Happy Wesak Day

Happy Wesak Day. Have not been blogging for some time now. Busy making a living. That is the problem with ordinary citizens. We are so busy making a living that we do not have time for the noble things in life like fighting for a better government, taking part in human rights demonstrations, going down to Perak to oppose the unconscionable take over of the state government, (on a big scale level) or to visit the sick in the hospital, the lonely elderly at the old folks home or the orphans at the orphanage homes, share our thoughts in our blogs (on a small scale level).

We are too busy earning to pay debts, to settle commitments- to feed, educate, clothe, shelter our own. We are so absorbed in our selves and our own- our little world- that there is very little energy or time left to fight for change in society. We are kept so busy in making money to pay bills that we are crippled to pursue our ideals. We do not have the freedom to be our true selves, to have the luxury to think, to be creative and do great things for our fellow citizens. We are constantly in a rat race. We become slaves to an oppressive system whereby we are compelled to sacrifice our values, our human dignity.

Perhaps today is the day to make a new commitment to manage our time better so that we have extra time to give to bring about a purification in the society we live in, to bring about real change. We can start by 'standing up and be counted' to bringing about a better government of the country which will bring about a better people, a better economy and therefore a better society.

E.F Schumacher, an economist had written in 'Buddhist Economics' (1973) that "materialism cannot sustain our present day economy as an attitude to life which seeks fulfilment in the single minded pursuit of wealth does not fit into this world, because it contains within itself no limiting principle, while the environment in which it is placed is strictly limited. It is clear that Buddhist economics must be different from the economics of modern materialism, since the Buddhist sees the essence of civilisation not in the manipulation of wants but the purification of human character. Character, at the same time, is formed primarilly by a man's work. And work, properly conducted in the conditions of human dignity and freedom blesses those who do it and equally their products".

May all be well and happy.

Karma in football

For those who do not believe that the law of karma applies to football, think again. After the Champion League's draw yesterday, it looks like there is a real possibility of Manchester United meeting Liverpool in the Champions League Final. It was supposed to take place last year but did not. Well maybe the football gods have a better script in store this year. Liverpool has done the double over MU this season so far. The final between these two would surely be explosive, passionate and a no holds barred battle. A great treat for all football fans around the world though i think not for the organisers or the Rome police and security force. It would be a nightmare for them to control the fans from these two clubs with a great history, passion and animosity between them.

I don't think the scoreline will be 4-1 again. I am willing to wager RM100 on it. Coming to think of it, perhaps the 4-1 scoreline was a 'karmic debt' United had to pay to get an easier draw to the Champion's league final. The 4-1 thrashing was a freak result that i still could not come to terms with until yesterday's draw. The route to the final sure looks easier for United compared to their main rivals in the race for the Premier league title- Chelsea and Liverpool. Perhaps these two will knock , kick and batter themselves out in the two legged quarter final and be too exhausted to continue the race for the title. Well i think all we MU fans will be looking forward to just that. It is becoming an annual affair for Liverpool and Chelsea to meet each other in these crucial knock out stages of the cup. It would be a shock if it did not happen. Karma has it that they deserve each other for company. And i wonder why..

Coming back to the game last Saturday, I just cannot believe that Nemanja Vidic, the rock of the United defence could make such a mistake. I am sure a lot of United fans are still having recurrent nightmares about the give away. In the first game away to Liverpool, both Ryan Giggs and Wes Brown gave away balls to Liverpool to score. With all the humble pie MU team and their fans had to eat the last week and continuing, with all the boasting, ridicule and scorn poured upon by their rivals since that baffling, disastrous result, it is no wonder yesterday's draw favored them. Evidence of instant karma at work! The gods are kind and benevolent to the Red Devils. Liverpool had used all their good karma and now have a more difficult task to the final. So too Chelsea. Well if the 4-1 defeat was one MU had to pay to win the Premiership title, the Champions League cup and the FA cup, i think it would be most worth it. And we have to thank Liverpool for that if the quintiple becomes a reality.

Looking at the draw last night, it looks like it could be MU's year again to lift the UEFA Champions League Cup but then as the saying goes in football - 'the ball is round, anything can happen'. That's what makes football addictive to millions or possibily billions around the world. Best of luck to all contestants in the quarter finals. In these times of economic hardship, these games sure provide some form of relief to fans and great topics for discussion. It brings UNITY to all. Manchester United!

Manchester United and Liverpool

Looks like the Liverpool fans are still on cloud nine or ten this week. After all their team trashed MU 4-1. What orgasm for them until they can't forget it. Even they can't believe it so it was a fluke shot. Other clubs have also been encouraged by Liverpool players to attack United in the way Liverpool did as if a formula has been found how to beat MU. Well, as a MU fan, all i can say is that luck was with Liverpool last saturday, and rightly so as the they were more hardworking and compact as a team. The MU players were complacent, over confident, sluggish, not attacking the ball enough and therefore lost. Perhaps playing the game 2 1/2 days after the CL game against Inter Milan did not help.

