Monday 30 November 2009

Deceit - Ruling Ignorance, Fear & Apathy

"....This casts serious doubt on the Malaysian Government’s
respect
for the sanctity of contracts and the rule of law.
Let’s not talk about spurring investment .....
if we fail to understand the importance of abiding by contractual obligations."
- Tengku Razaleigh, Honouring our agreements

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With a certain ruling elite in this country - DECEIT is the only way they know how to rule.
From the 20-point agreement with Sabah, NEP, to the Federal Constitution, to ISA/ Police act, to oil royalties, to sabotage of non-BN held states, to legalised Illegals with "Bumi" status, to the Bank Bumiputra/Islam financial scandals, to Chin Peng denied entry, to OPV, to Bakun, to PKFZ - one thing remains consistent with Umno - DECEIT!

Change starts from Rakyat
- so said the article on Malaysia Today by Tohkong Mosjid. Indeed, it is as true as can be. To depend on our politicians to bring about any change is at best, foolhardy. Politicians (even the clerics, in fact) are concerned with only one thing - power to rule over the masses. It is however, quite a wonder, when you see the people drowning in their fear and apathy depending on these very people to bring about the changes they desire.
When things don't work out as they predict or hope, they're quick to complain about those who have made every effort against all the odds stacked against them, to bring about that change. It isn't enough that changes are being made to the extent they're empowered to do - Malaysians demand "Instant Noodles" & quick-fixes to all the problems that plague the country. Never mind if the Federal Constitution is raped, never mind if the dispossessed are trampled on, never mind if your neighbour faces injustice ....
As long as their bread is buttered and on the table, Malaysians don't give a fig about anything that goes on under the UMNO regime. It doesn't matter if UMNO whispers sweet little lies as the sexual predator does to his victims- Malaysians love it. and beg for more!!

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“So long as the people do not care to exercise their freedom,
those who wish to tyrannise will do so; for tyrants are active and ardent,
and will devote themselves in the name of any number of gods,
religious and otherwise, to put shackles upon sleeping men.”

- Voltaire
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Just yesterday, I had a man come and announce proudly to me that he's "politically active". When asked which party he worked for, he proudly announced that he was with (of all parties) Gerakan - the neutered lapdog of UMNO!! All I could say was, "Despite all the evidence presented before them, Malaysians are generally quite stupid politically & such suckers for some feelgood sweet little lies from the ruling elite". The worst part about meeting him was the fact that he agreed with me!! I then went to get him some peanuts, which he gladly accepted as continued talking his usual crap.

Frankly - I admire RPKs resilience at his "crusade" into raising awareness among the public. As things are, I'm beginning to get quite frustrated with the general public who fall for all the stupid lies dished out by the Umno regime. I'm not so sure that we can make much of a difference when we try to save the country from the wolves, when the people willingly become sheep following their "Judas Goat" in Umno, to the slaughterhouse.As long as Umno rules - the modus operandi of the so-called BN alliance Govt (the Mahathir way, i.e.) will remain as DECEIT.

Ultimately - it all would depend on the people, if they want to treat or live with the Malaysian Disease of Fear and Apathy. If those who accept Umno/BN as the only way for Malaysia to progress, especially if the Malays allow themselves to be hoodwinked into believing that only Racism, Piracy, apartheid and Umno can save them - this country is doomed, and I better keep my bags packed.
Of late, there was a book published on Mahathir's exploits in his 22 yrs. I liked one forum entry entitled "Buku Panas!! Mahathir Songlap RM100 billion" ...... let's see what Mr. "Clean, Efficient and Trustworthy" has got to say about this.

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"No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible".
- Voltaire
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Saturday 28 November 2009

PI Bala & The Deafening Silence Trilogy

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Wednesday 25 November 2009

Shortchanging : The "1-Malaysia" Way ....

Hospital assistants running clinics causing anxiety Print E-mail
MalaysianMirror

Wednesday, 25 November 2009 08:40

We would like to raise the concerns of many individuals who are wondering about the quality of "1Malaysia clinics" that are manned by hospital assistants.

Whilst the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners’ Associations of Malaysia supports and encourages more clinics to be set up, they must comply with the law.

The law clearly states that clinics must be manned by a registered medical practitioner at all times to ensure quality care.

The Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act (1998) and Regulations (2006) require that all private clinics have specific written policies and standard operating procedures to that effect.

We were surprised that the government had anounced in Budget 2010 that it would be setting up the 1Malaysia clinics manned by hospital assistants, which is inconsistent with the law.

It appears that the government is now promoting a lower standard for private healthcare whereas it would have raided and shut down such clinics in the past.

If hospital assistants are allowed to run the 1Malaysia clinics, does it mean private clinics in general can now also do so?

The government must clarify this point.

A clinic by any other name is still a clinic. The public demands that all of them offer the full medical services expected of a typical clinic in the treatment of ailments.

The majority of 1Malaysia clinics are concentrated in urban areas where they should have been set up in villages and urban fringes where they are most needed.

The government needs to review such health and medical resources to ensure the poor in both urban and rural areas are best served.


Dr Ng Swee Choon
Committee Member, Medical Affairs Committee
Federation of Private Medical Practitioners’ Associations of Malaysia
www.fpmpam.org

Tuesday 24 November 2009

Democracy, "Asian Values" & Mahathirism

"All praise for democracy, the best system for politics ever invented by man.
But being invented by man, it is not free from imperfections.
It works only if you know these imperfections and their limitations."

- Mahathir, CHE Det

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Here is a man, who destroyed the very doctrine of "separation of powers" in Malaysia, singing a very "off-key" democratic tune!
Probably what he meant to say was - "All praise for Mahathir - the man with 'many ideas' ..." - the one man who "saw the imperfections" in democracy, and hence manipulated it to suit his whims and fancies - and justified his dictatorship. He went on to mention that the loser should accept the winner, (without articulating how one should become a winner) - and in his "trademark" fashion, went on to paint his opponents black ..... just so that he would look white.

