There are many reasons for me to ask my readers to 'read wisely'. One of them is because I think a lot before I post anything up here, so that is why it takes a lot of time for me to 'update' on something new. Another reason is, I don't give out straightforwardly what I wanted to say, but I will highlight my thoughts in a moderate point of view. In another way, my blog is not a textbook and neither is it a loud political blog. It's just a mere blog.I've reminded my readers about this many times before (see this). That's why it took me at least two years to publish anything that is mind hijacking, and if it is, in a very minimal way.
SO I GUESS 'Demonstrasi Demokrasi' (read here) is just another very minimalised, simplified and a more conclusive version of what has been published all over the Internet, related books and magazines publications and even the mainstream media. Those who find the views in the article new and 'offensive' to them clearly have not been getting any exposures -- the broader ones -- while claiming that they have known everything just by 'reading the newspapers'.
Some have gone far by claiming that I 'don't read history', though I know these people would have cats biting their tongues if asked which part of the Constitution bears the rights and supremacy of the Malays, or freedom for practicing religion. These people will also be the same people who will answer '31 Ogos 1957' when asked when the Federation of Malaysia was formed. And of course, they will think that the main member of ruling coalition alone has 'fought' and 'achieved' the Independence from the British after the Second World War. Typical, typical.
Or am I wrong? Correct me then!
If you're going to argue with the KBSM Sejarah textbooks, then be my guest and you can go on being an SPM candidate all over again. If you're going to argue with a non-marginalized, unaltered, not prone to one-sided propaganda version of Malaysian history, then I am all-out to hear more from you.
Yes, dear, our country's rich history is being manipulated heavily. History is always written by those who win, and this is not even Da Vinci Code. It's a real-life scenario. While it is made to be boring in class, history is very important as another form of identity towards nation-building. But it needs to abide by somebody's interests somehow. In a way, it's a cluster of chosen facts of our past.
So, now, how old is our nation's freedom again? Fifty? Or is it, forty-four? Are public demonstrations and protests really against our culture? What is the New Economic Policy really for? What really happened in 1969, 1987, 1998? What really happened last March 8, 2008?
I've read a lot, I've traveled a lot and I've listened a lot, too. I don't say that it's enough -- because it's never enough -- but I guess it's a part of my research which have paved the way to my judgments-making. So I guess if there are still anyone out there who still wants to condemn me by 'not reading the newspapers' or 'not knowing history', I'm ready to meet you and list down all my references, and the researches that I've made before I write something and I'll let you to judge after that.
And I want to see yours, too. Anyway, chill lah, it's just an article.
On a less-related but in-a-way-it's related matter, Sunburst in general, and Incubus and John Legend especially, went perfectly. And many more artists are coming downtown. I have many events to look forward to after all my works are done -- gigs, acts, stagings, exhibitions, screenings, concerts, parties alongside with many trips and excursions for the very long break -- well I guess things just don't change. Just in case any government suppresses arts and entertainment, ring me up. If nobody isn't, then don't be such a paranoid. I know I'm not.
And if you've never been to Kelantan, stop saying that 'Oh fuck we're so going to be like Kelantan', and if you've never been to Sabah and Sarawak, stop saying how underdeveloped are these states even though you never know how really underdeveloped they are. Things and thoughts around Kota Bharu, KK and Kuching can be much different those in the Klang Valley.
Really, you don't have to worry about having to cover up lah, or stop minum ke. Isn't that up to your decision? I respect an 'uncovered' girl more than a girl who covers herself up because she'll be fined if she doesn't. Hey, I thought I have so many 'liberal' and 'open-minded' friends, but suddenly what I faced are rigid thoughts. See how insecure we are? It's time to think out of the box and be critical. Most of us are very educated, in fact. So my advice: try to stop falling into the pitfalls!
Watching: Persepolis (2007). Dir: Marjane Satrapi. PHOTO by Tasha Abu Bakar at Flickr. Current read; Sharing the Nation: Faith, Difference, Power and the State, 50 Years After Merdeka by Norani Othman, Mavis C. Puthucheary & Clive S. Keller. SEE ALSO Socialism, Progressivism, Liberalism and the Social Contract of Malaysia. And this and maybe this. And a piece from Farish A. Noor, which is good as usual.
