by Martin Jalleh
Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar believes it is his prerogative and position to preach to the Catholic community in Bolehland on what they should and should not believe in.
“Religion and politics should not mix”– he pontificates. This is ludicrous especially coming from a Minister whose political party’s interpretation of its own religion has politicised almost everything in Bolehland.
The Home Minister hops on the bandwagon of the horde of “little mullah napoleons” (LMNs) in the country to dominate, dictate, decide and even define what non-Muslims can and cannot discuss, deliberate on, and display in print.
He joins the LMNs in his ministry in hounding The Herald. He says he was not aware of the instructions by his Ministry to decide whether to suspend or revoke The Herald’s publication permit, yet he decides to threaten the publication.
An official in his ministry had said that Herald may have its permit suspended if it goes ahead and publishes an editorial on the Permatang Pauh by-election, because an editorial on the by-election was a topic under current affairs and politics (Star, 13.08.08).
Yet, as was pointed out by The Herald’s editor Father Lawrence Andrew, the officer had not even seen the editorial. Yet he had the audacity to issue such a threat. And as it had turned out the editorial was only asking people to pray for a just and fair by-election.
So now it appears the LMNs even feel they have the right to tell adherents of faiths other than Muslim what they can or cannot pray for!
Rites & Rituals
“If you are to write on religion, then you are supposed to touch on matters pertaining to questions on rituals, adherence to God, followers and anything related to your divine mission.
“If you go beyond that, definitely you have committed some breaches,” so declared Syed Hamid when responding to questions from reporters on The Herald being given a show-cause letter and several warning letters for writing on politically-related issues and events.
In response to Syed Hamid’s hype the Catholic Lawyers’ Society of Kuala Lumpur homed in on the fact that “(u)ltimately, the interpretation of what constitutes religious matters should be left to the leaders and adherents of the faith”.
In a recent press statement, its president Mabel Sabastian said that the reporting in The Herald was “in line with the teachings of the Catholic Church in social and political charity”.
“The Home Ministry is not in a position to dictate to the Catholics (or for that matter, the proponents of any other faith) the scope of their religion,” she drove home the point.
“In seeking to control the contents of The Herald, the Home Ministry’s warning and show-cause letters go against Article 3 (1), Article 10(1)(a) and Article 11(3)(a) of the Federal Constitution, that is, the right to freely practise one’s religion, the general freedom of speech and expression and the right of a religious group to manage its own affairs.”
“Such controls will deprive the Catholic community of current information and education in relation to their faith. Such an act by the authorities is tantamount to curtailment of religious freedom,” she concluded.
Dangerous dichotomy
Contrary to the narrow and naïve definition of religion by Syed Hamid, the Catholic Church teaches that her religion must go beyond the realm of rites, rubrics and rituals and be one that seeks to respond radically to her “divine mission”.
In fact, the Catholic Church has warned her adherents of having a religion that is “nothing more than the fulfillment of acts of worship and the observance of a few moral obligations”.
She calls the “compartmentalization” of faith (as dictated by Syed Hamid), “one of the gravest errors of our time”. She says that “the dichotomy between the faith which many profess and their day-to-day conduct” is vehemently denounced in the Bible.
Catholics are taught not to view their faith as a purely private affair. It may be true that there are personal dimensions of faith but there are also social dimensions that require believers to live and take their faith into the public and political arena.
Indeed, far from pietism and personalized salvation, the Catholic faith is profoundly social. “We cannot be called truly “Catholic” unless we hear and heed the Church’s call to serve those in need and work for justice and peace,” a Church document succinctly puts it.
In sharp contrast to the narrow perspective of the Home Minister, the Catholic church also believes in carrying out its “divine mission” in solidarity with others. It proclaims that “no matter our national, racial, ethnic, economic or ideological differences, we have a global commitment to love our neighbors and to work for justice.”
“We also have a commitment to work towards a just, even and fair development of our world, where no one society is exalted materially above the rest, and no other society is left, quite literally, in the dust. Development must respect the rights of all nations and their people, always promoting the moral, cultural and spiritual dimensions of each person.”
If Syed Hamid is sincere and serious about religion being related to “your divine mission” then he can find no fault with The Herald which has only been reporting and reminding Catholics of their divine mission – which is the same as Jesus’ divine mission of bringing “good news to the poor, liberty to captives, and new sight to the blind” (Luke 4:18) – a mission that clearly and inevitably and ultimately involved the political realities of his time.
The Catholic Church also teaches that “(t)he members of the Church, as members of society, have the same right and duty to promote the common good as do other citizens. Christians ought to fulfill their temporal obligations with fidelity and competence. They should act as a leaven in the world, in their family, professional, social, cultural and political life” (Justice in the World).
As an organ of the Catholic Church in Malaysia it is The Herald’s responsibility and even sacred duty to keep Catholics informed and involved in playing an active role as citizens of this country –and this logically includes the political sphere too.
Wisdom & Will
The ignorance displayed by Syed Hamid is so reminiscent of what the Prime Minister had warned us of when he opened the “International Conference on Religion in The Quest for Global Justice and Peace”, in July this year.
He had called on religious scholars and intellectuals to engage with the wider public in order for them to play a vital role in “combating ignorance and the perversion of religion” and “in broadening public understanding of religion, and its role in promoting justice and peace,”
“Our religious education should convince us that the dignity and integrity of all human beings is worthy of our respect. Religion should inculcate a truly universal and inclusive outlook, not a mentality that is narrow, exclusive and parochial,” Pak Lah added.
Pak Lah also stressed that there is “the need to amplify the role of the media in promoting a universal and inclusive dimension of religion that focused upon justice and peace”. Will this point by the PM hit home, Mr. Home Minister?
Perhaps there is no better statement by the PM himself that exonerates The Herald, affirms what it has been doing, and spurs the publication on to continue to translate into reality its “divine mission” than the following:
“Journalists and media practitioners in general should deepen and broaden their understanding of religion, in order to play a more effective role in advancing the universal values of justice, peace and compassion which lie at the heart of our great religious philosophies.”
Come this 31st August, may we be able to truly celebrate our freedom from all religious narrow-mindedness. May God grant to the adherents of each faith, the wisdom, will and way to live out fully their divine mission for the good of all. Merdeka!
(20 August 2008)
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
MARA is progress not fascism
by Azly Rahman
Mara means “to advance (forward)”. It is the opposite of “retreat” and the declaration of defeat. It does not mean Undur.
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) must live up to its name. So must its younger brother Maktab Rendah Sains MARA. It is in the interest of the public to suggest good ideas for reform - and to advance.
In my lifetime I have been affiliated with both organisations. I taught in the former institution and I was schooled in the latter. Whether a product of historical accident or not, I am proud of my experiences in both. There is a reason for things to happen. I came from a poor family and was given the chance to have an education I wish many more Malaysians, my parents included.
But I wish to share my view on this troubling phenomenon that is plaguing a certain segment of the Malays. My argument will be largely linguistic.
What is the Malay view of the recent protest of UiTM student - of those young “men-in-black” whose are mourning and calling for the death of reason and rationality and for critical sensibility?
I think Malays in general are angry at the protesters. I think they are embarrassed that those few thousands of Malay students were displaying their ignorance of what Universiti Mara means.
While other universities have advanced (sudah mara ke hadapan) and are proud that they are embracing diversity and sharing resources for the benefit of deserving children of all races, those protesting UiTM students are experiencing the opposite.
They are yelling with pride the word “defeat” and “retreat”. Instead of Ayuh Mara they are actually saying Jom Undur. While thinking needs to advance, these students are saying that they need to digress (Ayuh… mari mundur ke belakang). Mundur is the derivative word.
Should a university embody the philosophy of mundur rather than mara? Should it even be proud of being and embodiment of that philosophy? I doubt it. Only a misguided leader will be proud of being a guide to ‘defeat and retreat’ while the world around ‘advances’ and moves.
But these students are not entirely at fault. It is the ideology and perpetrators of the ideology of undur itself that’s at fault. It is the leaders implementing the retrogressive ideology that are at fault.
It is the systematic indoctrination programme of ketuanan Melayu run over the decades that are advancing this UiTM philosophy of retreat.
It is an overdose of the work of government-sponsored Biro Tata Negara (BTN) that is making the mass retreat and defeat possible. It is the work of Malay-dominated agencies like these that are imprisoning the minds of the Malays. This is an anti-Malay-progress establishment that is using deformed arguments on race and ethnicity to pursue an educational ideology that has gone bankrupt.
Docile Malay intended
This is an anti-Malaysian mode of thinking that is still allowed to shackle the mind of the Malays. The idea is simple: make the Malay mind docile and afraid to think and you will divide and conquer them.
UiTM students need to instead protest against the continuing oppression they are experiencing through the work of their own institution and through BTN. They should demand that multiculturalism instead of blind nationalism be made the foundation of their college experience. UiTM students are more intelligent than those who protested against the suggestion.
In the 1980s UiTM’s (then ITM) orientation programme used to be conducted using the tactics of sheer humiliation and stupidity; meant to stupefy the young, bright Malay minds.
The ROTU (Reserve Officers Training Unit then) was part of the week-long organisers of the orientation to create an awareness of how ITM students must learn to live in a tough and challenging environment.
Senior students would prey upon the incoming freshmen to make them ‘tough’ through humiliation – name-calling, physical threats, psychological abuse, etc. Minggu Orientasi (Orientation Week) is a week for the seniors to have control over the mind of the Malays; oftentimes in a gangsterish way.
Of course, it is also the time for the senior boys to show toughness to the young girls in this ‘big brother-little sister’ game of tough love. Many of them fell involved with each other in this ‘Master-Slave’ relationship. Even senior girls prey upon young boys, acting rough and tough on them. Pathetic paternalistic philosophy in progress.
At times the freshmen would be roughened up by students in army boots and told to just follow instructions if they are to survive in ITM. They will be screamed at for trying to speak up. This is the ideology of ketuanan Melayu at work; how to enslave the mind of the young Malays and continue to do so through the hidden curriculum designed by those who wish to have control over the mind of the bright young and eager-to-learn Malays.
Instead of teaching the in-coming students how to take good notes, listen to lectures, speak up in public, pay extra attention to English Language, and be open to new ideas, respect each other, and learn from other cultures, the Malay students are subjected to humiliation in a place that called itself a university.
Retrogressive ideologies
In MRSM as well, a predominantly Malay-elite secondary institution for the best and brightest young Malays, similar things have been happening since the 1980s as well. Kursus Kesedaran (Self Awareness Courses) are conducted to instill the questionable idea of Ketuanan Melayu, making the children afraid of “Malaysian boogeymen and boogeywomen” and their own shadows.
Open-mindedness is rarely encouraged and students take control over each others’ lives transplanting retrogressive ideologies into each other’s head, with the help of ultra-nationalist and anti-multiculturalist teachers.
Even if these children survive the ideological ordeal and experience ‘tough love’ and go on to get their degrees from top American and British universities, they will still be Malays with a shallow understanding of multiculturalism or become more sophisticated Malays with more complex arguments on Ketuanan Melayu.
They will then design policies to affect the needed sustenance of ideology in order to protect the interests of the few. Neo-feudalistic cybernetic Malays are then new creation of the political-economic ruling class. They run the country and many are now running it down.
As an educator wishing to see Malays progress alongside in peace and prosperity with other races, I call upon us all to put a stop to all forms of indoctrination held especially by the BTN; an organisation that is of no value to the advancement of the Malays they claim to want to liberate.
It should be taken over by progressive Malaysians and replaced with a systematic effort to promote not only racial understanding through teaching respect and deep reflection on the cultures of the peoples of Malaysia, but also teach conflict resolution and mediation through cross-cultural perspectives. All must question the presence of BTN on campuses. All must reject BTN’s programme for indoctrination.
Let us no longer allow any government body of that sort to set foot on our campuses or our schools. As Malaysians we have to demand an end to the further dissemination of racist ideologies.
Open up, not only UiTM and MRSM but also Umno to more cultures. We will have a great celebration of diversity and respect for human dignity in decades to come. I speak as a silent reproduction and capitalised human of both MRSM and UiTM; a product of the human capital revolution of the Mahathir era.
MARA means progress. Malays are now sick of contradictions and doublespeak. They do not wish to Undur. Let us all protest against the stupefication of the Malays. Let us dismantle racist institutions.
Mara means “to advance (forward)”. It is the opposite of “retreat” and the declaration of defeat. It does not mean Undur.
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) must live up to its name. So must its younger brother Maktab Rendah Sains MARA. It is in the interest of the public to suggest good ideas for reform - and to advance.
In my lifetime I have been affiliated with both organisations. I taught in the former institution and I was schooled in the latter. Whether a product of historical accident or not, I am proud of my experiences in both. There is a reason for things to happen. I came from a poor family and was given the chance to have an education I wish many more Malaysians, my parents included.
But I wish to share my view on this troubling phenomenon that is plaguing a certain segment of the Malays. My argument will be largely linguistic.
What is the Malay view of the recent protest of UiTM student - of those young “men-in-black” whose are mourning and calling for the death of reason and rationality and for critical sensibility?
I think Malays in general are angry at the protesters. I think they are embarrassed that those few thousands of Malay students were displaying their ignorance of what Universiti Mara means.
While other universities have advanced (sudah mara ke hadapan) and are proud that they are embracing diversity and sharing resources for the benefit of deserving children of all races, those protesting UiTM students are experiencing the opposite.
They are yelling with pride the word “defeat” and “retreat”. Instead of Ayuh Mara they are actually saying Jom Undur. While thinking needs to advance, these students are saying that they need to digress (Ayuh… mari mundur ke belakang). Mundur is the derivative word.
Should a university embody the philosophy of mundur rather than mara? Should it even be proud of being and embodiment of that philosophy? I doubt it. Only a misguided leader will be proud of being a guide to ‘defeat and retreat’ while the world around ‘advances’ and moves.
But these students are not entirely at fault. It is the ideology and perpetrators of the ideology of undur itself that’s at fault. It is the leaders implementing the retrogressive ideology that are at fault.
It is the systematic indoctrination programme of ketuanan Melayu run over the decades that are advancing this UiTM philosophy of retreat.
It is an overdose of the work of government-sponsored Biro Tata Negara (BTN) that is making the mass retreat and defeat possible. It is the work of Malay-dominated agencies like these that are imprisoning the minds of the Malays. This is an anti-Malay-progress establishment that is using deformed arguments on race and ethnicity to pursue an educational ideology that has gone bankrupt.
Docile Malay intended
This is an anti-Malaysian mode of thinking that is still allowed to shackle the mind of the Malays. The idea is simple: make the Malay mind docile and afraid to think and you will divide and conquer them.
UiTM students need to instead protest against the continuing oppression they are experiencing through the work of their own institution and through BTN. They should demand that multiculturalism instead of blind nationalism be made the foundation of their college experience. UiTM students are more intelligent than those who protested against the suggestion.
In the 1980s UiTM’s (then ITM) orientation programme used to be conducted using the tactics of sheer humiliation and stupidity; meant to stupefy the young, bright Malay minds.
The ROTU (Reserve Officers Training Unit then) was part of the week-long organisers of the orientation to create an awareness of how ITM students must learn to live in a tough and challenging environment.
Senior students would prey upon the incoming freshmen to make them ‘tough’ through humiliation – name-calling, physical threats, psychological abuse, etc. Minggu Orientasi (Orientation Week) is a week for the seniors to have control over the mind of the Malays; oftentimes in a gangsterish way.
Of course, it is also the time for the senior boys to show toughness to the young girls in this ‘big brother-little sister’ game of tough love. Many of them fell involved with each other in this ‘Master-Slave’ relationship. Even senior girls prey upon young boys, acting rough and tough on them. Pathetic paternalistic philosophy in progress.
At times the freshmen would be roughened up by students in army boots and told to just follow instructions if they are to survive in ITM. They will be screamed at for trying to speak up. This is the ideology of ketuanan Melayu at work; how to enslave the mind of the young Malays and continue to do so through the hidden curriculum designed by those who wish to have control over the mind of the bright young and eager-to-learn Malays.
Instead of teaching the in-coming students how to take good notes, listen to lectures, speak up in public, pay extra attention to English Language, and be open to new ideas, respect each other, and learn from other cultures, the Malay students are subjected to humiliation in a place that called itself a university.
Retrogressive ideologies
In MRSM as well, a predominantly Malay-elite secondary institution for the best and brightest young Malays, similar things have been happening since the 1980s as well. Kursus Kesedaran (Self Awareness Courses) are conducted to instill the questionable idea of Ketuanan Melayu, making the children afraid of “Malaysian boogeymen and boogeywomen” and their own shadows.
Open-mindedness is rarely encouraged and students take control over each others’ lives transplanting retrogressive ideologies into each other’s head, with the help of ultra-nationalist and anti-multiculturalist teachers.
Even if these children survive the ideological ordeal and experience ‘tough love’ and go on to get their degrees from top American and British universities, they will still be Malays with a shallow understanding of multiculturalism or become more sophisticated Malays with more complex arguments on Ketuanan Melayu.
They will then design policies to affect the needed sustenance of ideology in order to protect the interests of the few. Neo-feudalistic cybernetic Malays are then new creation of the political-economic ruling class. They run the country and many are now running it down.
As an educator wishing to see Malays progress alongside in peace and prosperity with other races, I call upon us all to put a stop to all forms of indoctrination held especially by the BTN; an organisation that is of no value to the advancement of the Malays they claim to want to liberate.
It should be taken over by progressive Malaysians and replaced with a systematic effort to promote not only racial understanding through teaching respect and deep reflection on the cultures of the peoples of Malaysia, but also teach conflict resolution and mediation through cross-cultural perspectives. All must question the presence of BTN on campuses. All must reject BTN’s programme for indoctrination.
Let us no longer allow any government body of that sort to set foot on our campuses or our schools. As Malaysians we have to demand an end to the further dissemination of racist ideologies.
Open up, not only UiTM and MRSM but also Umno to more cultures. We will have a great celebration of diversity and respect for human dignity in decades to come. I speak as a silent reproduction and capitalised human of both MRSM and UiTM; a product of the human capital revolution of the Mahathir era.
MARA means progress. Malays are now sick of contradictions and doublespeak. They do not wish to Undur. Let us all protest against the stupefication of the Malays. Let us dismantle racist institutions.
