Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Cops seize artwork by J. Anu that allegedly insults Islam
- 'Tanda Putera' A Must-watch Movie For All
- In the Chinese Press: Chinese schools will die out in 14 years - Dong Zong
- Patriotism by example, not coercion
- No go for Tanda Putera at Golden Screen Cinemas in Penang
- Too many 'divine revelations' for media bosses now, says ex-editor Kadir Jasin
- Controversial resort surau demolished
- End of the road for LDP’s Liew?
- Leaders upset over purported student harassment by teachers
- Education Blueprint to encapsulate quality
- Umno adopts electoral college system
- Show ‘Tanda Putera’ or risk permits, director warns cinemas
| Cops seize artwork by J. Anu that allegedly insults Islam Posted: 29 Aug 2013 01:55 AM PDT
(The Star) - Police confiscated an artwork by artist Anurendra Jegadeva from the M50 Selamat Hari Malaysia exhibition, which allegedly insults Islam. The show's co-curator Nani Kahar confirmed that the artwork, entitled "I is for Idiot", had been taken by the police on Thursday afternoon. "They are going to first determine if the work is indeed insulting to Islam," she said when contacted. Nani said the artist, popularly known as J. Anu, had not been arrested, and that the curators had taken down the rest of his artwork exhibited at Publika Kuala Lumpur for safekeeping. She declined to comment further due to ongoing police investigations. A police report was lodged on Wednesday against the piece due to the Arabic words in it, which mean "In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful".
The M50 Selamat Hari Malaysia is a nationwide art festival that kicked off on Monday and will go on until Sept 17 in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Hari Malaysia. It is organised by Balai Seni Visual Negara (BSVN) under the Tourism and Culture Ministry with the participation of 40 art galleries nationwide and aims to create awareness about Hari Malaysia. According to the M50 Selamat Hari Malaysia Facebook page, the artists were invited to explore the notions of "being" and "becoming" Malaysian in the context of globalisation, local vernaculars and modern migration. "Through these artworks, it is hoped that the audience can reflect on the declarations 'I am Malaysian', 'saya anak Malaysia', 'saya bangsa Malaysia' and truly celebrate the 'Malaysian Spirit' today, 50 years after the nation formed," it said.
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| 'Tanda Putera' A Must-watch Movie For All Posted: 29 Aug 2013 12:07 AM PDT
(Bernama) -- 'Tanda Putera', a film directed by Datin Paduka Shuhaimi Baba, is a must-watch movie for all Malaysians, according to Umno Youth executive council member Lokman Noor Adam. As such, he also called on the people, especially the young generation, to watch the historical biographical film about Malaysia's second prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein and his then deputy Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman set around the time after the 1969 racial riots.
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| In the Chinese Press: Chinese schools will die out in 14 years - Dong Zong Posted: 28 Aug 2013 08:00 PM PDT
Chan Wei See, fz.com Dong Zong sent out a stern warning that Chinese primary schools and Chinese Independent Schools would be eliminated in 14 years if the Education Blueprint 2013-2025 is implemented, Sin Chew Daily reported. "I can assure you that Chinese primary schools and Independent schools will become history after 14 years should the preliminary report of the Education Blueprint 2013-2025 be passed in the Parliament," Dong Zong (The United Chinese School Committees' Association) deputy chairman Chow Siew Hon said in a press conference yesterday. To stress his point, he compared the situation to the Sept 11 disaster. "We all know that the Sept 11 disaster was a tragedy for the United States. Should we not continue to give attention to the issue, I am afraid that a great tragedy similar to the Sept 11 disaster will befall Chinese education." Hence, Chow pleaded with the 2,000 Chinese groups nationwide as well as citizens of all races who cherish mother tongue education to support Dong Zong's protest against the Education Blueprint. In a statement released yesterday, Dong Zong admonished the Chinese community that the price of compromising or giving in is the transformation of Chinese schools as the ultimate goal or fundamental nature of the blueprint is to implement the policy of assimilation. Meanwhile, Jiao Zong (United Chinese School Teachers Association) urged the government to make public the revised version of the Education Blueprint to allow the public to have an insight into it, adding that the government should give an assurance that the revised version meets the interests of all races. Govt urged to take action against MCC Both Dong Zong and Jiao Zong lashed out at the Malay Consultative Council (MCC) which passed several resolutions in its Premier National Education Congress, urging the government to implement a single education system, making Bahasa Melayu the main medium of instruction in schools and disapproving of the setting up of new Chinese Independent schools, Sin Chew Daily reported. Jiao Zong was unhappy with MCC's remarks, and urged the government to take stern action against those who made extremist and racist statements to ensure that national development stays on a sound footing. "Those statements are not only misleading but also attempting to the stir up racial sentiments. It has undermined the harmonious environment of a peaceful coexistence of all ethnic groups that has been fostered