Four

Oh, my God! My inbox was flooded with hundreds of emails. I was away for a 5-day-course. Luckily, there is not much work at the office. If not, I'll be dead by next week. Actually, I'm in the mood for MERDEKA. Aren't you? Especially, after watching those patriotic ads on the telly. We do have a lot of creative people in Malaysia!

At last we will have the opportunity to watch our first and only representative to the Cannes Film Festival, Kaki Bakar, that will be shown in the local cinemas starting this Sept, 20th. Horary!!! But it is quite sad to know that this movie is not in the list for Asia Pacific Film Festival, which I think has the chance to win top awards. And I'm very positive the Indonesians will love Kakang (Khalid Salleh) and his son played by Ngasrizal Ngasri. But I'm puzzled who played the leading actress? Until I read the Utusan, I thought Normah Damanhuri starred in it but the paper said it was Azizah Mahzan? Mana satu ni?

There were a couple of emails asking me to comment on meritocracy. I'm neither pro nor against this issue, but to have a same level of playing field, there are many factors to be considered.

How can we expect all rural students with limited facilities such as electricity, teaching aids, reading materials, information and communication technology (ICT) and lower standard of living to have the same performance with their counterpart in the urban areas. I would like to suggest the quota system is based on the economic background regardless what race you are. If majority of them are Malays then, Alhamdulillah, you've helped the Malays without denying other poor non-Malay students right to enjoy tertiary education. But, further studies by professionals will be required so that the just and sound policy is employed.

I'm going to Istana Budaya (IB) tonight to experience my second Malay theater, Cindai (my first at IB). Anyone interested to join me?