PULAU BATU PUTIH NO MORE

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has made its ruling on Pulau Batu Putih in favour of Singapore. Now Pulau Batu Putih is history and only Pedra Branca will remain. This is a bitter lesson to be learn by those in power and the civil service, and never to forget. They should never take things lightly when it comes to territorial matters, especially international borders. The whole complete process which took 29 years to compile and took the case researchers all over the world in search of historical documents related to the case. This process must be documented and all case documents be kept in archive for reference by our future generation. The National Archive must take pro-active steps not only to get all these documents now but to have a recorded interviews with all persons involved in preparing the case. Even photograph the people and the places they visited. I am sure they (the researchers) must have taken lots of photographs while overseas.

This stinging experience can be attributed to carelessness by the senior civil servants who did not check and double check the facts before making his decision. By taking things for granted, they could make the wrong assumptions and decisions not base on researched data and facts. Bureaucracy could have played a part in this fiasco as the heads of government departments in those days keep inter-department contacts to the minimum and they act more than mini-Napoleons. More likely it was 'you do your job and I'll do mine and what I do is right! '.

These are not the only islands that are being disputed and there are also land boundaries that need to be clearly defined with our neighbours. This can be potentially explosive issues if we do not coordinate our actions. Even our maps must be thoroughly check to be sure we do not give away any parts of our country, again! Leaving it to the authorities on the ground to make decisions without proper research and cross checks will bring more territorial lost and this translates into lost of our natural assets. Maybe it is wise to set up a specialised division in the Prime Minister's department to deal, monitor and coordinate action related to all disputed borders. The special division should give reports to the Cabinet which will decide on the course of action. This will give the Government a better view and more in depth understanding of the issues to enable it to take more effective action.

ON THE LIGHT SIDE

A Japanese businessman got the shock of his life when the policemen, who were acting on his complaint, went to search his apartment and found a 58 year old woman living in his closet. He had became suspicious when his food went missing every month and placed cameras in his apartment which he could monitor from his office. Thinking it was a burglar who was in his apartment, he called the police. The fact that the woman had been living in the closet for more than a year is just amazing. Imagine sleeping in a tightly close space, unable to move for hours.

Now if that is to happen to you, what will be your reaction?

RESIDENTS OF BMC FINALLY GOT THEIR WISH

Thank you to our Cabinet, thank you YB Selangor MB, thank you to BMC Open Access Road Committee, thank you to all MPs and thank you to all supporters. That is what the very happy residents of Bandar Mahkota Cheras say. Finally they got their wish and the road access is now open to users. The Cabinet has directed the highway concessionaire, Grand Saga Sdn. Bhd. to open the road access from Bandar Mahkota Cheras. This is long awaited decission will help reduce the financial burden of nearby residents especially Bandar Mahkota Cheras, which of course they will gladly chip in for a grand dinner to celebrate this joyous occassion. Just don't forget to invite the Kajang Police!

That part of the problem is solved. Now the business part will be fought out in court if the two parties, Grand Saga Sdn. Bhd and Narajaya Sdn. Bhd., cannot not come out with some sort of solution to their dispute. The prize is millions ringgit (Grand Saga is asking for 200 milllion ringgit) as compensation for opening the road access. Whatever the outcome the Selangor Government is sure to come out winner as the compensation will be made to Grand Saga in which the Selangor Government has a majority stake.

WOMAN DRESSINGS INVITE SEXUAL CRIMES

The old problem dress up and raise its (her?) head again. I am refering to the issue of sexy (?) dressings of our school girls. It seems that the white top of the baju kurung (note: kurung also means 'lock up') is too sexy as the under garment can be seen (if you really, really look!). And this transparency (which we do not have enough in the government) is a big invitation to would be rapist and other sex perverts. The blame is on the young ladies who dress up too 'sexy' and cause the mouth of males to water and jaws drop. The rapist and perverts are not to be blame as they are the 'victims' and are just doing what comes naturally to them.

It was Freud that champion the thinking that criminals are the victims of complex sexual desires which is suppressed by society, norms and tradition. This thinking was later taken up by other psychologists. The result is that laws are passed that look upon criminals as the victims of societies and should be treated as such.

