Towards A Competitive Malaysia #31
Chapter 6 Great Nations, Great People (Cont’d)
The Holistic Leader
It would take a unique or fortuitous combination of leader, followers, and circumstances for the leader and his or her organization (or nation) to excel: the mood, aspirations, and temperament of the followers; the gifts, skills, and personality of the leader; and the particular circumstances or challenges. Then there is the role of culture, as exemplified by Mahathir when he did not venture beyond his party in search of a successor, and geography that may present the leader with an opportunity to be capitalized upon.
The effective leader reads his followers well, connects with them, and is aware of their challenges. The leader then mobilizes them to reach greater heights. When they reach there, it matters not whether they were being led or pushed, the results were as if they had achieved it themselves. Or by the wisdom of Lao-Tze, the best leaders are those, when their task is accomplished, the people would all remark, “We have done it ourselves!”
For this to occur, the leader must establish an emotional bond with his followers. Lee Kuan Yew was a brilliant leader of his little and overwhelmingly Chinese republic, but when Singapore was part of Malaysia in the early 1960s, he failed miserably to expand his reach beyond his race. He could not connect with Malays in the rest of Malaysia. He made the elementary mistake of assuming that Malaysian Malays were of the same variety as those on his tiny island.
Daniel Goldman, the Harvard psychologist with his concept of Emotional Intelligence, believes that this emotional aspect of a leader is primal, first in importance. When leaders have it, there is resonance; absent, dissonance.18
He describes at least six leadership styles. One, the commanding style, would correspond to my military model; the second, coaching style. The next three—affiliative, visionary, and pacesetting—describe my orchestra conductor model. His last—democratic—refers to leaders who lead more through consensus and persuasion. They encourage their followers to commit to the same goals, and once committed they would carry forth on their own. Elements of these are seen especially in the conductor model, and to some extent, the coaching one.
For a particular time and circumstance, a military-like leader may be what is needed; for another, a coach-like leader; and yet another, the orchestra conductor type. Successful leaders are aware of when circumstances have changed sufficiently for them to withdraw, or at least play a less leading role, as Singapore’s Lee did. Others who are otherwise effective leaders would be rudely reminded that their style is no longer welcomed or appropriate.
Winston Churchill was a brilliant wartime leader; he successfully rallied his nation against the Nazis. After the war, the Brits wisely decided that he was not the best person to lead them during peacetime. Knowing Churchill’s subsequent Cold War rhetoric, they were right. He would have plunged Britain and the world into yet another cataclysmic war, this time against the Soviets.
Tunku Abdul Rahman was the perfect coach-like leader for Malaysia at the time of independence. He had the right style and personality, together with the right expectations from the citizenry. Malaysians then saw the terrible fate awaiting many newly independent nations. They therefore had a necessarily low expectation of their leaders: Just do not screw up what the British had left. No new initiatives were expected or even welcomed. Stay the course was the objective, and Tunku fitted that role perfectly. He once proclaimed himself to be the world’s “Happiest Prime Minister!” He loved maintaining the status quo.
That lasted for over a decade. As Malaysians gained more confidence, they aspired to greater heights. Staying the course was no longer acceptable; pressing problems could no longer be ignored. The Tunku was oblivious of these changing undercurrents; he ignored them until they blew up in his and the nation’s collective face.
Tun Razak was the rare leader who excelled in more than one leadership role. He was in effect a military commander following the 1969 riots, and then a visionary coach of a democratic nation. Franklin Roosevelt was another, with the transition in the opposite direction. He gave hope to his countrymen immediately following the depression, and then went on to be a brilliant wartime leader during World War II.
Next: Leadership Qualities of Prophet Muhammad, s.a.w.
November 14th, 2007 at 11:01 pm
Can we actually say the same about his son? I’m talking about Najib Tun Razak, by the way.
November 15th, 2007 at 2:58 am
Nor Ismat aka Radical Scope,
Of course, you cant. The son is just a chip of the old block. Najib is not Tun Razak.
Tun Razak, UMNO President and Prime Minister, was one special and selfless leader, who devoted his life for the economic upliftment of people in the rural sector. FELDA was his brainchild and his son, Najib, is now trying to make political capital by riding on that success.
The Tun was an astute politician who created Barisan Nasional by a process of co-optation. He was a brilliant consensus builder and was able to bring PAS into the BN fold. After his demise, PAS withdrew from the coalition.
