In death, we celebrate life

Technorati tags: Death, Reflection, This Mortal Coil, Commonality, Life

So frail is this mortal coil… the shell within which we go through this journey we call life.

But within its frailties lies something almost herculean – the human spirit. That which makes us human, and allows us the capacity to love, hate, mourn and rejoice. Each on its own a powerful emotion. When all four converge, however, it’s difficult to describe the rollercoaster of emotions that ensue.

Losing someone close to you, the passing itself and all the rituals that follow, is one of those tumultuous times. As Walski experienced last week.

For reasons of privacy, Walski won’t reveal who the person was, nor how the person was related to him and the Mrs – suffice it to say that it was someone close. Close enough that we had to be there. Walski had already mentioned previously how the family member died. And it’s not Walski’s intention to elaborate further about the passing, except to say that the time between diagnosis and death was very short, and because of that, there was no long term suffering. For this small mercy, we are thankful.

Funerals, in general, are somber affairs. That’s probably a no-brainer. Walski’s not entirely sure about other cultures, but there is a stark difference between Malay/Muslim funerals and Taoist/Buddhist ones. In a way, Walski feels privileged that being in a cross-cultural marriage, he gets to learn and contrast the things that make us unique as communities. Funerals is definitely one of them.

For the Malay/Muslims, visible grief is discouraged, and for the more traditional families, it’s not uncommon for someone who is too expressive with their grief to get a telling off. The other big difference is that the time span between death and burial is kept to a minimum – “the sooner the better” being the general modus operandi. So it’s not uncommon for family members flung far and wide to not get the opportunity to see their deceased loved ones one final time before burial.

Quite the contrary with Taoist/Buddhist funerals. Traditionally, the number of generations the dearly departed leaves behind determines the length of time the body lies in state. Three, five or seven days are the typical durations between death and burial. The person in question was unmarried at the time of death, and so traditionally, it would have been 3 days. But because some other close family members were abroad, it was decided to keep the body for 5 days.

What we see as differences on the surface, however, hides the many similarities between the two culturally dissimilar funerals.  
(reflecting on the underlying similarities, and more, in the full post)

Grief, for one, is something that will always be there, regardless of faith or culture. And Walski personally thinks that allowing your grief to be expressed is necessary so that we can move on with our own lives eventually.

Another similarity – the coming together of family members, even those between whom some friction may exist. And those differences are set aside, at the very least, in observance of respect for the departed. Any ill feeling is shelved, even momentarily, so that the departed can be peacefully dispatched.

And because this particular family member had many friends and acquaintances, it was during the wake that we found out how this person had touched the lives of so many people. Sometimes, being close to someone makes us take for granted how many other different dimensions that person really has. Or in this case, had.  

Then, you have, in the rites and rituals, another commonality. True, the specific rituals are different from one faith to the next, from one culture to another. But the necessity to observe rites and rituals, in itself, is a commonality we often take for granted.

While watching and observing the Taoist/Buddhist rituals being performed over the few days prior to the funeral, a thought occurred to Walski – that these rituals are not only for the recently departed, but also for those left behind.

All faiths believe that this life is temporary, and that it is merely a step in a larger sphere of existence. What happens after we transcend this mortal coil we will never really know until it’s our own time, but all faiths believe in a hereafter. Of one form or another.

For the Taoist/Buddhists, it’s reincarnation. And so, the rites and rituals make for a smoother transition. For the Muslims, the funeral rites are akin to last-minute provisions that the deceased is given as cosmic credits to be redeemed in their favor at the time of judgment.

But in both cases, the living, too, get something out of it – peace of mind that their final obligation to their loved one has been fulfilled. In a way, some sort of closure to know that you’ve done your bit.      

And what that closure allows us to do is to move on with our own lives.

In coming together to pay our last respects, we do one other thing, many times quite unknowingly. We celebrate life – not just that of the one who just left us, but life in general. Death is part and parcel of our existence in this plane – it is a step in a bigger journey. For the living left behind, it is a reminder that one day our time, too, will come for us to transition to the next plane. But until that day comes, it is a reminder to make the best of what little time we have remaining.

To make the best of our lives, as we humanly can...

Post choppiness apology footnote: This post has been a very difficult one for Walski to write. And he begs your pardon if it seems kinda choppy. As a small consolation, he leaves you with this hauntingly beautiful rendition of Tim Buckley’s Song to the Siren, performed by a collective of artists from the 4AD label, who call themselves, quite aptly, This Mortal Coil.

May your soul find the peace that this life it couldn’t…

Click here for the full post......

Promises kept and broken

Technorati tags: Reflection, Promises, Promise Kept, Promise Broken

In one of the most interesting weeks, from a political point of view, some of you might have wondered why the silence here at myAsylum. Despite the silence, Walski has been observing the happenings at the UMNO General Assembly – the expected, as well as the strange and unanticipated. But for now, Walski will keep these thoughts percolating for a while.

And there’s a good reason for it.

Earlier this week, someone close to Walski (more so to the Mrs.) passed away, succumbing to the Big C. It was very sudden, although we somewhat expected last week that the person’s health had visibly deteriorated in a short span of time.

Because of this fateful event, Walski had to go away to attend the wake and subsequent funeral. And because he had to go away, a promise he’d made couldn’t be fulfilled. This post, however, partly fulfills another promise Walski made.

Walski does have many thoughts about this tragic passing, but we’ll leave that for a later post. It’s the wee hours of the morning where he is, and the only time that can be spared to do this.  
(one promise kept and the other broken, in the full post)

As he often does, we start with the positive.

Promise Kept – Cicak Cobain: Sedap?
The bassist for Ben’s Bitches, Gordon “CK” Lim, earlier this week announced the release of his solo project, Cicak Cobain. Walski had promised CK that he would help promote the album, and this is the promise fulfilled.

Well, partly. For now, it’s more of a mention. There will be a few more posts on Sedap? coming up soon, once Walski’s back into the swing of things.

A couple of things that Walski should also mention. One – the album artwork was designed by avant-punk artist Mun Kao, whose works you may have seen on the web, or in real life. He’s one artist that Walski thinks will go pretty far. Second – the entire album (consisting of 15 tracks) can be downloaded, for absolutely nothing (except for bandwidth and your time) from the Cicak Cobain page at Disarseter Records, either individually, or as one “big ass” zip file.

Promise Broken – “Readings” for March 2009
For a long time now, Walski had wanted to attend the “Readings” sessions, done once a month, at Seksan’s in Bangsar. Equally as long, he’s wanted to meet Sharon Bakar, whom for one reason or another, Walski has always managed to not meet.

This time around, as an added incentive, Walski’s good friend The Lord Panda himself wound up being one of the featured readers. And Walski thought that at last, he would be able to go. Walski was also supposed to help out with the Panda Head Curry? performance, since Walski is a sometimes-collaborator, after all.

