Happy 44th Birthday Malaysia!

Last Friday I received a text message from my former colleague, who is a Sarawakian,

“Please remember this Sunday the 16th as the day Federation of Malaysia came into existence. You made a mistake in your blog earlier so allow me to correct you by stating that on the 16 September 2007; Malaysia will be 44 years old.”

Yes, I made a mistake here. It supposed to be 50th Merdeka and by no means should it be a birthday for Malaysia. Thanks Bro!

While mostly forgotten on this peninsular part of Malaysia, 16th September is still remembered largely by the people of Sabah and Sarawak as the day when they joined together with the Federation of Malaya to form the new nation as we know it today.

Originally Malaysia is to be formed by the merger of Singapore, Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei into the existing Federation of Malaya. The British government and Federation of Malaya fear that these four territories might fall under communist influence or being absorbed into Indonesia thus a merger of all these former British colonies might be the best solution for it.

But as we know it Brunei withdrew from the merger after opposition from certain quarter of the population and remained a British colony until 1984. Singapore on the other hand had a brief association with the federation until it was expelled on 9 August 1965.

Singapore’s expulsion was not the only challenge that Malaysia had to go through. While no one had ever protested on Malaya’s independence on 31 August 1957, the formation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963 was protested by Indonesia and Philippines. This led to the Konfrontasi with Indonesia, an undeclared war of some sort that lasted for four years.

But the federation remains till this day and become a nation which is regionally an important player, a nation which is highly regarded as the most developing Third World countries and also one of the most progressive Islamic nations.

Oddly enough, no celebration or what so ever, at least in the scale of the one we had every 31st August, to celebrate 16th September as the day of formation of Malaysia. Ironically Singapore celebrates its independence day on 9th August every year, the day it was expelled from Malaysia like an unwanted child.

I read New Sunday Times (NST) yesterday which was full of covering stories on how Sabah and Sarawak made it this far today by being part of Malaysia. Needless to say it irks my Sarawakian friend who questioned this to me.

“Would Malaya make it this far today if not for the mineral and timber of Sabah and Sarawak?”

Obviously the answer will be NO. In regards to relation between the West and East of Malaysia, it is purely symbiotic, the two distant territories need each other and Malaysia as a nation wouldn’t make it this far today with either west or east is missing from the federation.

The NST surely have no intention to downplay Sabah’s and Sarawak’s contribution to Malaysia or to demonstrate Malaya influence over these two states. The irks of my Sarawakian colleague, and the same of what I have heard from at least 3 other Sarawakians and 2 Sabahans as my friend is the fact that the federal government disregard the important date of 16th September.

16th September is known as Malaysia Day in our national calendar, but unlike 31st August it is not a public holiday. The government still promote 31st August as the independence day though that reality is on 31st August 1957 both Sabah and Sarawak were still part of the British Empire and remain so for another six years.

The question then, was Sabah and Sarawak became part of Malaysia on equal terms by a merger with Malaya, or was these two territories annexed by Federation of Malaya?

If the practice of 31st August is being the national or independence day taken into account, perhaps a similar analogy will be the annexation of West Papua in 1969 under the Act of Free Choice or the occupation of East Timor in 1975 under Operasi Seroja by Indonesia. Both West Papua and East Timor were to gain independence from Netherlands and Portugal respectively, but ended up being another province of Indonesia and celebrating the independence day every 17th August.

The Malaysia Bill, passed then in the Malayan Parliament on 9 July 1963 was by no means annexation or occupation of Sabah and Sarawak by Malaya. It was then a consensus between these three territories to form Malaysia as we know it today.

Sabah and Sarawak deserve to be view and treated on equal terms. We have no need to go the way of how Indonesia turns itself into Java-centric nation and caused resentment among the other provinces in it. Perhaps the first step to that is to recognise 16th September as the true National, Formation, Federation or Malaysia Day for our country, equally, but preferably more important, than 31st August.

That way, like my former colleague had expressed, may for a start give them the impression that the decision for Sabah and Sarawak to merge with Malaya is recognised and appreciated. Malaysians on Borneo’s side have no mood to celebrate an independence day which is not theirs, but would be more than happy to share Malaysia Day with all Malaysians, he said.

And after all, a public holiday and celebration every 16th September will give us another good excuse for another huge party on 16 September 2013, being the true 50th Birthday of Malaysia!