This is the man who destroyed the once sterling reputation of the Judiciary. Today though, foreign investors would shudder at the prospect of having to sign a deal under the Malaysian system. Here is the man who saw it fit to send judges to boot-camp, sack them, vilify them and create a subservient civil service of the institution - talking about "limitations of democracy".
This is the man who claims that India practices "too much democracy"(Mahathir probably means to say that India was better-off during the emergency, under the rule of Indira Gandhi), while China is supposed to be better (becos it now has money & can bring development??)!!

In Mahathir's definition of democracy, it is supposed to be limited to those within his circle of friends and family - the chosen elite who would be eternally grateful to him for the freebies he dished out through licensing, privatization, APs, mega contracts and what not. The rest, who dissent are meant to just STFU.

In fact, after getting the original Umno de-registered READ HERE (yes - it was his people who got it de-registered and not Ku Li's - as they would like it spun) after his fallout with Ku Li, the Umno Baru he created was nothing more than a training ground for unthinking servants and lackeys, devoid of any element of democracy - it was a select group whom he chose, who casted votes, made all decisions and ruled Malaysia by default. With an Umno enslaved & devoid of democracy, he now had all of Malaysia at his disposal- to do as he pleased.

We all know what happened to the PDRM after Musa Hasan was promoted to become the IGP, (after his role in certain events). No- don't blame him ..... it was Mahathir who decided how the PDRM had to be run, and Musa was simply entrusted to do the job - and obviously, he did it "well". Ever since, Law and Order was only as good as the elite it served and the money it churned.
Civil society? What civil society are you talking about? They're all simply enemy agents who seek to demonize him for his compassion!! Irene Fernandez can vouch for that .....

Mahathir loves to hide behind his "doctor" name and justify his actions "as a doctor would seek diagnosis and a cure" (as he said in History Channel) - the only problem was, he did not see his patients as humans but simply as "cases" to be dealt with. (Shamelessly advertising his ignorance of democracy, he confesses that he does not care much for the law or legalities.... "a cure at all costs", was his idea of statecraft/democracy).
He did what he alone believed to be right, at whatever cost - even if it robbed his patient of his/her humanity. To him, his patient (I speak of "democracy", here) was simply a commodity which should serve him - which he can also trade-off, so as to further his personal agenda. He actually said (on History Channel) that a patient should be allowed to voice out his complaint without interruption, so that he could be treated - well, we all know what he prescribed to the victims of ISA/Ops Lalang, Anwar Ibrahim and also LGE.

History channel's Mahathir biography, was hardly "face-saving" in its presentation!!
None of his corruption, destruction of institutions, lies, "failed ventures" or brutalities were revealed. In the "Malaysia Boleh" spirit, instant millionaires were created out of thin air overnight. Nothing was mentioned about the financial mega-scandals (read OPV/ PKFZ/ Perwaja/ Bakun/ Bank Islam/ Bank Bumiputra/ MAS- Tajuddin/ Renong-Halim Saad etc).
Memali, Ops Lalang, the details of the constitutional crises, how he beat Ku Li in Umno elections, Sabah elections/sabotage, illegal "bumiputras", the corruption of the education system etc, etc, etc - nothing was mentioned!

History channel was bordering on shameless ...
Param was the one saving grace.
Even Jomo's & LKS's comments were very "guarded" or constipated, rather (for which they must've been paid handsomely) - to lend credibility to the whole show. (I just wonder why Anwar wasn't interviewed as well, when Mahathir could assert Anwar's "guilt" in the show .....)
It was all nauseating at best!!!
History Channel seemed to have been paid to create a hero out of a corrupt despot, who was bent on creating a culture of piracy to produce a super-rich Malay elite who lived off handouts and a band of tycoons from crony capitalism, through daylight robbery!!

Indeed, "All praise for democracy, the best system for politics ever invented by man" - but it Mahathir's case, it is only good when it can serve his agenda .... thus it's "limitations".
It doesn't matter to him how one "wins" - the ends, justify the means.
That dear friends, is Mahathir's idea of a "perfected democracy"...... no wonder he clamours to be recognized as a "Dear Leader" (just as in some other despotic regimes).
So much for the know-it-all - our very own "Mr. 10%" ......

Addendum:
Word has it that Mahathir has recently been started on a new medication for his aging grey matter.
He's apparently on
T. Arsepirin 500mg tds these days ...

Monday 23 November 2009

Maraysian Engrand, wor!

No need to worry la. We all won't be speaking any English in a few years from now.

Actually, the Deputy Minister of Education (see post below) has absolutely nothing to worry about. Malaysian students and Malaysian youth have not spoken English in decades. That is going from what they are being taught in Malaysian schools and colleges. I heard from a reliable source today some 'sample' questions that were part of an English language exam paper for a certain Malaysian university. Don't laugh too hard okay?

Objective test.

Question: What does it mean when a person has a 'sixth sense'?

Required answer: The person has the ability to see ghosts.

Question: Which country welcomes its visitors with a garland or "lei"?

Required answer: Hawaii. (but Hawaii isn't a country!)

Question: If you cut open an apple and find the centre resembling the word for God (original word in the test substituted to protect sensitivities and to avoid legal battles about who can use the name) what is that?

Required answer: A blessing in disguise.

There were more examples but by that time I was laughing so hard I couldn't hold on to the phone. Hope you had an enjoyable and productive Sunday. Smile.

NIAMAH!!!

Corruption is a two-player game


Corruption is a two-player game
Malaysian Insider



NOV 22 — Malaysians are a funny lot. We’ll rant and rave about institutional corruption yet have no qualms whatsoever partaking in bribery on a personal level. One minute it’s PKFZ this, double-tracking that but the moment we get pulled over by the coppers for any number of the traffic infractions we commit in a day, we see nothing wrong in slipping the guy a RM50 note to “make him go away.”

Sometimes we even take a perverse sense of pride in how “easy” it is to negotiate the pitfalls of our local traffic laws. Many a time, we will proudly declare to foreigners “Malaysia no problem wan, if get caught can settle!” It’s not so much that we even say this, but more the wicked satisfaction with which we tell all and sundry about something that cannot possibly be any source of dignity whatsoever.

