When you read, you also need to understand!

What do you think these guys from Kelab Maya UMNO wish to do to Hesitant Writings? This angry post was found on their site.

All I can say is, it's apparent the 1st guy didn't understand what I was saying, and the guy 007, who sounded like the big scary hero, understood less.

The guy 007 wrote :
Who the hell is the owner of that blog? Must everyone answer to every blog? Must everyone layan Malaysiakini? Why???

...

Sigh. Such anger. Chill man. And, do try t0 understand what was written initially. Then again, that may be too much for you guys!

....

to the rest :

Click on the photo for a better view, or, have fun, go on to :

http://forum.mykmu.net/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=14669

Watch those State Anthems!

From Malaysiakini's report :

Johari Ibrahim says : “Only Muslims can use ‘Allah’. It’s a Muslim word, you see. It’s from (the Arabic (language). We cannot let other religions use it because it will confuse people,” he said when contacted today.

excerpts from :
Johore state anthem : "Allah peliharakan Sultan.."
Selangor state anthem : "Allah lanjutkan usia Tuanku.."

and I can go on pasting lyrics from anthems of the remainder states with Sultans.

I am sure the Sultans of all states would not discriminate amongst their subjects, and would like ALL subjects to be sing to their respective state anthems with pride and love. Hmmm.. now perhaps, they can't and shouldn't, especially if they are Catholics.

Too strict an interpretation of what Johari Ibrahim says, you say?

Well, whilst I understand the concerns amongts Muslims, one thing that Muslims in Malaysia too, need to be aware of is that beyond Malaysia, say just across the waters in Indonesia, and further, Allah is used as a reference of and the name of God.

Islam is not about suppression. Islamic scholars actually invite everyone to have intelligent discussions and debates, to argue each other's cases. You cannot debate on Islam intelligently if you are not well-read. The first word in the Quran is after all, "Read".

The word ‘Allah’ can only be used in the context of Islam and not any other religion, said Deputy Internal Security Minister Johari Baharum, as reported in Malaysiakini.

If the word "Allah" is only for the Muslims, then how would non-Muslims wanting to learn the religion do so - can't they write, say or mention the word "Allah" in their quests, writings and queries?

Johari, all you need to do is ask the Herald to just print a disclaimer, to say that the Herald does not profess to write about Islam but instead, it is a circular on Christianity in its Malay section. Most of the Christian literature in the Malay language are brought in from Indonesia, which also refer to God as Allah, or Tuhan Yesus.

What do you want to do? Not let them write in Malay? To not let them print in the Malay language is then saying that "The Malay language is only for the Muslims." You better make sure you retain some sense, else the whole of Malaysian schools will be headed for trouble!

If you really speak on Islam, you would want to think that Allah is for all. He is the Most Merciful, Most Loving, Most Forgiving. Islam means submission to Allah, the one God. Allah never made Himself exclusive, yet Johari is.

Islam is in its simplest sense and meaning, submission to Allah swt, the one God. The people of the Book refer to Allah as God. So some religions reject Islam, but as they follow their versions of religion which perhaps are based on the Books, hence referring to their God as Allah, like the Arab Christians do. What do you want to do about them, Johari?

Well, if Johari wants to make Islam so narrow, then this is how narrow things can get. Go to the Arab nations, go after the Arab Christians who use and refer to God as "Allah". Johari, all you need to do, is Iqra'. Read, and sir, "read" does not simply mean read and let lost, it means you also need to understand, and use your brains.

Many people make reference to "Allah". What do you say to the Sikhs? Not let them use "allah" too? Even the late Lim Goh Tong once said during the Genting landslide, when asked about the cause, "Ini Tuhan Allah punya kuasa". Go take out the tv footage when he was interviewed at the mishap location. I recall that bit clearly! Now, I'm pretty sure he wasn't a Muslim!

(wikipedia :
Arabic-speakers of all Abrahamic faiths, including Christians and Jews, use the word "Allah" to mean "God". The Christian Arabs of today have no other word for 'God' than 'Allah'. Arab Christians for example use terms Allāh al-ab (الله الآب) meaning God the father, Allāh al-ibn (الله الابن) mean God the son, and Allāh al-ruh al ghodus (الله الروح القدس) meaning God the Holy Spirit (See God in Christianity for the Christian concept of God).

If only Johari is better read, he would have found this out within seconds and not make such statements. Then again, if he didn't, we wouldn't have things to make fun of. And if he didn't, he wouldn't have gotten the support from the poor pakciks and makciks who are not educated enough to understand the underlying reason for his statement. Make use of Islam to gain political mileage, why don't you...

What Racial disputes spinning out of control?

The Singapore newspapers are truly counting on people to just quickly read the first few lines of their papers and then forming their opinions. Below, they have reported in such a way that it paints the image of various races of Malaysians rioting against each other!

Oi! We Malaysians are not out to kill each other. We are just miffed with our politicians and even so, the last thing any Malaysian wants to do is to engage in racial riots!

