While a large population of the world is singing "Peace on earth" and celebrating Christmas, another group is furiously rushing to be a nuclear power. Iran has warned the west that they will be a nuclear power and everyone has to learn to live with it.
The U.N. sanctions against Iran's nuclear policy doesn't seem to bother them. Instead, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the Iranian President said that the resolution passed on Saturday was a "piece of paper" adding that the 15 countries who voted in favour would regret it- BBC news.
How did Iran acquire the knowledge to build nuclear plants? It definately must have come from one or more of those who already have the nuclear capability. China and Russia have interest in that nation. In return they would have given them the necessary 'aid' to build the nuclear plants not to produce energy but to build nuclear bombs. This is how the big powers play the game. How else could India and Pakistan have joined the nuclear club? One was aided by Russia and the other by America.
Look at the Mujahideens and the Taliban. How is it they are able to operate the latest weapons and have so much arsenal in their possesion? When they were fighting the Russians, the Americans helped them and gave them the firepower they needed . All this 'aid' must have brought the Americans some financial gains. Now, these same group has turned on their benefactors and have been classified as terrorists. Another war got started and the war mongers were rubbing their hands with glee as more weapons and bombs were purchased. War is good for their business. The bottom line is, it is all about money. The super powers are dictating the terms. The U.N. is a toothless bulldog that can bark but has no bite.
There will be no peace on this earth as can be seen from all the killings that are going on. Somalia, Chad, Darfur, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine. Strangely though, most of these battlegrounds seem to involve Muslim nations. I wonder why! Even the occasional bombings in southern Thailand is in the Muslim areas. Now we have to live with a Muslim nation run by fanatics who think they are the only godly people and everyone else(the infidels) is morally corrupt and deserve to die! Having said that we must also remember that now they have the ability to make nuclear bombs thanks to China and Russia! God help us all!
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Thursday, December 14, 2006
The Mat Rempits
In Malaysia, we have this new problem of youths who hold illegal racing along our highways and main roads. In the beginning it was all about racing at odd hours, but now they have gone on a crime spree. They are no more the helpless and less fortunate young people that many 'bleeding hearts' have made them out to be in the papers. They are a serious threat to the peace and security of the nation.
The gang rape of a 13-year-old girl and two robberies reported in Bukit Mertajam on Sunday morning are believed to have been committed by members of the Mat Rempit gang. The state police chief of Penang, Deputy Comm Datuk Koh Hong Sun said the incidents occurred within an hour of the George Town police chasing away 600 motorcyclists who had gathered in Gurney Drive. He said, “Some of them could have separated from the main group and embarked on a crime spree. Other than the three cases, they also smashed a car windscreen and sprayed foam from a fire extinguisher into the vehicle. We have not ruled out the possibility that the group could also be behind the stoning and throwing of firecrackers into a police station in Kubang Semang on Oct 15." These people are not afraid of the law or of anybody else.
I was told by a friend that one of the tactics used by these 'renegade bikers' is to place all their helmets on the road. When any car travelling along that stretch comes across these helmets, they ofcourse will stop their cars. These thugs will rush out and smash the windscreen and spray gas at the occupants and then rob them of their valuables after beating them up.
These are the same people whom the UMNO was trying to recruit as UMNOputeras. No wonder they are so arrogant. They think they have the backing of the major component of the ruling party. The government needs a rethink of their social concern activities. It is good to help children who have gone wayward through no fault of their own. They need guidance and maybe financial help to get an education to better themselves. This is not the case here. These people have money to buy motorbikes and to fiddle with them to get more power and speed for racing. Now they have turned to crime. The police have to come down hard on them and restore peace and order in this country.
The tourism industry is not the only thing at stake here. Our own safety which should be the major issue is also at stake.
