Saturday, January 20, 2007

Thank you!

我的生日才刚过了一天。虽然今年的生日不像第一年时搞得热热闹闹,很多人为我庆祝,然后较多的贺卡寄至我宿舍,但是那不是重点。重点是,今年我也很开心,因为我还可以继续收到我好朋友们的真挚祝福。即使是有些平时都没什么机会碰面讲话的朋友,也会通过email, Friendster, Facebook, sms, e-card,或在MSN祝我生日快乐。无论是什么方式,最重要是有诚意。所有有诚意的祝福我都会感觉得到,和深深感动。

首先,我要谢谢婉仪。你提早为我用心制作的精致和充满心意的生日礼物,我无法带上飞机与我飞行伴随着我。我只能将它拍摄下来,然后将它小心翼翼地放在安全的地方。还有你同时为我准备的生日贺卡与里头藏着的小信,我在生日当晚才拆开来看。真的谢谢你,因为太感动了。

我也要谢谢Andy,Dave(近来他比较喜欢我们叫他杰伟),和Tong。因为他们送我这个‘特别’的背包。hhmm... 那书包外形,设计,和素质都看起来很不错。不过,好玩的是那背包上的图形里的文字有点,err...那个。知道顽皮的他们是这样的啦,不过有时背着它出去时怕会被人笑咧!

Take a look at this bag i received from Dave, Andy and Tong:



Then take a closer look....



wahhh...i don't know what it really mean....i don't know/want to translate in Mandarin, please...

还有,谢谢你,嘉惠!你的西班牙牛奶巧克力很好吃。你又知道我好吃巧克力?嘿嘿,我知道那一定是你从上个月的西班牙之旅带回来送给我的。当然,更有份量的是里面的藏着的小信。
别怕明年后我们不能为对方庆祝生日,只要有心,何怕你我在天涯海角,我都会将温情祝福往你寄送!认识你是我在英国念书的其中一大收获,能做你的朋友更是我的福气,记得把握这段得来不易的缘分喔!(你真的是从网上学习做芝士糕的啊?那么厉害?不如也给我那网页吧,看我能不能做得比你更好吃?:P )

谢谢陪我吃生日晚餐(然后陪我玩扑克牌至深夜)的朋友,还有谢谢我的屋友Qi Zhen和Logan (not in the picture)晚上给我的惊喜蛋糕:



(the birthday cake is cute, isn't it? Dave is also...hehe)

Lastly, and not least, i want to thank all my friends who took efforts to wish me happy birthday in many ways. I appreciate it very much, even though it's just friendster message/testimonial, or Facebook wall message. Why? 'coz not everyone did it, but at least you show me that you do sincerely want to wish me. Among many, there are also some who i didn't meet or talk to often. For those my good friends who are still in M'sia who sent me sms, thank you so much -- i can feel the warmness of the sms flying 7000 miles across the continents (pls leave ur name there for me to identify you in the message -- coz the number from m'sia will only be displayed as UK no. most of the time)

Thank you everyone for making me a wonderful birthday. I was and am happy (until now).


B'day card front cover from darling ^_^

My bro & co 's homemade short film : Gotparted

Before my younger brother, Chee How is leaving to US, his secondary schoolmates/friends and him decided (after a 'serious' meeting) to make a holiday project together. (His gang of friends is called 'GotBird' , named after their soccer team formed last time in school) Then they had this idea of making a (parody) movie based on the storyline of 'Internal Affairs / Departed ', and then they explored themselves in this new area. My brother took the role of Wong Sir (Originally by Wong Chow Shang). They shot the movie at various places, including my house too. And i know many of his friends, that's why when my brother told me about this, i'm actually quite looking forward to watch it.

Finally, their movie is finished and made the first premier at one of his friends' house. I was one of the lucky guests to watch it, and had fun. Honestly, for a bunch of guys (yes, the whole movie is without even a female actress) who did it for the first time and spent so little money in the production (just merely RM35++, with almost all the equipments they already have). Later, when they were getting more serious, they even wrote the soundtrack especially for this. 3 songs were written by my brother (all music; lyric and vocal), and his friends (vocals, and lyrics). They went into studio and had their songs recorded (in a full band, formed by the members of the same gang). Also they made side-products such as advertisements and Behind-the-scenes shoots. Many videos are already available on Youtube, and Google video.

