Rising crime rate, degrading public security

We have created another “boleh”(capability) in Malaysia now.

Crime “boleh”! The crime rate of our country has been rising dramatically, unofficially in the past few years, according to the intuition and experience of the public.

In 1997, two weeks before I went to further my studies in China, my handbag has been snatched away near my house. I lost my newly bought Sony digital tape recorder.

In April 2004, before national election, my car window of front passenger seat has been smashed after I came back from an assignment, luckily, I did not put valuable things in the car. It costed me RM240++ to fix the window.

In July 2004, my mum’s handbag was snatched away by a robber who shown his knife while she was waiting for my father at a bus stop. She was injured because the robber pushed her to the floor after he got her handbag.

Most of my friends in Journalism have scary experience being robbed. My ex-colleague in NanyangSiangPau even lost her life……

Recently, my friend sent me an email telling me how worse the public security in Malaysia is. Another friend who just graduated from Hong Kong has been robbed on the second day after she arrived in Kuala Lumpur.

I will be back soon. I don’t want to be one of the victims, though I was; I don’t want to lose my laptop, my personal belongings and important documents.

I feel shame if I ask my foreign friends to come over to travel in Malaysia now, because I do not know how to protect them from all these things. Perhaps the Minister of Tourism will be very angry if he saw this article. We have lovely forests, beaches and delicious food, but I don’t want my friends who come from abroad to be the victim of robbery or rape.

Everybody is blaming on the inefficiency of the police force, but I am so disappointed as our government does not have a strong political will to reform our police force according to the recommendation of Police Royal Commission, including the formation of Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC). At the same time I will plead for our police force: Please increase their salaries and welfare.

In theory, underpay should not be an excuse for them to be demoralized, however even factory workers are fighting for a basic salary as much as RM900, how can we expect those policemen to work hard with a basic salary which is only RM800 ?!! In reality, if they have no enough money to survive and raise their family, we can only continue to see how they arrest prostitutes who are harmless instead of cold-blooded armed-robbers.

More or less, we have to believe that those robbers will not become a robber or drug-addicted if they have a proper job or have been given a chance to stand up by themselves in the society. What’s wrong with our development policy? Some people just simply get too much, but some get nothing.

http://whiteflag99.spaces.live.com/
http://www.you-zi.net/AskForPeace/

小Dugong之死, the death of "Mermaid"

2006 年7月中旬，一只身长1.5公尺的小儒艮(有人叫它美人鱼)被发现死在柔佛州西南部的海域。小Dugong被当地一名渔夫发现时已经死亡，它生命里的最后时刻是在被遗弃的渔网中挣扎。在这片拥有全马来半岛最大面积海草床的蒲莱河流域，时常有Dugong的出没，然而，至今，它们的数量仍旧是一个谜。

Dugong之成为稀有动物的其中一个原因是：一只Dugong妈妈需要3年至5年的时间，才能生出小Dugong。而小Dugong出生在这片充满贪婪欲望的地球，似乎已经注定了它早逝的风华。

Sadly, on the 21 July 2006, a 1.5-m long dugong carcass was found at Pendas. The dugong was entangled in discarded nets and was already dead when discovered by a local fisherman. In fact during the last decade, there have been a number of reports of incidental captures of dugongs in the Pulai River Estuary. But until now, the number of dugongs living here remains a mystery.

论文 Dissertation

八月份，同学之间最流行的问候语：“你的论文写得怎样？”
毕业论文的字数是8000－12000字，这几个星期除了下午打工，早上、晚上我都在拼字数。
写论文的过程需要字字斟酌，虽然获益不浅，但每天重复地做着同样的事，其实很无聊。

一位同学突发其想说：为什么毕业只有一种模式？为什么我们不能以舞台剧来表达我们的想法？

以前接触儿童感觉统合培训时，我认识到一个人的说、听、读、写能力，是一个复杂的大脑感觉统合的过程，不是每个人的感觉统合都可以发展得很完善。

但我不太确定，具备了这些完善的能力又如何？为什么我会有不自由、被捆绑的感觉，教育如果没有将个人解放，它其实在为谁服务？

In August, the most popular way of greeting is "how's your dissertation?"
The word limit for dissertation is between 8000-12000 words, in the past few week, apart from working in the evening, I devoted all my time on my dissertation. The process is fruitful, but it is really boring when you put yourself in repeating the same thing all the time.

