Monday, October 27, 2008

The Victory of Good over Evil

As I sit here sending out Divali greetings on my handphone, I feel so proud to be a Malaysian. In our country, we are exposed to the varied cultures in our communities. Whether or not we fully understand each culture, we nevertheless know a little about the celebration of each culture.

Here in Macau, most would not have an idea at all about the Divali celebration. Forget about any knowledge as to say the Oil Bath Ritual etc when they do not even know of the celebration. We cannot blame them as there are hardly any Indians here.
Nevertheless, as a Malaysian, I feel so proud and indeed so grateful. Understanding and celebrating other cultural celebrations has been a part and puzzle of growing up. And it is this knowledge and experience that has made me sensitive to other cultures and the differences. And it has contributed to making me a better person, (I hope ).

It is on this note, that I am thinking that Malaysia would indeed be a much better place if our children are taught more comprehensively about the various cultures. Teaching just the basics would probably not be enough. We need to teach our children to fully appreciate and understand each culture and religion in order that they can respect the differences. It is thus this respect for the differences of each others culture and religion that will bring Malaysia forward.

Happy Divali.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Happy Divali

Here's wishing all my Indian friends Happy Divali. May the light of the festival bring love and joy to our hearts and soul. May the festival bring our nation to enlightenment......that the light will guide our leaders and show them the way.

My heart and prayers go out specially to the families of our Indian friends being held under ISA; just as it goes out to the families of all the ISA detainees too.

Happy Divali.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

The Challenegs Ahead....

"The quality and availability of public goods like education, public housing, public health, crime prevention have all declined, while child and aged care and public transport are near inexistent, resulting in a Hobson's choice for the poor and middle class in either facing the decline in living conditions or an ever higher cost of maintaining a decent lifestyle.

A total of 57.8 per cent of the country's 5.8 million families live on a combined monthly income below RM3,000, including 8.6 per cent who make less than RM1,000 per month. The already skyrocketing inflation, and the impending crisis, has hit them really hard.

The dependence on government-related employment and foreign workers over the last decade stops the economy as a whole from moving up the value chain and to respond to a crisis effectively. One in four of Malaysia's labour force is a legal foreign worker while approximately one in four in the workforce works for the public sector directly or indirectly, for instance, in government-linked corporations. The private sector lacks the capacity to innovate and compete internationally, thus hindering its ability to weather the storm.

The challenge of our time is to ensure that there is sufficient food on the table of the almost 60 per cent of our nation's families, and to ensure that their quality of life does not descend further."


With all these problems, we still see in our national papers, the headlines carrying news of the UMNO nomination; of House Speaker rejecting motions, suspending MP for seemingly minute and personal emotional reasons.....hmmm God help us!

There is also the added problems of retrenchment in the Singapore labour market, and thus all these will be back in Malaysia; can we just ignore these social problems?

So, all MPs and elected reps and councillors and all of us; GET REAL! The challenges ahead will be difficult but not impossible to overcome.

God's grace, peace and strength be with us all.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Love and Hatred.....where will each lead us to...

For God so loved the world, that He gave....

As I sit here alone in my apartment, reading news about Malaysia, I cannot but feel sad and truly disappointed.

First there is the Utusan's cerpen about the killing of a Chinese Female YB; have we, Malaysians stoop so low. Where is the love in our heart? What are we teaching our children, it is so obvious that the cerpen is politically motivated.

I urge the leaders to handle this potentialy dangerous situation carefully and swiftly. Bring to task the people responsible for this; for even thinking about it. These are truly the people that should be in Kamunting for inciting hatred and causing fear in our land.

Hannah Yeoh's blog entry titled WIth Great Power Comes Great Responsibility sent me further into the DOWN mood.

When will we ever learn; truly indeed, we have still a long way to go in political and social maturity. We always expect others to do everything and we sit back to watch and comment. We want change , we want freedon but we do not want that responsibility that comes with it.

That is how Malaysia has been governed all these while; give them a little bit here and a little bit there and BN continues to rule. Than on 8th March, some people woke us up, and we all started enjoying this new change. A few weeks down the road, we go back to what we were used to before; sit, talk, complain and complain some more.

These few people who woke us up are still there and will be there to speak up and fight for what is right; even with threats. It is about time we, MALAYSIANS start walking the talk. Stand up and do something!

DO not just talk about injustice; do something about it; even a small gesture. Were you there at the courts when RPK's hearing was taking place? Were you there at the candle light vigils to free the ISA detainees? Or were you at home saying; "aiyooo these people ah.....causing traffic jam only...."

Well, my fellow Malaysians, please walk the talk - let us together give MERDEKA a new meaning.

Let us make change happen, for a better tomorrow for all!

Let us give that little sacrifice as GOD did, that He gavce his only Son......

Hate brings us pain, and only love can bring freedom and change!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Yesterday, today.....

Yesterday I met a stranger...

Today this stranger is my friend. Had I not taken the time to say hello, or return a smile, or shake a hand, or listen, I would not have known this person. Yesterday would have turned into today and our chance meeting would be gone.
Yesterday I hugged someone very dear to me. Today they are gone... and tomorrow will not bring them back. Wouldn't it be nice if we all knew tomorrow would be here? But we don't, so take the time TODAY to give a hug, and a smile....

JUST FOR TODAY,

. ..smile at a stranger
...listen to someone's heart
...drop a coin where a child can find it
...learn something new, then teach it to someone
...tell someone you're thinking of them
...hug a loved one
...don't hold a grudge
...don't be afraid to say "I'm sorry"
...look a child in the eye and tell them how great they are
...don't kill that spider in your house, he's just lost so show him the way out
...look beyond the face of a person into their heart
...make a promise, and keep it
...call someone, for no other reason than to just say "hi"
...show kindness to an animal
...stand up for what you believe in
...smell the rain, feel the breeze, listen to the wind
...use all your senses to their fullest
...cherish all of your TODAYS

Today you were thought about by me....