I salute.

Here's their friendship site: http://gotbird.blogdrive.com/ which contains the movie and the details/descriptions. You can watch it there.

And all 3 tracks of their soundtrack (in English, Rock/acoustic) can be obtained here.

My family on Sept 24, 2007



This is one of the most recent family photos. I can also call this as a reunion photo. We took this in September, before I go back to UK for my third year of studies. Initially this is my mum's idea to capture this moment when we are still altogether. She is getting a bit emotional when asking us to do this favour.

This photo is valuable, because I don’t think in these few years to come we could come altogether to take this photo, as my younger bro’s away to US to pursue his studies recently, while I will still be in UK for sometime.

Next time, when we have the opportunity to take this photo again, some of us may be different. Maybe my elder is married and have children? Maybe my younger brother won't come back and settle in US? Or i will spend quite sometime also in UK (if i consider to study phD)? My parents will then be/look older than now. Just hard to imagine how the future will change us.


(from left: my dad, my mum, my elder brother - Chee Keong, my younger brother - Chee How, and me)

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Club 22

Today, I join Club 22.

Any significance? Every year is different, 'cause we're all growing up, and thinking not the same than it used to be. One year, can make a lot of difference, sometimes even one month or less you could see how a person turns into another (better or worse or unknown) person.

This year, a different situation. First of all, i feel like bearing a bigger responsibility to accomplish my mission of my life in order to move on to another, before i could ever fulfill the bigger meaning of my life. Basically, when you come to this stage of life, your past is somehow shaping your future (although you still have some degrees of freedom), paving the way that you've already made up your mind. Well, in a way, this isn’t bad at all. This is the process of knowing yourself – what you want and who you want to be.

My wishes for this year, could be no more simpler than sailing smoothly on my studies, my relationships. I know I’ll also face the time when I bid farewell to some of my dearest friends during my IC years. Who knows what future will bring? Maybe one day we’ll be meeting again, and we’ll be more different than we are now. Maybe some are changed, and some are not --> that’s your heart, what you believe in, and have faith in. I really believe in friendship and will still give my true heart to treat you as my lifetime friend, as long as you were once in my heart. Good luck, and keep in touch~

On another note, to someone I love. I don’t care how far is the physical distance between 2 continents, because the real distance of relationship isn’t bound by the distance I just mentioned, but the distance measured between hearts. ‘Coz I can feel instantly when you send me your love, like I don’t feel any distance between us. What I know is, time flies, just like I spent the one month each in September and December back home. 6 months will be over very soon, and I’ll be graduating as Bsc. That’s all. ( It seems like I’m more looking forward to future than what I am doing now. However I must remind myself that I can’t have better future without handling well about the present.)

OK. Today’s just the first day of being a club 22 member. I only have a year to find out what’s in store of club 22. Hopefully it’s a good club (year) to stay and full of wonderful memories.

柬埔寨游记

记得在上个月,我与母亲到柬埔寨的吴哥窟去旅行。那是我母亲很想去的地方,却又找不到朋友陪她去的地方。我也觉得,她也应该是时候到那里去了,不然年级再大一些可能就爬不上很多的寺庙了。(当然我也目睹很多老当益壮的阿公阿麽爬上爬下,厉害得很!)