Minus the nauseating Barisan Nasional grand political rally, of course.

*photo - the most famous image of Singapore's Malaysia era, a reminder of the island's brief stay in the federation before its unfortunate expulsion.

It’s Just Good Business

Not so long ago I befriended a burger stall operator in Shah Alam, after frequenting his Egg Banjo and Special Chicken Burger and made myself his regular customer. He is the usual burger stall operator that most of us came across with, young Malay guy in his 20s or early 30s, ride a Honda EX5 or Yamaha RXZ and also avid fans of Rock Kapak bands, like Bumiputra Rockers (BPR) for example.

Well that, in most cases the first impression we had about them, but I was wrong on this account though. The professional burger flipper, HS, is indeed in his early 30s, ride a Honda EX5 but drive a Proton Waja too, he do loves Rock Kapak bands, already married and work as a bank officer during the day. Apparently the burger flipping business is just for additional income.

Initially the business started as a venture between HS and his friend, but later he has to cast his partner out from the venture due to the partner’s lack of business sense. The partner mismanaged the fund, misused the business properties and was a bit generous in handing out free burgers to fellow friends. It was a good decision on HS part. He paid back the amount of money given by his partner as capital earlier and continues the business alone.

But it wasn’t smooth sailing all the way after that, due to his partner generosity in the past, HS had to deal with the many friends who had used on getting free burgers from the stall. He had to stressed it time and time again that he is running a burger stall, not another Food Not Bombs outlet. He received some cold treatment for that, but then he managed to save the business.

Which bring me to the current Proton-Volkswagen (VW) talks which are still on going now. Most of us are aware that the so-called national pride, Proton is in dire need of a reliable partner in order to survive in the competitive automotive industry. In view of this, a tie up with VW (the world’s fourth largest car manufacturer) would secure Proton’s future, provide access to VW’s technology and knowledge and also increase the productivity of Proton’s Tangjung Malim plant which has been under utilize for years.

The only problem regarding this tie up with VW is the fact that Proton is being considered as a national car manufacturer and being seen by the government and some Malaysians as a national asset or pride. Hence nationalist sentiment remains and the fear of losing out Proton to foreign ownership becomes the major obstacle for any possible tie up.

Which is rather stupid of course. As far as I am concern though Proton is a Malaysian company and born from our national car project, I still have to fork out my money every month for my Proton car’s instalment. And when the company make some huge loss the government will go all the way to bail it out using the public fund, which is made up of our taxpayers’ money. So where is the asset in that? I can only see liability.

In this globalize world there is no such thing as national car, you can buy a Toyota which is a Japanese brand but for all you know it was manufactured in Indonesia. Plus foreign ownership of a company is no longer such a huge deal. Proton bought Lotus many years ago but yet the Brits are still proud of Lotus. VW owns SEAT and Skoda but yet the Spanish and the Czechs never feel ashamed of it.

Latest news regarding the talk revealed that VW had listed several conditions for the tie up to be successful. The German company may only take a 20% stake in Proton with final decision no sooner than February 2008 (as against our government’s self-imposed deadline of end 2007). VW also stated that it will not cover Proton’s losses for the next 3 to 5 years and will only take large stake in Proton if the Malaysian government fully withdraws from Proton.

Yes, admire the Germans when it comes to business, pure business that is. And they are damn good when it comes to making cars too. Thus if VW willing to take over Proton, put the company back in profit, provide access to their advanced automotive technology, fully utilised the Tanjung Malim plant, secure jobs for many Malaysians and have VW Touareg coming out from the plant, I said go ahead.

We will have our public funds secured from bailing out another Government-Linked Company (GLC), obtain access to German car technology and have the multi-billion Tanjung Malim plant put to good use.

Business should be run as business, period. Proton is just another car manufacturing company with its sole purpose to make and sell car. It doesn’t matter who actually owns the company, so long it makes good and affordable car to Malaysian. There are no such things as preserving national pride or protecting national asset. It should have never been a responsibility for the government to bail out a bedridden company just because of nationalistic pride. Proton is a business so let it be a good business.

After a few months I no longer see HS flipping burger at his stall. The stall has been taken over by another guy who told me that HS sold the business (along with the stall) to him.