His foreign policy achievements were second to none. He negotiated the end of Indonesia’s Confrontation and was at the founding of ASEAN in 1967 as a signatory for Malaysia to the Bangkok Declaration. He was the first Malaysian Prime Minister to visit China and opened the door for the end of communist insurgency when he got the commitment from Mao Tse Tung that China would not interfere in our internal affairs. He pioneered efforts to build our relations with the non-aligned Afro-Asian nations, that later led to our membership of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) .
Tun Razak was a Malay nationalist, but he was able to rise above parochial interests to be a leader of all Malaysians. During his time, we never witnessed any keris rattling or kissing. He was a confident Malay who showed us what it took to build a great nation–hard work, dedication, and sacrifice and most of all innovative thinking. He was a true leader of sterling qualities.
The Tun attracted some outstanding colleagues like Tun Dr. Ismail Abdul Rahman, Tun Ghazalie Shafie, Tun Tan Siew Sin, among others. Najib pales in comparison.
Thanks.
November 15th, 2007 at 6:29 am
If Tun Razak had accepted the 1969 general elections result, when the opposition denied the ruling coalition of the two-thirds parliamentary majority, worked towards implementing equitable policies whereby he could gain the peoples’ confidence and re-gained the two-thirds majority at a subsequent election, he would have gotten my respect.
Instead he was leader of the gang of four – Tun Razak, Tun Dr. Ismail Ali, Ghazali Shafie and Harun – who resorted to mayhem, had no compunction in spilling innocent blood in their plot both to oust Tunku Abdul Rahman and grab power. The story of May 13 is well-documented.
Lee Kuan Yew called Tun Razak an evil genius. Evil is correct, the genius bit may be flattery.
November 15th, 2007 at 6:41 pm
Outsider,
The recent May 13 book was a revelation but it is neither exhaustive nor conclusive. It is not known, for example, why Tun Tan Siew Sin and MCA decided not to be part of the ruling coalition after the 1969 general elections.
As for Tun Dr. Ismail, he remained loyal to the Tunku. Please Dr. Ooi Kee Beng’s biography, “The Reluctant Politician” to have some understanding of the strong man behind Tun Razak.
As far as LKY is concerned, I am an admirer of his brilliance and achievements in creating modern day Singapore. But I would say that he had no influence on our politics. Tun Razak is an “evil genius” to him because he probably believed that the Malaysian Prime Minister (then Deputy to the Tunku) had a big influence on the decision to remove Sinagpore from Malaysia in 1965.
Thanks.
November 15th, 2007 at 8:28 pm
A bit of a caveat. I wasn’t around in ‘69 and it is a bit presumptuous of me without having read Dr Kua’s book to renounce his “findings”.
I may be risking it a bit here but, I cannot imagine a triumvirate of Tun Razak, Ghazali Shafie and Tun Dr Ismail planning a coup against Tunku Abdul Rahman. It just doesn’t make much sense. Acts such as a coup against a head of government and a royalty like Tunku Abdul Rahman would be unthinkable in those days. It goes against the psyche of a malay in those days.
It’s a bit early to accept Dr Kua’s book as the definitive history on May 13th. What’s with DAP anyway these days, there is a sudden upsurge in the need to rewrite history ? First we were told by Ronnie Liu that Chin Peng should be accorded a status worthy of a place at Tugu Negara and now we are being told from “declassified documents” that the malays planned a botched coup detat and to quote Outsider… “resorted to mayhem, had no compunction in spilling innocent blood” (not that I am saying that you are a DAP member).
Brother Din, the keris episode was of bad taste I agree. Politics aside, play fair. Why not say something about Ronnie Liu’s blasphemy. Doesn’t the blood shed by the police and army personnel in their battle against Chin Peng worth standing up for ? I have heard countless permutation of Hismauddin’s name, such as kerishamuddin and what have you. Since we are in the name calling mood, shouldn’t we accord the same “privilege” to Ronnie Liu ?
Ronnie Liu may now claim that his statement was taken out of context but was it really ?
November 15th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
Lekiu,
What Ronnie said could be taken out of context, as he claims, or it could be, as you say, a “blasphemy”. If you say that we want to fair, I agree, but let us face facts.
The Government is guilty as hell on this score. To say otherwise is to discredit the thousands of people from all walks of life who participated in the November 10 2007 BERSIH march to demand electoral reforms so that our next elections can be “free and fair”. Are you saying to me that evidence of gerrymeandering, phantom voters, misuse of postal voters, use of public funds and vote buying, and a biased Elections Commission have been fabricated by the Opposition? Furthermore, can we say that the Government is beyond reproach when it comes to managing our country?