Can we compartmentalise faith?
by Chan Kheng Hoe
IT SEEMS like Herald has done
it again. A publication of any
sort should carry headlines, but
Herald has managed to become
the headline quite often in
rec-ent times. First, there was
the legal challenge on the usage
of the proper term to refer to the
Almighty. Now, it has been issued
a show-cause letter for
publishing political editorials.
Like all lawyers are wont to
do, let me start by stating some disclaimers. One,
I have not read Herald, because it is distributed
among Catholics and I am not one. Secondly, I am
as far away from being an Islamophobe
as you can be. On the contrary I
would consider myself to be a thinking
Islamophilic. Thirdly, I believe that each
and every person should relate to God
within the context of his or her Godgiven
families and communities.
The disclaimers are necessary in
the light of certain sections of our
society who tend to hijack any discussion
on faith and religion by way of
violent protests and demonstrations.
The authorities then respond by telling
everyone to keep quiet in order to
preserve the harmony of society, however
faked that may be. Unfortunately, the only
voices which heed the authorities’ advice
are the moderate ones. Extremists are willing
to suffer and die for their views, and
hence can never be cowed into silence.
But if I am not a Catholic, why should I
be interested in issues surrounding Herald?
I am interested because I am a believer. I
believe in Almighty God. I do address Him
using a term forbidden by the authorities,
but I won’t go into that issue in this forum.
I try to be a man of faith. I am interested in
relating to God.
More than that, I am not only deistic but
also fideistic. That means God is not only a
vague concept, a divine being who exists
somewhere out there in the universe. God
is neither a notion nor a thesis. Incredibly,
and mysteriously, somehow the Almighty
God of the universe, the Lord of all the
worlds, is also intricately and intimately
interested in intervening in my life.
Cold scientific facts can deduce the
existence of God. However, God cannot
be proven by science alone. That is where
faith comes into the picture. Faith is the
conviction of things hoped for, the assurance
of things not seen. Men and women
of faith who seek to relate to God need to
first believe that God exists, and that He is
a rewarder of all who diligently seek Him.
This brings us to the statements
warning Herald that it is in breach of its
publishing permit conditions which allow
it to publish articles of religion and not of
politics. Specifically, the home minister has
been quoted to say that religion and politics
should never mix.
Really now, is this consistent with a life of
faith? Can religion truly be limited to processes,
procedures and endless meetings? Are
we really made acceptable to God simply by
going through certain rituals? Is the Almighty
so easily fooled by religiosity, and is He so
easily satisfied by ritualistic performances?
It seems to me, based on my very limited
understanding of Islam, that the proposition
goes against the very crux of the minister’s
faith. Is not Islam Deen al-Haq – the true way
of life? Is life not lived beyond the walls of
religious institutions? Is life not richer than
the richest religious traditions? And if all that
is true, can faith ever be compartmentalised
into religious and non-religious segments?
I am privileged to count myself as a friend
of good Muslims. I have a colleague and
partner who is diligently religious, and whose
religion permeates every aspect of her life.
For people like her, I know that to the best
of her ability, her life and work is ibadah. And
that really is the point of faith, isn’t it?
If faith is limited to religious rituals, we will
all be damned. After all, who can honestly
say that he has fulfilled every injunction of his
faith to the minutest detail? Who among us
have not fallen short of the lofty standards in
whichever holy book we hold dear?
But if faith is the realisation that there
is an Almighty God who is interested in our
lives, and that the only proper response is
for us to surrender the entirety of our lives
to Him, then it becomes a glorious journey
in which the riches and knowledge of the
Almighty God is slowly unravelled as we
continue to respond in obedience to Him.
How wondrously rich we would be if we find
fullness of life in the course of that journey.
How pathetically poor we end up when
we try to compartmentalise our faith, and
confine God to the Holy of Holies.
Kheng Hoe hopes to compartmentalise his
job and confine it to a strict 9 to 7 regime if
possible. Thus far, he has fallen short even
of this not-so-lofty standard.
IT SEEMS like Herald has done
it again. A publication of any
sort should carry headlines, but
Herald has managed to become
the headline quite often in
rec-ent times. First, there was
the legal challenge on the usage
of the proper term to refer to the
Almighty. Now, it has been issued
a show-cause letter for
publishing political editorials.
Like all lawyers are wont to
do, let me start by stating some disclaimers. One,
I have not read Herald, because it is distributed
among Catholics and I am not one. Secondly, I am
as far away from being an Islamophobe
as you can be. On the contrary I
would consider myself to be a thinking
Islamophilic. Thirdly, I believe that each
and every person should relate to God
within the context of his or her Godgiven
families and communities.
The disclaimers are necessary in
the light of certain sections of our
society who tend to hijack any discussion
on faith and religion by way of
violent protests and demonstrations.
The authorities then respond by telling
everyone to keep quiet in order to
preserve the harmony of society, however
faked that may be. Unfortunately, the only
voices which heed the authorities’ advice
are the moderate ones. Extremists are willing
to suffer and die for their views, and
hence can never be cowed into silence.
But if I am not a Catholic, why should I
be interested in issues surrounding Herald?
I am interested because I am a believer. I
believe in Almighty God. I do address Him
using a term forbidden by the authorities,
but I won’t go into that issue in this forum.
I try to be a man of faith. I am interested in
relating to God.
More than that, I am not only deistic but
also fideistic. That means God is not only a
vague concept, a divine being who exists
somewhere out there in the universe. God
is neither a notion nor a thesis. Incredibly,
and mysteriously, somehow the Almighty
God of the universe, the Lord of all the
worlds, is also intricately and intimately
interested in intervening in my life.
Cold scientific facts can deduce the
existence of God. However, God cannot
be proven by science alone. That is where
faith comes into the picture. Faith is the
conviction of things hoped for, the assurance
of things not seen. Men and women
of faith who seek to relate to God need to
first believe that God exists, and that He is
a rewarder of all who diligently seek Him.
This brings us to the statements
warning Herald that it is in breach of its
publishing permit conditions which allow
it to publish articles of religion and not of
politics. Specifically, the home minister has
been quoted to say that religion and politics
should never mix.
Really now, is this consistent with a life of
faith? Can religion truly be limited to processes,
procedures and endless meetings? Are
we really made acceptable to God simply by
going through certain rituals? Is the Almighty
so easily fooled by religiosity, and is He so
easily satisfied by ritualistic performances?
It seems to me, based on my very limited
understanding of Islam, that the proposition
goes against the very crux of the minister’s
faith. Is not Islam Deen al-Haq – the true way
of life? Is life not lived beyond the walls of
religious institutions? Is life not richer than
the richest religious traditions? And if all that
is true, can faith ever be compartmentalised
into religious and non-religious segments?
I am privileged to count myself as a friend
of good Muslims. I have a colleague and
partner who is diligently religious, and whose
religion permeates every aspect of her life.
For people like her, I know that to the best
of her ability, her life and work is ibadah. And
that really is the point of faith, isn’t it?
If faith is limited to religious rituals, we will
all be damned. After all, who can honestly
say that he has fulfilled every injunction of his
faith to the minutest detail? Who among us
have not fallen short of the lofty standards in
whichever holy book we hold dear?
But if faith is the realisation that there
is an Almighty God who is interested in our
lives, and that the only proper response is
for us to surrender the entirety of our lives
to Him, then it becomes a glorious journey
in which the riches and knowledge of the
Almighty God is slowly unravelled as we
continue to respond in obedience to Him.
How wondrously rich we would be if we find
fullness of life in the course of that journey.
How pathetically poor we end up when
we try to compartmentalise our faith, and
confine God to the Holy of Holies.
Kheng Hoe hopes to compartmentalise his
job and confine it to a strict 9 to 7 regime if
possible. Thus far, he has fallen short even
of this not-so-lofty standard.
Monday, August 18, 2008
When tough times come your way!
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the LORD tries hearts.
Proverbs 17:3 RSV
Every one of us gets through the tough times because somebody is there, standing in the gap to close it for us.
Oprah Winfrey (1954 - ), O Magazine
LAB comments: It takes intense heat to purify gold and silver. Similarly, it often takes the heat of trials for us to be purified. Through trials, God shows us what is in us and clears out anything that gets in the way of complete trust in him. Peter says,"The genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes. though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ"(1 Peter 1:7). So WHEN TOUGH TIMES COME YOUR WAY, realize that God wants to use them to refine your faith and purify your heart.My comments: No one enjoy tough times! When I faced it, I used to become more prayerful, when it became very bad, I got others to pray for me. There were times I went into fasting and prayers asking God for mercy and grace. Thank God, we all go through the valley of the shadow of death, a better persons! What were your experiences?
Proverbs 17:3 RSV
Every one of us gets through the tough times because somebody is there, standing in the gap to close it for us.
Oprah Winfrey (1954 - ), O Magazine
LAB comments: It takes intense heat to purify gold and silver. Similarly, it often takes the heat of trials for us to be purified. Through trials, God shows us what is in us and clears out anything that gets in the way of complete trust in him. Peter says,"The genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes. though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ"(1 Peter 1:7). So WHEN TOUGH TIMES COME YOUR WAY, realize that God wants to use them to refine your faith and purify your heart.My comments: No one enjoy tough times! When I faced it, I used to become more prayerful, when it became very bad, I got others to pray for me. There were times I went into fasting and prayers asking God for mercy and grace. Thank God, we all go through the valley of the shadow of death, a better persons! What were your experiences?
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Normination turnout at Permatang Pauh
100,000 or more were the estimation of the crowd, with the Pakatan Rakyat supporters out numbering the Barisan Nasional supporters of about 10,000 led by a somewhat quiet and inhibited Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Umno Youth leader Hishammuddin Hussein and his deputy Khairy Jamaluddin.
It is unprecedanted, for the very first time, BN has been outnumbered so overwhelmingly in any by-election nomination in Malaysian. Barisan Nasional has been so-outnumbered and overwhelmed, whether in terms of supporters; publicity materials whether flags, buntings or banners; or sheer enthusiasm, morale and spirit of the supporters.
In the sea of humanity at the Nomination Centre this morning, Anwar’s supporters from the three Pakatan Rakyat parties of PKR, DAP and PAS simply surged over and submerged the Barisan Nasional supporters from Umno, MCA, Gerakan and MIC.
UMNO Youth Hishammuddin played the sympathy card when he “begged” Permatang Pauh voters to support the Barisan Nasional candidate “because we are the underdog”.
The role of an “underdog” does not suit well with Hishammuddin. The memories among Malaysians are still fresh that he was far from being an underdog when he wielded the keris at the Umno Youth general assembly for three consecutive years, utterly insensitive of the sensitivities of a multi-racial Malaysia. Nor is the Prime Minister’s son-in-law best cast in the role of an “underdog”!
The engulfed and timid BN team at the Nomination Centre yesterday morning was certainly not one of an “underdog” but of the “runningrat ”!
Anwar’s total lack of confidence in the independence and integrity of the electoral system that Dr Mansor Othman, former Penang PKR leader, had to be nominated as an independent candidate as a contingency move in case Anwar was unreasonably disqualified - with Mansor announcing his withdrawal when Anwar sailed through the nomination process, forfeiting RM15,000 in the process!
Anwar had very good reason to take such a precautionary measure as the decision by the Election Commission to fix a Tuesday – August 26 – as the polling day for the by-election was clearly designed to discourage a high voter turn-out being a working day.
The battle of the Permatang Pauh by-election for the next ten days is on!
It is unprecedanted, for the very first time, BN has been outnumbered so overwhelmingly in any by-election nomination in Malaysian. Barisan Nasional has been so-outnumbered and overwhelmed, whether in terms of supporters; publicity materials whether flags, buntings or banners; or sheer enthusiasm, morale and spirit of the supporters.
In the sea of humanity at the Nomination Centre this morning, Anwar’s supporters from the three Pakatan Rakyat parties of PKR, DAP and PAS simply surged over and submerged the Barisan Nasional supporters from Umno, MCA, Gerakan and MIC.
UMNO Youth Hishammuddin played the sympathy card when he “begged” Permatang Pauh voters to support the Barisan Nasional candidate “because we are the underdog”.
The role of an “underdog” does not suit well with Hishammuddin. The memories among Malaysians are still fresh that he was far from being an underdog when he wielded the keris at the Umno Youth general assembly for three consecutive years, utterly insensitive of the sensitivities of a multi-racial Malaysia. Nor is the Prime Minister’s son-in-law best cast in the role of an “underdog”!
The engulfed and timid BN team at the Nomination Centre yesterday morning was certainly not one of an “underdog” but of the “runningrat ”!
Anwar’s total lack of confidence in the independence and integrity of the electoral system that Dr Mansor Othman, former Penang PKR leader, had to be nominated as an independent candidate as a contingency move in case Anwar was unreasonably disqualified - with Mansor announcing his withdrawal when Anwar sailed through the nomination process, forfeiting RM15,000 in the process!
Anwar had very good reason to take such a precautionary measure as the decision by the Election Commission to fix a Tuesday – August 26 – as the polling day for the by-election was clearly designed to discourage a high voter turn-out being a working day.
The battle of the Permatang Pauh by-election for the next ten days is on!
The Key to Longevity
A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Proverbs 17:22 KJV
If you ask what is the single most important key to longevity, I would have to say it is avoiding worry, stress and tension. And if you didn't ask me, I'd still have to say it.
George Burns (1896 - 1996)
LAB comments: A "merry heart" is cheerful. To be cheerful is to be ready to greet others with a welcome, a word of encouragement, an enthusiasm for the task at hand, and a postive outlook on the future, Such people are as welcome as pain-relieving medicine.
My comments: A merry heart is not only good like medicine for others, it is also very good for the owner. It is one of the Key to LONGEVITY. The question is how to have a cheerful heart? Do not hold any grudges in your heart against anyone who offended you. Be contented with having food and clothing so that you will not have to race with the rats. Love God, yourself and others. Easy? Can do? Any comments?
Proverbs 17:22 KJV
If you ask what is the single most important key to longevity, I would have to say it is avoiding worry, stress and tension. And if you didn't ask me, I'd still have to say it.
George Burns (1896 - 1996)
LAB comments: A "merry heart" is cheerful. To be cheerful is to be ready to greet others with a welcome, a word of encouragement, an enthusiasm for the task at hand, and a postive outlook on the future, Such people are as welcome as pain-relieving medicine.
My comments: A merry heart is not only good like medicine for others, it is also very good for the owner. It is one of the Key to LONGEVITY. The question is how to have a cheerful heart? Do not hold any grudges in your heart against anyone who offended you. Be contented with having food and clothing so that you will not have to race with the rats. Love God, yourself and others. Easy? Can do? Any comments?
Friday, August 15, 2008
Anwar Ibrahim interviewed by Malaysiakini
15
Aug
08
Q&A: Their fear must be real
post info
By Anwar Ibrahim
Malaysiakini.com
Aug 14, 08 5:57pm
But Anwar Ibrahim said the fear of him coming to power was not shared by other senior police officers in this first of a two-part interview with
Malaysiakini: You keep on saying ‘September 16, September 16′, but a lot of people think you are bluffing. Are you bluffing?
Anwar Ibrahim: I would say that people were doubtful when we said we were able to seriously challenge the ruling government on March 8. Nobody generally - which includes Malaysiakini - thought that we (could win) control of five states.
It is good that people have cautioned me with ‘you’re a bit too optimistic’, but I am privy to many discussions that I cannot share for now. Based on that, I have ample reasons to suggest that - although we have been derailed somewhat because of all these episodes - we can make it.
You know, contrary to many of my friends in Pakatan (Rakyat) or the media, those in the ruling establishment, including the IGP (inspector-general of police) and his coterie of loyal clique, must be convinced, otherwise they wouldn’t be desperate to go on this move. They are convinced that we’re going to make it, so they have to make sure that I am stopped at all costs.
The reason is they are worried of their future - that if you become PM, there is fear that you may go after them. Will you?
This is unfortunate because it’s not easy to come out from prison, being assaulted, being jailed, being smeared with the most nasty sort of attacks, and then suddenly say okay, ‘malice towards none’ - quoting (Abraham) Lincoln - and move on.
But then you realise, because you are stuck to certain principles, and talking about agenda, and talking about challenge, they went on again after you. Yes, there are civil suits against Mahathir (Mohamad), but these are all (filed) in the process because they kept repeating (the allegations), and I had to stop them from doing that, not with the intention of battling them as I don’t want to waste my time with them.
But how do you deal with people like (police chief) Musa Hassan (left), who went a bit too far in the process? It wasn’t too late for him to just say okay, back off, but they went on because they though - they were so confident - they would be able to, what do you called, entrapment.
Their fear must be real. But because this is seen even by many of the senior police officers as something personal, you can see not much enthusiasm among the entire police force.
Firstly, he’s (Musa) going to retire. Secondly, why should we be dragged into this personal vendetta of this one man, supported probably by Khairy (Jamaluddin) and his colleagues. And in mentioning names, I have good reasons why I drag these names (out). I mean, in the case of Najib (Razak), Rosmah (Mansor), it is there in the public domain, but these people are clearly convinced that we’re going to make it.
But how do you run a government and affect changes, move forward - we need a new Malaysian awareness, we need unity of all races, we need a new vibrant economy, we need to reform the judiciary and bring back confidence in a more professional police force - if you get yourself engrossed with the past?
I’m not going to portray myself as very saintly or anything - no. Even for pragmatic, realistic considerations, I can’t.
You need to fight it?
No, no, you have to move on, and you have to be prepared to forgive the past that affects you personally.
If it (involves) 2,000 acres and two billion ringgit - it’s just not my right to forgive, they have to return the money. But otherwise, we cannot afford to drag the entire country back to the past.
Are you saying that if you happen to be PM, you may forget about the past?
I forgive, I can’t forget.
Did you know that Dr Mahathir said that if you become the PM, he’d leave the country?
I think he might have said that in jest [laughs].
Would you, if you become the PM, would you be taking actions for economic plunder, or for abuse of power, against certain top ranking people?
The last 10 years, I have forgiven, even though Mahathir tends to be a bit vindictive and very, very nasty with some of his comments, you see me, I just joke about it, I don’t take it seriously. After all, he’s not able to influence events.
