Michael Backman and Malaysia

"MALAYSIA'S been at it again, arguing about what proportion of the economy each of its two main races - the Malays and the Chinese - owns. It's an argument that's been running for 40 years. That wealth and race are not synonymous is important for national cohesion, but really it's time Malaysia grew up."

- excerpt from Michael Backman's "While Malaysia fiddles, it's opportunities are running dry". First published in The Age, November 15 2006.


To the 10 people who visit this blog, have you heard about the storm in a teacup that is Michael Backman's article in the Australian newspaper, The Age, about Malaysia? Titled "While Malaysia fiddles, it's opportunities are running dry" and released on the 15th of November, it's not the most positive report, but it is definitely the most honest thing I've read the whole year. Someone buy the guy a drink.

If you've always lived here and couldn't put your finger on why we are so mediocre, the articlewill help you put things in perspective.

If you know nothing about Malaysia, it is still an interesting article about a developing nation with so much to offer but unsure about how to go about doing it.

We've got a serious problem with criticism in this country. We take special exception to constructive criticism, especially by foreigners. Since we are so busy trying to bodek the foreigners and comparing ourselves to them, I think receiving a note or two from an outsider's perspective is absolutely crucial.

Anyway. Go read the article. Backman has also written a little response to all the hoo-hah that he seems to find himself at the centre of. Rafidah doesn't think much of him, because he isn't Malaysian. Go figure.

Cloudburst

I honestly think that the KL skyline is not as spectacular as we like to believe... though sometimes I believe all the hullabaloo, actually I believe it most of the time. Yet when I'm driving along the elevated highway, or on the MRR2, it's not the buildings that I'm staring at.

It's the crazy clouds, especially the ones that we get these days during monsoon season. They are such drama queens. Three days ago I drove to the top of a hill in Cheras to watch this crazy gang fight that was about to happen between warring cloud factions. There were three big cloud "systems" or whatever you call them that were kinda moving in on each other. From the left there was a very dark, very low, all lightning and thundering mass that was creating havoc under it. In the middle was this huge, swarthy cloud gang that was slip slidin' n' swirlin' left, over the angry thunderstorm system but at the same time it was also moving right.

What was on the right was just breathtaking. The setting sun was low enough to be under the cloud cover and had backlit the entire city, the angry clouds, the swirling clouds, and you could see the rain falling over parts of sri kembangan and sungai besi. It had also previously rained all over Hulu Langat and the mountains that start the Banjaran Titiwangsa so there were very low-lying fresh white clouds that were clinging on to the tree line. One particular valley within our valley had a full cloud ceiling and it was reflecting the light as well, thus the buildings around it were backlit from the left as well as sidelit from the right. Rich golden red hues from the background right crossing through to foreground left. KLCC in the middle. Dark, rain diffused mountains on the left, sharp green mountains on the right. Aaaaah.

I don't know whether this description makes sense, but it was stunning and worth the one hour of driving around looking for the perfect view. During that time I found a geese farm next to the Leisure Mall in Cheras, along with the ugliest houses I've ever seen in my life.

There is an entire community of very rich Chinese people in the hills of Cheras that realise that their land has some of the craziest views of KL. They have exploited it however, and built the most hideous mansions I've ever seen. It is WORSE than O.U.G. I'm going to take pictures soon. Why is the race of the homeowner important in this particular rant?

It's Malaysia. Race is always important. Don't believe me? Just check out the recently finished UMNO General Assembly.

Craziness man.

Anyway. Just pause for a second while you are rushing home from work today to escape the evening downpour to have a look at the clouds. If it helps, look at the clouds and the skyline at the same time. They really compliment each other. On the way to work today, a big bugger had cumulo-nimbofied itself over the Twin Towers. One tower was in bright blue skies and strong direct sun, and the other was in very dark shadow. Countless metaphors come to mind, but I just liked the way it looked.

"The Two Towers"was taken by Matt2005 over on flickr.

Pass the Dutchie...

There is a certain elegance in getting stoned on the rooftop of a 30 storey building while watching the sunset and the mist roll in after a heavy afternoon downpour.

I'm also increasingly attracted to the particularly violent cropping of photographs.

In the middle of a hugeeeeeeeeee shoot right now. Will resurface soon.