这里,我只想要分享旅程中发生的两件事和我的心得。

买画记

我妈很有兴趣买一幅描绘吴哥窟的油画。在游客区,到处都可见到摊子摆卖油画与其他艺术品和纪念品。当然,我们也看过不少画得很精致细腻的画,只是当时可能不方便购买或我妈还没下定决心。

直到了最后第二天,我们停驻在一间餐厅用餐。享受了还不错的午餐后,在餐厅外面路边有一摊卖画的。那时我们所在的餐厅地点偏离主要的游客区。我与妈看中了其中两幅,然后就在那里讨论应不应该买一幅。那里顾摊的小女孩见到有机可乘,就趁热打铁游说我们购买。她开价30美金。开始时,我认为该画应该值15美金,而我妈却叫我开更低至12美金。我那时想,不会吧?那么大幅的油画(宽长5尺,差不多我妈的高度)才值12美金?再况且那女孩(和她的家族)也只不过是中间人而已,我就斟酌思考那可怜的画家的卖出价。我以为我妈开得太低了。

但是,杀价还是要有功夫。我妈不会说其他的语言除了中文(与方言)。杀价还是由我亲自出马了。那位女孩还会说少少中文单字(用来接触游客和简单沟通的我亲眼看到很多兜售纪念品的年轻人和孩童可以口操七,八种语言(简单几句)--实在惊讶!)

我出招了。我就依我妈, 从12美金开始喊价。她摇头说不可以,然后说便宜给我卖20美金。我摇头。我再提高1美金,她说不能,说最低是18。她说,该画是好画,是老师亲手画的,不是学生画的。我就与妈再去‘检视’该画。我们就开始‘投诉’他们没有好好照顾该画,一些地方皱了有痕迹,然后还有其他地方尤其是该画的底端有很多沙尘。我妈怕买了这幅画那些痕迹沙尘不能脱,破坏了美感。他们说不会,然后那女孩还真恐怖,拿块湿布就往那画拭擦!我们大叫,说我们还没决定买的。他们说没事,示范给我们那些沙尘是可以去除的。但是那些皱痕却没有办法虽然也不是说很明显。然后,我们好像决定要走了。那女孩就与家人讨论一下,脸上挂着了无奈与挣扎的表情,才咬紧牙关说13美金也卖!哇,我也被吓到,没想到我妈的眼光比我准。他们把画卷起来,拿条塑胶圈就这样捆住它了。我与妈都觉得不妥,就要求要画套。他们说要加1美金。好啦,这次我很快就让步,最后14美金成交。

过后,我与妈就一直讨论这个话题到底那个画家卖多少钱?之前13美金都可成交,我想那画家应该只有10美金的收入。非常可怜。我看,如果我给你马币35令吉要你画这么大幅又那么漂亮的画,不会有人理睬我。我觉得那价钱很剥削该画家,但是这不是我们的错。我们也不是不愿意付更多钱给该画家,只是不需要对中间人太客气。若不是地点和他们门可罗雀的关系,他们会给我们割喉价只赚那么区区的34美元吗?反观我们的嘟嘟车(德士)司机,包他一天他就稳赚10美金了,成本只是一点的摩托车油。他可以带我们到他相熟的餐馆,本身可享用免费的一餐。我们在观光时,他可以有更多的时间休息,与他的朋友聊天快活。我想,如果我是柬埔寨平民,我宁愿做一个嘟嘟车司机,或导游(一天25美金,讲其他语言的还有额外收获)。

游船记

同一天,我与我妈到闻名遐迩的洞尼萨湖(Tonle Sap Lake)。给了不少钱上船,结果那一小时的航行有点让我们大失所望。我们看到的海上村庄,有点像大马吉胆岛的景象(除了更落后)。那天下午的游客不多,船只更多是闲着在那里。结果他们让我们两人一条船。陪行的除了该船的司机,还有一个小孩。那小孩说他是那司机的儿子。OK。他用还过得去的英语简单地介绍沿途的风景,还有指出他就读的小学。间中他会问我们一些问题,和关心照顾我们乘船的舒适感。

我与妈就觉得这个人的角色很奇怪。我们并没有要求导游啊!还有那孩子平时放学后有时间,怎么不花多一些时间读书或做些更有意义的事情,与其陪不相熟的游客闲聊?当大家不讲话的时候,他就在那里呼噜大睡。

