Agora

I've spent close to 3 weeks in Singapore for a work trip recently.  The city is a gleaming example of prudent, sensible & effective public policy. Every square-inch of the island has been mapped out, years before, with the room to rework the space if the need arises. Let's talk about walking, specifically, the decision to walk to your destination and forgo other means of transportation. Not enough people in Malaysia like to walk. Many blame the weather, the cracked sidewalks or that it's simply much easier to drive or share a ride there. Their reasons are justified. However, I'd argue that walkability is the end result of many policies aligning to create just the right environment to inspire people to lace up their shoes and make that walk. These policies are, in no particular order of importance: spatial planning, accessibility, public transportation. Using Singapore as a case study, I'll provide some observations and thoughts. Spatial Planning:  S...

Give me some space. Give me just some space where I can spend my Saturday afternoons, a retreat from the sterile, air-conditioned corridors of those shopping malls. Give me just some space where I can enjoy a picnic with my friends. Give me just some space where I can be sheltered from the scorching sun. Give me just some space with trees, green grass, benches and pebbles, to watch others play softball or throw a frisbee. Give me just some space with well-lit pathways and snaking lanes which lead nowhere, just to explore in the evening breeze. Give me just some space with a canopy, so that bikers can enjoy the shade once in a while. Give me just some space so that I can look up at the clear blue sky, lounging as time goes by. Give me just some space so that I can feel that I live in a place.

We don't. What's the number one thing you wished would change in the place you live in? I'm not talking about a trip to IKEA for your personal living space. It's something bigger. Beyond your drive way, your porch. Your immediate surroundings or even the township that you're in. When was the last time we paused and reflected on the state its in? Are there clogged drains, litter, stray animals, broken lights, mosquito infestation, rats, roaches, cracked sidewalks, potholes, unused empty spaces, overgrowth, weeds? Just to name a few. Maybe you think it'll be nice to finally add more park benches for people to sit in. Or maybe, to have a park to start with. "Livability" as a concept is not widely discussed on its on, but implied: whether the place has a high quality of living, infrastructure, public transportation, education, amenities, suitable climate, access to jobs. All of these decide whether a place is "livable" or not. B...

We are living through tough times. Rising prices, stagnant wages, soaring crime rates and unlivable conditions are making the life of the average Malaysian harder. Yet, the powers that be still remain irresponsive to the needs of the people by making poor policy choices. The Malaysian social contract has been a subject of controversy, particularly because any debate or discussion about it touches on the special rights and privileges of the Bumiputera. Any talk about it has to do with how non-Malays are given citizenship rights in return for special privileges for Malays and indigenous peoples. Does it always have to be this way? Why can’t we redefine or reframe our discussion about the social contract? First we have to understand what a social contract means. Many of us are unaware that we have voluntarily given up certain rights to our leaders when we become citizens of Malaysia. When we are born into this society, we automatically surrender some of our rights and freedoms in...

Today I depart for Kuching. I don't have many expectations for the trip, but it is my first time going to East Malaysia and living, for an an extended period of time, in an Orang Asal village. I'll be part of an expedition called 'Impian Sarawak'. Frankly speaking, it is a politically sponsored volunteer program to visit a village and assist in the building of a gravity feed water system while having an opportunity to live amongst the villagers there. I hope to observe and learn about how they live and carry out their respective responsibilities. At the same time, this is a momentous occasion for Malaysian history, insofar as 'change' is concerned. I hope that as ambassadors of a growing movement for change and as fellow Malaysians who are committed to bring about systemic change, we can bring that care and genuine support to the villagers. As we identify with their problems and plight, I hope that I can personally find a common ground on which I can fight along...

If there are two irrefutable truths about why I chose to come back to my home country, the first would be the common identity which I share with my fellow Malaysians; the second would be the passion which flows through my veins. What is the passion which I speak of? This passion takes many shapes and forms, but it is constantly the fuel for my motivates and the spark that I rely on to accomplish everything from the mundane to the extraordinary. Mainly, this passion is one that equates personal identity with a purpose larger than myself. This passion is the desire to equate personal goals with the common struggle; that the personal is political - that life is politics and politics is life. I have identified a few passions which have motivated me to not only apply my political education in my work tasks, but to also assert myself in other areas of Malaysian life: the social, religious and recreational. In this post I'll focus mainly on my passion for being involved in grassroots poli...

