Zorro Unmasked: View from the Stands
October 12, 2009
We said “No to ISA”, but more said “Yes to ISA”
by Zorro Umasked (http://www.zorro-zorro-unmasked.blogspot.com/)
YES, we lost but those who were behind PAS sure did believe that they backed the right organisation. Perhaps, it is time to put rhetoric aside and get down to asking WHY we lost, HOW did we lose, WHAT we need to do. We just lost a battle. Lets lick our wounds and do some soul searching. Probably we were too “drunk” with past successes.
Pakatan Rakyat needs to bare themselves BARE and decide once and for all: Are we a coalition that is united only for elections? Have we the moral courage to amputate or cauterize what can be saved. It is about time we be humble and say we did not do some things right. What those wrong things are we need to talk about them.
Let me put on record that it was an honor working beside YB Dzulkifly Ahmad, YB Salahuddin Ayub, YB Mafuz and our calon Dr. Zul. Gentlemen, we will bend our knees in humility but will rise in dignity to fight another day.
My gratitude also goes to the Special Bunch and all those who helped us financially, and who harbored us in our quest to do what we like to do best: fight for change. People I salute you….we will walk again together another time. Go home now to your family, satisfied that you gave your best. We have to learn many lessons in this arduous journey. People, I salute you.
PS. Zorro, let us relax with this Frog Song courtesy from New Yorker Bean, who is now holidaying in Waikiki, Hawaii. Or could he be in Wakarewarewa? I am all for some humour.–Din Merican
Mahathir did a flip flop this morning, and he said on national TV that he was glad ISA Samad and UMNO won in Bagan Pinang. Will the real Mahathir stand up? For 22+ years, we did not know the true identity of Mahathir Bin Mohamad. Apparently, he himself did not know who he really is, or where his ancestors originally came from.
I am glad that I know that my paternal ancestors came from Pondicherry in Tamil Nadu; they intermarried and settled in Penang, and while my mom’s parents came from Jaffna, Sri Lanka (good old Ceylon). That makes me a mamak, and I don’t have pretend to be a Malay, although I meet the conditions of being Malay (as defined in the constitution). I am just proud to be Malaysian.
Here is something I got from Google about my ancestor’s place of origin:
“Pondicherry still retains much evidence of its history as a French colony. The design of the city was based on the French (originally Dutch, the plans of Pondicherry dating from the end of the seventeenth century (1693-1694) are preserved in the National Archives at The Hague) grid pattern and features neat sectors and perpendicular streets.
The entire town is divided into two sections, the French Quarter (‘Ville Blanche’ or ‘White town’) and the Indian quarter (‘Ville Noire’ or ‘Black Town’). The history of French India is led by Joseph Francois Dupleix, governor general of the French establishment in India, and rival of Robert Clive of the English East India Company. Dupleix was primarily responsible for the Carnatic Wars. At first Dupleix was successful in resisting the attacks of the English, but he lost in the later battles.
There is also French influence in the layout of the city. The numbering of the houses is unique compared to other cities in Tamil Nadu, in that all with the even numbers are on one side and the odd number are on the opposite side of the road.” —Din Merican
dinobeano - October 12, 2009 at 6:26 pm
If only the layout of our most modern and costly city was similarly built on grid lines it wouldn’t be a nightmare to visit and traverse.
This monument to one man’s ego cannot even stand the test of the basic requirement of a decent city – ease of access and easy to get from point A to B. Something the French were able to do in good ole Pondi 200 years ago, in a place thousands of miles from their homeland. That same system was applied in Washington DC by the likes of L’Enfant.
In Putridjaya they tried the same French thingy by naming the areas precincts but as usual it was style sahaja over substance, as even a simple thing like coordinating the traffic lights seems beyond the technocrats. Parking facilities are a shambles. The mere thought of having to go there sends shivers down grown men’s spines.
The design of the plans in Pondi are “preserved in the National Archives at The Hague.” Over here in bolehland, the plans for the Penang Bridge, which is fast outliving its usefulness, went missing after only 15 years.
So pride in heritage and ancestry is justified when there are things to be proud of. Not having pretensions to greatness when all it does is cover the corruption underneath.
Mr Bojangles - October 12, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Thanks, Mr. Bojangles. I lived in Washington DC for a couple of years. I remember it as a beautiful and well planned city. Pierre (Peter) Charles L’Enfant did a great job. The national capital of the US radiates from Capitol Hill. Building by-laws and other regulations are very strictly enforced, including the height and facade of buildings.
Whenever we send our architects and planners to visit the great cities abroad on study tours (usually accompanied by politicians), we know they are there to have a good time, and not to study and come home with good concepts and ideas.They only bring back fond memories of their macho escapades. So, we pay the price of their hallucinations in the form of nightmares (our messy traffic system and poor designs). Fortunately, we did not have to live with the crooked bridge linking of Peninsular to Singapore (an idea from you know who).–Din Merican
dinobeano - October 12, 2009 at 7:51 pm
There is a law in DC, but I’m not sure, that limit buildings to not exceed the height of the Monument which is 555.5ft high. I remember looking across the Potomac from my apartment at it at night and somehow it reminded me eerily of the KKK shroud and used to think what an apt structure it was for the nation’s capital.
Yes, DC is a beautiful city where even the trees and gardens are maintained by trained horticulturalists who know how and where to prune and crop so there is some symmetry created. Its a shame that we do not make use of opportunities provided by nature to make KL, at least, a real garden city and not a place you visit only if you have no choice.
