:: NavsThoughts ::

:: Monday, June 23, 2003 ::

If there was an award for "knee-jerk" reaction as a Nation, we sure would win hands down the world over. From the flooding at the Capitol to the Canny Ong case, it just exemplifies the lack luster attitude where until something goes wrong, we just sit back and imagine we have a perfect fool proof system!
True, most misgivings can't be foreseen but things as basic as irrigation and drainage in our capitol is definitely something to be not just fixed for 2003 but taken care and improved over the years! I would think the Datuk Bandar should have done taken responsibility and stepped down.
It took a gruesome murder to bring to light the pathetic state most car parks in KL are in. Its more perplexing when you hear the number of rape and robbery cases that has been going on all the while!! Only now we have steps being taken to ensure round the clock surveillance.
We need to be more pro-active than reactive. We need Maintenance. We need to put safety apparatus in place before someone is hurt or killed. Precaution is safer than cure.

posted by Nav at 14:54 |
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Whaaaammmmmm baaaaammmmmmmmm!!! Convoy hit! Dead bodies all over... Task Force 20 gleaming with pride.... but did they get their target... Saddam or any of his two sons?? No freggin idea! DNA tests are underway to confirm it. This would make it the third time (3rd time lucky perhaps??) the US launched an air attack on Saddam. The reported convoy attack shows that the US is becoming increasingly desperate, and determined, in its search for Saddam Hussein. It badly needs a success right now. American soldiers are being killed. No weapons of mass destruction have been found. Iraq is recovering only slowly.

posted by Nav at 14:52 |
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Wonder why everyone is making a big deal over Dr M's parting speech. It is his PARTING speech right? I'd be more interested in what Pak Lah has to say and his version on how to take Malaysia forward. He may have a peaceful transition but he certainly has his hands full. Mahathir may have the distinction of putting Malaysia on the map through shrewd Industrialization policies (albeit via questionable methods) and building a nation with "First World" infrastructure. However, the next PM has a golden opportunity to go one better and actually implement "First World" culture (from education to economic policies) thus lifting us, as a Nation, to a higher living standard and better quality of life. Hope this is not lost on the lot in power. Only by cultivating a "First World" culture (in terms of policies and laws), can we look forward to developing a "First World" mentality.

posted by Nav at 14:52 |
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So Becks has moved! That too to Real Madrid!! Wishing him all the best and thanks for the wonderful crosses and spot kicks. Now, what's next? More entertaining football from the EPL of course! Can't wait for the next season to start. :D

posted by Nav at 14:51 |
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Many things have come to pass over the last few days.

Remember the big hungama about MPAJ? Well, as it turns out, we only have the removal of the council enforcement officer based on a technicality (i.e. failure to disclose his bankruptcy status). Wonder where all the corruption charges that what hogging the media went?? It would seem, in Ampang at least, the mountains roared only to bring forth a tiny weenie mouse! I find Rais's statement that the councils "credibility" has been reinstated as both a joke and an insult.

"Our understanding of democracy is quite shallow. We think: 'Ah, we have the right to exercise our vote. You want my vote, give me something.' They do not say: 'If you want my vote, govern the country well. Develop this country and help it to progress.' They do not care. Even if the country does not progress, so long as they can get something for their personal gain, they are willing to give their support. The Malays' perception of democracy is different from that of the people in developed countries, where the people want to see a government that is able to keep its promises to develop the country, strengthen the country and see to its progress. When we say compete, it means that to compete, we will usually have to work harder. But for the Malays, when we say compete, they concede defeat. This is a tidak apa lah (nonchalant) attitude. They do not want to work hard." - Dr Mahathir Mohd.
So the good Dr has diagnosed the problem. What do we do about it? What dooooooooo we do??? Hmm... maybe "will we do anything about it" is a more appropriate question.

posted by Nav at 14:50 |
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My take on the current political situation in Malaysia. For as long as we the Rakyat, hold on to the "tidak apalah", "dont shake the boat" and "it wont happen to me" attitude, injustice and blatant corruption will continues to plague this Nation. Its high time we stood up and demanded justice, transparency and equality. Sadly, Malaysians are not open to such "reformasi". What this country needs is a generation thats brave enough to break the shackles of yester-years dating back to the Colonial era. We need a leader, a leader strong enough to call a spade, spade and take this nation forward. We need someone in the likings of Onn Jaafar.. a man who back in the 50's envisioned a united bangsa malaysia. Sadly he was way ahead of his time. Nevertheless, even the leaders prior to 1970 were more ethical, dignified, courageous and held a vision to lead a nation.

