July 9th.

Most of you should already know by now what July 9th is all about. If you don’t, then you probably know nothing about this country you’re living in (if you are a Malaysian). It’s sad to know that over 50 years into gaining independence, we still have to come up with such activities and chaos has to be triggered to get our voices heard. Minority voices. Voices some people think are insignificant just because the amount is little, but would make a huge difference when it comes to the polls.

What I do not understand is why the government and the police force have to lock those with BERSIH T-Shirts up. What I can’t comprehend is why they are so afraid of this rally taking place, when the objectives of the entire event are simple; the people want fair and just elections. No more double standards, no more tricks and dirty work. Isn’t that what the government should be proposing as well? If the government is against this event, then is the government sending out the message that they are not in favour of fair and just elections?

Democracy means the people should have the right to speak out, to determine what they want for their country. But now it seems like we are living under dictatorship. Why are the opinions and thoughts of citizens of Malaysia placed into a healthy event – a threat to the nation? The intention is never to start a war, or to jeopardise the harmonious environment that we currently live in. It is just a form of getting the eyes and ears of people to see and listen, what they have to say. And I would say it’s actually very fair, they are not demanding for double standards being turned the other way round, they are not asking for special rights to be reversed the other way round.

It is just ridiculous when you just grab people off the streets and throw them into jail because they chose to wear a T-Shirt of something they support. Whatever happened to human rights? If the government decides that Nike-branded items are a threat to the national economy, whoever seen wearing a Nike merchandise will have to be put into jail as well?

I hope nobody gets hurt in the rally and politics in our country change for the better. Tough luck, but not impossible. Not likely, but it could be reality someday. As long as the people are aware of what is really happening in this country we call our home, and we are not afraid of standing up for what we believe in. Also, do not forget to practise your rights.

Women today.

Recently I came across a few news articles about women today. There is an association called the Obedient Wives Club in Malaysia. Even the name itself sounds completely ludicrous and you wouldn’t believe what they have to say about women and wives today. The club calls for all women who are wives to serve, obey, and entertain their husbands. Not only it is debasing to the women, but the men as well. A dog obeys its master. A maid serves his/her boss. A singer entertains. So are they saying a wife should be all three of those mentioned?

Apparently they are set to provide tips to other women on how to keep their husbands contented. Apart from the “responsibilities” of a good wife such as cooking, cleaning, washing, taking care of the children and the household – she now also has to obey every demand her husband wants, as well as dress up in sexy clothes and welcome her husband with an alluring smile when he comes home. Really? I mean, seriously? I really wish they were joking, an April Fools’ joke two months late.

One of them even suggested that if a wife is abused by her husband, it is probably because she did not obey her husband. Source: link. How can someone even propose anything like that, that domestic violence and abuse arise because of the women? Because they must provide sex and any other demands their husbands may have no matter what, day or night, shine or rain? It is not about sexism anymore, it is about human rights. Even maids do not have to obey his/her bosses to that extent.

It saddens me to know that there are still women who think that a woman’s purpose in this world is to serve men. It never should have been that way a century ago, it most certainly should not be that way today. After all the hard work so many women have done to prove that both men and women can be equally capable – then people like them go around saying something so incongruous  like this. It’s a shame, really.

They claim that if a man has a satisfying sex life at home, he will not stray outside with prostitutes or other women. Well, if your man strays, then you leave. What is so difficult about that? A woman can survive on her own, a woman can feed herself without a man. They make it seem as though every woman has to have a man and she will have to do whatever it takes to keep him. And, it is not just the sex that keeps a relationship afloat.

Maybe it is their obsession about finding all these ridiculous ways to keep their husbands that is driving them away. Could be, no? A marriage is about respect and love. Where is the respect if the woman has to portray herself in such a way, by making herself look so cheap and vulnerable? I know the Islam religion allows a man to marry up to four different women, but if your husband wants to marry someone else – you are either okay with it or you get out of it. No two way about it.

Do you think that just because you are clad in a lace bra and panties in your bedroom, your already unfaithful husband will suddenly have his eyes on only you? A leopard cannot change its spots and a marriage takes two hands to clap – the husband will have to put in just as much effort to make it work.

Another article on the same issue really annoyed me as well. “When a wife does not fulfil the needs of her husband, including sex, the husband will be inclined to find a ‘naughtier’ one outside,” she said. Source: link. Why are these women making it all about the husbands? Why is the husband naughty in the first place, no one is as curious as me here? If you are in a marriage where you are supposed to commit yourselves to each other and your husband can’t seem to do so, then he’s not a keeper now is he? These women make it seem as though once they get married, they are bound to be slaves till death.

On an unrelated matter but similar, this woman suggests and encourages sex slavery. Her reason? To prevent adultery. Source: link. Is it just me or are the women today becoming more stupid? And – she sees no problem in that, no problem at all. How would she like it if her very own daughter were to be put up for sex slavery? How can she even let it cross her mind, such unbelievable suggestion. So instead of just die of hunger, why don’t you become a sex slave? At least you will still be alive?

