Kindly Yours

Britain granted independence to Peninsular Malaya on this day 64 years ago - 31 August 2021. Malaya then became part of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963, joining Sabah and Sarawak, on the island of Borneo, and Singapore. In 1965, Singapore became its own Republic on leaving this Federation. As a child having a charmed life on Penang Island, every anniversary of this occasion was anticipated with much fanfare. The lyrics of the National Anthem were reexamined in earnest. Specials were screened at theatres and on telly. No special cakes or delicacies were made though, even for a food obsessed society. Neighbours did however come out in compounds to chat with each other. English was still spoken with gusto - and everything Brit was still much held with respect, much akin to parents in contemporary Malaysia, having an embedded respect of university education in good reliable England. I never questioned then what we were celebrating independence from. Sure, the history books

27 July 2021. From what I discern as consistent patterns in the behaviour of leading governments around the world, 18 months after this c19 breakout, the following highlights my significant concerns. 1.  Increasing emphasis on vaccinations as the only way out, together with regular booster shots. 2.   No significant efforts to invest more in public health systems. 3.   Increasing movement restrictions on the masses, with the consistent message that we have to exchange being inoculated to have access to what are essentially our human rights. 4.  The relative silence of the Big Pharmas, which tend to have politicians speaking implicitly for them. 5.   The consistent mantra from governments that they follow the science and medical advice, when in many cases that does not sound so convincing anymore. 6.    The mixed messaging from authorities on many fronts in fighting this c19, but not for consistent support for vaccinations and a loud silence on the progress in developing d

Many significant matters in our personal lives, and that of the world, seem and are at the same time put on hold, as if in a freeze-frame of photography - as media, politicians and commercial medical providers overcrowd our attention to a virus we cannot even see. And in the rising din, underlying panic and ever changing positions generated by various parties in this on going circus, of how to best manage this c19, it seems to me that things can just be plucked from the air and covert intentions not fully disclosed to the public. There can be too much talk and too little meaningful action which brings results. Politicians change their directions increasingly to serve their survival, rather than the health of their voters. Medical bureaucrats can be under unstated pressure by the powers that employ them. There are increased concerns in the militarisation of the public management of this Coronavirus. The connundrum between choosing lockdowns or vaccinations is the latest dilemn