One + One ≠ Two !

So, you think coincidences only happen in Indian and other Asian movies? Think again! Looks like Western movies are taking their cues from their Bollywood and Kollywood and laughing all the way to their banks wielding their newly earned stardom and trophies. And not forget the rave reviews to go with that.
So, Ah Beng, our local illegal DVD seller has gone high culture. In this smattering colloquial Malay, he highly recommended this movie with a 'thumbs-up' sign - "Clear copy, DVD 9, Velly Good!"
And I was watching this 2010 French movie, Incendies (a multiple award winning Quebec Canadian and Jordanian collaboration movie), subtitled in English and well and trying hard to infuse a bit of culture into my life on top of the yoghurt that I occasionally consume!
It starts with a pair of twin in their late teen or early twenties, Jeanne and Simon Marwan, hearing a bizarre will left for them by their mother and read to them by their mother's employer of 18 years. The obviously dissatisfied kids are annoyed with their bizarre wish to pass one letter each to their unknown brother and father that they never knew. This Christian family, we learn, had been repatriated to Canada from the Middle East.
Interposed and weaving between the stories, we are told the beginning of the story of their mother, Nawal, in a turmoil filled civil war ravaged unknown country in the Middle East. Carrying an illegitimate love child from a forbidden love, the boyfriend was murdered by disapproving relatives; she is forced to give the baby for adoption by her guardian, her grandmother. She is relocated to start life anew as a university student when civil breaks out between the Christians and the Moslems. She, a Christian, disapproving of her faith mates' actions, goes undercover as a nanny in their leader's house just to assassinate him in broad daylight.
All these are told in between the story of the daughter going back to the Middle East nation in the impossible task of trying to find her father amidst hostile relatives who squirm at the mention of the name Nawal Marwan whom they consider a traitor and a shame to the family.
Meanwhile, Nawal is apprehended and is placed in a solitary confinement. The guards and a specially assigned torturer, Abu Taereq, try to break her down with physical and sexual torture but in vain. The product of this act is Nawal delivering a pair of twins in the hands of the prison midwife.
To cut the long story short, Nawal is released soon after and in repatriated to Canada with her twins.
Jeanne on the other hand discovers that the orphanage where Nawal's kid was given to had been shelled and the whereabouts of the orphans unknown.
When all roads seem to lead to nowhere, Nawal's Canadian employer's contact comes with groundbreaking news. After a few meetings with a few fighting war-lords, (they kept this part not so draggy, much to their credit, I should say), we discovered the filthy truth. This movie has gone to limits where no previous movie maker has gone before. Can't they be less offensive? Is there no taboo anymore? Most of the movies I know draw their line somewhere.
Abu Taereq is the illegitimate son that given for adoption! They are told of Abu's new life in Canada.
Nawal, before her death, had located Abu Taereq in a public swimming pool in Canada and had identified as her son by the unique 3 dotted triangular birthmark above the heel! (Hey! Seen that too many times in Indian movie before).
The movie ends with the twins passing both of the mother's letters to Abu Taereq and both had different messages to him, as a victim and mother!
I switched off the DVD player with bad taste just like I felt after watching Quentin Torentino's 2005 senseless movie Hostel!

Melatah.tah.tah...

The Malay diaspora can stand tall in the eyes of the international arena for at least two distinctly unique behaviours - Amok and Latah.

The act of warriors going on a killing rampage for pride and honour (amok, meaning frenzied Malay in older dictionaries) was recorded as early as 1670 by European seafarers. Even James Cook, the 'discoverer' of Australia noted that in his journals of these occurrences in the Malay Archipelago. In modern times, it has been described as a mental defence mechanism or a suicide attempt in a society where suicide is frowned upon, knowing well amok results in loss of lives of the sufferer.

Over time, amok has been made aware of the international community and had made it to the Oxford dictionary many years ago. It is also said that the warring psyched Viking would also go into a trance-like rage before a duel.