So what happened to HS?

About two years later I landed a new job at the bank that I remain to stay till this day. On the third day of work I was greeted with “Egg Banjo satu!”, it was HS and surprisingly he is working at the same bank too. Few months later after some reorganization I found myself being put under HS supervision.

We stayed together as a team for about 2 years, until HS got another offer from a Middle East bank which is making a big wave on its entrance in Malaysia. He holds the position to lead the new bank’s team on its entry to the Malaysian market. He had since then traded his Honda EX5 for Honda CBR 1000RR, owns two unit of house within Klang Valley and still happily married, but now with two kids.

I ask him would he go flipping burger again if given the chance?

“Sure thing, if I have free time at night or not having to spend it with my kids.”

“Why, you already earn a lot from your job?”

“Hey, it’s good business!”

I bet it is.

Ahlan Ya Ramadhan!

To all Muslim readers, happy fasting and may you have bountiful rewards this Ramadhan. Please enjoy the mouth watering dishes below.

Heheh, bawa bersabar dan kuatkan iman, ini semua dugaan :)

Semalam Di Neraka

Ladies, Is Your Dad A High Ranking Government Officer?

If yes, please leave your contact number on the comment page.

I had done my research and apparently none of my close relatives are serving in the upper rank of the government offices. So since I don’t have uncles or aunties there, I figure out that maybe dating daughter of certain someone within the government might help.

If you got yourself copy of The Sun newspaper today then you should know by now that our innovative Road Transport Department (RTD) had just came out with their first big move since the tragic Bukit Gantang express bus accident.

Or else you can go here for the online version. No, Harian Metro does not cover this news but they do have news on another Mawi-related scam and a deviationist teaching in Shah Alam known as ‘Ajaran Tijah’ on the front page.

The RTD’s e-Kesihatan project, supposedly an effort to screen commercial vehicle drivers of drug and such has been awarded to Supremme Systems Sdn Bhd as the concession holder. Supremme Systems however will not conduct the medical test themselves, but instead appoint panel of doctors as selected by the company to do the test.

Proposed fee for each test will be RM85; with RM35 will go to the company’s pocket.

Simple math being put into practice, if within one month there are 10,000 drivers going through the test, then Supremme Systems will fork out RM350,000 for a month alone, doing nothing except than certifying the drivers.

That might as well translate to RM4.2 million per year. And mind you 10,000 tests per month is such a low estimation.

Impressive that our government are so innovative that a tragic, worst bus accident ever in our country can be turn into a business opportunity for the chosen few.

Now, who dares say that our government are not ‘rakyat-friendly’?

On the other hand the impressive mess up following Auditor-General’s Report 2006 continues. Apparently the Treasury claimed that the RM8,254; 3.1 mega pixel digital camera came with a tripod, USB and video cable, desktop computer and software CD. Hence the overwhelming price do makes sense.

But if that’s really the case, then why in the world that the invoice, purchase order or what ever shitty documents you may call it as proof of purchase failed to indicate the ‘extra items’ which caused the auditor to quote a single digital camera at that astronomical price? Why only after such mess up surfaced that the Treasury came out to justify the price?

Now the supplier of that 3.1 mega pixel digital camera must be someone who is so enterprising that he or she may put Donald Trump to shame. It’s normal when you bought a desktop computer that the seller might throw in some bargain like free digital camera. But now we have someone who bought a digital camera and got a desktop computer along the way too!

Hell, maybe I should start some business and put a promo like that. Buy 4 tyres from my shop and you will get yourself a car with those tyres!

And come on, tripod, USB and video cable plus software CD among other items that was bought along with the 3.1 mega pixel camera? Aren’t all those things usually included when you purchase a digital camera?

I guess I have a business proposal to go with now. Maybe I should start dating daughter of some ministers, mayors, directors and anyone with high government position. Who knows, if I’m lucky I might marry one. Then I can persuade my father in-law to abuse his power so that I can start a business and profits directly from the government with his help.

Hey, it pays to have some connection right?

Money Not Well Spent!

I still remember two years ago during Hari Raya, I paid a visit to my old friend back in the school day. We haven’t met for quite a long time, so definitely there have been many changes since.

