I was late again. At times like this, I wish I can operate TB 2828 and stop relying on other people to bring me around in their car. I hate waiting and this is what I’ve been doing for the past one month. Waiting. And waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting. For something, someone or somewhat. I was walking faster than anyone else. I knew I missed it, the opening of the Freedom Film Fest. Darn it. I can’t blame the driver or the transportation provider that day. It was totally my fault for being such a pushover. Anyways it’s not my car, so I can’t bitch.

I arrived with a wide grin and sadly, my wide-Julia-Roberts-smile is greeted with cold stares from some people whom one of them eye-fucked me. I was like, whatever maaan!! Shouldn’t this people be welcoming us instead of making us feel like we are some kind of poseurs who came just for fun and just came for the “in-thing” that is going on inside the building. Fuck ‘em. So me, still with wide grin, went to the counter and to our not-so-surprising surprise, the place is packed. What do you expect if you’re 40 minutes late? Fortunately, no, FORTUNATELY, Li Ying was there, volunteering and her bigger-than-life smile makes me soo fucking relieved and suddenly I felt I am at ease again. So we chatted for a while, forgetting the pain of our seats being given to someone else because we’re late. Having a conversation with Li Ying even though I know the conversation is full of crap is actually, pretty scary. Not that she is a negative person or something, it’s because she is a person whom you don’t want to be seen messing up with your English. Me, a bad English-spoken person ever will get the shivers around her and I found myself lost once I started to speak to her. I cannot speak good English and it worsens once I started to speak to somebody who is actually good at it.

Okay, language problem aside, we were fortunate enough to catch one of the winning documentary by Fahmi Reza entitled “10 Tahun Sebelum Merdeka” which to me is very thought-provoking and funny and smart and cool and new and cool and cool and cool and educating as well. The editing is clean, the songs.. Oh man, the songs are superfine! Looking at his name, you might think that this short docu-film is written and directed by some old guy who has a potentially damaging grudge and hatred towards the government. But actually, Fahmi Reza is a young, bright, dude with extraordinary visions you can ever find in a pool of useless so-called young generation today. Plus, he’s cute! Extra points awarded!

Throughout of this short film, I realized that, those times I spent in my secondary school, in every history lessons I “attended”, were worth the while! FYI, I sleep in my history class even before the history teacher even set her foot in my class. Coolness. And after watching 10 tahun, I am actually proud to say that I got 6C for history. Gosh. There are so many things were being hidden behind the real Merdeka that we have achieved for the past 50 years. Who would’ve thought that people at that time, color-blinded-ly, were actually against the Federal of Malaya Constitutional Proposals? And this leads to a Hartal, to display the protest the whole nation were mutually agreed upon. Not many of us knew what the FMCP is. It’s either because you dozed off when your history teacher was trying hard to make you understand about it or the teacher resigned, had “meeting” or died just when you hit the chapter on the Constitution. Gory huh? Well, I am obviously not the right person to talk about the history. According to the leaflets that were given, here is what “10 Tahun Sebelum Merdeka” is all about:

“Unknown to many, October 20^th, 1947 was an important and historical day in the people’s constitutional struggle for independence from British colonialism. This documentary chronicles the events that culminated in the Malaya-wide “Hartal” day of protest (a form of non-violent protest) against the undemocratic Federation of Malaya Constitutional Proposals devised by the British Colonial Government and the UMNO. This was the rise of people’s democratic movement in Malaya, ten years before Merdeka.”

In my lame-o opinion, these unsung heroes of the AMCJA-PUTERA, API, GERAM and other respectable movements should be well respected and deserves the same level, no, higher level, of admiration that the so-called “pejuang kemerdekaan” from the right wing have received all this while. Just because they’re leftist, doesn’t mean they are bringing the Malaya down with their so-called own interest. They just wanted the democracy that UMNO were negotiating with the British is the democracy that stands for all of the people of Malaya. Sadly, the democracy and the liberation that we have achieved were not what the people of Malaya communally agreed upon. The people’s constitutional were rejected and thus, people of Malaya were disgraced by this rebuff. Hartal, a word that you will not see in the history text book and never will if you don’t google for it, is something that people of Malaya did just so that they voices were heard. But, as usual, the peoples’ voices were often ignored. I am amazed at how brave people were back then to do such act and the fact that they stick and bond together regardless of race, ethnicity, just blows me away. They came together as a union of pure people of Malaya who actually, cares about their country. Today’s generation you say? Pffftt.. save it. Don’t get me even started on them.