Another phenomenon which is unique to the Malay people is the act of 'latah'. Apparently, a small obscure tribe in Hokkaido also has sufferers of latah. Typically it is seen in middle-aged peri-menopausal ladies who upon simple prodding would start singing, dancing and talking in incoherent language. The trigger factors for this could a simple slipping of tray or slight pulling of the garments, much to the amusement of people around her. People of other cultures may not see the joke surrounding the action of the sufferer but it tickles them so much that they do it repeatedly. The person who latahs acts almost at an unconscious level and has no recollection of it afterwards.

Intermingling and close proximity at work of races in this country over time has 'latah' a kind of contagious infliction. It is a common sight to see Malaysian Indian civil servants going 'Pecot,cot,cot.....' at a little startled. This, I think is self-inflicted latah, in an attempt to blend with fellow working colleagues. And my Cambodian maid also latahs when startled!

"Latah is a condition where, triggered by the startle reflex, victims fall into a trance in which he or she engages in repetitive speech or movements. Often these take the form of echopraxic and/or echolaliac automatisms. Latah is found only in certain world cultures and is therefore commonly considered a culture-specific syndrome. Wikipedia"

Spicy Nasi Lemak 2.0 with potpourri of flavours

After hearing about all the bashing and publicity about the above movie, I finally watched Namewee's multi-lingualed (predominantly Mandarin with Malay, Tamil, English, Cantonese, Hockkein, Teochew and others) Nasi Lemak 2.0 on DVD. My final verdict is that it is a well produced, entertaining and a meaningful movie.
Namewee (Huang), a disgruntled cook whose restaurant is finally closed, is living in own dream of preserving Chinese food in its true authenticity with any adulteration. He lives in his grandeur of being the second best student in an authentic Chinese cooking school in China. His nemesis, the best student, from China, is a chef in another restaurant which undergoing a power struggle for ownership. Huang is very Chinese in his outlook and is suspicious of other races' delicacy.
He is out of job and to compete with foreign nationals for work. After many failed attempts at a job, including a stint as a cheap restaurant singer, he drags himself to the road side nasi lemak lady (Adibah Noor), a lady he despises as she was a hit with her customers, to be her apprentice to learn the art of cooking nasi lemak.
In the Xiao K, the daughter of one of the warring factions of the restaurant power tussle, befriends Huang.
The nasi lemak lady hands him a map to embark on a journey of self discovery. The path takes Huang and Xiao K (sounds like Crazy Chicken) to 3 destinations. First comes Malacca to supposedly haunted Baba-Nyonya (Kenny-Chee) mansion. The journey enroute their destination is filled with dream dance scenes. After a few paranormal activities at the mansion, they flee to Banting to meet the curry master (David Arumugam). David  is quite funny with his straight faced rendition of dialogue and his protective nature of protecting his Miss Malaysia aspiring daughter (Nadine Ann  Thomas - Ms Malaysia 2010). Here we encounter like conversation akin to that between a duck and a chicken as both are conversing in their own mother tongue but somehow the message gets through with the help of a cane! At the end, we discover that either party are actually are to speak in many languages. After learning the many secrets of Indian curry, they leave for Sepang where they meet an accident. They  are rescued by a fisherman (Aflin Shauki) and his 4 wives. After spending some quality time with the family and many kids, they head home just in time for a cooking competition to determine the CEO of the warring factions in Xaio K's father's restaurant. Here Huang has to compete with his nemesis again. Patrick Teoh and his set of gullible goons are appointed judges. Huang prepares a dish from his travel but fails to impress the judges initially but as in all happy ending feel good movie, our hero wins and everyone is happy. His rival, Lan Qiao, is embarrassed by the sudden appearance of his Chinese wife and son.
It is actually an entertaining movie. The jokes are subtle and you have to read between the lines for it. Like the rival cook is Lan Qiao (Q is pronounced as Ch); many phallic jokes; poking fun at Tenaga Nasional for frequent blackouts; pug-shot at Proton for faulty air-conditioning, power window failure and door handle malfunction; a bit of Michael Chong (MCA) when Huang is approached to help out in Chinese-related social issues and RK Nathan punch-lines (looks likes me,sounds like me but I do not saying I am not him). In one of dream scenes, a sky warrior appears to save warrior Huang. Both the kris wielding Malay warrior and Chinese warrior pay homage to this sky warrior by the name Hang Tu Yah (obvious reference to Hang Tuah). both warriors claim Hang Tu Yah to be their hero, but they agree that it does not matter whether it is a Malay or Chinese hero.
A good watch!
http://www.nasilemak2.com/

A doctor's touch

They took the road least traveled and failed miserably!

