Foul!

As published in Malay Mail today HARESH SAYS By Haresh Deol  HE waved the machete in the air before striking. His other accomplice joined in as they hacked the woman repeatedly. A family member could only throw a slipper or two before she was threatened by the two men.   Neighbours could only watch from afar, horrified but afraid of confronting the suspects. The victim could only sit on the road, begging for mercy. They slashed her head, her back, and if one watches closely, the sharp blade of the machete could have cut her face.   A video of the Oct 1 incident went viral online. Police arrested two men the same day. The victim, in her 20s, is said to be in critical condition at Port Dickson Hospital.   If she pulls through, she will be physically and emotionally scarred for life. She will no longer look at men the same way.   A similar scene was seen in Iraq.   Children joined the elders as they lined up the street in Mosul,...

Haresh Says, as published in the Malay Mail today. “APPA, look at that gila (crazy) man.” It was followed by a giggle as the boy’s father replied: “Yes, he is gila man. Don’t look at him, after you also become gila,” before bursting into laughter. Gila man happens to be this chap in his 30s who lived at Pekeliling flats while I was growing up there. We never really knew his real name but we all called him “aneh”. He was mentally ill. But aneh was one cool dude. In an era where mobile phones were only for the super rich while the Internet was non-existent, he was our walking Twitter and Facebook, as we obtained the latest “news” (mostly half-truths or made-up tales) and gossip in and around our neighbourhood. My family and I were having dinner one day at a small eatery next to the Sentul police station when we overheard the conversation between the boy and his father. My father immediately called aneh to our table. He recognised us as we e...