AN IRRATIONAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

The man who praised the 2002 Bali bombers to be God’s fighters will receive yet another reduction (probably a month) in his jail sentence this October. In a short period of 3 months he has been given a total of 5.5 months remission in in his 30 months sentence.Makes you wonder why the Indonesian goverment takes the effort to have this spiritual leader of Jemaah Islamiyah convicted for conspiracy for the 2002 Bali bombing, sentenced him for only 30 months, further insults the memory of the 202 victims by letting this cleric off on "good behaviour" and calls it justice served.

Indonesia's to grant reprieve to 2002 Bali bombing conspirator Abu Bakar Bashir
Link : Todayonline

Indonesia's government plans to grant reprieves to convicted militants including 2002 Bali bombing conspirator Abu Bakar Bashir to mark an important Muslim festival, a report said…The 67-year-old cleric was sentenced in March for a criminal conspiracy leading to the bombings. He is accused by some foreign governments of being the spiritual leader of the Jemaah Islamiyah Islamic militant group which has been blamed for both Bali bombings and a string of other attacks..
"As long as the regulations have not been revised, all prisoners will be given a sentence cut in line with their rights under prevailing laws and regulations," Justice Minister Hamid Awaluddin was quoted by the Pikiran Rakyat newspaper as saying….He said that according to the regulations, all prisoners who behaved well had the right to a cut in their sentence.
On August 17 Bashir's 30-month sentence was cut by more than four months to mark Indonesian independence day…A Jakarta prison official has said Bashir may be among thousands of prisoners to receive sentence cuts to mark the main Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr later this week.
Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda earlier this month said the government was reviewing the presidential decree on remissions particularly concerning serious crimes, including terrorism, but he gave no more details or timeframe.
Bashir on Tuesday condemned the latest Bali attacks, saying that bombings in non-combat zones would only claim innocent victims. — AFP

ON THE 22ND DAY OF RAMADAN........

Will the Islamic world allow Iran to hijack the name of Islam in declaring aloud to all that Israel must cease to exist in order for the Middle East to have peace? Will the Chair of the 57-member OIC speak up and in no uncertain terms condemn the hate language that goes against the norm of civilisation more so during this holy month to all Muslims?. Such thuggish talk from a former member of the hard line revolutionary guards now known as the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran (Who is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad?) will only serve to energise and inflame passions of both terrorism and suicide bombing not only in the Middle East but also in South East Asia. Will Malaysia being a leading moderate Muslim country break the mould and take this opportunity to lead the way in rejecting and condemning terrorism even verbal ones? I doubt so and I would love to be proven wrong.

Iran's President Calls His Anti-Israel Comment `Right and Just'

TEHRAN (Reuters) - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, cheered by thousands of supporters, signalled on Friday he stood by his call for Israel to be wiped off the map, while Iran's foreign ministry sought to defuse a diplomatic storm.

Israel said it would request an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council over the comments, which have drawn the condemnation of the West and Tehran's ally Russia.

Iranians chanting "death to Israel" and "death to America", converged from nine points in the Iranian capital for a rally attended by most of Iran's top officials. Some protesters set fire to or trampled on Israeli and U.S. flags.

Ahmadinejad took a short walk in the crowd, rallying in support of his comments that the Islamic world could not tolerate the Jewish state in its heartland. He said Western criticism carried no weight.

"My words are the Iranian nation's words," he told the official IRNA news agency, when asked if he had a message for the world.

"Westerners are free to comment, but their reactions are invalid."………

Link : Reuter.co.uk

A REALLY FRIENDLY LOCAL COUNCIL.

Now that the federal and state government plans to allow “restauranteur” to occupy parking lots from 7pm~2am, they should also allow tires and car accessories shops to stake claims to their own front parking lot(s) sans payment from 8am ~ 7pm. After all, they might as well legalize what some of these “mafioso characters” has been doing and while pursuing that option they should also consider allowing motorised and non motorised hawkers to park wherever they fancy.

CAP: Restaurants may not follow open-air dining rules
Link : The Star

PETALING JAYA: Having guidelines on outdoor dining will not guarantee that restaurant owners will not place chairs and tables along five-foot ways, said the Consumers Association of Penang.

“Can we guarantee that the restaurant owners will follow the rules?

“Do we have enough enforcement to keep checking on them to ensure that they do not flout the rules?” asked its president S.M. Mohamed Idris.

“Placing chairs and tables outside restaurants will expose customers to an unhealthy environment including carbon monoxide from cars,” he said, adding that it would also take up parking lots and block traffic.

On Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the Government was lifting a ban on open-air dining outside restaurants.

However, he said, restaurateurs who wanted to place chairs and tables outside their premises must obtain permission from the local authorities.

It was also reported that the Selangor Government planned to issue outdoor dining rules including allowing restaurants to place chairs and tables at parking lots in front of their shops but not along five-foot ways between 7pm and 2am.

Federation of Consumer Associations of Malaysia secretary-general Muhammad Sha'ani Abdullah said any guidelines on outdoor dining must get the support of residents and nearby businesses.