since Merdeka." Meanwhile Chow from Dong Zong said in responding to a reporter's question, "Indeed I'm not familiar with the group (MCC). I think they have forgotten the contributions that the Chinese have made to the country from the beginning. We should be treated fairly." He pointed out that national unity will be undermined should the government allow citizens to make such racist remarks. Undercurrent against Lim Guan Eng in Johor As DAP is preparing for a re-election, an undercurrent of resentment has been brewing in Johor against its secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, Oriental Daily News reported. It is seen as a backlash against the DAP Central Executive Committee's (CEC) decision to put "parachute candidates" in Johor in the general election instead of accepting the proposed candidates of the grassroots members. The daily was told that the dissatisfaction against Lim Guan Eng may erupt in DAP CEC election scheduled for next month. It quoted a grassroots leader as saying, voices of resentment have been heard in Kulai and Muar and that central delegates from southern and northern Johor are preparing to cast an "emotional vote" in the election to bring down the number of votes for Guan Eng. Meanwhile it was heard that Kulai division liaison committee chairman Ng Pack Seong and ten other central delegates from the division will boycott the election in protest of the DAP CEC's decision to appoint parachute candidates in the Kulai parliamentary seat and one of its state seats. Ng confirmed to the daily that he would not vote in the poll as scheduled on Sept 29 and that he would not do rent a bus to bring delegates to the assembly. He also would not prepare for the central delegates to vote in the election as before. The daily named six DAP parachute candidates in Johor. They were Lim Kit Siang (Gelang Patah), Liew Chin Tong (Kluang), Teo Nie Ching (Kulai), Mahdzir Ibrahim (Tanjung Piai), Ramakrishnan Suppiah (Labis) and Wong Shu Qi (Senai). |
| Patriotism by example, not coercion Posted: 28 Aug 2013 01:33 PM PDT
Patriotism at the end of the day is not all about loving your country. It is also about how you jealously safeguard the nation from 'all things bad' and when it comes to the latter, Najib shows no interest in doing so. Jeswan Kaur, FMT The country is under great crisis. A foreign woman gets blown to bits and the law finds no one accountable for her death. Then there is the revelation that cops are moonlighting as snatch thieves!If these morose developments are not depressing enough, there is also the fear that communal tensions are a ticking time bomb, no thanks to the Court of Appeal verdict that had ruled against the Catholic Church last Thursday, the excuse being that the government's appeal to block non-Muslims from using "Allah", the Middle-Eastern word for god, was "not academic". The Catholic Church had sued the government for violating its constitutional rights after the Home Ministry threatened to revoke the publication permit of the Herald, a Catholic weekly, in 2008 for using the Arabic word "Allah" to describe God. The 2009 High Court judgment in favour of the Catholic Church sparked one of the worst religious attacks in the country, where a church was firebombed and other places of worship desecrated. The legal tussle is however far from over. Post-Aug 22, the Church vs Putrajaya battle continues next month, prolonging the over four-year-long legal tug-of-war between Muslims and Christians over one word – Allah. While the church is understandably disappointed with the Court of Appeal's verdict, Malay-Muslim supremacy group Perkasa is only too happy the decision was not otherwise. In fact, over 200 protesters from Muslim groups, including Perkasa, rallied outside the courthouse, confident that the court would rule against the Church. That was not all. On Aug 28, cinema goers must have to be careful not to step on the wrong side of the law should they not respect the national anthem 'Negaraku' that is to be played in cinema halls before each movie screening. Communications and Multimedia Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek had announced recently the national anthem and two patriotic short clips will be played in cinemas prior to the movies. Should moviegoers refuse to stand up and sing the 'Negaraku', they are asking for trouble as far as Ahmad Shabery is concerned. Forced patriotism via crappy ideas The smart alec 'patriotism in the theatre' is the Barisan Nasional government's Merdeka Week campaign that kicked off on Aug 25 and continues until Sept 3 - the aim being to instill patriotism and reviving the 60s Merdeka spirit. Besides the regular dont's imposed by cinema halls, the latest addition includes "fines not exceeding RM100 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month" under the National Anthem Act 1968 should patrons to the movies disrespect the 'Negaraku'. That is not all. In addition, anyone showing disrespect can be arrested without warrant as stipulated by Section 9 "unless such person gives his name and address and satisfies" the arresting officer that he will "duly answer any summons or other proceedings" against – in this case – a defiant moviegoer. The government's desperate attempts to rekindle the spirit of 'love thy nation' among the rakyat is a sure flop, going by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's refusal to take to task religious bigots and fanatical politicians who harbour the desire of alienating the Malays from the other races. Najib's prejudicial stand as far as race and religion issues in the country go tells volumes of his own 'patriotism' towards the rakyat.
