The Leverage

We all have to admit it, our inability to become an ‘all rounder’ is just too frustrating, or much too sore to mention. So, perhaps, with much denying we resorted to leveraging the weak, towing it with our strength.

It is no shocker, we sees company like Apple tying its strong product like the infamous iPod to iTunes. In Apple website, it is made clear that these two products tightly integrate with each other forming a single entity of ‘iPod+iTunes’. Apple made virtually everyone in this planet that uses the iPod to also use the iTunes, thus leveraging the latter to a better and higher level. At first, I personally think that iTunes is a weak media player that wouldn’t become my preference, if not because of iPod.

Alternative software to load music into iPod is scarcely available. They are reluctantly supported by the music players, providing more trouble than solution. Until today many companies were trying to seek an anti-trust action against Apple Inc. for their monopoly in chaining iTunes with iPod

Geography wise, Putrajaya, when it was established as Malaysia administration centre had directly leveraged Puchong and Balakong ( now renamed to a subtly, and beautifully sound Seri Kembangan ) into a better place. Last time, these places just happens to be in the outskirts of urbanized Petaling Jaya/Subang and local council had just given up the land for landfills. Nowadays, concept housing estate spurn just like mushroom ( For example; Taman Equine, the concept of riding horse as your weekend activities ). Puchong has become a full fledge commercial center bustling with businesses and office building.

In real life, I witness people applying the same strategy, in order to maintain a clean and capable look. You may call it compensation or balancing-up; it all has the same mechanics of the strong tethered and trying to pull the weak into a much leveled field. We seek to make friend with popular, influential and outspoken people, in the sense, we might be endorsed by these people. The sayings of ‘friends forever’ being made motto of much people that I had stumbled upon are merely sayings that were picked up from Hollywood teleseries when indeed it boils down to popularity and influence.

Realistically, we all have to swallow it no matter how distasteful that we get lost without testifying to people an impressive list of ‘I know whom’

Sometimes, leveraging happens within social circle. It’s similar to doing a favor where a well-known person tries to bring another lesser known member to a better position. This is when the popular Malay saying of “ budak baru nak naik” applies. It’s a situation when a young person seems to become fascinated with the things surrounding him/her. As a result, they took a particular thing very seriously with much enthusiast.

Some even had resorted to ‘whatever happens, happens’ method where they struggled to be good in a single particular thing with the expectation that when they had reached the superb level, other aspect of life can be leveraged too. Such as trying luck in reality talent shows, where chances are there.On the other hand, parents reminded us that the only effective and reasonable leverage transporters are to graduate and finish our studies as quickly as possible. In short, social mobility where the leverage factor would be knowledge.

In politics, Tun Dr. Mahathir, which stills a fair amount of influence and followers, had leveraged the newly installed Prime Minister, Datuk Najib Tun Razak. Tun Dr. Mahathir had openly gave his endorsement towards him, and also his deputy, Muhyiddin Yasin. Datuk Najib, not to say weak, but had a gargantuan task of recovering the National Front from its trauma of political tsunami. Added with the much talked about the killing and exploding of Mongolian woman allegedly linked to him, it seems that Datuk Seri Najib had inherited so many problems. Whether he seeks it or not, a leveraging from renowned statesman like Mahathir seems to do as much as little to regain people trust.

In entertainment front, we see subscription based television channel had been doing heavy leveraging tactic. Overnight celebrities like Mawi were asked to act in lame dramas and host programmes, when he was originally auditioned for signing talent. He would become one of the overexposed faces that majority of the society never get bored to look at. When the company realized that he can such a great asset, they never hesitate to ‘perah habis’ before his fame flame lit out. This would be the finest example of how strong elements within an organization were mobilized to aid the weak elements. Well, nothing much can be said or done, after all, he is an entertainer.

Let’s move to the west. Movie studios across Hollywood tries to rope in established directors to direct movie title which they had rights upon. With superheroes movies are somewhat smeared with ‘boring and common’ label, studios which had purchased rights or made a joint agreement desperately needed to squeeze money from it, let alone, avoid loses. So they roped in established direction with intention to increase fanfare and leverage things up.

The reason I’m pointing this out is just to articulate matters that popped out of self-conscience. Whether it is wrong or right to tether ourselves so that the strong can pull us, that is not within my prerogative and broke neither any general rules nor principles. Possibly, if we are the influential person considering to do a big favor and tether someone else into the mainstage that we had enjoyed big audience, it is up to them too. In short, leveraging would be a subjective matter.

The Niche

Proton had a well done job by releasing its first MPV, the Proton Exora. It hinted that proton need not to try hard to reach that high sales pitch if....

Even though our economy is seriously at risk of collapsing, the spending power of Malaysian never seems to deter by the current occurrence. Some say that we never dealt with money trading like what Singapore and United States did, instead, we run our economy the ol’skool style. Selling tangible items for money. That is why we remained resilient and steadfast in facing uncertain situations.

Talking about tangible item, there is nothing more satisfying for a family man getting a vehicle that moves his family comfortably, safely and economically. This kind of concern was shown by Proton Exora. These were the things running in their mind perhaps when the first lines were drawn to form its silhouette till the details of dashboards and cup holders.