Honestly, all of these are so preposterous and outrageous I’m running out of words to describe my feelings towards them. If you agree with even either one of the above issues mentioned, you should be ashamed of yourself. Very ashamed. I suggest you do not even discuss your opinions with anyone else but yourself, and find a hole to bury yourself for a decade.

U R MY BRO – Invitational tournament – 24th April 2011

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**Last photo is not mine.

If you follow my updates on Twitter, you probably came across my updates regarding this topic. The boys were one of the chosen top 16 teams in Malaysia to take part in this invitation-only tournament on the 24th April. It was indeed a great opportunity because all the greatest teams in the country were there to take part and it was a great chance to see where they stand nationally.

The tournament took place at De Stadium, Subang. Something totally irrelevant: I think Subang has way too many traffic lights! If the amount were to be reduced by half, the time spent on the journey in and out of Subang will be reduced by half too!

Back to the topic, the boys did not win but I think they gave their best shot at it. I was there to watch them play and the other teams were really, really good. The team that won first place was the team U R MY BRO played in their very first round, their first game of the entire tournament. Winning is not everything, wanting to win and working hard towards that goal is what is important.

However I think the tournament was not very well planned. Only two courts were in use, and there were 16 teams. Each game was 20 minutes long. Every team had to wait for at least an hour before their next game could take place. That’s a little unfair if you ask me, not only for the players but also to the people who were there as supporters

But seriously, an hour is a long time. Players get lethargic or lose their momentum because you play for 20 minutes then you do nothing for an hour and your body starts to slow down then you expect it to pick up pace again for another 20 minutes and so on (repeat process for at least three times).

I can’t remember which tournament was it but there was one which I attended and the organising team was superb. Many courts were in use, referees were skilled and fair, every team got to their next game within half an hour. That way your process is swift and efficient, you also keep the players in the game.

Oh, not forgetting, we saw a stranger wearing a U R MY BRO shirt! It was awkward at first, wondering how did he get hold of the shirt. A little fan club going on there, ey?

**Been changing themes, I really like this one! Might stick to this for a while

Talking politics.

I recently came across a Twitter user who responded to one of my frequent article attachments regarding the political condition we have here in Malaysia. As I went through his very few updates, I read one which prompted me to come up with this post. It went like this: sangat tipis peluang MCA kawasan majority Cina.cuma harap undi Melayu,kawasan majority Melayu. 

Another reference: link.

I think what many people (probably including most politicians as well) fail to see is that most Malaysians are not voting based on the race facet. They are not choosing who to win the elections in relation to skin colour or religion. UMNO, MCA, MIC are considered as one because they are the government. So when people choose, it’s either they are in support of the government or they are not. So when a Chinese or an Indian does not support MCA and MIC respectively – it does not mean they are not supporting their own races. It means they are not in favour of what the government is doing, how it is functioning.

I’m not here to diss the Malaysian government neither am I going to praise them. What I’d like to do is point out hard facts, facts that nobody can deny and it will not raise controversies because they are well, facts.

Singapore is the perfect example. Most of you should know that Singapore was once a part of Malaysia. Horrible events took place in between and Singapore became Republic of Singapore in 1965, having cut merger ties with Malaysia. Now let’s just see how advanced and developed Singapore is now – compared to Malaysia. We became independent countries (meaning no longer attached) at the same time so it was a fair game.

When such an issue was raised, certain Malaysian politicians could only give a respond like this – it is not fair to compare because Singapore is a much smaller country to manage. Which is absurd really, because it is whether you want to see it happen or you simply do not care. If that really is the case, let’s just say yes – Malaysia is really massive and it is too much to handle – then why don’t start with one state at a time? If we would have started since 1965, imagine how developed Malaysia would be now? You can clearly tell the differences in the management.

This is something I picked off a news article on MalaysiaKini:

Genuine multiracial Malaysia is not possible and can never be ready. It was not ready 50 years ago, it is not ready now and if will never be ready for the next 100 years. How can it ever be, when racism is being inculcated and accentuated day in and day out. (link)

On another note, Malaysians above 21 should register themselves as a voter. There is no point criticising the system and making complaints, leaving trails everywhere on social networks but you do not practise this right that is given to you. It is a simple procedure and it’s not going to take a lifetime. Register yourself and then show up on the designated date to cast your votes. That’s all.

To kill, or not to kill.

For drug smuggling in Malaysia, the penalty is a death sentence. I can see the magnitude and weightiness in hauling drugs and distributing them illicitly conversely I find the death sentence a little too much. The law is after all, man-made. Who are we to resolve which one of us gets to live and who must die?

What do you think? To kill, or not to kill?