“Settle? What do you mean ‘settle’?” is the near-inevitable reply. This is where we not only regale them with tales of rampant corruption but also “teach” them the wily ways to avoid “overpaying.” Some even go as far as giving them a Lonely Planet guide on how much should be offered: “If parking, you offer RM20. If speeding, RM50 can already. Drink-driving, aiyoh, that wan expensive!”

I readily admit that I used to be part of the “everything can settle” crowd. Each time I see flashing blue lights in my rear-view mirror, I make a quick mental note of how much it will cost to pay the fine and adjust my opening gambit to suit. It was just... easier.

One day, however, I snapped. It had been a particularly long day and the country was in some turmoil with the Kampung Medan riots then. I was on my way home when a car runs a red light and nearly T-bones me.

Like all good Malaysians, I offer him a good dose of my extra-loud horn and a quick one-fingered salute, before proceeding straight into a waiting roadblock. Mental check: No bats, knives, swords, guns, or dead bodies in the trunk so I should sail right through this.

Then the man approaching my window drops the bomb of a line: “Encik tadi langgar lampu merah.”

What. The. Fish.

At that point in time, there would have been no possible way for me to hold him in lower esteem. The scum that sticks to the scum that sticks to the scrapings from the bottom of the shoes you throw away would have been a better thing.

I hand him my licence and proceed to close the window. He knocks. I crack it open enough to let in some air. “Dari mana?” he asks, like he gives a toss. “Sana,” I answer as I flick my thumb vaguely in the direction from where I came.

He seems taken aback by the aloofness but soldiers on nonetheless, “Pergi mana?” “Sana,” I say as I casually wave a hand towards where I want to go. I develop a sudden fascination with my radio to avoid having to hurt my eyes looking at him so he wanders off to speak to what looks like his “senior.” Some minutes later, he saunters back.

“Ni kena saman, ni.” There’s so much false concern in his voice for my sudden “misfortune” that I can barely keep my dinner down. So I flash him my biggest, friendliest smile and say: “Ye ke? Kalau kena tu, kenalah, kan?”

That’s not how the script goes and it catches him off guard. He stands there pretending to scribble in his notepad. Before long, he goes to confer with his “senior.” He comes back, knocks on my window, and hands me my licence. Then he says, “Saman tu kita hantar kat rumah.” I give him the same wide smile as I drive off.

From that day on, I vowed never to directly give him and his ilk another single sen. Instead, I just take whatever ticket that’s coming and pay that instead. You’d be surprised, more often than not they don’t even bother writing one when the shakedown has clearly failed.

It’s a simple concept to live by: You do the crime, you pay the fine. Obviously this demands a certain degree of pain and sacrifice on your part in terms of money and time, but is there really any other way to go about it?

People try to bribe their way out of trouble because it’s “easier” but is this any different to the undeserving contractor who offers kickbacks to secure a project he’s not qualified to receive, instead of actually bringing himself to meet the standards actually required or match the prices his competitors offered? Isn’t he just taking the “easy” way out, too?

Corruption also doesn’t happen in isolation; it takes at least two to play. There’s the corruptor and the corrupted. The bribe giver and the bribe seeker. And corruption is corruption, regardless of whether there’s RM50 in it or RM50 million.

So the next time you feel tempted to take the “easy” way out, think hard about what it really means. You may not have had a similarly encouraging experience as mine so I can only implore you to join me in saying no to the corruption that we can. We might not be able to personally do much about the things like PKFZ or frivolous Disneyland trips but we can surely do at least this much.

So, are you going to stay a part of the problem? Or will you choose to be part of the solution?

Friday 20 November 2009

Are We Any Different?

Do the advocates of ISA realize the mockery of humanity represented by the ISA?
The untold horrors of detention without charge and/or trial, is one of the instruments of intimidation which a government which thrives on violence and brutality would advocate.

As noble as the intentions of such a law may be, it cannot be executed in a righteous manner - as its very existence itself allows those in the corridors of power to act with impunity upon fellow men and women. It is by itself an affront to the rule of law. It is a law that is beyond the laws it is supposed to come under.

Today in Malaysia, we have many who advocate the ISA in ignorance - that it is a licence to play God, and deny you your humanity. A thousand excuses will be given to keep it in place, while they ignore the reasons for for abolishing it - just to facilitate the rule of pirates in power and feign patriotism. They claim that it is a necessary evil to protect their rights - the very rights which this evil is poised to take away.

Little do they know, that it is meant to make you accept against your will, a subhuman status in society. It is meant to break your human spirit, silence you and render you into just another beast of burden which would silently toil the earth for its master - for slops in return.

There are indeed "many ways to skin a cat" - but The ISA is just not one of them, if we were to take humanity into consideration.

Below is the Press Conference of an ex-ISA detainee from Singapore, Dr Lim Hock Siew:-
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Tuesday 17 November 2009

Refreshing Mahathir's Memory .....

Here are a few comments from readers of MalaysiaKini, in response to Mahathir's comments on Anwar's role as "Economic Advisor" to Selangor:-

"Dr M: Anwar right choice to bankrupt S'gor"

Kanesin SVS Sappania Pillay: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, it was you who made Anwar Ibrahim the finance minister in your cabinet and he was sacked for reasons other than failing as finance minister if my memory serves me correctly. I am sure he would have learnt from his 'failure'.

Ed: Hmm, and yet he was the right choice for finance minister under your administration. I guess Mahathir always had the tendency to surround himself and his cabinet with people who 'didn't know anything' in relation to the offices they held.

SusahKes: Well, let's see Dr Mahathir. You were responsible for:

1) Awarding privatisation contracts at hugely inflated prices

2) Bailing out MAS by paying higher than market value for its shares

3) Using Petronas to bail out your son

4) The loss-making Paya Indah Wetlands/Sepang projects

5) The loss-making Putrajaya development

6) The loss-making Cyberjaya/MCS development

7) The huge Bank Negara forex trading losses (which you conveniently called 'paper losses')

8) Bailing out Proton and passing the mess back to the taxpayers

I've only just mentioned the financial side. What about the 'raid' you made on the judiciary? What about the use of ISA/OSA? What about corruption?

