Sunday, September 25, 2005
Sunday, September 18, 2005
Lately someone had been leaving inciteful comments around the Malaysian blogosphere, notably Peter's and Mack's blog. Both of them made a police report.
For me, I will delete the comments. If he came again, I will notify Blogger and it's up to them to take any action, if possible.
Surat layang has entered the electronic age. It is one of those things that is embarrassingly Malaysian.
For me, I will delete the comments. If he came again, I will notify Blogger and it's up to them to take any action, if possible.
Surat layang has entered the electronic age. It is one of those things that is embarrassingly Malaysian.
Friday, September 16, 2005
Malaysia Day - Afternoon Edition
It is disheartening. Today in school I did not hear any mention of Malaysia Day. Well, save for the yelling boy. When I mention Merdeka, they dismissed the thought since for them, it was last August.
There are two events that I wish to discuss here, Merdeka Day and Malaysia Day. Of the former I have no intention of downplaying its role. The United States of America as a whole celebrated the Fourth of July even though only its thirteen colonies declared their independence at that time. But there is a catch: people remember when their state was bought or joined the United States.
The emphasis on Malaysia Day however must not be ignord. On that day 42 years ago the states of Sarawak and Sabah, with Malaya formed the Federation of Malaysia. A little bit of research will show that Sarawak became independent on 22 July while Sbaah (reportedly) gained its independence on 31 August. Those dates are not remembered except by serious and amateur historians.
Let us run a ‘what if’ scenario: what if Sarawak and Sabah had not joined the Federation? The Brunei Revolt of 1962 (which I doubt many Malaysians know) led by Azahari Husin of the Partai Ra’ayat and the North Kalimantan National Army (Tentera Nasional Kalimantan Utara) was against the formation of Malaysia. The revolt, while unsuccessful, convinced the Sultan of Brunei that joining the two neighbouring states to form Malaysia is not an option. Fortunately, the revolt did not do the same to Sabah and Sarawak. Either we would have remained separate as two different nations or joined Brunei to form the Federation of North Borneo which was Azahari’s vision.
Or another possible outcome: we could either be absorbed or annexed into Indonesia. Malaya would have been surrounded by it. While the Confrontation was launched by Sukarno in response to the forming of the Federation, he would still be hostile to Malaya since he sees it as a British puppet. And a Malaya surrounded on three sides by a hostile neighbour is not a good situation.
On both sides of the South China Sea, voices can be heard demanding an explanation on why there is so little done to remember Malaysia Day. Two years ago, on the 40th anniversary of Malaysia there was nothing. Nothing to remember it. Nothing to remind us of the formation of our nation. The date was confined to school textbooks and soon forgotten after the examination. Papers run interviews on Emergency heroes, but for the men who herald in a new chapter for Malaysia there was not even a biography. Where are the Confrontation heroes? Something is very wrong.
The so-called attempt at ‘bridging the gap between the Peninsular and Sabah and Sarawak’ is unsuccessful, the cause most likely being both sides failure to understand each other. West Malaysians view East Malaysians with fear, whispering ‘black magic’, being unable to understand our culture. Only West Malaysians who had traveled to East Malaysia had this prejudice removed, then again a small number who had not traveled does not have it. East Malaysians, who are more open are perplexed by the West Malaysians’ conservative attitude. The view that they came here to rob our natural resources is a view held by a few, fortunately. The situation is not helped by the fact that East Malaysians are often discriminated in the Peninsular, mainly in the universities, mostly by Malays.
I have nothing against West Malaysians. My mother is one of them and she has a Permanent Resident status in Sarawak. In a way, it makes me one of the East-West Malaysian hybrids. Having seen both sides of the lake they often can be found siding with the East Malaysians. Why?
In my ending words, I would like readers to remind and wish others a ‘Happy Malaysia Day’.
Lest we forget.
Matthew Anderson Lockhart
0915 20050916FR
An empty classroom, still.
P/S: West Malaysians, if I had offended you in any way, I apologise.