The gang rape of a 13-year-old girl and two robberies reported in Bukit Mertajam on Sunday morning are believed to have been committed by members of the Mat Rempit gang. The state police chief of Penang, Deputy Comm Datuk Koh Hong Sun said the incidents occurred within an hour of the George Town police chasing away 600 motorcyclists who had gathered in Gurney Drive. He said, “Some of them could have separated from the main group and embarked on a crime spree. Other than the three cases, they also smashed a car windscreen and sprayed foam from a fire extinguisher into the vehicle. We have not ruled out the possibility that the group could also be behind the stoning and throwing of firecrackers into a police station in Kubang Semang on Oct 15." These people are not afraid of the law or of anybody else.
I was told by a friend that one of the tactics used by these 'renegade bikers' is to place all their helmets on the road. When any car travelling along that stretch comes across these helmets, they ofcourse will stop their cars. These thugs will rush out and smash the windscreen and spray gas at the occupants and then rob them of their valuables after beating them up.
These are the same people whom the UMNO was trying to recruit as UMNOputeras. No wonder they are so arrogant. They think they have the backing of the major component of the ruling party. The government needs a rethink of their social concern activities. It is good to help children who have gone wayward through no fault of their own. They need guidance and maybe financial help to get an education to better themselves. This is not the case here. These people have money to buy motorbikes and to fiddle with them to get more power and speed for racing. Now they have turned to crime. The police have to come down hard on them and restore peace and order in this country.
The tourism industry is not the only thing at stake here. Our own safety which should be the major issue is also at stake.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
To Each His/Her Own
It is disturbing to read political leaders issuing directives and making them laws on how the citizenry should dress or behave in public. The factors taken into consideration for making the rules were based on morals of decency. The problem here would be decent according to whom? How does one define decent dressing in a multi-racial, multi-cultural environment? We in Malaysia have lived side by side peacefully for 'donkeys' years because we respect one another's culture and belief.
In America they have the freedom of speech where one is allowed to say almost anything he or she feels like it. We don't do that here because we take into account the sensitivities of our fellow citizens who might get hurt from what we say or do. As someone said, "Your freedom to swing you hand ends where my nose begins." And so we have lived and progressed this far.
Lately we have been hearing from people who seem to live in a different time zone from ours. They speak about championing their race, their religion and their language as if all others don't matter and need no mentioning. They even have begun telling us how to dress! These people are trying to get political mileage by using the race and religious platforms without realising the damage they are doing to the peaceful working relationship we have in this land.
There is enough killing and suffering in this world. Do we need to jump into that wagon also? What's with this Menteri Besar of Kelantan? Look at what he said, “It is an Islamic ruling, so nobody should undermine or question it." Such a dangerous statement which can only be made by religious leaders who hide behind their holy books to avoid discussion. It's almost like he is afraid of losing the state in the next election so he is trying to pull in some extra votes from the fanatical Muslims in that already backward state.
Why can't we agree to disagree? We need to take a closer look at the politicians who run for office at the next election and vote wisely if we want to have a better future for Malaysia. As for me, I say to each his/her own.
In America they have the freedom of speech where one is allowed to say almost anything he or she feels like it. We don't do that here because we take into account the sensitivities of our fellow citizens who might get hurt from what we say or do. As someone said, "Your freedom to swing you hand ends where my nose begins." And so we have lived and progressed this far.
Lately we have been hearing from people who seem to live in a different time zone from ours. They speak about championing their race, their religion and their language as if all others don't matter and need no mentioning. They even have begun telling us how to dress! These people are trying to get political mileage by using the race and religious platforms without realising the damage they are doing to the peaceful working relationship we have in this land.
There is enough killing and suffering in this world. Do we need to jump into that wagon also? What's with this Menteri Besar of Kelantan? Look at what he said, “It is an Islamic ruling, so nobody should undermine or question it." Such a dangerous statement which can only be made by religious leaders who hide behind their holy books to avoid discussion. It's almost like he is afraid of losing the state in the next election so he is trying to pull in some extra votes from the fanatical Muslims in that already backward state.