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| No go for Tanda Putera at Golden Screen Cinemas in Penang Posted: 28 Aug 2013 01:30 PM PDT
(The Star) - Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) will not be screening the controversial Tanda Putera movie in its two cineplexes on the island and mainland here following a request from the Penang Government. Queensbay Mall GSC manager Sam Kok Kee said he received a directive from his headquarters yesterday not to screen the movie.The cineplex in Queensbay Mall has advertised that the movie will be screen six times today, same as GSC cineplex in Sunway Carnival. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state government did not impose a ban on the screening of the movie in the state. "We only issued an advisory. No action will be taken against cinema operators who continue to screen the movie despite our advice," he said in a statement on Thursday. The movie is to be screened nationwide from today.
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| Too many 'divine revelations' for media bosses now, says ex-editor Kadir Jasin Posted: 28 Aug 2013 01:22 PM PDT
(fz.com) - "My media friends tell me nowadays that they are being burdened by "wahyus" (divine revelations) from those without power or office who tell them to interfere in national issues. In my time, I only dealt with the top," said Kadir, referring to Mahathir. Former New Straits Times Press (NSTP) group editor-in-chief said that his way of protesting against the powers that be, while he was heading the influential media group, was by keeping silent.Although he was seen to be writing in favour of the then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in his column "Other Thots", he said that he showed his disagreement with the former's views by not writing about certain issues at all and Mahathir knew that. Acknowledging that one cannot rebel against one's paymasters, Kadir said that although he was not close to any of the top leaders in the country then, his relationship with Mahathir was "somewhat different" and yet he dared to disagree with the premier. He said that journalists should find other ways of saying what they want by being reasonable, measured and not too abusive. He also said that politicians during his time as the top NSTP editor were more tolerant. "My media friends tell me nowadays that they are being burdened by "wahyus" (divine revelations) from those without power or office who tell them to interfere in national issues. In my time, I only dealt with the top," said Kadir, referring to Mahathir. Kadir, who received the National Journalist Laureate (Tokoh Wartawan Negara) in 2011, was speaking in an exclusive interview in the Face to Face programme of fz.com on the state of the media and on his tenure in NSTP. Stating that his Umno membership was something of a "birthright" due to his father's active participation in Umno, he said that he believed he rose to the top media position as he "was noticed as a reporter" and he "knew many people of Umno" while working in the press. When asked to comment on the reason why the mainstream media, especially newspapers, were not very popular with the masses now, Kadir said it is "not fair to only blame political masters and owners of media houses". "Journalists have to blame themselves for the state the media is in now," said Kadir. At the same time, he said that "You cannot rebel because you are being paid...you have to toe the line".
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| Controversial resort surau demolished Posted: 28 Aug 2013 01:10 PM PDT
The Sedili Resort management which allowed a non-Muslim group to meditate in its surau expect to complete the demolition exercise today. (Bernama) - The surau at a resort in Sedili Besar, which was used by non-Muslims in a religious ceremony on August 10, was demolished by the resort management yesterday. According to one of the resort's workers, Mohd Kanang Abdullah, 29, he was directed by the resort owner to carry out the demolition."The demolition work started at 9am this morning using a bulldozer and will be continued tomorrow, he said when met at the location. Prior to this, the Kota Tinggi District Council (MDKT) had ordered the the resort's management to demolish the surau. "We are now waiting for further instruction," he said when asked on the latest development in the case. The police had submitted the papers to the DPP last Aug 14, but they were returned as certain aspect, including statements that were recorded, were incomplete. Following the incident, the 45-year-old owner of the resort, a Singaporean with Malaysian permanent resident (PR) status, was remanded for four days to facilitate police investigation. He has since been charged and is awaiting trial. |
| End of the road for LDP’s Liew? Posted: 28 Aug 2013 11:48 AM PDT
(FMT) - What we are watching now in Sabah LDP, which incidentally is the oldest BN partner, is an ugly all-or-nothing, party-be-damned, fight that is multi-sided and lined up against the president. The case for Liew Vui Keong, the leader of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), is strong if he wants to go back into legal practice, his old job before he rose in the party and was made a federal deputy minister. After all he's more widely known now, has contacts in high places and knows the inner workings of the government like the back of his hand after being a senior member of the Prime Minister's Department for so long. It's probably what he should have been looking at after he was ignominiously defeated by a virtual unknown in the May general elections. Instead what we are watching now is an ugly all-or-nothing, party-be-damned, fight that is multi-sided and lined up against the president. Tuesday's press conference by Liew to announce the sacking of party secretary-general Teo Chee Kang from the post was revealing in itself. "There was no one else of importance from the party at the PC," said a member of the media who was there. Things started to fall apart for the former Deputy Minister after he was defeated in the May general election for the Sandakan parliamentary seat where he was the incumbent. The warning signs that he would not fade away without a fight were always there starting with his failure to take responsibility for his defeat. The standard offer to step aside as head of the party after DAP's Wong Tien Fatt trounced him was not forthcoming. "That was a major mistake. He should have made the offer. He could have relied on the sympathy factor if he had played his cards right," said a political observer. Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/08/29/end-of-the-road-for-ldps-liew/ |
