Say no to Chin Peng the ‘former terrorist’, say yes to Communist China!

I applaud the decision by the Malaysian government to dismiss and not entertain any idea of allowing Chin Peng the ‘former terrorist’ to return to this country.

Government Will Not Allow Chin Peng To Return, Says Najib

PUTRAJAYA, May 27 (Bernama) — The Malaysian government will not allow former Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) leader Chin Peng to reside in the country.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the return of the former terrorist would lead to dissatisfaction among the people, especially those who fought the communists and families who lost their loved ones during the CPM’s revolt from 1948 to 1981 (known as the Emergency).

(Source: Bernama)

The government is absolutely right, many victims suffered during the communist insurgency, Chin Peng and his commandos killed many people in the past and they certainly do not deserve any consideration from us. No, I didn’t say that. Our very wise, informed and cultured Datuk Datuk Seri Utama Dr. Rais bin Yatim said that.

Several quarters and individuals, including Information, Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim, have opposed the idea.

“Chin Peng and his commandos killed many people in the past and they certainly do not deserve any consideration from us,” Rais had said.

“The communists abused this country and we had been shackled through killings and terrible actions committed by them,” he added.

(Source: 1Malaysia)

We should never allow Chin Peng to come back to Malaysia. Thanks to our sensitive Defence Minister Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for putting it in context.

Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had said his return would be an insult to the families of nearly 50,000 British colonial and government troops who died during the “Malayan Emergency”. (psst, the 50,000 figure is a crap is you ask me)

But I have some disturbing questions.

1. Isn’t Chin Peng was just a puppet for the Chinese Communist Party? His party, Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) was supported by its China main counterpart throughout their four decades in Malaysia. My question is, why punish the puppet, but not the master? Obviously we should punish China!

Let’s severe our all our diplomatic and bilateral ties with China to show our sensitive considerations to the suffering families that went through killings and terrible actions committed by the communists. Let’s show them Malaysia is serious about its past history, goddammit!

2. If I am not mistaken, China is ruled by Communist Party of China (CPC). So, let me get this right, China is ruled by a bunch of communists and why the hell we are courting them now? What happened to ‘the communist abused this country’ and ‘they certainly do not deserve any consideration from us?‘

What is our beloved Prime Minister doing frolicking in China then? Is he not worry that his visit would lead to dissatisfaction among the people, especially those who fought the communists and families who lost their loved ones?

I repeat, let’s severe our all our diplomatic and bilateral ties with China to show our sensitive considerations to the suffering families that went through killings and terrible actions committed by the communists. Let’s show them Malaysia is serious about its past history, goddammit

3. If I remember correctly, the British and Japanese  also killed a lot of people during their occupation of Malaya no? The British sure killed and injured a lot of people back then.  Remember the fights by Tok Janggut, Dato’ Bahaman, Mat Kilau, Maharaja Lela? I bet my last cent the British killed more people here during their occupation compared to the emergency period.

How about the war crimes and astrocities the Japanese commited against the people of Malaya during World War II? Wait, did the communists kill less people than them?

Let’s severe all our diplomatic and bilateral ties with Japan and British (now Great Britain) to show our sensitive considerations to the suffering families that went through killings and terrible actions committed by the Japanese. Let’s show them Malaysia is serious about its past history, goddammit!

Well, I do not agree and I don’t really care if Chin Peng was a freedom fighter, but that’s beside the point. Just how much longer we want to live in the shadows of the past? May 13th, Malaya Emergency etc. often quoted by our leaders to ‘remind’ us, about what? You should know better. Selective issues, don’t you think? Why it is only Chin Peng not allowed to come back to Malaysia? How about other CPM leaders?

Conclusion: Only in Malaysia, it would seem like history has to dictate how we we live tomorrow. Rather sad.

ps: I am sure Chin Peng was not a freedom fighter. He’s taking arms for fun, just like how I shoot people for fun at my Counter Strike game. Okay, Let 4 Dead lah, nobody play CS now. Okay, bad joke.

pss: What is this ‘my father’, ‘my father’ and ‘my father’ crap keep repeated by Najib? He has no backbone to stand on his own? To claim his own credit, other that relying on his father’s name?

