My grandfather came to Malaysia many years ago with the British Army. It was called Malaya then and we were still under Communist rule. We were a beautiful country at the time, worth protecting and worth fighting for, and he like many of his colleagues, did exactly that. His story however had a sweeter ending. Not only did he grow fond of this new land, he also fell in love, head over heels, truly, madly, deeply. My grandmother, a local girl accepted his proposal and hand in marriage and he decided to make Malaysia his new home. He brought up his kids and worked his way up to lead a simple, yet full and contented life.
My grandfather passed away many years ago, but his warmth and smile still fills the room when we gaze upon his portrait. Till today I wonder, what it would have been like to uproot his entire life and move to a new land, a new home with a new family. What made him truly believe that Malaysia was the land that was right for him and more importantly, his family ? Continue reading →
When everyone else asked, I merely answered – “because I don’t subscribe to Political Ideologies, Capitalism is my God” but today, that last line has been crossed. The current Malaysian regime has decided to not only monitor but actively block and filter content on the Internet from the general public and to me, this is where I draw the line.
Based on research and confirmation from a fewtrustedsources, I can safely confirm that some of the leading ISPs in Malaysia are blocking Facebook pages and Youtube videos that are politically unfavorable to the ruling party – Barisan Nasional. The Opposition – the Democratic Action Party (DAP) seems to be the primary victim here although there are instances where other related content such as interviews and speeches are part of this Internet censorship.
Here is the current list of pages determined to be blocked :
http://www.facebook.com/DAPMalaysia
http://www.facebook.com/supportprdap
http://www.facebook.com/wewantochange
http://www.facebook.com/zzkuaixun
http://www.facebook.com/DAPMalaysia.zh
Among some of the videos that are being blocked or removed :
Here is how you can bypass the Internet Censorship in Malaysia :
0) Use Web Proxies I have deployed two open proxies for you on the web so you can open any blocked webpage or video on the go without changing anything on your PC/Tablet/Phone
If you enable HTTPS Secure Browsing on Facebook, you will be able to load those pages without any issues -
To turn on secure browsing (https):
a) Go to your Security Settings page ( > Account Settings > Security)
b) Click on the Secure Browsing section
c) Check the box provided and save your changes
2) Use the Google DNS on your laptop where possible
Full details and Step by Step Instructions by Google for Windows, Mac, Linux and your Home Routers :
NOTE : If you are a Media Agent or Political Activist and have been affected by this censorship OR need help getting through to certain sites to spread factual content over the Internet, please don’t hesitate to contact me via the links on this blog. I will be glad to sponsor VPNs and my skills where applicable for you and your Team to ensure that you get the good word out.
5) Look out for Direct Download Links to Videos that have been blocked :
This document on Google Docs : http://goo.gl/ZC1Cn
This document on Scribd : http://www.scribd.com/doc/139009035/Bypass-Malaysian-Internet-Censorship-Step-by-Step
Please spread this far and wide to all within your network.
Malaysia : It is time for change. Too long we have remained silent, too long we have been oppressed. This is our Country. This is our Malaysia. United We Stand.
Too often I pondered and wondered upon the profoundly audacious goals that most people set on the movements or organizations or meetups or communities or countries they are part of. It sometimes seems to me that the sole purpose of such goals is not the goal itself but instead the effect or the expected outcome of the goal and its impact on the people surrounding it. Continue reading →
Most companies or startups for that matter tend to focus on the obvious – Growth. The name of the game is always the same – Get bigger faster. The primary driver behind this is two prong – 1) The heavy reliance on the VC Model (more on this in a separate blog post) && 2) The increasing amount of competition within a certain market or niche. Continue reading →
Perhaps it was necessary. I needed to drown out and think through some of the voices that were boggling my mind only to arrive at the same conclusion I theorised in the beginning – Ignore everything but yourself.
I’ll need to start writing again – if not for anything else but to silence the ever noisy voices in my head.
I have been an avid customer of MediaTemple.net for a long time. I am currently on their cheapest Grid-Server service and while this was fun may years ago when I signed up with them, having leveled up my skills I can’t see myself continuing to host with them much longer.
I was having a conversation with one of my closest friends yesterday over a topic I felt very strongly about. Working remotely and the Yahoo – Marrissa Mayer controversy that seems to be trumpeted over the internet every day. Continue reading →
I’ve worked in multiple organizations or teams before and noticed the same issue crop up time and time again. It occurs so much that I believe it warrants some thought and “advice” <rolls eyes, I know I know>
Let me state it in the clearest and best possible way :
The secret to building great teams is to TRUST YOUR EMPLOYEES. Continue reading →
