all we do is linger...

change can happen

(AP Photo / David Guttenfelder)

The acceptance speech by the new president-elect, Barack Obama:

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.

It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled – Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.

It's the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.

It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.

I just received a very gracious call from Senator McCain. He fought long and hard in this campaign, and he's fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him and Governor Palin for all they have achieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead.

I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on that train home to Delaware, the Vice President-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.

I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last sixteen years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nation's next First Lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House. And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them is beyond measure.

To my campaign manager David Plouffe, my chief strategist David Axelrod, and the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics – you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you've sacrificed to get it done.

But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to – it belongs to you.

I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington – it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.

It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give five dollars and ten dollars and twenty dollars to this cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered, and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this Earth. This is your victory.

I know you didn't do this just to win an election and I know you didn't do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime – two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage, or pay their doctor's bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America – I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you – we as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government can't solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it's been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years – block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek – it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers – in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.

Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House – a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity. Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, "We are not enemies, but friends…though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection." And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn – I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too.

And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world – our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down – we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security – we support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright – tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.

For that is the true genius of America – that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing – Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.

She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons – because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.

And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America – the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.

At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.

When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.

When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.

She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that "We Shall Overcome." Yes we can.

A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes we can.

America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves – if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time – to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth – that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:

Yes We Can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.


We can really learn something now, can't we?

Malaysia to ban yoga?

RULING ON YOGA THIS FRIDAY

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 (Bernama) -- The National Fatwa Council will come out with a ruling on yoga exercise on Friday, said Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) director-general Datuk Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abdul Aziz.

He said the ruling would be made after an in-depth study over six months was done and after the matter was referred to the council three times.

The ruling is related to the faith of Muslims who practised yoga, Wan Mohamad told reporters after officiating a seminar on 'akidah' (faith) at the Wilayah Persekutuan Mosque here today.

Recently, a lecturer, Prof Zakaria Stapa of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Islamic Studies Centre, advised Muslims who had taken up yoga to stop practising it out of worry it could deviate their belief.

Yoga, related to health, has been practised since 3,300BC and is said to help slow down aging, reduce risk of diabetes, asthma and heart-related diseases.

The daily exercise practice has many poses, positions and concentration techniques based on elements of Hinduism.

Also, Wan Mohamad said he regretted the attitude of Muslims in the country who were easily influenced by foreign cultures to the point of affecting their faith.

"When those involved take them as trends, such cultures can lead to a serious crime according to syariah law (Islamic law) and this can destroy the family institution," he said.

Wan Mohamed said the recent National Fatwa Council ruling to ban tomboyish behaviour, that is women looking like men whether in appearance or dressing, was to preserve the faith of Muslims.

He said syariah law can be brought to bear on Muslims who practise culture that can deviate their faith.

I think the National Fatwa Council has totally lost the plot. First, they ban tomboys. Now, they want to ban yoga. Are the faith of Muslims in this country is so fragile that they have to issue decrees to keep Muslims in line? Really now, don't the council have more pressing matters to attend to?

In all my time practising yoga, I have not prayed to any Hindu gods or deities, and neither have I chanted any mantras. Yoga, like any other form of exercise, helps release stress and improves health. It's a great alternative for people who are not keen on high impact sports such as running or tennis or whatever. Honestly, I don't see why they got their knickers in a knot over yoga.

And you know what else is funny? Now, certain Christian groups are jumping onto the bandwagon. They're like "Oo... now that you've mentioned it, we actually felt the same about yoga all along".

Such third world mentality. I pity my country.

yao xia yi ko wo jiu quan ming bai

ke bu ke yi rang wo zai rang wo zai yi ci hui dao na ge mei li shi jie li
zhao zi ji

wo zhen de xiang zhao yi tiao chuan, neng yuan yuan li kai zhe pian sha tan

wo de xin, wo de xin
lan lan di...

mei you ni ri zi hen hei bai

wo xiang yao tian tian suo, tian tian suo
tian tian dui ni suo wo you duo ai ni...

ai guo ni... zai wo xin li zhi neng qing qing tan xi

hu ran xin tong de wu fa zai ya yi　
yuan lai cong wei wang ji...

escapism

Some days I wake up and I feel like I'm 30, which is what I'll be in a couple of months time. This doesn't usually happen and I'm not aversed to aging but today is one of those days that I actually feel old and lousy.

