Difference between Guantanamo Bay and Kamunting?

I don’t feel the mood to blog today, but I am very amused when I read an article on The Star portal. Reproducing this article from The Star Online, dated January 26, 2009:

“On a separate matter, Syed Hamid said the American-run Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba should not be compared to the Kamunting detention camp for Internal Security Act detainees.

Those of you who kept track of the world news, you would know that Obama, the first black President of the United States of America, has pledged to close down the controversial Guantanamo (pronounced ‘HUAN-TA-NA-MO’) Bay prison in Cuba.

So why Guantanamo Bay is different from Kamunting?

The most important one is geographical difference. According to Datuk, “unlike Kamunting, Guantanamo Bay is located on an island“. (This must be the darndest thing our minister has ever said.)

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P/S: Of course, I agree with the other point that Datuk raised, “Detainees in Guantanamo Bay have their legs shackled even when they are out for exercise,” because in Kamunting, everything is better. I just wonder why would Datuk had quoted geographical difference FIRST. Hmm….

Winson is arrested under draconian ISA till Nov 13

Dear readers and friends,

Winson Lee has been arrested under ISA until November 13. He is arrested under Internal Study Act 2008, for wanting to topple the IB government.

At time of press, he still has 43 days to his final IB exams. 43 seems like a lot, but please do not be fooled because there are SIX subjects to be revised, studied, understood, memorised! He has self-imposed November 13 as a deadline for his government-toppling act.

He is putting himself on self-imposed ISA, and thus has to refrain from blogging or have any life until November 13. November 14 will be the day of reckoning because it is post-IB!!!! The “Pakatan Rakyat Selepas IB” government will be in power!!!

*To put this into record, yes, he is aiming for a very high score in IB, God-willing, high enough to allow him to enter those unis he is applying for. Oxford is one.

He is super excited to start studying. It has never dawned on him before that studying is so exciting. He means it seriously, no joke! Studying for SPM was dull, but studying for IB is mega mega exciting. 43 days left, 6 subjects, RM50000++ k at stake, Oxford MIT Princeton Stanford at stake, his entire student career is banking on this exam.

Even if Datuk Seri Anwar takes over as PM of Malaysia, Winson cannot be bothered because IB exam is more important. He will talk about Malaysian politics after November 13, when the government of IB is toppled by Opposition Leader Winson Lee. That time, all IB parlimentarians will be defecting to “Pakatan Rakyat Selepas IB”, he will call for a vote of no confidence against the IB Prime Minister Mr Jonathan Shaw.

He will then form his “Pakatan Rakyat Selepas IB” government with his computer minister Nathaniel, who will get him a new computer, and his trade ministers Jonathan and Riza, who will assist him in starting up a online T-shirt business. He hopes his ministers will not swap portfolio with him, nor resign due to unfulfilled reforms. Winson believes in working with his component parties ALEEMAH to bring a better future.

No more corruption.

One excited Winson supporter was quoted, “Winson will be arrested under the ISA until Nov 13, where on November 14 he will form the new government of Pakatan Rakyat Selepas IB. Reformasi!!!”

Malaysia is a nice place… really

This is my first post on politics. I have no intention of stirring up emotions or shooting anyone, just writing to remind all fellow Malaysians about one fact: Malaysia is a nice place… really.

Happy Malaysia Day

These few days have been really trying for me and all fellow Malaysians. Just a recap of what happened the last few days in Malaysia:

1) Today: The PM and Deputy PM have swapped portfolios. The PM is now the PM cum Defence Minister, and the Deputy PM is now the Finance Minister. This swap is symbolic, I believe, because it might pave the way for a power transition from Datuk Seri Abdullah AB to Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

2) Today: SAPP is officially out from BN (National Front), who have governed Malaysia for the last 50 years. It is interesting to note that SAPP prefers to remain an independent party while “waiting to be back in the government.”

3) Teresa Kok, Seputeh MP; Raja Petra, Malaysia Today editor; and Tan Hoon Cheng, Sin Chew Daily reporter were arrested under Internal Security Act (ISA), deemed draconian by many opposing parties. *Apparently, Draco was a Roman/Athenian dude who introduced cruel laws during his term in public office, hence the term draconian laws.

4) Datuk Ahmad Ismail, Penang UMNO chief, was slapped with a 3-year suspension from UMNO due to his Chinese-are-squatters remark.

5) Sept 16 remained Malaysia Day. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s aim of taking over the Federal Government by Sept 16 did not materialise.

6) Malaysia’s KLCI index is hitting the 1000 mark, which is, in my opinion, a very bad sign of investors’ confidence in Malaysian market.

I grew up in Malaysia for the past 19 years and I just have to say this, I love my country very much despite of all the political uncertainty, character assassination, and internal bickering. I love our culture and our rich heritage. I love ketupat, muruku, and moon cake.

As part of the younger generation, we look forward to the day where people can live together under one roof without fear of racial riot due to some silly statements by some bigot.

We hope for a nation where we can call home without being labeled squatters or second-class citizens.

We hope for a nation where we can contribute our talent and skill to develop our resources for the advancement of our country.

We hope for more ministers who are willing to stand up for their conscience and principles.

We hope for a better Malaysia, a Malaysia that we can call home without doubt.

50 years have passed, have we outgrown racism in Malaysia? I don’t know.

50 years have passed, have we outgrown economic and social discrimination? I don’t know.

50 years have passed, have we outgrown high-place corruption? I don’t know.

50 years have passed, have we outgrown a Third-World mentality? I don’t know.

50 years have passed, is Malaysia still a nice place to live in? Yes, with fullest conviction and pride.