Who Would Have Thought?

Natalie Shobana Ambrose (31st December, 2009 –theSun)

This time last year I was cleaning out my closet and getting ready to usher in 2009. Michael Jackson and Yazmin Ahmad were still with us, Perak seemed like a peaceful state, PKFZ was a mere alphabet jumble to me, by-elections didn’t happen every other month, being a political aide wouldn’t make insurance companies blink twice and increase their premium, cow heads were never seen in the city, models took their place on the catwalk and not headlines, fighter jet engines were not a concern, MCA was very organised and didn’t contribute to day-time soap operas scripts, it was safe to sleep in the nude without photos being taken and circulated, Balinese mansions were generally native to Bali and not Selangor, black t-shirts had a slimming effect and wasn’t a warrant to be arrested, bridges were safe to cross and I didn’t think twice if a stadium roof was going to collapse on me, Bahasa Malaysia and English were languages Malaysians speak that didn’t cause major protests, massive traffic jams and parliament debates, famous people didn’t just go missing, especially prime suspects, while one was a number and not a slogan for everything Malaysian.

I bet we all didn’t think that 2009 would be what it turned out to be, this time last year. For better or worse it was definitely a year that pushed a lot of emotional buttons especially for our country.

Though for me besides that feeling of disappointment, a prominent theme that runs through 2009 is one of loss - a loss of integrity and a loss of truth.

Short of sounding like broken record, 2010 looks politically grey. It feels as if the past week of winding down does not mark a week of reflection and ponder but rather a week of rest before another year of fighting.

In all that has happened in 2009 for Malaysia, nothing has been resolved.

If anything there has been a lot of vehement denial even when the facts are staring us in the face. The more that is swept under the carpet only adds ammunition towards the credibility of fundamental institutions like the judiciary and anti-corruptions agencies leading to more finger pointing at those who are seen to pull their strings.

Losing credibility is a serious offence to the people and loosing integrity far more detrimental to any leadership.

If anyone at this present time reaping the effects of the loss of credibility and integrity- it’s Tiger Woods. Lucky for him, he’s actually the world’s best golfer - but in the case of Malaysia, we might not be as lucky.

Integrity isn’t something that changes with the wind; its essence is consistency which is severely lacking in our world and immediately in our country. It’s not just political parties who lack it, all of us do.

Though, for every Ringgit lost and pocketed from the PKFZ scandal, missing fighter-get engines, money transfers, convention centres, and the multiple disgraces the AG’s report sheds light on- the average citizen looses, not only in tax ringgit but in a better future.

It’s New Year’s eve today and if anything we should take some time to ponder, wonder and remember what has happened, what is happening and what we’d like to see happen – not just for ourselves but as a nation and as a people.

I know I want the truth concerning the unresolved issues before they become another dust bunny under the carpet. Denying and pretending these incidences didn’t happen, or erasing records and brushing it off as hearsay does not mean it didn’t happen.

The fact remains that with all these unsolved mysteries – some things are true whether you believe them or not.

There is always a Sherlock Holmes waiting to uncover the truth no matter how repressed the media is – the truth does find its way out.

I hope 2010 doesn’t mean that the skeletons of 2009 are not addressed, though I also hope we can say good riddance to bad rubbish and move on to a better year ahead.

Here’s to 2010!


Natalie hopes and prays that things will get better for our country and wishes everyone Happy New Year!
Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

The Glue That Holds Us Together

Natalie Shobana Ambrose (17th December, 2009 –theSun)

More than ever our skin colour and prejudices seem to get the better of us. The media slips up in many ways portraying wrong images or rather allowing for racist comments to be published inciting hate, discrimination and fuelling prejudice.

It makes me sad to see this happen because for me and the Malaysians I know, our friendships go past colour lines and lean towards what we share in common.

I’d like you to meet some of my friends and decide for yourself if it’s wise to allow race to separate us from the values of humanity and what living in harmony means to you.

Fida and I have been friends for years. We met at our first job and we’ve been friends ever since. At first we thought we had nothing in common, she wore a baju kurung to work everyday and I spoke English with a twang. Last year, I spent Christmas day admiring her bridal outfit and watching her future husband recite the ‘lafaz akad nikah’ in one breath as I sat with my head covered at their local mosque.

Isabelle and I spent quite a few afternoons writing on the blackboard in Standard Two because we were slow. We have shared bosses and music teachers. On occasion I’ve received an ang pow from her parents. We’ve spent hours talking about our dogs, work, teachers we hated and wedding dress shopping.

Helina and I go way back. In fact out parents go way back. We have shared many laughs, cries, dances, travels and I’ve had many curry meals at her house with her family. We find it hard to stop talking and our goodbyes last a long time.

Then there’s the school bunch. We buka puasa at times and are in one another’s houses for the many festivals we celebrate between us.

I also have Yen Ning who has walked with me since I was 9. These days we spend time getting her little girl to smile at Aunty Nat.

Loo and I studied French in college. He’s had more banana leaf meals than I have and I more double boiled soups than he. We talk about culture, film, life and our never ending university lives.

