Religious difference is a thin line only

Watch this video about how the Ethopian King who happens to be a Christian protects the Muslims. This is what religion suppose to teach us, tolerance and acceptance of differences and not egoism to claim that ones religion is superior than the other. What ignorance in the name of religion!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwN8gvWE9mE

Building National Harmony

I tried to write what my other half requested about love, mixed marriage and all that stuff but failed misreably as found no inspiration...oops pls don't tell her.I am back to my political perspective. I read something interesting in Malaysiakini.
Today Malaysiakini quoted some 1,500 people - including 400 children - from a group of 20 Malay organisations joined the two-hour gathering which kicked off at 9am in Polo Ground, outside Sri Mutiara, the official residence of the Penang governor. Many teenagers at the gathering carried banners with slogans written in both Malay and Jawi such as 'Kesabaran Melayu Ada Batas' (Malays' Patience Has Limits), 'Jangan Hina Nabi Muhammad SAW' (Don't Insult Nabi Muhammad), 'Jangan Pertikaikan ISA' (Don't Dispute ISA). 'Kekebalan Raja Raja Dipertahankan' (Defend the Royal Immunity), and 'Jangan Pertikaikan Hak Orang Melayu' (Don't Dispute Malay Rights).
Other banners included 'Melayu dan Mamak Bersatu' (United Malays and Indian Muslims) and 'Jangan Ulang 13 Mei' (Don't Repeat May 13).
In the first place did they get any permit to march? Didn’t the Penang OCPD who was very active in stopping the Jerit participants mainly children some time ago didn’t even lift his pinky finger on this issue? Isn’t the NGO’s misusing the children for their own agenda? I guess he may have not received any instruction from the higher authority or he did and followed religiously!
Let’s ponder on the banners for a while: aren’t they instigating racial tension? Where is our great Internal Minister who was too quick to issue ISA detention letter for some earlier, yet now not even a whisper? Aren’t these people inciting racial tension by mentioning “ Don’t repeat May 13”. If this does not warrant any arrest, am not sure what does? I personally like the “ Melayu dan Mamak Bersatu”, as this is definitely news to me.

I must have missed some facts as to why no arrest was made until I read in Malaysiakini that those seen at the gathering were Umno Bukit Mertajam division leader Musa Sheikh Fadzir and Tanjung Umno deputy leader Raja Munir Shah Raja Mustapha. That explains, doesn’t it why neither arrest nor FRU were deployed.

Interview with my other half

Since I started to blog, I found one of my wishes came true and I get an adrenaline rush whenever I post my thoughts. After a while I thought what would be my wife’s thought if she were to pen hers, hence I decided to interview her of several current issues that is going on in Malaysia.

Avathar: How do you feel about your husband blogging?
Kavi: First of all I had a shock of my life when my husband told that he wants to blog initially. I thought he was kidding and not serious until he showed me his blog. I cannot believe that my husband has a dream to write to express his thoughts about the current issues. I also noticed that he spends more time on the internet than with me.

Avathar: How does that make you feel when your husband spends more time on the internet?
Kavi: I felt neglected and left out, because that is the only time that I have with him before I retire for the day. That doesn’t mean that I am stopping my husband from writing in his blog as I understand that this is one of his passions. Just to be save!

Avathar: How do you view the current political scenario in Malaysia?
Kavi: Sad, to me it is like we are not heading nowhere, BN is doing everything possible to hold on to their position and the opposition is trying to proof that its time for change.At the end of the day what I can see is that the people of Malaysia will be the victims and it may create instability which will in turn drive away the investors. At this juncture we the people of Malaysia will suffer and not the politicians.

Avathar: Don’t you think that we need to change as the politics are race based and certain fraction propagates one particular race being superior to another?
Kavi: With a smile, she avoided the question went on to giggle and said, are you getting me in trouble and I don’t want the police to come after me.

Avatahar: Do you think Anwar will become the next PM?
Kavi: Anything is possible as majority of Malaysian expect Anwar to bring hope and aspiration of the rakyat. Furthermore it’s about time for change as for the 50 years we have been governed on racial lines.

