The Four Aims of Life

No matter what other desires we satisfy, no matter how much money, sensual pleasure, and power we obtain, no matter even how much good we do in the world, as long as the yearning for enlightenment goes unfulfilled, we will suffer from "divine homesickness" and "divine discontent": 

The sense of somehow being incomplete, unfulfilled, and not fully at home. 

For recent couple of years, a lot of contemplative works have been done. There is a saying in Hinduism, in our entire life, there are four major aims to go through. These are: artha, kama, dharma, and moksha. 

Artha: is the acquisition of material possessions and of all the things necessary for a comfortable and contributory life. So called working life and making a living.

Kama: is sensual pleasure and love, although it may not be essential, it is nothing wrong with it, as long as no clinging and attachment is involved. But mere pleasure seeking inevitably produces suffering, both for yourself and for others ...

Dharma: a word rich with meaning but in its essence referring to the broad range of moral and religious duties. This is an important and also the first step for finding the true meaning of life; seeking for spirituality.

Moksha: is spiritual release, enlightenment, or liberation, and is regarded as the ultimate goal and good of human life. The central practice to awaken heart and mind.

When life unfolds to its end, the best thing to do for ourselves is to understand life itself. In other words, clarity of mind and realized the true nature. 

As Mencius (孟子) of Confucianism says:

“Those who know completely 

their own nature, know heaven.”

Likewise, the great sage of India, Shankara asked: 

"How is heaven attained?" and responded, "The attainment of heaven is freedom from cravings."

The Buddha summarised in the Second Noble Truth:

“The cause of suffering is attachment or craving .”

So, Jesus of Christianity also says:

“The kingdom of heaven is within you.” 

Now, contemplate this:

We are never ever going to get enough money, sensual pleasure, possessions, or fame to be completely satisfied and fulfilled our happiness.

Hence,

Freedom from attachment brings freedom from suffering.

Therefore, 

No thing in this world is ever going 

to make us fully satisfied or 

ever-lastingly happy! 

It is because, 

Craving/clinging is the cause of

unhappiness! 

In worldly sense, we are all addicts. Why do we cling so deeply and desperately to our toys; our love, our wealth, our views, if they ultimately cause so much pain and suffering? 

So, as Christianity called it "The Fall" and Hinduism used the term "Maya" - in a state of illusion when we are in addiction. In falling into the state of illusion we have forgotten our boundless, spiritual nature. Or who am I? Where we come from (the Source). Why we are here? 

"The rain could turn gold and still your thirst would not be quenched", as the Buddha claimed. Jesus also pointed out, "No one can serve two masters ... You cannot serve God and wealth." 

This is why Gandhi, when asked to describe his philosophy of life, needed only three words: "Renounce and rejoice" and why Meister Eckhart, who lived in fourteenth-century Germany, promised that "No one is happier than those who have the greatest non-attachment."

So the fourth aim, moksha: it is about renouncement and non-attachment; it aims for the spiritual release, liberation, and find out who am I, our true nature and the ultimate truth.

It is the final and the most important stage, in human life. We must treasure this last stage of life, as the above three aims are over and completed, so now, we need continue to work for the ultimate goal, the fourth aim; to cultivate the heart, the mind and the soul by looking within, seeking the ultimate Truth, until the last breath. 

同様的,  孔子也有關類似的論點,  子曰：

三十而立: 依靠自己的本領獨立承擔起自己應承受的責任，並已經確定自己的人生目標與發展方向。它可以用立身 立業 立家三個方面概括。

四十而不惑: 對外，他明白了社會。對內，他明白了自己。對自己，他明白了責任。他必須承擔社會責任、家庭責任和撫養子女責任。首先，他必須做好自己的工作，這不單是生存的需要，也是為社會所做的貢獻，是必須盡到的社會責任。

五十而知天命: 知道了自己的命運軌跡，不怨天。知道了自己的人生定位，不尤人。知道了自己未盡的責任，不懈怠。

六十而耳順: 看透了生命, 看透人生。人到了這個歲數，不管聽到什麼言論，遇到什麼坎坷曲折，都能做到不激動, 而冷靜地進行思考，使自己的情緒順應客觀環境，順應事物規律，學會不暴躁，不氣餒，不悲傷，不退縮，達到寵辱不驚，始終如一的境地。生命，生命是有生才有命，生決定和影響著生命，所以六十歲的人，好好生活是最重要的，健康快樂地生活，不但可以減輕子女的負擔，也是對社會一種貢獻，起碼可以減少醫藥資源的消耗。生命的意義就在於自己對社會和他人的貢獻大於向社會和他人的索取，你做到了，也就沒有什麼遺憾了。

七十從心所欲: 隨遇而安, 也應該做好準備,  面對生死大事 ....

