Free Hugs

Was browsing through some viral videos (videos that are so good they spread like viruses) and came across this clip. It's amazing what one man can do to change society. Notice how stiff and unfriendly people in the clip are at first, and how free hugs change them. I think a place like Singapore could really use some free hugs. Anyone?

Politics

In light of the recent ruckus back home, I've finally decided 2 share what I think of politics back home. Sure, I know most of us will have the same opinion that Badawi does a great job in promoting racism, corruption,  and whatever else that UMNO is capable of doing (Najib is worse, mind you). Seems that they have forgotten why they were voted in the first place - to bring Malaysia to greater hights, to improve the standard of ALL Malaysians, regardless of race and belief. (It would be a whole lot better if a local university were to accept base on merit, and not race, as it does now. Don't worry so much about world rankings. If we get a truly Malaysian University, the ranking will go up on its own. Malaysians are smart, if only we were given the chance)

I am also aware that Malaysians are turning to a so called 'Saviour' - Anwar Ibrahim, to turn things around. Some have gone to the extent of 'worshipping' him, singing his praises everywhere. The Pakatan Rakyat, or so the opposition calls itself, is not all that much better than BN. Here are some reasons why:

Let's start with Anwar. Being a former DPM (Deputy Prime Minister), he was involved with UMNO and Mahathir (the father of corruption, I'd call him) and all the UMNO hocus-pocus. What changed? Did he get a vision in prison telling him to turn from his sins? Did he mix with the right crowd in prison? Did he become straight (no more intersted in guys)? Or is this all just for revenge? People never change, even if they wanted to. If he really wanted to take over the government, he'd have done so sooner. Why the wait? He became a MP back in August. Now the economy is suffering due to political unstability. Who're the losers? The Rakyat, who, unsurprisingly, are supporting Anwar eventhough he lied about Sept 16. (He's probably lying about the 30 crossovers too. Only 1 way to find out)

On to DAP. DAP has always condemned UMNO's racist approach to government, but to me,  it's just a pot calling a kettle black. DAP has always stood for the rights of Chinese Malaysians. However, seldom do we see Malay and Indian MPs hailing from DAP. I attended one of DAP's campaigns back in Malacca. They make racist remarks every two sentences or so. They would love to have more Malay and Indian candidates, but only to look multiracial. Not really an ideal ruling party. 

PAS, my least favourite of the 3 Pakatan Rakyat parties. Nothing much I can say, except that Malaysia was never meant to be an Islamic country. 

Why then, am I writing this? I want Badawi and his UMNO aristocrats to leave. Malaysia has suffered so much as it is. The only way for this to happen is for the Pakatan Rakyat, the lesser of two devils, to take over. And keep praying for a true Malaysian to take over someday and to harness Malaysia's true potential as a resource-rich, talent-filled, multi-racial, peaceful utopia.

Responsible Use of Wealth (Sirach13:3-19)

Lately, I've thought of buying a new phone for myself and naturally, being in Singapore, I tend to save as much as I can. I'd even save on meals sometimes. This of course affects my decision on what phone to buy, an Apple iPhone, HTC Diamond, or jz an old Nokia model (they're the REALLY tahan lasak ones). I was in a dilemma. Should I save every penny I have as the saying goes, a penny saved is a penny earned, or should I go ahead and get the newest phone out there?

God speaks to us in many ways. One of it is through the BIBLE. Yes, the BIBLE. I came across this particular passage, "Responsible Use of Wealth". I'll just give you the gis of it, knowing how some of you actually resent reading the Bible. 

It isn't right for a selfish person to be rich. What use is money to a stingy person? If a person denies himself in order to accumulate wealth, he is only accumulating it for someone else. How can you be generous to others if you are stingy to yourself? No one is worse off than someone who is stingy with himself; it is a sin that carries its own punishment. Greed will shrivel up a person's soul.

