Ahad, 29 Mei 2011

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Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News


Scholarship solution - More professional courses in local varsities for top scorers

Posted: 29 May 2011 11:35 AM PDT

By Sharanjit Singh, NST

GEORGE TOWN: A new policy will be introduced to resolve the issue of top scorers not being awarded Public Service Department (PSD) scholarships to pursue their studies abroad.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said under the policy, more professional courses would be introduced in local universities so that top scorers could study in the country instead.

"It will be good to keep talented students in the country. Our universities are good enough, they are comparable to foreign universities and they can offer courses that we need, including medicine.

"This way the government will be able to award more scholarships to them to study locally," he said when commenting on the discontent in various quarters, including Barisan Nasional members MCA, MIC and Gerakan over the matter.

The PSD has come under fire from politicians and parents over the awarding of its scholarships to Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia top scorers with many claiming some deserving students had been left out.

There were also students who claimed they were awarded diploma and matriculation programmes, instead of degree programmes, for courses they did not apply. Muhyiddin, who is education minister, said sponsoring students abroad was also getting costlier, and by having more courses in local universities, more students could be persuaded to study locally.

On why this problem (of some top scorers not awarded scholarships) occurred yearly, Muhyiddin said this was not so.

"It is not a year in, year out problem. Last year there was no problem (but) this year there seems to be some misunderstanding." Muhyiddin said the matter should not be blown out of proportion as only 59 top scorers who were offered scholarships did not get to study abroad, but were offered places in local universities.

He added that the government hoped to clear the air on the matter in the next few days.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had on Friday said although the government promised that top scorers were eligible for scholarships, not all would get to study overseas.

"This is what people sometimes don't understand," he had said.

Najib had given an assurance that the government would continue to finance students who were offered scholarships to do diploma courses at local universities until the degree level and, likewise, for those who were offered matriculation courses.

This year, a total of 4,000 scholarships were offered, including 1,500 for overseas degree programmes (PILN). A total of 8,857 of the 16,900 applicants met the minimum academic requirements needed to be eligible for PILN.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, the minister in charge of PSD, who was directed to resolve the matter, will chair a meeting with the department tomorrow.

Last year, Nazri had said the 1,500 PSD scholarships for PILN would be phased out from this year. This was aimed at increasing the number of scholarships for those studying at local universities and to address complaints that there were not enough scholarships for SPM top scorers.

He also said it was impossible to increase the number of scholarships because "we don't have enough money for that whenwe also need money to focus on other areas".

 

READ MORE HERE.


Malaysia in the Era of Globalization #67

Posted: 29 May 2011 11:34 AM PDT

I am convinced that many of the social problems can be traced to the breakdown of the Malaysian, in particular Malay, family.

By M. Bakri Musa

Chapter 8: Culture, Institutions, and Leadership

The Institution of the Family

The family is the most important social institution. To sociologists, it is the basic unit of social structure. Article 16 of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights states that "the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society, and is entitled to protection by society and state." It is in the family that the young are acculturated and imbued with the values and norms of society. One learns what is right and wrong and differentiates the good from the bad through the family. Thus no matter now noble and moral the values of a society are, all that would be naught if those very same values are not transmitted to the young because of the breakdown of the family.

President Reagan in his State of the Union Address in 1985 following his landslide reelection declared, "For an America of wisdom that honors the family, knowing that as the family goes, so goes our civilization…." The anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski observed that the biological role of the human male would be similar to that of other male species, that is, to impregnate and disappear after having fulfilled his duty to propagate his specie. "And yet," Malinowski wrote, "in all human societies the father is regarded by tradition as indispensable. The woman is to be married before she is allowed legitimately to conceive… An unmarried mother is under a ban, a fatherless child is a bastard. This is not by no means a European or Christian prejudice; it is the attitude found amongst most barbarous and savage people as well." Malinowski's observation is one of the few universalities of human social behavior.

Related to the institution of family is that of marriage. Marriage is the genesis of the family; it is an institution universal to all cultures. The centrality of marriage can be attested by the fact all cultures have elaborate ceremonies to sanctify this matrimonial union between man and woman. It also signifies that all societies place a premium on the importance of the family. While marriage is universally recognized as a heterosexual union, there are notable exceptions. In America, with the greater acceptance of homosexuality, same sex marriage is increasingly recognized by many states, and with it such rights as the ability to adopt children and of survivor benefits. Among the Dahomey of West Africa, one woman could "marry" another, with the first woman being the "father" of the children (by other men) of the second woman. A comparable phenomenon is seen in wolfs where when the male leader of the pack is killed, and in the absence of another adult male, the most senior female assumes the role of a male, or "father" of the pack.

Sociologists may have a variety of normative descriptions of what a family is as viewed by different cultures. Such variations notwithstanding, the central element remains with the father and the mother, together with all their children. Western cultures may emphasize this nuclear family; Eastern cultures may expand that to include the extended families (comprising of members of one or more generations).

Regardless, the primacy of parents—father and mother—remains. The oft quoted African saying to the effect that it takes a village to raise a child does not in any way absolve parents from their primary responsibility of raising their own children.

Much can be learned about a society by studying the state of the family. Many of the social problems encountered today – delinquency, child and spousal abuses, school dropouts, and incest – can all be correlated with the breakdown of the family. The deterioration of American society, in particular minority groups, can ultimately be traced to the disintegration of the American family. The statistics are alarming. In 1960, 7 percent of White and 17 percent of Black babies were born out of wedlock, but by 2000 the figures skyrocketed to 27 and 77 percent respectively. In 1960 about 45 percent of American families were the traditional nuclear family, but by 2000 the figure dropped to only 23 percent. There has been an alarming increase in the number of single parent families.

In 1965 Daniel Patrick Moynihan, while serving in President Johnson's administration, issued a report highlighting the "tangle of pathology" in poor urban Blacks that was in part traceable to the rapid breakdown of the Black family. This prescient observation, widely criticized at the time for being racist, predicted that this trend, unchecked, would portend a more general disintegration of society. The wisdom of that insight is now obvious, and its truth universal. It applies not only to Blacks and other minorities but also to Whites. Although there are no rigorous sociological studies in Malaysia comparable to the American ones cited by Moynihan, I am convinced that many of the social problems can be traced to the breakdown of the Malaysian, in particular Malay, family.

Such studies are complicated by the lack of uniformity in the definition of the family. Although legally in Malaysia a husband with multiple wives would be considered as an intact family, in dynamics and reality it is a broken family. The children of the "senior" or abandoned wives are in all respects living in a fatherless home. Those children rarely see their father; they lack the all-important father figure not only to tell them right from wrong but more importantly, to give them the much-needed words of encouragement and a pat on the back when the inevitable mistakes are made. Or when they simply need some warm tender hugs! And when they grow up and get married, they will continue the same pattern set by their absentee fathers. They will also in turn abandon their own children. And the pattern would continue, inflicting damage on subsequent generations.

Although I have not seen any empirical studies, I predict that the sons of men with multiple wives will also more likely to have multiple wives of their own. I also hypothesize that juvenile delinquents in Malaysia are more likely to be the products of broken homes and or families with multiple wives.

The only reason Malaysia's problems are not much worse than those in America is because Malaysia still has a strong extended family system to take up the slack. Thus abandoned children still have their uncles and aunts to fall back on. It is in urban areas where the bonds of the extended family are not as strong or nonexistent that we see the most sinister effects of the breakdown of the family. No surprise then that incest, lepak (loitering), bohsia (delinquency), drug abuse, and other indicators of social disintegration are primarily urban phenomena.

In America, if a child is born into an intact family, that is the best predictor whether he or she will succeed in school and end up in college. The reverse is equally true, that is, a child from a broken family is more likely to end up in the criminal justice system.

