Chap Goh Meh

Copyright ©2008 Truasian (hiddenstream.blogspot.com)
All stock images from sxc.hu

It's time to open a bottle of champagne to celebrate the last day of the Lunar New Year. In Penang especially, the people are fully aware that after this celebration, they have the Battle of the Century as they ready themselves to vote for the next general election. As politicians are busy campaigning, we should constantly remind ourselves that true power really lies with the rakyat.

Politicians are good in the sense that they are able to negotiate and form alliances. However, when it comes to matters such as corruption and injustice, there should be no compromise. I hope all politicians will be truthful and fight for justice and equal rights. All elected politicians must prove themselves to be objective in their approach. It is like a game of chess where the best defence is to be aggresive in finding new ideas to reach their objectives. Many politicians have gone into that win-win situation (read: compromising) which appeal mainly to business people. In chess (here I go again!) as in real life, it is a zero-sum game where one has to be mobile and dynamic in finding new resources instead of remaining stagnant and rely on one's 'secure' position, title or even worse, wealth. Also, as in chess, one has to abide by the rules of the game, which sadly is not what is seen to be happening here. Anyway, life is not always about campaigns.

For those who have a good time during this 15-day period, its going to be the Battle of the Bulge as a form of damage control for the weight gained. May I recommend going to an established gym such as Jacky Chan's California Fitness which is actually a happening place with lots of group exercise activities. However, if you can find one that is nearby and suited to your needs, than I think it is preferable to the hassle of traveling especially to jam-packed areas. Better yet, if you have the selfdiscipline, do your own exercise program, whether indoor or outdoor. Dancing is also a healthy cardio-pumping form of exercise. Fyi, even some of the lucky convicts are privileged enough to dance/exercise during their assemblies.