Monday, September 27, 2010
Speak out against extremism, Najib urges moderates
Yeah, really?
Mr Prime Minister, you can't even solve a small issue at home highlighted repeatedly to you, and you are talking about speaking against extremism. What extremism did some Candlelight Cinderellas show to warrant your Government's attempt to quash voices of dissent, compared to some idiots from Perkasa, including the old Mamak, who continue to raise racist sentiments?
Tuesday September 28, 2010
Speak out against extremism, Najib urges moderates
By WONG CHUN WAI
newsdesk@thestar.com.my
NEW YORK: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak made his call for moderation the thrust of his maiden speech at the United Nations General Assembly, saying it is time for moderates to reclaim the agenda for peace and pragmatism.
He said there was a need to marginalise the extremists, saying a “global movement of the moderates” of all faiths was needed to work together to make this a success.
These extremists, he added, had held the world hostage with their bigotry and bias, adding that “we must choose moderation over extremism”.
“We must, and I repeat, we must urgently reclaim the centre and the moral high ground that has been usurped from us.
“We must choose negotiations over confrontation. We must choose to work together and not against each other. And we must give this effort utmost priority for time is not on our side.”
Malaysia, he reiterated, was concerned with the increasing trend in some parts of the world to perpetuate or even fuel Islamophobia.
“Attempts to demonise Islam offend the one-and-a-half billion adherents of the religion. It intensifies the divide between the broad Muslim world and the West,’’ he said.
Najib said the real issue “is not between Muslims and non-Muslims but between the moderates and extremists of all religions, be it Islam, Christianity or Judaism.”
“Across all religions, we have inadvertently allowed the ugly voices of the periphery to drown out the many voices of reason and common sense.”
He commended a group of American Evangelical Christians who had worked tirelessly to prevent the threatened burning of the Quran with the compelling argument that such an act was un-Christian.
“This is a clear example of what can be achieved when moderates in each faith stand up to the extremists who are trying to hijack the universal values of our religions.”
He also commended President Barack Obama and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg for affirming the rights of supporters of the Cordoba House, which would include a mosque and a multi-faith community centre, to be located near the site of the World Trade Centre.
“We must support the objectives of the Cordoba Initiative, an organisation that focuses on promoting peace, understanding and moderation, both between Muslims and non-Muslims and within the Muslim communities.”
Najib also shared with other heads of government at the United Nations that “although Islam is the official religion (in Malaysia), we honour other religions – Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism – by making their religious and cultural celebrations national holidays and celebrate them as national events.”
“It is this equilibrium that leads to moderation or wasatiyyah in the Islamic tradition of mutual peace.”
Malaysia, he added, was well poised to play its part in promoting understanding, given its geographical position.
“To further strengthen our process of national unity, I have introduced a philosophy known as 1Malaysia ... a vision that seeks renewal and rejuvenation to bring all people together in a just and harmonious relationship.
“1Malaysia calls for the acceptance of diversity as a source of greater unity.
“We seek to celebrate our multi-ethnic and multi-religious society for strategic strength and harmony,” he said.
When Branson talks, international media pays attention....
When Najib wanted his article to be carried in a newspaper in the US, he had to pay a PR agency to pitch for the article to be carried. Yet, none of the papers, I am told, wanted that junk piece of work. Talking about Islamophobia in the UN, what about the Cartoon-O-Phobia back home?
Even a small problem highlighted to his attention about Jalan Wangsa 2/6 and Jalan Kepong street lights, he gives no attention to solve them. What the heck, talking about "Rakyat diutamakan."
Branson warns Malaysia over Sodomy II
Virgin Group founder Richard Branson said today that the ongoing sodomy trial of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is damaging the country's reputation and putting off potential investors.
The British tycoon said at an investment conference in Kuala Lumpur that the trial would not impact investment “in a major way”.
The British tycoon said at an investment conference in Kuala Lumpur that the trial would not impact investment “in a major way”.“It will be better if Malaysia can be more liberal and open,” Branson (right) argued. “It will attract people to invest.
“This has gone on for a long, long time. It looks bad overseas. If you are a bold leader, you should get rid of things like that which damage your reputation.”
Branson argued that Malaysia has a relatively good reputation overseas.
"(But) what is happening to politician Anwar Ibrahim damages Malaysia a lot," he said.
"I think it is not a major issue but it is definitely a thorn. I think this has gone on for a long, long time. It looks bad overseas."
Branson said Malaysia would have more success in wooing foreign funds if it adopted a more open and competitive business policy.
"A lot of your companies are run by the government. It will be better if you privatise and break up big companies and let them compete against each other," he said.