One of my coursemates suddenly asked me,"Why must we write a long dissertation to get the degree? Why can't we present our arguements or opinions by singing or dancing in the play?"

When I involved myself in Sensory Integration Training, I realized that being able to talk, to listen, to read and to write is a very complex process of sensory integration. Not every child can develop their ability thoroughly.

I am not entirely sure, so what if a person obtained all these abilities? Why do I still have the feeling of being held in bondage and unfree? If an individual has not been emancipated, who does education serve substantially ?
#

树莓. Raspberries

几个月前，第一次在英国吃到这种小小的、红红的、长毛的水果－－人间极品... ...， 连名字都像是属于仙女的－－树莓。

The first time I ate it, I cannot forget its sweet and juicy...the cute, little, hairy, red Raspberries.

改变需要力量!! Join together to change!

最近， 我开始厌倦自己的生气和情绪化的“暴力倾向”，因为歧视无所不在。今天在医院，就连躺在病榻上的一个英国老奶奶，都有气没力地当着我的面，对我的英国同事说，因为我是外国人，所以她想往我吐一口痰。幸好，我的英国同事事后以对自己同胞的批判极力安慰我，或许她年老意识不清醒，我不跟她计较，不过，这也让我错愕了好一阵。

我在想，或许，马来西亚唯一和其它国家不同的地方是：我们的种族与宗教歧视政策是清清楚楚f地写在宪法中，发展政策中。全世界各国足以发生冲突的表面理由，在小小的马来西亚都找得到。

不要再要求政府给我们公平与正义。“政府”是谁？没有人民，政府什么都不是。那么人民是谁？人民是由社会不同的个人组成。我们必须承认总是有一小撮人在黑暗中与魔共舞，夜夜丰收，他们也势必尽一切努力保住现状，否则功亏一篑。

受委屈的各族大马人民啊，不要在找理由为他们辩护了！不要再继续忍耐这些所做所为了，每个曾经生气过，过后说：“没办法，是这样的啦！”的个人都要为今天的僵局负起部分责任，这是一种助纣为虐的默许。

参与非政府组织的活动吧！是的，他们的活动或许不够草根性，说着你听得不太懂的语言，那么自己和志同道合的朋友组织一个团体好了，利用自己订下的时间呱噪一番。网络资料是自制传单的好材料，就算只派给你家周围的50户邻居。如果你与任何MAMAK档或翻版VCD商相熟，拜托他们做个人情，帮你派传单。

噢，大选还没有来临？但我想民主的意义并不局限在那五年一次的公式化、受操纵的投票结果。接下来，写信给你想教训的政府部门，告诉他们你不满什么，将他们的信箱塞满，不要仅仅依赖政党，政党固然有它的影响力，但也不是灵丹药。朋友们，停止悲情吧， 想点什么付诸行动吧！

Recently, I am sick of being angry and emotional anymore, discrimination is everywhere. Even in the hospital, the old British lady who is laying on the bed today told my colleague in front of me that she want to spit on me, just because I am a foreign worker. Fortunately, my colleague has consoled me with his own critics to his own nation.

Perhaps, the only difference between Malaysia and other countries is: our racial and religious discrimination policy is clearly written in our constitution, in development policies, everywhere.

We should not beg our government to give us fair and justice. Who is the "government"? Without the people, it means nothing. Who are the people? People are consist of different type of individuals, we must admit that a small groups of people must have benefited from unjust and injustice, so they will try everything to maintain status quo. Then majority of people who are suffering from these unjust and injustice should not endure furthermore, everybody has the responsibility for the stalemate nowadays, because they are giving acquiescence to the devil at the same time.

Join the NGOs... yes I know, most of the NGOs are not grass roots-oriented, organize your own initiative group with your friends if you like, make some noise, use the materials online, design and print your own flyers, even just distribute to your 50 neighbours, if you are familiar with any mamak stall or pirate VCDs stall, ask the owner to give you a space for your flyers.

