10/10/2007 on 21:21 hours
Our first Malaysian astronaut blasted off to space on Soyuz TMA-11
I didn’t join the many Malaysians who went to watch the historical moment in Merdeka Square. It was such a relieved that I didn’t, after being told that the giant screen was not working, hence they had to resort to sharing the small screen TV provided. Not to say that I am not patriotic enough to have shared the joy with thousand others proud Malaysian. I do, yes I do, but I prefer to share my joy in the quiet comfort of my small home better.
So anyway, there have been mixed opinions about sending off Malaysian very first astronaut.
WHAT the fuss all about?
Could we have done it without having spent millions of taxpayers’ money into purchasing military helicopter equipments from Russia?
The achievement is not really ours to claim, as it would have been more meaningful had we gone into space with our very own space rocket.
Why couldn’t the government spend the money to further improve our domestic trade and economy?
While writing this, I am very much confused myself. I am not sure whether I supported the cause, or I just simply do not care. If not for the very strong objection from some anonymous citizen, I would simply choose the latter. Then I re-discover my passion for debate, hence this.
I felt proud knowing that one of Dr M’s visions has materialize. You couldn’t stop but wonder how he could think light-years ahead of other people. And your zealous crazy mind would have thought that his brain would be an interesting specimen to study (gosh… that’s some twisted mine I have).
When people ask me, am I proud? I would not have qualm to say yes. For me, we need heroes. While politicians have sickened me for their lack of creative contribution to the society lately, the general public has chosen to look elsewhere for source of inspiration.
Just like Dato’ Dr Mohamad Nor Khalid @ Lat who has done it with Kampung Boy, (btw, Dato’ is now in Washington as the only Asian to be invited to the International Comic Art Forum. He would also be there to launch his new book, Town Boy after the success of Kampung Boy which became no 1 for Editors Choice in the United States) AND SO did cicakman (which ability includes it’s power of fast healing, sticking to walls and ceilings and the ever-so-useful tongue-extension mechanism) our friendly occupants of most homes in Malaysia TO THE EVER SO FAMOUS Mawi, the chap next door. As both Lat & Cicakman are heroes envision by its creator, you’d feel excited knowing that Asmawi Ani and Syeikh Muszaphar Shukor al Masrie are heroes on our very own backyard, whom we groom and grow so fond off. While Mawi is the simple, good looking and yet very humble person, Syeikh Muszaphar comes in the form of a handsome, well established-doctor cum part time model, What else could you have ask for?
Five years from now, you are very sure that he would be entitled to a Datuk-ship, still remain a bachelor (for whatever reason you know) and would be ever-so famous and rich. He would be getting the same adoration from the public similar to what Mawi have enjoyed. I can already imagine looking at dozens of his billboards while driving, his many advertisement that will follow (as if he has not gotten use to that), co-starring in movies by Professor-Madya-you-know-who and then probably producing his own hari raya tracks.
Lalalala.. lalala… A new hero on it’s way! And he’s a yummy treat.
8 comments:
This post sounds rather like a lil bit sarcastic for me.. pardon me if that's not your intention.
Yes you're right, Dr M is a leader with vision, we know that and we respect him because both of us are so-called 'The generation of Dr M'. But to think of the quality of our leaders of our nation, I think it's rather not fair to see it personally. I mean, the whole leadership process made up what Malaysia is today, not seeing it phase by phase or leader by leader. Well just my 2 cents.
BTW, it's kinda insulting if our angkasawan ends up becoming a product to feed the commercial world as what you pointed out like acting or releasing album. Hope that's not going to happen, it'd be a shame if it does happen.
PLUS, *QUOTE*"... but I prefer to share my joy in the quiet comfort of my small home better."*end QUOTE* -->> I thought you were in office at the moment of blast-off? Hmmm..
Spider
I didnt know a guy who is merely a pessanger can be called a hero. not to forget his seat was because he is close to KJ *spit* why are we as a 'nation' proud about it? i remain clueless. singapore is just as capable, if not more, to pay money to send some idiot up there. but obviously they dont do it, because its embarassing to know you are proud over other peoples achievement. anyway, you can tie a fit enough begger to the same chair, and it would result in the same thing. dont forget how in parliment, some MP mentioned that he should play traditional games up there. come on, what sort of intellect does this country run on anyway. oh well i agree with the adulation part, malaysia is a country full of people who adulate people for no substantial reason.
true that our angkasawan is merely a passenger of this space 'trip'. but it still is a small step for our country in being involved with any space-related activities in the future. maybe i'm being a bit optimistic here, but shouldn't we all?
though i cannot see the point of asking our angkasawan to play our traditional game up there, but i'm sure our angkasawan wouldn't mind doing those lame playing-batu-seremban-in-space crap. at least he's been in space.
Ey...
well, i don't mean to sound sarcastic. maybe i need to be specific. It is to create opportunities for bumiputera to excell. We may not be a rich lot like some other entities, but at least we could be well established in some other fields. Major propaganda i know. But saying that, it was not like other races were not given a chance to participate, they do had they not think that it as a waste of money and effort. Tell me, what do you think of Myteam? Aren’t they also heroes whom we have groom and grow to adore?
Anonymous...
Well, passenger or not.. he is still a hero. You would probably say this for the obvious fact that you did not follow the 20 thousand people who actually applied, went through hard training both mentally and physically, and succeed.
Traditional game or not.. or simply enjoying the delicacies of hari raya on board the ship, you have to admit that we are paying billion-dollars worth of advertisement to promote Malaysia. We are taking one step further to future excellence, who knows?
Zals..
That’s the spirit. We should try to be optimistic in every way.
Isn’t it interesting. People don’t give it a crap when the idea first came up. When they open up to the masses, we see huge support, but when in the end, one guy emerge as the ‘chosen one’, we are the envy lots.
Well, I envy him. I should have applied. Who knows… Haha…
somehow, i feel proud to see our Malaysian up there in the space. Proud of our achievement so far.
But, as what Mr anonymous was saying, I sometimes feel that we spent quite a lot just to put the name of Malaysia in the eye of the world. I am sure we will be a greater country if the government tries to put our country as poverty-free in the Guiness book of records :)
Just my 1 cent :)
lets bid on the angkasawan guitar, eh, i wanna get my hand on the angkasawan t shirt, or maybe angkasawan shoe and everything the tv need to offer the malaysian with all the angkasawan stuff, in a bid to cover the fuel used to blast off them outer space. if it even come close. i wish.. ehey, lemme belanja you angkasawan meal at rebung. lets celebrate raya together.. and pray that malaysia do not have to sell our angkasawan' s stuff in order to pay them back.. anyhow, putin, thanx for the treat MR!
so much for the afterglows :)look at us, high in sky. i bet bob marley would die to be in space too :)
but hey, if you love the man, you love the man. the rest, priceless. ahaks!
too much rose tinted glasses.
i bet 5 years from now, he would be just either another
1. mawi
2. politician
neither step he takes, is to be considered a step for the nation.
why are we wasting our money going to space, when its better to spend it on educating the majority?
stupid publicity ploy to make malayisans feel "proud" and have a "feel good feeling" when nothing was actually achieved.
the 20k ppl who applied? they wasted their time. kinda obvious that the winner would be a close friend to a 'pemuda', which he is.. duh
i'm yet to see the real benefit? i would weigh simple things like class rooms, computers, books, happier teachers, as significantly cheaper, and contributes to this country futher. i guess im too dumb. please enlighten me....
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