It would almost be absolutely ironical that I would start blogging at the dawn of 2009; it was nothing which was planned to be that way. It is going to be a determining year for me and my fellow colleagues as well, as this is very well our last year in Lim Kok Wing University, probably for some the 'last year' has already passed, as they are jetting off to the Gold Coasts of Australia to complete their studies. So, what 2009 has in store?
First of all, 20 days into this new year, I shall raise hand to Barack Obama, who will take office officially on January 20 this year. He will be faced with probably the most daunting tasks a newly-elected president has ever faced in the history of US. Firstly, we have to witness how he tries to restore global economic order in the wake of the recent economic meltdown that is causing continous recession everywhere. However, his more immediate challenge lies in how he will react to the Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza strips in Palestine. He will have to intervene to promote truce between the two, and how he does it wil be interesting to see. Furthermore, there will be the whole process of calling back all American soldiers from Iraqi territories.
Then, we Malaysian, we better embrace ourselves, as Datuk Najib Tun Razak takes office in March as our new Prime Minister. Who will be our new deputy is a million-dollar question, as there will be a tight race leading up to that. Many think Najib would hold forth a steadier ship than Badawi has done in the tumultous past five years in Malaysia, but what are Najib's exact proficiencies and idealisms is subject to greater controversies. I will put aside the Altantuya murder allegations, my main question lies in how well exactly has Najib handled the economic downturn in Malaysia, given the fact that he exchanged his Defence Ministry profiles with our current PM exclusively for the purpose of handling this economic situation. I have read it time and again in the newspapers of Najib and financial experts trying to sound convincing when they say the global recession will not affect Malaysia as badly as other countries. He even refused to take the Malaysian ringgit off the share market as per Mahathir's suggestions. The result? The Malaysian ringgit now translates to a rate of 2.42 ringgit to every Singaporean dollar, and for those who remember, the standard pricing used to be at a rate of 2.2. When I had set my hopes high of earning good money when I was given the opportunity to intern at Microsoft Singapore, my friends (on the perception of what they read in the news), said that Singapore is suffering badly from recession that their dollar value certainly wouldn't be much to the ringgit as it used to be. That can't be further away from the truth. At 2.42, the Malaysian ringgit looks at its weakest in years and it wouln't be a surprise to see Mahathir beginning the slamdunk games on Najib as well as he did with Badawi. So, we have a controversial figure taking helm of our government and how he handles the international policies and any kind of racial issues remains to be seen. With Anwar experiencing trouble-roubles in balancing his Pakatan Rakyat frictions, and also expressing a vote of no-confidence in the state PKR leaders, probably for all the political enthusiasts in Malaysia, the proposed 'change' in government may not happen in 2009. In all probablity, we might have to wait till the next general elections to hope for one.
First of all, 20 days into this new year, I shall raise hand to Barack Obama, who will take office officially on January 20 this year. He will be faced with probably the most daunting tasks a newly-elected president has ever faced in the history of US. Firstly, we have to witness how he tries to restore global economic order in the wake of the recent economic meltdown that is causing continous recession everywhere. However, his more immediate challenge lies in how he will react to the Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza strips in Palestine. He will have to intervene to promote truce between the two, and how he does it wil be interesting to see. Furthermore, there will be the whole process of calling back all American soldiers from Iraqi territories.
Then, we Malaysian, we better embrace ourselves, as Datuk Najib Tun Razak takes office in March as our new Prime Minister. Who will be our new deputy is a million-dollar question, as there will be a tight race leading up to that. Many think Najib would hold forth a steadier ship than Badawi has done in the tumultous past five years in Malaysia, but what are Najib's exact proficiencies and idealisms is subject to greater controversies. I will put aside the Altantuya murder allegations, my main question lies in how well exactly has Najib handled the economic downturn in Malaysia, given the fact that he exchanged his Defence Ministry profiles with our current PM exclusively for the purpose of handling this economic situation. I have read it time and again in the newspapers of Najib and financial experts trying to sound convincing when they say the global recession will not affect Malaysia as badly as other countries. He even refused to take the Malaysian ringgit off the share market as per Mahathir's suggestions. The result? The Malaysian ringgit now translates to a rate of 2.42 ringgit to every Singaporean dollar, and for those who remember, the standard pricing used to be at a rate of 2.2. When I had set my hopes high of earning good money when I was given the opportunity to intern at Microsoft Singapore, my friends (on the perception of what they read in the news), said that Singapore is suffering badly from recession that their dollar value certainly wouldn't be much to the ringgit as it used to be. That can't be further away from the truth. At 2.42, the Malaysian ringgit looks at its weakest in years and it wouln't be a surprise to see Mahathir beginning the slamdunk games on Najib as well as he did with Badawi. So, we have a controversial figure taking helm of our government and how he handles the international policies and any kind of racial issues remains to be seen. With Anwar experiencing trouble-roubles in balancing his Pakatan Rakyat frictions, and also expressing a vote of no-confidence in the state PKR leaders, probably for all the political enthusiasts in Malaysia, the proposed 'change' in government may not happen in 2009. In all probablity, we might have to wait till the next general elections to hope for one.