The popular media often cite researches done by Malaysian academics on the racial differences in the academic performances of pupils. The impression left from many such studies (and certainly the interpretation of the media) is that race is a major causative factor. Yet when I examine the original publications and scrutinize their statistics and methodology, I am always disappointed in their basic design and conclusions.

Malaysian social scientists are trapped by the race bugaboo. I have yet to see published studies comparable to the Moynihan Report that factor in the status of the family, income, and location (urban or rural), that is, variables other than race. It would not surprise me that such a study would confirm Moynihan's observation that a broken family is a major predictor of a host of social pathologies, instead of, as frequently noted, race.

Such studies are not difficult to undertake, but their designs and interpretations would require the researchers to be well versed with modern statistical tools like regression analysis. For the most part, Malaysian social scientists, especially those locally trained, are mathematically challenged.

Next: The Blight of Broken Families

Developers shy away as Lynas plant looms

Posted: 29 May 2011 11:26 AM PDT

By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, May 30 — The controversial RM700 million rare earth plant in the Gebeng industrial zone is threatening to sink the local property market in Kuantan.

Developers are holding off on new projects, fearing a collapse in prices if Australian miner Lynas Corp is given the green light to begin operations in as little as three months.

The refinery has faced mounting opposition over the past few months due to fears of radiation pollution, giving pause to both developers and buyers.

"A few developers here are holding back from starting new projects. Some who have not committed too much money have totally backed out of their current developments," said property valuer Liom Hong Sang.

Kuantan Chinese Chamber of Commerce chairman Pang Woon Ping said that some real estate companies had experienced a 50 per cent drop in sales since March.

Although developers have managed to hold out without slashing prices, Pang told The Malaysian Insider that "if the plant goes ahead, there will be a sure drop."

Homes along the Kuantan-Gebeng stretch are currently priced about 20 per cent lower than in the city of Kuantan itself, with single-storey terrace units going for about RM100,000 to RM120,000.

The government was forced to put the refinery on ice last month pending a review by international experts that will be completed at the end of June.

Despite the review, Lynas expects no delay to its plans to begin operations in September as it maintains the plant is safe.

 

READ MORE HERE.

PR leaders dismiss Najib's plea to youth

Posted: 29 May 2011 11:24 AM PDT

(Harakah Daily) - KUALA LUMPUR, May 30: Prime Minister Najib Razak's weekend call on the youth to defend Barisan Nasional from being ousted from Putrajaya drew reactions from several leaders.

In a government-organised World Youth Day gathering in Putrajaya, Najib urged young people in the country to help him defend the administrative capital from "being auctioned off", referring to an allegation often targeted at opposition parties.

Najib even drew comparison with Egypt's mass youth movement that brought down decades of Mubarak dictatorship last February.

"You see one million youths in Tahrir Square, they had gathered there to bring the government down. But here, one million youth have gathered in Putrajaya to defend the government. Will you defend Putrajaya with me?" he asked in his address to a rally organisers called '1 Million Youth Gathering' in Putrajaya.
 
"The opposition said that they want to auction off Putrajaya. Will we allow them to sell Putrajaya off? No! We won't let them sell off Putrajaya because one million youth will be here to defend Putrajaya," he added.

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim however dismissed the call.

"No youth movement would support a decadent, corrupt, obsolete system, I am sure they (young voters) will not defend it,"  said Anwar.
 
PAS information chief Idris Ahmad described Najib's plea "a waste of time", adding that the new generation would make their own assessment based on the information at hand, unlike in the past when only BN controlled the information flow through the use of traditional media. "The younger generation is no longer the group living in a cucoon away from information. Malaysian youth are active in the new media, and are exposed to the correct information.
 
"UMNO can only get support from people who are not informed, and the younger generation is not part of this group," he said in his comments to Harakahdaily.
 
PKR's Lembah Pantai member of parliament Nurul Izzah Anwar meanwhile called on the youth to unite for a new Putrajaya by supporting reforms.

 

READ MORE HERE.

 

Suaram starts Legal Fund to Probe Submarine Commissions in French Courts

Posted: 29 May 2011 11:17 AM PDT

SUARAM's latest application, once approved by the court, would allow it to become party to the enquiry and have official access to every element of the enquiry, including access to the evidence which allegedly links DCNS to the issuing of commissions to government officials.

By Dr Kua Kia Soong (Director of SUARAM)

SUARAM's efforts to probe suspected commissions involved in the submarines purchase in the French courts are starting to bear fruit. The Malaysian courts have failed to shed light on the grisly murder of Altantuya and the reasons for her murder. Although two former bodyguards of the Prime Minister have been charged and sentenced, their motives for the murder have not been probed by the Malaysian court.

SUARAM believes that there is more to the murder of Altantuya and that what is in question is at least RM500 million in commissions associated with the RM7 billion Scorpene submarines deal. This has grave consequences for both Malaysian and French tax payers.

SUARAM applied through its French lawyers as a civil party for a judicial review in November 2009. As Malaysia's leading human rights organization, it has always fought for human rights and "People before Profits" issues. Furthermore, SUARAM's latest publication, "Questioning Arms Spending in Malaysia: From Altantuya to Zikorsky" by its director, Dr Kua Kia Soong, gives it the locus standi for filing this petition in the French courts.

This case concerns the sale of two Scorpène submarines and an Agosta submarine to the Malaysian government, a contract worth approximately one billion euros, that was signed in 2002 with the Malaysian DCNS (former DCN, Department of Naval Construction) and Thalès.


The French Inquisitorial Judicial System

Unlike the British (and Malaysian) system, the French inquisitorial system has an examining or investigating judge. The examining judge can conduct investigations into serious crimes or complex enquiries. As members of the judiciary, they are independent of the executive branch. The judge questions witnesses, interrogates suspects, and orders searches or other investigations. The examining judge's goal is to gather facts, and as such their duty is to look for all the evidence. Both the prosecution and the defence may request the judge to act and may appeal the judge's decisions before an appellate court.

Judges in the Paris Prosecution Office have been probing a wide range of corruption charges involving similar submarine sales and the possibility of bribery and kickbacks to top officials in France, Pakistan, Taiwan and other countries, including Malaysia. Recently, Parisian prosecutors, led by investigating Judges Francoise Besset and Jean-Christophe Hullin, have been investigating allegations involving senior French political figures and the sales of submarines and other weaponry to governments all over the world.

SUARAM's latest application, once approved by the court, would allow it to become party to the enquiry and have official access to every element of the enquiry, including access to the evidence which allegedly links DCNS to the issuing of commissions to government officials. The case is still at the enquiry phase and the new application is to upgrade it to the "instruction phase" where an investigative judge would be appointed.


Malaysia's Scorpene Submarines' Scandal

This scandal involving Malaysia's purchase of two Scorpene submarines is of concern also to French tax payers because it involves France's biggest defense conglomerates, the state-owned shipbuilder DCN. DCN's subsidiary Armaris manufactures the Scorpene submarines sold to Malaysia among other countries.

It has already been brought up in the Malaysian Parliament that €114 million (RM500 million) has been paid to a Malaysia-based company called Perimekar, for "coordination and support services" for the submarines transaction. Perimekar was wholly owned by another company, KS Ombak Laut Sdn Bhd, which in turn was controlled by Najib's aide, Razak Baginda. Baginda's wife Mazlinda was the principal shareholder in this company. Perimekar was registered in 2001, a few months before the signing of the contracts for the sale and the company did not appear to have the financial resources to complete the contract. None of the directors and shareholders of Perimekar have any experience in the construction or maintenance of submarines.

Altantuya Shaariibuu, a 28-year-old Mongolian translator and Razak Baginda's jilted lover, had allegedly participated in negotiations over the purchase of the submarines. By her own admission in a letter found after her death, she was attempting to blackmail Razak Baginda for US$500,000. She was shot in October 2006 and her body was blown up with military explosives by two bodyguards attached to Najib's office after Razak Baginda went to Najib's chief of staff, Musa Safri, for help in stopping her demands.