And yes, election is not coming yet, but we should not only wait for the National Election. Next, fill government department's mailbox with letter of complaints. Do not merely rely on certain political parties, they can have their influence sometimes but not all the time... ...Let us stop mourning, let us think of something to do together.

#

Trip to Colchester 22/7-23/7

It takes one hour to Colchester by train--I took my first train in the UK.It was a visit to my idol friend-ChinHuat, who is currently studying in University of Essex. It was a pleasant visit to him and his friends- all of them are knowledgeable and gracious.

On the day I arrived, we visited to the Victorian funfair held at St Botolph's Church and Priory. I saw people who dressed up themselves in Victorian customes, I felt like went back to 200 years ago. We also joined the anti-war protest organised by his friend. I think probably they organised the protest in rush, or maybe most of the supporters have joined the demonstration in London, not many people turned up.

On the way back to his house, we passed by a golden wheat field and a woodland everytime, the scenery was really amazing, it reminded me of the tree spirits in the movie "The Lord of the Ring".

I met a new friend, Tim, who launched a "Save Our Bus Station campaign" early this year, which opposed against the demolition of the bus station to give way to an Art gallery project. Due to some political reasons, he concluded that "the campaign has failed, because the government has approved the project. " From the way he spoke, I could see that he is very frustrated and disappointed.

He drove us to the countryside with picturesque sunset scenery around Dedham, Lawford, Manningtree, Mistley, River Stour...... It reminded me of the countryside in Devon.....I never had any special impression about the scenery in UK, until I went to the countryside with sheep pasture that time.

I also went to the induction session of Essex Summer School in Social Science Data Analysis and Collection. We met two Chinese from China who work for an Australia-based HIV/AIDS research centre in China, I think their job is really meaningful. The courses are quite expensive, however, I think if I have enough money, I will enrol some of the courses in the future.

My friend is an active thinker, we have several discussions on current issues, ideology, etc. It was a brainstorming and fruitful experience for me. #

大家一起不缴税！行得通吗？Can we stop contributing tax?

人民的眼睛是雪亮的？还是盲目的？这两个问题曾让身边许多朋友争得面红耳赤。历史上，有许多源自“集体行动”的产生的改变都可以为双方佐证。

今天不是要在这里辩论，想转一转提问方式了。人民有没有眼睛？当然有啊！假设人民是有眼睛的，那无论眼睛是雪亮的、还是盲目的，最后肯定都是让这一对对眼睛背后的集体行动来改变我们的社会、生活方式。

人类社会在不断地改变，这是历史的必然性。没有社会是不变的，只是看人们要怎样的改变？什么时候要改变？要以什么方式改变？

过去几个月，发生了很多事，最近的有白小2000天、血腥528、槟城警方下令解散宪法讲座、印度神庙被拆（这让我想起华社在柔佛古庙山门被拆时同样的无 力）、还有在我家附近那座建不成、却无缘无故要用我们缴的税来赔偿发展商的大桥等等，我们看到朋友们的哀嚎、无语的痛哭、许多人平静的日子彷佛再次被撕碎 了。

人们难道不想改变吗？社会运动的理论让我眼花缭乱，头昏脑胀。可以肯定的是，对美好生活的追求往往都是人们选择改变的原因。至于怎样的“美好生活”，不同 的生活环境、不同的社群，因着不同的文化、宗教背景自有不同的诠释。偏偏人类社会对“美好生活”的定义感觉上越来越不由自主，媒体消费广告中对“上流社 会”的吹棒、对以金钱换取的物质享受进行的宣传美化，已经让一个人还在母亲的子宫里时，就开始接受“污染”。

我不由自主地想，如果繁荣、和平、昌盛是被媒体、掌权者描绘在一大片纸张上，最后纸张背后的贫穷、不平等、不正义、污染、劳累、受压迫的，会蜂涌将这纸张 挤破冲出来，重新拼凑另一张图？还是会有一群人，去把这张纸撕破？那变革的关键时刻－－就是那一刻，是怎样形成的？会在什么时候？

