Born in ‘85

"Liverpool will not be f**ked.. Milan will bend them over and rape them". Those were the words coming out of AK’s mouth a week ago. Well, how true is it? The game just ended 5 minutes ago, Liverpool lost 1-2 to AC Milan. To be honest, the word ‘rape’ couldn’t have been more accurate.

First half - The Reds pretty much controlled the game, although they lacked possession. Both sides were playing beautiful soccer, with Kaka’s roullette met by Alonso’s as well. For me, what I saw was a typical English team against a typical Italian team, with Liverpool playing the physical fast game and Milan playing the technical tactics game. Defensively, Liverpool had the upperhand; solid and reliable as usual defending off Kaka and co. For Milan, the defense found it hard to keep up with the fast paced English game with defenders forced to make errors. The midfield battle was pretty much an even one with Alonso and Mascherano matching evenly against the likes of Gattuso and Seedorf. Zenden could’ve done better with the crosses; Pennant could’ve dribbled more intrusively. Gerrard was driving from the middle, which pretty much stemmed every attack. Milan played the beautiful game with plenty of one-touches leading to an attack. Offensively, Liverpool would’ve done so much better with a better strikeforce. Kuyt was tireless, but lacked the through runs for the midfield to pick-up. Milan on the other hand had many runs, but most of them flagged offside (mainly by Inzaghi). Overall, the first half should’ve ended a stalemate. Pirlo took a freekick right at the end of the first half and that was it. It wasn’t one of those classic finals’ goals; a shot on goal from a freekick deflecting of the chest of a surprised Inzaghi. That, to me was a good ‘rape’ by Milan.

Second half - With the teams coming back from the break, there was no changes. Liverpool seemed to fizzle out, due to an outstanding tactics play by Milan. Slow-playing ensued, so a steady rhythm wasn’t achievable by Liverpool. Soon, whenever a rhythm is maintained, it was broken up by fouls and false pretenses as well as counter-attacks. Rape and rape. The scoreline could’ve been much larger, to Milan, but due to some outstanding defense by Liverpool, only another goal slipped through. And that was due to a lapse in concentration and deflation in spirit. To be honest, the Inzaghi’s finish was clinical, slipping the ball under Reina. Kewell came in for Zenden, Arbeloa for Finnan and Crouch for Mascherano. Eventually, Liverpool got the goal at the end of the second half, but it was a little too late.

Overall, I have to applaud the lads. They did much better in the first half as compared to the final in Istanbul. It was a fine job done in Athens, could’ve been better, but to be fair, Milan was due the cup. Am I depressed with the result? Nah, cause I know they gave it their all, and I’m proud of them. A salute to the players playing and the 12th man in the technical area - Benitez, Reina, Riise, Agger, Carragher, Finnan (Arbeloa), Zenden (Kewell), Mascherano (Crouch), Alonso, Pennant, Gerrard, Kuyt.

I can’t believe its happening already. I’m only 21, but there already signs of me aging. The biggest sign? When one by one my friends are starting to get married. Man, this sux.. This means that I’m getting older. I don’t want to get any older!! I wanna be forever young. Oh well, let those who want to get married, get married. For me, personally, I feel that I’m not at that age yet. I need more time to mature independently (haha, catch my drift!) and thats exactly what I’m doing here. After this independent maturing reaches its final chapter, only then I’ll be ready to settle down..

Lets see, one friend of mine got married recently, 2 friends of mine from highschool have been married since God knows when and now one good friend of mine is planning to get engaged. Not to mention, also, my sister got married mid this year. I don’t take all these marriages as pressure on me though. Why? Cos ALL of these people I mentioned (implicitly) are females. So thats good then right? RIGHT! I’m ok just the way I am. I’ll get married when I’m ready to get married, now is not the time yet..

Man, I must be bored..

Ladies and gentlemen
Citizens of Malaysia   

Why did I criticise the Prime Minister?

Because no one else is able to criticise the Prime Minister. He cannot be criticised by his Deputy, his Cabinet Ministers, Umno Supreme Council members, Menteri Besar, Chief Ministers, Members of the Dewan Rakyat, Members of the Senate, Members of the State Legislative Council, Umno members at all levels, Government Officers and anyone from royalty to beggars. 

The mainstream media including radio and television are not allowed to admonish the Prime Minister. Pre-paid telephones are now required to be registered so that anyone who transmits SMSes will be known by the Government and action can be taken. 

The Internet and the websites will be electronically bugged and action taken against anyone who criticises the Prime Minister. 

Anyone who attempts to hold any function that may involve criticising the Prime Minister will be harassed and threatened by the police and Government leaders to force them to cancel the function. 

I myself have been blocked using all sorts of means to stop me from criticising the Prime Minister. 

1. I cannot be invited by Umno, non-government organisations, associations of government officers or non-government officers, universities or any other institutions.   

2. Umno members and the public are prevented from and advised against attending any functions or meetings where I am to speak. 

3. All sorts of threats are meted out by police and political leaders to scare anyone who refuses to comply. 

4. Every time anything that involves the public takes place, the Deputy Prime Minister and certain other quarters will forcefully advise that any criticism, comment or debate should stop. 

Actions that are taken or threatened to be taken include sacking, transfer to remote areas like in Sabah, retraction or cancellation of contracts, harassment by the banks, call-up by the police, the Anti-Corruption Agency and other government enforcement agencies, detained and interrogated repeatedly. 

A climate of fear has enveloped this country.   

No one dares to comment, criticise or oppose anything that is done by the Prime Minister. 

In a situation where no one can criticise the Prime Minister, I have to voice my criticisms on matters that do not concern my personal being, but only those that concern the interest of the religion, race and country. 

