A response

below is a letter written by Sarawakian in UK (thx S.Weng!) in response to Blue Rider's letter(article 4 from my previous post)

"http://www.malaysiakini.com.my/letters/200403260036552.php"

Some articles..

read 1) followed by 2) and so on..

1) http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/200403180036459.php

2) http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/200403220036511.php

3) http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/200403230036519.php

4) http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/200403240036531.php (this I personally found rather instigating in nature. what with phrases like "...This will happen if the non-Malays try to play with fire yet again."...) eh??

form your own opinions, be it good or bad. at least have an opinion, better than naught.

???

read this article someone posted in the *conversations* area of "Screenshots"

Extracted from http://www.freeanwar.com/Mar2004/facnews240304.htm
(no, i'm not talking bout anwar, just the article on tht site)

i find fault with paragraphs 14 to 16, quote:

para 14-..."How can there be equality for all races? We Malays own this land and the other races are all immigrants. They do not deserve equal rights."...

para 15-..."Now that they are citizens they demand equal rights. This is a breach of agreement. If they do not agree to Malays being given special rights and privileges why agree to it in 1957? They should have disagreed then. Then we could have sent them back to India and China. We did not force them to become citizens of this country. They wanted citizenship. And the terms and conditions of their citizenship was discussed and agreed. It was a social contract between them and us."...

para 16- ..."An agreement is an agreement. If you want to break it, fine. If you no longer want to honour the agreement, then that is okay. But the clause in that agreement where they get citizenship must also be rescinded. The non-Malays will then have to go back to their own country. After all, no one is forcing them to live here. If they do not like it they can leave. But do not expect us Malays to give up our special rights and privileges which have already been agreed upon long before independence."...

First things first, I am not racist.

Second, I won't discuss the special rights etc. its not new.

Third, the writer must still be living in the middle ages. Me, as most of my friends/acquaintances, are 3rd generation Malaysians, at the least. Our ancestral origins mean just that - origins. All the talk about being first class and second class citizens when we're Malaysian malays/chinese/indians..does that make one more or less Malaysian? He states "If they do not like it they can leave". Well, so can he. He can go back to time when all of Asia was still a big island and go back to wherever his ancestors came from (the current Indonesia, Borneo, Phillipines, Africa, Middle East, wherever).

Since he writes about *owning* the land etc, well, I probably qualify to own a fair share - since my maternal family is indigineous to Sarawak. So where's my share? Is it unfair to ask for equal treatment for all nation-loving Malaysians regardless of race/ethnicity? I certainly hope most Malaysians do not think like this unfortunate man here..

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

-Robert Frost

Midway through life I set my heart on Truth
And have come to end my days by the Southern Hills;
When the mood takes me I stroll out alone,
My pleasure shared by none.
I walk to where the streams rise,
Sit watching as the clouds drift up the sky,
And meeting with an old man in the woods
Talk and laugh with him, forgetting to return.


-Wang Wei-

Dreary@stormy day

title refers to both the weather now and my day in general. Had a rather unfortunate day today. Shan't dwell on it though..lecture was slightly torrid, imo..prob due to me staying up quite late to get the election results.. had to really listen in class, but still found myself a little confused..

As expected, BN had a landslide victory..found myself actually watching rtm1 for the first time in years! what ppl probably didn't expect was that thumping win in terengganu. Not too sure bout kelantan though, cos last I heard, they were doing a recount of 8 constituencies this morning. Since then, had probs accessing the BERNAMA site, and even theSTAR..but BN has claimed victory.

Actually, before I went on my trip along the east coast last year, I had some pretty negative misconceptions about life around there. True, one wouldn't really see much development and life is rather laid back. But people there aren't all fanatics as potrayed by the media..or at least, I didn't notice any.. we had no trouble checking into hotel rooms (5 of us males n females shared a room throughout) and people were generally ok. THOUGH, coupla weeks ago, read that the *religious dept* ppl in kota baru went to a hotel in KB to arrest ppl on grounds of khalwat (close proximity), as they (males n females) were in the same room together..maybe its because we're chinese and visitors in the state so we don't feel it hehe..

anyways, taking a road trip along Tganu and Kelantan isn't such a bad idea. People often hesitate to go there, but i think its a great experience.. scenery is oh-so-beautiful (depending on time of the yr). You really get to see that Msia isn't all abt KL, Ipoh etc.. plus they've got really GREAT beaches..

sigh now i feel like bumming at a beach somewhere..

busy busy busy..

gotten myself rather sick yesterday, but nothing cheers one up better than a good *read* and/or a good chat ,which i happily had =) (thx, u know who u are!)