Branson cited the success story of AirAsia, a Malaysia-based budget carrier whose founders went on to launch long-haul airline AirAsia X, in which the Virgin Group has a 20 percent stake.
"They came with a lower cost base and they helped transform Malaysia. And that is because they are more nimble than bigger government-run companies," he said.
The Malaysian government holds strategic control of key industries including finance, aviation, energy and communications.
Victim of a plotAnwar, a former deputy premier who was sacked and jailed on separate sex and corruption counts a decade ago, has said that the new allegations - of illicit relations with a young male aide - have been concocted to end his career.
Anwar has said he is the victim of a plot to prevent him from taking power, after the opposition made huge strides in 2008 elections, stunning the ruling BN coalition, which has been in power for half a century.
In the 2008 general elections, the opposition quadrupled its seats in the national Parliament besides taking control of the governments of five states out of 13. Previously, the opposition had managed to rule only one state.
Local and international human rights groups have also condemned the trial as flawed and have called for the charges to be dropped.
- Agencies
I can confirm this....
| Mahathir macam raja lawak Astro |
| Mohd Shubihi Muhamad Zain |
ALOR SETAR, 25 Sept: Peringatan Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad kepada orang Melayu bahawa mereka akan kehilangan kuasa dan 'suara' jika Pakatan Rakyat berjaya mengambil alih pemerintahan negara dianggap sebagai bahan jenaka dari seorang raja lawak Astro yang baru.
"Sesuai sangatlah dengan watak tuanya, beliau menggantikan pelawak-pelawak yang seusianya seperti Ibrahim Din, M. Zain dan 'ahli mesyuarat tingkap' lain yang telah tiada, dan kini tinggal Dr Mahathir seorang sahaja lagi," kata Naib Presiden PAS, Datuk Mahfuz Omar sinis yang ditemui pada majlis penyerahan tajaan FusionExcel International kepada Persatuan Bolasepak Melayu Kedah, petang semalam. Sebaliknya, beliau yang juga Ahli Parlimen Pokok Sena itu mendakwa, kuasa dan suara orang Melayu akan lenyap sekiranya Umno dan Barisan Nasional (BN) terus diberi peluang memerintah negara ini pada masa pilihan raya akan datang. (I can confirm this....) Menurut Mahfuz, Umno dan Barisan Nasional (BN) telah diberi peluang memerintah negara sejak 53 tahun yang lalu dan sepanjang tempoh itu, mereka terbukti gagal meningkatkan taraf ekonomi orang Melayu dan sekaligus meletakkan kaum itu tertinggal jauh di belakang. "Baru-baru ini, Ahli Majlis Tertinggi Umno, Dr Puad Zarkashi meminta kerajaan mendedahkan fakta dan kedudukan sebenar ekonomi orang Melayu yang tertinggal sejak negara merdeka dan ini bukti jelas orang Melayu jauh kebelakang apabila dari kalangan mereka sendiri yang mempersoalkannya. "Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB) yang dilaksanakan sejak 40 tahun lalu juga tidak berupaya memajukan orang Melayu dan ini menguatkan lagi hujah bahawa mereka gagal membela orang Melayu. "Apakah Umno dan BN nak minta tambahan masa lagi 53 tahun atau 40 tahun untuk memajukan orang Melayu? Kuasa dan suara orang Melayu akan terus hilang kalau mereka diberi peluang lagi untuk memerintah negara," katanya. |
"Kenyataannya itu saya anggap sebagai kemunculan seorang raja lawak Astro baru dengan dailog jenaka dan bahan lawak yang mampu membuatkan orang ramai sama ada generasi baru atau lama ketawa hingga tidak kering gusi.Ahli akademik jangan jadi alat Umno
|
Baginya, jika golongan berkenaan terus bersikap demikian lebih baik mereka menyertai Umno yang sempit dan berjuang menegakan benang basah.If this is true, civil servants must resist Umno's indoctrination
| Pengetua rasis kerana ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ Umno |
| Harakahdaily |
KUALA LUMPUR, 27 Sept: Ahli Parlimen Bakri, Er Teck Hwa berpendapat insiden pengetua sekolah yang bersikap rasis adalah kesan daripada doktrin politik 'Ketuanan Melayu' ciptaan Umno. Doktrin politik itu seringkali menjadi teras kepada kursus anjuran Biro Tatanegara (BTN) yang diwajibkan kepada kakitangan kerajaan dan golongan pelajar. Justeru, belum pun reda isu pengetua rasis yang menghina pelajar Cina dan India di Johor baru-bari ini, kini timbul pula dua lagi kes serupa, juga di Johor dan satu lagi di Melaka. Ianya didakwa membabitkan pengetua Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sultan Abu Bakar di Muar yang telah memaksa lebih 50 pelajar bukan Islam daripada tingkatan satu hingga lima, menadah tangan serta membaca doa bersama-sama pelajar Islam semasa perhimpunan bulanan sekolah itu April lalu. Satu lagi kes yang berlaku Julai lalu di mana seorang guru agama di Sekolah Menengah Perempuan Methodist di Tengkera, Melaka yang mengatakan pelajar Cina