Do you know how much of potential FDI we lost over the years because of the non-financial aspects of your dictatorship? Aiyo, Dr M, don't 'pusing-pusing' la...

Victor Johan: Mahathir, when journalists seek your opinion, it does not mean that you should think they and the rakyat are stupid. Your reply only reflects who you are.

In my opinion, your statement certainly reflects your mental state - you're uncomfortable with the progress that Anwar and other like-minded Pakatan Rakyat representatives are making in providing the rakyat with an alternative government come the 13th general election.

Their success will certainly be your demise and those of the other BN reps - all the cans of worms and skeletons in the closets will be revealed. We need facts, not gutter-level political replies. You were prime minister and finance minister once, remember?

Monday 16 November 2009

Indian youth killed in Air Molek prison-police report

Indian youth killed in Air Molek prison-police report

(MalaysiaToday)
Monday, 16 November 2009 Super Admin
E-mail Print PDF

Today at about 12.30 p.m myself and my brother Chandran saw the body of my nephew which was full of blue black marks on his back, (Spine area) legs and hand as if he was beaten with a rotan, hit and also punched.

Police Report No: JBS/020804/09
Time: 2.23 p.m
Police Report by: Selvaraj a/l Kathiravel (48)
NRIC No: 610727-01-5915
No. 104, Block 9, 5 Floor,
Taman Melur Tampoi,
81200 Johor Bharu.
Dated:16/11/2009

Last night at about 10.30 p.m the Air Molek Prison authorities telephoned me to say that my nephew (my own sister’s son) Saravanan a/l Jeganathan (22) had died in the said prison at about 10.00 p.m by hanging himself. I do not believe this.

My nephew who is a Supermarket general worker was arrested on 16/10/2009 and detained at the Desa Cemerlang, Ulu Tiram police station up to 11/11/2009. From 11/11/2009 to 15/11/2009 ie within four days at the Air Molek Prison, he is now dead. How is this so?

Today at about 12.30 p.m myself and my brother Chandran saw the body of my nephew which was full of blue black marks on his back, (Spine area) legs and hand as if he was beaten with a rotan, hit and also punched. His right toe has bruises. The police and hospital personnel including Dr. Mohd Hasnah have refused to allow us to take photographs of these injuries. I now demand my right to take the photos before it disappears or any evidence of this murder is tampered with by the police, prison and hospital authorities..

I believe that my nephew was beaten up and killed by the Air Molek Prison personnel.

I want the police and/or prison personnel responsible to be prosecuted for murder forthwith and criminal action to be taken against the police and Johor Baru General Hospital doctor and personnell for trying to cover up this murder.

……………………..
Selvaraj a/l Kathiravel
NRIC No: 610727-01-5915

http://www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com/2009/11/16/indian-youth-killed-in-air-molek-prison-police-report/

Thursday 12 November 2009

SBY into RACE development??!!




The following words were mentioned in The Star Online (quoting Bernama la):

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he chose Malaysia as the first country to visit ....... because "Malaysia is a friend, a neighbour and a strong partner in the development of the (drumroll please ....) .......... RACE!!!!!!"

That's right - RACE!!

Yeah Baby Yeah!!
Now I wonder if SBY considers himself and all Javanese, Bataks, Minangs, Bugis and what not "Melayu/Malay/Bumiputra" as per the Malaysian Constitution, Mahathir Definition, Umno definition, or was simply misquoted by our very "dependable" Bernama or even The Star.
If he did, he should probably import UMNO to Java ...... and he can probably at least take the Toyol back, I suppose.

Is PI Bala Now On The Offensive?

The following was on MalaysiaToday:

Something like "PI Bala resurfaces .... Bombshell 3"
The link to Free MalaysiaToday which supposedly published it now shows Error 404!!
Even the header and excerpt has disappeared from MT!!!! (I wonder why)
I happened to copy a few words from the article:

"he was taken to see XXX at the Curve in Damansara on July 3 2008 when he was told by the YYY’s architect brother to “follow instructions if he loves his family.”
Hours after that meeting, Bala signed a second statutory declaration which was prepared for him and later issued to the media.
He and his family were then taken by road to Singapore before being flown to Thailand and and Nepal and eventually to India, where he has been hiding since."

Note:
The names - "XXX" & "YYY" - has been deleted to avoid naming people in "unverified" news ....
I have no way to verify any of the above - but someone did say thru an anonymous email some time back, that Bala will resurface, and "work is in progress" .... and I believed him, although I never knew him personally!!!

When God Wants to Drill a Man

Dedicated to all those who fight for Justice:

When God Wants to Drill a Man

When God wants to drill a man,

And thrill a man,

And skill a man

When God wants to mold a man

To play the noblest part;


When He yearns with all His heart

To create so great and bold a man

That all the world shall be amazed,

Watch His methods, watch His ways!


How He ruthlessly perfects

Whom He royally elects!

How He hammers him and hurts him,

And with mighty blows converts him


Into trial shapes of clay which

Only God understands;

While his tortured heart is crying

And he lifts beseeching hands!


How He bends but never breaks

When his good He undertakes;

How He uses whom He chooses,

And which every purpose fuses him;

By every act induces him

To try His splendor out-

God knows what He's about.


Note

Author Unknown If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances dictate.



Wednesday 11 November 2009

Bar Council ‘appalled’ at government stand on Lingam

Bar Council ‘appalled’ at government stand on Lingam

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 – The Bar Council said today it was disheartened by the government’s position in the V.K. Lingam controversy which it said had brought the Malaysian justice system into shameful disrepute.

Bar Council president Ragunath Kesavan said today that he was appalled at the government’s stand that no wrongdoing could be established in the probe into the V K Lingam video clip incident.

Lingam, a senior lawyer, had been secretly recorded on video engaged in a telephone conversation where he appears to be brokering senior judicial appointments.

