Monday, March 28, 2005

does malaysia equate to oceania in reality

posted @ 4:55:00 PM

I urge you to read 1984, a novel written by George Orwell. The story involves the world that is divided into 3 large "continents" constantly at war with each other: Oceania, Eastasia and Eurasia. The populace is divided into 2 segments: the Ingsoc party (akin to the government), and the commoners (i.e. the proles). The party is further divided into the Inner Party and the Outer Party. Members in the inner party are the actual ones who hold the most power and control, while members of the outer party are hoodwinked into believing that their country is actually better off in the hands of Big Brother, the inner party's symbol of leadership and protection.

The protagonist works in one of 4 ministries in the Party: Ministry of Truth (involved with lies and deception), Ministry of Love (involved with torture and interrogation), Ministry of Peace (involved with war) and Ministry of Plenty (involved with rationing and goods control). In this case, the "hero" of the story works in Minitrue, and is responsible for altering news to the benefit of the Party.

Similarities

It would be good if one has read the book in order to make the following comparisons:

1) Language

1984 - Newspeak, a highly limited and controlled language designed to suppress thoughts of rebellion and anti-party sentiments.
Malaysia - "Politically correct" words selected by the politicians to safeguard their political interests.

2) Crime

1984 - Thought Police, an enforcement unit that tracks down behaviour that is non-compliant with the Party's ideologies.
Malaysia - Morality Police, an enforcement unit that tracks down religiously unacceptable behaviour according to Umno's interpretation.

3) Media

1984 - Ministry of Truth, responsible for distorting and changing the reporting of facts, painting a pristine picture of the ruling Party. Also promotes the notion that all 3 "continents" are perpetually at war, using the People's fear to rule them.
Malaysia - Government Propaganda, responsible for prohibiting and controlling the media through arcane laws (Sedition Act, Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984). Also promotes the notion that the people are divided by "race", hence dividing the People and ruling them.

4) Oppression

1984 - Ministry of Love, responsible to torture and weed out individuals that potentially harm the Party's standing in Oceania.
Malaysia - Internal Security Act, responsible to pin point political enemies of the ruling party, removing them from existence without trial.

5) Poverty

1984 - The Ministry of Plenty distorts the fact that the "continents" are at constant war, hence the need for rationing and control of the Party's resources. The spoils of this deception are enjoyed by the Inner Party members.
Malaysia - Crony companies and concessionaires strike lopsided agreements with the government to milk the public of hard earned wages through unfair concession terms and perpetual price hikes. The spoils of this deception are enjoyed by the cronies and the politicians involved.

Perhaps some of these comparisons are too blunt or vague to be deemed as accurate. Nonetheless, it is good to examine the hidden layers of deception behind the extreme examples given. Maybe there is an ounce of truth in them... maybe there is someone in Malaysia who could fill Big Brother's shoes?

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