Away for the past 2 months

Alas work has gotten the best of me and i have not been able to sit and pen my thoughts. And with all things, one has to prioritise. So i am back. With a vengeance? maybe not, but at least i am making time to write.

My old mates from KPP days organized a get together last month. Consisted of dorm mates from 51C, also known as Darul Jimbet (don't ask). It was great to catch up with all the old friends, most of which i have not met for quite some time. It is also good to know that some things will never change. Practically all are now professionals in some vertical or another. One even published 3 books. I am envious for that is one goal i have had for a long time. To say i have writers block is not quite true for i have not even begun to write. Why haven't i? I'm really not sure. Perhaps with time spent at work, the hours i have at home are more valuable than petrol, personally.

But i digress. Friends are like diamonds. Though external forces will try to shape it, on the inside nothing much changes. Thank God. Friends are also like a time portal. Not meeting many for a long time gives one a peak into the past; when times were less complicated. I do often wish for complications to not play a part in life but then again, life would be boring without it.

What else is new? nothing much. Our political landscape is about as predictable as episodes of Heroes. Maybe behind a desk in a deep dark basement of Putrajaya, a script writer sits by a candlelight pondering the next twisted plot....influenced by past episodes of General Hospital. But then again, politicians and government in most countries are not that different after all. Though personally, i would pay a large sum of money to get inside their heads. Hell, what am i saying, i would pay money to get into the head of Munirah Bahari. What in God's great earth would possess a person to say that girls' school uniforms are too sexy? Will wonders never cease. Could this be another ploy to divert the public's attention from the current political turmoil? Funny how there always seems to be some mind boggling statement coinciding with interesting political times. Perhaps Munirah wants us to adopt the ways of the Pashtun where women are encouraged to stay home, toiling in the kitchen and managing the corporation known as home sweet home.

Whatever the reasons, i strongly believe one should think carefully of the implications before making such statements. One i believe is pointless, short sighted and leads people to wonder about her ability to lead such a group.

I end this ranting with this "Syurga di bawah tapak kaki ibu".

I take my leave

The aftermath

Votes casted, many recounts, final results. Surprise, shock, expected, pleased are just some of the feedback i've received and overheard. Perlis had to get in on the action too, being the smallest state can be a disadvantage in terms of securing front page headlines but make no mistake, front page it was. And Shahidan? Que sera sera. Nuff said.

I waited anxiously for the announcement of the new cabinet and frankly was quite surprised at some of the drop-outs. Overall though, i was quite pleased. The rebuilding has begun. The foundation has been laid as the new government representatives take office today.

But life at the office continues....election or otherwise. The work-place eco-system is an interesting beast and in many ways is similar to the government. Office politics happens in all organizations. Just to what extend. Ever since Machiavelli set out the principles of princehood, the public has been hoodwinked into believing that with the right advice on swimming with the sharks, managing in one minute, searching for excellence, looking out to the big blue ocean, practicing 7 or 8 habits, accompanied by the application of reason and logic, success would be theirs. If you've worked in the business world for more than ten minutes, you know it's an immense exercise in the absurd. What we need to do is accept the fact that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue. What we need to do is tip the scale in favour of the pigeon !

As the dust settles

I am reminded of the United Nation saga, formed soon after the second world war based on the balance of power at the time: USA, USSR, UK, France and China became permanent members of the UN with veto powers. However the balance of power dramatically shifted during the Cold War era: Japan and Germany emerged as ‘economic superpowers’; UK and France became more ‘ordinary powers’; new power areas appeared, like Asia-Pacific. The Cold War competition curtailed the need for structural change, yet with the end of the Cold War, the new ‘actors’ demanded more rights in the UN system. The 5-big have resisted the reform calls in the 1990s. However the Iraq War clearly showed that the current UN System cannot provide dialogue and co-operation between the big economic, military and political great powers. In another word, the UN cannot properly play a balancing role. The US will resist and bargain will possibly last more. However a UN reform is a matter of time. Japan, Germany and some more states will receive the seats they seek.

Sound familiar? ok well maybe not exactly but it makes for a dramatic entry :) Back to the UN. The veto power needs to be removed. Why is there a veto power granted to each of the 5 permanent members? Who died and made them the umpires on this playing field we so fondly call mother earth? At one point in human history, the veto power was needed due to the instability of man. The world was at war. Some powers that be may be somewhat more responsible than others. That was then. This is now. When USA was going to invade Afghanistan, everyone agreed? disagreed? They all had the veto power. Would it have done any good? The US went ahead anyway...yes that is definitely showing all other countries how to do it....lead by example.

But i digress. Back to my last point. Lead by example. This is about the most difficult thing on this planet to accomplish. I'll continue tomorrow but leave you with this thought. Never take the voice of the people for granted and never ever underestimate them.

Election Is Fast Approaching

How time flies when one is having fun. Today is March 3 and the Malaysian general election is fast approaching. I must admit that while i view elections very seriously and i will be there on voting day, bright and early, to cast my vote, i would pay money to listen to the local pre-election debate; similar to the verbal jousting of Obama-Clinton, but on a higher more intellectual level: coffee-shop consultants. No where can one get the latest, most accurate, rumours at these stripped down starbucks, where the coffee is guaranteed to stain your teeth, and everybody knows your name. You don't pay 10 bucks to a yuppie behind the counter for a latte but a buck eighty to the "boss" who hollers your order for all to hear. But i digress. The news that comes from these square table discussions are so varied and so hot that Al Jazeera would pay money to get these hot-off-the-press news. Though they may not hold water if digested to get to the source, nevertheless these tales are so enticing that one cannot help but get drawn and lending an ear.

If you have never been involved, do so. Stop by your local mamak stall or in my younger days, lovingly referred to as "maple" and order drink. Coffee with Karan could only wish for such hot topics. And have a roti tissue while you are there....

Into the light

Today is an historic day for me for yesterday night i gave birth to my first blog. I have ventured into the world of blogging, rather hesitantly, out of curiosity. In standard human years, i can be considered young....middle age.....for i am not even 40 yet but in the world of information technology, some may call me a relic. I am not entirely sure about what to write, or even if anyone will be reading my blogs. But it matters not. For i write because I can. I write because I enjoy writing. I have always wanted to write my own book and i am confident i eventually will but the time is not right. What is the right time? I don't know. Perhaps i never will.

I take my leave for i am now committed. This vessel has to be filled with words, stories, tales of little nothings. Gobbledygook perhaps. We shall see