Cute Malaysia

          Just had a bowl of hot noodles while it continues to rain outside. As the warmth of the noodles occupy my stomach, i lay lazily in front of my computer, hopefully just to give my mind a rest. However, i can't help but recall the contents of our local dailies for the past few days.


         It's rather pathetic when i go through the newspapers everyday and get to know the cute side of Malaysia. At times, it just turns me off to grab hold of the paper and start browsing through it. Hogging the headlines aren't the stories of great achievement of our country or some important world news. Rather, seeing politicians running down each other and displaying the immature side of themselves. Though I may still support the opposition to continue to keep the government in check, I never liked any of the sides. Penang DAP an exception because of the work and effort they put it. That's another issue anyway.

         Back to the hotly debated issue of abolishing the PTPTN loans. Well, frankly speaking, there isn't a need to do so, Mr Anwar. Afterall, it isn't causing Malaysia any problems financially. On a positive note, PTPTN was established to help those who cannot afford to pay the tuition fees imposed by the university as well as the high living costs when it concerns places like Kuala Lumpur. Indeed, the Minister of Higher Education is right to point out that by abolishing the PTPTN loans, many would be deprived the chances of pursuing higher education, given the current socioeconomic gap between the city and the rural areas. I could not agree more than our opposition leader is none other than fishing for votes.

          Today's front page of The Star speaks about the allegations of a model towards our minister. Of course, that's nothing beneficial other than yet another topic to gossip. What caught my attention was the statement made by Senator Datuk S. Nalla­karuppan against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, regarding a defamation suit. And there follows numerous politically geared articles as our nationwide General Election looms around the corner. In all, the first few pages supposedly to be national news turns out to be distorted and biased views of the political scene nowadays.

         I can still recall some articles in those days when I was young and was forced to read the newspapers. It was less politically centred and focused more on reporting news, rather than creating news as how it seems to be these days. The mass media is supposed to educate the public, especially the young ones on how our country is being developed and led by charismatic leaders (Mr Lim Guan Eng is one, but since he is in the opposition....), and at the same time, not being biased towards any quarter. Undoubtedly, the media is controlled by the government, but as a wise and transparent government should be, news should be reported just as they are without manipulating the facts. Malaysia has lots of catching up to do when governance is the issue. Malaysia education standard on par with developed countries? Either the minister is an epic fail, or the system is an epic fail. Think twice before you crack not-so-funny jokes, my beloved Education Minister.

        Well, this is Malaysia and the future is always as bleak as usual. Nothing much has changed since we achieved independence some 50 years ago. Vision 2020 is on the brink.  While being sick of the media and our politicians, I can just wish Malaysia the best of luck. After all, 'first world facilities, third class mentalities' sums it all.


*Just the author's personal opinions and trying not to offend any party in the process *


Signing off,
yikping
827pm