All Thai'd Up about democracy

The latest issue of Contradictheory talked about the recent referendum for the new Thai constitution. Actually, what I really wanted to talk about was the poor level of debate in politics, especially of that in Malaysia, but the Thai situation was more current.

However, I spent so much time discussing Thai politics, that it didn't really leave me much room to whine about the Malaysian side of things (Which is probably a good thing - rambling is not a virtue for columnists). It seems to me that a country that has been practicing democracy for fifty years now should be in a better position to test its leaders. Admittedly, familiarity doesn't breed proficiency, as the situation in the last two US elections can testify to, but still, we shouldn't succumb to politicians' appeals for the lowest common denominator.

The results for the Thai referendum have now appeared, and although a slimmish majority voted for it, there was significant opposition from the north-east of the country. And those voting against were demonstrating - you guessed it - pro-Thaksin sentiments.

Labels: contradictheory

Three writers

My mum pointed out that last Sunday was a notable day for our extended family. For the first time ever, three of us had an article each in the national newspapers; My mum with her piece on reforms to the Child Act, my uncle with his sentimental musings of vacations past, and me with my heretical prediction of the end of books.

Of the three of us, my mum is the one least likely to label herself a professional writer. Her background is law, her writing is about law (and at home, her word is practically law as well). She originally started when asked by the New Straits Times to provide pieces on human rights, but now has extended to 'hot topics in law'.

My uncle is an extremely experienced writer, as well as being editor of Auto Magazine for years. He used to do a column in Audio File in the Star, and so is used to the rigours of deadline-based journalistic-style writing. He has just completed a novel of a family set against the history of Malaysia, stretching from the death of JWW Birch, through the travails in between, up to the chants of Merdeka.

And then there's me. Not a writer by training, but only guided by passion, and directed vaguely by being dipped in an environment conducive for writers and gently tugged by osmosistic pressures.

It just seems a little strange, than for a family who doesn't really have an ancestral tradition of writing, that we've ended up at this point.

Labels: writing

Contradictheory: Football and Reading

I am aware that this blog is rapidly becoming an advert for my Contradictheory articles in The Star. I have no problems with this, the more exposure, the better. At least if you like the articles, that is.

The last few weeks saw me writing on two of my passions: Football and Reading. I now realise I am rapidly running out of topics to write about. It won't be long I'm sure before a piece on Audrey Hepburn appears (although in her case, a picture says ten thousand words, so all I have to do to fill a quota is print a photo of her eyes, I guess).

The bit on football was inspired by our national team's insipid performance in the Asian Cup. I ranted and railed from my seat in the stadium, but I think nothing short of a combustory hara-kiri exhibition would have been able to change the course of the game (at least a provisional draw would have been better than what we got). Nevertheless, I really do think it's important we give support to our national team, regardless of their ability.

There was a response in the next week's letters column; unfortunately it addressed a completely different issue, and I don't even agree with it. Basically, the problem with football in Malaysia isn't that there are too many games, or that there are too many teams. The problem is we have not enough international players.

Last weekend's article on the future of books has already provoked a response. Thor (of Skoob Books fame) called my mother up and called me a "viper" for suggesting that the writing was on the electronic wall for physical books. I like that, I've never been compared to a muscle-engined sports car before.

Labels: contradictheory, football