Get real, Talent Corp

By
Brandon Chan
 | May 16, 2011

The Malaysian Insider

MAY 16 — Johan Mahmood Merican must be breathing something different from the rest of us. In an interview with the Singapore Straits Times, he said that rhetoric over race will not impact the efforts of his organisation, Talent Corp, to lure Malaysians back home.

In essence, he said Malaysians living abroad will look at the policies of the Najib administration rather than be influenced by the chatter over race which has dominated the national discourse.

I suppose he has to say positive things but without realism this Talent Corp venture is doomed for failure. And the signs are that Johan is in la-la land.

The majority of the more than one million Malaysians did not leave the country because the tax rate is uncompetitive or because public transportation is woeful or because the national education system is dismal. They left because deep in their gut they did not believe they would get a fair shake in this country.

If Talent Corp did some research, it would realise that the spike in migration numbers was noticeable when race relations were at their worst and the sense of alienation among non-Malays over their position in this country. Does Johan even believe that Malaysians in Singapore, London and Melbourne are excited about the ETP, NKRA or whatever.

Please-lah. All these men and women have heard and read about the MSC and the economic corridors and have seen the major gap between plans and implementation. They know that Bumiputera and Umno interests have to be taken care and that meritocracy will take a back seat to affirmative action imperatives.

They also know that the general feeling among Umno types and civil servants is that returning talent is not welcome.

But most of all Malaysians abroad increasingly cannot recognise the country they left. It would not have helped matters that both Prime Minister Najib Razak and former PM Mahathir Mohamad refused to accept a main point of the World Bank study that Malaysia’s brain drain was mainly the result of social injustice.

Now if the people of influence in government refuse to accept the underlying factors of the brain drain, how serious can they be of wanting to tackle the problem? The answer: not very serious.

These national leaders do not condemn the race rhetoric and increasingly right-wing tone of Malaysia. In fact, they seem to encourage it, allowing Ibrahim Ali and the mainstream media to get away with insulting non-Malays and non-Muslims.

Does Johan actually believe that Malaysian Christians working abroad are interested in coming back now that Utusan Malaysia has started a campaign against Christianity?

So I think given his interview with the Singapore Straits Times, we can conclude that Talent Corp is doomed for failure.

* Brandon Chan reads The Malaysian Insider.

                This entry was posted on Monday, 16 May 2011, 5:53 pm and is filed under
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Hisham says newspapers should be given leeway

By
Melissa Chi

The Malaysian Insider

May 15, 2011

SUNGAI BESAR, May 15 — Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said today that newspapers should be given leeway despite stringent laws under the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA).

“The law is very clear but everybody, every paper has crossed that line one time or another. This is probably Utusan’s time. Before this there was China Press, Nan Yang, I know, because it happened under my watch.

“But in such situations, we give them a little space. We find which is really news that can benefit us as one race, 1 Malaysia but they shouldn’t go past the boundaries which touches on sensitive issues such as religion and race,” he told reporters after launching the Sungai Besar Umno division meeting here at Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina Sin Min.

The latest controversy to rile the country’s dominant majority was the “Christian Malaysia” report first published by the Umno newspaper Utusan Malaysia on May 7.

The Umno daily carried a front-page article headlined “Kristian agama rasmi?” (Christianity the official religion?), claiming the DAP was conspiring with Christian leaders to take over Putrajaya and abolish Islam as the religion of the federation.

Utusan Malaysia’s report had been based entirely on unsubstantiated blog postings by two pro-Umno bloggers, alleging that the leaders had taken a pledge during the gathering promising to take over Putrajaya, abolish Islam as the religion of the federation and install a Christian prime minister.

The paper also published a grainy photograph showing what it described as a secret pact between the DAP and pastors at a hotel in Penang last Wednesday.

DAP and Christian leaders have since voiced their rage over the allegations and vehemently denied taking any part in such a pledge.

Hishammuddin said he wants to call the chief editors of every newspaper for a discussion.

“There are times when the Malay community is not happy with the reporting of the Chinese papers. And now the Chinese community are not happy with the reporting at Utusan.

“I think it is time now for us to get together and get the chief editors to tell me this change that is happening in the world that we cannot stop information from going across borders if it doesn’t go through the main papers, it will go through Facebook, it will go through the multimedia context and it will go through SMSes,” he said.

Hishammuddin said that he had met with chief editors individually but now, he wants “them as a whole to be responsible for their actions”.

“So this new landscape will require some internal soul-searching of the mainstream papers and this I will talk to all the papers across the board.

Hishammuddin to meet chief editors of newspapers

Malaysiakini

May 15, 11

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein plans to meet chief editiors of newspapers on the reporting of sensitive issues.

He said he wanted to ensure that the chief editors exercised caution in the reporting of sensitive issues on race and religion and that they understood they would be held responsible for their action.

Commenting on a report published in Utusan Malaysia recently alleging that certain groups wanted to make Christianity the official religion, Hishammuddin (right) said:

“There are times when the Malay community were unhappy with the reporting of the Chinese newspapers (on sensitive issues) and vice versa.

“It is the responsibility of the chief editors to ensure that their organisations do not go beyond the boundaries set in reporting such issues,” he told reporters after opening the Sungai Besar Umno division delegates meeting near Sabak Bernam.

Despite the clarity of the country’s publishing laws and guidelines, he said, “every paper has crossed the line (in reporting sensitive issues) one time or another. Now it’s Utusan (which has crossed the line).”

Hishammuddin said that it was difficult to control the flow of information on sensitive issues, especially with the emergence of the new media.

“If it (the information) does not make it to the mainstream papers, it will somehow or rather get to the new media like online news portals, Facebook and the short messaging service,” he said.

Referring to the acid splashers who have been terrorising women in the Klang Valley, Hishammuddin urged people with information on the suspects to come forward and help police with their investigation.

He said he was making the appeal on behalf of the police who had so far received 22 reports on women being splashed with acid.

– Bernama

                This entry was posted on Monday, 16 May 2011, 7:10 am and is filed under
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Ibrahim Ali’s jihad against a fictitious foe

Comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers

May 16, 11 8:18am

`If they don’t arrest Ibrahim Ali, we know Umno is involved. If this is not incitement of racial and religious hatred, I don’t know what is.’

Perkasa ready to crusade against ungrateful Christians

Quigonbond
: Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali is no help to Najib Razak for saying the prime minister is playing a game. That means all overtures by the PM is now proven to be nothing more than a vote-getting exercise, devoid of sincerity in resolving problems.

On the other hand, what Ibrahim is doing is being syok sendiri (self-infatuation). He creates his own enemy, launches a crusade against that fictitious foe, and hopes that the enemy will respond.

His scheme is just missing one ingredient. Ibrahim thinks Malaysians are as easily spooked and provoked as he is, but we’re more mature than that, and he won’t find his enemy actualised. In the end, his followers will find the truth and leave Perkasa.

Lim Chong Leong
: If they don’t arrest Ibrahim, we know Umno is involved. If this is not incitement of racial and religious hatred, I don’t know what is. And they banned Zunar’s cartoons?

I can only urge all to stand firm and be patient. They want blood but we will not give it to them. They want us to draw blood so they can bring the whole machinery down on us. We will just have to be patient. Vote them out.

It’s a good thing not many are listening to them. Only about 150 of their goons were there to listen to his rantings, just like the PM’s ceramah in Kuching that drew only 500, even with free tupperwares. So, there is hope.

On Your Toes
: Ibrahim, nobody is challenging you or the Muslims. It is only you challenging everybody, including your own Muslim brothers and sisters who you’re putting in bad light.

But I don’t think the people are buying your imaginary threats seriously. I think slowly Malaysians are becoming less emotional and gullible. They know only too well this is a fight for your own benefits and survival. It is never about the welfare of the people or their religious beliefs.

So you can go on instigating and beating up the war drum. I have an inkling that it is not going to work.

Wira
: We are comforted that only 150 racist followers attended the Perkasa ceramah calling for blood while tens of thousands of Muslims would respond if the police give permission to hold a rally against corruption in Putrajaya and BN-ruled states.

I remember certain leaders leading thousands screaming for blood at a stadium where Umno organised a rally there a week before Operation Lallang. Malaysians have certainly grown more mature since then with better education and knowledge.

M’siaKiniFan
: Ibrahim, accusing people based on rumours is a totally irresponsible act. Christians barely make up 10 percent of the population in Malaysia, yet you say it is a threat to Islam? It really doesn’t make any sense. The war against bigotry should start with you.

Dr Thinker
: Maybe Ibrahim Ali is sick. Just out of concern for him, I would like to suggest Ibrahim see a psychiatrist. He might be having paranoid delusional disorder, a mental illness often having fixed beliefs that are certainly and definitely false.

For example, a patient might think that A is trying to kill him, even though A is just eating ice-cream. Or that his wife is having affair with someone although she is absolutely faithful.

Untreated paranoid delusional disorder can be dangerous to both patient and the community. Ibrahim, get well soon.

Pakman
: Orang Melayu yang berfikiran rational tidak mudah diperbodohkan oleh Raja Katak Brahim. Inilah dia, manusia yang bertopengkan Melayu dan Islam mempersendakan agama demi kepenting sendiri dan mengunakan agama kejalan menuju kehancuran.

Isu yang tidak logik dan sengaja dicipta untuk menyalah gunakan perkataan jihad dengan sendiri menunjukkan kebodohan dan kejangkalnya fikiran Raja Katak.

Jihad sebenar yang perlu diperjuangkan adalah jihad menentang rasuah, salah guna kuasa, penindasaan rakyat jelata, ketidakadilan dan budaya fitnah yang semakin menjadi-jadi. Itulah jihad sebenar.

Islam tidak mengajar ummahnya berdusta dan menindas sesama manusia. Jihad sebenar ialah menegakan kebenaran dan menentang kemungkaran.

Anonymous
: Ibrahim, it is you and Perkasa that does’t know how to protect your religion. Islam protect all mankind irrespective of race or creed. Your narrow interpretation of Umno Islam had given bad name to those who really practice the real tenet of Islam.

Clouding the issue with ‘Christians challenging the sovereignty of Malays and Muslim’ is the most irresponsible statement coming from the Perkasa president. No doubt, Malaysia preaches freedom of speech, but uttering seditious statement can lead to dangerous outcome, especially from members of Perkosa.

