"R" for Rain & Romantic Song

Outside, it's raining cats and dogs. It's a cool time to share with you some cybersurfing tales. In this case, I decided to look up a 1951 old hit of Frankie Laine, "Rose, Rose I love You" and yes, listening to it, I was curious about the girl he was singing about ... Was this"Flower o f Malaya" real? What was her actual profession?

Before answering these questions, take note that in the Youtube video, Rose, as a chinese would not be dressed in a kimono like a Japanese girl. She would highly likely wear a cheongsum, a tight Chinese ladies' dress that is still worn often during auspicious occasions such as Chinese New Year, birthdays and so forth these days in Malaya (Malaysia). The trishaw was just right in the 1950s but the steamer would have been a passenger liner rather than the tanker that was depicted.

Here's what I found out, much to my astonishment... and amusement... There was a stripper and spy (?), Rose Chan Wai Cheng in Communist--terrorised old Malaya in the 1950s. She was a very attractive Chinese girl with legions of fans and yes, this Flower of Malaya was known to Frankie Laine and they had an affair. Surprisingly, she refused to accompany Frankie back to the States. Sadly, she died of cancer later. How could stripping be allowed in a Muslim-dominated country? Well, it all points to the fact that the Malaysian constitution was intended to be liberal, secular-based and all races would be multi-racial and multi-cultural as the founding father and first pime minister Tunku (Prince) Abdul Rahman promised and assured. As it is, many present day leaders of today tend to push their own religious agendas and impose their own interpretations.

A bit more news about Rose in Malaysia's Star paper:

Unforgettable Rose Chan



Stories by TOMMY LEE, CHOONG KIM KWEE, TAN SIN CHOW AND FLORENCE A. SAMY


Dead but certainly not forgottten. The final resting place of Rose Chan at the Beow Hong Lim Columbarium in Air Itam, Penang draws the occasional visitor, more so during Qing Ming, though no one knows if fans or loved ones came to pay their respects. Sunday Star revisits the legend of the striptease on this special news focus.


ROSE Chan’s last public appearance drew both crowd and controversy, even though it was just a series of photo exhibitions and the striptease queen was dying of breast cancer.

The lingering mix of curiosity and fascination continues to draw the occasional visitor to her final resting place at the Beow Hong Lim Columbarium, despite it being nearly 20 years since her death.

The Rose Chan exhibitions were held in 1986 at Komtar and the Sungai Nibong pesta site in Penang and the Sungai Wang Plaza in Kuala Lumpur.

Peter Soon, who organised the exhibitions, remembered the huge crowds that turned up, especially at the Kuala Lumpur venue.

Recalling events that led to the exhibitions, the former jeweller said: “Rose Chan was known for being charitable but towards her final days she had no money. She asked me to help sell her jewellery.

“So I suggested the exhibitions to raise funds for her medical treatment,” said Soon, 48, who knew the strip artiste through her love for jewellery.

The exhibitions, featuring revealing photos of Rose Chan in her element, raised RM25,000 through the RM5 entrance fee collection.

“Although weak from the chemotherapy treatments, she turned up at the Komtar exhibition, wearing a wig and accompanied by her young daughter,” said Soon, who owns the Pinang Peranakan Museum (of Nyonya-Baba and mixed heritage).

Antique collector Michael Cheah, who helped to run the exhibitions, remembered that the front part of the exhibition featured peranakan antiques while the back portion displayed the photos of Rose Chan.

“But many people who came were not interested in the antiques. They asked straight away for Rose Chan. Some were disappointed there were no striptease shows,” he said, recalling that he had to cut out paper stars to stick over the stripper's breasts following complaints from the public.

Penang Development Corporation property division assistant manager Chew See Jan said due to Rose Chan’s controversial reputation, the PDC, which owns the Komtar shop lots, had to advise the organiser to cut short the exhibition.

Retired history lecturer Dr Leong Yee Fong, 65, said the social transition from colonial rule to independence had allowed striptease entertainment to thrive in the 1950s and 1960s.

