Friday 9 May 2014

PAS’ Unit Amal: Key to Winning Hearts & Minds for GE14

INTRODUCTION

(1)    The recent anti-GST rally was memorable for many reasons. One of the main ones which come to mind is PAS’ Unit Amal. Recognisable by their red uniform and pretty cool berets, they are the peacekeeping or welfare ‘troops’ of PAS. Read on for my analysis of this hearts+minds winning move.
  
Unit Amal - all ages and sizes. Picture copyright The Star.

Thursday 1 May 2014

Perspectives Matter: On MH370, the South Korean Ferry Tragedy, and Perspectives.

(1) It's been a while since I wrote an article. Time isn't quite a luxury it used to be, and well, I'd rather not write if I cant do justice to the article - or give it enough thought.

(2) Since my last post, many things have happened. MH370 remains a mystery. I'm starting to think that the west-Australia search efforts were just a decoy. Maybe there was something more sinister to it. Oh the conspiracy theories.

(3) Another tragic incident was the sinking ferry in South Korea. The ship carried 476 people. Only 174 survived, leaving more than 302 dead or missing. So far, about 212 bodies have been recovered. Recently a recording was released. A deceased student was able to record the last moments of the ill-fated ferry, and the recording was found in his mobile phone when his body was retrieved. Very sad stuff.

(4) Assuming everyone missing from the ferry incident is dead, it means that it's a 'worse' tragedy than that of MH370. Just to be crystal clear, any death is a tragedy. But the feeling or perception in our national news is that it has been relegated to a lesser story than that of MH370. This could be due to many reasons, including that MH370 is our own national tragedy on an international scale, and the element of mystery means that there is no closure and too much unresolved heartache. Either way, both are still tragedies.

(5) This isn't to say that there's anything wrong with the way the news is told or covered. The point is that there is perspectives matter, and getting as complete a perspective is hugely important before forming opinions.

Perspectives: Understanding GST, Our Rights, And the Real Losers in the "Successful" Anti-GST Rally

Lauded as successful, I'll be looking at the hidden cost of the rally on our people, children, and our democracy. Read on.
Despite the "Success", it's this kind of politics that both sides are breeding.
FYI, I think that the girl in purple is Chinese.

INTRODUCTION. THE ANTI-GST RALLY: CONTEXT


Picture Copyright - The Star
(http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/05/01/Photo-Gallery-May-1-anti-GST-rally/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter)

(6) So, the anti-GST rally took place on the 1st of May, labour day. Somehow it appears that Labour Day is a favourite when it comes to taking to the street - quite ironic considering this is a day when people are meant to rest, a day to recognise the hard work of all the good men and women of the workforce.

(7) It's nevertheless totally understandable why people protest - all the hardwork comes to naught if prices go up! We work to earn a living to live, we do not live to work.

(8) So, to many people, 50,000 according to most news website (or amazingly, 1.2 million according to a pemuda PAS tweet), this is an issue that they take to heart. It might, afterall, burn into the wallets of many.