Monday, July 7, 2008

MALU LA .... WEH!

THE STRANGENESS OF SOME PEOPLE. The deputy mayor of London resigned from his post due to the media coverage and investigation of the allegations against him. The New York Times, 4th of July report, has this to say:

"Ray Lewis resigned tonight as deputy mayor of London amid allegations of inappropriate behaviour and financial irregularities.

Mr Lewis, who was put in charge of leading the capital's policy of youth crime, said he had stepped down in the face of an "avalanche" of allegations against him..."

Interesting isnt it? How politicians from other countries take their own political life by performing the political sepukku aka harakiri when theres even a hint of irregularities by firstly, apologizing to their public, secondly stand by their missus with a sorry look on their faces and thirdly, stepping down within the same 24 hours of the surfacing of the allegations citing the need to protect party / government image and reputation. Mind you its not even a direct charge, or anything more serious than a mere allegation and off they go.

The positive outcome of this are:

a. a proper investigation can now be carried out;
b. maintenance of the party / body / organization's dignity and integrity;
c. if they are innocent, they will endear to the general public; and
d. the understanding that life goes on. With or without you.

But not so with our own breed of politicos. If you notice, they'd do everything (except maybe balance themselves on a unicycle on top of a wire over a 10 feet high raging fire) to maintain their seat and position. Its almost as if they're very own flesh and soul are entwined, burned and symbiotically joined with their political career; that the moment they step down from their position their bodies will slump to the ground and their spirits go wafting up to the clouds lost forever amidst commercial planes and the odd seagull.

They'd come up with a million and one excuses, officially known as "reasons" as to why they should remain where they are; they'd fight tooth and nail to stay on the seat to maintain at the top, to maintain the giddy height of power.

And its embarrassing. Not just for us, but for everyone else especially themselves. Do they really believe that if they step down all allegations are justified? Have they not heard the legal axiom that all are innocent until proven guilty? Or have they no faith in due process (regardless of which era they belong to)?

My question of the day is:
Have they no self respect? No dignity? No conscience? No sense of malu-ness?

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

THE BUTT, THE WHOLE BUTT AND NOTHING BUT THE BUTT

NOW LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE. The whole country is talking about it. The papers are having a field with it and what? Even the broadcasters are giving it priority in terms of news. People on the streets, in offices, at bus stops, at shopping malls, at cafes, kopitiams and kedai mamak are giving opinions and counter opinions on what actually transpired. Did he or didn't he? Was he or wasnt he? Now look, even the fiance is in there with her blog telling the entire planet that she stands by her man. There are assurances made that he will be made safe, an assurance given by the highest office, and not just by him, but by his security people and their ilk. Presscons after presscons are given, and whoa! Even an entire stadium was filled to the brim with people wanting to know the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

But hang on.

I dont give a pharck. About all this. I really dont.

All this fandango about conspiracies, about innocence, about pride, about getting to the truth, about not repeating the same trick made 10 years ago blah blah blah yadayadayadayda ...

Its all crap.

Its all a distraction; a diversion from the real pain in the arse (note the pun) which is the painful truth: INCREASE IN COST OF LIVING. Which, to sum it up consists of:

a. increase in cost of RICE, the very basic food staple of ASIANS;
b. increase in cost of PETROL, the very blood of businesses;
c. increase in ELECTRICITY rates, the very soul of industry.

A major english language paper spent 12 PAGES from page ONE TO TWELVE on covering the GREAT BACKSIDE SAGA. And much later, on page 16, a semi-small column on a suggestion from the Member of Parliament from Jerlun on how to deal with the increase in oil prices, by having governments of countries deal directly with each other to overcome the real impact of artificial pricing of oil by futures speculators.

Am I alone or has everyone else gone mad? I'd rather not know the outcome of someone's backside, as I'd rather know that the government is doing something REALISTIC and SOON in IMPLEMENTING STEPS TO REDUCE THE RISING COSTS OF LIVING, INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON THE PUCKERED EXIT HOLE OF SOME DEFACTO SOMETHING OR OTHER.

My question for the day is: has everyone gone mad? Or is everyone suddenly gone soft in the head?