But to see (Prime Minister) Abdullah Badawi, his son-in-law (Khairy), involved in this stage, after looking at what happened, this is pathetic to say the least. And with his pretensions, very religious, it’s worse. It’s better to be a very liberal, secular, ‘don’t believe in - some seculars do believe in - ethics and morality’, but I’m saying clearly a person with no moral or ethical considerations, and not too pretentious but religious, and then suddenly talked about these things, so desperate.
How do you deal with it? I am by nature quite forgiving, but we will clear this hurdle first.
What would be your first task as opposition leader, given that you’re likely to win?
Of course, I have to consult on the manner, the work, within Pakatan which people do sometimes take for granted, particularly (at) my level. You can get away at the lower levels sometimes with giving some comments here, but my own level, particularly for me, any policy issues that affect the Pakatan have to be well thought of, deliberated, among the leaders.
What do I do? Hopefully, I get to Parliament soon afterwards, be there prior to Budget, listen to Budget (speech). But of course, the prime thing is to get back in contact with those MPs that have given their word that they would support (Pakatan) when I return to Parliament.
There is the issue of forming a shadow cabinet. This has been bandied about for a while but we haven’t seen much coming out of it. Is that a major problem in trying to work out exactly who is qualified and how to go about doing this?
It’s not, because I think in my understanding with DAP and PAS leaders, there are some indication who would be replaced. There’s no definite discussions on what portfolio because I think it is a bit too early, we still have a lot of time. But I don’t see that as a problem…
Look at the five states, particularly the more mixed constituencies of Penang, Perak and Selangor. You find them working quite well, contrary to all these concerns expressed earlier, and they have very qualified people there manning the show. Not only there, I think they have very practical considerations of inviting experts or corporate leaders to discuss issues…
Similarly at the federal level, you can see Keadilan, PAS, and DAP, you find people with enormous experience… They say ‘well, they were not ministers before’, (but) so was (the) Labour party and (Tony) Blair and Gordon Brown.
But given that you said this is a government-in-waiting, and yet there is still no shadow cabinet.
Well, there is… we have not announced a shadow cabinet. It is not true to suggest that we don’t have people with portfolios assigned to them.
Would that be one of your first tasks as opposition leader?
I agree, there have been a lot of calls actually, a lot of calls from people even now to represent the opposition team. I think I will put that as the first item on the agenda of the next meeting with Pakatan.
This Bar Council issue - do you think that this has created problems within Pakatan given that some elements within PKR and PAS are quite openly opposed to the forum?
Yes, it taught us a lesson that some of our decisions have got to be made well understood by the lower level (in the party). Probably we didn’t make it too clear. But my statement was quite clear - prior to that - to say that, as a principle, we must allow this (the forum). We have communicated to the Bar Council our views, and PAS has come out with a statement - (PAS leader) Hadi (Awang) made it quite clear - that we must allow, but it has to be (behind) close door.
That is also my personal view for now because unless you are able to deal with it… I tried to get the Muslim leaders to appreciate the fact that we must allow for discussion. If we are not confident, that means (there is) something wrong with our belief and our faith. You must be confident to express and counter, and argue. So if you feel you are not happy that the Muslim representation (in the forum) is not adequate, not competent, then you send adequate, competent people there.
In fact, I discussed with (law lecturer) Mehrun (Siraj) last night, who happened to be there, and she said something startling - at the time this was discussed, this lady sister was giving a view, which not only the non-Muslims, but Muslims, had to listen. So we lost that chance.
Where exactly is (PKR parliamentarian and Bar Council protest leader) Zulkifli Noordin?
Well, I’ve been trying to get in touch with him.
You’re sure you have no idea where he is?
Well, I have been told, (and) he has promised to call back so I’m going to see whether he has. I have not been in communication with him the last few days. But we did say that we would agree with what has been expressed by (PRK deputy leader) Syed Husin (Ali).
Will action be taken against Zulkifli?
Syed Husin has come out with a statement which represents the party’s position, and I have been asked to speak to him (Zulkifli) to give him notice or some forms of questions and actions to be taken. I think, to be fair, since we are not able to contact him directly, we will have to wait until we are able to do so.
But some action will be taken?
Yes, clearly he has to be clear that party policies, party positions must be adhered to.
What kind of action?
Well, that’s up to Syed Husin who leading the disciplinary committee and to the disciplinary board, which is quite independent of the party.
So he will be brought before the disciplinary board?
Well, the decision is, we will have to first ask him what happened.
Like show cause?
Yes, then we proceed from there.
Aug
08
Q&A: Their fear must be real
post info
By Anwar Ibrahim
Malaysiakini.com
Aug 14, 08 5:57pm
But Anwar Ibrahim said the fear of him coming to power was not shared by other senior police officers in this first of a two-part interview with
Malaysiakini: You keep on saying ‘September 16, September 16′, but a lot of people think you are bluffing. Are you bluffing?
Anwar Ibrahim: I would say that people were doubtful when we said we were able to seriously challenge the ruling government on March 8. Nobody generally - which includes Malaysiakini - thought that we (could win) control of five states.
It is good that people have cautioned me with ‘you’re a bit too optimistic’, but I am privy to many discussions that I cannot share for now. Based on that, I have ample reasons to suggest that - although we have been derailed somewhat because of all these episodes - we can make it.
You know, contrary to many of my friends in Pakatan (Rakyat) or the media, those in the ruling establishment, including the IGP (inspector-general of police) and his coterie of loyal clique, must be convinced, otherwise they wouldn’t be desperate to go on this move. They are convinced that we’re going to make it, so they have to make sure that I am stopped at all costs.
The reason is they are worried of their future - that if you become PM, there is fear that you may go after them. Will you?
This is unfortunate because it’s not easy to come out from prison, being assaulted, being jailed, being smeared with the most nasty sort of attacks, and then suddenly say okay, ‘malice towards none’ - quoting (Abraham) Lincoln - and move on.
But then you realise, because you are stuck to certain principles, and talking about agenda, and talking about challenge, they went on again after you. Yes, there are civil suits against Mahathir (Mohamad), but these are all (filed) in the process because they kept repeating (the allegations), and I had to stop them from doing that, not with the intention of battling them as I don’t want to waste my time with them.
But how do you deal with people like (police chief) Musa Hassan (left), who went a bit too far in the process? It wasn’t too late for him to just say okay, back off, but they went on because they though - they were so confident - they would be able to, what do you called, entrapment.
Their fear must be real. But because this is seen even by many of the senior police officers as something personal, you can see not much enthusiasm among the entire police force.
Firstly, he’s (Musa) going to retire. Secondly, why should we be dragged into this personal vendetta of this one man, supported probably by Khairy (Jamaluddin) and his colleagues. And in mentioning names, I have good reasons why I drag these names (out). I mean, in the case of Najib (Razak), Rosmah (Mansor), it is there in the public domain, but these people are clearly convinced that we’re going to make it.
But how do you run a government and affect changes, move forward - we need a new Malaysian awareness, we need unity of all races, we need a new vibrant economy, we need to reform the judiciary and bring back confidence in a more professional police force - if you get yourself engrossed with the past?
I’m not going to portray myself as very saintly or anything - no. Even for pragmatic, realistic considerations, I can’t.
You need to fight it?
No, no, you have to move on, and you have to be prepared to forgive the past that affects you personally.
If it (involves) 2,000 acres and two billion ringgit - it’s just not my right to forgive, they have to return the money. But otherwise, we cannot afford to drag the entire country back to the past.
Are you saying that if you happen to be PM, you may forget about the past?
I forgive, I can’t forget.
Did you know that Dr Mahathir said that if you become the PM, he’d leave the country?
I think he might have said that in jest [laughs].
Would you, if you become the PM, would you be taking actions for economic plunder, or for abuse of power, against certain top ranking people?
The last 10 years, I have forgiven, even though Mahathir tends to be a bit vindictive and very, very nasty with some of his comments, you see me, I just joke about it, I don’t take it seriously. After all, he’s not able to influence events.
But to see (Prime Minister) Abdullah Badawi, his son-in-law (Khairy), involved in this stage, after looking at what happened, this is pathetic to say the least. And with his pretensions, very religious, it’s worse. It’s better to be a very liberal, secular, ‘don’t believe in - some seculars do believe in - ethics and morality’, but I’m saying clearly a person with no moral or ethical considerations, and not too pretentious but religious, and then suddenly talked about these things, so desperate.
How do you deal with it? I am by nature quite forgiving, but we will clear this hurdle first.
What would be your first task as opposition leader, given that you’re likely to win?
Of course, I have to consult on the manner, the work, within Pakatan which people do sometimes take for granted, particularly (at) my level. You can get away at the lower levels sometimes with giving some comments here, but my own level, particularly for me, any policy issues that affect the Pakatan have to be well thought of, deliberated, among the leaders.
What do I do? Hopefully, I get to Parliament soon afterwards, be there prior to Budget, listen to Budget (speech). But of course, the prime thing is to get back in contact with those MPs that have given their word that they would support (Pakatan) when I return to Parliament.
There is the issue of forming a shadow cabinet. This has been bandied about for a while but we haven’t seen much coming out of it. Is that a major problem in trying to work out exactly who is qualified and how to go about doing this?
It’s not, because I think in my understanding with DAP and PAS leaders, there are some indication who would be replaced. There’s no definite discussions on what portfolio because I think it is a bit too early, we still have a lot of time. But I don’t see that as a problem…
Look at the five states, particularly the more mixed constituencies of Penang, Perak and Selangor. You find them working quite well, contrary to all these concerns expressed earlier, and they have very qualified people there manning the show. Not only there, I think they have very practical considerations of inviting experts or corporate leaders to discuss issues…
Similarly at the federal level, you can see Keadilan, PAS, and DAP, you find people with enormous experience… They say ‘well, they were not ministers before’, (but) so was (the) Labour party and (Tony) Blair and Gordon Brown.
But given that you said this is a government-in-waiting, and yet there is still no shadow cabinet.
Well, there is… we have not announced a shadow cabinet. It is not true to suggest that we don’t have people with portfolios assigned to them.
Would that be one of your first tasks as opposition leader?
I agree, there have been a lot of calls actually, a lot of calls from people even now to represent the opposition team. I think I will put that as the first item on the agenda of the next meeting with Pakatan.
This Bar Council issue - do you think that this has created problems within Pakatan given that some elements within PKR and PAS are quite openly opposed to the forum?
Yes, it taught us a lesson that some of our decisions have got to be made well understood by the lower level (in the party). Probably we didn’t make it too clear. But my statement was quite clear - prior to that - to say that, as a principle, we must allow this (the forum). We have communicated to the Bar Council our views, and PAS has come out with a statement - (PAS leader) Hadi (Awang) made it quite clear - that we must allow, but it has to be (behind) close door.
That is also my personal view for now because unless you are able to deal with it… I tried to get the Muslim leaders to appreciate the fact that we must allow for discussion. If we are not confident, that means (there is) something wrong with our belief and our faith. You must be confident to express and counter, and argue. So if you feel you are not happy that the Muslim representation (in the forum) is not adequate, not competent, then you send adequate, competent people there.
In fact, I discussed with (law lecturer) Mehrun (Siraj) last night, who happened to be there, and she said something startling - at the time this was discussed, this lady sister was giving a view, which not only the non-Muslims, but Muslims, had to listen. So we lost that chance.
Where exactly is (PKR parliamentarian and Bar Council protest leader) Zulkifli Noordin?
Well, I’ve been trying to get in touch with him.
You’re sure you have no idea where he is?
Well, I have been told, (and) he has promised to call back so I’m going to see whether he has. I have not been in communication with him the last few days. But we did say that we would agree with what has been expressed by (PRK deputy leader) Syed Husin (Ali).
Will action be taken against Zulkifli?
Syed Husin has come out with a statement which represents the party’s position, and I have been asked to speak to him (Zulkifli) to give him notice or some forms of questions and actions to be taken. I think, to be fair, since we are not able to contact him directly, we will have to wait until we are able to do so.
But some action will be taken?
Yes, clearly he has to be clear that party policies, party positions must be adhered to.
What kind of action?
Well, that’s up to Syed Husin who leading the disciplinary committee and to the disciplinary board, which is quite independent of the party.
So he will be brought before the disciplinary board?
Well, the decision is, we will have to first ask him what happened.
Like show cause?
Yes, then we proceed from there.
Blame the politicians for protesters' conduct
Today The Sun paper:
Blame the politicians for protesters’ conduct
THE conduct of protesters outside the Bar Council building and the few of them who were escorted into the auditorium by the police last Saturday, resulting in the disruption of a forum, puts Malaysia’s political maturity behind 20-30 years. The protesters could not have been so bold and confident if not for the earlier media statements of some politicians calling on the council to call off the forum or do it behind closed doors because of the subject’s “sensitive nature”. The home minister was even reported to have said that the council should bear the consequences if it went on with the forum. One would have expected these same politicians, in
this day and time, to prevail upon the extremist groups for tolerance and understanding.
Religious tolerance can be nurtured only by dialogue and understanding. Politicians should take the lead and be seen to be encouraging such dialogue in the process of educating the citizenry.
After 51 years of independence and being a sovereign state, currently in the UN Human Rights Council and now taking the chair of the executive committee of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the government’s role in promoting religious tolerance domestically is not only dismal but also shameful, going by last Saturday’s events. Being a multi-racial, multireligious and multi-lingual state, Malaysia today could be a shining example to other nations of inter-ethnic and religious tolerance. We are sadly not so. Malaysia’s human development in this area is most disheartening. The conduct of the police last Saturday once again demonstrates the continued deterioration of the integrity and credibility of the Malaysian
police.
Param Cumaraswamy
Kuala Lumpur
I cannot agree with Mr. Param more. The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, has declared that there should be:
• No open forums or dialogues on religious or racial issues – no more discussion on matters of religion or race that had already been enshrined in the Federal Constitution; and
• No objection to the use of Internal Security Act and Sedition Act against those who organize such forums like the Bar Council – up to the Home Ministry to act against the Bar Council.
Abdullah has backed his deputy, Najib Razak and the Home Minister, Syed Hamid Albar in lining up against the Bar Council for organizing the forum on Conversion to Islam to discuss the conflict of laws arising from civil and shariah court jurisdictions and Article 121(1A) of the Federal Constitution and freedom of expression in general, as well as gave approval to the demonstrators who had successfully stormed and disrupted the Bar Council forum by the help of the police.
Mohd Ali Rustam was calling for Bar members to be detained under the ISA.
Blame the politicians for protesters’ conduct
THE conduct of protesters outside the Bar Council building and the few of them who were escorted into the auditorium by the police last Saturday, resulting in the disruption of a forum, puts Malaysia’s political maturity behind 20-30 years. The protesters could not have been so bold and confident if not for the earlier media statements of some politicians calling on the council to call off the forum or do it behind closed doors because of the subject’s “sensitive nature”. The home minister was even reported to have said that the council should bear the consequences if it went on with the forum. One would have expected these same politicians, in
this day and time, to prevail upon the extremist groups for tolerance and understanding.
Religious tolerance can be nurtured only by dialogue and understanding. Politicians should take the lead and be seen to be encouraging such dialogue in the process of educating the citizenry.
After 51 years of independence and being a sovereign state, currently in the UN Human Rights Council and now taking the chair of the executive committee of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the government’s role in promoting religious tolerance domestically is not only dismal but also shameful, going by last Saturday’s events. Being a multi-racial, multireligious and multi-lingual state, Malaysia today could be a shining example to other nations of inter-ethnic and religious tolerance. We are sadly not so. Malaysia’s human development in this area is most disheartening. The conduct of the police last Saturday once again demonstrates the continued deterioration of the integrity and credibility of the Malaysian
police.
Param Cumaraswamy
Kuala Lumpur
I cannot agree with Mr. Param more. The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, has declared that there should be:
• No open forums or dialogues on religious or racial issues – no more discussion on matters of religion or race that had already been enshrined in the Federal Constitution; and
• No objection to the use of Internal Security Act and Sedition Act against those who organize such forums like the Bar Council – up to the Home Ministry to act against the Bar Council.
Abdullah has backed his deputy, Najib Razak and the Home Minister, Syed Hamid Albar in lining up against the Bar Council for organizing the forum on Conversion to Islam to discuss the conflict of laws arising from civil and shariah court jurisdictions and Article 121(1A) of the Federal Constitution and freedom of expression in general, as well as gave approval to the demonstrators who had successfully stormed and disrupted the Bar Council forum by the help of the police.
Mohd Ali Rustam was calling for Bar members to be detained under the ISA.
Not right or wrong but the POWER to LIVE!
1:8 I baptized you in water; But he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit.
Mark 1:8 ASV
Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.
Martin Luther King Jr. (1929 - 1968), Strength to Love,1963.
LAB comments: John said Jesus would baptize them with the Holy Spirit, sending the Holy Spirit to live within each believer. John's baptism with water prepared a person to receive Christ's message. This baptism demonstrated repentance, humility, and willingness to turn from sin. This was the beginning of the spiritual process.When Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit, however, the entire person is transformed by the Spirit's power. Jesus offers to us both forgiveness of sin and the POWER to LIVE for him.
My comments: We receive this power by asking Jesus, "Lord Jesus, please baptize me with the Holy Spirit, thank you!"
Mark 1:8 ASV
Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.
Martin Luther King Jr. (1929 - 1968), Strength to Love,1963.
LAB comments: John said Jesus would baptize them with the Holy Spirit, sending the Holy Spirit to live within each believer. John's baptism with water prepared a person to receive Christ's message. This baptism demonstrated repentance, humility, and willingness to turn from sin. This was the beginning of the spiritual process.When Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit, however, the entire person is transformed by the Spirit's power. Jesus offers to us both forgiveness of sin and the POWER to LIVE for him.
My comments: We receive this power by asking Jesus, "Lord Jesus, please baptize me with the Holy Spirit, thank you!"
Thursday, August 14, 2008
PM's report card on reform
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had agreed to step down by June 2010, I thought he will leave a legacy of reform before he step down. Up to today, more than 5 months after the March 8 "political tsunami", Abdullah has failed to introduce any reform to the 3 most important institutions:
1. Police.
2. Judiciary.
3. The fight against Corruptions.
When he first came into power in 2004, I thought it was his once a life time chance to leave a legacy by reforming all the unjust policies left by Dr. Mahathir's 22 years of cosolidated power under one man. Instead, he kept all the portfolios of Finance Minister, Home Minister and Prime Minister and did not have any reforms done.
