The privilege of reading history

Many of us did not have the privilege of reading history in schools. Many were bundled to do science as the in thing then. I read history before being streamed into Science. Fortunately I decided to read history again at tertiary level. The boredom and repeating of historical facts and dates took back stage and history was read differently, to understand how events came about and the players that contributed to the rise and fall of empires and civilisations.

There is one particular trend of thoughts in historical writings that often said the final hours of an empire were normally filled with duds and traitors and unwise policies. And the fall of empires and dynasties was just a matter of time with fools in charge, blinded to their own stupidity. Such conclusions are easy to establish with the benefits of hindsight. Historians simply pick up all facts and figures selectively to fit the jigsaw that they have set out to create, and books were written to confirm the findings.

For all of us who are living, we are living history as it is, at a point in time. What would be tomorrow is difficult to foretell. This is like the chartists analysing stock trends. They would not know whether the stock will rise or fall in the next minute, hour or tomorrow. But if they were to hold up a historical chart, they could tell you all the turns and when to buy and sell. At every moment in time, every empire or dynasty, or regime or govt in power does not know what tomorrow would be. The only thing they know is that they are doing things they think are good, be it for the country or to protect their self interests. They would not have the faintest idea that what they are doing are silly things or stupid things that would lead to their downfall. This is obvious isn’t it? If they know that they are doing daft and pompous things, they would not be doing it, like digging their own graves.

Take the current history that is evolving and happening right in front of us and the ruling govt and the slate of brilliant leaders they proclaimed as the best team they ever had. Isn’t it a truism that they believe that they have the best team in place to run the country for another century? Isn’t it true that all their policies must be the best to keep them in power for another century, and to make the people continue to vote for them? Isn’t it a truism that all the policies and decisions that they made, all the things that they are doing, are the best and right things to win the hearts and minds of the people?

Can be it otherwise, that the best team that they have collected is but a team of duds and fools? Cannot be right? Can it be that all the things they are doing, the policies, we all know what they are, the  CPF, housing policies, AHPETC, Amos and Roy, high minister salaries, influx of foreigners, foreigners replacing citizens,  etc etc, are wrong and they are digging their own grave and paving the road for their own destruction? Cannot be right? Everything they are doing must be good.

Current history or current affairs, in the eyes of the people in power, are the best thing that is happening and would ensure their continue popularity with the people and will be voted to power again and again. We must know that they believe that they are the smartest and most intelligent beings, some even claimed to be immortals, so they must have put in a lot of thinking to come up with what they are doing. And they must honestly, sincerely and wholeheartedly be believing they are doing the right things.

See, at this moment in time, the historians would not be able to tell whether the policies and things the govt are doing are the right things, the good things, or the contrary. That is why there in no one out there to say otherwise. Only the historians of tomorrow would have the wisdom of hindsight, when everything is over, when an empire, dynasty or regime fell from grace, would they be able to say, ya, all the writings were on the wall. The people in power were a bunch of asses and doing silly things. But today, no one would dare to say that. If they would to say anything, they would say everything is fine, the policies are fine, the things that the ruling govt are doing are the right things. And they can be right too, the error of being right or wrong is 50:50. It is like guessing black or white. Who knows better?

What would the historians of tomorrow be saying or writing about the events that are taking place today and their judgement on the leaders of today? We could say, and many agree, that we have had several very good leaders in the early years of the birth of this country and many right policies. How many could say anything about the current leaders, be they good or bad? Can’t tell, dare not tell, or waiting for tomorrow to tell? Or waiting for the next victor or future historian to tell the story of today?

Reading history is a privilege to know what had happened in the past. The only drawback is that the judgement were past by people after the events and could still be flawed. The beauty of observing current affairs or history in the making is that it is happening right before our eyes. And everyone who is an observer, is likely to be making his own judgement of what is happening, based on his own interest be it highly subjective, or objective, if one is lucky to be neutral.

We are seeing history in the making. We are participants in a living and moving history of our time, history now showing. Some may live long enough to write the history of today, or to say, I was there.