Why can't we agree to disagree? We need to take a closer look at the politicians who run for office at the next election and vote wisely if we want to have a better future for Malaysia. As for me, I say to each his/her own.
Monday, December 04, 2006
No Sexy Dressing
No Sexy Dressing - this is the headline screaming across the STAR (one of our dailies). Kelantan which is one of the states in Malaysia is controlled by an Islamic based party. That's the only state which is in their control, thank goodness!
Any women caught wearing 'sexy clothing' or is 'indecently dressed' will be fined RM500.00. The Kota Baru Municipal Council's enforcement officers will be going on their rounds to check on women whom they consider to be indecently dressed. What an important job these guys have. If they wear glasses, they have to make sure the glasses are very clean so they don't miss anything while scutinising the women's attire. They might even have to take a long time looking at the women's 'clothes' just to make sure it is revealing or indecent before they take action.
This is what you get when you vote religious nuts into power. Their reason for coming up with this rule is that the council had received many complaints from ratepayers regarding this 'clothing' issue. It seems these women are trying to attract customers by wearing sexy clothes. Those 'ugly' women in burkas and 'tudungs' are losing out in the business arena. To further strengthen their complaint, they claimed that the sexy dressing was an insult to Islam! I think that was the deciding factor. So, the brilliant solution that the council can come up with is to fine women wearing sexy clothing! This way the coulcil don't need to advice the burka business women about customer relationship, to be friendly and serve with a smile, to keep the place clean and hygenic, to sell things that people would want to buy instead of worrying what other's are wearing. And since the state is governed by an Islamic party, the decision is very Islamic!
What is going to happen to the Indian women? Their traditional sari and blouse will definitely show the mid-section of their body which includes the navel. That is the cultural dressing of millions of Indian women all over trhe world. They will surely be fined RM500.00 after being ogled over by the officials under the pretext of closer inspection.
There are so many more important issues at hand, like eradicating poverty, reducing unemployment, housing for the poor, raising the living standards of the people, scholarships for the poor, protecting the environment ..etc. What do these people come up with? Checking on what women wear!
Any women caught wearing 'sexy clothing' or is 'indecently dressed' will be fined RM500.00. The Kota Baru Municipal Council's enforcement officers will be going on their rounds to check on women whom they consider to be indecently dressed. What an important job these guys have. If they wear glasses, they have to make sure the glasses are very clean so they don't miss anything while scutinising the women's attire. They might even have to take a long time looking at the women's 'clothes' just to make sure it is revealing or indecent before they take action.
This is what you get when you vote religious nuts into power. Their reason for coming up with this rule is that the council had received many complaints from ratepayers regarding this 'clothing' issue. It seems these women are trying to attract customers by wearing sexy clothes. Those 'ugly' women in burkas and 'tudungs' are losing out in the business arena. To further strengthen their complaint, they claimed that the sexy dressing was an insult to Islam! I think that was the deciding factor. So, the brilliant solution that the council can come up with is to fine women wearing sexy clothing! This way the coulcil don't need to advice the burka business women about customer relationship, to be friendly and serve with a smile, to keep the place clean and hygenic, to sell things that people would want to buy instead of worrying what other's are wearing. And since the state is governed by an Islamic party, the decision is very Islamic!
What is going to happen to the Indian women? Their traditional sari and blouse will definitely show the mid-section of their body which includes the navel. That is the cultural dressing of millions of Indian women all over trhe world. They will surely be fined RM500.00 after being ogled over by the officials under the pretext of closer inspection.
There are so many more important issues at hand, like eradicating poverty, reducing unemployment, housing for the poor, raising the living standards of the people, scholarships for the poor, protecting the environment ..etc. What do these people come up with? Checking on what women wear!
Race Law In Hong Kong
I have written many times on racial policies in Malaysia but this one is about racial discrimination in Hong Kong. I received this article which appeared in the Observer and decided to post it here for every one to know what's happening in Hong Kong.
