Some things are greater than our impending exams. Most things are greater than our selfish needs.

WARNING: A tad bit looooong. But it gets better from the video onwards; worth the read, I hope. Best impact when read after watching "The Lady" and the short clip. XD

After my first paper today, I thought I'd reward myself with a little treat -- I stopped at HMV to purchase one "The Lady", simply because Michelle Yeoh is my idol, my Malaysian pride; and I just had to watch her. (Don't even get me started on my dire attempts to find a working link online the day before, after being held emotionally hostage, having watched the first 10 minutes; put simply, I just had to finish the film.)

Ok, enough with my egocentric ranting.

I went looking for this movie because there was just something about a Michelle Yeoh movie, I simply have to watch. To be honest, I didn't know what I was expecting.

Anyway -- heartwarming, impassioned, powerful; the movie was. I'm a huge fan of Michelle Yeoh, and I must admit, I enjoy her movies, but not all her movies are SUPER fantastic (if quoted, I will deny). But this, was definitely something different. This, is by far one of her best portrayals yet. Like I mentioned earlier on, the first 10 minutes got me close to tears; if it weren't for the sudden interruption, I dare say, I would have cried buckets.

Well, through her performance, I saw the Aung San Suu Kyi that everyone was talking so reverently about. I must admit, I was apathetic to her pleas through the media; it did not strike my concern.

"The Lady" is the truest love story; the love story between man and wife, the love story between mother and children, the love story between a person and her motherland; all at once.

So what am I getting at? Yes, the story broke my heart; so what?

Well, after being so drawn to the story of Burma (or Myanmar as the juntas will demand), I found this.

DISCLAIMER: This was made by 3rd party, independent, film makers. I believe it to be a fair representation of Burma's current state. By Occam's razor, I shall also proceed to eliminate the possible media conspiracy theories.

My takeaway?

I have always been glad I was born in Malaysia, and no where else. (Ok, I have wished I was born in the States before.) But seeing the state of Burma (is like taking a quick glance of North Korea) has persuaded me to take a moment, to just be contented.

In light of the recent #BERSIH3.0 movement, I am not saying that we should all give up the fight for cleanER electoral reforms (cleanER because there will always be corruption, it is the degree of which we should concern), but just stop a moment, to give our government some credit. 

Then comes the more pressing issue, which would undeniably be the fight itself, not against the government, but against corruption. 

For Burma or Malaysia, one might ask. Quite jokingly. But quite frankly, there was a brief moment I considered Aung San Suu Kyi's plea to "use [our] liberty to promote [theirs]". But then I realised for starters, I know nothing about Burma, and more importantly, my very own land is not at peace. 

Watching the video above, I feel somewhat comforted that we're having it better. But surely that does not mean that we can allow it to deteriorate to that extent! Listening to a foreigner talk about how Burma's history was rewritten and seeing the revulsion through his eyes that I have long ignored, pretty much slapped me in the face. It may be hypocritical on his part, simply because no one has made a documentary about his country's revised history, but still -- how could I have been okay with this? (Again, I stress the reality; it is the extent, not the mere occurrence.)

Indubitably, I am not ready to give up my chase for the riches via economic slavery; but neither am I prepared to fall back into indifference, calling it a day, and letting the chips fall where they may, so long as I get my share.

What can we do?

I asked myself time and time again. I tell myself it is utterly useless, corruption is a weed, deeply rooted in our system. Why is there corruption? Is it all just one messed up cycle? Can we really do nothing? 

Then it struck me. With simplicity.

Corruption is present with the absence of integrity.

Which one of you have never bribed an officer? Perhaps you may not have had the chance to obtain a speeding ticket or a parking ticket because you do not drive. But take for instance, our parents. Or just think about it -- your aunties and uncles, *do not lie to yourselves* have they ever paid off a government servant in order to get or get away with something? These same people... do they complain about corruption?

Yes, there needs work with our Malaysian system as a whole. Civil servants should be paid more, refraining them from temptations to look for "external sources of income". 

But really, it starts with us.

One might think that it is only rational and economical to pay RM50 under the table compared to a RM500 saman in court because we do not have a choice. But we do. 

When will this end? Come once, come twice, hell you can even come knocking for the third time; but would you come for the tenth if you do not get what you want?

Sure, our problems are not as easy as mere duit kopi. But in our essays, we have once written, how we were the "generasi yang akan datang". Our generasi is now, as future leaders and entrepreneurs; it is our choice, perhaps, a long term investment for the long haul.

Of course, it takes time; but it can only end when everyone agrees it should. After all, it takes two hands to be at the giving and receiving end of corruption. But know this -- you have no right to talk about fairness if you are one of those people who have given in to such acts. 

Let us not talk about race, because that will bring in a whole new level of complexity. But let us start with a pivotal issue -- corruption. 

Again, I say, do not get me wrong, it will take time; it will not go away in a day, if it goes away at all; but it can be diminished to a state healthy for us all.

Persevere,

with integrity.

Together, 

we will make a difference.