Between us, we took a completely different path after school. I went to further my study in university, went through all the ups and downs, while he simply decided to get a job and start working. Most people would then assume that in the long run, I will do better than him, graduate, land a good job, drive a BMW, own a condo unit in Sri Hartamas and have couple of thousands in my bank account.

Well, when I met him on that Hari Raya, materially speaking, he seems to be doing better than me. He drives a national car which is priced higher than my national car and owns a double storey house (which is a whole lot cheaper in Ipoh than it is in KL). Oh yes, I bet he have ample cash reserves in the bank account too.

I was of course eager to know his secret. The fella proudly looks at me and smile.

“I run my own business.”

So it figures. But what sort of business is it? Any chance for me to join in?

He goes into details. Apparently, somewhere in 2002 his uncle, a high ranking government officer was transferred to the district he is living in. They both met in one of the many family kenduris and his uncle tabled this brilliant business opportunity to him.

“He is in charge of procuring materials for the government and he thought maybe I can supply those materials.”

What his uncle asked him to do is to set up a business entity, large chunk of the capital provided by the uncle, to supply goods and items to government agencies. Theoretically it is his company, but in reality he owns it with his uncle.

My old friend than become a supplier for wide range of products. Stationery items, sport equipments, furniture and even computers, mainly to schools. He is actually not the end supplier, but more of a middle man between the buyer and seller. Need a new supply of pens? He just went to Makro, bought many of it and supplies it. Require ten computers for the school’s new computer lab? He arranges for some computer store to assemble it, and then he sold it off to the school.

It is good business. You get the order; you source for the items, bought it, mark up a bit for your own profit and sell it. Simple and easy.

Until the moment came that he thinks he needs to earn more than usual. So along with his enterprising uncle, they increase the profit margin a bit. And later a bit more.

“It’s not hard at all, a box of 20 Kilometrico pens, maybe, I can just sell at MYR20.00 per box”, he said with brimming smile.

That’s total rip-off dude. A single unit of that cost only 70 sen, I said to myself.

“Maybe you can persuade your bank to have us as their stationery supplier?”

Okay, enough of the enterprising spirit dude, we are not buying your Kilometrico pens!

But of course our Institut Kemahiran Belia Negara (IKBN) wouldn’t mind paying MYR224.94 for a set of screwdriver. I bet my three month’s salary for that sort of price tag, I can get myself a battery operated screwdriver from Ace Hardware!

Oh yes, they bought a 3.1 megapixel digital camera too for MYR8254.00, which I dare my sorry ass that anyone can have butt sex with me if I can’t get a decent Digital SLR camera with that amount of money!

And to top it all, set of so-called technical books, which among other consisting a dictionary published by DBP, was bought at a price of MYR10700.00 per set of 10 titles!

Well if that’s not enough, how about our men in blue in 19 police stations audited across the country that have no idea how to use a speed detector and breathalyser?

I once helped a traffic policeman who had pulled me over on how to use his breathalyser.

“Ni hah Tok, dia tulis, tiup kat sini. Saya tiup ye?”

I blew at the breathalyser and it failed to detect any traces of tequila from me. Well, who said I was such an angel to be so damn honest with the clueless cop?

Made a police report once too. The sergeant has no idea how to set the paper margin so the print out of my report won’t have words which are out of print area. Luckily I was a smart, educated university student back then.

The 2006 Auditor-General’s (AG) report revealed the reality of how taxpayer’s money goes into pocket of someone’s relatives or down the drain. We bought overpriced items because we need to make our nephew or cousin wealthy, and we bought state of the art gadgets but sucker at how to use it.

Way to go!

I lost contact of my enterprising old friend. I hope one day I might be able to get in touch with him again. If I am lucky, I will only have this to ask my enterprising old friend,

“Brader, lu ngan pakcik lu tak kantoi ke?”

Business my freakin’ ass, mate!

For the complete horror of where your hard earned money goes to:

Here

Here

Here

Cemerlang, Gemilang, Terbilang! There goes our tax money!

Apa Dah Jadi Yob?

Exactly one week ago, on Monday morning, I walked into the office completely sure of what is in store for me in my email’s inbox.