Treat yourself as well as you can, and bring worthy offerings to the Lord. Our time on earth is short. Before we die, be kind to friends, be as generous as possible. Don't deny yourself a single days' happiness. If there's something something you want to do and it is lawful, go ahead! Enjoy yourself, there is no pleasures in the world for the dead. Everything made by human hands will decay and perish, along with the person who made it.

It's the Bible that tells us to enjoy ourselves. But as always, beware of the thin, almost non-existent line between spending to enjoy ourselves and a craving for pleasures. It's two totally different things when you buy an iPhone because it's a good phone, and you need a phone at the moment, and when you buy an iPhone because you've just gotta have that phone. Like my dad always told me, spend if you have to, do not waste.Whenever you go shopping next time, think about this: Why am I buying this?

Priorities

A lot of my friends and juniors asked me how I managed to be so active and yet still perform academically? If you happen to be wondering just how active I was, let's just say the youth advisor had to make me take a break from youth activities by August last year, my STPM year (trials were in September). Well, my answer has always been to pray hard. Without God, we are nothing. Seriously, DO NOT underestimate the power of prayer, especially when there's faith.

Though it'd be a swell thing to leave everything in God's hands, HE only helps those who help themselves. Do your best, and God will settle the rest, sound familiar? That is why apart from advising my juniors to pray hard, I also encourage them to prioritize. It's the secret behind solid time management. 

Priorities - what in the world is that? It's basically a list of what you value most in your life, from the most valuable at the top to the least at the bottom. What were my priorities? The first place definitely goes to God, and in serving HIM. It's the reason I was that active in church, especially in the youth. I wanted the youth to see that God is NOT an obstacle to academic excellence, HE's the reason for it. Perhaps a little more than that, I wanted the youths to put God first in their lives, no matter what happens. Honestly, my results are testimony to what God can do in our lives, if we only trust in HIM.

Next on my list is quite general - family and close friends. Why so general? Truth be told, I do treat close friends like family. Which is why I often consider myself as having a large family. Families are great. I've learnt a lot from my parents and I wouldn't be who I am if not for them. In the words of Randy Pausch, I struck the 'parent lottery'. My siblings, best ever (although it might not feel like it most of the time, if you get what I mean). When it comes to close friends, nothing says it better than "I'll be there for you". I know that might sound cheezy, but how many of us actually have friends who 'will be there for us'? 

Lower down the list would be studies and all the other stuff. Honestly, do you think that a piece of paper is all that important? It's what's on the inside that counts. I'll probably lose my papers once I finish this, but what I've become will stick with me for life.

And where does time management come in? Trust me, once you've got your priorities straight, time management would be the least of your problems.

Patriotism

Malaysia recently celebrated its 51st Independence Day and in light of what has been happening back home, I thought I'd write something about it, something positive, since the negatives have all been posted by fellow 'bloggers' back home.

Being in a foreign land (Singapore), where most of its population are or were Malaysians, I tend to meet people who have strong negative feelings about Malaysia. Yes, the government has screwed up more than it should, and is only making things worse (check out what other bloggers have to say if you don't already know). However, being patriotic has absolutely nothing to do with the government. The government is NOT Malaysia, n Malaysia is NOT the government. Politics is overrated.

Last July, I attended the World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney. Whenever people ask where I'm from, Malaysia would be my proud answer (yeah, I do get some uneducated replies, like "Where?"). I believe that God put us in this corruption-stricken land for a reason. HE could have just as easily gave us Caucasian parents and made us Europeans or Japanese or even Korean. But HE chose Malaysia. There's a reason in everything. We just have to figure out what.

For those of you who can't wait to leave Malaysia for a better country (if there are any), think about this. In the last Beijing Olympics, which badminton player did you support? Sony? Taufik? Lin Dan? Or Chong Wei? Do you feel as 'at home' as you did in Malaysia? Are there better mamak stalls? Is the asam laksa better than back home? Does satay celup even exist elsewhere? Sure, the grass is always greener on the other side, but which country is without turmoil? Every nation has its own problems.

And just for the record, I love Malaysia!