What Freud and other psychologists like him did not take into consideration is that human beings have the ability to control their desires. The power to control our desires is part of our natural factor as human beings, unlike animals. Just like a child is able to control his/her bowel we can control our emotion and desires. Lust is not beyond our control and nobody should be excused just because he cannot control his sexual desires. Society should not put to blame for the weaknesses of a person who commit a crime because he cannot control his perverted sexual feelings.

QUICK SOLUTION FOR BMC RESIDENTS' PROBLEM?

There is still hope for the BMC residents for a quick solution to Bandar Mahkota Cheras access road problem. Selangor MB, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim uses his experience as a former CEO and decide to pressure the management of Grand Saga Sdn. Bhd with a threat to call for an EGM to get the company to stop barricading the BMC access road. The fact that the Selangor State Government has a majority share in Grand Saga Sdn. Bhd. (albeit indirectly) is something new to most people. Why was this not exploited by the last Selangor state government is a mystery waiting to be solve at the next state assembly.

Credits to Tan Sri Khalid for his commitment to solve this long standing problem although he is very busy with other state matters. If this commitment can be extended to fight the drug menace, high crime rate and enviromental problems we can all sleep happy until the next election.

For BMC residents this quick end to their long standing suffering is a blessing and they have the Selangor MB and their BMC committee members to thank for it. However, they must not be too carried away when they get their road access as this is only a temporary solution. Legal problems may arise if a fatal accident is to occur at the road access and the parties involved question the legality of the road access. A permanent solution is still with the court.

FRANCAS AT BANDAR MAHKOTA CHERAS

Well it has to come to this, I mean the confrontation between two parties, or is it three? And more violence will come if the parties involved are not willing to back down. Now we see the problem turning into a physical confrontation. The politicians concerned must bear the responsibility for encouraging this path of action by the Bandar Mahkota Cheras residents. At the very beginning when the residents took onto their hands to tear down the barriers put up by Grand Saga Sdn. Bhd. the politicians came and just by their being present, try to lend a sense of legality to the act of tearing down the barriers. Although they know it was an illegal act as the case is yet to be decided by the court.

Now that Grand Saga has won a court order to close the illegal access road, every body must respect the court's decision. I sympathise with the Bandar Mahkota Cheras residents who is the real victims in this legal deadlock between two private companies.

The situation looks like it is going to drag for a long time to come unless the case is given priority by the court.

ISLAMISATION OF OUR COUNTRY?
There is real fear amongst the non-Muslims, especially Christians, that the country is slowly being Islamise. A Muslim columnist in a English daily commented that there is anger among the Christians that their religious freedom is being eroded. Quote from the column "Ceritalah" by Karim Raslan (the Star, 27 May 2008) : "Decades of creeping Islamisation under the aegis of leaders like Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad has seen a steady erosion of Christian confidence, ....".

For one, I am against the choice of words by the columnist. "creeping"? - why not slow or gradual? According to the New Oxford Dictionary, "creeping" means to move slowly and carefully in order to avoid being heard or noticed. Is there a covert effort by the government to Islamise the country? Honestly, has there been any action to curtail the freedom of any religion?When did Islamisation of our country started? - "Decades" ago? Since when? Why only mention Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Tun Dr. Mahathir? What about the PAS leaders of Kelantan and Terengganu? Or even the Muftis? Personally, I feel there is no Islamisation of our country but only the awakening of Islam in our country. As the people are made more and more aware of the real meaning of Islam there has to be an reaction to their lives.

The real issue here is not the Islamisation of our country, as the freedom of religion is clearly enshrined in our Constitution. The situation is created by some political players and their supporters (both sides) who see the easy way to shore up their popularity by playing the religion card. This is further complicated by the mass medias which gave the wrong picture or half-truths, in pursue of profit. Some reporters/columnists do not have the indepth knowledge of Islam as a religion and in the pressure to meet datelines, forgo the need to check their facts with the relevant authorities. This, plus the access and speed that information can be disseminated, make the people more confused and angry. The foreign news medias which have been demonising Islam for decades play a big role to harden the non-Muslims stand in Malaysia. If previously the non-Muslims are more tolerant and respectful, now they are more demanding and vocal, to a point of confrontation. This is not going down well with the majority of Muslims in this country. Articles after articles are published about how unjust Islam is to the non-Muslims and their religions.

