AN UTTERLY HYSTERICAL BLAST!
Antares is radioactivated yet again by Huzir Sulaiman’s masterpiece, ATOMIC JAYA

Since March 1998 when Atomic Jaya first opened at the original Actors Studio Theatre (now reclaimed by the primordial ooze), too many things have gone badly for the world. So when something bucks the global trend of failure, destruction and disaster - when something goes very well indeed – it’s a call for huge celebration and rejoicing.

A sure sign that something is going very well indeed is when you see nothing but cheerful faces leaving their seats at intermission, and there are far more grins than frowns at the end of the show.

Okay, there were THREE members of the audience who made a major show of not enjoying one of the finest satires I’ve seen staged anywhere. Someone whispered that they were from City Hall, there to monitor the performance for offensive, subversive, or pornographic content. After the recent fiasco over its ill-advised attempt to ban the Instant Café Theatre from the city of KL (thanks, Mr Mayor, for speaking out on behalf of good sense and reversing the ban; I insert a round of applause for that silver lining on an inquisitorial dark cloud), it’s understandable that City Hall would be feeling defensive.

Keeping sewers clean, streets swept, and petty traders on their toes isn’t quite as glamorous or exciting as intimidating the fancy-talking faggoty arty-farty fringe. However, what one person labels “offensive” another calls “hilariously honest.” You have to really hate how you look to object so strenuously to your own reflection. Art’s primary function is to reflect our lives. Everyone ought to know that. Certain artistic approaches may work more like distorting mirrors but being able to laugh at your own comical aspects means your ego is healthy and comfortable with itself.

All true art is subversive, reclaiming for the individual the power the State constantly attempts to steal. Everyone knows that if art is subservient rather than subversive, most likely it’s mere corporate propaganda. And in response to the question of what constitutes “pornography,” all I can say is: “Honi soit qui mal y pense.” Evil to whomsoever thinks evil.

Enough! We won’t allow City Hall to steal the show, number matter how badly it wants in on the limelight. I want this to pass as a review, not just a rave. So how did I like Atomic Jaya’s new incarnation?

Enormously! The original version was more or less a 14-character monodrama: a litmus test of any actor’s ability, agility and nerve, sort of like tightrope-crossing Niagara Falls on a unicycle. This Checkpoint Theatre production features Claire Wong and Huzir Sulaiman on a breezy tandem ride through Bolehland – with crisp digital images meticulously crafted by director Casey Lim and flashed on a paper screen as a kinetic backdrop (the state-of-the-art, high-resolution Panasonic projector produced startlingly clear images). It also has Fahmi Fadzil playing a double rôle as a canteen makcik and patriotic singer.

While the original version was supercharged with manic intensity and a stark, dark surrealism, this new production heightens and broadens the comedy, thus increasing its entertainment value without detracting from the script’s satirical incisiveness. And in any case it’s doubly pleasurable to watch two consummate performers tackle the main characters instead of one.

What gives Atomic Jaya a solid core of substance beyond the guffaws, sniggers and belly laughs is the play’s underlying seriousness as anthropological commentary. The fact that it opened in Kuala Lumpur on August 6th – on the 58th anniversary of Hiroshima, when 80,000 human lives were destroyed by an atomic bomb dropped by the United States Air Force, followed by another over Nagasaki three days later which decimated horrific thousands more – was a grim reminder to us all that we’re still living under a nuclear sword of Damocles (not “umbrella” as some may pretend).

The mind-boggling insanity of squandering trillions on an ongoing program of Mutual Assured Destruction – instead of redirecting every available resource towards the alleviation of suffering caused by simple lack – has its roots in the malignant human ego when it takes on exaggerated nationalistic proportions. Can the laser surgery of sharp-tongued humor excise the tumor of ruinous pride and megalomaniacal ambition? Perhaps not, but weapons-grade satire produces a chain reaction of transcendental consciousness among those it infects with despair-banishing mirth. And even the deadliest strain of militant pomposity cannot withstand well-aimed ridicule, though it will try its damnedest to outlaw and suppress it.

