slipstream

Pete Teo:
 I saw a 30 minute newsreel more than a year ago. Shot at Malaya’s Independence ceremony, the archive film was in poor repair yet the spirit captured was unmistakable. I was struck by how people’s faces were more open then, how proud their eyes were and upright their stance – especially when held spellbound by Tunku Abdul Rahman, whose Proclamation Of Independence declared us to be: “…forever a sovereign democratic and independent state founded upon the principles of liberty and justice and ever seeking the welfare and happiness of its people…” That was in 1957. Although we would only become Malaysia in 1963, Tunku’s Merdeka speech clearly outlined the foundations of our country. Yet subsequent years have often seen us falter in the high principles that he envisioned. To the extent that modern Malaysia is a mixed bag of beauty and filth, I began to wonder if Tunku was alive today what he would make of us. I concluded that perhaps it would do us good to listen to him again. Thus an idea began to take shape… It occurred to me that I should make a time machine: a temporal device to transport Malaysia back to the days of its founding. In times of heightened political, religious and racial tension, perhaps time-traveling to where we began would be good. It might remind us of our greater commonality instead of our petty differences


 

 SLIPSTREAM” 
WRITTEN BY PETE TEO  PERFORMED BY MELINA WILLIAM 
See how you go slipstreaming on.
 Past crimson rose and fields of gold.
 Along these fallowed steps to your heart 
Where you did find me there 
And I did come so far 
 People are you coming with me? 
People are you coming with me? 
 So now we go through wind rain sleet and snow. 
The love we speak is more than they’ll ever know. 

 My thoughts:
 Moments in the video that is thought provoking and poignant, to decipher what we individually see in the imagery.
 Brilliant imagery and visual story telling on how the story of our nation enfolds post merdeka ..with a multi diverse cast all of which who in one way or another have a contributing stake in the shaping of our country’s identity..whether through politics , arts and entertaiment , sports and collectively moulded Malaysia into what we are today.
 As we watch the video , note the expressions of solemnness and eager anticipation on the faces of David Arumugam /NameWee , whereas Nazir Razak (would like to think that he also represents Najib in this image) / Liow Tiong Lai , Sofea Jane and Saifudin Abdullah had a look of relief / joy and of course suppressed excitement eagerly awaiting the moment of declaring independence for the country.
 Ambiga ..still has that endearing no-nonsense look on her as she observes the historic moment in the making..
 NameWee serious and solemn expression captured on his face almost boyish like innocence in the serious expression.
 Michelle Yeoh… waiting elegantly .
 Tengku Razali and Lim Kit Siang (political opponents from both sides united in one common voice of being Malaysian) seems to be savouring the moment as it builds up , as their smiles seem to be suggesting.
 Noticed that Namewee is seated in a multi racial mix of a songkok wearing Malay pak cik and a Indian gentleman plus of course the Malaysian Chinese Namewee . Truly a accurate depiction and representation of the 3 main ethnic groups waiting to celebrate the moment together and of course with the other minorities in one voice and mind. ..
 All who are present at the stadium real and “added on” , eagerly anticipating the declaring of Merdeka..of their nation that they are yearning to chant together in sincerity and passion.

 Then comes a panoramic shot of KL skyline of the 60s ..(1.17) back then as the cries of Merdeka rang out from the stadium. ( this is a good footage comparison to the enhanced images later in the video)

 Another favourite thought provoking and endearing scene is of Marina Mahathir and Nurul Izzah ( children of the political nemesis of each other.. today both of these ladies much loved and popular with the people in their own right ) crossing a busy street together. holding arms looking out for each other, and with the Arch in the background with the message ” Bersekutu bertambah mutu” . Quality in Alliance”. A message of reconciliation in the image , that doesn’t get better than that. (2.10)
 Then followed by a scene of the couple from the movie ” Sepet”. (2.15) An interracial love story that ended in tragedy. Directed by the much loved and acclaimed Yasmin Ahmad. But in this image, the couple had a baby in their arms.. An alternate happy ending. A poignant message that there is hope for us yet in our Malaysian multi ethnic and cultural backgrounds as we interact amongst each other.

 Then of course comes the footage of Tunku Abdul Rahman preparing the declaration of “MERDEKA” , and against a surrealistic misty backdrop of the post modern KL skyline with the outline of the twin towers faintly visible.
Like a prophetic optimistic futuristic visual projection of the direction of where our nation’s capital and country will be headed post independence.

 Who can forget the glory days of our country’s football in the era when Santokh Singh (2.36) combined with Soh Chin Aun was defending our Malaysian team , it was almost an impenetrable wall . And looking at that big strong ,friendly aged and mellowed Santokh Singh gazing back at us with his ” dignified resilience , strength , maturity and commanding respect with his presence . Such are the qualities Malaysia can do with as a nation.


