Coliseum: Another right move

Two weeks ago it was Sipadan. Yesterday Broga, and today Coliseum.... this country is taking its first steps towards developed status after all. See, despite what that clown MB from Selangor claims, a developed society is not just about haughty material possessions.

It is about soul, and soul involves listening, weighing the merits, and not being afraid to right the wrongs. That defines a true jantan.

This is something Khir Toyo and his fellas at PJ City Hall have yet to understand and is proven once again with the Billboard saga.

Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim - one of the very few who deserve the title - yesterday notified that the govt will not acquire the Coliseum Cinema at Jln TAR after all. Instead the search will continue for other possible sites for the proposed heritage centre. In listening, Dr Rais showed wisdom. May other ministers and fellow citizens learn from the man.
( http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news.php?id=214163 )

In two weeks we'll be 49 years old as a country. In the last two weeks, we made a leap - hints of a coming of age perhaps. We matured, our cultural spirit toned up, we grew muscle and bone.

Niccolo Machiavelli wrote: "Hence it is necessary for a prince wishing to hold his own to know how to do wrong, and to make use of it or not according to necessity. "

A very recent Administration swore by this philosophy. Many among us in 21st century Malaysia on the other hand think it is a tasteless joke. And that makes all the difference.


p/s: Spent a good part of the weekend preparing an argument for saving the Coliseum... walked all around the locale from the old KTM station, through Central Market, and Petaling Street, Lebuh Ampang, Masjid India, the Padang, past the two Kamdars at TAR all the way to Sogo. Snapped a bunch of pics, grabbed satelite images of KL from Google Earth, made a quick outline for a 3-part KL arts hub piece etc.

i'm glad the episode's over. Now to tackle the billboards.