Avathar : Who will win in the KT by election?
Kavi: Is there a by election coming? He.he.he….Don’t know and don’t care! Enough with the questions. Boring political issues, why not write something interesting i.e mixed marriages for a change. It is more practical and interesting for your readers!

Who is behind Sime Darby?

Sime Darby has been very much in the news with its proposed take over of IJN and a proposed new low-cost carrier airport in Negri Sembilan. Interesting why is that Sime Darby so interested in hospital care and airport management. Both are not its core business, some may remember that Sime was divesting and later came back to its core business. Is it another phase of diversings its business again? More so our beloved DPM and future PM said he has not qualms of Sime Darby taking over IJN!
Let’s look close on who is exactly behind Sime Darby? According to its 2008 Annual Report, its substantial shareholders are:
• Skim Amanah Saham Bumiputera - 34%
• EPF - 14%
• PNB - 15%
• Yayasan Pelaburan Bumiputera - 15% (deemed interest) ( source Anilnetto)
So basically we are talking about a government-linked corporation and groups managing public money here. Guess who are its Board of directors? Its Board of Directors are made up of:
• Tun Musa Hitam (Independent Non-Executive Chairman)
• Tun Dato’ Seri Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid (Non-Independent Non-Executive Deputy Chairman)
• Dr. Arifin Mohamad Siregar (Independent Non-Executive Director)
• Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Wan Mohd. Zahid Mohd. Noordin (Non-Independent Non-Executive Director)
• Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Ahmad Tajuddin Ali (Independent Non-Executive Director)
• Datuk Seri Panglima Sheng Len Tao (Independent Non-Executive Director)
• Raja Dato‘ Seri Arshad Raja Tun Uda (Senior Independent Non-Executive Director)
• Dato’ Henry Sackville Barlow (Independent Non-Executive Director)
• Dato’ Mohamed Sulaiman (Non-Independent Non-Executive Director)
• Dato’ Dr. Abdul Halim Ismail (Non-Independent Non-Executive Director)
• Datin Paduka Zaitoon Dato’ Othman (Non-Independent Non-Executive Director)
• Dato’ Seri Ahmad Zubair @ Ahmad Zubir Haji Murshid (President & Group Chief Executive)
There you go again, do you smell the rat? I wish I knew some one in Putrajaya…sob…sob!

Hudud Law

PAS, in its push to have hudud laws introduced if the opposition coalition takes power, has upped the ante on its partners by challenging the DAP to give its reasons for its objections as published in STAR.
What is wrong with hudud law? I think it is the right of the Musalmans offenders to be punished according to Islamic law and the non-muslims under the civil and british lawlah!
Why is this an issue for the non-muslims and DAP? Are we afraid of such law? Non-Muslim will not come under the purview of Islamic Law unless PAS is planning to impose it upon the non-muslims then you got reason to shoutloh. I support 100% if Hudud law is to be imposed on the Malays, sorry the Malaysian Muslims, they got more reasons to worry and boycott than the non-muslims.
Just listen to Kairy an UMNO Ultra leader who is a Muslim yet he is not sokonging hudud.He was quoted in STAR,Khairy disagreed with the hudud implementation suggestion and said that the present status quo should stay. So what does this means, simple lah they do not support? There you go, even practicing Muslims do not agree with PAS!.
Husam another top gun of PAS said non-Muslim voters in Kuala Terengganu should not be unduly worried over his statements on hudud laws. Speaking to reporters at the PAS headquarters here yesterday, Husam said the Barisan Nasional was using scare tactics to frighten voters. There you go why fear of Hudud when it doesn’t apply to the non-muslims. Let the muslims in this country settle this issues as it is their own to settle.
What I don’t understand is the Gerakan was asking for DAP & Pakatan on their stand on Hudud Law, shouldn’t they ask their master also UMNO on their stand? Wonder what will be their answer? Datuk Seri…apakah pendapat Datuk seri berkenaan isu ini? ( Translated: What is your opinion on this issue Datuk Seri?)

Jerit Again

I am posting this mail which i received from Suaram, the insight story from one of the Jerit Coordinators.

A day that saw an incident free day of cycling took a turn at Rawang . We arrived in Rawang at about 4.30pm. We were supposed to meet up with YB ADUN Rawang, Gan Pei Nei at Rawang Jaya . She and her delegation planned to cycle with the JERIT convoy from there to Rawang town.

