Monday, May 28, 2007

Boring Entertainment

Attended our Indian Golf Festival Dinner tonight. The heavy rain didn't stop the members from attending this function. After the dignitaries had all arrived, the guests were invited to help themselves to the wonderful food.

The food was good, the company was good and while we ate, we were entertained by a talented couple. The man played the keyboard while the lady belted out some very popular oldies. Until that moment, everything was just fine.

Then the M.C. for the evening announced the next show. Two stand-up 'comedians'. That was the most boring performance. It was so embarrassing to watch two adults putting on what they thought was a 'funny act'. No one was laughing and even when there was some laughter, it was more like being polite so as not to put down the two guys. One was dressed like a woman and the other was supposed to be the husband. Maybe we expected too much from them as we were entertained the previous month by a very talented guy who had the crowd in stitches with his jokes and showmanship.

I guess this happens in the entertainment world. If you want to survive, never get behind a more talented person.

Monday, May 07, 2007

Totally Racial!

Read in one of our local dailies that a major local bank that is linked to our government has issued a directive to all legal firms that have business dealings with it that they are required to have a 50% bumiputera partnership.

Doesn’t this sound like those racial policies that we used to condemn in the 50’s and 60’s which were implemented in other countries, especially South Africa? How is it we are implementing it here in this age? Where is the equality and fairness to one and all that our politicians are boasting of every time there is a by-election?

In my opinion, this is a direct result of the NEP policy. When this policy came into force, a huge number of less than qualified people came into power with the backing of the government, all in the name of restructuring society and correcting the economic imbalance between the races. These ‘worms’ that crawled out of the woodwork now are sitting in high positions from where they make policies that are favourable to them and their cronies. The government mentioned only 30% in their NEP masterplan but as can be seen, these ‘worms’ have now increased it to 50% without having to go through any parliamentary debates or voting by all the races.

What do the political leaders have to say about it? Nothing, because the dirty work is being done by others. They just shake their heads and look dumb. From here we can only speculate that before too long more directives will be sent out from other government controlled financial institutions, government agencies, local councils, education departments where all the 'worms' have entrenched themselves, with regards to compulsory bumiputera participation in all areas!

Our ‘mamak roti canai stall’ will be having a new sign board – “Dawood & Khairi Enterprise”. The local mini market could have – “Chuan Huat & Jalaludin” instead of the existing “Chuan Huat & Sons”. The worst hit will be the Indians. The local barber shop – “Samy Hairstylist” might become “SamyAhmad Hairstylist” although I find it hard to imagine how the barber is going to break even with this partnership. Most of them go it alone. What will be the bumiputera partner’s contribution? Sweeping the hairs from the floor?

If the Prime Minister doesn’t see the folly of these ‘policies’ issued by these ‘opportunist’ and take some sort of remedial action to put a stop to this nonsense, I think we will not progress but rather will fall behind Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and even Indonesia. Many of our enterprising and intellectual young people will migrate to greener pastures or at least where they will be rewarded for their own hard work and not have to surrender half of it to undeserving parasites.