It has been some time since my last update here. I have been rather preoccupied with work, up to the point that whenever I did get the chance to turn on the computer, I would feel rather guilty if it was not work related. I know it's crazy, but the way work is (and I foresee it will continue for some time) now, it is a situation that is quite inevitable for the time being.
Road Trip to the NorthEvents in the last couple of weeks have been quite interesting. For instance, last week my family and I drove all the way to Jitra, Kedah for a special 'facts-finding' exercise. What facts were we looking for you might ask? Well, I am not in a position to disclose that fact for the time being. Suffice to say that it might transpire to be the highlight event for our family this year.
I have always loved going on long road trips, tiring they might be on the body and limbs. Due to the short notice of the trip, I wasn't able to apply for leave to extend our trip and had to contend for a return trip over the weekend. The drive to Jitra took about 6 hours (with an hour stop along the way at Tapah R&R), and I have to admit by the end of the return journey on Sunday night, I felt the sensation like I was on a boat at sea, the ground felt like it was rocking about. However, we still had a good time and it is on such long journeys that you get to bond with your loved ones. And such a great effect it had on me mentally as well. It took my mind off the mentally-draining thoughts of work completely, and although I felt screwed when I came into the office on Monday, it felt all worth the while nevertheless.
We stopped by Pekan Rabu in Alor Setar. Insyirah and I were waiting for the others who went window-shopping...
Malaysia's 12th General ElectionThe last couple of weeks also witnessed the build-up to Malaysia's 12th General Election, which took place today on the 8th March 2008. Campaigning leading to the General Election had been the highlight in Malaysia these last 2 weeks, and had dominated corridor talks and contents of e-mails sent in the office. It also showed some ugly nature of certain quarters in the campaigning process, showing that politics can be quite unbearable for the faint-hearted. I have to say neither the ruling party or the opposition are innocent when it comes to this, although the ruling party's unfair control of the media in Malaysia somewhat makes them the worst perpetrators.
Not getting as strong support this time around...
In Malaysia, the distinction between the government and the party that is in government is very blurred. The party that governs acts and behaves as though they have the ultimate right to be in government for eternity that they would do anything to remain there. And anybody who shows support to other political parties other than the ruling party will be regarded as ingrates and will have to face unfavorable consequences. The ruling party owns the media and controls them to their advantage, blocking, censoring and limiting the opposition from reaching the people. And the media in Malaysia has become the dogs of the ruling party to condemn and ostracise the opposition, that any Malaysian who is educated on the principles of democracy can't help but feeling sick with the propaganda that the media dishes out. Some of their contents have been blatant slander and selective soundbites, trying to make us believe the oppositions are the devils and not to be trusted. And how unfair that the oppositions never get to refute and reply all these allegations on national media. In Malaysia, the media IS the government, hence violating the rule for media independence.
When I first went to the UK in 1995, the Conservative party was the ruling party, but they had been a tired lot and the people of the UK seemed to have had enough of them after over 15 years of being in government. Of course, the nature of campaigning and the soundbites had been equally (if not more) vicious as in Malaysia when the UK had its General Election in 1997, but at least all the parties had fair access to the media to air their views and thoughts. And the people were left to make an informed choice. The media was NEVER controlled by the government, and civil servants don't get influenced to support the ruling party at every election. The ruling party is just a party that rules in government, meaning the people should have the informed right to replace them when necessary. In Malaysia if a civil servant is known to support the opposition, he will get cold storaged and that's the end of his career with the government. Isn't that stupid?
Anyway, results from the 12th General Election are trickling in as I am writing here. So far, there have been some shocking results like the losses of Samy Vellu, Shahrizat Jalil and Koh Tsu Koon for the ruling party. Results announced so far have also shown that the opposition might just take away Penang from the ruling party this time around, and Kelantan seemed to be heading towards a clean sweep for the opposition party as well. So much for ruling party's talk about taking Kelantan this time. Hah!
BN, you might have given the Malaysian people a lot over the last 50 years, but really you shouldn't have taken the political fight to this low and dirty level. The Malaysian people are getting more and more educated to stomach your slanderous and undemocratic control over the media and government, and so far the results of the election has shown some Malaysians have had enough. You might still win into government nevertheless, but the future for the party might be less certain.