Let see where the limit of immunity, granted by home minister to Perkasa, is.

Phoenix Star 88
: This whole ‘Christian state’ debacle has gone from being silly to outright insane. Doesn’t Perkasa have the brains to verify the ludicrous claims of Utusan Malaysia before issuing threats of holy war?

They now sound more threatening to non-Muslims than PAS ever was in the past. At least some Umno leaders are sober enough to denounce the Utusan article.

Perkasa and Utusan seem to be so drunk with the obsession to get rid of Anwar Ibrahim and the DAP that they make mountains out of thin air. Most Malays in this country are kind and courteous, but there are some recalcitrants who are bent on exploiting race and religion at whatever cost for the sake of political power.

                This entry was posted on Monday, 16 May 2011, 11:54 am and is filed under
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Ignore race rhetoric, says Talent Corp

The Malaysian Insider
 | May 16, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — The man in charge of Malaysia’s talent drive wants overseas Malaysians to ignore the heightening race rhetoric in the country.

In an interview published by the Singapore Straits Times today, Talent Corporation chief Johan Mahmood Merican said that ultimately race rhetoric should not be confused with government policy.

“Ultimately, what gets implemented are the policies of the prime minister and the government,” he told the Singapore newspaper.

Johan’s comments came amid rising concerns that heightening race and religious rhetoric could derail Malaysia’s ambitious drive to attract top talent.

Despite police still investigating unsubstantiated reports of a move towards a Christian Malaysia, Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali threatened Christians nationwide last Saturday that he would wage a crusade or holy war should they proceed with their agenda to usurp Islam.

Ibrahim was referring to the recent row over a controversial newspaper report in Utusan Malaysia entitled “Kristian Agam Rasmi?” (Christianity the official religion?) where it was alleged that DAP leaders and Christian priests were conspiring to take over Putrajaya, abolish Islam as the religion of the federation and install a Christian prime minister.

Christian leaders and DAP members have denied the reports, and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was even forced to host a meeting with the religious chiefs to solve the issue but Ibrahim insisted last night that the report was true.

The rhetoric has turned ugly in recent months, with the Chinese community also coming under fire.

Overseas Malaysians targeted by Talent Corp had raised these concerns at various meetings including a recent one in London, but Johan assured them that Malaysia would push ahead with its economic reforms, he told the Straits Times.

“Yes, there are concerns on various fronts about Malaysia but there are also many things going for us,” he said. “We have a number of sectors that are already internationally competitive — oil and gas, electronics and palm oil.”

Talent Corp was set up in January to undertake the tough job of wooing skilled workers — both Malaysians abroad and foreigners — that the country needs to revive its stagnating economy.

A brain drain is depriving Malaysia of talent, and accounts for a third of the country’s one-million strong diaspora, according to the World Bank Economic Monitor. Singapore alone has absorbed 57per cent of these departing educated workers.

The Straits Times reported that so far, Talent Corp has rolled out two programmes. One is a long-term resident’s pass for skilled foreigners and former Malaysians. The other is the Returning Experts Programme, which aims to woo Malaysian professionals abroad with incentives such as a low tax rate. The latter scheme has stirred up some interest.

Johan said the agency had received many inquiries and some applications, mostly from Malaysians in the United States and Britain in fields like engineering and finance, according to the Straits Times.

But the newspaper said critics doubt that this interest can be sustained, given that Malaysia has managed to draw only 750 professionals home under similar schemes in the past 10 years.

“Such cosmetic changes do nothing to address the main reason Malaysians are leaving,” PKR’s Nik Nazmi Ahmad told the Singapore daily.

                This entry was posted on Monday, 16 May 2011, 11:05 am and is filed under
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Kenapa Najib biarkan Utusan?

Husam Musa

The Malaysian Insider

May 15, 2011

15 MEI — Saya merujuk kenyataan Perdana Menteri bahawa teori menukar kedudukan Islam dalam perlembagaan negara adalah tidak wujud.

Trend Utusan Malaysia mempermainkan api perkauman dan agama — terakhir isu konspirasi Kristian – jelas membahayakan keamanan negara dan kemakmuran hidup masyarakat majmuk Malaysia.

Ia tidak membantu menguatkan Islam bahkan sebaliknya memercikkan api yang boleh melemahkan negara dan kedudukan Islam di negara ini.

Tepat sepertimana disebut Perdana Menteri sendiri,

“…semua pihak mesti membendung perasaan emosi untuk tidak membuat perkara yang boleh mengganggu-gugat keamanan, keharmonian serta kesejahteraan negara.” (Perdana Menteri; Berita Harian 12 Mei 2011)

Persoalannya, jika Perdana Menteri sedar gerakan ini membahayakan negara, kenapa Utusan Malaysia bebas menjadi ‘anak nakal’ yang tidak bertanggungjawab menabur api fitnah sesuka hati?

Jika kenyataan Hatta Hawari, wartawan Utusan Malaysia yang terpecat kerana membongkarkan agenda politik Utusan Malaysia yang jelek dalam rangka mengekalkan UMNO/BN terus berkuasa dijadikan asas, jelas wujud persekongkolan antara Utusan Malaysia dan UMNO.

Adakah kerana itu Perdana Menteri dan kerajaan Malaysia tidak bertindak terhadap Utusan Malaysia?

Ini bermakna, Perdana Menteri selaku presiden UMNO sebenarnya merestui agenda Utusan Malaysia. Perdana menteri bermain dua watak sekaligus dan membawa dua pancing satu umpan.

Pada satu pihak, Utusan Malaysia bertindak bagi pihak UMNO menimbulkan sentimen terancam (fear psychology) iaitu supaya orang Melayu kekal menyokong UMNO/BN dalam pilihanraya akan datang, sama seperti sentimen dari isu ‘tengkolok bersalib’ yang dikenakan ke atas Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah menjelang PRU-1986 yang lalu.

Namun apabila agenda ini bergerak memakan tuan dan langkah Utusan Malaysia ditolak oleh majoriti rakyat, Perdana Menteri mengambil watak bersikap lebih sederhana dan pertengahan.

Sikap talam dua muka dengan isu sensitif ini dikuatkan dengan tiada sebarang tindakan tegas diambil ke atas Utusan Malaysia.

Dengan itu, boleh dipastikan Utusan Malaysia akan terus-menerus menggunakan kad perkauman dan agama menjelang pilihanraya umum akan datang.

Suka saya mengingatkan, langkah ini bertentangan dengan ajaran Islam yang melarang menggunakan provokasi kaum dan agama. Larangan memaki hamun sembahan yang lain yang boleh menimbulkan kebencian agama seperti firman Allah s.w.t dalam Surah Al-An’am, ayat 108 boleh dijadikan contoh.

“Dan janganlah kamu memaki sembahan-sembahan yang mereka sembah selain Allah, karena mereka nanti akan memaki Allah dengan melampaui batas tanpa pengetahuan. Demikianlah Kami jadikan setiap umat menganggap baik pekerjaan mereka. Kemudian kepada Tuhan merekalah kembali mereka, lalu Dia memberitakan kepada mereka apa yang dahulu mereka kerjakan.”

Langkah Amirul Mukminin Saidina Umar al-Khattab untuk tidak bersolat dalam gereja Kristian walaupun dijemput berbuat demikian dalam peristiwa pembukaan Baitul Maqdis dengan tujuan mengelakkan persengketaan merebut rumah ibadah, juga boleh dijadikan contoh penghormatan beragama yang diberikan oleh Islam untuk mewujudkan keharmonian dalam sesebuah negara.

Tindakan Utusan Malaysia yang provokatif dan sikap berlepas tangan Perdana Menteri, adalah sama sekali menyalahi ajaran Islam dan berbahaya kepada norma kerukunan masyarakat Malaysia pada keseluruhannya. Ini adalah politik Machiavelli pada peringkat yang tertinggi.

Saya selaku rakyat merakamkan rasa kesal terhadap perkembangan ini.

Sekian, terima kasih.. —
 harakahdaily.net

                This entry was posted on Monday, 16 May 2011, 6:46 am and is filed under
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Like Utusan, Perkasa will get off scot-free

Comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers

‘It’s interesting to note that although there is no ambiguity that Ibrahim Ali was inciting unrest, there is not a squeak from Hishammuddin.’

Perkasa ready to crusade against ungrateful Christians

Jiminy Qrikert
: There were about 200 people at Umno’s ‘Save Selangor’ launch in Shah Alam last year. The ‘Save Selangor’ roadshow fizzled out even though it covered the predominantly Malay areas of the state. Three hundred people turned up at Perkasa ceramah in Alor Setar despite a call for 30,000. Then there was the near-empty lecture hall for Pembela’s talk on ‘defending Islam’.

Umno can see the signs. Racist events organised by proxy bodies of Umno designed to create and intensify racial tension and maybe even precipitate trouble on the streets is shunned by the very people, the Malays, they are trying their darndest to incite.

Meanwhile ceramahs held by PAS, PKR and DAP leaders are packing the crowds in like sardines. Not only do the rakyat come to hear Pakatan Rakyat leaders speak, the attendees donate generously. The amazing thing is that even non-Malays are donating at ceramahs held by PAS.

So, where PAS has made progress connecting with non-Malays who are now not afraid to vote PAS, Umno has lost the Malay intelligentsia and Malays in the cities. Praise be to Allah.

Nik V
: It’s interesting to note that although there is no ambiguity or question that Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali was inciting unrest, there is not a squeak from Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, Information Minister Rais Yatim, the attorney-general or the police.

Dood
: What is the government waiting for? Here you have someone who has, in public, made explicit threats of violence. Is this not a threat to national security? Why aren’t you sending the police to question Ibrahim?

You have arrested and detained people under the Internal Security Act (ISA) on mere suspicions and allegations (some of whom were later determined to be unfounded) in the past. Why the hesitation?

Would you take action if anyone else declared jihad against another community and even talked about laying down their lives to die sprawling in blood in battle?

JBGUY
: This statement and stand taken by Ibrahim Ali is clearly provoking religious and racial strive. What is the home minister doing? Sleeping on his job? Surely, he should be taking action to cool things down before another ‘May 13’ erupts.