“Haha! Chelski kalah!”
- A Manchester United fan

“Eh, Chelsea menang ke dengan Aston Villa malam tadi?”
- A Liverpool fan

“What the hell happened, dude? You need some more Russian roubles?”
- An Arsenal fan

“Budak rumah aku cakap Aston Villa menang 2-0, aku rasa dia salah maklumat, so aku nak confirm dengan kau, Chelsea yang menang 2-0 kan?”
- A suddenly proclaimed Sunderland fan (I think it’s Roy Keane)

“Don’t worry mate, I’m with you. It’s okay to lose game sometimes. No, seriously. Oh, maybe not. But, hey, who is perfect right? Oh, whatever. Cheer up!”
- A Selangor fan

I didn’t reply to any of it. Of course The Special One didn’t really admit anything of the lost. “Aston Villa played a great game but it’s not because they are better, Chelsea made mistakes, Villa capitalise on it. We lost Lampard too so everything we have planned for we have to change at the last moment”. Great one Mourinho, I know I can always count on you in keeping our ego high (oh yes, we Chelsea are one proud lots!).

When the result of the local Malaysia Cup semi-final match between Perak and Sabah came out, I replied to all the emails I received on Monday morning.

“Sorry, but I am not into EPL at this moment. We just celebrate our 50th Merdeka, dudes! Stop supporting football league of our former colonial master. Put some spirit of Merdeka in you. I am all for Perak in Malaysia Cup final against Kedah this weekend. Support our local league. Kejor Yob Kejor!”

Of course, Perak lost to Kedah 3-0. The whole Malaysia knows about it.

Today, Monday morning, walk into the office, open my email and here it goes…

“Apa dah jadi Yob?”
- The Manchester United fan who suddenly claims he was born in Kedah (and representing everyone in the office who suddenly claims Kedah too)

Swell.



photo credit

Suara Cakna Komuniti Anda

Sinar Harian, a new Malay-language tabloid has been in circulation early this week in Kuala Lumpur and all over Selangor. For the first 5 days it will be distributed for free as part of the promotion for the newly-born tabloid.

My old friend back in the university days expressed his dissatisfaction on the publication of another Malay tabloid. He is in view that these tabloids are killing the major Malay newspapers of Berita Harian and Utusan Malaysia.

“These tabloids are nothing but light, entertainment read. Get yourself a Harian Metro and what can you read from it? Useless rubbish! These tabloids are favoured mostly by the low-income group and even youngsters at the college, and they discard the more serious major newspapers.”

He believes that newspaper should be the medium of information and education.

Malaysia’s leading Malay tabloid as we know it is Harian Metro, its circulation surpassed even those of the major Malay newspapers at around 235,000 to 240,000 copies per day. Published by Kumpulan New Straits Times Press (the same publisher of Berita Harian) back in 1991, the tabloid turns out to be widely accepted mostly by Malay readers.

Such success prompted Utusan Melayu (M) Berhad to publish their version of Malay tabloid Kosmo! in 2004 to grab a slice of the Malay tabloid market. Initially sold at MYR0.80 per copy, it was later priced at MYR1.00 (like Harian Metro), most likely after achieving its targeted share of the market.

A quick survey among the clerks and dispatch riders at my workplace (the main tabloid readers here) however shows that Harian Metro is still the favoured tabloid above Kosmo!

Both Harian Metro and Kosmo! provide light reading materials and substantial amount of entertainment news, the sort of things preferred by Malay readers. Sensational issues and news usually become their main headline. Harian Metro for example used to come out with issues such as blog writer who are liberal and has deviated from their religion, influence of ‘underground music’ among youngsters or clubbing trend in discos around Kuala Lumpur.

Reality check number one, most Malays prefer light reading, they adore sensational issue and entertainment news, like who is Mawi or Erra Fazira going to end up with.

A few years ago Harian Metro had an event in one of KL nightclubs (which I can’t recall of) in conjunction to celebrate its achievement of becoming the leading Malay newspaper. It was odd to have a Malay newspaper having an event in a nightclub but the objective for that was Harian Metro’s plan to target young urban readers from all races. This category of young and urban readers will definitely increase Harian Metro’s reputation as a desirable advertising platform for major advertisers.

It didn’t really work out. Prospective advertisers knew that Harian Metro readership is made up of largely readers from the lower-income group or young individuals who are yet to work. Majority of its Malay readers are not so modern and modernise, it also consist of blue-collar workers and housewives in need of light reading material on their free time. The young urbanise won’t read it.