On the strength of the three or four plays (and one short film, That Historical Feeling by the prolific Huzir Sulaiman) in which I’ve seen Claire Wong act, I’d place her amongst the top ranks in both hemispheres. The precision, sensitivity and vitality she infuses into each rôle makes her - like Jo Kukathas, who created the original characterizations - an extraordinary shapeshifter.

Who can forget her Dr Saiful from UKM (“Oh, you are discussing philosophy. Very interesting. For example, ‘Men are from Besut, Women are from Dungun.’ I also like philosophy.”)? Or her thumb-twiddling malapropic minister (“Why should we import the highly enriched Iranian? We already buy the Persian carpet and the Persian cat from the Iranian so they become highly enriched at our expense.”)?

In two seconds flat she visibly gained 200 pounds as former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright: “We have the might, and we have the right, and we will not hesitate to fight for the right to our might, and our might alone. Ask not what your country can do for you; rather, ask what our country can do to your country.”

But as nuclear physicist Dr Mary Yuen, Claire Wong was 100% the real McCoy. No problem passing her off as a Chinese Catholic girl from Ipoh who just happened to idolize Lord Rutherford, Niels Bohr, Erwin Schrödinger, Max Planck, Albert Einstein, and the entire subatomic pantheon.

Huzir Sulaiman was in top comic form as General Zulkifli (with his classic Napoleon Complex and unforgettable lines like, “I want to get to the bottom of this matter. Until the bottom is reached, the top cannot be happy.”); and the excitable Delhi Polytechnic graduate, Dr Ramachandran (“If you vant to take yumbrage, make sure this taking of yumbrage is correct and prahper. Yumbrage simply cannot be taken at vhim or vhimsy. You vill vaste the yumbrage.”)

He had a spot of trouble getting an exact fix on the extremely sleazy Mr Bala, and his Otto (the low-grade European) could have been further fine-tuned; but he outdid himself as a whole stream of newsreaders from the BBC, CNN and RTM – and as a police officer addressing a group of protestors (all 7 of them) with a loudhailer: “This is an illegal assembly. I order you to disperse. This is your first warning. Tangkap mereka semua.” An immortal characterization in only four lines.

Noraini, the canteen operator at Syarikat Perniagaan Atomic Jaya Sdn Bhd, was played in drag by Fahmi Fadzil (left) who turned in a laudably restrained performance. Fahmi also did a superb job as a nattily besongkoked patriotic song-rendering robot, as instant palm trees waved in the electronically generated background.

Director Casey Lim’s wizardry with digital design is matched by a fine intuition for injecting just the right symbolism with almost subliminal subtlety.

The choice of a solitary hibiscus flower (Malaysia’s national emblem) as central motif was an inspired one. Closeups of the stamen evoked understated phallic imagery and mimicked the mushroom cloud that would later dominate the entire backdrop with chilling effect. From nationalistic egocentricity to testosteronal displays of potency – just by changing camera angles on a hibiscus flower – pretty neat!

When all the elements of a play work together so efficiently (and with such apparent effortlessness) to produce an aesthetically satisfying synergetic gestalt, we are reminded that Creation is infinitely wise and perpetually self-perfecting. So what if the country or even the whole goddamn planet is temporarily in the hands of Sharkey and his perception-challenged henchmen? The vision quest only makes sense and carries any value if it bears the ring of truth – and Huzir Sulaiman’s Atomic Jaya rings true for me.

[ATOMIC JAYA was restaged in October 2008 by students of Sunway University College under the direction of Chee Sek Thim.]

You can watch the Race live in Malaysia today (Sunday 14 March) on Astro Star Sport at 7 PM, it should be entertaining just to watch the one Malaysia Team as some new teams had come under criticism from Ferari last month and you could read more HERE.

March 13, 2010
9:30am

Inspector-general of police Musa Hassan has tendered his resignation to Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein Onn, five months before the end of his contract.

According to China Press, the police chief is expected to formally step down on March 25 at a function commemorating the 203rd Police Day.

Sources said that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Hishammuddin have both accepted his resignation.

If there are number last-minute changes, deputy inspector-general of police Ismail Omar will take over as the country’s No one cop.

Musa’s resignation - five months before he was due to end his contract - came a day after former No 3 in the police force, Ramli Yusuff, was acquitted of failing to declare his multi-million ringgit assets.