What were Altantuya's Killers' Motives?

After being acquitted in November 2008 under questionable circumstances of participating in her murder, Razak Baginda left the country for England. The bodyguards were convicted but no motive was ever established for their actions.

The submarine deal was never brought up in court during the murder trial which saw prosecutors, defense attorneys and the judge judiciously keeping Najib's name out of the proceedings.

A private detective hired by Razak Baginda to protect him from Altantuya's advances filed a statutory declaration after the trial indicating that Najib had actually been the victim's lover and had passed her on to Razak Baginda. He later retracted this story in a second statutory declaration. The detective, P. Balasubramaniam, said later that he was forced to leave Kuala Lumpur. He eventually emerged from hiding in India to say that he had been offered RM5 million (US$1.57 million) by a businessman close to Najib's wife to leave town. He also said he had met Najib's younger brother, Nazim and was told to recant his testimony.

Contradictions in Malaysian Government's Story

From the investigations so far, there appears to be contradictions in the Malaysian government's side of the story regarding the payment of 114 euros to the Malaysian company Perimekar. The Deputy Minister of Defence had told the Malaysian Parliament that this was paid by the French. According to sources cited by the plaintiffs, it was not the company Armaris that paid 114 million euros to Perimekar, but rather the Malaysian government, "with the sole purpose of circumventing the OECD Convention."

This contract was signed in 2002 after the OECD Convention came into force in France in 2000, which punishes corruption of foreign public officials with ten years' imprisonment and a 150,000 euro fine. Following this complaint, a preliminary investigation was conducted by the prosecution: the hearings were made and searches were made at the premises of DCNS and Thalès.

As was the case for contracts won by the DCN for submarines to Pakistan and frigates to Taiwan, there are increasing suspicions of "reversed commissions" to French political parties.

After Suaram had filed an initial suit at the Paris court in 2009, the state prosecutor Jean-Claude Marin then opened a preliminary investigation. At the time, it was suspected that a bribe of 114 million euros had been paid by the company Armaris (a subsidiary of DCNI and Thalès) to Malaysian parties through the company Perimekar.


DCN Officer Confirms Commissions

In September 2008, during the course of the Karachi Case also involving DCN, the note books of Gérard-Philippe Menayas, former chief financial officer of DCN, who was indicted in the case, also confirmed the suspicions of hidden commissions. In his memorandum, Menayas mentioned the Malaysian submarine contract as follows:

"Since the entry into force of the OECD Convention regarding the fight against corruption in September 2000, only two contracts have been signed; the first with India, and the second with Malaysia in 2002. These two contracts are the result of commercial actions undertaken prior to the OECD Convention. Furthermore, they are both suspected of non-compliance with this Convention. I have evidence to support this".(http://www.rue89.com/2011/04/02/sous-marins-malaisiens-la-piste-des-retrocommissions-se-precise)

Furthermore, it appears there were three commissions instead of one paid for the sale of submarines. In addition to that of 114 million euros, there are two further instalments, one paid by DCN to the commercial networks of Thalès, for over 30 million euros, corresponding to "commercial fees relating to the negotiation and execution of the contract". This second commission was paid by Thalès to a recipient, who remains unknown, in order to convince the Malaysian government of the need to conduct additional work. The third commission was for 2.5 million euros.

According to Gerard Philippe Menayas:

"Until the OECD Convention against corruption came into force in France, no contract for the sale of defence equipment to an emerging country could take place without the payment of commissions to policy makers (euphemistically called 'commercial fees for exports')."

Finally, according to the complaint filed by the firm Bourdon, Suaram's lawyer, the company Gifen, which was established by Jean-Marie Boivin in Malta, intervened in the negotiations "so as to facilitate the money transfers in this case", and particularly finance the trips of Baginda and Altantuya.


SUARAM Appeals for Legal Funds

SUARAM hopes the French justice system will reveal more than what the Malaysian judicial system has failed to deliver so far and will bring justice and closure to the family of Altantuya, and force the French and Malaysian Governments to account to their peoples regarding the commissions on the submarines contract.

When the case goes to the French court, the prosecution can then contact an examining magistrate and the trial can start. SUARAM's case in the French courts will involve considerable legal fees. Thus far, the French lawyers have offered their services pro bono. When the case proper begins, we will need to afford the necessary legal fees. Thus we are appealing to justice-loving and socially conscious Malaysian tax payers to contribute to this submarine commissions legal fund.

MyKad error

Posted: 29 May 2011 11:00 AM PDT

By P Aruna, The Star

PETALING JAYA: Your MyKad may be safe in your wallet or handbag. But is it usable?

Over a million MyKad holders reported faulty chips last year after the cards were rejected at banks and at the Immigration Department, Road Transport Department, Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and PLUS Bhd, among others.

The MyKad is used in situations that require identification and authentication of the card holder's personal details such as the fingerprints.

Newer versions of the MyKad also have ATM, MEPS cash and Touch 'n Go features.

The National Registration Department (NRD) confirmed yesterday that chip failure was the main cause of MyKad replacements.

Of the 2,158,621 applications for MyKad replacements received last year, 1,018,698 were due to faulty chip.

NRD director-general Datuk Alwi Ibrahim said he viewed the matter with deep concern, saying the NRD would introduce an improved version of the MyKad chip by July.

"The MyKad is more complex because it has many applications compared to bank cards which would be for a single purpose," he said.

Alwi said there had also been cases of holders reporting that the MyKad chip had fallen off.

The NRD offers a 12-month "warranty" for the MyKad which begins from the date the card is issued to the applicant.

If the chip is found to be damaged within the one-year period, it will be replaced at no charge.

The holder has to pay RM10 to replace the card after this period.

NRD public relations officer Jainisah Mohd Noor said records showed that more men reported MyKad with faulty chips, adding that this could be due to the cards being kept in wallets in their back pockets.

Vijay Kanna, 25, said he discovered that his MyKad was faulty when he applied for a border pass to attend a university programme in Songkhla two years ago.

Journalist Jonathan Fernandez, 25, said he found out about his faulty MyKad when he went to open a bank account.

Anwar believes Pakatan is ready even without him

Posted: 28 May 2011 11:32 PM PDT

He said Pakatan was already a solid united pact with potential young successors including Azmin who he said may be brash in his "stunts" but more than capable to lead.

(free Malaysia Today) - Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim is confident in Pakatan Rakyat's second tier of leadership and discounted the notion that the pact will collapse in his absence.

Speaking at a closed door dialogue session with young professionals here, the PKR de facto leader said the pact was armed with young and more than capable leaders that can take Pakatan forward should he be convicted and jailed for sodomy.

"Once you're prosecuted you're already damned," he said laughingly to some 150 people who attended the forum.

Anwar is currently facing trial for allegedly sodomising his former aide, a charge he claimed was engineered by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and wife Rosmah Mansor.

Anwar's persona, attributed to his charisma and moderate liberal politics, is seen as the binding force in the Pakatan coalition rife with infighting.

The top leadership appears to be gelling well but much of their ideological differences remain conveniently buried for now and Anwar's possible incarceration would possibly break Pakatan.

Whether or not the bloc is ready for future without Anwar remains unknown. While it is likely that Anwar has identified his successor, Azmin Ali who is now PKR deputy president who happens to be his blue-eyed boy, observers say the latter lacks the calibre to lead and hold Pakatan together.

But the opposition leader claimed Pakatan was already a solid united pact with potential young successors including Azmin who he said may be brash in his "stunts" but more than capable to lead.

"Sometimes when the (current) leadership is too strong, we tend to not see the potential of second tier leaders," he said, referring to rising political starlets like PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli and communications director Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad who is also Seri Setia assemblyman.

He said this in reply to a youth during the forum who urged Pakatan to move away from its dependency on political icons and based their struggle more on ideologies.

Anwar added that differences and open spat in Pakatan was part and parcel of a democracy which he said the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition was bankrupt of.

