OCEANBIRU: 03/2006

3/25/2006

THE DICE HAS BEEN CAST .............. AGAINST A "MALAYSIAN MALAYSIA."

The 1999 November general election was one of the greatest defining moments in our nation's history – paving the way for the accelerated accession of Islamist power in our country. The “Barisan Alternative” then driven by PAS and the DAP “the presumed equal co-driver”, took 42 seats in the Parliament - PAS 27 and the co driver (taken for a ride by PAS) a dismal 10 and “now lost in the wilderness” keADILan 5 seats. In addition to that, PAS won the state of Terengganu

and consolidated its hold on Kelantan. For the Islamists it was then no turning back.
Now 7 years after that defining moment – with their growing confidence and power in politics, more covert Islamists are coming out of the closet. Their demand now comes from the very top of our Public Service structure -- the imposition of enforced uniformity in the wearing of the headscarf (laced with religious overtones for non Muslims) during official functions.
For each step forward these Islamists take, our democratic freedom regresses not proportionately but exponentially. If this creed base order is enforced and is not rolled back by the present governing administration, then non-Muslim female Police Officers attending official functions are effectively classified as "Others" and those in hijab, Muslims --- Which incidentally, borders on shades of fascism when Jews were tagged with the Star of David policed by men in uniform.
Whilst we are thankful that the Government of the day has upheld our inalienable right on the freedom of choice, we specifically - the blogging community - must not and cannot continue to be indifferent to this creeping power that will in the future take away our freedom of expression and ultimately to divide us as a nation.

"The road to Auschwitz was built by hate,
but paved with indifference."
Sir Ian Kershaw

Dewan Rakyat: MPs embroiled in tirade over headscarf issue
Link : NST
THE debate on the wearing of the tudung continued in the House yesterday, ending in a shouting match between backbenchers and Opposition MPs.
It started when Datuk Mohd Alwi Che Ahmad (BN-Kereteh) was moving the motion of thanks for the Royal Address.
He was talking about racial politics when Opposition MPs got up to say that no one was questioning Islam as the official religion.
"But what is your opinion about non-Muslims being ordered to wear the tudung?" asked Fong Po Guan (DAP- Batu Gajah), referring to Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Bakri Omar’s order that all policewomen, regardless of race and religion, were required to wear the tudung at official functions.
Mohd Alwi replied that MPs should be "above all that"…..
(Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Fu Ah Kiow said on Wednesday that the IGP’s order did not apply to non-Muslim policewomen.)…..
"This is the attitude of our Opposition leaders. They do not understand the instruction by the IGP," Mohd Alwi said. Fong stood up again and said it was Mohd Alwi who did not understand and asked him to get his facts right before raising the issue.
Mohd Alwi retorted: "It is up to them if they want to wear cheongsam, baju kurung or tudung.
"It is up to them. Even if they do not want to wear anything... it is up to them…..
"That is the difference. What is so sensitive about it," he asked.

Postscript - 26th March 2006
The dice has been cast .............. against diversity in unity.

Tudung part of cops’ parade uniform

Link : TheStar

KUALA LUMPUR: Policewomen must wear the tudung when they take part in official parades said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. “It is compulsory for those participating in a parade as it has been made part of the parade uniform.

3/22/2006

"VERBAL AMOK" OR "KURANG AJAR " ?

MP TO WEAR SELF DESCRIPTION
Click for bigger picture

Kit Siang's remarks spark uproar
Link : NST

Comments by Lim that the Dewan Rakyat was "not a zoo" soon had Barisan Nasional MPs making plain their ire by shouting out the names of animals in the direction of Opposition MPs.
The DAP stalwart went on to say that Badruddin (BN-Jerai) did not have any brains, drawing an uproar among BN MPs….
Shouting to be heard above all the noise, even with his microphone on, Badruddin said Lim had "animal brains".
Chong Eng (DAP-Bukit Mertajam) then joined in, saying that Badruddin’s remarks were unparliamentary, to which Badruddin replied that she was a "python".
Datuk Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar (BN-Larut) called Lim the "head" of all the animals….

