Of unsound mind
We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.– Aesop, Greek fabulist The fabulist has boldly unveiled the soul and DNA of the embarrassing truth that is oft manipulated or manufactured by mad politicians feigning superiority and rare intellect. Every known societal malady, parody or tragedy can be traced back to […]
Let’s carry books to read
‘None of my days passes by without reading. I become restless if I don’t read.”- Datuk Dr Jeniri Amir, Malaysian political analyst and author. I seldom carry a book with me to read. Many a times in the past, especially after joining the work force, I would carry a book with me whenever I was […]
Sarawak’s 60th year of Independence
Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.– George Washington, America’s first president While ‘Bapa Malaysia’ Tunku Abdul Rahman has been named the Father of Independence, little has been mentioned about the role played by key Sarawakians in the creation of Malaysia. It was Bapa Malaysia who first brought up […]
Contractarians and Contrarians
No man has any natural authority over his fellow men.— Jean-Jacques Rousseau, French philosopher The obvious punishment dispensed by government is symbolised by the mythological king Sisyphus who was condemned to a lifelong punishment of pushing a boulder uphill. He never succeeded because the boulder kept tumbling back downhill. Do citizens have any sort of […]
Rethinking the ‘who will pay?’
“Public opinion always wants easy money, that is, low interest rates” – Ludwig von Mises, Austrian economist, 1881-1973 I HAVE always had a healthy dose of skepticism when it comes to subsidies. It’s a view that’s widely known among us in the field. But let me tell you what really keeps us economists up at […]
A Kuching stray dog story
Money can buy you a fine dog but only love can make him wag his tail. – Kinky Friedman, American songwriter Gina, a dear old friend in Kuching, is an animal lover. She loves dogs so much that at times I wonder whether the flurry canines are more important to her than her own self. […]
Speaking truth to power
“What I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we have.’ – Ophah Winfrey, American talk show host and philanthropist. Several years ago, I worked at an esteemed economic think tank in Kuala Lumpur as a senior economic analyst. At the time, certain economic issues were making headlines, and […]
Hadi, cash handout is corruption!
If we elect the same corrupt politicians every time, that’s an obvious message that we don’t want a change. – Sukant Ratnakar, Indian author At times, I’m truly amazed at how hollow and stupid some political leaders would become in their attempts to justify the unjustifiable. This past week, PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi […]
Cartoons and contention
Many of my cartoons are not a belly laugh. I go for nostalgia, the lump in the throat, the tear in the eye, the tug in the heart. – Bil Keane, American cartoonist It is said that laughter is the best form of medicine. Watching cartoon movies, reading cartoon books or strips, and editorial cartoons […]
Getting started with cheap Kapok guitar
If music be the food of love play on. – William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night My first guitar, a Kapok, cost me RM32. It was purchased on Aug 24, 1975 at a departmental store along Penang Road in George Town. I remember playing it the next day in our wooden longhouse Block 312 in Desa A, […]