Here, a brief English translation of the above:

[Confucius began by making a life commitment to learning.]

By thirty, his commitment was firmly grounded.

At forty, he was free of doubts and conflicts created by conventional cravings / attachments.

By fifty, his mind was calm and clear enough to know the meaning of life.

By sixty, he was so free of competing compulsions that he felt no resistance to following pure and higher motives.

Finally, at seventy, his heart and mind had been so transformed that he desired only the good and could follow his heart's without hesitation or concern.

Singapore - Friend or Foe?

Mariam Mokhtar

May 13, 2013

Malaysiakini

The greatest fear of the Singapore government is a Malaysia that is better governed and less corrupt. The extraordinary events in Malaysia over the past few years, plus the courageous stand of her citizens in the last few days, has been closely monitored from across the causeway.

If the infection spreads, the pent up feelings of Singaporeans may be unleashed. The two nations have a shared history. 

Singapore may be a first world nation, but when it comes to an outpouring of feelings, the Singaporeans still look up to their cousins in Malaysia.   

Dictatorship could be described as the new democracy in our neck of the woods; Umno Baru’s Najib Abdul Razak together with his Singaporean counterpart, Lee Hsien Loong, have every reason to be rattled by the ‘Anwar Ibrahim phenomenon’. 

Not since independence has Malaysia been rocked by a political force which has captured the rakyat’s sense of frustration at the nation’s archaic order. 

The older generation are weary of the wanton waste of resources, the lack of discipline shown by its leaders and the disintegration of society. The young yearn for a new order where their contributions are acknowledged, where everyone is treated as equals and where they are rewarded for hard work, rather than their connections. 

Anwar has articulated their needs and galvanised the rakyat into action. Two weeks ago, some Malaysians residing in Singapore were cautioned by the Singapore police for reminding Malaysians to return home to vote. A few days ago, some were arrested in Merlion Park for protesting about the fraud perpetrated during GE13. The Singaporean government does not like its citizens to have a mind of their own. 

Najib wants Malaysia to be “the best democracy in the world”, but the hallmarks of his version of democracy are cheating, intimidation and bribery. In Singapore, the authorities also intimidate and take legal action against anyone who dares besmirch the characters of its leaders. 

In Malaysia, insecure Malays reject the DAP because of the implied threat that Malaysia will be swallowed up by Singapore. Their fears are enhanced by some Chinese Malaysians, who look up to an idealised version of Singapore. Singapore absorbed many of them into learning institutions, gave them scholarships and jobs. These Malaysians forget that the price paid for Singapore’s transformation into a first world nation has been high. 

'Soulless inhabitants'

What use are towers that reach up to the sky when deep down, its inhabitants lack a soul?  Children suffer from mental health issues because of academic pressures. Adults complain of a poor work-life balance. Many Singaporeans are unhappy and a number of them have migrated.

When Anwar held a talk at the London School of Economics a few years ago, the event was oversubscribed and several hundred participants were accommodated in an adjoining lecture theatre to listen to him via video link.

The audience were mainly young adults in their early twenties, but the most amazing thing, was that a sizeable proportion were Singaporeans. 

Many people disagreed with me, when in an article, I mentioned the possibility that Singapore feared a strong, successful and less corrupt Malaysia, and that the People's Action Party (PAP) would prefer Umno Baru to govern Malaysia, rather than an Anwar-led administration. 

Without a doubt, Singapore is clean, its public transport is efficient, the entertainment and the promotion of the arts is good, English is widely spoken, it is safe, local and international cuisines are easily available, and the island state is an international transport hub. 

In many ways, Singapore is like Malaysia. Both have state-controlled media, its armed forces are dominated by one race, and they are ruled by autocratic governments. The cost of living is high, housing and car ownership are expensive. 

Both Malaysia’s Umno Baru government and the Singapore PAP have alienated themselves from the population. 

