How should we judge a government?

In Malaysia, if you don't watch television or read newspapers, you are uninformed; but if you do, you are misinformed!

"If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing." - Malcolm X

Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience - Mark Twain

Why we should be against censorship in a court of law: Publicity is the very soul of justice … it keeps the judge himself, while trying, under trial. - Jeremy Bentham

"Our government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no
responsibility at the other. " - Ronald Reagan

Government fed by the people

Government fed by the people

Career options

Career options
I suggest government... because nobody has ever been caught.

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?
Corruption is so prevalent it affects English language?

When there's too much dirt...

When there's too much dirt...
We need better tools... to cover up mega corruptions.

Prevent bullying now!

Prevent bullying now!
If you're not going to speak up, how is the world supposed to know you exist? “Orang boleh pandai setinggi langit, tapi selama ia tidak menulis, ia akan hilang di dalam masyarakat dan dari sejarah.” - Ananta Prameodya Toer (Your intellect may soar to the sky but if you do not write, you will be lost from society and to history.)

Monday, September 05, 2011

I cannot even sell Batu Gajah

No, I don't mean BG is mine to sell, just getting visitors from out of town or even overseas to patronize our kopitiams, restaurants or clubs.

Even my little music studio at home, I had to ask if any of our visitors are musicians, and usually the answer is likely to be negative. In Penang, the last Sunday of the month Little Penang Street Market is popular with its flea market and live music performance by those interested. They have many excellent musicians, some of very tender age, ever willing to perform with full encouragement from their parents. In Ipoh, at the weekly Sunday market along Jalan Horley and Jalan Lim Bo Seng, there is an electronic equipment dealer who offers his drums kit, guitar, mic and amplifier which are used regularly by a group of Malay musicians. I wish there is one in BG and the question is where? There are a few spots owned by the Majlis, like the under-used car park which was once earmarked for a multi-storey building, or even Plaza BG, if only the MPBG would allow.

Clearwater Sanctuary Golf Resort is one of the best designed golf clubs in Malaysia, yet my wife would not recommend it as a 'to do' on the list of places to visit. I had recommended it once to a phone shop girl for her wedding photo shoot. My son's wedding photographer took him to Taiping instead! The few times I recommended it to my relatives and friends and they enjoyed themselves, especially the fishing place where it is quiet and nice for a chat. But my wife's fondness for travelling means where it is too near, there is no fun for her!

We would go all the way to Kuala Sepetang or Kuala Gula for seafood; to Tg. Tualang for fresh water prawns and fish; or even to Kg. Baru Lumut (formerly Ayer Tawar) for something marginally better, if any. For white coffee, it has to be Sin Yoon Loong or Nam Heong in Ipoh, and to stop in BG for a cuppa is only when we happened to be near one, since home is also near.



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2 comments:

CLY said...

Thank God you can still keep your little bit of paradise. Why would you want hordes of tourists coming to your peaceful town? Crowding you out of your favourite restaurants, traffic jams and congestions. Leave the mayhem to Ipoh and keep your sanity in BG.

KoSong Cafe said...

I know what you mean. Perhaps I did not make it clear enough.

BG, Ipoh or any other smaller towns in Perak are usually flooded with cars from out of town during festive seasons, when there is at least a long weekend. What I am complaining about is that when we have guests over, it would be nice if our local outlets are good enough for them, so that there is no need to travel far for something which is just a little bit better. Sometimes, despite the trouble of travelling long distances, the particular types of food we wanted were out of stock, eg. crabs, because of the unusually large crowds patronizing the few places in Kuala Sepetang, for instance. We knew full well from experience what to expect during festive seasons, yet because of my wife's wish for travel, we went ahead and got caught in the traffic jam, just before Kuala Kangsar turnoff, where people were going to attend the Sultan's Raya open house.