“Restaurants should not be allowed to have outdoor dining if there's objection from the residents,” he said.

MY NEIGHBOUR, THE WOULD BE MURDERER

Glossing over or covering up negative reports for the sake of economic and political expediency is a norm in many parts of the world. Indonesia, our closest neighbor seems to have developed this into an art and has deluded themselves for the past 2 years into thinking bird flu is only just a sneeze. Well, this sneeze may have already reached the shores of Malaysia and a time bomb may be ticking quietly away. Hari Raya will commence in less than 12 days and with the rising of consumption of chicken and chicken related products, how safe is safe? There may be instances of chickens and migratory birds dying right now. This may have been left unreported so as to avoid damping the coming celebration. In our rush to celebrate, the health and veterinary department must increase their vigilance but has this been worked out in detail ? They are our first line of defense not Tamiflu or Relenza (as proposed by the Australian Government) or I shudder to think our local council.
Again, let us not forget the flow of Indonesians coming back to Malaysia after Hari Raya, they may be carrying more than their usual share of health related issues.


Indonesia Neglected Bird Flu Until Too Late, Experts Say
By Alan Sipress
Washington Post Foreign ServiceThursday, October 20, 2005

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Oct. 19 -- Indonesian officials covered up and then neglected a spreading bird flu epidemic for two years until it began to sicken humans this summer, posing a grave threat to people well beyond the country's borders, according to Indonesian and international health experts.
Unlike Southeast Asian countries that began to see human cases almost as soon as avian influenza was identified in their poultry, Indonesia had a generous head start to prevent an outbreak among people. Influenza specialists agree that the actual number of human cases is higher and expect it to rise with the approach of the rainy season…. At each step, the Indonesian government failed to take measures that could have broken the chain, while discouraging research into the outbreak.As a result, specialists are concerned that the cases in Indonesia pose a worldwide threat if the bird flu virus changes and becomes contagious among humans……..
….Indonesia, in particular, is a worry to U.N. and other international experts, partly because it has Southeast Asia's largest population of both people and poultry…..In an interview with The Washington Post this spring, Tri Satya Putri Naipospos, Indonesia's national director of animal health, first disclosed that officials had known chickens were dying from bird flu since the middle of 2003 but kept this secret until last year because of lobbying by the poultry industry. She also revealed that the government had not set aside any money this year to vaccinate poultry against the virus though officials had trumpeted this as the centerpiece of their strategy to contain the disease.
….A day after the article was published, the Agriculture Ministry fired her."They could not see the potential threat until there was an actual threat," she said in an interview with The Post last week. "I talked to the minister about it many times. He said a disease outbreak is not a national emergency, not a disaster."….
…..owners of major poultry companies, who have personal ties to senior Agriculture Ministry officials, insisted that any containment efforts be done secretly, Naipospos recalled. These eight farming conglomerates, which handle 60 percent of the country's poultry, feared that publicity would harm sales of chicken and eggs. Offering new details in her interview last week, Naipospos said owners even lobbied Indonesia's president at the time, Megawati Sukarnoputri…..
….Through this summer, avian flu continued to spread, often unreported, and containment efforts remained unfunded. Responding to public anxiety, Apriyantono went on television to oversee the culling of several dozen pigs and ducks on a farm 10 miles away. But when the cameras left, the campaign stalled. …..
Special correspondent Yayu Yuniar contributed to this report

PRIVATE HOSPITALS - "AH LONG" IN WHITE

Private hospitals are not places where one can find the compassion of Florence Nightingale without the lubrication of the mighty mammon, in this case the Ringgit. When you are paying $250 and above for a nite to recuperate it's as good a place to be in. Buzz the nurse the 3rd time and "pronto" she will appear with a smile. Try that in a $130 room and the 80/20 rule comes into play - 80% glare, 20% care.
I was hospitalized just last month and I discovered this unwritten golden rule of how private hospitals ensures their own health, monetary wise. You rush to an emergency room, whilst the doctor checks on you, the nurse comes in and tells you to cough up $2,200 before admission. Here I am with my pants half drawn to my knees and in pain, a most vulnerable and delicate position. Immediate reaction...Please swipe my credit card!. Two days latter and after one MRI scan, one ultra sound screening and a couple of times being zapped with the X ray machine, I am sitting on my bed at 10am in an "open back with nothing underneath operation gown" waiting for my stomach endoscopy. A nurse appears, smiles and request a top up of $2,500. "Oh sure, no problem" I reply "but only after the endoscopy is done". 2 hours and 45 minutes passes by and I have been on "puasa nil by mouth " for almost 15 hours. The same nurse reappears the 4th time with the same request "$2,500". Smelling conspiracy, I surrender my credit card. A coincidence or what! 15 minutes latter I am in the endoscope room - the last patient for the morning and almost an hour latter, I am back in my bed.
If you should be unfortunate enough to be taken to these private pirates in an emergency where no one knows your name,you would probably end up like this bloke who kicked the bucket while the hospital waits for payment before the treatment.