But a roadblock greeted us at Rawang . As usual the police requested for names and IC of all the cyclist and coordinator. We intervened and told the police that it is not necessary to record names and addresses of all cyclist as we have a list that we can give it to them. After much argument we took back all the IC of the cyclist and gave the coordinators IC to record . Myself ,Sugu, Saras,Rani ,Mohan gave our IC to be recorded . The IC were returned after recording. But my IC changed hands to another officer .

Soon the police received new directions. The bus was to held and myself and the coordinators were asked to come to the balai . Eventhough we managed to get the cyclist to continue to cycle , but they were stopped again further ahead . As the cyclist met up YB Gan Pei Nei group , they were stopped from cycling to town . After some negotiations by Gan Pei Nei , the convoy proceeded into town . They cycled around Rawang town and stopped at a coffee shop for a drink .

Myself ,Sugu and Saras made our way to the balai polis . At the balai , Saras immediately checked on the 7 junior cyclist in the bus that was brought in to the balai . The police were already intimidating the children, asking them questions. Some officers also asked the cyclist if Dr.Kumar had paid them money to participate in the campaign.They harassed the cyclist who were in the bus . Saras and Sugu intervened and chased out the officers from the bus .

I met up with Gan Pei Nei who then arrived at the balai . We went over to see the OCPD , Abdul Rahim . He was asking the same stupid questions ,whether did we get a permit to cycle. He said ,it does not matter if other OCPD have allowed the cyclist , but we supposedly should have seeked his permission in his district .OCPD instructed all the bicyclist to be brought to the balai . We objected and said that we have given all the names and there was no need to have any statements taken .

Later the OCPD instructed statements to be taken from all the 7 cyclist that were already in the bus. He said that he wanted to verify if there were under aged children being abused . I followed them. Informed the officers that they cannot take statement, and we will not give statement . The cyclist will only give their details only .

Soon all the cyclist were already brought in the balai . Dr.Kumar arrived shortly . I and Dr.Kumar met up with the OCPD . He still insisted that he wanted to take statements from all the cyclist. We showed him that we have consent letters from all the parents . We gave the police a copy . After much negotiations ,we agreed poiice to record details of all the cyclist accompanied by us . As this was going on , I was taken by the OCPD to his room . He explained that he still considered that the event was a procession . He confirmed that I will be charged under Section 27 of the police Act' illegal assembly'. Kumar also had his statements taken later . At this moment , we were quite sure that all will be released after giving the details to the police . This was when matters took a turn ,
when the Selangor CPO arrived , Dato Khalid .

Immediately the CPO ,OCPD and other officers went for taklimat. About an hour later the CPO arrogantly came down and announced that all 50 cyclist and all the 15 coordinators will be arrested . We were gathered at the parking lot. They put a yellow tape around us .All those below 18 years old were separated from the seniors .

By this time a crowd of supporters were already swelling outside the balai . A candle light vigil began . Makkal Sakti slogans and songs were sung . There were also PKR , DAP and PAS members . The police made arrangements for the welfare officers to take the junior cyclist away .They would be then handed 'safely' to their parents.

The police went all out to harass us . Edmund Bon , lawyer informed us that the police were going to expel the permit and the driving licences of all the lorry drivers and bas driver. JPJ officials also arrived. They examined the bus , lorry , looking for something to issue summon on .The driving licences and road tax of the lorry and bus were taken away .

As protest outside gathered momentum , a complete battalion of FRU ,Water cannon arrived . The crowd outside carried on chanting and demanding for our release. As they were about to use the water cannon, the rain poured heavily. The police did not use the water cannon .

As rain kept pouring heavily , the car park where all of us who were being detained began flooding . All of us were standing cold in a river of water . We demanded to be shifted out of the parking lot . As usual the police buat tak tahu . Tempers flared . I moved to rip of the yellow police tape and walk out of the parking lot . The rest followed. A fight
pursued between us and the police as they were trying to push us back into the parking lot and we were moving out . The officers couldn't stop us . The Light Strike Force rushed in . They pushed us back with their shield and batons .

The CPO looked and couldn't do anything . Immediately the police brought all the cyclist below 18 years of age into a dry place at the balai meeting room upstairs .