Hishammuddin, your silence clearly indicates your weakness in taking action against Perkasa. So far, you have performed dismally. Now let your conscience dictate and act before it is too late.

Remember, your grandfather and father were men of peace and conviction. Let history remember you as a man of principle, much like your ancestors.

Phra Ong Chao
: We have to thank Ibrahim for revealing that Prime Minister Najib Razak admitted in person that he is playing a game and sees Malaysians merely as his pawns.

Freemsia
: It is unbelievable that Ibrahim Ali still cannot see that the reason why many Malays do not support Umno is because they can see with their very own eyes that Umno is only protecting Umnoputeras’ interest.

If Umno is so good at protecting the interests and welfare of the Malays, then why are so many Malays still poor? It looks like Umno is the one which is hindering the Malays from further progress.

Geronimo
: But I thought the matter was already settled between the Christian leaders and Najib over lunch recently? So, now what is this bone-head muttering about?

At least Umno Youth’s Khairy Jamaluddin has the right frame of mind to tell his followers to hold back any planned demonstration pending any investigation and not to do anything irrational.

Lexicon
: Ibrahim Ali has committed treason by threatening Christians because the Malay rulers are sworn to protect and defend all Malaysians.

Justiceseeker_Bill44
: Violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul. Manuel Paleologus said:

“God is not pleased by blood, and not acting reasonably is contrary to God’s nature. Faith is born of the soul, not the body. Whoever would lead someone to faith needs the ability to speak well and to reason properly, without violence and threats…

“To convince a reasonable soul, one does not need a strong arm, or weapons of any kind, or any other means of threatening a person with death.”

MYOB
: What are MCA, Gerakan, MIC, PPP, Sabah and Sarawak political parties doing about this big mouth guy? Your chances are doomed at the next general elections as you are not standing with the people who for voted you. How are you going to ask for their votes again?

We are not safe – we are feeling insecure, so we might else vote for PKR and get the change we seek.

FairMind
: Here in Malaysia, Christians are but a small, powerless minority. This makes Ibrahim Ali more like a bully rather than a crusader.

It is people like Ibrahim Ali who makes Islam looks like a weak religion which bullies and oppresses other minority religions. I am sure Islam is fair, just and compassionate to all people, unlike what Ibrahim is making it out to be.

Ibrahim is an intolerable Taliban in modern clothing, nothing more. In order to save his fading political career, he has to use Islam for his political agenda even if it meant sullying the image of Islam.

                This entry was posted on Monday, 16 May 2011, 12:00 pm and is filed under
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Malaysia in the Era of Globalization #65

By
M. Bakri Musa

Chapter 8: Culture, Institutions, and Leadership

Economic Culture of Malays: Our Purported Lack of Learning And Savings

Another pat explanation for Malay backwardness is that we do not save. The resounding success of Tabong Haji narrated earlier gives lie to this claim.

            There are of course many productivity-eroding habits of Malays. While I expect these to persist among rural dwellers out of ignorance, I would expect better from the more educated urban elite. Earlier I wrote about Deputy Prime Minister Badawi not being able to afford a home but could put on a lavish wedding, but ponder the following.

            In July 2001, a luxury home in an exclusive part of Kuala Lumpur was burglarized, with RM 1.5 million worth of jewelry and RM 0.5 million in cold cash stolen. Imagine all that cash laying around idle! To economists, that idle money might as well have been under the mattress, as it was not contributing to the economy. It was not being circulated; it had zero velocity, in economists’ language. Imagine the opportunity costs incurred! Had the money been deposited in a simple interest bearing account, at a conservative 5 percent annual return, it would have earned an additional RM 25K a year, or more than 2K a month, enough to pay for the salary of two teachers. Or guards! And the bank in turn could have loaned that money to some enterprising businessmen, creating more jobs and wealth for the country in the process. And then there were all that jewelries. Such ostentations!

            It is mind boggling to think that the owner of the house was one Tunku Shariman, a former top Treasury official and later CEO of hosts of huge government companies (Pernas, etc). This Tunku may have had his economics degree but he could not escape from the cultural trap of putting his money in the cultural equivalent of under the mattress. Put another way, this Tunku (and others like him) may have left the kampong, but the kampong has not left him. In America, only drug dealers keep that kind of cash around; every one else has Visa or American Express cards. I wonder how Shariman managed his companies’ cash flow? Come to think of it, many of the corporations he helmed later filed for bankruptcy or were bailed out.

            The third obstacle to Malay progress is our supposed lack of passion for learning and acquiring knowledge. I say supposed because if one wanders around in the villages especially during Ramadan, the mosques would be full of people learning about their faith: reading the Koran and listening to sermons and lectures by religious scholars. The sales of religious books in Malaysia are booming. Attend any village kenduri (feast) and one invariably hears some village elder fluently reciting from memory long passages of the Holy Quran. Imagine someone who does not understand or read English memorizing and flawlessly reciting Shakespeare’s sonnets and plays! That would take immense intellectual effort, not to mention concentration and motivation. Had that talent been expanded to the understanding mathematics or critical thinking, there would be no limit to the intellectual achievements.

            Such scenes give lie to the stereotype that Malays do not revere learning. Visit any village coffee shop and observe how well thumbed the newspapers are, having been read by many patrons. The only sad thing is that what they read in the daily papers is nothing but rubbish and government propaganda. If only Malaysian editors had taken their responsibility seriously and put something useful in their publications!

            Malay parents readily send their children to religious schools; both the formal state-sponsored ones as well as the madrasahs. My point is, Malays are eager learners. The problem is that Malay leaders, especially those with Islamic orientation, define knowledge narrowly. They are keen only on religious knowledge, but knowledge of worldly affairs is not only discouraged but also frowned upon lest it would contaminate the religious knowledge. These leaders refer to religious knowledge as ilmu, implying reverence and piety. The ulama have artificially separated worldly knowledge from ilmu.

            Knowledge is knowledge, and truth is truth. There is no such thing as religious truth separate from worldly truth. Indeed the two complement each other. My knowledge of the natural and social sciences – so-called “secular knowledge” – enhances my ability to understand the Qur’an. One cannot have too much knowledge. Ultimately knowledge would lead one to be soleh, an asset to his community. Alfred Sabin, who in seeking knowledge discovered the vaccine for polio, is certainly my prime example of a human being who is soleh. With his successful elucidation of the secrets of the poliovirus, he was able to prevent the horrific disease. Allah would certainly look kindly upon mortals like Sabin as He would an alim, if not more so.

            On a visit to a village I was introduced to a proud parent whose son, after attending only two years of religious school, had mastered Arabic fluently. I complimented both father and son. Arabic is a very difficult language to learn and if the boy could master it so easily he should be able to command English, a far easier language, with ease. I encouraged the boy to expand his skills by also learning English, but his father would have none of it.

            The father is trapped by the traditional Malay culture that says learning English is tantamount to learning the ways of the infidels. Unfortunately many Malay leaders encourage this mindset by harping on the theme of English being the language of the West and colonialists, instead of the language also used by millions of Muslims worldwide. In mosques throughout America, the khutba (sermon) is delivered in English.

            On another occasion I met a child prodigy who at the tender age of eight had memorized the entire Qur’an. His parents were duly proud of this accomplishment and could hardly wait for the youngster to make his public debut on the occasion of his circumcision, a Muslim rite of passage. The child did not fail his parents; his pure pre pubertal voice rendered his tajweed (oral rendition of the Qur’an) so exquisite that it elicited cries of pious swooning from the guests. I cannot help imagining had that talent also been used to study mathematics or choral music, what new vistas he would bring. For someone to be able to memorize the entire Qur’an at such a tender age, his brain must be specially wired to recognize visual and aural patterns – a truly special gift from God. This is the same talent that could easily comprehend the abstractions of mathematics and music. Again his parents were trapped by culture. They felt that studying calculus or music would detract from the child’s religiosity. To my mind it would have enhanced it. The best that his culture could do for him was to make him a religious teacher. Today he is found reciting the Holy Book at religious functions, his natural talent stunted and not used to maximal capacity.

            The challenge for Malay leaders is first to disabuse themselves of this artificial distinction between secular and religious knowledge, or that one is superior to the other. That is the difficult part. Once they have done that, then they can begin to influence their followers. That would be the easy part.

            All knowledge is important. That the seeking of “secular” knowledge in anyway detracts from the pursuit of religious ones is nonsensical. We should seek knowledge from whatever source. A well-known hadith says that Muslims should go to China if we have to, in the quest for knowledge, China being the epitome of the end of the world in the prophet’s time. The modern equivalent would be that we should go to outer space to acquire knowledge. The prophet (pbuh) knew that the Chinese were not Muslims; nonetheless he encouraged his people to learn from them.

            All knowledge is ultimately derived from God. When Western scientists elucidated the secrets of the atom or the human gene, this knowledge is for all of mankind. Malays would definitely be the loser if we were to ignore such discoveries and do not make full advantage of them simply because they are works of infidels or that such knowledge is “secular,” and thus unworthy of our attention.