4 comments:
woah. memblogging hingga lewat malam. and i see some provoking sentences there ;)
politics aside (such an emotional topic pfft), you went to sunburst?! oh god i hate u :P haha. how was incubus and john legend? i mean, what songs did they play eh? ah best nyaaaa. picturesss in flickr i hope?
oh yeah when ur having that long break of yours i'll be in schl doing short sem so if u are going anywhere fun (someplace i might like) to watch these people perform do update yeah :) alaa, yang i tak suka pun habaq mai je la, i like to keep my options open :D haha.
you and traveling and your car yang mencurigakan tu. haih, sungguh best. sadly for me i still haven't any license. okay hush :P
keep up with the writing. although it can be somehow somewhat provoking sometimes i like it anyways. you always speak your thoughts and opinions well, in such perfect sentences indeed.
ever fancied becoming a literature student or sumn? lol
okay my comment is getting waay too long and irrelevant dah haha. the rest we'll chat them up when i call you, hopefully. cheers boy.
xoxo
Hi Alyaa. Well.. it was quite dark, and I didn't bring my flashgun along. Quite a regret lah because the organiser just let every single camera in. But if the pictures will turn out sucky, I prefer to not snap anything, heheh.
I don't provoke people. But I like to correct some misconceptions. In this case, heavy misconceptions. If you're saying that you're shying away from what is so-called 'politics' because it is dirty, then it is dirty politics that will get to you as politics, be it dirty or clean, will eventually get to you in any way. Even choosing not to know about politics is politics, if you see it in a broader way. It's all about having to choose over options.
I guess being a student nowadays is not just about being freaked out over a bunch of stupid exam papers. That sounds a lot like sekolah to me. University students used to have a lot more of independence and freedom in speech, but now we don't, due to some disputable reasons. But the mindset of having 'students are meant just to be studying, not everything else' is very narrow-minded, quite the contrary a 'globally-inspired' prototype we're trying to achieve.
Nowadays politics is not just about a BN-PAS fight anymore. It's not about who is going to be more 'Islamic' or whatever crap related. That is so 1999. UMNO and the NEP aren't supposed to be 'everything' for the Malays that we have to sacrifice our flesh and blood to defend these two. We're not a feudal society anymore. Twelve years left for us to achieve a status of a developed nation, we're supposed to run away from these stereotypes to be a much progressive society in a much larger context.
If you worry so much about anybody trying to sell out our 'rights', mind you it is enshrined in our Constitution and it is, for the mean while, undisputed for. NEP is just an economic agenda that may be replaced by another rebranded and refreshed agenda, but it is not 'everything' for the Malays.
We should work harder and indulge in a fiercer competition in the global world, not defending a government policy that was supposed to take place temporarily, post-1969 racial riots, that was meant 'to prepare the Malays to the challenges in the modern world', to quote Tun Dr. Ismail.
Politics affect our lives. In my case, politics affect a lot of what I'm fond of, architecture and arts as a whole. Reckless politics that will eventually lead to the abandoning of people-friendly architecture, as it is increasingly happening nowadays, concerns me as an architecture student and a lot of other members of the architectural field. I guess it will be completely useless and disappointing if we all turn out to be apolitical, as in many times it will pave way to some of those in power to abuse their powers and commit a lot of misconduct in their duties towards the rakyat. That is, us.
True, we, especially students are barred from involving in politics actively. But that is why the underground scene exists. So it's not just about what music you listen to or how you dress up, but it's a channel for many youngsters to express their feelings and voice out their opinions in a much freer way. That's why it is independent, not mainstream.
So be sure of what you're standing for. On the main side, even though Malaysians have voted against the ruling coalition and not exactly voting for the opposition last election, what they have simultaneously did were they've voted against conservatism, feudalism and most importantly racialism in politics, for a much progressive and 'developed' one.
This reply is even turning out to be an article as a whole. Whatever it is, be sure of our options. Today's situation, while it may be a wrecking tsunami for some, but for the other side, it's just a new dawn of maturity.
Thanks for commenting (:
I know this is a little overdued,but I second the most part! Just go on expressing your thoughts, because people keep on coming back to your blog and read your posts for a reason,or many for that matter. :)
pretty new to your blog. love your writings. keep going yah..
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