 The late Yasmin Ahmad (3.34) with a ”child in her arms”.
Another very poignant image that can be significant as she is so fondly known for her distinctly down to earth film productions that had a very Malaysian flavour of a multi racial Malaysia.
 Her movies had been able to touch many hearts and minds of our nation’s people. Her productions are well known in Malaysia for their humour, heart and love that crosses cross-cultural barriers although in Malaysia some of her productions were deemed controversial for skirting taboo subjects.
 Many of her “babies” went on to become multiple award winning short or feature films and documentaries locally and internationally.
 Here we see Yasmin cradling a child asleep in her arms -  feeling protected / safe / secure as to his/her position in the world.
How we wish that the child in her arms is the metaphor of Yasmin’s imaginings of a multi cultural diverse society she yearns to see accepted .
 That child can also represent the future generations of Malaysians , “mothered and nurtured ” by Yasmin ‘s ideals of a Malaysian psyche.

 Finally as the video ends , take in the few seconds of silence and ponder on the background scenery of a modern but fuzzy KL city skyline and even as KL tower comes into view… The Silence lets you witness the images and contemplate how far we have come since the ringing of the Merdeka chant from Tunku reverberating from Stadium Merdeka.


 –Slip Stream is very much A feel good video to watch , reminding us of what being Malaysian is. If only we have full length movies produced with this theme of reminding us of the wealth of our cultural diversity and help unify us as a nation with a common identity.

 Why can’t we have more movies that go this direction in creating inspiration and love for our country and also acknowledgment of our diversity as the source of our strength.? This is indeed a very Malaysian production reflecting the creativity of our home grown talent. 

Well done to Pete Teo and his Malaysian team 

 CAST LIST featured in the video: spotted in order of appearance -

 David Arumugam (of the Alleycats) at 0:50 – looking very sombre.
 Nazir Razak and Liow Tiong Lai and Sofea Jane at 0:54 
 Ambiga Sreenevasan at 0:57. with the endearing no-nonsense expression on her face. 
Namewee at 1:04–also serious and somber looking to almost a point of reverence 
 Saifuddin Abdullah 1 .06- relaxed and calm look as usual 
 Jo Kukathas at 1:11.. quaint hat amongst european crowd 
 Lim Kit Siang and Tengku Razaleigh at 1:12 . both have a smile that seems to suggest that they are enjoying every minute of the historic moment.. Sitting next to each other . Suggesting perhaps that despite idealogical or political differences and inclinations is no reason for not getting along if they united in the common cause of being Malaysian first.
 Michelle Yeoh at 1:14. looking elegant in relaxed anticipation. 

 Marina Mahathir and Nurul Izzah Anwar at 2:10. liked this scene a lot as they cross the busy street looking out for each other
 Jinniboy (of Youtube fame) at 2:15 merdeka ! 

 The couple from Sepet The movie 2.16 couple re emerge with a baby in their arms suggestive of a happy ending after all. alternate conclusion to the tragic ending . If only real life imitates art. 
 Santokh Singh 2.36 may be aged and mellowed but still projects formidable strength and resolve simply by a glare at the camera. 
 Pete Teo 3.20 has to sneak himself in to this much loved video he directed and produced and play a part and deservingly so.
 Ramli Ibrahim 3.27 icon of the art of dance in Malaysia


 Yasmin Ahmad 3.34 multiple award winning local and international film maker of movies that has a social message which has resonated with viewers especially her Malaysian productions.

WTF does a "Guided Democracy" really mean? Just another veiled attempt at imposing dictatorial rule.

If that is how UMNO is to be run, then at the same token, it is what to expect as well from BN. 

A "Guided democracy" for the nation since they are running the show also.

‘Guided democracy’ is the Umno way, no leadership contest necessary – Ku Nan

JUNE 18, 2013

Umno secretary-general  Datuk Seri Tengku  Adnan Mansor stressed that the top two posts in Umno – president and deputy president – need not be contested in the upcoming party elections as the party follows the principle of a “guided democracy”. He said this after some party leaders and groups insisted on a leadership contest, despite the supreme council’s recent decision that there will be no contest for the top two posts.

"What we want to follow is the ‘guided democracy’. As such, there won’t be any contest for the post of president and deputy president. After all, we just had our general elections,” Tengku Adnan told reporters at his office in the Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur building today. – June 18, 2013.

Does Ku Nan realise the implications of what he is suggesting?

Now UMNO seems to be borrowing old school methods from Sukarno, are they so out of ideas.? Retrieving and recycling  useless junk  from a known dictator.