Next:   Culture as an Agent for Change

                This entry was posted on Monday, 16 May 2011, 11:03 am and is filed under
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Sdr Chian Heng Kai’s 2nd last blog post  – parting words

Reaching the age of 70s is something rare in the old days – that’s why the words “古稀” is translated into “Seventy years of age” by the Google Translator. Being a sentimental person, Sdr Heng Kai listed down his most missed/beloved/treasured/memorable etc in February this year, six months after he has reached the age of 70:-

古稀感言

最怀念的人：父亲陈嘉礼，母亲颜祝，二姑陈润妹，三叔陈日初

最爱的人：妻子陈翠水，长女陈小灵，次子陈尔抗，幼女陈小欣

我的贵人：林吉祥，林子鹤，李高

最感恩的人：陈汝喜，颜八，颜旺财

最尊敬的人：林吉祥，曾敏兴医生

最感谢的人：林冠英

最鼓舞我的老师：钟介民，巴壶天，李汉臣

来往最密切的同志：廖金华，戴新标

最憎恨的人：许月凤（叛党，出卖吡叻州人民）

最高兴的事：行动党掌权槟州，雪州与吉打州组成联合政府

最欣慰的事：我家七兄弟姐妹心连心没有纠纷与争执

最难忘的时光：大学时期，被扣留的时期与在马来西亚民主行动党的政治岁月

最正确的决定：参加民主行动党，到台湾读大学

最难忘的一幕：游长江三峡时，亲眼目睹一名骑脚车的人在葛州坝开坝时连人带车掉入滚滚长江里

最令我感动的事：1978年我被扣留在甘文丁扣留营内参加大选不但蝉联华都牙也区国会议员，更赢得吡叻州大和园州议员

最开心的事：出国旅游，中国，美国，西欧（英，法，德，比，荷，卢，瑞士），澳洲，纽西兰，印尼，泰国，柬埔寨，越南，新加坡

最惋惜的事：吡叻州民联政府因议员变节而易手

最失望的事：退休后因眼疾而无法阅读书本和正常写作

初稿于2011年2月1日

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Sdr Chian Heng Kai’s last blog posting: “入阁为了谁？”

http://chianhengkai.blogspot.com/

Thursday, May 5, 2011

砂拉越州议会大选已尘埃落定，以城市为基础的人联党大演滑铁卢，在参选的19个议席中只赢得6席，输了13席。

竞选期间，人联党提出的宣传口号是，安定，发展，与参政（参加执政）。

事实上，人联党早已知道安定与发展牌已不管用，他们想借参政牌来挽回民心，结果显示参政牌也不管用了。

快人快语的马华总会长拿督斯里蔡细历医生立刻建议人联党不在砂州议会内入阁。可是他这项快人快语却被急智的槟城首席部长兼民主行动党秘书长林冠英指出，如果马华公会建议人联党不入阁，那么马华公会在西马的成绩也好不了多少，所以马华也应该在西马的议会内不要入阁。

蔡细历辩称是，当时他不是马华总会长，所以无权叫马华的议员不入阁。蔡细历的这番谈话，实在难以服众，因为他现在是马华的总会长，应该有权叫马华的议员退出。如果他不叫马华的议员退出，那么下届大选就算马华公会的成绩不比这届好 ，他为什么又要叫他们不入阁呢？

正在彷徨不知如何赢回华裔选票的巫统，正好捉住机会以马华入阁的问题大作文章，希望华裔担心没有人在执政党内代表华社而把票投回给国阵。

这种说法其实已被人看穿是完全不正确的。砂拉越的人民已看出人联党在参政了四十多年后，华裔的权利非但没有增加或改善，反而失去了不少原有的权利。所以砂拉越的人民已不被参政牌所打动。

在西马，马华公会要华裔支持他们入阁，它就必须说服人民它连马六甲州元首的职位也不保，并且想在国阵里面担任署理主席或保留担任总秘书或财政的职位，也无法办到，又怎能为华社争取到什么利益呢?

马华公会入阁了五十四年丝毫没有替华社争取到什么利益，反观民联政府执政了仅仅三年就替马来西亚的人民作出了不少的贡献。如果上届大选马华没有受到重大的挫败，巫统就不会改变它的政策。

如果马华公会要人民支持它入阁，只是照旧几个部长或行政议员的个人利益，那么马华公会入阁不入阁，对人民又有什么好处呢？

现在人民应该问的是，马华公会入阁到底为了谁？

* Sdr Chian Heng Kai – DAP former National Vice Chairman, Member of Parliament for Bukit Mertajam and Batu Gajah – passed away this morning after a long struggle with liver cancer. Public can pay their last respect at Muar Seu Teck Sean Tong, (No. 40 Jalan Sultan Ibrahim, 84000 Muar, Johor, Enq: Mr Tan 012-3598408). The funeral is scheduled on Wednesday, 11.00am.

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Sodomy II: Anwar ordered to enter defence

By
Shazwan Mustafa Kamal
 | May 16, 2011

The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will have to defend himself on a charge of sodomising former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan three years ago, the High Court ruled today.

Trial judge Datuk Mohd Zabidin Mohd Diah concluded that there was a prima facie case against the 63-year old Pakatan Rakyat (PR) de facto leader, facing a second sodomy case charge in 13 years.

He was sacked as deputy prime minister and finance minister after the first case came to light in 1998.

“Prosecution proven all facts to define charge. Prima facie case made out against accused. Accused therefore called to enter defence,” said Mohd Zabidin today.

Anwar’s lawyers, in their submissions throughout the prosecution’s case, have attacked the credibility of the star witness Saiful as well as the lab findings of the government chemists.

They had charged that Saiful had lied in open court, and charged that there were many loopholes in his testimony.

The judge, however, quashed all arguments relating to Saiful’s credibility, saying that the complainant’s testimony was indeed reliable.

“I found PW1 credible witness, his evidence reliable,” said Mohd Zabidin.

The judge also ruled that there was nothing “inconsistent” with clinical findings by Hospital Kuala Lumpur specialists in the case.

“All three doctors testified positively, conclude there was penile penetration,” said the trial judge.

Defence lawyer Sankara Nair argued against accepting the DNA samples in the trial as the samples were kept by investigating officer ASP Jude Pereira for 97 hours before being given to the chemist.

The prosecution team, led by Solicitor-General II Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden, argued that the DNA samples taken from three items in a cell where Anwar spent the night on July 16, 2008 matched with the “Male Y” DNA profile.

Yusof had also said Anwar was the sole detainee in the lockup at the time when the items — a “Good Morning” towel, toothbrush and mineral water bottle — were retrieved.

Chemist Dr Nor Aidora Saedon and Supt Amidon Anan were called earlier in April  to identify the items to be marked as exhibits.

Government scientist Dr Seah Lay Hong testified last March that she had found two unknown male DNA profiles from samples retrieved from around Saiful’s anus, one of which she had earlier called “Male Y”.

The trial will resume from June 6 to 30.

Anwar is currently facing sodomy charges for the second time in his life.

He has denied the charge, describing it as “evil, frivolous lies by those in power” when the charge was read out to him. He is charged under section 377B of the Penal Code and can be sentenced to a maximum of 20 years’ jail and whipping upon conviction.

The trial began 18 months after Anwar was charged in court in August 2008.

He was charged with sodomy and corruption in 1998 after he was sacked from the Cabinet and was later convicted and jailed for both offences.

He was freed in September 2004 and later resurrected his political career by winning back his Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat in a by-election in 2008, which had been held in the interim by his wife.

He led the loose pact of PKR, the DAP and PAS to a historic sweep of five states and 82 parliamentary seats in Election 2008

                This entry was posted on Monday, 16 May 2011, 11:20 am and is filed under
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‘Some Basis’ to Malaysian Christian Plot: Minister

By
Hazlin Hassan – Jakarta Globe
 | May 14, 2011

Kuala Lumpur. A new twist emerged in Malaysia’s latest religious row yesterday when Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said there was “some basis” to an Utusan Malaysia report which claimed that there was a Christian conspiracy to replace Islam as the country’s official religion.

The Malay-language paper had published a front-page article alleging that Christian pastors were plotting with the opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) to install a Christian prime minister and make Christianity Malaysia’s official religion.
The newspaper, which is owned by the ruling United Malays National Organization (Umno), quoted two bloggers in the story. Muslims make up about 60 percent of Malaysia’s 28 million population while Christians make up 9 percent.

Datuk Seri Hishammuddin cited new evidence detailed in a police report lodged yesterday in Penang. He did not say who had filed the report.

His ministry had sent a warning letter to Utusan on Thursday, seeking an explanation for the story.

Utusan editor-in-chief Aziz Ishak was called to the ministry’s office on Thursday, where he said ‘there was some truth in what was reported’, according to Hishammuddin.

The minister said the police were investigating the matter. “It’s not just about Utusan,” he said. “It’s about whether it happened, on the issue of reporting, on the role of the bloggers … It cuts across all. We’re not pointing fingers at anybody.”

His remarks are likely to further anger politicians from the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition and the opposition alike, who have already called for sterner action against Utusan.

Chua Soi Lek, president of the Malaysian Chinese Association, which is part of BN, said the editors of Utusan should be suspended.

“If there are certain parties who wanted to politicize the issue by sensationalizing the report, the writer[s] and the editors of the newspaper should be suspended,” he told reporters.

The opposition DAP went further. DAP politician Teresa Kok said Utusan’s licence should be revoked and its editors sacked.

Others noted that previous transgressions by the media had resulted in far harsher punishment.

DAP lawmaker Teo Nie Ching pointed out that the editor-in-chief of Chinese-language newspaper China Press was suspended for two weeks over an “inaccurate report” on the resignation of Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan.   Political analyst James Chin of Monash University Malaysia warned that Hishammuddin’s comments might add fuel to the fire.

“This fire, if not controlled, may lead to another May 13,” he said, referring to the race riots in 1969.

”This issue could really bring people to the streets,” he said. He noted that a row over whether Christians could use the word Allah to refer to God had led to church burnings last year.

DAP politician Lim Kit Siang wrote on his Twitter account that “[Hishammuddin] made things worse [with] his ‘new evidence.'”

Hishammuddin, who is also an Umno vice-president, denied claims that his party’s political bureau set Utusan Malaysia’s editorial agenda.

“No, not true. I can confirm. I’m in the Umno political bureau,” he said.

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Teachers, catalysts for the national education transformation

Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia (PAGE)
 | May 16, 2011

The Malaysian Insider

MAY 16 — “A teacher is an educator who determines the future of our children and that of our country.” — Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

“Teachers are the backbone that will determine the success of Vision 2020.” —Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

“Education reform must go with economic transformation in order to improve students’ performance in schools in addition to providing them with access to better quality education.” —Datuk Noor Rezan Bapoo Hashim, deputy director-general of Education at the time.

“Teachers must be innovative, creative, prepared to change and keep pace with advancement in ICT in order to enhance their classroom lessons. They are expected to be more technologically savvy than their students, especially when compared to the ones in secondary schools.” — Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Noor Rezan Bapoo Hashim.

The above statements show some of the bold plans that the government has devised to drive Malaysia forward into becoming a global player, and transform us into a higher-income nation. The setting up of a world-class education hub is part of the grand strategy for Malaysia to become an Asian hub of western education, with the development of Educity in Nusajaya in Johor and Bandar Enstek, KL Education City and Education Park.