[Source: Malaysiakini]

First it was Ahmad Said Hamdan, MACC chief, who stepped down several months before the end of his term. Now, IGP Musa Hassan. Who’s next? Here’s my wish list: Gani Patail (Attorney-General); Hishammuddin Hussein (Home Minister); Najib Abdul Razak (Crime Minister).

NEWSFLASH! MORE DENIALS!

KUALA LUMPUR, March 13 — Tan Sri Musa Hassan has denied a report in local Chinese daily China Press today that he has resigned as Inspector-General of Police.

Quoting unnamed sources, China Press had reported that Musa submitted his resignation letter to the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammudin Hussein, and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

The 59-year-old Musa’s contract as IGP expires in September.

“I have not submitted any resignation letter to the Prime Minister or anyone.

“I want to know if the source is from official channels or from the underground.

“I know it is not from the ministry as I have checked with the ministry Secretary General Datuk Mahmood Adam who denied any knowledge,” he said.

His remarks today appeared to suggest the newspaper obtained the information from underworld criminal figures.

[Source: The Malaysian Insider]

WHAT RPK REVEALED A MONTH AGO ON MALAYSIA TODAY

Take a look at the photo above. Your first reaction might be to burst into hysterical laughter. Or you might just mutter “What the fuck!!!”. But if you think about it for a bit longer you might just see the similiarities between that toilet design and life in Malaysia or Malaysian politics. And if you are reading this and going “Huh? So what is the answer?” Then never mind la. You can go back to whatever you were doing before this. Thank you.

Niamah!!!

*dish* right between the eyes: I’m tagged.

And here’s what I was tagged for:

The “888″ meme

Here are the rules:

1. Go to your photo files… select the 8th photo folder

2. Select the 8th photo in that folder

3. Post that photo along with the story behind it

4. Then challenge 8 blogging friends to do the same.

And like I always do with tags: please consider yourself tagged if you’re inspired to do the same and tell us about your 8th picture, in your 8th album!



So, despite the *dish* + mine-eyes have focussed now, and off I skippity-skipped to Picasa to look for my 8th album. And this is the 8th picture:

A federation in name only

by

Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah

(Remarks made at CONVERSATIONS ON THE CONSTITUTION:“Federal–State Relations: Should states be given more power?” sponsored by the Constitutional Law Committee, Bar Council of Malaysia.)

Malaysia was formed in 1963, when the eleven states of the previous Malayan Federation came together with Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore to create the Federation of Malaysia.

Federalism is a system of government in which legislative power is divided between a central or federal legislature and a number of state legislatures. Both levels of government derive their authority from a written Constitution.

Unlike in a unitary state, sovereignty in a federal state is decentralized. Thus the rights of citizens are secured at two levels, federal and state. In Malaysia, Federation was a way to accommodate the different histories and pre-existing sovereignty of the member states of the Federation.

Federalism is a way of dividing and sharing power. In the system envisaged in our Constitution, this division and sharing of power is part of a system of checks and balances meant to protect the rights and freedoms of our citizens. The separation of powers between the judiciary, the legislature and the executive are part of that complex interlocking system.

People often remark at how complex this country is, made up as we are of a patchwork of ethnicities and religions. But we are also complex in our political history. The nine sultanates of peninsular Malaysia, did not suddenly acquire their sovereignty upon the Federation Agreement of 1948.

Instead it is by their voluntary coming together in that agreement that the federal authority was created. Federal sovereignty and authority, although wider than that of the member states, is derived from the prior sovereignty of the states. In the nine sultanates of the peninsula, for example, we had sovereign states before we had a federation, and before the various forms of colonial rule.

The Federation derives it powers by the voluntary and binding agreement of the states, not the other way around. This conviction was well tested in the way the Malayan Union proposal was rejected.

Thus we had an auspicious start as a country, because our political arrangement guaranteed our rights within a system that reflected and protected our cultural and historical diversity. Federalism provides for the right measure of local autonomy. Decision-making, particularly about the allocation of resources, could be made in a way that more closely reflected the interests of people on the ground, that is to say, more efficiently.