Well, maybe growing older is not the real issue here. It's growing 30.

When I was in my teens, 30 seemed a lifetime away. Turning 30 is for old people. Old people who would've accomplished many things and has life in the palm of his/her hand. He would be the owner of a metallic convertible. She would travel to any country she fancy. He would run his own million dollar business or at least be a top executive in a multinational firm. She would have a career, a loving boyfriend and live in an apartment on the hill with breathtaking views of the city.

So I'm turning 30 and I'm wondering where I stand in my path of life. Have I achieved everything that I possibly could? Or am I procrastinating my life away?

********

The other day I decided I should take off and travel on my own for a bit. I've always wanted to do this solo self-discovery travel the world thingy. There's so many places I could go that I can't quite decide.

I wanted something quiet and non-hectic. A place to stay that's cozy and homey. That is how I found Greece.

This is a house in Agios Vasillis. It comes one bedroom with a queen size bed, living room, fully equipped kitchen and bathroom with marble shower. From the balcony, I may enjoy a panoramic view of the Mykonos town, harbour, and islands beyond. The sunsets are said to be magnificent. This house can be mine for Euros 150 per day with a minimum 7 days rental period.







Alternatively, there's this Hotel Heliotopos that looks so chic and romantic and yet rather homey. I like how everything's white in Greece. See the pretty butterflies on the restaurant walls.















I can imagine myself bumming around sipping on orange juice while contemplating mind-numbing questions like what to have for dinner or where shall I go tomorrow.

Source:
http://www.mykonoshappyhomes.com/house_agios_vasillis.html
http://hotel.heliotopos.net/

another day in the drama that is Malaysia

RAJA PETRA, TERESA KOK, SIN CHEW REPORTER ARRESTED UNDER ISA

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 13 (Bernama) -- Blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin, Seputeh member of parliament Teresa Kok and a Sin Chiew Daily News reporter were arrested Friday under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

Raja Petra was picked up from his house in Sungai Buloh at 1.10pm, Kok in front of her condominium here at 11.20pm while the Sin Chew Daily News reporter, Tan Hoon Cheng, was picked up from her house in Bukit Mertajam in Penang at 8.30pm.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar confirmed the arrest three.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar earlier Friday said that Raja Petra was detained after it was ascertained that he could disrupt and threaten security and public order.

Syed Hamid said when contacted that the blogger's detention came in the wake of various statements published by Raja Petra in his blog "Malaysia Today", the latest being a commentary which allegedly ridiculed Islam and Prophet Muhammad.

Raja Petra reportedly incited Muslims with a commentary on the article "I promise to be a good, non-hypocritical Muslim" which contained sentences that ridiculed Muslims besides allowing a commentary which ridiculed Islam and Prophet Muhammad with reference to the article "Not all Arabs are descendants of the Prophet" published in the "Malaysia Today" blog.

Section 73(1) of the ISA permits the detention of an individual for up to 60 days.

In Penang, news of Tan's arrest prompted several political party leaders, reporters and photographers to gather outside the Seberang Perai Tengah district police headquarters where the reporter was taken to.

Tan's family members were also there but declined to be interviewed.

Tan is the reporter who wrote the news claiming that Bukit Bendera Umno division chief, Datuk Ahmad Ismail, had said in a ceramah during the Permatang Pauh by-election that the Chinese were mere "immigrants" in the country.

At 11.10pm, Tan was seen coming out of the Seberang Perai Tengah IPD accompanied by two policemen and entering a Proton Waja car, believed to be heading to the state police headquarters on the island.

The car was also escorted by two dark-tinted Proton Wira cars, and on passing by the group of waiting reporters, Tan managed to wave at them.

Bukit Mertajam MP Chong Eng, who was earlier allowed by police to enter the IPD to see the detained reporter but was not allowed to speak to her, told reporters that Tan who was not handcuffed, appeared calm but shed some tears.

Some 100 leaders and supporters of political parties, including from MCA, Gerakan and DAP gathered outside the police headquarters and lighted up candles as a sign of protest over the reporter's arrest.

