Wednesday 10 October 2012
Hindu Buddhist Cultural Unity in Nepal.
Hinduism and Buddhism In NepalThe religious structure of Nepalese society is formally Hindu; but here and only here the interplay of peoples and their religious traditions has produced a rich fusion of Hindu and Buddhist faiths. It is common for both Hindus and Buddhists to worship at the same shrine, for many gods and saints are cross-over, often known by a different name but holding the same attributes. The original inhabitants of the valley were animists, a tradition which survives in the multitude of spirits, demons, local deities, and stones which receive dutiful worship to this day. Hindu and Buddhist traditions adapted from the pre-existing animist practices and from each other. Indeed, in the medieval period, when both religions’ practice adopted mystical, Tantrik traditions, they were almost indistinguishable from each other.
An international scholar Aldous Huxley said-”The oldest aspects of Hindu mythology give place to the most profound and subtle utterances about the nature of ultimate reality, it is in itself a liberal education in humility, tolerance and suspense of judgment.” We can see The Great Wall of China; “the seventh wonders of the world” has a fourteen feet long Sanskrit incantation engraved on the western gate. Mongolian emperor Kublai Khan had written ‘OM Namo! Bhagawati’ including others in the 14th century. The Chinese Great Wall has many syllables from ‘Mahabharata’ written on the doors in Sanskrit language. It is not a common thing that the language was written in Kalipinya letters. Similarly, NEWSWEEK COLUMNIST Ms Lisa Miller says-’we are all Hindus. The Rig Veda, the most ancient Hindu scripture, says: “Truth is one, but the sages speak of it by many names.” A Hindu believes there are many paths to God. The most traditional, conservative Christians have not been taught to think like this. They learn in Sunday school that their religion is true, and others are false. Let us all say “OM.” when you chant “OM,” it will resonate not only in the room but down through the ages.’ May 13, 2010 at > http://www.newsweek.com/id/237910
Nepal’s History and Religions Nepal is a rich and complex mix of different cultures and traditions, melded over thousands of years into a unique whole. For the western traveler there is much that is familiar, and many surprises. Family and religion are of paramount importance, and are constantly reflected throughout the culture. Nepal moves to a different rhythm than the West. The notes here are meant only to tantalize you into visiting this amazing place. We should all aware of the facts that Hindu religion has many enemies. These enemies may try to discredit and malign Hinduism. In south Asia general population is ignorant, and engulfed in blind faith and traditions that are carried over for centuries. It is true that over millennia some people took advantage of this blind faith and traditions to satisfy there own hidden agenda and lust and did harm the local communities. But that is not the case here.
According to -Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya-’This world is full of all kinds of human beings. In a nutshell, they can be classified as – gentle, sad, upbeat and scoundrel. We need to treat them according to their type and not the same way. There is an aphorism in Yogadarshana which talks about friendship, compassion, gleefulness and neglect. It explains the need and utility of behavior tailored as per the individual. We should make friendship with gentlemen so that the impact of their virtues benefits us and also a timely good conduct can be expected from them. A feeling of compassion should prevail for the grieving and benighted ones and the efforts to make them overcome the crisis by helping and serving must be driven. At the minimum, sympathy can be shown to them with an endeavor of providing consultation to hold patience and guide them the way to get over the sufferings. We should be glad to see the successful and upbeat people. Progressives deserve at the minimum a gift of appreciation for their skills and dedication which will encourage them further. It inspires others to rise too.
It’s not possible to fight with evil and rogue forever. Avoid confrontation with everybody coming on the way as fighting with them in an effort to rectify and fix them is next to impossible. At least their misbehavior can be ignored so that the time which was to be used for taking revenge and degrading them can be utilized in creative tasks. Even with all this, at least one must make sure that culprits should be shown the fear of non-cooperation, resistance and conflict otherwise they take our ignorance as an opportunity to dare more. Ignorance should be limited to the extent that the wicked must not get encouraged further. To conduct as per the person’s level is the real workmanship which is called another form of Yoga by the God in the Geeta.
It can’t be implemented in the behavior literally. It will be very awkward if practiced exactly that way. If revered Gurus and evils/rogues are seated at the same level and worshiped or neglected-condemned the same way then it will look very strange and confusing. This will have bad aftermath effects. A buffalo (in a cart) needs a hit of stick to move whereas a horse starts running with a slight hint of the halter. This is because of the difference in their nature which justifies the riders’ behavior. It’s quite possible to play the tricks of negotiation, money, punishment, divide (Saam, Daam, Danda, Bhed) as per the need. Try the other (or more) tricks if one doesn’t work. The sole purpose is to reform. Hate the sin and not the sinner. This synergistic behavior for the benefit of others is similar to the callousness of a surgeon while operating for good and ethical.’
A country’s existence and prestige can gradually be eroded by finishing off its faith and belief tradition and culture and the creator of nation. Nepal was worthy to be bowed down by Hindus all over the world. This is the highest honor Nepal could receive from the international community. The conspiracy against oriental Baidik Hindu and Buddha’s culture was started almost 200 years ago from India by East India Company where Lord Macaulay was one of them who succeed to destroy oriental Hindu identities and culture.
Lumbinī- Nepal is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Rupandehi district of Nepal, near the Indian border. It is the place where Queen Mayadevi is said to have given birth to Siddhartha Gautam, who as the Buddha founded the Buddhist tradition. Records made by the Chinese pilgrim Fa Xian were also used in the process of identifying this religiously acclaimed site. The holy site of Lumbini has ruins of ancient monasteries, a sacred Bodhi tree, an ancient bathing pond, the Ashoka pillar and the Mayadevi temple. The truth, however is that Buddha was born at Lumbini in present Rupandehi district of western Terai region in Nepal. A fact accepted by UNESCO while providing world heritage status to the place.
Read the full story in HINDU DIGEST. <
MUSLIMS STAGE DEMO PRAYER AT GROUNDS OF WESTMINSTER ABBEY……….
Police stupefied that others would be offended by it.
Muslims provocatively praying on the grounds of revered Christian cathedral, cop asks person whose videotaping it, if he has a problem with it. And there are those who continue to bury their heads into the sand and believe that Islamization is but a myth, that this is not the case.
H/T: Vlad
Video bio: “i nearly got arrested for filming this police asked if i found what they were doing offensive muslims praying in westminster abby grounds yes i did find it offensive can you imagine what would happened if we done this in a mosque . our kings and queen are buried in this cathedral wonder what they think of it all.”
Muslims provocatively praying on the grounds of revered Christian cathedral, cop asks person whose videotaping it, if he has a problem with it. And there are those who continue to bury their heads into the sand and believe that Islamization is but a myth, that this is not the case.
H/T: Vlad
Video bio: “i nearly got arrested for filming this police asked if i found what they were doing offensive muslims praying in westminster abby grounds yes i did find it offensive can you imagine what would happened if we done this in a mosque . our kings and queen are buried in this cathedral wonder what they think of it all.”
Muslim Population in Sweden and Denmark Doubled in 14 Years
Our previously projected data on the rapidly growing Muslim population, based on UK’s Muslim growth numbers, seem to be fairly accurate. The UK format is important as it is well documented and appear to be quite similar in all Muslim communities across Europe irrespective of country.
But what does this mean to the future of Europe? It means that Sweden’s Muslim population will reach 40% by 2030, France will have a 55% Muslim population, Netherlands 45%, Germany 40%, Britain 40%. These countries will cease to exist as a Western democracy.