在折返码头的航线,我与妈就好心想要给他一些小东西,包括一支原子笔(因为他是学生嘛!)和一些我们随身携带的零食(小孩嘛! 总喜欢零食的,对吗?)。怎知他接受我们的小礼时,脸色一沉,目无表情很不开心的样子。就奇怪了,我们不明白。

过后,他出声了。他问我们,可不可以给他爸一些贴士?哦,我与妈懂了,原来他要钱。给他爸贴士确实没有这个必要,因为我们已缴交了一笔为数可观的数目给他爸的代理公司了,况且他打工的。我们想,这笔钱其实应该是他要的啦!我妈刚好用完了小钱(美金),又不愿意拿出10美金给他。她就问我有多少小钱。后来我们发现各自只有柬埔寨钱币小钱(4000= 1美元)。我们想,惨了,他一定会不高兴的,说不定他会到处传马来西亚人很孤寒吝啬。看到他那张已失去童真,陷入成人的充满臭铜味的金钱功利世界里,其实也怪可怜的。可能家庭太穷了?还是他爸被公司剥削?真的不懂。

靠岸时,他也一再提醒我们给他爸贴士。顿时我妈才发现她还有一些美金藏在她的暗袋,就决定只拿2美元出来,不管他高兴与否,上岸时就头也不回地‘跑人’。

Haih… 柬埔寨的小孩年纪轻轻就被迫找吃了。他是个我懂的个案,我在那里看到还有其他的孩童,放学后兜售产品给游客。我实在怕了他们死缠烂打的招数烦死人!看来,柬埔寨的孩童也不怎么开心和幸福。但是,金钱是否就能买到快乐呢?

Thursday, January 11, 2007

A decision seemed so right at the beginning...

You can never know what happens in future, nor can you predict it well. I just want to tell an incident which happened to me on the day of flight back to London.

That early morning, i was awaken by my mum. After wash-up, then i ready to go to leave home and go to airport. (I finished packing last night, and damn, i still have few kg space for the first time).

My flight was at 9.40am. Initially my mum said she wanted to bring me to the airport to have my breakfast, and then she and her friend will have their breakfast at Seremban. I came to think about the decision, and suggest another --- cause the food price at airport is at least 3 times higher than other place, thus i asked if she can bring me to a mamak restaurant (tanjung, 24 hours) at SS14 before i departed to airport.

I thought this is the best decision (at that time). Later when i reached airport, i found a long long queue to MAS counter for check-in purpose. When it's my turn, cialat, the computer system was down... i can't check-in and even get my boarding pass for at least 45 mins, standing in front of the counter. Bored at their problem.

Next, the flight is delayed. i was the last few 20 passengers who boarded the plane late. The whole plane was full, and all the rest of the passengers are taking their rest while waiting for the 'latecomers' like me. The aeroplane took off almost an hour behind the schedule. Also because of the weather condition, the plane had to slow down a bit because of the strong wind it experienced. Therefore it's one and a half hour late. Not my fault.

On the plane, i was so sick...sneezing all the way of the journey. Luckily there's a very kind and friendly Irish passenger sitting next to me, taking care of me by offering me some pills and tissues (i used damn a lot).

When i arrived in London, i called straight to my mum and my gf at the airport, telling them i was late and was fine. My mum was aslept and my gf was still waiting for my call before she can sleep. OK. After the immigration control point, the next bad thing happened is, my luggage was not there at the baggage pick-up point!!! omg... then i filed a complain at the service counter, and they reassured me that once they found it, they will deliver to my uk house. The reason it might get lost, i think it's because when the computer system was down, the check-in system also in disorder and confused. I suspect it gets to another plane to China (2 previous flight and one after are all to China).

Haih... so, if i decided to reach KLIA earlier to check in, i'll sure avoid all these problems. I don't have to stand for 45 mins in front of the counter like an idiot, and have plenty of time resting at the plane. My mum and friend can go to Seremban early and not wasting time waiting for me too.
And then i don't need to get that shock of losing my luggage. Luckily it arrived at my door today as promised. This is a good example of a decision made that changes the entire consequence. But who knows? i never regret of the decision i made at that time, cause it sounds more reasonable to have breakfast at Tanjung.