After the March 8 "political tsunami", he only gave up the Home Minister post, but still keeping the portfolio of Finance Minister together with of course the Prime Minister posts.
disappointingly, no reform so far, hope that the remaining 1 year and 10 months, he will do somethings!
1. Police.
2. Judiciary.
3. The fight against Corruptions.
When he first came into power in 2004, I thought it was his once a life time chance to leave a legacy by reforming all the unjust policies left by Dr. Mahathir's 22 years of cosolidated power under one man. Instead, he kept all the portfolios of Finance Minister, Home Minister and Prime Minister and did not have any reforms done.
After the March 8 "political tsunami", he only gave up the Home Minister post, but still keeping the portfolio of Finance Minister together with of course the Prime Minister posts.
disappointingly, no reform so far, hope that the remaining 1 year and 10 months, he will do somethings!
Heaven
21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God. 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Revelation 21:3-4 KJV
Mountains inspire awe in any human person who has a soul. They remind us of our frailty, our unimportance, of the briefness of our span upon this earth. They touch the heavens, and sail serenely at an altitude beyond even the imaginings of a mere mortal.
Elizabeth Aston, The Exploits & Adventures of Miss Alethea Darcy, 2005
LAB comments:Have you ever wondered what eternity will be like? It is described as a place where God will "wipe away all their tears". Forevermore, there will be no death, pain, sorrow, or crying. What a wonderful truth! No matter what you are going through, it is not the last word--God has written the last chapter, and it is about true fulfillment and eternal joy for those who love Him. We do not know as much as we would like, but it is enough to know that eternity with God will be more wonderful than we could ever imagine
Revelation 21:3-4 KJV
Mountains inspire awe in any human person who has a soul. They remind us of our frailty, our unimportance, of the briefness of our span upon this earth. They touch the heavens, and sail serenely at an altitude beyond even the imaginings of a mere mortal.
Elizabeth Aston, The Exploits & Adventures of Miss Alethea Darcy, 2005
LAB comments:Have you ever wondered what eternity will be like? It is described as a place where God will "wipe away all their tears". Forevermore, there will be no death, pain, sorrow, or crying. What a wonderful truth! No matter what you are going through, it is not the last word--God has written the last chapter, and it is about true fulfillment and eternal joy for those who love Him. We do not know as much as we would like, but it is enough to know that eternity with God will be more wonderful than we could ever imagine
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Is Abdullah leading us down the slippery slope?
We all thought that BN and especially the Chief, The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had heard the message of March 08 General Election. However the many things that are going on do not show it. Disappointingly, Abdullah is not that open, liberal and tolerant after all.
Recently he came up with the following:
• No open forums or dialogues on religious or racial issues – no more discussion on matters of religion or race that had already been enshrined in the Federal Constitution; and
• No objection to the use of Internal Security Act and Sedition Act against those who organize such forums like the Bar Council – up to the Home Ministry to act against the Bar Council.
Abdullah has given the approval for his deputy, Najib Razak and the Home Minister, Syed Hamid Albar in lining up against the Bar Council for organizing the forum on Conversion to Islam to discuss the conflict of laws arising from civil and shariah court jurisdictions.
He also appeared to give his support to the demonstrators who had successfully stormed and disrupted the Bar Council forum together with the support ofthe police.
Does Abdullah realise that when he condones the storming of the Bar Council by demonstrators on Satyrday he was actually going against the fundamental principles and precepts of good governance . What he has done will not help to inspire confidence of investors, foreign or local, about the rule of law, the system of justice or the integrity of national institutions?
The media have published some MCA, Gerakan and MIC leaders speaking up in support of the Bar Council forum.
The important thing is whether the leaders and Ministers of MCA, Gerakan, MIC and other Barisan Nasional component parties from Sabah and Sarawak are prepared to speak up in Cabinet and the Barisan Nasional Supreme Council to demand that the fundamental right of the Bar Council and Malaysians to hold such forums should not be denied but must be respected and protected.
Recently he came up with the following:
• No open forums or dialogues on religious or racial issues – no more discussion on matters of religion or race that had already been enshrined in the Federal Constitution; and
• No objection to the use of Internal Security Act and Sedition Act against those who organize such forums like the Bar Council – up to the Home Ministry to act against the Bar Council.
Abdullah has given the approval for his deputy, Najib Razak and the Home Minister, Syed Hamid Albar in lining up against the Bar Council for organizing the forum on Conversion to Islam to discuss the conflict of laws arising from civil and shariah court jurisdictions.
He also appeared to give his support to the demonstrators who had successfully stormed and disrupted the Bar Council forum together with the support ofthe police.
Does Abdullah realise that when he condones the storming of the Bar Council by demonstrators on Satyrday he was actually going against the fundamental principles and precepts of good governance . What he has done will not help to inspire confidence of investors, foreign or local, about the rule of law, the system of justice or the integrity of national institutions?
The media have published some MCA, Gerakan and MIC leaders speaking up in support of the Bar Council forum.
The important thing is whether the leaders and Ministers of MCA, Gerakan, MIC and other Barisan Nasional component parties from Sabah and Sarawak are prepared to speak up in Cabinet and the Barisan Nasional Supreme Council to demand that the fundamental right of the Bar Council and Malaysians to hold such forums should not be denied but must be respected and protected.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Fear of death
12:28 In the way of righteousness [is] life; and [in] the pathway [thereof there is] no death.
Proverbs 12:28 KJV
Death is a friend of ours; and he that is not ready to entertain him is not at home.
Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
LAB comments:For many, death is a darkened door at the end of life, a passageway to an unknown and feared destiny. But for those who know God, death is a bright pathway to a new and better life. So why do we fear death? Is it because of the pain we expect, the separation from loved ones, its surprise? God can help us to deal with those fears. He has shown us that death is not final, but just another step in the eternal life we received when we followed Him.
Proverbs 12:28 KJV
Death is a friend of ours; and he that is not ready to entertain him is not at home.
Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
LAB comments:For many, death is a darkened door at the end of life, a passageway to an unknown and feared destiny. But for those who know God, death is a bright pathway to a new and better life. So why do we fear death? Is it because of the pain we expect, the separation from loved ones, its surprise? God can help us to deal with those fears. He has shown us that death is not final, but just another step in the eternal life we received when we followed Him.
Monday, August 11, 2008
The righteous and the wicked contrasted
The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.
Proverbs 10:3 KJV
With coarse rice to eat, with water to drink, and my bended arm for a pillow - I have still joy in the midst of these things. Riches and honors acquired by unrighteousness are to me as a floating cloud.
Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC), The Confucian Analect.
LAB comments: Proverbs are full of verses contrasting the righteous person with the wicked. These statements are not intended to apply to all people in all situations. For example, some good people do go hungry. Rather, they are intended to communicate the general truth that the life of a person who seeks God is better in along run than a wicked person-- a life that leads to ruin. These statements are not ironclad promises, but general truths. In addition, a proverb like this assumes a just government that cares for the poor and needy-- the kind of government Isreal was intended to have(Deuteronomy 24:17--22). A corrupt government often thwarts the plans of the righteous men and women.
Proverbs 10:3 KJV
With coarse rice to eat, with water to drink, and my bended arm for a pillow - I have still joy in the midst of these things. Riches and honors acquired by unrighteousness are to me as a floating cloud.
Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC), The Confucian Analect.
LAB comments: Proverbs are full of verses contrasting the righteous person with the wicked. These statements are not intended to apply to all people in all situations. For example, some good people do go hungry. Rather, they are intended to communicate the general truth that the life of a person who seeks God is better in along run than a wicked person-- a life that leads to ruin. These statements are not ironclad promises, but general truths. In addition, a proverb like this assumes a just government that cares for the poor and needy-- the kind of government Isreal was intended to have(Deuteronomy 24:17--22). A corrupt government often thwarts the plans of the righteous men and women.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Exhilarating life
8:13 The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
Proverbs 8:13 KJV
The spread of evil is the symptom of a vacuum. whenever evil wins, it is only by default: by the moral failure of those who evade the fact that there can be no compromise on basic principles.
Ayn Rand (1905 - 1982), Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, 1966
LAB comment: the more a person fears and respects God, the more she or he will hate evil. Love for God and love for sin cannot coexist. Harboring secret sins means you are tolerating evil within you. Make a clean break with sin and commit yourself completely to God.
My comment: When God is with you, it is exhilarating! You are FREE from all the burden fo sins! To start afresh and anew everyday, in fact every moment if you find your mind being corrupted, ask God to help you :" Lord Jesus, I need your help in this... I can't do it, please help me!"
Proverbs 8:13 KJV
The spread of evil is the symptom of a vacuum. whenever evil wins, it is only by default: by the moral failure of those who evade the fact that there can be no compromise on basic principles.
Ayn Rand (1905 - 1982), Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, 1966
LAB comment: the more a person fears and respects God, the more she or he will hate evil. Love for God and love for sin cannot coexist. Harboring secret sins means you are tolerating evil within you. Make a clean break with sin and commit yourself completely to God.
My comment: When God is with you, it is exhilarating! You are FREE from all the burden fo sins! To start afresh and anew everyday, in fact every moment if you find your mind being corrupted, ask God to help you :" Lord Jesus, I need your help in this... I can't do it, please help me!"
Friday, August 1, 2008
Ketuanan Umno
Ketuanan Melayu or Ketuanan Umno? by YB Ronnie Liu
Ketuanan Melayu (Malay Supremacy) is nothing but just a myth; there’s only Ketuanan (Umno Suremacy).
If RM60 billion worth of contracts were given to only 15 groups of Malays associated with Umno, what Ketuanan Melayu they were talking about?
If 30,000 APs were given to only 3 Malays who were associated with Umno while other ordinary Malays were not given a single one, what Ketuanan Melayu Umno was talking about?
And these Malays who made fast and big bucks do not even buy their properties or spend their holidays in Malaysia, and the local Malays have no chance to make a single sen out of their pockets, what kind of Ketuanan Melayu is this?
And Pas will never join Umno for Ketuanan Melayu for there was no such thing as Ketuanan Melayu; and why should Pas want a Ketuanan Umno?
I never consider Tok Guru Nik Aziz as a politician until today. But his suggestion to dissolve Umno and join Pas to form a new Islamic party (with Islamic principles as a prerequisite) shows that he is a real politician. He leaves Umno with no choice but to turn down his offer as UMNO will never be able to compete with Pas on Islamic principles.
So, it’s as good as no offer from Nik Aziz as far as Umno is concerned.
If you ask me, no one should overreact on Nik’s political gesture
Ketuanan Melayu (Malay Supremacy) is nothing but just a myth; there’s only Ketuanan (Umno Suremacy).
If RM60 billion worth of contracts were given to only 15 groups of Malays associated with Umno, what Ketuanan Melayu they were talking about?
If 30,000 APs were given to only 3 Malays who were associated with Umno while other ordinary Malays were not given a single one, what Ketuanan Melayu Umno was talking about?
And these Malays who made fast and big bucks do not even buy their properties or spend their holidays in Malaysia, and the local Malays have no chance to make a single sen out of their pockets, what kind of Ketuanan Melayu is this?
And Pas will never join Umno for Ketuanan Melayu for there was no such thing as Ketuanan Melayu; and why should Pas want a Ketuanan Umno?
I never consider Tok Guru Nik Aziz as a politician until today. But his suggestion to dissolve Umno and join Pas to form a new Islamic party (with Islamic principles as a prerequisite) shows that he is a real politician. He leaves Umno with no choice but to turn down his offer as UMNO will never be able to compete with Pas on Islamic principles.
So, it’s as good as no offer from Nik Aziz as far as Umno is concerned.
If you ask me, no one should overreact on Nik’s political gesture
People's minds ruled by perception in sodomy case
SHERIDAN MAHAVERA: People's minds ruled by perception in sodomy case
NO matter what anyone says about the new allegations against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, most people have already made up their minds over his innocence or guilt or whether he was framed.
Depending on how you voted in the last general election, what blogs you read or the coffeeshops you frequent, you will likely have pre-judged the whole episode before the authorities wrap up their investigations or charges if any are brought to court.
That the sodomy allegations have become so controversial is proof that what matters most in Malaysian politics is perception.
Since 1998, a large part of the public has decided what to believe about politicians based on sentiment, innuendo and conspiracy theories.
In Anwar's case, few rely on the nation's rule of law and the justice system, both essential to establishing truth and trust in a democracy.
The collective memory of Anwar's trial in 1998, said Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam, president of the Malaysian Society for Transparency and Integrity, has affected how people view the ruling parties and the opposition.
"The government has not been seen to be transparent when it comes to the justice system as a whole. It is unfortunate that this perception holds but the memories of what occurred in 1998 are too fresh," said Navaratnam.
Anwar was charged for abuse of power and sodomy in late 1998 after he was sacked as deputy prime minister.
He was convicted on both counts. After spending six years in jail, the Federal Court set aside the sodomy conviction due to inconsistencies in the prosecution's case while admitting evidence of his "homosexual activities".
The same accusation of sodomy, now levelled against Anwar by a 23-year-old party volunteer, has awakened the ghosts of 1998. The stakes this time, however, may be higher.
Navaratnam said the handling of the police investigations could either collapse the people's trust in the justice system or restore it.
"It has to be credible and stand the utmost scrutiny. There cannot be a shred of doubt in the evidence.
"To not be credible would send a very bad signal not just internationally about our institutions. For the man on the street, it sets a bad precedent," he said.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia political scientist Associate Professor Dr Mohammad Agus Yusoff said the probe's outcome could re-map the political landscape.
Anwar's make-or-break role in the Pakatan Rakyat means that it is essential for him to exonerate himself if the coalition is to survive.
As in 1998, Anwar's case is creating the same unifying effect among the Pakatan components, said DAP member of parliament Liew Chin Tong.
"It has reminded the three parties that even after taking over five states in the last election the struggle is not over.
"It has rallied everyone around Anwar," said Liew, the Bukit Bendera MP.
Umno supreme council member and Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Samad dismissed any possibility that the allegations against Anwar could spell doom for BN.
The Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader has boasted of toppling the government through defections, so far with no results.
Since the allegations surfaced last Saturday, Anwar has launched counter-allegations of his own -- that of a conspiracy orchestrated at the highest levels of government.
"If we were so threatened by Pakatan Rakyat do you think we would have reformed the subsidy system and raised the price of petrol?" Shahrir said.
"We would be more defensive and more populist. Instead the government is forging ahead and doing what it thinks is right."
Shahrir said the public should suspend its distrust of the justice system or see it in a new light because of the reforms that the current BN administration had undertaken.
He said the royal commission into the Datuk V.K. Lingam video clip was emblematic of a lasting change in the judiciary.
"The commission's findings were not in favour of the establishment. The justice system now is in a state where you cannot have a cover-up."
Though opinions about Anwar may still be haunted by recollections of a decade ago, Shahrir pointed out how things had changed.
"This is not 1998. At that time, Anwar's case was the result of a power struggle in Umno.
"Now this is something that is outside Umno. The people in charge now were not in positions of control then. The circumstances are different."
The accusation against Anwar, and how it pans out, is becoming a test for the country as it struggles to find its feet after the March 8 polls.
"In the long run it is about this country's institutions, whether Malaysia will be ruled by sentiment or whether we will have a full-functioning democracy that is ruled by law and where everyone is equal before it," said Liew.
NO matter what anyone says about the new allegations against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, most people have already made up their minds over his innocence or guilt or whether he was framed.
Depending on how you voted in the last general election, what blogs you read or the coffeeshops you frequent, you will likely have pre-judged the whole episode before the authorities wrap up their investigations or charges if any are brought to court.
That the sodomy allegations have become so controversial is proof that what matters most in Malaysian politics is perception.
Since 1998, a large part of the public has decided what to believe about politicians based on sentiment, innuendo and conspiracy theories.
In Anwar's case, few rely on the nation's rule of law and the justice system, both essential to establishing truth and trust in a democracy.
The collective memory of Anwar's trial in 1998, said Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam, president of the Malaysian Society for Transparency and Integrity, has affected how people view the ruling parties and the opposition.
"The government has not been seen to be transparent when it comes to the justice system as a whole. It is unfortunate that this perception holds but the memories of what occurred in 1998 are too fresh," said Navaratnam.
Anwar was charged for abuse of power and sodomy in late 1998 after he was sacked as deputy prime minister.
He was convicted on both counts. After spending six years in jail, the Federal Court set aside the sodomy conviction due to inconsistencies in the prosecution's case while admitting evidence of his "homosexual activities".
The same accusation of sodomy, now levelled against Anwar by a 23-year-old party volunteer, has awakened the ghosts of 1998. The stakes this time, however, may be higher.
Navaratnam said the handling of the police investigations could either collapse the people's trust in the justice system or restore it.
"It has to be credible and stand the utmost scrutiny. There cannot be a shred of doubt in the evidence.
"To not be credible would send a very bad signal not just internationally about our institutions. For the man on the street, it sets a bad precedent," he said.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia political scientist Associate Professor Dr Mohammad Agus Yusoff said the probe's outcome could re-map the political landscape.
Anwar's make-or-break role in the Pakatan Rakyat means that it is essential for him to exonerate himself if the coalition is to survive.
As in 1998, Anwar's case is creating the same unifying effect among the Pakatan components, said DAP member of parliament Liew Chin Tong.
"It has reminded the three parties that even after taking over five states in the last election the struggle is not over.
"It has rallied everyone around Anwar," said Liew, the Bukit Bendera MP.
Umno supreme council member and Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Samad dismissed any possibility that the allegations against Anwar could spell doom for BN.
The Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader has boasted of toppling the government through defections, so far with no results.
Since the allegations surfaced last Saturday, Anwar has launched counter-allegations of his own -- that of a conspiracy orchestrated at the highest levels of government.
"If we were so threatened by Pakatan Rakyat do you think we would have reformed the subsidy system and raised the price of petrol?" Shahrir said.
"We would be more defensive and more populist. Instead the government is forging ahead and doing what it thinks is right."
Shahrir said the public should suspend its distrust of the justice system or see it in a new light because of the reforms that the current BN administration had undertaken.
He said the royal commission into the Datuk V.K. Lingam video clip was emblematic of a lasting change in the judiciary.
"The commission's findings were not in favour of the establishment. The justice system now is in a state where you cannot have a cover-up."