Alas, for reasons you now already know, once again, a raincheck has to be taken. Walski hopes it goes well, and that everyone attending has a good time. He apologizes profusely for alluding to the fact that he was going to attend. Because in truth, he really wanted to.

But to somewhat rephrase a well known cliché, life is like a game of Russian Roullette – you never know which chamber’s loaded.

In life, there are sometimes unpleasant duties to perform, and one of those duties is to be there for family when they are in need of emotional support.

Like during that one final journey a member of the family has to take… the last journey from home, to a destination unknown. 

Click here for the full post......

Instant Meiji Noodles

Technorati tags: Politics, UMNO, General Assembly, Internet Media Blackout, Reform

… and other posturings of the UMNO Silly Season.

Last Saturday, national news agency Bernama published an interview with UMNO Vice-President hopeful, Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib, who is also Rural and Regional Minister. The interview was reported by Malaysiakini later on the same day.

Muhammad² basically stated what many have already stated – that UMNO needs a transformation to remain relevant, and for the party’s survival. What was interesting is that he stated the kind of transformation required was a sort of Meiji Restoration.

“I am talking about a restoration ala the Meiji Restoration which brought about changes in Japan's political scenario about 150 years ago.

Japan at that time was under the Shogun and there was war. The Shogunate was toppled and the imperial rule restored and all the good values such as education and loyalty to king were brought back.

The restoration process towards the original struggle must be carried out.”
(source: Bernama)

Okay, so maybe “all the good values” weren’t altogether missing during the bakufu (shogunate) period, and the minister was over-simplifying. And apart from returning good values, quite frankly, Walski doesn’t really see the relevance of bringing up the Meiji Restoration.

But that’s not what Walski found most interesting.

The Meiji Restoration, while it did transform Japan into a military and  economic power, did one other thing – it transitioned Japan away from a feudal state (source: Wikipedia), into modernity. And that’s the bit Walski finds interesting.

Interesting, because the UMNO Malay psyche, even today, is one deeply rooted in a feudal mindset. So, which bakufu is it that needs to be toppled?
(hyper-posturing against the winds of change, and more, in the full post)

Feudalism, in the Malaysian context today, is the adulation of those in political power, as exhibited by most in UMNO. The overt loyalty and respect shown to a particular leader lasts only as long as that person is in a position of power. And it pretty much sums up how UMNO members treat their leadership – adulation only as long as necessary.

Take Dr. Mahathir, for example. He was pretty much chastised by many of his so-called powerful UMNO supporters when he criticized Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Dr. M became an almost persona non-grata. Just watch and see – Walski predicts that AAB will pretty much face the same spite once he’s no longer UMNO President and steps down from being the nation’s premier. The same people who were ready to show off their kerises in support will be the same ones who will say how ineffective a leader AAB was.

So, does Muhammad² mean that feudalism within UMNO needs to be eradicated as well, in favor of real leadership capability and merit?

Or is it just posturing for the sake of the upcoming party silly season?

And speaking of Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, the now legendary speech (via Big Dog’s The “Thirteen Million Plus Ringgit Guy” Rambles) he made a couple of days ago on Sunday, March 22^nd, is pretty much another exercise in posturing. Not on his own behalf, but for the sake of the political party he still loves. And, as some might argue, for the sake of his son, Mukhriz.

The speech was filled with a lot of melodrama, apples-vs-oranges analogizing, and most importantly, was very racially toned. After all, look at whom his audience was. More importantly, it was posturing with a very important message – change, or else.

Here’s Walski’s take on the speech, taken in toto, and not focusing on the trees alone, but the forest in totality:

• in the typical in-your-face fashion, Dr. M states that the Malays are their own worst enemy, because of their attitude and worldview
• if the Malays feel under threat, they only have themselves, not others, to blame
• corruption, in particular political corruption that is synonymous with the Malays, will be the Malays’ own undoing
• nothing will change the fate of a people, until and unless the people themselves change, and become the masters of their own destiny
• the NEP is a squandered opportunity, and one that has been abused

These are the real take-aways from the speech, from Walski’s perspective. The racist posturing is only to be expected, being that it was the “Perhmpunan dan Sidang Kemuncak Pribumi Perkasa Negara”. It was a speech fashioned to make the attendees (hopefully) understand. To Walski, the speech was not to fan the fires of racism, but to chide the staunch promoters of Malay race the futility of their efforts if they didn’t see the real problems for what they are.

The question is, however, what sort of take-away did the participants, and Malays in general, have?

There‘s no denying, however, that much of what we’ve become today happened in the 22 years that Dr. Mahathir was in power. The good, the bad, and the fugly. And that environment, too, is what gave rise to a third, and final, posturer that Walski would like to highlight today.

The Malaysian Insider, a couple of days ago, stated that Minister in the PM’s department (and de facto minister of religious affairs), Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, gave a final warning to the Bar Council – retract the A-word poll, or else (via The Malaysian Insider). This follows the penultimatum by the Selangor state religious department late last week (emphasis by myAsylum).

"If they (Bar Council) continue to play up the issue, the Muslims may rise and if they do, the Bar should not be angry but be willing to accept the consequences.

"This is the final warning for the Bar Council. Islamic religious matters come under the jurisdiction of the Malay rulers and if they continue to dispute the authority's decision on the issue (use of the word "Allah" in non-Islamic religious publications), it means they are disputing the power of the rulers," he told reporters after officiating at a ground-breaking ceremony for the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council's Sekolah Menengah Imtiaz in Setiawangsa, here, today.
(source: The Malaysian Insider)

Last Walski checked, Malaysia is still a democracy (and not an absolutist theocracy), and seeking opinions is not the same as disputing – except maybe in a theocratic dictatorship. He also  finds this posturing funny. Why? Two reasons.

The first, the minister is so gladly and proudly telling us that Malaysian Muslims are irrational and volatile. When Zahid Hamidi says “the Muslims may rise”, he obviously doesn’t mean it in the sense of how dough rises (a good thing), but in the Article 11-angry kind of way (not at all a good thing). One could even see this as a veiled threat of violence.

Secondly, if Zahid Hamidi is so passionately speaking on behalf Islam and Muslims, why is he so ambivalent about the very serious issue of corruption within UMNO. Oh, sorry… make that, money politics. Isn’t corruption money politics an evil that must be eradicated?

From The Star (big hat-tip to Aisehman):

What is your view on money politics in Umno?

Why is Umno the only party being blamed? I am sure other parties face this problem, too, but it is not highlighted in the media. It seems that the people are judging the Umno leadership.

To me this is not a crucial problem and I think other parties which govern states and who are in control of local governments also have the same problem. In Umno, the problem is exposed because Umno members themselves want to expose it.
(source: The Star)

As Aisehman rightly asks: What about money politics being wrong?