对于现状，不满的、气愤的人们是想改变的，当然，总有一些即得利益者是乐于维持现状的。我们要教那些即得利益者认识到，由你拥有的利益所衍生的忿怒，有一 天势必将你所拥有的，一瞬间化为乌有。也有人认为，大多数人都很忙，赚钱都没有时间了，没时间想那么多，大家都在等待别人帮他们改变现状。

然后我问，白小等了2000天，还不够吗？很多人急了，我斗胆请教华教界前辈后进们，如果说华教是一场运动，运动应该是一场斗争，然而守在自己的堡垒那么 多年，只守不攻，在作战策略上，是不是会造成内耗？好好的白小就在眼前，为什么没有人敢去橇开大锁、占领校园？这是在展现人民对政府的宽容还是善良？还是 对集体力量逐渐消逝的悲观及没有信心？

朋友们一直提醒我，我们的社会没有让运动更加激进的条件。条件要继续创造，人们的悲愤要继续被组织成为力量，以暴力反抗暴力只会让我们失去支持、同情心。 我无语。我心想，今天那些拆毁印度神庙、焚烧神像的人应该感谢他们的回教堂还安然无恙，因为他们所积累的民怨，还没有爆发到具毁灭性的时刻。

当我看见领取政府奖学金的学生在英国求学的日子消遥自在、买车代步，当面对国内课题，他说“你必须尊重我选择这个不正义的政府的自由...我相信大专 法令及内安法令是用来对付恐怖份子的...” 我突然发现，我根本不懂得处理心里那种想报复的情绪。我怀疑，自己也变成恐怖份子了，因为，我告诉我的朋友 们，我可以接受人们在走投无路（当一个国家的司法、立法、行政机关都无法保护人们的时候）的情况下，诉诸暴力！反抗暴力的暴力不是应该马上被谴责，而应该 被解释，被理解。

除了选举，平时的我们，应该还可以有所行动，因为教人们相信选举简直就好像教小朋友相信圣诞老人会来派礼物那样。

我在想，当我们知道我们的钱被用来赔偿美景大桥承包商、被国能公司向独立发电厂购买多余无用的电量、被用来建价值5亿的发霉医院、空置的国小… …，华小、淡小、其它宗教场所只能对制度化拨地、拨款望门兴叹时，对于惩罚这个滥用人民钱财的政府，我们不能做什么吗？

换一个温和一点、不流血、无暴力的方式，大家一起不缴税！不缴税运动，行得通吗？

被欺负了，又不愿意移民，大家难道不想做些什么吗？… …

Are people blind? The question always arouses distinct opinions. There are a lot of changes in the history that can be cited as evidence for both sides.

I am not going to debate that topic today. Let me instead put to you this question: do people have eyes? Yes, of course they do. No matter whether their eyes are blind or not, there are always cases where people change society or their lifestyles through collective actions.

Human society changes constantly - this is inevitable. There is no society which never changes. It depends on what kinds of change people want. When do people want to change? What kind of methods do people choose?

Many things happened in the past few months: from School Damansara 2000 days, bloody 28 May, Police in Penang ordering the dismissal of the Constitution Symposium, Hindu temples being demolished (this reminds me of the time our government tore down the gate of Chinese Johor Ancient Temple fifteen years ago - Chinese communities were so helpless). In addtion, near the place I live, the government suddenly stopped the Scenic Bridge project. As a result, a huge amount of money has to be compensated to the contractor. Why? The reasons are still puzzling. Our friends were shocked; they mourned and cried. Their peaceful life has been torn into pieces.

Do the people want a change?

Theories of social movements continue to daze and bewilder me. The only thing I can be sure of is that the reason for people to seek changes always comes from their desire to be better-off and improve their well-being. However, in defining better-off and well-being, there are distinct interpretations among different groups with different cultural and religious backgrounds. Unluckily, nowadays, due to the advertisement propaganda about upper-class society and material-based affluence, people seem to be involuntary defining better-off and well-being narrowly. One could has been polluted by all sorts of commercial propagandas when s/he is still an embryo.

I can’t help but think, if our prosperity and peace are drawn by the media and authorities on a piece of paper, will those behind the paper living in the poverty, injustice, pollution, over-worked, exploited, one day thrust out and tear down the paper into pieces and reorganise everything? Or will there be a group of people who will go and tear down this paper? What is the drive for change? How? And when?