| Leaders upset over purported student harassment by teachers Posted: 28 Aug 2013 11:43 AM PDT
(The Star) - According to a group of parents, more students are expected to be moved out from the school unless the Government takes a firm stand against the alleged harassment of these children. Allegations of student harassment by teachers at SK Seri Pristana of Sungai Buloh, Selangor, must be thoroughly investigated, said Deputy Education Minister P. Kamalanathan. "Such reports, if any, must be investigated to unearth the truth," he said when contacted. The school made headlines when a parent shared photographs of non-Muslim children eating in a changing room that was used as a makeshift canteen during Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month. Since then, three non-Muslim students have already been transferred out of the school by their parents. According to a group of parents, more students are expected to be moved out from the school unless the Government takes a firm stand against the alleged harassment of these children. MCA has also hit out at the school for the alleged maltreatment of students. "Educationists should serve as mentors and caring protectors of children instead of scaring them away from school and education," said MCA publicity chief Datuk Heng Seai Kie. MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong criticised the headmaster for allowing police to question its students. "It is very unbecoming to allow students to be questioned by police in what is not even a criminal case," he said. Dr Wee added that although police should do their job when they receive complaints, there was no point in harping on the issue. "The long term repercussions should be taken into account. "If a harmonious environment is not created, it will be difficult for non-Malays to send their children to national schools and this will defeat the Government's purpose," said the former deputy education minister. Meanwhile, the police are urging the public not to link the arrest of a parent of a student at the school with the controversy over the makeshift canteen. According to Sungai Buloh OCPD Supt Junaidi Bujang, these were two separate matters that are being investigated separately. "Police investigated the canteen issue as 19 reports were lodged by members of the public, while four more reports were lodged by school staff," said Supt Junaidi at a press conference at the Sungai Buloh district police headquarters yesterday. He said the arrest of V. Kumancan, 32, was a result of a report lodged by the headmaster after he allegedly uttered threatening words at the school's office. On the questioning of students at the school, Supt Junaidi clarified that police officers interviewed some students as part of investigations, but did not "interrogate" them as claimed by some. Though parents were not present, he added that his officers did not intimidate the students. "We were given permission by the headmaster to interview students and we were given 30 minutes. "We spoke to more than six students in a classroom with other students present, including those who were photographed eating in the room," he added. |
| Education Blueprint to encapsulate quality Posted: 28 Aug 2013 11:43 AM PDT
(Borneo Post) - Abdul Ghafar said apart from the recommendation from the trial runs conducted by the ministry, the Education Ministry has also considered 153 suggestions from various non-governmental organisations, associations, institutions, educationists, and the public, including students.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025 will encapsulate quality and the holistic empowerment of teachers, students and the education system itself.
Education director-general Datuk Seri Abdul Ghafar Mahmud said the final report of the blueprint has been concluded and will be launched on Sept 6.
He said the blueprint, which was minutely drawn up based on each phase of study conducted at selected schools and sections in the education sector by the ministry, is set to bring about remarkable improvements to the country's education system. "Based on the nationwide dialogue on education since April, the ministry has conceptualised and drawn up the education development plan for the Malaysian Education Blueprint."
Based on trial runs and experiments conducted in multiple phases, he said the blueprint is a wholesome combination of a holistic and effective plan to achieve the desired transformation in the country's education system.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also Education Minister, will launch the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
On Sept 11 last year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak launched the early report of the Malaysia Education Blueprint, which focuses on six pupil attributes – knowledge, thinking skills, leadership, bilingual proficiency, ethics and national identity – that can be achieved through various approaches depending on the pupil's standards and capabilities.
