stop politicising, I tell you.

Why does the government keep barking out demands to "stop politicising [insert issue here]"?

I mean, they arrest hundreds of peaceful demonstrators, then state that the issue shouldn't be politicised. They detain politicians who oppose their despotic ways, and tell the public to stop politicising the matter.

For Chrissakes, anything remotely related to the government is fucking politics. ISA is bloody politics. The increase in oil and food prices is, you guessed it, goddamn politics.

I'm not sure about you, but when someone flies out of the window while being interrogated by corrupt anti-corruption goons, you can bet your last dollar politics is involved.

What, do they think we're fucking stoopid or something?

bangkok dangerous

I just had to. The irony was too tempting to be ignored.

On saying that, I'm feeling a tad bit antsy over the situation in Bangkok, just a tad. Hopefully, there'll be no need to postpone, or even cancel, my trip. I'm hoping the spirit of Buddha will prevail upon the good senses of the Thais, and they'll resolve their political mess before Wesak. Otherwise, I'll have to sort out the refund mess with Air Asia.

Some sort of a deja vu, this whole incident. The 2006 army coup occurred just a couple of months before my most recent visit there; luckily, it was more of a cordial and festival-like atmosphere.

This time around, things look pretty nasty, what with the Redshirts bent on provoking the powerful military. Still no sign from the Palace as to where their support lay. It doesn't help that the former owner of Man City is openly calling for a revolution; based on the revolution in Man City, I don't think it'll be create that much of an impact.

I think the one overriding lesson to be learnt here is that mob rule begets mob rule. Yellowshirts, Redshirts, Blueshirts, it doesn't matter. All it takes is precedence, and everyone starts getting delusions that wearing a certain coloured T-shirt and demonstrating around town will topple a government and bring about a new one.

Democracy, and the ballot box, may not be the solution to every political, economic and social woe, but it's the best system as yet. It's just the implementation of the system that's creating room for discord and dissatisfaction. All that this turmoil will only achieve is the total loss of income from tourists, like moi; estimated to stand at around THB 2 billion (correct me on the figure). Ultimately, it's a lose-lose situation for everybody involved, from the roadside hawker all the way up to the aristocrats.

And the many loyal tourists who make their annual visit to the Land of the Buddhas.

So yeah, fingers crossed, spirits appeased, coconuts shattered.

poly-ticks

You know what, to hell with Malaysian politics.

It's a brimful of hypocrisy, lies, racism and injustice.

The power-hungry parasites will not only do their best to regain what was lost, but also cling desperately to what they still have. Their lackeys, be they the blue-clothes, the media, the black robes or even the blue bloods, will continue to serve them in this life and the next. Hooligans are feted about, while commoners are showered with acid-water and tear gas.

So, it's not really worth it. A complete waste of time, considering one in two knows where the country is heading under the rule of these kleptomaniacs.

Democracy, if not already dead, is definitely heading for an early grave.

voting is wasteful

What's the value of one vote? How much is it worth? Here, one vote entitles you to:

• RM 5 million
• RM 50 (if you're living in Les Estates)
• Professionally touched-up photographs (in the nude, of course)
• A priceless collection of Malaysiana superfrogus
• A second wife
• A free, two year stay at Kamunting Holiday Resort, with complimentary meals
• A personal entourage outside your residence/ office, complete with banners and placards
• A cocktail party with Molotov served all night long
• Absolution from all crimes past, present and future
• A free one day tour of The Blue Station, and the chance to revel in police hospitality
• And, an open invitation to experience local culture, complete with machetes and metal rods

democracy? what's that?

I picked up The Star this morning, and instantly regretted it; overwhelming disgust assaulted my still-blurry senses. There they were, a pack of scoundrels, grinning idiotically without an ounce of integrity; despicable rodents jumping ship. Only in Malaysia can political turncoats prevail, and thrive.

For that, we can thank BN - the very epitome of hypocrisy.

I was planning to write a long rant about their betrayal of elector trust in Perak; operative verb being 'was'. I don't see the any reason to smear my posts by further mentioning them, so for all I care, Uncle Charlie's kite's up there.

So yeah, first Sabah, now Perak, God knows where's next.

Definitely the death knell of democracy here, or what remains of it.

SOS to the US: please send us an Obama. On the double.

a tale of two cities

Mumbai - bloodied and bruised

The home of Bollywood is still reeling from gun battles at several major buildings; the death toll rising every hour. All thanks to a bunch of despicable pariahs. A group of snivelling cowards who have caused despair and grief in one of the most densely-populated cities in the world; sick individuals who mouth off holy verses yet hide behind women and children.

All of which makes one wonder if there really is a higher being after all. One can't help but feel sick in the stomach knowing such deplorable men were created by God. One shudders with disgust knowing that these scum were, at one time of their respective lives, conceived in the womb of a mother.

Hopefully, just hopefully, the Indian government wipes them off the face of the planet; not just them, but each and every single person associated with them. To hell with justice and the courts, I reckon; each scoundrel should be tied up with explosives and blown up. Oh, and for good measure, televise it throughout the world, YouTube included; that should send a message to all the other terrorists prowling around Asia and the Middle East.

Bangkok - chaotic and paralysed

Closer to home, the gridlock that is Thai politics shows no signs of abating, in fact, it seems to be heading to a potentially blood-spilling showdown. The antagonists, pro and and anti-government forces, appear to be gearing up for one last Cup final; just who comes out as the winner is anybody's guess.

The joker in the pack remains the Army. Whoever garners military support has one hand on the cup. However, events over the past few weeks look to have wavered the generals' stance. Where once they leaned towards the anti-government rabble, now they appear non-too happy about the massive disruptions the Thaksin-haters have brought upon Bangkok.

And in a time when economies are looking around desperately to salvage any semblance of normalcy, our neighbours have contrived to shoot themselves in the foot, and not for the first time. December has always been the busiest period for tourism; Bangkok now looks set to suffer the ignominy of having half-filled hotels and a mere trickle of hardcore tourists visiting it. I don't know the exact figures in terms of potential losses from a drop in tourism, but they are sure to be in the billions.

The only glimmer of light is the fact that Phuket has remained relatively trouble free throughout this latest conflict, as have the other main tourist spots like Krabi, Koh Samui and Chiang Mai. When an eventual solution to this mess is realised, the repercussions of this battle of wills between two recalcitrant parties might be even more long-lasting than the 2004 tsunami.