Read also:
U.S. Muslim population estimated to double in 20 years has tripled in 3 years
Muslim demographics: Pew statistics try to whitewash future projections
Muslim Population in Sweden and Denmark Doubled in 14 Years
by Ingrid Carlqvist & Lars Hedegaard | Dispatch-International.com
Despite the fact that Muslims tend to exhibit behavior that clearly distinguishes them from both the European host populations and other immigrant groups, there are no official figures to indicate how many Muslims live in Sweden and Denmark. Danes and Swedes have had to rely on wildly diverging estimates because the authorities refuse to publish statistics on religion or culture.
In Denmark estimates ranging from 200,000 to 700,000 have been circulated.
Dispatch is now able to reveal the true figures based on our own research: 574,000 Muslims in Sweden and 256,000 in Denmark. The statistical uncertainty is roughly +/- 20,000 in Sweden and +/- 10,000 in Denmark.
This means that Muslims make up 6.05% of Sweden’s population and 4.59% of Denmark’s.
In 1998 there were 284,000 Muslims in Sweden and they made up 3.21% of the total population. In other words, the number of Muslims has roughly doubled over the period 1998-2011.
During the same period, Muslim immigration and natural increase among Swedish Muslims have accounted for slightly over 41% of Sweden’s total population growth.
The Muslim share of Denmark’s total population growth 1998-2012 is markedly lower and accounts for a bit over 33%
In 1998 Denmark’s Muslim population was 153,000 and made up 2.88% of the total population.
As mentioned, neither Statistics Denmark nor its Swedish equivalent, Statistiska Centralbyrån, keep records of how many Muslims live in the two countries. They do, however, register how many people bear particular first names.
By January 1, 2012, e.g., 50,697 Danish men and boys were named Jens and 43,258 were called Henrik. Ali was a name shared by 3,776 and Mohammad by 3,717. It should be kept in mind that the bearers of variations on the Mohammad name – such as Muhamad, Ahmed and Mahmoud – are registered separately.
Sweden’s name statistic follows roughly the same principle when it comes to name registration as Statistics Danmark. There is, however, a difference in that Sweden does not register names of persons that intend to stay less than 12 months in the country nor the names of asylum seekers while their application is being processed. For this reason the number of Muslims in Sweden is undoubtedly higher than indicated by Dispatch International’s count.
The two most popular Swedish names registered by December 31, 2011 were Lars (98,435 persons) and Anders (81,562). The most common Muslim names were Ali (9,062) and Mohamed (5,056).
As practically all Muslims have Muslim first names, it is a simple albeit lengthy operation to count the number of Muslim males and, with the assumption that there is an equal number of Muslim females, one may calculate the total Muslim population.
This is the method by which Dispatch has reached its figures.
When there has been doubt whether a name is Muslim, we have not taken it into account. In addition, a number of Swedes and Danes have converted to Islam. In many cases converts have exchanged their Nordic names for Muslim ones, but not always.
These factors explain why Dispatch operates with a statistical uncertainty. As a result we may have underestimated the number of Muslims that can be identified through a name count, but probably not by more than 20,000 in Sweden and 10,000 in Denmark.
It goes without saying that Dispatch’s survey does not include people that are here illegally.
In the case of Sweden, we have only done name counts for 1998 and 2011. For Denmark, Lars Hedegaard has calculated the figures relating to 1998, 2004, 2008 and 2012. The Danish figures are as of January 1 whereas the Swedish ones relate to December 31, 1998 and 2011.
Our calculations reveal an interesting development. Between 1998 and 2004, Denmark’s Muslim population grew by an average of 4.26% a year. During the period 2004-2008, the average yearly growth decreased slightly to 3.52%.
After 2008 this trend has been reversed and the yearly growth is now higher than at any time since 1998, namely 4.29%
This reversal has taken place while Denmark’s former center-right government was in power with the parliamentary support of the immigration-critical Danish People’s Party. This government was heavily criticized for being ”xenophobic” and ”Islamophobic” due to its supposedly restrictive immigration policies. But the actual figures show that the center-right governments that were in power from 2001 till 2011 hardly made a dent in the Muslim growth rate.
Over the entire period 1998-2012, the average yearly increase in Denmark’s Muslim population was 4.27% whereas Sweden, with its much more welcoming immigration policy, experienced an average growth rate of 7.85%
There are several indications that the Muslim growth rate is set to rise in both Denmark and Sweden. As one of its first actions the Social Democratic-led government that came to power in 2011 reversed some of the restrictions on immigration imposed by the former cabinet.
As for Sweden, the immigration authorities (Migrationsverket) estimate an influx of 174,500 new immigrants over the coming two years.
Most of these arrivals will probably be Muslims, as the largest groups of immigrants are likely to come from Somalia and Afghanistan.
Additional research: Roger Sahlström
But what does this mean to the future of Europe? It means that Sweden’s Muslim population will reach 40% by 2030, France will have a 55% Muslim population, Netherlands 45%, Germany 40%, Britain 40%. These countries will cease to exist as a Western democracy.
Read also:
U.S. Muslim population estimated to double in 20 years has tripled in 3 years
Muslim demographics: Pew statistics try to whitewash future projections
PEW statistics on projected Muslim
demographics (left) and the actual projected volume of growth by using
UK’s Muslim population growth as a format (right). The growth will
become more rapid as the population increases.
by Ingrid Carlqvist & Lars Hedegaard | Dispatch-International.com
Despite the fact that Muslims tend to exhibit behavior that clearly distinguishes them from both the European host populations and other immigrant groups, there are no official figures to indicate how many Muslims live in Sweden and Denmark. Danes and Swedes have had to rely on wildly diverging estimates because the authorities refuse to publish statistics on religion or culture.
In Denmark estimates ranging from 200,000 to 700,000 have been circulated.
Dispatch is now able to reveal the true figures based on our own research: 574,000 Muslims in Sweden and 256,000 in Denmark. The statistical uncertainty is roughly +/- 20,000 in Sweden and +/- 10,000 in Denmark.
This means that Muslims make up 6.05% of Sweden’s population and 4.59% of Denmark’s.
In 1998 there were 284,000 Muslims in Sweden and they made up 3.21% of the total population. In other words, the number of Muslims has roughly doubled over the period 1998-2011.
During the same period, Muslim immigration and natural increase among Swedish Muslims have accounted for slightly over 41% of Sweden’s total population growth.
The Muslim share of Denmark’s total population growth 1998-2012 is markedly lower and accounts for a bit over 33%
In 1998 Denmark’s Muslim population was 153,000 and made up 2.88% of the total population.
As mentioned, neither Statistics Denmark nor its Swedish equivalent, Statistiska Centralbyrån, keep records of how many Muslims live in the two countries. They do, however, register how many people bear particular first names.
By January 1, 2012, e.g., 50,697 Danish men and boys were named Jens and 43,258 were called Henrik. Ali was a name shared by 3,776 and Mohammad by 3,717. It should be kept in mind that the bearers of variations on the Mohammad name – such as Muhamad, Ahmed and Mahmoud – are registered separately.
Sweden’s name statistic follows roughly the same principle when it comes to name registration as Statistics Danmark. There is, however, a difference in that Sweden does not register names of persons that intend to stay less than 12 months in the country nor the names of asylum seekers while their application is being processed. For this reason the number of Muslims in Sweden is undoubtedly higher than indicated by Dispatch International’s count.
The two most popular Swedish names registered by December 31, 2011 were Lars (98,435 persons) and Anders (81,562). The most common Muslim names were Ali (9,062) and Mohamed (5,056).