I am personally against all forms of racist remarks. Hishamuddin was playing the racial card. He should, therefore, be severely criticised for keris rattling and pushing the so-called “Malay agenda” to win votes.I am sure that Ronnie Liu had received similiar condemnaton for his “blasphemy”.
Let us create a level playing field. Then we can vote in the party with the best ideas and programmes to serve the people.
November 15th, 2007 at 11:30 pm
The cracks in UMNO/BN is now apparent. Notice how Ministers are going against Ministers and MB against MP and DUN. UMNO leaders are making unwanted statements about each other and against BN component parties. Same is true for other component parties making statements against UMNO.
Find the weak link and you will break the UMNO/BN armour. Bersatu Teguh Bercerai Roboh. Keep chiselling at BN and the armour will break. Let them fight each other.
November 15th, 2007 at 11:40 pm
Brother Din,
Hishamuddin is after all Ketua Pemuda UMNO or something. A party that is racially based, much like all the parties in the Barisan Coalition.
He has every right to pursue, wrongly to some as it may seem, a Malay centric agenda. Much like PAS pushes for a theocratic government during election.
Reading Rawls and speaking about justice is very comforting, but reality has never been fair. When Anwar was the Finance Minister, how much money was poured by him and his goons to take over print and electronic media ? He knows the power of the media. He played to the gallery. His rhetoric changes to suit his audience. His rebel look and jingoism was changed to Armani and new age renaissance man.
I may be wrong, but someone told me, and I took it on faith, that the Permatang Pauh constituency was carved to favour an UMNO win. Anwar was guilty as hell. Nary, a word of complaint. Gleefully he basked in the glory of a “win”.
Most, if not all of us vote based on religion and/or race. Not exactly our proudest moment. But the painful reality of a house divided. Look at the election figures, look at the racial numbers of a constituent and one can immediately guess an outcome of an election/by election.
Is the Opposition the solution ? Lets not play politics and answer it truthfully. You replace one rojak Barisan alliance and you replace it with what is essentially a rojak that refused to be called by its name.
November 16th, 2007 at 12:18 am
Shrek,
It is going change when the rakyat knows and understands the issues and what is at stake with a mediocre and corrupt government in power. It is only sad that we do not have a free press. Fortunately, we can have the internet and we hope those have access to this wonderful technology can read and inform those in the desas that we now have a dysfunctional state.
My colleagues and I are going down to talk to ordinary people via ceramah kelompok to explain what is happening to our country and what we can do change the way things are now. Our message is captured in our election slogan: Ubah sebelum parah (Stop the Rot), Ubah demi Maruah (Change for Dignity).
The BN is more divided now than ever. The MCA and the MIC are increasingly viewed by many people as “Dogs of UMNO” and are, therefore, impotent while UMNO itself is split into factions by various party barons. Our Ahlil Nujum Pak Belalang is fast asleep, not knowing that he is losing ground within his own party and he is too weak to manage the country.
UMNO can be beaten. Apparently the Prime Minister himself is uncertain of his own grip on power. So it is just a matter of time. Dr. Bakri says UMNO will implode. I think it will explode. Both ways will be fine. BERSIH is just the start. As I said, in my recent piece, it is a new dawn as the culture of fear and intimidation has been broken.
Somebody just told me that elections will be in February, 2008 either before or after the Chinese New Year. The longer they wait the worse it wll be for them.
Our nation’s problems won’t just go away. Only a serious and efficient government with able leadership, not a government where the leader goes on holiday whenever crisis hits the country, can fix them.
November 16th, 2007 at 3:57 am
A tactical approach in breaching Umno’s hold on power is th best solution. Forget about trying to upstage the party in a one-to-one face off. The Opposition needs to identify Umno’s weakness - real and make believe - and capitalise on them. If factions have been created due to in-fighting and mistrust among members these factions must remain seperate.
The component parties are weak because members have lost faith in their relevance vis-a-vis Umno. They may soon be the excess baggage that Umno has sworn never to carry. These parties must continue to remain irrelevant to the Chinese and Indians.
PPP has a bone to pick with Umno, Gerakan and MIC. The rift created is irrepairable. It must remain as such.
The problem is the kampong folks. They are easily swayed by sweet talks and Puteri Umno. Pak Din and gang has to find a way to overcome this. Buying them with kain batik and pelikat like what Umno has been doing since time immemorial is not the answer.
