Over the past 2 months, there are positives to be taken from being in Miri. The most obvious is the case that people, though rubbish drivers are also oblivious to skin colour and race.

Over this same period of time, through Abdullah's interview with CNN and the ruckus over the live telecast of the UMNO General Assembly, I feel that we've hastened the demise of whatever little free speech we already have.

"... the media should be controlled"
"people should be protected..."

Ask yourself Mr. Prime Minister, as the disdain for your administration grows each day, who is being protected by your closed door policies, that the people don't have to know. The right winged have moved even further right, with taunts pointed at the other races while a weapon wielded in hostility, to forget as to what makes Malaysia great. The need to dismiss those on the side proclaiming that targets have been met (45% bumiputra equity has been reached), the failure in the education of those who are supposed to lead the country. Your legacy would be that of overbearing protectionist control and promises that were still born as they left your mouth.

We'll be a net importer of oil sooner than you think, our key industries are failing. Overzealous religious figures start creeping from the cracks unregulated. Your component parties being lap dogs with no backbone of support. Your kind and all kind, calling for a change.

Your rationalle is being questioned, a man in space to drink tea and to play 5 stones in space. What benefit is there to such exploits, what is the country to gain from all this? Pride? I'm ashamed to think it needs a nation to pay for a man in space not for the purpose of furthering humanity's quest for greatness, but to play a game in space usually played by little girls in school uniforms. To go as far as to say we'll pay for a man on the moon... Great advertising chief, only what and who are we promoting?

Don't you see, Malaysia is hemorrhaging... bleeding of promises never fulfilled the spark in her eyes are slowly fading. Her people are ashamed not of her, but of those supposedly leading the charge. Her once bright luster fading to a drab shade of grey. A generation neglected, the next in negligence...

"Be a man, do the right thing!"

I'd like to love my country, but I can't bring myself to...

"Moral indignation is jealousy with a halo"
H. G. Wells (1866 - 1946)

2nd day out of 3, Safety, Sea survival and HUET course.

If anything is to be taken from 2 days is the above

Niah called... and the mosquitos bit

Habitual Agonies

The few times I sought solace from an empty room,
WHen the mind broods,
I find a fleeting breeze,
A reminder of opportunities spurned
Dreams attained and everything in between...
There's always a time

To everything there is a season, and
a time to every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born, and
a time to die;
a time to plant, and
a time to pluck up
that which is planted;

A time to kill, and
a time to heal;
a time to break down, and
a time to build up;

A time to weep, and
a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and
a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and
a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and
a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and
a time to lose;
a time to keep, and
a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and
a time to sow;
a time to keep silence, and
a time to speak;

A time to love, and
a time to hate;
a time of war; and
a time of peace.

One suits up every morning ready to take on traffic nescience. Every morning, I'm reminded once again I'm in Miri just by the random brake lights of the car in front of me.