I agree with the girl who voices out her opinion right after the documentary ended, where people usually stay after the movie ended for some small discussions on the short films that were screened. The girl suggested for this movie to be screened in every school in Malaysia, so that these unsung heroes will get what they deserve. Recognition. And so that the future generation will be aware about what actually the people in those days bare and faced just so that these brats today get what they get.  The so-called independence. The one they celebrated every year with their face up in the air, watching those breath-taking explosions in the sky after a ridiculous countdown to 12, shouting “Merdeka!” without even passing the SPM’s history paper or knowing the history itself. Trust me, the potential that this documentary will bore those oblivious kids to death is zero. The songs help. Fahmi Reza is one brilliant dude. He knows how to attract his target audience, which is the youth. He uses the right songs, the right medium, the right expressions, the right mood and everything else. I know he worked hard to do this documentary with the duration of 30 minutes because it shows.

The facts, figures, were supported with videos, journals or memoir of the prominent figures back then and also newspaper clippings from the archive. The editing is fantastic okaaaaaay!! I think I mentioned it before.. So, all in all, if you missed the FFF this year, well, screw you. You just missed the most honest documentary on Malaya’s independence. And other cool short films that you cannot find it anywhere not even Batu Ferringhi dude. Kudos to Fahmi Reza for making the history less boring, less painful and cool, for the first time. Please log in to his website or blog at www.10tahun.blogspot.com for more info and details on the documentary.  Nonetheless, I think Fahmi Reza is totally brilliant and cute and cute and cute and cute… =p

This one particular song is a KILLER okaay..! No matter how cruel life could be towards me, once I put on my headphone and listen to the sound of the guitar solo blasting through my mind, piercing through my heart, I knew I was saved. Thank god for Hujan!

To me, "Gundah" is like a puff of cigar that you long for after a long, painful day without the damned stick due to the holy fasting month. "Gundah" to me is like a punch to the face of a fucking bitch that you long to hurt after all this while. "Gundah" to me is like telling-the fucking stupid acquaintance of yours who couldn’t stop talking nonsense and tries hard to impress other people by copying people who she looks up to- to "shut the fuck up or else I’ll hurt you and I’ll hurt you baaad".

Imagine how great does it feels to do the things I mentioned above. Just imagine. And because I am restricted to do any of the actions I suggested above, I turn to "Gundah" for solitude. "Gundah" is my savior. I could listen to it for a whole fucking day and the next day and the next day and the next day and the next day…

Addicted to it and admit that my strong urge to slap-bitch that retarded bitch has soften once this super duper dope song is on the air. Hail to Hujan!

Gundah gulana

Bagaikan penjara

Sesekali ku buka mata

Ingin kembali walaupun seketika

Biar terus ku berlari dan lari

Waktu yang sama ku mencari

Jalan keluar dari mimpi ini

Biar terus ku berlari dan lari

Waktu yang sama ku mencari

Jalan keluar dari mimpi ini

Ku dikejar bayang hitam

Memberi arahan yang buta

Sesekali ku buka mata

Ingin kembali walaupun seketika

Biar terus ku berlari dan lari

Waktu yang sama ku mencari

Jalan keluar dari mimpi ini

Biar terus ku berlari dan lari

Waktu yang sama ku mencari

Jalan keluar dari mimpi ini

Takkan pudar

Jika ku lepaskan segalanya kepadamu

Biar terus ku berlari dan lari

Waktu yang sama ku mencari

Jalan keluar dari mimpi ini

Biar terus ku berlari dan lari

Waktu yang sama ku mencari

Keluar dari mimpi ini.

Why I want to be a PR Consultant.

By Sity Syarifah Hadli

            There are probably millions of jobs in today’s world compared to the olden days. Women are also given the same opportunity as men in choosing their jobs. I believe that young generation today is lucky and they are totally oblivious about it. It is easier to lie but I prefer not to lie just to get myself short-listed for this scholarship and potential career in the future. I never dreamed of being a PR consultant. Of all jobs, I wouldn’t choose this career as my path of life. You could say that I don’t have a clue about this job. So, to minimize my state of ignorance, I googled it and I have found out some interesting facts on being a PR consultant. I must admit that I am a straightforward person and you might be shocked to read my statement above. You possibly will think that I have ruined my one and only chance to get a scholarship and to work with the leading PR company in Malaysia. But hear me first.