We often hear of people moving to foreign lands to pursue better opportunities, to live more comfortably and to build happier families. Other countries present us with financial security, job prospects, friendlier people and desirable living standards. When I was 14, I embarked on a journey which I regard as the pivotal point of my life. It was a journey undertaken with faith and a hope that the pursuit of happiness will be easier over there, where the grass is greener and the skies blue. It was a journey to come home. As I write this, my journey has brought me home to the country where I was born and it is a place which I can truly call home. My identity is Malaysian, and 9 years in North America has taught me that nothing will ever come close to compromise that reality. I chose to come back because of a confluence of factors, but for this post I'll focus on identity. I'm often asked about why I chose to return to a country in which hope has been dashed by poor governanc...

Have you ever experienced leaving a place for many years and, upon your return, feel that you've never left? Unfortunately, it feels that I've been gone a long time from my home country, Malaysia. I feel some form of friction at the workplace, with the language, culture, sensibilities and norms. This is expected and what I perceive to be a natural process of re-acculturation and re-assimilation - re-settling myself into this place I call home . However, the stakes are a lot higher for me and I've got a set of goals for myself. I'll try to highlight one aspect per entry, so this post will be about the process of 're-learning' and 're-education' here in Malaysia. Having worked at a law firm for two months and now in a political party as a researcher, I've got some serious catching up to do in terms of catching up to speed with the pulse and current affairs of this nation. As I devour books, articles and writings that shed light on the many events t...

Sitting here in a deserted section of the study lounge, I'm feeling the urge to write about an interaction progressing and unfolding in front of me right now. At the risk of being offensive or politically incorrect (ala Alexandra Wallace from UCLA), I'm just going to say it here that this post is about someone whose culture I'm still trying to grasp and understand. Allow me to explain. I write to achieve an end, it's sort of unspoken, but when I write I'm usually trying to understand something better or to arrive at some sort of epiphany (there's my A. Wallace again). Anyway, here goes. A young Chinese girl, maybe 19, is seated about 5 feet away in front of me, long hair with blonde highlights (I think), sporting rimmed spectacles, clothed in a Star-patterned pink knit-sweater, blue jeans and fur Winter boots. That's her physical profile, but I'm honestly more interested in the activity she's engaging in. In between mouthfuls of Mcnuggets, she is h...

I've found it difficult to blog or write these days. This is partly due to a lack of inspiration, but it is mainly because I have come to realize that most of my thoughts are not developed fully enough for a coherent composition. If I'm to attempt a blog post, my ideas will come out as a string of disjointed sentences, not doing justice to the various shapes and textures of the issues which I'm grappling with currently. However, I've motivated myself to try and get some thoughts on paper, on this brand new canvas which is the New Year. New Place Settling into my new place was not without its difficulties. Fortunately, I had many friends who were kind enough to lend a helping hand, and I received a tremendous amount of support from them: labour, morale, Christmas gifts, cards, house-warming presents, sleeping bag (for the week without an actual bed or mattress) and so on. My landlord, Pin, is also a very accommodating individual who is efficient and tolerant, much of...

Having finished my last exam, I can finally breathe in some free and unburdened air. I must also now face the upcoming challenge of moving into my new apartment in Brooklyn, and this will be an entirely new experience for me, especially when it comes to furnishing or decorating my living space. More on that after the move. I will be away from home during the holidays for the first time, partly because of some commitments here in the city, and because airfare to Vancouver is not as affordable as I'd thought. I've only been away for 4 months, but I've only begun to realize how much I miss Vancouver and my parents. My mother's birthday was two days ago, December 13th. I dedicate this post to her because not being able to be with her reminds me not to take her for granted, and my experiences here have taught me to cherish my previously strained relationship with her. One morning about a week ago, I boarded the A express train as usual from Penn Station down to West 4t...