Proton is of course, a national carmaker company which we either hate or like it. For nationalists Proton represented a national pride that showcases the nation possibilities and marvel of automotive engineering. The Perak Tanjung Malim production plant are hailed as one of the most latest car assembly line; if you have not seen it, then take a time and look at the Malaysian RM100 banknotes, Frankly, It is not easy to establish a car making company with its own platform, design studios and production facilities. Countries that had their own car company could only be hand counted during the inception of proton itself in 1983. That is why, when proton were brought into the United Kingdom some when around 1987, proton motto goes by “Japanese technology, Malaysian style “

Like other carmakers elsewhere, Proton had a long and painful teething period. Widely known, Proton has somehow become one of the most protected companies in Malaysia, its road down the carmaking business are full of thorns; starting from partnership with Mitsubishi which lets us improvise their design but refuses to share drivetrain engineering knowhow. Then, Proton turned to Renault, a French carmaker that we hoped to turn into sexy French maid and make Proton wishes come true; instead, Renault had thrown us dirty laundry to be cleaned off. They supplied us with engines that are barely reliable, as a result, Proton Tiara turned out to be troublesome car that sells cheaper than Vitara VR150 scooter for second hand.

Then, we turned our heads, back on Mitsubishi shoulder supplying us blocks of drivetrains without our engineers practically knowing what formulas were used by Japanese to achieve such reliable, compact and robust engines. Mitsubishi were not there for long, final batches of engines were fitted into the Proton Waja 1.6 ( The 1.8 variant were supplied by French Renault ), then, our engineers came out with purely homegrown CAMPRO engines which can be considered as excellent starting point. Then, Proton seek to synergize its production after realizing that lots of other carmakers began to merge and share platform. That is when the idea of ‘strategic partner’ first mooted.

It gave me a ray of hope when Proton strategically approached Volkswagen for talks of co-operation. Volkswagen is not a performance car company, but, it’s a legendary car company. It’s the living brainchild of Hitler ideas of personal mobility within the fatherland of Germany. Volkswagen can have the bragging rights of first successful mass produced vehicle through its Beetle. Volkswagen is a testament of German affinity for technical precision (have you saw Volkswagen Eos retract its hardtop? ), plus, Volkswagen had a successful track record of reviving troubled carmakers; for instance the incorporation of Czech Republic Skoda in 1990. The pale yellow Skoda Fabia that you may see on road actually shares the same floorplan as Volkswagen Polo, frankly

Yet, we failed to reach ultimatum for some unforeseen reason. I was daydreaming that Perdana would be sharing its base with the sleek, sexy Gisele Bunchen-esque Passat CC. Now, we’re back hunting for foreign partners.

History teaches us something

Renault, the French carmaker that we wished magically turn into a wickedly sexy French maid had been through thorns earlier than Proton had gone through. Their ‘saga’ started during the launch of 1982s’ Renault25, which Renault intended to fight head on with German marquees such as Mercedes Benz and BMW. Quite an ambitious aim to offer the world an alternative of French taste.
They were engulfed with quality problems and production flops. Equipment keeps falling off even though the power of this car is nothing short of 5-Series and E-classes. Luckily, the nationalistic French did check this car out, which in turn helped Renault to stay afloat in the executive market segment.

Renault felt that hope is still alive, and head on to release the Renault Safrane ( beautiful name indeed ) . That was in 1992 which year I recognizes car had a clean cut design that tries to reduce materials similar used inside homes; such as furniture look alike wood paneling and wall analogue clock. Again, the bad reputation of the previous car had lingered to this model.

French, usually dissed for their giving-up never really applied this attitude for Renault, when its third tryst resulted in the awkward looking Vel Satis (a term referring to Velocity Satisfaction). Anyone in the industrial design would like to read stories what kind of erotic and exotic images were playing in the car designer minds while blueprinting this vehicle. Must be the ‘avant-garde’ (ahead of time) attitude which French designers subscribed themselves to). The Vel Satis is still positioned as an alternative option for Beemers and Mercs, which had already earned distinctive reputation.

This time around, Renault did what Proton did, but with a different twist. Getting engines from Japanese is nothing short of reliable. They got their engines from Nissan, a company which were partially acquired sometime in 2000. They kicked Japanese MD and replaced it with Carlos Ghosn, a figure which my dad used to enthuastically tell when I was more interested in Digimon. His leadership skill helped to turn Nissan fortune around.

Proton relationship with Mitsubishi was just partnership. While Renault had purchased a portion of Nissan. When Renault acquired Nissan, it means less obstruction of engine-making know how transfers, for the benefit of mankind. Like you and me, we get fuel efficient and quicker cars. If you happen to see any Nissan Latios, then, from its design, you may quickly notice its unusual rear body wrap and slightly tall proportion, the car has reminiscence of Renault Vel Satis. I wonder if they had the same designers.

Vel Satis is eight years old at the moment this entry is written and has never seen any refreshes. Honestly, I’m excited to see what those ‘avant garde’ French designer going to come out this time around, but, nah, not much news on Vel Satis. It signifies Renault buried effort to compete with Beemer and Mercs, too far being an alternative, so where did Renault go when for the last eight years?

Instead of executive car market, Renault just went on to develop hot hatches. Cars like Clio and Megane seems to experience more development thus shedding more limelight on them. Renault knew after three trysts and a few decades of effort, they cannot achieve that ambitious aim to dethrone German marquee out of the ring, so they went to a lighter category which is the lightweight championship. Hot hatches really have lots of appeal for both young and old. In times where fuel price is very unstable, a hot hatch would be a cute, quick and efficient city transporter. You can park it easily without worrying much the rear would hit the concrete divider or you might want to trail another car as close as possible as hot hatch usually has shorter-spanned engine boot.

Renault instantly gained a reputation of making performance hot hatches. A reputation neither set or foreseen by the bosses last 15 years. A Blue Renault Megane had just passed me by a few months ago, and by its presence aura, I’m just impressed, until I can vividly remember till today. Not forgetting the red hot Renault Clio RS197 selling at price nearing Volkswagen Golf GT, which perhaps has got the same performance parity. Care for a chariot race with 197 French horses in-front of you?