recently gotten Edward Lear's "The Book of Nonsense and Nonsense Songs" (i'm serious, this book exists!). here's an excerpt (a nonsense poem a day keeps nonsensical thoughts away):

There was an Old Man in a boat,
Who said, "I'm afloat ! I'm afloat !"
When they said, " No, you ain't !"
He was ready to faint,
That unhappy Old Man in a boat.

was in MPH coupla days back, saw this book by Alice Sebold - "The Lovely Bones". Heard its good, anyone read it yet? if yes, do tell me how's it.. book prices going up week by week, so abit reluctant to just get it, cos i saw MORE amusing stuff, Deaver n Clancy's got new books out, so has Tony Parsons..and i haven't gotten the latest Artemis Fowl! hehhe i'm becoming rather kiddish, totally fancy the artemis series..

having trouble getting my notes online cos acrobat documents aren't showing up..hmm its prob uni's webct's prob..also, there seems to be something fishy going on wth my hse connection too, cos when i'm online at home, after a while, an extra folder - "My ebooks" will show up in "my documents". i've disabled my wi-fi radio when i'm home but it still seems to happen. any ideas anyone on whats wrong?...weird. hope its nothing serious...i don't need more complications in my life at the moment..

my room smells of coffee.. its funny how i avoid coffee (cept for starbucks) during the hols, yet during the sem, i practically breathe/live coffee..shan't blah much today, am rather tired...

Something worth sharing:

Subject: When you worry about ...

> > When you worry about money, you're telling Him that He is unable to provide for His children. That although He has riches beyond belief in Heaven, He is too stingy to share them with you.
> > When you worry that no one understands you, you're telling Him that although He has been with you since before you were formed in the womb and has carved you into the palm of His hand, He doesn't know you.
> > When you worry that you will not have enough food, you're telling Him that although He rained down bread from Heaven in the desert to feed His children, you are the one He's forgotten.
> > When you worry that your enemies will have victory over you, you're telling God that although He has given you spiritual battle gear to defend yourself, that despite His track record of being a giant slayer, Red Sea divider, lion mouth closer and a furnace cooler, He can't handle your co-worker, your neighbor, or a former friend.
> > When you worry that you won't be able to do enough to earn forgiveness, you're telling Him that's okay Lord, no need for Your Son to die, I can earn my own forgiveness. Let's just act like Jesus never died, tell Him never mind He doesn't need to go to the cross.
> > When you worry that no one will love you, that you'll be lonely for the rest of your life, you're telling Him that His love is insufficient. That He couldn't possibly love you enough to ward away loneliness. You're saying that although He has promised life more abundantly, He was lying. That despite the fact that He started off saying that it is not good that we be alone, He's changed His mind.
> > When you worry and refuse to give the problem over to Him, you're telling Him that although He could create the world, He can't handle what's going on in your world, so you will. You are saying that He won't work things out, that obstacles cannot be overcome, that mountains can't be climbed, that healing cannot occur, that what is lost will not be found, that joy does not come in the morning, that He is not the God of a second chance, that the Promised Land has been swallowed up by the desert, that you have discovered the height, depth and width of His love and found it to fall short of your needs.
> >Think about all that you're saying to the one who loves you the most and who has all power, really think about it. Then open your hands and release what you've been holding onto. Bow down on your knees and ask Him to forgive you for doubting Him. Walk away with a peaceful heart and note the footsteps that go before you to make the crooked places straight, a way in the wilderness and water spring forth in the desert.
> > "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
> > - Author Unknown

have a good day!

Ramblings..

read an article at http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/14/magazine/14DESIGN.html . Included are 2 pictures of a house designed by john pawson. the writer had a description of his *slothful treatment of history, biography and current affairs*...amusing...

stray thoughts:
-election fever's taking over the local newspapers, or more like *already taken over*.. We're currently being greeted with full page adverts in TheStar highlighting daily the previous *cooperation* between the DAP and PAS (in the '99 elections), plus contradicting statements of DAP's top leadership ppl in the past, wth each page reminding potential voters tht *A vote for DAP is a vote for PAS etc etc etc*..hmm i was kinda wondering why BN is seemingly focusing their media campaign (print media) on DAP instead of other opposition parties?..or maybe they're campaigning their way through the northern states using *ceramah* battles and banner/poster wars..? todays's Star had a few lines mentioning DAP lodging a complaint over it..but that article was TEENYtiny anyone could've missed it..