All these have to bore some effects on the normally sedate Muslim community. Will the line be drawn in near future between Muslims and Non-Muslims in this beloved and peaceful country? If this should happen, it will be very difficult to undo the damage and all stand to lose in the end.

BANDAR MAHKOTA CHERAS RESIDENTS TAKEN FOR A RIDE

Finally, we see the true colors of the MPs and Selangor State Executive councillors who came in droves to champion the cause of Bandar Mahkota Cheras residents. Finally, the Selangor MB admitted that there is nothing he can do except to wait for the court to decide on the case. Sure the MB said that in the end the Bandar Mahkota Cheras residents will get their access road but that is not the problem. The problem is WHEN will the problem be solved and the residents will longer have to suffer everyday as they have been doing for more than two years now. Will the case drag on for more years as the case is taken to the highest courts in the country by either party? When will the suffering of the Bandar Mahkota Cheras residents be over? - Finally over la!

DANGEROUS WATERS

Already there is a trend to racialise every project, issue, event and dispute to such an extend that ordinary rakyat is becoming emotionally charged. Some columnists, journalists and writers are guilty, as much as the politicians, in racialising almost every issue just to make themelves more popular or accepted by their peers. Some are not very objective and even credit their own perception/views as being that of the majority ('rakyat' as they are fond to put it). Though they may vehemently deny this, but their continuous writings/speeches tell us a very different story. They may try to hide it behind words like "transparency', "democracy", "freedom", "human rights" and what other rights. But, it boils down to the fact that the 'rakyat' sees the issues and topics chosen only involving one race in particular.

One main English newspapers even printed a complaint by a few diners in Ipoh who complained about having to wait longer to be served because they are of another race (they say). There is nothing wrong to print the complaint but to have the race, the restaurant and the place printed is being irresponsible. First,what is the real situation? One only hear from one side (the customers) but is this true? What restaurant can survive if this attitude of the staff is true? Every body knows that you open a restaurant or any business to make profit. No businessman is that suicidal or so ignorant as to adopt a racially bias policy especially in a restaurant business which is very competitive and the margin profit is not big.

However, thanks to this news daily, the restaurant will now lose their customers (from the other races) and maybe be forced to close down. Thus making more 'rakyat' join the jobless and their families will face unnecessary hardship. All due to some wise guys who thinks they are not being served as they expected and credit this to racial bias. And, the daily papers which printed the complaint without giving any chance for the restaurant owner to defend himself. Justice? Democarcy? Human rights? Who cares as long as it does not effect my business?
It will when the ripples turn into waves and waves into tsunamis. The 'rakyat', like a battery, can become over-charged and may reach a point that it will explode.

"UNTIL TODAY WE WERE MALAYS, CHINESE, INDIANS AND OTHERS. NOW THERE ARE TWO GROUPS IN THIS COUNTRY - MALAYS AND NON-MALAYS. I HOPE THIS DISTINCTION WILL DISAPPEAR."
-K.L. Devaser, former MIC president, July, 1957

PUT THE MONEY WHERE THE FOOD IS

Penang is getting many mega projects. There is the second bridge, rapid Penang and the monorail projects. All these mega projects will cost the country billions ringgit to implement and build. These projects were decided when the country had the money. But now that the world situation has changed with the food crisis, the question is why must we go ahead with these mega projects?

The food crisis, starting with the shortage of rice, is going to get worse and is not a short term crisis. So why can't all those billions ringgit be put to better use, like increasing the production of rice, maize, and other food products. Many poor farmers can get more subsidies for fertiliser, new and better machineries and better rice stock. With the increase in food yield, our country can save billions of ringgit from food imports and the people will save millions in food expenditure. Instead just the people of Penang benefitting, the whole country can get to enjoy the benefit.

