http://www.jonsonchong.com/site Reflections on Malaysian realities Sat, 26 Jul 2008 05:50:41 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Yesterday, I received an SMS from a friend whom I have not met for a while but he knows I'm active in Keadilan. He asked, "U believe in Anwar?" I replied, "I am in Keadilan to advance the people's interests & position, not because it is headed by Anwar. And as ... http://www.jonsonchong.com/site/2008/07/06/a-question-of-anwar/ Some 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 ... http://www.jonsonchong.com/site/2008/06/22/education-whats-love-got-to-do-with-it/ Gandhi once said that, "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." No doubt, my animal-loving friends will agree with him. Indeed, I have shared this quote with friends from SPCA and they enthusiastically agreed. Apart from humane treatment of ... http://www.jonsonchong.com/site/2008/05/01/sad-day-for-foreign-workers-in-malaysia/ by William Blake To see a world in a grain of sand, And a heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, And eternity in an hour. A robin redbreast in a cage Puts all heaven in a rage. A dove-house fill'd with doves and pigeons Shudders hell thro' all its regions. A dog ... http://www.jonsonchong.com/site/2008/04/11/auguries-of-innocence/ I read the news on the formation of the People's Alliance (Pakatan Rakyat) with glee. Indeed, I am excitedly anticipating the ratification of the new political coalition by the respective parties' leadership. Whatever it is, this calls for a congratulatory message. It is not everyday we have something like this happen ... http://www.jonsonchong.com/site/2008/04/02/congratulations-peoples-alliance/ I 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 ... http://www.jonsonchong.com/site/2008/03/20/managing-political-change-in-malaysia/ Many sceptical Malaysians often say that things will never change in Malaysia. In particular, these people are talking about the political landscape of Malaysia. Although I agree that it is extremely difficult to visualise Malaysian politics any other way, i.e. being dominated by Umno, I strongly believe that we can ... http://www.jonsonchong.com/site/2008/02/27/its-time-to-believe-that-change-is-possible/ I was arrested at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, 26 January 2008, at a foodcourt in the vicinity of Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, Kuala Lumpur. I was released unconditionally from Pudu Jail (now known as Balai Polis Jalan Hang Tuah) at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, 27 January 2008, after a ... http://www.jonsonchong.com/site/2008/01/29/why-i-was-arrested/ Last 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, ... http://www.jonsonchong.com/site/2008/01/11/revisiting-albert/ Those who in the name of Faith embrace illusion, Kill and are killed. Even the atheist gets God's blessings – Does not boast of his religion; With reverence he lights the lamp of Reason And pays his homage not to scriptures, But to the good in man. The bigot insults his own religion When he slays a man ... http://www.jonsonchong.com/site/2007/12/21/false-religion-by-rabindranath-tagore/