Painting A Picture

I have to admit, apart from the terms 'crylic', 'oil', and 'stroke', I know nuts about paintings. Did try it out once, but my hands were too shaky to draw the fine lines needed. Off course, with a larger brush, I can just dab the canvas as I please...no matter what the end results be, hehe. And I guess, this inability of using those fine brushes rules out the possibility of my becoming a neurosurgeon. Shoot! And I honestly do envy those who can, like Alina's painting below.

Blue Rose, by blogger/painter/lecturer Alina (click here).

At the same time, our bro Mat Salo's younger sister, has her own exhibition running in a gallery in Taman Bukit Kepong. Her paintings, will be on display there till Dec 12. So Painters and enthusiast, do give your support there (read here).

Hang on! I just remember that I do know a bit more about painting. It however, is not on canvas, but in the minds of people. Believe it is something called Public Relations, a form of art in winning the people over.

Its already in the news now that PLUS is giving discounts to its users beginning January 1, 2009. Hooray! This magnanimous show by Plus is unprecedented and, depending on how one view it, has been much awaited. Thank you Plus. However, there is a slight downside to it where to qualify oneslf for the discount, one has to use it from midnight to before sunrise. Hmm...me think, this is what the Malay saying 'Sebelum lalat terbang...' comes handy.

Dear Plus, on behalf of many people, including that cakapaje bloke, I thank you. But, do you think you could extend the discounts on matters where it really matter? For instance, if there are no natural calamity afflicting your highway, yet the traffic crawls at about 1 kilometer per 10 minutes, don't you think your discount would serve better here seeing the amount of petrol being burned needlessly (hence, the pocket of motorist). Let's not forget the time wasted too!
Off course, should you decide to scrap the toll altogether, we would be very much grateful to you. Not your highway mind you, but all the tolls in Malaysia. After all, you and your brethren have had your agreements with the gomen shrouded in secrecy. And no thanks to events recently, the gomen has decided to declassify the agreements (read here). Still, one now has to wonder whether there exist any discrepencies between the declassified documents and the one made available now. It did after all, take the gomen almost ages to make them public. And that too, after constant harassments by the now Pakatan Rakyat, as well as the people of Malaysia.

Again, I thank Plus, even though I think the gomen is trying to paint a nice picture of itself to the people. Please, don't mind me saying this as the discounts offered by PLUS is meant to benefit only a small quarter of the population - the other highways are still charging the full amount! And please, just because there are lots and lots of cars on the roads in Malaysia, that does not mean Malaysians are a rich lot and own at least one car per family. Even if they do, it is out of neccessity since the public transportation system leaves one fuming over it more than not. Imagine, a bus trip from Kota Damansara to Bangsar may well take over an hour. And that is not during peak hours, nor does it inlude the waiting time. Like I mentioned, I do think the gomen is trying to paint a rosy picture about itself. A further evident can be read here.

Sometime during last Ramadhan, the gomen approved a petrol surcharge for all the express bus operators, citing the rising cost of fuel then. Now that fuel prices have plummeted from its all time high, the gomen decided to allow the operators to hike their fares. This time, however, the reason cited is the rising cost of operation. So, should the fuel price go up again, will these operators be given allowed additional profit by again, another petrol surchagre?

By now, I pretty sure some would label me with some unfair remarks. That's their view and their right. But please remember, the majority of the rakyat do not have a fat pocket to around with and many cannot even afford the applaudable move by AirAsia to remove its fuel surcharge totally. Remember, while the AirAsia fares maybe low, the to and fro trips to the airports such as KLIA, can exceed the AirAsia fares! And know what? Indirectly, Malaysians are still paying for the KLIA existance to the tune of RM1B a year! Could not part of the amount be used for the rakyat in making public transportation and inter-city rides better? Compare Pudu Raya and KLIA: between the 2, which benefits the rakyat directly? (for related articles on this, read LanH here and here).

Do you damn me if I continue to damn the gomen, particularly the Sarkas over these and many more.

They may paint pretty pictures. But the rakyat still sing the blues.


ps. Nov29 Update: Nathaniel Tan of PKR and Jelas.Info, have agreed to come.