of misguided translations....

I was watching a Malay movie recently and one of the scenes were shot in an office area labeled as BAHAGIAN "EXTRUSION". With all the fuss being made over us not using enough Malay or not lifting Malay language up to its proper stature, you would think that those folks up in DBP would at least spend some time creating a Malay word for "extrusion"! I mean I'm sure they're pretty much resting on their laurels as it is, so why not get to work? Or just label the area as DEPARTMENT OF EXTRUSION or something, instead of wasting time on open inverted commas. I'm guessing that KAPI is not yet in the Malay lexicon, so why not make KAPI to mean extrusion? That way everybody's happy. Dontcha think?!                                         

of change....or not?

History in the making? Or a sign that things are about to get worse? Whatever I am about to write does not in any way have anything to do with colour or the lack of it. I am not a racist which means I do not have to support Obama just because he is black, or that I support Mccain because he is white. Let’s just keep it for the record, that I support neither candidates. Whatever it is, judging by the results, I can safely say that Martin Luther King is probably smiling in his grave. His dream many years ago is bearing fruit. I’m pretty sure at that time, even he could not have dreamt so far as to see the United States electing a black man as the head of its nation. But he dared to dream nonetheless, that people will be more color blind. And his dream has come true. However, I am just looking at the two candidates from the point of view that goes beyond the colors of their skin. I am of course not thrilled over McCain, but I am not so thrilled over Obama either. I was a supporter of Hilary at one point, but after a while, even I realized that she was just not ready to become the President of the US of A. So that went out the window. I tried to support Obama, but somehow I don’t quite see it yet. Maybe he will prove his worth once he gets sworn in and delivers the change that he has promised. McCain is too old and his views are somewhat old-fashioned which means what he would probably do if he gets to sit in Bush’s chair is simply continue Bush’s outdated policy and do more damage. Obama on the other hand is focusing more on change. Ideally that is a good thing. But can he deliver? Take Malaysia for instance. During our last election, we were so hungry for change that we gave several states to the opposition. Look what that has gotten us? I am not saying that our political scene is akin to the one currently going on in the States. Obama is of course a far cry from our deranged Anwar Ibrahim. But my only concern is that he is probably promising more than he can deliver. At the end of the day, we have to look at who are behind the presidential candidates. Campaigning does not come cheap. Every candidate needs financial support unless of course he is the King of Brunei or Bill Gates himself. When organizations pledge funds to support their preferred candidate, they would of course hope to gain something when the candidate wins. So whatever policy Obama is hoping to enforce, those who have backed him in his campaigns will forever be weighing heavily on his mind. It doesn’t matter that he has the heart of Mother Theresa or the passion of Martin Luther King. Of course this historic win does look like change is on the way, I just hope that it wasn’t merely a lesser of two evils. Obama has to realize that the millions who voted for him in the United States, and the countless others who are supporting him from everywhere across the globe, are hoping for a positive change. May the United States return to being the land of the free and the home of the brave. And may the hope of this former President once again find the country on the right path to it being fulfilled… “I hope ever to see America among the foremost nation in examples of justice and liberality.” – George Washington.