Tun Dr. M

I was shocked to read the article in The Star today about Tun Dr. Mahathir and how he was sprayed with pepper spray.

I couldn't help but think teruknya! That's just insensitive. Sure Tun Dr. M has made comments recently that have made other people's blood boil, but physical actions against him is not right at all. I cannot imagine anyone sinking so low to make a point. It just makes me really sad. Can't we sit down and talk intelligently when opinions differ? Don't we have the respect and dignity to do what's right instead of just smearing other people? All the debate and talk recently between politicians makes me think that they are greedy, disrespectful and childish. Greedy for money and power, disrespectful to those older and wiser than you and childish for using cheap tactics like pepper spraying someone you don't like.

I swear, I've never felt so sad for a politician before. Maybe it's because I've been away from home for so long. The coruption and cronyism just screams out so much now that I'm watching it from afar. It's just so so sad.

I can almost see my own race crumbling. Here are all these people who work hard and slave their butts off to earn a living. But look at the bangsa melayu surrounding themselves with meaningless gossip (like the upcoming wedding of a certain celebrity and a corporate divorcee). Do they care about working hard? Takpe, takpayah. After all we're protected. Then there are the people who are supposed to lead us rakyat but are steeped in their own wealth and what power they have left. They let themselves be buttered up by people who need new projects and businesses. You want a stake in the new $$$$ project? Sure! Just sponsor my family's trip overseas. I'll make sure you get a stake in it.

Living in Malaysia is almost discouraging as a thought for me now. I can't be as powerful as those who can "pull some strings" to get anything done. You're not a "dato'"? Uh, please move to the back of the line. I'm going to ignore you coz you're not important. You're a malay? You can't work here coz we don't like your race. But of course we won't say it out loud. We'll say that speaking mandarin is required in the job description.

Maybe living overseas in this country that most of the world hates isn't that bad after all. Eventhough we're nothing more than a speck of dust, we still get fairness (most of the time anyway). We make more money as a newcomer in the career rung compared to one in Malaysia who has been promoted over and over. There's so much choice as a consumer and what a bargain hunter's haven this place is. Would I say that it's better than my birth country? Probably not. But wouldn't it be lovely if it was as cheap to live in Malaysia and that you could demand respect and service because it's expected from a service provider, not because of your rank? Wouldn't it be lovely if people minded their own business and do less gossiping? Wouldn't it be lovely that people aren't judgemental but are open to your thoughts and opinion and thrive on healthy debates? I think it'd be the best place to live in. :)