Try getting to the youths. However, the Mat Rempits have been bought over by Naina Merican and his cohorts. But something can be done, nothwithstanding. It is not a lost cause as yet. Glavanise the youths of the Opposition parties to counter this - youth against youth but refrain from getting involved in a fracas. Many of our youths have yet to register as voters. They are a good source of support if the Opposition know how to win them over.
PAS, KeAdilan and DAP must set the momentum going. The Bersih March has worked to your advantage. Work on it. Most political bloggers are on your side. They are a good medium to disseminate information.
You are up against a formidable opponent one that has everything stacked in its favour. Don’t dispair. Remember David defeated Goliath. Just sharpen your skills and be prepared for battle.
Pak Din, your road show in the kampongs has to start in earnest.
Good luck.
November 16th, 2007 at 7:59 am
I am shocked that you would resort to dehumanising others by calling MCA and MIC as “dogs of UMNO”. Do we now deny them any moral consideration ? Creating an illusion of psychological distance will eventually create moral exclusion. Violence have resulted by such callous statements.
Brother Din, I have followed you for sometime, I have respected you for your objectivity, for your ability to act rationally. I have no qualms in you following your right to choose a political party of your choice. We agree to disagree. That is essentially the beauty of a democratic process.
Have we come to this ? Win at all cost regardless of the consequences ? Let justice be done, though the heavens fall ?
I am pleading for some semblance of sanity.
November 16th, 2007 at 8:14 am
SUHAKAM has humiliated me as a silly ‘guinea-pig’ when I was called to KL from Ipoh just to attend its very 1st historic INQUIRY on 24-7-2000, for the commissioners to try out how INQUIRY was conducted !!
November 16th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
Lekiu,
The elections will decide, if it is truly free and fair.
My views on the MCA and MIC are now crystal clear. In the few months I have been in KeADILan, I worked long hours (average 14 hours) throughout the week, and have around to places I have never been before. I met many Chinese and Indians on the streets and at ceramahs. Let me tell you that they have so many ugly things to say about both the MCA and MIC that the term I use is very mild indeed.
I entreat you to do the same and then you will know what is real, what is fair, and what the common people are thinking and feeling. Talk to the Indians about Maika Holdings and democracy in MIC and they will laugh at you. Talk to the people in Penang about Gerakan (PGRM). Penangites will sneer at you. The Chinese are disillusioned with the MCA.
You talk about being fair. How fair has the present Government been? Don’t be naive. This government is corrupt and rotten to the core. Look at the billions that have been spent and the millions raked in as commissions for purchases of military and naval hardware.
Did you not read the Auditor-General’s recent report on wasteful public expenditure? What has the Government done? Why only certain government officials have been charged? Why not haul up the Minister of Defense or the Minister of Youth and Sports and others and hold them fully accountable?
Recently, the Menteri Besar of Selangor, Khir Toyo, awarded brooms to two local councils. I thought this Menteri Besar does it more than they, as he after all has overall responsibility for the affairs of the state. Fair to you?
We have the Monsoon Cup costing rm 300 million annually yet we read in our local media of parents of young children needing urgent medical care having to appeal to the public for donations. Fair to you? Have you walked in the area not far from the KLCC to see with your own eyes the conditions under which some our Malaysian brothers and sisters are living? I did that and was shocked and disgusted.
BERSIH and the thousands of people who risked their lives and limbs to march to the Palace cannot be wrong. Were you there? Did you put your life at risk in front of those battle ready FRU personnel? I did because I know the system is unfair and corrupt.
At 68, I still want to see justice for all Malaysians. I want an end to a government that acts with impunity and curtails our freedom of expression and assembly. I want to see academic freedom in our universities and more funding for research and training of Malaysians. I want good governance.
Anwar Ibrahim is a changed person. His years of imprisonment at Sungei Buloh gave him the opportunity to reflect on his past. He was in his early thirties when he joined the Mahathir Administration. Now he is 60 years old. He fought to change the system from within but failed. So, he started a movement for change–reformasi– by setting up KeADILan (Justice) Party. He now has the experience and maturity to lead our country. He is on a mission to change the way we govern and do business. I am here to give him that chance.
Thanks.
November 16th, 2007 at 11:09 pm
Outcold,
Thanks for your suggestions. Tindakan akan diambil.
