RACE RIOTS - SHOCK OR 'SYOK'?

Race riot happens for a reason. When emotions flare and sanity goes out the window, anything can happen. History have seen several occassions of this human tragedy time and time again. It has happened in the past, it can happen in the present and it will probably happen again in the future.

America in the past and present has issues about race that turns to rioting at one point or another. France just had their share of race rioting. Australia Curnolla beach race riot is there for the world to see. Singapore has her history of race riots. And of course, Malaysia's infamous May 13 1969 race riots has its place in world history.

'Syok' is a colloquial Malay word for Joy, Happy or even 'Orgasm' depending on the context of its use. The question to ask is - if there were to be race riots in Malaysia now would that be a SHOCK or would it be a 'SYOK' to some people? To be honest, most Malaysian wouldn't call it shocking if it did happened though it wouldn't be welcomed - but it definitely wouldn't be categorised as shocking. Just as the World had its WW1 and WW2, a World War 3 as Mr.Bush cursorily warned, though most definitely not welcomed, shouldn't be much of a surprise or shocking!

But who in their right minds would call or consider race riots as 'SYOK'? Well, believe you me, quite a number of groups of people actually. Lets just go down the list:

i) People in power who have or nearly lost their grassroot support can now garner abosulte unquestionable support from their respective camps. By playing the 'Threat' card purportedly from the opposing camp their continued powerhold is virtually guaranteed.

ii) People who yearn for change or opportunity to make changes can now drum-up the urgency to make those changes

iii) Outside forces who may have hidden agendas would more than welcome chaos and dissent amongst the general public within a country so that they may plant or implement the necessary tools and instrument of control be it economic, social or even political.

iv) Bad hat elements in society who thrives on the misery and destitution of fellow man in general.




DETROIT 1943 - AMERICA



Maria Hertogh - SINGAPORE



AFTERMATH MAY 13 1969 - MALAYSIA



LA RIOT POLICE 1992 - AMERICA



CRONULLA BEACH RIOT 2005 - AUSTRALIA



RACE RIOTS 2005,2007 - FRANCE


Now, there's a rumour on the net-vines that there might be a race riot looming on the 16th December 2007 as an after taste of the HINDRAF petition gathering cum demonstration. Camps of opposing or rather non-aligned interest maybe 'urged' into confrontation because patience are running low and life may just seemed a little better if some steam are let-off. The irony of all this is that,if the tragedy does happen, the root cause would all have been lost amongst the dead and injured. Attention will shift from the original and similar grievences of the little people of different colors, race and creed to the pursuit, capture and punishment of the so-called 'ring-leaders' of such incidences.

Everyone will be reminded that they were in fact actually better off before the riot and they should be thankful they still have their lives after the riot. And so goes on the misery of the little people, as the debris are cleared, the dead buried, the 'criminals' punished and the politicians elected once again. Essential food items will creep up in prices all the same, petrol shall be available to those who have the money and Malaysia, the country will be back on track yet again. The poor remains poor or worse while the rich accumulate more for their treasure troves.

Those in power remains to continue their pursuit of eternal happiness all in the name of the people and at the expense of the people! LONG LIVE DEMOCRACY albeit ala Malaysia!


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Sailing 'Malaysia' in the dark

Malaysia now is like a ship sailing in the dark in unknown waters. Yes, there is a captain and all his crews and they think that Malaysia is 'unsinkable'. Just as the Titanic was thought to be unsinkable. In fact, similar 'boastful' talk had been made not too long ago when a politician (a party big-wig)was talking of the National Front (BN), a coalition of various ethnic-based political parties who have ruled Malaysia for 50 years.

The number of protest marches and demonstrations within a couple of weeks of each other and possibly more marches and demonstrations to come in the near future liken to the tip of the iceberg that jutted out in the path of the 'unsinkable' Titanic. To have said "Even God couldn't sink the Titanic" was actually tempting fate - we now know that such talk was disasterably shown to be untrue. Unfortunately, human being seems ready to forget such lessons from God. In a similarly arrogant tone, some politician did say that BN is strong and unbeatable ...always! ALWAYS? We wonder!



Taking the iceberg as a simile of the rumblings of the Malaysian society, only the tip is currently seen floating out of the water. The tip of an iceberg by scientific measurement is only 10% of the whole mass of the iceberg. Some 90% of an iceberg is submerged under the sea. Similar parallels can be drawn for the anguish and dissatisfacion that may lie beneath the calm of the Malaysian public. We are not talking of people against people or race against race sort of grouses. We are saying that the Malaysian public may just had had enough of the present BS they are getting from the captain and his crew!

Malaysia is a rich country by all tokens of economic measurements and yet little by little and inch by inch the joys of living for the ordinary man and woman, old and young on the streets of Malaysia is eroding away. Things are getting expensive and yet wages have not move in tandem to this. One scandal follows another almost unabetted. Billions are lost by design or otherwise. Those in power do not seem to care to listen to the little people who elected them. Apparently, only the ballot box can be used to air any grievances. Other than that its water cannon and tear gas for those who dare to show dissent.

MALAYA the old name for Malaysia was quite a favorite reference for quite a number of things. There were ships name MALAYA, books written about MALAYA and even a hollywood movie entitled MALAYA.In those days, Malaya was a priced colony of the British empire, the land of rubber and tin.

The Sinking of HMS MALAYA









A merchant ship called MALAYA



Posters of the Movie 'MALAYA'






A dancer named MALAYA



Books about MALAYA








These books Moon Over Malaya, The Jungle Beat and War of the Running Dogs are available from Amazon.com:




Will Malaysia ever be as 'popular' as MALAYA? Or will it be sunk by the arrogance of some 'sponsors' who believe even God can't sink the BN coalition!