The video first surfaced in 2007 and became a major campaign issue in Election 2008 for the opposition.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz sparked an uproar in Parliament on Monday when he said “judiciary fixer” Lingam had been let off the hook “because he had broken no law”.

Nazri also suggested that Lingam breached no laws as he might “have just acted to fix the appointment of judges as if he was brokering the appointment of senior judges to impress people”.

Nazri argued that from the legal perspective Lingam could have merely made a suggestion as to who should be appointed to senior posts in the judiciary.

A royal commission had proposed that action be taken against Lingam and several others purportedly involved in the recording including former Chief Justice Tun Eusoff Chin, Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim and tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan, a close friend of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Nazri revealed that investigations by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on the figures named also found no conclusive evidence that there was any form of power abuse by any of them.

BMW XPo. 3 days only. Click for details.

“Such a simplistic and irresponsible conclusion is an affront to the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI)’s commendable work of thoroughly and objectively sieving through the evidence presented.

“The RCI found that wrongdoings had indeed been committed, and it further identified some breaches of statutes applicable to the circumstances,” Ragunath said in a statement today.

He added that Lingam’s statement that he was able to fix the appointment of judges “brings into contempt the administration of justice.”

“The video clip raises grave questions but there is also other evidence of serious misdeeds, for example Dato’ V.K. Lingam’s authorship of a judgment in a case in which he had himself appeared as counsel for one of the parties.

“Another example is the clear evidence of the joint New Zealand holiday taken by Dato’ V. K. Lingam and then-Chief Justice Tun Eusoffe Chin and their respective families, which wholly discredited their claims for many years that they had met only by chance,” he said.

Ragunath stressed that these incidents must be investigated to determine if the allegations were true.

“What happened has undoubtedly brought the Malaysian judicial institution into shameful disrepute. To now say that no laws have been broken and to classify the affair as ‘No Further Action’ is to selectively and arbitrarily apply justice.

“The tragic irony will not escape the Malaysian public – the very system of justice that Dato’ V. K. Lingam has been found to have abused and made a mockery of now refuses to mete out justice against him,” he said.

Pakatan Rakyat MPs yesterday presented the alleged key witness that may support their claims that Lingam and Eusoff had planned their New Zealand trip together.

They had hoped the alleged key witness, Lingam’s former secretary Jayanthi Naidu, would prove that the government was attempting to cover up the scandal which has raised suspicions about possible collusion.

However Nazri refuted today that Jayanthi was the witness that MACC was looking for.

Islamic groups ejected from Allah suit

Islamic groups ejected from Allah suit

UPDATED

By Debra Chong

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 – It will be a straight fight between The Herald and the Home Minister in the High Court here next month over the right to publish the word “Allah” to refer to the Christian God.

Judge Lau Bee Lan from the High Court’s Appellate and Special Powers division fixed hearing for Dec 14 after ruling in favour of the Catholic Church’s bid to strike out interveners in their challenge against the Home Minister’s ban on publishing the word” Allah” in a non-Muslim context.

Lau retracted her decision, made three months ago, to allow eight state Islamic councils and the Malaysian Chinese Muslim Association (Macma) to intervene in the suit, on the basis that they were advisers to the rulers who are heads of Islam.

“The order on the 3rd of August was made on the grounds the High Court had no jurisdiction, following the order from the Federal Court,” counsel for the church, S. Selvarajah told reporters after leaving the judge’s chambers.

The Federal Court, led by Chief Justice Tun Zaki Azmi, had earlier this year made a landmark ruling barring the Selangor Islamic Council (Mais) from intervening in a dispute between the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) and Bong Boon Chuen and 150 landowners over Islamic burial land in neighbouring Selangor.

The top court’s decision set the example for other lower courts to keep interveners out.

Selvarajah also said the issue of “justiciability” – whether the courts had the power to decide on the use of the word “Allah” – which had been raised by lawyers from the Attorney General’s Chambers representing the Home Minister, would be argued during the hearing proper.

He noted that The Herald’s annual publishing licence would expire on Dec 31.

The priest-editor of the Catholic weekly, Reverend Father Lawrence Andrew, smiled brightly at the court’s decision.

“It’s good. It’s the thing we’ve been waiting for,” a much-relieved Andrew told The Malaysian Insider. “We hope it can be settled within the year.”

The Herald, which is read by 14,000 subscribers, was first banned from publishing the word “Allah” last year.

Under threat of having its licence revoked, it filed a suit challenging the Home Minister’s ban for going against the Federal Constitution, but the dispute failed to be resolved then because its licence had expired.

It was forced to file another application earlier this year, based on the existing publishing licence.

Govt cancels Catholic paper’s 2010 permit

By Debra Chong

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 – The future has just grown murkier for the country’s only Catholic newspaper, which is locked in a lawsuit against the Home Minister over the right to publish the word “Allah” to mean God for Christians.

The Malaysian Insider was told that The Herald’s publishing permit for next year was retracted recently.

The weekly’s priest-editor, Reverend Father Lawrence Andrew, explained that the Catholic Church which publishes the multi-lingual weekly, had first applied for the annual licence in late July.

The Home Ministry had replied on Aug 5 and approved their application to publish in four languages: Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mandarin and Tamil, but rejected their request to add a new language, Kadazandusun.

The church received a second letter from the Home Ministry on Sept 3, which promptly retracted the approval given a month earlier even though the RM800 publishing fee had been paid up.

No reason was given for the rejection, Andrew said.

Instead, the Home Ministry ordered the church to disclose its bank accounts and send in the latest statement, which Andrew found odd.

“They are a licensing body for permits, not a commercial body,” he said.

The priest also said they were forced to put in a letter asking for a refund on the RM800 payment, which he also found strange.

He noted that the ministry should have returned the money automatically, and added that he would not follow the directive as it may indicate that the church agreed with the rejection.

Andrew said the church has enlisted the aide of Datuk Michael Chong, a special officer to the Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and a church-going Catholic, to clear the confusing chain of events.

Chong responded promptly and told him the deputy home minister had “overturned” the decision to reject the church’s permit.

But there has been no breakthrough since then. Their last communication was yesterday, through an SMS exchange.