UNMO PERLU INSAF

Baru-baru ini saya terbaca satu cerita dalam buku cerita moral oleh Mohd Nasaruddin Dasuki bertajuk " INSAF KERANA KATAK". Ceritanya lebih kurang begini:


Seorang ahli sufi bernama Syaqiq al-Bakhi berhasrat membeli sebuah tembikai yang lazat. Isteri beliau pun telah menyatakan keinginan yang sama sebelum beliau bertolak ke pasar di pekan berdekatan. Bila tiba di pasar tersebut ahli sufi ini telah bertemu dengan sebuah gerai yang mempunyai longgokan tembikai. Beliau mengambil sebiji tembikai dan membeleknya. Melihat ahli sufi itu sedang membelek tembikai maka tuan gerai tembikai pun berkata bahawa tembikai itu elok dan lazat rasanya. Syaqiq al-Bakhi pun bertanya sama ada dia boleh merasa tembikai itu. Tuan gerai pun membelah sebiji tembikai lalu memberi sepotong kepada beliau. Memang lazat rasa tembikai itu dan ahli sufi itu pun membeli sebiji tembikai lalu di bawa pulang.


Tiba di rumah dia memberi tembikai itu kepada isterinya. Syaqiq pun beredar ke tempat rehat rumahnya sementara isterinya pergi ke dapur dengan membawa tembikai itu. Sebentar kemudian isterinya keluar dari dapur dan dengan nada marah, berkata:"Tembikai yang dibeli ini busuk dan tak boleh dimakan! Penjual itu telah menipu kita". Mendengar kata-kata isterinya itu, Syaqiq al-Bakhi pun bertanya isterinya siapa yang dimarahi itu. Jawab isteri beliau tentulah penjual tembikai yang menjual tembikai busuk itu. Berpaling kepada isterinya, dengan muka yang tenang, beliau berkata " Saya hendak tembikai yang lazat. Kamu pun hendak tembikai yang lazat. Begitulah juga penjual tembikai itu hendak jual tembikai yang lazat. Tapi Allah s.w.t. yang menentukan yang kita tidak mendapat yang dihajatkan". Mendengar Syaqiq al-Bakhi berkata demikian isterinya terdiam dan insaf.


Apa yang diperkatakan oleh Tun Dr. Mahathir bahawa UMNO belum mendapat mesej sebenar yang hendak di sampaikan oleh pengundi dalam pilihanraya umum 2008 memang benar. UMNO tidak sedar segala-segala yang berlaku itu adalah satu peringatan kepada ahli UNMO supaya kembali ke jalan yang di redhai. UMNO perlu ingat segalanya ditentukan oleh Allah s.w.t. dan keputusan pengundi itu adalah satu cara Allah s.w.t. menyampaikan peringatanNya. Sekiranya UMNO masih tidak berubah dan merendahkan diri serta betul-betul berniat memberi khidmat membantu rakyat, maka saya percayai UMNO akan ghaib begitu sahaja dari hati rakyat. Insaflah semua ahli UNMO.


"Manusia itu seperti bahan galian emas dan perak. Mereka yang pilihan zaman jahiliyah, pilihan juga dalam Islam, selama mereka memahami ajaran Islam itu. Dan roh (jiwa) adalah bagaikan perajurit yang aneka ragam. Bila saling mengenal, bersatulah mereka, dan bila tidak saling mengenal, maka berpecah-belah". _ Dari Abu Hurairah r.a. (Sahih Muslim)

THE DAY OF MOB RULE

Look like there are people who take the Article 10 (Freedom of speech, assembly and association) of the Constitution to the extreme and think that it gives them the 'right' to totally disregard the laws of our country. For whatever reason they may have, right or wrong, the laws should be respected as the laws are there not just for a selected group but for law and order for all citizens of this country.

The Police were there to prevent the situation getting out of control as it is their duty and responsiblity. Should something happen and the Police wasn't there, then these very people will blame the authorities. With such a big assembly of people who are highly emotional anything can go wrong and go out of control in a split second. The so called 'leaders' of this illegal assembly will not be able to control the situation and will quickly put the blame on the authorities. -" Why wasn't the police there with enough personnel to control the crowd?".