memakai seluar pendek kerana mahu menjual tubuh mereka. Kenyataan itu didakwa dikeluarkan guru tersebut ekoran memarahi sekumpulan remaja Melayu yang berpakaian tidak menutup aurat ketika memperagakan fesyen dalam satu aktiviti di sekolah itu. Guru terbabit kemudiannya telah memarahi pelajar di sebuah kelas yang terdiri daripada berbilang kaum dengan menyalahkan pelajar Cina di atas perbuatan pelajar Melayu tidak menutup aurat tersebut. Kedua-dua insiden itu didedahkan Teck Hwa serta Ahli Dewan Undangan Bachang, Lim Jak Wong. Teck Hwa seperti lapor Suara Keadilan, telah membuat aduan kepada Jabatan Pendidikan Johor dan Timbalan Menteri Pelajaran, Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong sementara pengetua tersebut hanya diberi amaran sahaja. Manakala, guru agama tersebut pula telah ditukar ke sekolah lain. |
Now, tell me, is SPHB under the Federal Government?
WHERE IS RAKYAT DIUTAMAKAN?
Low-cost flats' dwellers take SHPB to task
2010/09/26
Noel Achariam
streets@nstp.com.my
Noel Achariam
streets@nstp.com.my
1 of 2
The residents are saying that they have no avenue to channel their grouses since the management office at their apartments was closed down last year by the SHPB.
Residents also claim they have been neglected by SHPB who is in-charge of housing in the state.
Resident N. Rani Samuel, 53, said since the maintenance office was closed early this year, they have had to deal with a host of problems themselves.
"One problem is the rent which was collected from more than half of the residents over a period of five months has been absconded by the former management which was hired by the SHPB.
"The residents were informed that the former management's tenure ended late last year.
"However, they stayed on and only vacated the office in May this year.
"During the last five months, they collected rent from the tenants and did not pay SHPB," she said.
Rani said that after finding out that their rent had not been paid to SHPB, several residents went to SHPB's office in Shah Alam to check on the status of their payments.
"The officers revealed that the former management had not paid the rent they had collected from the tenants to SHPB.
"Some tenants had paid up to 10 months' rent but there is nothing we can do now as the money is already gone,"she said.
Residents living at the two blocks of the five-storey apartments are paying RM124 monthly to SHPB.
Rani said that another issue plaguing the residents for months is frequent water disruptions due to lack of maintenance on the water tank.
She said last week, more than 250 residents were left in the lurch after their water supply was disrupted.
"The water disruption happened on Friday morning and the management office was closed. We were at a loss as to whom we could call for help. One resident tried calling SHPB but the office was closed, too.
"Then we called the Syabas hotline and were told that there was no water disruption in the area.
"When we asked them to come and have a look, the said they could only come the next morning.
"Then we called Rawang assemblyman Gan Pei Nei's special officer Gan Song Chee, who told us to call our zone representative as he couldn't get Syabas to help either.
"We tried calling Hulu Selangor MP P. Kamalanathan's secretary but there was no reply.
"Finally, we called Selayang Municipal councillor Gunaraj G. who immediately came to our aid.
"He inspected our water tank and found that the pump was not working due to wiring problems.
"He then called Tenaga Nasional Bhd, and technicians came to fix the fuse and got the pump working again.
"We were fortunate he came over, otherwise, the families here would have had no water," she said.
Rani also highlighted the fact that there are foreign workers occupying flats meant for low-income families.
"We hope SHPB will come and check on the apartments and award the units to those who qualify for low-cost housing," she said.
Rani said over the past year, there had been 10 dengue cases at the apartments.
"As there's no maintenance here anymore, lallang has overgrown everywhere and some areas may have become breeding grounds for the deadly Aedes mosquito," she said.
Rani said the residents want SHPB to reopen the management office and place an officer there to collect rent and address their grouses.
"Many families here have been suffering since early this year. There's no maintenance, there are snakes in the playground which is in bad shape, and the children here are falling sick.
"We hope the authorities will help solve our problems," she said.
Attempts to contact a spokesperson for SHPB for comments were unsuccessful up to press time.
Read more: Low-cost flats' dwellers take SHPB to task http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/2nahs/Article#ixzz10jNwAzL5
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