Race law 'is a memorial to my Harinder'
Campaign by a journalist who lost his wife forces Hong Kong to bring in an anti-discrimination law
Stephen Vines in Hong Kong
Sunday December 3, 2006
The Observer
One of the last things Harinder Veriah said before her death in a Hong Kong hospital seven years ago was: 'I am bottom of the pile here. I am Indian. Everyone else here is Chinese.'
Her husband, the British journalist Martin Jacques, believes that neglect derived from racial discrimination was responsible for the death of his wife after she suffered an epileptic fit on the first day of the new millennium, which left him to bring up the couple's son Ravi, then just 16 months old.
As he struggled to make sense of the tragedy, Jacques's anger grew. He is still pursuing a negligence case against the hospital through the courts. But he also grew increasingly convinced that it was wrong that, in Hong Kong, supposedly an international city, there were no laws outlawing racial discrimination. And he was determined to act.
The legal battle with the hospital over responsibility for Veriah's death is still to be resolved. But last Wednesday the Hong Kong government finally yielded to the campaign that had been sparked by her death and announced the introduction of anti-discrimination laws.
It was a campaign that exposed some of the taboo subjects in a largely Chinese society where racism is deeply ingrained, and a campaign that gave a voice to victims who were supposed to remain silent.
Harinder, better known as Hari, was excited about coming to Hong Kong both to pursue her career as a lawyer and as a Cantonese-speaking Asian brought up in multicultural Malaysia. She soon found out that what she thought were cultural advantages were overshadowed by the colour of her skin. It was a discovery made earlier by other members of Hong Kong's Indian community.
It was against this background that Jacques caused shock waves by appearing in a coroner's court quoting his wife's words to him about racial discrimination she was experiencing in the hospital. But the evidence was dismissed by the coroner, who delivered a verdict of death by natural causes. Jacques did not accept this judgment and he sought a new inquest in London. This resulted in an open verdict, with the coroner, Dr Stephen Chan, saying 'there are questions as to the level of care given to this unfortunate woman in those final 20 minutes and the level of management care during her short stay in hospital'. She suffered an epileptic fit on 1 January, 2000, and was dead the following day. The hospital that treated her has firmly denied all claims of negligence and racism and is fighting the negligence case.
However, Veriah's family is not alone in alleging that racism led to a fatality. Cristina Solano, a Filipina domestic helper, died after doctors failed to diagnose a condition resulting from rabies infection. Her relatives believe that her nationality explained why she did not get more careful treatment. The Hong Kong government consistently maintained that legislation was not a proper way to solve problems of discrimination, but as the campaign at home mounted, and it was regularly embarrassed by harsh criticism from the UN human rights commission, it finally yielded and has produced a bill that outlaws racial discrimination.
The former British colony is therefore set to be the first piece of Chinese sovereign territory with an anti-race discrimination law. On the Chinese mainland, the constitution outlaws discrimination 'against any ethnic group' but, like many parts of the Chinese constitution, the rhetoric is not matched by reality on the ground.
Meanwhile, Chinese nationality law insists that only those of Chinese race or being of a recognised ethnic minority within China can qualify for citizenship.
The new Hong Kong law is seen by some as a major step forward, but has provoked disappointment from others who campaigned for its enactment. 'It is much worse than we expected,' said Law Yuk-kai, the director of Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor. The bill's definition of racial discrimination is based on that contained in Britain's 1976 Race Relations Act, which was seen as so inadequate that the law had to be amended.
Jacques is cautious about endorsing the new legislation. But he said yesterday: 'Hari's death led to the wave of indignation and protest that has culminated finally in this bill. In that sense, she did not die in vain. It is a memorial to her. The bill addresses and acknowledges racism.
'That is a big advance on it simply being ignored and condoned. In time, the lives of hundreds of thousands of people of darker skin will be improved. Out of the carnage and destruction of her death, something has happened that should make life better for those of darker skin. It is a start, an important beginning.'
