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Truth is stranger than fiction PDF Print
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Monday, 20 October 2008 20:38

by Chan Kheng Hoe in The Sun

You can’t write a good piece of fiction in Malaysia. Don’t get me wrong. It is not that Malaysians can’t be good writers. The problem with fiction is that it has to be dramatic and sensational. There must be twists in the plot. And more than that, it must be believable, yet somewhat removed from real life. Hence, all lawyer movies depict trials as dramatic events where witnesses get broken down by ingenious lawyers with multiple tricks up their sleeves. CSI recreates the crime scene with such drama and imagination that you can virtually imagine yourself witnessing the crime. Go observe a real-life trial, or think about a real-life CSI team dusting for fingerprints, and you can immediately notice the difference. Fiction is great, but the reality can be a yawn.

Not so in Malaysia.

You see, in Malaysia, we always somewhat buck the trend. While every other country struggles with racism and religious fanaticism, we remain a peaceful multiracial and multi-religious society with only good thoughts and same-sex hugs for each other. In every other country, politicians are viewed with contempt. In Malaysia, our politicians are the epitome of virtue who settle their disputes by swearing on the name of the Almighty. Is it therefore surprising that while the fiction written everywhere else is sensational and dramatic, Malaysian drama actually gets played out more sensationally in real life instead? In fact, I bet my last ringgit (metaphorically speaking) that fiction writers would find it challenging to produce story-lines to match our true stories, both good and bad.

After all, would a fiction writer think about a character like the president of Umno who quit in protest when his proposal to accept non-Malays into the party was rejected by his peers? When his party colleagues eventually tried to persuade him to return, he would hear none of it unless they agreed to his earlier proposal. His principle probably cost him the premiership, and he died outside Umno, a political failure but a national legend.

How about the happy-go-lucky prince who decided to step up to the plate and take his place alongside the commoners. He negotiated for the independence of Malaya, and led this country through its formative years. A generous and big-hearted man, he was friendly with the former colonial masters and comfortable with all races. However, he was forced out of his position and refused to re-join Umno when it was declared an unlawful society. He too died outside Umno, his sentiments then aligned with the Opposition.

How about the unassuming man who battled extremist elements in the country and cancerous cells within his own body at the same time? He reached across the political divide and invited opposition politicians into the government fold. As a result, the Barisan Nasional was born, a coalition of diverse parties which remains the ruling coalition to this day.

Then there was the bespectacled lawyer who handpicked his successor, only to regret his choice later on. By the way, that’s Tun Hussein Onn for you, just in case you were thinking of the other prime minister who equally regretted his own succession plan.

Of course, no Malaysian story can afford to miss out the man who got kicked out of the ruling party, only to return as its longest-serving president. In the course of his leadership, Malaysia was transformed into a fast-developing nation, the absolute immunity of the royalty was dismantled, hundreds were imprisoned without trial and the top judge was sacked.

Then there was the oppositionistic Islamic fundamentalist who got co-opted into government and rose to become its second-most powerful man, only to be unceremoniously sacked on charges of corruption and sodomy. He went to jail, was finally released in poor health, and then engineered an opposition revival only to be charged with sodomy a second time.

And dare any fiction writer imagine non-Muslims voting en bloc for Islamic fundamentalists in PAS, while Muslims supported the socialistic secularists of the DAP? At the centre of it all stands the reformed Malay fundamentalist who has now declared that he is the father of all races. Unbelievable, but that did happen on March 8.

Or how about the mainstream newspaper which decided to degrade itself to a level worse than the worst blogs by carrying a veiled death threat against a sitting Member of Parliament. Bloggers may write spurious articles as they hide behind the anonymity of the World Wide Web. But for an established newspaper to carry an article that depicts the assassination of a politician seems even more unbelievable than fiction writers would dare imagine.

During times like this, who needs novels? Let me curl up in bed and read my daily newspaper instead.

Kheng Hoe can’t wait for the long-promised Sept 16. He wishes he knows which year it is supposed to occur.

Comments (9)Add Comment
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written by michael chick, October 20, 2008 20:53:45
Same-Sex Hug a few more times, and You'll end up labelled as a "Lady-Boy".
Worse, if you are a "Farang", then others would think you are a Pedophile !!
What about the high cases of Incest in Malaysia. Nobody wants to talk about that. Why? It's your own Father, Brother, Uncle, Grand Father RAPING the young. And yes, this includes little boys as well. It's called Sodomy, as most Malaysian kids have been well educated on that subject by now. All thanks to UMNO, and their clever "cut-and-paste-Teams".

Truly Asia, Go To Hell...
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written by educationist, October 20, 2008 20:56:18
Yes, because this is Malaysia.
The fiction writers are holding the reins of power.
As such, they are super creative to give us the horror novel we are living out our lives.
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written by fdqn, October 20, 2008 20:58:40
Dear Mr. Chan kheng Hoe,you sort of sums up what have been in our hearts mindsince 308,well written and spoken for,Yes,i am sure many of us are just waithing for the sign,Sept 16,will be a reminder in our hearts,and we also cant wait for the long promise and sceretly wish to know which year it is supposed to occur. smilies/smiley.gif
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written by freesby, October 20, 2008 20:59:12
Amen to that..the political scenario in our country has replaced my daily TV series fix. Who needs Grey's Anatomy or Desperate Housewives? We've got live scandals here! smilies/cheesy.gif
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written by Surich, October 20, 2008 21:06:37
"Satu lagi projek oleh kerajaan Barisan Nasional" says a billboard in Malaysia.

Can we say "Another project by Republican government" in USA?

Only BN Government will ever think of such outlandish claims. Hopefully PR government don't do that.
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written by SocratesI, October 20, 2008 21:16:48

That Malaysia can survive for so long after having been subjected to so many decades of rape and plunder is also a marvel !!

And Malaysians can actually swallow all the Bull-Shit about the supremacy of a certain race for so long, and even after the Fall of Nazism in Europe and Apartheid in South Africa, is beyond belief !

That a second generation Pendatang from Kerala can become a Bumiputra, and an Umnoputra, and the PM of Malaysia for 22 long long, oh too long years is a miracle for him and a Curse for Malaysia and Malaysians !!

Our Malaysian history books (the real true ones) abound with all these true stories which are stranger than fiction of the best quality !! Sigh !!

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written by raven1958, October 20, 2008 21:28:32
It is a way of life out here in Malaysia...yes Malaysians live a lie.....to snap out of it..would require large doses of guts...which currently is in short supply.....unlike the THais, Indians or even the Indons.....where the people camp out at parliment and are not at all scared of the security forces.....Malaysians...grumble in private...and hey ...live out that lie....
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written by malgal, October 20, 2008 21:34:38
Those are the main events. There are also side shows, film noir,cinema verite,semua ada. Rich picking indeed for comedy court, theatre groups. In fact, the real life plots draw more laughs through bitterness. Ladies and gentlemen, the shows always go on here.
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written by Surich, October 21, 2008 11:49:21
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