Monday, December 25, 2006

Merry X'mas greetings from me!



This photo was taken at KLCC. Hope your X'mas and new year celebration are as sweet as mine~

Please do check out my new entry of 'My Favourite 60 photos in year 2005/6' in Webshot album. Link

Do feel free to leave me comments! : )

And kindly accept that as the xmas and new year's gift to all of you!

MERRY X'MAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!


Best Wishes,
Han.

Thursday, December 14, 2006

My friend's article on Malaysiakini

I hope she won't mind i post her article on my blog too. I agree totally on what she said in her writings.


我是学记,我只想坚持当初的使命
廖秋怡
06年12月14日 下午2:45




“我们要我们要,抓紧那一把火炬,燃烧熊熊的火
我们要我们要,抓紧那一把火炬,唱出火般的歌……”

那青葱岁月,在茫茫人海中,我们因星洲而相遇。
那青涩时代,在懵懂无知中,我们因学记而成长。

记忆中的少年,我们被喻为社会的眼睛。

记忆中的少年,我们单纯的坚持相信暗涌创思,一支独秀。

记忆中的少年,我们单纯的坚持相信明察思辩,飘洒慧墨。

记忆中的少年,我们单纯的坚持要有社会醒觉,不畏强权:

-日本脑炎爆发,我们到灾区实地考察;

-白小被迫关闭,我们到原校了解状况;

-我们搞人权营,却因某些因素而被夭折。

记忆中的少年,我们单纯的坚持新闻人是社会的良心。

记忆中的少年,我们单纯的坚持报纸不会说谎,我们要相信它正义至上。

记忆中的少年,我们单纯的坚持学记和其他青少年组织是不一样的:

-我们不纯粹只是爱华文

-我们不纯粹只是爱创作

-我们不纯粹只是爱搞活动

-我们不纯粹只是爱交朋友

-我们不纯粹只是爱唱歌跳舞

-我们不纯粹只是爱游山玩水而加入学记队。

我们比其他青少年组织:多了一份理想、多了一份使命感、多了一份社会责任、多了一份社会醒觉、多了一份社会良知、多了一份人文关怀;

只因记忆中的少年,单纯的我们只有那颗赤子之心,坚持相信只要我们坚持到底,世界会变得更美好。

今天,我们迷失了。

有人说,报纸的新闻都是假的,别相信。

有人说,报纸被政党操纵,新闻人不再独立。

有人说,收购并非垄断,纯粹只是商业交易,报纸还是会百花齐放。

有人说,统合中文媒体,在全球化之际可以抗衡西方媒体。

有人说,统合只因想延续中华文化的渊远流长。

却也有人,只想清晰地表达自己对事件的看法,专栏被悄悄关闭。

也有人,公然反对一些社会议题,从此名字照片在报纸上消声匿迹。

也有人,说了会引起公愤的话语,巧妙的被报纸美化。

也有人,因为害怕引起政府不悦,而从此不据实报导新闻。

也有人,因为利益关系,利用大众的信任,悄悄背叛后知后觉的人民。

众说纭纭,我,该相信谁?

我相信我当初的使命、我坚持不畏强权、我坚持做功利社会的良心、我坚持做功利社会的一股清流、我坚持说真话、我坚持言论新闻资讯自由、我相信公道自在人心。

我尊重异见、我坚持民主、我坚持正义。

我,是被利用吗?

我,错了吗?