Michelle and I met when we were 13. I love her Mum’s Portuguese cooking at Christmas time and our online chats since we’re time-zones apart.

EveKun gives me advice from Deepak Chopra and when she visits we have a blast at the kopitiam. While Sanjeev and I enjoy Dim Sum when he’s in town.

And then the two best friends who welcome me with great advice and a kick when I need it over a roti canai- Yoga and Shumita.

Ash is always up for Japanese anytime and when she calls my phone screams “Konichiwa”. The only thing Japanese about Ash is she knows where the good sushi is.

I stand out like a sore thumb Sunday mornings with another group I consider family. We laugh, sing and play with water balloons not minding our differences.

Who can forget the UN-bunch. One mixed pot of people, Anu, G, Bri, Rah, Sheila, Shree, all curry babies except for Daniel the German who very soon was christened Deepak. We had and still have so much fun when we meet.

Are we loud?

Yes we are. Just as Fida, Isabelle, Lina, the school bunch, Yen Ning, Loo, Michelle, EveKun, Sanjeev, Yoga, Shumita, Ash and I are when we meet. That’s who we are. Good friends having fun.

Malaysia is what we have in common. I couldn’t separate my friends by race because our socialisation and upbringing is want connects us rather than the colour of our skin. We have more in common because we relate to each other on a human level and share similar values and not similar skin tones.

My muhibah story is not unique though it seems to be something that we soon will only see in television advertisements if those in authority, institutions and the media are allowed to continue intravenously feeding prejudices to those who blindly follow.

There is no place in the world for blatant racism in the name of unity. Or the constant talk about race, forums and lectures about intruders and separation by ethnicity.

If anything, we need to realise that living peacefully together is an investment for the future.

The heart of the matter is that we are all Malaysians, and the more we allow for a lack of understanding to breed, the further away we move from unity and harmony.



Natalie’s friends come in different shapes, age and sizes and she loves them all to bits because they know too many of her secrets!
Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

Quit Mooching Off The Country

Natalie Shobana Ambrose (3rd December, 2009 - theSun)

There’s a new dictionary I refer to aside from the usual list. It’s called the Urban Dictionary. It’s not a dictionary that one usually quotes from but I find this contemporary archive of slang very useful for the ‘aged’ and not so ‘clued-in’ people like me.

My latest search was after a conversation about people who “mooch”.

There are twelve definitions for the word mooch (verb) listed, each capturing an aspect of the word- as most definitions do. The one that best describes a moocher (noun) for purposes of this article, is someone who leeches on or sponges off, trying to get something for nothing even though they have means.

I’m not sure about you, but I’ve met and have a few moochers in my life. After a period of being taken advantage of, I tend to breed feelings of indifference, get fed up with this personality flaw and have a very low tolerance level towards the moocher.

It’s not a nice thing to have to deal with I must say, unless you don’t mind being mooched off. I personally am not a fan.

Sometimes, it’s how one deals with the situation that encourages mooching too. Perhaps I’m enabling people to mooch off me because I don’t have the guts to tell them otherwise.

But sometimes there is no way of telling them to stop without ruining the relationship. But soon resentment sets in and then it goes downhill.

So how do you stop a moocher as big as corruption? I’m not sure.

For a country rich in natural resources, we have not shown to be good custodians of what we’ve been blessed with. How can all that money have gone with little uplifting the people?

According to Transparency International’s 2009 Global Barometer Index political parties are perceived to be most affected by corruption in Malaysia. Oddly enough, we are aware.

67 % assessed the current government’s efforts to fight corruption as ineffective. Perhaps the PKFZ issue got to those surveyed or the idea of implementing GST.

On top of all the money siphoned from going towards housing for the poor, basic amenities, education, correcting social injustices, improving the plight of the rakyat we’ve been mooched off to line the pockets of people who already have the means to live well and are lapping up the luxuries.

What is most confusing about the whole GST talk is that the government is getting its financial advice from American financiers- did we just sleep though the recent-current economic crisis?

And what are the measures in place to address money lost in the last year or two, not to mention years gone before we can allow more mooching to take place.

There’s an integrity deficit.

How is it that there are still those living in abject poverty in Malaysia? Where orphanages, old folks homes, centres for those in need and of need struggle to get funds or have to be funded by private businesses and private donations. Why are there so many “volunteers” burdening the public for donations in supermarkets, mamak stalls and near ATM machines?

Instead of unwillingly donating towards holiday homes, lavish meals and Balinese styled mansions, we should do something to stop our pockets from being picked.

I for one am not convinced that my best interest is at the heart of those who manage the wealth of the country.

Safeguarding the interest of the people is not mere lip service, more needs to be done. Don’t allow these injustices to continue and don’t tell the people to tighten their belts when they don’t have enough each day.

Giving away money at elections and during festivals to the poor is not giving back to the public. If anything it just shows how trivial the plight of the marginalized is to those in power.

We have enough convention centres and stadiums that costs millions and remain white elephants, what we need is for public funds to be accounted for and for the mooching to stop.

All in favour say Aye!

Natalie holds an anti-moocher placard in protest.
Comments: letters@ thesundaily.com