As this was happening , we were also amazed at the 300 0ver crowd outside that stood in the heavy rain and did not budge . FRU cordoned the police station entrance . The welfare officers couldn't find a place to take the junior cyclist , thus they stayed at the meeting room . The junior cyclist told the police they refuse being brought away by the welfare officers and they rather remain arrested with the others

At about 2 am , I and Kumar were given the bail sheets . Soon the rest were being taken details and issued bail sheets . Some comrades spent the nite with the junior cyclist at the balai meeting room . At about 3.30 am all walked out of the balai polis Rawang . It was a eventful nite .

Sivarajan .

--
Community Development Centre (CDC)
No.72B, Taman Sri Langat
Jalan Reko, Kajang, Selangor
Tel/Fax: 03-87370766

Readers make your own conclusion!

Jerit, Jerit,Jerit!

Recently you may have read about how the police stopped a team of more than 50 riders in Jerit's ‘Ride for Change' campaign in Rawang yesterday in order to "save under-aged cyclists" from being exploited.

The Selangor police Chief Khalid Abu Bakar said that they detained the children for taking part in an illegal procession and upon checkeing their details, 28 were found to be under the age of 18...clearly this violates the Child Act as some are only 15 years old,"

"When giving their statements, these children said they did not know why they were asked to participate in the cycling event," he told reporters at the Rawang police station last night. He also said the police had contacted their parents to take them home and would investigate whether the children had received permission to take part in the event. Khalid also told reporters that the teenagers were confused about the purpose of the expedition.

"As for the children, we have actually saved them from being misused and exploited by irresponsible people... we did not arrest them."
Wow here is one true civil servant who saves lives!

Now let’s hear from the organizers Jerit. The movement, in a statement, said that the state's top cop Khalid Abu Bakar had "lied and misled" the public on the actual situation with his statements. This is a strong call!
Jerit responded by saying that all the under-aged cyclists had parental consent to take part in the cycling campaign. "The children actually refused to say anything to the police officers as they did not want to cooperate with the police as they are being detained illegally.

"The children were also questioned by police whether they were paid to do this. What was the police trying to show with these kind of questions?" asked the movement.
Jerit also said that it had been very responsible in taking care of the cyclists' welfare since day one. Jerit pointed out that the police on the other hand had failed to provide the children with shelter from rain last night while they were kept at the Rawang police station. And when they (the children) tried to find shelter, the Light Strike Force threatened and intimidated them.

"They were not given food until 11pm at night and that too only after so much of pressure," added the Jerit statement. Jerit also said that Khalid had failed to mention that the children were arrested without the presence of any officers from the Welfare Department. "Children are not supposed be kept overnight in the police station, but the police kept them there the whole night. How is that for breaking laws?" questioned Jerit.


Even then, the parents were not allowed to fetch their children without hassle, added Jerit. When the parents arrived at the police station, they were not allowed in, and then police insisted on taking statement from each parent before releasing their children. "Isn't this a violation? Why do the parents need to give statement? The parents protested and refused to give statement to police and demanded for their children. The police were causing more trauma and agony to the parents of the children," added Jerit in the statement.
This is what some of the cyclist have to say about their ordeal! Fifteen-year-old cyclist S Thivyakumar lambasted the cops for thinking that the teenagers were “too young” to take care of themselves and join Jerit's campaign.

“They keep asking us whether we know why we are here... of course we do!” he exclaimed. “We are here to fight for a better life... and we are not young children that every time we want to go to the toilet, one of them has to accompany us,” he said.
Another cyclist M Ravindran similarly stated that they were well-aware of the objectives of the campaign. The riders also claimed that the police did not care when they got wet during heavy rain yesterday. According to them, the area where they were incarcerated - before they were moved into the police station later in the night - had began flooding due to the downpour. “We ran out as it started flooding but the police and the FRUs forced us back in there,” said 16-year-old Danny. “They then put a yellow tape around the area to keep us in,” said Danny.How considerate the police force in cordoning that area with yellow tape to avoid the criminals from escaping.
Only in Malaysia, Malaysia Boleh! Malaysian you make up your mind how Malaysia is becoming a police state under the present government. It looks like there is no end for discrimination in this country!