Monday, October 3, 2011

Between A Rock And A Hard Place - Is Malaysia Kaput?

Malaysians were eagerly looking forward to the coming 13th general election which, even though it is not due till 2013, many are expecting to be held soon probably in November or early next year.

They were looking forward to the real possibility of kicking out the Barisan coalition led government which has been ruling the country for the past half century and more.

This is especially so when in the previous 12th general election on March 8th 2008, the opposition coalition Pakatan were, for the first time in Malaysian history, able to deny the Barisan coalition a 2/3 Parliamentary majority.

The Pakatan coalition have been doing fine since, running the States of Selangor and Penang - which they managed to wrest from Barisan at the last general election - very well and earning praise not only from Selangorians and Penangites but also from the Auditor-General himself.

Malaysians were tired of 50+ years of the Barisan government - of arrogance, corruption, abuse of power,  mismanagement and the lack of accountability and when public institutions including the law enforcement agencies and the judiciary have come to be perceived as having been compromised.

All this hope of better days and a more accountable government has unfortunately gone up in smoke when Pas (An Islamic Party) and a partner of the Pakatan coalition insisted on implementing hudud laws when they come to power.

Hudud laws are a sensitive subject to the non-Muslims who form some 40% of the Malaysian population, and I dare say that a seizable number of Malays too may not be too eager to embrace them but who for one obvious reason or another dare not oppose their proposed  implementation.

Pas have been trying to assure the non-Muslims by saying that hudud laws will not concern them since they will only apply to the Muslims. However, I have always been suspicious of Pas.

It is not possible for there to be two sets of laws on criminal matters, one covering the Muslims and the other the non-Muslims. Take the case of a Muslim and a non-Muslim committing zina i.e illicit sex with each other. Under the hudud law the poor Muslim is likely to be stoned to death once found guilty while the non-Muslim offender gets away?

Pas's assurance that they will implement the laws fairly does not exactly convince anyone. A look at the failed Muslim states in the Middle-East, Africa and Indian sub-continent is instructive.

So, between a rock and a hard place or the devil and the deep blue sea, is Malaysia kaput, finished?

I don't know. But Pakatan as a coalition looks like losing my vote.

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Kluang's Little Bangsar

Kluang's Little Bangsar
Click To Visit

Kamini's Indian Wedding - Click To Visit

Kamini's Indian Wedding - Click To Visit
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Yasmin Ahmad - Click To Visit

Yasmin Ahmad - Click To Visit
Yasmin Ahmad was arguably Malaysia's best story-teller, filmmaker and advertiser. She was well known for her Petronas commercials and had won numerous international awards including the Golden Lion award for the 'Tan Ming Hong In Love' commercial. Her feature film Sepet not only garnered her several international awards including for Best Asian Film but also drew multi-racial audiences that rarely happens for a local film.

Genting Highlands - Click To Visit

Genting Highlands - Click To Visit
Genting Highlands Is A Popular Retreat With A Casino

Batu Caves - Click To Visit

Batu Caves - Click To Visit
Malaysia's Famous Landmark. Note The Statue Of Lord Muruga And The 272 Steps To The Temple Cave In The Background

Petronas Twin Towers And KLCC Park - Click To Visit

Petronas Twin Towers And KLCC Park - Click To Visit
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Some Early Morning Views Of KL City Skyline - Click To Visit

Some Early Morning Views Of KL City Skyline - Click To Visit
Some early morning views of the KL city sykline I took from the 3rd floor of the KL Court with a low-pixel hand-phone camera

Kluang Town - Click To Visit

Kluang Town - Click To Visit
Kluang was a sleepy hollow, but is fast becoming a bustling town. You can't miss the bust-shaped gunung Lambak lording over the place and the town is well known for its tv brand coffee powder

Kluang RailCoffee

Kluang RailCoffee
The Kluang railway station coffee shop, now re-branded Kluang RailCoffee, is well known for its cuppa of coffee and the charcaol grilled piping hot buns oozing with butter and kaya...It used to attract standing-room only crowds. It still does, but the last time I was there it wasn't a good experience for me. The famous coffee had somewhat lost its oomph and even the buns...The shop has a long and noted history being first opened for business in 1938 and the place is now run by the 3rd generation LIm family. I hope the next time I return, the coffee would regain its oomph. Click to read more...