This is a good plan no doubt, and certainly may propel us forward, but is it achievable?

The key question is, are we ready for this to take place or are we getting ahead of ourselves? What are the steps and actions taken to lay the foundation for this to take place at the speed required for the Government Transformation Programme in the National Key Results Area to meet its objective?

Without a doubt, the main players that will ensure that these ambitious plans materialise are the teachers themselves. They are the ones who would have to take the brunt of the load. They are expected to carry out the transformation, whether they are prepared to or not, and change is inevitable. It is indeed a tall order for the teachers to keep up with the demands of this globalised world, whilst juggling with the changes requested of them by the top-down policymakers.

Put simply, the quality of an education system cannot exceed the quality of its teachers and principals, and the quality of teachers cannot exceed the quality of teacher selection, teacher development and teacher evaluation.

According to Andreas Schleicher, head of the Indicators and Analysis Division (Directorate for Education) Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), “an impressive outcome of world-class education systems is perhaps that they deliver high-quality learning consistently across the entire education system so that every student benefits from excellent learning opportunities.

“To achieve this, they invest educational resources where they can make most of a difference, they attract the most talented teachers into the most challenging classrooms, and they establish effective spending choices that prioritise the quality of teachers. Shanghai in China is a great example of this.”

We can proudly talk about all these great plans but the bottom line remains — little is done to motivate, encourage, incentivise, compensate, care for and elevate the teaching profession to be of a higher standard that is at par with the developed nation.

In order to walk the path of world-class education, we really ought to look into uplifting and strengthening the teaching profession into a respectable one. We need to take better care of the nation’s most important builders. The future of this country depends on the seeds that the teachers sow today.

We need to recognise and reward great teaching, give new or struggling teachers the support they need to succeed, and deal fairly, efficiently and compassionately with teachers who are simply not up to the job.

In countries with the most advanced systems like Finland, Canada, Australia, Japan and our neighbour in the south, they attract the best people for the job because they have made teaching a profession of high-level knowledge workers, and that — not higher salaries — is what makes teaching so attractive.

We need to mirror these advanced systems and attract higher-calibre people into the teaching profession. The positive thing is that we had done this before not too long ago. We must revisit this success story and adapt it for use in the current times. We not only need to look into the salary scale — which should be at par with the white-collared corporate people, but also make it even more attractive, such as tax exemption from income tax and in the form of tax relief in buying a home and a car. After all, a minor loss of income through tax exemption offered to the teachers may well be compensated by tremendous intangible benefits to be gained by the nation as a whole.

It would also be interesting to offer those who are of most service to King and country, like the teachers, and those in the military and police, some preferential merchant supplier stores equivalent to that of the Naafi (Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes) store we once had.

The most important fundamental to attract the best candidates for teacher training is that all aspects of selecting, training, placements, rewarding and promotions of teaching personnel must be strictly based on merit and ability, and with no regard to ethnicity. Everyone will gain with this in place.

We need to honour teachers like national heroes, as they rightly so deserve to be.

Teachers, we salute you. You are the catalyst to propel this country into a better, bolder, and stronger Malaysia.

For our children and for the love of this nation, Happy Teacher’s Day. May God always reward your good deeds.

——–

* Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia (PAGE) is an educational lobbyist that serves as a channel between concerned parents, the Ministry of Education and other educational stakeholders. With PAGE, parents have a platform to voice their opinion and feedback on educational issues collectively as a bigger voice. We are optimistic that Malaysia will be able to produce more first world talents.

                This entry was posted on Monday, 16 May 2011, 12:11 pm and is filed under
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10 days in May (13)

Tweets
@limkitsiang
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Najib asks moderates from all faiths to join hands – Shannon Teoh (TMI) http://bit.ly/mHQbwl

What a flop of speech by Najib in Oxford! Rings utterly hollow after govt inaction over Utusan “Christian Msia” bogey http://bit.ly/mHQbwl

Msia world still waiting 4proper action against seditious/treasonous Utusan “Msian Christian” bogey n IA incitement. Enuf of empty words

Let Msian moderates -Islam Christianity Buddhism Hinduism Sikkhism- stand united against extremism eg Utusan IA sedition. BN Cabinet stand?

Unbelievable not only Umno but also MCA Gkan apologists 4Utusan “Christian Msia” bogey like CSL. Y is Hisham n BN Cabinet so soft on Utusan?

DAP/PR moderates ready 2work w BN moderates agnst Utusan/IA extremists.Will Najib convene “Moderates agnst extremists” RoundtableConference?

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 17 May 2011, 11:55 am and is filed under
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10 Days in May (14)

Tweets
@limkitsiang
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The coalition of the moderates and inter-civilisational understanding – by Najib Razak ( Speech Oxford Islamic Centre) http://bit.ly/ky8PGo

All BN Ministers understand Najib’s Oxford speech 2excoriate extremism n be vanguard of moderation? Then Y condone Utusan rabid extremism?

Cabinet meeting tmr shld declare guided by Najib’s Oxon sp 2take stern action agnst Utusan 4its seditious/treasonous “Christian Msia” bogey

Cabinet failed n shd apologise 2nation: “we cannot allow this moment 2b overtaken by extremists w those who shout loudest gaining d most”

According 2Najib test – how many extremists/genuine moderates in Cabinet? Is every Minister prepared 2declare whether extremist or moderate?

Y Najib preach 2world 4Global Movement of Moderates when he dare not convene National Movement of Moderates in Msia? Will Muhyiddin support?

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 17 May 2011, 6:13 pm and is filed under
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The reasons why Ibrahim Ali is untouchable

Malaysiakini

May 17, 11

The fact that the current government is powerless against Utusan and Perkasa implies that they are actually the one behind it.’

Church leaders: Act now against ‘crusading’ Ibrahim

Cannon:
 Perkasa is breaking the law with impunity. It is committing sedition and the authorities are overlooking this lawlessness. The BN must take action to stop this dangerous nonsense before the situation gets out of control.

It’s sheer hypocrisy on the part of PM Najib Razak to advocate moderation in Cambridge while his own ruling party is sowing discord and hatred through Perkasa and Utusan Malaysia, inciting violence against Christians.

The sandiwara and non-action by home minister should be roundly condemned by all Malaysians. Failing or delaying to act, the government is to be held responsible for any outbreak of violence against Christians.

Petestop:
The fact that the current government is powerless against Utusan and Perkasa implies that they are actually the one behind it. So, it is out in the open for all to see who is the extremist – it is actually the BN government.

Do MCA, Gerakan and MIC still wonder why they are losing votes? They are too thick-headed to understand that we are voting against Umno. PAS by comparison is such a civil political party, willing to engage non-Muslims in a constructive manner and shown to be able to be fair to all races.

Therefore, using PAS as the bogeyman will never work. That is why they have to choose a new bogeyman, and unfortunately it is the peace-loving Christians.

Roberts:
Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali should hold a crusade against corruption so that the nation’s money would not be looted and plundered.

The money saved can go into building better schools, hospitals and other facilities for poor rural Malays. Ibrahim, there are schools without electricity, overcrowded classrooms and without proper facilities.

Have a crusade against better law enforcement too so that people can go to sleep in peace without fearing loss of property, lives and limbs. Money saved can built better highways to reduce carnage on roads.

Crusade against cronyism, crusade against rising prices and crusade against injustices to the poor. Crusade to prevent abuses of NEP to see that benefits trickle down to poor kampong Malays. And crusade against social ills that sees too many teenage pregnancies.

Tmf: Is it still unclear if there are elements in the power of the day wanting our beloved land to burn?

David Dass:
What is the effect of Ibrahim Ali’s vituperation and hate? What is his objective in spewing so much hate and bile? What does he hope to achieve? And exactly what has he succeeded in doing?

He has certainly succeeded in creating tension, fear and anxiety. Not the fear that the majority of Muslims will be stirred to riot by his fiery rhetoric. But by the possibility that there will always exist in society a lunatic fringe who will find in his drivel something that will trigger in them a desire to strike out and do harm.

And that is the reason why so many demand that Ibrahim Ali and the Utusan be stopped and punished. It is not a demand for punishment for punishment’s sake. It is not out of a desire for revenge. But the point must be made that the government does not condone violence or threats of violence. That the government does not condone the publication of falsehoods as fact.

Playing poker or brinkmanship with the fate of a nation is downright irresponsible. You do not know where the edge of the cliff is. Stoking the fires of religious hatred is madness. It just takes a few demented individuals to light the fuse.

Sorry about the mixed metaphors. Ibrahim Ali should be contained. Government leaders cannot appear to be afraid of him. He cannot talk of crusades and the shedding of blood with impunity.

There is no Christian conspiracy to establish a Christian state and install a Christian prime minister in Malaysia. It was a ridiculous allegation and from what we gather stemmed from complete ignorance with the way some Christians pray – they raise their hands whilst they invoke the blessings of Almighty God.

Ibrahim Ali should find himself a real enemy and not take us to the brink with his madness and foolishness.

Samuel Ng: If
Ibrahim Ali is not arrested and charged for inciting violence, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and the BN government must be really sick to the core. Thank God for the majority of peace-loving Malaysians who are not so easily manipulated by race and religion.

Paul Warren:
The Christians show a complete lack of understanding here. The government knows what it is doing. And I support the government’s actions to date.

Have not the Christians heard of that one attribute that the Malays have that the non-Malays don’t? Running amok? Burning of Christian churches was not going to get any Christians run amok as this is not one of their attributes. Therefore, the government response was proportionate to that.

Ibrahim Ali on the other hand is only reminding the Christians of what he is capable of. And I believe him. After all, isn’t running amok part of his DNA? Would not that then mean that taking any kind of action against him have the potential of triggering wholesale running amok among his supporters?

A Voter:
 This is no longer a religious or political issue. As Ibrahim Ali, Perkasa and Utusan continue with this tirade against Malaysians, it has become a national security issue. The prime minister, if he is truly a leader for all Malaysians, must make his stand clear and not remain silent or ambiguous.

Kee Thuan Chye:
 Hishammuddin doesn’t have to brand Ibrahim Ali an “extremist”, but he does not absolve Ibrahim from having committed sedition by giving the excuse that Ibrahim does not represent the majority of Malay-Muslims.

