Moving Time
When I started blogging in 1999, it was on a black background with red text. People complained all the time to me about how awful it was on their eyes, but I was goth and goth people had to have some black and red somewhere.
To me, it was tasteful and appropriate, a shabbily put together homemade HTML website. It was my pride and joy. It was filled with angsty drawings, poems and pictures of myself with black lipstick and minimal clothing. And let's not forget all the depressing quotes, from equally depressing artistes.
Obviously, a lot has changed since then.
I first joined blogger in 2000, and have stayed with blogger since then. I think, I was one of the first few hundred people on blogger, only joining because my American chat friends had introduced blogging to Winnie and I at the time. It actually had an interface, and I didn't have to concern myself with much of the HTML. It was awesome.
I later moved on to meesh.net, still in use, it redirects you to this page but that used Moveable Type. After the demise of that familiar, white and orange page, I came back to blogger using my first URL, a very coveted meesh.blogspot.com, which has since been taken by another Michelle in a split second decision to update the settings.
Since then, I have made this URL my home in my sporadic, but timely return to blogging. I've since gotten into wordpress.com lately and I think I will be moving there. I'm no tech genius and I still don't think it's easy so I will no be importing my blogspot archives there, but these two blogs will remain on cyberspace to remind me of who I am, who I used to be and what I shouldn't be.
I welcome you to my new place on the Internet:
the meesh experience
posted by meesh @ 11:17 PM
14 Comments:
to me, wordpress is better than blogger although wordpress has its limitations. I have blog accounts with just about ANY single blog company out there. including 360 degrees from yahoo and wiki. i am sick kiasu person :-)
Discrimination in the private sector is everywhere. Even the Chinese businessman who is just starting gets discriminated against more established ones, unless he has a mentor to back him up.
As for career interviews, it is best to get a recommendation first. If I am using my own money, it is my right to choose whom I want - even to the extent of discrimination. Why would I want to hire someone that I cannot have lunch with, work with or converse with?
The BN government on the other hand is discriminating against the non-malays not with the malay money, but with probably the Chinese money as the latter pay the bulk of income tax collected in the country. That we are against.
Najib was jittery and hesitant when he commented, "I don't know" about the secrets deal. There are too many skeletons in the cabinet. Do you think all the defense contracts are clean?
Remember the one without the inclusion of spare parts? As long as the contracts are honored and no one is hurt, there would be no squealers and everything seems ok.
Only those who have dirty linen in their wardrobe will feel the heat now. I say, almost everyone in the cabinet has some form of dirty linen even the best soap can't help clean it. Malaysia to achieve Vision 2020? My foot eh! Our resources being robbed by our own people whom we have given trust to.
What Najib is showing is that he is a man of limited talent. He is dismissing things quickly because he can't handle it. There are many problems that he has to face now with the prime minister out of the country and he knows he is being tested. He is at his wits end to give a good answer to the issue.
The man is very limited not really comparable to his father. Remember he was basically a mediocre student that nearly dropped out of schools and had to transfer. His early career was basically an excuse to party and all the position he holds has never been remarkable in any way.
Crooked politicians will forever remain crooked. In Malaysia the reality is that crookedness in politicians is not only condone but they are decorated and awarded for their deeds. This happens only in Bolehland and Pak Lah is doing his utmost to preserve the status quo plus worse.
Malaysians suffer from the Sumatra smog every year for about 2 months but most are unaware of an even more sinister one pervading the whole country for 12 months a year. Right, it rears its ugly head once in a while but soon, apathy soon covers its track and the citizens goes back into its cocoon.
I say to all you Malaysians - time to wake up. Compare your poor lot to other countries and see how far you have been left behind! The BN politics are self serving and detrimental to the progress of the country as a whole.
But come voting time, everybody scare scare scare……….except for Lim Kit Siang and the lot.
Power and money are the two pillars that support corrupt politicians. When direct power is obviously gone, money has a strong motivating influence.
Having a shipload of skeletons and the lid is open, to expose a few more pieces for a few billion ringgit is worthwhile. This is especially so when decency is not in the dictionary of the greedy persons.
Malaysians have somewhat of a reputation as far as money flows overseas and crooked deals are concerned. Just "google" XXX scandal and you will be able to read some people in Malaysia have learned how to make use of banks overseas.