The former Universiti Sains Malaysia lecturer, who had seen Rose Chan peeling off her dress “piece by piece” at the New World amusement park in his younger days, said she was a legend in her own time for being not just a good dancer but skilled in her exotic stunts.

“Rose Chan made stripping an art form,” said Dr Leong.


- The Star -

Here is what our Frankie is singing about:

Rose, Rose I love you with an aching heart.
What is your future, now we have to part?
Standing on the jetty as the steamer moves away,
Flower of Malaya, I cannot stay.

Make way, oh, make way for my Eastern Rose.
Men crowd in dozens everywhere she goes.
In her rickshaw on the street or in a cabaret,
"Please make way for Rose," you can hear them say.

All my life I shall remember,
Oriental music and you in my arms.
Perfumed flowers in your tresses,
Lotus-scented breezes and swaying palms.

Rose, Rose I love you with your almond eyes.
Fragrant and slender 'neath tropical skies.
I must cross the seas again and never see you more.
Way back to my home on a distant shore.

(All my life I shall remember,)
(Oriental music and you in my arms.)
(Perfumed flowers in your tresses,)
(Lotus-scented breezes and swaying palms.)

Rose, Rose I leave you, my ship is in the bay.
Kiss me farewell now, there's nothin' to say.
East is East and West is West, our worlds are far apart.
I must leave you now but I leave my heart.

Rose, Rose I love you with an aching heart.
What is your future, now we have to part?
Standing on the jetty as the steamer moves away,
Flower of Malaya, I cannot stay.

(Rose, Rose I love you, I cannot stay.)



If you would like to read more about the Flower of Malaya and see this beautiful woman, follow this link:

Female Circumcision

I was listening to my favorite radio station (Hint: Easy listening!) today, and there was some talk about an upcoming movie about a Somali girl who becomes a successful model and edured female circumcision in her young life.
This made me recall that I had an official Malaysian gov't news agency pic of that religious Islamic procedure in modern day Malaysia. Is it propaganda or was it like any other minor surgery? Could that girl be so relaxed? Personally, I think it is not hard to imagine the excruciating pain of it all after the surgery.

Am I against the procedure for females? I would unhesistantly say "Yes", having read up on it.
My understanding of female circumcision is that the girl's most sensitive pleasurable organ, the clitoris is snipped off. Man, that sounds painful! Anyone who knows a woman will see the horror of having that off ... Of course, she's still capable of vaginal orgasms but tragically, the circumcised woman will never exerience clitoral orgasms ... I also doubt she will be capable of being turned on in any way! It is barbaric to mutilate and unjust for anyone to deprive the human rights of another person and in particular, her own body.

Anwar: Malaysia's JFK

I'm gradually convinced Anwar is going to be a great leader. He speaks out on issues that matter most to Malaysians, reacting at the right time and providing practical solutions.

As a once ago naive die-hard government supporter... I am increasingly seeing the potential Kennedy-Reagan-Clinton leadership style in a prime-ministerial role.

Here is an insightful look at the leader as reported by Malaysiakini-the news portal that rocks.

Anwar tells PM: Negligence is greater threat
Terence Netto | Dec 27, 07 1:25pm

Malaysia is in greater danger from the negligence of those in power than from the rage felt by its recalcitrants, said PKR's de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

"Our society is in greater danger from executive negligence than from the extremism of its recalcitrants,” he said in an immediate response to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's Christmas Day strictures on religious extremism.

On Dec 25, Abdullah had taken the opportunity of his attendance at the Christmas Day tea party, jointly organised by the Christian Federation of Malaysia and Catholic Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur Murphy Packiam, to inveigh against religious extremisn.

The prime minister called on moderates in Malaysia to speak up to pre-empt fanatics from taking centre stage.

This drew an immediate riposte from Anwar, who with his wife Wan Azizah, also attended the tea party at the invitation of Archbishop Packiam.

"On the birth celebration of the Prince of Peace, it is right and fitting to remind every citizen of his or her value as a channel of peace, moderation and tolerance,” said Anwar, who also former deputy prime minister.