Harinderveriah.com
Race law 'is a memorial to my Harinder'
Campaign by a journalist who lost his wife forces Hong Kong to bring in an anti-discrimination law
Stephen Vines in Hong Kong
Sunday December 3, 2006
The Observer
One of the last things Harinder Veriah said before her death in a Hong Kong hospital seven years ago was: 'I am bottom of the pile here. I am Indian. Everyone else here is Chinese.'
Her husband, the British journalist Martin Jacques, believes that neglect derived from racial discrimination was responsible for the death of his wife after she suffered an epileptic fit on the first day of the new millennium, which left him to bring up the couple's son Ravi, then just 16 months old.
As he struggled to make sense of the tragedy, Jacques's anger grew. He is still pursuing a negligence case against the hospital through the courts. But he also grew increasingly convinced that it was wrong that, in Hong Kong, supposedly an international city, there were no laws outlawing racial discrimination. And he was determined to act.
The legal battle with the hospital over responsibility for Veriah's death is still to be resolved. But last Wednesday the Hong Kong government finally yielded to the campaign that had been sparked by her death and announced the introduction of anti-discrimination laws.
It was a campaign that exposed some of the taboo subjects in a largely Chinese society where racism is deeply ingrained, and a campaign that gave a voice to victims who were supposed to remain silent.
Harinder, better known as Hari, was excited about coming to Hong Kong both to pursue her career as a lawyer and as a Cantonese-speaking Asian brought up in multicultural Malaysia. She soon found out that what she thought were cultural advantages were overshadowed by the colour of her skin. It was a discovery made earlier by other members of Hong Kong's Indian community.
It was against this background that Jacques caused shock waves by appearing in a coroner's court quoting his wife's words to him about racial discrimination she was experiencing in the hospital. But the evidence was dismissed by the coroner, who delivered a verdict of death by natural causes. Jacques did not accept this judgment and he sought a new inquest in London. This resulted in an open verdict, with the coroner, Dr Stephen Chan, saying 'there are questions as to the level of care given to this unfortunate woman in those final 20 minutes and the level of management care during her short stay in hospital'. She suffered an epileptic fit on 1 January, 2000, and was dead the following day. The hospital that treated her has firmly denied all claims of negligence and racism and is fighting the negligence case.
However, Veriah's family is not alone in alleging that racism led to a fatality. Cristina Solano, a Filipina domestic helper, died after doctors failed to diagnose a condition resulting from rabies infection. Her relatives believe that her nationality explained why she did not get more careful treatment. The Hong Kong government consistently maintained that legislation was not a proper way to solve problems of discrimination, but as the campaign at home mounted, and it was regularly embarrassed by harsh criticism from the UN human rights commission, it finally yielded and has produced a bill that outlaws racial discrimination.
The former British colony is therefore set to be the first piece of Chinese sovereign territory with an anti-race discrimination law. On the Chinese mainland, the constitution outlaws discrimination 'against any ethnic group' but, like many parts of the Chinese constitution, the rhetoric is not matched by reality on the ground.
Meanwhile, Chinese nationality law insists that only those of Chinese race or being of a recognised ethnic minority within China can qualify for citizenship.
The new Hong Kong law is seen by some as a major step forward, but has provoked disappointment from others who campaigned for its enactment. 'It is much worse than we expected,' said Law Yuk-kai, the director of Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor. The bill's definition of racial discrimination is based on that contained in Britain's 1976 Race Relations Act, which was seen as so inadequate that the law had to be amended.
Jacques is cautious about endorsing the new legislation. But he said yesterday: 'Hari's death led to the wave of indignation and protest that has culminated finally in this bill. In that sense, she did not die in vain. It is a memorial to her. The bill addresses and acknowledges racism.
'That is a big advance on it simply being ignored and condoned. In time, the lives of hundreds of thousands of people of darker skin will be improved. Out of the carnage and destruction of her death, something has happened that should make life better for those of darker skin. It is a start, an important beginning.'