This should give Proton an example that it wouldn’t be a handicapped carmaker if its product range lacked of four-door full sedan or two-door hatchbacks. It wouldn’t become a stumbling block if Proton lacked of its performance tuning division like R3. If that carmaker were mine, I would have dissolve R3 and dropped Gen.2, Satria Neo and Perdana. Instead a family-oriented, fuel saving cars like Savvy, Saga and particularly Exora will be farther developed and enhanced.

We all know, Proton wants to be the alternative carmaker for all categories of vehicle; minivans, sedans, hatches, entry-level, executives, but yet, if Proton can only compete for its price points, then, things can become really torture for customers that are forced to purchase a vehicle just because they are cheap but lacked certain necessities like ABS, fire extinguishers and airbags. I suggest Proton retreated to the value segment. Proton advertisement shall features users with their pets enjoying comfy smooth rides, or a mak cik going to surau for maghrib prayers signifying the practicality and fun. The dissolved R3 engineers shall be incorporated into researching for best shock absorbers that are suitable for Malaysian pot-hole rich roads, in the end of the day, Proton can have a reputation for silky smooth rides similar to what French Citroen had now with their unique Oleopneumatic suspension.

Although electric or hybrid engines are far out of reach, Proton can possibly make an outstanding fuel economic cars. Say, 5litres per 100kilometers? Sadly, we have sold MV Agusta due to bad management. Whatever is done is done, yet, if MV Agusta is still here, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad had predicted that the superbike company can produce small ‘potent’ engines to power supermini like Savvy. This make real sense, as Majlis Perbandaran contract workers responsible for grass cutting routine, had their backpacks powered by single cylinders engine (yes, they are wearing petrol consuming internal combustion engines on their back). Superbikes like Caviga had even powerful engines that may outrun Kancil if transplanted into four door compacts. Why not? Let Proton be known for low fuel guzzling car.

Performance is a subjective matter. If anyone is addictive to speed and burning petrol, they can get the Masseratis or Gumperts. When entering value segment, its mend for people who would want to spend their cash with prudence. It’s a balanced ratio of many features per ringgit. The Chinese preferred to purchase Honda City or Toyota Vios, most of them think they are economical, comfortable, spacious, low maintenance with reasonable resale values. If Proton had downsized its range, perhaps, they can gain more saving and concentrate researching to enhance Proton Saga. So that, the 3rd generation Saga would be the best competitors to next generation Vioses and Cities.

We surely wouldn’t want Proton to collapse or shamefully being eaten up by other company and seeing our contractors crying foul. Downsizing and retreating to the value segment would probably the next best thing to do. Let Savvy, Saga and Exora do the work to impress. The rest of ASEANS too would love comfy cars like them. Lets get back to the ol’skool way of doing business; selling something tangible.

When things seems to be better, Proton may just retain the family-movers image and establish a performance spin-off brand; like Lexus for Toyota. Perhaps Prestasi for Proton? Anybody seen a 250 Malaysian horses?

The Thought Reservation

Did you know it only cost RM2 to be a member of UMNO.

A relative of mine is a member of UMNO, and that is what he told me about the fees. Pay it, and I’m officially a Pemuda UMNO, the youth wing of Malaysia biggest political party.

Wait! I never filled any form or pay any fees as I do not know the privileges or advantage of being a Pemuda. But I have to bear in mind that UMNO should be seen as a platform to express struggle and plight of the Malays. Much Malay struggle has been seen with UMNO in the scene; from gaining independence, establishment of universities, setting-ups of MARA and pooling of ready-to-use funds for small entrepreneurs.

Do I have to sacrifice my RM2 to qualify myself in showing respect, love and faithfulness towards my nation and race? This is not a trivial question. Once you join UMNO, you are in the game, your fledging nationalistic spirit will be channeled towards things that matters. Your sweat soak the skin due to following orders from leaders that seems to felt how much Malays needed that helping hand. Our ancestors which may have their deepest trust in UMNO (some may choose SABERKAS? PKMM?) had walked several miles under the scorching hot sun just to assist the anti-Malayan Union poster printing. Our ancestors may have ridden the bicycle from deepest region of kampongs to attend rallies.

If we, the current generation of Malays failed to realize the importance of UMNO and keep it relevant, then, the previous generation tiring walk and bicycle rides may just be nothing but just plain tiring.

But that is 1950s. Time had moved on and we are now living in time of One Utama can make your leg feel numb. In a generation where Louis Vuiviton has opened its boutique in Kuala Lumpur and the word ‘Allah’ has been a subject of debate for Christian usage. Malaysia has become somewhat a safe and fun place to live. And regional nationalistic are things easily to disregard, dropped into the rubbish bin for something much more flexible like liberal thoughts. Do not get shocked, if gay rights advocate already existed in the heart of this populous and ever-urban Klang Valley. Today, people who speak about being idealist nationalistic are labeled as close-minded people. In the 1950, gay rights activist may have themselves killed and bodies thrown into the river.

Why thrown into river? Are Malays bunch of uncivilized lynching mob ruling society? One word, every man has its breaking point. Things like bumiputra concept and the Sultanate, if anyone within this crowded highway infested Klang Valley felt its cool and safe within the liberal-minded neighbourhood to point out it is the Malay Achilles heel and ploy to throw acid and cause hurt on it while laughing like a SpongeBob square pants; does it sound these people had bad intentions?

No. Under the pretext of equal rights and freedom, acids are allowed to be thrown at bumiputra concept and Sultanate. They might be regarded as heroes which life struggles awaits movie-adaptation by some indie mop-like haired director, when people like me may just be another homo of Utusan reading and TV3 watching man.