Could it be because Zahid Hamidi is not exactly Mr. Clean either? The Aisehman post also makes reference to a blog that “uncovers” a fair amount of dirt on this up and coming “it’s time for me to move up” politician. In the UMNO scheme of things, he’s vying for

This kind of posturing is almost like trying to disguise osteoporosis…

And so there you have it… the UMNO silly season and the posturing that comes with it… from nonsense, to sometimes-sense, to no-real-essence…

The UMNO General Assembly begins today, and with all the kinds of posturing we’ve been seeing, is this a sign that serious reform will be on the agenda?

From the looks of it, maybe… NOT.

Click here for the full post......

'A'-word Bizarro

Technorati tags: Humor, Bar Council, A-word, Islam, Religion, Oddity

Just when you thought that life in Malaysia couldn’t get any more strange, Walski once again gets proven wrong. And he thought that the religious bureaucracy only had problems with the Catholics using the ‘A’-word.

The prohibition, it seems, has now extended to include online surveys as well. Sweet.

The report, published in Malaysiakini earlier today, does raise some interesting questions, though.

Like, in which court would the Selangor Religious Council file its suit, civil or shariah? 
(the ‘A’-word today, the rest of the alphabet tomorrow, and more, in the full post)

Filing the suit in civil court would mean that they’re actually acknowledging the authority of an infidel-ish court. Hmmm… not really smart PR, if you ask Walski.

If it’s filed in the Shariah court, then… oh, wait… can they even file such a lawsuit there? As far as Walski knows, the Shariah system in Malaysia only covers family law, and Shariah “crimes”… Interesting problem. Oh well, since Walski knows nothing about this, perhaps somebody out there could help out.

Alrighty then… ASSUMING that this suit can be filed in the Shariah court, and the suit names the Bar Council as the receiving party, that would pose another interesting problem – the chairman of the Bar Council is not a Muslim, and therefore the Shariah court has no authority over him. Unless they want to add to that long list yet another constitutional crisis.

The Malaysiakini report also mentioned that newly elected Bar Council chairman, Ragunath Kesavan, said that a legal notice had not yet been received. Walski reckons that now we know why. Like, who’s going to issue the notice, exactly?

Not really sure whether or not the Selangor Religious Council thought this thing out thoroughly before making the threat. Then again, the ability to think logically is not an important prerequisite for moving up in the religious world.

But that aside, the Malaysiakini news report also stated something that Walski found intriguing. Almost bizarre, even.

"The issue raised in the polls can threaten the sensitivity of Muslims," the head of the religious council Mohamad Adzib Mohamad Isa said in a statement.
(source: Malaysiakini, subscription required)

Potentially “threaten the sensitivity of Muslims”… Resulting in what? Making Muslims less sensitive? Not that bad a thing, if you really thought about it. Except, of course, it would be more difficult to manipulate a group of people less volatile. Which is good in the larger sense, but a disaster for the manipulators.

Actually, Walski has a win-win proposal to suggest to the Selangor Religious Council (dan jabatan-jabatan yang sewaktu degnannya). Instead of whining, whingeing and threatening all the time about who can’t use the ‘A’-word, why not once and for all formally license its usage? For a fee, of course.

Pretty much along the same conceptual lines as those Jakim Halal logos – what, you actually thought those were free of charge?

That way, more enforcement personnel would be required, creating more jobs – government jobs, of course. And since we’re going to bloat up our public sector anyway, might as well do it for something that brings in revenue.

Plus, it would be a perfect job for all of those unemployable graduates, without the need for expensive post-graduation skills training. Because, quite frankly, enforcement of this kind doesn’t require much skill. Or any skill. Other than identifying the ‘A’-word, then finding out if its use is licensed or not. QED – Quite Easily Done.

Implemented properly, the A-word licensing initiative could be an extremely lucrative venture. Lame, but lucrative.

Walski’s genius sometimes amazes even himself.

Click here for the full post......

Logos & Logic (or lack thereof)

Technorati tags: Humor, Logo, Parti Sosialis Malaysia, Clenched Fist, Election Commission

If you follow RantingsByMM and Unspun, you’ll know that our neighbor, Indonesia, will be going to the polls next month.

Marina, in her post talking about the Indonesian polls, posed a question, based on how Indonesia does absentee votes and their voting age (17, by the way) – whose is the more advanced country, ours or theirs?

Hold that thought for a moment, because Walski wants to add one more bit of input to help you answer the question.

Yesterday, Malaysiakini reported that Parti Sosialis Malaysia, having fought long and hard to get their party registered, now face yet another obstacle – the Election Commission. Apparently, the EC has issues with PSM’s logo. They say that it’s “morally unsuitable” and has “connotations of violence” (via Malaysiakini, subscription required).

The EC arrived at this opinion based on the clenched fist that is central to PSM’s party logo, which of course is borrowed from popular socialist symbolism. From a symbolic point of view, the fist represents solidarity, being that “many weak fingers can come together to create a strong fist” (source: Wikipedia).

Is the EC’s apparent ignorance just an excuse? Or is it another symptom that our education system is totally crap, capable of not much more than producing consumer robots without the ability to think beyond the obvious?

If the argument is that the clenched fist connotes violence, what about the symbols of the other political parties? In fact, the whole “concern” on the part of the EC reeks of pettiness.

So, now you can answer the question Marina posed with ease: who’s more advanced, us or them?  
(if it’s violent you want, violent is what you see, and more, in the full post)

Truth be told, a number of the political party logos can be construed to symbolize violence of one sort or another, if you really tried hard enough. In some cases, pretty damned obvious.

While on the surface, the scales on Barisan Nasional’s logo seems innocuous enough. But have you ever been whopped on the face with a pair of scales before? Walski fortunately hasn’t, but he can imagine that it would sting. Especially since the scales has loads of pointy edges. And the two hooks… those definitely gotta hurt. Of course, it would take a twisted mind like Walski’s to make this kind of  connection between the ruling coalition’s logo and violence. But a connection there certainly is. So, why doesn’t the EC have an issue with BN’s logo? Enquiring minds wanna know…

You don’t need much of an imagination to realize that whenever there is any type of weapon used in a logo, an implied meaning related to violence can be derived. Such connotations are rife in a few of some other political parties’ logos, too.

Take the keris (wavy blade dagger) that’s prominently used in UMNO’s logo, which, come to think of it looks very much like a Rorschach blot.

This classical regional (it’s not just Malay, incidentally) hand-combat weapon, whose long history in the annals of literature portray it not just as tool of destruction, but a crafted object of great beauty and elegance, has certainly gotten some pretty bad press in recent years.

It has unwillingly become a participant in several displays of Malay machismo and threats of violence, by some pretty prominent members of the party. If something benign like a clenched fist is “morally unsuitable”, tolerating the use of a weapon as part of a logo surely implies that we’ve developed a very warped sense of morality.

