COMMENT | When we think of learning, we think of the mind which in turn should remind us of what dictionary writer Samuel Johnson said: “There is nothing like a prison sentence to wonderfully concentrate the mind."

So I wasn’t surprised our former prime minister is writing his PhD from Kajang Prison. But what made me curious was the topic of his thesis/dissertation.

Being curious, and without a clue, I speculated to no end, it being the spice of life in Malaysia, not variety.

And it did not help that for a long time now, I regarded our politicians as rivals to my long-cherished dream of being a stand-up comedian, a career which has been delayed by them opening their mouths just as I am ready to open mine in front of a microphone.

To give a date to the beginning of this delay, it was without a doubt July 16, 1981. But I will not be silenced any longer. I will put down on paper what I want to say to a live audience.

So let me start with...