As practically all Muslims have Muslim first names, it is a simple albeit lengthy operation to count the number of Muslim males and, with the assumption that there is an equal number of Muslim females, one may calculate the total Muslim population.
This is the method by which Dispatch has reached its figures.
When there has been doubt whether a name is Muslim, we have not taken it into account. In addition, a number of Swedes and Danes have converted to Islam. In many cases converts have exchanged their Nordic names for Muslim ones, but not always.
These factors explain why Dispatch operates with a statistical uncertainty. As a result we may have underestimated the number of Muslims that can be identified through a name count, but probably not by more than 20,000 in Sweden and 10,000 in Denmark.
It goes without saying that Dispatch’s survey does not include people that are here illegally.
In the case of Sweden, we have only done name counts for 1998 and 2011. For Denmark, Lars Hedegaard has calculated the figures relating to 1998, 2004, 2008 and 2012. The Danish figures are as of January 1 whereas the Swedish ones relate to December 31, 1998 and 2011.
Our calculations reveal an interesting development. Between 1998 and 2004, Denmark’s Muslim population grew by an average of 4.26% a year. During the period 2004-2008, the average yearly growth decreased slightly to 3.52%.
After 2008 this trend has been reversed and the yearly growth is now higher than at any time since 1998, namely 4.29%
This reversal has taken place while Denmark’s former center-right government was in power with the parliamentary support of the immigration-critical Danish People’s Party. This government was heavily criticized for being ”xenophobic” and ”Islamophobic” due to its supposedly restrictive immigration policies. But the actual figures show that the center-right governments that were in power from 2001 till 2011 hardly made a dent in the Muslim growth rate.
Over the entire period 1998-2012, the average yearly increase in Denmark’s Muslim population was 4.27% whereas Sweden, with its much more welcoming immigration policy, experienced an average growth rate of 7.85%
There are several indications that the Muslim growth rate is set to rise in both Denmark and Sweden. As one of its first actions the Social Democratic-led government that came to power in 2011 reversed some of the restrictions on immigration imposed by the former cabinet.
As for Sweden, the immigration authorities (Migrationsverket) estimate an influx of 174,500 new immigrants over the coming two years.
Most of these arrivals will probably be Muslims, as the largest groups of immigrants are likely to come from Somalia and Afghanistan.
Additional research: Roger Sahlström
Mahathir: Ling is an honest man
Mahathir told the High Court that he has known Ling for 30 years and that he did his job well.
KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad described Dr Ling Liong Sik as an honest person, at the High Court today.
Responding to Ling’s counsel Wong Kian Kheong as to his personal opinion of his client, Mahathir, 87, said he had known Ling for 30 years and the former transport minister also did his job well, especially in developing Port Klang.
The fourth defence witness was resuming his testimony during the Port Klang Free Zone corruption trial.
Prior to this question however, there was a tense moment in the proceedings, when deputy public prosecutor Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah objected to Wong’s question of “Was Ling capable of cheating?”.
Pointing at Ling in the dock and raising his tone, Abdul Majid said: “Who knows if he (Dr Ling) is capable or not but he (Dr Ling) knows.”
Abdul Majid’s objection shocked the audience in the public gallery, some of whom started talking loudly until Judge Ahmadi Asnawi ordered them to be silent.
Meanwhile, earlier in the proceedings, when Mahathir was shown two summarised notes dated Oct 29, 2002 on the Pulau Indah land acquisition, he said that none of the Finance Ministry officers had complained of a mistake or inaccurate and misleading statements in the document.
He said that he usually had a discussion with the officers before cabinet meetings.
Questioned as to whether he had lodged a police report about the two notes containing a factual lie, Mahathir said: “No.”
He added that the Cabinet Ministers had also not complained about being cheated or misled by the documents.
Mahathir further stated that his special advisor Ali Abu Hassan had studied the document and informed him the PKFZ project was viable; agreed to the land being acquired on the terms contained therein, which among others included a ‘willing buyer-willing seller’ basis; land price of RM25 per square feet (psf) and a repayment period of 15 years.
He said Ali usually reported to him on any proposed projects but he (Dr Mahathir) could not recall if Ali had ever complained of a mistake in the PKFZ project.
Mahathir reiterated his testimony of yesterday saying on Oct 2, 2002 the Cabinet had decided to acquire the land at RM25 psf with a 15-year deferred payment.
He also said the RM25 psf rate was excluding interest as the price was based on cash purchase.
The total price of the land at RM1.088 million was also excluding interest, he added.
Mahathir said none of the Cabinet Ministers complained about the price as being too high and the decision was reached ‘collectively and unanimously’.
Ling, who was transport minister for 17 years from 1986, is charged with cheating the government by not disclosing to the Cabinet, an additional interest rate of 7.5 per cent per annum on the purchase price of the land for the PKFZ project, which had been fixed at RM1,088,456,000 by the Valuation and Property Services Department (JPPH), based on RM25 psf, inclusive of the coupon/interest rates.
He also faces two alternative (amended) charges of cheating and intentionally not disclosing to the Cabinet that the 7.5 per cent per annum was an additional interest rate on the land price.
He is alleged to have committed the offences at the fourth floor of the Prime Minister’s Office, Perdana Putra building in Putrajaya, between Sept 25 and Nov 6, 2002.
The hearing continues.
Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad described Dr Ling Liong Sik as an honest person, at the High Court today.Responding to Ling’s counsel Wong Kian Kheong as to his personal opinion of his client, Mahathir, 87, said he had known Ling for 30 years and the former transport minister also did his job well, especially in developing Port Klang.
The fourth defence witness was resuming his testimony during the Port Klang Free Zone corruption trial.
Prior to this question however, there was a tense moment in the proceedings, when deputy public prosecutor Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah objected to Wong’s question of “Was Ling capable of cheating?”.
Pointing at Ling in the dock and raising his tone, Abdul Majid said: “Who knows if he (Dr Ling) is capable or not but he (Dr Ling) knows.”
Abdul Majid’s objection shocked the audience in the public gallery, some of whom started talking loudly until Judge Ahmadi Asnawi ordered them to be silent.
Meanwhile, earlier in the proceedings, when Mahathir was shown two summarised notes dated Oct 29, 2002 on the Pulau Indah land acquisition, he said that none of the Finance Ministry officers had complained of a mistake or inaccurate and misleading statements in the document.
He said that he usually had a discussion with the officers before cabinet meetings.
Questioned as to whether he had lodged a police report about the two notes containing a factual lie, Mahathir said: “No.”
He added that the Cabinet Ministers had also not complained about being cheated or misled by the documents.
Mahathir further stated that his special advisor Ali Abu Hassan had studied the document and informed him the PKFZ project was viable; agreed to the land being acquired on the terms contained therein, which among others included a ‘willing buyer-willing seller’ basis; land price of RM25 per square feet (psf) and a repayment period of 15 years.
He said Ali usually reported to him on any proposed projects but he (Dr Mahathir) could not recall if Ali had ever complained of a mistake in the PKFZ project.
Mahathir reiterated his testimony of yesterday saying on Oct 2, 2002 the Cabinet had decided to acquire the land at RM25 psf with a 15-year deferred payment.
He also said the RM25 psf rate was excluding interest as the price was based on cash purchase.
The total price of the land at RM1.088 million was also excluding interest, he added.
Mahathir said none of the Cabinet Ministers complained about the price as being too high and the decision was reached ‘collectively and unanimously’.