Have a heart for the poor, urges Koay
Link : The Star

PRIVATE hospitals should have compassion for the poor even in their pursuit to make profits from their operations.

Penang State Public Works, Utilities and Transportation Committee chairman Datuk Koay Kar Huah said private hospitals should have a special programme for providing cheaper medical packages for the poor.

He commended the efforts being made by Gleneagles Medical Centre which have so far conducted 300 free heart operations on poor children.

The operations were made possible with the close co-operation among the hospital, the public and the state government.

“I’m inspired by the centre’s good deed,” he said in his speech during a visit to the hospital.

Koay was accompanying Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas who visited the hospital in conjunction with the recent Mer-deka celebration.

Also present were Toh Puan Majimor Sharif, chairman of Wong Keng Fei Children Medical Fund Datuk Michael Chong and the hospital’s consultant paediatrician and paediatric cardiologist Dr Sim Joo Seng.

LATUK, BOLIH TOLONG........ ?

Ah! This is the time of the year, when our traffic police seems to be increasing their surveillance activities not only along the major highways but more so along less well used road generally underneath "shady trees". Yesterday as I was driving along this major higway that links the East coast to the West coast, I observed that within a distance of 3 kilometers 2 patrol cars each with 2 officers were parked on the opposite side of the road. Both "datuks" were busily performing their sworn duty, on the left hand side of the road, a stern looking officer with his blue summons book in his hand was "pitching" questions to the ever smiling driver whilst further down on the right hand side of the road, in line with the recent courtesy campaign, the other smiling "datuk" obviously very satisified with what had transpired was waving goodbyes to the sullen driver that he had earlier stopped. What is with this Malaysian psyche --- changing our emotions ever so rapidly during such encounters ?

No discount for Ops Sikap summons
Hamidah Atan

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 5:

---

It’s the maximum for traffic offenders during Ops Sikap this Hari Raya season — a RM300 fine and there is no chance for appeal. The offences in this category are speeding, queue-jumping, breaking traffic light rules, using the emergency lane and overtaking on the double-line

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said during the integrated operations by the police and Road Transport Department from Oct 27 to Nov 10, enforcement officers would be deployed at tower controls and temporary traffic centres which would be set up along the North-South and East Coast highways.

Chan said this year’s road safety campaign to be held at least two weeks before Hari Raya Aidilfitri was expected to be launched by Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The themes of the campaign is ‘Use of Public Transport Reduces Accidents’ and ‘Drive Safe, Ride Safe, Walk Safe.’

Chan added that commercial vehicles were banned from using the roads on Oct 29, 30, 31 and on Nov 5 and 6............ The high number of fatal accidents often marred Malaysian festive seasons. Last year, Chan said the number of deaths stood at more than 200, against 300 in 2003..........Over 1.5 million vehicles are expected to be on the road during the festive season.

Chan also called on motorists to take photographs of errant drivers using their camera phones or digital cameras. "I believe through this, they can help the authorities reduce accidents.

"Just forward the evidence to the ministry, the police or the RTD. We will act based on the photographs submitted."

A SEASON FOR REASONING

The celebration of Gongxi Raya (Chinese New Year and Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration falling within days of each other) in Malaysia has always been showcased to the world as a model where two different culture can coexist in harmony.
In a rare convergence of both Jewish and Muslim calendar, October 3rd at sundown is the start of the Jewish New Year 5766 and the beginning of a 10 day period of contemplation, self-examination, purification, celebration and fasting.
October 4th also at sundown will mark the beginning of the month of Ramadan, also a month of fasting, reflection and spiritual self evaluation for Muslims.
With this two Abrahamic faith observing their holy month in October, wouldn't it be a great gesture if the goverment of Malaysia can build the bridge of friendship by extending to the global Jewish communities their best wishes for a new year?

Incidentally, October 4th is also the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi the author of "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness, joy"


Holidays begin for Jews, Muslims

By CAROL REEVES
Gazette-Times reporter

At sundown Monday night, Jews in Corvallis and around the world will begin to observe the High Holy Days, a 10-day period of reflection and repentance.

In a rare coincidence, Islam's observance of Ramadan also begins this week. The two world religions' sacred holidays don't often overlap, but Muslims are to begin their month-long fast with the sighting of the new moon on either Tuesday or Wednesday.

Jewish High Holy Days

The Jewish High Holy Days begin with an Erev Rosh Hashanah service at 7:30 p.m. Monday and concludes with Yom Kippur celebrations in mid-October.

During this most holy time of year on the Jewish calendar, Jews take a personal inventory of their attitudes and actions in the past year and try to make restitution. After a day of prayer and fasting on Oct. 12, Yom Kippur brings an opportunity to ask God's forgiveness for sins and start the new year with a clean slate.

The final Yom Kippur service at 5 p.m. Oct. 13 ends with the traditional blowing of the shofar, a ram's horn, and then a "break-the-fast" meal is served for all.

"In most synagogues, including ours, anybody who has a shofar is asked to bring it," said Amy Buccola, vice-president of the local Jewish community. "During a few significant moments all of them are blown together, which creates a very powerful effect."