大约在马来西亚的冬季假期

是的,我又沉寂了好一阵子。说我的生活变得忙碌了?或多或少。但是,说我忙得喘不过气,没办法拨出时间写Blog,又不是如此。我不想让忙碌成为我的藉口。我想,是心态的转变吧!我的一些好朋友都说我变了,对于这个说法我也不懂得如何回答。也许是吧。

关于为什么我会作出决定短期内回国,不少人都会问我。身边较相熟的朋友会比较清楚如果摒除其中一个最主要的因素, 我现在就几乎不会出现在这里(大马)了。这个我得承认。之前我并没有作如此地安排的,只是我后悔了。然后我与自己在内心里斗了起来,来了一个有史以来最激烈的自我辩论。正方(不该回的立场)和反方(该回的立场)两方都持有一定的理由。最后我还是判反方胜利,虽然可能看起来不完全是理智的决定。

不该回的理由不外是:浪费金钱,已买了年票,才刚回国了不久。或许打从心底我早已站在反方的立场了,所以我极力为自己辩护:留在英国的基本消费(交通和膳食)也不会便宜,更有可能会到滑雪旅行去,所有的消费折合起来也许已够我换取一张机票了。再加上我另添购机票有助于添加马航积分分数,可至少换取免费的单程机票到伦敦。至于年票呢,没办法,浪费实在可惜,总便宜过在伦敦另外购买价钱更高昂的机票。对,我两个月前才离开,可是我的暑假只有一个月的时间在大马。我嫌不够。再说,我不曾在任何暑假以外的假期回家,况且这次我可以提早结束我的学期,腾出足足一个月有余的时间陪伴家人,朋友,和女友。

对,是女友。那是一段才在上个暑假开始的恋情。这正是回国的考量的很重要的一点。我不确定我的新恋情未来在长期的距离与时差的因素之下是否经得起考验,但是我很确定若这次不选择回国继续打好感情的基础,将来的挑战会更大!这不是信任的问题,而是机会的问题--因为我预见以后我与她聚少离多的情况会出现。若我选择继续在英国修完我的硕士或博士而她在其他国家的大学深造,这种情况也许会持续两三年,甚至4年以上天晓得。难得碰到我们俩正逢学校假期,应该珍惜相处的机会。如果说这可能会是我一生幸福的转折点,那么多少金钱也不可能将它换回来。此时,金钱已不再是衡量的标准了。我能够做的就是把握现在,为未来铺路。别让未来有了遗憾!对此决定,我从来没有后悔过!

还有,我弟弟下个月也要去美国留学了。我也希望能抽多一些时间与他在一起。也许将来的他会在美国定居(他曾表示过有此想法),或者届时他又会是另一个人,我不知道。接下来,比较担心的是我妈。我的弟弟走了之后,家里只剩我的大哥而已,更寂静了。平时我的大哥白天打工,晚上陪女友,不知有多少时间会陪妈。所以,我要趁这个假期用珍贵的时间尽量陪伴她。上个假期我与她去关丹(kuantan),这次与她找到共同的兴趣去柬埔寨吴哥窟旅行。

当然,操心的还有我的课业。我清楚知道我已落后蛮遥远了,温习功课是这次假期的重要目标之一。与此同时,手头上有两份报告要完成(目前只剩一个)。学业负担和责任可说是还不轻。我必须要在今年获取至少二级上等学位才可继续升学。想到这里更加害怕和恐惧。

以上的一切都是我这次假期的计划和想法。其实我尽量克制自己少出门,以便把更多的时间留给自己,和我亲爱的家人与佳人。对于我的好朋友们,请谅解我的苦衷,希望你们不要太在意如果我无法每次都出席聚会或嘛嘛档聊天的机会。

Monday, November 20, 2006

我曾经沉默,但不是站在你的大多数!--我的反媒体垄断宣言与学记心声

身为雪隆区第15届学生记者,对于孕育我学记生涯的星洲日报‘间接’收购南洋商报(更为准确地说,星洲日报社长收购南洋)的事件,我应该公开表达我的立场和心声,以免被指责为‘沉默的大多数’。在这里我想论证的是,即使我曾是他们(星洲日报的笔杆打手)所谓‘沉默’的一群学记,却不曾是支持收购和垄断立场的一派。所以要论证是否是‘大多数’,还得作全学记调查投票方能知结果。我不会去如此做,除非投票结果可以肯定促使张晓卿先生改变主意脱售南洋。要不,星洲日报可以号召开学记特大,显示他们的诚意最终会以数据来论证,否则可别把特大号的帽子扣在我的头上。

