The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion

Posted: 27 Dec 2011 04:19 PM PST

DEC 28 — Silly me; when will I ever learn?

Three weeks ago, following their loss to Basel and consequent exit from the UEFA Champions' League, I was naive enough to suggest that Manchester United's season was "already over".

Since then, their Premier League results have been as follows: 4-1 (Wolves at home); 2-0 (QPR away); 5-0 (Fulham away) and 5-0 (Wigan at home).

That's a grand total of sixteen goals scored, just one conceded, and a maximum 12 points gained — and all without the services of the injured Nemanja Vidic, Darren Fletcher, Anderson, Fabio, Javier Hernandez, Michael Owen and Ashley Young.

How naive I was to even think that United would give up on their season before the campaign had even reached its halfway point! I had temporarily forgotten, it seems, that Manchester United — more than any other sporting team on the planet — never know when they are beaten and possess a remarkable ability to respond to adversity.

Much of the credit for that communal personality trait, of course, has to go to their manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who revels in an "us against the world" mentality and rubs his hands with determined glee whenever a silly pundit is unwise enough to write off his team's chances.

United are now level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, trailing their near neighbours only by virtue of goal difference, and poised to play a full part in a title race that has surely been reduced to just two horses.

A notable feature of Boxing Day's stroll in the park against Wigan was the hat-trick scored by enigmatic striker Dimitar Berbatov, who has endured mixed fortunes since his big money move from Tottenham a little over three years ago.

The Bulgarian's time at Old Trafford has hardly been a disaster. 20 goals made him the joint leading scorer in the Premier League as United won the title last season, and he has now surpassed the half-century mark for the club at a ratio of a little more than one in two games — always the mark of a first-class striker.

But he's never fully endeared himself to the United faithful, or his manager Ferguson, who seem to be suspicious of his physical endurance and his ability to perform at a consistently high level. Berbatov's talent cannot be doubted — just look at the magnificent first touch and immediate finish for his opening goal against Wigan two days ago — but you never quite know when it will appear.

Sometimes, Berbatov appears disinterested and disengaged — and that kind of attitude is never going to make you a regular starter for Sir Alex Ferguson. The Scotsman certainly isn't averse to maverick playmakers (prime example: Eric Cantona) but he expects them to always "put in a shift" as well.

However, we might witness an upturn in Berbatov's usually slovenly work rate in the coming weeks, because his current contract at Old Trafford is due to expire at the end of the season. The Bulgarian must be desperate to earn a new deal, knowing that when he leaves United, the prime of his career will be in the rearview mirrow.

He might get a decent move back to the Bundesliga, where he enjoyed plenty of success with Bayer Leverkusen earlier in his career, or get snapped up by one of the periphery teams of Spain's La Liga or Italy's Serie A. Perhaps he'll earn a fortune in Russia or the Gulf States, or even join Thierry Henry & co in the MLS.

But whenever Berbatov's time at Old Trafford comes to an end, it's very unlikely he'll attract the interest of a major player on the world stage — his next destination is far more likely to be Bari or Anzhi Makhachkala than Barcelona or AC Milan.

So Berbatov is currently, quite literally, playing for his future, and it would therefore not be surprising to see him find an extra gear to his game, and an extra pep in his stride, as he seeks a renewal of his contract at Manchester United over the remainder of the current campaign.

The phenomena of a sportsman "playing for a contract" is readily acknowledged, with many, many players performing out of their skins while they're on the brink of signing a new contract or joining a new club, and then sinking to a far inferior level of play once the ink has dried on their lucrative deals.

With so many injuries affecting their squad, the goals that are resulting from Berbatov's new-found, contract-driven, hunger and sharpness could be just the thing to keep United in the title race. Fortunate timing, or another Fergie masterstroke?

* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.

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On cow heads and easily-cowed Malaysians

Posted: 27 Dec 2011 04:08 PM PST

DEC 28 — One very Malaysian trait, besides bringing tupperware to government open houses, is passivity. It has served us well in one regard, though: racial and religious violence. Rather than participate in civil disobedience, the average Malaysian would prefer to sit at home and complain about poor Astro reception. With the newly-introduced free Astro packages, now everyone can complain.

You see, as a nation, we have become so cowed by our oppressive laws that the very idea of riots like the ones in London would make most Malaysians shudder. I am sure Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad would take that as the proof of the ISA's effectiveness and its important role in ensuring Malaysians are good, biddable citizens.

I'm sorry, Tun, but all you've really created is a nation of cows. Not that I dislike the animals (please do not call upon Lord Ganesha to visit his wrath upon me) but they are not creatures worth emulating.

Someone needs to tell that to the civil servants though. The last time I visited the Putrajaya immigration office, I felt as though I was visiting a pasture. Of the many counters on hand, only two were open. The other civil servants were in a corner, not manning the desks but sat around chatting to each other languidly despite the people waiting.

Visit the average public university lecture hall. Witness the docile nature of students who dutifully study the "notes" that their professors have prepared for them that also include a copy of the presentation slides for the entire semester. Their idea of preparing for a lecture is getting dressed. Why read the textbooks or take notes when the lecturers will happily provide everything from notes to anticipated exam questions? Be a good little university student, get extra marks for attendance and forget the outside world exists. Like cows, Malaysian university students aren't expected to do much but ruminate.

Speaking of cows, have we already forgotten the "cowhead incident" of August 28, 2009? I suppose those individuals thought to incite the fury of those who venerate the animals. Apart from the poor dead cow, no blood was shed. A certain minister did prove himself to be no better at independent thought than the average cow.

I am not expecting, nor am I asking, Malaysians to rise up and overthrow the government. Anarchy is profoundly annoying and would likely deprive me of my beloved Unifi and fast YouTube downloads. What I would like more Malaysians to see is that having a spine is not a bad thing.

We are not cows that need to be kept in a pasture for our own good. We need to exercise more than our stomachs. As citizens, we have become far too placid and far too willing to let those who do not have our best interests at heart interfere in what should be private concerns.

It should not be a government's job to safeguard a religion. Religion, as it has proven over centuries, is perfectly capable of taking care of itself. It is a ludicrous proposition to try to bureaucratise what is, essentially, god's job. Let Him protect his faith and followers.

As the New Year approaches, I am hoping that as a country we become more discerning citizens. Let us care more for one another and our collective well-being because it is quite obvious that no one else will. Especially those nasty people who keep trying to make us eat grass when they're sipping Chardonnay (and decreeing it haram for the rest of us).

* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.

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Rabu, 28 Disember 2011

The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion

The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion

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