“We’re in limbo right now,” Andrew said.

Monday 9 November 2009

Risks of religious fervour

(from Malaysian Mirror)

This speech by Lee Hsien Loong is widely circulated on the Internet. As always, there will be those who miss out on it. This is published here specially for them. It may be late but it’s still a good read anytime.

"To live peacefully together, we need good sense and tolerance on all sides, and a willingness to give and take. Otherwise, whatever the rules there will be no end of possible causes of friction." PM Lee, on how fragile religious and racial harmony is in Singapore and how crucial it is to be tolerant

SO what are these risks? Let me just highlight three of them.

Aggressive preaching - proselytisation. You push your own religion on others, you cause nuisance and offence. You have read in the papers recently about a couple who surreptitiously distributed Christian tracts which were offensive of other faiths, not just of non-Christians but even of Catholics. They were charged and sentenced to jail.

But there are less extreme cases too which can cause problems. We hear, from time to time, complaints about groups trying to convert very ill patients in our hospitals, who don't want to be converted, and who don't want to have the private difficult moments in their lives intruded upon.

Intolerance is another problem - not respecting the beliefs of others or not accommodating others who belong to different religions. You think of this one group versus another group, but sometimes it happens within the same family.

Sometimes we have parents from traditional religions whose children have converted. The parents have asked to be buried according to traditional rites and their children stay away from the funeral or the wake. It's very sad. From a traditional point of view, it's the ultimate unfilial act but it does happen occasionally.

Exclusiveness is a third problem - segregating into separate exclusive circles, not integrating with other faiths. That means you mix with your own people. You'll end up as separate communities.

We foresaw these dangers 20 years ago. We passed the Bill, Maintenance of Religious Harmony, in 1989/1990.

Before we did that, then PM Lee Kuan Yew and the key ministers met all the religious leaders. We had a closed-door session at MCYS. We spoke candidly. We explained our concerns, why we wanted to move this Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act. The religious leaders spoke up candidly, they gave us their support. We moved with their support.

We continue to keep in close touch with them, to meet regularly. I do that personally, exchange views, keep the line warm and the confidence on both sides so that I know you, you know me. If there is a problem, we are not dealing with strangers but with somebody we know and trust.

Once or twice, I've had to meet them over specific difficult cases. No publicity, relying on mutual trust and the wisdom of our religious leaders to defuse tensions. I'm very grateful for their wisdom and for their support. Because of this active work behind the scenes, we've not needed to invoke the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act for 20 years. But it's something which is important to us which we must keep for a long time.

Four basic rules

We can never take our racial and religious harmony for granted. We must observe some basic principles to keep it the way it is.
First, all groups have to exercise tolerance and restraint. Christians cannot expect this to be a Christian society, Muslims cannot expect this to be a Muslim society. Ditto the Buddhists, the Hindus and the other groups.

Many faiths share this island. Each has different teachings, different practices. Rules which only apply to one group cannot become laws which are enforced on everyone. So Muslims don't drink alcohol but alcohol is not banned. Ditto gambling, which many religions disapprove of, but gambling is not banned. All have to adopt 'live and let live' as our principle.

Secondly, we have to keep religion separate from politics. Religion in Singapore cannot be the same as religion in America, or religion in an Islamic country.

Take Iran, an Islamic country. Nearly everybody is Shia Muslim. Recently, they had a presidential election which was fiercely contested between Ahmadinejad and Mousavi, and the outcome was disputed. Both sides invoked Islam. So Mousavi's supporters had a battle cry - Allahu Akbar (God is Great).

In Singapore, if one group invokes religion this way, other groups are bound to say: 'I also need powerful support. We'll also push back invoking our faith.' One side insists: 'I'm doing God's work.' The other side says: 'I'm doing my God's work.' Both sides say: 'I cannot compromise. These are absolute imperatives.' The result will be a clash between different religious groups which will tear us apart.

We take this very seriously. The People's Action Party reminds our candidates, don't bring all the friends from your own religious group. Don't mobilise your church or your temple or your mosque to campaign for you. Bring a multi-racial, multi-religious group of supporters. When you are elected, represent the interest of all your constituents, not just your religious group in Parliament. Speak for all your constituents.

Thirdly, the Government has to remain secular. The Government's authority comes from the people. The laws are passed by Parliament which is elected by the people. They don't come from a sacred book. The Government has to be neutral, fair.

We are not against religion. We uphold sound moral values. We hold the ring so that all groups can practise their faiths freely without colliding. That's the way Singapore has to be.

You may ask: Does this mean that religious groups have no views, cannot have views on national issues? Or that religious individuals cannot participate in politics? Obviously not.

Religious groups are free to propagate their teachings on social and moral issues. They have done so on the IRs, organ transplants, 377A, homosexuality.

And obviously many Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists participate in politics. In Parliament, we have people of all faiths. In the Cabinet too.

People who have a religion will often have views which are informed by their religious beliefs. It's natural because it's part of you, it's part of your personality. But you must accept that other groups may have different views informed by different beliefs and you have to accept that and respect that.

The public debate cannot be on whose religion is right and whose religion is wrong. It has to be on secular, rational considerations of public interest - what makes sense for Singapore.

The final requirement for us to live peacefully together is to maintain our common space that all Singaporeans share. It has to be neutral and secular because that's the only way all of us can feel at home in Singapore and at ease.

Common spaces

Let me explain to you with specific examples.

Sharing meals. We have different food requirements. Muslims need halal food. Hindus don't eat beef. Buddhists sometimes are vegetarian. So if we must serve everybody food which is halal, no beef and vegetarian, I think we will have a problem. We will never eat meals together. So there will be halal food on one side, vegetarian food for those who need it, no beef for those who don't eat beef.

Let's share a meal together, acknowledging that we are not the same. Don't discourage people from interacting. Don't make it difficult for us to be one people.

Our schools are another example of common space where all races and religions interact. Even in mission schools run by religious groups, the Ministry of Education has set clear rules, so students of all faiths will feel comfortable.

You might ask: Why not allow mission schools to introduce prayers or Bible studies as compulsory parts of the school activity or as part of school assembly?