"Do you see any quality MPs in Umno or BN? Sometimes when I'm in Parliament and I look at them (sighs)," he said, drawing laughter from the audience.

READ MORE HERE

 

Anwar claims Dr M threatened him before sacking

Posted: 28 May 2011 11:28 PM PDT

The supposed threat was highlighted in book by writer Ziauddin Sardar.

(Free Malaysia Today) - Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim claimed he was threatened by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad who told him to voluntarily step down a day before his sacking as the deputy prime minister in 1998.

The PKR de facto leader further alleged that Mahathir had offered him financial compensation. Should he reject, he would be charged, the Permatang Pauh MP added.

"Mahathir told me… you have wife, a family, its better if you resign voluntarily, if not charges will be brought against you," he told some 150 people who attended a closed-door dialogue with young professionals here.

The supposed threat was highlighted in book by writer Ziauddin Sardar. The audience during the question and answer session asked Anwar if this was true to which the opposition leader replied:

"It's true because I told him (Ziauddin). I also went against Dr Mahathir, and was wrongfully imprisoned and subsequently beaten half to death."

Despite the ordeal, Anwar told the audience that he held no grudges against his former mentor, and forgave him for what happened.

"He is old and senile. Leave him alone lah," he said jokingly in reply to a question by an audience who wanted to know what would he do to the former premier if he becomes prime minister.

Anwar was sacked in 1998 and charged with sodomy and power abuse, charges he claimed were high level conspiracy to topple him.

He was later convicted and jailed for both offences but was eventually freed  in September 2004.

READ MORE HERE

 

SAPP angered by DAP ultimatum

Posted: 28 May 2011 11:25 PM PDT

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang is accused of being insensitive and arrogant for saying that only Pakatan will be able to bring change to Sabah.

(Free Malaysia Today) - A public tiff has broken out between the local opposition in Sabah and the Pakatan Rakyat national coalition ahead of possible snap general election that may be called this year.

The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has rapped PR leaders for being arrogant  for taking a "you are either with us or against us" approach with the local party ahead of the next general election.

SAPP vice president Dullie Marie, said the party was upset with a speech by DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang at a Harvest Festival celebration organized by Sabah DAP on Friday where he called on the local party to join PR.

Lim had said that SAPP was being unrealistic in being independent in its bid to topple the BN government at state and national level.

His comments angered SAPP president Yong Teck Lee and several senior leaders who were present at the occasion. In an immediate response earlier, Yong expressed surprise and regret over Lim's remarks which he (Yong) described as harsh.

In a scathing statement issued here today, Dullie who is also SAPP Putatan chief too was of the opinion that Lim was being insensitive and arrogant for saying that only PR would be able to bring change to Sabah.

"He (Lim) completely ignored the existence of local parties. Lim should remember without Sabah and Sarawak there won't be a Malaysia today.

"I would like to remind Lim Kit Siang and other leaders from Semenanjung, they should be more sensitive of what they say. We are all Malaysians and we have grown mature with time. We believe change must be made by Sabahans themselves. PR leaders should refrain from imposing colonist mentality on Sabahans," he reminded.

While attributing Lim's display of arrogance to DAP's victory in the recent Sarawak state election, Dullie contended that being a veteran politician, Lim should know the rationale behind the voting trend among the Chinese there.

He also reminded Lim on the fact that the natives of Sarawak still rallied behind and gave their votes to Barisan Nasional (BN) despite various exposures made by the opposition before and during the election campaign period because the Sarawakians aspired to protect their autonomy.

READ MORE HERE

 

Umno comes up with module to treat dropped candidates

Posted: 28 May 2011 05:37 PM PDT

(Bernama) -- A module will be formulated to "treat" disappointed Umno members who are not chosen as election candidates, said Umno Vice-President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said if left untackled, the situation could be disadvantageous to the party.

Ahmad Zahid, who has been tasked the responsibility to create the module, said in the past they (candidates not selected) spent the initial days of the election campaign period to pacify sulking supporters instead of focusing on meeting voters.

The module would be put into practice in an election dry run that Umno would be conducting soon, he said, adding that he had been appointed by Umno's Supreme Council to chair and coordinate dry runs in each of the parliamentary and state constituencies.

"I will determine the module to ensure the party machinery is set up early in each constituency and no sulking is involved," he told reporters opening Titiwangsa Umno's annual delegates meeting at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), here today.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Defence Minister, said the culture had to stop immediately as it could be regarded as sabotage when it was more important for Umno members to focus on elections.

 

No political party is entitled to defend Putrajaya

Posted: 28 May 2011 05:27 PM PDT

Putrajaya is no private property of any political party, but a public asset that belongs to all Malaysians. So no one is entitled to talk about defending Putrajaya, unless the country is facing an invasion by a foreign power.

Kim Quek

There is something disturbing in Premier Najib Razak's repeated and frantic calls to defend Putrajaya. The latest, when he was addressing youth at the World Youth day gathering in Putrajaya on May 28.

After asking the youth "Will you defend Putrajaya with me?", and getting a positive answer, he then shouted: "Defend Putrajaya! Defend Putrajaya! Defend Putrajaya!"

His equally paranoid call on an earlier occasion was during the recent 61st Umno general assembly when he shrieked: "Even if our bodies are crushed and our lives lost, brothers and sisters, whatever happens, we must defend Putrajaya".

Any novice to this country must have imagined that Malaysia must be facing an imminent foreign invasion, otherwise, why should its prime minister be exhorting so earnestly for the defence of its administrative capital?

But we Malaysians know that this is not a case of foreign invasion, but a reflection of the sick mentality of the incumbent political power which has ruled this country without interruption for more than half a century.

Umno has held on to its hegemony for so long that it cannot differentiate between what belongs to the party and what belongs to the people.

Putrajaya is no private property of any political party, but a public asset that belongs to all Malaysians. So no one is entitled to talk about defending Putrajaya, unless the country is facing an invasion by a foreign power.

In fact, Umno is only a guest tenant to Putrajaya, invited by the people to administer the country for a stipulated period. Upon termination of that term of office, the landlord, who is the people, will invite bidders, who are the political parties, to tender their bids for the next term of office. The successful bidder will then be invited to take tenancy in Putrajaya and run the federal government for the next term.

Hence, there is nothing for Umno to defend, except the transient power which ends upon expiration or termination of the term.

It is totally out of order for Najib to talk about defending Putrajaya, least of all its defence with blood and dead bodies.

How would Americans think, if President Obama calls for the defence of Washington DC when facing his adversary in the next presidential election? Surely they would be thinking their President has gone mad! And if he goes on to talk about shedding lives, l bet many will begin to faint.

The concept of lordship over the administrative capital as exclusive private domain by any political power is so alien to the principles of democracy that none would even dream that it could ever be uttered by a contestant for political power.

But in Malaysia, Najib seems to be mighty proud for staking that claim over Putrajaya and for being roundly applauded for doing that.

This is how far Najib and Umno have strayed from the original democratic ideals with which our fore fathers had founded the nation! 

Not only is Umno obsessed with clinging on to political power as an exclusive right and a personal death-or-live battle, but even the people's mindset have been so conditioned by Umno's lengthy hegemony that, many fail to see Najib's political posture as an appalling affront against the fundamental tenets of our constitution – that the people are the masters, not the ruling power.  

Worse than his claim over Putrajaya, is Najib's inherent threat to resort to extra constitutional  means - violence and bloodshed as intimated by Najib – to retain power when facing electoral defeat or potential defeat. Such act, if transpired, is clearly treason to our people and our Constitution. And the latter is the binding contract among the various communities upon which they had jointly achieved the country's Independence.

Malaysians must therefore ponder deeply whether they can entrust their fate to a political power that does not hesitate to tear up the Constitution and defy the people's choice, when facing an unfavourable electoral outcome.

