Wild Allegations (again)

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I was pointed to this today morning, by Sarah Chan, the Events Editor at KLUE Magazine:

http://www.klue.com.my/articles/271-Did-you-go-to-the-wild-party-at-the-seaside

You have to read that for context. That post by Sarah, was based on the news reports from three major newspapers:

1. The Star

2. Kosmo

3. Utusan Malaysia

Ok, you can read the party-goers responses in the comments section of the KLUE blog post, for a gist of what went on, that perhaps was a little less skewed than these papers. As per usual. The last time this happened it was the black metal incident where a harmless gig at Paul’s Place was touted to be some weird animal sacrifice ritual.

Firstly, as a 25 year-old Malaysian who does attend these parties, goes to concerts, and raves in and out of KL (while almost trying to balance it with my activism/political activities), this is a normal scene. Perhaps not in that big a scale, concert goers estimate 10-15K people attended. So, I’m annoyed at another attempt to try and sully the people in my age group, AS USUAL. The generalizations, and the clearly delusional and leading manner in which way the articles were written are in the usual journalistic fashion practiced by many a  Malaysian journalist and approved by their “editors.” Utusan even has a sentence phrased this way:

Ditanya apakah festival muzik yang dianjurkan sebuah pertubuhan di Kuala Lumpur itu merupakan satu identiti masyarakat Malaysia, Abdul Samad menafikan tanggapan itu.

WHAT KIND OF JOURNALISM IS THIS?! It’s such a blatantly, leading question! Any real journalist knows NEVER to frame a question that way. My God! It’s so appalling!

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Now let me explain why these reports are completely ridiculous.

It’s a rave. Raving involves ‘loud, techno music.’ I’m not a fan of techno music, but I will show up for a night of partying with friends, in an out of town venue. So far, the more popular ones have been held in Malacca and Genting, and yes, Port Dickson too. These events are strict with age limits too, some being an over 18, or 21, events. If you want to make a point about how the music went on for too long, I get that. Make the point and leave it there. Ask the festival organisers why they didn’t end it at a respectable time, I can still get that.

But, the references to some “wild party” and the pictures that accompanied it, were completely unnecesary. But, then again when papers publish distasteful pictures (on the Frontpage no less) like this, what do you expect really? An iota of common sense? Let’s not even go into the election reporting.

So yes, at raves we do not go there and get completely whacked out of our minds with drugs and beer. We drink, but we drink responsibly, and most of the time, its all in good fun with some friends. Of course there will be a few idiots, who’ll pass out, some as early as two beers, because they don’t eat, or are dehydrated, despite the venue organizers providing more than enough water or food. But so because of a few bad apples, let’s tell the entire country the party was one big orgy of booze and drugs and techno?

As I recall, 41 were “arrested,” and we know how great the police are with singling people out to arrest. So, 41 people out of a 10,000 to me, isn’t very convincing of their case of this insanely wild event with hedonistic behavior going on. Also, isn’t the figure of RM 10 million a MUCH bigger amount? What’s being done there?

Nothing, you say? Hmmm.

Also, not everyone who drinks, young or old, can drink responsibly even at a 18/21 over event. Need I remind the Pengerusi Majlis Bertindak Membantah Penganjuran Pesta Pantai Port Dickson, Mohamad Nor Mohamad Sap, that a rather older ex-minister is also clearly not capable of holding his drink, and has even molested a woman in this state. What’s his excuse? He’s young at heart, is it?

Also, let’s not forget the underaged girl another one of these older benefactors “undid.” So please, don’t point the fingers at the younger ones and tell the entire country something as ridiculous as how these FOREIGNERS are the ones coming here and teaching us these things, because the last I checked, these guys were Malaysian. What kind of examples are they setting for us? They’re people in positions of POWER!

“Festival muzik yang bertukar menjadi pesta liar di pantai Port Dickson pada hujung minggu lalu bertentangan dengan moral dan adat budaya masyarakat di negara ini.

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Bertindak Modal Insan, Belia dan Sukan negeri, Abdul Samad Ibrahim berkata, aktiviti itu jelas membawa kepada keruntuhan moral pengunjung terlibat selain mencemarkan imej pantai peranginan tersebut.

”Kelulusan diberi oleh pihak berkuasa tempatan tetapi aktiviti yang dijalankan semasa pesta itu berlangsung dalam suasana di luar kawalan,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas mengadakan lawatan bersama Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Bertindak Pelancongan, Perpaduan, Kebudayaan, Keseniaan, Warisan dan Adat Istiadat Melayu negeri, Mohamad Razi Kail di Taman Ular Sawa, Ulu Bendul di sini hari ini.

Ditanya apakah festival muzik yang dianjurkan sebuah pertubuhan di Kuala Lumpur itu merupakan satu identiti masyarakat Malaysia, Abdul Samad menafikan tanggapan itu.

‘‘Itu bukan identiti kita. Itu budaya luar. Kita lihat ramai pengunjung yang datang itu merupakan mereka dari luar negara.

‘‘Kebanyakan penduduk tempatan tidak tahu pesta itu berlangsung di Port Dickson. Sudah tentulah ia lari daripada lunas budaya kita,” tegas beliau.”

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Oh, habis merogol? Dan mencabul kehormatan wanita di Malaysia ni, budaya siapa? Budaya Malaysia? Jawablah.

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You know, there are such pressing matters to report on in this country right now.

Like the BALKIS accounts, like what’s going to happen to the people who approved all the unnecessary expense with the Brickendonbury Training Facility? What on earth has happened to Sharlinie? And Nurin? Will their families ever rest in peace? Will we ever be able to get a clean judiciary we can have faith in? Why are we not allowed to ‘demonstrate’ in public when one of our very own Malaysians, among others are locked away under the draconian ISA in prison cells fighting for their lives, all of which are in there because they didn’t think like the majority? Why is it until today, UMNO and its component parties still haven’t demonstrated any spine or backbone in tackling the VERY pressing issues of crime, food shortages, corruption, education, development and a whole host of other things? Why?

Another mountain out of a molehill. So let’s blame this on the youth then, and sensationalize these parties. Fine. They’re young, and it’s the folly of youth. What about all these older men and women then, who keep screwing us all up? What about them I ask?

WHAT ABOUT THEM?

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Filed under Entertainment, Malaysia, Me Myself I, News, Socio-Political

Tags: Morons