Tricia Yeoh

I quite unexpectedly bumped into an old friend of mine in a work-related day seminar the other day. We were two amongst the very small group of Malaysian Postgraduate students at the University of Warwick, and it was quite a surprise to see her, much less to find out her interests were similar to mine. We are thinking of taking part in this competition!

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation invites all young Malaysians to enter a project competition on “Young Socio-Political Entrepreneurs”. We would like to encourage you to create a project on a matter that you think should be placed as top concern in your society. The project proposal should aim to promote the openness of the Malaysian society and should seek to achieve one of the following objectives: liberal democracy, market economy, privatisation, human rights, free society and social responsibility, the rule of law, freedom of information and freedom of expression.

Will be thinking and brainstorming on issues to write about. I shall update on what our conclusion is later. Right now we are thinking of focusing on social responsibility. Much research and work to be done!

Yet another of my dreams was to travel into outer space. If being an astronomer were out of the question, my dying wish would be to convince NASA to pop me into a capsule and throw me out into space just before I passed away. That way, even if the air pressure from within the tube caused it to implode into the vacuum, I would have seen at least once in my lifetime that great blackness, that great light, that great Space.

The alternative, of course, is to use a telescope.

I’m not sure about experienced astronomers, but an amateur like myself appreciates almost exclusively the character of stars, instead of close examination of planets’ dents and the moon’s many craters.

I have always needed a map to get around on ground. In the same way, the sky terrain is as vast and needs a map to guide one by. When I look into space, I don’t merely see beautiful twinkling patterns in the sky but an alternative geographical map. Specific constellations set in place offer a much more international and global map. One can travel anywhere on our puny Earth and still be very much aware of where one is in reference to the nightsky. The locations of Nebulae, constellations, clusters, stars circling the other, dot the sky ceiling. Not random spotting of burning gasses, but so accurate that it can teach you direction.

Stars are as practically alive as humans! They are the single astronomical being that takes on a life cycle. From a star’s inception to its last gasp of breath it goes through stages that are scarily similar to that of a human. Beginning from the squashing of interstellar gas and dust (formation in the womb), then the cool dark clouds forming around it (continued growth as a foetus), then shine its newfound energy into space (infancy into adulthood), then begins the process of dying through either a red giant or supergiant (middle age), and finally dying into a white dwarf or a black hole (old age and death).

And so depending on the age of a star, you can identify with each as they travel through different stages.I personally am drawn to the black hole that sucks everything within its reach, including light waves. Am I intrigued by death?

So, I know this: Stars are celestial beings almost a life-form (subject to debate), and placed in funny formations together can allow one to find his way around, even if one can get lost (as I very much do) whilst on earth. Meanwhile, we are all mostly in the main sequence or fusion ignition stage of a star’s life cycle! Let’s shine on with our Sun in main sequence!

The relationship between Malaysia and Singapore has been described as that of twins separated at birth, and years after refusing to acknowledge the other’s existence. Anyone in the two neighbouring countries would vaguely recognise the underlying currents of distaste of the other.

Why is this, when so many of us share familial ties with those across the border? Why is this, when we really are made of literally the same blood and bone?

We are as perplexed as any foreign observer. Small issues are blown out of proportion time and again, politicians ever fanning the flame of distrust. Be it over a rock the size of an island, the exchange of liquids, or more recently an issue of a crooked bridge, sparks seem to constantly fly. Despite numerous golf games to cultivate a strong relationship between certain leaders, small talk doesn’t seem to dissipate the growing suspicion one has for the other.

So much for semangat kejiranan, one of the 16 listed Moral Values in my SPM days.

One theory is that the Lion City really does have to watch its own back, as it is surrounded by countries whose majority of the citizens are Muslim. Combine this with past records for militant breeding ground, and the fact that its country really is relatively tiny, one would imagine these are reason enough for it to retract trusting hands from Malaysia and reach out elsewhere for strategic support.

However, as we know it, “the world is flat” and increasingly so. The global hand tides over all and waits for no-one. In order to compete efficiently in the dense woods between the two trees (China & India), there has to be a sort of reformed solidarity amongst regional partners. And yes, this includes partnership between the long-lost twins.

I’ve always found it ridiculous to listen to drone after drone of the same broken record. Petty remarks made by one about the other, and neither really makes sense.

I hope my personal record will not be a repeat of many others’. One cannot continue to shut one’s eye and assume the other’s non-existence, especially not so soon after the recent South East Asian Summit in December last. Ignoring the other can only lead to more harm than good.

Anterograde Amnesia, or short-term memory loss, is a form of amnesia where new events are not transferred to long-term memory. After the onset of the disorder, the sufferer will not be able to remember anything that occurs after his attention is shifted away from one subject for more than a few seconds.Those who suffer from theoretically pure anterograde amnesia will still be able to remember memories laid down before the onset of anterograde amnesia, but will exist in a transient world where anything beyond their immediate attention-span disappears permanently from their consciousness. (Wikipedia)

We have seen examples on this in Memento (a brilliant movie), and sadly enough 50 First Dates (a movie for you to smile at and sing Beach Boys’ “Wouldn’t it be nice” to).

Where else is this syndrome most prominent? I’d say amongst the Malaysian public. Time and again, controversial issues have emerged. A sneak peek is created amongst the GGC (grassroot gossip channel), and the following day bam slam wallakazzam all national newspapers pick up the issue and bare their headlines in thick bold font. Sprawled across these pages are revealed intricate stories of national scandals.

Revelations of corporate loss light up the pages with fiery statement after statement. Highways, national water and car and airplane and electric companies going bust (except miraculously redeemed by their “business partners-in-arms”), Approved Permits carelessly handled, preferential treatment evident, the police squad ridiculously taking law into their own hands, religious controversy rising and flailing, and the honourable polite assurance from the administration that “We will look into the matter”.

How many times have issues blown up, only to be forgotten in the next week or so by the general public? Do Malaysians really have that short a memory, or do they practise selective memory, as most women readily admit to do? Why is there no monitoring body or system? Sure, Commissions are set up to give wise advice to those in control. But are these commissions actually listened to? What is the point of setting up a Commission if their painstakingly prepared reports are going to be chucked under a pile of papers to be rudely ignored in any meeting anyway? (SUHAKAM, to cite an example) Are these so-called social ‘watchdogs’ merely put in place to assure the public that something is being done, in the very least? We must have a ridiculously low standard by which social responsibility is judged, then. And shame on us. Wag, wag, goes the finger.

The mentality of come and go cannot be the way forward for a society so eagerly yearning to be classified a developed country. Can we ever achieve this? Not when blacklisted issues are swept under the carpet, and it takes a whole lot to brave the dust and dirt to reintroduce them all over again. Please, society, document these things and start speaking up for your own sakes!

Have short-term memory loss on your personal grievances with humans because others are equally as forgiveable. But when it comes to forgotten national issues that can be a slow poison to the country as it seeps in, don’t be slippery – make a stand and collectively, perhaps the disease of this amnesia of sorts can be treated successfully.