dagblog - Comments for "Malaysian Travel Journal: Cobra in the Kitchen"

I keep telling people that

Orlando — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:02:33 +0000

In reply to Lovely pic. Almost looks cool

I keep telling people that Malaysia reminds me sometimes of northern Michigan, especially when I'm driving. The roads are similarly lined with trees and thick vegetation and you have to watch out for all kinds of wildlife on the side of the road.

But then you get out of the air-conditioned car and the comparison ends. It is definitely NOT cool in the shade!

Come on over! The picture is

Orlando — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 00:00:56 +0000

In reply to Nice pic. We are holding the

Come on over! The picture is this amazing little beach resort. It's a 2 1/2 hour drive and it's empty for 10 months of the year. It's about $25 a night for a hut just steps from the beach and that's the view!

Like I said, I love my life.

Yeah, the people are

Orlando — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 23:59:19 +0000

In reply to Hey O! Listen, a word on the

Yeah, the people are absolutely lovely here, but then you start to hear little tidbits of stories that don't seem possible in today's world in a country not run by a dictatorship. And of course, you hear stories about what happens to women in certain communities. Those things are surprising, but, as you point out, there's no real evidence--it's just rumors and gossip because if it's true, the evidence has been buried.

So, I just keep my head down, enjoy my individual interactions, and plan to say nothing publicly about politics or policy!

Nice pic. We are holding the

Donal — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 23:28:22 +0000

In reply to Malaysian Travel Journal: Cobra in the Kitchen

Nice pic. We are holding the dag retreat at O's place, right?

Lovely pic. Almost looks cool

acanuck — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 19:07:57 +0000

In reply to Malaysian Travel Journal: Cobra in the Kitchen

Lovely pic. Almost looks cool in the shade.

Hey O! Listen, a word on the

quinn esq — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 16:28:38 +0000

In reply to Malaysian Travel Journal: Cobra in the Kitchen

Hey O! Listen, a word on the politics. Don't go there. Really. At 19, I ended up called onto the carpet by then Minister (later PM) Mahathir, personally, for a tongue-lashing. (A weird day.) My sin? I mentioned to some reporters that in Canada, the farmers owned and ran the coops, not the government.

The whole political system is run for the Malays, who believe the Chinese and
Indians have no place in the country. In 1969, the Malays killed 2000, likely more (official numbers much lower) similarly to Indonesia earlier. Blamed it on the Commies, but it was racial. The Bumiputra thing got a big lift from that, and the DAP and company got hammered.

But most magazines etc. from that time have been deleted (e.g. Time.) I sat through a number of vary stressful conversations were the Malays would deny this, until at one point, one of the more rural guys flew into a rage, and started shouting - in Malay, which he forgot we could understand - about how if the Chinese and Indian kids in our group didn't shut up, it could happen again, that "I will kill you" - and him shaking his hand in front of them. Scary shit.

So basically, a bit of suppressed fear and potential violence. With lots of economic ways to transfer funds from the Chinese and Indian businesses to the Malays. Just or unjust, there's a basis in violence that supports the transfers that's pretty nasty. What with Barisan and UMNO and the kings and the cops and the little mullahs (far worse and more dangerous stories than meeting Mahathir) there's a heaviness to the male Malay conservative authority types that apparently isn't as bad in Indonesia.

Other than those guys though, I loved the place, and loved the people. Just avoid the authority figures. And I know how well you do with them. But don't smart mouth 'em. Really. They hurt people.

Anyway, you know all this, and times have likely changed. But... two cents worth, on the politics and all.

We think it's a democracy

Donal — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 16:21:12 +0000

In reply to Malaysian Travel Journal: Cobra in the Kitchen

We think it's a democracy here, too.