The Seniors Game

LKY is roaming the streets of Jakarta. And we see a smiling Suharto meeting his old friends as if nothing has changed. Time stood still. It was yesterday once more. It will be fun if Mahathir was there too. The reappearance of the seniors give one a very strange feeling. When they are not around, the yudhoyono, Sudarsono and the who dunno, and their counterparts here all look so real, big men, national leaders. But in the presence of the seniors, they appear so young, so youthful, so fresh, like freshmen. The faces of the seniors are too domineering and too overwhelming for the young leaders. They have a presence that cannot be matched by the new leaders.

Sunday morning is to think about impossibilities

What would be best for Malaysia in the future? Or what could become of Malaysia? The thinkings or aspirations are quite diverse. The country at the moment is dominated by the views and interests of a minority of religious fundamentalists. And if they are to have a free hand to do what they like, Malaysia is likely to become another Iran or Iraq or at best a Saudi Arabia. Anything else will be full of contradictions and tension. How would this affect the rest of the population, those who would want a more secular and modern Malaysia, travelling in the comfort of the best limousines as opposed to those who would prefer to ride on a heavily carpetted camel back? The modernistic group would include the progressive bumis as well as many who have been accustomed to the good life of western technical and scientific societies. And the other racial minorities are not that small a group that can simply disappeared. Then there are the East Malaysian states living in the backwaters of Malaysian economic and political strifes. They have very little affinity to be Malaysians even to these days. They are different and would want to run their own lives and create their own future. Or maybe my reading is wrong and they too would want an Islamic state and live under Islamic principles and fundamentals. They have not made any noises with regards to the comments that Malaysia is an Islamic state. Or they have and not reported. There are thus three distinct groups with totally irreconcilable interests and outlooks for the future of Malaysia and there is no accommodation if or middle path. It is only a matter of time for these groups to gravitate further and further apart from each other and each will have their distinct characteristics and values. Provided no force is used to coerce any of the group to become like another group. What we may see is a federation of the north eastern states of Kedah, Kelantan Trengganu and Pahang plus the four southern states of Thailand, Narathiwat, Pattani, Suratthani and Songkla, breaking away to form their own Islamic state. And the East Malaysian states will break away to become a new independent country. The rest of the western and southern Malaysian states may choose to become more secular and moderate from the religious point of view and developed along the lines of western countries. Then some will use the slogan that Allah has moved northeast and the religious will move in that direction. If there is an agreement that the three new entities should leave each other to chart their own destinies and do not meddle in each other's internal affair, we could see the emergence of three new countries that are more coherent and with their people having more similar dreams and more likely to sleep more at peace. Just a Sunday morning indulgence in fantasy.

MSM says, Lucky Singaporeans

Singaporeans are splurging in Lamborghini, expensive cosmetics and paying mindless prices for seasonal food, $888 for a few pieces of mooncakes. And a billionaire can live in a whole condo, $100 million worth of it, for just 3 persons and all his expensive car collection. And better still, prices or inflation is stable, hardly any change. And all the complaints about Singapore rental going too high is nonsense. The foreigners now agree that Singapore rental is reasonable and 10 years behind Hongkong. In a way this is bad. How can we be lagging behind Hongkong by 10 years? Plenty of room to catch up. So, with good times here, what nonsense are Singaporeans complaining about a plate of noodle or rice going up by 50c or transport fare going up by another 3c or 5c? The proof, Singaporeans can now celebrate National Days for two months. I think we will not beat the Latin Americans in merry making. Singaporeans are crazy. All having big fat pay and worrying about a few cents increases here and there and making a mountain out of a mole hill.

The 23 South Korean sacrifice

The world is made of many suckers and naive or youthful idealism. These Koreans believe in a world of goodness, to do goodness without knowing that for every goodness in this world there is an equal wickedness out there. And they may have to pay for their stupidity with their lives. And the pain is at home, their love ones. And of course the South Korean govt saw its balls stuck in a mouse trap. This is a stark and brutal lesson that Singaporeans must learn and I hope the govt has put a ban to prevent naive Singaporeans from walking the same path to martyrdom. In my conversation with some Singaporeans, there is a little group that lauds the act and is celebrating their impending status as martyrs. They have only praise and adoration for this group of silly Koreans. And do not be surprised that some Singaporeans may be planning a similar mission to save the Afghans or the Iraqis.

notable quotes - LKY on Indon media

'The Indonesian media is a spontaneous combustion engine that responds to what sells, what's news, what the political parties want to create as news. then you chase the news.' LKY Now different or similar is the Indonesian media to our own media?