Salutations to the following bloggers for remembering!
earthnic
laine
suanie
lone
MENJ
mr. badak
shin
visithra
David Teoh
mac
ambigious wanderer
shook
rin
michelle
Dee M
mcheah
There are two events that I wish to discuss here, Merdeka Day and Malaysia Day. Of the former I have no intention of downplaying its role. The United States of America as a whole celebrated the Fourth of July even though only its thirteen colonies declared their independence at that time. But there is a catch: people remember when their state was bought or joined the United States.
The emphasis on Malaysia Day however must not be ignord. On that day 42 years ago the states of Sarawak and Sabah, with Malaya formed the Federation of Malaysia. A little bit of research will show that Sarawak became independent on 22 July while Sbaah (reportedly) gained its independence on 31 August. Those dates are not remembered except by serious and amateur historians.
Let us run a ‘what if’ scenario: what if Sarawak and Sabah had not joined the Federation? The Brunei Revolt of 1962 (which I doubt many Malaysians know) led by Azahari Husin of the Partai Ra’ayat and the North Kalimantan National Army (Tentera Nasional Kalimantan Utara) was against the formation of Malaysia. The revolt, while unsuccessful, convinced the Sultan of Brunei that joining the two neighbouring states to form Malaysia is not an option. Fortunately, the revolt did not do the same to Sabah and Sarawak. Either we would have remained separate as two different nations or joined Brunei to form the Federation of North Borneo which was Azahari’s vision.
Or another possible outcome: we could either be absorbed or annexed into Indonesia. Malaya would have been surrounded by it. While the Confrontation was launched by Sukarno in response to the forming of the Federation, he would still be hostile to Malaya since he sees it as a British puppet. And a Malaya surrounded on three sides by a hostile neighbour is not a good situation.
On both sides of the South China Sea, voices can be heard demanding an explanation on why there is so little done to remember Malaysia Day. Two years ago, on the 40th anniversary of Malaysia there was nothing. Nothing to remember it. Nothing to remind us of the formation of our nation. The date was confined to school textbooks and soon forgotten after the examination. Papers run interviews on Emergency heroes, but for the men who herald in a new chapter for Malaysia there was not even a biography. Where are the Confrontation heroes? Something is very wrong.
The so-called attempt at ‘bridging the gap between the Peninsular and Sabah and Sarawak’ is unsuccessful, the cause most likely being both sides failure to understand each other. West Malaysians view East Malaysians with fear, whispering ‘black magic’, being unable to understand our culture. Only West Malaysians who had traveled to East Malaysia had this prejudice removed, then again a small number who had not traveled does not have it. East Malaysians, who are more open are perplexed by the West Malaysians’ conservative attitude. The view that they came here to rob our natural resources is a view held by a few, fortunately. The situation is not helped by the fact that East Malaysians are often discriminated in the Peninsular, mainly in the universities, mostly by Malays.
I have nothing against West Malaysians. My mother is one of them and she has a Permanent Resident status in Sarawak. In a way, it makes me one of the East-West Malaysian hybrids. Having seen both sides of the lake they often can be found siding with the East Malaysians. Why?
In my ending words, I would like readers to remind and wish others a ‘Happy Malaysia Day’.
Lest we forget.
Matthew Anderson Lockhart
0915 20050916FR
An empty classroom, still.
P/S: West Malaysians, if I had offended you in any way, I apologise.
Salutations to the following bloggers for remembering!
earthnic
laine
suanie
lone
MENJ
mr. badak
shin
visithra
David Teoh
mac
ambigious wanderer
shook
rin
michelle
Dee M
mcheah
The Error of Celebrating 48 Years of 'Malaysian' Independence
It pained my heart.
Buntings and banners everywhere shoved it down our throats. Fourty-eight years of Malaysian Independence. What a joke. Forgive me for being politically correct, but isn't Malaysia is only 42 years old? American citizens, while celebrating the Fourth of July did not let it slip from their minds that it was the day the original thirteen colonies declared their independence. Sadly for us Malaysians, that is not the case.
The Americans can be forgiven for they do not have something like our Malaysia Day. But for us, we have it. Then why 48 instead of 42? We have something specific, by all means remember it, celebrate it.
Happy forgotten Malaysia Day.
Matthew Anderson Lockhart
0934 20050915Fr
An abandoned classroom.
P/S: Salute to earthnic, laine and suanie for remembering.