November 17th, 2007 at 1:23 am
…Regarding Anwar Ibrahim, may I add that not only did he fail to change the system from within, but he was incarcerated for 6 years in solitary confinement at Sungei Buloh on trumped up charges and tried by a corrupt judicial system where the only words uttered by the presiding judge were “irrelevant, irrelevant, irrelevant” when evidence was presented to him. This corruption in the judiciary was confirmed by the recent release of the authentic “correct, correct, correct” Lingam tape.
Even the former Lord President Tun Salleh Abbas was dismissed in disgrace in 1988 by then then Government and deprived of his gratuity and pension because he defended the independence of his Court. You call this fairness when his rights are being trampled upon. I rest my case of this issue of fairness.
The time has come for us to stand up for our fundamental rights as guaranteed by our Constitution (refer to Articles 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 of the Malaysian Constitution as at April 25, 2006) and be counted. Otherwise, we are not free men and women. Stand up for dignity.
Thanks.
November 17th, 2007 at 6:59 am
Members of political party have the right within their party to challenge, boycott, state their displeasure, persuade and all manner of things to change their party from inside. In UMNO for example, Mahathir spent 3/4 of his political life battling everyone from Tunku to Anwar. They came to the ring, threw a few punches at Mahathir, got whacked by Mahathir.
The non-chinese by and large have shown their displeasure at the Government for as far as long as I can remember. Which was why I stated, that come election, one just have to look at the racial composition of a constituency to predict an outcome.
Having said that, for reasons best known to members of Gerakan, MIC and MCA, we do not see major defection to the Opposition. From my house, I could still see people coming in droves to Wisma MCA. Voting, debating, in fighting, as if their life depends on it.
Speaking about Penangites, how many times have we heard promises made by Lim Kit Siang of his plan to capture Penang failing which he will resign. Most of the time, Barisan retain their majority in Penang. Lim Kit Siang will tell you with a certain smugness, I want to resign but people love me so much and I have so much to contribute. How many times have the Opposition from PAS to DAP making snide remarks about Mahathir being a dictator and will never relinquish power and die in office. Tun Dr Mahathir with beaming pride and graciousness, relinquish power at the top of his game. Lim Kit Siang, Hadi, Nik Aziz, Karpal … are still around.
As to you speaking to Penangites and heard complaints, that reminds me of foreign journalists who patronise bars in bangsar and in the run up to General Election will report to the world how “majority” of Malaysians are fed up with the Government and that Barisan’s 3/4 majority will be lost. But, come every GE Barisan retain their 3/4 majority. Even at the height of the biggest street protest in the history of Malaysia led by “Sdr/Abang Anwar” in the late 90s, Barisan still retain their 3/4.
This despite your best buddy having an illusion of grandeur, drawing parallel with Napoleon Bonaparte and claiming that there was plan to poison him with arsenic. Napoleon died, somehow, miraculously arsenic didn’t kill him. And what about the outlandish claim that government agents were planning to infect him with AIDS virus. Had he heard of Russian’s ability to utilise Polonium 210 to kill, he and/or his people would probably make such claim as well.
I do not plan to defend Khir Toyo. Lets call a spade a spade. All right thinking members of the public disagree with Khir Toyo’s action in sending a broom. When I heard about it, I felt like sending him a broom or two as well for the failure to address environmental issues in Selangor. If Keadilan plan to send him a broom or two, I would gladly contribute to such fund. I have to admit AAB is so weak that such acts goes unpunished or at least reprimanded. And to make matter worse, the man has no sense of right or wrong and had the cheek to defend his action.
I refuse to be led by a hypocrite in BERSIH campaign. Discussing it again will just mean rehashing old and tired arguments against Anwar. By the way, “putting life at risk in front of those battle ready FRU”, a bit melodramatic dont you think ? They were armed with water cannons, not with Steyr or Colt M4 !
American has a defence budget amounting to US623 Billion, bigger than Russian, France, China, UK, Germany, Italy, Israel and India put together. Yet, if you visit US you will still see people who live in condition no better than some of the place in Malaysia. It always amazes me how US citizen will have to find 2 jobs to keep afloat when the US provide billions of dollars in terms of aid to countries all over the world, us included.
Brother Din, you’re an expert in economic affairs, to suggest or to imply we stop some promotional affairs and every citizen will be well provided for will probably make confused people at Ceramah starry eyed but surely that cannot be true. Can it ?