To borrow from Martin L King, I have a dream, a dream that the sons of Ah Kau, Muthu and Kamal will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream that one day our dear Malaysia, currently sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that one day our Nation will transform into a situation where little boys and girls will be able to join hands be them of Malay, Chinese or Indian heritage and walk together as sisters and brothers under the Malaysian flag. I could go on and on and on... but ye get the picture... :)


posted by Nav at 16:12 |
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What a mess we have back our shores. MPAJ, I bet, is just the tip of the iceberg. Would it be impractical to setup a Royal Commission to look into ALL local councils? About time we demand accountability. Lest we forget, it is still the Govt. "of the people, by the people, for the people" right?

Dr M has made public his fear of a power struggle for the DPM post when he steps down. Despite his quick act to play it down, it was certainly not something Pak Lah could've done with. Lets see how this plays out. MCA has a "honorary life President" in none other than Dr Ling!!! These jokers are certainly in a league of their own! LOL!!!


posted by Nav at 16:09 |
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Now I get it!!! Mapquest does not have an Arabic or Hebrew site!! Bet ya that'll be GWBs excuse. Lets face it, the so called "road map to peace" was bound to fail from Day 1. A bunch of hawks who lied (and continue to do so) to , ohh lets see... the whole freggin world (!!)... to invade and occupy a sovereign country, is now expected to come up with a peace plan???? Helloooo???
Now with Iran saying "no" to tougher nuclear checks, wonder what the Bush-bhoys are gonna do about it, other than support the protests going on over there that is. Lets see, most of his buddies will still be in good shape financially with the Iraqi operations... so, yeah, Mr Ayatollah and his hunchos do have sometime on their hands... for now that is.

An interesting development is US request for Indian troops to be deployed in Iraq. Wonder how that came about?!

According to a BBC poll. nearly 2/3's of folks polled in 11 countries world-wide have an unfavorable opinion of the US. really now?? me wonder why???


posted by Nav at 16:02 |
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This is proving to be a summer for the book-lovers... from Hillary to Harry! Maybe everyone is getting bored of the Net perhaps? Probably not.... by looking at the order numbers Amazon and Borders are raking in, does give the impression lots of folks are going back to the reading habbit, which I feel is awesome. Personally, am looking out for James Patterson's latest... which should've been out by now... hmmmmm... now, where's me credit card....

Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.


posted by Nav at 15:52 |
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Hola folks! Been away for sometime.... it's been Spring afterall!!! But back I am to bore ye poor souls with my ravings and banter.
A quick recap of all that's been.

Personally, Easter was a blast. Was at Washington (DC not State) and had mummy's cooking!!!! Yup, for 2 weeks plus played "guide de touriste" to Mumze and Pops. It was nice to have home cooked meals waiting at home for a change ... especially in this weather. Good thing is, my fridge is still stocked with supplies... :))
Have hit the golf range and course again!! Its good to be back although I doubt the fairways appreciate my awkward shots! :) Was under Tornado Warning twice last month. Apart from strong winds and heavy rains nothing much came of it. Whilst a colleague was busy getting comfy in the closet for safety, I was busy plotting the storms path on a map and getting me camera all set... even went out looking to get a good look at the twister and of course a couple of pics to show the grand kids one day. Alas, it was not meant to be. But it was an experience indeed...

Current affairs, the US is still "searching for the reason they went to war after the war is over". Basically, no WMD have been uncovered and Saddam with half his top brass are missing. Intelligence used to promote the war is under the spotlight with investigations by Congress and Parliament in US and UK respectively. Apparently, when Mr. Powell was rehearsing the case for war to the UN with some officials, he became so frustrated by the dubious intelligence about Saddam that he tossed several pages in the air and declared: "I'm not reading this. This is $%&*#." First America has no intelligence (ref 9/11). Then it has $%&*# intelligence. You don't say! An american President misleading his people?? Ohh well, they did find two possible mobile laboratories and with pomp and joy, Bush declared "we've found them"! In all this, our man from TX went on to promote his "roadmap for peace in the Mid-East". Good idea innit, so when anyone gets lost or sidetracked, the can rely on mapquest to get them back.
SARS has been declared contained in most of the early bird cities although Toronto (relapse), Beijing and Taipei are very much under wraps. Good to note S'pore managed to get its act together... as most of the SE Asian nations. Ohh, and the Pope is off to his 100th foreign trip.

On the Local front, we have an over-zealous Datuk Bandar (Mayor) who feels holding hands warrants a fine for "indecent behaviour"!!! Way to go Ipoh! What next? Not allowed to travel in the same car???
We've been seeing allot of changes and revelations from MCA, MAS, Airod, S'gor MB, ISA detainees to even the way mamak stall operates in future. Looks like someone upstairs aint too pleased and does look like some "house cleaning" is taking shape. I do hope they go about setting things straight in a just and legal manner and not try to create a mess like the illegal VCD operations.

It is nice to be in on the creation of something, see it being used, then walk away and smile at it

posted by Nav at 13:50 |
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