This system did was not born overnight. The sovereignty of our member states is hundreds of years old. Our Constitution was established on an 800 year old tradition of constitutional law. These are solid foundations for constitutional democracy. If Malaya were not already a Federation, Sabah and Sarawak would not have come together with us to form Malaysia in 1963. Federation is the only political basis on which Malaysia is a viable political venture.

In present company these facts must seem so well-established that I hope you will forgive me if I come across as stating the obvious. Today we find ourselves in the position of having to state and re-state foundational truths about our country.

As a country we have come unmoored from our foundations in constitutionalism and federalism. We are now, for most intents and purposes, a federation in name only. The central government hands out allocations that belong by right to the states as if these were gifts from on high. State governments are starved of resources, particularly if they are governed by the Opposition. How has this happened?

We have undergone two and a half decades in which, while hard infrastructure has sprung up everywhere, the deep infrastructure of the constitution has suffered great damage. Our federal arrangements provide for a fine balance between state and federal powers which provide multiple levels of assurance for the rights of citizens. That balance has been removed as power has been concentrated in the federal government. Within the federal government that power has come to be centralized in the executive. In the executive, that power is concentrated in the hands of the Prime Minister

This forum addresses the question “should states be given more power?” + but really what needs to be done is to restore the constitutional rights of the states first.

The constitutional rights of the states are clearly violated in the way petroleum profits are being distributed and managed.

The federal government says Kelantan and Terengganu have number right to the “cash payments” agreed between the states and Petronas. These denials have been published in the newspapers and are repeated by official representatives of the government. The full implications of their denial are not trivial. The Federal government’s authority over these resources, as in all other things, is an authority derived from the original sovereignty of the states.

By the Federation Agreement of 1948, the states of the Malayan peninsula came voluntarily into a federation and created a common federal government. As part of that agreement, the Federal government had jurisdiction over waters beyond 3 nautical miles. The states had jurisdiction within 3 nautical miles. Oil had not been discovered in Malaya at the time. Had it been found, however, anything within 3 nautical miles would have belonged in its entirety to the state, and anything beyond that to the federal government.

In 1974, we formed Petronas as a common trust between the federal and state governments for all petroleum found anywhere in Malaysia, onshore or offshore.

We did this by persuading the states governments, one by one, to vest their entire rights and claims to petroleum, onshore or offshore, in perpetuity to Petronas. The federal government did the same.

By design, this obliterated any considerations of whether the oil was found within or beyond 3 or 12 nautical miles. So long as Malaysia had any share in the oil, the profits would be divided between the federal government and the relevant state government according to a simple formula: five percent to each.

That series of vestings was secured through deeds signed according to the Petroleum Development Act. As the founding chairman of Petronas I signed these deeds with each chief minister and with the federal government.

The federal government’s refusal to pay Kelantan, and it’s arbitrary treatment of Terengganu’s oil money – on and off according to whether the state was in Opposition hands—is in violation of a solemn contract, sealed in an Act of Parliament, between the State governments and Petronas.

The federal government is reneging on a contract and in contempt of Parliament. Its attitude to these oil payments is transparently based on one criterion: those states whose legislatures are not controlled by Barisan Nasional are denied payment. This practice punishes citizens for their choice of state government. This is an attack on the right of the people to choose their own government within our system of parliamentary democracy. Oil payments are just one form of selective denial of funds to the states.

Putrajaya behaves as if we are a unitary state and not a federation. Ironically we have become in practice the Malayan Union which an earlier generation resisted and defeated. The autonomy of the states, their rights to development and to the husbandry of their own resources, and the proper role of the rulers and the way in which religion is governed in public life are displaced in favour of increasingly centralized and absolute power.

This is unconstitutional and must be resisted with just as much vigour as we resisted the Malayan Union.

Malaysia is not viable in the long run as a unitary state.

Oh what I’d give to be complaining about the cold in Calgary or Fredericton (Canada) right now.

It was spring in Calgary when I went to visit Larnee and William last year. I hadn’t taken my warm-warm baju, because Larnee said it was ‘Nice’, and I believed her. And then, the morning after my arrival. it snows! Larnee promised she had nothing to do with it!

And when I complain to a cousin about the snow - in spring - he goes, “Oh, it always snows, off and on, in spring lah. We’re so near the Rockies.”