Although change is within the grasp of the ordinary Malaysian, change in the near future is only a dream for many Singaporeans. Wasn’t it Lee Kuan Yew (left) who once said, “...I spent a whole lifetime building this, and as long as I am in charge, nobody is going to knock it down.” 

Like Dr Mahathir Mohamad, will Lee ever relinquish his hold on the island? Last month’s Global Witness exposé highlighted the flip-side of the financial world of Singapore. It appears that dodgy South-East Asian governments and drug barons find Singapore a convenient place to launder money. 

To add to Singapore’s woes, there are the worldwide syndicated football rigging and sex scandals which have rocked the world. Only the naive would think that corruption does not exist in Singapore - they are simply better at concealing their underhanded practices. An acquaintance who handled the Malaysian side of business for a Singapore firm, alleged that he was given a sizeable allocation to sweeten any business deals in Malaysia. 

The Singaporeans like to project a clean image, but it is the Malaysians who gets the bad  reputation. The government of Singapore is concerned by the moral awakening in their people, but they fear most the economic repercussions if Umno Baru were to be replaced. If Anwar’s administration gave Malaysians meritocracy, and excellent learning institutions were open to all, the majority of Malaysians would not need to go to Singapore to study. 

No more brain drain?

There are tales of children being woken up at 4am to travel to Singapore to go to school because their parents could not enrol them in a local Malaysian school. Bright children are deprived of scholarships because they belong to the wrong race or religion. Families are broken up when some family members moved to Singapore for employment. 

Singapore has every right to be scared if Umno Baru were ousted. The brain drain would stop. If working conditions in Malaysia were improved, the daily migration of workers to Singapore would be stemmed and Singapore might suffer a shortage of workers. If corruption was reduced, Malaysia would attract more foreign investment. 

The feeling of xenophobia is high in Singapore, and is mostly directed at the Chinese from the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Singaporeans consider them to be loud, brash, arrogant and lacking in culture. They are wary of their government’s desire to attract more people from the PRC to increase the dwindling population, to take care of the elderly and to bolster the economy. 

The recent wave of xenophobia in Malaysia was generated by Umno Baru because it gave away identity cards (ICs) to foreigners - like the Filipinos and Indonesians - in exchange for votes to stay in power. 

Leaders in Umno Baru have lost valuable Malaysian land to the Singaporeans, such as the Pedra Banca island off Johor and the land swap deal involving Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) land in Singapore. 

To increase their land mass, Singaporeans have obtained sand from Malaysia, through legal and illegal means. The buying power of the Singapore currency means that they can buy property cheaply in Malaysia and in some places, have priced the locals out of the housing market.   

In Ipoh, Singaporeans have built skyscrapers beside limestone hills and many locals fear that this has set a precedent and before long, the natural beauty of Ipoh will be marred forever. The Perak Umno Baru seem oblivious to the concerns of the locals. 

A clean and efficient government can improve our economy, but Umno Baru will continue to hamper our progress. Without cronyism and corruption, Malaysia will emerge a stronger, richer nation, no longer the poor relation of Singapore.

MARIAM MOKHTAR is a non-conformist traditionalist from Perak, a bucket chemist and an armchair eco-warrior. In ‘real-speak', this translates into that she comes from Ipoh, values change but respects culture, is a petroleum chemist and also an environmental pollution-control scientist.

鄭丁賢 : 再怎麼樣，國家還得繼續 ...

可以理解，很多人失落，傷心；對約一半的選民而言，這是一次功虧一簣的變天結果。然而，就在另一邊，也有約一半的人民，或許是另一種心情。

我之前在另一個專欄寫到，這個世界就是一半一半，包括政治也是一半一半；這一半和另一半互相消長，有時這邊多一點，有時那邊多一點。重點是，這一半永遠不能排除另一半, 反之如是。也因此，競爭才會繼續下去，社會才會前進，這就是民主政治的奧妙。

這一次選舉結果，華人加上城區選票倒向民聯，傳統馬來人和鄉區選票傾向國陣，這也是一半和一半的效應。問題是，這個國家就要因此分成兩半嗎？土著和非土著也要分成兩邊嗎？不是的。一半和一半的哲學，是一種區分和競爭的關係，而未必是敵對和衝突。譬如，一半女人,一半男人，兩者不是對立而是和而不同，也是互補。