Though opinions about Anwar may still be haunted by recollections of a decade ago, Shahrir pointed out how things had changed.
"This is not 1998. At that time, Anwar's case was the result of a power struggle in Umno.
"Now this is something that is outside Umno. The people in charge now were not in positions of control then. The circumstances are different."
The accusation against Anwar, and how it pans out, is becoming a test for the country as it struggles to find its feet after the March 8 polls.
"In the long run it is about this country's institutions, whether Malaysia will be ruled by sentiment or whether we will have a full-functioning democracy that is ruled by law and where everyone is equal before it," said Liew.
Wan Azizah opens the way for Anwar
President of PKR Wan Azizah announced her resignation as MP for Permatang Pauh 31 July 2008 3:20pm.
— PRESS STATEMENT —
31 JULY 2008, PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA
After deliberating with my family, the Keadilan party leadership and our partners in the Pakatan Rakyat, I have officially submitted my resignation as Member of Parliament of Permatang Pauh to the Speaker of Parliament YB Tan Sri Datuk Pandikar Amin Bin Hj. Mulia today to make way for my husband, Anwar Ibrahim, to contest as a candidate for Pakatan Rakyat in a by-election as soon as possible.
This is consistent with our goals towards securing a Parliamentary majority and forming a new government within this year.
This decision is the right decision for Malaysia.
The nation now faces some of the greatest challenges it has encountered since gaining independence. The UMNO-led Barisan Nasional government has mismanaged the economy and steered the nation towards a catastrophe. It has allowed the integrity of the justice system to fall into deeper infamy. It has stroked the flames of racism and driven a wedge of mistrust between Malays, Chinese and Indians, while thoroughly neglecting the needs of the indigenous peoples of
Sabah and Sarawak.
Anwar Ibrahim has articulated a vision for Malaysia that has brought hope to the people. He has the experience and intelligence to reinvigorate our economy, and the charisma and integrity to unite the Malaysian people and restore credibility to our institutions of governance.
I will continue to serve as president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat and as chairperson of the Yayasan Aman (Peace Foundation).
I whole-heartedly thank my supporters in Permatang Pauh who have stood by me in the most difficult of times since September 1998 and have shared in the joy of victory we all experienced on March 8th. The future of our nation lies in the dedication and commitment to justice and freedom that I have experienced as your representative in Parliament and I look forward to many more years of serving you with sincerity and with humility.
DATUK SERI WAN AZIZAH WAN ISMAIL
President Parti Keadilan Rakyat
— PRESS STATEMENT —
31 JULY 2008, PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA
After deliberating with my family, the Keadilan party leadership and our partners in the Pakatan Rakyat, I have officially submitted my resignation as Member of Parliament of Permatang Pauh to the Speaker of Parliament YB Tan Sri Datuk Pandikar Amin Bin Hj. Mulia today to make way for my husband, Anwar Ibrahim, to contest as a candidate for Pakatan Rakyat in a by-election as soon as possible.
This is consistent with our goals towards securing a Parliamentary majority and forming a new government within this year.
This decision is the right decision for Malaysia.
The nation now faces some of the greatest challenges it has encountered since gaining independence. The UMNO-led Barisan Nasional government has mismanaged the economy and steered the nation towards a catastrophe. It has allowed the integrity of the justice system to fall into deeper infamy. It has stroked the flames of racism and driven a wedge of mistrust between Malays, Chinese and Indians, while thoroughly neglecting the needs of the indigenous peoples of
Sabah and Sarawak.
Anwar Ibrahim has articulated a vision for Malaysia that has brought hope to the people. He has the experience and intelligence to reinvigorate our economy, and the charisma and integrity to unite the Malaysian people and restore credibility to our institutions of governance.
I will continue to serve as president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat and as chairperson of the Yayasan Aman (Peace Foundation).
I whole-heartedly thank my supporters in Permatang Pauh who have stood by me in the most difficult of times since September 1998 and have shared in the joy of victory we all experienced on March 8th. The future of our nation lies in the dedication and commitment to justice and freedom that I have experienced as your representative in Parliament and I look forward to many more years of serving you with sincerity and with humility.
DATUK SERI WAN AZIZAH WAN ISMAIL
President Parti Keadilan Rakyat
Who do you allow to influence you?
1:1 Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Psalms 1:1 KJV
LAB comments: The writer begins his psalm extolling the joys of obeying God and refusing to listen to those who discredit or redicule Him. Our friends and associates can have a profound influence on us, often in very subtle ways. If we insist on friendships with those who mock what God considers important, we might sin by becoming indifferent to
God's will. This attitude is same with mocking. Do your friends bulild up your faith, or do they tear it down? True friend should help, not hinder, you to draw closer to God.
My comment: As much as we choose healthy balance food, we must choose our friends carefully!
Psalms 1:1 KJV
LAB comments: The writer begins his psalm extolling the joys of obeying God and refusing to listen to those who discredit or redicule Him. Our friends and associates can have a profound influence on us, often in very subtle ways. If we insist on friendships with those who mock what God considers important, we might sin by becoming indifferent to
God's will. This attitude is same with mocking. Do your friends bulild up your faith, or do they tear it down? True friend should help, not hinder, you to draw closer to God.
My comment: As much as we choose healthy balance food, we must choose our friends carefully!
Be careful of what you are thinking!
\59:7\Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords [are] in their lips: for who, [say they], doth hear? \59:8\But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.
Psalms 59:7-8KJV
LAB comments:Vile men curse God as if He cannot hear and will not respond. But God scoffs at them. Evil people live as if God cannot see and will not punish. But God watches patiently until that day when their deeds will rise up to accuse them. We must be careful not to follow the same foolish practices as evil people. We must remember that God hears and sees all we do.My comment: All actions start with our thoughts, Jesus warned us not to lust in our heart. If we do, we already sin in our hearts. Many a time, we do have unclean or jealous thoughts. It will be wiser to confess and repent of the sins in our thoughts rather than allowing them to get pregnant in our minds. Minds pregnant with evil thoughts, will give birth to evil ACTIONS
Psalms 59:7-8KJV
LAB comments:Vile men curse God as if He cannot hear and will not respond. But God scoffs at them. Evil people live as if God cannot see and will not punish. But God watches patiently until that day when their deeds will rise up to accuse them. We must be careful not to follow the same foolish practices as evil people. We must remember that God hears and sees all we do.My comment: All actions start with our thoughts, Jesus warned us not to lust in our heart. If we do, we already sin in our hearts. Many a time, we do have unclean or jealous thoughts. It will be wiser to confess and repent of the sins in our thoughts rather than allowing them to get pregnant in our minds. Minds pregnant with evil thoughts, will give birth to evil ACTIONS
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Minister Mentor, Mr Lee Kuan Yew
At 84, the fire still burns!
By Ahmad Mustapha
Singapore’s Minister Mentor, Lee Kuan Yew, who was Singapore’s founding father, has always been very direct in his comments. This was the man who outsmarted the communists in Singapore (with the innocent help of Malaya then and the willing help of the British) and who later outwitted the British and outpaced Malaysia in all spheres.
Singapore practices corrupt-free meritocracy and Malaysia affirmative action. The former attracted all the best brains and the latter chased out all the brains. The Singapore cabinet consists of dedicated and intelligent technocrats whereas Malaysia has one the most unwieldy cabinets. Not only that, brain wise it was below par not even good for the kampong.
With that kind of composition, one that is very brainy, naturally Singapore , with no natural resources could outstrip Malaysia in every aspect of development. Malaysia, on the other hand, was too much preoccupied with its Malayness and the illusory ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ and was also more interested in useless mega iconic development rather than real social and economic development.
Whenever Kuan Yew utters anything that deemed to be a slight on Malaysia , voices were raised admonishing him. Malaysia would never dare to face reality. That Singapore had shown that it could survive was a slap on those who believed that Singapore would fold up once it left Malaysia . Therefore it was natural that these doomsayers would try to rationalise their utterances to be in their favour to combat on whatever Kuan Yew commented. Its political jealousy.
Singapore achieved its development status without any fanfare. But here in Malaysia , a development that was deceptive was proclaimed as having achieved development status. It was trumpeted as an achievement that befits first world status. This was self delusion. Malaysians are led to believe into a make believe world, a dream world. The leaders who themselves tend to believe in their own fabricated world did not realise the people were not taken in by this kind of illusion.
Lee Kuan Yew believed in calling a spade a spade. I was there in Singapore when the People’s Action Party won the elections in 1959. He was forthright in his briefing to party members as to what was expected of them and what Singapore would face in the future. Ideologically, I did not agree with him. We in the University of Malaya Socialist Club had a different interpretation of socialist reconstruction. But he was a pragmatist and wanted to bring development and welfare to the Singaporeans. Well! He succeeded.
Malaysia was so much embroiled in racial politics and due to the fear of losing political power, all actions taken by the main party in power was never targeted towards bringing wealth to all. Wealth was distributed to the chosen few only. They were the cronies and the backers of the party leadership to perpetuate their own selfish ends.
Seeing the efficiency and the progress achieved by Singapore caused the Malaysian leadership to suffer from an inferiority complex. That Malaysia should suffer from this complex was of its own making.
In a recent interview, Kuan Yew said that Malaysia could have done better if only it treated its minority Chinese and Indian population fairly. Instead they were completely marginalised and many of the best brains left the country in drove. He added that Singapore was a standing indictment to what Malaysia could have done differently. He just hit the nail right there on the head.
Malaysia recently celebrated its 50th year of independence with a bagful of uncertainties. The racial divide has become more acute. The number of Malay graduates unemployed is on the increase. And this aspect can be very explosive. But sad to see that no positive actions have been taken to address these social ills.
Various excuses were given by Malaysian leaders why Singapore had far outstripped Malaysia in all aspects of social and economic advancement. Singapore was small, they rationalised and therefore easy to manage. Singapore was not a state but merely an island.
There was one other aspect that Malaysia practises and that is to politicise all aspects of life. All government organs and machinery were ‘UMNO-ised’. This was to ensure that the party will remain in power. Thus there was this misconception by the instruments of government as to what national interest is and what UMNO vested interest is.
UMNO vested interest only benefited a few and not the whole nation. But due to the UMNO-isation of the various instruments of government, the country under the present administration had equated UMNO vested interest as being that of national interest. Thus development became an avenue of making money and not for the benefit of the people. The fight against corruption took a back seat. Transparency was put on hold. And the instruments of government took it to be of national interest to cater to the vested interest of UMNO. Enforcement of various enactments and laws was selective. Thus a ‘palace’ in Kelang, APs cronies and close-one-eye umno MPs could exist without proper procedure. Corruption infested all govt departments, the worse is the police and lately even in the judiciary.
Singapore did not politicise its instruments of government. If ever policisation took place, it is guided by national interest. To be efficient and to be the best in the region was of paramount importance. Thus all the elements like corruption, lackadaisical attitude towards work and other black elements, which would retard such an aim, were eliminated. Singapore naturally had placed the right priority in it’s pursuit to achieve what is best for its people. This is the major difference between these two independent countries.
Malaysia in its various attempts to cover up its failures embarked on several diversions. It wanted its citizens to be proud that the country had the tallest twin-tower in the world, although the structure was designed and built by foreigners. Its now a white-elephant wasting away. It achieved in sending a man into space at an exorbitant price. What for purpose? These are what the Malays of old would say “menang sorak” (hollow victories).
It should be realised that administering a country can be likened to managing a corporate entity. If the management is efficient and dedicated and know what they are doing, the company will prosper. The reverse will be if the management is poor and bad. The company will go bust.
There are five countries around this region. There is Malaysia , and then Indonesia . To the east there is the Philippines and then there is that small enclave called the Sultanate of Brunei . All these four countries have abundance of natural resources but none can lay claim to have used all these resources to benefit the people. Poverty was rampant and independence had not brought in any significant benefits to the people.
But tiny Singapore without any resources at all managed to bring development to its citizens. It had one of the best public MRT transport systems and airlines in the world and it is a very clean city state. Their universities, health care, ports are among the best in the world.
It is impossible to compare what Singapore has achieved to what all these four countries had so far achieved. It was actually poor management and corruption, and nothing more. Everything is done for the vested interest of the few.
Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines and the Sultanate of Brunei need good management teams. They would not be able to do this on their own steam. I would advise that they call on Kuan Yew to show them what good governance is. Why look East to Japan when it is just next door across the causeway.
By Ahmad Mustapha
Singapore’s Minister Mentor, Lee Kuan Yew, who was Singapore’s founding father, has always been very direct in his comments. This was the man who outsmarted the communists in Singapore (with the innocent help of Malaya then and the willing help of the British) and who later outwitted the British and outpaced Malaysia in all spheres.
Singapore practices corrupt-free meritocracy and Malaysia affirmative action. The former attracted all the best brains and the latter chased out all the brains. The Singapore cabinet consists of dedicated and intelligent technocrats whereas Malaysia has one the most unwieldy cabinets. Not only that, brain wise it was below par not even good for the kampong.
With that kind of composition, one that is very brainy, naturally Singapore , with no natural resources could outstrip Malaysia in every aspect of development. Malaysia, on the other hand, was too much preoccupied with its Malayness and the illusory ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ and was also more interested in useless mega iconic development rather than real social and economic development.
Whenever Kuan Yew utters anything that deemed to be a slight on Malaysia , voices were raised admonishing him. Malaysia would never dare to face reality. That Singapore had shown that it could survive was a slap on those who believed that Singapore would fold up once it left Malaysia . Therefore it was natural that these doomsayers would try to rationalise their utterances to be in their favour to combat on whatever Kuan Yew commented. Its political jealousy.
Singapore achieved its development status without any fanfare. But here in Malaysia , a development that was deceptive was proclaimed as having achieved development status. It was trumpeted as an achievement that befits first world status. This was self delusion. Malaysians are led to believe into a make believe world, a dream world. The leaders who themselves tend to believe in their own fabricated world did not realise the people were not taken in by this kind of illusion.
Lee Kuan Yew believed in calling a spade a spade. I was there in Singapore when the People’s Action Party won the elections in 1959. He was forthright in his briefing to party members as to what was expected of them and what Singapore would face in the future. Ideologically, I did not agree with him. We in the University of Malaya Socialist Club had a different interpretation of socialist reconstruction. But he was a pragmatist and wanted to bring development and welfare to the Singaporeans. Well! He succeeded.
Malaysia was so much embroiled in racial politics and due to the fear of losing political power, all actions taken by the main party in power was never targeted towards bringing wealth to all. Wealth was distributed to the chosen few only. They were the cronies and the backers of the party leadership to perpetuate their own selfish ends.
Seeing the efficiency and the progress achieved by Singapore caused the Malaysian leadership to suffer from an inferiority complex. That Malaysia should suffer from this complex was of its own making.
In a recent interview, Kuan Yew said that Malaysia could have done better if only it treated its minority Chinese and Indian population fairly. Instead they were completely marginalised and many of the best brains left the country in drove. He added that Singapore was a standing indictment to what Malaysia could have done differently. He just hit the nail right there on the head.
Malaysia recently celebrated its 50th year of independence with a bagful of uncertainties. The racial divide has become more acute. The number of Malay graduates unemployed is on the increase. And this aspect can be very explosive. But sad to see that no positive actions have been taken to address these social ills.
Various excuses were given by Malaysian leaders why Singapore had far outstripped Malaysia in all aspects of social and economic advancement. Singapore was small, they rationalised and therefore easy to manage. Singapore was not a state but merely an island.
There was one other aspect that Malaysia practises and that is to politicise all aspects of life. All government organs and machinery were ‘UMNO-ised’. This was to ensure that the party will remain in power. Thus there was this misconception by the instruments of government as to what national interest is and what UMNO vested interest is.
UMNO vested interest only benefited a few and not the whole nation. But due to the UMNO-isation of the various instruments of government, the country under the present administration had equated UMNO vested interest as being that of national interest. Thus development became an avenue of making money and not for the benefit of the people. The fight against corruption took a back seat. Transparency was put on hold. And the instruments of government took it to be of national interest to cater to the vested interest of UMNO. Enforcement of various enactments and laws was selective. Thus a ‘palace’ in Kelang, APs cronies and close-one-eye umno MPs could exist without proper procedure. Corruption infested all govt departments, the worse is the police and lately even in the judiciary.
Singapore did not politicise its instruments of government. If ever policisation took place, it is guided by national interest. To be efficient and to be the best in the region was of paramount importance. Thus all the elements like corruption, lackadaisical attitude towards work and other black elements, which would retard such an aim, were eliminated. Singapore naturally had placed the right priority in it’s pursuit to achieve what is best for its people. This is the major difference between these two independent countries.
Malaysia in its various attempts to cover up its failures embarked on several diversions. It wanted its citizens to be proud that the country had the tallest twin-tower in the world, although the structure was designed and built by foreigners. Its now a white-elephant wasting away. It achieved in sending a man into space at an exorbitant price. What for purpose? These are what the Malays of old would say “menang sorak” (hollow victories).
It should be realised that administering a country can be likened to managing a corporate entity. If the management is efficient and dedicated and know what they are doing, the company will prosper. The reverse will be if the management is poor and bad. The company will go bust.
There are five countries around this region. There is Malaysia , and then Indonesia . To the east there is the Philippines and then there is that small enclave called the Sultanate of Brunei . All these four countries have abundance of natural resources but none can lay claim to have used all these resources to benefit the people. Poverty was rampant and independence had not brought in any significant benefits to the people.
But tiny Singapore without any resources at all managed to bring development to its citizens. It had one of the best public MRT transport systems and airlines in the world and it is a very clean city state. Their universities, health care, ports are among the best in the world.
It is impossible to compare what Singapore has achieved to what all these four countries had so far achieved. It was actually poor management and corruption, and nothing more. Everything is done for the vested interest of the few.
Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines and the Sultanate of Brunei need good management teams. They would not be able to do this on their own steam. I would advise that they call on Kuan Yew to show them what good governance is. Why look East to Japan when it is just next door across the causeway.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Why is it so important to be just and fair?
Though the vicious can sometimes pour affliction upon the good, their power is transient and their punishment certain; and that innocence, though oppressed by injustice, shall, supported by patience, finally triumph over misfortune!
