Truth or Dare: Visit Malaysia 2007!!!

Let's face it. Sometimes we kutuk our beloved country so much we don't even realise how bad we sound. Malaysians harping on about all things lousy (and Malaysian) is as natural as the process of bread- molding. However, as typical a judgemental Malaysian I am, i still can't help the feeling of dread that someone else feels the same as i do... someone outside of Malaysia, that is... and is spreading the word on it.


Malaysia welcomes the world... but will the world welcome Malaysia in welcoming the world?

Wikitravel:
wikitravel.org/en/George_Town_(Malaysia)

Stay safe

Be extra careful in shopping malls and crowds, as they are the spots of petty crimes such as pickpockets and snatch thefts although rape crimes occasionally happens.

(hmm... mom was right)

(Prangin- getting crappier by the day...)

(and here's my favourite part...)

Local men like to yell things to women walking alone, and sometimes they can get "too friendly". It is not rare to get suggestions to see the sizes of local men's "organs" for example. You should travel in a group, if you are a woman. Local men think that westeners are much more "open" to such suggestions, because they have been taught in schools and newspapers that the westerners are infidels with no moral, and that they can have lots of promiscuous sex with multiple partners. Men walking alone will have to deal with a similar amount of harrassment too, especially around the Love Lane/Lebuh Shulia areas. There are large amounts of prostitutes and/or ladyboys prowling the streets here and they can be very aggressive. Exercise great caution walking around at night.

Outside SoHo... where the male harassing usually occurs. Go, Ah Gua...!!!

If you look like a tourist, you will get considerably higher prices from the salesmen in markets, like Batu Ferringhi Night Market, or the market near the Kek Lok Si temple. The real price of the product is always a lot less than you would pay for it in western countries, and at times "the best price" is five times the normal price.

(er... they charge according to the forex?)

Count those bills, Malaysians never give you more change than you deserve...

Taxis generally do not use meters, even if it is compulsory by law. The meters are always "broken". You should anyway ask for a meter, because you might get lucky. The metered price is always less than a price given in advance. Again tourists are often cheated, sometimes even left by a roadside in a middle of nowhere, if they refuse to pay a considerable sum of money. Serious crimes are pretty rare, but you should find out about normal prices for taxis somewhere in advance. Taxis taken from Penang Airport are safe, you pay using slips given in a small office in the airport building.

Do not use drugs, and stay away from them! You can easily get a death sentence even from a possession, because the local police are ordered to raise charges of trafficking instead. Synthetic drugs are quite widespread even with this kind of legislation.

There are lots of beggars around, because they are not controlled in any way. Some of them have mutilated themselves with knives to remove large parts of skin from the legs, and/or have learned to crawl around without using their legs at all. Sometimes children are kidnapped and used as beggars. This is more about the security of the poor people than your own, but you should think twice before giving them money. You should use some charity organizations instead. Five ringgits will buy more rice for an organization than for a single beggar.

Whoa... Like seriously, WHOA!

That was harsh, wasn't it?

As cruel as that oaf who wrote this article on Wikitravel, i still have to agree on the facts laid down. The simple truth is, yes, that is a wacky, hazardous world out there in Georgetown and all the above do happen... all the time!

But still....

Sea of liquid meets a sea of lights at Gurney Drive.*Sigh*

Penang is a great place to be.

Trust me.
(this is coming from a person who had persistently wished that the Pearl of the Orient will be swallowed up by a tsunami)

Crime as a Fascination for the Everyday sadist?

Crime is that noun or word that brings visions of countless newpaper snippets of gory details involving someone who got his throat blasted through his skull with a 25callibre, or an unsuspecting delirious female who had her entire autonomy blown to smithereens by enforcers of the law (go figure, something smells), or an 8 year old whose corpse was found in a sports bag in a shoplot in town itself. Interesting to you? Gosh, you're a sadist! Just kidding. It's in human nature to be fascinated by facts that tend to disgust and disturb any sane and decent mind, but still in my opinion, people love being judgemental about what other people are up to... so they can have a go at persecuting others.

The truthfulness of my statement is entirely a matter of your respective perceptions. Studying the numerous case laws provided in Smith & Hogan and Balckstone's statutes, you'd discover that humans are capable of a good many perverted things which they can accomplish with their hands, and other limbs which i wouldn't elaborate on any further. If you do have a statute book, please do explore. If you have Smith and Hogan, explore further. *snickering*

Right, why did we start all this in the first place? Oh right. I was going through my Criminal Law stuff earlier this evening (with 6 different volumes of books opened in front of me... University of London wanted us to have bigger tables, i guess) and i found the Sex Offences Act 2003 to be so wide i could just jump in it... ignore the lameness... but anyway, yep sections, subsections... they just go on and on and on. they specify who and what are involved where and where, not to mention how... So basically it's a study of human behaviour compiled in a stack of papers with guides on how to slap the wrist of the offender. That fool who quotes "Rules are meant to be broken" is a fruitcake, and undeniably, a sadist. I reaffirm that statement a hundredfold. Rules are rules; they are created with a dash of morals and ethics somewhere to control freaks and fruitcakes who run about being sadistic uh... freaks and fruitcakes... (?) The rule of law had originated from Aristotle himself... and he died defending it. Of course, there's this dark, sinister side of the human mind that ditches rationale and goes: "Why should I follow rules which are forcefully imposed on me? Have I no rights? You call this a democracy?"

Following this rant from a typical human mind (who has probably been educated in Malaysia and influenced by Parliament drama... and definitely a law student) there is this sudden urge to engage in a Public law regurgitating spree here. After all, i didn't nail myself to the chair all night finishing that 'rule of law' assignment for a bag of nuts. The only way the constitution can run is through the doctrine of the rule of law, and Parliament enacts laws for the good of the society. Parliament is one of the beacons of democracy, where members are chosen by the people, from the people, and for the people. The laws made will have a binding effect on the society at large. So how can anyone argue that the laws made are not democratic just because you yourself did not make it? You chose the people who helped make it happen. In your face!

But back to the core issue, crime happens due to the fact that some people are not legally educated hence not knowing about the entire rule of law thing and thus goes on to think they can evade the long arm of the law by depending on some lacunae which they dearfully hope exist. The fact is, chances of that happening is nearly 4% (convincingly large percentage? heard of the word 'corruption lately?) and they would eventually face charges and endure torturous years and decades of trials much to the glee of their lawyers.

Let's face it, crime does not pay; and we have to pay to commit crime.. so why waste money? And once you've committed crime you have to pay for a defence counsel if faced with charges... but at least you'll get a free stay in a big hotel- like building complete with local specialties each mealtime. That should cover for the unnecessary splash on your lawyers. Life sentence is best if you hired Karpal (but will he lose it for you is an entirely different matter. Doesn't matter, you're broke).

I'd like to apologise for this random post which actually led to nowhere after all that discussion. I'm going to bury my head in something 'lawful' right now. Till next time, adios!