My American Idol

Barack Obama is my first American Idol, not because he is the first ever black president of American, after all, the president of American has little things to do with us in Malaysia. But some how rather, I feel that he is somebody that we can hinge our hope on. Someone that we can thrust, and some one that will lead the suffering masses in the darkness to the light. Joe Biden, the vice-president-elect said to Barack when he was offered to be his running mate, 'Don't ask me unless the reason you're asking me is you're asking me for my judgement. I get to be the last guy in the room when you make every important decision. You're the president, any decision you make, I will back.' That words by Joe certainly show how supportive he is to his president.

My wife puzzles as to why I'm so interested in Obama, or rather idolised him as the American President has little influence on us in Malaysia. Even he is the first ever black president, so what? But do you recall when you were the grow up kid and when you were bullied by bad guys in the school or on the streets, would you not think of your heroes like superman or batman or spiderman that will come and save you? It looks like a childhood's dream huh? But in real life, we do need hero, maybe not in the forms of superman, batman, ironman, transformer or what so ever. Maybe your father or mother or brothers or sisters or friends or teachers will be someone that will guide you through when you are in the trouble. For me, I look upon to a truly inspired one like Barack as a hero.

I hope Barack will be a good man, just a simple good man which will take good care of his nation and preserve the peace of the world. The responsibilities on his shoulders are so big, two wars and a deepening economic crisis are on his back.

Coming back to the question as to why I'm so idolised Barack, it is simple, I can't find one here.

Chinese New Year Coming...........................

Chinese New Year is around the corner, but I don't really feel the festive mood as before. The streets are quiet, the economic downturn may be the contributing factor, people are more prudent in spending in anticipation of bad economy. Some may worry about getting a pay cut, or retrenchment. Even in the shopping malls, I don't see the big crowd that used to be before Chinese New Year in the past.

I have so far received lesser than before New Year cards. That could be the indication of most of my friends are like me, simply do not have the mood to celebrate new year due to bad economy. Hey, don't ever say that economic downturn has no effect on the common people like us. Just go to the streets and ask the hawkers selling mee or nasi lemak and see what are their response. Business is bad, less customers, less income and livelihood are badly affected. Do you benefit anything from the the stimulus package implemented by the government to counter the probable economic slowdown, or the technical recession? At least a cut on income tax would provide some relief to the wage earners. But is the government going to do that?

I was travelling back from Banting two days ago with my boss after a long and tiring meeting. He told me that he started to work in Kumpulan Guthrie as a planter in the seventies with a monthly salary of RM1000. He said at that time, planter was a highly respected profession, as an agriculture graduate, that was the best job that he could get at that time. He said things were cheap then, cars like Morris Minor or Volkswagen cost around RM 6000 to 7000. I then told him I started to work in the same industry in 1994 with a starting pay of RM1500. For about 20 years, the pay hike for plantation industry is only RM500 or about RM25 annually, what the fuck. I told him I bought a second hand Daihatsu Charade at the price of RM 24,000 which was equivalent to my 16-month pay while he could buy a brand new car with his 6-month pay.

Things are not improving then, I thought. Moving forward, we are not getting any better. Living standard becomes higher and higher, houses, cars and other basic necessities become more and more expensive. Our incomes have shrunk then. I guess it is going to be tougher if we are in recession this year. Whatever it is, Chinese New Year is around the corner, cleaning up your house, buy some new cloths, and hope that thing will get better.

Gong Xi Fa Chai

Objection to LCCT in Labu??

This time around, several prominent personalities in Malaysia normally seen at loggerheads find themselves on a common ground. Invasion on Gaza by Israel?? No, not that issue. They stand united in objecting the decision of the government to allow AirAsia and Sime Darby jointly opening up a new LCCT in Labu. We know that people like RockyBru, Wee Choo Keong, JeffOoi, and even the former PM are from different camps. They are popular bloggers, opposition-in-power, ex-prime minister, but strangely this time, they speak in one voice in opposing the construction of a new low cost terminal in Labu.

All considerations and technical limitations highlighted in the blogs of the respective opposers make practical sense. However, if AirAsia needs a bigger airport so that it can further expand its cheap services to the people, what so wrong with it operating its own airport in Labu? Not that they are going to use taxpayers' money to build the airport. Or some people simply oppose to it as they worry that the son-in-laws of somebody may stand to benefit from this project?

To common people, it's all boils down to dollar and cent. If AirAsia can provide very much cheaper alternative to what offer by MAS, why should we oppose to it? After all, what so wrong about converting an oil palm estate into a low cost terminal? Not that it will cause someone to lose their land or lose their livelihood or what not. It is timely for AirAsia to work on its expansion plan as it is overly crowded in the current LCCT more so because of the on-going upgrading work. Sometimes, the LCCT looks like a wet market as it is so crammed due to limited space.

Confucius' Crying Over New Era Dilemma

I do not follow the development on the dispute between the academic staff and the management of New Era College as I am not interested in any tussles involving Dong Jiao Zong or other Chinese Chambers of Commerce etc. However the violent act by a former student to the Chairman of New Era College during a convocation ceremony make me wonder how could the dispute between management and academic staff can evolve into an apparently unresolvable stage that end up the Chairman of the college being punched by an ex-student. This incident will certainly become the irreversible black mark in the history of New Era College, just like the black-eye incident of Anwar Ibrahim.

Chinese education stresses the importance of moral development of the individual. If the person who punched Dr Yap was indeed an ex-student of New Era, then it would not only seriously tarnish the good name of New Era College but also shatter the belief of Chinese community on the capability of New Era college to nurture holistic, cultured and competent professionals as stated in its mission.

The violence act by a former student on the Chairman of a college due to what so ever reason is completely unacceptable. After struggling for so many years to nurture and to protect the mother tongue education in Malaysia, that thrusting blow was indeed a deadly one to Dong Jioa Zong, blowing away the good image and hard work painstakingly built upon since Independence by many dedicated Chinese community leaders. I think the great Sage Confucius must be weeping if he comes to know about it.

A Great Fighter, Peter Gade Christensen

Watching Chong Wei playing Peter Gade Christensen in the semi final of the Malaysia Open is an absolute thrill. I have a lot of respect for Peter Gade, a real fighter who never give up and a highly rated badminton player with unrivaled sportsmanship. The first game was so nail-biting, so intense, you can hear it from the supporting Malaysian crowd. A few controversial line calls, but that did not affect the fighting spirit and sportmanship of both players. Chong Wei seemed to be a bit nervous, despite of early lead, he eventually gave up the first game 24-26. That was by far the best game I have seen in this year Malaysian Open. Both players taking lead many times before Chong Wei finally had to surrender to the highly motivated Danish.

After winning the second game 21-17, I roughly predicted that Chong Wei will win the third game and make him through to the final. True enough, age is not on Peter Gade's side, tiredness and exhaustibility slowed him down, he simply could not match the supreme fitness and confidence of his younger exponent and went down 13-21.

At the age of 32, Peter Gade has already passed his prime age as a sportsman. Despite losing two consecutive matches to Chong Wei, in Super Series Master final in Sabah a couple of weeks ago and the semi-final in Malaysian Open, Pater Gade remain one of highly rated badminton player because of his fighting spirit. Our younger players should learn from this tremedous sportsman, despite nearing retirement, Peter Gade fights every match with strong determination and never say die attitude. This is what lacking in our players nowadays, you know what I'm referring to if you watch how Chow Wei lost to Lin Dan in the 2008 Olmypic final.