Race quotas, politics led to falling UM standards, says World Bank study

By Leslie Lau
Executive Editor

October 17, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 — A World Bank publication has found that standards at Universiti Malaya have fallen and the institution has been kept at a disadvantage because of race-based admission quotas and political interference in university management. In contrast, Singapore’s decision to prioritise research, keeping English as the medium of instruction and a merit-based admissions policy have all contributed to the success of the National University of Singapore’s success, according to “The Road to Academic Excellence,” which studies what contributes to a world-class research university.
The study also noted that Malaysian secondary school students are not well prepared for tertiary education.
It points out that the Malaysian education system promotes rote learning, conformity and uniformity rather than fresh and creative thinking.
The study is led by two scholars — Philip Altbach and Jamil Salmi — while various chapters see contributions from various academics.
Salmi, a Moroccan education economist attached to the World Bank, also notes that “disturbing political developments, from the burning of churches to the whipping of a woman for drinking beer in public,” also cast a shadow on Malaysia’s “image as an open and tolerant society.”
The comparisons between UM and NUS is contained in a chapter entitled “The National University of Singapore and the University of Malaya: Common Roots and Different Paths.”
The chapter is authored by Hena Mukherjee, a former Universiti Malaya department head with a doctorate in education from Harvard University, and Poh Kam Wong, an NUS Business School professor.
According to the study, “at an early stage, the Singapore government realised the universities’ role in sustaining economic growth.
“In contrast, after 1970, UM’s institutional goals reflected the New Economic Policy, an affirmative action plan for ethnic Malays and indigenous groups, put in place in the wake of disastrous 1969 ethnic riots that took the lives of hundreds of people on both sides of the racial divide.,” the study found.
The authors said that apart from the student quota system, the NEP translated into more scholarships to Bumiputeras, special programmes to facilitate their entry into higher education institutions, and the use of the Malay language in place of English in the entire education system by 1983.
“In UM and in government, the policy impact spiralled upward so that Bumiputera staff members, over time, secured almost all senior management, administrative, and academic positions.
“As NUS kept pace with the demands of a growing economy that sought to become competitive internationally, with English continuing as the language of instruction and research, UM began to focus inward as proficiency in English declined in favour of the national language — Bahasa Malaysia — and the New Economic Policy’s social goals took precedence.”
The study noted however that there has been widespread recognition that the implementation of affirmative action policies in Malaysia has hurt the higher education system, sapping Malaysia’s economic competitiveness and driving some (mainly Chinese and Indians) to more meritocratic countries, such as Singapore.
In the broader study, the lead authors found that research was an important element in the making of a world-class university, as well as top-grade talent.
“We’re both convinced that serious research universities are important in almost all societies,” Altbach, who is the director of the Center for International Higher Education at Boston College, told the New York Times last week in an interview.
Said Altbach: “Independence, luck, persistence, some kind of strategic vision, adequate resources — usually, but not always, public resources — good governance structures, good leadership, the ability to attract good students and so on. But we have found that the quality of the faculty is really crucial.”
Salmi, who co-ordinates the World Bank’s activities related to higher education, told the same newspaper of their new 390-page study, which will be released later this month, that their advice is like that supposedly given for a rabbit stew recipe: “First, catch your rabbit.” Only in this case the advice would be: “First, catch your faculty.”
“The difference between a good university and great university comes down to talent.”

Of Putrajaya, Malaria and Drunken British soldiers!

