Saturday, August 20, 2005

Fancy some music?

Have you been looking for Afdlin Shauki's Album? Would you like to? Well you can't... apparently you cant buy it from the stores...

so go here and find out.

Personally I dont really go out and buy music.. dunno..

13 comments:

totoy said...

eh? since when he came out an album?...

p.s i haven figured out how to put in chatbox yet. so gimme time. i'll get there. ha hah ha ha

Anonymous said...

Racist. Racist. Racist.

Now almost 50 years of Independence, we really should review the social contract because it has not served its purpose. Somewhere along the line, it got twisted further and a religious dimension was brought in.

This is because 3rd generation non-malays born and bred on this soil is considered 'pendatang' and second class citizens. Whereas recent Indonesian newcomers and Pakistani husbands to malays enjoy better privileges.

Now this agenda is religiously skewed and that is how the Indonesians and the Pakistanis are enjoying better privileges at the expense of 3rd or 4th generation non-malay Malaysians.

This also probably explains why the Orang Asli still do not fully enjoy the privileges of the social agenda.

The NEP has only served a few. Its original motives were noble because weather you or I agree malays do need a lot of encouragement but not the sort that have been getting as opposed to the ones in Singapore.

In the 1970s in Singapore, O and A levels pass marks for Malays: 28%, Indians: 65%, Chinese: 75%, others: 50%.

This NEP discrimination only made the non-malays smarter and the malays more dumb. Pass mark for Singapore malays in then: 50%.

Singapore allow them to leave Singapore any time they want but they choose to stay because their kids are properly educate, got better opportunities, housing and health care……….And they are truly loyal to Singapore.

I would like to add further to what has mentioned.

(1) Singapore's first president was a malay. The republic has also had two Indian presidents including the present one.

(2) The republic Singapore has had two Indian deputy prime ministers including the current one.

(3) It has had two Indian foreign ministers.

(4) The country's present minister for education is an Indian.

(5) A former police chief (equivalent to Inspector-General of Police) was, yes, you guessed it, an Indian.

Can we ever expect such important government positions in Malaysia to be occupied by those representing the minority communities in Malaysia? I am afraid the minorities here can only dream.

As I said, the racial disharmony in Malaysia is not the cause of Chinese, Indians or Malays.

The fault and blame lies squarely and directly on Umno and Umno Youth leaderships, and their barrel of race-based politics and policies.

Are the malays so impoverished in intellect and ability that they need handouts to survive?

The alternative already exists - the day the malays rely on themselves, not Umno, is the day they write their own destiny.

Protection for the malays means isolation for the malays. As long as they ask for more protection, they will be isolated from the progress of the world.

In the end, they will be hiding in caves like the Taliban. Nowhere to go because of inadequate skills, or skills that are not useful to the society and humankind at large.

Income and employment statistics show the Chinese are still ahead of other races but nowhere near pre-NEP levels.

The aids and opportunities provided under the NEP, if given to non-malays would propel them sky high in half the period.

The hardship makes us better, stronger and wiser. Hence we always try our best for the better of our next generation.

If you malays don't like it here, then go back to Sumatra, Jawa, or wherever your ancestors came from and give this land back to its rightful masters, the Orang Asli!

bRed said...

I agree only in one thing. The NEP has done more harm than good.

also UMNO is crap.

But you sir, are sorely mistaken if you think that Malaysia is a low class country.

Dude, there are more to life than wealth. We have character. And in abundance. I love my country. There are things I want to change about the country but i love her the same.

You of course are entitled to love your own country. I love chinese men too but we are a fine race indeed. Malays, say whatever you want. I am glad to death that I was born one. our boys are the cutest.

Anonymous said...

The top problems in Malaysia are corruption, corruption and corruption. Get rid of corruption you get rid of all the problems associated with it.

Corruption can be broadly defined as the misuse of public office for private gain. Abuses by government officials such as embezzlement and nepotism, as well as abuses in bribery, extortion, fraud and influence peddling.

The effects of corruption:

1. Corruption in elections and legislative bodies reduces accountability and representation

2. Corruption in the judiciary suspends the rule of law

3. Corruption in public administration results in unequal provision of services

4. Corruption in selecting or promoting officials without regard to performance will stifle progress

5. Corruption siphons off the resources needed for development

6. Corruption undermines democracy and good governance

7. Corruption undermines democratic values in trust and tolerance

8. Corruption undermines the legitimacy of government

9. Corruption undermines national economic development

10. Corruption weakens government institutions by disregarding official procedures

Corruption generates economic distortions in public sector by pulling investment from essential projects such as education, health care and low cost housing into projects where bribes and kickbacks are more plentiful.