On a larger, mass destruction type of scale, is another weapon – the Rocket – used as the logo for the Democratic Action Party, or DAP. But, as Walski thinks, if a weapon is okay, then a weapon of mass destruction must be more okay, several hundred times over. You see, more is always better. It’s quantity, not quality that’s important. That line of thinking seems to be in vogue these days anyways. So if a keris kills one at a time, a rocket does it more efficiently, hundreds at a time… or thousands, depending on what warhead is selected. So yeah, Rocket – very okay.

More subtly deadly, perhaps, is the logo for the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA). Stealthily subtle, even. Yes, Walski is, of course, referring to the Ninja Star, or Shuriken, that silent but deadly tool of ninja stealth attacks. Silent farts can be deadly, too, but the Shuriken is much more lethal. Which is exactly what the multi-point star on MCA’s logo reminds him of. Walski reckons that if quantity is okay, so should stealth, when it comes to violent imagery. And so the MCA shuriken is apparently very much A-OK in the EC’s coloring book of violent imagery.

But never, ever a clenched fist. Where the hell is the logic in that?

Go figure.

Click here for the full post......

Smokescreenary

Technorati tags: Humor, Politics, Economy, Stimulus Package, Money Politics

A couple of weeks ago, Walski did something that some of his friends would probably consider unthinkable. No, he didn't commit a crime, or blow someone up, (even merely blowing someone is a crime) or anything serious like that. Okay, well, some might think that what Walski did was criminal, but then that's your problem if you think so.

No, Walski gave his 14-year old automobile a much needed makeover. Fourteen years... that's approximately 70 in human years, or 91 if it’s a Proton.

The Walski-Mobile not quite ready for retirement yet...

So, the Walski-Mobile got new paint job, in other words. Think of it as Botox for cars, or other mechanical objects of desire. At least now Walski doesn't look like he's driving a 14-year old car. Just feels like it...

In any case, the Botox-for-the-car treatment  set Walski back about RM 2k or so. Which is where the "unthinkable" part comes in.

You see, on paper, if Walski had instead traded in his trusty 14-year old automobile for a Proton, under the RM 60 B stimu-lie package, he'd be richer by RM 5k. Instead, he's now poorer by RM 7k. RM 2k spent, and an additional 5k in opportunity loss. On paper, at least.

If that seemed like some sort of voodoo math to you, you're probably not far off the mark. ARTiculations has done an ART-ful analysis of the RM 60B package, and how everyone can potentially be a millionaire. Go read the post if voodoo math is your thing. Or if you have the need for some extra stimu-lie today.

Stimulus package... implying that it's meant to stimulate the economy. To Walski, it looks like something else altogether. And that something else is called: a bailout. Perhaps not a bailout in the traditional sense, but for sure, it’s not something that’s going to stimulate anything new. 
(blowing smokescreens, and more, in the full post)

There’s this trend, probably borrowed from the world of marketing, to disguise certain concepts by calling it by a different term. Bailout sounds bad, but stimulus sounds positive, even though if analyzed, the RM 60B package doesn’t seem like it was designed to stimulate much of anything that can be construed as productive. Except maybe stimulate the public sector into growing even more bloated than it already is.

Like… tax cuts would probably qualify as stimulus. Not RM 5k a pop subsidy to trade in your old car for a Proton or Perodua. Which, in real world terms, are overpriced to begin with.

Speaking of cars, part of the stimulus package is an allocation of RM 480M so that highway toll rates are not increased. Hmmm… and since the money is going to come from… ummm… taxes – which we the tax-payers pay to the Government, isn’t this like stimulating ourselves? And there’s a word for it, which somehow escapes Walski’s…. oh, masturbation!

You are probably thinking that Walski doesn’t know what he’s talking about, since he’s no economist. Well, if credible subject-matter expert opinion is what you want, here’s what the Wall Street Journal has to say about the stimulus package.

But at the end of the day, it’s better to look good and generous, especially to the GLCs, and to those in UMNO who, for some strange reason, seem to really be pining for the “we’re the Government, and therefore we know what’s best for you” kind of paternalistic governance. Especially with the party elections coming up pretty darn soon around the corner.

And speaking of party elections… another recent smokescreen example: "money politics". That's just marketing smokescreen terminology for C-O-R-R-U-P-T-I-O-N. Nobody in their right mind would purposely support or vote for somebody found guilty of corruption.

"Oh.. so and so, a fine leader, is not corrupt... he's just guilty of practicing a little money politics."

But “money politics”? Doesn’t sound half as bad, even though buying votes is, in Walski’s book, still corruption.

And what’s with the selective punitive action? Both KJ and Ali Rustam were found guilty of “money politics” (it’s not corruption, remember?), but one gets off the hook with a warning, and the other gets barred from participating in the upcoming party elections. As a consolation prize, however, Ali Rustam still gets to rule Melaka.

Walski wonders what the people of Melaka think about this… after all, it’s just a little “money politics”. Not clean enough for UMNO, but okay for Melaka?

You know what Walski thinks? This whole deal about UMNO wanting to do some spring cleaning is another smokescreen. Get a scapegoat – preferably one that the incoming President doesn’t prefer as his number 2 – and do the deed of “cleaning house”, publicly and visibly.

But they forgot one important thing – Malaysians are not stupid, and the glaring discrepancy in the treatment of the guilty will have repercussions on UMNO’s already faltering credibility, and internal cohesion.

Sure enough, as reported by The Malaysian Insider yesterday, the UMNO Supreme Council will be calling an emergency meeting today to discuss the very move to bar Ali Rustam from contesting.

Kinda like… Oops… what have we done?

For a political party that is fond of positioning itself as one that can do no wrong, UMNO, of late, looks as though they can’t seem to do anything right.

Or, is it all another smokescreen, designed to get us teary eyed, so that we miss what’s really going on. Like, if they’re really serious about eradicating corruption money politics, why not file a report to the MACC? Both Ali Rustam and KJ. Instead, one gets off wholesale, and the other retail.

Smokescreens getting into your eyes can be pretty painful, Walski would imagine…

Click here for the full post......

Rise of the Replicating Nanobots

Technorati tags: Humor, Nanotechnology, Be Amazing, Animation, Nanorobot

Truth be told, Walski's pretty much fed up with all the politics of gloom, and the gloom of politics, that's engulfed this nation of late. Not a day goes by without something crapily stupid that the world of Malaysian politics offers us.

And so, he thought it would be a good idea to engulf you folks with some nanobot destruction instead...

The video appeared a few days ago on the Mental Floss website, via Wired (hat-tip: Clipmarks user Einbar). It's actually a promo for the upcoming book, Be Amazing, scheduled for release on March 17, 2009.

Funny as it may be, there is some real science behind the goofy scenario... and some real concerns.
(nano science in a not so nano world, and more, in the full post)

The Wired blog entry makes reference to a letter published in the Nature Nanotechnology online journal. It expresses concerns over the possible health, safety and environmental impact on nanotech, a technology that's still in its infancy today.

