The problem with “looking for love. Real love. Ridiculous, inconvenient, consuming, can’t live without each other love” is precisely that: they consume you. They take over your very being at the most intense level for what seems like the longest time only to leave you dry and whithered, worse for wear and drained of emotions shortly after. They swallow what was there, masticate your spirit and soul before spitting you out, transformed into something totally unrecognisable.

Crawling out of one of these relationships, whimpering out of a dogged and tempestuous existence, I find I no longer recognise myself. What was there, no longer is. What there is, is unfamiliar and foreign. Emerging from the tyranny of paradise on earth, I long to rekindle myself with the flames of old. I long to rediscover that spark that was me before and to find the identity that was “truly me”.

Posted on April 7th, 2004 by jl
Filed under: Notable: Personal | 3 Comments »

This was published in the 05 April 2004 edition of the Star newspaper.

Posted on April 5th, 2004 by jl
Filed under: IMF | No Comments »

Am I wrong or am I the only one who sees that the emperor has no clothes?

Immediately after the General Elections, almost everyone, from senior analysts to the media to most of the populace opined that it produced the most wonderful of results. They were so exuberant in their reaction and so full of conviction that I read and heard nothing else for days. No one seemed to delve beyond the superficial and critically examined what the results truly signified despite the availability of facts to suggest a more cautious reading thereof (for example, see here and here). In fact, I had commented to a friend that “while everyone seems excited and encouraged by the win, no one can put their finger on what is it that they’re excited and encouraged about“. It was all so fuzzy and unclear. It was superficial.

Now, finally, reality hits. And people are starting to realise that what they thought they knew, is not true. And will never be true.

Posted on April 2nd, 2004 by jl
Filed under: My Malaysia | 2 Comments »

Published in the Far Eastern Economic Review on 08 April 2004 and taken from this URL.

Posted on April 2nd, 2004 by jl
Filed under: Regional Financial Concerns: Asia | No Comments »

The Barisan Nasional Government mudah lupa.

Many months back, the Government decided that many vehicles on the road had windows that were tinted far too dark for road safety and security reasons. The matter was widely reported, if not discussed, and the Government decided that a police operation would be launched to enforce a Department of Road Transport ruling, which had already been in existence. Alas, as the date got closer, and many a consumer voiced their disgruntlement, the Government backed down. They said they would give vehicle owners more time to comply with the ruling, i.e. to undo what they had done wrong in the first place, and that they would enforce the ruling later. The matter was never heard of again.

Posted on April 1st, 2004 by jl
Filed under: My Malaysia | 1 Comment »