Corruption lowers compliance with construction, environment, or other regulations.

Quality of government services are reduced due to inefficiency as the result of corruption, thus budgetary pressures on government increases and ultimately, the citizens foot the bill and are denied the share of the national resources as well.

In the public sector, corruption undermines economic development. In private sector, corruption increases the cost of business and stifles healthy competition.

Corruption shield companies with connections from fair competition, thus making our country less efficient and less competitive in the global market.

Anonymous said...

Comfortable house, fun holidays, nice car……….yes, but at what cost?

Are all of these worth the systematic dismantling of democratic institutions that is the foundation of every developed country in this world?

Many Malaysians equate monuments like the Twin Towers and the Sepang F1 track with developed nation status. But survey the truly develop nations in the world and you will find that each and everyone of them is built on a solid foundation of vibrant, and functioning institutions of democracy - vibrant legislative body, an independent court system, a free press and checked executive.

Measured against these benchmarks, it does not take much imagination to rank Malaysia two shades above a banana republic.

The running of the country is always a one man's show. It was like that for the past 22 years, and it looks like Pah Lak has inherited it all.

The whole government machinery is like an impotent old man when the mind says "yes", the body part can't move at all. Poor old man!

No doubt, his has utilized some of these powers to some economic good for the country, a portion of which you enjoy now, but again, at what cost to your fellow Malaysians, to your children and your children's children?

We have achieved some progress but at what price.

As Petronas accounts are state secrets, we don't really know how much of our children's future have been squandered on dubious deals.

Malaysia now sits at No 39 of Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index compared to Singapore's No 5 spot. And the difference in the quality of living between the two countries is quite apparent.

The old man studied in English in his time and forgot about the story of "The king and his new clothes" until a small boy said he was naked.

Anonymous said...

Many Malaysians working in the Singapore regard the meritocracy and equality is on ideal level.

There are also those who experienced discrimination due to difference on nationality and race. Overall, Singapore has better image than our country.

Brain drain is inevitable when we have unequal or unfair treatment of a group of people regarded as different from the ruling group. It is tantamount to banishing them to second-class citizen, except that it was at acceptable level.

This preferential treatment inadvertently segregated the citizens although it started with noble notion of creating equality in terms of economic parity. Unfortunately, this system has since been abused.

When the mistreated felt that they "do not belong" to the country, loyalty becomes secondary importance.

There are also many factors contributing to brain drain not only unbalanced policy. As the standard of living in Malaysia is rising but our economic income is stagnant, this has forced many to venture overseas to find money.

There are also many who studied abroad refuse to return home as the condition of better job prospects, better life in foreign countries and earning power is more appealing than here.

On the first step to rectify this discrepancy is to eradicate corruption and the abused NEP. I believe the effect would be great.

The NEP has nurtured malay businessmen under the government umbrella - very different from the law of the forest that prevails in the actual business world. This has made them less viable in times of harsh economic conditions. Except for a few, the NEP has failed to cultivate malay businessmen in the acquisition of responsibilities, business skills and attitudes.

If the NEP fails or have not achieve its objectives after more than 20 years, it is not the people fault but the government.

Look at how only some have always benefited. Seems like there may be some who will hide behind the reasons of NEP to grow even wealthier while the real target people of NEP existence remains more-or-less status quo.

Summary: Affimative action is a negative sum in the end. In the end everyone loses.

There is nothing equal in Singapore but rather a carefully projected image of a decent society where harmony and equality are abundant to be seen everywhere.

Opinions are good but too much negative will only consume you. From now, lets change our attitude of whining but instead voice out a solution of your own.

Anonymous said...

Big deal!

While the stupid malays scream and shout, the non-malays quietly dominate the economy of this country.

The malays can keep their special rights and privileges. I don't need it. If this is what having special rights and privileges mean, I would rather be like the non-malays who have nothing but are laughing all the way to the bank.

Malay rights means, if you are Umno malay, you get university seat even you are fool……….that's the right what we are talking about.

Malay rights means, you must be given 5% discount whenever you are buying a new house. No matter how rich you are……….that's the right what we are talking about.

Malay rights means, you must be given shares. Once you got, you can sell it to non-malay and keeps on asking for one after another……….that's the right what we are talking about.

Malay rights means, it's the duty and responsibility of government to keep them feeding with sliver and golden spoon……….The non-malays should not ask anything even the non-malays voted for BN.

Lastly, the malays will never learn anything other than blaming non-malays for their failure.

