Dead Horse Race

Technorati tags: Humor, Misheard Lyrics, Fall Out Boy, Dead Horse Race, Politics, Malaysia, Burma

This ain't a scene, it's a dead horse race...
(source: What Walski hears when the refrain from the Fall Out Boy song "This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race" is played on the radio. See the end of the post for the actual lyrics)

And whammo! Walski has instantly creates a metaphor... dead horse race - meaning "going nowhere"... picture a bunch of dead horses on a track... you'd be waiting a long, long time to see any racing happen. Walski thinks though, dead horse race aptly describes some of the situations we're seeing in and around Malaysia right now. There are probably many more, but here's three of 'em.

Dead Horse Race #1 - The LingamGate Enquiry
The first (and probably best) current example Walski thinks is a dead horse race is the enquiry into the V.K. Lingam video scandal. Now, the 3-person panel has been commissioned to do what again? Oh, to ascertain the authenticity of the tape. And don't even get Walski started on the composition of the so-called Independent Panel - watch this Malaysiakini video report, via YouTube, and listen to the allegations.

It's got cellulose, it's got video images... sound, too. Yup. It's an authentic tape... What the fuck??

Now... kidding aside, what is the point of forming this panel anyway?

Are they calling in any witnesses? Yes, the police and the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA). Err... since when do you need a special panel to do that? Really, who's kidding whom here... and let's not even go into the composition of the panel, which has been condemned left, right and center.

And why not summon the alleged lawyer in the video? In fact, Malaysiakini has done a much better job in investigating the video and its implications, piecing together facts and possibilities. All from public domain information, too.
(what Malaysiakini's found, and more dead horse races, in the full post)

A glimpse at what real investigative journalism looks like

And the panel appointed is going to establish what, exactly? Then after that's done, what next? Well, basically, nothing. A big, fat, fucking nada. The panel has not been given any special powers of prosecution. Their only job is to establish the authenticity of the tape. What a fucking waste of time! Not to mention taxpayers' money...

And you're wondering why everyone is yearning for a Royal Commission?

Dead Horse Race #2 - Protection Under a Non-existent Bill
Now, this one takes the cake... In the wake of the LingamGate investigations, Minister Nazri Aziz has promised whistleblowers protection under the Witness Protection Bill. The only problem - there is no such bill! Talk about going nowhere, on promises of nothing... Of course, Nazri has since admitted his error, but has placed the blame on his press secretary (source: Malaysiakini - subscription required)

Among the things that had been promised included an indentity make-over via plastic surgery.

A new identity or even new look can be arranged for the person or persons who took the controversial video of a prominent lawyer allegedly brokering the appointment of judges, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz.

He said such measures were defined under the Witness Protection Act to ensure the person's identity was protected.

“Under the Act, they will not only be protected but can also undergo (plastic) surgery to change their look,” he told reporters after handing out duit raya and goodies to old folks in Lubuk Merbau here yesterday.
(source: The Star)

Imagine the disappointment on the ugly faces of all them football referees who were thrilled for a moment to find out that they could augment their looks for free (whistle-blowers... get it?)...

Dead Horse Race #3 - Burma/Myanmar
Finally, what can the world do about Burma? Not a lot, apparently. For one thing, the country's major trading partner, China, has pretty much opposed any sanctions be placed on Burma.

China on Tuesday said it "resolutely opposed" sanctions against Myanmar as they would not help resolve the country's problems.

"Any move by the United Nations Security Council should be prudent and responsible and be conducive to the mediation efforts of the UN secretary-general, and conducive to achieving stability, reconciliation, democracy and the development of Myanmar," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao.

He told a regular press conference that China had noticed the situation in Myanmar was returning to calm and attributed it to the common efforts of the international community and all sides.

He said China hoped the situation would move in a positive direction.

"China hopes all relevant sides of Myanmar will maintain restraint and achieve reconciliation, democracy and development and improve the living standards of the people by peaceful means," he said.

He also said China praised the recent visit to Myanmar by Ibrahim Gambari, special advisor on Myanmar of the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, adding China had taken an active part in the discussion in the UN on the Myanmar issue.

Gambari, who just ended a four-day mission to Myanmar, exchanged views with Myanmar leaders on the domestic situation and made widespread contacts with local people.
(source: Xinhuanet China View)

Granted, sanctions do hurt a nation. But when you have a ruling military junta that is so obstinate, and will stop at nothing to suppress its own people, what other recourse is there? Already they have robbed the people of Burma of a democratically elected government (via the annulment of the 1990 elections).

But the junta has recently announced moves towards dialog with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi (as reported by the AFP earlier today). So are the horses actually coming back to life? Or is it just a prelude to another dead horse race? Guess we'll just have to wait and see...

Walski's Dead Horse footnote: While Walski doesn't really like Top 40 commercial radio, there isn't exactly much choice when it comes to radio in Malaysia. Usually, Walski listens to his CDs when he drives, but driving to and from work, he occasionally listens to the radio. And one of the songs that's currently being played to death is, of course, the Fall Out Boy song. The actual lyrics are: "This ain't a scene, it's a goddamned arms race". But Walski likes his own version better...