Ann Radcliffe, The Mysteries of Udolpho, 1764
58:11 \58:10\The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. 58:12 \58:11\So that a man shall say, Verily [there is] a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.
Psalms 58:10-11KJV
LAB comments: Of all people, our national leaders should be just and fair. When they are unjust and unfair, people suffer. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer, politicians wrest power from the people, national morality deteriorates, and God is ignored. When right triumphs at last,"the righteous shall rejoice". Be assured that there will be a day of accountability and that God judges fairly. Becareful never to side with injustice, lest you find yourself standing before an angry judge.
Ann Radcliffe, The Mysteries of Udolpho, 1764
58:11 \58:10\The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. 58:12 \58:11\So that a man shall say, Verily [there is] a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.
Psalms 58:10-11KJV
LAB comments: Of all people, our national leaders should be just and fair. When they are unjust and unfair, people suffer. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer, politicians wrest power from the people, national morality deteriorates, and God is ignored. When right triumphs at last,"the righteous shall rejoice". Be assured that there will be a day of accountability and that God judges fairly. Becareful never to side with injustice, lest you find yourself standing before an angry judge.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Want to know how to choose God's way
Live among men as if God beheld you; speak to God as if men were listening.
Seneca (5 BC - 65 AD), Epistles
- More quotations on: [God]
25:12 What man is he that feareth Jehovah? Him shall he instruct in the way that he shall choose.
Psalms 25:12 ASV
LAB comment: To fear the Lord is to recognize God for who He is: holy, almighty, righteous, pure, all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-wise. When we regard God correctly, we gain a clearer picture of ourselves: sinful, weak, frail, and needy. When we recognize who God is and who we are, we will fall at His feet in humble respect. Only then will He show us how to choose His way.My comment: Be careful to keep the fear of God in our heart in all our dealings, we will be alright.
Seneca (5 BC - 65 AD), Epistles
- More quotations on: [God]
25:12 What man is he that feareth Jehovah? Him shall he instruct in the way that he shall choose.
Psalms 25:12 ASV
LAB comment: To fear the Lord is to recognize God for who He is: holy, almighty, righteous, pure, all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-wise. When we regard God correctly, we gain a clearer picture of ourselves: sinful, weak, frail, and needy. When we recognize who God is and who we are, we will fall at His feet in humble respect. Only then will He show us how to choose His way.My comment: Be careful to keep the fear of God in our heart in all our dealings, we will be alright.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Registration form to conference on Roadmap to LGE
ΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨ
Conference on the Roadmap to
Local Government Elections
ΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨ
Saturday, 26th July 2008
REGISTRATION FEE
RM 20.00
(Registration fee include seminar materials, lunch and refreshments)
REGISTRATION FORM
I/We would like to register for the Talk.
Name : ……………………………………………………………………………………
E-mail : …………………………………………………………………………………….
Name of Organization : …………………………………………………………………….
Address : …………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………
Tel No : ………………….. Fax No: ………………………………….
Date : ………………….. Signature : ……………………………….
Please complete and return the registration form together with the registration fee to the Malacca Bar Secretariat to confirm attendance. For registration information, please call Mr. Lawrence Ang at 06-284 5519/ 06-286 4514 or Mr. Anthony Chua at 012-628 8779 or Ms. Lau Yi Lin at 013-374 1115.
Payment can be made by cheque or cash. Cheques should be made payable to the Malacca Bar Committee. Payment must be made in advance of the event.
There are limited places available and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration by fax will be considered as confirmed.
Completed forms to be forwarded to :-
Malacca Bar Committee,
No. 9373, Taman Indah,
Seksyen 1, Bukit Sebukor,
75150 Melaka.
Tel : 06-284 5519/ 06-286 4514
Fax : 06- 283 0755
Conference on the Roadmap to
Local Government Elections
ΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨ
Saturday, 26th July 2008
REGISTRATION FEE
RM 20.00
(Registration fee include seminar materials, lunch and refreshments)
REGISTRATION FORM
I/We would like to register for the Talk.
Name : ……………………………………………………………………………………
E-mail : …………………………………………………………………………………….
Name of Organization : …………………………………………………………………….
Address : …………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………
Tel No : ………………….. Fax No: ………………………………….
Date : ………………….. Signature : ……………………………….
Please complete and return the registration form together with the registration fee to the Malacca Bar Secretariat to confirm attendance. For registration information, please call Mr. Lawrence Ang at 06-284 5519/ 06-286 4514 or Mr. Anthony Chua at 012-628 8779 or Ms. Lau Yi Lin at 013-374 1115.
Payment can be made by cheque or cash. Cheques should be made payable to the Malacca Bar Committee. Payment must be made in advance of the event.
There are limited places available and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration by fax will be considered as confirmed.
Completed forms to be forwarded to :-
Malacca Bar Committee,
No. 9373, Taman Indah,
Seksyen 1, Bukit Sebukor,
75150 Melaka.
Tel : 06-284 5519/ 06-286 4514
Fax : 06- 283 0755
Conference on the Roadmap to local government elections
************************************************************************
Conference on the Roadmap to
Local Government Elections
************************************************************************
SPEAKERS
Professor Abdul Aziz BARI is lecturing at the Department of Public Law at the International Islamic University.
Tan Sri Dato’ Dr CHIN Fook Weng is a national speaker for Gerakan and a former senator and Associate Professor.
Mr Derek FERNANDES is a town planning lawyer and a member of the Petaling Jaya City Council.
Dr GOH Ban Lee is a retired USM Associate Professor interested in urban governance, housing and urban planning.
Mr Andrew KHOO is the Co-Deputy Chairperson of the Human Rights Committee, with wide interests from parliamentary reform, electoral reform to Free Trade Agreements.
Mr Edward LEE is the state assemblyperson for Bukit Gasing and the President of Resident Association Section 5 Petaling Jaya.
Mr Ronnie LIU is the state assemblyman for Pandamaran, Selangor and the Selangor Government Exco member for Local Government, Study and Research Committee.
Mr Victor OORJITHAM is the Chairman of Maxwell Towers Resident Association (local joint action committee) and former local councilor for Petaling Jaya.
Mr Sivarasa RASIAH is the member of Parliament for Subang and the Vice President of Parti Keadilan Rakyat.
Moderators/Organizer Representatives:
Mr Ng Kong Peng is the current Melaka Bar Committee chairman.
Dr Lim Teck Ghee is a former UN advisor and past Director of the Centre for Public Policy Studies in ASLI. He is currently the CEO of the Centre for Policy Initiatives.
Wong Chin Huat is a founding member of Civil Society Parliamentary Initiative for Parliamentary Reform (CSI-Parliament).
CONFERENCE DETAILS
Date : Saturday, 26th July 2008
Time : 8.30am – 4.30pm
Venue : King’s Hotel, No.30, Lebuh Ayer Keroh, 75450 Melaka
REGISTRATION FEE
RM 20.00
(Registration fee includes lunch, tea and seminar materials)
PROGRAMME
8.30-8.45am
Registration
8.45-9.00am
Welcoming Speeches by the Organizers: Dr Lim TG; Mr KP Ng and Mr Wong Chin Huat
9.00-11.00am
Session 1- “Why Local Democracy?”
Moderator - Mr Ng Kong Peng
Mr Derek Fernandez – “An Assessment of the Status Quo Under the Current Laws.”
Mr Edward Lee – “The role of civil society in local governance.”
Mr Victor Oorjitham – “The Earlier Experience in the 1970s.”
Question & Answer Session
11.00-11.15am
Tea Break
11.15-1.15pm
Session 2 -“Reviving Local Elections : The State Solutions”
Moderator- Dr Lim Teck Ghee
Mr Andrew Khoo – “How the State can do it.”
Mr Ronnie Liu – “Why the State has not done it.”
Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Chin Fook Weng- “Gerakan’s Position On Local Elections”
Question & Answer Session
1.15-2.00pm
Lunch
2.00-4.00pm
Session 3-“Reviving Local Elections : The Federal Solutions”
Moderator- Andrew Khoo
Professor Abdul Aziz Bari – “ Institutional Reforms and Federal-State Relations”
Mr Sivarasa Rasiah MP – “The Parliamentary Mechanism: Private Members’ Bill and Select Committee”
Dr Goh Ban Lee – “The Constitutional Mechanism: “National Council of Local Governments.”
Question & Answer Session
4.00-4.30 pm
-Closing & Tea
4.30pm onwards
a guided tour of the Historical City of Melaka (optional)
Co-organized by :-
• The Melaka Bar Committee
• Civil Society Initiative for Parliamentary Reform (CSI-Parliament)
• Centre for Policy Initiatives (CPI)
Conference on the Roadmap to
Local Government Elections
************************************************************************
SPEAKERS
Professor Abdul Aziz BARI is lecturing at the Department of Public Law at the International Islamic University.
Tan Sri Dato’ Dr CHIN Fook Weng is a national speaker for Gerakan and a former senator and Associate Professor.
Mr Derek FERNANDES is a town planning lawyer and a member of the Petaling Jaya City Council.
Dr GOH Ban Lee is a retired USM Associate Professor interested in urban governance, housing and urban planning.
Mr Andrew KHOO is the Co-Deputy Chairperson of the Human Rights Committee, with wide interests from parliamentary reform, electoral reform to Free Trade Agreements.
Mr Edward LEE is the state assemblyperson for Bukit Gasing and the President of Resident Association Section 5 Petaling Jaya.
Mr Ronnie LIU is the state assemblyman for Pandamaran, Selangor and the Selangor Government Exco member for Local Government, Study and Research Committee.
Mr Victor OORJITHAM is the Chairman of Maxwell Towers Resident Association (local joint action committee) and former local councilor for Petaling Jaya.
Mr Sivarasa RASIAH is the member of Parliament for Subang and the Vice President of Parti Keadilan Rakyat.
Moderators/Organizer Representatives:
Mr Ng Kong Peng is the current Melaka Bar Committee chairman.
Dr Lim Teck Ghee is a former UN advisor and past Director of the Centre for Public Policy Studies in ASLI. He is currently the CEO of the Centre for Policy Initiatives.
Wong Chin Huat is a founding member of Civil Society Parliamentary Initiative for Parliamentary Reform (CSI-Parliament).
CONFERENCE DETAILS
Date : Saturday, 26th July 2008
Time : 8.30am – 4.30pm
Venue : King’s Hotel, No.30, Lebuh Ayer Keroh, 75450 Melaka
REGISTRATION FEE
RM 20.00
(Registration fee includes lunch, tea and seminar materials)
PROGRAMME
8.30-8.45am
Registration
8.45-9.00am
Welcoming Speeches by the Organizers: Dr Lim TG; Mr KP Ng and Mr Wong Chin Huat
9.00-11.00am
Session 1- “Why Local Democracy?”
Moderator - Mr Ng Kong Peng
Mr Derek Fernandez – “An Assessment of the Status Quo Under the Current Laws.”
Mr Edward Lee – “The role of civil society in local governance.”
Mr Victor Oorjitham – “The Earlier Experience in the 1970s.”
Question & Answer Session
11.00-11.15am
Tea Break
11.15-1.15pm
Session 2 -“Reviving Local Elections : The State Solutions”
Moderator- Dr Lim Teck Ghee
Mr Andrew Khoo – “How the State can do it.”
Mr Ronnie Liu – “Why the State has not done it.”
Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Chin Fook Weng- “Gerakan’s Position On Local Elections”
Question & Answer Session
1.15-2.00pm
Lunch
2.00-4.00pm
Session 3-“Reviving Local Elections : The Federal Solutions”
Moderator- Andrew Khoo
Professor Abdul Aziz Bari – “ Institutional Reforms and Federal-State Relations”
Mr Sivarasa Rasiah MP – “The Parliamentary Mechanism: Private Members’ Bill and Select Committee”
Dr Goh Ban Lee – “The Constitutional Mechanism: “National Council of Local Governments.”
Question & Answer Session
4.00-4.30 pm
-Closing & Tea
4.30pm onwards
a guided tour of the Historical City of Melaka (optional)
Co-organized by :-
• The Melaka Bar Committee
• Civil Society Initiative for Parliamentary Reform (CSI-Parliament)
• Centre for Policy Initiatives (CPI)
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
How to sleep well?
"It seemed the world was divided into good and bad people. The good ones slept better... while the bad ones seemed to enjoy the waking hours much more." By Woody Allen.
15:1 Jehovah, who shall sojourn in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 15:2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, And speaketh truth in his heart; 15:3 He that slandereth not with his tongue, Nor doeth evil to his friend, Nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor; 15:4 In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, But who honoreth them that fear Jehovah; He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not; 15:5 He that putteth not out his money to interest, Nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved. Psalm 16 Michtam of David. Psalms 15:1-5 ASV
LAB comment: God calls us to be morally upright, and, in this psalm, HE gives us 10 standards to determine how we are doing. We live among people whose standards and morals are eroding. Our standards of living should not come from our society but from God.
My comment: We will sleep well if we keep a clear and clean conscience.
15:1 Jehovah, who shall sojourn in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 15:2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, And speaketh truth in his heart; 15:3 He that slandereth not with his tongue, Nor doeth evil to his friend, Nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor; 15:4 In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, But who honoreth them that fear Jehovah; He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not; 15:5 He that putteth not out his money to interest, Nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved. Psalm 16 Michtam of David. Psalms 15:1-5 ASV
LAB comment: God calls us to be morally upright, and, in this psalm, HE gives us 10 standards to determine how we are doing. We live among people whose standards and morals are eroding. Our standards of living should not come from our society but from God.
My comment: We will sleep well if we keep a clear and clean conscience.
Competitive World
We live in a competitive world. People will go to wherever that give them better benifits. America is a place that has been very attractive to many people. With the people, they also bring along their talents and skills to build not only a super but hyperpower nation.
As I travel outside of Malaysia, I begin to see how badly our beloved country has been managed. We see how clean their environment, how orderly people move around. Streets with bicycle paths. The other thing is the exchange rate of our currency has gone down significantly.
For a nation to thrive and be competitive we need the best to rule. Look at BN for the past 50 years, have they put up the best to lead? Only the connected and cronies and yes men got promoted. The top posts in UMNO, MCA and other component parties have hardly been challenged, always hand picked, like Mahathir picking Ahmad Badawi, Ahmad picking Najib, now Ong Ka Ting picking Ong Tee Kiat, Samy Vellu for 32 years still holding on his presidency inspite of being voted out of the parliament in the recent GE.
With a system like that we have been perpetuating the weak to the top posts and their performance has left much to be desired.
Look at America, how though it is to be even becoming the candidate of The Democrates, the one Obama had gone through recently.
The International Trade and Industry Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said recently that his ministry will be looking into attracting investors who are pulling out from China because of high costs there.
Has Malaysia become more competitive in the past few months since the March 8 General Election? The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has failed to deliver his numerous long-overdue reform pledges.
This is one important reason why the Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) has plunged to its lowest level since the 2006!
Abdullah had assured Malaysians that he had heard Malaysian voices after the GE, and would begin to implement reforms to regain public confidence in his administration.
Many months have passed and apart from rhetoric,what has Abdullah done?
In the three areas of police, judicial and anti-corruption reforms which Abdullah had mentioned specifically, Abdullah has nothing to show.
Worst still, the scandal of the two statutory declarations by private investigator Bala Subramaniam and his disappearance, the continued harassment of Anwar Ibrahim and Raja Petra Kamaruddin, the abuse of police powers and the lack of accountability by the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar over the three-day 1,600-strong police lockdown of Kuala Lumpur and Klang Valley based on the false intelligence of a non-existing Pakatan Rakyat top leadership meeting to plan massive demonstration in Parliament, have further undermined national and international confidence in the Abdullah government.
As a result, the past few months have witnessed the continued deterioration of the crisis of confidence confronting Abdullah, although the Barisan Nasional had been returned with a majority of 58 MPs in the recent general election – with even leaders in Barisan Nasional losing confidence in Umno and BN government.
Is Malaysia going to be attractive to foreign investors? Is the nation capable of being globally competitive? Major institutional reforms and with top priority giving to meritocracy in all spheres of national endeavour are urgently needed.
As I travel outside of Malaysia, I begin to see how badly our beloved country has been managed. We see how clean their environment, how orderly people move around. Streets with bicycle paths. The other thing is the exchange rate of our currency has gone down significantly.
For a nation to thrive and be competitive we need the best to rule. Look at BN for the past 50 years, have they put up the best to lead? Only the connected and cronies and yes men got promoted. The top posts in UMNO, MCA and other component parties have hardly been challenged, always hand picked, like Mahathir picking Ahmad Badawi, Ahmad picking Najib, now Ong Ka Ting picking Ong Tee Kiat, Samy Vellu for 32 years still holding on his presidency inspite of being voted out of the parliament in the recent GE.
With a system like that we have been perpetuating the weak to the top posts and their performance has left much to be desired.
Look at America, how though it is to be even becoming the candidate of The Democrates, the one Obama had gone through recently.
The International Trade and Industry Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said recently that his ministry will be looking into attracting investors who are pulling out from China because of high costs there.
Has Malaysia become more competitive in the past few months since the March 8 General Election? The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has failed to deliver his numerous long-overdue reform pledges.
This is one important reason why the Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) has plunged to its lowest level since the 2006!
Abdullah had assured Malaysians that he had heard Malaysian voices after the GE, and would begin to implement reforms to regain public confidence in his administration.
Many months have passed and apart from rhetoric,what has Abdullah done?
In the three areas of police, judicial and anti-corruption reforms which Abdullah had mentioned specifically, Abdullah has nothing to show.
Worst still, the scandal of the two statutory declarations by private investigator Bala Subramaniam and his disappearance, the continued harassment of Anwar Ibrahim and Raja Petra Kamaruddin, the abuse of police powers and the lack of accountability by the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar over the three-day 1,600-strong police lockdown of Kuala Lumpur and Klang Valley based on the false intelligence of a non-existing Pakatan Rakyat top leadership meeting to plan massive demonstration in Parliament, have further undermined national and international confidence in the Abdullah government.
As a result, the past few months have witnessed the continued deterioration of the crisis of confidence confronting Abdullah, although the Barisan Nasional had been returned with a majority of 58 MPs in the recent general election – with even leaders in Barisan Nasional losing confidence in Umno and BN government.