            I was born to a modest family. Our family is like any plain families in Malaysia. No extraordinary individuals were born from the womb of my mother. We lived in a quiet neighborhood in Ipoh where everybody knows every single face in these peaceful environs. Despite the fact that we live in a kampong, my primary-school-teaching dad and my independent-secretary mother raise us to be great individuals. I grew up to be a person who is fond of art. My parents supported me through thick and thin but all of the sudden, I grew apart from my family. This is due to the fact that I went to a boarding school and every weekdays and weekends were spent with my newfound friends. My grades were falling from As to Cs and sometimes, Ds. At that moment, I believe my friends are my everything. They’re even above my family in my list of priorities.

After I finished high school, I have no choice but to live with my parents while waiting for the results. On many occasions, I felt very little because of the comparisons made by my mother. I am compared with my brothers. I am compared with my neighbours, friends, and relatives. I felt like I have never do my parents proud and this lead me to be a tougher person I was before. I was a cold and unforgiving person. I faced many depressive occurrence back then where my university application has been rejected countless of times. At one point, I gave up and started to think of how cruel and unjust life is towards me. I gave up on education. My mother then forced me to pursue my study in a private college where the sum of fee is quite expensive for a moderate family like ours. I hated it. The first semester was wasted, as I stoutly believe I will be taken in for the second intake for the public university. But it didn’t happen. I was frustrated. I decided to concentrate on my studies in the private college although the course, Business Studies is far from my interest. I decided that I would finish my diploma and pursue my degree with the course of my choice, which is advertising. Of course that doesn’t happen either! I did finish my diploma. But I did not get to pursue my study in advertising. But one thing that I realize is my parents is being supportive and understanding all through the hardship that I’ve gone through. I felt guilty for being such a pain to my parents for the past few years. I realize that they are actually so proud of me but they refuse to show it so that I will never get easily satisfied with what I have achieved.

And here I am, writing things that are absolutely not related to the main topic. I should be telling you the reasons why I wanted to be PR consultant. For me, if I were to be a PR consultant, I will not treat it as a boring 9 to 5 job. I will take it seriously and put much effort in the post in order to make my work means something to other people. I will make it as my career instead of just a job. If possible, I would love to open my own PR boutique where I will give full concentration to my clients and help them to enhance their image and boost their reputation in the eyes of the complex industry that they are involved in. I believe that PR related field is a good business. I disagree with the myths that PR is only accessible to people with pretty faces. For me, being a PR consultant is not about looking good 24/7 like what people usually perceived. That is downright shallow. For me, a PR consultant should be a sharp thinker and a good problem solver. He or she must be able to come up with brilliant ideas even in an unlikeliest period of time and capable to work under pressure. Out-of-the box thinker is most likely to be hired as a PR consultant. I found out that a PR consultant job does not differ much from my earlier chosen path, which is advertising. And for all of these causes, I yearn for a job as a PR consultant. Wait, let me rephrase that, I want a career as a PR consultant.

But for me, it doesn’t matter what I became or what do I want to be. Because I know, whatever it is I chose to be the path in my life and in my future undertakings, I knew my mother and my father will be proud of me, their one and only daughter.

First and foremost I would like to apologize to Rasfan Abu Kassim for I have adjourned his artwork review for nearly a month, if I’m not mistaken. Tuan Rasfan, here is my explanation:

1. I am busy.

2. I am busy with my assignments.

3. I am busy managing my critical monetary problems.

4. I am busy. Really busy. Seriously.

I am sorry Rasfan but here is my review on your artwork. I really hope you like it!

I am not familiar with reviewing artwork and here I am, typing away word per word on an artwork, a magnum opus of an amazing artist I’ve ever known and a close, virtual friend of mine. We knew each other through Myspace, thank god for technology!! Knowing him for a year is not enough. He is full of surprises. Once you thought you understand him well, he will surprise you with wonders and makes you question how far do you actually knew him. He is the kind of person that everybody loves to love. On how we met: One faithful day, he somehow found my Myspace account (I’m not sure how though. It’s been a mystery right until this is posted) and he read through my blog postings and leaves me comment that prompt me to track down who is this fellow who tends to leave brilliant comment on my blog postings. You can say that I am GLAD I knew him. He is full of life and he’s a very positive young man with extraordinary visions and goals in life. You might fall for him if you are not careful for he is such a sweet talker, but with a great big heart. Jangan marah Rasfan!

Rasfan Abu Kassim was born 25 years ago to a loving couple, Abu Kasim Manap and Rosnah Sitam. He then grew up to be a person who is devoted to art and poetry. He enrolled in UiTM Shah Alam campus in 2001 and decided to take Fine Art as his path in leading his future undertakings. He graduated in 2004. However holding a diploma is not enough for Rasfan. His love for education triggers him to pursue his studies by enrolling again, in UiTM Shah Alam for Bachelor degree in Fine Art and graduated in 2007 with Honors Second Class (Upper). He is currently studying full time at Masters Degree level in UiTM Shah Alam, Selangor (again), majoring in Fine Art and Technology (Sculpture).