15th October 2011 marked the 20th running race I partook. This time around, I just tagged a friend along who 'chickened out' (okay, he had a big mullah yielding project to complete) on the Seremban 21km. I competed in the Putrajaya 10km night run, sponsored by Bank Simpanan Nasional - the first bank that most of us who grew up in the 70's started with our first savings book and ATM (automated teller machine) card.
Appa, however, has the pride of working with the bank which came out with the electronic card in the country - Hongkong Bank with ETC (electronic telecard)!
BSN started off modestly as the Post Office Saving Bank. My sisters and I were one of the earlier account customers (A/C 3472, 3838) who used to save our recess money to buy stamps to fill up a savings card. When the card was filled, the accumulated amount would be transferred to the respective accounts. I kept my accounts all the way till 2000 when I started noticed that their counter personnel were very happy whenever the system was 'off line' and there were more 'off-line' often than 'on-line'! Anyway, they had only the basic banking facilities and we had outgrown them requiring other banking needs like current accounts and loans.
Coming back to the run....
This time around, only Raj, Jack and I participated. After a day of business as usual, we took a leisurely drive to Putrajaya and a casual warm-up 2km from the car park to the starting point. We had a good 2 hours to idle off before the flag off at 8.40pm. The 10km track was something we were familiar with. Raj had cycled there with cycling buddies. I had run two runs here. I was wary of aggravating the muscle cramp that I had sustained the weekend before. This time around I was armed with 'tonic-water' filled water in my drinking canister. Tonic water was introduced by the British for its officers in the tropics to combat malaria. It contains quinine, a natural anti-malarial, and is morbidly bitter. To sweeten the bitter medicine, gin was suggested to be added to it, resulting in many happy malarial-free wobbly British soldiers. Quinine is a muscle cramp de-buster and I picked it up from one of the on line forums in cyberspace.
The race proceeded smoothly with the immaculate organization and we all completed the run in one piece. Jack 1h1m, me 1h2m and Raj 1h8m.(unofficial)
The night ended after a late Chinese hawker stall noodle meal to replenish the depleted glycogen stores in our muscle fibres at a road side stall at midnight near our other running kaki, Suresh, who was working. He joined us there. People outside Malaysia can only imagine eating outside their homes late into the wee hours of the morning but Malaysia Boleh! Eat your hearts out!

Poverty: A prerequisite to succeed in life?

Lisa Kelly - trucker extraordinaire

After the recent passing of Steve Jobs, his touching meaningful speech at Stanford had been making its rounds again on radio, social media and blogs. And everybody now knows about his unwed mother giving him up for adoption and how she reluctantly signed the adoption papers after months after she discovered that the intended adopted parents were not university graduates, as in her mind, only graduates become successful in life. And how he had to travel 7 miles to have free Hare Krsna food! We have also heard of the story of Lincoln Murthi in previous blogs about his roller-coaster escapades from the clutches of poverty to succeed in life. And the list just keeps on going, from AJ Kalam all the way to God knows who!
Just the other day, my buddy and I were discussing whether Steve Jobs would have still done what he did for the computer world and Apple if he indeed had been adopted by a lawyer or a doctor. Would he still have brought in changes in the IT world if he had grown up in the luxury of American life?

Recently I managed to catch the concluding episode of a realimentary (reality documentary) series on History Channel named IRT: Deadliest Roads where truckers were sent on assignments to transport sensitive cargoes along the scary roads in the Himalayas amidst the harassment of the horn blaring happy irritating courtesy challenged Indian drivers. Surprisingly, a rose (a petite 28 year old) emerged victor among the thorns (big beer bellied mustachioed bald tattoo displaying monster truckers) after the final tasks. She braved the icy mountain roads to supply aviation fuel for helicopters in a God forsaken place in the Himalayas!
In her last departing prophetic dialogue in that episode, Lisa Kelly, 28, the only North American trucker to have driven the amount of miles in that part of the world had to say, "We have to be stretched in order to grow!"