Hear my dream, Permatang Pauh…

This Thursday 45 years ago, in what is still considered until today to be the definitive moment of the American Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King, Jr spoke his dream from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

The speech which I first heard as twenty year old year in university left me teary-eyed because for the first time in my life I had to face racial polarisation which I never had to in school or in the neighbourhood where I grew up.

The first few months in my campus surroundings left me terribly disheartened because I was expected to hang out with only “my own kind” and my seniors would express disapproval if I mingled a little too closely with a person of another ethnicity.

Things have not changed since I left university. If anything, it has only gotten worse. “Sifat Toleransi” actively promoted by the BN government in the education system has only left us superficially united.

In my book the word tolerate is probably one of the more despicable words because to tolerate means “to put up with”, “to stomach” or “to endure” something one would otherwise never be quite at ease with. Not a good thing when I have tolerate my fellow countrymen – how can we be united if we have to stomach and put up with one another’s differences?

Barisan Nasional Neraka has done this to us through their many divide and rule policies which have caused us to view one another with distrust and wariness.

Just yesterday I met a fellow “my kind” who thought the only way Malaysia can be saved is through a violent movement in reminiscent of demagogues launched by megalomaniacs like Hitler. I spent a good hour giving him a dressing down: enlightening the guy – telling  him the way he thinks very clearly  shows that he too is a successful product of evil BN policies and propaganda.

Trust me, there are many out there who still think like him.

Anwar Ibrahim promises Ketuanan Rakyat will replace Ketuanan Melayu when Pakatan Rakyat becomes the government. While the politicians of the BN kind are spewing hate at every chance they got, I was deeply touched when I heard Anwar speak “Anak Melayu, anak kita, anak Cina… anak kita, anak India… pun anak kita. Mengapa harus kita bezakan?”

Of course like you, I too have heard things about him, what Anwar did when he was part of the dreadful BN. But I believe while every man has a past, he also has a future.  Six years in prison: away from loved ones and the public eye must have given Anwar much time to think of and ponder on his past sins. I believe the Anwar Ibrahim we see and hear today is indeed a changed man,  and that he is the one who can bring about the changes and reforms Malaysia so desperately needs for survival.

Today, the 58, 000 plus voters of Permatang Pauh have the magnanimous task of deciding Malaysia’s future! As Martin Luther King, Jr shared his dream with his fellow Americans, I too would like to share my little dream with the people of Permatang Pauh (and you).

I dream of the day when we will cease to exist as Malays, Chinese, Indians or “dan lain-lain” but for us to truly be united as Bangsa Malaysia.

I dream of the day when all Malaysian citizens will consciously work to encourage national integration while mutually respecting and loving one another.

I dream of the day when Malaysians will not view another with doubt and suspicion but to stand guard against every form of extremism, chauvinism, racism and isolation.

I dream of the day when colour of skin will not matter, ethnicity will not matter and religious affiliation will not matter.

I dream of the day when the same treatment and opportunities will be accorded equally to every Malaysian with no marginalisation of any ethnic race.

I dream of the day when political parties will truly serve Malaysia: the nation, and not themselves or their members with leaders who will rule over the land honestly with integrity, wisdom in financial management and honest stewardship of all things that has been entrusted to them by the people of Malaysia.

I dream of the day when a national commitment is implemented to expose and remove corrupted individuals and may their positions be replaced by people of good standing who are willing to serve the country well while performing their duties effectively.

I dream of the day when transparency, integrity and impartiality will not be mere words used to “colour” outwardly impressive political speeches but to honestly be used in every good judgment for excellent governance of our beloved nation.