One Selangor executive councillor was quoted as saying that the disputed land belong to the state government (more on this in next blog) and that he has informed the police but the police, which is in control of the federal government, is not paying any heed. Now, why is the police being brought into this dispute which is between the state government, the housing developer and the highway concessionaire? As the Inspector-General of Police said that there should be no mob rule in this country. As the assembly (what ever the reason) is illegal and unruly at that, the police was there to conrol and prevent it from going out of control. Instead of cooperating with the police the mob decided to confront the authorities and charge at the police on their motorcycles. This puts the lives of the police personnels who is doing their duty in danger. Firing water cannon by the police at these people is within the rights of self defence. The policemen have their families to think about too. If they are to be maim by the dangerous action of these mat rempits who is going to be held responsible?

All this demonising of the police force has to stop now. The police do need to be looking into illegal assemblies and mobs, as they already stretch thin in fighting serious crimes like arm robberies, snatch thieves, child kinappers, murders, white collar crimes, mat rempits and car hijackings. Not to mention the petty crimes and road accidents. Majority of the policemen are good people and we must acknowledge their sacrifices. The too have families just like us and want the best for our country. They do their duties and responsiblites while we sleep peacefully and most of this is taken for granted by us. Just because someone didn't burgle our houses/properties that doesn't mean the robbers/thieves are not there. They are just afraid to burgle our houses/properites because they are afraid of the police who they know are out there, somewhere.

'CLICHES' NEVER CEASE

Some 'cliches' you read every day in the media, both main stream and alternative.

"rakyat" - meaning he/she is speaking for the masses (people). Who gives you the right? And don't the rural rakyat have any say in highlighting issues that concern their daily livelyhoods? Why certain issues that do not bring food and well-being for the rakyat hoarding the prime time news? Where are the people who all too often use the word "rakyat" in their speeches and writings?

"taxpayers" - meaning I and you in the private sector pay taxes. What? When did the public sector workers stop paying their taxes ? In fact these people are not the majority that evade paying taxes since they can't afford the costly tax accountants.

"the government" - meaning the ruling BN party. What about the opposition government? Kelantan government, which has been governing the state for decades now, is never subjected to such level of criticism as much as the federal and BN state governments. Is it a case of playing to the people's sentiment?

" private sector" - meaning only selected companies lah. And this sector never seem to be doing any wrong. Even when the private sector unreasonably raises prices of goods, the blame is always on the government.

" the police" - If a thief enters your house and steal your expensive fake Rolex, blame the government. When required to do Rukun Tetangga duties, send in fake medical chits. Let other do it lah. Summoned for traffic offences, go cry to your MPs/ADUNs and probably get a media interview. Don't be stupid and pay your compound on time. Wait for the inevitable discount offer or better still, get your state government to waive the compounds!

"freedom and rights" - meaning it is my right and freedom to speak or act as I deem fit, even if the majority people do not agree. To hell with their rights! Be famous, get yourself arrested.

"incompetent public sector" - meaning all the 1 million over workers who run the government machineries, guard the 'rakyat' lives and properties, plan the country's future, attacked by thugs and even die for performing their jobs well and wait for the political masters and columnists to kick the shit out of them for the few rotten apples that exist amongst them. The public sector makes a damn good punching bag and diversion. Pay 1 million to the public workers ten ringgit and you spend 10 million ringgit. But these workers get only 10 ringgit a family!

"corruption" - meaning it only happens among the public sector workers. Hey, private sector give entertainments to clients (all too often, including their wives and siblings/relatives). Entertainment, private sector style, can include the "expensive companions" and overseas trips to some exotic tropical islands with their families in tow. All paid for by with the companies workers wages and their shareholders. Fancy the latest Merc? Just write off the BMW and get the Board to approve it! Write it into the company budget and cut the profits. Evade taxes and give more perts to the executives. Increase profits - Just hoard the goods and raise the prices.

FINE LINE BETWEEN A CRUSADER AND A PERSECUTOR

One can start on a journey on the right path but still end up at the wrong destination. Why? Because as human beings, we are not infallible. Along the journey we are subjected to many , challenges, lies, corruption, threats and even praises, that affect and changes us, conciously or not. Investigative reporters, writers and columnists are humans and they have their own prejudices, build through years of experience and run ins with the powerful force they must deal with. Power as we know can corrupt not only those possessing it but also those that come into contact with it. Power do not mean only the rich. We see our colleague who is regard with high esteem for his work. We are jealous (in a good sense) of his/her success and want to emulate him/her and even try to surpass his/her achievements.

