Thursday, October 20, 2011

Shsssss....Malaysia's All Well And Rosy!

Pic By Ordinary Malaysian
If Malaysians are to believe what the main stream media tells us, everything is well and rosy in Malaysia.

Crime rates are falling, the economy is going on nicely and projected by the Prime Minister to grow 5-6% next year (even though more analysts than fewer are saying that the projected figure of growth is too optimistic and unrealistic given the current world economic situation), the people are living in harmony and the government is always ready to help the rakyat.

But nobody is fooled. Although the authorities claim that crime rates are falling, the public are not convinced. Just a few days ago, a woman in Klang was killed when several persons who had been tailing her suddenly highjacked her vehicle right outside her house and watched helplessly by her husband and son!

The cost of living is rising, brought about by rising prices of goods and services, but salaries and wages, especially in the private sector, remain stagnant.

Public transport, especially the bus and commuter service, is still woeful despite promises from three different Prime Minsters, including the current one, to do something to put it right.

Malaysians can't even talk freely, although freedom of speech is enshrined in the constitution. So many things are considered taboo subjects or are seditious to talk about.

We can't talk about race or religion or about the royalty. And we even have to be careful when we criticize or take to task powerful public or political figures, including ministers. Because some of these people are very sensitive and think that they are beyond reproach and don't or refuse to understand the concept of ministerial, public or group responsibility.

Just recently the Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng, had to apologise to the Sultan of Johore for what he (the former) had allegedly said in a speech that Johore Bahru was not a safe place.

I remember that even the former Prime Minisiter of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, had once mentioned in a court affidavit (if I am not mistaken) that Johore Bahru was like a cowboy town. Then too, there was much unhapiness about the remark. But being the Prime Minster of Singapore then, there wasn't much the Malaysian authorities could do anything about him.

The latest victim is IIUM (International Islamic University of Malaysia) law professor Dr Abdul Aziz Bari who is being investigated by police for sedition for his alleged remark that it was "uncoventional" of the Sultan of Selangor to have intervened in the Jais's (Selangor Islamic Religious Department's) raid on DUMC (Damansara Utama Methodist Church) by saying in a decree that there was proselytizing of Muslims going on but that no action needed be taken as there was not sufficient legal evidence.

Ah, all's well and rosy here. Thank you.

2 comments:

  1. As a foreigner living in KL, it's really interesting to get your take on you homeland. Have added you to my blogroll :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you for visiting, Irish Nomad. You have a nice blog too and I am also interested to read about how expats cope with living and working here and their take on the country. I will be adding you blog to my list too.

    ReplyDelete

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
I attended my neighbour's daughter's Indian wedding dinner at the Sentul HGH Convention Centre. Click for a peek

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
Petronas Twin Towers Are Still The World's Tallest Twin Towers

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...