-i'm eligible to vote this year. Too bad its before my birthday..though i wouldn't have managed to register in time anyways cos they're using the 2003 electoral roll. I personally believe voting is crucial. (I just knew tht undergrads in Msia are not allowed to participate in politics of any kind)..Some ppl might say one vote will not make a difference, and others couldn't care less who's their representative in parliament etc.. However, voter apathy could result in some unwanted changes (which i shan't elaborate on).. someone mentioned - a few votes could turn a landslide defeat into a marginal victory.. well, thats something for us ppl in our twenties to think about...

-i read everywhere that PJ Utara incumbent MP Chew Mei Fun is very hardworking etc so she'll prob retain her seat. My impression is i see her in the newspapers often (helping out the *rakyat*, organising stuff etc) . So perhaps she really is very hardworking, serves the people etc.. But sometimes, I feel elected MPs' should let local councillors do what they are getting PAID to do (solving woes such as garbage collection, sewage problems etc) not saying chew mei fun does all that, just that some other MPs go around saying they're gonna settle these problems..else they end up getting alittle overburdened wth responsibilities which belong to others..

-poor poor girl..i'm talking about this poor 18 yr old girl who was found buried alive in banting last week. Due to the election fever right now, the local dailies devoted scant attention to the news that one of the prime suspects escaped from detention a few days ago. He escaped by climbing out through the ceiling of a toilet. Really reminded me of Cantonese dramas where the same things happen..wasn't even in the 1st 10 pages. Don't think the police have managed to track him down yet. Really, crime in the klang valley seems to get worse and worse by the day. When i was in Muar a coupla weeks ago, was very surprised to see armed cops everywhere patrolling the streets etc..how i wish it could be the same for us here in PJ/KL..currently, i can't seem to walk about without a heightened sense of paranoia..

would really recommend - George Orwell's *nineteen eighty-four*. Together with his *Animal Farm* (and no, its not an enid blyton kinda book abt farm life), both books are rather thought provoking. Though the books were published more than 50 years ago, its still worth a read..

NOW - I shall read somemore. A different category altogether..ahh the wonders of financial management..

END of ramblings.

Good day - Bad day

Yesterday was both good & bad. Spent more than a few moments chasing after my handsome dog (cos i wanted to take some pics of him). Now i regret not getting a scanner during the previous pc fair, would come in pretty handy..

Some unexpected news came though the day, and more filtered thru at night. =) (If you're reading this, you know who you are..)

Here's the bad part- Told myself not to watch so many matches but of course, i didn't listen. Am thinking ahead to Melb where there aren't that many live matches..so, better appreciate ESPN while i can. Derby day in Manchester yesterday and MU lost by a whopping 4-1. As the commentator said, "they weren't defeated. they were humiliated". Play wasn't all that bad though..it was basically a case where they missed alotof chances and made some silly mistakes..which pretty much sums up their season so far..

Am in uni lab now..was still trying unsuccessfully to connect to the proper wi-fi network..1st week the lab ppl got some registration details wrong.. 2nd week still tak-boleh. abit blah... got more comp probs..

Anyways, the link to *Fallingwater* will lead to one of my fave houses. First saw a pic of it at taylors during pre-u years, and have been rather enamoured wth it since..

dejected. utterly dejected. I'm talking about a football match 10th Mar 3.30am Msian time which ended up with an aggregate of 2-3. Result: MU knocked out of the champions league by a last minute goal =(
sigh perhaps it was inevitable. looking at how they've been playing recently, i don't think they'd have gone beyond the semis even if they'd gotten thru this match..but at least they were sporting. after the match some team players went to say their congrats n exchange shirts, which was exemplary behaviour, imho..but it ended with me still abit shell shocked at 6am..

hmm enough bout footie..watched a quirky film coupla days ago on satt. tv,- Wisdom of the Crocodile aka Immortality..watched it cos Jude Law was in it..quirky cos he was in the role of a vampire, relying on love to survive..one of those brit movies..hmm read somewhere he's got about 6 movies due out this year at least, and one of it happens to be "Lemony Snicket: A Series of Unfortunate Events" (Jude= Lemony Snicket).