Oh.

And like it wasn’t cold enough in Calgary. Oh number We decided to head out to Banff, in the Rocky Mountains, where it’d be colder.

But, I loved the mountains. So very the John Denver, I was almost compelled to break out into Rocky Mountain High all along the way!!! But I didn’t lah, cos I knew Larnee would have killed me

Mum and her angel - Swaddled in happiness, up in the Rocky Mountains somewhere!

And here are the three of us clowns hamming it up on an iceberg/ice cap out there! Eerily quiet. Simply mist and snow and snow-covered mountain as far as the eye can see. The air so cold, it freezes as it rises into the nose, and immediately, you get a whopping brain-freeze!

Like that guy behind us in the pix, I took some quiet time to look into that snow-white nothingness, and wonder what it would be like to just be there. All alone. Left behind.

No point screaming for help, eh? No one’d hear you. Not a living soul for miles and miles and miles. Just the chill winds, and the endless snow, and the cold slowly seeping into your bones. Just lay your weary body down and go to sleep, my girl, is all there’d be to do.

We took a sky-lift into the sky, skimming over the tops of huuuuuuge snow-covered conifers, and made it to the viewing platform on the mountain top. But number view lah. Just more snow and mist. Duh.

But so patriotic, eh, we all? Cari the Malaysian flag and insisted that William take a pix of us pointing at it like two blithering idiots. So very the cold lah  - but cannot to miss a poto op, lor!

This is me in Halifax, not Calgary. (I was looking for snow pix, ‘member?) Snowing like crazy, and everywhere was ice or powder soft snow. Both dangerous for me. I went slip, sliding and sprawling like a giant beached octopus so many times, it wasn’t funny! And deep powdered snow? One would think that would be safe. Not for Pat, it seems.

‘Stay in our footsteps, ma,’ said Larnee. With my eyes anywhere but on their footsteps, I suddenly found myself in snow up to my waist. Did I scream, ‘Help! Help!’? Did I panic? Oh number not me. I was wayyyyyy too busy laughing - and praying I wouldn’t wet myself! Yup, it was that funny!!!

Don’t imagine that you’ll get to see much on a winter holiday, if you’re anything like me! That snow looks innocent enough, doesn’t it? But actually, it is ice lah. Keep your head down, and watch where you’re going! Put your foot down on ice, and it will whiiiiiiiiiiiiiish! you miles away in an instant. So stay focussed on your feet, and p-r-a-y they stay put!

But as you can see, it wasn’t so cold that I couldn’t enjoy some mighty fine cold Canadian brew. Warmed the cockles of my heart, that did. Yummmm!

And that’s me making lovey-dovey eyes with a lovely, lovely boy in Banff town. I tried my darnedest to persuade him to run away with me, but he’d have none of it! So very the broken lah, my heart

“I do not share the euphoria surrounding the formation of Perkasa. I do not see how its claim to protect race and religion can promote Malay socio-economic progress. Ibrahim Ali’s declared intentions show all the promise of repeating the mistake and are an exercise in futility.”

PERKASA - REBIRTH OF A DEMON

AB Sulaiman
March 10, 2010
7:31pm

The birth of Malay NGO Perkasa is obviously causing a stir in the Malaysian social, intellectual and political landscape.

It has a declared intention of acting as a “shield against those who question Malay rights, the royalty and Islam,” according to its founding head and Independent MP Ibrahim Ali.

Ibrahim Ali (courtesy of The Malaysian Insider)

The target and philosophy is thereby made clear - to protect and promote the sanctity of Islam, the martabat (dignity and honour) of the Malay people, and the spirit of nationalism. This falls under the ideology and banner of untuk agama, bangsa dan negara (for religion, race and nation).

But hasn’t the same philosophy and ideology been used by the Malay leadership in governing the country ever since Independence in 1957? Wasn’t it adopted in the interests of Ketuanan Melayu (KM) after the launch of the New Economic Policy (NEP) in 1970?

To be sure it is the same. Yet, over the last 52 years, it has not seen much success.