His participation in art related events are countless and his awards are stacked haphazardly in his room the same way as I stacked my immeasurable collections of Hot Gimmick manga and KLue magazines. Or so I imagined. He is also an apprentice for Mr. Saharrudin Supar, a Malaysian sculptor. He assisted in numerous of art events especially in UiTM Shah Alam, a place where he gains most of his remarkable experiences. Some of his prominent participation includes finalist for Nokia Upstart 2005 Fine Art Competition, participated and organized an art program 3hari 2malam at UBU, Bangsar Utama, participated in the Sculpture Design Competition in conjunction of the 10^th year of the National Planetarium Kuala Lumpur. He was short listed finalist for the Art of Sculpture Competition organized by the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation, Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage Malaysia in 2007.

The particular sculpture that attained him a place among the finalists of the Art of Sculpture Competition is simply titled 5050. And I’m about to review it without any particular experiences in reviewing any sculpture. Gulp. Well, here goes nothing.

Basically, 5050 is made by the hands of Rasfan with Merdeka theme being engraved in his mind. 5050 is chosen as the title as our beloved country has just celebrated its 50^th independence day last August. The base structure of the sculpture is triangle in shape, a mahameru concept as it is labeled by the artist. There are 3 parts of the sculpture, which tells the story of the masterpiece itself. We’ll start with the first part, which is so obvious, and that is the bottom part. The one with the curves. This part is sculpted to look like a keris, a traditional Malay weapon used in the olden days. The keris signifies the struggle of the Malays for their endeavor and hardship they have gone through in order to achieve independence. The keris is directed downwards into the ground rather than aiming up where it seems to be a bit violent. (Well at least for me it looked a bit violent-lah..) The point of the keris is not visible as it is buried into the ground to signify that it will stay put in the ground and become the root of strength of the Malaysians instead of having the point of the keris upwards looking like it is ready to pierce into our body. It also indicates the brilliance of the Malay leader at that moment in attaining the independence through a nice peaceful discussion with the Brits.

The second part beside the keris buried point is consists of 5 platforms which resembles stairs. 5 small steps is being carved with the stairs is directed to the top. The 5 steps indicate the accomplishment that Malaysia has been through for the past 5 decades.

The top of the triangle, the third part of this artwork symbolizes the struggle to the top is getting harder by time. According to the artist, in the future, the effort to climb and put Malaysia on the top is getting harder and harder. More often than not, nothing gets easier and less complicated as the time goes by right? As you can see, the top of the sculpture is constructed steeply to represent the hardship to attain triumph in the future. Malaysia should set its vision high and instead of just relying on Vision 2020, we should set our vision for development and prosperity of Malaysia higher than that. Hence, the title 5050.

The artist is trying to picture the independence from different perspective. Now that we are coming closer to the Vision 2020 that Tun Dr Mahathir said would be the year that Malaysia have grown to be a fully developed country. Once we are in the year 2020, should we Malaysian just stop there, look around and be satisfied with everything that we have attained at that time? What the artist is, I believe, trying to convey in his work of art is that we should not stop progressing, we must move forward and set our target or goals for development higher than the previous ones. Development is a continuing process and should not be limited to a certain amount of time. Moving on to the sculpture itself, the fusion of the old element with the new element is nicely blended. Metal is used through the process of sculpting. I bet he gets bruises from molding the sculpture.

Overall, the artist effort in instilling the spirit of appreciating the past 50 years of independence and aiming to look forward instead of just being satisfied with what we had right now is pretty much clear in his masterpiece and his statements. This visionary artist should not be taken for granted, as I believe he is one of the successor in art field produced in present time with not only quality, but also integrity that will blow you away. Watch out for Rasfan Abu Kassim.

I know you think it is pathetic for me to do a plea here in my own humble blog. But please don’t mark me off yet. I know I have only posted one posting about YKT 214 and that was like, waaaaay back then. The reason is being, I am not that much stimulated in my tutorial class. I refuse to go back to my room and write something I have no interest in, at all. I am actually interested in the topic being brought up in the tutorial class. But the way the presenters present the topic made my mind wander off and the next thing I knew, I am already drawn into my self-created “la-la land” where I suspiciously met my other tutorial classmates in it. Owh. Their minds are wandering off too.

