It's the sixth day of the Chinese New Year and the 50th day of the year 2010.
I have three dead bodies behind me who somehow are still breathing (very loudly - kinda like a snore, oops... I've said too much). I'm freezing from the cold blaring air from the old and surprisingly still workin AC above me. Apart from the hiii-huuu sounds the background, it's all quiet.
Yes, CNY this year is very quiet. At home, it's because I've just lost an uncle exactly a month ago today, and we are not allowed to loudly celebrate or welcome the new year. But outside of the house, the fireworks are not as crazy, there is no music and even the atmosphere is not CNY-like. It just feels like any other holiday, which is really sad.
After the authorities banned fireworks and mercun or firecrackers, made it impossible to play CNY music unless it is really old or it is sung in karaoke version (so that we won't infringe any copyright and will die of boredom) and made the political situation in Malaysia dominate most of the newspapers out there... we have but the PETRONAS, tmnet and Digi ads left to remind us that it is already the lunar new year. And since we've lost Yasmin last year, frankly, I wasn't looking forward to much.
So if the cny celebrations goes kaputz in a decade or so, I am blaming the authorities, yes, the government for making it so hard for us to celebrate who we are. And no, 1Malaysia does not cut it. It is a propaganda, not a culture. It is a ploy, not tradition. And for those who think it better to merge all the different riches and cultures that make up the people of Malaysia, I say to you, cut the crap.
Look at yourself. You are who you are. Not what the news, a party or a man says who you are. Call me old fashioned if you will, but I am one kacang who will not lupa my kulit.
