What does it got to do with patriotism?

Also in today's papers, Malaysia's defense minister said that there is a lack of non-Malays in the armed forces because of the lack of patriotism. And in the US, the military is trying to keep gays out of the military. This is just darn wrong.

As for our defense minister, I guess it goes to show that anyone can be a minister or you don't need brains to be in politics. I guess if he can make sweeping statements like that, so can I.

Just a side message to the US Govt; if the gays want to fight, LET THEM FIGHT!! If the gays in Malaysia want to fight, I will the first one advocating for them because I ain't fighting!!! Call me a faggot or a wuss. I am not fighting!!

Back to our predicament by the defense minister. As a non-Malay and representing 2 out of 3 of the major races, I can safely say, we are very patriotic but joining the armed forces is not in my top to do list. There are many reasons why we choose not to. Let me take the liberty to tell you what both races are thinking:-

1. The Govt is biased towards the Malays. They get all kinds of special priviliges that is protected by the constituition. When we ask for similar rights (mind you similar and not to take away any rights from anyone), we are told to be quiet and not raise racial tension, we are called immigrants and have to pay higher taxes, while the Malays enjoy loans at low rates and even get away from repayment (PTPTN) or paying taxes. On top of that, we don't get first choice into top university courses and scholarships. The top law student in Cambridge is a Malaysian sponsored by Singapore. This talent now belongs to Singapore.

So I say, we love our country very much but our country don't seem to love us. So let the sons of the earth, fight and shed blood for the country who pampers them so. Sour puss maybe but....yeah!

2. It doesn't take much to be in the army. It's not like you need a degree. Since we have so many Mat Rempits, drug addicts and lepak-ers, get them into the army. And since we are making sweeping statements, let me make another one; statistically most of them are Malays. Same with those child molester, rapist, animals who raped their own daughters. Send them to the army and since most of them are Malays....

3. We are more interested in making money. Chinese folks are mostly in business, triads, loan sharking while Indians are lawyers, engineering and burning people. Also we are being courted by other countries with scholarships and equality. So not much time for playing soldier boy!

4. It's not like we have the best equipments. Our planes use to fall into the sea more frequent than Tarzan scratches his butt in the morning. We have shoddy guns, no tanks, no night vision goggles, no cool gadgets. In fact we seem to have been stuck in WWII. So what's the incentive? Where is the cool factor?

5. Ration sucks! Other military eat steaks, drink beer and have strong nutrition value in food. We have nasi lemak and dried fish. There is also no pork! You can't tell me, the army doesn't eat wild boar in the jungle to survive.

6. We don't get to be on movies like Predator, Commando, Rambo, etc. The last time we made any movie worth watching was during the time of P.Ramlee back in the 60s and 70s.

7. 99% of the army are Malays and 90% of those can't speak English. We don't want to have a vocabulary dearth and stuck with only Malay. While we want to learn Malay, we also want to learn other languages.

8. Royal Military College which prepares future officers are for Malays....'nuff said.

9. We don't wanna die or at least so horribly.

10. Our country is safe. We don't have any enemies as we are not important enough. So there isn't any excitement factor either.

I don't foresee this changing anytime soon as the military which is run by stubborn hard heads are not going to change anytime soon. So if these factors persist, we are not going to get more non-Malays into the military. So Mr Defense Minister, pls read more and have some ounce of sense and sensitivity in you without making sweeping statements.

It is not lack of patriotism....it's just the thought of protecting ungrateful ingrates, that keeps us away.