Emerging nanotechnologies pose a new set of challenges for researchers, governments, industries and citizen organizations that aim to develop effective modes of deliberation and risk communication early in the research and development process. These challenges derive from a number of issues including the wide range of materials and devices covered by the term 'nanotechnology', the many different industrial sectors involved, the fact that many areas of nanotechnology are still at a relatively early stage of development, and uncertainty about the environmental, health and safety impacts of nanomaterials

Public surveys have found that people in the United States and Europe currently view the benefits of nanotechnologies as outweighing their risks although, overall, knowledge about nanotechnology remains very low.
(source: Nature Nanotechnology)

So, as far-fetched as the promo may seem, there are some real concerns about what would happen if indeed something like the self-replicating nanostructures in the video were unwittingly unleashed.

Science, eh? And yet, here at home, we're still at each others' throats about what language to teach the sciences in, rather than creating some of our own.

But you know, there are some cool nanobot applications Walski can immediately think of.

Like, for instance, a horde of nanobots that you'd ingest in a capsule, which then searches out cancer cells in your body, and eradicate them. Then, using the base building blocks found in abundance in our body, repair the damaged tissue. You probably don't want these to self-replicate, for obvious reasons.

Or, how about a household cleaning liquid that's actually an army of cleaning nanobots. Spray on, the bots then feast on the dirt... munch-munch-munch... then after half an hour, just wipe off with a wet rag. How about nanostructures that oxidize waste?

Another more sinister idea - nanobot assassins. It'll make every murder look like natural causes, without the mess that C4 usually leaves behind.

Walski could go on and on with this... but what about you? What kind of applications would you like to see nanotechnology used in?

Click here for the full post......

I Я Language Supremacy

Technorati tags: Language, PPMSI, Politics, Bahasa Malaysia, English, Opinion Poll

In talking about certain issues currently facing the nation, the term stakeholder is often mentioned. The term refers to a person, or group of persons, with a vested interest in a particular issue or problem.

In vampire movies, on the other hand, stakeholder could also refer to the guy (or gal, but usually not) trying to drive a stake through the heart of the undead blood-sucking vampire. This happens in the more campy Dracula-type films. Or even in uber-cool vampire flicks, like From Dusk Till Dawn, for instance.

On very rare occasions, like on a Friday the 13th like today, on a silly blog like myAsylum, both definitions of the word sometimes collide. Especially when zombies are thrown into the mix. Which brings us to the definition of  stakeholder that this post will use: "blood-sucking zombies trying to drive a stake through the heart of Malaysian education".

How many Malaysians does it take to hand over a memorandum?
(picture taken from Perisik Rakyat^®)

Unlike the zombies we're used to (and probably prefer), however, the ones Walski has in mind are very much NOT undead (which actually makes them MORE dangerous). It's just that they're prone to not seeing the bigger picture, and are very susceptible to that popular Malaysian infliction - gullibility.
(what the kids have to say, brownie points, and more, in the full post)

Personally, Walski thinks that the instruction of Math and Science should remain in English. So far, from what he can tell, nobody seems to have bothered to ask the school kids (the real stakeholders) what they think about it. Or, at the very least, the rhetoric about why the medium of instruction should revert back to Bahasa Malaysia/vernacular languages, rarely takes the students opinions into account.

Which is why is looks like yet another issue that has been hijacked and made into a political agenda by language supremacists, almost unilaterally. Politicians from across the divide have also pitched in to make this into more of a political issue, rather than an education-related one.

So, what do the kids think? Here's the opinion of one Adam Azhar, a 9-year old, about learning Math and Science in English (hat-tip: Rocky's Bru, emphasis by myAsylum).

I heard my mum and daddy were talking about people that do not like the idea of learning math and science in English. But i think it's pretty cool. It makes me always want to do more revisions. If i don't understand anything or terms that the teacher used at school, i go back and search it in the dictionary or ask my parent. Sometimes i even use the internet.
(source: This Is My World)

And sometimes he blogs - quite well, Walski thinks. Azhar's got pretty cool parents, too. Why? Because they're bringing up the kid with good values - like having a high regard for hard work, that it's okay to make mistakes (but learn from them), and that there's no short-cut to success.

Contrast this to the "membebankan guru dan murid" (burdening the teachers and students) arguments. Like everything in life must be easy-peasy. Granted, the implementation of the program hasn't been well executed, but Walski thinks the program itself is probably one of the few (if not only) intelligent things that the Ministry of Education has done to the curriculum in the last decade.

In covering the PPSMI debate, Malaysiakini did an interview with some school kids, and asked them what they thought. The responses were mixed, as is expected. But what's interesting is who said what. The demographic mix, in other words.

Some interesting observations that Walski picked up from watching the 9-some minute video:

• the emphasis on racial difference seems to be inculcated in school. Those who are weak in English are those who don't mix with others not from their own ethnicity
• the only ones who seem to prefer a reversion back to BM come from a very specific demographic group (hint: not just ethnicity, but gender as well)
• switching from one language medium to another, earlier on, wasn't easy. But most managed. Switching back isn't a brilliant idea, either (and this comes from a Form 3 student!)
• most students interviewed showed a strong desire for self-improvement. Those who didn't belonged to a very specific demographic. The "we love our tempurung" group. Walski wonders why.

The Ministry, of course, has been dragging its heels in making a decision whether to maintain the Math and Science medium of instruction in English, or not. One likely reason is the upcoming UMNO party elections - politics, again. It's a shame that our politicians care more for their political careers, rather than doing the right thing. And not only the UMNO ones, either. Politicians from PKR and PAS are equally guilty of turning the whole PPSMI thing into a political debate.

Well, now you know what Walski thinks, and you have a feel for what some of the students themselves think. What's your opinion?

If you've noticed, the new poll that Walski's put up (the one he mentioned yesterday) is related to this very topic. So, what do you think about PPSMI, the protests against it, and what not. Take the poll, and maybe leave a comment (or three) as well. If you own a Blogger blog, you can put up the survey on your blog, too, simply by clicking on the icon below it.

It's no big secret that the Ministry of Education portfolio is a must do for any PM aspirant in this country. It is, among other things, a political stepping stone. And every minister who's ever held that portfolio has made sure that he's (never been a she) left his own legacy behind. Some of them good legacies, but many of them damaging, as well. This, in part, is why our so-called education system is in a total mess today. It's always been about political mileage, to varying degrees, and not education for its own sake.

Walski thinks that when it comes to PPSMI, it's the implementation, not the program itself, that needs some focus and revisit. The thought that energy is being expended to look at the feasibility of reverting back to BM clearly shows that it's more about scoring political brownie points, rather than focusing on the real problems. Yes, a review is needed, but the right kind of review.

Look, mastering a language - any language - is an asset. And for one to master a language, one needs to use that language, not just learn it as a subject. PPMSI forces students to apply the English language, something that merely learning the language as a subject has somewhat failed in providing students with an acceptable level of proficiency.

It's high time for the Ministry of Education to show some backbone and balls, and not pander to the I Я Language Supremacy zombies. Brownie points today, another wasted generation 10 years down the road.