回首当年马华公会收购南洋商报事件,星洲日报曾大力反驳无数的指责,说社长没有参与收购。当时正当我刚加入学生记者这个家庭,虽然我不很清楚整个事件的来龙去脉和内幕,但是我选择相信了它(星洲)。每逢别人攻击它,我都会为它袒护,认为既然它的原则是‘正义至上’,它在公开声明里说的每句都是千真万确的。明人不做暗事,外人的指责一定是诬赖,可能就如星洲日报的某些职员所说--有背后的议程,或妒嫉它的成就。

打从我参加学记培训营开始,我就以报馆里资深的记者为学习榜样,也相当尊敬从事这一行业的人。所谓的‘无冕皇帝’,就是应该有理想冲劲,追求正义自由原则,发挥崇高的媒体精神。这些都是我很想学习的,并向他们看齐的。首先,在还未正式被录取为学生记者,我必需认真,小心翼翼地写一篇议论文和一篇申请书(《为何要加入学记》)呈交上去。精神紧张地等待回函邀请我去面试,然后带着战战兢兢的心情通过了这一关后的我才被正式录取(当时学记队伍严格控制人数,每校只允许最多派出4位)。这还不是最后一关。要获取学记证书,还得交出一定的成绩。从这点来看当时学记队伍的素质,给我的感觉是,星洲日报是非常用心和有诚意地栽培学生记者和严正看待学记队伍,并给于每周一个全版位的空间让学记极力发挥。另外,《学海》和文教组的职员都看起来很有文化修养,专业和勤奋,留下我深刻的印象。当时我更是一度认为文教组主任曾毓林先生是因为工作太忙碌和他的奉献精神,而仍是单身汉。

那段担任学记的期间,我常翻开星洲日报阅读,留意并比较刚被马华收购的南洋商报,首先发觉南洋商报确实改变了很多(俨如党报),接下来感觉到星洲日报的言论版在写作人罢写后也开始逊色了很多(后来才懂得其真正的原因这些都不是在星洲日报可以读到的)。很多评论总是感觉上四平八稳,搔不到痒处,似乎不如以前我阅读时精彩。也有朋友总是质疑星洲日报报导的公正性,我就以它也有报导反对党的新闻来为它袒护(虽然知道反对党报导幅度的大小)。我也尝试去体谅星洲日报在《印刷法令》下的限制和曾被关闭过的苦衷。曾毓林先生更有教导我们要如何懂得寻找报导中隐藏的意思(underlying message/ isi tersirat),还有如何读‘中间线’( read between the lines)。虽然我认为这是有些偏离记者确实和准确报导的原理,我还是不明白--明明摆在面前就是事实,为何要那么含蓄? 他回答说:‘作记者要识时务’,‘作记者就好像要越过地雷池,要步步为营,哪怕一个不小心踩中了就会粉身碎骨,完蛋了!’,‘留得青山在,不怕没柴烧’。原来这些日子以来至今,这全都是他的理念。眼看着他几乎还在地雷池面前原地踏步,我对他的期望已幻灭了。

后来得知报章上有越来越多的‘敏感’课题被禁止报道,包括猪农事件和白小事件。当时我尊敬的学记负责人谭贞洁小姐秉持着记者要懂得社会关怀,要探索社会课题的真相,毅然带领我们这一班学记新人朝向着这个理想方向。她说,没有任何的课题本质是‘敏感’的。它只所以会敏感,是因为人民被禁止谈论而存有偏见或无知。她一直努力地灌输崇高的记者精神和理想给学记队伍。这些都给我很大的启发,也是我深深认同的。在她担任该职位期间,作了很多具有争议性的决定,比如说她主动带领了我们去拜访坐落在武吉不兰律的猪农,并与他们深入交流。之前她更有邀请学者来向我们讲解这课题的来龙去脉。除此之外,她也带领我们进入白小原校,去了解保校社区运动的斗争。针对这两个活动,我也写了报告稿件。尤其是有关白小事件的报导刊登在雪隆区的《大都会》,年纪不及18岁的我初次感受到被删稿的不悦。我相信我的负责人对于打造社会关怀的学记队的理想一定也曾承受来自上层很大的压力。终于在筹备1个月的全国中学生人权营的努力和坚持被告吹后,我尊敬的负责人忍辱负重,为了更高更远的理想和信念,下定决心辞职出国深造去了。就这样,星洲日报失去了一位具有正义使命感和抱负的记者,证明在报变事件前后都不乏优秀的记者和职员。分别在于,这些人才是否愿意为星洲日报高层的利益卖命或付出代价。