We can still be thankful that the behaviour of our Parliamentarians has not degenerated into physical slugfest as some of their counterparts in other countries are wont to do so. Nevertheless, it certainly comes not as a surprise that many of these “Yang Berhormats” have resorted to “infantile verbal amok” lashing out blindly and resorting to name calling whenever their thinking and reasoning ability fails them.
Despite the public concern over such boorish behaviour, it looks like the Minister in the Prime Minister Department has excused this infantile behavioural attitude by explaining that the word “amok” originates from Malaysia (although in a different context)-- thereby insinuating that this behaviour is part of the local Malaysian innate identity. Ouch ! Tsk! Tsk! Tsk!
However, if the Minister in the Prime Minister Department has not allegedly insinuated that this behaviour is a norm, it would surely mean that our the parliamentarians are just “kurang ajar” or in all probability they were not taught to behave civilly during their
childhood growing years.

Don’t interfere in Islam, non-Muslims warned.
Link : TheStar

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz warned that the Government would not hesitate to use the Sedition Act against those who insulted Islam….
Expressing his concern about some recent articles written by non-Muslims, he said the tolerance level among Muslims was high.
But you must remember the word amok comes from this country and there is a limit to everything,” he said, telling non-Muslims not to make comments or write articles on Islam that could be construed as belittling the religion….

3/13/2006

SOME TOWERING MALAYS(IANS) ARE CREATED "MORE EQUAL"

Provide the evidence

Link :TheStar -- Where is the proof that overt Hindu and Buddhist elements exist in the mak yong to deem the Kelantanese dance theatre un-Islamic?

Cultural experts have challenged the Kelantan Government to provide sufficient evidence to back their decision to ban Malay folk traditions on the grounds that such arts contain un-Islamic influences.
Universiti Malaya Professor of Ethnochoreology and Ethnomusicology Dr Mohd Anis Md Nor said the State Government should be brave enough to back up its claims.
"The ban speaks of insecurity. Our culture goes back many, many years.
He said the Pas Government was taking the religious aspect too seriously, forgetting that Malaysia had attained great heights because of the fusion of religion and culture.
"Pas is in total confusion when it comes to culture.
"They do not see that Malaysia is a successful country because of the good balance that exists here.

I hate to disappoint you Dr Mohd Aris, PAS is not the only government in total confusion when it comes to cultural issues. The federal government has also failed to recognize the contribution of Malaysia’s internationally best known dance guru (a recipient of the Fulbright Distinguished Artist Award, 1999 and Lifetime Achievement Award in the Boh Cameronian Arts Awards 2003).

Ramli Ibrahim has been in the international and local forefront, promoting Indian classical dance styles of the Bharata Natyam and Odissi. Even though these forms may have had their origins from within the Hindu temples and courts of South India, today it has crossed religious and racial boundaries.

The Indian and the performing arts community have a reason to be upset with the federal government for failing to award this dance maestro publicly. Can it be that promoting “cross culture religious” tolerance where - a Malay performing an Indian dance in the international arena is rated lower than -- a Chinese shoe maker promoting his shoes in London or a well known Malay artist promoting his craft at Langkawi or even a Chinese actress plying her talents in Hollywood and Hong Kong?

Breakthrough for Ramli Ibrahim

Link : NST -- A new documentary on dance maestro Ramli Ibrahim's tour of India in December 2005 has just been completed.

“When we knew that we were going to perform at some of the best venues for performing arts in India, I thought that it would be very interesting to document or record the triumphs and tribulations of this Malaysian dance company in its effort to bring back Indian classical dance to its source,” said Ramli in an interview.
Despite his long years of experience, Ramli said touring India was no easy feat. “We had travel by train and carry our own bags and the sets,” he said.

3/10/2006

DEBT COLLECTION - MALAYSIAN STYLE

This situation would sound all too familiar to most of us as we would have at one time or another assisted a friend who was in great financial need. For the fortunate few, the interest free loan was repaid in a timely manner but for the unfortunate majority, getting back what was borrowed had proven to be a trying time for even the best friendship.
Apart from our usual grite the teeth request of “please return my money as I need it urgently”, Malaysians now have two choices to model their collection methods –
Either on this "one on one" personalised door collection service which is a step forward and two steps backwards, monetary wise -

The personalised way to collect money owned
Link : Thestar
He claimed he only wanted to collect what he was owed, but his impatience resulted in him being jailed and fined. Desperate to reclaim his money, K. Ganes Raja took a parang to his debtor’s house and started hacking down the front door. The 45-year-old lorry driver pleaded guilty in a magistrate’s court here yesterday to criminal intimidation and was sentenced to a day’s jail and fined RM2,500 under Section 506 of the Penal Code.

Or by using the sure money back guarantee way to have your debts repaid in full, either cash or in kind - our fully funded tax payer’s "Mafioso Debt Collectors" complete with legalised firepower courtesy of the PDRM.