For once, do the right damned thing... and right is not always popular.

Walski's bad English post title clarification footnote: The title of today's post was inspired in part by the cartoon series, I Am Weasel, which used to be shown quite a lot on the Cartoon Network on Astro (yes, Walski watches the Cartoon Network).

The more interesting character in that series is I.R. Baboon, whose silly characteristics include lousy grammar, and, how he writes the letter 'Я' (like how you see it). To Walski, Baboon is, by far, the more interesting regular character in the cartoon series - pants-less, red-buttocked, nose-digging buffon of a baboon. And in a twisted kind of way, it's Baboon, not Weasel, that's the true hero.

Walski just loving it!

Click here for the full post......

Poll Position: Dude, where's my Fresh Polls?

Technorati tags: Poll Position, Politics, Perak, Fresh Polls

Well folks, Walski's back from the "mission" that he mentioned in his previous post. Tiring, but a satisfying and succesful one. But more about that in a different post.

The results of the most recent opinion poll is not at all surprising. In fact, Walski expected it and would have been surprised if the results were other than how it all panned out.

Of course, with any poll, you'll inevitably get a few lunatic fringe votes. But the lunatic fringe choice, this time around, is a pretty scary and dangerous one. 
(result analysis, the lunatic fringe, and more, in the full post)

The vast majority of you who participated echoed pretty much what we've been hearing all along - fresh polls. Like Walski said, no surprise whatsoever.

Now, Walski purposely put in a choice for a unity government. 4 of you thought that it would be a good idea. Truth be told, it's the other viable choice to get things moving in the sorry state. But political tensions, and the intense rhetoric that we've been hearing ever since PR lost the state to BN through interesting means, indicates that this is a choice that only a group of rational, people-caring politicians would choose. And it takes BN to be magnanimous enough to offer first.

But political magnamity is probably something that you'll have a hard time to find in BN's glossary of political stances. As the Hokkiens would say: wait long-long...

Also purposely put into the choice selection was declaring emergency rule. Walski would really like to know who voted for this choice... Seriously, dude (or dudette)... while it would force some calm onto the state, such a drastic move is going to be a bad scene. And it would set a dangerous precedent for the rest of the country.

Why?

Well, we're soon going to get a new PM. And by any measure, perhaps the most unpopular person, in our nation's history, to be in waiting to take up that all too important office. Setting the wheels of emergency rolling in Perak is not going to bode well for the rest of us. A precedent of doing that to solve an impasse is not good. Not one single bit.

You do the math yourself if the connection doesn't seem clear. You fine product of a screwed up Malaysian education system, you....

Speaking of the screwed up Malaysian education system, the new poll that Walski just put up has something - make that everything - to do with said screwy system. And once again, you can host the poll on your own Blogger blog if you so wish (just click the icon below the poll).

In the meantime, however, the ball lies squarely in the Sultan of Perak's court... either listen to what the people want, and support the call for fresh polls, or risk being chastised even further by the people. Simple choices, yet difficult ones, all at the same time. But life's like that, in the real world, 'innit?

So, yeah dude... where's my fresh polls?

Click here for the full post......

The eventful March 8

Technorati tags: March 8, International Women's Day, Samy Vellu

There are quite a number of things that March 8 represents, which Walski could and should go into great detail. But, he can't (the "why" in the full post).

It's International Women's Day, most importantly. This year's theme is "Women and men united to end violence against women and girls" - which in itself is interesting, because it is a realization that it takes both sides of the gender boundary to realize this aim. And in a larger sense, violence against women is something that has an effect on both women and men.

Even in Malaysia, there are laws in place that favor male over female. Granted these laws are slowly being amended to be more equitable, but we have a long way to go still. But for Muslims, what success that has been achieved through the civil laws is being reversed as the aura of conservatism grows. The fight towards equitability continues, boys and girls.

It's also exactly one year that Malaysia spoke. And one year of BN showing us how deep in denial they are. The democratic voice expressed during the last General Election was something that has been causing turmoil within the ruling coalition. The ones deepest in denial? Who else, but UMNO. And one year on, the realization of why the people are starting to reject UMNO has still yet to sink in. Instead, attempts (and one success) at winning back the states they lost through the back door is the game of the day. Walski thinks that one day they will simply succumb from their terminal denial. 

Also, it's Samy Velu's birthday. Umm... okay, 'nuff said.
(why the really short entry in the full post)

The reason why Walski can't really elaborate much on either is because once again, he's on the road. It's a working weekend, so to speak. And this time, it's on the trail of fine arts and the artists that produce them.

And it's not in Malaysia... Time is at a premium, and this is one of the rare free moments for Walski.

More later upon his return.

Click here for the full post......

PopTV: Truce, the whole truce, and nothing but the truce...

Technorati tags: Economy, Nationhood, Politics, Political+Truce, BN, PR

If you recall, last week, Walski's friend and LRTQ cohort, Anas Zubedy, commissioned a full page add in The Star, appealing to the politicians at large to get down to work. If you don't recall, you can read Walski's posting about it here, and a follow up ad day later here.

The ad caught the attention of many, both in the real world, as well as in the bloggerhood and other parts of cyberspace. Including PopTV, who decided that their latest episode should be an interview with Anas.

Apart from on-the-Net media, Anas was also interviewed by business-oriented radio station BFM 89.9 (a podcast in two parts can be found on BFM 89.9's blog).

It also caught the attention of the political world, and from the very people whose attention Anas was trying to get - the politicians. And it came from both sides of the divide...
(what both sides are saying, and more, in the full post)

Well, catching the attention of the politicians is a good start. More importantly, however, are they taking heed?

Let's look at what they had to say to the full page ad that Anas took out. That's the best way to determine whether or not it's a case of just blah-blah-blah, or yes, they really are listening.

In the BN corner, the acknowledgement comes from none other than PM in waiting, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, from his blog 1Malaysia.

A full-page open letter published in The Star on Thursday caught my eye and compelled me to respond via this quick and short blog. I applaud the determination of one Anas Zubedy for making public his sentiments on the recent developments in Malaysian politics. His letter was not only fair, but clear in pointing out the real issues that we as a nation must focus on to move the country forward.

The intensity of the situation this past month has been widely covered in traditional and alternative media. Indeed, while politics is a necessary ingredient in building Malaysians a more ideal democratic country, I cannot say enough how truly disappointed I am in the unpleasant exchange that occurred in Parliament on Thursday. This latest incident only serves to highlight how important it is for policymakers to understand the underlying fundamental needs of the Rakyat, particularly in these economically challenging times. Our growth of 0.1% in the fourth quarter clearly has sent a signal of what is to come.