Why not? Then why not let those who are not Christian, or don't want a Christian environment, go to a government school or go to a Buddhist school? Well, if they do that, we'll have Christians in Christian schools, Buddhists in Buddhist schools, Muslims in schools with only Muslim children and so on. I think that is not good for Singapore .

Therefore, we have rules to keep all our schools secular and the religious groups understand and accept this.

For example, St Joseph 's Institution is a Catholic brother school but it has many non-Catholic students, including quite a number of Malay students. The Josephian of the Year in 2003 was a Malay student - Salman Mohamed Khair.

He told Berita Harian that initially his family was somewhat worried about admitting him to a Catholic school. He himself was afraid because he didn't know what to expect. But he still went because of SJI's good record. He said: 'Now I feel fortunate to be in SJI. Although I was educated in a Catholic environment, religion never became an issue.'

Indeed that's how it should work. I know it works because I understand that Malay students in SJI often attend Friday prayers at Baalwie Mosque nearby, still wearing their school uniforms. SJI thinks it's fine, the mosque thinks it's fine, the students think it's fine, and I think it's fine too. That's the way it should be.

Another example of common space - work. The office environment should be one which all groups feel comfortable with. Staff have to be confident that they will get equal treatment even if they belong to a different faith from their managers - especially in government departments, but in the private sector too.

I think it can be done because even religious community service organisations often have people who don't belong to that religion working comfortably and happily together. This is one very important aspect of our meritocratic society.

Thus we maintain these principles: exercise tolerance, keep religion separate from politics, keep a secular government, maintain our common space. This is the only way all groups can live in peace and harmony in Singapore .

Aware and responsible church leaders

This is the background to the way the Government looked at one recent issue: Aware.

We were not concerned about who would control Aware because it's just one of so many NGOs in Singapore. On homosexuality policy or sexuality education in schools, there can be strong differences in view but the Government's position was quite clear.

But what worried us was that this was an attempt by a religiously motivated group who shared a strong religious fervour to enter civil space, take over an NGO it disapproved of, and impose their agenda. It was bound to provoke a push back from groups that held the opposite view, which indeed happened vociferously and stridently.

The media coverage got caught up and I think the amplifier was turned up a bit high.

This was hardly the way to conduct a mature discussion of a sensitive matter where views are deeply divided. But most critically of all, this risked a broader spillover into relations between different religions.

I know many Singaporeans were worried about this, including many Christians. They may not have spoken aloud but they raised one eyebrow.

Therefore, I'm very grateful for the very responsible stand which was taken by the church leaders. The National Council of Churches of Singapore issued a statement that it didn't support churches getting involved. There was also the statement by the Catholic Archbishop. Had these statements not been made, we would have had a very serious problem.

The Government stayed out of this but after the dust had settled, I spoke to the religious leaders, first the Christians and then the religious leaders of all faiths, so that everybody understood where we stood and what our concerns were. So we can continue to work together to strengthen our racial and religious harmony.

Unusually serious subject

This is an unusually serious and heavy subject for a National Day Rally. Normally, you talk about babies, hongbaos, bonuses.

No bonuses tonight but a bonus lecture on a serious subject. We discussed this in Cabinet at length and decided that I should talk about this. I crafted the points carefully, circulated them many times. Different presentations in Mandarin, Malay and English, because different groups have different concerns, but a consistent message so that there's no misunderstanding.

I also invited the religious leaders to come and spend the evening with us tonight. They can help us to help their flocks understand our limitations, to guide them to practise their faiths, taking into account the context of our society. Please teach them accommodation, which is what all faiths teach. I look forward to all the religious groups continuing to do a lot of good work for Singapore for many years to come.

Finally, let me share with you one true story which was published recently in an Indian newspaper, The Asian Age, and picked up by The Straits Times. It was about a young man from Gujarat , a Muslim, who migrated to Singapore after the Hindu-Muslim riots in Gujarat in 2002.

A train carrying Hindu pilgrims was stopped in Ahmadebad and set on fire. The circumstances were unclear but 50-odd men, women and children burnt to death, trapped in the train. The Hindus rioted. They had no doubt what the cause was. One thousand people died, mostly Muslims because Ahmadebad has a large Muslim community.

So this young Muslim decided to come to Singapore after the riots. We call him Mohammed Sheikh. It's not his real name because he still has family there. The article said: 'During the bloody riots, he watched three of his family members, including his father, getting butchered. His family had to pay for being Muslim.

'Besides losing his family and home, Mohammed lost confidence and faith in the civil society. He didn't want to spend the rest of his life cursing his destiny. He wanted to move on.'

So seven years ago, Mohammed came to Singapore and got a diploma in hospitality management. Now he is working in an eatery and he hopes to open his own business one day. He told the interviewer, had he stayed in Gujarat , 'I would have been hating all Hindus and baying for their blood, perhaps.'

Now 'he loves it when his children bring home Hindu friends and share snacks'. He told the interviewer proudly, 'My children have Christian, Buddhist, Hindu friends.'

He even hopes to bring his mother to Singapore so she can see for herself that people of different races, different faiths can be friends. The interviewer asked him what Muslim sect he belonged to and which mosque he went to in India. He said: 'I don't want to get into all that. Now I am just a Singaporean. And I am proud of it.'

This story reminds us that while we must not neglect to strengthen our harmonious society, we are in a good position.
So let us rejoice in our harmony but let us never forget what being a Singaporean means. It's not just tolerating other groups but opening our hearts to all our fellow citizens.

Our future

If we stay cohesive, then we can overcome our economic challenges and continue to grow.

This is how we've transformed Singapore over the last half century - solving problems together, growing together, improving our lives.

From the Singapore River to Marina Bay, we've totally transformed Singapore over the last half century. 1959 was a moment of great change but nobody at the Padang in June 1959 imagined the change in today's Singapore.

We will continue to improve our lives, provided we work together and remain a harmonious and a cohesive society so that in another 50 years, we would have built another Singapore, which is equally unimaginable today.