NDP - Yesterday once more

I went to shoot the NDP rehearsal this evening and here are some of the pics for your viewing pleasure. Top pic are members of the SADC and Naval Command, not sure what they called the Navy then. The respective insignias were an eagle and a marlin. Next pic is the Dad's Army, our early pioneers in the PDF. And the police wore shorts then. The next pic are members of our Fire Brigade. The rest need no further introduction, the POSB, Nurses and the SIA girls, what a great way to fly.

AIIB’s top 10 shareholders

The top 10 countries funding the AIIB is a very interesting mix of geography and wealth and politics. 

1.     China $29.78b

2.     India $8.37b

3.     Russia $6.54b

4.     Germany $4.48b

5.     South Korea $3.74b

6.     Australia $3.69b

7.     France $3.38b

8.     Indonesia $3.36b

9.     Brazil $3.18b

10.  Britain $3.05b

The BRICS countries are quite well represented except for South Africa, four are in the top 10 with 3 right at the top. Of the 10, 5 are Asian countries if Russia is included as it straddles across Asia with most of its land mass in Asia.  The top 3 European countries are also represented by Germany, France and Britain.

Politically, the pro American camp is represented by 5 countries in Germany, South Korea, Australia, France and Britain. India could be included in this camp but it often wants to project as a non aligned independent power of its own right.

It is interesting to note that Indonesia is among the top 10 shareholders, a sign of an upcoming Asian economic power, to have the billions to spare. This third most populous Asian country that was badly hit by the Asian financial crisis seems to have recovered quite well under the watch of Yudhoyono and is likely to continue to grow under another pro business and growth President Jokowi.

With the West well represented among the top investors, the crying wolf by the Americans and Japanese of transparency and accountability problem is going to be just that, two boys crying wolf. It is also a good thing that these two rascal are kept out of the bank and not allow to throw in the spanner in every decision making process. Looks like AIIB is going to have a good start with the right mix of shareholders in charge.

Not to forget there is another big development bank in the BRICS New Development Bank with another $100b to boot like the AIIB. These two new multinational banks would be the new pillars of the New World Order to give the American and Japanese controlled World Bank, IMF and ADB a run for their money.

Concept of country, defence and conquest

The British came, took over the island as theirs, set up the administration and gave all the good jobs t their people. The locals were allowed to do their own businesses but the administration and control of the country were in the hands of the British. They had taken over. And to protect themselves and their interests, they sent in their soldiers, army, navy and air force were all here.

The locals might be employed to work for the British as cooks, clerks, peons and drivers. The women could work as maids, the amahs. That was how things were when the country was taken over by foreigners. They enjoyed the plum jobs.

The Japanese too wanted the island for themselves. They sent in their soldiers. The British tried to defend their interests with their soldiers but lost and the Japanese took over everything. The Japanese were the new owners and ran the country for their Emperor and people just like the British did. All the good jobs in the govt and businesses were in the hands of the Japanese. And there was a new order of things. They owned the country and people.

The locals continued to find their own ways to make a living if they could. The good jobs went to the Japanese. The locals could become clerks, translators, drivers and peons. The women could work for the Japanese as maids and comfort women.

After the war, the locals got wiser. Why let the Japanese or British run the country and took all the good jobs for themselves? They fought to take back the country so that they could give a better life to the locals, give good jobs to the locals, to control the country and their own destiny, be in charge and distribute opportunities and wealth among the locals.

A country was born, called Singapore for Singaporeans. A military force was formed, with conscription for NS to protect and defend the country and its people from foreigners, to protect our way of life, our good life and good jobs for our people called Singaporeans.

Fast forward 50 years, more than half of the residents are in the country are foreigners. Many have very good jobs, some being paid millions. Many Singaporeans lost their jobs for a simple reason, publicized and acknowledged, they are not good enough and their jobs should rightly go to the more talented and deserving foreigners, regardless of nationalities. The Singaporeans only got themselves to blame when they allowed the policy of hiring foreigners and giving foreigners good jobs, and telling the Singaporeans you are not good enough so it is your business. The locals must compete with the foreigners on a level playing field. So what if this is their country? So what if they are the citizens and the foreigners are foreigners? So what if they served their dues as conscripts to defend the country, our way of life and the good jobs for the people?  The last point many people have chosen to forget and ignore.