Ling, who was transport minister for 17 years from 1986, is charged with cheating the government by not disclosing to the Cabinet, an additional interest rate of 7.5 per cent per annum on the purchase price of the land for the PKFZ project, which had been fixed at RM1,088,456,000 by the Valuation and Property Services Department (JPPH), based on RM25 psf, inclusive of the coupon/interest rates.
He also faces two alternative (amended) charges of cheating and intentionally not disclosing to the Cabinet that the 7.5 per cent per annum was an additional interest rate on the land price.
He is alleged to have committed the offences at the fourth floor of the Prime Minister’s Office, Perdana Putra building in Putrajaya, between Sept 25 and Nov 6, 2002.
The hearing continues.
Bernama
Why are the Malays running away?
A stinging satire on Mahathir’s latest call for the Malays to stop being ungrateful, lazy and stupid to vote against Umno.
COMMENT
Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s recent message is timely. The Malays simply must change. They must reform, transform or whatever you call it! Yes, the Malays are ungrateful and lacking intelligence, especially the few power-hungry ones in the opposition.
Luckily, Tengku Aziz got out in time from the DAP. We cannot expect greedy, ungrateful and dim-witted politicians like Anwar Ibrahim and Hadi Awang to do the same. Imagine, the country’s dominant race losing its political power because of a few ungrateful and moronic Malays who are greedy for political power.
Mahathir also warned that “Malay (opposition) parties who win the elections and form the government would have to follow the dictates of others (races). They will lose dominance in the government because of their willingness to share with others,” he said in a special column titled ‘Suara Hati Mahathir’ published in Mingguan Malaysia.
Yes, Umno has become weak since the last election. It can no longer dish out enough crutches for the Malays. And because of this the Malays are abandoning Umno in droves. Very soon, there will be very little Malay support left for Umno.
For so long, Umno had been busy looking out for the Malays. It was focused and it created immense wealth and channelled it to their cronies to be dispensed to the Malay masses. But the Malays refused to save what they received, and spent every last cent of it.
Today, many still wallow in poverty, and blame Umno for not doing enough to address their plight. Many have threatened to vote the Opposition if Umno does not arrest the situation.
From farmers, civil servants to taxi drivers, everyone is crying out for handouts or else! Some are lazy, lack intelligence and plain greedy and will sell their souls to the highest bidder. Umno has been too kind in the past, and relented to their demands.
But Umno’s superb handling of the economy, even under such tremendous pressure is commendable, as it managed to do its bit for the Malays while suppressing the national debt from ballooning to a mere RM500 billion. Most governments in other countries would have gone bankrupt by now.
Is it a surprise, that the 2013 budget sees more goodies for everyone, especially the Malays?
Malays can continue to wallow in despair
A national organisation to unite the Malays, Umno had always put the Malays first. It has even invited other races to become Bumiputeras as long as they abide by its constitution. Thus far there has been lukewarm response from the Chinese and the Indians.
It has even offered citizenships to legible foreigners who could speak Bahasa Malaysia and be loyal to the Malay cause. What more has Umno not done for the Malays?
Today, many Malays are blinded by religion, greed and power, so they join the opposition because they feel that Umno is less Islamic than PAS. PAS refuses to join Umno to jointly implement an Islamic state, but rather cohabit with the opposition, so that they can gain more power to rule, rather than to play second fiddle to Umno.
And yes again, the Malays simply have to see through the insignificant corruption, and support Umno and its leaders, who are sworn to protect the Malays from themselves. At least with Umno, the Malays can continue to wallow in despair until one fine day, they can evolve into more productive humans without the fear that the Malay power base will be eroded.
Today, Umno is populated by the best Malay minds in the world, superior intelligence beyond compare and you can find them in the likes of Rais Yatim, Ibrahim Ali and Zahid Hamidi. It will be a waste if these leaders are not given more time to work their magic.
Imagine the horrific scenario, if Umno loses. What will become of the great leaders like Najib and Muhyiddin, Mahathir, Taib Mahmud and Shafie Apdal? The young Hishammuddin Hussein, Khairy Jamaluddin and Mukhriz Mahathir, who are slated to carry on the torch as future Prime Ministers of this land? Who will take care of the Malays? Who is going to protect the royalty and who is going to uphold the religion?
Pakatan Rakyat is too preoccupied with a Malaysian Malaysia and would sell out the majority to please the minority. Bumiputeraship will lose its meaning and lustre. The Malays would become ordinary citizens like everyone else.
And imagine if the Malays would have to compete on a level playing field without the NEP, it would take another 200 years before they are on par with the rest of the races. Even the Sabahans and Sarawakians have overtaken the Malays on their home ground.
So, Mahathir’s wake up call is timely and the Malays should wake up from their slumber to vote with their heads and not with their hearts. He even took pains to remind the Malays of how the British during colonial times had called us lazy and stupid and enslaving us in our own country.
See, how times have changed? Today we have several towering Malays in the likes of Taib Mahmud, Daim Zainuddin and Syed Al-Bukhary who through blood, sweat and tears managed to eke out a simple existence. Today, they have a combined worth of nearly RM100 billion and a shining example for other Malays to follow in their footsteps.
At least the Mamaks are sober
But unlike them and in pale comparison, Mahathir who led the country, struggled liked a workhorse for the Malay Agenda, only retired with meagre savings even after 22 years in power. And like other Malaysians, he still has to be miserly and bargain to ensure that his precious savings last him into his golden years.
But that did not stop him from chiding the Malays to get their butts moving, and to seek knowledge, and most important to ensure that Umno gets to rule for another century or more. After all, through his eyes, the Malays are the rightful heirs of this country.
The opposition promises to reduce car prices, highway toll, food prices, electricity and water and free education will not benefit the Malays in the long run. The Malays already enjoy subsidies on home purchases, scholarships, and guaranteed places in the universities, so why be taken in by Pakatan Rakyat’s wishful promises?
According to Mahathir, Malays took on menial labour jobs like drivers, orderlies, clerks or office boys during colonial times. Their incompetence in holding responsibility, led to the import of Chinese and Indians to solve this problem of the Malays being stupid and incompetent.
Today, the Malays are much better off compared to yesteryear, and even if some of them reside in wooden tin shacks, with leaking roofs and one meal a day, they can console themselves that they are still first class citizens, that they still have a roof over their heads and no hungry tummies. After all, our religion has taught us not to succumb to worldly treasures, but to build up treasures in heaven.
But, we must continue to protect our fine leaders, so that they can continue to protect the master race, religion and the royalty from disintegrating. Losing Malay dominance would be an insult, even though it is not likely to happen under Pakatan rule, but Umno cannot simply lose face. PAS and PKR Malays are too inexperienced to handle the intricacies of ruling a Malay majority nation.
It would be stupid of the Malays to vote Pakatan, just because the opposition promises a better country, a colour blind Malaysian Malaysia, or a corrupt free government. Raced based political parties simply cannot disappear overnight as they are still needed to unite this nation.
Not only Umno, but MCA and MIC still needs the peoples’ support to continue existing and to champion the peoples’ cause! Voting them out unnecessarily, would see a lot of potential politicians without a steady job or income to fend for their families. So while, the ungrateful Malays with a bone to pick are deserting Umno, at least the Mamaks (Indian Muslims) are sober enough to see through the smoke screen and to stick with Umno.
As long as BN wins the next election, racial and religious conflict would disappear in the blink of an eye, for at least another five years. So, why gamble away Malay rights for the sake of a better nation, individual freedoms or human rights?
A tour guide, trained pilot and naturalist, Iskandar Dzulkarnain has been writing for a few years now.