Meanwhile, Raja Petra's wife, Marina Lee Abdullah, said 10 policemen came to the house and detained her husband at 1.10 pm and took him away at 1.50 pm.

Marina said the police also took several tapes and a computer from her husband's room.

Raja Petra was detained under the ISA in April 2001 for his involvement in the reformation movement and was held for 53 days at the Kamunting Detention Centre in Taiping, Perak.

How is it that the reporter who reported a racist statement made by Ahmad Ismail gets arrested under ISA, for being a threat to the nation, while that damned racist goes around the state holding press conferences defending his views, not being sorry about it, and refusing to apologise eventhough the Deputy PM had apologised on his behalf? And he gets invited to tea with the PM so that he could explain his actions.

WTF is going on???

Now they claim to arrest Tan as her safety was under threat. You mean that's what the ISA is for? If her life is in danger, shouldn't you, I dunno, send some police over to her house instead? Or maybe put her under some protection program? Honestly, I really wouldn't know. I'm not in the business of peace enforcement or provision of protection services.

Really now, do they somehow pity Anwar and try help out his crusade a little? I think it's working.

guess what i found on YouTube?

More Japanese Tetris!!

live with no regrets: inked (ep2)

Joy Wong replied! She's Jimmy Wong's daughter. She said she'll book me into her time. All I gots to do is give her a call one or two days before I go over to fix up the appointment. How cool is that??? OMGOMGOMG... this is so happening!! Please please please don't chicken out.

Deeeep breath. Deeeeep breath.

I've got 3 weeks. Time to revisit the design I wanted and decide where I want my ink.

Gahh.

live with no regrets: inked (ep1)

For someone who's crazy about tattoos, it's rather confounding that I don't have one (yet). It's one of those things that I've been putting off and talking about for far too long.

It started during my studying days, on my various traipsing around Sydney town. I would sometimes walk past this tattoo studio called the Illustrated Man. I remember being very fascinated by the colourful pictures on the facade of the studio. Then there's the huge TATTOO STUDIO framing the entrance. Of the many times I contemplated to boldly walk through the door and bellow "Gimme an ink", never once did I grow any balls. That would probably help. But damn, was I so seduced.

Years later and after many just talks and parental approval (close enough), I went to Borneo Ink to set up an appointment. As opposed to generally peeping from the outside, I actually walked into a tattoo studio this time and talked to a tattoo artist. I had done my research and I sorta have a design in mind and I sorta know where I want it. But it takes about a month to fully heal and I was to take off for my OWD in two weeks. It'll never heal in time. Salt water + healing wound = BAD IDEA.

Then this morning, whilst deep into work, a sudden thought hit me "Hey, why not get inked in Bangkok?" I have no friggin idea where that came from too. So I googled and read some forums/blogs and the consensus was Jimmy Wong's da bomb. I googled some more and I found an email address. I just wrote him.

Is it meant to be this time around?

the wind of change blows straight

It's the kind of news that gives you goosebumps, gets you excited and yet apprehensive all at once.

The people have spoken. This is democracy at work.

Never has the ruling coalition lost so badly. Barisan has been denied two-thirds majority! What a landslide defeat.

One of the most surprising Barisan loss was the Kelana Jaya seat. Barisan fielded a strong contender, Lee Hwa Beng, against Loh "Accidental Hero" Gwo Burne and Billi "Dare To Fail Who Always Fail" Lim. I suspect Lim is just there for cheap publicity so that leaves us Lee and Loh.

And Loh won. Imagine that.

KJ is a Barisan safe seat. Lee was expected to beat his contender flat! Who has heard of the Loh feller before this? Mention the name Loh and they probably go "Loh who? Oh...the Lingam video guy ar? I see I see..." It is now said that if you nominated a kayu to run for that seat, the kayu would win. I think the residents of KJ didn't care for the name, face or colour of the Opposition's candidate as long as he is the Opposition. I have only seen one big poster of Nik Nazmi (candidate for DUN Seri Setia) around KJ.