Reality check number two, in other word, these people fall in the group of those with minimal purchasing power.

Get yourself a copy of Harian Metro today and flip through the pages, you will find advertisements are more into selling slimming product, so-called method or programme of making extra income which will made you a millionaire in short time or the latest Kapchais out in the market for aspiring Mat Rempit. The same can be seen on Kosmo! and soon to be, Sinar Harian.

One office mate put this question to me, why not Sinar Harian comes out free like the English tabloid The Sun as he doubt there will be people who would purchase the new Malay tabloid when it really goes on sale.

The Sun is able to become a free newspaper because it earns enough revenue alone by means of advertisement. The readership is made up of white-collar working community and young urban. It carries out advertisement by big financial institutions, fashion labels and other major advertisers. Being an English daily also means it can put out beer advertisement like the one they have today, Carlsberg Extra Cold on a full front page (serve at chilling -1Celcius which seems to be tempting).

Reality check number three, Malay newspapers are mostly read by Malays. Majority of Malays have minimal purchasing power, and they don’t drink beer too.

Sinar Harian is published by Akhbar Cabaran Sdn Bhd, a publication based in Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan. First publication was out on 31 July 2006. It goes out in circulation in the three east coast states of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang. The KL & Selangor edition came out earlier this week on 3 September. There is a symbol of Karangkraf on the front page hinting the tabloid relation to this major publisher of Malay novels and magazines.

The tabloid layout to my eyes seems to be in the mould of the lesser but sensational (and crappy) Malay tabloids like Bacaria or Harian Watan. The news as you may expect it is more of a light read, short and simple. It however has more local content compare to Harian Metro and Kosmo!. For example it has one page about what been going on in district like Sabak Bernam or Hulu Langat, and other districts or areas in KL & Selangor. Hell, like Harian Metro which have column for Gadis Metro (fresh pretty face of young girl with details), Sinar Harian even got their own version of Gadis Kuala Selangor or Kuala Langat, depending on the girl’s hometown.

Sinar Harian boasts on their ability to deliver localised news through their hordes of reporters cum photographers known as Skuad Cakna. This Skuad Cakna drives around in their red Perodua Kancil, each of them with their assigned territory, with their contact number available in the tabloid itself or on their Kancil cars. So next time when you found 10 metres python under your bed, you might want to give them a call and have your name and photo of your house appear in the tabloid next day.

Not bad though. But how will Sinar Harian fare against the big boy Harian Metro remain to be seen in the coming months.

Sinar Harian’s tagline is ‘Suara Cakna Komuniti Anda’. I don’t know what ‘cakna’ mean, I suspect it might be a Kelantanese word.

Now can anyone tell me what the hell does ‘cakna’ mean?

50 Years Of Independence Or Grand Political Rally Of The Ruling Coalition?

I am one proud Malaysian. I am sure my patriotism is a hell lot more than those skydivers who jumped off the plane at North Pole funded by UMNO (by the means of either the party’s fund or taxpayer’s money, doesn’t matter as I still believe there is much wiser way to use the fund).

So when 31 August arrived I was all excited and proud because finally this piece of land I have inhabited for roughly 28 years and 4 months (the other one month was spent in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Hell) will celebrate its independence for the 50th time. It is basically another annual National Day celebration, but yes, 50 sounded nice of course.

Working at the vicinity of Dataran Merdeka means for the few days leading to 31st August, I had the chance to catch on the Merdeka fever and euphoria. On daily basis I managed to catch the numerous rehearsals conducted at the ‘padang’. It was an atmosphere full of hype.

Atmosphere full of hype that was killed exactly on the night of Merdeka eve, moment after I switched on the TV to watch the live telecast of Merdeka countdown. Suddenly what I can see is a crowd of Barisan Nasional members, from the component parties that made up the coalition, with their party flags amongst the Jalur Gemilang (which seems to outnumber the national flag itself).

Adding salt to the wound, the next morning Merdeka parade was no different either, the Barisan Nasional element was a bit lesser, but it was still obvious to my irritated eyes. The worst case is of course during the so-called Grand Merdeka Celebration, held at Stadium Merdeka later that night, where hordes of UMNOs, MCAs, MICs, Gerakans and you name it filled the stadium over its capacity. Oh yes, enter our ‘ala-Nazi’ Merdeka salute (as first demonstrated by Tunku Abdul Rahman back in 1957), the celebration at Stadium Merdeka turns out to be the reminiscence of the Nazi’s Nuremberg Rally.

