Elections

To the general student community in Malaysia, politics are never a concern to them. First of all, the vast majority of them do not bother registering themselves to vote let alone read up on issues their representatives are advocating.

Anyhow, the elections are only a week away from now. This weekend, I shall attempt to get some pictures on how the city would be decorated with election posters (and dirtied no doubt!) amid the hustle bustle.

Democracy rules! Well, not really in Malaysia.

Purpoise Alert!

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/2/20/nation/20381010&sec=nation

Anyway, a purpoise means a small dolphin. I just couldn't resist seeing how cute and adorable the dolphin was! It captured my heart :)

It is quite a rarity. Although the article in the link above begs to differ. But still, to be able to take a photo of it in such a gaiety mood (well, it looks like it's smiling, ain't it) is something.

Chinese New Year- What Malaysians did and what they do. (Read at your own risk)

It’s Chinese New Year again. You can see red lanterns everywhere in the shopping malls, God of Wealth (not the real one though) making public appearances- giving ang pau to kids (and sometimes adults), people (not just Chinese) eating mandarin oranges, lion dances and dragon dances being performed and the list goes on and on.

But these are the typical things that we usually do whenever it’s CNY; there are things that we don’t do anymore though they were practiced. I can still remember how my grandparents celebrated CNY when I was young. And now that I am to compare it with the recent CNY, which was mainly dominated by my parents’ generation, I can tell that there are things that the older generations did and are not inherited by our parents. And trust me, our generation will be even worse, judging from the fact that most Chinese in my college didn’t know that Chap Goh Meh is not the Chinese Valentine’s Day (7th of 7th Lunar Month is), it simply shows how ignorance young people these days are (which in a way, can be a good thing. =p)

Let us just make a comparison between Malaysians (the Chinese community, in particular) in the past and present.


Past: They’ll NEVER ever sweep the floor on the first day of CNY.
Present: They DO sweep the floor on the first day of CNY. Hygiene comes first, beliefs next.

Past: CNY Reunion Dinner is the dinner where EVERYONE sits at a round table and has their meals together.
Present: CNY Reunion Dinner seems to be just another normal dinner where you eat at your own pace and leave the table after eating. You can eat first if you are hungry, or later if you don’t like the crowd.

Past: People (Adults and children) stay back after CNY Reunion Dinner and play mahjong, or at least chitchat if they don’t gamble.
Present: Kids will be busy surfing Internets or glue their eyes to the TV screens after meals. Parents will just switch on their laptops and continue with their business plans or proposals.

Past: Ang Pau was given to show that someone has grown. Money wasn’t that important, the red packet was.
Present: The amount in the red packet seems to matter the most. It doesn’t matter if you put the money in an envelope instead of a red packet, as long as the money goes into one’s pocket.

Past: Lots of paper money will be burnt. Paper houses (the traditional ones) will also be burnt to our ancestors to show our respect.
Present: Version 1: Save the environment. No open burning is allowed, therefore no burning of paper money.
Version 2: They still burn, but no more paper houses, they burn paper hand phones, paper MP3s, paper Toyota VIOS…

And I’m sure you can think of more differences between the past and present. I’m not saying that Chinese in Malaysia do not appreciate the culture. But get real, the world is constantly changing and we Malaysians do change as well. What I have mentioned may not be representative enough to show the whole Chinese community in Malaysia (as I’m sure people in Penang and Ipoh still practice lots of the traditional practices), but even if it is only parts of Malaysian Chinese, it’s still something that we experienced, isn’t it? Do not take it seriously if you do not agree with what I mentioned, but sometimes, such changes are necessary to make things better~

--Lim Boon Seong--

Chinese New Year Celebration cum Global Warming Awareness Event

Well, people were supposed to be dressed in green to celebrate the Global Awareness Week (organised by our very own Rotaract Club..Yipee!) held this week in our college. Judging by the photos, most people didn't quite adhered to it. But we had fun! :)

Brief History on Malaysia

I know. I know. It's really wordy. I'm sorry for that. I promise! I'm gonna get you guys more pictures soon! Soon!

But anyway, I kinda wrote this for a presentation. So, here it is. It gives people a general idea of how Malaysia is anyway, for those who have absolutely no inkling!

_________________________________________________________________________

Malaysia is a hybrid of culture from the colonial powers that once ruled the nation and many outside influences that stretch from pre-historic times. Chronologically, the Malay states saw the domination of Hindu, Buddhism, Islam, the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British. Although the Japanese can claim to have invaded Malaysia, their stay was too brief a stint to bear significant ramifications. One of the most lasting influences would be the mass immigration of Chinese and Indian workers to meet the needs of the colonial economy created by the British in the Malay Peninsula and Borneo. In fact, the divisions that separate the three major races in Malaysia would continue to bring turmoil to the relative peace the country enjoys until today.

However, it is undisputed that Malaysia has achieved much after celebrating her 50^th year of independence in 2007. The poverty rate shrank from slightly over half of the population in 1973 to 7.8 percent in 1995. Also, Malaysia has managed an impressive improvement in increasing average life expectancy rate. Economic growth was equally astounding as well with emphasis on manufacturing, especially in electronics towards the late 1970s and 1980s. Gradually, the economic gap with the industrial world will eliminate the gap entirely although only time would tell.

In 2007, the economy of Malaysia was the 34th largest economy in the world by purchasing power parity. Also, according to government officials, the economy would see a 6% growth rate amid the threat of recession in the United States, one of Malaysia’s largest trading partner.

---

Reference;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Malaysia

http://www.unsiap.or.jp/participants_work/cos03_homepages/group1/malaysia.htm

Charles Hirschman, "Review of John H. Drabble, An Economic History of Malaysia, c.1800-1990: The Transition to Modern Economic Growth." EH.Net Economic History Services, Jul 9 2001.

Back to the old realities of life

Yup, the Chinese New Year season is officially over, for us students anyway as classes continue as usual. Although the official celebration has not yet ended, many of us are definitely not in the mood any more.

That's always the problem, isn't it. When a season begins, it always has to end. That's the melancholy of it.

But, no worries bout that. Malaysia reputedly has more public holidays in comparison to workaholics else where. That's the silver lining of the cloud I guess.

恭喜发财 （Gong Xi Fa Cai ）！！

Happy Chinese New Year y'all!

It's the Year of the Rat (it doesn't quite have a nice ring to it, does it? hmm..)

Anyway, more photos coming your way as soon as the festival gets officially under way tomorrow - Feb 7 2008! It would last 15 days until Chap Goh Meh (where single woman, traditionally throw mandarin oranges into a river in hope of hooking up with a guy).. sounds a little like Valentine's ain't it? Albeit a more old-fashioned way. Coincidentally enough, the two days actually happen at around the same time.

Let's usher in the new year!

Part 2 - Shopping Malls

I only managed to take a few photos of KLCC, the shopping mall, located at the bottom of our skyscraper, tallest twin towers in the world - Petronas Twin Towers.

So, here there are. :)