Permatang Pauh, I pray for a just outcome of the by election: I pray you will set aside every prejudice, every preconception and vote in all honesty from your heart… for what is best (right now) for Malaysia: She has suffered so much, our nation, our beautiful motherland.

I am in an emotional mood right now but before I go, let me share a simple chorus from one of my favourite songs…

Hear our prayer

Oh Lord, God Almighty

Come heal our land

As we seek you, worship you

Lord, I pray you will restore and recompense all that we have lost in the past. I pray tonight we will see the birth of a Better Malaysia. Amen!

An-War (End-War) by Zen T and DJ Satori C

Click here for more information about this video.

Food crisis? Who is at fault?

The Economist lately have an interesting debate on food crisis.

I feel socially obliged to comment about this. Walden Bello has written a comprehensive article ‘Manufacturing a Food Crisis’, for June 2, 2008th edition of The Nation.

Summarising Mexico’s problem as an example; pointed out by Walden Bello, “Mexico was a net corn exporter before Mexico submitted herself to free trade alliance with North America. Due to its free trade pact, it was gradually reduced into a net corn importer; the local farmers could not compete with North Americans subsidised import (25% state subsidy). IMF and the World Bank made sure that Mexico did comply with the conditions of free trade while conveniently ignoring North American subsided corn. Mexican farmers were forced out of business, and Mexico became highly dependent on American corn trade.”

To further add on, on my part. The world has one less producer each time because of oxymoronic bias free-trade, thus making food prices more volatile with less dependable food sources. Higher prices didn’t benefit the Mexican corn farmers because when it happened, NAFTA has already destroyed its local farm communities, benefiting only the elitist northern neighbour not its poor corn farmers.

Again Walden Bello pointed out that ‘in Malawi, the nation had a surplus of corn, however IMF insisted that the Malawian government should sell of its corn surplus (including its grain reserve) to service its (Malawi’s) debt. When famine occurred in 2001-2002, 1500 Malawians perished as its stockpile was depleted from its obligation induced export!’

If the food price continues to increase, what will guarantee that other nations will not suffer the same fate experienced by the Malawians, if IMF still insists that third world nations should service their debt by selling their valuable stockpile of agricultural commodity to nations that have obesity to worry about. High food prices will continue to plague poor nations with food insecurity, as long as IMF continues with its biased and skewed interference. All it takes is one bad harvest and poor nations will go into famine, having to seek out foreign food aid again, then having to service its food debt again by selling its valuable stockpile. High food prices will work in an ideal free market world, but the world is not ideal.

Of course, India’s agricultural system is not perfect, but to ask India to conform to the standards of Western bloc’s skewed free trade is equivalent to suicidal. Local farmers will be forced out of business by subsidised Western products (European subsidy accounts to 40% as quoted from The Nation). This again might exacerbate the food crisis. Of course, bigger and more efficient companies can replace smaller local farmers, but this is again if and only if IMF and the World bank do not interfere. Taking the Philippines as an example, as Wallen Bello from the Nation pointed out again, ‘both IMF and the World bank insisted the Philippines government to make repayment of $26 billion debt a priority. The government complied but at the cost of reduced agricultural expenditure and support. These factors caused the agricultural infrastructure to deteriorate, further impoverishing the poor. Due to poor agricultural infrastructure, multinational companies did not dare to invest in its agricultural industry contrary to the beliefs of IMF and the World bank.’

To say free market can resolve the food crisis due to high price while ignoring the fact that there are other (Western induced) variables distorting the benefits of free trade is not completely justified.

No doubt India, China and Indonesia account for 1.7 billion of the poor that benefited from high price of food products from the market economy, closing the gap between the poor farmers and the well-of middle to rich class. But regardless of the price of agricultural products, these three countries will not starve anyway, however, other less fortunate third world countries apart from India, China and Indonesia are less fortunate. High price of food is almost synonymous to famine for them. The benefits of market economy are in my opinion mere by-products (sugar coating) of sound governmental policies.