大選後的一半一半形勢，也可以從對立敵視，轉換為競爭和互補。選舉過後，就是緩和社會緊張，彌補人民裂痕的開始。國民和解和國家團結，要從政治人物開始。

記得2008年的美國總統選舉嗎？那一年，奧巴馬贏了，成為史上第一位有色人種的總統。美國政治出現劇變，一半人民欣喜，另一半人民不滿，憂心忡忡。敗選的是麥凱恩，這位開明的白人共和黨人，發表落選感言時說：“奧巴馬成功地激起數以百萬美國人的希望，我對此深表欽佩和讚揚。＂

“今天的美國已經不同於過去那個殘酷和充滿醜陋偏見的時代（指種族歧視年代）；一位非裔美國人當選總統就是最好的明證。“我們的國家正處在困難時期。我今晚向他承諾，將運用我的全部力量幫助他帶領我們面對挑戰。＂

而中選總統的奧巴馬，感言中也提到他的對手：“麥凱恩參議員為美國的奉獻犧牲，是我們多數同胞難以想像的；因為有他這位勇敢無私的領袖的奉獻，我們才能過比較好的生活。美國的選舉，還比大馬激烈；但是，美國沒有因此而分裂，每一次選舉後，國家繼續向前。

納吉說選後要啟動國家和解，打造國民團結，踏出第一步；當然，日後還要看他怎麼做。我只希望，當民間出現兩股對峙的情緒時，勝選者不要再為自己附加自負的言語，而敗選者也不要歸咎對手和制度，擴大裂痕。

我讀到一個律師的選後留言：“你可以歡慶，你也可以飲泣；但是，請你往前走，為和解和復原而努力。＂

5年後再來吧！

There is no such thing as not voting ...

The following is a famous statement written by the German pastor Martin Niemoller (1892-1984). It is about the silence and sloth of German intellectuals following the Nazis' rise to power and the subsequent purging of their chosen targets, group after group. Simply because they did nothing, and kept silence, let Nazis, one by one, killing them violently.

It reminds me about how we Malaysian, also inaction and keep silence,  about this corrupted and abusing Government, for the last 56 years!

Simply we remained silent, and not to speak out, so we are abused for 56 years! Time to wake up ... 

________________________________________________________

When the Nazis came for the communists,

I remained silent;

because I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,

I remained silent;

because I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,

I did not speak out;

because I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews,

I remained silent;

because I wasn’t a Jew.

When they came for me,

there was no one left to speak out.

____________________________________________

"If you are bored and disgusted by politics and don't bother to vote, you are in effect voting for the entrenched establishments of the two major parties, who please rest assured are not dumb, and who are keenly aware that it is in their interests to keep you disgusted and bored and cynical and to give you every possible reason to stay at home grumbling and watching TV on polling day.

By all means stay home if you want, but don't bullshit yourself that you're not voting. In reality, there is no such thing as not voting: you either vote by voting, or you vote by staying home and tacitly doubling the value of some Diehard's vote."

                ----  the late David Foster Wallace, a writer.
____________________________________________

Enough is enough, so this is the time, in kali lah!!! Change, is the ONLY choice, 改朝換代....

5 May 2013: Judgement's Day ...

Nga Kor Ming: 你不要换政府，也只有两条路可以走....

梁文道 - 变天

From Malaysiakini.......

变天

梁文道 2013年5月3日 中午12点46分

赶在大选之前，我再次来到马来西亚。这一回，我却看到了一个未曾见过的新国家。并不是吉隆坡多了一座双子塔，也不是发现了一座足以保证未来财富源源不绝的新油田，而是在无数细微经验之中感受得到的新观念，这种看不见摸不着的抽象观念却能在空气中弥漫出一股令人亢奋的气味。

一个诚诚恳恳工作、老老实实做人的父亲，平时不问政治，这时竟半小时更新一次脸书，追踪选情的动向。一家开在街角的商店，平日恨不得全天候开业，这时竟提早收工，只是为了全店上下可以及时赶上那怎么样也去不全的政治集会。
这一切奇怪的新现象，全都来自一个从前不曾普及的观念。这些父亲和店家开始相信，他们的国家可以是个不一样的国家。