Truthfully, I would want to be a Pemuda UMNO and strengthen it from inside, but, what are the odds of me bringing something fruitful when money are the grease that keeps UMNO running? Its ashamed to be part of UMNO nowadays, its much more ashamed to leave UMNO when its weak.

I reserved my decision about Pemuda. If Khairy Jamaluddin, the son-in-law of incumbent oh-so-clean UMNO president is the role model of next generation Pemuda, perhaps he might just picked up too much negative vibe. Yet, its UMNO blessing to have Oxford graduate as one of its leaders. Opposition party, as usual, they talked about Khairy as being “man with right university, wrong mindset”

If UMNO is a taboo word for you, perhaps, we can talk something else.

A television channel usually gained its revenue through airtime advertisement. Now, they seem to diversify through initiation of websites and carnival. Yet, airtime advert seems to be their prime source of stable revenue.

The problem with free-to-air commercial television station is to keep their advertisement short. Audience would have complained or shift channel once there are too many advertisement to watch. Losing viewership rating means losing popularity thus having low penetration rate, chasing away prospect advertisers. TV station had to balance things out, with each year, rebranding themselves with announcement like “10% lesser advertisement” to entice audience. While, on the commercial side, the TV channel kept convincing prospect advertisers about innovative advertise-on-air, advertising through sponsorship, website advertising etc. etc.

If wastage, corrupt and marking-ups amongst UMNO itself has become very critical, rampant and beyond repair, perhaps, UMNO leadership should consider things like balancing up. Vote buying is of course non-existent for commercial TV station added with reliable no-stake owed audit body. Yet, political party like UMNO should have known that thing can get really tricky when too much money rolling within its members yet votes from rakyat showed that they are losing ‘viewership’

When too much money used to grease the party, UMNO member ‘vote-value’ may varies greatly to a rakyat ‘vote-value’. I might as well remain as an affiliation-free rakyat.

Come to think again, if free-to-air TV station made us wait with their commercial, why not we do the subscription-based channel like Astro? They reduce the ads by charging certain fees to its audience? Can UMNO ‘model’ itself to be less government contract-reliant by pooling resources from its 8 million over members? Just like Obama collect money from his supporters to fund his campaign?

Looking at our economic strength, and the caterpillar money-hungry mark-up champion member of parties (not all), it seems like UMNO is far-far away from being a ‘commercial-free’. UMNO still had to do that balancing act of grease money and winning favors in-tandem.

The Fuzzy Logic

In this age of hybrids, metrosexuality and iMacs. We all wanted the best of two things.

.

It does not take a rocket scientist to understand what is fuzzy logic. If you were asked about your age? How would you answer to that? If you counted your age relative to months ,then, you wouldn’t be any older till the month comes. If

counted according to years, then you age have risen up a notch as we step into new year. Apparently both are logical answer.

In this new age, even facebook seems to understand people affinity towards fuzzy logic; with its status preferences showing options of single, in a relationship, married, engaged, In an open relationship or just plain confused. Imagine how boring it would be to see either SINGLE or TAKEN shown on our profile instead when we are neither. Today, we usher an era where we don’t just answer a query in binary manner of either a 0=YES or 1=NO. Alternatively, world is not only painted in black and white. They consisted in many shades of grey.

There are no frustrating responses other than these ‘grey responses’. Being a simple minded person, we are subject to tremendous pressure of people telling you its not a NO but not a YES either. Its somewhere in the middle of unchartered territory. Like the age question: it can either be partially true and partially wrong at one time. This usually occurs in relationship.

When you have a relationship with someone, as we know, there is no way to calculate or measure affection. Mankind had gone to extreme length to measure moles of chemicals and photons of lights which seems to be too vague to calculate for the rest of us. Affection on other hand, an emotional response triggered by god-knows-what. The moment a couple seems to ‘agree’, it seems everything leads to YES. Unlimited and without holds.

In this fuzzy logic world, the term YES can branch into several types of YES. A 25%YES does exist and differs greatly from 75%YES. Occasionally, we met those kind of people that took advantage of fuzzy logic. A girl who uses the word ‘sayang’ to no matter whom she talked to. Sensible sense wise, sayang is a word reserved to someone who we really care. Its akin to honey. But perhaps, due to the oh-so-urban attitude and bye-bye-conventional kick-ass image projection, everyone gets their bit of sayang. She explained its simply not wrong to call friend sayang; She loves her friends. Then I asked what does she call the person she really affectionate? She cleverly answers “itu cinta”. I did asked further what a difference with kekasih, buah hati, teman mesra as there will be various type of parallel relationship, and there it goes a long list of this-can-be-done and cannot-be-done. Kekasih can co-exist with teman-mesra; buah-hati, sayang and cinta can exist simultaneously to form a threesome(?) and so on so on. Like a prepaid combo packages and cross-lines call tariffs. It differs.

I wonder why? When things can be as simple as binary YES or NO. ALL or NOTHING. BLACK or WHITE. There are people who subscribed to this type of complexity of OBVIOUSLY YES, PERTIALLY YES, HALF-HEARTED YES, NO-BUT STILL…, DEFINITELY NO, NOT NECESSARILY NO-NO.

Yet, I do not blame or get mad with these people and their ‘grey responses/fuzzy logic’ they are giving. We are not SQL server where there is a chart for each responses. We are not lawyers which strikes question and the responses are majorly YES or NO ( during trials ). We are humans, given ears to listen and brain to reason things out. So, I take time to listen and you are damn right, this ‘grey responses/fuzzy logic’ takes loads of time. Most of the time, its counter-productive and takes us into a confusing rabbit hole. Fuzzy logic is perhaps akin to ‘beating around the bush’ talk. That is why CEO only hears report during meeting, either they GAIN or LOSE. Military Commanders with their confirmation of either GO or ABORT. Quick and simple.

