Malaysia

In theory, the SCOTUS decision to strike down affirmative action in higher education should be considered as part of the post-George Floyd racial reckoning to “dismantle systematic racism.” But judging by the hysteria going on over at MSNBC and condemnations from President Biden, it’s clear that the activist class and American intelligentsia have a very different conception of what exactly constitutes racial justice. Two and a half years on, this racial reckoning has instead produced higher murder rates, generational declines in basic literacy among students — with the sharpest declines among black and Latino kids — and a massive transfer of wealth to an ever-growing DEI bureaucracy, BLM grifters and gurus like Ibram X.

It’s approaching 6 p.m. at the Datai on Langkawi island, the tropical sun is still warm but no longer burny, and through my binoculars from my poolside lounger I’m watching the hornbills swooping down from the tall tree opposite and the sunbirds delving their long curved beaks in to some sort of exotic, colourful flora. By my side is a barely read copy of a classic work of literature and a half-drunk cocktail. I’m not sure that life gets much better than this. And that’s perhaps the main problem with staying in arguably Malaysia’s loveliest hotel.

A short flight from the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, the island of Langkawi is a wise choice for anyone seeking to shake off the woes of city life. Apart from the odd bit of tourist tackiness on roadside billboards, there’s no escaping the sheer, virtually unspoiled natural beauty of the place. Even my hotel, the Datai — which recently underwent a year-long, $60 million refurbishment — feels like a traditional rainforest villa. When I step out on to the veranda, I revel in the ancient jungle just beyond the sun loungers.