On a separate note, we must strongly condemn BN's exploitation of the youth gathering event in Putrajaya to launch its political propaganda. This festival, organized at great public expenses, is supposed to be a celebration of youth, and therefore a non-political event. But BN has turned it into a BN political platform where it volleyed vicious attacks against its political opponents. This is but another one of many instances of BN's rampant abuse of authority and public funds to advance its parochial political interests, and therefore another important consideration for the people to ponder when weighing the comparative trustworthiness of the existing contestants for political power.

 

Can we take a break from all the posturing?

Posted: 28 May 2011 05:24 PM PDT

Everyone claims to be talking and speaking on behalf of the rakyat but can we be sure? One need not be politically savvy to begin to suspect that politicians, most of the time and most of them, are actually speaking for themselves. They are talking to you with an eye on your vote; if we are lucky, we matter.

Zainul Ariffin, NST

WHETHER it is fuel prices, electricity tariffs or toll rates, every argument is accompanied by the shrill cry of politicking. To paraphrase Bob Dylan, everyone is talking but no one is listening.

We are in a soapbox climbathon, the higher one clambers than one's opponent and the more outrageous the message, then, presumably, more people will listen.

I wish for a time when people could just argue, debate or disagree without having an eye on the political prize. We should all be outraged at this endless intrusion into our peace and quiet but for some of us, we cannot have enough of it.

Everyone claims to be talking and speaking on behalf of the rakyat but can we be sure? One need not be politically savvy to begin to suspect that politicians, most of the time and most of them, are actually speaking for themselves. They are talking to you with an eye on your vote; if we are lucky, we matter.

We are their raison d'etre? Without us and our problems, they are nothing. No?

But, of course, I am being cynical and I am thinking of the most opportunistic of the lot and the blatantly obtuse who cannot imagine that we can see through their acts.

The latest brouhaha (why do I always feel that the word seems to suggest people losing their heads and we should all laugh at them?) being the Public Service Department scholarships row.

It is a matter of principle that the best should be rewarded. I understand that and agree that every single citizen is important. Yet, everyone claims to be unjustifiably maligned by the policy.

While everyone is avoiding the word "race" publicly and is instead championing "meritocracy", we should not skirt the issue and point out that it is the awarding of scholarships to "ineligible" Bumiputeras that is the issue here.

It is obvious that this becomes a racial issue when Chinese or Indian political parties, or those dominated by them, take up the issue and suggest that members of their communities have been denied.

Are the MCA, MIC -- which are part of the government and have always been able to resolve issues quietly within the confines of Barisan Nasional -- and DAP raging at the PSD while posturing to the Chinese and Indian communities?

One could understand the realpolitik behind this strategy but there are also risks.

The Malays and Bumiputeras may see the protest as a racist thing, too, especially when it is insinuated that many of the recipients are presumed to be unworthy or are incapable of getting such awards without help.

Personally, I feel it is fine and dandy to argue that the best should be rewarded. It is even acceptable to be outraged if there were inconsistencies in the policy.

But should we all be held hostage by a policy that is likely to be flawed in its interpretation -- are the scholarships purely for straight A+ students or deserving ones?

The former required no interpretation except for the string of A+s, while the latter would try to strike a balance between a middle-class child, who was primed for examinations with tuition and prep classes, and the rural or underprivileged kid who had to rely on his wits to get where he was.

Furthermore, the scholarship policy is also challenged by the availability of resources.

Say all those with A+s were to be awarded scholarships, what would happen if the number was ridiculously high, especially when our schools are turning into hothouses of high scorers?

There is only a certain amount of money available to send our brightest abroad. Even if one rages about the unfairness of it all, one can't fight economic reality. Some people will be disappointed.

It must now be clear to everyone that the arguments are never over the availability of scholarships but, specifically, scholarships for abroad.

I had suggested this a few years ago when the same controversy over PSD overseas scholarships came to the fore -- it is now an annual thing, too, along with the outcry over places in medical schools, etc, which are soon to follow -- that the government should only fund postgraduate studies abroad. It is not only cheaper but would rid us of this annual circus.

All students, especially the best ones, should be enrolled in local universities. This will also serve as a signal that our universities are for our best. But this idea is a non-starter since as a society, we put extra currency in foreign degrees, even when they come from schools that are suspect.

Equality or fairness? Should all candidates with straight A+s be treated equally? The demand for equality may not result in fairness, which itself is a major opinion splitter since what is considered fair?

One must understand that scholarships are not only to reward high performers but are also an instrument of social restructuring. There are Malays and Bumiputeras, as there must be Chinese or Indians, who should be awarded scholarships because they would go a longer way towards getting them and their families out of their present situation.

This goes along the universal value of fairness -- the have-nots should be given a leg up. They should be given priority over those who qualify purely on academic performance.

If we were into cliches and admittedly rather racist demographics, then the children of Felda settlers or estate workers, or fishball mee sellers must surely be given priority over others. But yet many of them will be disappointed. Resources are finite.

We should not be making excuses if we are true to this cause of fairness. Yet ambiguities must be cleared and transparency should be the rule of the day.

But when we argue out loud, in the media especially, we are forced to adopt some posturing. For we are not discussing but instead flexing our muscles, or what we think are muscles, not at our opponents but our intended audience.

By posturing, we are trying to telegraph the message that we are fighting for justice, against friend or foe, and we are fighting for you.

This is not a good way to begin consultation since even if one were to get what one wished for, it would leave a bitter taste in the mouth of others. Posturing makes it difficult for anyone to come down from his position, lest he be seen a loser.

It requires a clear head and it would take a lot of confidence and stamina to resist posturing, especially when it is tempting to reap the quick rewards of public approval.

The PSD scholarship issue has been turned into a test case for some and for others, the posturing is getting rather out of hand. There must be a better way to resolve the issue. Stand down. We need a respite from never-ending politicking.

 

Can Pas really compromise?

Posted: 28 May 2011 05:21 PM PDT

By promising this, the DAP debunked suspicions that it was going to place more Malay candidates in Perak to allow its representative to become the menteri besar of the state which it failed to do in 2008 despite having the most number of seats among the PR components.

Shamsul Akmar, NST

If it were the days of yore, it is doubtful Datuk Zaid Ibrahim-led Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (Kita) would dare to offer a Rolls Royce to anyone who can produce an (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim look-alike.

Then, at a time when Malays believed in the existence of hantu raya, the equivalent of the West's doppelganger, the evil double, Kita and Zaid would definitely end up without or one Rolls Royce less.

Back in present times, when beliefs in the supernatural are usually met with watery smiles if not outright derision, Kita's offer is made to mock Anwar and his supporters who firmly believe he is not the man in the sex video recording.

In present times when science can evoke past crimes and solve them, surely the mystery of the sex video recording should have been resolved by now using video and imaging experts for the accusers to prove that it is Anwar, or for Anwar to disprove that it is him.

While the majority of Malays are still trapped in the debate on whether it was Anwar or otherwise, the DAP, partner of Anwar-led Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) had not been sitting idle nor been dragged into the debate extensively.

It has taken definitive measures to reach out to the Malays, promising to field more candidates from the community in the general election and set up Roketkini, a Malay language news portal.

These efforts are meant to get more Malays to join the DAP which in effect will shed the party's Chinese chauvinistic image.

More interesting is the announcement by the party's central executive committee to endorse Perak DAP's support for the reappointment of Pas' Datuk Seri Mohamed Nizar Jamaluddin as menteri besar if Pakatan Rakyat (PR) recaptures the state.

By promising this, the DAP debunked suspicions that it was going to place more Malay candidates in Perak to allow its representative to become the menteri besar of the state which it failed to do in 2008 despite having the most number of seats among the PR components.

This is due to the provision in the Perak state constitution, which requires the menteri besar to be a Malay Muslim, hence, the elevation of Nizar to the coveted post despite Pas having the smallest number of seats within PR.