Harinderveriah.com
Friday, December 01, 2006
Racial Policies
Everytime I read about racial policies that have been given the green light by the government in the name of eradicating poverty among a specific race and to raise their economic status, it reminds of South Africa when apartheid was the in-thing then. The Africaners used that policy to maintain the supremacy of the minority white over the black majority in that country.
From CNN online news I read that in SUVA, Fiji, there is trouble brewing over a policy just like that. The government was trying to pass a legislation through parliament two land rights bills that Bainimarama says would unfairly favor Fiji's indigenous majority over the large ethnic Indian minority. Who is this Bainimarama? An outsider? A white human rights activist? A Fijian Indian maybe? No! He is an ethnic Fijian who knows what is right and what is unjust and has decided to do something about it.
Fiji military chief - Frank Bainimarama
I salute this man who dares to go against his fellow countrymen and his government for his beliefs. The legislation aims to give all the coastal land to the ethnic Fijians and he feels that this is a racial based policy which is not good for Fiji as there are other races living and working there who will lose out.
I wish we had such a leader in our country. All we have are tripods who are just waiting to be promoted and receive a fat paycheck. To hell with the people and their rights. We have a lot of little Napoleons serving in the various government departments issuing out their own racial policies in the name of helping one particular race - the Malays.
A calssic example would be the Negeri Sembilan Education Department. They issued a circular to 3 town schools with regards to the new student intake. 90% must be bumiputra and the remaining 10% for the non-bumiputras. The non-bumiputra must have scored 7 A's but no mention is made of what is the requirement for the bumiputras! One parent (non-bumiputra) complained about this policy in the papers and the HQ in Putrajaya must have had many phone calls. In todays Star, the Negeri Sembilan Education Department has been directed to withdraw that circular because the Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the circular was against the ministry’s policy of inculcating integration in national schools. It needed the Federal government to intervene to put right the matter.
Does it really end there? I don't think so. There are so many worms that have been let out of the woodwork and are sitting in high places because of racial policies favouring them. We need Bainimarama's to clean this corruption before we sink like the Titanic.
From CNN online news I read that in SUVA, Fiji, there is trouble brewing over a policy just like that. The government was trying to pass a legislation through parliament two land rights bills that Bainimarama says would unfairly favor Fiji's indigenous majority over the large ethnic Indian minority. Who is this Bainimarama? An outsider? A white human rights activist? A Fijian Indian maybe? No! He is an ethnic Fijian who knows what is right and what is unjust and has decided to do something about it.
Fiji military chief - Frank Bainimarama
I salute this man who dares to go against his fellow countrymen and his government for his beliefs. The legislation aims to give all the coastal land to the ethnic Fijians and he feels that this is a racial based policy which is not good for Fiji as there are other races living and working there who will lose out.
I wish we had such a leader in our country. All we have are tripods who are just waiting to be promoted and receive a fat paycheck. To hell with the people and their rights. We have a lot of little Napoleons serving in the various government departments issuing out their own racial policies in the name of helping one particular race - the Malays.
A calssic example would be the Negeri Sembilan Education Department. They issued a circular to 3 town schools with regards to the new student intake. 90% must be bumiputra and the remaining 10% for the non-bumiputras. The non-bumiputra must have scored 7 A's but no mention is made of what is the requirement for the bumiputras! One parent (non-bumiputra) complained about this policy in the papers and the HQ in Putrajaya must have had many phone calls. In todays Star, the Negeri Sembilan Education Department has been directed to withdraw that circular because the Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the circular was against the ministry’s policy of inculcating integration in national schools. It needed the Federal government to intervene to put right the matter.
Does it really end there? I don't think so. There are so many worms that have been let out of the woodwork and are sitting in high places because of racial policies favouring them. We need Bainimarama's to clean this corruption before we sink like the Titanic.
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