Democracy is a form of government in which all eligible citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Democracy allows eligible citizens to participate equally—either directly or through elected representatives—in the proposal, development, and creation of laws. It encompasses social, economic and cultural conditions that enable the free and equal practice of political self-determination.

How do you guide  a democracy? By forcibly telling (mental bullying)  the citizens what to think, who to select...That will be a Shamocracy!

- Guided democracy, also called managed democracy, is a term for a democratic government with increased autocracy. Governments are legitimated by elections that are free and fair but emptied of substantive meaning in their ability to change the State's policies, motives, and goals.

In other words, elections are controlled so that the people can exercise all their rights without significantly effecting any  changes in leadership or policies. While basic democratic principles may be applied,  there can be major deviations towards authoritarianism. 

 Under a Guided or managed democracy, the electorate is prevented from having a significant impact on policies adopted by the State's continuous use of propaganda techniques.

The term was first imposed for  Indonesia, but it is now also widely employed in Hungary ,and in Russia,and to an extent in Singapore, introduced into common practice by the Kremlin theorists, and  even the United States of America according to Princeton professor Sheldon Wolin and his theories regarding inverted totalitarianism. 

 Guided democracy was  the brainchild of President Sukarno of Indonesia ,putting in place a political system from 1957 until the New Order began in 1966. Sukarno felt that the Western-style democracy not suited for Indonesia's situation. Ironically inspired by Communism after visiting Mao.
Sukarno proposed a threefold blend of nasionalisme ('nationalism'), agama ('religion'), and komunisme ('communism') into a co-operative 'Nas-A-Kom' government, designed to appease the three main factions in Indonesian politics — the army, Islamic groups, and the communists. He proclaimed in February 1957, 'Guided Democracy', and proposed a cabinet representing all political parties of importance including the Communist Party of Indonesia.-

In other words, a guided democracy is just another veiled attempt at imposing  dictatorial  rule!!

BN has lost the war of Popularity

Popularity is Power from the people!

A popular government has the solid backing of the CITIZENS. A popular leader doesn’t have to bribe anyone for support; just a mere word and he can mobilize thousands in one solid show of solidarity and affection endorsing their choice for those whom the citizens prefer to lead them.

When the leader/ leaders possesses the allegiance of the marjority of a nation’s people behind them, commanding their trust, respect and overwhelming support and affection.

WELL, THAT IS POWER! 

What the rallies seem to have accomplished

If popularity is any indicator, I doubt that the BN lineup can come anywhere near to the appeal that Anwar and his brothers in arms command. At merely stating that there is to be an assembly, the people just come out in droves to see them in a show of support and solidarity, without promises of free food or any other enticements apart from the fact that they want to see in person this man and his comrades in the flesh and hear their views. And if needed, to rally behind them in a show of strength and mass support.

 Time and again, this has been demonstrated via the rallies throughout the nation.

 Detractors may feel that the assemblies don’t seem to go anywhere but sifting through all the logic and reason, somehow there is a grudging conclusion that perhaps it does meet a purpose. Shoring up the sentiments of the people, deposit as it were, to be withdrawn in a crucial time. Whipping up the sentiments of outrage amongst the people that they have been defrauded.

 Perceived foul play is a thorn in people’s mindsets.  Everyone of whatever ethnicity feels indignant to have their sense of decency and fairplay mocked, and when ingrained into their psyche, it will stay there for a long time and will be  vented explosively when opportunity comes. The rallies can also pressure the BN ruling coalition to toe the line and not procrastinate anymore if they are really seeking to reform for the better.

The rallies have made superstars of the Pakatan line up. Nurul, Che GU Bard, Tian Chua, Mat Sabu, Tony Pua to name a few, apart from already idolized top guns. And not only exclusively from PR but the personalities from NGOs as well.  The rakyat can easily relate to these personalities, these perceived  champions and identify with them as one of their own. They have captured the imagination of the Rakyat as underdogs championing their cause for justice and righteousneous although, it may be an idealistic notion that may not have bearing to bread and butter issues affecting livelihood

 
Nonetheless, it appeals psychologically to the core essence of decent people with moral values. Touches on raw nerves and pent up emotions that has been set aside in the people’s psyche for years under the iron handed authoritarian rule of the BN. This is an accumulation of those many years of pent up frustrations of the common layman on the street  who have been exposed to, heard about or victimized in one form or another , the excesses of the ruling party , commited with impunity for half a decade ,in total disregard of the rakyat’s  opinions , as if they  didn’t matter. So what is witnessed now in these rallies is the venting of the people’s exasperation and disapproval of the abused practices inflicted on the country for so long.