One of the world's finest morons. The whole Indian forces are trying all they can to prevent him from committing suicide. See how valuable a moron's life has become, eh?
I can't help but to hope for a peaceful 2009 at the very least. If plain stupidity and inhumanity took charge when ten terrorists went on a shooting spree in Mumbai in November, plain idiocy and over-excitement coupled with negligence caused a New Year's blaze at a Bangkok nightclub, killing at least 60 people. What a way to greet the New Year, eh? After fearing so much on the December 31 that there might be bombings in the country, few expected that total negligence would lead to the death of 60 people who are having fun. Coming back to the Mumbai acts, I have a poser that has disturbed my mind for so long. I am not a religious person, but you can't help but to think that 'what the hell are those ten morons thinking when they went on a shooting spree?'. They want attention. Fair enough. They want India to take their hands off Kashmir. Fair enough. But do they seriously think that killing that much of unrelated, random people would actually help them prosper in their country. Well, lets say Indian withdraws its hold on Kashmir today, those morons will live happy, after comitting such murders? Will that country ever move forward, nevertheless prosper? But for Indian politicians, I really hope they drop their egos for a while, and just leave Kashmir alone already. Do not risk your beloved people for the sake getting few kilometres extra in terms of terriotries. I bet not too many people are crying that Kashmir become a part of India now, aren't they?
That brings us to Israel. The situation is similar here. Gaza is Israel and Palestine's Kashmir. But when Hamas tested Israel's patience even ever-so-slightly by firing missiles at the south of Israel, the Israelis reacted like a wounded lion and went on a total rage over Gaza. By constantly testing India's patience, Pakistan may very well be inviting trouble and rage upon them. Soon enough, I won't be surprised to find US and India launching tirades at Pakistan. Not that Israel's act is in any way justified. Even their political figures are not speaking of 'justice' when they talk about these attacks. These attacks are that more of animalistic instincts, blind attacks all over because they want to prove themsleves as then king of the lands. I thought humans have brains, don't they? They don't only act on their four senses of fear and insecurity like animals right? They do have a fifth sense, don't they? It's amazing that they can't seem to use them. Kudos to them.
How do you justify inflicting this man to such death? Well, the animals in Israel can.
Hopefully 2009 will put human race back in a track of progress rather than regress. Its like someone turned the clock in reverse order and for some time, we have been doing some plain stupid acts, such as breaking into a Christmas party as Santa Claus and killing eight people just because one of them is your ex-wife who divorced you. I think nowadays even cetified mentally-ill people are far more secure to live with rather than people showing themselves off as 'normal'. We created this whole mess, so I hope at least few of us sense that and stop losing our minds for no reason. Let's stop insanity from taking over us again. If i shall let it take over me, I shall throw this laptop onto the floor at the very moment of writing, and walk away. Reason? No reasons, its just that I felt like doing it at the moment, thats all. Spur-of-the-moment thingy. But will I? No, because I have sense and brains. Yesterday I was at a shopping mall starring down from 23 floors, I felt like jumping. I might have done that as well, but I didn't, because I have my senses right. Its not like I'm frustrated with life that I want to jump from that height, i just feel it at the moment. How insane are we? Very. Yet we pretend to be very normal. To my friends, stop doing that in 2009. Stop being regular and stand out from the crowd. You will be less insane at the very least.
Before I end this entry, I shall enter a reccomendation of what movie all of you should watch for 2009. At the very soonest, catch 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' at your nearest theatres. For the cinema un-enthusiasts, it has Brad Pitt in it. And don't go watch the movie because you think he's cute. Watch it because it celebrates life in an unique way. It could be a life-changing experience for some. (For Malaysian movie-goers, its about time you begin appreciating really good cinema, good job with Dark Knight last year by the way, you were good audiences, stand up and appreciate yourselves, but I hope you liked Dark Knight because if its story and underlying themes, not because of the cool bike and cool car with the collapsing of a three-metre long truck.)
On a happy note- Why so serious?
Ram Anand
Before I end this entry, I shall enter a reccomendation of what movie all of you should watch for 2009. At the very soonest, catch 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' at your nearest theatres. For the cinema un-enthusiasts, it has Brad Pitt in it. And don't go watch the movie because you think he's cute. Watch it because it celebrates life in an unique way. It could be a life-changing experience for some. (For Malaysian movie-goers, its about time you begin appreciating really good cinema, good job with Dark Knight last year by the way, you were good audiences, stand up and appreciate yourselves, but I hope you liked Dark Knight because if its story and underlying themes, not because of the cool bike and cool car with the collapsing of a three-metre long truck.)
On a happy note- Why so serious?
Ram Anand
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