My apologies for the ruminations but good memories of working and living there are hard to let go.
Talking about niches, Malaysia’s recent top govt appointee there has been quite happy, I heard, to make his regular visits to Foggy Bottom where the State Dept is located.
Mr Bojangles - October 12, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Mr. Bojangles,
Yes, indeed there is height restriction for buildings in Washington and that is rigidly enforced. Lady Bird Johnson was personally involved in the beautification of the city.
I remember the Cherry Blossoms in April at the Tidal Basin, where there stood the Jefferson Memorial. I used to hang out in Dupont Circle and Lafayette Park opposite 1600 Pennslyvania Avenue, and our Embassy in Massachusetts Avenue when Tun Omar Ong was our Ambassador.
Pennsylvania Avenue and 21st Street N.W. was the start of the GWU campus, not far from the IMF and the Bank. I know the University now has new buildings and facilities, but it retained some old architecture for heritage purposes. I can understand your fondness for the city.
Let us not go far. In the sixties, before the Khmer Rouge destroyed the infrastructure, Phnom Penh was a well planned city at the confluence of the Tonle Sap, the Tonle Bassac and the Mekong. The Boulevards are still impressive. It was reported that Lee Kuan Yew was impressed with the city and decided to rebuild Singapore along the same lines. –Din Merican
dinobeano - October 12, 2009 at 9:12 pm
It has been known for years the old man is a hipocrite. Twist and turn and when cornered says he cannot remember like he did for 14 times saying “I cannot remember” in a period of half an hour during the VKLingam Royal Commission of Inquiry. He should just fade away.
Sentinel - October 12, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Yes, PKR must do something about its deteriorating situation. PKR has been delinquent when it comes to discipline. The mantra of “Pakatan does not sweep things under the carpet” under the free-for-all madness for self-flagellation needs to be seriously examined and qualified in its application. When each and every Tom, Dick and Harry can hide under this slogan and display his indiscipline, prejudices, disdain and personal ambition against the coalition’s principles and aspirations and escape scot-free from punishment and rebuke, this is a sign and precursor for the downfall of the coalition.
Let the Pakatan make doubly clear to any individual who crosses the bar of agreed principles of the coalition, no matter how high or important or indispensable that person is in the hierarchy, he should face the disciplinary committee at once and if found guilty should face the axe. Do it and people like Hassan Ali, Choo Wee Keong, Zulkifli Noordin and many trojan horses within Pakatan will think twice before they create more headaches for Pakatan. Do not wait until it will be too late to do anything about it. Do it now and immediately.
The defeat of Pakatan in Bagan Pinang is a blessing in disguise and has never come at a more opportune time because for so long some parties within Pakatan have become indoctrinated and arrogant in their invincibility and belief that no matter what the Pakatan do or will not do will not affect their popularity. For the past 8 by-elections, there were serious dissensions, mostly triggered by some little Napoleons within the Pakatan itself. The belief that the people will always support the Pakatan no matter what is growing thin and Bagan Pinang has provided a valuable lesson.
Wake up, Pakatan: a house divided against itself will not survive the cut-throat political battle in Bolehland.
vsp - October 12, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Din Merican,
Summer is over and I’m certainly nowhere near Waikiki Beach, Hawaii – and temperatures are plummeting right now. Soon I’ll be like our Eskimo cousins peeing ice cubes.
On the other our friend Shrek is having a good time enjoying the warm Mediterranean climate chasing Latino girls.
I understand Tok Cik is looking for a younger version of his favorite ‘anak mami’ to occupy the back seat of his ageing Cooper S. The stress of campaigning in Bagan Pinang has taken a toll on him. A man has gotta to do what a man has gotta do!
Mr Bean - October 12, 2009 at 10:41 pm
Yeah, Bean my bevy of anak mamis needs to be replaced. Some have outlived their usefulness. But Sharizat is still my number one.
Bagan Pinang has been one traumatic experience for me trying to make sense of the voters’ choice. I could see what was coming, as Isa is one popular figure.
One battle lost does not mean that the war is over for PR. Go for broke come GE 13.
Tok Cik - October 13, 2009 at 12:34 am
Col. Tok Cik says this is only a tactical retreat. He attended War College and so a tactical retreat it is.
As for Sharizat, it is Tok Cik’s dream unfulfilled. How can I help? She’s related by marriage to my wife. So I guess that puts her off my list or rather me off her list. Are you sure you can handle her? I can give you a helping hand. Just give me a shout if you need me.
Mr Bean - October 13, 2009 at 2:29 am
Talking about tactical retreat, Bean. He’s my take.
Retreat/withdrawal is one of the four phases of war. But because of the negative connotation the word implies, it was rephrased to “tactical redeployment” by some smart generals in the 80s.
We argued that a tactical redeployment does not necessary mean a retreat as it is just a deployment to another defensive position in the rear. The word was soon dropped. It’s back to withdrawal now.
There’s plenty of smart asses in the army then. But today we have a different kind of generals – kaki ampu. They fill the corridors of Mindef.
An unplanned withdrawal may turn into a rout. Hopefully, PR doesn’t cherish this thought.
Tok Cik - October 13, 2009 at 8:33 am
Nothing like a premature withdrawal at the back seat of your Cooper S. That is a defensive move – and a strategic one too!
Mr Bean - October 13, 2009 at 10:30 am
Anything at the back seat of my Cooper S is a tactical deployment, done tactically to cover my tracks. You gotta do what a man gotta do!
Tok Cik - October 13, 2009 at 11:04 am