Of Politics and Patriotism

The brouhaha about the Negarakuku music video shit has boiled over. The fella in question has issued an apology to all Malaysians, or so the papers say. You know how they say our mainstream media nowadays play spin doctor and twist the facts to suit their (read: THE CONTROLLING GOVERNMENT'S) own agendas? Well, I checked out his blog and he didn't specifically apologize to all Malaysians. He created a blog entry in Bahasa Malaysia (it is Bahasa Malaysia now, right?) explaining certain falsifying and misleading news reports about his song.

The link is here: http://namewee.blogspot.com/

Read very carefully his entry, as carefully as when you read those fine prints in contracts and agreements. His arguments are valid, he only mentioned that he apologizes to anyone who feels insulted/angry/hurt over his Negaraku rap. But he has defended himself well, arguing his points lucidly. Anyone who has watched the music video will tend to agree that the rap verses in the MV are true, reflective of the state of affairs in Malaysia.

So, one wonders what the real issue is in this bullshit of epic proportions. The political powers that be have contradicted themselves yet again, by first calling for an apology from Wee (the fella in question) and later saying that an apology is not enough, he has to face legal action because he has touched on the sensitivities of religion and shit. Now, all's well so far if they want to clearly separate the apology from the legal action.

But then again, this little episode has shown the intolerance of the government to free speech. Free speech, at least to me, means that everything can be said, and everything can be said with conviction without fear of getting arrested or getting tripped by the law. Free speech means that I can say something that offends you and vice versa without having the ISA slapped on me. Free speech means I can talk about fucking your religion over and over again and that's alright because I'm exercising my freedom of speech, and although you may be offended, it doesn't mean that I'm going to get arrested for my speech.

As they say, talk is cheap. Some people are of the opinion that we must be responsible for whatever that comes out of our mouth, as well as be responsible for all our actions. I agree. We must talk the talk and walk the walk, to borrow an overused cliche. But more often than not, talk is cheap, and it fucking shows. On the internet, where cyberlaws are nonexistent, is a hotbed for freedom of speech. On the internet we can find wondrous comments and childish, immature arguments about "FUCK MALAYS" or "FUCK CHINESE" or "FUCK INDIANS".

Racism. It's an ugly thing BUT you can't help but be a little bit of a racist when you live in Malaysia. Especially now, when we're seemingly in a cusp where everything is threatening to fall over at the mosr fundamental level. Race relations seem to be okay, but compared to those good old days, race relations now seem to falter bit by bit day by day until one day, like a tree whose base has been gnawed by an animal, just waiting for the right minute when the tree collapses.

Already the voices of dissent are growing ever louder by the day. Non-Muslims have long felt the inequalities. The princes of the land (Bumi Putera) have been enjoying, and still continues to enjoy (let's face it, huh?) certain privileges that will never be enjoyed by non-Muslims, at least not for the next 400-odd years when the "bumiputera" label sticks.

With the current crackdowns on seditious blogs, I'd prefer to refrain from making any controversial remarks, anything that would result in me being hauled for detention under the ISA. I, as with many other Chinese Malaysian, am a coward at heart, and not afraid to admit it.

Talking about politics and politicians, I've started to absorb what's written in Malaysia Today. Some say it's full of bullshit, slander, and lies. Some say it speaks the truth, uncovering conspiracies and scandals of the Malaysian political-cum-governmental landscape. I like reading the blogs on the site, albeit, I must say, that I find some articles just either too farfetching or too unrealistic (more to slander than well-researched pieces).

Responses are welcome.