Is Malaysia going to be attractive to foreign investors? Is the nation capable of being globally competitive? Major institutional reforms and with top priority giving to meritocracy in all spheres of national endeavour are urgently needed.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
"Malay unity"
The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told us that there had been 3
UMNO-PAS “Malay Unity” talks so far.
Has he forgotten what he said, he is not only the prime minister of one race, but all Malaysian? Our aim should be to build a competative forward looking nation for Bangsa Malaysia.
UMNO-PAS “Malay Unity” talks so far.
Has he forgotten what he said, he is not only the prime minister of one race, but all Malaysian? Our aim should be to build a competative forward looking nation for Bangsa Malaysia.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Weapons, arsenals and power!
Above all, we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. It is a weapon our adversaries in today's world do not have.
Ronald Reagan (1911 - 2004)
20:7 \20:6\Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. 20:8 \20:7\Some [trust] in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
Psalms 20:7-8 KJV
LAB comment:
Nations have boasted of their power, but such power does not last. Thoughout history, empires and kingdoms have risen to great power only to vanish in the dust. David, however, knew that the true might of his nation was not in weaponry but in worship; not in firepower but in Gos's power. Because God alone can preserve a nation or an individual, be sure your confidence is in God, who gives eternal victory. Whom do you trust?
My comment:
Kingdoms, ruling regimes and individuals can come and go, let's trust God and do the work of He has placed in our hands. Only what is done for God will last.
Ronald Reagan (1911 - 2004)
20:7 \20:6\Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. 20:8 \20:7\Some [trust] in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
Psalms 20:7-8 KJV
LAB comment:
Nations have boasted of their power, but such power does not last. Thoughout history, empires and kingdoms have risen to great power only to vanish in the dust. David, however, knew that the true might of his nation was not in weaponry but in worship; not in firepower but in Gos's power. Because God alone can preserve a nation or an individual, be sure your confidence is in God, who gives eternal victory. Whom do you trust?
My comment:
Kingdoms, ruling regimes and individuals can come and go, let's trust God and do the work of He has placed in our hands. Only what is done for God will last.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Anwar told how he was arrested
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA; JULY 17, 2008
On Saturday, 12-07-2008, the police came to my house to serve a Section 111 Criminal Procedure Code notice, harassing my family and demanding my presence at the IPK Kuala Lumpur (Federal Territories Police headquarters) at 2pm on Monday, 14-07-2008 despite an earlier agreement with my lawyers for me to come to the IPK on Monday 14-07-2008. On the next day, Sunday, the police also served an ex-parte court order, prohibiting me from physically being within 5 km from the Parliament on Monday 14-07-2008. As you can see, my house and the IPK KL are within 5 km radius from the parliament building. The court order effectively put me under house arrest on Monday and at the same time prevented me from going to the IPK.
On Monday, 14-07-2008, the presence of police personnel outside the compound of my house strengthened our suspicions that they would be prepared to arrest me as soon as I left the compound of my residence, on the pretext of me violating the court order. The issue here, is which order should I comply with, the ex-parte court order or the Section 111 notice from the police?
On the same day, the police through the Investigating Officer, one DSP Jude Pereira wrote and faxed to my lawyer at about 1.06pm, informing that I was required to be present at the IPK KL on Wednesday, 16-07-2008 at 2.00 pm to assist with the investigation. I conveyed my agreement to the appointment and it was communicated to the police through my solicitor, Messrs S.N Nair and Partners via telephone and letter on the same day.
On Wednesday, 16-07-2008, I was at the Anti Corruption Agency (BPR) head office to record my statement pursuant to the police report lodged by me at IPK Shah Alam on 01-07-2008, against the Attorney General Gani Patail and the Inspector General of Police Musa Hassan for their involvement in the fabrication of evidence way back in 1998. To ensure that we will be able to attend the appointment with the police at 2pm, we cut short our statement at the BPR’s office, and this fact was clearly conveyed to the BPR officers present.
At about 12.45 pm, the IO, DSP Jude Pereira called Mr Nair to confirm about our attendance and Mr. Nair confirmed that we would attend that 2pm appointment. We were about to have a quick lunch at my house before proceeding to the IPK. 5 minutes later, we were ambushed by a team of masked and heavily armed police personnel near my house.
I was arrested and brought to the IPK. I cooperated fully with the police by giving my cautioned statement from 2.30 pm to about 7.30 pm. At this particular point, the IO and the other officers handling this case were doing their job professionally. I was then given assurances by Assistant Commissioner of Police Razali and later Senior Assistant Commissioner II Khor (through my lawyer) that I would be released on police bail on the same day.
However, later on, upon my return from Kuala Lumpur General Hospotal (HKL), the IO, DSP Jude Pereira informed me and my lawyers that I will be detained and put in the police lock-up overnight for the purpose of recording a further statement in the morning.
I and my lawyers protested, giving our undertaking that we will be back anytime required by the police to continue with the recording of the statement, and there was no need for me to be detained overnight, and that I should be released on police bail. The police, through the IO were adamant that I should be detained and put in the police lock-up overnight, despite them knowing about my physical condition. I had to spend the night sleeping on a cold cement floor, which aggravated my back injury which was due to the beating I received from the then IGP, Tan Sri Rahim Nor on 20th September, 1998.
This morning, after a short statement that was recorded for about 30 minutes, I was released on police bail. I was in pain and had to immediately receive some medical treatment upon my return home.
I now wish to deal with the statement of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Director, Dato Mohd Bakri Mohd Zinin as appeared in Utusan Malaysia today, inter alia
“Pasukan khas bertopeng polis terpaksa memintas kenderaan DSAI di Bukit Segambut di sini dan menahan Anwar ekoran tindakan Penasihat PKR itu mengubah haluan kenderaannya pada saat-saat tempoh yang diberi kepadanya untuk menyerah diri kepada polis pada pukul 2 petang ini hampir berakhir”
This is a blatant lie from the CID director to cover up their shameful act of abuse of police powers. I have given the assurances and had just informed the IO 5 minutes before the disgraceful ambush by the police through my lawyer who was with me in the same car.
In addition to the above, the Deputy Home Minister, Wan Farid said, as reported in Star Online that, I “went voluntarily to the police car without any incident.” Again, this is also a blatant lie by the government.
I take to task the IGP for this abuse of police power against me through the events I’ve narrated above. It appears that the events of the last few days, the nature of my unwarranted arrest, my overnight incarceration which was actually absolutely unnecessary, were an act of personal vengeance against me in retaliation to the reports I lodged earlier against him, which are now being investigated by the ACA.
DNA
I have reasonable grounds for having no confidence in the system. In the course of the trial of the false allegations of sodomy in 1998, DNA evidence was fabricated and used against me. The persons responsible for the fabrication then were the IGP, SAC Rodwan and the AG, are new key players in this investigation.
Until now, I have been denied access to the police report made by the accuser against me.
My accuser is still under police protection and as such, any fabrication is possible if they take my DNA. My decision to refuse a DNA test is taken through advice of my lawyers and DNA experts, both local and overseas.
ANWAR IBRAHIM
On Saturday, 12-07-2008, the police came to my house to serve a Section 111 Criminal Procedure Code notice, harassing my family and demanding my presence at the IPK Kuala Lumpur (Federal Territories Police headquarters) at 2pm on Monday, 14-07-2008 despite an earlier agreement with my lawyers for me to come to the IPK on Monday 14-07-2008. On the next day, Sunday, the police also served an ex-parte court order, prohibiting me from physically being within 5 km from the Parliament on Monday 14-07-2008. As you can see, my house and the IPK KL are within 5 km radius from the parliament building. The court order effectively put me under house arrest on Monday and at the same time prevented me from going to the IPK.
On Monday, 14-07-2008, the presence of police personnel outside the compound of my house strengthened our suspicions that they would be prepared to arrest me as soon as I left the compound of my residence, on the pretext of me violating the court order. The issue here, is which order should I comply with, the ex-parte court order or the Section 111 notice from the police?
On the same day, the police through the Investigating Officer, one DSP Jude Pereira wrote and faxed to my lawyer at about 1.06pm, informing that I was required to be present at the IPK KL on Wednesday, 16-07-2008 at 2.00 pm to assist with the investigation. I conveyed my agreement to the appointment and it was communicated to the police through my solicitor, Messrs S.N Nair and Partners via telephone and letter on the same day.
On Wednesday, 16-07-2008, I was at the Anti Corruption Agency (BPR) head office to record my statement pursuant to the police report lodged by me at IPK Shah Alam on 01-07-2008, against the Attorney General Gani Patail and the Inspector General of Police Musa Hassan for their involvement in the fabrication of evidence way back in 1998. To ensure that we will be able to attend the appointment with the police at 2pm, we cut short our statement at the BPR’s office, and this fact was clearly conveyed to the BPR officers present.
At about 12.45 pm, the IO, DSP Jude Pereira called Mr Nair to confirm about our attendance and Mr. Nair confirmed that we would attend that 2pm appointment. We were about to have a quick lunch at my house before proceeding to the IPK. 5 minutes later, we were ambushed by a team of masked and heavily armed police personnel near my house.
I was arrested and brought to the IPK. I cooperated fully with the police by giving my cautioned statement from 2.30 pm to about 7.30 pm. At this particular point, the IO and the other officers handling this case were doing their job professionally. I was then given assurances by Assistant Commissioner of Police Razali and later Senior Assistant Commissioner II Khor (through my lawyer) that I would be released on police bail on the same day.
However, later on, upon my return from Kuala Lumpur General Hospotal (HKL), the IO, DSP Jude Pereira informed me and my lawyers that I will be detained and put in the police lock-up overnight for the purpose of recording a further statement in the morning.
I and my lawyers protested, giving our undertaking that we will be back anytime required by the police to continue with the recording of the statement, and there was no need for me to be detained overnight, and that I should be released on police bail. The police, through the IO were adamant that I should be detained and put in the police lock-up overnight, despite them knowing about my physical condition. I had to spend the night sleeping on a cold cement floor, which aggravated my back injury which was due to the beating I received from the then IGP, Tan Sri Rahim Nor on 20th September, 1998.
This morning, after a short statement that was recorded for about 30 minutes, I was released on police bail. I was in pain and had to immediately receive some medical treatment upon my return home.
I now wish to deal with the statement of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Director, Dato Mohd Bakri Mohd Zinin as appeared in Utusan Malaysia today, inter alia
“Pasukan khas bertopeng polis terpaksa memintas kenderaan DSAI di Bukit Segambut di sini dan menahan Anwar ekoran tindakan Penasihat PKR itu mengubah haluan kenderaannya pada saat-saat tempoh yang diberi kepadanya untuk menyerah diri kepada polis pada pukul 2 petang ini hampir berakhir”
This is a blatant lie from the CID director to cover up their shameful act of abuse of police powers. I have given the assurances and had just informed the IO 5 minutes before the disgraceful ambush by the police through my lawyer who was with me in the same car.
In addition to the above, the Deputy Home Minister, Wan Farid said, as reported in Star Online that, I “went voluntarily to the police car without any incident.” Again, this is also a blatant lie by the government.
I take to task the IGP for this abuse of police power against me through the events I’ve narrated above. It appears that the events of the last few days, the nature of my unwarranted arrest, my overnight incarceration which was actually absolutely unnecessary, were an act of personal vengeance against me in retaliation to the reports I lodged earlier against him, which are now being investigated by the ACA.
DNA
I have reasonable grounds for having no confidence in the system. In the course of the trial of the false allegations of sodomy in 1998, DNA evidence was fabricated and used against me. The persons responsible for the fabrication then were the IGP, SAC Rodwan and the AG, are new key players in this investigation.
Until now, I have been denied access to the police report made by the accuser against me.
My accuser is still under police protection and as such, any fabrication is possible if they take my DNA. My decision to refuse a DNA test is taken through advice of my lawyers and DNA experts, both local and overseas.
ANWAR IBRAHIM
Dismay and Deja Vu for Anwar's supporters
From the South China Morning Post
KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 — Yesterday’s arrest of de facto opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim throws Malaysian politics into dangerously familiar waters, with supporters of the popular politician accusing government figures of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at preventing him becoming prime minister.
The accusations of sodomy echo similar charges levelled against Anwar in 1998, when he was deputy prime minister to his one-time political benefactor Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Then, after falling from favour, he was beaten by police and served six years behind bars. He was convicted of corruption, but eventually cleared of the sex charges.
At that time, Anwar’s political star was on the wane, but now the situation could not be more different. With 82 seats behind him in the 222-seat parliament, Anwar was just steps away, said his aides, from engineering government defections that would secure power for his coalition.
And then the fresh charges of sodomy were levelled against him by an aide on June 28.
The timing, say his supporters, can be no coincidence.
“Unless they really have a solid case that can withstand independent legal scrutiny the arrest really sinks the government’s credibility,” said Eddin Khoo, a leading writer and intellectual close to Anwar.
“The majority of the people reject the charge as a frame up and public protest across the country is inevitable. The arrest could explode in the government’s face if it is not handled fairly.”
Anwar has publicly named Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, his rival for the prime minister’s post, as the architect of the sodomy conspiracy, a charge Najib denies. Incumbent Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is widely viewed as a lame duck leader.
“This [arrest] is very bad … it will go down very badly with the people,” said Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam, a former senior civil servant and the president of Transparency International, Malaysia.
“It will cause great uneasiness and uncertainty and lack of confidence in the system. There are deeply held fears about whether Anwar will get justice and fairness.”
Ramon, who is also pro-chancellor of a local university, said the arrest and a prolonged trial — if there is one — would be a big setback to the reforms Anwar had started with his coalition’s spectacular performance in the March 8 general election.
“His spectacular political comeback is also in doubt now that such a charge hangs over him like a dagger,” Ramon said.
From political oblivion Anwar led the Pakatan Rakyat coalition of three political parties to claim 49 per cent of the popular vote, 82 parliamentary seats and five state governments in the March polls.
The coalition could not muster a national majority, but considering that about 90 per cent of national seats were held by the government prior to the polls, it was a stunning rebuke for Abdullah.
Immediately Anwar — who was prevented from seeking a seat at the time of the polls due to his corruption conviction but is now eligible to contest a by-election — began wooing government lawmakers to cross over, needing just 30 to topple Abdullah. In late May he announced he had the numbers to form the government but was “waiting for the right time”.
The claim shook the government into giving out billions of dollars in development largesse to the east Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, on Borneo Island, where support for Abdullah was considered weak.
But all of Anwar’s carefully laid plans began to collapse after his young aide lodged a police report that Anwar had forcibly sodomised him at a luxury apartment.
The aide, who had in recent weeks travelled with Anwar to Hong Kong, Jakarta and Singapore, claimed he was forced into sex acts with Anwar on several occasions, most recently on June 26.
KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 — Yesterday’s arrest of de facto opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim throws Malaysian politics into dangerously familiar waters, with supporters of the popular politician accusing government figures of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at preventing him becoming prime minister.
The accusations of sodomy echo similar charges levelled against Anwar in 1998, when he was deputy prime minister to his one-time political benefactor Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Then, after falling from favour, he was beaten by police and served six years behind bars. He was convicted of corruption, but eventually cleared of the sex charges.
At that time, Anwar’s political star was on the wane, but now the situation could not be more different. With 82 seats behind him in the 222-seat parliament, Anwar was just steps away, said his aides, from engineering government defections that would secure power for his coalition.
And then the fresh charges of sodomy were levelled against him by an aide on June 28.
The timing, say his supporters, can be no coincidence.
“Unless they really have a solid case that can withstand independent legal scrutiny the arrest really sinks the government’s credibility,” said Eddin Khoo, a leading writer and intellectual close to Anwar.
“The majority of the people reject the charge as a frame up and public protest across the country is inevitable. The arrest could explode in the government’s face if it is not handled fairly.”
Anwar has publicly named Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, his rival for the prime minister’s post, as the architect of the sodomy conspiracy, a charge Najib denies. Incumbent Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is widely viewed as a lame duck leader.
“This [arrest] is very bad … it will go down very badly with the people,” said Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam, a former senior civil servant and the president of Transparency International, Malaysia.
“It will cause great uneasiness and uncertainty and lack of confidence in the system. There are deeply held fears about whether Anwar will get justice and fairness.”
Ramon, who is also pro-chancellor of a local university, said the arrest and a prolonged trial — if there is one — would be a big setback to the reforms Anwar had started with his coalition’s spectacular performance in the March 8 general election.
“His spectacular political comeback is also in doubt now that such a charge hangs over him like a dagger,” Ramon said.
From political oblivion Anwar led the Pakatan Rakyat coalition of three political parties to claim 49 per cent of the popular vote, 82 parliamentary seats and five state governments in the March polls.
The coalition could not muster a national majority, but considering that about 90 per cent of national seats were held by the government prior to the polls, it was a stunning rebuke for Abdullah.
Immediately Anwar — who was prevented from seeking a seat at the time of the polls due to his corruption conviction but is now eligible to contest a by-election — began wooing government lawmakers to cross over, needing just 30 to topple Abdullah. In late May he announced he had the numbers to form the government but was “waiting for the right time”.
The claim shook the government into giving out billions of dollars in development largesse to the east Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, on Borneo Island, where support for Abdullah was considered weak.
But all of Anwar’s carefully laid plans began to collapse after his young aide lodged a police report that Anwar had forcibly sodomised him at a luxury apartment.
The aide, who had in recent weeks travelled with Anwar to Hong Kong, Jakarta and Singapore, claimed he was forced into sex acts with Anwar on several occasions, most recently on June 26.
Blogger RPK charged!
Today Raja Petra is charged!
After Anwar was charged!
Who is next?
I wonder PI Bala will be charged?
I am really surprised that Najib's name is not mentioned at all in the charges against Raja Petra.
The public is having a lot of questions in the mind:
Are the police acting professionally?
Are they selectively prosecuting those opposing the ruling elites?
After Anwar was charged!
Who is next?
I wonder PI Bala will be charged?
I am really surprised that Najib's name is not mentioned at all in the charges against Raja Petra.
The public is having a lot of questions in the mind:
Are the police acting professionally?
Are they selectively prosecuting those opposing the ruling elites?
weapons that protect us against the enemies
18:2 Jehovah is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; My God, my rock, in whom I will take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower. 18:3 I will call upon Jehovah, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from mine enemies.
Psalms 18:2-3 ASV
18:2 \18:1\ I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. 18:3 \18:2\The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, [and] my high tower.