Fuzzy logic may be applied in good ways. As ways to avoid bursting people bubble or high expectation, we frankly tell them that the result varies from a degree to a certain degree. Fuzzy logic can form a distancing mechanism where once a couple declared their relationship, the affirmation is somewhat partial, in effect, there would not be an express make-love-on-sandy-beach getaway. YES is not a 100% YES. Fuzzy logic echoes the English superlatives for instance; good, better, best- logically, they all are what we wanted; but which one exactly?

Fuzzy logic can be played for the fun of it. Like hooking up with someone which serves as stepping stone before hooking up with much more desirable partner.It’s a logic that we speak, yet it has a blurry bottom line. And because our mind digests ‘logic’ easily it doesn’t matter if it has blurry bottom line, for as long as its logic!

The opposite of fuzzy logic will be crisp logic. A logical sense that is very much recognized, that it seems clear and crisp. In short; it will be like answering a Q like a binary machine: YES or NO.

The R-Word

No, R don’t make up another type of society level. R is the rest of us. R u sure?

As I browse through the newspaper a few days ago I came across a film advertisement. 

As usual, when a new movie are released ( also applies to going-to-be-release), there will be this small column on the left or bottom of newspaper with the simplified trailer poster. But this film 

advertisement had a rather interesting catch phrase on top of all; Program Merakyatkan Filem.( does it translate into ‘Bringing film close to people programme’? )

Title of the film is ‘Mekanik’ and one of the actress name mentioned that I still can recall is Susan Lankaster. It is not to be shown in couple-seat equipped THX-strapped cinemas. Instead, its being shown somewhere for free-of-charge. On the bottom, there is the Kementerian Kebudayaan, Kesenian dan Warisan emblem.

A bit about the poster itself which sits on the lower left quadrant of the news page would be some sort of a illustration poster. With all of its cast being caricarturized, and main actor is seen holding a ridiculously huge spanner with ‘MEKANIK’ written across it. The poster reminds me of an era where Photoshop were still in its infancy level and bell bottom were as cool as hell. Not forgetting, Tun Dr.Mahathir might be a senator at the moment with chin reaching sideburn. Back to the poster, by the looks, it must be a comedy movie.

Nothing much to elaborate. I never intend to watch that free preview and never really understood what kind of approach the Program Merakyatkan Filem is going to be. It might be an Ibanese, a Malay, a Chinese, an Indian, a Siamnese, a Dayak Laut and Dayak Darat being seated side by side in during the preview. Just my two cents.

Yet, the word merakyatkan seems to caught my attention. With the multi paradigm, multi racial with different class, academic and economic status each branching in different idea, outlook and belief in many aspect, how to merakyatkan something? My dad says Alleycats did it once. Alleycats bridged the gap of the carefree poor and taste-concious rich. The bumiputra and the non-bumiputras. The Bahasa speaking and the non-bahasa speaking. Rumours has it that the lead singer never understood a single of Bahasa word. He just sang the whole song just like some of us whom become erraticly obsessed with Korean drama Winter Sonata and could sing the soundtrack verbatim. Without getting a clue what it means.

As I flipped through the daily, then, came across the B. Sathianathans’ somewhat hyperbolic punch line that says ‘M-League is not a football’. I do not know what he personally meant. It can be that he’s trying to tell the rest of us that ‘M-League is not a football, it’s a lawn bowl! ‘, but it just left there. Ironically, it is true, fans of local football is quite frustrated and rather go with Barclays due to the lack of sporting spirit in local football – In short, it is not football. There are powerful figures inside of football that neither has anything to do with football nor lawn bowl.

But why football? Are these powerful figures has got any stake in the young blood that fuel the national theme? Or is it huge amount of money poured into Malaysian football? Or is it prestige of high-ranks? Whatever advantage these people are sapping from national football, they should realize that football can be one of an instrument to unite people. I do come across an article where a coup d’état occurred in Argentina. There have been civil clashes and most of the people were plain mad. But one thing kept them in one piece. Football. At the time, Diego Maradona and his teammates were hustling to help Argentina climb into the final of World Cup. It was the mad Argentinian only reason to hold their fierce breath of fire. Indeed, Argentina made it into finals.

The Malaysian football must go through a process of dirakyatkan.Not to say, that each rakyat must vote through SMS for the nation first eleven. But, to ensure that the first eleven has got the real talent. Let the professional have full rights to pull the string without much obstruction or pre-conditioning. I strongly believe, professionals, without the silver spoon and platter, have gone through failure many times, before they gained their hard earned professional treatment. Yes, we have our sports research and sport science faculties that endlessly brewing on performance enhancing techniques. Do not let football become a lame sport that has no future, but packs lots of glamour. Parents today are hesitating to let their kids venture into the football career, they all clearly voice their concern about this ‘risky and regulated’ path. Effectively, the World Cup 2018 aim remained sketchy. I’am eager to see and totally confident that we will be Asia best, if not the world. All, without importing and giving residential status. But how?

Speaking of dirakyatkan, it is no wider usage apart from entertainment or sports other than politics ( pardon me, if you already had heavy doses of politics these few weeks, then, you may stop reading this entry from here ).

The UMNO defeat in Kuala Terengganu exposes us lots of responses in different frequency and modulation. What more can UMNO say to regain confidence of mainstream thinking Malays other than to trying to deflect allegation thrown at them.