It takes two hands to clap and make a sound. Pakatan is but just one hand, the rakyat make up the other .If the people are not supportive and in consensus with the cause, very few will attend the rallies. They will stay away not because the authorities tell them to do so or that it is illegal, but simply because they cannot commit emotionally. But on the contrary, looking at the numbers in attendance, in spite of warnings and veiled threats by the powers,  generally  law respecting and abiding people attend the gatherings,  it shows just how  disapproving of the government ( judging from the ground sentiment of the rakyat ) the people are.

 More importantly, it also reveals the intensity of the emotions that is felt by the people. The “Tidak Apa, Biar saja!” attitude has shifted to “ Ta boleh dah.! Sudah lah, cukup la itu, Ta boleh lagi.”

And this represents  the marjority voice of the Rakyat, including even those who prefer not to attend and have voiced out their protest through the ballot. They may want to move on in despair that they were denied the opportunity to UBAH, but doesn’t mean that they have given up all hope.

A voice of Gen Y.

 Especially  among the idealistic  young generation who have  heard accounts about what it was like under BN from the older generation besides interpret ting for themselves how much truth those accounts carry in current times.

They make up their own minds based on testimonies and evidence presented and come to a conclusion by their own accord influenced by their own intellect.

 They may not have felt the brunt of the excesses in comparison to their parent’s generation, but doesn’t mean that they do not feel offended or concerned when their sense of values in what is acceptable and decent in our society and culture is aroused.  More so when perpetrated by those entrusted to lead us and make the correct decisions on our behalf with our best interests at heart.

BN losing the war of perception and popularity

Ask any average man on the street to name any BN ministers or legislators with as much charisma and popularity as that of those in PR and chances are there will be very few names to match that of the house hold names of those in PR.

It is a war of perception ,and on the media front especially the social media , BN is suffering huge casualties in the popularity battle for hearts and minds .

Race card again, does it help?!

And harping on the race card to rally the Malays doesn’t seem to help much either, if anything , BN runs the risk of offending their own coalition members and chasing them away to the other side out of sheer exasperation and despair. Not to mention that it has already successfully created the image on the mindsets of those on the other camp on , how despicable and low those responsible will stoop , to preserve their power and control and how desperate they are in fear of losing that power.

The race bashing may appeal to ultra racist elements within UMNO but just how significant are their numbers? Amongst the 3 million or so UMNO members, many are ordinary people with ordinary lifes that has been integrating with the other communities and to an extent are interdependent on each other to advance and progress.They have been doing so for years and to tell them now they have been dancing with the enemy may offend their sensibilities when they know for a fact it is not so. And neither do they feel threatened by the other communities.  Continue to dispense with this spiteful racial rhetoric  of Us vs Them ,so blatantly designed to incite and manipulate , turns decent rational people who can reason ,off.

UMNO has with credit raised up the economic standing and  intellectual abilities and  capacity of the Malay marjority, yet ,with informed intellect, comes a clearer perception of world views guided by common sense and rational thought.  Education does away with ignorance. It removes the proverbial coconut shell. Educated or informed people cannot be lead by the nose anymore. They can decipher very well or understand, emotionally if not intellectually, what is mental colonialism and oppression, simply because they are now  intelligent and mature enough.

Get off your high horse!

The elite of UMNO and BN need to step out of their gilded horse drawn carriages or their limousine motorcades and mingle with the Rakyat to regain a sense of the pulse of the people. They are so clearly out of touch with what is going on, on the ground, what the Rakyat has evolved into  after  56 years post independence and how they really think and feel about the state of affairs in the nation.

From the makcik nasi lemak to the pakcik warong, Muthu’s dobi to Ah Seng’s workshop to the SMIs, Towkays and Dato’s of Sdn Bhds. What and how do they feel about the past 50 years under BN.? Why so many of them voted as they did during the PRU13??

 In a nutshell , BN is as unpopular as a rotten egg in a crowded room. The stink from 50 years of abuses cannot be washed off overnight. But if they can discard the smelly parts then there may be hope yet.

Please don’t rock the boat and just allow us to be  Malaysians 

In the urban areas, where the economic power houses and life sustaining organs of the nation that generates the wealth exist, the message has been sent loud and clear, No More!  Enough already!  Let’s get on with living as Malaysians and collectively transform it into a nation to be envied for prosperity and cooperation of her patriotic people, who have a very strong sense of nationhood and love for their homeland. Using our very diversity as a formidable strength to challenge the world and emerge celebrated. We can have our cake and eat it too, distributed fairly to all to ensure all will have a piece.

Whether that task can be done by PR or BN is a  moot issue. More pressing are the ideals of the marjority  seeking a better quality of citizenship and way of life in our homeland.