"But bear in mind that peace is not just the absence of conflict; it is the presence of justice. Where there is little or no justice, there will be a deficit in peace."

Anwar’s advice to PM

Anwar observed that Christian social teaching held peace and justice to be obverse sides of the same coin.

Of Abdullah's strictures on extremism, Anwar opined: "He is a purveyor of platitudes. He keeps his counsel when he ought to speak up.

“When he does speak up, he mouths pious platitudes which are about as useful as buying an umbrella after it has started to rain."

Anwar offered this piece of advice to the prime minister: “Look to the causes of disorder and not its symptoms, just don't treat the bark when the roots need remedy, reach for the panacea and not be satisfied with the placebo."

A Progressive Singaporean Malay's View

This is a letter posted in Malaysiakini which I came across and would like you and others to think out of the box.

Oct 11, 2006
THE MALAYSIAN MALAY by Dr Syed Alwi of Singapore

Dear Editor,

As you know, I am an avid watcher of Malaysian affairs. I must confess that lately, Malaysia appears to be failing. Not a day passes by without more events that clearly highlight Malaysia’s race-religion fault-line. If things keep going this way, I fear for Malaysia’s future.

Today, schools in Singapore celebrate Racial Harmony Day. I can visibly see the joy in the children’s faces as they wear their ethnic costumes and have fun together at school. But in Malaysia - even the right to choose a religion has become a sensitive, national issue. No doubt, there are many in Malaysia who hate my liberal views on Islam, family included. But I will say what I must say openly. I have come to the conclusion that Malaysia cannot progress any further without first addressing fundamental questions regarding its identity and soul.

I remember the days when we can laugh at Lat’s cartoons on everyday Malaysian life. But sadly, the Islamic tide has polarised Malaysians. Some people ask why I should bother about Malaysian affairs since I am a Singaporean. May I remind Malaysians that it was Tan Siew Sin who once said that Singapore and Malaysia are Siamese Twins. Should Malaysia go down - it would hurt the region tremendously. Especially Singapore.

Where do you think Malay apostates would head for if Lina Joy loses her case? Singapore of course! I find the Malaysian Malay to be very under-exposed. For them, it's all Islam and the NEP and everything under the sun would sort itself out. I am sorry to say this - but Islam and the NEP may be the cause of the undoing of the Malaysian Malay.

There is nothing wrong with religion or affirmative action. But, like everything else in life, they must be taken in moderation and with a pinch of salt. A little doubt is good. Unfortunately in Malaysia, emotions over Islam have overcome reason. What we see today is the result of the NEP and Islamisation policies of the past thirty years or so.

No one owes Malaysian Malays a living. Let me assure you that should Malaysia fail - the Malaysian Malay will suffer enormously. And rightly so. After all - they have been pampered with all sorts of goodies over the years. They cannot now expect more goodies. Perhaps the day of reckoning for them, is near. Whatever it is, Malaysia had better wake up to the realities around her. The globalised world of the 21st century has no NEP to offer the Malaysian Malay. And humans cannot live by religion alone.

Regards,
Dr Syed Alwi

Best Written Short Story!

One of the joys of sharing my blog with you is the feedback and responses I get. It's great when readers send me new stuff at times to include them here to share with everyone. My thanks to Ijau for this story!

Ijau is used as a pseudonym for a sweet lady whose wealth is unimaginable in Sarawak... she doesn't blog but goes for all the humorous stuff- from religious to naughty - on the net. Some of the stuff is not suitable for this place at this time...

As I do not know who actually composed this brilliant piece, I am unable to make the relevant attribution. I promise I will do so if there is rightful proof of its authorship.

In the meantime, have a good laugh!!!

DAY 1: How Beautiful!

The year is 2030... On Mother Earth humans travel in driverless vehicles and robots do all the housework... Our space ship is fast approaching our beautiful planet and home where all humans have learnt to live peacefully in equality and liberty ... No religion is permitted to condemn its people to a particular religion and not allow others to convert its own believers...