Beautiful Butterfly

Read this from TheStar newspaper today. Of course any Malaysian will feel angry reading it but then it’s so true….who are we to blame? I only disagree the point where during World War II, China lack military resources to conduct any large scale military operation. I think the writer needs to study the Chinese history more before saying such words

Malaysia, look inward first

With reference to Elizabeth Looi’s ‘We are not the US’s lapdog’ (March 29), we’d like to first point out that many things in Malaysia are an emulation of the United States, such as the Malaysian flag, fashion, food and music industries.

Turn your TV on any day of the week and you’ll see “Malaysian (American) Idol”. Put on your favourite Nike item and you’re wearing something created by a US company, imported and sold in a Malaysian store which – guess what? – helps the economy.

These may just be aspects of pop culture but let’s not downplay their constant existence and importance in almost every Malaysian’s daily life.

Let’s not forget that one of Malaysia’s chief export destinations is the US next to China and Japan, and that the US is one of the biggest sources of foreign investment capital. ‘

People should do their homework before ranting about how Malaysia is not dependent on the US.

Secondly, it’s obvious that Elizabeth’s World War II history is less than perfect. As it’s known, extensive World History is not taught in most Malaysian schools.

By the time the Japanese surrendered to the US, the Russians were only beginning to combat the Japanese while the English were busy rebuilding their devastated country after the Germans surrendered. The Chinese and Australians lacked military resources to conduct any large-scale military operation on their own.

The effect of local heroes in driving Japan out was, let’s face it, minimal at best. The US victory over Japan was the only way Malaysia was ever able to gain independence by way of England.

Yes, as Elizabeth said, the “sleeping giant” was reluctant to enter the war because the US knew the costs after having fought the First World War. A country like Malaysia, which has never experienced what real war is like, wouldn’t understand the ramifications of it.

Before Malaysians criticise US foreign policy, they should realise that Malaysia’s own administrative bodies could use a serious overhaul. Corruption is everywhere and it doesn’t take a genius to see that, beginning with the obvious, the most frequently seen representation of government – the police – and moving all the way up the power structure.

A country like Malaysia could actually learn many things from the country they constantly criticise. The government in Malaysia, which favours its own ethnic group, claims to help all races equally but most non-ethnics understand this to be a facade. Ethnic segregation, though not actively promoted here, is predominant in everyday life.

In the US, as long as you’re a citizen, it doesn’t matter if you’re Chinese, Indian, black, white, Christian or Muslim, you’re entitled to equal opportunity financial aid for school, Social Security, and welfare programmes meant to aid the elderly and the poor. Walk into most restaurants in any major American city and you won’t see just Chinese in a Chinese restaurant or just Indians in an Indian restaurant.

Although this letter could continue forever, we think it’s safe to say Malaysia should take a look inward and correct its own flaws before pointing a finger at others. – C & J, Kuala Lumpur

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