Jun

22

krishnamurti.jpgSome of my friends often joke about me taking over the Ministry of Education. I don’t know if I am a good candidate for the job; however, I do know that there’s something terribly wrong with our education system.

The issue of education is quite dear to me as I believe that it will determine the future of our nation. Even pop songs like Whitney Houston’s “Greatest Love of All” talks about how important it is to teach our children well.

I am proud to share that I am a product of Methodist Boys’ School, Kuala Lumpur. I attended both the primary and secondary schools there, and I am now in my second term as the President of my school’s alumni association. Apart from my loyalty and love for my alma mater, I must say that there is something different about our school that moulded many of us into not only successful but also quite decent people.

Anyway, I read this quote from a site on J. Krishnamurti and I thought it was worth sharing:

Modern education, in developing the intellect, offers more and more theories and facts, without bringing about the understanding of the total process of human existence. We are highly intellectual; we have developed cunning minds, and are caught up in explanations. The intellect is satisfied with theories and explanations, but intelligence is not; and for the understanding of the total process of existence, there must be an integration of the mind and heart in action. Intelligence is not separate from love.

For most of us, to accomplish this inward revolution is extremely arduous. We know how to meditate, how to play the piano, how to write, but we have no knowledge of the meditator, the player, the writer. We are not creators, for we have filled our hearts and minds with knowledge, information and arrogance; we are full of quotations from what others have thought or said. But experiencing comes first, not the way of experiencing. There must be love before there can be the expression of love.

Mar

20

change-management-symbol.jpgI think the initial reactions to the recent general election results would sound something like this:

“Wow! Holy s*@#!”
“Wahliao-eh!”
“Adoi!”

Whatever the language, the exclamations of shock or surprise are not negative – they are just expressions of amazement. Most people that I have spoke to are actually quite happy with the way the election has gone. However, with the favourable winds of change, the Barisan Rakyat will now have to manage it well for the next four or five years. Otherwise, we would have lost a golden opportunity to institutionalise good governance in this rich and beautiful country.

To follow up on my previous posting, I think a course in Change Management is necessary for all new elected representatives. I certainly do not presume to be an expert in the subject. However, I know enough of the subject to know that not only the politicians need to learn it, but the public servants and the rakyat also need to be aware of it.
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Jan

11

Revisiting Albert

January 11, 2008 | Leave a Comment

alberteinstein.jpgLast year, in my second post on this blog, I referred to Albert Einstein’s quote,

“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”

In that post, I quoted the genius in the context of our choice of government for Malaysia. At that point, obviously, I only thought of Einstein’s quote in that context.

Now, after a rather long and arduous year, I’ve got a different take on that quote. My new take may reach the same preference in so far as whom we should vote for in the imminent general elections, but it is significantly different insofar as how we should approach the “political” question in Malaysia.
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Dec

11

lawyers-for-freedom.jpgThe Malaysian authorities must have something against human rights. Earlier this year, our very own Malaysian Human Rights Day was marred by a police shooting of people gathering in peace (see an earlier posting). Then, two days ago, on the eve of International Human Rights Day, the authorities decided to crackdown on lawyers and people who exercised their right to peaceful assembly and also others who have earlier pushed for clean and fair elections. The crackdown was followed by a shameful day in court, on Human Rights Day itself.

Just as history is written by the victors, stories are told by those in power (especially those who control the media). In court yesterday, the Attorney General, who was personally prosecuting the case against the lawyers and activists, repeatedly used the phrase “larger interest of the public”. He was attempting to persuade the court to deny bail on the basis that these people’s freedom would undermine the so-called larger interest of the public.
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Dec

7

freedom.JPGI feel that the Bar Council’s decision to call off the walk to commemorate Human Rights Day is wrong and disappointing. There does not seem to be any clear indication as to why the walk has been called off, apart from some vague reference to the need to apply for a police permit.

It is disappointing and ironic indeed that the Bar Council have to kowtow to undemocratic and unjust laws on the occasion that is supposed to celebrate and advance human rights in our country. In light of recent events, I believe that there is all the more reason that the Bar Council and Malaysian Bar should be taking the lead to fight for rights and freedoms that every Malaysian is entitled to.
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Sep

10

suhakam-logo.jpgI find it rather ironic that on the day chosen to celebrate human rights in Malaysia, we hear of news that the police have used live bullets to disperse people who have gone to attend a ceramah in Kuala Terengganu. (As expected, the mainstream media have distorted the news. For a more balanced report, see Malaysiakini’s coverage.)

When I heard this news yesterday, I was at a Suhakam conference in Kuala Lumpur. The conference was entitled “Human Rights & Election”. The ceramah in Kuala Terengganu was organised by Bersih, a coalition for clean and fair elections, on 8 September – the eve of the Malaysian Human Rights Day.
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Aug

27

Sick and tired

August 27, 2007 | Leave a Comment

muhammad2-taib.jpgA couple of weeks ago, I was literally sick… probably from unhealthy living, but I also believe that it’s got something to do with this sickening government of ours. And now I feel very tired of fighting… in the usual way, that is.

It’s about time we got radical and really give it to the Umnoputeras and their Troopers… The “Decepticons of Malaysia”.

Well, I attended the get-together at Blog House on Saturday, and although I’ve never really considered myself a blogger like Jeff Ooi or Rocky, I was quite happy to see the crowd there…
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Jul

22

nelson-mandela.jpgAfter chatting with a friend about my blog, I realised that I need to be a bit more positive about things, and also more constructive.

Hence, after some reflection about my “apartheid posting”, I believe there is a better way forward for Malaysia. At least in terms of patching up racial relations between the different ethnic communities.

Actually, I started writing this posting yesterday but had to stop for lunch, meetings and so forth. Anyway, it’s just as well that I didn’t finish it yesterday because I just read Dr. Chandra Muzaffar’s comment in the NST this morning. Frankly, I am surprised Dr. Chandra still has so much confidence in the government and the Parliament.
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Jul

13

i-not-stupid-2-edit.JPGJust finished watching ‘I Not Stupid 2′ last night and found, despite the contrived scenes, a lot of truth in it. Especially about adults and how they act and react.

To quote the great Frank Zappa, “The world’s most plentiful ingredient is stupidity.”

We in Malaysia, so clever hor?! Here’s a poem (from an email) for us to chew on:
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May

19

may-13-cover-small.jpgI was at the launch of Dr. Kua Kia Soong’s controversial book last Sunday on May 13, 2007. Yes, the book that is now in the middle of some hoo-ha and may be banned.

Anyway, my focus here is not so much on May 13 or the book but more on the lightbulb that flashed in my head when I was sitting there listening to the panel speakers, especially Ms. Beth Yahp.

As expected, the academics – Dr. Kua, Dr. Syed Husin Ali and Dr. S. Nagarajan – gave their analyses of the events. However, Beth, who wasn’t originally billed as one of the panel speakers, gave a rather different perspective to May 13.
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