Even then, it was something the DAP had shown its displeasure at.

By endorsing Nizar before the election is called, the DAP has shown "good faith" to Pas and in effect convinced the Malays in Perak that even if the DAP wins the biggest number of seats and has Malay candidates to take up the menteri besar's post, it is not going to insist on its "right".

With one stroke the DAP has portrayed itself as magnanimous to both the Malays and Pas.

If Nizar and especially Pas, did not feel grateful to the DAP in the last general election when Nizar became the menteri besar because the DAP did not have much of a choice, this time around, they will have to be grateful. Of course the whole thing is still hypothetical as Nizar needs to win his seat first and PR needs to win the state.

But even if both or either loses, the gratitude that Pas must feel towards the DAP should know no bounds.

Yet, in politics, anything forfeited must result in gains.

The DAP will definitely gain much from this magnanimity -- it can be assured of Pas' support if it fielded Malay candidates.

In the past, it would be difficult for Pas, for that matter any Malay, to give their support to DAP's Malay candidates because these candidates would have been seen to be Malays who had compromised their Malay and Islamic values.

In fact, much as it is easier for Pas and other Malays who opposed the Barisan Nasional and Umno to vote for DAP's non-Malay candidates, to vote for DAP's Malay candidates conjures a different consideration.

In the past, one of the problems faced by Pas in working with or supporting the DAP is that the latter is secular and opposed to Pas' Islamic pursuits.

Likewise, DAP had always been reluctant to work and support Pas because it is theocratic and wanted an Islamic state.

But in the last couple of general elections, Pas was prepared to work and support the DAP on the struggle for common and universal values while the issues of Islamic state and secularism were avoided.

Even though DAP remains avowedly secular, Pas' preparedness to dilute its Islamic pursuits had allowed both to work together.

But now, the question of supporting DAP's Malay candidates throws open the issue of whether Pas can support Malays who would surely be secular and opposed to an Islamic state and everything else that comes along with it.

This is on the basis that any Malay who joins DAP must surely subscribe to the party's principles that are based on secularism and opposed to anything theocratic, in this context, the Islamic state.

If Pas' objection to working with Umno is centred on the latter's alleged secularism, how is Pas going to reconcile with supporting DAP Malays who have to be committed secularists and opposed to its Islamic state?

The manner Pas has evolved, such matters seem to be only of consequence in a distant past, making some Malays, including from its own midst, to wonder whither its direction, something it will have to grapple with sooner than later.

Meanwhile, DAP is definitely on a roll.

 

UMNO- self-induced rigor mortis

Posted: 28 May 2011 05:09 PM PDT

SAKMONGKOL AK47

I have written so many essays critical of UMNO in the past. Friends asked me why am I still in UMNO? How can I write many nasty things about UMNO and seemed to get away with it-why haven't I been hauled up by the UMNO disciplinary committee or something and not ticked off? Isn't there anything good that UMNO has done?

Let's clear one thing first. This is the source of many of UMNO's problems. Some people assigned to themselves the right to determine who should or shouldn't be in UMNO. They then judge others in terms of their thinking and criteria. Pak Lah or any others can't measure up to Mahathir in many aspects. But they are not necessarily inferior to Mahathir. They are different. They must be judged on objective terms, not the subjective standards of one Mahathir.

Najib doesn't seem to do things anything right according to Mahathir. The old man is so stressed up and suffers physical debilitations.

The problem worsens to become person-centric. One person determines and defines UMNO. Inevitably, the right to be in or out of UMNO depends on loyalty to individuals and not on the political ideals, ideas, shared vision and so forth.

The problems become multiplied many fold, when UMNO 'farms' out the responsibility of sieving and determining leadership material to hired hands outside the party. These are the intellectual hacks and overrated audio visual and print media practitioners who arrogate to themselves the ultimate discretion of how should UMNO behave.

Hence there are people who think UMNO is the personal kingdom of some people and that the issues of these individuals exist to inherit the kingdom of UMNO.

What has UMNO become then? It becomes an organization feudal in nature where its leadership depends on being from the right loins. The leadership in UMNO is therefore no different from the method of ascribing extraordinary abilities by being conceived from a buloh betong, materializing from a cow's vomit or suddenly beamed from across the terrestrial highs to bukit si guntang Mahameru.

From thereon, the majority of UMNO suckers pledged eternal loyalty to the blue blood.

This is the earliest symptoms of the inability of UN+MNO to manage success. For over the years, UMNO attracts a multitude of thoughts, aggressive and independent minded individuals, a vibrant ward of supporters, personalized political inclinations as success unavoidably do, that its continuity and longevity, depends ultimately on the ability to manage all that diversity.

This, the current crop of leadership spawned unfortunately during the Mahathir years failed to do. UMNO has generally failed to spawn 'elastic' leadership that is capable of adapting. Instead it has led to the emergence of a leadership hell-bent on preserving freakish control and one opposed to internal transformation.

I can only answer by asking why shouldn't I be in UMNO? UMNO isn't the property of the present crop of UMNO leaders. Some of them are there because of some unexpected happenstance. They have the right 'bins'. You are bin somebody, therefore you are leadership material. This is a fundamental defect of UMNO's leadership. Which I will continue to offer criticisms.

Secondly, I believe I have done nothing wrong to be the guest of the disciplinary committee. Finally, there are of course many good things that UMNO has facilitated, whenever there was good leadership.

READ MORE HERE

 

Some food for thought for Christian leaders in BN

Posted: 28 May 2011 04:49 PM PDT

On the overall, what we have witnessed is a case of serious bullying, intimidation, insult and moral degradation as Christians. The word tolerance and mutual respect no longer exist in the minds of many politicians and NGO leaders. The pleadings of Christian leaders for understanding and offer of dialogues between the faiths for the sake of interracial and interreligious harmonies have been totally ignored. Because of this, the Christian leaders in BN have been pushed to the corners and they have been fighting back quite bravely. 

DANIEL JOHN JAMBUN

Since the last two years alone we have seen how the freedom of speech and religion have been severely curtailed in Malaysia. And of late the debate and altercations in religious matters have escalated to an extreme proportions, no thanks to extremist statements by several firebrand leaders, and to the inaction by the authorities.

Up to now the Christian leaders in the Barisan Nasional have been very tolerant, speaking out quite loudly when necessary but not sufficient to bring the whole matter to a critical level. But to recap, what we have gone through include:

 

(1) The silly instruction to remove crucifixes from churches when a Muslim dignitary comes to visit "because the Christian symbols are offensive to Muslims" (so why not remove the whole church building as well, and why come at all?),

 

(2) Church burning,

 

(3) Arguments about the acceptability of Malay Bibles which have been in use in Sabah and Sarawak long before the creation of Malaysia,

 

(4) Unauthorised confiscations of Bibles and Christian book at airports,

 

(5) the banning of movies, including innocent cartoon movies like The Prince of Egypt (which by the way is about Moses, the prophet for Judaism, Christianity and Islam),

 

(6) The defacing of Malay Bibles with serial numbers and conditions of their use ("…for use by Christians only" – so what if some Buddhists, Hindus, Taoists, and pagans are interested to read and study the Bible?),

 

(7) The quarrel about the use of the name "Allah" in which the Christians won the court case, but was appealed and is now deliberately stalled in the court to deny justice to Christians),

 

(8) The double standard on the use of the name "Allah" (permitted in Sabah and Sarawak but forbidden in the Peninsular, so a person carrying the Malay Bible on a flight to Kuala Lumpur will suddenly become a criminal the moment the aircraft enters the peninsular air space – should he or she be forced to throw the Alkitab out of the aircraft window before landing?),

 

(9) Datuk Ibrahim Ali said there is no such thing as a Malay Christian, and he may be right if he is talking about Malaysia, but there are 300 million Malayo Polynesians in the Malay archipelago, in Polynesia and Micronesia and they belong to many religions, including Christianity (e.g. in Indonesia), and Hinduism (in Bali),

 

(10) We have been subjects to incessant bullying and threats, the extreme case being Ibrahim Ali swearing to be willing to be bathed in blood in a jihad against Christians),

 

(11) We have been trapped into a nonsensical accusation of trying to install a Christian Prime Minister, no thanks to the dishonest and conspiratorial actions of two bloggers and the Utusan Malaysia which sensationalized the rumor into a supposedly legitimate news),

 

(12) We have been highly discriminated as Christians in the civil service, especially in the armed forces and in teaching profession, because Malaysia wants these two sectors to be overwhelmingly dominated by Malays, and now they want to send 80,000 teachers to Sabah and Sarawak, so say goodbye to Borneonisation!),

 

(13) The Herald, a Christian newspaper has been under threats of having its publishing permit suspended for using "Allah" and publishing news which are deemed anti-Islam.