COMMENT
Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s recent message is timely. The Malays simply must change. They must reform, transform or whatever you call it! Yes, the Malays are ungrateful and lacking intelligence, especially the few power-hungry ones in the opposition.Luckily, Tengku Aziz got out in time from the DAP. We cannot expect greedy, ungrateful and dim-witted politicians like Anwar Ibrahim and Hadi Awang to do the same. Imagine, the country’s dominant race losing its political power because of a few ungrateful and moronic Malays who are greedy for political power.
Mahathir also warned that “Malay (opposition) parties who win the elections and form the government would have to follow the dictates of others (races). They will lose dominance in the government because of their willingness to share with others,” he said in a special column titled ‘Suara Hati Mahathir’ published in Mingguan Malaysia.
Yes, Umno has become weak since the last election. It can no longer dish out enough crutches for the Malays. And because of this the Malays are abandoning Umno in droves. Very soon, there will be very little Malay support left for Umno.
For so long, Umno had been busy looking out for the Malays. It was focused and it created immense wealth and channelled it to their cronies to be dispensed to the Malay masses. But the Malays refused to save what they received, and spent every last cent of it.
Today, many still wallow in poverty, and blame Umno for not doing enough to address their plight. Many have threatened to vote the Opposition if Umno does not arrest the situation.
From farmers, civil servants to taxi drivers, everyone is crying out for handouts or else! Some are lazy, lack intelligence and plain greedy and will sell their souls to the highest bidder. Umno has been too kind in the past, and relented to their demands.
But Umno’s superb handling of the economy, even under such tremendous pressure is commendable, as it managed to do its bit for the Malays while suppressing the national debt from ballooning to a mere RM500 billion. Most governments in other countries would have gone bankrupt by now.
Is it a surprise, that the 2013 budget sees more goodies for everyone, especially the Malays?
Malays can continue to wallow in despair
A national organisation to unite the Malays, Umno had always put the Malays first. It has even invited other races to become Bumiputeras as long as they abide by its constitution. Thus far there has been lukewarm response from the Chinese and the Indians.
It has even offered citizenships to legible foreigners who could speak Bahasa Malaysia and be loyal to the Malay cause. What more has Umno not done for the Malays?
Today, many Malays are blinded by religion, greed and power, so they join the opposition because they feel that Umno is less Islamic than PAS. PAS refuses to join Umno to jointly implement an Islamic state, but rather cohabit with the opposition, so that they can gain more power to rule, rather than to play second fiddle to Umno.
And yes again, the Malays simply have to see through the insignificant corruption, and support Umno and its leaders, who are sworn to protect the Malays from themselves. At least with Umno, the Malays can continue to wallow in despair until one fine day, they can evolve into more productive humans without the fear that the Malay power base will be eroded.
Today, Umno is populated by the best Malay minds in the world, superior intelligence beyond compare and you can find them in the likes of Rais Yatim, Ibrahim Ali and Zahid Hamidi. It will be a waste if these leaders are not given more time to work their magic.
Imagine the horrific scenario, if Umno loses. What will become of the great leaders like Najib and Muhyiddin, Mahathir, Taib Mahmud and Shafie Apdal? The young Hishammuddin Hussein, Khairy Jamaluddin and Mukhriz Mahathir, who are slated to carry on the torch as future Prime Ministers of this land? Who will take care of the Malays? Who is going to protect the royalty and who is going to uphold the religion?
Pakatan Rakyat is too preoccupied with a Malaysian Malaysia and would sell out the majority to please the minority. Bumiputeraship will lose its meaning and lustre. The Malays would become ordinary citizens like everyone else.
And imagine if the Malays would have to compete on a level playing field without the NEP, it would take another 200 years before they are on par with the rest of the races. Even the Sabahans and Sarawakians have overtaken the Malays on their home ground.
So, Mahathir’s wake up call is timely and the Malays should wake up from their slumber to vote with their heads and not with their hearts. He even took pains to remind the Malays of how the British during colonial times had called us lazy and stupid and enslaving us in our own country.
See, how times have changed? Today we have several towering Malays in the likes of Taib Mahmud, Daim Zainuddin and Syed Al-Bukhary who through blood, sweat and tears managed to eke out a simple existence. Today, they have a combined worth of nearly RM100 billion and a shining example for other Malays to follow in their footsteps.
At least the Mamaks are sober
But unlike them and in pale comparison, Mahathir who led the country, struggled liked a workhorse for the Malay Agenda, only retired with meagre savings even after 22 years in power. And like other Malaysians, he still has to be miserly and bargain to ensure that his precious savings last him into his golden years.
But that did not stop him from chiding the Malays to get their butts moving, and to seek knowledge, and most important to ensure that Umno gets to rule for another century or more. After all, through his eyes, the Malays are the rightful heirs of this country.
The opposition promises to reduce car prices, highway toll, food prices, electricity and water and free education will not benefit the Malays in the long run. The Malays already enjoy subsidies on home purchases, scholarships, and guaranteed places in the universities, so why be taken in by Pakatan Rakyat’s wishful promises?
According to Mahathir, Malays took on menial labour jobs like drivers, orderlies, clerks or office boys during colonial times. Their incompetence in holding responsibility, led to the import of Chinese and Indians to solve this problem of the Malays being stupid and incompetent.
Today, the Malays are much better off compared to yesteryear, and even if some of them reside in wooden tin shacks, with leaking roofs and one meal a day, they can console themselves that they are still first class citizens, that they still have a roof over their heads and no hungry tummies. After all, our religion has taught us not to succumb to worldly treasures, but to build up treasures in heaven.
But, we must continue to protect our fine leaders, so that they can continue to protect the master race, religion and the royalty from disintegrating. Losing Malay dominance would be an insult, even though it is not likely to happen under Pakatan rule, but Umno cannot simply lose face. PAS and PKR Malays are too inexperienced to handle the intricacies of ruling a Malay majority nation.
It would be stupid of the Malays to vote Pakatan, just because the opposition promises a better country, a colour blind Malaysian Malaysia, or a corrupt free government. Raced based political parties simply cannot disappear overnight as they are still needed to unite this nation.
Not only Umno, but MCA and MIC still needs the peoples’ support to continue existing and to champion the peoples’ cause! Voting them out unnecessarily, would see a lot of potential politicians without a steady job or income to fend for their families. So while, the ungrateful Malays with a bone to pick are deserting Umno, at least the Mamaks (Indian Muslims) are sober enough to see through the smoke screen and to stick with Umno.
As long as BN wins the next election, racial and religious conflict would disappear in the blink of an eye, for at least another five years. So, why gamble away Malay rights for the sake of a better nation, individual freedoms or human rights?
A tour guide, trained pilot and naturalist, Iskandar Dzulkarnain has been writing for a few years now.
‘Judges still probing Scorpene deal’
There was never a question of an ongoing trial as the criminal inquiry on the submarine deal is ongoing, says William Bourdan.
KUALA LUMPUR: The lawyer acting for human rights group Suaram in the Scorpene probe has slammed French government prosecutor Yves Charpenal for his “contradictory” statements to the media.
Yesterday, Charpenal had told national news agency Bernama that there was no ongoing trial in the 2009 multi-billion Scorpene submarine deal between Malaysia and France, as it was still under investigation by two French judges.
“I am aware about all the fuss kicked up by certain media [organisations] in Malaysia over this matter but what I can say is that this is nothing more than a trial by the media,” he was quoted as saying.