Three months in New York. I have not been away from home for a longer period of time. Much has happened this past month of November - the hurricane, power outages, the usual grind at school. I wrote a long post on post-Sandy blues but I have yet to retrieve it from my phone (penned it on a plane), will unveil it once I transfer it over, which is as simple as emailing it to myself, then copying and pasting it onto this box here. Maybe a short and light post to revive this blog is much preferred over a rather heavy reflection on post-hurricane devastation. As I enter my first law school finals period, much of the stress and workload has necessitated the need for me to step back from my books occasionally and just explore the city. Usually the biproduct of said explorations involve delightful conversations or interactions with strangers. Often, strangers would approach me when I'm sketching at a particularly scenic vantage point, overlooking the gleaming parapets of lofty skyscrap...

Having been here a month, I'd say that I've acculturated to the pace of life and have gotten into a comfortable routine. On weekdays, this involves catching the trains to school, sticking around after class to get some studying done and then hopping on the evening train back home. Sometimes, I'd opt to eat in the city instead of home, but this usually involves the company of friends or classmates. Otherwise, I'd much rather go home to rest, relax and read. Weekends are fun here in New York. One never runs out of things to do here especially on a Friday or Saturday night, the highlights so far are the bars in Williamsburg or Brooklyn, gallery hopping in Chelsea, eating out in Chinatown or just chillin' and having a meal or drink in the Village. Admittedly, I'm trying to cut down one expenditure so that means less alcohol and eating out. I've also been making full use of my membership at L.A. fitness, since the NYU recreation centre is a little too overcrowd...

It has been such a frantic week or so here. I'm writing this as I take a break from the copious amount of readings assigned in law school. A quick summary of what I've learnt so far (in general chronological occurence during a typical day) 1. Setting 3 alarms to wake up is efficient and effective 2. Showering the night before and laying out clothes for next morning allows me to reach the train station in 12-14 minutes, 15 minutes is cutting it. 3. The 7:52 am train is also a good option if you miss the 7:34 train in New Hyde Park. 4. When Penn Station-bound, sit in the last 2 cars of the LIRR so I'm closer to the 8th avenue ACE trains to West 4th Station. 5. Food portions are extremely large, so anything within $6.99 is very very adequate expenditure for my individual consumption. 6. Haggling has saved me upwards of $40 when riding cabs who don't charge by meter (outside of Manhattan). 7. Sit in the middle back rows of the class so I won't be called on ver...

The Team Triumphant UBC Team with our 'Outstanding Delegation' in the United Nations Headquarters, Manhattan, New York. We represented the Republic of Madagascar in the National Model United Nations conference. (April 1st-5th 2012) This is Part 2 of my reflections. Before I dive into what it was like to live in New York, I would like to say a few things about the people I spent a week with. Needless to say, we performed very well and our awards are the fruits of our labour. What impressed me the most was that everyone recognized the importance of this trip and prepared accordingly through research, speech preps etc. Most importantly, all of them realized their potential and took their individual skill sets to new heights. As the team's academic 'trainer' and one of its members, I viewed our achievement as an unequivocal success. It makes me smile to think that this victory will serve as a cornerstone or stepping stone (call it whatever stone you desire), to...

"Things always seem fairer when we look back at them, and it is out of that inaccessible tower of that past that Longing leans and beckons." -James Russell Lowell New York - the capital of capitals. The city of cities. Call it what you will, its influence and glamour is unparalleled. This past week I had the opportunity of visiting this gleaming metropolis, alongside the camaraderie of 11 very passionate and pleasant friends. My visit had a three-fold purpose: attending the National Model United Nations conference and attending two scholarship interviews while familiarizing myself with my (hopefully) future home, since I have been accepted to NYU school of law. I'll try to break up my reflections into three posts to render justice to the immensity of each purpose - never have I had so much meaning and conviction tightly packaged in a week composed of erratic sleep cycles, deadlines, stress and laughter. I enjoyed every moment of this cacophonous adventure; rather, I e...