The Muzzled Media Appeared Completely Ludicrous

I meant to get online and blog about recent events a lot earlier than this. However, I have been following up on the shenanigans of the ruling coalition UMNO, and its pathetically sorry machinery.

First up, I have to apologise for my incorrect assessment of the goons who call themselves the Malaysian government in assuming they would be less brutal in dealing with the public.

Seriously, I thought that they would have learned from past experience, but really, these guys are beyond teaching. Someone ought to send them out to green pastures and put a big sign out in the animal farm (or National Feedlot, if it hasn't been closed down yet) to warn against mad cow disease and foot & mouth.

Or in this case, foot IN mouth -- a phenomenon that they have single-handedly elevated into an artform.

You think I'm being unkind? Overly harsh? Mean?

Let's examine the evidence.

1. Nick Xenophon is an Australian senator. Against his better judgement, he decided to observe the BERSIH 3.0 rally in person. He had no idea what he was in for -- he got tear-gassed and witnessed rampant human rights abuses. Consequently, he spoke out against it. So the government-owned mainstream media was tasked to vilify him. Sorely lacking in ideas, they wrote blatant lies about him by switching words -- effectively putting his life in danger.

We hope he takes them to task (he has mentioned suing them). They offered a weak and insincere apology, but this is what puts him and consequently BERSIH 3.0 and the Malaysian protestors squarely on higher moral ground, in that they had to be falsely vilified to be seen as wrong.

2. BBC was outraged that its news reports were doctored and censored by Astro. The agreement between BBC and any broadcaster is that the full report should be aired in its entirety. Astro, the Malaysian satellite broadcaster, firmly breached this agreement when they removed certain sections. Instead of hanging their heads in shame, Astro claimed to be disappointed that BBC failed to understand their 'situation' as they were 'merely complying with local regulations'. Oh really?

3. BBC wasn't the only news channel to be offended. AlJazeera is appalled to discover news reports were also similarly doctored and censored by Astro, particularly because it showed excessive use of force by the police against demonstrators and damage of equipment belonging to sympathetic journalists.

And Malaysia calls itself a democracy? How could the government expect to be taken seriously when they resort to outright lies and manipulative attempts to spin the truth?

I do take exception to that, but not as much as to the Malaysians who are still bleating in weak protest against the mainstream media, saying that they have the right to speak out against tyranny.

I cannot understand why one would waste one's breath. The government-owned mainstream media deserve neither the time of the day nor any rebuttals. They are a waste of paper, airtime and energy. Heck, they are parasites; pimping oxygen.

So if you find yourself compelled to explain why you went out to protest on the 28th of April 2012, please do me a favour: DON'T.

Just do the right thing and ignore the mainstream media.

Related: Astro, give some respect to your customers please!

"Peaceful Assembly" Bill Passed

The Malaysian parliament has passed a ban on street protests, despite a rally against the bill by crowds of lawyers.

Opposition lawmakers boycotted the vote on the Peaceful Assembly Act, which the ruling party says eases regulations.

But critics say it replaces a rule requiring a police permit for a demonstration with one that bans street protests.

Some 500 lawyers marched in the capital ahead of the vote.

Read the whole thing HERE.

Dr Mahathir On BBC HardTalk

This is really bizarre.

He was the architect of the racial system that has plagued Malaysia and he believes that the ideology for the past 50 years has worked very well because:

1) It always won elections
2) People always supported Barisan Nasional
3) The country has done very well during that 50 years

It is common knowledge that the remaining politicians in Barisan Nasional - UMNO is particular - are still in denial, judging by the way they're attempting to run the country.

But now I know why.

It's the legacy of Tun Dr Mahathir, the lack of understanding of how this country has changed so much within the past 5 years.

The elections were an indication of the people's desire for change.

It had nothing to do with the like or dislike of the party leadership.







There was a time when he was almost immortal. He could twist and bend his words to suit his purpose.

This time, he valiantly tries claw his way out but his past words and actions have already implicated him.

There's a transcript of the entire conversation here.

Voters Speak In Malaysia?

Really?

I wonder who BBC has been interviewing.

Voters speak in Malaysia


Either way, this all the more reason for those of us who want a better future to keep talking to our loved ones to make the right decision. Even in this eleventh hour.

Vote for Malaysia.

Vote Opposition.

HINDRAF Gets International Publicity

The publicity is massive.

You don't even need a PR Officer for this with the Malaysian tin-pot-dictatorship government doing such a splendid job of it.


From the International Herald Tribune to BBC and heaps of other news sites online, as of now, over 50 articles have been dedicated to this protest, which contrary to public opinion is NOT against the British, but the Malaysian tin-pot-dictatorship government.

Heck, this is the news that sells.

Malaysian curiosity has been piqued.

What is the government trying to hide? Why the overwhelming effort to stop this gathering which is supposed to be peaceful.

Ethnic Indians, mainly Hindus, form one of Malaysia's largest minority groups. Activists say more than two-thirds of them live in poverty, partly because they are deprived of opportunities by affirmative action policies that favor the ethnic Malay Muslim majority.

There will undoubtedly be violence. After all, what does one Indian death - or for that matter 100 Indian deaths - matter? No one cares.

But the world will be watching.

Related:
Malaysia Hindu activists arrested - British Broadcasting Corporation

About P. Ramlee.

In my personal opinion, P. Ramlee is the BEST ever asset to Malaysian entertainment.

Some dispute that it is the Malaysian government that deserves the (in their case) dubious honour, but indulge me when I insist the rightful honour still belongs to P. Ramlee.

P. Ramlee The Musical is all about his life and is currently playing at Istana Budaya, Kuala Lumpur, until November 3. Jeff Ooi has the photos and the review.

In spite of our ongoing racial conflicts, the only thing that can bring us together is probably P. Ramlee movies. Though sometimes slapstick, they were always hilarious!

Jonathan Kent of BBC agrees with me.

One of the reasons I look forward to the holidays here is because the local TV stations always screen a good selection of his movies.

P Ramlee was an actor, singer, comedian, songwriter, screenwriter and film director

My favourite is the comedy Madu Tiga - or Three Honies - made in 1964.

P Ramlee plays a married man who decides to take a second and then a third bride, all with the collusion of his first wife's mischievous father.

But despite his best efforts to keep the three from finding out about one another, inevitably they meet, become friends and finally gang up on him.

It is a cautionary tale.

But what is most striking about P Ramlee's films from the 1950s and 1960s is their depiction of Malay life.

His movies are gentle and sensual, the people relaxed, fun-loving and charming. There are even jokes about gin.

Read why Kent realises that films like these could not be made today. And why it would have broken P Ramlee's heart.

A crying shame.

Due to the influence of wackos like Harussani Zakaria and his ilk, we are losing our true culture and heritage.