What malays should realise when they curse Umno is the indubitable truth that despite 30 years of handouts, subsidies, undeserved jobs in the public sector, undeserved overseas scholarships, undeserved places in public education, lavish expenditure of tax payers (mainly non-malays) money on all things Islamic, the state of the malays today is indeed as described, which in short is, pathetic.

Who is to blame? Not Umno or implicitly the Chinese, but malays themselves.

Can you just imagine how primitive they would have been if Umno had not existed, if May 13 had not occurred and if the perversion of the NEP had not transpired?

No race in history has prospered without application, cohesiveness, diligence, hard work and ingenuity.

These words are anathema to malays and so after all the handouts that no other race in the world in the history of mankind has got, they still look rather pathetic.

Pragmatic malays know it and so in Malaysia the bumis policy will carry on forever, until stopped by forces other than malays.

I long for that day!

Anonymous said...

There is an endless list of examples: faulty traffic lights, illegal street racing, killer potholes, snatch thieves……….

Innocent people are still victimised by snatch thieves (Where are the police? What are they doing?).

It has already become a Malaysian culture to keep "one eye closed" and "one eye opened".

The authority and everybody will have one of their eyes closed, behaving as although nothing has happened, everything is ok. Until some lives are lost, the ministers will debate the issues, suddenly everybody is wide awake.

But, my dearest fellows Malaysians have very short memory. Very soon, the pains subside. Very soon, history repeats………..

Malaysians are one whole lot of hypocrites, irresponsible living things.

How I wish one minister got killed by snatch thief and tomorrow government will pass a law to sentenced those culprits to death. This will save many more Malaysian lives.

How I wish one minister got videoed while doing ear squat in police custody, and I am sure government will revamp the police force the next day.

And how I wish the money lost by Proton, MAS, Bank Islam and other GLCs belong to their grandfathers, and I am sure those jokers will raise their right hands and swear not to make further losses again.

Only if those tragic events fall on prominent personality, then we will see changes in the government even then how long will the changes last.

Anonymous said...

There are a lot of sensitive issues that are 'forbidden' to be discussed with reasons being racism, national security or anything you call it. But not being able to discuss them openly doesn't mean they do not exist and I do hope to enlighten everyone.

I am not pointing fingers but this is what is happening.

Speaking from the perspective of being a Chinese, we had to study so hard with parents working twice as hard. It is either straight As or you'll end up in a local university much later doing a course that you don't really like.

I achieved straight As in my SPM. I applied for local universities with my results and when I got the reply, I was granted a course totally different from the one that I've applied for. Computer science (applied for by me) and agricultural science (the one given to me) - two very different things.

Yet, I have malay friends who got only Bs and Cs getting into medicine, engineering and everything they applied for. So many of my peers who are fantastic students with fantastic results and great brains ended up going to colleges through scholarships by other governments like Singapore.

When other governments can appreciate our talents, why are we treated like second-rated citizens in our own country?

Perhaps some of you reading this will say, well, the Chinese can afford it because they are rich generally and the government is only doing a fair thing in supporting the malays. Well, think again. I am not from a wealthy family, a lot of us are not too. When our government forsakes us, we had to work extra hard to pick ourselves up. So don't tell me that this is fair.

Affirmative action should be done based on social economic status, not race. How can you justify that the rich malays could get a 7% discount on semi-detached house, while a poor Indian factory worker has to pay full amount for his cheap apartment?

Our country is so far behind developed countries and only our pride denies us from accepting this fact. Examples? We don't even dare to compete on even ground with our automobile industry. Everyone knows the fact that if not for the taxes that the government imposes on imported cars, Proton will almost certainly be a huge flop.

We are 'forced' to buy Proton. Telekom is a monopoly and we are light years in terms of Internet connections. There are countless of examples.

Now, when we grow up, we ought to contribute to our country. But what makes the government think that they deserve our services?

My parents had to work extra hard and use up all their savings to pay for my education abroad as we didn't have a choice. Now, I've graduated and am working in the UK.

During my last visit back to Malaysia, I remembered a lady was asking me if I would come back to Malaysia and serve the country. I honestly said to her, 'Why should I?'

The country and the government rejected me and treated me as a second-class citizen and now I should serve the country? That must be a joke.

Even though I am not a British citizen but I feel so much at home here. I have been treated equally, I am entitled to health care and have the support of the locals.

No one talks about things like this. Forget the press, they are government tools. This is racism of the modern days. I lived through it as a child of Malaysia. Sad but true.

Anonymous said...

No matter how weak and effective Abdullah is?
No matter how unemployable our local graduates are?
No matter how many billions the nation loses in its many economic ventures?
No matter how low the quality of our education?
No matter how ineffective the civil service is?
No matter how incompetent the CEOs of GLCs are?
No matter how corrupted the nation is?
No matter how brutal the police force is, the people will continue to support the Barisan Nasional.