No I don’t have anything against how we do our salute when proclaiming Merdeka, I like it though. So please people at the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Home Affairs, don’t go on stripping my citizenship like the Namewee’s case.

What bothered me was how the whole Merdeka celebration was put to good use by the ruling party to celebrate its 50 years of continuous rule as the government in Malaysia.

Of course, the Alliance Party (later succeeded by Barisan Nasional) is the one who had demanded and negotiated with our former colonial master for the independence of Malaya (later Malaysia). UMNO, MCA and MIC are the ones who had fight and struggle for independence so that all Malaysians today can drive a national car, lepak at the mamaks and watched former colonial master’s football games live on satellite TV (while Indonesians no longer have the chance to enjoy EPL games on their TV as broadcasting rights is exclusively own by Malaysia’s Astro).

The sweet taste of independence was delivered to us by the alliance of UMNO-MCA-MIC, so said the history textbook back in school.

History is his-story. His story as how he wishes it to be written. UMNO-MCA (MIC however at the early stage was not part of the alliance but instead was under PUTERA-AMCJA Conference) is the real fighter who fought for our independence, in meeting room, across negotiation table.

UMNO and MCA alliance, and later MIC, is the one that have fought for the independence of Malaya and later the formation of Malaysia.

Not the Malayan People Anti Japanese Army who fought the Japanese and later was changed into Malayan National Liberation Army when they are denied of their contribution by the British for its communist ideology. Not also the Malayan Communist Party which had created the MPAJA and MNLA. Not even the Kesatuan Melayu Muda because of its Panji Melayu Raya/Indonesia Raya ideology and left leaning politics. Not the Parti Nasionalis Melayu, Angkatan Pemuda Insaf (API), Angkatan Wanita Sedar (AWAS), Gerakan Angkatan Muda (GERAM), Barisan Tani SeMalaya (BATAS) and Majlis Agama Tertinggi SeMalaya (MATA), which are all left leaning or socialist party that formed the Pusat Tindakan Rakyat (PUTERA). And not the All-Malayan Council of Joint Action (AMCJA) who together with PUTERA formed the PUTERA-AMCJA Conference to demand independence from the British back in 1946, but all was denied for their leftist ideology.

The British favour Malaya and later Malaysia to be a country which not treads the path of leftist socialism or communism, so they hand over independence and mantel of governance on silver platter to UMNO-MCA-MIC. Our independence was won by means of arrangement to transfer power to the favoured party so Britain and the rest of the Western powers won’t have another new nation which stood against them like Sukarno’s Indonesia.

A fellow man from Indonesia who I know once mentioned this to me,

“Kemerdekaan Indonesia itu di atas jalan dengan keringat dan darah, kemerdekaan Malaysia di dalam kamar dengan mesyuarat dan pena.”

He was right. And up till this day Barisan Nasional would trumpet on how Malaysia achieved its independence by peaceful negotiation, spearhead by UMNO-MCA-MIC.

The 50th Merdeka honours the Barisan Nasional for its struggle for independence. It also honours the leaders of the UMNO-MCA-MIC as the real freedom fighters. But we forgot the name of Ibrahim Yaacob, Chin Peng, John A. Thivy, Dr Burhanuddin, Ahmad Boestamam, Pak Sako, Shamsiah Fakeh and Abdullah CD. These people, regardless of their ideologies, had also fought for the independence of this piece of land. But their name was either a mere footnote in history, mentioned briefly in the history textbook or worse, completely written off.

History is his-story. His story as he wishes it to be written. So as nauseating as it can be, I guess it is still up to Barisan Nasional to have the 50th Merdeka celebration as their celebration of 50 continuous years in power.

We have this phrase “Dari runtuhan Kota Melaka kita bina Putrajaya” trumpeted by the government when they decided to build Putrajaya. Malaysia today had always relates itself as the successor of the Sultanate of Malacca. The sultanate lasted from 1400 to 1511, a mere 111 years as a nation. For how long Malaysia will survive, that depends on all of us.

I Know I'm Late, But...

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY MALAYSIA!

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