Hindraf is not aimed at causing or inciting hatred amongst Indians against the Malays. Far from it. Hindraf just wants the economic problems faced by the Indians to be taken care of.

People, whilst we can freely debate and argue our cases and views, we do have to be wary of what others, especially those with all interests to see Malaysia falls flat in its face are trying to do.

With reports like this, and mind you, their papers are always reporting things that way, you know how Temasek group and their friendlies will pounce on the Malaysian Bourse the moment our blue chip shares topple following unrests or adverse reporting on the economic and political situations. With our Ringgit only barely half of theirs, the great Malaysia sale to them is all year round!

They already own Southern Johore as far as they are concerned. They already have their hands on Telekom and TNB, as the current regime saw it fit to let them have. Being Singaporeans, they want more. And they will do all to get what they want.

They are twisting the causes fought by Malaysians, they want us all to hate each other. Don't let them. We fight our causes, by all means, but be wary of these "batu api".

Apart from that, guess what? They have made Singaporeans embrace the notion that the only reason that Malaysia's economy is going down the drain is because Tun Mahathir keeps condemning each move taken by the PM. Yeah, TDM, whose every word no newspaper is allowed to print, is the cause. Well, except for Malaysiakini which had the interview with the man not too long ago. So, Singaporeans say it is not because PM cannot do much or doesn't know what to do, instead, he just cannot do anything as he is being sabotaged by TDM. I told my Singapore counterparts to read Malaysiakini or Malaysia Today to find out how Malaysians feel. How many Malaysians don't share Singapore's love for our current premier.

Singapore wants Malaysia to continue to be headed by the current regime.They love being able to do what they like.

Can't say I blame them, actually. They get to reclaim areas so vast that Johore gets flooded every year since the last few years badly as the areas around the Causeway can no longer flow smoothly. Nobody is stoping them. In return, the Malaysian Government gets to tell Malayisans that they are going all out to defend Batu Putih. Singapore, in turn, and as usual gets more out of any deal, are getting more land in Johore. They will soon get to buy land, property, set up businesses and livelihood in Southern Johore freely without the need for passports, just easily gotten chipcards.

Maybe they had to pay for the same, maybe not. If they did, who pocketed the funds? But hey. Don't speculate. You're only going to spread rumours.

If you were Singapore, wouldn't you have loved it, too?

From the Straits Times
Dec 19, 2007
KL eyes mediators to soothe race woes
KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA will set up panels of mediators across the country from early next year to try to calm racial disputes before they spin out of control, a newspaper reported on Wednesday.
After 50 years of independence, race relations remain a thorny issue in a country that has suffered race riots.

Last week, the government jailed without trial five ethnic Indian activists from a group that brought more than 10,000 protesters into the streets over claims of race discrimination.

The panels of 10 to 15 people, drawn from unity department staff trained in mediation and neighbourhood watch officials, will work with the police and tackle problems on the ground to defuse any racial tension, the New Straits Times said.

'The committees have been given the task of achieving a win-win situation for all the parties concerned,' Azman Amin Hassan, the chief of Malaysia's national unity and integration department, told the paper.

The groups will initially be set up in the Malaysian capital and the surrounding state of Selangor, the northern island of Penang and southern Johor on the border with Singapore, it said.

'We are told that these are the states which have the most racial problems,' Mr Azman said, quoting federal police data.

Once informed by police of a clash or argument that might take on racial overtones, panel members would swing into action and try to resolve matters, he added.

Eventually, the government planned to widen the district-level panels to include grassroots leaders, local authorities and members of the police as well, Mr Azman said. -- REUTERS

A muffin too far

A BRITISH Airways steward has been suspended for theft – after he scoffed a MUFFIN left over on a passenger’s meal tray.
Furious staff yesterday blasted the “heavy-handed” move and compared the company to a “police state”.
The worker was told to leave his post after he was reported at London’s Heathrow Airport on Monday.
A BA worker said: “The cabin crew member on a long-haul flight took a muffin destined for the bin.
“Now his career hangs in the balance. Everyone is up in arms – it is a disgusting way to treat staff.”
The source said BA and other airlines had adopted a zero-tolerance approach that had left workers terrified.

They said: “Staff are scared of putting a foot wrong. BA is acting like a police state.”
An airline spokesman said: “One member of cabin crew has been suspended on suspicion of theft.
“While such incidents are extremely rare we take all allegations of theft extremely seriously.”
v.wheeler@the-sun.co.uk

Malaysians' Teh Tarek Conviction

Initially, the legal fraternity won support when they staged what was dubbed the Walk of Justice. Then, the public at large, tired of the rising costs and upset with the system, welcomed Bersih. Next Hindraf came along with specific demands for the Malaysian Indians. We read every item every opportunity we can on Malaysiakini to keep up with events, to the extent that today, the site got jammed up!