 

On the overall, what we have witnessed is a case of serious bullying, intimidation, insult and moral degradation as Christians. The word tolerance and mutual respect no longer exist in the minds of many politicians and NGO leaders. The pleadings of Christian leaders for understanding and offer of dialogues between the faiths for the sake of interracial and interreligious harmonies have been totally ignored. Because of this, the Christian leaders in BN have been pushed to the corners and they have been fighting back quite bravely.

 

Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, for example has been championing Christian rights, by saying that the Bahasa Malaysia belongs to all Malaysians, including Christian Malaysians and they have the right to use it in worship. He had also said there is nothing wrong with having a Christian Prime Minister, because after all the religion of the Prime Minister has never been made a condition in the Malaysian Constitution. The fight for Christians by other leaders in the recent controversy with confiscation of Bibles and conditions for their release was admirable and deserve our accolades.

 

But still the problem continues. There has been some quiet for a while but it might be the discomforting quiet before another storm. The campaign to formant hatred and to stoke anger against Christians have tested our patience and no noticeable intervention has been forthcoming from the Prime Minister, which is very, very disappointing. We know this is because of the Umno's dilemma; they worry that by seeming to support Christians, BN will lose a lot more Malay votes. We can bet this is not the end of it. There will be more attacks later, especially after the next general elections, if the BN comes back to power.

 

Because it is already a problem which has already become endemic, the BN Christian leaders must now think very hard about their positions in BN, and where they are headed for as leaders. Obviously, their role as members of the BN elite group, and their opportunities to speak at the highest level in the land have been insufficient. They have been ignored and  treated as negligible. As such they must reevaluate their stances in the BN, and to stand back some distance and to see the BN situation as an outsider, and understand as clearly as possible what is really going on, what is really rotten in Malaysia. That way, they will be able to see the truth to help them make the ultimate decision whether or not to continue in BN or not.

 

Keep in mind that the Christian issue is not just religious but also cultural, historical and spiritual, by which all aspects of our lives are involved for our ultimate destinies. Ask, how long can BN go on the way things are going in Malaysia now? Why not join forces under a new umbrella to create change and to get us to go back to what the Constitution originally intended for us?

 

They need to remind themselves that as Christians we are guaranteed protection by several provisions in the national Constitution, as follows:

 

Article 3 (1): Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions may be practiced in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation.

 

Article 8 declares that "all persons are equal before the law and entitled to equal protection of the law," but states that this article "does not prohibit . . . any provision or practice restricting office or employment connected with the affairs of any religion, or of an institution managed by a group professing any religion, to persons professing that religion."

 

Article 10 states that, subject to proper requirements, (a) "every citizen has the right to freedom of speech and expression, (b) all citizens have the right to assemble peaceably and without arms; and (c) all citizens have the right to form associations."

 

Article 11 (1): Every person has the right to profess and practice his religion, and subject to Clause (4), to propagate it. But too bad, these provisions seem to have become meaningless for Malaysian Christians!

 

 

Only Malays and Bumis entitled to scholarships, says Umno-linked group

Posted: 28 May 2011 04:46 PM PDT

(Malaysiakini) - Only Malays and bumiputera have the right to receive government scholarships, said Umno-linked pressure group Gagasan Anti-Penyelewengan Selangor (Gaps) today.

"Is it a fact that all Malaysians have a right to a scholarship? The federal constitution only states that the Malays and bumiputera have the right to receive a scholarship," said Gaps president Hamidzun Khairuddin (left) in a statement.

"This constitution is made by the Reid Commission, not by the Malay leaders," he added, shifting the blame from the majority community to the five-member Commonwealth panel that drafted the nation's constitution in 1956.

Hamidzun was responding to MCA president Chua Soi Lek's comments on the PSD scholarship fracas carried by a news portal yesterday, where the latter's report said, "MCA told the prime minister today top SPM students should be given scholarships to study abroad despite Putrajaya's claim that it did not make any such promise."

Referring to "some members of the ruling party and opposition who are very racist and chauvanistic", Hamidzun lashed out at Chua in particular ,saying the chief of the second largest BN component party should amend the constitution if he disagreed with the issue.

"If Soi Lek disagrees, he should amend the constitution drawn up by Lord Reid. Soi Lek should be more objective in his leadership," said the Gaps leader.

All races equal but...

"Soi Lek also needs to learn to be a leader for all Malaysians, and not just the champion of his race," added Hamidzun.

BN parties for going in circles over the issue every May to June, year in, year out, he noted that each party fought only for the rights of their own respective communities.

"Gaps believes the issue should be resolved definitively, so that it would not become an annual polemic that does not benefit the rakyat," he said, ticking off BN parties for the widening income gap and the increasingly racial politics in the country.

"Enough of Do Xiang Zhong, Perkasa and Hindraf respectively being the spokespersons of their respective races. They excel in the field," said the Gaps leader.

Oblivious to the obvious contradictions, Hamidzun concluded that "political leaders should be broad minded... and defend the rights of all races based on the constitution."

Yesterday Chua had, according to the news report, announced after meeting with the PM over the prickly JPA scholarship issue that he had told the premier a number of failed scholarship applications by top scoring non-Malays should be reviewed and given overseas scholarships. Najib had promised he would "look into the controversy".

 

A Rolls Royce for anyone who finds a man resembling Anwar

Posted: 28 May 2011 04:42 PM PDT

(The Star) - Find a man resembling Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and you can drive home a vintage Rolls Royce and with RM10,000 cash in hand.

That is the offer made by Kedah Kita chief Zamil Ibrahim to anyone who can find a person who looks like Opposition leader Anwar.

"The Rolls Royce (Silver 111, 6700cc) is mine, and the cash offer is made by someone who wants to remain anonymous.

"We are doing this to put an end to the prolonged saga following Anwar's claim that even if people say that the man in a sex video may look like him, it is not his tummy,'' he said.

Datuk T, comprising businessman Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah, former Malacca Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik, and former Perkasa treasurer-general Datuk Shuib Lazim had, on March 21, revealed the existence of a video showing a man resembling Anwar having sex with a woman.

Anwar had lodged a police report claiming that he was not the man in the video and that it was part of a political conspiracy to topple him.

Zamil believes his offer can help throw light on the matter.

"The public are confused. I believe Anwar can finally clear his good name if we can help him find a man who looks like him, walk like him, and even smile like him,'' Zamil said.

Zamil also added that he would invite Eskay, Kita president Datuk Zaid Ibrahim and senator Ezam Moh Noor to sit in a panel to identify Anwar look-a-alike.

"The three of them were very close to Anwar. They can tell who looks exactly like Anwar,'' he said.

Several bloggers had also vouched to run naked around KLCC if a man resembling Anwar could be found.

 

Delusional Standards in Education

Posted: 28 May 2011 02:21 PM PDT

In my contact hours with college students, I have been appalled by the horrible scenario whereby 10A students, even 12A1 JPA scholars cannot string a proper sentence.