But Suaram’s lawyer William Bourdon said in a statement today that there had never been a question of an ongoing trial, as the investigating judges were still continuing their probe on the Scorpene inquiry.
“The Tribunal deGrande Instance has convened a criminal inquiry of which Suaram has been accepted as a civil party since March 2012.
“Upon completion of the inquiry will the investigating judge make the decision of whether the case goes to full trial.”
He also stressed that it was not for the prosecutor to decide if the case goes to full trial, but the two Judges, Roger Le Loire and Serge Tournaire.
“To our knowledge the current prosecutors in charge of the case have not made any such statements as suggested by Charpenel,” he said.
In April this year, the Tribunal de Grand Instance in Paris began its inquiry into Suaram’s claim that French naval firm DCNS had paid some RM452 million as a bribe to Malaysian officials to obtain a contract for two submarines.
Malaysia had paid RM6.7 billion in 2009 for the two submarines of which RM574 million was earmarked for co-ordination and support services for Perimekar Sdn Bhd, owned by Abdul Razak Baginda , a close associate of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.
Human rights groups and opposition parties have also linked the submarine purchase to the 2006 murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu, a one-time lover to Abdul Razak.
But Defence Minister Ahmad Zahidi Hamidi said on Oct 6 that the Auditor-General had explained the purchase of the submarines was made according to legal procedures.
The Malaysian government is now probing Suaram for having “misleading accounts” as well as allegedly distributing bribes to a civil servant in return for national secrets – both of which Suaram has denied and labelled as “harassment” due to the probe.
The Umno-controlled daily New Straits Times has also accused Suaram, along with several other NGOs deemed opposition-friendly, of being part of a foreign plot to destabilise government.
They have denied the charges and requested evidence to back up the accusations, which NST has yet to furnish.
KUALA LUMPUR: The lawyer acting for human rights group Suaram in the Scorpene probe has slammed French government prosecutor Yves Charpenal for his “contradictory” statements to the media.Yesterday, Charpenal had told national news agency Bernama that there was no ongoing trial in the 2009 multi-billion Scorpene submarine deal between Malaysia and France, as it was still under investigation by two French judges.
“I am aware about all the fuss kicked up by certain media [organisations] in Malaysia over this matter but what I can say is that this is nothing more than a trial by the media,” he was quoted as saying.
But Suaram’s lawyer William Bourdon said in a statement today that there had never been a question of an ongoing trial, as the investigating judges were still continuing their probe on the Scorpene inquiry.
“The Tribunal deGrande Instance has convened a criminal inquiry of which Suaram has been accepted as a civil party since March 2012.
“Upon completion of the inquiry will the investigating judge make the decision of whether the case goes to full trial.”
He also stressed that it was not for the prosecutor to decide if the case goes to full trial, but the two Judges, Roger Le Loire and Serge Tournaire.
“To our knowledge the current prosecutors in charge of the case have not made any such statements as suggested by Charpenel,” he said.
In April this year, the Tribunal de Grand Instance in Paris began its inquiry into Suaram’s claim that French naval firm DCNS had paid some RM452 million as a bribe to Malaysian officials to obtain a contract for two submarines.
Malaysia had paid RM6.7 billion in 2009 for the two submarines of which RM574 million was earmarked for co-ordination and support services for Perimekar Sdn Bhd, owned by Abdul Razak Baginda , a close associate of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.
Human rights groups and opposition parties have also linked the submarine purchase to the 2006 murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu, a one-time lover to Abdul Razak.
But Defence Minister Ahmad Zahidi Hamidi said on Oct 6 that the Auditor-General had explained the purchase of the submarines was made according to legal procedures.
The Malaysian government is now probing Suaram for having “misleading accounts” as well as allegedly distributing bribes to a civil servant in return for national secrets – both of which Suaram has denied and labelled as “harassment” due to the probe.
The Umno-controlled daily New Straits Times has also accused Suaram, along with several other NGOs deemed opposition-friendly, of being part of a foreign plot to destabilise government.
They have denied the charges and requested evidence to back up the accusations, which NST has yet to furnish.
Uthayakumar’s lieutenant joins PKR
Hindraf leader S Jayathas has joined PKR, saying the political party can provide a better platform to champion the cause of the Indians.
PETALING JAYA: S Jayathas, regarded as Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar’s most trusted lietenant, has now joined PKR.
During a press conference at the PKR headquarters today, Jayathas submitted his membership application form to party vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar.
Also present were vice-president N Surendran, Subang MP R Sivarasah and other party officials.
Jayathas said he decided to work with PKR because he needed a stronger platform to champion the cause of the Indian community.
However, he refused to answer questions on whether he considered Hindraf no longer relevant.
“For the time being, PKR is the better party to fight towards a better future of the Indians,” he said.
He added that PKR had shown genuine concern for the Indian community and was committed to address their grouses.
Jayathas was one of the pioneer members of PKR but left the party due to his activeness in the Hindraf movement.
The Malacca-born businessman was defeated by BN candidate in the Merlimau state assembly seat in the 2004 state election where he contested under a PKR banner.
Jayathas’ departure from Hindraf would render a blow to the movement, which over the years had lost its influence among the Indian community.
In an immediate reaction, Hindraf Youth chief S Thiagarajan, Jayathas had joined PKR because he was suffering from financial problems.
“We had a meeting last Friday where Jayathas told us that he wanted to join PKR because he received a ‘better offer’,” he said, without elaborating.
However, Thiagarajan said Hindraf was grateful to Jayathas’ contribution to the movement.
Responding to Thiagarajan’s claims, Jayathas said he would have joined Barisan Nasional if monetary reward was his motivation.
PETALING JAYA: S Jayathas, regarded as Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar’s most trusted lietenant, has now joined PKR.During a press conference at the PKR headquarters today, Jayathas submitted his membership application form to party vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar.
Also present were vice-president N Surendran, Subang MP R Sivarasah and other party officials.
Jayathas said he decided to work with PKR because he needed a stronger platform to champion the cause of the Indian community.
However, he refused to answer questions on whether he considered Hindraf no longer relevant.
“For the time being, PKR is the better party to fight towards a better future of the Indians,” he said.
He added that PKR had shown genuine concern for the Indian community and was committed to address their grouses.
Jayathas was one of the pioneer members of PKR but left the party due to his activeness in the Hindraf movement.
The Malacca-born businessman was defeated by BN candidate in the Merlimau state assembly seat in the 2004 state election where he contested under a PKR banner.Jayathas’ departure from Hindraf would render a blow to the movement, which over the years had lost its influence among the Indian community.
In an immediate reaction, Hindraf Youth chief S Thiagarajan, Jayathas had joined PKR because he was suffering from financial problems.
“We had a meeting last Friday where Jayathas told us that he wanted to join PKR because he received a ‘better offer’,” he said, without elaborating.
However, Thiagarajan said Hindraf was grateful to Jayathas’ contribution to the movement.
Responding to Thiagarajan’s claims, Jayathas said he would have joined Barisan Nasional if monetary reward was his motivation.
Three DPMs if Pakatan rules?
One will be from Sabah or Sarawak, says Mat Sabu.
TAIPING: Pakatan Rakyat is considering the feasibility of having three deputy prime ministers if it takes Putrajaya in the coming general election, according to PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu.
One of the deputy premiers would be from Sabah or Sarawak, he told FMT after addressing a ceramah on Sunday in Simpang, a few kilometres from here.
“We are still in discussion on this issue and have yet to come to a conclusion,” he added.