But I am not a political observer that can list down all of that. What I am just plain concern is the ‘elite’ image of UMNO. Like several post which cynically remarks the pompous event related to UMNO and its figures. They were like a bunch of breakfast in London, Lunch in New York folks. Why are they inclined to become this ‘high maintenance select society’? When an individual or organisation becomes spendthrift, how are they trying to turn it around? Remember. UMNO used to have no money with its supporters ride their bicycles braving the sun and curfews to protest against Malayan Union and other interventions. They took trains and busses and slept in friends/relatives homes to attend rallies in major cities. The old UMNO.

Patrons of UMNO consists of people that can live with small pocket money, like teachers; names like Tun Ghafar Baba and Datuk Razali Ismail (former Kuala Terengganu MP) urges fellow teachers and academician to support UMNO and its ability to thrive this small race called Malay. Teachers and academicians, they had have their own circle and talk in a language that they’re familiar amongst themselves. Names mentioned above are the people whom can speak this language and convey it to the upper echelon of UMNO, vice versa.

PAS once had sasterawan negara Shahnon Ahmad working for them in 1999. He contested to become an MP for Sik constituency, Kedah. He lost and did not seek to contest in any election since then. It is not a bad idea after all. He may have the widest bandwidth in terms of articulating his ideas either verbally or written. The writers/sasterawan circle may be the keen listeners and would probably helped PAS candidate elsewhere. PAS won Terengganu in 1999 general election while retaining Kelantan.

UMNO. Somehow, somewhat they have to be an effort to turn this party into a thinking powerhouse that swerve through the ever challenging world of politics with full of pragmatic decision and respectable actions. A thinking powerhouse which ideas bears fruit that benefitted the race they represented. No more a money-making-powerhouse. Leave that contract giveaways to the business chambers etc. If high ranks of UMNO being polarized to a certain profession, it will have a hard time to come out of this current ruckus. Other profession like teachers and doctors also have ability to lead. Most importantly, they are part of rakyat. Lets merakyatkan the party. Or they shall remained a ‘high maintenance select society club’.

The Coming of Age

October is finally here, and many things that I have picked up and learned along the way. Only, there is one major adjustment that can never possibly be made. If so, it would potentially take several years before coming to a realization.

It was around mid-july 2007 as finals are approaching when someone asked me when I am going to make a leap of faith. It was a non-personal query as that person is a close colleague of mine. So do her to my friends. A life walkaround with companion, hmm… I ponder. If not by knot of marriage, but through forbidden language called the ‘coupling’. I flipped through numbers trying to make estimation when October crossed my mind. Yeah. October. Not on the present year, but next year which will be 2008.

Waa…at that moment it seems pretty long and tiring wait. Yet, that is the price paid for a resolution to take shape. Even, how many of our new-year resolutions had survived and lived beyond words? The path remained doubtful and sketchy as of where do I begin? Should I go fishing for girls? If so, how many of them should I put in the initial batch? Should I do some homework? It seems very foggy and guideless, yet like a promise of a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, the conclusion to all this resolution would be the chance smile like an honest man smiling.

Days goes by, months goes along. Time really moves fast. As I remained committed towards a change and several rules have been imposed towards myself, Its really puts me into pandemonium of seeing this magnanimous vision coming into action as curtain falls and October reveled herself. Should I scream in joy? Should I remain somber in silence? Should I cry as finally things had come into place? These are questions which I asked myself. I never had been through crossroads and no single reason why should I turn back in this pursuit of happiness. October is upon me, let it be.

I remind myself that I cannot presume everything will be back in order and perfect if October brought the much needed joy. We are all flaw in some way. Having a relationship is another way to subtly get response of our flaw and ways to accept it. Flaw that keeps our head low and not think that we are inferior or superior to anyone else. Flaw which takes time to disappear or coup-up. Flaw that makes us talk in a manner that’s humble. Flaw makes us think hard trying our best avoid bad circumstances. God knew if he let any of his creatures roam free on this face of earth without flaw, that creature would just manifest everything.

Flaw is not a subject that is going to curb my October aim, neither I am going to use my flawlessness and gained sympathy as I encounter October. Perhaps, flaw can be looked in a different angle. Flaw as a force that binds two people together. Just like the invisible force that binds a pair of magnets.

Resilient Girl or Naïve Silly Girl?

I have an assertive pre-condition in engaging a relationship previously and repeatedly said. The desire to see the other best side of me being extremely resilient towards external influences ( besties, cronies, cliques alike ). It may bit sounded like a control freak though, but this is a simple favor which demanded a clever desegregation between private room and peer/friendship room. I even like the idea of both friendship and relationship circle to eventually (over time) merge and create a healthy conflict-free friendship ecosystem.

Why am I antagonizing the idea of besties/cronies/cliques? Have I reached boiling point dealing with them? Frankly, I do not antagonize them and far away from taking any confrontation with them. They are needed/important as much as ponstan pill for aching architects or ctrl+alt+del for jamming computers . They are vital entities which existence cannot be denied. Given option for them to vanquish, I won’t advocate it as such will worsen situation. But, if it becomes too ‘clingy’ or ‘dependent’, then it gets really cramped. If such deliberate collective act by besties/cronies/clique to suppress partner into abandoning relationship then it gets really annoying and intrusive. If both situation are considered as flaw. By then, thinking should come into action. That is why a bit of segregation practice is needed.

Takut kena ombak jangan berumah ditepi pantai ( If you fear a typhoon will destroy your home, do not build your home near the beach ). If I reckon to absolutely protect myself from this kind of problem, let alone I distance and bear myself from befriending my future partner social circle. No way this would happen. This kind of attitude is extremely selfish? Don’t you think its possessive, obsessive and childish? Wanting 100% of partner attention as if she has no other pursuits/purpose/commitments in her life. In the end of the day, there should be a trade-off between these two circles vice-versa.