This is the crux of the matter. Don’t worry about the “extremist” label, concentrate on the fact that Ibrahim said something seditious. And got away with it. Concentrate on demanding that action be taken against Ibrahim. Because to call for a crusade against any religious group in this country is tantamount to sedition.

Changeagent:
 The government’s inaction against the hatemonger Ibrahim Ali thus far speaks volumes of their insidious intentions to create hatred between Muslims and Christians. There is no point in calling on the authorities to act on the Perkasa chief, for they have been in cohorts since day one.

The only option available to Christians to resolve this issue is through prayer. It sounds desperate, but the situation has become that dire and dangerous.

Docs:
Hishammuddin can’t open his mouth at the moment to reprimand crusading Ibrahim as he has his foot in it.

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                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 17 May 2011, 11:00 am and is filed under
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As subsidies balloon, BN eyes cuts but foes expect snap polls

By
Melissa Chi

The Malaysian Insider

May 17, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 — With the national subsidy bill expected to top RM20 billion this year, opposition leaders are bracing for snap polls before the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) makes inevitable cuts that could prove unpopular among voters.

Several senior BN leaders had signalled the inevitability of price hikes yesterday, hours before the Najib administration announced it will cut the diesel super subsidy for nine categories of commercial vehicles from June 1.

At the same time, the government kept its January promise and abolished toll charges in the East-West Link between Cheras and Petaling Jaya, a key highway in the Klang Valley from midnight this morning.

Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal told The Malaysian Insider that it is important for the government to balance between cutting the country’s deficit and, at the same time, not dumping the burden on the citizens.

“How can the nation shoulder the burden? We are managing quite well despite the economic turmoil,” he said.

As for subsidy cuts, Shafie said it will depend on the advisory council under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2010 to decide.

The Umno vice-president emphasised that this is a very complex and delicate issue.

“It is not as simple as it entails a lot of complexity and we have to manage it properly. So every one of us, irrespective of the government, has to play a part to ensure the bigger picture will benefit us, a nation as a whole,” he said, adding BN was doing its best as no government wants to lose power, or bring the country into a deeper deficit.

“When you micromanage the economy, for example through subsidies, it will benefit the public to a certain extent but it also benefits smugglers. It’s not a question of winning the elections but the nation has to pay for it in the future, so we’re being a responsible government,” Shafie said.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin signalled the inevitability of price hikes when he announced yesterday the subsidy burden was expected to double this year from RM10.32 billion to RM20.58 billion, with RM18 billion for petroleum-related sectors.

The Umno deputy president said the country could no longer maintain the current subsidies, adding the government was trying to reduce subsidy costs like the increase in price of sugar and that it was doing it in stages.

Pua predicts the prime minister will call for earlier polls as global commodity prices go up.DAP publicity chief Tony Pua told The Malaysian Insider that he predicts the prime minister will call for earlier polls as global commodity prices go up.

“July, if it’s a surprise one, but a possible one will be in November.

“They are handling it terribly. I think there are a lot of place where expenditures can be cut, for example, restructuring the IPP (independent power producer) contracts. Out of the RM20 billion subsidy bill, the deputy prime minister should clarify how much are for the IPPs? How much for sugar?” he said.

“I think they should handle the biggest impact to deficit — IPP, the need to curb smuggling activities — which takes up a large portion of the subsidy.

“The problem has been identified by Pemandu but no action has been taken. The government only cuts those subsidies that affect the man on the street,” Pua said.

Minister of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said yesterday that a price increase for RON 95 was possible, and that the people should be prepared to face it.

PAS Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad echoed Pua’s prediction for early polls in July, but said subsidy cuts were not the only factor.

“They don’t have any reason to wait. I think they have concluded that the support of the non-Malays is already a gone case as far as they are concerned, especially with the Chinese; they can only maintain the Malay support for this period of time, the longer they wait…. they risk losing their support,” he said.

He expects the economy to get worse than better and there is a need for more subsidy cuts.

“No way can they badmouth Anwar in what they’ve been doing, nothing else they can act as far as PAS is concerned, unless the final tally comes back if you have the elections now, you’re going to lose,” he said, adding that the “heartbeat of the nation” is no longer with the prime minister.

Khalid expects the economy to get worse than better.Khalid acknowledged that Prime MInister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was trying to address the problem but didn’t think “he has any idea on how to overcome it and he’s not doing what it takes to address it”.

“The whole party survives on the access of the administration and if they don’t have the money, how to oil their political machinery?” he said.

He added that the ruling government needs to be frugal and identify what to do to help the common people, rather than big businesses which are closely aligned with it, as it needed their support.

“I don’t see the economy changing for the better; I believe they will be even more hard-pressed to face the voters at the end of the year or next year but because there are other factors including commodity prices — oil and gas prices and all that — maybe there will be political changes.

“They can’t carry on winning the elections just by having the culture of fear among the Malays, demonising Anwar. There’s only so much they can do if they are forced to proceed or drag the elections next year, they might be forced to do some real economic policy changes and sacrifices,” he said.

Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Donald Lim said even with the subsidy cuts the price of commodities, especially sugar and fuel, are among the lowest in the region.

He said the rise in sugar prices may benefit the people as it may slow down the rate of diabetic cases in the country as well as cut down smuggling of sugar.

As for fuel prices, he said it was beyond the government’s control and that the people should try to cut down on usage.

“I think the rakyat will know that this is beyond the Barisan Nasional government’s control. The government will try our best to maintain the situation. We have to weigh the situation. We will monitor the price of oil in the world.

“Either the government or the rakyat will suffer. There has to be a compromise. I believe the subsidy cuts were a necessary announcement. The important thing is oil price increase affects all governments in the world, especially the ruling governments, it is something that we have to face, the reality,” he said.

Malaysia’s low purchasing power, coupled with rising prices, is putting pressure on the Najib administration to pump more public funds into existing subsidies.

Lim said the prices of sugar and fuel are among the lowest in the region.The move is seen as necessary to avoid public unrest over the escalating cost of living, as well as to counter Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) attacks on the government’s previous plans of phasing out subsidies.

Najib said on April 1 that the recent surge in the cost of living may force the government to slow subsidy cuts, and that while the government was committed to reducing the nation’s deficit, “we don’t want rising prices in Malaysia to be a major burden for the people.”

He has already announced the government’s willingness to fork out RM4 billion more in addition to the RM10 billion allocated for subsidies this year.

Analysts and politicians believe that problems affecting the economy — distorted and inefficient markets, lack of competition, low wages and a weak ringgit — will be the biggest problem for the BN administration as the country heads into the next general election, speculated to be held by year end.

But Muhyiddin’s remarks suggested the government was now preparing the public for more cuts.

“We cannot guarantee there will be no increase in the prices of goods. We cannot control the prices but where the government can intervene to decrease public burden then we will,” he said.

The 2010 Prices and Wages report by Swiss bank UBS AG shows that residents in KL have only 33.8 per cent the purchasing power of their counterparts in New York, 42 per cent that of London, 33.7 per cent that of Sydney, 32.6 per cent that of Los Angeles and 31.6 per cent that of Zurich.

A check on salaries and prices in selected developed country cities by The Malaysian Insider showed that despite being touted as one of the world’s least expensive cities, KL residents pay as much or even more for chicken, broadband, cars and mobile phones as a percentage of their income.

Despite government assurances that inflation is under control, Malaysians are becoming increasingly restive over the cost of goods in relation to wages, especially those who are able to compare the corresponding price-to-wage ratios in developed economies.

According to a Bloomberg report last month, surging fuel prices and unhappiness over the implementation of race-based policies contributed to the ruling BN coalition losing control of five states to Pakatan Rakyat in Election 2008, where it also ceded a record 82 out of 222 seats in Parliament.

Najib completed his second year as leader on April 3 after inheriting a contracting economy and a ruling coalition with the smallest majority in Parliament since independence in 1957.

The Bloomberg report also wrote that voters and investors are waiting for the premier to deliver on pledges to transform the country into a developed nation by 2020, narrow the budget gap and ensure preferential economic policies benefiting the Malay majority are extended to the poor of other races.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 17 May 2011, 9:06 am and is filed under
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Be ready for Operation Lallang II

May 17, 11

Malaysiakini

‘Ibrahim Ali is dispensable to the powers-that-be. They are using him to provoke conflict between Christians and Muslims.’

Perkasa ready to crusade against ungrateful Christians

Ablastine
: If what Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali said are not seditious, then what is. Provoking the people with some unfounded and ridiculous accusations and fanning religious extremism or fervour so that the people may fight each other is just outrageously seditious.

The only reason I can think why the Umno government is not taking action is because they are also, or at least some elements in the ruling party, are in it themselves. It is not difficult to see that the intention is to push the opposition into making a strong response, giving Umno the excuse to conduct Operation Lalang II.

Of course, just like the first time, most opposition leaders who have nothing to do with inciting hatred will be hauled up and banished to Kamunting, effectively shutting their mouth and disrupting their political parties.

However, it would be prudent for the Umno government to think twice before embarking on this because the backlash from the people will be very severe. You cannot go against the will of so many people in a country.

Cannon:
 Ibrahim Ali is dispensable to the powers-that-be behind him. They are using him to stir up things and provoke conflict between Christians and Muslims. They’re still plotting by the look of things.

Then, in one fell swoop, under the pretext of maintaining public order, they would nap him under the ISA together with the other key opposition leaders, including members of the alternative media.

That will decapitate the opposition and cripple the alternative media before calling for GE13. In particular, the DAP and Malaysiakini had better be very careful not to play into their hands. Remember Operation Lallang in 1987.

Singa Pura Pura:
 A declaration of civil war like this one made by Perkasa is the clearest justification for the use of the Internal Security Act 1960. Preventive detention prevents civil strife. Public order, national security, economic prosperity and the very lives of the country’s citizens are in grave danger.

Perkasa conjures up a Christian apparition out of thin air and calls on Muslims to slay it. This could even be Perkasa’s veiled reaction to the murder of Osama bin Laden. Yet, it receives tacit support from the Umno/MCA/MIC/Gerakan government, vicariously through the inaction of the home minister.