I happened to have read a coupla books in that series last yr. Stories aren't the typical sugary sweet children's tales..rather unusual approach, to tempt ppl like me.. They've packaged it rather nicely. Its a little on the pricey side (i think)..rm30++ for a book abt half A4 size with prob abt 100 odd pages (don't remember exactly..could be less pages than that). The series consists of at least 7 books (last i saw in klcc). The cover n contents of the books reminded me of how old fairy tales were packaged. The edges are uneven and slightly jagged, looks like its gonna all fall out (but no worries, binding looked solid). they've got some nice illustrations too..really wanted to collect the series then but not within my budget..would've gotten some arch book instead if i had that kind of spare cash lying around anyways..

hmm talking bout movies, can't wait to watch *the passion of The Christ*.. for sure won't get to watch in our local cinemas..on the brighter side, faye wong's coming for concert next month! though i'm not sure whether will be going anot..was thinking of taking a short trip to taiping hehe to take pictures. stay at seri msia, wake up, go walk-walk in the lake gardens (seri msia's right at the entrance) take pic, bum around there with a good book, take more pics, sleep..life can't be too bad like that..if (and thats a big IF) i manage to settle all my assignments by then..

feeling rather bad now. totally forgot about sending a bday e-card coupla days ago, though was reminded...so forgetful le...
*Danicya, i forgot but i sent already! thx for reminding that day..

gotta stop writing. i'm totally behind uni work. my new mantra for the sem- being a geek is cool. (though i'm making no headway at all at the moment...)

points to ponder:
> why are books costing more and more? ( logically its the exchange rate etc but just allow me to gripe abit..) when i go to kinokuniya and see all the architecturestarwarsartgovernancefiction etc i resolve to OPEN a bookshop in the future since i can't afford all the good books i'd like to get...
> where do lizards go to during the day? funny, cos i see them allll the time during the night yet hardly in daytime.

latest in footie:
FA Cup semi finals Sunday April 4th
Arsenal v ManUtd
can't wait.

Really really couldn't resist posting this...got it from a friend..

Subject: YOU KNOW YOU'RE (OR WERE) AN ARCHITECTURE STUDENT WHEN

1. ...the alarm clock tells you when to go to sleep.
2. ...you're not ashamed of drooling in class anymore, especially in the Structures lecture.
3. ...you know what UHU tastes like.
4. ...you CELEBRATE space and OBSERVE your birthday
5. ...coffee and cokes are tools, not treats.
6. ...people get nauseous just by smelling your caffeine breath.
7. ...you get surprised when you see a new building in your school.
8. ...you think it's possible to CREATE space
9. ...you've slept more than 20 hours non-stop in a single weekend
10. ...you fight with inanimate objects
11. ...you've fallen asleep in the washroom.
12. ...your brother or sister thinks he or she is an only child
13. ...you've listened to all your cds in less than 48 hours.
14. ...you're not seen in public.
15. ...you lose your house keys for a week and you don't even notice
16. ...you've brushed your teeth and washed your hair in the school's washroom.
17. ...you've discovered the benefits of having none or very short hair. You've started to appreciate inheriting baldness.
18. ...you've used an entire role of film to photograph the sidewalk.
19. ...you know the exact time the vending machines are refilled.
20. ...you always carry your deodorant.
21. ...you become excellent at recycling when making models.
22. ...when you try to communicate, you make a continuous and monotonous whine.
23. ...you've danced YMCA with excellent choreography at 3 am and without a single drop of alcohol in your body.
24. ...you take notes and messages with a rapidograph and colour markers.
25. ...you combine breakfast, lunch and dinner into one single meal.
26. ...you see holidays only as extra sleeping time.
27. ...you've got more photographs of buildings than of actual people.
28. ...you've taken your girlfriend (boyfriend) on a date to a construction site.
29. ...you've realized that french curves are not that exciting.
30. ..you can live without human contact, food or daylight, but if you can't print. it's chaos.
31. when you’re being shown pictures of a trip, you ask what the human scale is.
32. ...you can use Photoshop, Illustrator and make a web page, but you don't know how to use Excel.
33. ...You refer to great architects (dead or alive) by their first name as if you knew them. (Frank, Corbu, Mies, Norman...)
34. ...you buy 50 dollar magazines that you haven't read yet.
35. ...when someone offers you a Bic pen, you feel offended.

seriously all the above points apply..really funny when i think bout it.. but i do miss those days..

hmm went BU today and witnessed our domestic consumer economy in full swing. Sale's just started and ppl seem to be really spending..BU is SOoo crowded..actually i'm not just witnessing hehhe i was also *participating*..bought a pair of strappy sandals today..won't be wearing to uni though..not very amused with the idea of climbing flights of stairs with heels...really, i sometimes admire those who totter up to the 4th floor with 3-inch heels..

will stop rambling now..i am so NOT keeping to my resolution..got heaps to read up on..

Interesting facts i've learnt today:

1. Malaysia exports more than Australia, whose economy is 4 times larger.
2. Singaporeans are a talkative lot- the average resident engaged in almost 13 hours of idd calls in 2002.
(above info frm the A.T. Kearney/ Foreign Policy Globalisation Index. for more info, read today's STAR)

Other stray thoughts:
The EC (Election Commission) announced yesterday that nominations on Mar 13 and elections 21st. Thing is, its clashing with the f1 race...hmm mass mobilisation of voters, supporters plus formula1 spectators etc all on the same day, with NS trainees moving the next day too..fun...authorities are gonna have a fun time keeping track of everything..