In some ways, it seemed unfair that good guys like Lee, who does his job well, are being punished for the Government's mistakes. He has served Subang Jaya well and I'm certain he'll do the same for the KJ constituency. But like all Barisan MPs, he probably will just end up a yes-man. Look at Samy Vellu, one of the longest serving minister and who has a so-called voice. If he can't do much (or won't do much) about the demolition of the Hindu temples, what hope is there for Lee? Will he speak up? Will he be able to, loud and with conviction? I kinda like Lee. I just don't like the badge on his sleeve.

I hope the Opposition can get their act together. For one, nobody and much less the Opposition, saw this coming. For now, DAP, Keadilan and PAS will have to work together, as a team. What we have here is a very unlikely coalition with strong diverse belief system. I'm referring to PAS if you can't catch my drift. Keadilan won the most seats compared to the other Opposition parties and seemed the most neutral, and as such would probably be the leading party of the Opposition coalition. But I have my reservation. Keadilan was formed after the incarceration of Anwar Ibrahim, based on a more selfish agenda, I would believe. It'll be interesting to see their next move.

Irregardless of how all this will pan out in the end, at the very least we have shown the Government that we do have a voice and we are not afraid to use it. At least we have a chance with the Opposition. I mean, how much worse can they do, right?

how will you vote?

With the general elections just around the corner, it's hard not be caught up with the coffeshop talk sweeping across the nation. Suddenly everyone has an opinion on how to run the country, which is a refreshing change from the usual whatever-la attitude.

I asked every person I saw/spoke to this question: Government or Opposition? And the surprise is that the consensus is so extraordinary. People have made up their mind this early. Hmm.

So what gives?

Let's start with Abdullah Badawi, the fresh face after a long 22-year reign by Mahathir Mohamad. When Abdullah Badawi got elected as PM, he made a lot of promises. He promised to stamp out corruption and be more transparent, which are the biggest gripes I have under the former administration. For that, we gave him a clear majority but eh, what happened??

Dear Pak Lah, did you fell asleep for the last 4 years or so? Not only did nothing changed but I strongly believe things got worse! The economy has been mehh and all your visions, abandoned. There's talk that your son-in-law is da man behind the PM and he tends to make some remarkably stupid statements every time he opens his mouth, because y'know, he thinks he's all that. Bak kata pepatah, kerana setitik nila, rosak susu sebelanga. Mat Gemilang my ass.

You, Pak Lah, are getting senile. You deny one thing today but you do the opposite the next day. Case in point, when you denied rumours that you're getting hitched and when you denied the Parliament would be dissolved the following day. Could this be the reason why you forgot what you promised us?

Your politicians tell us, don't be so unhappy. At least we have racial harmony, we should be thankful for that. If hor, like what they say, racial unity is so important, why do we then have communal based parties? Why is there a need to identify my bangsa in various application forms? Just how real is this racial unity thingy you're selling us?

Got some more. Why are we not allowed to question the Dasar Ekonomi Baru (NEP)? Surely it is obsolete by now. The NEP has deviated so far from its goal of eradicating poverty irregardless of races. Read that again: IRREGARDLESS OF RACES. It now only benefit the Melayus and only a small section of elite Melayus for that matter.

Another sore point: UMNO. I'm sure many would agree UMNO is getting bloody cocky these days. UMNO is the base of Barisan and therefore the government. Everyone knows that. UMNO believes in upholding the special "birthrights" of Bumiputera. They call themselves a right-wing party. Then you have the live telecast of the UMNO general assembly, when the keris waving and kissing antics of a certain Hishammuddin Hussein Onn became legendary. In UMNO we also have politicians like Bocor MP Bung Mokhtar Radin and Close-One-Eye MP Mohd Said Yunus.

This next point, I'm very passionate about: Education. For someone like me, who's not a particularly brilliant student, my choices of studies in local universities would be somewhat limited. A non-Bumiputera can score 10As and yet be denied the field of study of his/her choice. How can things like this happen? Education should not be determined based on racial quotas. That's so wrong. I know I know, the quota system doesn't exist. Yeah right, at least not on paper. Let those who want learn get to learn what they want. And don't even get me started of the quality of local education. The sad state of the current education system is such that students can’t even think for themselves, much less string a proper sentence in English.

So now Pak Lah, do you see what I see? Do you understand why people are demanding for real changes? Why we have decided??

I love my country. And I love it enough to want it to change.