And the foreigners are here, inside the country, enjoying the good life, good jobs, and protected by the conscription armed forces. The foreigners need not be like the British or Japanese, to build a defence force and pay for it to protect their good life and good jobs. The conscripted soldiers will do the protection so that they can live here, have a good life, and good jobs. Dunno to call this outrageous or idiocy? Why would the daft Sinkies allow this to happen and think this is a natural order of things?

The foreigners have no need for an invading army like the British and the Japanese to conquer the country to enjoy the good life here, to enjoy the good jobs here, and some even in positions of authority and power.  They are invited here for the good life and the good jobs. What about the locals losing their good jobs and their good life to the foreigners? Who cares?

Whose country is this? This country belongs to everyone here, including the foreigners?  We will celebrate this change of ownership or the privilege of enjoying good life and good jobs in Celebration SG50.  Come one and come all to party, citizens or no citizens, sama sama.  Is there a need to redefine the meanings of conquest and control of a country? Is there a need for an army if the country can be occupied by foreigners to enjoy the good life and good jobs while the citizens have to make way for the foreigners? Can a country be taken over by foreigners without a war?  What if 70% or 80% of the populations are foreigners or new citizens? Does it make any difference? When would we call a country being occupied, taken over by foreigners, foreigners enjoying good jobs and blatantly cheating and discriminating the locals like apartheid, a country lost?

What is happening? What do you think? Is this your country?

PS. The British and Japanese seized our country, good jobs and good life for themselves by force. Now the foreigners are invited in to do that and to cheat and kick us around under the myth that they are more talents and here to help us.

Najib versus the indestructible Mahathir

Najib is on the defensive and looking very lame. No one could resist an attack by Mahathir. Many had fallen, including Prime Ministers and every one of his heir designate deputy PMs. Could Najib be an exception and survive this final onslaught of Mahthir? At his growing age, this could be Mahathir’s last battle before calling it a day and could be his biggest battle to date. Winning this battle is looking like a cake walk. Losing it, if it ever happens, could bring an end to the Malaysian legend.

What is left in the armoury of Najib to take on Mahathir? Najib could count himself lucky that his cabinet is still with him except for a handful waiting to see his downfall. But this situation cannot last for long if he can’t pull out a jack rabbit from his hat and turn the tide. When cornered and no way out, the only thing to do is to strike back hard and die together, forcing the attacker to retreat.

I thought Rosmah could be Najib’s trumph card. The most powerful and influential woman Malaysian ever had. She is so quiet. This is very unusual knowing her reputation. What is she thinking or planning to save her husband and beat Mahathir at his own game? Mahathir has always been the aggressor, the attacker. He has never been on the defensive, being attack and on the defensive. He is looking like a flawless politician that his enemies could not find any traces of flaws to wave in public.

What is Rosmah doing about it? For sure she is not going to take things lying down. That is not Rosmah. Mahathir, watch it. This could be more than you can chew.

There is another card that Najib could possibly use. This is presently under lock and key. Would Najib unlock it and throw it at Mahathir? Yes, this card is behind bars, the Anwar factor. Anwar was heard to have many boxes of documents to prove against Mahathir when he was on the receiving end. He did not have the chance to use them when Mahathir prematurely quitted his post as PM. If these boxes of documents are there and hold interesting and damaging information against Mahathir, they are something that Najib may want to lay his hands on.

Are these boxes of documents real and still there? If not, then Anwar would be a spent force and best left forgotten. Would Najib make a deal with Anwar and join forces to take on their arch foe? Is Anwar dead and gone or would this be his last chance to get back to the centre of Malaysian politics? Would he be able to do what he wanted to do against Mahathir and now with the support of a standing PM in Najib, the job could be much easier.

Malaysian politics are full of intrigues and plots and counter plots. How would this final battle of Mahathir against another PM turn out? Great drama and Hollywood material.