That kind of statement remind me of claim by PAS during the last GE. If they are voted to power, they will sell Putrajaya and all other “mega projects” of BN. And since i am in the mood of PAS bashing, PAS in commenting about Petronas Twin Tower said that when built, it will be a white elephant ! Oh, how wrong, big time can they be ! And what about another PAS member who when commenting about what he plans to do when in power, with foolish pride, he said “apa takut, semua dah ada, kita cuci kaki, masuk je”.
I can go on and on with politicians on both side of the divide making foolish and dumb statements. It is a malaise that affect both Barisan and Opposition politicians. If stand up comedy is popular in Malaysia, budding comedians will have a field day. The callous statement of Barisan politicians are more pronounced because all eyes are trained on them. You put your life under a microscope, all manner of dirt will be visible.
Maybe there is a grain of truth in it, I have to admit there is a possibility taking into account his fierce activism in his youth, that when Anwar was co-opted into the Government, he had every plan to change the Government.
Somehow along the way, he lost his bearings. He became part of the system, played along with it, partied with it, enjoyed the adulation, made some money along the way, amassed considerable power, collected a few staunch loyalist, wowed the audience when he peppered his speech with text from Quran and where his audience are liberal minded speak of renaissance, stood by with a I couldn;t care less attitude at every ISA detainee, every poor parent who couldn;t afford best medical care for their loved ones, people in rural areas in sabah and sarawak who still has to brave unpaved roads, bridges that will rupture anytimes, prison detainees who when released are not given any hope of reintegrating into society, addicts who are released and then re admitted into Pusat Pemulihan Dadah, capital punishment that doesn;t seem to deter drug dealers, school children who failed their exams with no counselling as to what prospect is out there for them, marvelled at the beautiful cut of Armani… where was I..hmm ?
As for Anwar being detained in Sungai Buloh, he should be charged for treason for working to bring IMF !
As to Article 5 of the Federal Constitution, Anwar manage to get some of the charges overturned. Some ISA detainees have successfully challenged their detention. The Orang Asli won a much deserved victory in the Bakun Dam case, recently someone who was abused by the Police while in detention won a huge compensation in Court. But true, there was the Lina Joy case, the Revathi case that cause consternation in some quarters. But as they say, cest la vie.
As to Article 6, we have abolished slavery a long time ago. I think Victor Hugo said something to the effect that owing money to the bank is like slavery. But that is another issue.
As to Article 7, there was sometime back in Star newspaper about some forgotten prisoners who are still in prison despite serving their time. You should take a look at it.
As to Article 8, we are all entitled to protection of the law. If someone can;t afford lawyers, the Government provides free legal service. If you distrust the Government one can always turn to the Malaysian Bar. You see young wannbe lawyers with big name tags on the lapel of their jackets in Court doing their bit for “justice”.
As to Article 9. I think Chin Peng should be kept banished.
As to Article 10, you assembled and protested. Some just had memory lapse of the need to read sub article 2 (a)(b) and (c).
As to Article 11. Except for Lina Joy and Revathi, we all are free to worship.
As to Article 12. Maybe we need to revisit NEP and a rethink. Affirmative action may need to be readjusted to include disadvantaged people regardless of race or religion. I have always thought Rawls work is the most elegant. Kept me sane and did much to ease my conscience.
As to Article 13. Boonsom Boonyanit might disagree.
I am standing up for dignity. The beauty of a democratic process is a balanced argument. Can;t allow readers to just have one perspective in mind. I wouldn’t do justice to Plato.
Which is why despite my wife’s look of displeasure, I am sacrificing my quality time with my wife and writing a long, frustrating reply. And my wife heaved a sigh of relief earlier in the day when I told her that Arsenal is not playing tonight, so much for quality time.
November 17th, 2007 at 7:08 am
Brother Din,
Believe it or not, I smiled from ear to ear looking at your picture at Masjid Negara with a bandana on your forehead. I am delighted that you had such a blast.
It is always nice to see someone so committed to a fight. I am happy for you. You look very excited, very happy.
Cute as well. Sweet.
November 17th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
Lekiu,
Let the elections be free and fair. Give us equal access to media, stop vote buying, no more gerrymandering and a biased Elections Commission, and we will see what happens. We can no longer tolerate corruption, abuse of power, sheer incompetence and lots of crap.
I am glad that we have something in common. I have been an Arsenal fan since the 1950s. Arsene Wenger is doing a great job and nothing pleases me more than to see Arsenal give MU a trashing when they next meet.
I note your comments.
Thanks
ps, Brother, you have a possessive wife. Just give her good Q-time.