But as I said before, Malaysians are a complacent lot. Our conviction, our passion for any matter, lasts as long as that teh tarek session. Once that is over, tired out after all the debating, the passion soon sizzles.

It's expected. Once enough sleep is gotten, stomachs filled, most Malaysians will wake up realising, hey, it's not my fight anyway. I was there initially as, yes, at that time I believed in it, at that time I was all fired up, but I've done my bit. But that's it for now. I did my part, it's up to the others to go on. Or, yes at that time I went along, but, see, I thought it was only right that I did go along, less I be seen as one having no conviction or not willing to do anything to make things right.

But like any other Malaysian, like any other heated event flaring up every now and then, we get fired up, then within a short span of time, we sizzle and then the fire quickly dies, without even leaving any smoke. Those who still go on, eventually are thought as pests.

Why? Because eventually we get fed-up with the traffic jams caused by the demonstrations. Eventually we all get tired of hearing the same old story. Eventually we just want to get on with our lives. Don't fret. It's just the Malaysian way.

Now we are told businesses in KL are adversely affected by the marches, the demonstrations. As true Malaysians, we all believe that others can go on with doing what they like for all we care, for so long as they don't affect businesses, as long as they don't bother us.

But if we are going to be consistently caught in road blocks, traffic jams and so forth, eventually, we will get fed up with that very cause we initially identified with. The authorities will tell you they have to carry out such acts to maintain peace. You will end up cursing that if not for the marches, demonstrations etc, there would not have been any road blocks and you would not have been caught in that dreaded jam.

You will end up swearing, “Do what you people want, just don't cause traffic jams. Don't cause detours. I was that close to my destination and could have arrived at work on time until all that road blocks, until I was told to take a detour by the police, all because of you”.

And then, you begin to agree with the authorities. Enough is enough. Ok, we heard you already. March elsewhere. Shut up. Do something else. Whatever. Just not around here.

Been there? Don't worry. It's just us being Malaysians.

Stop The Talk and Show what You've got!

We have marched. We have protested. We have ordered teh tarek after teh tarek, banged on tables, venting our frustrations and anger.

We have screamed "The system is corrupted. The judiciary is twisted. The economy is dwindling, prices and inflation continuosly rising."

Yes, we have read or even written blogs, read Malaysiakini and Malaysia Today, published our comments on those sites, satisfied that our words now are read by the many. Many, many are with us, we say.

Who's us? Are we going to really matter? The reason why the regime is not bothered to listen is because they know they are not going to get your votes. But they also know, that many of those protesting are not even registered voters, so it's not like the opposition is going to get your votes!

End of the day, no matter how fiery your speeches are, how many kilometres you have plodded through in your marches, you do have to realise that all that amounts to nothing come the elections.

So, are you then, a registered voter? Have you voted before and will you? If you are unable to answer "yes" to those questions, then, you might as well go home, pick up a copy of a magazine or tabloid, or flick those channels on Astro. Because raving and ranting on and on, marching on and on, isn't going to get you anywhere at the end of the day. You might as well cuddle up in the comforts of your home, because essentially, despite all the talk, you've done nothing and are not capable of doing anything.

Help keep that democracy. Help to truly make that change. Otherwise, someone is going to continue with the chest thumping, "I have the greatest landslide victory in history" and what can you say to that?? So you're not a voter, thus you didn't vote him. Well, you didn't help reduce that majority, did you? You let that chest-thumping happen.

At the end of the day, the votes count. You respect and uphold democracy? You make your voice heard. Even if you say the elections are rigged, at the every least, do your part and vote. There is no way they can rig an election too far, not a main one. If you are not a registered voter and cannot vote, save your breath. There is not much that you can do except be noisy. So don't blame the regime if again they win, and again with another landslide, because the people of Malaysia have decided that they should win.

There is yet this untested avenue to show our sentiments. We've marched, we've shouted. Now, get our votes counted.

Floods and Fish Head Curry

Malaysiakini reported that many unlucky Malaysians are again faced with floods and evacuation.

Almost the same time last year, hundreds of thousands Malaysians celebrated Hari Raya Haji and Christmas in flood relief centres. They awaited help, needed funds, and they lived in uncomfortable conditions for almost a month for the many. And yet, the officiating of a fish head curry restaurant seemed to have mattered more, and needed the premier's attention more than their plights.

Maybe this year, they will be given due attention. Barring any other curry restaurant overseas needing the premier officiating it, that is.


Floods force evacuation of 4,585 people
Dec 8, 07 10:18am

Malaysian authorities said they were concerned floods in three states, which have forced the evacuation of 4,585 people, could worsen as torrential rains pounded the nation.

"There is now a heavy rain warning out for the northern parts of Johor and Pahang state as the rainfall there and the situation may worsen," Deputy Science Minister Kong Cho Ha told AFP.

"People's lives in these areas will be affected and so our advice to them is to monitor the weather warnings and act early when there is a warning," he said.