正如大部份威权国家，马来西亚的社会主流长期浸淫在一种政治宿命论的阴影之下。这种政治宿命论首先是套意识形态，它提供了一种解释世界的框架，告诉国民这个国家为什么会是这副模样，又告诉大家这副模样为什么是正当的，合理的，甚至完好的。与此同时，它还要大家接受这套解释，觉得它不可改变，仿佛老天注定，自有永有，犹如河流奔海，日出东方，乃是自然秩序的一部份。

此所以从前的马来西亚人或许会有很多抱怨，然后无奈摇头，叹息道：“没办法啦！这个国家就是这样。”甚至连抱怨都不抱怨，只是默默接受现状，按照既定的规则行事，在理论上很成问题的体系之内尽力寻求满足自己的利益。
如此生活，无异于认命，把一套人为的，虚构的世界观当成不可违逆的天命。每个人可以做的，就是在这天命之下各安其位，做个本份的老百姓。

在这个意义上讲，华人所谓的“变天”，便多了一层最最具体的涵义。从当年的台湾，到现在的马来西亚，霸权的崩溃，意识形态的失效，整个威权体系的瓦解，岂不正是名副其实的“变天”？

正义没有国籍

梁文道 2013年5月4日 中午12点01分

马来西亚是一个被种族政治玩弄了几十年的国家，几乎所有把公共资源让渡给少数权贵集团的举动，都被形容成是要保护“土族”（马来人）的正当措施；几乎所有本来就该被每一个公民公平享有的权益，都被描述为是权贵精英费尽气力之后，才替少数族群争取回来的恩泽。
在这样的格局底下，我跑去报名参加一位反对党好友的政治“研讨会”，难免尴尬。一个外国人，凭什么资格到人家的地盘上说三道四？一个外国人，尤其是香港人、中国人，走到一个华人为主的政治集会上说话，是不是有什么阴暗的图谋？这岂不正好中了当地马来人数十年来的疑虑，马来西亚的华人果然和中国人有种说不清楚的特殊关系？

我当然也有这层担忧，但这个世界上的确有些超越种族、国籍和地域的问题，使人不吐不快。

例如槟城，我在去过不知道多少回的小吃街上，看见满天蓝色旗海，在这一大片铺天盖地的旗帜底下，是一道道吃不完的菜，一罐罐喝不尽的酒，而且全部免费。还有一座临时搭建的舞台，上头是卖命妖娆的歌手载歌载舞。这全是执政联盟吸引选民的手段，不谈政纲，不讲理念，只有赤裸裸的收买而已。

更妙的是，这些活动的主办机构自称是与政党无关的私人慈善基金，但他们悬挂出来的旗帜上却分明印着执政党的标志。这难道不是一目了然的贿选？又如一位政坛华人领袖，他对大马贪腐情况严重的指控的回应居然是：“中国的贪污也很厉害，但中国却成了世界第二大经济体”！

面对如此荒谬，如此不义的现象，我们下一个基于良知的判断，还需要考虑多少国籍的问题呢？当年大家抗议南非种族隔离、支持昂山素姬和刘晓波的时候，又用得着担心这是哪一个国家的家事吗？

假如我懂马来文，又恰巧认识一位替反对派出来竞选的马来朋友，我也会忍不住想要参加他的集会。所有威权国家都喜欢把这种来自海外的自发声援称做“外国势力干预”；但所有受剥削的人民都晓得，正义是没有国籍的。

转载自香港《苹果日报》

如果你是我的父親....

文字：转载自网友 Jeanice Phuah

今天早上我哭了，当我看到林吉祥和林冠英两父子，在台上拥抱的相片。

我在想：如果林吉祥是我父亲，我怎么舍得72岁的他，一脸疲惫了，还要这么劳累地东奔西

跑？如果陈胜尧是我父亲，我怎么舍得72岁的他，还要为选民这么营营役役？如果卡巴星是

我父亲，我怎么舍得72岁又半身瘫痪的他，在上台时，因为助理的不小心，把他的脸不小心

摔到梯阶？还要忍痛演讲？

如果周美清是我母亲，我怎么舍得她，在丈夫坐冤狱时，代夫从军？如果旺阿兹莎是我

母亲，我怎么舍得柔弱的她，在国会里受尽屈辱？

如果他们是我的父亲母亲，我好想跟他们说：“不如我们回家吧！太累了...”