It was a freak result. Anyway there is still opportunity for redemption in the Champions League. Maybe MU will have the last laugh. And he who laughs last, laughs loudest! Bring on Liverpool once more!

Bravo Chong Wei!

Looks like Chong Wei took my bruce lee advice and beat Lin Dan at the Swiss Badminton Open...Congratulations to him. Hope he starts beating the Chinese ace more frequently from now on.

Bruce Lee 'Chong Wei'

Malaysians experienced another failure at the All England Badminton men's single final yesterday. Lee Chong Wei (recently conferred the title 'Datuk') lost to Lin Dan of China. He lost to the same opponent at the Olympics, Lin Dan taking the gold medal. Looks like he is always coming out second best and i feel for the lad. He has lost 8 out of their 9 previous meetings.

Looking at Lee, i felt that he lacked mental strength. I felt he felt inferior to Lin Dan. As the Malaysian crowd at the stadium cheered his name and 'Malaysia Boleh', as the nation watched on TV, he could not even win a set, losing in straight sets. In the first set, he was just two points away from winning the first set but made silly mistakes to allow Lin Dan to win the set. He lacked the cool composure of a Morten Frost or a Yang Yang in that crucial time and that costs him the set and the game. Lee has got good skills but that is useless without the winning mentality. He lost to himself. Lin Dan wanted to win more badly than Lee. He looked confident, acted confident and had the 'Superior mentality'. Lee on the other hand looked sick, weak, insecure and lost. Lin Dan played the role of the bully. Lee, the bullied.

I received a sms from a friend which sums up more or less what most Malaysians must be thinking:-

'Sorry i am unable to reply to you earlier as i am very frustrated and speechless as he lost to himself and not Lin Dan as this chinese played his lousy game as b4. Opportunity do not come every time at this prestigous tournament. He lost to his shadow. Dato tak boleh as he failed to hope that almost every malaysian had on him. It always happen to malaysian sportsmen when u expect them to deliver, they failed. Really sucks!'

Lin Dan himself had said after the game "It wasn't tactical or anything - we are both good players. It was more psychological. I was focused and calm".

Perhaps Datuk Lee should heed the words of his namesake, the late Bruce LEE on how to win the next time:-

Lee should be like water.. 'Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless - like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend'.

That way he can adapt to any style Lin Dan uses. Lee should "Forget about winning and losing; forget about pride and pain. Let your opponent graze your skin and you smash into his flesh; let him smash into your flesh and you fracture his bones; let him fracture your bones and you take his life. Do not be concerned with escaping safely - lay your life before him.".

Lee should also learn from this Bruce Lee interview:-

Question: "What are your thoughts when facing an opponent?" Bruce: "There is no opponent." Question: "Why is that?" Bruce: "Because the word 'I' does not exist." A good fight should be like a small play...but played seriously. When the opponent expands, I contract. When he contracts, I expand. And when there is an opportunity... I do not hit...it hits all by itself."

Lee should also forget about what he has learnt from his coach Misbun Sidek - "Any technique, however worthy and desirable, becomes a disease when the mind is obsessed with it." "Truth has no path. Truth is living, and therefore, changing. It has no resting place, no form, no organized institution, no philosophy."

He should just forget the past, the future, all his philosophy, his coaches advice, techniques and concentrate on the NOW and adapt accordingly to it. Every game has its own truth and Lee must find his style as the game progresses in the present. Lin Dan is good at changing his game, so must Lee - "The man who is really serious, with the urge to find out what truth is, has no style at all. He lives only in what is." .

Lee should "Possess the eye of an eagle, the cunning of a fox, the agility and alertness of a cat with the courage, aggressiveness and fierceness of a panther, the striking power of a cobra and the resistance of a mongoose." And finally - " There is no actor but the action; there is no experiencer but the experience."

Perhaps Lee can start by calling himself Bruce Lee Chong Wei.

Weekend demonstration

Last weekend thousands marched and demonstrated to protest the teaching of Maths and Science in English. Of course the police and the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) were there to disperse the demo with tear gases and water cannons. We have been independent for 51 years now. We tell the world we practice democracy. Why then are citizens still not allowed to march and demonstrate peacefully? If they want to march and hand over a memorandum to the King, let them do it. Give the organisers a permit to demo to hand over the memo to the palace. It is a joy to see people able to assemble, march and air their views peacefully. GIve them an avenue to vent their frustrations with the policies of the powers that be. No need for violence and assault by the FRU and the police. We should learn from countries like France, US and UK how to go about handling such assemblies. The fact that the powers that be still do not honor such a democratic right is pathetic and shows that we have not matured as a democratic society.

Now about the teaching of maths and science in English, I have no objections with that policy. However there are others who feel they want to study the subjects in the Malay language. I have no objections with that too. Students should be allowed to study in the language they are most comfortable with. As long as they are educated rightly in the subjects. To resolve the problem, allow the subjects to be taught in both languages. Those who want to study in English may attend the classes that teach in English and those who want to study in Malay may attend classes that teach the subjects in Malay. The students and their parents should be allowed to make up their minds about the benefits of studying the subjects in English or Malay. End of problem.