But today is different. I am moved to write down this stuff. It’s not because 2/3 of the presenters today are my friends. It’s also not because of the bonus marks that Puan Wang promised us (ahem!). The topic today is about blog. Finally, I found myself actually nodding to every single word of the presenters today. Finally, there is one presentation that makes sense to me! Finally my mind stays with me throughout the class. And my brain starts to work again. God bless.

Blog to me is a tool for people to express their views on certain issues that concerns them the most. If a person loves food, then she or he will most probably confess their love to the newfound nasi kandar haven. For the gossipmongers, they will plaster all the juicy gossip about unimportant stuff with annoyingly initials of the artist because they want to, so-called, “protect” the identity of the particular artist. You morons. You have just posted a slander on the net, you might as well keep your morality issues alongside with your undies.

“50 years of independence and this is how we celebrate our independence, by arresting Nathaniel Tan”. I quote that from Fahmi Fadzil from his column in KLue, my favorite magazine. I bought the mag religiously because I love the columns written by Brian Yap and Fahmi Fadzil. They both teach me to have different views on something that is so important to something not so important. (Plus the photos are slamming!!) Nathaniel Tan is the first blogger to be arrested for something that he didn’t do. He gets arrested for a comment posted by somebody else. That somebody else remains anonymous right until this post is published. He is whisked off by the police officers and his basic rights were violated. He was detained for 4 days and they don’t even bother to explain to either Nathaniel himself or his family and friends on the reason why he is being detained.

Eng Kiat made me think when he said: “It could happen to anyone”. Then it hits me, it could happen to me. Heck it could happen to anyone. Nathaniel doesn’t ask to be arrested. I know he is not THAT stupid to let his writings get him into trouble. It’s the public who are free to leave their comments that could be the reason that brings you down. People tend to manipulate things for their own good. But for Namvee, I think he is just a plain guy who is desperately seeking attention from the public. The Negarakuku video was not uploaded on his personal blog, which is understandable if it happens in the first place because it is his public sphere or space. But he uploaded it on Youtube. So I consider him as purposely uploading the video with the hope that the Malaysians saw it, laugh it off and at the same time triggers them to find out who is the “genius” behind the mocking of original version of the national anthem.

Although I am not crazy about the Malaysian government, but Malaysia for me is still my country and the mocking of anything related to Malaysia is unacceptable although I do snickered a bit when I knew the anthem is actually a rip-off from some Hawaiian-beat. I felt sad for him. Forgive Namvee. He’s just a sad guy who was dumped by some girl and realizes that he is a nobody compared to the new guy that his ex is drooling over now. One day he woke up from his slumber and ding! A bright idea crossed his mind: “Why don’t I mock my own country national anthem and upload it on Youtube where my ex downloaded the Umbrella ella ella video. I’ll be famous in a blink! She’ll come crawling back to me in no time! God. I AM brilliant!” So he did just that and he did get the attention he seeks for. Congratulations.

The internet and weblogs has been very generous to these people by allowing them to express almost anything. To compare Malaysian blogging scene to the US blogging scene is unfair. Blogs are not a big thing there because US practices freedom of speech. So, why go through all the trouble, creating a blog just to condemn Bush when you can simply stand in front of the White House and shout it out loud that Bush is a total dickhead without getting arrested minutes after you shout out your last word. Malaysia, which is claimed to be the fastest developing country compared to its neighbors is still backwards in terms of freedom of speech and our basic rights are being violated every single day without us noticing it because we are too busy to even notice it.

Take me for example. My consumer rights have been violated a few days ago. I took a plate of Nasi Briyani with 2 piece of chicken and I have to pay RM10 for it. How ridiculous is that? What? The Briyani rice and the chicken wings is imported from heaven and they have to pay the delivery guy extra cash because he rides no vehicle and only flaps his wing all the way to Penang? Pfffttt.. Wtf macha. See? I have set a good example here. My consumer rights have been violated but where do I express my anger? On the net. Why don’t I just report it to the organization held accountable for this type of case? This goes out to prove that we Malaysians just loooove the net and blogs because we want to save ourselves the trouble to go through the fussy process of bureaucracy. We often neglect our own rights and although it seems not that important, but we must remember that every single thing counts and matters.

It’s 2.54 in the morning and my eyes are sore. I want to get some sleep but the urge to bitch conquers all. But all this must come to an end. I’m done with arguing. But actually, Puan Wang, Eng Kiat, I’ve been thinking of how nice it is if I get some marks out of this posting *wink*wink* even though it is off focus and irrelevant! Gosh, I need those extra marks. My assignment sucks! I need this!!