Take my work, the BN will be returned again with a two-thirds majority in the next general elections.

The reason is simple. With the election commission being a de facto member of the BN, and the widespread vote rigging, there is no way the BN can lose.

It has been impressed upon the people that the nation will be destroyed if the BN falls - malays will be wiped out from the surface of the earth.

The people are not so bothered about human rights, about good governance and transparency, about corruption.

They don't evaluate the prime minister performance. All that matters for the malays, is a party that will protect their special rights.

For the Indians, there is no choice but they follow the majority.

For the Chinese, they want to be left in peace to live and make money.

The government can rule with impunity and yet remain strong. What a dichotomy?

It was initially assumed that the victim in the ear-squat case was a Chinese national, prompting a protest from the Chinese government. Imagine being lectured by, of all people, the Chinese on how to treat prisoners and respect basic human rights!

How low can we go?

What we see today is the struggle for the spoils of office. While corruption is rife, no one is willing to do anything about it. Why rock the boat?

Since you can't fight corruption you might as well join in - that way you get to share the spoils of office, and create a small empire even for the siblings in business while the sun shines.

This culture of corruption has taken decades to take roots. Change will not come easy.

The race card will continue to be played. Why not? It is a damn good tool to use during times of disunity and apparent chaos. How else would you unite the malays?

The educated and politically inactive among the malays need to wake up - and do something, rather than wait for a (financial) crisis of the proportion we saw in the late 1990s, we are experiencing a leadership crisis today - make no mistake about it.

Pak Lah is asleep at the wheels.

Anonymous said...

Malaysia bills itself as a model of peaceful multiculturalism, but despite nearly half a century of nationhood, the races that make up its population have never been further apart.

Separate social lives, separate schools, separate friends - Malaysia marks 48 years of independence but many citizens lament the lack of ties between majority malays, and the Chinese and the Indians living alongside them.

When the NEP was initiated, it made much sense. Reversing the consequence of the British's divide and rule policy needed to do.

But it had one serious flaw - it defined poverty and other socio-economic ailments on racial terms, i.e., all malays are poor etc.

Whether the move was intentional or not, is an academic question. But it resulted in Malaysia slowly evolving into a racist state where one's skin color dictated much of one's fortune in life.

Eventually, the NEP's noble aims were debased to such as an extent that even a simple admission and promotion exercise within the civil service were dictated by narrow racial considerations.

It has resulted in degradation in quality, best exemplified by University Malaya embarrassing crowing of its position as top 200 universities in the world. The award of ISO standard is made the yardstick for quality; embarrassing and laughable but that is how low we have sunk.

It is very sad, it is so sad to see Malaysia's brightest minds are all over the world except Malaysia.

The person who is researching into getting water for Singapore is a Malaysian. The head of Parapsychology in Cambridge is Malaysian. The best doctors in the world many are Malaysians.

Yet, they are nowhere near Malaysia.

In Singapore, it is fast and efficient to get a permanent resident. In fact, foreigners in Singapore are invited to become permanent citizens. Here Malaysia, it takes years and years and years and……….to even be considered to become a permanent citizen. I heard of foreigner whose application was lost and had to resubmit. How is that?

All this while I think many of us are dying to go to Australia, Europe, the US, for a better future……….

Anonymous said...

The 12 realities ---

1. On paper, citizenship is secure - in reality, they say if you don't like it here, you can go away

2. On paper, we solve inter-community issues by win-win consultation - in reality, issues are silenced by subtle threats of unrest made on grounds of the supremacy, of one community's master and their unquestionable agenda

3. On paper, Malaysia can be great - in reality, 'Malaysia Boleh' remains just a word, an empty cry, devoid of any spirit and life to ensure the nation's survival

4. On paper, we have the meritocracy system - in reality, quota system is still running

5. On paper, we are a multiracial country - in reality, we have one community which is more equal than other communities

6. On paper, we have the national agenda - in reality, it is the malay agenda

7. On paper, even the NEP is good - in reality, it sucks

8. On paper, Pak Lah is fighting corruption - in reality, no Umno member is standing together with him

9. On paper, we have parliamentarians - in reality, we have a zoo, and only a few are ministers, the majority being exhibited specimens

10. On paper, we are a peaceful country - in reality, the absence of conflict is superficial, very fragile

11. On paper, we have a police force to look after our security - in reality, we need some protection from the police

12. On paper, we had the report, and 125 recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Police - in reality, we have just a book, non-act upon

bRed said...

well I have never voted for BN.. did you even bother to vote.. thats about all i can do really..