a view from blogosphere
Founder-member of English rock band Pink Floyd, Roger Waters, talks to Al Jazeera’s Riz Khan about his stand on the physical and political wall that separates Israel from Palestine’s West Bank. The activist-musician is very much affected by what he sees as a horrendous injustice imposed on the Palestinians.
More than 30 years ago, Waters wrote the band’s famous album, The Wall. Give it a listen below.
A few songs to gingerly express Je t’aime in Malaysia.
This song, ‘If only I were Gayus Tambunan’, has the potential of being a chart-topper in Malaysia. Or at the very least, it would serve as a grim reminder to us Malaysians of corruption that inflicts society big time.
It is sung by an Indonesian ex-convict, Bona Paputungan, who was inspired by the exploits of Indonesian tax official Gayus Tambunan.
Gayus was jailed last week for seven years and fined approximately US$34,000 (RM105,000) for corruption and abuse of official position. He still faces several other charges and trials.
For full report, see here.
It’s weekend and time to listen to some rocking reflection of life.
A visitor to this blog, after reading my earlier posting, has kindly cautioned me that while there may be 1Sayang, there are a few versions of it.
Incidentally, there’s at least one version that comes from a neighbouring country, and I hope that this doesn’t cause tension between Malaysia’s cultural nationalists on the one hand and those of the neighbouring country on the other.
I now give (with the help of the said visitor) you a taste of the several versions of ‘Rasa Sayang Eh’. Enjoy.
Goodbye Michael Jackson (who passed away yesterday). ‘Black or White’ is one of his hits that will be remembered fondly.
How time flies. It’s been a year since the last time Malaysians witnessed the political tsunami that struck this land, the day the people voted for a change.
Did they see change? To a certain extent, yes.
But they also still see dissent and criticisms not being appreciated by the powers-that-be — and this is further compounded by restrained mainstream media.
They also still see ordinary Malaysians having difficulties in gathering peacefully in a public space (and without being tear-gassed).
They also still see certain people being detained without trial.
They also still see certain politicians behaving in an infantile manner in Parliament.
They also still see a case of two politicians staking a claim to the office of menteri besar (or chief minister) in a state.
They also still fail to see local council elections being conducted.
And for these reasons and more, some ordinary Malaysians may fail to see why they ought to celebrate the first anniversary of the political tsunami.
For the power-crazed, snapping out of this obsession is so hard to do.
The recent ‘Perak episode’ reminds me of the late John Lennon’s ‘Power to the People’ song. This is because large numbers of people in Perak, particularly those who went to the streets, reportedly insisted on having their voice heard and wishes granted.
Incidentally, is there going to be a re-play of this ‘Perak episode’ in Kedah? Malaysiakini reported on the possibility of a by-election soon for the Bukit Selambau state seat because it was alleged that the assemblyperson concerned came under ‘heavy pressure’ to leave PKR.
British singer Cliff Richard’s in the mood to congratulate.
Mustafa K Anuar's blog 