Mediocre Minds in Power

The Minister of Education decided to limit the number of subjects student can take, the controversial issue which had reached a tipping point recently following the inability of some self-proclaimed top student to obtain the Public Service Department scholarships.

This policy is to be enforced, despite countless effort by some enlightened citizens to explain to this minister that it is the award process of the scholarship that should be scrutinized and thus rectified, not the number of subjects a student take in the exam. But apparently our minister had his causal relations messed up.

A Parable from an Ex-Prefect (the Problem Edition)

During my high school years in public school (Grade 7 to 11), I was one of the “privileged few” to clad in exquisite blue uniform and dark blue blazer as a “Prefect”, a member of the Prefectorial Board (the “board”). In hindsight, it was one of the most notorious organization I had ever associated myself with. Another being my local orchestra where I played the violin, but that’s another post altogether.

The fact that I am writing about this now (after so many years since my disassociation with the organization upon my graduation) is an apt introduction to its notoriety. The accumulated sighs within my bosom begged release after years of having that threatening shadow looming above my head. No one was to engage in any forms of internal squabbles, so warned the various head prefects year after year, which really was another way of saying no one was to criticize the board and the leadership. Or there will be “dire consequences”, they added in an unapologetically fascist tone.

An Open Letter to a Stranger

The author has acquired a new habit lately – talking to and getting acquainted with random strangers. His latest and most memorable conversation was with a salesman who possesses the wisdom to question the status quo.

This open letter is a dedication to Jun from SEED at Mid Valley.

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Now, who can make a difference?

Today my rolling eyes were stopped abruptly, like a car before a traffic light that suddenly turns red, by an article that appeared on The Sun “High Accident Rate a Headache: Tee Keat”. The new Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat suggested that the problem of road accidents is a headache for him. And he advised Malaysians to change their attitude.

All the World’s A Stage

And all the men and women merely players. – William Shakespeare

For the past few days it has been a lot of drama, beginning with the advent of the stupefying BN downfall and the unprecedented sense of empowerment to stand up against any callous authority among the people. In the own words of William Shakespeare, life is a play and we are all actors on the stage.

The People have Spoken

Now, if I could say that like how the host of Survivor say “The tribe has spoken”, that dramatize things even further.

Trivia aside, it is official. The BN has been denied the 2/3 majority. Not 1, 2, 3 nor 4, but FIVE states have fallen into the hands of the opposition parties, namely Penang, Selangor, Perak, Kelantan, and Kedah. Big names have unexpectedly lost, including Koh Tsu Koon, Samy Vellu, and Shahrizhat. (which brought me so much excitement!)

What is the Real Reason I am not OK with the Government?

To put it simply, I have a devouring reproachful acrimony toward the ruling government of Malaysia. I do not have the “I Love BN/Pak Lah” sticker on the car. And I have long decided that my attempt to boost my social life will never go as near as filling up a membership form of the “Pak Lah Fan Club”. Also, I had since shunned The Star, the people’s government’s paper, whose portrayal of the government as the holiest group of people in the country does not seem to work on me.