Stone-aged politicians who practiced narrow-mind mentality, for personal gains, should be sent out to Ghana.
(Malaysia gained independence at the same year as Ghana - some jokers said we should be happy, at least we are better than Ghana.)
Have they no shame? If they really believe that University Malaya is world-class, even God cannot help Malaysia!
So much anger so much disgust so much hatred vented by so many citizens. When will these gangsters running our country wake up?
Malaysians, I beg of you, vote wisely! Vote for our future and our future's future too!
Folks, I am not an opposition, I am a normal person, and I belong to no political party. I am very concerned about the welfare of my beloved country.
I always have great respect in people - not that he is from the opposition party. Nobody could have taken so much of insults from BN party and still hold steadfastly to his principles.
Truth is truth - nothing can change it. How it comes, and from where it comes, does not matter.
As the No. 1 leader in the country, Pak Lah must be a transformational leader, to weather off all the storms. Technology and globalisation bring along radical changes.
Malaysia cannot tell the world: You all go ahead, I can wait.
The waves of disruptive changes will drown all of us and make Malaysia one of the poorest countries in the world, if Pak Lah adopts this stand. (Nigeria is one such good example.)
After more than a year in office as premier of the country, my personal opinion about Pak Lah is: he has to be stronger. He must be fearless to institute changes, for the good of the country. He sure can silence all his critics, if he is sincere in doing the best for his country.
Otherwise, the opposition will one day become the ruling party, and BN will play the role of opposition.
So many living examples for BN - just look at our not-too-distant neighbours, India and Bangladesh.
Ruling party, opposition party……….they are frameworks but not an excuse - if we so love this country, beautiful Malaysia!
Education in Bolehland is a big joke. It is systematically being damaged, degraded, destroyed and impaired by the BN government ever since after Tunku. Why? So that the BN leaders kids can be comparatively better than common plebeians.
Why do you think they send their kids to overseas or private schools at a young age! They have no intention of sharing the rubbish education here period. Badawi like the big fool that he is blindly following it but christened it as his way. What joke!
Racism is an integral part of the Malaysia socio-political system.
Every year, there are stories of non-malay students with straight As who cannot attain scholarships or gain admission into local universities because of the racially discriminatory quota system.
Clearly, any affirmative action should be directed at the impoverished and marginalized communities such as the Orang Asli and all other communities in need - irrespective of their ethnicity. It is widely acknowledged especially by the ethnic minorities in Malaysia that the issue of racial discrimination and racism is the most critical yet unresolved problem in Malaysia society.
Today it is clear that beneath the normally tranquil surface of Malaysia society, dangerous tensions and the potential for violence still lurk.
Racism is also rampant in the Malaysia society, although many of us don't realise that some of the words we tend to use are forms of racism. And every race in Malaysia is guilty of this.
With such mindset, it is hardly surprising that violence does not erupt when racial issues are raised. But the solution is not the ISA or banning the public from talking about it. The key once again falls to education.
Without any effort to educate the public, how else does the government hope that the attitude and mindset of Malaysians are ever going to progress beyond racism and begin to learn to accept - not tolerate - each other differences?
We have to learn how to communicate without needing to insult each other because the differences of our skin color.
Although racial acceptance and integration takes time, steps have to be taken now, in view of the fact that racial polarisation has only worsened in recent years. The situation will only improve if we continue to lobby the government to change its policies such as the race-based affirmative action to a policy based on income brackets.
This is to ensure that only the most deserving people are given special privileges and it should not be provided only to the malays.
There are poor people from every race. It is illogical and unfair to continue to provide support to those in the middle and upper classes of our society over those in the lower income group. It is also obvious that if the minorities were the only people to lobby the government, the dream of racial equality would remain as it is - a dream.
Even the government must see that good reforms are viable and necessary for the future of this country and its people. Have we Malaysians got our priorities right?
To attract successful Malaysians from abroad, high pay and incentives were generously offered yet there were few if no takers. Instead of luring home those from abroad (most of whom left because of the unfair system which still exists), wouldn't it be better to offer scholarships to deserving cases irrespective of race, with a bond to serve upon graduation?
And if our government is prepared to offer lucrative pay and tempting incentives, why can't it liberalise its system of promotions to encourage deserving people to stay on? In a few years time, we would have enough doctors, engineers, scientists and so on.
