Up till a concert a few days ago, everything seems to be ok even though if all hell is stacked upon me I'll cope with it. I've always dreamt of bed of soft green grass even though I am absolutely sure that there are none of those waiting for me to lie on. Or maybe I have been too idealistic in life, always dreaming of an utopia form the corner of my brain that everything is set and settled in my head, anything that I do which I am indifferent will be the one I like later on in life (or at least be damn good at it).
But then Joshua Radin came to London. I was never a fan of this dude, someone made me go for that concert. But half way through the concert, something struck my head. This man was a songwriter and one day he decided to be a singer 5-6 years ago. Now he's an 'upcoming' singer (or at least he looked like he's enjoying the songs he's churning out and make good dough out of it) So he enjoys his stuff, so what? But wait, he is enjoying his stuff, but what about me? Am I going to be the person that when I look at my future self I'll be the successful person I've been dreaming of, having a job which I have passion in or at least a well paid professional job? Assuming he is enjoying his stuff, he is now in my words living his life as he wants it to be. So, is he the majority, or the privileged few who could enjoy what he aspires to be in the past?
Then fear came in to me. The future is so uncertain, how exactly Man could move on with so many uncertainties? Man craves certainty; law is a perfect example of our desires. Courts love justice, but I think in all actual truth I think the courts love precedents and legal certainty rather than justice. Maybe that is the reason why people love Lord Denning, with equal numbers who scorn him (I secretly believe people do not like the way he judges, especially other judges) as he would always find a way to put 'justice' first than precedents, certainty or principles.
Back to the main topic, this Joshua Radin struck me so hard that I actually feel sad and have self-pity upon myself even though I don't give a rats ass about him or his songs. Assumptions again, he is actually ENJOYING what he is doing and as for me, well it is up to Fate to show what I'm going to have. The only comfort for me is if I put enough effort/determination/whatever you call it, I could change the course of Fate. But will it be for the better or worse? I do not know.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
ISA
So many a time I read and listen about ISA, but never really bothered to get into the nitty gritty of this Act until now. I do know roughly what ISA does, but after reading for a few hours this starts to make me realise that we are not that “free” after all.
NOTE: Do let me know if I get my facts wrong.
ISA gives the government to arrest a person without a warrant. Under the ISA, a police officer can arrest you as long as the police officer believes that you’re committing/about to commit acts which would cause harm or damage to:
a) Security of Malaysia; or
b) Maintenance of essential services; or
c) Economic life
That can make you stay in prison/lockup for 60 days. If they want to keep you a little longer, the Home Minister can issue an order of detention for another 2 years, as long he/she is satisfied that detention is necessary to prevent you from committing the acts mentioned above.
Article 5 mentioned that any person who is arrested must be informed of their offence and must have access to lawyers. Article 10 grants us the freedom of speech, the right to assemble peacefully and the right to form associations to every Malaysian citizen, but Parliament can impose restriction of these rights.
The exclusion clause of our Constitution: Article 149. This allows Parliament to cease one’s fundamental rights under the Constitution under the interest of national security or public order. This is where ISA can go around our fundamental rights ‘enshrined’ under the Constitution.
ISA gives a lot of power to the Executive since they can arrest anyone they think should be arrested. According to Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Abdul Razak (from Wiki), basically the ISA was created in order to be ‘used solely against the communists’. Now I don’t know, since the threat of the Insurgency is long gone.
The wording of the ISA is very vague indeed and it gives the government loads of discretion. Even if we think the person’s actions are not within the ISA, the police officer or minister may think otherwise. A peaceful demonstration albeit an illegal one may not be considered as threatening to me, but in their eyes they may think it is so.
Do you think it is fair to give them such enormous powers?
NOTE: Do let me know if I get my facts wrong.
ISA gives the government to arrest a person without a warrant. Under the ISA, a police officer can arrest you as long as the police officer believes that you’re committing/about to commit acts which would cause harm or damage to:
a) Security of Malaysia; or
b) Maintenance of essential services; or
c) Economic life
That can make you stay in prison/lockup for 60 days. If they want to keep you a little longer, the Home Minister can issue an order of detention for another 2 years, as long he/she is satisfied that detention is necessary to prevent you from committing the acts mentioned above.
Article 5 mentioned that any person who is arrested must be informed of their offence and must have access to lawyers. Article 10 grants us the freedom of speech, the right to assemble peacefully and the right to form associations to every Malaysian citizen, but Parliament can impose restriction of these rights.