By Masterwordsmith

In the materialistic world that we live in, one can see that greed has reared its ugly head in many areas of our lives. Propelled by an excessive desire to possess wealth and goods, greed blinds many in their pursuit of wealth, status, and power - usually at the expense of lives and other social costs.

For instance, in the current row over the PSD scholarships, many are barking up the wrong tree. Far beyond the debate about the distribution of scholarships to local and foreign universities, the core issue is the declining standards of education in Malaysia. How many actually question why it is so easy to score distinctions and why there is the ridiculous introduction of A* in the grading system?

Our youth are being led by their noses, lulled into thinking that they are good when they receive their result slips when the grade is meaningless compared to standards years ago. Take a look at the current syllabus for English and Sejarah. Compare the literature component with that which was taught five years ago and you would be shocked by the disparity in standards! Compare the sejarah syllabus with what was taught in the 1970's and one can safely conclude that our youth are not being educated properly.

Tragically, many just look at their own needs and desires. That is understandable because it is survival for the fittest. So they attend tuition classes, memorise answers, abandon critical thinking skills, participate in extra-curricular activities just so they have the edge in scholarship application etc etc and lose sight of what it means to be educated, to be nurtured because such processes are ABSENT in our system.

How many of our elected leaders actually realize that the education system is the key to the nation's development? How many actually lobby to RAISE standards by making it MORE difficult to score? How many actually scrutinize the way examinations are being planned, prepared - especially with regards to marking schemes, syllabus content and pedagogical skills?


In the 1970's, we had the MCE and it was tough to score. Only a handful in each state could score straight A's unlike the current ridiculous trend. And those in my cohort who scored straight A's at MCE and HSC levels, are now Associate Professors/Professors at Harvard University, University of Edinburgh and other Canadian/Australian/American/British universities. In my contact hours with college students, I have been appalled by the horrible scenario whereby 10A students, even 12A1 JPA scholars cannot string a proper sentence.

Recently, I was asked to help three adults - one a PhD student from a local university, another a Dean's List winner from another local university and the third - a graduate in Human Resources.  I was horrified when I discovered they could not write a simple essay about themselves and was absolutely appalled at their inability to make sentences simply because they had no idea of the difference between a noun, an adjective, a verb or an adverb. I only had three sessions with them and that was enough to give me migraines, heartaches and deep disappointment at the realization of how deep was the rot and how impossible is the uphill climb to make things right in our education system that has gone so wrong.

Some examples of their work:
The PhD student wrote: 4a) Beautify (V) – My dad beautified the garden with the new buy Christmas tree.

The Dean's Award winner wrote: d) considerately (Adv) - He is considerately scolding me by raising up his voice.
The other 25 year old graduate wrote: 4)Competitively(adv)-Rapidly growing in technologies had make the industry competitively. 

Shocking, isn't it? Sadly, not only are they unable to write properly, they cannot articulate themselves orally as well. Sighs.

Read more at: Delusional Standards in Education

 

Make sure your youth is really a youth, BN

Posted: 28 May 2011 02:11 PM PDT

I doubt these grandfathers really know what are the problems faced by the youth these days.

By A Malaysian Youth Voter

 

Dear Barisan Nasional,

in last general election March, 2008, it has been proven that Barisan Nasional no longer has the influence in voicing out the concerns of the youth in our country.

Barisan Nasional has almost completely lost out in the battle of the votes from the youth in our country. We can see that BN tried to organise many programmes but why still are they not acceptable by the youth?

To me, most of these events are superficial in nature and mostly attended by people who are no longer considered youth.

What really is "youth" (Belia) in the minds of Barisan Nasional leader?

But I doubt Barisan Nasional would answer that as their youth leaders and members are those who are no longer "YOUTH" themselves.

The age limit of youth in Barisan Nasional is 45 years old......some at that age can even be a grandfather. I doubt these grandfathers really know what are the problems faced by the youth these days.

In the case of Pakatan Rakyat, PKR has already said that their youth means those 35 years and below. Worse case like DAP would be 40 years old. It is quite obvious why Pakatan Rakyat always has the edge over Barisan Nasional when it comes to tackling issues concerning the youth, like the recent JPA scholarship fiasco. They know the problems of the youth.

I'm actually not a member of Barisan Nasional or even Pakatan Rakyat. But as a Malaysian, I would hope that the party now controlling the government would do something to ensure Youths are represented by the Youth.

If BN still think that Youth means those 40 years plus, then it is better for Barisan Nasional Youth to close shop.

We will know what to do in the coming general election.

The arguments by narrow-minded Muslims

Posted: 03 May 2011 07:58 PM PDT

 

Yusri Mohamad, a product of the International Islamic University, ABIM and Pembela, and onetime personal aid to PKR President Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, claims that Islam is under attack. And should we be surprised when Muslims make a mockery of Islam? Anyway, this "Islam under attack" is all in the narrow minds of Muslims.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Islam's position under siege in M'sia, warns Pembela

(Malaysiakini) - The Coalition of Muslim Organisations (Pembela) has claimed that the position of Islam in Malaysia is under siege.

Speaking to reporters today, spokesperson Yusri Mohamad said this is particularly in relation to recent developments in Islam-Christian affairs.

Specifically, he cited the designation of a non-Muslim affairs exco in Penang and the 'pseudo-appointment' of Christian Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Idris Jala to handle issues pertaining the Malay-language Bible as threatening Islam's position as the official religion.

He claimed there is no provision in the federal constitution for any official non-Muslim affairs body, and that making Idris the go-to minister for Christian affairs is thus unconstitutional.

"There is a (threat). These sorts of threats come in seasons but now have become more serious and are putting a lot of pressure on the way we deal with issues pertaining to Islam," he said.

"Islam is the official religion and is a pillar of our nation, but attempts are being made to make its position equal to other religions.

"Followers of other religions are portrayed as marginalised and oppressed... Islam and Muslims are dressed in an ugly mask and is made to seem guilty so that they give in (to demands)."

The fact that Idris was appointed to handle the Al Kitab issue was also wrong, he said, since Idris cannot be said to be non-partisan because he is Christian.

"He says he is non-partisan politically but this is a religious issue, and he is partisan. As we understand it, the (10-point proposal) was produced without consultation with the Fatwa Council, religious scholars and Muslim NGOs," he said.

Instead, he said the matter should have been handled by two ministers in the Prime Minister's Department - Jamil Khir Baharom who is in charge of Islamic affairs, and Koh Tsu Koon who is in charge of national harmony.

"We feel that the government can act within their powers...but Christian groups are now using terms like 'deface' and 'desecration' which is pushing the issue ... out of hand," he said.

As such, Pembela, a coalition of about 80 NGOs, will be hosting a conference on Saturday to discuss the issue of the sovereignty of Islam in Malaysia.

Themed 'Islam under siege: What will we do?', the event will be open to all Muslim NGOs and will feature a forum on the topic.

Among the topics to be discussed are the Al Kitab, conversions to Islam, religious freedom and the way such matters are handled by the government.

"We hope to then take the outcome of our discussion to the cabinet, prime minister, Rulers Council, political parties and mufti," he said.

Pembela not 'extremist'

Commenting on a police report recently lodged by a Christian against Pembela, Yusri said said the coalition is not an extremist group as perceived.

"We feel that the police report was a way to blow up the issue. Pembela has been around for a while and anyone who does a background check will find that we are not an extremist group," he said.

Pembela has never officially said it is willing to 'shed blood against Christians', as stated in the police report, he said.

"But perhaps during the peaceful demonstrations there were harsh words said, which is normal in a demonstration. You can't expect us to berbalas pantun.

"It is wrong to say that our movement is a threat to our non-Muslim friends," he said.

He added that police had contacted Pembela a week after the report to ask for recordings and materials distributed during the demonstration in March to assist in their investigation.

"No member (has been) called for questioning," he added.

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Or watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDac5GXjLMo

 
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