Category Archives: Uncategorized

Men in Blue

Men in Blue, Your main duty is to Keep the streets clear of crime. Instead, you strike fear, And to us it is clear, It’s not the best use of your time. Men in Blue, We know that you act … Continue reading

Posted in Civil Society, Crime, Poetry, Public Administration, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Bijan the Clown

Once in a land, There lived a funny man, Who wore a jewel-studded crown. But he was afraid of balloons, And even of cartoons, His name was Bijan the Clown. He tried hard to be brave, But he was just … Continue reading

Posted in Corruption, Poetry, Public Administration, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A Black, Slimy Creature

There’s a black, slimy creature, That eats away at your soul, It’s a muddy, slippery thing, That so quickly gets out of control. The creature begins its life humble, Presenting itself with a smile, You allow it to feed on … Continue reading

Posted in Corruption, Economics, Poetry, Public Administration, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Resplendent Women

Sometimes we need a woman Whose strength surpasses time, Whose steely core and spirit Can outshine any crime. This woman now bears the burden Of standing for what is right, Her source of hope is from elsewhere, She chooses to fight the … Continue reading

Posted in Civil Society, Poetry, The Cause, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

I live in a cell

I live in a cell, There is no day or night, The floor is hard and cold, I fear I am getting old. I live in a cell, My bones feel chill and pain, My body is stiff and weary, … Continue reading

Posted in Civil Society, Poetry, The Cause, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A sea of yellow flowers

In the quiet night We ask ourselves Why fight the system strong? It’s big and bold and towers tall It’s been this way all along. We light our candles, Wave them high, Try to give hope in the dark, It’s … Continue reading

Posted in Civil Society, Poetry, Reflections, The Cause, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Stand Watch

I have been rather affected by the arrest of Maria Chin Abdullah and the way in which she has been so wrongly incarcerated: in solitary confinement, a windowless cell, a plank of wood as a bed, two light bulbs that … Continue reading

Posted in Civil Society, Corruption, Poetry, Public Administration, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Why rallies matter

First published in theSun on 24 November 2016, here. In the lead-up to Bersih 5, many conversations with friends centred on whether there was any point in having street rallies. Many felt that despite large turnouts to such protests over … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Too good to be true

First published in theSun on 10 November 2016, here. Malaysia woke up last week to find that its government had signed not one, but 14 bilateral agreements with China worth RM144 billion in total, in addition to a RM55 billion … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Look at the estimates (or the budget speech is not the budget)

(First published in theSun on 27 October 2016 here). MUCH is made over the budget speech tabled by the prime minister in Parliament in October each year. And rightly so, since it is supposed to be the government’s financial blueprint … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment