Repeating and Rhyming

 "History does not repeat itself, but it rhymes."

Whoever is attributed to have first made that quote, Mark Twain or someone else, does not really matter.

More important is what seems to rhyme again, after historical lessons are not learnt.  Do events seem to occur again in varying forms, more because human beings as a society are embedded in their ways, mindset and political behaviour?

History seems to repeat when we reflect on the fall of massive empires.   We are told that such political behemoths were not eventually sustainable due to rebellions, food insecurity, loss of trading hegemony, religious change, collapse of governance, etc.

The things that made empires great no longer exist when such entities begin to collapse.   Borders have been transgressed,  militaries have been gutted, foreigners have made incursions and the last generation of rulers were not made with the same guts and talent as the empire founders.

The rules, checks and controls that made an empire great in its heyday no longer exist by its end.   Rome was an ideal when it was managed by Senators - then came dictatorship and disorder. 

The last Chinese dynasty rotted and collapsed when it looked inwards rather than adapt and adopt the challenges of a new world order.   The Ottoman rulers could not hold on to various and diverse corners of their vast lands.  The last vestiges of the Soviet Union promised better political freedom but not economic opportunity.  The Japanese imperialists ventured out beyond their islands on a hunger for natural resources available in the rest of Asia, but floundered when it got hit with the early version of terrifying nuclear war.

The Moghuls did not survive the onslaught of colonials who came with better technology, divide and rule strategies and a sweeping rush of the growing British Empire ( where once the sun never set upon her colonised lands).  The British Empire became a shadow of itself by the 1970s but still holds the allegiance of Canada, Australia and New Zealand through Governor- Generals.

So which next contemporary empire is gradually destined to fall?

And then there are corporate collapses.  East Asian thinking notes that businesses do not last beyond three generations of ownership.   When a successful idea is over run by competition, contrition, conviving of narrow mindedness by its Board or top management and lack of capability, its inability to change often overwhelms its outdated structures held on and modus operandi.

If customers and suppliers are berated or not appreciated, the foundations of a business are quickly torn apart, unless one dominates the market. 

When channels of sale and delivery or nature of market are significantly changed, inflexibility and lack of innovation are sure doom sayers.   Think of Kodak, Tupperware, the taxi industry, television channels, etc.

Rhymes of history affect us in parts of our everyday lives.

Why are infrastructure like highways and railways built with generous contracts given to private equity with the public taxpayer holding the repayment liability?

Why are casinos encouraged and thriving with not much concern about the social costs?

Why is priority given for immediate profits rather than concerns for environmental or public health?

Why are so many aspects of life privatised by government, with lack of monitoring of the performance and behaviour of those given public grants to run a service?

Even when there is obvious grief, disappointment and underperformance from those privatisation exercises, most Governments carry on in the same way, Australian Royal Commission hearings and recommendations or not.

Why are unhealthy foods allowed to lure, captivate and be consumed by individuals based on convenience, with lack of disclosure of balanced information and low cost driven with turnover emphasised revenues?

Despite the obvious sufferings incurred from outbreaks of war and use of aggressive weapons, the "civillisation" of human societies and geopolitics thrive on division, aggression, arnaments and conflict, rather than more seriously embrace shared values and moral practice.

Human selfish tribal mores over ride many alternatives - that is essentially driving the repeat of historical human behaviour and outcomes.

The specific players on the world stage can change, but not the acts, drama and memory.

What is the point of knowing and understanding history?  To know the past is to prepare for a better future - in theory at least.

History can rhyme but stand out leadership can break or reduce the cycle.   Such a leadership need not be from the political or religious field.

#yongkevthoughts

Blog 18th Anniversary - Oh Malaysia!

 Britain granted independence to Peninsular Malaya on 31 August 1957.  Here is one

of my previous write ups. 

As a child having a charmed life on Penang Island, this day 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 held with respect, much akin to parents in contemporary Malaysia still, 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 said we were free from the yoke of imperialism, economic exploitation and rule by a foreign race.

But I could already enjoy the heritage of what Britain left behind in other positive aspects.  There was a Westminster based Parliamentary system.  We already had a royalty, from nine component states, left intact by colonial interests - in case anyone missed Queen Liz.  There were legal and governance systems already working in the Malayan Civil Service.

Transport infrastructure, education mechanisms and economic pillars were already well established, much better than in most newly founded nations.  There was a strong foundation of family, criminal, corporate and tax law like in Australia.

Friends of my parents, my classmates and neighbours relished in enjoying commonly shared values than focus on differences.
Socially, we immersed themselves in laughter, helping each other out and cultivating joint hobbies.

Gatherings were more spontaneous than formal, centring round fruit seasons, cultural festivals, good weather days and when people needed a listening ear.
In the classroom, there was a comradeship that transversed the boundaries of religion, ethnicity and class.

We valued the English language for its dominance in world trade. We learnt our respective mother tongues. By law, we learnt the Malay lingua franca.   In Penang, there was a Patois spoken that is still as colourful as in New Orleans, Papua New Guinea or in South Africa. 

Like in Sydney and Melbourne these days, we had access to several cuisines - and still do.   Friends of diverse backgrounds used to eat together at the same table, but I understand now they no longer do.  We picked up using the whole plethora of ingredients from well tried recipes from around Asia and Europe.

My Eurasian Uncle Cornelius exemplified the closeness of Malaysians when I was growing up.
He personified Christmas to me, with a joy from his Dutch heritage and his ability to make magic of a day when he visited.  Mum and our Sri Lankan neighbour' s wife made curries.   I still recall the beauty of furniture in the lounge when we visited Cikgu Iskandar.  I picked up bad words in Tamil, Hokkien, Cantonese, Japanese, Mandarin and Malay - and they did have a punch which can hold their own in an ocker Aussie pub.

Soccer, badminton, late night suppers, jungle and beach trial walks, hide outs on Friday arvos after school - they all had no racial identification.  There was a strong underlying and unspoken bond of just being humans, of growing up and of connecting to society.

What seemed like benign bureaucratic practises - like of being identified by race and religion, instead of just being Malaysian - in retrospect, evolved into tools of separation, social alienation and discrimination.  Critics blame the colonial authorities for laying down the seeds of the current socio-political structure in current day Malaysia.   They cite the "divide and rule" strategy utilised to manage a diverse society like Malaya before independence.   However, once tey were their own rulers, the politicians of the day reinforced this policy, instead of applying fresh and innovative approaches like meritocracy,  equity and tolerance.

As a child in Malaysia, I vaguely recall a night curfew imposed in Penang, due to riots and social disorder.  Such tools of social and political control can be primitive in looking back, for now there are other covert or other more effectivs tools of political manipulation, corruption in theft of state funds, mass cajoling of the emotions of voters and gerrymandering of electorate borders.

Malaysia's ideal democratic practices have sadly been whittled or hijacked as the nation moved to the 21st century.   There has grown a culture of dependency on state hand outs to a majority of its denizens, who dominate the military, civil service, universities, police, banks and economic or trading monopolies.  The growing emphasis by a series of Prime Ministers since the 1980s in linking political power with financial kleptocracy measures has taken a severe impact on the nation's vibrancy and future prospects.

Malaysia is a land of abundant resources, scenic landscapes and potential.  It has been the less than desired management by its leaders that have now rendered it less attractive for investment potential than its nearby neighbours if Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore.

My birthplace has petroleum resources, agricultural wealth, manufacturing capability and strides between China, India and Australasia.  Yet some key factors continues to suppress its future potential - leadership, mindset, history and inertia.  Blame shifting has also been a characteristic of its past.  Soon there may be no one else to put the blame on, apart from themselves.

Before the arrival of Covid, the seeds of problems and embedded issues have nor been resolved. A pandemic only amplifies the weaknesses and rifts already raging in a nation.

So far from the evening equatorial thunderstorms, smells and sights of a colourful street and the chatter of boyhood mates, I reflect - can Malaysia turn round a corner?

#yongkevthoughts

Federal Australian Election Results 2022

 The last time around, what now for 2025?

The 2022 Federal election results across Australia has unearthed the following: 

1.  The only Federal MP of Indian background, Dave Sharma, has lost his seat. 

2.   Independent candidates have made their significant stride by winning at least 10 electorates. 

3.   For the first time in Australian history, the Prime Minister does not have an Anglo- Saxon family name. 

4.   The only Federal MP of Hong Kong descent, Gladys Liu  has lost her seat after one term. 

5.   The Greens have increased their seats to at least 4. 

6.    Well known  incumbent Liberal Party MPs have lost their seats. 

7.   The retiring French Foreign Minister could not help showing his glee at the loss incurred by the outgoing government of the Coalition's Morrison. 

8.    The critical voting states of Queensland and Western Australia helped to tip the win for the incoming Federal Government. 

9.    Around 5.5 million people had early voted before the actual Federal Election Day. 

10.   This was a most important election held during an unsettled epidemic. 

A good change after the last 4 years with Morrison as PM. 

Australian governments rotate between the Coalition and Labor, but more voters are now disillusioned with the two main parties. 

A change at Canberra can help positively reset the decaying state of diplomatic relationships between China and Aus. 

Climate change initiatives can be taken up by Canberra in a more pro-active way. 

A Federal anti corruption body is closer to reality. 

Will society get a more fair deal , especially for teachers, front line workers and grassroots employees, than the super rich with connections to politicians?

Politics Along Party Lines

 A thought from the past, but equally pertinent today....

Why are politicians from different shades, across the world, so often overly divisive and aggressive to operate against each other, especially along party lines?

I reckon these politicians are in their own egoistic and deluded bubbles, fighting each other, instead of finding common values to work for society -  and continuing to overly find fault with each other and forgetting to serve the people?

Obsessive and addictive toeing to political party imperatives can be so dangerous, psrticularly
when led by narrow minded leaders.

I observe loyalty to party lines can lead to loss of common sense and hijacking of important agendas by party leaders.

Such is the fault and fracture of so called contemporary  democracy - the practitioners forget they are there to help the public and not themselves.

#yongkevthoughts

Professions, Politics and Your Personal Choice

At times I do wonder...... So called professions impose a strict regime on the entry of members to their groups. The rules, policies, examinations, continuing training and unspoken traditions can be viewed, at the very best, as maintaining or enhancing the quality of admitted members. At the other end of the scale, it also works to limit the quantity of practitioners, imbue them with a privileged sense of exclusivity and pull into better consensus as to which future directions the profession's core wants.

 Is politics a profession? If it is, there do not seem to be the same formal admission processes required otherwise of most trades and professions. The clue is in the nature of the beast - politics essentially thrives on informality, flexibility, relationships, strategisation and personalities. Yet the stark difference is that one does not have to obtain academic qualifications to enter politics.

Politics can be compared to fulfiling tribal tendencies and imperatives of human nature. Power - and the ability to exercise it - can be the most attractive feature captivating to those individuals and parties who have tasted it. And this political power reigns supreme to direct, manage and control the lives of other individual human beings, who can have much better attitudes, talents and skills than people in politics.

The Achilles heel in so called contemporary democratic systems is that in the extreme, radicals, fools and those with the loudest voices - and not necessarily with the best qualifications -find they can exploit the system to enrich, empower and elevate themselves without care or concern. The inherent and actual power of politicians can embed society into collective consequences which voters do not deserve. Politicians influence the investment climate, the working enviroment of medical frontliners and the very basis of a progressive civilisation - the law. Just to name a few. It disturbs me that so called enlightened human beings allow such a risk to continue to manifest itself. 

As I am told, do not blame anybody else, if I allow the corrupt, the hoodwinkers and the hypocrites to be my political leaders. To be fair, not all politicians are negative. Yet, for example, most professional bodies do not demand improvements in the political sector - and are left to be subject to the vagaries and whims of the ruling political power, good or not so good. Perhaps professional bodies can learn more from political parties - to be more savvy in networking, to improve its image and communications, to form alliances with bodies outside its niche profession and to help develop society in its broadest possibilities. Those who remain overly quiet can be relegated to the sidelines. Those who speak out can be effective, if they are persuasive, address needs and have connections. Those who speak out with over the top vibes and misleading agendas can become obvious as to intent. For anyone, with or without membership of a formal professional body, what is your choice?

Do not let misleading politicians of not so desirable intent insult our inherent intelligence.

 Every action of ours is important, when we make it so. This is not just applicable for professional and political bodies. #yongkevthoughts

Europa Europa

 Europeans are often viewed as originating in the north west corner of the Northern Hemisphere.  This misperception of the term "European" can downplay the extensive presence of Slavic demographics in Russia, south eastern Europe and the eastern Slav nations.

Russia has lands extend from eastern Europe to the coasts above Japan, Korea and China - 77 per cent of Russian territory is in Asia, although most Russians live in Europe. Russia can be said to be straddling both Europe and Asia.

It really depends on a point of view.

The European continent as such can be seen as layers of differing historical, religious and cultural implications.  The Vikings were focused on colder climes, as opposed to the Mediterranean nations that were the locations of the Greek, Roman and Ottoman traditions.

In between are the core of what is perhaps to be central European -  Latin influenced territories meeting up with Germanic homelands and spreading into the Balkans.

The impact Europe has made on the contemporary world has been having better technology, implementing colonisation, stirring geopolitics, conducting the major wars of the 20th century and securing world wide trade links. 

The Empire under which the sun once never sets - the British - has spawned five Anglocentric societies that still cuddle together in political flavour and intent in the 21st century. 

Apart from the Mother Country, the other four already have resident Indigenous peoples before their colonisation.  Britain used to extensively rely on agricultural, human, logistics and military resources from this alliance - and still do to varying extents.  Three of these nations still have a British monarch at the top of the chain.

There are two obvious nations geographically far removed from Europe -  but evolved into their present day realities primarily built from European settlement.  One is Argentina, populated by southern Europeans - and the other is Australia, first settled by the British and Irish.  Each nation is sited in a part of the world surrounded by non European cultures.

Being geographically located so close to northern Africa and the so called Middle East, Europe has significantly been affected by outside influences.  The European mind has in the long term been heavily influenced by, amongst others:

Arabian mathematics,
Greek philosophy,
Roman infrastructure,
City states that valued diversity, Mongolian attacks,
Muslim rule,
the Renaissance,
political upheaval,
artistic movements,
the power of royalty and
movement of peoples attracted by her wealth and relative freedoms.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert had their daughters married off across various European royalties, including that to the last Russian Tsar. 

The remnants of colonialism in the 20th century had Indians, Africans and south east Asians establishing residential status across France, Holland, the UK and Spain. 

The conflicts in 21st century Arab nations, economic seekers from Africa and south Asia and left wing political correctness added to another wave to another significant wave of migration, particularly to Germany and the Scandinavian nations.

The Indian diaspora seems to now be at its height of dispersion and extensiveness.
A transformative event was the expulsion of ethnic Indian residents from Uganda.  This started the Indianisation of Britain, which had to accept them based on their colonial status.  The Empire struck back and Anglo Indian manifestation spread onwards from Mother England to Canada and the United States.

Indian political and cultural prowess had already been evident in south east Asia before the advent of Islam and European takeovers.  Perhaps Indianisation here was more successful than Sinofication - one just reflects on evidence of Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms, artefacts, arts and structures scattered from present day Vietnam to Java.  The rather significant Indian influences also expressed themselves in language - contemporary Malay or Indonesian language has words originating from Sanskrit and other Indian tongues.

Will this historical Indian influence now seep and revive into the fabric of the five Anglicentric nations?  It has already established more than a beach head in the United Kingdom.  Will Indianisation jump across the Channel into mainland Europe - which is already grappling with Muslim demographics in the key nations of France, Germany and Scandinavia?

In eastern Europe, questions have arisen as to whether Russia wants to expand beyond her borders, or just wants to maintain her historical integrity.  Continental Europe's past has been significantly marked by what three powers do -  German- Prussian, French or Russian.  British royalty has Germanic foundations.  Europeans have given the world her share of philosophers, scientists, artists, political leaders and dictators.

South of the borders of Russia are the central Asian states and China.  China and India had the largest economies in the world before the onslaught of sailing ships, colonisation and the rise of European powers.  White Russians have lived together with Manchurians, Koreans and Han Chinese in the north eastern corner of the Eurasian mass.  The role of Russians as Europeans interacting with Asians has often been underemphasised.

The closeness of Communism from Soviet Russia into the development of Chinese Communism has resulted from how most European colonial powers treated a fledging and weak Chinese Republic after the fall of the last royal dynasty in 1912.
Key China leaders did however spend their formative years savouring and exploring revolutionary ideas and polititical thought in Paris.

The rather embedded sentiments in Europe from 1945, with the United States and her four Anglo connected partners rescuing Europe from the Nazis, are still difficult to shake off.  This sentiment perhaps has to be seriously resolved as Europe navigates into the future.  Europe has this vital opportunity to implement her own strategic interests and values in the face of changing geopolitics and the rise of a multi-polar world.

Most European powers have divested of their colonies, except for France and the United Kingdom.   Emerging powers are now strengthened by rising abilities in technology, infrastructure, trade and new networks in political relationships - not in far flung isles, navy ports of old and geographical spots which are no longer
strategic.

#yongkevthoughts

THE WRITING ON THE WALL

Elevated official superiority of one specific race  - Apartheid.
NAZI GERMANY

Extensive corruption extra ordainare -  Extreme Financial Greed.
DICTATORS AND KLEPTOCRATS

Discrimination even in small matters increasing to Utter Intolerance - History Repeats Itself and Lessons Never Learnt.
1980s SOUTH AFRICA.

Blindness to not developing society by education, merit and open values - Self Impediment and Destruction.
OPPOSITE OF INDEPENDENT SINGAPORE.

Divide and Rule learnt from colonisers followed by an Independent Country - Socio-political disintegration.
MYANMAR

Loss of inherent culture by push to strongly implement practices borrowed from another country - Significant loss of one's own heritage.
RISKS FACING SOME EMIGRANTS

Numbers of specific demographics dwindling, increasing emigration, export of human talent and tightening of blatant intolerance - Huge social change happening for years already.
21st Century VENEZUELA.

Fissures embedded already in a specific race, many of whom already subject to a hand out mentality,  sufferance of being exploited by the powerful and rich and the suppression of true development of a race -  Fooling the people.
EXPERIENCE OF THE INDIGENOUS

#yongkevthoughts

Wheels of Change

 

The wheels of change keep on turning, even for simple routines in daily life.

There is no longer the past pleasure of visiting newsagents in Australia.  The quality and variety of print has reduced, with persistant rise in prices.  Such outlets still arw shelves for stationary - although they still sell greeting cards, that again is a shrinking industry.  Many newsagents now serve Australia Post functions in banking services.  Many customers tend to be older and visit the newsagent for lotto purchases and claims.
Newsagents can now be flooded with souvenirs and be collecting centres for dry cleaning.

Supermarkets sell insurance on site or online.   Their aisles are domimated by processed food with a common emphasis on high sugar, salt and preservative levels - and there are those confusing stickers on prices.  They are coralling us to self checkouts while not fully believing our integrity to do the right thing to properly pay.  We provide the revenue for their executives and shareholders - and yet are disrespected and mistrusted.

Who watches television any more?
Owners of such media fill up their propanganda and agenda to bombard our minds and sensitivities, instead of providing us with more balanced menus.
The alternatives can be no better.  Advertisements illustrate the reality that there is no such thing as a free lunch.  Streaming services force us to
lap up commercials - and even the creativity of ads has gone down in standards.

Politics in any society these days can reek of the dearth in leadership, uniqueness and care for the public.  It is obvious a lot of taxpayer funds are used for more selfish purposes than for what ideal principles call for. Parliamentarians reveal more of their streaks in self preservation, self entitlement and egoistic drives.  The use of increased political labels confuses the ordinary voter of what each political party stands for.  Politics can be hijacked by powerful foreign agents to serve overseas demands rather than to have governments "by the people, for the people and through the people".

Political correctness in various forms can also be manipulated by niche groups to reinforce emotion, support and wins for themselves, rather than for the general good of society.  Individuals and groups who are most vocal can shout down the other viable needs of others.  Those who choose to remain silent or not participate can truly lose out.   The so called democratic way of politics can be hijacked by non democratic forces.  The system of majority decisions to enforce questionable measures for a country assumes that every voter is informed, intelligent and rational - when the reality is not.

Corporate and institutional misbehaviour is not sufficiently punished.  Deterrants are miniscule in personal or financial implications for breachers, offenders and recalcitrants, when compared to the illegal rewards. Compliance policies and standards are increasingly  meant for show and not implementation.  Offenders know that in practice their existence is dependent only on a narrow band of key support - and they can really point their nose to the rest.

There definitely has been a spike in our expectations.  Food, products and other consumables are delivered so fast.  We no longer pour over traditional sources of knowledge or research but tend to rely on software, AI and digital systems to add to our personal knowledge. There is a corresponding loss in the value of patience. 

As the population increases, supply and logistics crumble under reinforced demands for services in many areas. 
Where aging infrastructure has not been improved, renewed or rebuilt, weak points develop but often ignored or denied by the authorities. 

Thank goodness, Nature still assures us in the cycle of growth, bloom and renewal. Most dogs have not changed their personalities and penchant to connect positively with our human needs.  When there is rain, sunshine will follow.  Colours still appear in hues and intensity wgen day changes to night - and vice versa.

#yongkevthoughts

Pausing to Reflect on Our Contemporary Society

 Just like inside the proverbial witches pot, let us reflect on the contemporary world to muse on what has been brewing for some time now -  and can potentially cook more in this third decade of the 21st century. 

The past is not a sure guide for the future, but currently reading the key leaves hanging from the prediction tree is not a wasted exercise. Why wait until the typical and reactive hue and cry when the pot does boil over? 

In geopolitics, we have witnesed how endless banter and chat in halls of distinguished looking human beings do not do much in resolving matters of any severity.  Where there is no empathy in wilfulness - and where controlling mindsets are embedded in selfishness and divisiveness - problems get multiplied. 

Increasing control in the background by truly powerful interests around the world - whether in finance, politics, arnaments, technology or emotional articulation of self entitled beliefs - will impact on a world run on short termism, less supporting resources  and increasing manipulation of the way the masses think and react. 

There are events that can spring a

surprise, but there can be related causes that many of us have wilfully ignored or are in long denial, for whatever reasons, justified or not. 

1.  Continuing down trodding of and discrimatory treatment in practice of specific groups of people in an age of supposedly human enlightenment. 

2.   Blurring of facts, opinion and lies in matters of science, health and medical norms. 

3.   Significant breakdown in the regulatory environment where 

organisations and individuals who breach know they can mostly get away scot free. 

4. Dehumanisation of commercial, institutional and other human interaction transactions. 

5.    The loss of inner meaning for human beings despite experiencing improved physical facilitation, greater mobility and the growing availability of instant gratification. 

6.   The debasement of original meanings of specific phrases as they are publicly misused and quoted by parties with a negative intent. 

7.  Increasing distraction of humans with trivial and temporary matters by the powers that be with addictive methods, gadgets and overly processed consumption. 

8.  The increasing failure to develop and implement innovation in the way societies and economies are run, especially with larger populations who have higher expectations. 

9.   The pervasive and lingering preoccupation in media with rather negative matters rather than appreciating the positive ones to balance the full and overall picture. 

10.   The dire need to better manage the vast amount of accumulated and future data by individuals, governments, on line data banks and other parties. 

When you next get an opportunity to observe matters, do any one of the above ten dotpoints apply? 

And please do suggest another dot point on your mind to the list above, thank you.

#yongkevthoughts

Whatever Will Be, Will Be

 When I got to vote, 

l asked my Missee, 

Will I now kick off the rogue

who's been fooling me? 

Will I be truly free, will I feel neat?

Here's what she said to me. 

Que Sera, Sera,

Whatever will be, Will be.

Politics is just not for thee,

Que Sera, Sera,

Whatever will be, Will be. 

When I paid my dues and joined the Melee,

I asked my Party what lies ahead?

Will we have rainbows day after day?

Here's what my Party said to me. 

Que Sera, Sera,

Whatever will be, Will be.

Politics is just not for thee,

Que Sera, Sera,

Whatever will be, Will be. 

Now I have a Branch of my own

Members ask their Mentor what will they be,

Will they have power? Will they be rich?

I tell them tenderly, 

Que Sera, Sera,

Whatever will be, Will be.

Politics is just not for thee,

Que Sera, Sera,

Wharever will be, Will be. 

- Lyric variation by KY

Que Sera Sera was a hit song by Doris Day,

featured in the Alfred Hitchcock movie,

"The Man Who Knew Too Much."

Compare The Pair

 

The longest reigning royalty.
The shortest ruling Prime Minister in a nation's history.

Both were not given their roles in democratic elections.
One talks too much, the other was so consistently discerning, in reflection.

Both are called Liz.
One has enjoyed the glory of Empire.
The other aspires for power, Sire.

One has long overcome episodes of family rife and public dissent.
The other cannot handle six weeks of political turmoil and resentment.

One met the last Queen, the other shook the hands of an inexperienced wannabe.

One is a familiar authority recognised through generations.
The other now seems more like a figment of a horrible reality, not imagination.

Empires come and go,
what makes good leadership more treasured than gold?

The Autumn of Britain, 2022.

#yongkevthoughts

The Achilles Heel of Nations

States are formed in the political scheme of power as envisaged by human beings.   Previously there were kingdoms, fiefdoms, empires and more.   Whatever the label, political entities are strong statements of unity and control under a declared culture, way of society, a dynamic personality of aruler or dynastic rulers, religion, trading hub or federation of smaller states.

Singapore, now a modern city state of a Republic, was part of the British Empire for many years.  Eighty years ago, on 15 February, colonial troops surrendered to the Japanese Imperial Army, which had quickly conquered the Malayan peninsular after the attack on Pearl Harbour in Hawaii.  ( On 19 February that same year, 1942, the Japanese air force bombed Darwin).  The British had concentrated their defences in Singapore facing south towards the sea, instead of also providing for defences along the island's north.  This was a lesson of Achilles Heel that was learnt at much cost in human casualty, military strategy and economic damage.

The animal kingdom marks out territories for food, reproduction, survival and climate adjustment.   Human beings, with all their philosophy, religious orders and assumed brainy higher order of development, still exhibit inherent and obvious behaviours of aggression, geographical control and reshaping Earth.

Maybe in certain locations, we did not have the contemporary extent of greed in the prior history of human kind, as opposed to what is demonstrated by commercialised and militarised powers in today's world.   Most indigenous tribes, which still survive today, still emphasise not harming the Earth in its landscape, water systems, biospheres and fauna management - they only take what is enough for them and not to supply an over consumerist society.  These long standing human groups knew the Achilles Heel is to over exploit Earth and her bounty - and not make Nature's gifts unsustainable.

The multi-national corporates which confront these older cultures, when carving out huge dams, deforesting wide tracts of long growing forests or scarring Earth for its valued minerals underneath, can operate outside some confines of individual state power.

Looking at the stage of world order today, in the beginning of the 21st century, what soft belly and vulnerable portions of societies stand out? 

One feature of Achilles heel for nations is their geographical location or shape.

It is often said, when looking at a map, that the Korean Peninsular can be viewed as hanging out and hovering over the southern Japanese islands.  Sicily is like being at the foot of the Italian boot. The two main islands of New Zealand are seen by the Maoris as two large boats in an wide open ocean.  Borneo either looks like a roosting hen or a comfortably seated bear.   The bottom half of South America reminds one of the tail of a mermaid.

If your nation is controlling a vital trading route, especially a narrow one like a canal or strait, it can be a two edged sword of a geographical feature - harvest prosperity,  or be a target for takeover by foreigners.  The colonials from the 16th to the 20th centuries fought for control of the Straits of Malacca, which still has a stranglehold of passage for ships from the Indian Ocean to transverse into the South China Sea.   Gilbratar, a tiny figment of space at Spain's southern tip, is a significant cross roads between Africa and Europe, between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.    The Straits of Bosphorus divides not only the ancient and still important city of Istanbul, but also marks the line between southern Europe and the Middle East.   Again, it is a sea of water that separates Siberia from Alaska  - why ever did Russia sell Alaska to the Americans?   Russia's main access to shipping in Europe is the Baltic Sea  - apart from the Black Sea which has waters lapping at the Crimean Peninsular.

So in the 21st century, huge funded powers can control the weak points in internet, cyberspace and wifi delivery.

When you are a landlocked country, that can be your significant disadvantage and you require more options.   When your nation has huge ambitions - and the resources to realise further -  you want to expand your territorial control to another ocean.  Great Britain, in her days of Empire, demonstrated that, followed by the USA spreading out from its Atlantic coast origins.   

Switzerland, at the centre of inland Europe, however is an exception - she chose to be minimally involved with the complexity of European politics, wars and power staging - and cleverly nurtured her neutrality to be a beacon of relative peace, eventually offering her devices to host being a broker and focus on a better quality of life for her peoples.

When you have significant resources of minerals, bio materials and fossil fuels which Earth's commerce still wants in copious amounts, it can be your strength or weak point.   Financial powers linked with politics scramble to your door step to unearth your resources at the cheapest price - and make fortunes processing them before they arrive at the lap of the ultimate consumer.    

Western Australia's riches, Brazil's exploited resources, South east Asian forests and petroleum in unstable nations have been targets.  Countries that do not apply more technology, to add value to their natural resources being dug up, do usually and eventually lose out in the high stakes of economics, trade and finance.

There is always money and trade hidden behind the outbreaks of war.

We are told to get involved in war outbreaks around the world to fight for freedoms and democracy, but a more intelligent populace knows that the viability for such talk is getting thin.  

The Achilles heal for militarily mighty nations is that the ability to wage effective warfare is now spread across more nations.  There is more effective competition and decreasing ability to lord over the rest.

Warfare is sadly engaged by commoners at the ground level, directed by commanders in safe and comfortable hideouts calling the shots.    Are such commanders thinking more of a better life for their subjects, after waging a war, or are they more interested in protecting their privileges in controlling the financial currency of trade, their monopoly of vital assets like petroleum and in maintaining the world order where they still can be kings?   The world stage concurrently faces more political tensions as  emerging super powers possess increased abilities to face the incumbents.   The soft belly for powerful militaristic nations is the loss of control of what funds them.

If no wars break out , the huge ornaments industry will be significantly affected financially and in production of inventories.

So there can be prominent nations always seeking out issues, carrying out covert work and stirring up groups to create conditions leading to confrontation and military fights.

An obvious Achilles heel of nations is the inability or not having capacity to secure sufficient control of vital operations.   It may be the easier thing for governments to outsource more and more operations, leaving control to multi-national corporations, commercial providers other countries and entities outside their political control.   Have you come across a nation's government  keeping reserves of vital supplies in a foreign nation, located thousands of kilometres away?  Some nations do it probably because they do not have enough physical capacity to store those vital supplies, being a small island state does come to mind.  Others, even with lots of land, still amazingly keep their back up reserves physically in an allied nation far away.

In the still intense stage of international politics, a soft belly of usually weaker nations is to be used as a pawn in the high stakes chess game of proxy war.  Such a stage will mean this specific nation is targeted to cause a diplomatic or military incident, which then sparks off a larger argument, point of difference and the commencement of long simmering hostilities.   The sad state of such a soft belly being utilised is that usually the main opposing powers do not wage a physical or virtual battle in their own precious territories, but only on the land of the used smaller state.  They say to be careful to choose your friends, for having alliances with unsavoury powers that make use of you for spying facilities, battle waging and buffering against the sworn enemy can be expensive for smaller states.

Finally, but not exclusively, is the manner of how ruling governments treat and manage voters in a so called democracies.  It is getting obvious that electoral processes can be manipulated by hidden and overt powers in such political systems.   The game of playing dirty seems to be more blatant across the world in the beginning of this 21st century - ponder how significant corruption has broken out without much accountability and shame in more nations.   The manner in which Covid has been handled by ruling powers has brought out their deficiencies, intentions and power play in such pronounced ways.    Going forward, let the people judge.

It Has Been Too Long

 

We are coming to the second anniversary of the arrival of C19 in late January 2020.

Amazingly, the number of infections in most states of Australia have skyrocketed beyond modelling, imagination and expectation.

Cases of the latest mutated strain are also spiking in at least tens of thousands across nations which have governments embracing Omicron.

So it does all fall logically like the snow in a severe northern hemisphere winter.

Back in greater Sydney, the reporting of infections have become muddled in this new year - are they from self test kits, public testing facilities, from Omicron or from false online data input? Who knows, we are not told of useful breakdown in information anymore.

What we experience instead are more alerts about we having visited venues at the same time as confirmed infectees (through use of the QR code scanning) and that more of people we directly know are down with infections.

For about two years, we knew confidently how to get help if we got infected.  Now we are discouraged from going to the gp system or hospital network - we are strongly told by authorities to basically self manage.

It is so ironic that the main reason, for the fast opening up  to embrace the Coronavirus, is for reasons of economic continuity, political strategy and undisclosed agendas. 

Supply and human resource shortages have since in a few weeks undermined the micro economy.  Politicians are becoming more naked in their lack of ideas apart from pushing the populace for more vaccination shots. 

The lack of effective leadership has sent a multiplier effect to increase uncertainty, doubt, confusion and desperation amongst the public.  It has been reported that the public across Greater Sydney has made a voluntary lockdown upon themselves, as opposed to mandated lockdowns of the past.

It may be safer even a year or two ago compared to conditions prevailing now.

Continuing emphasis on underplanning, reacting with ever changing micro rules and not bothering with implementation roadblocks can be the ruse of  several governments today.  The public may want to be ever so compliant - but finding it increasingly difficult to do as told - and more are questioning the ridiculousness and inefficacy of it all.

I know of more friends of mine letting it loose and travelling more.  Is such mobility transient, saddled with inconvenience and only offering temporary relief?

Information and data are dished out in even more obvious selective ways.
Various significant same parties are never blamed, while the onus of responsibility is put on the shoulders of the public.  Many more so called leaders continue to spell out doom and gloom, without offering an iota of workable solution.

The same phrases and lingo are uttered by those in charge, like on cue, seemingly so well coordinated in double speak that does nothing to stop the spread of this problem.

Governments at different levels are swirling in dealing with undesired developments following the decision to embrace the disease and not bother with anything else.

Each of us are now allowed - except in Western Australia, China and certain parts of the EU - to do exactly the things we were forbidden from in 2020 and most of 2021.  There is a huge shift to dropping prevention and cuddling reaction in the mindset of people empowered to take care of us.

The Coronavirus itself never listens to the daily political briefings held in its name - and only gung ho looks for another human host to propogate, according to the science oft quoted.

It has been too long in testing our patience.

#yongkevthoughts

The Arrival of Omicron

With the arrival of another C19 mutation, Omicron, it looks like an increasing case of deja vu. Flight arrivals from the first hotspot nations are banned. There is a dearth of knowledge amongst experts, bureaucrats and politicians on how a new mutation will play out. Infections are confirmed amongst individuals who arrived from hotspot nations, but they arrived before any arrival bans. Such individuals had total freedom of movement when they visited what are now called exposure spots in the local community, before feeling unwell and testing positive. Will there be breaches at the control points of disembarkation and quarantine accommodation? Citizens and PRs of destination countries, coming from hotspot nations, are isolated for 14 days after arrival, but we are no longer told where exactly they are quarantined. The word "hotels" is no longer mentioned. The playbook in response by authorities looks amazingly familiar. After two years, there are seemingly no new ideas, except perhaps to take comfort in a high population percentage who have offered to be jabbed seemingly three times within 12 months. The first reaction upon hearing the arrival of Omicron is to promote booster shots. The difference this time, is significantly, that most nations tell their denizens that they have to live with the Coronavirus, so that the economy can bounce back. Even when air travel is opened up more than ever, the range of process just to get on a commercial aircraft to a foreign destination and return to the home country - testing, insurance and more - can be a most inconvenient one. The biggest challenge to us as individuals is the potential growth in uncertainty, just when our mindsets and expectations have moved to more certainty. Not again! is my first thought. Once the proverbial cockroach breaches our international border sentries, authorities have to decide whether the old regime of mass testing, varying levels of lockdowns, scanning QR codes, face masking, ensuring social distancing, hospitalisations and the lot - are back in force, or do they have to come up with more innovative approaches? Unsavoury authorities can still continue to hide behind the excuse of Omicron to implement more of their dark agendas - hopefully not. Are we facing a scenario of accepting more infections, downplaying specific risks, allowing more personal freedoms and deemphasising the collateral damage to society and individuals? The arrival of Omicron and the intent of many governments to want us to learn to live with Delta and any future mutations, now dovetails to a critical stage. Not enough is known about Omicron today, so will it fizzle out to nothing or will it step up the complexity for us and our rulers? #yongkevthoughts

Can You Recognise Such a Person?

 

Which person of prominence, in your observation or knowledge, can you attribute the following behaviour? 1. Never misses a photo opportunity to promote a certain political purpose or impression. 2. Cites higher powers for being chosen to lead to a bigger destiny. 3. Manipulates other sources of power or spins events to fast track a selfish agenda. 4. Has clear ideas on the kind of new social order he wants entrenched. 5. Utilises position to exploit nationalist sentiments in playing politics. 6. Downplays the past record to hide any deficiencies and divert attention for purposes of the present or future. 7. Changes previously strong alliances when convenient or when no longer required for purpose. 8. Utilises extreme marketing approaches to confuse between the nation, the nation's way and what is really his personal way. 9. Resorts to ruthlessness, aggression and trickery on rhe quiet to get to the top of the ladder. 10. Controls the media in reporting to, influencing and fooling the populace - and personally good in stirring up the public. Every one reading this will by now have one or two personalities in mind, but the listed features above were all truly characteristic of Hitler.

Islands In the Stream

Three islands of varying sizes have found themselves geographically located next to influential next door neighbours. TASMANIA Tasmania, so near the Antarctic, compared to most other lands, stands out as the pristine ecological opportunity to still seriously take care of, despite the march of economic explotation, hydro water engineering, mining and cutting down of its quality forests. Its socio-political fate is significantly linked to mainland Australia across the Bass Straits. With a relatively less dense population compared to even New Zealand's North and South Islands, its First Peoples of Lutuwrita met head on big time with different civilisations four hundred years ago. It still relies on tourism monies, now cut off because of the borders closed as a keymeasure to manage a Coronavirus we seem to not fully understand and able to control. Tasmania's other virtues, however, cannot be over looked apart from use of the land and surrounding seas. The advantage of being remote can now come to the fore. While Earth increasingly shows strains of being over utilised and over populated in parts, Tasmania can be a unique laboratory for innovative social ideas, technological progress and as a biosecurity haven. Its status as a Federated State with Australia still means limitations in its own empowerment and the interference of Canberra, which has a Federal Government acting in varying levels of benefit to the Southern Antipodes. Like the rest of Australia, it is blessed with land, a lot of it in Tasmania being arable, although it can be mountainous in its centre. Islands do have a greater inherent urgency and character to be more self-sufficient than others. Tasmania ranks as 26th in the ranking of island size on Earth. It has more rainfall than most of desert island mainland Australia. Its socio-political dynamics are most closely linked with Victoria. In terms of military security, it is furthest located from the most vulnerable northern corners of the nation facing South East Asia. Tasmanian authorities can increase cooperation with New Zealand - with both countries creating the best hub for clean fresh produce, outdoor sports and different lifestyles. SINGAPORE Education,leadership, meritocracy, resilient security and having a strategic mindset are what the Republic of Singapore emphasises. This five pronged approach can be foremost in mind applied by Tasmania's Governments to ensure its competitive edge with the rest of the world. Singapore has no natural resources and yet it is now a developed nation with a standard of living, currency value and GDP per capita higher than most other countries. I reflect on several other similar achieving small city states from history. So the advantage of having a land area smaller than so many islands can mean it is easier to manage - or not. Size can always be a two edged sword and it is always not a factor to just rely on. Though small in acreage and mostly flat levelled it is, Singapore has a population comparable to Greater Sydney. The Republic has a complex social heritage like Sri Lanka - both nations were colonies of Britain, prospered as entrepots and are located on major shipping routes. The Government of Singapore values every inch of land it has in its territory and maps its details accordingly - apart from being so experienced in land reclamation. It also emphasises in ensuring extensive foliage as far it can for its populace. Landscaping and provision of public facilities are significantly evident. Such attributes by its Government echo the hunger for advancement despite the odds. Progress can only come but at a price, use of smart approaches, striving for excellence and inculcation of national unity in its peoples. The economy is dependent on migrant labour, openness in trading and travel and adoption of forward looking technolgies. Advancement also means more than survival. The island is a Red Dot once politically attached to the Malayan Peninsular. Its proximity to the Indonesian islands implies that what happens next door can easily and quickly over flow into Singapore. Within ten minutes of takeoff, a Singapore Airlines flight aircraft is already on to Malaysian or international air space. Its alliances and past history with Britain now has cascaded down stream through time into a closer political relationship with the USA, Australia and New Zealand, as well necessarily with its ASEAN neighbours and an ever prosperous and powerful China. Singapore thrived as a middle man and can still play a useful role as a broker on the ever changing stage of world wide politics. The Republic does not host any American military bases, unlike Australia, South Korea and Japan - but its largest trading partner is China. Singapore is sensitive to and emphatic about maintaining racial harmony in its society. Developments in Malaysia, separated only by two causways, are always top priority as its nearest neighbour has policies, rules and mindsets which can be so different from the core values of contemporary Singapore. Better economic performance by Singaporeans can attract respect, disdain and rivalry from others. Security of supplies to its populace lies at the base of Singaporean existence and its government can be masters of crisis management. SRI LANKA The former Ceylon was a gem for the colonial British Empire. Like Singapore, different ethnic groups were brought together to live and work on an island the size of Tasmania. Since independence, the dominant Singhalese have asserted primary control in politics - and minorities have been disadvantaged by civil war, religious divisions and poor economic performanace. Sri Lanka, unlike Singapore and like Tasmania, is rich in natural resources. Its rich cultural heritage can draw tourists but its mismanagement lies at the base of many problems that persist today. In contrast,the island's landscapes and wild life are a stand out delight. Muslims, the biggest minority of Tamils, Burghers, Moors, Malays, Chinese and the Indigenous Vedda also live in the Republic of Sri Lanka. The Arabs, Portuguese and Dutch adventurer traders preceeded the Brits, sailing on their way to Malacca and the Spice Islands. Add to this mix an agricultural and plantation based way of life, the power of the military and a rather obvious modification of the Westminster form of democracy. Located between the Indian Ocean and across the Palk Straits to India, its primary religion is Buddhism, spread long ago through its larger neighbour. The island nation is also seen as strategic by superpowers. It was an important stop for flights between London and Singapore. Its idyliic coasts, cooling hills and inherent serendipity contrast with the brew of a social complexity still simmering for a relatively small country. Sri Lanka can perhaps take a leaf out of the book used by Singapore to minimise racial and religious conflict. Steps can be taken to reduce a climate of extremism, intolerance and excessive political infighting. Strengths in health, education and family resilience can be highlighted to build a better society. The equatorial climate can infuse an easy air of casualness on the island, so the violence experienced and witnessed in the Republic's history can be shocking. Even if one took no sides in the long drawn out civil war, one cannot escape feeling the ruthlessness in which it was carried out, with many casaulties and victims , especially for civillians in the north-eastern corner of the country. The recent history of Sri Lanka teaches others, if we want to escape its unfortunate experience, to never let intolerance in all forms permeate. Socio-economic development must prioritise to help all sections of Sri Lankan society. Investment funding is critical to Sri Lanka. It can reach out to build more trade links between Africa and Asia. It cannot afford to be held back by its current deficiencies but it must look to itself more to develop its future. IN CONCLUSION Three different islands are undergoing different paths. You may have visted them to chill out in travel-frenzy times before the past 2 years. The best asset each island discussed above has are its people and their determination to succeed further in the 21st century. Each island offers us a most rewarding diversity in food, blessed by its location and surrounding influences, but what in the Big Picture can each island offer themselves? Their peoples do have strengths and positive values which can be further encouraged and utilised to rely upon when faced with future perils, especially when they can be drawn into the problems or conflicts of their specific region. Each of these islands can play their role as save havens, whether from outside turmoil,to contain contamination or for alternative lifestyles. However, each to has to confront their own Achilles heel in this process and seek renewed opportunities in the unique fields they can excel in. Whatever threats and disadvantages it faces, each of the three islands also needs continuing future leaders who will rise above it all. yongkevthoughts Tasmania 65022 square km 2020 Population 541071 No 26 Ranking in island Size Singapore 728.6 square km 2020 Population 5.7 million - Sri Lanka 65610 square km 2020 Population 21.14 million No 25 Ranking in Island Size City of Wollongong NSW 221 square km 2020 Population 307407 City of Perth Western Australia 14 square km 2020 Population 30971 City of Adelaide South Australia 3260 square km 2020 Population 1.38 million Greater Melbourne Victoria 9993 square km 2020 Population 5.13 million Greater Brisbane Queensland 1343 square km 2020 Population 2.56 million Greater Sydney New South Wales 12370 square km 2020 Population 5.37 million Greater Auckland New Zealand 637 square km 2020 Population 1.6 million Island of Penang Malaysia 293 square km 2020 Population 1.8 million

Malaya Independent for 64 Years

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 said we were free from the yoke of imperialism, economic exploitation and rule by a foreign race. But I could already enjoy the heritage of what Britain left behind in other positive aspects. There was a Westminster based Parliamentary system. We already had royalty, from nine component states, left intact by colonial interests - in case anyone missed Queen Liz. There were dependable legal and governance systems already working in the Malayan Civil Service. Transport infrastructure, public health care, education mechanisms and economic pillars were already well established, much better than in most newly founded nations. There was a strong foundation of family, criminal, corporate and tax law like in Australia. Friends of my parents, my classmates and neighbours relished in enjoying commonly shared values, than focus on differences. Socially, we immersed themselves in laughter, helping each other out and cultivating joint hobbies. Gatherings were more spontaneous than formal, centring round fruit seasons, cultural festivals, good weather days and when people needed a listening ear. In the classroom, there was a comradeship that transversed the boundaries of religion, ethnicity and class. We valued the English language for its dominance in world trade, academia and international networking. We learnt our respective mother tongues. By law, we learnt the Malay lingua franca. In Penang, there was a Patois spoken that is still as colourful as in New Orleans, Papua New Guinea or in South Africa. Like in Sydney and Melbourne these days, we had access to several cuisines - and still do. Friends of diverse backgrounds used to eat together at the same table, but I understand now they no longer do, as much. We picked up learning how to use the whole plethora of ingredients from well tried recipes from around Asia and Europe. My Eurasian Uncle Cornelius exemplified the closeness of Malaysians when I was growing up. He personified Christmas to me, with a joy from his Dutch heritage and his ability to make magic of a day when he visited.  Mum and our Sri Lankan neighbour' s wife made curries.   I still recall the beauty of furniture in the lounge when we visited Cikgu Iskandar.  I picked up bad words in Tamil, Hokkien, Cantonese, Japanese, Mandarin and Malay - and they did have a punch which can hold their own in an ocker Aussie pub. Soccer, badminton, late night suppers, jungle and beach trial walks, hide outs on Friday arvos after school - they all had no over the top racial identification. There was a strong underlying and unspoken bond of just being humans, of growing up in and of connecting to society. What seemed like benign bureaucratic practices - like of being identified by race and religion on ID cards, instead of just being Malaysian - in retrospect, evolved into tools of separation, social alienation and discrimination. Critics blame the colonial authorities for laying down the seeds of the current socio-political structure in current day Malaysia. They cite the "divide and rule" strategy utilised to manage a diverse society like Malaya before independence. However, once they were their own rulers, the local politicians of the day reinforced this policy, instead of applying fresh and innovative approaches like meritocracy, equity and tolerance. As a child in Malaysia, I vaguely recall a night curfew imposed in Penang, due to riots and social disorder. Such tools of social and political control can be primitive in looking back, for now there are other covert or other more effective tools of political manipulation, corruption in theft of state funds, mass cajoling of the emotions of voters and gerrymandering of electorate borders. Malaysia's ideal democratic practices have sadly been whittled or hijacked as the nation moved to the 21st century.   There has grown a culture of dependency on state hand outs to a majority of its denizens, who dominate the military, civil service, universities, police, banks and economic or trading monopolies.  The growing emphasis by a series of Prime Ministers since the 1980s in linking political power with financial kleptocracy measures has taken a severe impact on the nation's vibrancy and future prospects. Malaysia is a land of abundant resources, scenic landscapes and untapped potential. It has been the less than desired management by its leaders that have now rendered it less attractive for investment potential and educational strengths than its nearby neighbours of Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore. My birthplace has petroleum resources, agricultural wealth, manufacturing capability and strides between China, India and Australasia. Yet some key factors continues to suppress its future potential - leadership, mindset, community attitudes, technological prowess, history and inertia. Blame shifting has also been a significant characteristic of its past. Soon there may be no one else to put the blame on, apart from themselves. Before the arrival of Covid, the seeds of problems and embedded issues have not been resolved. A pandemic only amplifies the weaknesses and rifts already raging in a nation. So far from the evening equatorial thunderstorms, smells and sights of a colourful street and the chatter of boyhood mates, I reflect - can Malaysia turn round a meaningful corner? #yongkevthoughts

PAIN as attitude

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 dilemna faced by governments. Are vaccinations encouraged with creating a false positive sentiment as elections draw near? Why has there been no progress and communication by Big Pharmas in developing a treatment for c19? Canberra has made serious mistakes in over depending on only two types of vaccines - and looks like only going to over rely on Messenger RNa vaccines in the future. Several nations are beginning to stare c19 in the face, as they cannot maintain a zero tolerance approach in snuffing out c19. Movement restriction, if continued for too long, is increasingly impractical. Individually, each of us has to grab the proverbial bull by the horn and tame the beast . For around 18 months, no reassuring results have been achieved by those who rule us - if this was a Board and senior executive of a listed conpany, they all would been sacked at an extraordinary General Meeting. How I cope is to follow and implement the four principles of self preservation and personal development. P - Presence of positive spirit and mind is always good to be conscious of and practice. A - Agendas, good and bad, are to be discerned between the lines, exhortations and varying policies we are put up with. I - Intelligence, not Inoculations, is the primary tool we possess to counter this Delta spread. N - Negativity is to be avoided, so that we can maintain our own clarity and purpose in our journey amidst distractions, deflections and devastation. Oscar Wilde is reputedly quoted with " Suffering is nothing, when there is love." The suffering imposed on each of us, in this challenging time, is not accompanied with sufficient empathy, humaneness nor concern by the people and organisations we put in power to take care of us. So I say, "Suffering is nothing, especially when we just take more care of ourselves." And I am no Oscar Wilde. #yongkevthoughts

Musings in the Time of Covid

The screws tighten, Are we frightened? Our spirits are more than dampened, as confusion becomes more rampant. The hidden enemy jumps, seems to be doing a dump, after coming in, and then some, at us it fiddles more than its thump. Instead of being inspired, we are cajoled, with many things soon to expire. What is the truth between the changing flames of fire, This is what we most desire. Why was danger allowed to roam, before they wrecked us inside the home. Why only react and respond, when the ability to prevent was not gone? How were the lessons not learnt, as the same patterns of omit, breach and damage repeat? Hijacked agendas, lack of detail and hidden themes not discerned, False confidence turning out to be the harbinger of defeat. Winners write the books, A Blame Game tries to put players off the hook. Common folk get kicked in the foot, whilst the blessed few get to keep the loot. Under the pressure of restraint and constraint, we are asked to behave and do as we are told. Whose interests are we asked to help maintain, at least in war, we can be more sure of whom and what to hold. When will this nightmare end, as we sit in our bunkers for endless nights unplanned. Will the promised manna be truly godsent, to relieve us from uncertainty just around the bend? Reflecting on: The Fall of Singapore - 1942 The Rise of Delta - Sydney 2021. #yongkevthoughts

A Pause to Reflect

Covid19 is now spreading, end of April 2021, to even less equipped rural areas of India, after the tragic scenes news media beamed about what is happening in their cities. 

Under reported is the lack of preparedness and recent Covid case spikes in Nepal. The UK, USA, Brazil, Italy, South Africa and France have in the past 16 months experienced various levels of significant waves of infections - with differentiating and commonly shared levels of cause, reaction and management. What has been learnt for effective action to be taken in India, or has the proverbial horse already bolted there? 

A shared causative factor to accelerate the massive spread of Covid 19 is the interference and prioritisation of politics in several nations over sensible public health management.  The utter disregard for social distancing and the obvious lack of using anti-Covid protective gear, seen in masses of people gathering for election rallies, should have spelt the increased likelihood for the endemic disaster that is to come, or already has passed.  

Politically toned rallies driven on by strong societal and religious beliefs can contribute to outbreaks of infection.  Where such clusters have arisen, the ineffectual and untimely fencing of infection hotspots, for whatever reasons, has encouraged this rather infectious Covid 19 to travel to hitherto unaffected regions, for the spiked organism to continue to roam, chomp and mutate on more human hosts.

Local transmission of cases create so many subsequent pathways of infection in a multiplier effect.  

Another observed Canary in the coal mine syndrome, before cities and countries are engulfed in whatever waves of Covid that come and go, is the continuing and unrectified lack of organisation of authorities that oversee and are responsible for management of the pandemic.  Such utter distractions can be in the power driven arguments between individual States in a  Federation  and the central government - as to who is responsible for whom, what and how.  Another debacle can be seen in the Australian Federal Government since Covid 19 began, leaving many tasks to the various Australian state governments  - and when it took on its current responsibility to roll out vaccinations, it has shown its ineffectualness and lack of ability to even do this.

Increasingly there is also the factor of authorities and governments in denial, about facing head on the realities and challenges of Covid infections breaking out in their respective nations.   Some of it can be attributed to the mindsets of their powerful leaders, like in Brazil.  Other kinds of denial which later go on to bite such governments is their emphasis on economic benefits and financial imperatives, which  I also understand and appreciate.   An interesting scenario is faced by the Japanese Government in delaying and still hanging on the holding of the Tokyo Olympics 2020 in July this year.   The ever changing of deadlines for enhanced air travel can be a persistent game play, dependent on cluster outbreaks, breaches of Covid contamination when quarantine venues are not handled properly and delays in being able able to vaccinate masses of people.

A no brainer, as to why a society faces a situation like India today, is the overwhelming lack of public infrastructure, supply of anti-Covid health antidotes and trained human resources.  We cannot blame developing countries for being stuck with such serious disadvantages on the cusp of a pandemic, but for so called rich nations to have such problems and not rectify them as soon as possible, is unforgiving.

After around sixteen months of battling Covid 19,  the world seems to be overly relying on newly developed and evolving vaccinations as the primary solution.   Most vaccines, if you want them,  have already become commodities which have supplies manipulated and controlled by manufacturers, the developed nations and the politically connected.   What if mutated strains overcome the efficacy and dependency of such vaccines?  

Many nations are focusing treating symptoms instead of putting more resources to find a cure - that is a big ask which takes more than a few years, I do admit.  

The more wealthy in any society have more means of avoiding infected, but the integrated nature of a powerful Coronavirus spread  can also not discriminate.   In nations such as India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand, migrant workers, paid the lowest possible rates per hour, are employed extensively in households, markets, food stalls and restaurants.  The chain of transmission can be strengthened in connection amongst different activities of a day's routine for anyone, rich, middle class or poor.

So when you reflect on your own community or country, what is the score you will give to sense whether a serious outbreak of Covid is coming upon your horizon?

Politicisation above Health

Denial by Leadership

Cultural Imperatives

Organisational Ineptness

Infrastructural Deficiency

Inherent Lack of Relevant Supplies

Lack of Training for Frontliners

Corruption and misuse of public monies

Religious Imperatives

Inconsistent Exemptions to Rules and Policy

Social Structure and Demographics

Mixed and Changing Messaging by Authorities

IN the Asia-Pacific region, are there couplings of neighbouring nations that can be utilised in a beneficial manner to help each other out?   I am referring to possibly Papua New Guinea-Australia, Japan-China and Malaysia-Singapore.   Effective leadership is the common factor required to resolve this Covid crisis.  A good leader trumps over the worst of home politics, culture, poor bureaucracy, lack of resources, corruption, varying medical advice and geopolitics. 

 #yongkevthoughts