Jiminy Qrikert:
 “Perkasa is Umno’s alter ego and was set up to give Umno the luxury of playing the chauvinist and right-wing card and yet have the luxury of deniability. So Umno could assure its BN component party members that it was middle of the road while twin Perkasa targeted the vote of the Malays.

“So when Ibrahim whacks non-Malays and non-Muslims, it is Umno whacking non-Malays and non-Muslims.” – Shamsuddin Ghani.

Rakyat Malaysia:
 It would be better for Umno/BN to talk about fighting for the welfare and quality of life for all Malaysians. Wouldn’t that make more sense and get more votes? I don’t understand why BN like to use religion and race as a stepping stone for them to hold on to their power and corruption.

Is this the only way? Are there no other way that BN leaders can think of? Why not move with the time and change? Are BN leaders so narrow-minded and always do things without thinking? No wonder our country’s economy is going down the drain day by day while the rakyat are being covered by religious and racial ‘smokes’ and get cooked silently.

Proarte:
Why do so-called defenders of Islam always have to operate with threats of violence and the spilling of blood? And in the same breath, they say Islam is a religion of peace.

Ibrahim Ali is being sponsored by Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his fascist cronies to foment racial and religious disharmony. They aim to increase their bargaining position within Umno. It is a pity that the country has to suffer because of machinations and power struggles within Umno.

Umno is an immoral, destabilising force in Malaysia and should be put to pasture. They rely on dumbed-down Malays, insecure Malays, jealous Malays and Malays afraid of talent. Umno’s strategy is to keep Malays ignorant, suspicious and fearful and morally indifferent. Malays are just pawns for Umno to plunder the country.

When will Malays break free from the soul destroying demeaning and self-limiting grip which Umno has them under? Malays who care about Islam should not ‘duduk diam saja’ and see Islam bastardised by Umno.

Rayfire:
 Look at the irony of this crusade announcement – it was at a function organised by 1Malaysia group with guests from Perkasa and Umno. PM Najib Razak, you must be really happy with how far and wide your 1Malaysia has reached.

You are willing to let this country burn just to safeguard your interest. Gone are the days of selfless leaders like Tunku Abdul Rahman. The rest, with the exception of Hussein Onn, are just power crazy and willing to sacrifice anything to stay in power.

Anonymous:
 I lay the responsibility for the recent racial and religious tension squarely on the shoulders of Najib for failing to rein in his own men and propaganda machinery. In fact, it is easier to understand the whole mess if we just conclude he is the mastermind behind it.

As for all the other so-called BN leaders (Koh Tsu Koon no less), they are the accomplices for continuing to secure support for a regime that seems hell-bent on destroying this country for their own political survival.

YF:
 Umno is playing a dangerous game which can either destroy itself or destroy the nation. The onus is now on the Malay rakyat.

It is either they continue to support the lies and corruption of Umno (which contradicts the Malay culture and teachings of Islam) or replace them with a party that not only fights for the well-being of Malays but for all Malaysians.

Umno is not that party and has long ceased to be so.

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                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 17 May 2011, 10:54 am and is filed under
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BN condones violence?

Mariam Mokhtar | May 16, 11

Malaysiakini

Does Umno consider the life of a three-year-old fair-game in the war for political power? When will Umno take seriously the threat to kidnap MP Nurul Izzah Anwar’s three-year-old daughter?

Are Umno politicians so politically immature and morally corrupt? Perhaps Umno’s propaganda machine considers a defenceless child is just a pawn to use to gain political advantage.

Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was sceptical of the threat to kidnap Nurul’s child. He believed it was “just an opposition ploy to gain sympathy”.

Perhaps, if his child were to face similar threats, Zahid, who is also Defence Minister, would not mind if we were to tell him that he should ‘grin and bear it.’

Few will forget Zahid’s embarrassing back-tracking over his statements which alluded to the loyalties of the non-Malays in the armed forces. He wasn’t such a brave man when he faced the nation’s wrath.

Then we have Perkasa’s Ibrahim Ali (left) who allegedly said at a rally in Kg Changkat, Gombak over the weekend, that Nurul “was seeking sympathy through political gimmicks like the kidnap threat”.

If that wasn’t sufficiently vile, he then allegedly said that “he wouldn’t be surprised if ‘kereta Izzah meletup’ to gain sympathy”.

Is he mad to think that politicians should stage acts of simulated violence to gain votes?

Ibrahim Ali, the so-called champion of Malay rights who also claims to uphold the tenets of Islam, is a disgrace to his race and his religion.

Perhaps, in the eyes of his supporters, he can do no wrong, just like those extremists who blow up cars in other parts of the world and think that they will have brought awareness to their cause, by killing and maiming other people.

‘Lucky’ to get an ‘early warning’

The women of Puteri Umno are just as vile. Rosnah Abdul Rashid tweeted on 13 May, saying “I think YB is a lucky mother indeed becoz she received an early warning of the kidnapping plot from the kidnapper himself”.

The Puteri Umno representative is a complete fool to think that Nurul was “lucky” to have received an “early warning”.

If the boot had been on the other foot, and it was Rosnah (left) who had received a kidnap threat, this contemptuous woman would probably be the first to demand 24-hour armed police protection, a fortress to protect her and safe houses galore.

The policemen investigating Nurul’s case, although helpful, told Nurul that the police “cannot compel service providers to act with urgency”, to reveal the identities of the person or persons who sent her the sms, because of privacy issues.

How is it possible that the Special Branch have ready access to the phone contacts of opposition politicians?

Why are there two sets of laws – one for the political elite and one for the rest of society?

How is it that the threat of a kidnap, especially when it was compared with the tragic disappearance of Sharlinie Mohd Nashar, is not considered serious?

Will our police only be compelled to act with urgency, when there is a death or there is the receipt of body parts, as in the Getty kidnap case, where the ears of the child were delivered by post?

Nurul Izzah is a mother and a rising politician. It is widely known that the ruling party feels threatened by the actions of her father. These threats were politically motivated and come soon after similar threats were made by the ‘Datuk T’ trio.

Only cowards would think that the way to stop Anwar in his political tracks, is to threaten his daughter and granddaughter.

Although malicious calls are part and parcel of the life of an opposition politician, kidnap and sabotage, are very serious crimes. If you recall, the brakes on Anwar’s car were damaged.

Before Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak flew to London, did he condemn the various Umno and extremist Malay groups who claimed Nurul was ‘pretending’?

Did Najib use the mainstream media to say that Malaysia had no place for such cowardly acts of violence?

Did he warn those responsible, that these crimes have serious consequences? Did he instruct the police to act swiftly, in case other copy-cat kidnappers were to emerge?

No. He did not!

Both he and the Home Minister, Hishammuddin Hussein are as guilty as the person who sent out the kidnap threat and as guilty as the person who tampered with the brakes on Anwar’s car.

The authorities have to take this sort of threat seriously. The media should too, as there are many cranks amongst the public who might be motivated by the perverse comments of Zahid, Rosnah and Ibrahim Ali.

In the west, threats against the opposition parties are taken seriously and investigations are conducted with expediency. It appears that in Malaysia, that only happens if threats were to be made against Umno-BN politicians.

In the west, police protection would have been offered or increased patrols made, at least until the risk of the threat has passed. In Malaysia, the public might be forgiven for thinking that justice might only be served it they decided to take matters into their own hands.

Immediate risk assessment

In the west, the police intelligence unit would have different approaches when dealing with threats to kill and threats to life. An immediate risk assessment based on intelligence available would categorise the threat into low, medium or high risk, with medium and high normally given the same priority. Is the same done in Malaysia?

Nurul Izzah is not asking for extra special treatment. In her line of work, she has met many mothers whose children have been killed but the investigations of the death have reached a dead end.

Nurul Izzah only wants fair treatment by the police. No more, no less.

After all, don’t the police have a “duty to protect” its civilians, including the opposition politicians?

Incredibly, no members of BN, not just Umno, have made any attempt to condemn such despicable acts of violence. Their silence speaks volumes about their guilt. They must bear the blame.

Perhaps, they know who engineered the threats and they dare not condemn him, or her.

MARIAM MOKHTAR is a non-conformist traditionalist from Perak, a bucket chemist and an armchair eco-warrior. In ‘real-speak’, this translates into that she comes from Ipoh, values change but respects culture, is a petroleum chemist and also an environmental pollution-control scientist.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 17 May 2011, 4:31 pm and is filed under
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Breeding Brainiacs: Tiger Mums in New Zealand

3News.co.nz
 | SUN, 15 MAY 2011 7:30P.M.

What makes Asian kids so astonishingly brainy? Is it because their parents push them so hard? And if so, should we do the same?

Look at the top stream in school or university, the students receiving the top academic awards, and you can’t help but notice – the faces are likely to be Asian. What makes the Chinese, Taiwanese and Koreans so successful, or to put it another way, what makes Pakeha, Maori and Polynesians much less successful?

The answer you’ll often hear is hard work.

A work ethic instilled by the parents. And more often than not, by the mums…. Tiger Mums.

Paula Penfold talks to the pupils known by their classmates as ‘brainiacs’ to find out why they are top of the class.

Watch the video.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 17 May 2011, 1:10 pm and is filed under
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DAP: Let’s fight Ibrahim Ali together

By
Clara Chooi
 | May 17, 2011

The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 — The DAP today invited all “non-Umno” members in Barisan Nasional (BN) to cast aside their political beliefs and unite with their opposition foes to fight one common enemy together — Datuk Ibrahim Ali.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, in lambasting the government’s failure to reprimand the Perkasa president for waging a crusade against the Christians, said it was time for all Malaysians to unite against extremism, regardless of their political beliefs.

“Only if we cleanse hatred from our heart and fill our soul with love can we find peace, balance and harmony with our lives and with each other. For this reason, DAP calls on all Malaysians to stand up for peace and harmony by uniting against extremists and harmony that wants to see Malaysia burn with hatred and violence.

“DAP is willing to work with all Malaysians, including non-Umno component members in BN, to oppose this crusade and demand action against Utusan Malaysia and Ibrahim Ali’s reckless opportunism and irresponsible adventurism,” he said in his Wesak Day message today.

Lim claimed Malaysians were outraged at the Home Ministry’s inaction against both Ibrahim for his threat and the daily for recently publishing allegations of a plot between DAP and Christian leaders to usurp Islam.