The exclusion clause of our Constitution: Article 149. This allows Parliament to cease one’s fundamental rights under the Constitution under the interest of national security or public order. This is where ISA can go around our fundamental rights ‘enshrined’ under the Constitution.
ISA gives a lot of power to the Executive since they can arrest anyone they think should be arrested. According to Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Abdul Razak (from Wiki), basically the ISA was created in order to be ‘used solely against the communists’. Now I don’t know, since the threat of the Insurgency is long gone.
The wording of the ISA is very vague indeed and it gives the government loads of discretion. Even if we think the person’s actions are not within the ISA, the police officer or minister may think otherwise. A peaceful demonstration albeit an illegal one may not be considered as threatening to me, but in their eyes they may think it is so.
Do you think it is fair to give them such enormous powers?
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Home sweet home, is it?
Interestingly I have nothing much to think about these days, except for the change back to BM in science and maths. It's just a populist measure for the sake of those who are afraid to lose their mother tongue.
When I first got back, I realised that the internet was too slow and the weather too warm, plus my sleeping patterns were screwed up. Now everything seems to get into place now, with my tolerence with heat is back to my pre-UK days. Eating very well, and the food here is 100 times better than the ones in the UK. No more fish and chips and kebabs for a few months. Just plain Malaysian food.
There are some things that will never change - the motorcyclists in Penang are still the same - Kings of the Road. Of course until they get hit by a lorry because they think they're invisible and still wanna *gaduh* with them.
Thinking back, the whole year away really changed me - either for the better or worse. When people go abroad for studies, it is either soak up some of the values they preach, or totally shun it and decide to be a really conservative person, or the other way around, take up the worst of their values to bring it back home. It is like either you embrace it or shut the door away from it.
Another amazing thing is, people still cling on to their roots even though they are now considered another country's citizen, while embracing their new country's values too. It just reminded me of the Malay proverb, 'Melayu tak akan hilang di dunia' - and I think it rings true not just for Malays, but also of all other races.
We might now be following every single thing we used to do, but we'll definately retain most or at least some of our values. So why so much fear of losing one's Malay-ness or Chinese-ness back home?
When I first got back, I realised that the internet was too slow and the weather too warm, plus my sleeping patterns were screwed up. Now everything seems to get into place now, with my tolerence with heat is back to my pre-UK days. Eating very well, and the food here is 100 times better than the ones in the UK. No more fish and chips and kebabs for a few months. Just plain Malaysian food.
There are some things that will never change - the motorcyclists in Penang are still the same - Kings of the Road. Of course until they get hit by a lorry because they think they're invisible and still wanna *gaduh* with them.
Thinking back, the whole year away really changed me - either for the better or worse. When people go abroad for studies, it is either soak up some of the values they preach, or totally shun it and decide to be a really conservative person, or the other way around, take up the worst of their values to bring it back home. It is like either you embrace it or shut the door away from it.
Another amazing thing is, people still cling on to their roots even though they are now considered another country's citizen, while embracing their new country's values too. It just reminded me of the Malay proverb, 'Melayu tak akan hilang di dunia' - and I think it rings true not just for Malays, but also of all other races.
We might now be following every single thing we used to do, but we'll definately retain most or at least some of our values. So why so much fear of losing one's Malay-ness or Chinese-ness back home?
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Out and Alive!!
Ahh, results just came out and thank God I passed. Phew. Now just aiming in getting back home and enjoy for the next three months. Lol.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Summer Break
Just got back from my mini Euro-trip. Was really tired but I did enjoyed myself then. Now cracking my head on which law firms in Malaysia should I go for my attachments and thinking twice on whether I could survive the 3rd year with heavy subjects.
For now, I'm just toying around with the 3rd year subjects (I know, I can't believe that I actually bothered to read up even before 3rd year even started because I'm usually very very lazy!!). In addition to that, I’m having my daily dosage of CS courtesy of Dinesh plus shows on the internet.
In the next few days I have to look around for a storage place to dump all my stuff here so I can only bring less than 15 kilos of junk back home, so I could have more space to bring foodstuff back into the UK. Anyone who knows a cheap place to dump things let me know, lol.
For now, I'm just toying around with the 3rd year subjects (I know, I can't believe that I actually bothered to read up even before 3rd year even started because I'm usually very very lazy!!). In addition to that, I’m having my daily dosage of CS courtesy of Dinesh plus shows on the internet.
In the next few days I have to look around for a storage place to dump all my stuff here so I can only bring less than 15 kilos of junk back home, so I could have more space to bring foodstuff back into the UK. Anyone who knows a cheap place to dump things let me know, lol.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
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