Ketuanan Melayu (Malay Supremacy)

I went to have a foot reflexology massage last Friday. My foot massager was a Malay man from Sabah. He thought I was Malay and he went on discussing the topic of Malay Supremacy (Ketuanan Melayu) with me. He said that the country belongs to the Malays and therefore Malay rights reigned supreme over all the other races who were immigrants in this country until the Father of Independence, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman made a mistake and decided to give them citizenship. He said that if the Malays were not careful, they would lose everthing to the non Malays and this country will end up like Singapore. He was disgusted with the way the Malays were fighting among themselves. He wanted unity of the Malays. He encouraged me as a lawyer to fight for the rights of the Malays to ensure the Malay Supremacy reigns in this country. UMNO is the only hope for the Malays. I felt very disturbed at the way the conversation was going but tried my best to put myself in the position of a Malay to emphatize with my massager. How would I feel about the concept of ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ if I were a Malay? My question was what gives me the special right? The answer lies in the Federal Constitution. So that is where I would have to start.

The important article would be Article 153. Briefly it speaks about the safeguarding of the special privileges of the Malays by the Yang Di Pertuan Agong. ‘Malay’ is defined in the Constitution as mainly ‘a person who professes the religion of Islam, habitually speaking the Malay language and conforms to the Malay customs’. So anybody can be a Malay by this definition if they just satisfy the conditions to become a Malay.

Next, how is one to interpret the article? One must look at the notes or reports of those who were entrusted with preparing or drafting the Constitution - the Reid Commission. The Commission, formed to draft the framework of the Constitution prior to independence had released a report in 1957. According to the Commission, the Article was included in the Constitution to protect the Malays from the other races in the country at the time namely the Indians and the Chinese as the Malays were still lagging behind in many areas – education, business, professionals etc and therefore the special privileges should be given to allow the Malays to progress educationally and economically in all areas in the public and private sector to enable them to compete with the other races. The intent was not to give permanent special privileges to the Malays. It was to be a temporary measure and that can be verified from the Reid Commission report.

The Commission reported that "there was great opposition in some quarters to any increase of the present preferences and to their being continued for any prolonged period." The Commission recommended that the existing privileges should be continued as the "Malays would be at a serious and unfair disadvantage compared with other communities if they were suddenly withdrawn." However, "in due course the present preferences should be reduced and should ultimately cease."

This view is echoed by one of the founding fathers of the nation, the late Tun Dr Ismail who did say that the special privileges provision was to allow the Malays to have a handicap (to borrow an expression from golf) which would place them in a position of fair competition with better players. Therefore like a golfer, it should not be the aim of the Malays to perpetuate this handicap but to strive to improve their game and thereby reducing and finally removing the handicap completely.

Thus from the above, this concept of ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ cannot be sustained. It was never the intention of the founding fathers of this nation. In fact it would go against the spirit of the founding Fathers who were really very simple, humble, principled, selfless but very capable individuals. It is unthinkable that they would have condoned such a title or concept. In fact the concept reminds one of Hitler's Aryan Race- the Master Race and something which our founding Fathers would NOT want to be associated with. It is so egoistic and an unthinkable title for the Malays who were lagging behind the other races at the time. A Tuan cannot lag behind.

After the May 13 1969 riots, Tun Dr Ismail angry with certain extremist Malays warned against such a concept - 'these ultras believe in the wild and fantastic theory of absolute dominion by one race over the other communities, regardless of the Constitution'.

Now assuming i am wrong and assuming that the Malays are the Master Race, then they must qualify to merit such a title. Would the label 'Ketuanan Melayu' make them superior? If they are imbeciles, incompetent, mediocre, inferior and weak, are they fit to be called 'Tuan'? Can they honestly believe themselves to be superior? They live a lie if they think so. It would make a mockery of the title.

To be a "Tuan" or master, the Malays have to earn the title. So they have to be the best in equal competition. They have been given a handicap for 51 years now. Its time they compete with the other races on merit and prove that they are better. They have to show they are a highly moral principled people, a hard working people, a people who excel in whatever they do. They have to show themselves competent and worthy of respect. They have to be the shining example of execellence. They have to show they are clean, efficient, trustworthy. They have to earn the respect. Then even without the title 'Tuan', they will be recognised as 'Tuan'. Even without the title they will feel like a 'Tuan' and people will acknowledge they are 'Tuan'. Only inferior people need titles. A superior people do not need titles. They are superior by thought, word and deed and will be respected and honored by all.

In the case of my foot reflexology massager, instead of just being an employee of a chinese boss, he should own his own reflexology center, be the best foot reflexology massager in town that even the other races would recognise him as "Tuan' in his field.

So for all the Malays out there who believe in 'Ketuanan Melayu', i challenge you to be the best in the chosen field of your endeavor and earn your title. Then and only then, can you even start to talk about 'Ketuanan Melayu'.

Otherwise, better to follow the US declaration of Independence - "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"