Buntings and banners everywhere shoved it down our throats. Fourty-eight years of Malaysian Independence. What a joke. Forgive me for being politically correct, but isn't Malaysia is only 42 years old? American citizens, while celebrating the Fourth of July did not let it slip from their minds that it was the day the original thirteen colonies declared their independence. Sadly for us Malaysians, that is not the case.
The Americans can be forgiven for they do not have something like our Malaysia Day. But for us, we have it. Then why 48 instead of 42? We have something specific, by all means remember it, celebrate it.
Happy forgotten Malaysia Day.
Matthew Anderson Lockhart
0934 20050915Fr
An abandoned classroom.
P/S: Salute to earthnic, laine and suanie for remembering.
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Malaysia Day - Midnight Edition
Today we are celebrating the 42nd anniversary of the formation of Malaysia. So much had been done during those years, so many people were involved.
Alas, not all is well. East Malaysians look at West Malaysians with suspicion, West Malaysians doesn't know anything about East Malaysians. This thing has been going on for many, many years now. Without proper attention, Malaysia's unity will be cracked...
Happy Malaysia Day.
Alas, not all is well. East Malaysians look at West Malaysians with suspicion, West Malaysians doesn't know anything about East Malaysians. This thing has been going on for many, many years now. Without proper attention, Malaysia's unity will be cracked...
Happy Malaysia Day.
Monday, September 12, 2005
Monday Loathing
What a day. Pengajian Am Paper 2 almost killed my hand, wrist and arm. I wrote essays on globalisation, drug abuse and the Federal government's income. The usual stuff.
Certain times in a year I will go berserk and download a lot of songs, whether it is an old hit or the latest one playing on the radio. I got Low Million, Queens, Gorillaz, Green Day, just to name a few. Why the music industry has not offered a bussiness model of custom CDs is beyond me. The idea is that customers get to choose the tracks that they want and have it burned on a CD. That way, customers won't have to pay for songs they don't want to hear.
Malaysian Day is coming soon. Did you remember? If it failed, Sarawak and Sabah would've been in Indonesia by now, or the Federation of North Borneo. So I'll be sitting here celebrating my independence while the folks in the capital celebrate the closing of Independence month. So much for 'equal with Malaya'.
I'm supposed to be studying for Maths T Paper 2 right now. Having problems with trigonometry and differential equations. Serves me right for not paying attention in Form 4. Listen up, Form Four students! Don't screw around with your basic!
Certain times in a year I will go berserk and download a lot of songs, whether it is an old hit or the latest one playing on the radio. I got Low Million, Queens, Gorillaz, Green Day, just to name a few. Why the music industry has not offered a bussiness model of custom CDs is beyond me. The idea is that customers get to choose the tracks that they want and have it burned on a CD. That way, customers won't have to pay for songs they don't want to hear.
Malaysian Day is coming soon. Did you remember? If it failed, Sarawak and Sabah would've been in Indonesia by now, or the Federation of North Borneo. So I'll be sitting here celebrating my independence while the folks in the capital celebrate the closing of Independence month. So much for 'equal with Malaya'.
I'm supposed to be studying for Maths T Paper 2 right now. Having problems with trigonometry and differential equations. Serves me right for not paying attention in Form 4. Listen up, Form Four students! Don't screw around with your basic!
Sunday, September 11, 2005
60th Anniversary of Kuching's Liberation
Raising the Sarawak flag at the Batu Lintang Prisoner of War Camp
"You are all free people!" - Brigadier General Thomas C. Eastick, addressing the inmates of the Batu Lintang POW camp.
Major General Yamamura Hiyoe, Japanese commander of the Kuching area, surrendered to Eastick on board the Australian corvette, HMAS Kapunda that same afternoon. The swords of surrendered Japanese were thrown into the river at Muara Tebas, some were kept as souvenirs by the Australians.
Why raise this up? Because while people all over the world celebrate 15 August as the end of World War II, Malaysians celebrate nothing. And come September 11, we think of another incident, famous globally but not this.
This is Sarawak's Liberation Day. This is a day forgotten by all.
A Sarawak-related Post by Matthew
Friday, September 09, 2005
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