从这些种种事件的演变,让我更进一步看清楚一些事实--星洲日报的真面目和其秉持理念的伪善。随后,当我开始阅读电子报《当今大马》和《独立新闻在线》,进一步证实我对星洲日报的看法。掩盖新闻,无情打压封锁一些时评家和学者,扭曲事实真相,以匿名或假借读者身份的方式来谩骂批评者(而且几乎都不点名或写出处)等等,哪个是有大报风范?又有哪个符合‘正义之上,情在人间’的原则?讽刺的是,如今到底星洲日报要设下什么典范给未来和在藉的学生记者学习?难道要年轻的一辈也向他们学习资深报人的堕落?难怪近来的雪隆区的学记素质每况愈下,甚至没有了以往的筛选制度,大量收录学记滥竽充数。试问新学记到底有从其负责人学习到任何媒体精神和社会关怀理想吗?我想大概没有,反而我愿意相信有不少的新学记是抱着交友和联谊的心态进来,其中也可能有少数是来吃喝玩乐的(因为现任负责人钟进贺也许会给人错误的印象)。大家可以检验近年来学记队伍举办了什么样活动,写出了什么素质的稿件,窥探而知。如果学记队伍是给人进来觉得好玩的话,就要想一想当初成立这支队伍的宗旨了。我想,学记队伍的资源既然是来自星洲日报,而星洲日报的资源是来自华社(广大读者)一路来的大力支持,学记应该懂得‘取之社会,用之社会’这道理。以学记的身份去接触社会,更可以充分体现‘情在人间’的价值。

星洲日报可以一再否认垄断,可以‘嫁祸’给他们的社长张晓卿先生,还是无法洗脱同一个家庭利益的关系。但是,星洲日报的资深报人和一众文人墨客一再为他们的主人卖命,涂脂抹粉,歌颂起舞,粉刷太平,也无法掩饰他们的虚伪伪善的一面。他们的老板能仗着垄断市场90%之力压制或控制兴论,他们也居功不少。无论现在他们如何辩称,也无法自圆其说地解释在2001年他们替老板发表‘没有参与收购’的公然谎言。这就是‘正义至上’了。如果他们没有悔改,继续沉沦堕落,希望真正正义的一天会到来判决他们,把他们写入历史,成为媒体系的必修反面教材。

我相信很多星洲日报的记者职员都不是自愿如此依附于堕落的一群,但是奈何于资本主义的现实和饭碗的问题,忍辱负重继续担杠他们的角色,暂时压抑着他们的崇高理想和信念。虽然如此,我认为浪子回头还是岸,我仍期待那些所谓堕落的资深报人可以觉醒,以老板强大的媒体集团的垄断优势之下,极力争取新闻自由,而不是助纣为虐反过来打压新闻自由和同行。这样一来,他们还可以将功赎罪,不必担当千古罪人。

我本身绝对相信改变是要通过改革制度,而不是寄托在于人治。以现在的格局,在张晓卿媒体集团底下的报业人士,若可以团结一致,显示自己的专业精神和诚意,必然可以协助改善制度,将来同业们,华社和广大的人民就有更美好的日子过了。他们也应被记一功!那时媒体系的教材就会改写道:星洲日报媒体报业人士,扮演了‘卧底’的角色,背负千夫所指的耻辱,卧薪尝胆,最后成功策略性地为马来西亚的新闻自由开阔了天空,征服了专横独裁政治压力的蓝海!