Psalms 18:2-3 KJV
LAB comment:
God's protection of his people is limitless and can take many forms. David characterized God's care with 5 military symbols: God is like(1) a rock that can't be moved by anyone who would harm us. (2) a fortress or a place of safety where the enemy can't follow. (3) a shield that comes between us and harm. (4) a horn of salvation, a symbol of might and power. (5) a stronghold high above the enemy. If you need protection, look to God.
My comment:
Look like David is always involve in warfare. We may not have that many physical enemies. We have many challenges and also enemies in the spiritual sense especially when we are in the business of bringing people into His Kingdom.
Psalms 18:2-3 ASV
18:2 \18:1\ I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. 18:3 \18:2\The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, [and] my high tower.
Psalms 18:2-3 KJV
LAB comment:
God's protection of his people is limitless and can take many forms. David characterized God's care with 5 military symbols: God is like(1) a rock that can't be moved by anyone who would harm us. (2) a fortress or a place of safety where the enemy can't follow. (3) a shield that comes between us and harm. (4) a horn of salvation, a symbol of might and power. (5) a stronghold high above the enemy. If you need protection, look to God.
My comment:
Look like David is always involve in warfare. We may not have that many physical enemies. We have many challenges and also enemies in the spiritual sense especially when we are in the business of bringing people into His Kingdom.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Why arrest Anwar? What about investigating Najib?
Based on an allegation, the police arrested Anwar to investigate on the case of sodomy.
What about the sworn SD made by RPK that DPM and company were involved in murder of the Mongolian girl? Why don’t they get to the bottom of the allegation. Why don’t they hold roadblocks and arrest the accused like in Anwar's case? Instead they want to arrest RPK.
People will have the perception that the arrest of Anwar is politically motivated and has NOTHING to do with upholding the law.
What about the sworn SD made by RPK that DPM and company were involved in murder of the Mongolian girl? Why don’t they get to the bottom of the allegation. Why don’t they hold roadblocks and arrest the accused like in Anwar's case? Instead they want to arrest RPK.
People will have the perception that the arrest of Anwar is politically motivated and has NOTHING to do with upholding the law.
Anwar Ibrahim released.
Anwar Ibrahim has been released on police bail this morning.
Many are asking why the police had to act in such a unprofessional way to arrest Anwar in spite of him wanting to report to the station at 2PM? By 12.55PM police commandos in balaclava yesterday went for the arrest! Can't they wait till after 2PM!?
The general perception of the public toward the police is getting from bad to worst! The other was the three-day 1,600-personnel police operation to lock up the Federal Capital and the Klang Valley to thwart a massive demonstration in Parliament on Monday when there was not a single protestor - causing great and unnecessary inconvenience and hardships to the people.
The people are still waiting whether the Royal Police Commission set up in the begining of the Abdullah premiership and which made 125 recommendations to create an efficient, professional world-class police service – with the most important recommendation for an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) – has turned out to be a total waste of funds!
Many are asking why the police had to act in such a unprofessional way to arrest Anwar in spite of him wanting to report to the station at 2PM? By 12.55PM police commandos in balaclava yesterday went for the arrest! Can't they wait till after 2PM!?
The general perception of the public toward the police is getting from bad to worst! The other was the three-day 1,600-personnel police operation to lock up the Federal Capital and the Klang Valley to thwart a massive demonstration in Parliament on Monday when there was not a single protestor - causing great and unnecessary inconvenience and hardships to the people.
The people are still waiting whether the Royal Police Commission set up in the begining of the Abdullah premiership and which made 125 recommendations to create an efficient, professional world-class police service – with the most important recommendation for an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) – has turned out to be a total waste of funds!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Anwar's arrest-police provocative, untrustworthy and unprofessional!
By Mr. Lim Kit Siang:
Anwar’s arrest – police provocative, untrustworthy and unprofessional
In arresting Anwar Ibrahim outside his Bukit Segambut home just before 1 pm today, the police are being most provocative, unprofessional and untrustworthy.
Anwar had already undertaken to report to the police at 2 p.m after he had given his statement to the Anti-Corruption Agency in the morning, and to spring such an arrest well before 2 pm outside his house has deepened public concerns and fears that the police cannot be independent, professional, responsible and trustworthy in handling the latest Anwar case.
Coming close in the heel of the three-day 1,600-member police operation inconveniencing hundreds of thousands of people in the Federal capital and the Klang Valley completely without basis or justification – purportedly on the basis of “two speeches, two blogs and two SMS” and the lie of a top-level Pakatan Rakyat leadership meeting on July 9 to plot the non-existent demonstration in Parliament on Monday – public confidence in the credibility, efficiency and professionalism of the police has reached an all-time low.
Anwar’s arrest – police provocative, untrustworthy and unprofessional
In arresting Anwar Ibrahim outside his Bukit Segambut home just before 1 pm today, the police are being most provocative, unprofessional and untrustworthy.
Anwar had already undertaken to report to the police at 2 p.m after he had given his statement to the Anti-Corruption Agency in the morning, and to spring such an arrest well before 2 pm outside his house has deepened public concerns and fears that the police cannot be independent, professional, responsible and trustworthy in handling the latest Anwar case.
Coming close in the heel of the three-day 1,600-member police operation inconveniencing hundreds of thousands of people in the Federal capital and the Klang Valley completely without basis or justification – purportedly on the basis of “two speeches, two blogs and two SMS” and the lie of a top-level Pakatan Rakyat leadership meeting on July 9 to plot the non-existent demonstration in Parliament on Monday – public confidence in the credibility, efficiency and professionalism of the police has reached an all-time low.
Anwar calls upon Malaysian to remain calm!
This afternoon at 1:05 PM Anwar Ibrahim, former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, was arrested outside of his home in Kuala Lumpur. He was due to issue a statement at IPK KL (Kuala Lumpur Police Contingent Headquarters) at 2:00 PM based on an agreement reached with the police on Tuesday.
Anwar Ibrahim was returning from the Anti Corruption Agency to his home after giving a statement pertaining to the police report that has been filed regarding suppression of material facts in the case involving him in 1998. He was accompanied by his senior legal team, staff, and security.
As he entered the neighborhood of his home, a contingent of ten police cars, half unmarked and half patrol, forced the two cars in Anwar Ibrahim’s entourage to stop. There was a contingent of 20 balaklava-clad masked commandos (UTK) who accosted him, reminiscent of the forces sent to arrest Anwar Ibrahim at his home in September 1998.
An officer approached Anwar Ibrahim and demanded that he accompany the police in an unmarked vehicle to the Kuala Lumpur Police Contingent Headquarters. His lawyers were not permitted to travel with him to the police station.
This arrest has taken place less than fifteen hours after Anwar Ibrahim appeared live on Malaysian television for the first time since 1998 and announced to millions of viewers his intention to stand for election, and upon the formation of a new government, to lower the domestic price of fuel by 50 sen. The overwhelming majority of Malaysians expressed their support of his televised statement.
These events are deeply disturbing to us and indicate that this entire episode is a repeat of the actions taken against Anwar Ibrahim in 1998. During the last few weeks the government owned mainstream media has demonized and vilified him. His staff has been harassed and we see a conspiracy being hatched to thwart the political change that is imminent in Malaysia.
Under no circumstances will the people of Malaysia and the international community tolerate any harm coming to Anwar Ibrahim. We remind Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi of the promise he made to ensure Anwar Ibrahim’s protection.
We have been able to communicate with Anwar Ibrahim, who calls upon his supporters and the people of Malaysia to remain calm and to reject any attempts at provocation, which will give a pretext for an emergency situation to be declared.
OFFICE OF ANWAR IBRAHIM
Anwar Ibrahim was returning from the Anti Corruption Agency to his home after giving a statement pertaining to the police report that has been filed regarding suppression of material facts in the case involving him in 1998. He was accompanied by his senior legal team, staff, and security.
As he entered the neighborhood of his home, a contingent of ten police cars, half unmarked and half patrol, forced the two cars in Anwar Ibrahim’s entourage to stop. There was a contingent of 20 balaklava-clad masked commandos (UTK) who accosted him, reminiscent of the forces sent to arrest Anwar Ibrahim at his home in September 1998.
An officer approached Anwar Ibrahim and demanded that he accompany the police in an unmarked vehicle to the Kuala Lumpur Police Contingent Headquarters. His lawyers were not permitted to travel with him to the police station.
This arrest has taken place less than fifteen hours after Anwar Ibrahim appeared live on Malaysian television for the first time since 1998 and announced to millions of viewers his intention to stand for election, and upon the formation of a new government, to lower the domestic price of fuel by 50 sen. The overwhelming majority of Malaysians expressed their support of his televised statement.
These events are deeply disturbing to us and indicate that this entire episode is a repeat of the actions taken against Anwar Ibrahim in 1998. During the last few weeks the government owned mainstream media has demonized and vilified him. His staff has been harassed and we see a conspiracy being hatched to thwart the political change that is imminent in Malaysia.
Under no circumstances will the people of Malaysia and the international community tolerate any harm coming to Anwar Ibrahim. We remind Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi of the promise he made to ensure Anwar Ibrahim’s protection.
We have been able to communicate with Anwar Ibrahim, who calls upon his supporters and the people of Malaysia to remain calm and to reject any attempts at provocation, which will give a pretext for an emergency situation to be declared.
OFFICE OF ANWAR IBRAHIM
Anwar was arrested!
Malaysiakini: Anwar arrested outside his house
Jul 16, 08 1:16pm
Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was arrested by the police just outside his home in Bukit Segambut, Kuala Lumpur, at 12.55pm today.
MCPX
The de facto PKR leader was on his way back to his house after being questioned by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA).
A team of police officers were waiting, according to lawyer R Sivarasa.
Anwar was driven away in a 4WD vehicle with tinted windows, escorted by a convoy of 15 patrol cars. They arrived at Kuala Lumpur police headquarters at 1.11pm.
It is believed that members of a special team from the serious crime division - sporting balaclavas and leather jackets - were also involved in the operation.
At 1.40pm, about 200 supporters and opposition parliamentarians were assembled outside the building. Among them is DAP leader Karpal Singh.
Anwar was to have met the police by 2pm to be questioned over the complaint of sodomy against him by a former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.
According to media reports today, a warrant of arrest had already been obtained, to be used in the event of a no-show.
Anwar's wife and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail confirmed the arrest.
She told reporters in parliament that she had received a call from Anwar and that he had complained of rough treatment by the arresting officers.“I received a call from my husband that the police picked him up just before he reached the house," she said.
"I didn't have time to ask whether there was a warrant… He's on the way - this is my guess - to the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters, where he was supposed to report at 2pm."
Anwar also told her to return to their home first in order to calm their children and come to the police headquarters later."I'm apprehensive because my husband – it's been 10 years down the road. He is not well, he has a bad back for which he has (undergone) surgery," said Azizah, who appeared visibly distraughted and numbed by the news.
"From the brief conversation, he said that they (the police) were not gentle."
It is learnt that Anwar is to be charged under Section 377C of the Penal Code which relates to 'carnal intercourse against the order of nature'.
A recent amendment to the provision reads: 'Any person who has sexual connection with another person by the introduction of any object into the vagina or anus of the other person shall be punished with imprisonment or a term which may extend to 20 years and shall also be liable to whipping.'A number of the parliamentarians and Anwar's family members have been allowed into the IPK building, while journalists are being confined to the carpark.A small team of police light-strike force personnel, accompanied by a water-cannon truck, is keeping a watchful eye on supporters who are milling outside the compound.According to PKR MP Wee Choo Keong, who is inside the building, Wan Azizah and her two daughters - Nurul Izzah and Nurul Nuha - were allowed to see Anwar on the 7th floor at about 2pm.
At 2.35pm, Wan Azizah and her daughters, as well as Anwar's lawyer Sankara Nair came out of the building.
[More to follow]
Jul 16, 08 1:16pm
Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was arrested by the police just outside his home in Bukit Segambut, Kuala Lumpur, at 12.55pm today.
MCPX
The de facto PKR leader was on his way back to his house after being questioned by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA).
A team of police officers were waiting, according to lawyer R Sivarasa.
Anwar was driven away in a 4WD vehicle with tinted windows, escorted by a convoy of 15 patrol cars. They arrived at Kuala Lumpur police headquarters at 1.11pm.
It is believed that members of a special team from the serious crime division - sporting balaclavas and leather jackets - were also involved in the operation.
At 1.40pm, about 200 supporters and opposition parliamentarians were assembled outside the building. Among them is DAP leader Karpal Singh.
Anwar was to have met the police by 2pm to be questioned over the complaint of sodomy against him by a former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.
According to media reports today, a warrant of arrest had already been obtained, to be used in the event of a no-show.
Anwar's wife and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail confirmed the arrest.
She told reporters in parliament that she had received a call from Anwar and that he had complained of rough treatment by the arresting officers.“I received a call from my husband that the police picked him up just before he reached the house," she said.
"I didn't have time to ask whether there was a warrant… He's on the way - this is my guess - to the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters, where he was supposed to report at 2pm."
Anwar also told her to return to their home first in order to calm their children and come to the police headquarters later."I'm apprehensive because my husband – it's been 10 years down the road. He is not well, he has a bad back for which he has (undergone) surgery," said Azizah, who appeared visibly distraughted and numbed by the news.
"From the brief conversation, he said that they (the police) were not gentle."
It is learnt that Anwar is to be charged under Section 377C of the Penal Code which relates to 'carnal intercourse against the order of nature'.
A recent amendment to the provision reads: 'Any person who has sexual connection with another person by the introduction of any object into the vagina or anus of the other person shall be punished with imprisonment or a term which may extend to 20 years and shall also be liable to whipping.'A number of the parliamentarians and Anwar's family members have been allowed into the IPK building, while journalists are being confined to the carpark.A small team of police light-strike force personnel, accompanied by a water-cannon truck, is keeping a watchful eye on supporters who are milling outside the compound.According to PKR MP Wee Choo Keong, who is inside the building, Wan Azizah and her two daughters - Nurul Izzah and Nurul Nuha - were allowed to see Anwar on the 7th floor at about 2pm.
At 2.35pm, Wan Azizah and her daughters, as well as Anwar's lawyer Sankara Nair came out of the building.
[More to follow]
Insights for right decisions
Insights for right decisions
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July 16, 2008 at 10:45am
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16:7 I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me: because [he is] at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Psalms 16:7-8 KJVLAB Commentary:It is human nature to make our own plans and then ask God to bless them. Instead, we should seek God's will first. By constantly thinking about the Lord and His way of living, we will gain insights that will help us make right decisions and live the way God desires. Communicating with God allows Him to counsel us and give us wisdom.My comment:"I have set the Lord ALWAYS before me". ALWAYS is the one we find it not easy to keep! That is the ONE we must try our best to do!Show me a man or woman who can ALWAYS set the Lord before him or her, we will see an Excellent person!Let's do it
star it
leave a comment
July 16, 2008 at 10:45am
email it
edit
delete
1 read
16:7 I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me: because [he is] at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Psalms 16:7-8 KJVLAB Commentary:It is human nature to make our own plans and then ask God to bless them. Instead, we should seek God's will first. By constantly thinking about the Lord and His way of living, we will gain insights that will help us make right decisions and live the way God desires. Communicating with God allows Him to counsel us and give us wisdom.My comment:"I have set the Lord ALWAYS before me". ALWAYS is the one we find it not easy to keep! That is the ONE we must try our best to do!Show me a man or woman who can ALWAYS set the Lord before him or her, we will see an Excellent person!Let's do it
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Najib: We're not responsible...
Today NST reports:
Disappearance of P. Balasubramaniam: Najib: We’re not responsible The deputy prime minister shrugged off the claims as baseless. He was speaking to reporters at the launch of Ibrahim Pahlawan Melayu (Ibrahim, the Malay Warrior), a memoir narrating the life and experiences of former armed forces chief Gen (Rtd) Tun Ibrahim Ismail. Najib, who is also defence minister, was asked on an ultimatum made by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) for the government to "release" Balasubramaniam.Hindraf coordinator S. Jayathas, at a candlelight vigil held in Brickfields on Tuesday night, said Hindraf would organise a massive rally in three days' time if Balasubramaniam and his family were not released by then. Responding to this, Najib replied: "Then I guess you have to ask them (Hindraf)." Balasubramaniam made headlines last week with a statutory declaration linking Najib with the murdered Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu, but retracted it the next day.He and his family have since gone missing and on Saturday, his nephew lodged a report at the Gombak police station.
My comment:
Why did the reporters asked Najib? In fact there are lots of questions in the mind of the public concerning the Altantuya Murder Trial:
1. Who is the one with motive to kill Altantuya? the 2 policemen?
2. Who has the right to delete Altantuya immigration record? Why? Who is trying to cover up?
3. Who has the right to use the C4 explosives?
4. Why was the chief prosecutor of the trial was chaged at the last minute?
On and on there are alot of doubts in peoples' minds.
The credibility of our judiciary is being questioned!
Disappearance of P. Balasubramaniam: Najib: We’re not responsible The deputy prime minister shrugged off the claims as baseless. He was speaking to reporters at the launch of Ibrahim Pahlawan Melayu (Ibrahim, the Malay Warrior), a memoir narrating the life and experiences of former armed forces chief Gen (Rtd) Tun Ibrahim Ismail. Najib, who is also defence minister, was asked on an ultimatum made by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) for the government to "release" Balasubramaniam.Hindraf coordinator S. Jayathas, at a candlelight vigil held in Brickfields on Tuesday night, said Hindraf would organise a massive rally in three days' time if Balasubramaniam and his family were not released by then. Responding to this, Najib replied: "Then I guess you have to ask them (Hindraf)." Balasubramaniam made headlines last week with a statutory declaration linking Najib with the murdered Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu, but retracted it the next day.He and his family have since gone missing and on Saturday, his nephew lodged a report at the Gombak police station.
My comment:
Why did the reporters asked Najib? In fact there are lots of questions in the mind of the public concerning the Altantuya Murder Trial:
1. Who is the one with motive to kill Altantuya? the 2 policemen?
2. Who has the right to delete Altantuya immigration record? Why? Who is trying to cover up?
3. Who has the right to use the C4 explosives?
4. Why was the chief prosecutor of the trial was chaged at the last minute?
On and on there are alot of doubts in peoples' minds.
The credibility of our judiciary is being questioned!
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