Talking about childish, I do admit that I don’t want to grow up. I rather be commanded and guided. I rather have someone mature and senior than my age to walk along and tell me which bird chirp what and which streets leads to where. Yes, never mind about the age. Even I looked like a 25~26ers at first glance. I can coup-up with those with the 9 to 5 routine of theirs. Oddly enough, I don’t hassle if everything turned out to be a queen controlled relationship. Let there be a proof woman power and good it could bring.

Many wondered with my odd way of doing things, what kind of partner that I shall finally meet? If I wanted to meet my intellectual desire, I envisioned aggressive talk-a-lot pre-law chick. At least I can learn something. I might scoop a thing or two on the limits and boundaries of blogging within the context of law. I might become more vigil when dealing with individual, organizations or companies with their terms and conditions that acts like a coyote in finding the possibilities to rob us in broad daylight.

Sticking to the not-so-fiery-nationalist inside me, I would want a hitam manis Kedahan girl which would someway/someday accompany me all the way for balik kampong? She could remind me overtime to stay down to earth, tone my voice down and being humble, especially in KL as anak perantauan. She could polish my northern lingos and we can argue about kerisek and santan nyior in preparation of gulai.

I never bother if all mentioned qualities cannot be fulfilled, perhaps, a combination of two or three?

We all understood that putting too many criterions in finding a partner are luxury that little of us can possibly afford ( What? Rich, voluptuous, KL-upper crust socialites ).While letting any interested soul that passes by into serious relationship setup would then can be seen as reckless as tangkap muat ( grab all ). Its principle bound pitted against open-channeling

Sooner or later, all of the qualities I knee-jerk wanted from a girl may just be washed off. I ‘am willing to waive all. Not because I have no principle. This, to keep a positive and clear mind, and wished for the best for whomever that stood within the line. Who knows the girl which had fondness with overgrown shades ( I call it speck lalat ) might just be the one that suite me. Who may guess I might fall for any UMNO cronies daughters. I know I had big comments about them with their fancy stuff and affluent lifestyle of uncertain origins. But, it wouldn’t hurt to take a ride on cute little Volkswagen Golf GTI’s. Visionary cronies I wouldn’t mind either, I would sit beside them and listen to what’s life as an UMNO crony attentively while her daughter can make coffee in the kitchen. Who knows that girl with lacking of peer pressure resilience might be the one for me? Beauty has never been the answer. Neither status nor positions guarantee happiness. Age or race never assures a couplehood survival.

Nature has its own way of unsettling itself

What is her name?

The question of how much seriousness have I purged into this search for the other better half is as much serious I put into living. How serious do I take life? Or am I still in limbo? No, I’am not in limbo all this while. As nature takes its course, everything will unravel in a short notice. But if you asked about my future partner, I admit, it is still foggy and sketchy as I board the train of nature which one day might surprise me with wonders. Don’t expect me to pull out names whatsoever; this is no ala-the bachelor reality show.

Like I expect October comes in a short notice, there are things that never come shortly. I have adjustments which cannot be quickly done. I am an introvert, in which I never had huge networks of friends to seek littlest advice from how to fit a gas casket or where to seek the cheapest tow truck during accidents. We all know that having a huge networks of friends means a lot in some way. It means late night lepaking with fellow friends of four to five instead of a pair. As I heard someone mentioned that I am no ‘fun’, lacking a huge networks of friend not only means limited aid during troubled times, but also, gives an impression of society boycott. Lacking of acceptance or unpopular. Lacking of interaction. What shall I do when thing are perceived this way? People draw simple conclusion that the lesser number of friends you had means you are disliked or despised. Its left to the public judgment to assume I am rejected by the society or I dejected myself from the crowd. Either way, skin has been thickened by lesson picked up years upon years. Way before October comes.

Looking at positive light, I’am a person that believes in singular minded idealogy.I’am well aware of the term loner and individualistic. In Malay its called pulau (deserted). At core, I am very much realist, I accept this kind of realities. If you think my phonebook has active contacts, I suck big time in that. I withdraw myself from the society very much because I believe the idea of human interaction is very much disposable like diapers. When business is done, there is no need to contacts or talk anymore, as I becomes unnecessary. I become less SMS-worthy and buzz-worthy. Unless, I’am a Kedahan royal blood bachelor, then interaction becomes extended due to my ‘synthetic’ positioning.

Aside from disposable, I found the idea of human interaction is sometimes heavily structured. There are followers which cling and boasted about their connection with big names, VIPs. I assume myself as debris ( serpihan ); perhaps the flying without direction niche of social member. I owe no allegiance to anybody or anyone, as I find it easy living this way. Secession, rebellious or unaligned; in history, it has been proven this kind of act is 50/50 success rate. Either I succeed or fail, time will tell.

This is the flaw that I have. I do not demand sympathy because it’s a choice I made years back. My mouth is virtually zipped, and only writing such of blog entries represent my voice since 2003. I am not arrogant to ‘push’ myself back into the society and finding a whole bunch people that fits me. Create a broad web of contacts that my future girlfriend would awe and find me ‘’fun’’. An adjustment, which may take years to do so as I let nature, takes its course. I have experience having relationship fallout due to absence of connections. I admit, love alone in today standard make relationship seems handicapped. As the saying goes; style without substance.

Either she has to acclimate or I have to make a complete mindset change, there will be a trade-off. Somewhat, somehow.

