Cheers!

Anyway, talking about this arresting of bloggers in Malaysia, this is not the first time and I wonder when will this end. Big people just wouldn’t let ppl talk aloud.

That’s why blogging is sometimes dangerous because you might get sued or arrested for defamation or sedition or whatever crap.

well, of course not every single blogger in Malaysia touches on such issues. Only those political bloggers who’re usually at such risk.

When I first arrived I had just come out of politics and I was used to speaking out. Watching the television back then there were only two or three channels, all state-run and mostly Muslim-related programming.

I was immediately struck with something odd that I couldn’t immediately put my finger on. I never saw anyone protesting and no opposition party railing against the government in the news. Everyone was smiling and shaking hands, and if I didn’t know any better you would think I was living in a utopia.

I decided to do some research and soon discovered that ever since they got their Independence from the Brits in the 50s they have had only one party in power! That party has declared a permanent state of martial law and they call their leader the “Prime Minister”. Hmm.

The funny thing is I can’t believe how bold I was back then. It never occurred to me to keep my thoughts to myself and the more they told me to hush it made me even more outspoken. I think they were a little shocked and awed with my boldness and didn’t know what to make of me. But in hindsight I’m probably just lucky that I didn’t disappear.

I made a lot of friends there and found most Muslims delightful. It’s just those who are in power can be a problem.

Believe it or not when I was growing up in Saudi Arabia, I was surrounded by folks who said how nice and it was and how there was more freedom compared to the old country.

Hmm, let me list a few freedoms:

* Cant say the king’s name neither in public nor private
* The press as restrictions from toe to neck. All internet activity is monitored. And perhaps after posting this comment, your site may be blocked in Saudi Arabia as well.
* Foreigners need a permit to travel within the country
* Non-Muslims cannot practice their faith in public. Church services are allowed in private. But zealots won’t even stand that.
* No foreigner, even those born in Saudi Arabia, to expatriate parents (like my brother for example) is given any right to stay as an immigrant, nor any citizenship rights thus having no say about their problems. My Dad has lived, worked and raised a family there for 30 years all under a temporary work-permit.
* No foreigner is allowed to own a property or a business unless partnered with a Saudi. And in almost all cases the Saudi will take 70% of the profits.
* All women whether practising or non practising are required by law to cover up - heads, hands and feet as excepted.
* Women can’t drive
* Women can’t own businesses unless without partnering with their father/brother/husband. There are many successful businesses especially in the fashion and the publishing sector run by women
* Foreigners cannot leave the country (except for holidaying) unless publicly declaring in National Newspapers to making sure nobody has any charges against them.
* I’ve lived 18 years in Saudi Arabia, and as explained above I was always an Indian Citizen. After becoming a Canadian Citizen at 23, I had to surrender my Indian passport as the constitution of India does not allow dual citizenship - thus making Canada is my final home and nowhere else to go back to !