A district council way to collect money owed
Link : Thestar
Enforcement officers from the Majung District Council carted away a television set worth RM1,800 after the owner of a low-cost house failed to settle RM529.48 in assessment arrears, Tamil Kural reported. It said the officers accompanied by the police went to the house last June and asked Leela Thinakaran to settle the money. But the woman said her husband was outstation and promised to settle the arrears in three payments. They ignored her pleas and took away the television set.

Whilst on the subject on loans, a RM40 million cash advance for "the great restoration" was given by the Works Ministry to rectify the MRR2 in Kepong. At a 6.5%, interest rate this would be a RM200,000 monthly loss to Joe Public. Once again, ole' Samy has sent out a clear message - it is okay to screw Joe Public up big time. Incidentally, there is no mention of a repayment schedule on the RM40 million but collection of this cash advance should not be any problem - just send in the same UMNO youths that stormed the Apect2 conference with the back up of the FRU's.

Any way to collect money owed?
Link : Thestar
Repair works being carried out on the Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2) in Kepong were scheduled for completion by June 30, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said. German consulting firm Leonhardt Andra and Partners would begin repairs over the next few days, he said. Samy Vellu said the steel frames would be mounted on all 31 pillars. He said the Government would provide an advance of RM40mil to pay the German consultants and would claim it from the contractors: Konsortium Bumi Hiway Sdn Bhd, Sukmim and Persatuan Kontraktor Melayu Wilayah Persekutuan.

3/04/2006

MY BROTHER ............ THE ENEMY.

Ahmedinejad in his quest for military nuclear might is one Islamist that is giving the Arabs many a bad night sleep. This can be attested by their editorial caricatures found in their print media.

Entitled : Time is Running out. The bottom half of the hourglass shaped like a nuclear bomb has the word “Iran” written in Arabic and carries the atomic logo.

In between two bombs - The Israelis and the Iranians

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Iran’s nuclear quest has always rested on their assertion that it has the "inalienable right" under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to pursue a peaceful nuclear energy program. However, Ahmedinejad was reported as saying in yesterday’s Star that -

“the United States and its allies were using atomic arsenals to intimidate governments and nations that did not possess them”

This is hardly a slip of his tongue and this ultra Islamist intends and has always intended to possess military nuclear strike capability - a Shiite nuclear bomb. After all, it has been put on record by Ahmadinejad that their (the West) intentions have always been bad and that is why it intimidates Iran.

Amanpour (CNN) : Do you accept at all that the United States, Europe, they're deeply suspicious about your intentions. They just think that you want to build a bomb. Do you understand that? And why do you want to have this crisis?

Ahmadinejad: Yes, you see, we understand, we know that their intentions are bad intentions, their intentions towards us are bad. When have they ever shown or have had clean, clear, pure intentions towards us? We don't have expectation for anything else coming from them.”

There is certainly no love lost between the Arabs and the Iranians or generally between the Sunnis and the Shiites. The buzz in the capital of each Arab nation will become more urgent each day as Iran marches on in its development of a Shiite nuclear bomb.
The question now is, will they tacitly let the infidels do the dirty job for them by allowing territorial air space overflight in order to strike at Iran’s nuclear plant ?. Regardless of the end result of the "incident", the Arab and the Muslim street will once again - at the behest of the original sinner - be goaded in their tens of thousands into throwing rocks, burning buildings so as to uphold the façade of unity within the Islamic global community.

No way to conduct nuclear business
Link : Gulfnews.com
There is no disguising that Iran's referral by the UN nuclear watchdog to the Security Council was a victory for Washington. The Europeans preferred to negotiate and had been able up until now to resist US pressure. But that resistance collapsed last month when Iran removed UN seals at its uranium enrichment site.
More crucially, countries more sympathetic to Iran, such as Russia, China and India, also voted to take the dispute to New York, leaving Iran with few friends. There now follows a frenzied month of hectic diplomatic activity before the International Atomic Energy Agency submits its report on Iran's nuclear plans. This is no way to conduct nuclear business.
Iran's nuclear ambition should not be shrouded in subterfuge and controversy. If the country is intent on pursuing nuclear energy for peaceful means then it must be open and accountable to the international community. Countries in the Gulf have an obvious interest in Iran's nuclear ambitions, just from a purely environmental aspect alone. This game of brinkmanship is both petty and dangerous. The nuclear issue is too serious an issue to play bluff with. The Security Council is again considering the issue of weapons of mass destruction in connection with a Gulf country. This ridiculous situation has already gone too far.