He said Utusan Malaysia and Ibrahim should be punished for attempting to cause a strain to the ties between the Malays and the non-Malays.

“Are the non-Malays and non-Muslims an easy target to be blamed and kicked around based on lies just to distract attention from the real problems affecting 27 million Malaysians?

“Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin signalled the inevitability of price hikes when he announced yesterday that the country could no longer maintain the current subsidies which has doubled this year from RM10.32 billion to RM20.58 billion, with RM18 billion for petroleum-related sectors,” he pointed out.

Lim said that instead of addressing the “real issues” faced by Malaysians, the government was allowing Ibrahim and his Perkasa to act as distractions by talking about a crusade against Christians.

“The price hikes and difficult economic livelihood of the people are real issues that must be addressed.

“Whether in Cabinet or outside Cabinet, the time has come for all Malaysians, whether Muslim or non-Muslim, to stand together to reject hatred unequivocally, abhor extremists and universally condemn violence,” he said.

Ibrahim had threatened Christians nationwide during a ceramah in Gombak on Saturday that he would wage a crusade or holy war should they proceed with their agenda to usurp Islam.

The pint-sized Malay rights leader thundered to a ceramah audience of some 200 at Kampung Changkat here that he was willing to take the fall for his statement for the sake of defending the dignity of Islam.

Although he complained of fatigue from his nine ceramah stops from Kelantan to Gombak since Friday night, the Pasir Mas MP also said his blood was boiling with rage and “hairs standing on end” following recent reports of an alleged Christian conspiracy between religious leaders and opposition party politicians.

“In Kelantan, I told the security forces present that if they want to inform Bukit Aman (police) of my declarations to please go ahead.

“Please mark my words — if any party in Penang, especially the Christian priests who are being backed by the Penang DAP, continues with their agenda which we are already aware of, I would like to offer that if they want to hold a crusade, we can too,” he charged.

Ibrahim was referring to the recent row over a controversial newspaper report in Utusan Malaysia entitled “Kristian Agam Rasmi?” (Christianity the official religion?) where it was alleged that DAP leaders and Christian priests are conspiring to take over Putrajaya, abolish Islam as the religion of the federation and install a Christian prime minister.

Christian leaders and DAP members have denied the reports and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was even forced to host a meeting with leading religious figures to solve the issue but Ibrahim insisted on Saturday that the report is true.

Utusan Malaysia’s Christian conspiracy report is presently under police investigation.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 17 May 2011, 1:19 pm and is filed under
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Happy Wesak Day

Happy Wesak Day to spread message of peace and love to all Malaysians.

Let us all resolve to end hate politics which have poisoned national life of late.

Moderates of all faiths must unite against extremists of all hues.

Even more important, no one should be apologists for extremists.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 17 May 2011, 7:33 am and is filed under
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In the name of God

Free Malaysia Today

May 17, 2011

The Christian story will not easily go away. Christians will always be on the crosshairs of religious bigots and unscrupulous politicians.

The country is still seething over the so-called “Christian plot”. At one stage, the rage threatened to get out of control. The issue burst on the national stage with such sudden force that all were caught up in a whirlwind of emotion and passion.The spectre of another bloodletting loomed, evoking the dark days of May 13. It had all the makings of a religious strife which echoed ancient animosity and hatred. Christians and Muslims appeared to be heading on a collision course, with dire consequences seen for the Christian minority. For the Muslim majority, it is like a call to a holy war because the “infidels” had reportedly insulted the pre-eminent position of Islam. Even the government, elected to protect its citizens, seemed ready to throw its weight on the side of bigotry and fanaticism. A small country built on the toil and sweat of all races is about to go up in flames because intolerance, irrationality and arrogance got the upperhand.

It all started when one Malay language newspaper highlighted a meeting that purportedly took place in a hotel between the leaders of an opposition party and some Christian pastors. If you believe the report, the cabal was cooking up a diabolical plot to take over the country, make Christianity the official religion and install a Christian prime minister. Maybe someone played the role of Judas and blew the cover open when he whispered to a high-ranking editor of the newspaper about the dastardly conspiracy. All hell broke loose the next day when the paper went to town with its top news. Everyone bought the story and fired volleys of criticism at Christians without reason or rhyme. Even Muslims who did not toe the official line but argued rationally were branded as traitors to their race and religion. There was not much help from the government, either, which was seen as biased in its response – it only wagged its fingers at the Christians while slapping the wrist of the main culprit.

Then there was the crucial meeting hastily arranged between the prime minister and some Christian leaders. It turned out to be a farce because the pastors were made to look guilty when they promised to respect the position of Islam. There was no dissenting voice; not a single one told the prime minister that he had cordoned the evil machination of the newspaper. The Lord was supposed to lead them to fight for truth but these “children” came out looking meek beside the political master. It appeared that the delegation that met the most powerful man in the land did not represent the majority opinion. They spoke for themselves. They spoke to a mirror which reflected only their timidity. The high-level meeting was a one-sided affair that represented a defeat for justice and truth. Justice was not served when only the Christians were flogged. Truth was not served when the root cause of the problem remained unsolved.

It all boils down to the question of truth. Who was telling the truth – the newspaper which whipped up the storm or the pastors who vehemently denied there was a foul scheme in the making? The daily is controlled by the government and is reportedly taking orders from the political overlords. This makes it an enemy of truth because it is the mouthpiece of the government. It becomes a purveyor of cheap gossip. The pastors are the followers of the good Lord and they must speak nothing but the truth. They must tell the whole world what transpired at the meeting at the hotel. Protesting their innocence is not enough. The fact that they came out of the conference with the prime minister speaking on their behalf implied that they had a hand in the “Christian plot”. When no one wants to speak the truth on an issue of great national importance, the country will be the ultimate loser. Political leaders place very little value on truth. They have no scruples when it comes to fighting for their own political survival. They are fork-tongued and are experts in double-speak. Religious leaders are the best hope against dirty politics. But they must stand their ground and not be led by the nose.

The Christian story will not easily go away. Christians will always be on the crosshairs of religious bigots and unscrupulous politicians. Anything they do or even think will be scrutinised for fresh evidence of treason. Every movement will be monitored and every conference of Christian leaders will be closely watched for any wayward behaviour. Even sermons will be keenly listened to for any feeble signs of sedition. No place is safe because all the walls have ears. Christians will be pushed to the brink because they are too small a minority to put up resistance. But it will be a grave miscalculation to conclude that the Christians can be persecuted or even wiped out at the hands of the numerically superior race. To evoke age-old animosity like launching a crusade will not do anybody any good. It will only burn both sides. To replay “wild scenes of anarchy” to curdle the blood as in the olden days will only harden the hearts. When all champion the cause of their religion, no one will yield ground. Christians and Muslims have been implacable foes since time immemorial but in Malaysia history need not repeat itself. There is enough space for tolerance to flourish and for all to live in peaceful co-existence. Just make sure to keep those nasty politicians at arm’s length – them and their pesky press zealots.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 17 May 2011, 4:42 pm and is filed under
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Meltdown may have occurred also at Nos. 2, 3 reactors

Japan Today

Tuesday 17th May

TOKYO — An adviser to Prime Minister Naoto Kan said Monday that the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant had failed to inject water into the Nos. 2 and 3 reactors for more than six hours after the March 11 massive earthquake and ensuing tsunami.

Goshi Hosono, tasked with handling the nuclear crisis, said at a press conference that Tokyo Electric Power Co had not been able to cool down the reactors’ cores due to loss of external power for a long time after the quake, acknowledging that fuel in the vessels might have largely melted ‘‘in the worst-case scenario.’‘

But he added TEPCO has been succeeding in preventing the reactor’s fuel from overheating so far and reiterated the government will stick to the timetable set by the firm, which announced April 17 it aims to bring the crisis there under control in six to nine months.

His remarks came a day after TEPCO said a nuclear fuel meltdown at the No. 1 reactor is believed to have occurred around 16 hours after the devastating quake and tsunami crippled the plant’s critical cooling systems.

TEPCO is slated to release on Tuesday an updated roadmap for bringing under control Japan’s worst nuclear accident based on new information about the plant’s condition.

Hosono has said that it has no choice but to abandon an initial plan to flood and cool the No. 1 reactor’s containment vessel as holes have been created in the pressure vessel by the melted fuel.

The government will also unveil the same day its own version of a roadmap that will outline measures on how to deal comprehensively with the crisis amid growing discontent by lawmakers and the public over the government’s handling of it.

TEPCO, meanwhile, said Monday it will start transferring highly radioactive water at the No. 3 reactor of the atomic power complex to a waste-disposing facility the following day to prevent it from leaking into the environment.

The move is believed to be essential to contain radiation leaks from the power station as well as to allow workers to get access to the damaged vessel, from which the contaminated water may be leaking to its adjacent turbine building and other places.

While such water previously found at the No. 2 reactor has been already stored in the facility, the utility has stepped up its efforts to set up equipment at the water-disposing facility to decontaminate the radioactive water so it can be reused to cool fuel in the vessels in the near future, company officials said.

Under a plan by TEPCO, a total of 4,000 tons of water is expected to be pumped out of the No. 3 reactor turbine building to the nuclear waste disposal facility by using hoses.

The utility has been injecting more water into the reactor than in the past to cool down its vessel as its temperature has been rising recently, pushing the level of water up there, the officials said.

The government’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said it has already given the green light to TEPCO’s plan.

The tainted water, the level of which has been rising by around 2 centimeters a day in the No. 3 reactor’s turbine building, may be leaking into the sea, prodding the plant operator to remove it as soon as possible.

But TEPCO is also being forced to keep injecting sufficient quantities of water into the reactor as workers have been struggling to cool down its vessel stably.

The temperature inside the No. 3 reactor has been rising since the beginning of the month, topping 200 C on May 7, compared with around 90 C on May 1, TEPCO said.

While the temperature fell to 141.3 C on Monday morning, TEPCO remains vigilant as there is some skepticism about whether water has remained in the reactor, company officials said.

© 2011 Kyodo News. All rights reserved. No reproduction or republication without written permission.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 17 May 2011, 7:48 am and is filed under
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