To Anas Zubedy and fellow Malaysians: I acknowledge your call for a united and effective front among Malaysians. Together, we will strive to make Malaysia a better, stronger country that we can all be proud of.
(source: 1Malaysia)

Acknowledgement? Yes. Acknowledgement of the current economic state of affairs and that it's not going to get much better in the near future? Also yes. A clear commitment to really get down to work? That, Walski thinks, leaves much to be desired.

Ok... so, as far as Najib is concerned, "together" we must strive to make Malaysia stronger. Which sounds more like PR than anything else. At least, that's how Walski reads it.

On the opposite side of the ring, representing PR, is YB Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. His reaction to Anas Zubedy's full-page ad is significantly longer than Najib's 3-paragraph acknowledgement. You should give the whole thing a read. The key points, however, are that:

• "Anas, we hear you". Which is another way of expressing acknowledgement.
• The PKR government of Selangor recognizes the plight of the people. That's why every household gets 20 m3 of free water every month. Among other things.
• The state government is being proactive in handling the issue of economic slowdown, rather than retroactively addressing retrenchment.
• Takes a stab at the Federal Government for being in denial about Malaysia facing recession (but we all already know that, don't we?)
• Acknowledges that there are politicians from both sides who are committed to working together towards a better Malaysia

Having said that, however, Nik Nazmi adds that there are real challenges towards the prospect of working together.

Unfortunately, just as we grapple in trying to find the best ways to help the people, there are some quarters who continue to try to derail it for short-term political gain. From the Federal Government’s rejection of the Selangor State Government’s efforts to take over our water concession in order to avert a 30 percent hike in the tariff to the prohibition by Federal Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to all Federal officers from attending meetings with the Perak State Government (prior to the coup in Perak), they seem at a loss on how to deal with the emerging two-party system in a maturing democracy.
(source: Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad)

Bottom line?

The people, however, should not be at a loss. We should not postpone change only for our children to have to undergo the same turmoil and uncertainty. Delaying the inevitable may result in an outcome that none of us find desirable. Giving up now is not an option.

We hear you Anas, and that is why we are fighting for change.
(source: Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad)

In other words, Pakatan will not desist, because it can't. Or that's how they see it, anyways.

Walski's analysis is that Nik Nazmi's longer write-up means to show that Pakatan is trying to live up to the expectations of the state residents where they have democratically secured the right to govern since March 8, 2008. How well they've succeeded so far, apart from their own efforts, is a function of external factors as well.

Now, here are 5 questions Walski has. And in answering them (which Walski will leave as a reader exercise), perhaps it will be clear which side needs to be more magnanimous in letting up on the eXtreme politicking.

1. Who is it, since March 8, 2008, that has been using every means possible to unseat the 5 states that are no longer under BN control?
2. Who grabbed Perak, via a coup de hop exercise?
3. Who has been using race and religious sentiments to incite the people?
4. Who has on the one hand, suddenly used the royal establishment as a rallying point, while on the other hand, has a track record of being anti-royalty when it suited them (via KTemoc Konsiders)?
5. Who is it that just cannot get over March 8, 2008, and being less than introspective about the way things turned out on that day?

If only one side is willing to concede to a truce, while the other continues with the relentless politicking, the resulting situation is, as they say, a no-brainer.

As the often heard and overused saying goes, it takes two to tango.

To tap-dance like crazy, on the other hand, only requires one...

Click here for the full post......

Opinion Poll: Dissolution d'solution?

Technorati tags: Opinion Poll, Politics, Perak, Political Impasse

Updated @ March 6: If you have a Blogger based blog, you can add the poll to your layout simply by clicking Add this poll to your Blogger blog (or the icon) located below the poll.

Since BN is so reluctant to agree to snap polls in order that Perak gets de-entangled back into normalcy, Walski figured that he would instead conduct his own snap polls.

Ok... so what if it's just an opinion poll? Walski wants to know what you think.

And by that token, he'd also appreciate it if you folks could help publicize this poll a little. Especially to your pro-BN friends and acquaintances.

The poll is where all past myAsylum polls are located - at the sidebar on the right side of the screen.

In fact, Walski's gone one step further - he's widgetized the poll (and will do the same with future polls), so that you can easily display the same opinion poll on your own blog. That should be available later this evening.

For the time being, however, the auto-widget function only works for Blogger-based blogs. If you use a different platform, you can download the script by right-clicking here, and select "Save target as..." (or the equivalent on your browser). This will essentially download a text file containing the script, which you can install on your own blog or website.

You see, unlike BN, Walski's not afraid of accepting the real feelings and opinions of the public that myAsylum serves.

It's something Walski learned in marketing - knowing your customers and served markets. Only when you know your clientele can you serve them to the best of your ability. 
(the poll choices, why these choices, and more, in the full post)

Because of the criticality of the situation in the Silver State, the poll will be up for only one week, and will close at midnight on Wednesday, March 12. The poll essentially asks which of the three choices do you think is the best way forward for Perak:

• Fresh polls
• Declare emergency rule
• Form a state unity government

These 3, Walski thinks, are the most plausible things that could happen. One of them is probably what most of the more reasonable people think should be the way forward. One of three choices is the worst case scenario that nobody wants to see happen. The third, if it happens, would be nothing short of a miracle...

Well, that's what Walski thinks, anyway. What do you think?

Click here for the full post......

Emergency standing...

Technorati tags: Politics, Perak, State Assembly, Tree Democracy, Impasse

Perak assemblymen under a tree,
K-I-S-S-I-N-G...

Ok... not quite doing that, Walski's certain. But he couldn't resist the temptation. Having the emergency sitting - or is it standing? - under the tree also made obsolete the Rajinikanth-to-the-rescue idea Walski had earlier.

Taken from The Malaysian Insider, who put it best:
"No entry, no problem..."

Apparently, under some parliamentary standing orders (pun unavoidable) the sitting (while standing) can be conducted anywhere, and not necessarily in the physical confines of the state assembly hall.

Walski wonders if this is the first ever alfresco legislative meeting anywhere in the world. He also wonders if the phrases "usul pokok yang perlu dibincang" or "pokoknya, kita perlu menetapkan..." were used during the meeting. Making puns in Bahasa Malaysia is not impossible, only difficult. And so, when any opportunity presents itself...

The important thing, however, is that the emergency legislative session went ahead, as planned, and passed two emergency resolutions that were intended. As planned.

When life gives you lemons... yesterday, the Perak assembly made lemon meringue pie. And then washed it down with lemonade. 
(d'solution is dissolution, and more, in the full post)

Meanwhile, Malaysiakini today reported that the court has granted a restraining against Perak state speaker V. Sivakumar, preventing him from "any unlawful meetings purporting to be state assemblies" (source: Malaysiakini, subscription required).

Walski wonders what happened to separation of powers - Executive, Legislative and Judiciary. Oh, wait... this is Malaysia we're talking about. More specifically, Perak - which is one ugly mess. What's another potential constitutional crisis thrown into the mix, right?

It really makes him wonder though. Why is the new BN state government so afraid of going to the polls? Especially if Zambry has stated that it is a government for all the people of Perak - except maybe for the Orang Asli, whose land once again is at risk of being raped and plundered (via Magick River).