The Journo

Many of us never heard the name Pak Samad, the unsung hero and nationalist. A strong proponent of Bahasa Melayu. The only bells that rung when speaking about Samad is A.Samad Said the writer of Malay satire Salina or the controversial Ahmad Ismail. 

So, I went to tinjau-tinjau and research in the internet. I only knew Pak Samad when news about his death came out. Beginning from that moment I started reading little by little on his story. And I bet, there are plenty of things which me myself has got find out within the stacks, rubble and collection of history.

Last few weeks, my entry centered on sovereignty and it’s filling. It is proven that independence alone does not mean anything if everything around us is owned by others who tend to suppress and pressure us. It’s a shame for our future son or daughters ( god willing ), born in Malaysia, soon discover that the hippiest and liveliest hot land plots around KLCC were to belong to some Bruce, Jack or Richards. 

By now, we began to reflect ourselves “would it be unfair to reject reality? “.

No doubt, the concept of Darwinism, where only the fittest survives is a natural law which applies to every human. Darwin himself an agnostic man whose genius and theory turned into a controversy, sending the science world into a storming debate roundtable. In Malaysia, his science philosophy has been politicized. As far as I personally see, certain group who are heeding this nation to become an ecosystem manifested by the fittest. Does an agnostic man know God created humans with flaw, weakness and dark sides? Lucky, we are supplied with brain tissue to think hard and overcome these human weakness. Or else, the social Darwinism kicks in and the sight of dog eat dog is something unruly in this civilized generation.

 In this competitive world where Dubai businessmen can easily purchase the Great Wall of China or acquire English football clubs in a swift, with daring intention of buying a plethora of superstar players. Things can become real unfair. Its about time when ‘affirmative action’ becomes necessary. Admit it, we are never a neo-colonized nation like Australia or United States where the original/aborigines had been driven out and strayed off from mainstream citizenry. We are blessed with the multiracial atmosphere. For some certain pockets of people who wanted Malaysia to pave its way to become a one race nation, perhaps, they never appreciate/cherish the multicultural social fabric of Malaysia. These people with their unclear intention and expectation should be dumped somewhere else and take time to appreciate ‘variety’.

Then, there should be a mechanism to protect whatever kepentingan ( interest ) that is vital for short, medium and long period. 

Pak Samad is a journalist. He was born in Singapore in 1924. At 21 he becomes editor for Berita Malai. Later in 1951, together with Lee Kuan Yew was amongst the founding member of PAP which offshoot/clone/mimic version existed here in Malaysia and claimed themselves the democratic party ( I fondly call them the Malaysian Malaysia Party ). Pak Samad had clash of thoughts with Kuan Yew and later left that city state to stay in Malaysia. Along the years here, a lot of things have been contributed by him. One of them includes the aquirisation of New Straits Times from the republic of Singapore.

He devised the idea that having a prominent news arm to disseminate information is vital. In times where Singapore-Malaysia relation were strenuous and the world ( at that time ) depended on established print media to get a clearer picture of what’s happening; Pak Samad no doubt has seen the advantage of ‘amplifying’ Malaysia voice to a more credible level. Nobody knew the approximate million dollar acquirisation of a single news corporation could make a significant change. Likewise the 1980’s coup of Guthrie and whole other English plantation companies that saps the blessed soil of Malaysia. Perhaps citizen of infant Malaysia was highly aware about tarred roads, piped water supply and reliable postal services. But there are 'other' things that can put nation survival into jeopardy. At the time, Utusan Malaya were spearheading the dissemination of information in Malaysia. But Utusan heavy stance of anti-colonization during the independence struggle had it labeled as ‘radical’ by some quarters. So, a neutral looking masthead needed to convince people outside Malaysia .

On the other hand, news, like an inhumane voice or ethereal convincer, penetrates to the single most individual minds. They enter homes, offices, schools and other constitution. People read news early in the morning, as it becomes like a spark plug of the logical/rationale quadrant of brain nerves. A fresh piece of crisp virgin newspaper has become somewhat an appeal to turn people on. Newspaper is the first and foremost.

1976 was Pak Samad darkest hours when he got to prison. Which incidentally falls on Tun Hussein Onn tenure as prime minister. There must have been some sort of matter which made the then-PM had him into detention. I still had to find out.  

Pak Samad became somewhat an instrument to counter any media salvos launched by Singapore towards us. By 1981, when the then prime minister Dr.Mahathir stepped up as a prime minister, he saw the huge potential of Pak Samad as someone with the capabilities and experience to apprehend the city state nerve warfare changing tactics and stratagem. He had him released from detention and offered post as editorial advisor of NSTP ( New Straits Times press ). It all worked brilliantly as Pak Samad himself held the mastery of journalism at the fingertips of both his hands; which by the time accounted around 40years of specialized skill. Ultimately, Pak Samad mahaguru was Abdul Rahim Kajai, the intelligentsia of pre-independence Malaya which directly joined the struggle towards independence through nationalistic-fuelled poetry and illicitly released written works.

True, pen is mightier than sword. And an organized info dissemination arm becomes a highly disciplined arsenal of mighty pen. 

Pak Samad should become the inspiration for the rest of us. The young ones. He had this strong spirit of ‘biar jasa jadi kenangan’ ( lest the deed be remembered ). A man who never bother if his name never emblazoned or carved on young minds of people like mine. He do whatever he needs to do. When he finally departed, it’s the things that he has done that reflected who he is. No image needed on his news column, the words tells it all. And I carried on to be fascinated by this man whom survived the kicking and pushing of reality, which deeds continued to live on.  

Al-fatihah. Tan Sri Abdul Samad Ismail ( 1924 – 2008 )