********

WHILE MALAYSIA FIDDLES, ITS OPPORTUNITIES ARE RUNNING DRY
Michael Backman

November 15, 2006

MALAYSIA'S been at it again, arguing about what proportion of the economy each of its two main races — the Malays and the Chinese — owns. It's an argument that's been running for 40 years. That wealth and race are not synonymous is important for national cohesion, but really it's time Malaysia grew up.

It's a tough world out there and there can be little sympathy for a country that prefers to argue about how to divide wealth rather than get on with the job of creating it.

The long-held aim is for 30 per cent of corporate equity to be in Malay hands, but the figure that the Government uses to justify handing over huge swathes of public companies to Malays but not to other races is absurd. It bases its figure on equity valued, not at market value, but at par value.

Many shares have a par value of say $1 but a market value of $12. And so the Government figure (18.9 per cent is the most recent figure) is a gross underestimate. Last month a paper by a researcher at a local think-tank came up with a figure of 45 per cent based on actual stock prices. All hell broke loose. The paper was withdrawn and the researcher resigned in protest. Part of the problem is that he is Chinese.

"Malaysia boleh!" is Malaysia's national catch cry. It translates to "Malaysia can!" and Malaysia certainly can. Few countries are as good at wasting money. It is richly endowed with natural resources and the national obsession seems to be to extract these, sell them off and then collectively spray the proceeds up against the wall.

This all happens in the context of Malaysia's grossly inflated sense of its place in the world.

Most Malaysians are convinced that the eyes of the world are on their country and that their leaders are world figures. This is thanks to Malaysia's tame media and the bravado of former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad. The truth is, few people on the streets of London or New York could point to Malaysia on a map much less name its prime minister or capital city.

As if to make this point, a recent episode of The Simpsons features a newsreader trying to announce that a tidal wave had hit some place called Kuala Lumpur. He couldn't pronounce the city's name and so made up one, as if no-one cared anyway. But the joke was on the script writers — Kuala Lumpur is inland.

Petronas, the national oil company is well run, particularly when compared to the disaster that passes for a national oil company in neighbouring Indonesia. But in some respects, this is Malaysia's problem. The very success of Petronas means that it is used to underwrite all manner of excess.

The KLCC development in central Kuala Lumpur is an example. It includes the Twin Towers, the tallest buildings in the world when they were built, which was their point.

It certainly wasn't that there was an office shortage in Kuala Lumpur — there wasn't.

Malaysians are very proud of these towers. Goodness knows why. They had little to do with them. The money for them came out of the ground and the engineering was contracted out to South Korean companies.

They don't even run the shopping centre that's beneath them. That's handled by Australia's Westfield.

Next year, a Malaysian astronaut will go into space aboard a Russian rocket — the first Malay in space. And the cost? $RM95 million ($A34.3 million), to be footed by Malaysian taxpayers. The Science and Technology Minister has said that a moon landing in 2020 is the next target, aboard a US flight. There's no indication of what the Americans will charge for this, assuming there's even a chance that they will consider it. But what is Malaysia getting by using the space programs of others as a taxi service? There are no obvious technical benefits, but no doubt Malaysians will be told once again, that they are "boleh". The trouble is, they're not. It's not their space program.

Back in July, the Government announced that it would spend $RM490 million on a sports complex near the London Olympics site so that Malaysian athletes can train there and "get used to cold weather".

But the summer Olympics are held in the summer.

So what is the complex's real purpose? The dozens of goodwill missions by ministers and bureaucrats to London to check on the centre's construction and then on the athletes while they train might provide a clue.

Bank bale outs, a formula one racing track, an entire new capital city — Petronas has paid for them all. It's been an orgy of nonsense that Malaysia can ill afford.

Why? Because Malaysia's oil will run out in about 19 years. As it is, Malaysia will become a net oil importer in 2011 — that's just five years away.

So it's in this context that the latest debate about race and wealth is so sad.

It is time to move on, time to prepare the economy for life after oil. But, like Nero fiddling while Rome burned, the Malaysian Government is more interested in stunts like sending a Malaysian into space when Malaysia's inadequate schools could have done with the cash, and arguing about wealth distribution using transparently ridiculous statistics.

That's not Malaysia "boleh", that's Malaysia "bodoh" (stupid).