According to him, the idea is being discussed in the context of finding ways to place the political representation of the East Malaysian states on equal footing with PAS, DAP and PKR in governing the nation after the 13th general election.
The PAS leader, popularly known as Mat Sabu, said the probability of Pakatan winning the election was becoming greater because more and more voters were becoming aware of the extent of corruption within Barisan Nasional and Umno.
Nevertheless, he added, Pakatan had one great worry—the alleged registration of thousands of foreigners as voters.
Mohamad also claimed that support for BN in Sabah and Sarawak was disintegrating as a result of increased awareness among the people there of their democratic rights.
To prove this, he pointed to the frequency of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s visits to the two states, especially Sabah, where he said the level of alarm over the influx of illegal immigrants had risen since the 2008 election.
He said Pakatan expected to secure at least 10 parliamentary seats in Sarawak and even more in Sabah.
At present BN occupies 29 of the 31 Sarawak parliamentary seats and 21 of Sabah’s 26.
Quality vs quantity
Mohamad said he had suggested to Pakatan that it should accept more election candidates offered by NGOs such as Hindraf and small Pakatan-friendly parties like PSM in order to increase its chances in the coming polls.
“It’s the quality of candidates that count, not the quantity put up by any one party within the coalition,” he said.
In his speech at the Simpang ceramah, Mohamad informed the crowd that the proposed Pakatan gathering on Nov 3 would be held inside either the Bukit Jalil National Stadium or the Merdeka Stadium.
The rally, billed as “People’s Uprising”, is to protest against the government’s refusal to meet the eight core demands of election reform group Bersih.
Bersih and opposition leaders have accused the Election Commission of deliberately dragging its feet in cleaning up discrepancies in the voter rolls as part of a conspiracy to help BN restore its two-third majority in Parliament.
Mohamad said of the Nov 3 rally: “We are following Najib’s advice to hold such protest events within a stadium. But if we are denied this facility, we will take to the streets.
“Then his janji ditepati will be just another janji dicapati.”
TAIPING: Pakatan Rakyat is considering the feasibility of having three deputy prime ministers if it takes Putrajaya in the coming general election, according to PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu.One of the deputy premiers would be from Sabah or Sarawak, he told FMT after addressing a ceramah on Sunday in Simpang, a few kilometres from here.
“We are still in discussion on this issue and have yet to come to a conclusion,” he added.
According to him, the idea is being discussed in the context of finding ways to place the political representation of the East Malaysian states on equal footing with PAS, DAP and PKR in governing the nation after the 13th general election.
The PAS leader, popularly known as Mat Sabu, said the probability of Pakatan winning the election was becoming greater because more and more voters were becoming aware of the extent of corruption within Barisan Nasional and Umno.
Nevertheless, he added, Pakatan had one great worry—the alleged registration of thousands of foreigners as voters.
Mohamad also claimed that support for BN in Sabah and Sarawak was disintegrating as a result of increased awareness among the people there of their democratic rights.
To prove this, he pointed to the frequency of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s visits to the two states, especially Sabah, where he said the level of alarm over the influx of illegal immigrants had risen since the 2008 election.
He said Pakatan expected to secure at least 10 parliamentary seats in Sarawak and even more in Sabah.
At present BN occupies 29 of the 31 Sarawak parliamentary seats and 21 of Sabah’s 26.
Quality vs quantity
Mohamad said he had suggested to Pakatan that it should accept more election candidates offered by NGOs such as Hindraf and small Pakatan-friendly parties like PSM in order to increase its chances in the coming polls.
“It’s the quality of candidates that count, not the quantity put up by any one party within the coalition,” he said.
In his speech at the Simpang ceramah, Mohamad informed the crowd that the proposed Pakatan gathering on Nov 3 would be held inside either the Bukit Jalil National Stadium or the Merdeka Stadium.
The rally, billed as “People’s Uprising”, is to protest against the government’s refusal to meet the eight core demands of election reform group Bersih.
Bersih and opposition leaders have accused the Election Commission of deliberately dragging its feet in cleaning up discrepancies in the voter rolls as part of a conspiracy to help BN restore its two-third majority in Parliament.
Mohamad said of the Nov 3 rally: “We are following Najib’s advice to hold such protest events within a stadium. But if we are denied this facility, we will take to the streets.
“Then his janji ditepati will be just another janji dicapati.”
Global Economic Crisis: The Largest Economy In The World Is Imploding
Michael Snyder: A devastating economic
depression is rapidly spreading across the largest economy in the
world. Unemployment is skyrocketing, money is being pulled out of
the banks at an astounding rate, bad debts are everywhere and economic
activity is slowing down month after month. So who am I talking about?
Not the United States
– the economy that I am talking about has a GDP that is more than two
trillion dollars larger. It is not China either – the economy that I am
talking about is more than twice the size of China. You have probably
guessed it by now – the largest economy in the world is the EU economy.
Things in Europe (NYSEARCA:VGK) continue to get even worse. Greece and
Spain (NYSEARCA:EWP) are already experiencing full-blown economic
depressions that continue to deepen, and Italy (NYSEARCA:EWI) and France
(NYSEARCA:EWQ) are headed down the exact same path that Greece and
Spain have gone. Headlines about violent protests and economic despair
dominate European newspapers day after day after day. European leaders
hold summit meeting after summit meeting, but all of the “solutions”
that get announced never seem to fix anything. In fact, the largest
economy on the planet continues to implode right in front of our eyes,
and the economic shockwave from this implosion is going to be felt to
the four corners of the earth.
On Friday, newspapers all over Europe declared that Greece is about to run out of money (again).
The Greek government says that without more aid they will completely run out of cash by the end of November.
The Euro’s Demise Has Been Set in Motion: Are you protected?
"Nationalism will emerge. Healthier countries will not see fit to spend their hard earned money to bail out their less responsible neighbors."
CLICK HERE to get your Free E-Book, “Why It’s Curtains for the Euro”
Of course the rest of Europe is going to continue to pour money into Greece because they know that if they don’t the financial markets will panic.
But they are also demanding that Greece make even more painful budget cuts. Previous rounds of budget cuts have been extremely damaging to the Greek economy.
The Greek economy contracted by 4.9 percent during 2010 and by 7.1 percent during 2011.
Overall, the Greek economy has contracted by about 20 percent since 2008.
This is what happens when you live way above your means for too long and a day of reckoning comes. GET A FREE TREND ANALYSIS FOR ANY STOCK HERE!
The adjustment can be immensely painful.
Greece continues to implement wave after wave of austerity measures, and these austerity measures have pushed the country into a very deep depression, but Greece still is not even close to a balanced budget.
Greece is still spending more money than it is bringing in, and Greek politicians are warning what even more budget cuts could mean for their society.
For example, what Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras had to say the other day was absolutely chilling….
“Greek democracy stands before what is perhaps its greatest challenge,” Samaras told the German business daily Handelsblatt in an interview published hours before the announcement in Berlin that Angela Merkel will fly to Athens next week for the first time since the outbreak of the crisis.But don’t look down on Greece. They are just ahead of the curve. Eventually the U.S. and the rest of Europe will go down the exact same path.
Resorting to highly unusual language for a man who weighs his words carefully, the 61-year-old politician evoked the rise of the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party to highlight the threat that Greece faces, explaining that society “is threatened by growing unemployment, as happened to Germany at the end of the Weimar Republic”.
“Citizens know that this government is Greece’s last chance,” said Samaras, who has repeatedly appealed for international lenders at the EU and IMF to relax the onerous conditions of the bailout accords propping up the Greek economy.