但是为什么？他们还是这么坚持在为政治斗争？为什么？

为一个看起来没有明天的，不公平的角力里为大马子民抗争。为什么？

我真的好想大哭，他们那看起来这么虚弱的身躯，内在却藏有着无比坚毅的灵魂！

斗争的这几十年来，除了被冤枉，被殴打，“被”坐牢，什么都没得到；没有挂牌公司，没有豪

华洋房，没有名贵跑 车，没有千万身家。

除了被冠上“反对党”的名号。一个不可能为他们带来任何利益的名号。

他们不是我的父亲母亲，他们也不是你的父亲母亲。但他们却愿意用他们一生人的生命来爱

我们，为我们打抱不平，要求公正。我们是多么的幸福。

505晚上的成绩揭晓，我绝对会大哭一场，但我多么希望，那是因为喜极而泣...

Keep calm, vote for change

Article from Malaysiakini

This article is very uplifting and full of hope. Now is weekend, it sets to change the mood and anticipate this coming Sunday, 5 of May, the Judgement's Day. 

Now, a positive feeling as we end our workday, the last weekend, under the BN's regime. When wake up next day morning, Monday, 6 of May: here we are, will have a new government! PR's Government!

Hope that my dream will come true, hahaha...

Keep calm, vote for change

Josh Hong 3:09PM May 3, 2013

It is less than 48 hours before Malaysians cast their vote in the most crucial election in history. So far, the sentiments on the ground clearly favour Pakatan Rakyat, especially in the urban and semi-rural areas. If there is any sense of fear, it can only be felt by Barisan Nasional leaders, most of whom are nowhere to be seen. Unlike their rivals, they have held few public rallies, and their ceramah sessions usually could not have taken place without free food and goodies.

In southern Johor, Pakatan’s rallies have drawn tens of thousands, breaking the records set by Penang. Also amazing have been the amounts of money collected. Even at a small neighbourhood ceramah at Damansara Perdana in Klang Valley, Pakatan managed to raise RM25,000.

In Bentong, Pahang, the night before, it was close to RM10,000. The biggest donations came from Penang and Johor, where the amounts are anywhere between RM200,000 and RM300,000!

This is truly a phenomenon that I have never seen before. How much I wish my late parents - who had voted PAS all their lives - could live long enough to witness also the sweeping winds of change.

I am pretty certain many Malaysians who have received 1Malaysia allowances are now contributing the money to the opposition pact, but it also reflects a real and deep yearning for change that can no longer be suppressed by BN.

As the amounts grow, Mahathir Mohamad’s days are numbered and we may soon see him in the dock over corruption and abuse of power. We are one step closer to the Mubarak moment and Mahathir’s family had better be prepared for the worst. It would be among the best moments for Malaysians, though.

Yes, this strong fear of losing is engulfing the entire BN. Rosmah Mansor, the self-styled ‘First Lady’, is keeping a low profile knowing that her appearance would do more harm than good. Or perhaps she now spends more time packing her shoes, handbags and, of course, great variety of cincin.

Even Mahathir’s campaigns on behalf of his chosen candidates are lacklustre at best. In a meeting with Umno faithfuls in Putrajaya, he only managed to pull in 1,000, as opposed to the 10,000 who had thronged the administrative centre’s major mosque to greet Nik Aziz Nik Mat, PAS’s spiritual leader, two days before.

Yes, I maintain my prediction earlier that, save for some last-minute blunder, Pakatan will win this election. What is most critical now is for each and every Malaysian voter who desires change to come out and vote so that the eventual numbers are big enough to offset the size of the phantoms that BN has and continues to plant.

New breed of politicians

This election not only represents a golden opportunity for Malaysians to bury the politics of fear and racism, but also to welcome a new breed of politicians who are far more intelligent and capable than those presented by BN: Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Nurul Izzah Anwar, Fuziah Salleh, Sivarasa Rasiah, Liew Chin Tong, Rafizi Ramli, N Surendran, Wong Chen, Elizabeth Wong, Yeo Bee Yin, Tony Puah, Salahuddin Ayub, Dzulkefly Ahamd, Husam Musa, Khalid Samad, Wong Tack, and many more.

Malaysians must make sure these talented politicians are elected, for they are in a strong position to change our political culture forever.