On the contrary, rapists and murderers do not get the death penalty. They are sentenced to jail terms usually no longer than 20 years. Don’t you see the ridicule in that, people who take away the innocence and lives of others get to see daylight again someday? Some don’t even have to wait longer than a decade, which is absolutely outlandish.

Nonetheless I do not think that they deserve death. I just think the duration of the jail verdict should be elongated. A very wise man once said, an eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind (Gandhi). So even if a person has killed, it does not give us the right to take a life away. We are in no position of doing so.

Do you really think killing is the answer? Killing is supposed to be inhumane.

How about lethal injection, is it more humane than hanging? I don’t know, it is still killing, is it not? Back in the olden days (I’m saying really really old, like centuries ago), and in some parts of the world, people did whatever they feel is right to chastise those who have committed felony. For adultery, I think the Chinese used to tie people up, lock them up in a basket and leave them to drown in the river/sea.

Even now, some places practise very vicious directives. People who steal lose an arm, people who have premarital sex are stoned to death. Those, are only to name a few. I think at such time and age of the world, people ought to be more, how do I say this.. more cultured. All these killing and torture in the name of justice really doesn’t hold up.

What’s wrong with a life-sentence?

Yes maybe we will soon run out of space and will be forced to build more prisons to lodge so many inmates and the population will only augment but I think that should not be a crisis. We’re wasting so much of land for commercial purposes anyway, am I not right? No matter how bad a person’s doing is, I believe no one deserves to die. We do not have a say in that.

I recently read an article on how this guy imprisoned his own wife in a cellar in their home for 16 years while he lived with another woman. And you know what the police think? He could face jail sentence up to 8 years. I don’t know, is this some kind of a joke?

So yes, we can ascertain whether a person has done wrong according to the legal system but I do not think any of us should be given the right to establish on whether one gets to live or not.

Wild.

As I was having my daily news reading online, I came across an article with the title “She was a wild girl”. That statement was made by a man accused of rape (& I think convicted), on the girl he raped. Which is absurd really, because did she have a note on her forehead that said “WILD, rape me!“?

What exactly is “wild”? Because different people will have different views on that one word and they could be so different like chalk and cheese. Some parents think that youngsters who are out every night are wild. Others think that teenagers who smoke and ride bikes are wild.

Now this man here thinks that wild girls love sex (or getting raped). It’s so ridiculous when people use words that sound so simple yet when you ask them to define those words, they are speechless. They say it’s hard to explain. Well then you shouldn’t be using words that you don’t understand entirely now, should you?

If you think people who enjoy sex are wild, maybe you’re a little, old-fashioned? I mean, sex is not a dirty thing. I don’t get why it is such a taboo topic among most Malaysians. It is a part of life, something natural. It could be done out of love, out of passion, out of desire. Sometimes out of too much alcohol too but that’s not the point here.

If you think people who are always out at night are wild, well a person has to eat don’t you think? And if a person enjoys having a good time with his/her friends, what is wrong with that? As long as they’re not getting wasted or getting high, or doing anything illegal for that matter, I see no issue here.

If you think people who smoke, drink, and/or drive fast cars are wild; what can I say. They could be good people too you know? You cannot judge a person simply based on their likings or activities. Imagine you only have one pair of pants to wear today because others are all being washed and that is your least favourite one because it does not flatter you.

You wear it out anyway because it’s better than just going with your undies and people just assume that you’re unfashionable or you’re someone who doesn’t give a care about your appearance. It’s the exact same thing. Everyone has a bad hair day every once in a while, it’s unjust to claim someone has ugly hair because of one particular day.

Practise your right, because it makes a difference.

Considering I turned 21 this year, most of my peers (especially from school) are of the same age and although most people relate that to finally being legal, it also means we are able to vote in Malaysia. Many don’t see the importance of having our voices heard (not literally) and it baffles me as to how some can say they are too busy or there’s simply no point in doing so because the government always wins.

That’s pure, plain ignorance and it actually shows how much the people have actually progressed mentally. It is like offering someone an ice cream but that person doesn’t want it because he/she is simply to lazy to walk a few steps to actually grab hold of it. And as to how one can think it serves no benefit to the citizens – leaves me speechless. As many of you already know, our governing system does have a few flaws but it still allows every citizen the right to make a choice. And that is a standardised option among everyone, no double-standards here.

It doesn’t take much time to register yourself as a voter, just head to the nearest post office and the process takes less than 15 minutes to complete. It is so simple yet some are just too lazy. And when it comes to voting, every single one counts so do not vote blindly. Make sure you know what you are doing and what’s going on in the country because you don’t want the wrong people to end up ruling the country.

Some would say Malaysia has very interesting political issues because it seems like everyday you turn on the news or read the papers, there is always something new happening among the politicians or between political parties. Some are out for personal gains, while there are a few who are genuinely out to help the people. Which is why every adult (above 21) should be making use of the voting rights they have been given.

If a thousand people think that one vote will not make a change, that’s a 1000 votes. Every vote counts, people.