Just look at Spain. When Greece first started imploding, Spain insisted that the same thing would never happen to them.
But it did.
By itself, Spain is the 12th largest economy in the world, and right now it is a complete and total mess with no hope of recovery in sight.
The national government is broke, the regional governments are broke, the banking system is insolvent and Spain is in the midst of the worst housing crash that it has ever seen.
On top of everything else, the unemployment rate in Spain is now over 25 percent and the unemployment rate for those under the age of 25 is now well above 50 percent.
An astounding 9.86 percent of all loans that Spanish banks are holding are considered to be bad loans which will probably never be collected. Before it is all said and done, probably ever major Spanish bank will need to be bailed out at least once.
Manufacturing activity in Spain has contracted for 17 months in a row, and the number of corporate bankruptcies in Spain is rising at a stunning rate.
Five different Spanish regions have formally requested bailouts from the national government, and the national government is drowning in an ocean of red ink.
Meanwhile, panic has set in and there has been a run on the banks in Spain. The following is from a recent Bloomberg article….
Banco Santander SA (SAN), Spain’s largest bank, lost 6.3 percent of its domestic deposits in July, according to data published by the nation’s banking association. Savings at Banco Popular Espanol SA, the sixth-biggest, fell 9.5 percent the same month.Overall, the equivalent of 7 percent of GDP was withdrawn from the Spanish banking system in the month of July alone.
Eurobank Ergasias SA, Greece’s second-largest lender, lost 22 percent of its customer deposits in the 12 months ended March 31, according to the latest data available from the firm. Alpha Bank SA (ALPHA), the country’s third-biggest, lost 26 percent of client savings during that period.
Thousands of Spaniards have become so desperate that they have resorted to digging around in supermarket trash bins for food. In response, locks are being put on supermarket trash bins in some areas.
But Greece and Spain are not alone in seeing their economies implode.
As I wrote about recently, the number of unemployed workers in Italy has risen by more than 37 percent over the past year.
The French economy is starting to implode as well. Just check out this article.
The unemployment rate in France is now above 10 percent, and it has risen for 16 months in a row.
It is just a matter of time before things in Italy and France get as bad as they already are in Greece and Spain.
The chief economist at the IMF is now saying that it will take until at least 2018 for the global economy to recover, but unfortunately I believe that he is being overly optimistic.
As I have said so many times before, the next wave of the global economic crisis is rapidly approaching. Depression is already sweeping much of southern Europe, and it is only a matter of time before it sweeps across northern Europe and North America as well.
Neither Obama or Romney is going to be able to stop what is coming. The global economy is getting weaker with each passing day. The central banks of the world can print money until the cows come home, but that isn’t going to fix our fundamental problems.
The largest economy in the world is imploding right in front of our eyes and nobody seems to know what to do about it.
If you believe that Barack Obama, Mitt Romney or Ben Bernanke can somehow magically shield us from the economic shockwave that is coming then you are being delusional.
Just because what is going on in Europe is a “slow-motion train wreck” does not mean that it will be any less devastating. GET A FREE TREND ANALYSIS FOR ANY STOCK HERE!
Yes, we can see what is coming and we can understand why it is happening, but that doesn’t mean that we will be able to avoid the consequences.
Related: Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI), S&P 500 Index (INDEXSP:.INX), Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (NYSEARCA:FAZ), Direxion Daily Small Cap Bear 3X Shares ETF (NYSEARCA:TZA), Financial Select Sector SPDR (NYSEARCA:XLF).
Written By Michael SnyderMichael has an undergraduate degree in Commerce from the University of Virginia and a law degree from the University of Florida law school. He also has an LLM from the University of Florida law school. Michael has worked for some of the largest law firms in Washington D.C., but now is mostly focus on trying to make a difference in the world.
PPP Asking To Contest At Least One Seat In Johor
JOHOR BAHARU, Oct 7 (Bernama) -- The People's Progressive Party (PPP)
has asked to be given an opportunity to contest at least one seat in
Johor in the 13th general election.
Its president, Datuk Seri M.Kayveas said although the party had never contested any parliamentary seat or state seat in the state before, but he was confident of victory if it was given the opportunity.
"PPP has asked for four parliamentary seats and 12 state seats in the next general election, but if given the opportunity, we would like to contest at least one seat in Johor," he told reporters after attending the Johor PPP Convention in Skudai here Sunday.
Kayveas said PPP would not pressure Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak into making the decision.
In the run up to the general election, he said PPP would be focusing on 'Mission 510', that is recruiting 510 new members in every branch throughout the country and ensuring that they would vote for BN.
Speaking when opening the convention, Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said hard work and collaboration between component parties was the recipe of BN strength in the state and urged all quarters to work together to ensure Johor would remain BN stronghold.
Its president, Datuk Seri M.Kayveas said although the party had never contested any parliamentary seat or state seat in the state before, but he was confident of victory if it was given the opportunity.
"PPP has asked for four parliamentary seats and 12 state seats in the next general election, but if given the opportunity, we would like to contest at least one seat in Johor," he told reporters after attending the Johor PPP Convention in Skudai here Sunday.
Kayveas said PPP would not pressure Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak into making the decision.
In the run up to the general election, he said PPP would be focusing on 'Mission 510', that is recruiting 510 new members in every branch throughout the country and ensuring that they would vote for BN.
Speaking when opening the convention, Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said hard work and collaboration between component parties was the recipe of BN strength in the state and urged all quarters to work together to ensure Johor would remain BN stronghold.
Huge GIFT for oil and gas big boys
Hot on the heels of the highly generous 12-year tax-free
status for Lynas Corporation comes another huge ‘GIFT’ – this time for
the oil and gas big boys.
While the government seems intent on cutting subsidies on selected essential goods used by ordinary Malaysians, it is dishing out more corporate subsidies, oops, I mean ‘incentives’, to a small band of lucky firms in the lucrative oil and gas sector.
There is a 100 percent 10-year ‘Investment Tax Allowance’ for firms involved in petroleum refining.
The Edge notes that among the US$20bn oil and gas projects in 2012 are the Rapid project in Pengerang, the oil and gas terminals in Johor and Sabah, and the regasification plant in Malacca.
Apart from this, LNG trading companies will enjoy a three-year 100 percent income tax exemption under an appropriately named GIFT (Global Incentive For Trading) programme. What is the justification for the 100 percent income tax exemption?
While the government dishes out generous tax exemptions to the corporate sector, it is now mulling a Goods and Services Tax that will hit many ordinary Malaysians, who were previously exempted from income tax.
It is policies such as this that have contributed to the widened gap between the rich and poor.
While the government seems intent on cutting subsidies on selected essential goods used by ordinary Malaysians, it is dishing out more corporate subsidies, oops, I mean ‘incentives’, to a small band of lucky firms in the lucrative oil and gas sector.
There is a 100 percent 10-year ‘Investment Tax Allowance’ for firms involved in petroleum refining.
The Edge notes that among the US$20bn oil and gas projects in 2012 are the Rapid project in Pengerang, the oil and gas terminals in Johor and Sabah, and the regasification plant in Malacca.
Apart from this, LNG trading companies will enjoy a three-year 100 percent income tax exemption under an appropriately named GIFT (Global Incentive For Trading) programme. What is the justification for the 100 percent income tax exemption?
While the government dishes out generous tax exemptions to the corporate sector, it is now mulling a Goods and Services Tax that will hit many ordinary Malaysians, who were previously exempted from income tax.
It is policies such as this that have contributed to the widened gap between the rich and poor.
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