The key is to stay united through rain or shine.

Thursday 5 November 2009

All Hail - The Racist Speaks!!!

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"The Chinese educationists do not even want
Chinese children to be near Malay children...
they mustn't get into contact with Malay children...
that is why they rejected our vision school"
- Mahathir
******************************
Critical pedagogue Ira Shor defines critical pedagogy as
"Habits of thought, reading, writing, and speaking which go beneath surface meaning, first impressions, dominant myths, official pronouncements, traditional clichés, received wisdom, and mere opinions, to understand the deep meaning, root causes, social context, ideology, and personal consequences of any action, event, object, process, organization, experience, text, subject matter, policy, mass media, or discourse." (Empowering Education, 129)
In the interest of national cohesion, I would support a single stream education system- however, only conditionally - if they were to introduce true meritocracy first, with some affirmative action for the deserving in the national school system.
It would be a travesty of justice and human rights for them to take away the relatively excellent Chinese education, only to dish out the substandard racist, bigoted and lazy system promoted by Umno. I wouldn't touch on the Tamil school system, as it is common knowledge where it stands ......

Before the proponents of vernacular education get rabid on me, allow me to say that I do not dispute the fact that education in any language can be good, and you can be proud of your education - that's good. However, at some point, the children should have to be able to relate to the general society which would comprise of those in mainstream education. That is where the problem starts
The simple fact remains - streaming education without equal opportunities is hardly a uniting factor.

Many don't understand why a single stream is essential - they get defensive and start accusing those against it of being biased, extol the virtues of "vernacular" education, the need to preserve identity/culture and what not. As far as I'm concerned, I believe that they miss the "big picture" and choose to parrot the political rhetoric - the very same which Mahathir mouths today.

-------------------------------
"Where is the life we have lost in the living?
Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?
Where is the knowledge we have lost in information ?
The cycles of heaven in twenty centuries
bring us farther from God and nearer to dust."
- T.S. Elliot
---------------------------------------------------

First and foremost, one needs to understand the role spoken & written language plays in society, and how it translates to identity, and then to cohesion/unity. What many don't realize is the fact that what you speak and whom you speak to can very well determine what you think. Consequently, the racism that permeates the education system segregation in terms of race & & language, is the fortress of a race based politics, which in turn would translate to polarization, racism, bigotry & apartheid....

As a "compromise", I'd support the introduction of the English stream - (for I believe that it would outclass all other systems and render them invalid), should there be genuine meritocracy - as it is politically "Neutral". English education isn't the "silver bullet" to cure this social ill.
It would take much more than just an education system to do that. It wouldn't eliminate racism (that would be wishful thinking) ...... but it would minimize the effect of racist propaganda, and slowly but surely it is bound to evoke trust among the younger generation who would learn to see the value of pluralism.
------------------------------------
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said on Sunday that
racist comments from “one or two Umno leaders” should be ignored
because the majority of members in the party were not racists.
- Veera Pandiyan, "Weed Out Racists, Not Ignore Them"
----------------------------------------

Just as Tengku Razaleigh implied, I believe that English shouldn't be viewed as a foreign language, as it was the language upon which Malaysia was built. It is every bit Malaysian (or maybe more so) as Mandarin, Tamil, Hokkien and even Malay. It is our heritage, which we should cherish - instead of making it the bogeyman used to "unite" the people through xenophobia. It may be a bit far fetched for now- but under ideal circumstances, they should make it THE medium of instruction, as it is the only "neutral" language. It can be done, if there is political will - and politicians like Mahathir and Muhyiddin do not inflame racist passions.

In "Where is the Spirit of Merdeka?", I had written -
"The spirit of Merdeka has been subverted by racists and the religious zealots over the years, and has been replaced by chauvinism – racial and religious..... Unfortunately, we are a society so paralyzed by symptomatic solutions one has to wonder whether we will learn anything from this mindless atrocity.......

Taking the above to another level, this "atrocity" which Mahathir (taking on the agenda mooted by his son) seeks to perpetrate, is one of the mind - they seek to enslave our children to the indoctrination by a certain "Biro". They wish to take over the freedom which can guarantee a good education for our children. They have no intention of introducing true meritocracy into the system, nor do they wish to improve the standards.
They want Malaysians to remain divided, "stupid" and gawk in awe at the elite community who get the best education for their children through various methods which money can buy.

Mahathir, in accusing the Chinese from preventing their children from mingling with Malay children has brought forward a simplistic argument which would appeal to the Malays, while promoting distrust and hatred for the Chinese - thus perpetuating the divisive politics of UMNO.
The Education Ministry's "1-Toilet" campaign aside, it is no wonder that Najib tells us to ignore the racists .... It appears that Mahathir is to be Najib's "1-Malaysia" alter-ego, proposing racist agendas to please the racists of Umno and ruffles feathers, while he smoothens them out (by telling them to "ignore" racist comments)!

--------------------------------------
"It will not do to cling to the cause and wish the result away.
Reality does not play mind games.
What is more, to anesthetize the mind in order to abort what comes to birth
when wrong ideas are conceived and borne in the womb of culture,
will only kill the very life-giving force of the nation that nurtures the idea."
- Ravi Zacharias
---------------------------------

Many don't seem to realize that they have already fallen victim to the racist mindset unwittingly, when they support vernacular education - education isn't about race or culture or even language for that matter(although the traits can be there).
Education isn't "knowledge for knowledge's sake" - It's about knowledge in the interest of sustainable development & progress towards nationhood. It truly beats me how vernacular education assists us towards achieving nationhood, when it is already divisive to begin with.

These proponents don't seem to notice that they're being led by their noses, when they support the very thing that keeps in place the race politics which they deplore. These vernacular schools are the fortresses of the race-based politics of Malaysia, which is destroying the fabric of the nation.
Indeed - they happily cling to the cause, and wish the results away ....

=========================
If you think of yourselves as helpless and ineffectual,
it is certain that you will create a despotic government to be your master.
The wise despot, therefore, maintains among his subjects
a popular sense that they are helpless and ineffectual.
"

- Frank Herbert
============================

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