I can understand Barisan Nasional's reasons for continuing their self-serving policies, but by going along and not complaining, I get the impression most of us have also lost our common sense.
Yes, which Islamic country in the world today is strong in technology science, R&D, literature, etc?
The answer is a big NONE!
Drop Islam and malays would be a better race!
I have mentioned in my posts that NEP is not constitutional and has extended its period beyond what has been planned to be necessary. 20 years has passed, but greed has set in.
Greed to benefits only a few and not the poverty stricken Malaysians. An affirmative policy that helps the poor regardless of race is needed.
I have also demonstrated that India has Muslim presidents despite being 80% Hindu. Similarly, in Australia there are Asian mayors. In America, New Zealand and many countries, top positions are for the capable not based on race or religion.
Now, let us not sweep all discussions under the carpet with the term Article 153.
Article 153 should always be interpreted together with Article 8 that all Malaysians must be dealt with fairly and treated as equal.
While the positions of the malays are respected and their heritage not forgotten, they are not meant to be the guardians of toll and wealth and collectors that usurp all money, oil and some natural resources till it is left dry.
It is important we publish this, so we do not just shiver when we hear Article 153, and begin to think of greedy ways to gain from another or use it to put down another races.
Article 153:
(1) The quotas reserved must be reasonable and the reservation of licences and permits for malays and natives must be of such proportion as may be deemed reasonable.
(2) The scope of the reservation of quotas is only with respect to positions in public service, scholarships, and other similar educational or training privileges accorded or given by the federal government.
(3) The special reservation of quotas must not affect the rights of other communities.
Apart from the provisions allowed under the abovementioned Article 153, all citizens of Malaysia must be treated as equal. This is clearly provided for under Article 8 of the Federal Constitution.
Article 8:
(1) All persons are equal before the law and entitled to the equal protection of the law.
(2) No public authority shall discriminate against any person on the ground that he is resident or carrying on business in any part of the federation outside the jurisdiction of the authority.
(3) There shall be no discrimination in favour of any person on the ground that he is a subject of the ruler of any state.
NEP: It will destroy the Malaysia.
We must demand these changes and the power is with the people. We must go against a corrupt government, a fanatic religious social structure and not accept crime rates and the NEP. We need to change Malaysia and the social structures that are not relevant for Malaysia anymore.
We need to free ourselves from these chains that make our lives not worth living.
Why do you think we are not capable to change Malaysia?
Umno is but a small machinery. In the past centuries, humankinds have abolished slavery, communism, Berlin Wall. We determine our destiny. We live in this system and we need to create awareness for people to wake up and change the system.
We need to voice dissent. We need to separate the good and evil. When we criticise laziness, incompetence, fanaticism and corruption, those who are good will come out of the system.
We then create a new system. Parties within Barisan Nasional begin to come out - MIC, MCA. Or leaders that follow the citizens cry, come out. When the good leaders are out, the party is but a wrecked evil not capable of any good and not getting the support of the people.
We then can begin to start anew. Debate policies and build a new Malaysia.
We are in the making of this. Already we are using forums and blogs to discuss what we want of Malaysia. When we debate this in parliament and in open forums, we will be so much closer when all the people want change.
Change is inevitable with globalisation. If not today then tomorrow.
We are Malaysians - we need one another and we can change Malaysia if we want it much. Let us live for Malaysia like the forefathers of Malaysia - the independence fighters who free Malaysia for the coming generations.
Lee Kuan Yew said recently the relationship between Malaysia and Singapore has not always been smooth sailing, and so investing in the Iskandar Development Region (IDR) may not always be smooth sailing for Singaporean companies.
This is simply a statement of fact that nevertheless appears to have gotten local Umno leaders into a tizzy.
Every local Umno politician hopes to be in a position to be approving investment flows into the country because to stand as gatekeeper is a very lucrative position, and when public squabbles erupt between Umno politicians about who is the better "protector of malay privileges and rights", it usually means someone just wants a bigger cut of the investment action for himself.
Go figure that one.
Of course, the relationship between Malaysia and Singapore is special because of the race relations issue.