So what’s the idea of creating Perkasa now and making the defence and propagation of religion and race sound like a newfound revelation that must be pursued with such immediacy and enthusiasm? Against what threat is the shield designed to protect? From where does this come from anyway? It is indeed a puzzle.

The truth of the matter is that people today are tired of KM leadership. It is so blatantly racist and theological that even Malays are embarrassed by it. Today’s citizens think, listen, read, travel and demand more - they are better informed and knowledgeable, and reject racism and religious extremism.

They are also more aware of the situation around them. They are aware of the abuse of power, abuse of the NEP, corruption and the breakdown of institutions of governance. Civil society movements are agitating and demanding liberty and respect for universal human rights.

All this does not bode well for the KM leadership, considering the realisation that KM has not really fought for Malay dignity and honour. It has been fighting more to fill the pockets of a few and to protect a small number of politically-connected individuals.

The disenchantment was amply demonstrated by the results of the 2008 election, leading to BN and Umno - the latter being the most active front for KM - losing the two-thirds majority in Parliament, and the Opposition gaining control of five states.

The influence of Umno is waning. Malays are running away from Umno, as are Chinese from MCA and Indians from MIC.

In other words, BN is in tatters. This is why Perkasa was hastily created - to stem this erosion of support.

Inherent illusions

This quick analysis and conclusion may or may not be right but, to me, it is entirely consistent with the facts and situations surrounding the formation of Perkasa.

I question why it is re-using the religion, race and nationalism card when this has been proven to be obsolete and irrelevant in bringing progress and change to Malay social and economic development. My scepticism is based on the following observations on KM-based thinking and its inherent prejudices and illusions:

• It claims to hold the monopoly on truth. Such thinking holds the view that Islam is the only religion approved by god and that other religions are false. This perception of exclusivity is, of course absurd, for religion is a matter of faith between an individual and his or her god.

• It caries the illusion that the Malay culture is the world’s foremost culture, with its pristine budi bahasa and sopan santun coupled with a high sense of morality. Again this is an absurd, unilateral claim, for any culture has its etiquette and morality, number better nor worse than any other. It can be seen therefore that the KM norm is decked with hyperbolism - that being Malay and Muslim is the luckiest draw in the lottery of life.

• It can also be arrogant and has little or number tolerance for alternatives. Indeed its parameters have number avenue to realise its own mistakes. In short, it is black-and-white thinking: ‘I am right therefore you are wrong. If you are not for me then you are against me.’

• It is a world of collective delusion of the superiority of the Malay culture and the uniqueness of Islam.

Well, the record of Malay governance has shown fairly conclusively that the religion- and race- based philosophy of governance has not worked. This is hardly surprising for any economics textbook will explain that the factors of economic production (or the creation of national wealth) are land, labour, capital and entrepreneurship. Of late, knowledge has been included. Further factors favouring the development of a civilisation are secularism, materialism and intellectualism.

Of these eight factors, none refer to race or religion. In concept and reality therefore, the KM formula for social and economic success is way off the mark. Indeed it has been a colossal mistake. The failure of the NEP is proof enough of this sobering contention.

I do not share the euphoria surroundimg the formation of Perkasa. I do not see how its claim to protect race and religion can promote Malay socio-economic progress. Ibrahim’s declared intentions show all the promise of repeating the mistake and are an exercise in futility.

Given that this philosophy is number longer viable, it is still a wonder why Ibrahim still resorts to it. Can there be any reason for this? I have a hypothesis explaining his loyalty to a failed philosophy and ideology.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin (courtesy of The Malaysian Insider)

There is a denial syndrome inherent in KM thinking, particularly since it lacks an avenue for self-realisation of mistakes. It will go on thinking that it has been right all along, and that other alternatives are figments of the imagination of anti-Malay elements.

KM brooks number dissent. Liberal and liberated Malays are quickly branded as ungrateful and ‘mudah lupa’ (forgetful). Non-Malays are also branded as ungrateful for not appreciating the hospitality of the Malays in giving them citizenship.

KM then states that non-Malays wish to deprive Malays of their rights, hence the birth of Perkasa.

Hidden agenda

Perkasa has claimed an immediate membership of 5,000, with another 50,000 ahead. It has the direct support of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad and incumbent deputy premier Muhyiddin Yassin. And barely a week ago, the Home Ministry issued a permit for its newsletter.