"Experts from various fields including Unesco, have complimented the blueprint. So far it has been well received and complimented based on the outcome and success of its trial runs conducted in various fields. We believe that it would similarly be accepted by others," he said.
Abdul Ghafar said apart from the recommendation from the trial runs conducted by the ministry, the Education Ministry has also considered 153 suggestions from various non-governmental organisations, associations, institutions, educationists, and the public, including students.
The recommendations were submitted during the three-month National Dialogue on Education, an initiative by the government to gather suggestions from stakeholders on a large scale on ways to enhance the education system.
Abdul Ghafar said the final report would be followed by the formulation and development of the new education strategic plan. |
| Umno adopts electoral college system Posted: 28 Aug 2013 10:42 AM PDT
(The Star) - Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the system was chosen for the party elections, which for the first time will see about 150,000 members voting for supreme council members, as it was deemed the most practical due to the large number of voters involved. Although about 150,000 members will be voting in the upcoming Umno elections, the actual votes that will matter are those from the party's 191 divisions. This is because Umno will adopt the electoral college system, where each division carries only one vote for each post. Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the system was chosen for the party elections, which for the first time will see about 150,000 members voting for supreme council members, as it was deemed the most practical due to the large number of voters involved. "We have explained to party members how the system works. Although each division represents one vote, the grassroots will still be the deciders because it is they who will first vote to determine candidates their division will support," he told The Star. In the past, the Umno 191 divisions would send about 2,500 delegates to the general assembly to vote for the party leadership but this time around, voting will take place during the respective division meetings on Oct 19, ahead of the party's annual general assembly slated for Dec 2 to 7. Tengku Adnan said a candidate must obtain the most number of votes from delegates in a division in order to secure that division's single vote. The same system, he added, would also be used to elect office bearers for the Youth, Wanita and Puteri movements on Oct 12. Tengku Adnan said that results for the party elections would be announced on the same day at the Umno headquarters. He added that ballot counting would start in the evening, with the results to be announced several hours later. "We have explained to party members how the system works. Although each division represents one vote, the grassroots will still be the deciders because it is they who will first vote to determine candidates their division will support," he told The Star. In the past, the Umno 191 divisions would send about 2,500 delegates to the general assembly to vote for the party leadership but this time around, voting will take place during the respective division meetings on Oct 19, ahead of the party's annual general assembly slated for Dec 2 to 7. Tengku Adnan said a candidate must obtain the most number of votes from delegates in a division in order to secure that division's single vote. The same system, he added, would also be used to elect office bearers for the Youth, Wanita and Puteri movements on Oct 12. Tengku Adnan said that results for the party elections would be announced on the same day at the Umno headquarters. He added that ballot counting would start in the evening, with the results to be announced several hours later. |
| Show ‘Tanda Putera’ or risk permits, director warns cinemas Posted: 28 Aug 2013 09:48 AM PDT
(MMO) - The National Film Development Corporation's (FINAS) Compulsory Screening Scheme was introduced in 2005 to help local filmmakers gain a larger audience. Under the scheme, cinemas must show designated films in their largest screening hall for no fewer than 14 days. KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 ― Cinemas risk losing their licences if they comply with Penang's request not to screen "Tanda Putera" as the film is covered by the government's mandatory screening scheme, said its director Datin Paduka Shuhaimi Baba. Shuhaimi was responding to the call by the Penang government yesterday to cinemas in the state to refrain from playing the movie, scheduled to hit silver screens today after nearly a year's delay. "As far as we are concerned the screening should go on as scheduled by FINAS Wajib Tayang (Compulsory Screening) Committee. "If the cinema operators do not screen the film as scheduled, their licences can be revoked by FINAS," Shuhaimi told The Malay Mail Online via text last night. The National Film Development Corporation's (FINAS) Compulsory Screening Scheme was introduced in 2005 to help local filmmakers gain a larger audience. Under the scheme, cinemas must show designated films in their largest screening hall for no fewer than 14 days. They may demote the screening to a smaller hall if audiences fail to reach 30 per cent of capacity for four consecutive days. They may also discontinue screening at their discretion if less than 15 per cent of the hall is filled for three days in a row. The scheme is open to any film made by a local company or a joint-venture production in Malaysia. Shuhaimi also confirmed that the movie's distributor received an emailed copy of the directive from the Penang city council to the cinema operators, dated yesterday, requesting them to not screen "Tanda Putera" today. "If indeed, this instruction came from the chief minister, we find this latest development irrational and incomprehensible as he has not even seen the movie, and this misuse of authority is an embarrassment. "We are just filmmakers and not his political opponent. Instead of victimising us, he should pick on someone his own size," she said. |
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