Singapore has been the favourite whipping boy of the Umno-controlled malay vernacular press for the last 50 years, and if anything are seen as even bigger devils than the local Chinese and Indian citizens of Malaysia in the eyes of Malaysia's malay Muslims.
The fact is Singapore's development model has meant that Singapore's malays are far better educated, far better equipped, far better paid, far more self-confident, and self-reliant to deal with globalisation than malay Muslims in Malaysia.
This makes Ketuanan Melayu, the malay Agenda, and the NEP look like failed racist apartheid policies that have impoverished everyone except Umno cronies. Of course, Umno must demonise Singapore to maintain the illusion that Umno politicians are nationalists and not parasites, and more so if Singapore happens to be better educated, meritocratic, richer, and safer than Malaysia.
Malay Muslims in Malaysia have been brainwashed by Umno for the last 50 years into thinking that the Chinese and Indians both Malaysians and Singaporeans have gotten rich at their expense, and this perception probably won't change anytime soon because Umno does not have another elections winning formula if it dumps the present demonisation formulas.
Every time Singapore's first world achievements are compared with the sluggish technological, competitiveness, economic, educational, professional, scientific, and social standard in apartheid Malaysia, there is the predictable keris waving, baying for blood, and frothing at the mouth in every Umno up and down the country in Malaysia
Although Chinese and Indian Malaysians have simply accepted the gross racial discrimination in business, education, and job as a fact of life in Malaysia, the non-apartheid non-NEP meritocratic Singaporean mindset may not have the stomach for this particular type of nonsense in the IDR.
I think Lee Kuan Yew is way too smart to think the demonisation process of the Chinese and Indians in the Umno-controlled malay vernacular press is going to stop anytime soon. How else is Umno going to win elections except by continuing to perpetrate the lie that the orang asing minorities in Malaysia are a threat to the malays?
Nevertheless Lee Kuan Yew may be hoping Chinese and Indian Singaporean investors will not be discriminated against in the IDR in comparison with investors from countries like China, Europe, Hong Kong, India, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and United States.
In the meantime, I am sure it will simply be business as usual for the rest of us in racial and religious apartheid Malaysia.
Since the implementation of the meritocracy system, the percentage of malays accepted into local universities has increased every year. Do you believe that based on merit, the number of Chinese who qualify for university is lower than the number of malays?
If that is true, then the malays have improved by leaps and bounds, exceeding all the objectives of NEP.
But we only need to look at the PMR and SPM results to know that malay students lag far behind their Chinese counterparts. It is only when Chinese students take the STPM and the malay students take their matriculation examinations that suddenly, malay students become superior.
We live in a wonderful fairyland where ministers can say that the colour of milk is black and nobody dares to question it. Let us have the courage to face the truth, don't call an arbitrary system 'meritocracy'.
Stick to the previous quota system - at least the pitiful Chinese and Indian students will have a secure share of university places.
I wish to point out that the Orang Asli, not the malays, are the original inhabitants of Malaysia. Most of the malay Malaysians came from Sumatra and other parts of Indonesia. They only migrated here much earlier than the Chinese and Indian Malaysians. It does not mean they deserve privileges or rights just because they were the pioneer immigrants.
I applaud the non-malays who have kept quiet but are though uneasy over these special rights. You are true heroes, willing to show malays that you can succeed despite the odds. But neither I nor you should give up the right to be a first-class citizen of your country.
In fact there is nothing wrong in working hand in hand for the greater good of Malaysia. As for the malays who insist on hiding behind the veil of malay special rights - you have lost the respect of non-malays a long time ago.
Most non-malays I know come from low and middle income families. They struggled to save every sen. They like everyone else, spent their hard earned savings plus their EPF funds to educate their children. The poor ones can’t even do that as there is no one to help them. Can they ask for help from the government? Who represents these people?
It is arguable that if not for the contributions of the Chinese and Indian Malaysians who helped in the development of this country tremendously, Malaysia would probably be in same category like Indonesia or the Philippines, if not worst.
As for the writer's assumption that no other race has been more considerate, generous and kind of the needs of other people, I would encourage the writer to travel around the world and look at countries where the Chinese and Indians are minorities too.
The malay and others of the same mind should learn to stand on their own feet rather than claim for special privileges and rights. The world is becoming globalised and if they don't change their attitude, they will only become beggars in their own country.
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