Because of this, I am abused by the Prime Minister’s henchmen including component party leaders, the mainstream media that is controlled by Kali and Brendan and all other government apparatus. 

The questions and issues I have raised have not been answered. What is being questioned is my right to comment and criticise. Attempts are made to disparage me so badly that I am made out to be of unsound mind. Repeatedly, allegations were made that the administration during my time was worse. 

Their media make out that my criticisms of the Prime Minister are despicable and reprehensible. 

Muslims should know that even the Imam can be corrected by those he leads in prayers if he reads or does something wrong. 

Saidina Abu Bakar, Islam’s first Caliph, had asked to be corrected if he did something wrong, not by foreigners but by the Muslims themselves. 

But the current Prime Minister cannot at all be commented upon, criticised or advised. He is almost a saint who is free from any human weaknesses or wrongs. 

My meeting with him should be kept secret from the rakyat. And because we have met, I can no longer criticise whatever is done by the Prime Minister. 

Because of my statement that I would continue criticising if something that is not good for the religion, race and country is done by the Prime Minister, all sorts of condemnations and insults are thrown by these hatchetmen and the mainstream media towards me. 

Because all avenue for criticising the government has been shut, therefore I am forced to come up with this written statement so that it is not spun by anyone.   

Sincerely,
Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad
Malaysian citizen and commoner 

Oct 27, 2006

The Star (http://www.thestar.com.my)
Accessed on Saturday, October 28 2006.
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/10/28/nation/20061028110200&sec=nation

Just thought of sharing this open letter by Tun to the public who might’ve not read it before. What’s happening around us, around the world and in Malaysia is of importance.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri, to all my friends, family and acquaintances alike. To be honest, I just woke up about half an hour ago. I woke for the morning Eid sunnat prayers, very early in fact around 5-ish am. I made my way with my housemates to the hockey ground in UQ, and did the prayers there. After the prayers, mingled with some fellow Muslims (mainly Malaysians) and was invited to join them to various open houses, while enjoying the glorious sponsored beriyani rice, drinks and some sweets. Well, I agreed, but thought it would be wiser to chill at home for a bit, and refreshen. Got back home, and realised that I should’ve just gone straight to the open houses with them cause once on my bed, no chance of ever getting up. So here I am, wide-eyed and feeling a little depressed.

Why am I depressed? This is the fifth year running I’m spending Eid (Aidilfitri) away from Malaysia where its all happening. This is the third year running I’m spending Eid away from my family. But that’s not too depressing for me (I’d be lying if I said that doesn’t depress me at all). What is depressing is the fact that the holy month of Ramadhan has came and gone too fast this year. I seriously wonder why. I hardly felt Ramadhan this year. Have I been too busy with my life? I don’t know. What I do know is that this passed Ramadhan is one of the best Ramadhan’s I’ve ever experienced in a long time. So much, in a sense that I’m starting to miss it.

I’m here, on first day of Raya typing up a blog, when back in Malaysia, I would’ve been in kampung, organising events for my younger cousins. I would’ve been eating my brains out back in Melaka. But I’m not; I’m only here in Brisbane and I guess there is a silver lining to all this. I guess I can say that now I know how some less fortunate people might be spending Eid. I can safely say that I’m learning to celebrate in moderation as well (without ketupat, rendang, lemang, ayam masak merah, korma kambing, sambal tempoyak, sambal lodeh, 10 different types of biskut raya and other stuff). But you know, I do still miss everything Aidilfitri-ish about Malaysia, which explains my elaborate description of the food. I guess, if anything I can pass-down this education to the next generation who would have it all.

For now, the state of mind I’m in? Mati kutu! I just have no idea what to do. I wanna go raya-ing, but where, how and when? There’s a couple of open houses today, but none that I’m all too close with. A ray of light, the open house in West End tonight. Really wanna go, but it all depends on the situation and the crowd, whether the boys are going. Not really sure yet what’s the stance on this event, but my vote is in, I wanna go. Now it depends on the rest of the group. United we stand, separated we fall. So I’m looking forward to that.

A flashback just occurred, I remember a long time ago, back when everything was soo simple for me. I was living with my family in Petaling Jaya. I think this was about 15 years back. In the middle of Bulan Raya, ministers would hold open houses, and I was lucky enough to get to go and salam (shake hands) with the then Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad, at his open house. This man was and still is one of my heroes, and to get to salam him during raya, was just amazing. I even got a signature of him, which I held dearly in my cupboard (only to lose the book, containing other signatures as well including Samy Vellu). But yeah, at that time it was all so simple for me, nothing much was screwing my head. Now, Malaysia has become like a foreign place to me, with all the up-rise and declination of society. There’s currently even some type of row going on between Mahathir and the current PM, which I hope would be resolved soon. This is not good for the perception of our country in the eyes of other countries.

Anyway, as a student, I was once told by a wise man (on some parts), "Read whatever you can, wherever you can get it" and from what I’ve been reading, Malaysia is getting more and more urbanised. Raya traditions are still evident, but for how long more? I want the next generation, the generation after that, the generation after that etc to still keep these traditions. I love the Malaysian Raya traditions, the food the galore, and the fact that I’m far away from all these, well I’m still coping well. Pushing through since 2004.

The end of this stream of thought..

A carrot, an egg and a cup of coffee…

You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me, what you see?"

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft.

The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?"

Think of this: Which am I?

Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a break-up, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become  hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavour. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.

When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

The happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can’t go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

"It’s easier to build a child than repair an adult."

I got this some time ago.. It makes me think, really, which one am I? I can’t say I’m a carrot, but I’m tossing up between the egg and the cup of coffee.. I can happily think back in time and positively say that I might be a bit of both.. But which one do I wanna be?

I love these sort of things.. I read, I reflect and I think..