But Mahathir, Najib Abdul Razak and Muhyiddin Yassin will do their utmost to prevent this from happening. Mahathir, epecially, has again exposed his intellectual bankruptcy by harping on sex, sex and sex. He has been doing this for nearly 15 years now, corrupting the minds of the Malays. It  shows only how fearful and desperate he has become over Umno's ultimate downfall.

Marina Mahathir has most probably sensed that too, as she tweeted a reminder a few days ago that democracy needed “not too strong a government and not too week an opposition”.

Is she also getting vibes that BN’s defeat would be massive? Anyway, I don’t recall if she did say something to that effect while her father ruled and terrorised the country for 22 years with an iron fist.

It is vitally important to end through this election Mahathir’s more than six decades of political career, most of which has been catastrophic for Malaysia’s ethnic relations. But Pakatan’s win would also open up chances for those who have suffered much for Malaysia’s democratic future to be rewarded.

One of them is Lim Kit Siang (left in photo), who has been fighting fearlessly for a Malaysia that is more just and equitable, only to be put in detention under the notorious Internal Security Act.

What is more, Lim has been made to endure for more than four decades a racist smear campaign by Umno, while being denied an opportunity to speak for himself either on TV or in the BN-controlled press.

The wolf-pack attack by Utusan Malaysia, RTM and TV3 is so successful that Lim is facing a tough time talking to the relatively more conservative Malays in Johor. I don’t blame them, for they are simply the victims of Umno’s racist propaganda.

However, should Umno fall, Malaysians must make sure the new government set the media free so that everyone would be given a chance to reach out to the masses through the public media regardless of his or her political affiliation. Maybe then more Malays in Johor would get to hear Lim out for the first time.

Fair opportunity to debate

Not only for Lim, but also for Anwar Ibrahim who has been stigmatised and even ostracised for so long, as well as PAS leaders. When all parties are given a fair opportunity to debate with each other and to engage the public, all the issues that are now widely perceived as divisive and harmful can be handled in a mature and responsible manner.

It would eventually debunk the long-popularised myth that Malaysians are not capable of tackling political, religious or ideological differences.

Hence, I don’t see any drawback in Pakatan’s victory in terms of opening up the public space, but it would be nightmarish for BN parties because they are simply too mediocre and even stupid to do just that.

Still, more moronic would be Malaysians who return them to power.

Hence, ignore all the threats and enjoy the festive sentiments of this election. On 5 May, we shall all keep calm and vote for change.

Only then will we be able to tell the world loud and clear: Malaysia memang boleh!

---

JOSH HONG studied politics at London Metropolitan University and the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. A keen watcher of domestic and international politics, he longs for a day when Malaysians will learn and master the art of self-mockery, and enjoy life to the full in spite of politicians.

林吉祥: 505換政府, 506新政府

国阵的支持者-請用心听和看

梁文道- 真理不需要请客, 公正不需要恐吓

The Following article quoted from Malaysiakini

梁文道给马来西亚人的一席话-01

梁文道现身马章武莫挺李凯伦
“人民无惧国阵去投票就赢了”

刘嘉銘 2013年5月2日 上午10点59分

距离投票日不到72小时，民联与国阵的政权攻守战胜负难料之际，著名香港时评人梁文道昨晚现身槟城大山脚的马章武莫（Machang Bubuk），公开为公正党候选人李凯伦及对抗威权统治的人民打气，宣称无论选举结果如何，他们已取得胜利。

反观，他说，诉诸镇压手段、挂满一马旗帜及免费请客来争取选票的国阵早未战先败。

笑称主动请缨帮忙

梁文道否认，本身专程到槟城为李凯伦站台拉票。但他不讳言，获知后者参选后，主动请缨贡献绵力。

“有人说李凯伦很有面子啊，把我请来。其实，这种说法是错误的。事实的真相是，我这一次来到马来西亚，听说李凯伦要在大山脚出选。我是主动报名，问我有什么可以帮忙的吗？”

他说，首次来马来西亚时就认识李凯伦。当时，他接触两群不一样的人，即马华公会与李凯伦的动力青年（Y4C），而看到马来西亚的两种未来。

“那个时候，我就开始观察马来西亚会往什么方向走。认识凯伦多年来，我非常了解他的为人、信念和立场。因此，这就是为何我这一次来听说他要选举，问他能否给我一点机会？”

