wahlau's online hut

listening to the interview basically made me feel funny - are we hiding something from others? Is there anything wrong to tell facts, instead of insisting facts are only for and from the nation? I know our minister is trying his best to portray a good image on the country, but at the same time, i feel his approach might have been bringing more doubts than agreement. I saw many times Sarah got baffled, or trying to clarify the questions fearing Dato Syed Hamid Albar could have misunderstood the questions, but our minister insisted his point of view, despite running away from the point, and even made statements accusing saying the interviewer of not being "right".

I think from his replies i see ourselves as a nation too. We often tend to run away from the main points. We blame others when someone merely pointed out things they observed, and we are deadly defensive. We do not like others to tell us what to do. It is the kind of insecurity that seperates us too, i think. Sarah did mentioned about some studies showing different races not speaking to each other. I lived and experienced that... while trying to break the ice, i realise many of my chinese friends are not into it. I still have no problem mixing and having real conversation with my Malay friends, but some chinese will think that is unneccesary. And guess what, this got worse in the university level. We are already considered as the minority that will lepak with our other fellow non-chinese malaysians in canteen, skipping lectures go to library and study when we are too lazy, eat Ramli burgers at night, and join university politics to help students together.

Why are others not doing it? good question. That's also why Sarah asked. But our dear minister will start pulling the attention to something/somewhere else. From my view, he had only answered less than 50% of what were actually asked, and even the answered part, were just touching the surface. I wonder whether was he "chosen" to confront BBC, with instructions so that he will not bring bad name to our beloved country. I must say he had done not really a bad job, but he could have done better.

As a nation, there are things we can be proud of. Even the issues of quota and equal opportunities are things i tell people, but i assure them this had worked so far. Europeans are amazed how our country had not revolt against it, and how things can still stay peaceful so far. I call this Malaysian beauty :) the only question is: how long can we enjoy such tolerance and beauty? are we testing our limits, and ignore the side effects that are bound to come? do we choose to let things happen themselves, instead of having the right prevention to ensure a better future?

dear friends, points to ponder, points to remember. Our very own future still lies in our hands. And together we will do it right, i hope.