'Glocal' Malaysia

I remember first hearing the word "Glocal" when Najib, our current Deputy Prime Minister, used it. There isn't any precise definition of the word, but as it is a combination of "globalisation" and "localisation", I take the meaning being local yet global at the same time.

To me, this ironically describes what is going on in Malaysia now, and even more interestingly it implicates Najib as well.

When I was drafting this blog entry there were already some links in place that I wanted to put in but I never expected more global links to emerge! So anyway...

Mr Anwar Ibrahim, a former deputy prime minster, claims that he can form a new government by September 16, which is Malaysia Day. Recently he claims to have received death threats and went to seek shelter at the Turkish Embassy. A 23-year old university dropout Mohd Saiful has accused Anwar of sodomizing him (for real? A 62-year old with a bad back?0, and this is the 2nd time Anwar has been accused of sodomy.

However 今时不同往日, the situation has very much changed in these 10 years (i.e. since the last time he was charged). I believe more Malaysians are supporting him than before, and the United States (who seem to like Anwar) has issued a statement opposing any politically motivated investigation or prosecution of Anwar and that it hoped there was no "pattern" in the new accusations against him.

The high-profile murder of a Mongolian model, Altantuya Shaariibuu, was big news in 2006. Based on new "evidence" by the private investigator (PI) of Mr Abdul Razak Baginda, Mr P. Balasubramaniam, she was introduced to Razak by Najib in Singapore. Eventually the three travelled together, including once in Paris, France, where Altantuya felt entitled to a huge commission for helping the Malaysian government in clinching a submarine deal. Not only that, when Altantuya met up with the PI she also told him that Razak and her were married in Korea.

And then there's the HINDRAF (HINdu Rights Action Force). Apart from popularising the now-famous cry of "Makkal Sakthi" (மக்கள் சக்தி in Tamil), one of the main original ideas was to submit a petition to the British High Commission. At some point of time there were also some talks (dunno rumour or what, dun remember liao) about engaging the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam) in Sri Lanka to help out.

I'm sure there are many more other links... do tell me if you know any more!