Monday, 27 October 2014

Anwar and the Desperate BN

It is obvious Barisan Nasional now finds Anwar so threatening that it has resorted to bar him from entering a public university.

University of Malaya does not belong to the government. It belongs to the rakyat.

Citing electrical issues, UM sends all its staffs back at 4pm, and place UM under lock down. It's like declaring darurat inside UM, only to no avail.

Crowds beginning to swell. They moved towards the locked gate and shook it until it budged, and Anwar entered and delivered his speech and left safe and sound.

For one you are so close to throwing into gaol, Barisan you certainly are desperate to such an extent of barring him from entering UM.

The greatest thing from the whole event, I must admit, is to watch the students defying the order, gather and fight valiantly for freedom of speech and academic.

It's good to know the young generations have started to defy oppression, and to learn to defend themselves against repressive government.

In this event, I see hope, and it's inspiring. Malaysia still has hope. The future we hope may not come soon, but it is coming. 


Thursday, 23 October 2014

Me

While a lot of people, especially those who gave up Malaysian citizenship and are living in other countries, prefer to lament about how terrible Malaysia is, I personally prefer to appreciate that I am born in Malaysia and not North Korea, Middle East countries like Iraq and Syria which have never observed a minute of peace, and even China. I prefer to appreciate that I am not born in those war-torn countries and controlled by truly repressive government than to complain that I do not have a life as good as the Americans/British/Australians or even Singaporeans.

That's just me. Of course you could argue that if there's a better opportunity, why not go for it? But the problem is, everything comes at a price. I have observed people that people who snatched those opportunities are never actually content. They simply become heavily dependent on what the countries could offer, and if they're deprived of them for even a single second (for example, wifi, or a malfunctioning escalator), they would complain.

And they never stop complain. All they want is to be given what they think is the best offer available.

They have become unhealthily materialistic and are heavily dependent on machinery and technology on their daily lives. Take away their smartphone one day and they'll kill you.

So, I prefer to be living a middle life, a life that is significantly restricted in every aspects like freedom of speech (well, at least Malaysia has not censored media like China does), but a life that gives quite a lot of space for improvements.

Well, that's just me, and I am happy I am easily made happy.

At the same time, Malaysia is my home. No matter how terrible Malaysia has become, I will not abandon my country. I'll fight for my home, just like the Hong Kongers now do.

I have never seen an American telling Iraqi to flee their countries either. Most citizens tell the people to stand up to the oppressive, and I prefer to do so.

Unless Malaysia has become China where there is absolutely no room for changes, then I'll flee.

But Malaysia has not degraded to such level. A change is still possible - we simply need to cooperate, persevere, and fight. 

Even if Malaysia could not change by the time I take in my last breath, then let me die fighting for the future of Malaysia. 

I won't run away from my home for lousy maintenance. I'll stay, and I'll fight for my own future, instead of seeking one that does not belong to me, one that only partially open for me for their own economic sake. 

This is me. I do not like a materialistic life, I do not seek high standard of living and I will not leave Malaysia, no matter how people find Malaysia unlivable. Fighting for my own future is the ideology I grow up with, one that I strongly believe in, and not seeking for offers that could make my life easier.

This is me. 

Saturday, 11 October 2014

Graduate


In 2011, after SPM, I got my very first handphone. In 2013, after STPM, I got my very first smartphone. Therefore prior to obtaining these phones, I used what I had at my disposal to record memories - my brain. This is why I am highly sentimental. My brain contains everything. I meticulously record every journey, every part of my life in my brain, with absolutely no reliance on any technology. I record by remembering and writing. That makes me particular exceptional - I openly confess my feelings without shame, and I could recall a lot of past events normal people could not, right from primary to....now.

And this too contributes to my particularly active senses. My senses are hyperactive, and right now even while I am typing this I can recall greatly and vividly those things that happened in the past. I could feel and remember how tired I was in the school. I could remember the feeling of my sweaty shirt sticking to my back. I could remember the hot steering wheel of my car after school. I could remember the scent of the food in my canteen et cetera.

And this is why I am easily triggered whenever I come across something pertaining to my past. How can I tell my brain, which is my camera and cam-recorder, not to replay an event when the play button is hit?

University life has its fun, but admit it - secondary school is still the best. The life is simple. Stressful, yes, but simple and fun. Adolescence is a nice period where you don't get too mature and enjoy fun like children, but then you are not too childish to naively just play - you invent games, you find partners, and you prank.

Secondary school too functions as a partial shield. It provides substantial shield to the students that protect them from certain unforgiving incidents. Students are well protected from the ugliness of the society, to the point they consider school as "oppressive" although a school merely provides temporary shelter. The school allows you to make all sorts of mistakes without the students bearing terrible consequences. The worst you could land yourself was meeting parents or getting expelled, it's still better than getting fired and losing all your financial support when you're working. 

University is different. It has its fun, but without a class, without classmates, without your own tables and chairs and without a fix classroom and a form teacher, everything is different. In high school, handphones are forbidden. Hence, you forge relationships with friends by emotional bonds. In university, when people have nothing to do, they don't take the initiative to talk, they get themselves buried in their phone.

So videos about graduation start circulating on facebook, I came across this video, which literally brought me to tears. Trust me when I say I would give everything back to go back to secondary school, because I really do.

What people say are true: a school is a cruel place that binds people with a robust bond, only to forcefully separate them when time is up.

For those graduating soon, appreciate the remaining days. No matter how much you hate it now, no matter how much fun you think you'll have in the next stage of your life, you'll miss it badly in the future. For those who still have years to go, enjoy your school life. It's awesome.

Happy graduation!

Friday, 3 October 2014

University

Hi guys, I have a very tight schedule here so I really don't have much time to post much here.

Anyway, I am currently studying in Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak Campus. The campus is very small, slightly bigger than my secondary school but the location is really strategic.

Opposite Swinburne campus, there's immigration centre. Whatever issues you have about your student visa or passport can be settled there. All you need to do is to exit the gate and cross the road, and there you are.

Beside immigration, there's a police station, and I think it's Kuching headquarters. Thus the security around the campus is considered acceptable, although I have heard of a number of robberies but I guess expecting an absolute absence of crime is not possible.

Beside the police station, there's The Spring Mall, a shopping mall as high class as KLCC. Things inside there are very expensive, but I have to say the shopping mall is very convenient for the students. Need to buy anything? Head there, you can basically buy everything.

Behind the campus, we have KWSP. The office that deals with EPF. Then beside the building, there's a hospital - Borneo Medical Centre. It's just like 5 minutes walk! It's damn convenient! Swinburne's location is just too strategic!

About 10 minutes walk, and crossing a very busy and ridiculously big roundabout, we'll reach King Centre which has a number of food courts that sell street food that is more affordable for students. If you do not mind walking, you may walk for an extra 20 minutes to CityOne Megamall.

About 25 minutes walk from Swinburne campus, you can also reach Kenyalang Park. There's a market in there and certain food and cheap goods can be found.

About 10-15 drive and you'll reach Waterfront, or Kuching Old Town.

Swinburne's campus is just way too convenient. The strategic location is what I like the university best. Haha

There's one downside though, there's no McDonald's around Swinburne. The only fast food I like. The nearest stall requires a 15 minutes drive. Too bad.