In trying to achieve our ambition we can cross the thin line between being a crusader for a cause into a persecutor. We begin to make a lot of presumptions and depend more and more on our sources that we find harder to verify the facts. The pressure to live up to your reputation or even worse, you begin to think since you are right and the other side must be guilty. They praise Caeser just before they murdered him. What I mean is that a lot of praises can kill us, from inside.

Our writing becomes more arrogant and intolerant of the smallest mistakes. It is I and You. No more We, as working together and seeing the other side from a positive stand. How can I be right and they are also right? One of us must be wrong. Why? Can't both be right or even both are wrong and right? Our soul is corrupt by all the praises heap upon us everyday and we are now the persecutors for good cause.

RAKYAT HAS BEEN OVERUSED AND ABUSED

Has you read the papers and blogs recently. Lately many political leaders, parlimentarians, bloggers, writers, lawyers, human rights opportunists and columnists are using the 'rakyat' (people) as their keyword. It is as if the word 'rakyat' will lend credence to what they are saying or give the impression that they are the voice of the rakyat. Maybe certain groups or sections of the rakyat but certainly not the vast majority of the rakyat, who may not even agree to what these people are saying on their behalf. It is pure arrogance to assume that he or she speaks for the majority rakyat just because the most vocal groups agree with you. What about the silent majority? Are your views representative of them.? Have you met the rakyat from across the country including Sabah and Sarawak.



The urbanites, especially from Klang Valley, may be highly educated and think their opinions and views are relevant to the country but what about the rural rakyat? How do you reach them for their opinions and views or is it they do not know better and therefore their opinions and views are irrelevant? If you want to speak for the rakyat, get it from the horse's mouth.

MARRY INTO ISLAM?

Lately there are leaders who call for a 'Muslim' who convert to Islam when he/she marry a Muslim, be allowed to revert to his/her former religion when his/her marriage do not work out. This shows the lack of understanding of Islam. In the first place, there is no compulsion in Islam. Secondly, you do not convert to Islam or any religion for that matters, just to marry another person. What sort of person are you to easily give up your religion for another person? Is religion a toy to play with? One chose a religion because one believes in it and conciously embrace the religion. Islam is for all but you cannot be born, inherit or marry into Islam, or forced to become a Muslim or even through operation of law.

Apostasy must not be seen from the human-made laws or civil rights, but from the religious point of view. You cannot just leave Islam without going through the provisions in the syariah legal system. In fact all religion should condemn the act of apostasy since it is the act of rejecting truth. "Apostasy will never happen to a true Muslim. It happen to one who has never been a Muslim." - Dr. Syed Ali Tawfik Al-Attas/Md. Asham Ahmad, the Star July 11 2006.

INSULTING THE SULTAN AS HEAD OF THE RELIGION OF ISLAM

To say that the Ruler of the State does not have the rights over the transfer of the State Director of Islamic Affairs is insulting, not only the Sultan of Perak, but all the other Sultans . For the Menteri Besar of the State, to transfer within 24 hours, the State Director of Islamic Affairs without the Sultan's consent or even the curtsy of informing His Highness, is downright rude and unbecoming of one who hold the post. Isn't the Sultan the Head of the religion of Islam in the state? The Ruler's function in this matter is of the higest importance that he is still responsible for the Islamic affairs in his state even after being appointed as Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia.

Article 34 of the Constitution reads: "(1) The Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall not excercise his functions as Ruler of his State except those of Head of the religion of Islam."

As Head of the religion of Islam, His Highness is responsible to see that the officer responsible for the Islamic Affairs in the State is capable of executing his duties and responsibilities, as in the end it will affect the Ruler, if anything is to go wrong. The MB may want someone whom he can trust to work with but that does means he can sideline or overrule the Sultan. This matter should be look upon, not just from the right of law, but also from the adab point of view. Being Asians, we cannot just overlook the peradaban when confronting matters that concern the Ruler. MBs should remember it is the Ruler of the State who is the Head of the religion of Islam in the State. And he, being an MB, is responsible to the Sultan in the matters of the religion of Islam. If the Sultan cannot trust and work with the MB, then maybe it's better to change the MB in 24 hours!