Based on all this, the suspicion is growing that Ibrahim may have a hidden agenda. As to what this is, only he can say for sure.

In any event, Perkasa’s future terms of reference are to recapture and nurture yesterday’s status quo:

• Develop a herd mentality among Malays.

• Delay or deny the sense of individual from developing in Malay psychology.

• Promote the prevailing dependence mentality among Malays.

• Nurture the sense of insecurity normally felt by the KM polity, namely political leaders, the ulama, civil servants and officials in government agencies such as the police, military, customs, immigration, and even the police and AG’s chambers.

• Make all of them feel that the Malay ethnic group is still not ready to compete against the non-Malays and the rest of the world on a level plain.

With all this revitalised, Ibrahim can put his secret agenda into action.

All said and done, Perkasa’s birth reflects the real or perceived sense of desperation and paranoia of conservative and orthodox Malay thinking. Or, it is the rebirth of the spirit of ‘Malayness’ that has apparently dwindled over the past few decades due to the process of change.

It is the rebirth of the religion and race-based KM demon that does not know its game is up. And sad to note, in the name of religion and race, the KM demon does not want to learn from its own mistakes.

AB SULAIMAN is an observer of human traits and foibles, especially within the context of religion and culture. As a liberal, he marvels at the way orthodoxy fights to maintain its credibility in a devilishly fast-changing world. He hopes to provide some understanding to the issues at hand and wherever possible, suggest some solutions. He holds a Bachelor in Social Sciences (Leicester, UK) and a Diploma in Public Administration, Universiti Malaya.

Hi.
I am a 23 year old Malaysian and I lead a team of dreamers who are working hard to make this country a better place. We are not trying to start a revolution nor are we trying to disrupt the peace. We are merely trying to put back that true sense of peace and unity which we lost when we left primary school. We want to tell the youth of our nation that indeed there is still hope for our nation, that we are not alone. We want all to know that there is indeed a longing for POSITIVE action brewing within all of us in the midst of today’s issues whether we speak of it or not.

Perhaps we have not acted on our troubled conscience because we have long thought we have lost the power to make a difference. If that is so, then you are not alone. That is because I am the same; I too have lost that belief that ‘one can make a difference’. However I believe when 2 or 3 are gathered, incredible things can happen. Therefore, I am willing to try and will leave this in your hands, so that I and more like me can be proven wrong. What we are going to do is give you a matchstick each. How you use it is up to you, but I believe none of you are fools, so please start that fire. The more that joins in, the bigger it will be.

So this is what’s happening; we have taken up the challenge to register 1,000,000 voters by the end of 2010. Even though we do have a SUPERB plan, that’s right, its 6 ZEROS! Impossible? I think so, unless everyone rises up and helps out. Only then can we reach that INSANELY EPIC target. For your information, we are not in this for personal glory, nor are we part of a business gimmick, and definitely not controlled by political parties. Anyways, if we wanted glory and money I think we wouldn’t have set ourselves up for EPIC failure like that.

Have I got your interest?

If you are inspired and want to be part of this, scroll down to the ‘how to’. If you are thinking that there is number hope and our efforts will only be futile in the end, I hope that you will see at the end of 2010 that you are indeed the minority and majority of us actually still have hope. If you are still unsure as most of you are, scroll down to the ‘how to’ and join us to look and see if this will actually work. Trust me, it’s going to be an exciting and entertaining ride whether we hit our target or not.

HOW TO SUPPORT EPIC FOR UNITY

- Attach the ‘VOICE your CHOICE’ e-badge to your blog or website to show you are part of the EPIC for UNITY movement and please make sure to link it to our website or blog.
- Tell everyone about this, through your mouths, blogs, facebook, twitter and any other methods you can think of. The more the merrier.
- Keep updated with our blog so that you have accurate information.
- Let us know if you have any contacts that would be willing to be involved in the hands on work.
- If you know of any companies that would support our cause in terms of finance, products, services or people please introduce the cause and help us connect!

For more info please check out our blog at http://dosomethingepictoday.blogspot.com/
Our email is dosomethingepic@gmail.com
Please pass this message around.