Happy 51st Birthday Malaysia!

I guess there is nothing prouder for a country than to achieve its independence. And saying that, nothing makes its rakyat prouder than to celebrate the great day with their fellow Malaysians and perhaps join in when they call out "Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!"

To think that it's already been a year since the government was talking about the country's achievements for the last 50 years (and of course, taking the credits for everything that comes to mind) and what "they had in mind for Malaysia" for the next 50 years.

It's 50 + 1 and a lot has happened. The boat has been rocked and the pot has been stirred (forgive me for the cliched expressions). And yet, the ministers, their deputies, their secretaries and their supporters are still resting on their laurels, applying outdated methods in their everyday activities. Be it from dealing with modern media, mouthing racist comments during speeches, or being in denial over the people's voices - nothing has changed. A year's time was a waste on them.

But I'm hoping that the rest of Malaysia and its people are feeling that they are destined to do more. Wait...I meant, WE are destined to do more. From pushing for political reforms, to helping the country grow economically and realizing the Malaysia Inc. vision, to nurturing our young with values and making them leaders of tomorrow, to breaking away from old practices of racism, sexism and religious superiority, and finally to ensuring the sick, the poor and the elderly are taken cared of in a system that is wholesome and sustainable.

I have heard it many times before from different people - be it local and foreign visitors - saying that Malaysia is a great place to live in. It amazes people that a country with such diversity - in terms of culture, religious practices, beliefs and historical background - could live in harmony with one another. It amazes me too. Despite the underlying tension that surfaces once in a while - especially when some idiots pull out their ceremonial dagger during an important event - things has been pretty alright amongst us common Malaysians, has it not?

If we take politics and power aside - what is truly important to us all? Independence was a hard thing to achieve back then. After we achieved it, what was next? Was it political superiority? Money? Or supremacy over others who are different? What is it that pulls us all together as Malaysians today and not as distinctive races?

I apologize for the rhetoric questions. I used to write a lot about how we could change Malaysia for the better and how we should continue to work hard into getting our next generation there. I have also been to the so-called greener side and have been back. And I'm still saying that we can achieve our dream, which is to have a place where everyone is truly a Malaysian with their rights protected as equal with no discrimination and injustice. Everyone should have a vision of how their country should be. And so this is mine.

I'm So Scared! He is Annoyed!

Referring to this piece of news: Najib: No more fuel rebates if you don't appreciate them
I can only say this...Kalo tak nak bagi, tak usah bagi!!

Seem like he was expecting this to be an easy thing to deal with. Perhaps he thought that the initial scheme was flawless? Or he is thinking that getting annoyed is too much for his highness to bear?

I guess Malaysian national policies are clearly determined by the whims of the powerful.

This is another round of incompetence in implementing a national policy with no thoughts about the consequences nor the expectations that the people has. I guess this is what I would call a half-baked policy. All it takes to change national policies is to get someone higher up annoyed.

The Two Towers?

Malaysian style

Penang International Dragon Boat Festival 2008

The weather the last few days and most of the week was pretty hot in Penang. A good thing too - cause if not, then I would have missed watching the Dragon Boat race, which was held at the Teluk Bahang Dam.

To be exact, this was the 6th Club Crew World Championships & 8th ADBF Asian Dragon Boat Championships - and some 500+ teams competed in the four day championship. I went on the third day, a Saturday, since weekends are the only time I can take time off during the day ;p

Some of my friends and I headed off from Bayan Baru area to the dam around 11am - we started pretty late cause most of us were just too lazy to get up on a Saturday morning. Can't blame us, right?

OK, anyway, by the time we reached, the sun was already blazing hot. But thanks to strong winds, temperature wise it wasn't too bad - getting a little bit darker isn't a problem for guys ;p

As it was already the third day, the competition was in full swing and I didn't want to wait till I walk all the way across the dam to snap pictures. So I simply "zoomed across" and quickly snapped some early pics. Given, that at full stretch, the pics weren't superb, but it was good enough for me see what was going on. The above pics show competitors waiting at the starting line

There was a huge crowd, which was both spectators and competitors. Plenty of colours too and they stood out from far across the dam! We saw a bunch of pink...

Blue...red...orange...making it a colourful crowd indeed!

Here is a shot on the boats paddling furiously on the start.

At the end of the race. Everyone looked tired. Well, these were not the eventual winners, so I guess it explains the not-so-energetic look ;p

More pictures from after a race.

And here is a shot of a guy going closer than anyone of us just to get a good angle of the race :)

While walking around the stalls, Cat had the opportunity to take some pictures with the Iranian ladies! Not sure if they were competitors or was just there to support their fellow countrymen.

And they did win one of the events :D Not sure which one though cause I didn't really follow - was there to just snap and snap and snap pictures ;p

From Down Under :)

From Canada!

Not sure if they were local ;p

And lastly, here is a shot of a team getting warmed up for the next event. We were heading off then - stomach getting hungry and the sun was getting too hot for comfort.

While we were there only for a short while, it was a great experience for me, considering that was the first time I went to any boat race ;p