poverty line, he was the urban poor. Did the caring government helped him ? No. Did the merciful religious organizations helped him ? NO. But he refused to be acknowledged as poor. He was determined. He acknowledged and accepted the reality of life. During his period of difficulties, no body really care to extend a helping hand to him. He learned to adapt to the street, and the street taught him to take care of himself.

A year later, he moved into a rented house of his own, bought a better second hand car. Two year later, he had a healthy saving account, took his son back to Kuala Lumpur. He even had enough money to buy a condominium. Many years later, he own a few buildings, a few businesses of his own, and the luxuries to buy what he once can not afford. But today, he still keep a simple lifestyle and live an honest and humble life.

He was lucky ? Indeed he was ! He is a believer of luck, and his simple secret of attracting luck is, the harder you work, the better your luck will be. How did he overcame hardship ? In a way, he was inspired by his late mother's "Chit tiam lor, chit tiam chow" ( it means, no matter how harsh the condition is on the road, a grass will find it way to survive the harshest spot ). As an educated and perfectly healthy man, he walks with his legs, and think with his head. He lives a life that is as unpretentious as it can be, and as down to earth as he can feel.

He once said that Malaysia is indeed a country full of opportunities, because the law of probability is such, there are always so many lazy and privileged people out there waiting to be spoon fed, demanding and seeking special priviledges and entitlements to live like parasites. While the parasites are wasting their times shouting grievances that other people denied them the opportunities to do better, all one ever need to do is to work a little bit harder, and you shall achieve success eventually, rise above the many parasites to reap the sweet fruits of your labours.

Isn't it the dreams of all Malaysians to live a wealthy life ? Sweet dreams are made from hard works ! What is your next course of action ? To be the first crying baby that get the spilled milk ? Or, Work hard to determine your own future ?

The more we change, the more we remain the same ?

It's Monday and back to work again for most of the people who celebrate the lunar Chinese New Year. As usual, the Chinese pay significant attention for the most auspicious day to "HoiKong" ( Official first day of work in the RAT year ). I consulted the Chinese lunar calender and decided to Hoikong on Sunday. Not bad, I am actually one day ahead of others to start work on the 4707th lunar year. Despite all my cultivated confidence and optimism, the kiasuism within me is still very strong. You can't fault me for that. I am, after all, the descendant of the Yellow Dragon.

Come what may, and it never fails. The spirits of the Chinese New Year always prevail ! Chinese New Year is also a period for me to relax with family members. It allows me to put aside and put behind everything, no matter how busy I am, or how important the issues are. It offers me the opportunity to get together with family members to have happy and decent meals together with lots of foods to eat, never ending flowing of drinks, laughters, reminiscing the year that was, and contemplating the year that will to move forward with greater confidence. I had the opportunities to meet up with more family members and friends in the previous 5 days than the rest of the previous 12 months !

Malaysians are blessed with sunshines and an efficient public transportation system to enable all of us to go back to our home towns on time to be with our family members to celebrate the lunar new year. After all, a 200KM toll road reverse fare from KL to Ipoh costs only RM 54. Petrol scost less than RM 2 per litre. Where else in this world can you get such a good bargain ? Aren't we Malaysians very lucky to have the opportunity to pay tolls and "subsidized" petrol ?

This Chinese New Year is also one of the most "politicized" new year ever. Despite the positive mood of celebration, everywhere I go, and every gathering I attended, people never failed to speculate the anticipated date of General Elections. As usual, there are also the usual expressions of disgusts and praises for the present administration. My honest opinion is, Malaysia is pretty much a country hindrance by racial demands and racial rhetorics. Political parties being what they are, will always ride on racial sentiments to sustain their ill gottten relevancy. To move forward and become a competitive nation with pride and respect, Malaysians need to have the moral courage to get rid of race based political parties.

I am not a supporter of the opposition parties, but I am also increasingly aware that the present ruling parties are becoming too arrogant and decadent to accept differing opinions and to respect freedom of expressions. The coming general elections presents Malaysia with the window opportunities to vote out race and religion based political parties and racist politicians. In the spirits of Chinese New Year, I sincerely pray that, a new generation of broad minded and secular politicians can emerged to champion Malaysia to become a just, fair, and progressive nation. Let' us also pray for those immoral politicians who conduct ungodly racisms and discriminations in the name of religion to seek popularity can somehow be graced by their almighty to repent, to seek peace within themselves to discard their bogus racial championship, and to bow out gracefully for the sake of the country.

The Prime Minister had recently said that "he has been working very hard !!". Likewise, a lot of other Malaysians are also working very hard ! But are they being rewarded accordingly with the so called fair distribution of wealth ?

In the spirits of Chinese New Year, may it be the wishes of all to hope for the government to do more to help the physically handicapped people, the welfare home, the orphanages, and homes for the elderly. I sincerely hope the government is capable to be enlightened with the wisdom and courage of not diverting scarce financial resources from these needy groups to meet the never ending demands of those mentally handicapped rent seeking parasites.

It does not matter whether we are in majority or minority, and it does not really matter each and every one of us subscribed to different religious beliefs, we should be united together as Malaysians to oppose unfair and unjust inclinations. As a nation seeking to be respected as a honourable nation in the United Nations, we must respect and honor our commitment to the United Nations' conventions by solemnly upholding human dignity, respect fundamental liberties, promote freedom of religion, condem discrimination, and promote justice and fairness.

As the nation progress, the fruits of our labours must be enjoy by all irregardless of our religious inclinations or racial origins. We are, after all, one people with single nationality. We must do away with the absurdity of special treatments for select privileged fews, and stand affirmative together to change our mindsets to rid ourselves of our deep rooted unfair biases of perpetuating political, environmental, social, and technological classes.

There is a popular saying that, "The more we change, the more we remain the same". The circle of absurdities will never end. But, being an optimist, I sincerely hope all of us can change for the better, to respect others and be respected, and ultimately remained as Malaysian with pride and dignity.

Lest I despair, I am still ready to embrace my own absurdities of tolerance, and remained a proud Malaysian. Sincerely, may Malaysia regains her previous sparkling economic growth rate. May the bull runs wild in KLSE, and may our economic indicators point north all the time. These are my Chinese New Year's ratty wish.

Honda C50 Super Cub

Manufactured in 1958 and still road worthy !!! 58 years old, and she is still a beautiful piece of machine. Hmmm.... I love older woman !