Tesco. Thats another minor issue i'm following with interest. Seems the Puchong outlet started operating 24 hrs since tuesday, with 2 other outlets in the klang valley doing so soon. I'm just wondering who in the world does their grocery shopping in the middle of the night? are there actually enough customers to justify the extra op costs? Spokesperson says they've got approval, but i read online tht they've gotten 2 warnings in the past 24 hours to stop their 24/7 ops, in the interests of protecting small/local traders..

would like to recommend 2 sites:
www.jeffooi.com
http://www.nytimes.com/top/opinion/editorialsandoped/oped/columnists/

the newyorktimes has some interesting articles. particularly like the ones by *paul krugman*. current articles are free, but archived articles hv to be paid for.

i'm getting a headache from all the reading, but there's more! NOW i need to do my tute work..arghhh.. corporate finance..*wonderful* stuff it is..actually i'm supposed to start each unit wth an open mind (its a resolve this year) i just hope i like it..

*ManUtd v Fulham on the idiot box tonight..they REALLLy need a win, and i hope feverishly tht they do..

listening to: shunza's *stop missing...*

this thing's been circulating around...hmm..?...i'm a May baby so here's an excerpt-

MAY:
Stubborn and hard-hearted. Strong-willed and
highly motivated. Sharp thoughts. Easily
angered.Attracts others and loves attention.
Deep feelings. Beautiful physically and mentally.
Firm Standpoint. Needs no motivation. Easily
consoled. Systematic (left brain). Loves to
dream. Strong clairvoyance. Understanding.
Sickness usually in the ear and neck. Good
imagination. Good physical. Weak breathing. Loves
literature and the arts. Loves traveling. Dislike
being at home. Restless. Not having many
children. Hardworking. High spirited.
Spendthrift.

stubborn i admit to, and good imagination..weak breathing too, arts, travelling, restless. actually it seems to apply to most ppl i think..but spendthrift...yups..these few months...

note* finally elections are near! not that i'm eligible to vote yet..getting rather bored of all the election-related news in our local media..anyways, its just a stray thought going thru my head..

-end of ramble-
i sooo love shunza's music right now! life's good with music like that..

time: 12.50pm
weather: sunny at times
location: sunway cafeteria

as usual, am in uni at this hour. talking to someone i've just met here...taking some same units as me. I've just had one lecture this morning- financial modelling. turns out the lecturer is new, and i emphasise NEW cos he's rather blur abt unit guides etc..but lecture's okay-le, but he's beginning to make me a little worried bout exams, cos we've gotta actually draw the excel spreadsheet to answer the Qs..almost all my units this sem are 80% exams based..sigh no wonder failure rate's so high..

enough bout uni...latest in footie news is chelsea's signing/signed arjen robben, ahead of ManUtd..hmm after all the dillying-dallying, he decided to go to Chelski instead..sigh, another talent lost to that mighty empire (so far).. don't know whats with ManUtd's game these days...but win lose or draw, i'm still drawn to watch..

oops gtg, lec starting soon and i need to pack up...having not much luck selling my books..but thanks to seniors and some friends, have managed to get all my books.

ta

finally..diana begins to blog..I've been thinking of doing this for some time. Finally decided to use *blogger*, cos i think it suits ppl like me who doesn't understand the intricacies of html etc..things are really SOOOoo much better with a new comp. although i'm still on dial-up, it ain't that bad since i'm not dowloading anything..will have to go starbucks or somewhere with wi-fi i guess...I've just resumed uni life this week. So far only have had 2 lectures, with a further 2 more tomorrow. Timetable's 4 days a week, from mon to thu. The only complaint so far being i've gotta be in uni for just one tute on wed morning...A warning for those who's gonna read this blog- diana's eternal complaint about life in KL/PJ revolves around traffic jams and more traffic. Sometimes its not that the cars aren't moving. Its that there are SO MANY of them everywhere at all hours of the day. It seems perhaps inevitable due to the continuous development, but hey, its my right to dislike this situation. It seems trivial for those abroad, but its really annoying esp if one is relying on public transport to get around..more on that later..anyways, going all the way to sunway just for a 1 1/2 hr class is a hassle..fortunately i've managed to arrange transportation for 2 of the morning classes, thanks to a uni mate staying in DJ..its almost midnite and i've still got stuff to do..so thats all for my very first rambling session on blogger..cheers!