是非对错一目了然

生于香港，少年长于台湾的梁文道头戴多顶帽子，如香港文化教父、凤凰卫视《开卷八分钟》主持人及香港牛棚书院院长等。他昨晚在阿尔马动力空间与李凯伦对谈“步向民主化的马来西亚”时，向在场的300名群众分享他对大马选举的观察与分析。

“这一次我来马来西亚很感动。我们大部分人都相信，这个世界上有是非对错、有真理，公正必须得到伸张。但是大部分时候，这个世界的现实黑白不是那么分明，是非如此混淆，通常是灰色的。”

“我自己从来不敢说，什么大是大非的话，我觉得这种话不能随便讲。但是在这次选举里面，马来西亚走到今天这个地步，我的确看到一些是非对错，真理与公义的问题。”

“是那么的清晰，那么的简单地呈现在眼前，根本不用去问。”

撒钱请吃饭做错了

梁文道举例，大约4年前在著名时事评论人杨白杨家里，一起通过电视收看示威的新闻。但是，转了几个电视台都看不到。

“直到看到美国有线电视新闻网（CNN），终于看到了。就在吉隆坡双峰塔下面，警方用水炮撞开所有示威的群众。然后CNN的记者拿着镜头被水炮冲走了。镜头对着他，他说：这就是大马式的民主（This is democracy in Malaysia style）。”

梁文道说，他在那一刻就知道，国阵政府已经输了。

“它好像很强大，其实它已经输了。昨天晚上，我去过槟城（岛）。我看到满街挂着那么多一号的蓝色旗，有那么多的免费的请吃饭。”

“它那么有钱，请那么多人去吃饭。我就知道，它已经错了。”

“公正不需要恐吓”

梁文道表示，当一个政权来到了动用水炮镇压示威者，花钱请饭叫人投票给它的地步，它就已经输掉了。

“当它告诉这个国家的人，你们投公正党一票就是在投回教党一票，用这种恐吓的方法来警告自己的选民时，它就已经输了。”

“真理不需要请客，公正不需要恐吓。”

他说，李凯伦的父亲李添霖也已经是一名赢家，因为从当年担心儿子参与烈火莫熄运动被逮捕，至今却公然拿着麦克风助选。

投下一票就已经赢了

梁文道表示，一些华人家庭以前从不问政，因为觉得政治很肮脏和残酷。但渐渐的，一家人吃完饭后却各自上面子书论政。

“他们这家人已经赢了。”

他说，在场者若从未参加过任何政治集会，曾担心被记录与对付，如今居然走出家门，头也不回地赴会就已经赢了。

“真理、公正跟正义是这么的清楚，是非是如此判然，谁对谁错太清楚了。在这个时候不论选举是什么结果。再过几天，当你们去到票站开始投下一票的那一刻，你们已经赢了。”

民主化需有坚定信念

尽管如此，梁文道（左图）在问答环节受询时坦承，一旦未如预期中推翻威权统治，民众或陷入沮丧或愤怒的局面。

“沮丧会带来相当一段时间的政治低气压与冷感，觉得付出那么大的努力，曾经有那么大的期望，到最后还是输了。而且，安华说过这一届再败就退出政坛，其他最重要的反对派领袖的年纪则都很大了。”

“另一个是会愤怒，会觉得一定是选举有问题，一定是造假。也许会有激烈的街头行动，甚至是冲突。”

但他希望，两种状况都不会发生。

即使反对阵营最终败选，他说，其实已在某程度上推动了改革与两线制的议程，因为国阵组成的弱势政府最终需让步，与在野党合作。

他提醒，支撑民主化过程的不是一时一刻的情绪，而是坚定的信念。

为维护霸权分裂各族

针对另一名民众表示，担心属于少数群体的华裔权益在民主化中被削弱，梁文道表示，不曾听到任何美国华人提出类似担忧。而事实上，大马政府虚构的种族分裂，是为了捍卫自身的霸权。

“它让每个族群都在为自己的未来担忧，马来人怕华人、华人怕马来人、印度人怕外劳，大家互相害怕。它利用这种害怕，它才能长久执政。

“这个政权是建立在老百姓互相恐惧的基础之上，你说这是个正义的政权吗？”

“在正常的民主国家里，不只是少数尊重多数，而且是多数尊重少数。哪有一个国家，一天到晚让自己的国民感到害怕？”