People who are dissatisfied with the status quo will think of change. Certainly, there are always some interest groups who profit from the status quo would rather things remain as they are. we must let them know that the anger which derived from their profits will one day deprive them of all that they have. On the other hand, some argue that people are too busy trying to maintain their livelihoods, that they have no time to think about these things, and that they are waiting for somebody else to change their status quo.

Then I asked: School Damansara (SJKC) has been waiting for 2000 days. Haven’t they had enough? More and more people are becoming impatient. Please forgive me to ask here: If we are promoting mother-tougue education as a civil rights movement, it should be a struggle. However, after so many years, is it enough just to defend ourselves instead of fighting back? In terms of strategy, isn’t it a waste of internal strength? School Damansara is just in front of us; why does nobody dare to open the gate and occupy the school? Are you trying to show that you are being benevolent or kind? Or are you losing your confidence due to the declining collective will?

I have always been reminded that we lack the conditions to be more radical. We still need to create such conditions; we need to turn anger of mass into organised strengths. If we use violence to resist, we will lose support and symphathy. Today, I am thinking, those insensitive people who bulldozed Hindu Temples are blessed. They should thank God because their mosques are still in good shape, because the frustrations they created have not yet caused destructive consequences.

When I saw those students who had earned JPA scholarships and are currently studying in the UK (who can even afford to buy a car here), I was told by some of them not to discuss sensitive national issues with them. When they said, ”you must respect my choice even if I vote for this unjust government… I am not entitled to comment on AUKU or ISA, I think they are preventive acts against terrorism....", I suddenly realize that I've no way of managing my feelings of vengeance. I feel that I am also a terrorist now. I even told my friends that when people have no other choice (in terms of when state apparatuses are not protecting people anymore), violence in resistance should not be condemned; it should be explained and comprehended in a rational way.

I believe that we are obliged to take more action apart from waiting for the unfair and unbalanced election. Asking people to oppose using their votes will be unlikely to bring changes in a short time. Not even kids believe in Santa Claus nowadays.

I also think, when we knew that our tax money has been used to build a moldy hospital which costs 500 million ringgit in Johor Bahru , and some vacant National Malay schools in housing estates which are actually need National Chinese/Tamil schools, it will also be used to compensate contractor of Scenic Bridge, ……, on the contrary, people have to pay more for electricity due to the silly contract between Tenaga Nasional and independent electricity generators; those who are supporting National Chinese and Tamil schools, and other religious groups can only be deprived of their constitutional rights and being discouraged constantly from failure in getting institutionalized school/religious building reserve areas or equal allocation of financial resources, why can’t we do something?

Let us choose a moderate, non-violent way to resist. Should we stop contributing tax? Am I too naïve to think this?

People are being bullied and oppressed now; if we are relectunt to emigrate and want to stay behind in this lovely country, shoudn’t we do something together to make a change?

#

Great Yarmouth - Not so horrible!

Guess, what is Yarmouth Rock?

Answer: It is a kind of sweet made in Great Yarmouth. How does it look like? Just like a colourful stick, with different types of favour!

I went to Great Yarmouth finally, Amy and Rob drove me there. Why was I so curious about the place ? First, my friend who went there said it is horrible. Second, my lecturer said it used to be a famous beach in the 1960s, however, when the people here become richer and can afford to go abroad, it become abandoned and horrible! Third, my british colleague in the hospital also told me it is really horrible. That's why I went there, to see how horrible it is !

We took about 50 minutes to get there. I saw cows, sheep and windmills on the way there.

We shopped at Regent Road, which is the busiest place in the town. I bought some Yarmouth Rock and dognuts recommended by my colleague. We had our lunch in a restaurant. I like the fish and chips there very much. Yummy! I can tell the difference between fried-fresh-fish and the fried-fridge-fish now.

Yarmouth beach is not so attractive compared to the beaches in Malaysia. However, it was also interesting to see the people here laid down in the sun to get burn like lobsters!

On the way back, we went to a countryside- Irstead. There is a 14th century built church, covered with thatch roof- Church of St Michael's. Lovely, nice to see those new things again!
#