The Bawang Fiasco

     Its been almost a week after the Bawani fiasco and I've heard quite a few things about it which gave me the impression that I already know what happened in UUM. Which is why I J\just watched the video. I'm a little late with my 2 cents.

Bawani The Mamak

     First of all, Ms Bawani's tone was impolite and at times she was shouting. I think she didnt know how to turn on the microphone or that it was already on. I do not agree with her body language and the manner/choice of words that she used. Too harsh for a public forum and shows a depressing lack of education for a University students.

    Speaking up is good for Malaysians cause we tend to shut the fuck up a wee bit too often. But to speak up in the way that Bawani has, I would prefer that people who run's their mouth faster than their brain can think should just shut the fuck up. Ms Sharifah is right when she deplored that Ms Bawani needs to learn respect.

Ms Sharifah The Mamak

    Which is related to the 9 'listen' that everyone is talking about. You see, she was trying to speak to an undergraduate which is maybe 10-20 years her junior. But Ms Bawani just kept on rolling refusing to back down. What she should have done was to keep quiet and listen to Ms Sharifah's reply and if she is as smart as she was trying to appear from reading prepared notes on a sheet of paper proceed to formulate a riposte to Ms Sharifah's reply. THAT would earn my respect.

    Malaysia do not provide free education because our education is already very cheap. And with loans from ptptn which charges a yearly interest rate of a measly 1%, poor people are more than capable of funding for their child's education. Those countries that she named are oil-rich or mineral rich countries with zero political flexibility and or freedom. Cuba? really? Fidel Castro? Venezuela's Hugo Chavez?

     The thing is and I'll be honest with you. Malaysia cannot afford free education because we dump most of our money into oil subsidies. Paying RM1.90/litre when the world is paying RM3 or more /litre. Click here for a list of world prices acquried from the World Bank. 

     You know what.  I say we should remove the subsidies, spend the billions on improving our national transportation system so that people can use it. Then the roads will be less congested and less hazardous with old cars breaking down in the middle of the road. And the spare change, we'll use it provide free education. Because government schools yearly fee of RM100+ is a much heavier burden than petrol costs.

    I know because I spent 6 years in a government school paying on average RM115 per year.

    Ms Sharifah however has also proven that she lack the professionalism and a mature mentality to handle sticky situations. Comparing real-human problems to problems faced by animals is just ridiculous and she could be certain that it will be taken out of context as it has happened.

    Furthermore, why shouldnt we compare ourselves to nations around the world? Why should we be satisfied and just accept whatever we are given or provided? I say that we should and we need to use them as a measuring stick to see where we stand in this world and how we are going to improve on our current situation. By first knowing and identifying the areas slacking in comparison, only then can we take action.

    On the political matter that Ms Bawani brought up about 'Bersih' and Ms Sharifah's strong reply. Both parties have their own views and in their respective position were both correct. However, due to the heat of the argument neither of them was able to recognize it. Yes, Bersih is legal. Yes, Ambiga is 'Pencetus Demokrasi  Demonstrasi' or Igniter of Demonstration to loosely translate. Okay i'll admit, I dont know how to transalte Pencetus Demonstrasi to English. =\

    Both are right, she didnt say Ambiga promoted anarchy or the cessation of government, Ms Sharifah strongly pointed out that she thinks that Ambiga incites demonstrations and in a Democratic country, the right to protest or demonstrate is enshrined in the constitution. But it is the government and not the constitution which passed the law that political gatherings of 3 persons or more is illegal. 

    I think they're shooting up the wrong tree.

    So this fiasco has caused much kopitiam palavers that If all those engaged were to focus their minds on solving national problems such as lousy roads, rubbish clogged drains and the politically explosive topic of Water, I think we will be having much less problems than animals.

Disclaimer : The title is intentional.