Lest We Forget

Natalie Shobana Ambrose (19th November, 2009 - theSun)

Overwhelmed from the excitement of a new addition to the family, a little 3 year old pulled a blank stare when asked what the baby’s name was. A few seconds later, the little girl dramatically slapped her forehead, frowned and said “Haiyoh, I’m such an old lady, I forgot!” I wanted to burst our laughing at this tiny little young thing who was obviously having a senior moment.

Forgetting is a very common thing that sometimes is assumed comes with age. My 91 year old grandmother always tells me that she’s old and forgetting things, and I sheepishly say to her that I too forget things very often. And after this little girl’s exclamation I’m convinced forgetting is not age or race biased and definitely not discriminate of social standing or political sway.

In saying that though, I’ve noticed in certain situations and professions, forgetting is a part of the requirements, it provides a good alibi, a great excuse, a big full stop, a fine reason and sometimes even part of policy. It’s a good way to end an argument, after all how does one argue with “I can’t remember?” or “I forgot”. It’s pretty darn hard to do.

Forgetting is all the rage these days in the political scene - a sudden memory lapse or amnesia of sorts and before you know it, even the people have forgotten. Sometimes it’s not forgotten, just hidden. Perhaps you’ve noticed that there is an unwritten list of things that we are not to address, discuss, bring up, blog or write about, and most definitely print?

It seems there are so many matters that get filed under classified information that we are not to question or speak about let alone be informed about. But what is it you ask? Sorry but I’m not at liberty to say because I myself don’t really know.

It’s classified remember, though the recent news of past classified Selangor land deals supposedly benefiting lower income groups has left most people with a yucky aftertaste upon declassification. But the ones that made the deals are all mum about it. Did they forget about the deals? Or did we forget? I’m sure the people of Bukit Botak didn’t forget.

I must say, forgetting doesn’t mean that it didn’t happen. It just means that one person forgot or a cluster of like-minded people forgot. It doesn’t mean everyone forgot. We can’t all forget events, facts, situations at the same time, though sometimes I do believe in ‘out of sight out of mind’. So if you’re not allowed to print, talk or even think about it, eventually it gets forgotten.

But the human mind is a complex mass that never really forgets. All it takes is one little thing, a smell, situation, song, person or word to jog your memory.

So what have we forgotten and how do we improve our memory to ensure we don’t forget again?

Perhaps you’ve played the game of recall. I’ll call out a word and you tell me what comes to mind. Lets play that and perhaps words like September 16, jumping ship, cow head, private investigator, tree assembly, Port Klang, foreign workers, political aide, March 8th, Royal Commission, protests, AG’s report, judge-fixing, police lock- up, submarines, corruption, Kamunting, might jog your memory.

Do you remember? I hope you do because we need to remember. We need to remember what we’ve been put through, we need to remember what’s been taken away from us as a nation and we need to remember what has happened so that we don’t make the same mistakes we did by forgetting and keeping quiet.

At a time where people around the world are wearing red poppy pins, the banner “Lest We Forget” resonates here at home. Lest we forget what has happened, lest we forget why so many have sacrificed their lives, fought for justice, peace, unity for a country they love - a country you and I love and call home.

The next time we sing the words Negaraku let us not forget what we are fighting for and let us have the courage to remember.

Natalie has just finished a box of blueberries because she read that blueberries help improve memory.

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One But Not The Same

Natalie Shobana Ambrose (5th November, 2009 - theSun)

One is a very powerful word though sometimes confusing because it can mean similar things on opposite sides of the spectrum- such as being united as one group or being number one in a group.

Part of the 1Malaysia concept are catch phrases that that have been repeated and one in particular about how all Malaysians have a place under the Malaysian sun.

When I first heard this statement I thought, that is a great concept. It’s worthy of a cheer or applause at the pause of a speech. It’s got a warm fuzzy feeling to it – we all have a place, we all have a function, we all belong- we are all equal.

Though having a place under the Malaysian sun doesn’t really mean we are all equal. It just means that we have a place, and I wonder what place that might be.

Your place might be in a lofty multimillion Ringgit apartment in the centre of Kuala Lumpur with views of massive traffic jams, the twin towers and shopping expeditions around the world, while another’s might be in a squatter next to a rubbish dump or a Malaysian suburb where foreign workers are paid to sit watch so you feel safe from thieves under the Malaysian sun.

For some, their Malaysian sun spot would be working a few jobs to make a decent living and for someone like Marina Undau, who scored 8A’s in the Sijil Pelajaran Menengah (SPM) exams having a place under the Malaysian sun means that she is not allowed a place at matriculation because of her mixed parentage, Sarawakian heritage and some official definition which does not considered her a native.

This one concept can be very confusing. Sometimes when I hear it being said or chanted I wonder if the concept that’s supposed to unite is a little schizophrenic.

How can being united and equal by definition mean that groups of people are blatantly discriminated by race? Or that a quota system is implemented in the name of equality?

Maybe the word one is confusing for some because though we might say we are one, the reality is that we are not the same and our differences need to be emphasized.

When the 1Malaysia fund was released a few months ago, I thought it was a great step forward. We would all be able to invest if we could. Then I read about how the fund had a 50-30-15-5 allotment based on race. Applause killed.

How united is this fund or its returns if your purchasing power is based on race. Imagine going to the bank to invest only to be told that though the fund is still open, they can’t sell you any because the allotment for your race has been taken up as you fall into the 5% that is so appropriately defined as ‘others’ in a one nation.

A recent news report stated that there are 20,000 Malaysians illegally staying in the UK. A more worrying statement was a quote from the Malaysian authority who thought it was necessary to present a break down of illegal overstayers based on race “98% are from the Chinese community and the rest are Indians and other ethnic groups and a small number of Malays”.

Perhaps what was meant to be a shame-on-you-finger-wagging-reprimand only proved that the concept of being one and equal does not exist under the Malaysian sun and perhaps that is why 20,000 Malaysians would rather live as illegals than come home.

I’m not in support of them but surely this tells us that going past the sentiments of 1Malaysia the reality is that rules in place don’t allow for Malaysia to be one.

It is hard to reconcile this concept of being one when 20,000 Bibles were recently seized because authorities are in business of copywriting words that have been used for generations according to CNN.

Affirmative action and the concept of a one nation don’t go together because all it means is that in word we are one, but we’re not treated the same under the Malaysian sun.


Natalie thanks U2 for the title of this article and their song “One” which is on repeat.
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