It's not a foregone conclusion that BN will lose again, if fresh polls are called for. Based on observed sentiment it may appear that way, but poll results are never a foregone conclusion. Unless BN, too, believes that it has as much chance as that of a snowball surviving Hell.

The solution to the impasse in Perak is simple - dissolution of the state assembly, and re-election. It's staring everyone in the face, and it's a matter of whether the parties involved dare to implement the solution, or not. BN seems to be in the "or not" camp, from their recent actions trying every single avenue to stop the state government from being dissolved.

The Star reports today that Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin, the semi-deposed Chief Minister of the troubled Silver State, will seek an audience with the Sultan, present the resolutions passed yesterday, and ask for the ruler's consent to dissolve the state government. This, of course, will mean fresh elections.

Walski believes this it's the only way out of this mess. The other alternative he's heard mentioned - declaration of Emergency Rule... well, all Walski can say is, let's not even go there. It will set a precedence that will be more damaging than helpful. Not just to Perak, but the entire country.

If BN believes that they have the people's mandate in Perak, then they should put the money where their mouth is. You know... talk is cheap, the proof of the pudding... all that jazz.

And don't just take Walski's say so. Even an UMNO stalwart agrees... 

Click here for the full post......

Wading neck-deep in the straits of dire

Technorati tags: Humor, Politics, Perak, Rajinikanth, Dire Straits

A rather intriguing headline from The Malaysian Insider caught Walski's attention earlier today.

Unlike what we've hearing from our own leaders, Singapore's PM, while acknowledging that things are bad, does it in a way that isn't insulting to one's intelligence. A stark contrast from the "Semua OK, Semua OK" statements in the last 3-4 months followed by "Alamak! AlamakI" panic stations right about now.

And technically, PM Lee Hsien Loong is absolutely right - geographically, Singapore is not in dire straits. It is actually at the end of the Malacca Straits. Or maybe even stating that it's in the Tebrau Straits might be half-way correct.

And a quick check with the last known band line-up... Mark Knopfler, John Illsley, Alan Clark, Guy Fletcher...

Ok folks, it is confirmed. Singapore is definitely not in Dire Straits. Unless you see something in the picture on the left that Walski can't.

And according to the sources that Walski checked online, Singapore never ever was, either.

But there is a group of people who apparently feel that they are in dire straits - and not the musical kind, either - BN's Perak Chief-Minister-in-limbo and his executive council, also in limbo.

According to another report from The Malaysian Insider, it appears as though the BN's lawyers are throwing every single possible legal implement they can think of to prevent the special session of the state legislature from sitting tomorrow.

Even that hallmark democratic principle - separation of powers - which usually prevents the courts from having jurisdiction over legislature, won't stop BN from trying their darndest to prevent the sitting.

And the latest turn of events, as a last ditch effort, they're locking down the State Secretariat Building tomorrow, in order to prevent an emergency sitting.

All we need now is Rajinikanth barreling down the road towards the secretariat gates in a beat up jeep, strapped with C4 (with some intense dance scenes at the Ipon train station thrown in), and we'll have us a bona fide Tamil box-office action movie on our hands...
(stranger than strange, truer than true, and more, in the full post)

Just as the explosive-laden jeep rams the gates, Rajnikanth does a triple sommersault, with a quadruple backflip, and two and a half twists (difficulty = 5.4), over the exploding gate, lands on his feet, but not before doing a stylo-tumble or three, and ushers in the assemblypersons into the compound.

The audience goes wild... roll credits... and then proceed to burn the cinema down because the ending wasn't happy enough.

As additional comic relief, maybe we can hire those goons who intimidated Karpal as extras, just to provide superhero Rajinikanth with some additional casualties.

That would be like a YouTube hit of the century... and then some. Oscars, even. Oh, hang on a sec - we need a theme song...

Mumbai Superstar

Click ► to play

Personally, something from Dire Straits would've been nice... but ok - now we're set!

Sorry folks, Walski knows that it's no laughing matter, but the situation in Perak has actually gotten that ridiculous. No harm in throwing in another busload of stupid into the mix... makes it more fun, don't ya think?

It would appear that the political chess game in the Silver State has upped several notches since Walski last wrote about it. And Walski also reckons it should be pretty obvious why BN is so desperate.

Recall that the MB and his ex-co in limbo are still banned from the assembly. That would mean if the emergency sitting were to go ahead, BN wouldn't have the majority of votes in that session.

The plan, of course, would be for the house to call for a dissolution, paving the way for state elections. Which, as most reasonable and rational people would agree, is the best way forward. Let the people of Perak decide whom they want to helm their state government.

But reasonable and rational probably doesn't jive with the Zambry School of Democracy... what more just weeks away from the UMNO General Assembly and elections, and Najib taking over as President of UMNO, hence becoming leader of BN, and hence becoming the next Prime Minister. Won't look good if the Perak coup falls apart in just a matter of weeks. One that was executed with him helming the Perak state UMNO liaison watchamcalit.

As if the guy didn't already have enough problems, huh?

Speaking of Dr. Zambry, as if things couldn't get any funnier, the man has called the emergency sitting of the state legislature a "threat to national security, particularly in Perak" (via Malaysiakini). Now, if that's not a sign of desperation, Walski doesn't know what is.

The prospect of Rajinikanth saving the day is becoming more and more plausible... how much more ridiculous can this whole situation get?

In the meantime, the riot police have cordoned off the Perak State Secretariat building, in light of the circular that came out, announcing that the main entrance to the building would be closed.

And apparently this was something that surprised even Zambry.

Zambry also appeared to be at a lost when presented with a state secretariat circular which stated that the state secretariat building would be closed to the public tomorrow.

"Who did it? It is not from me. It is from the state secretary... you have to ask him. I have nothing to do with it. Only now have I seen this," he said.
(source: Malaysiakini, subscription required)

If it wasn't done on Zambry's instructions, then who ordered the closure? Hmm... the dalca thickens... Yeah, yeah, we know... Zambry's not really running the state yet. It's pretty much operating on auto-pilot.

What transpires today, whatever happens, is definitely going to be interesting... whether or not Rajinikanth makes his heroic appearance, or not.

And it wouldn't surprise Walski one single bit if one day it were uncovered that Zambry and his crew in limbo turn out to have once been secret members of Dire Straits.

Because as of right now, it looks as though they wading neck deep in it...

Walski's political (and musical) hurt responsibility disclaimer footnote: No politicians were harmed during the making of this post. Any damage, either emotionally, to their egos, or political career has been solely and totally self-inflicted. Incidentally, the song "Mumbai Superstar" is by Ben's Bitches, and has been taken from their 2007 album, "Mamak Conspiracy". It has been used in this post without any consent from the boys whatsoever. But somehow Walski doesn't think that they will really mind...

Click here for the full post......