Time to enact Freedom of Information law - Anil Netto

In case you did not realise it, yesterday was International Right to Know Day. The Centre for Independent Journalism has worked with other NGOs to come up with a Freedom of Information Bill.

They are hoping that Selangor will enact it as law during the state assembly sitting in November.

What about Parliament and the other state assemblies?

See the CIJ statement here.

Governments are elected to serve the people’s interest. So the people have the right to know what’s going on and what sort of decisions are being made.

Aku dan PerlembagaanKu

Zulqarnain Bin Lukman
September 29, 2009

This post is reproduced from here

Jawatankuasa Undang-Undang Perlembagaan, Majlis Peguam telah melancarkan “Kempen PerlembagaanKu” baru-baru ini untuk mendidik rakyat Malaysia dan menyebarkan ilmu berkenaan Perlembagaan Persekutuan kita. Mengapakah pengetahuan berkenaan Perlembagaan amat penting?

Baru-baru ini saya menghadiri satu mesyuarat dengan sebuah badan silat iaitu sebuah badan bukan kerajaan (NGO). Antara agenda yang dibincangkan adalah mengenai status ahli yang akan menghadiri mesyuarat agung badan silat itu yang dijadualkan pada bulan Oktober ini.

Dua minggu lepas, Jawatankuasa Pusat badan silat itu telah membuat ketetapan bahawa hanya cawangan yang mempunyai lebih 50 orang ahli sahaja yang layak menghantar perwakilan ke mesyuarat agung berkenaan.

Saya menimbulkan persoalan samada ketetapan itu telah melampaui (ultra vires) Perlembagaan badan silat itu. Ini kerana, setiap ahli mempunyai hak yang sama termasuk hak untuk hadir dalam mesyuarat agung dan mengundi calon-calon pemegang jawatan utama. Tidak ada mana-mana klausa dalam Perlembagaan badan itu yang menetapkan syarat bahawa sesuatu cawangan hendaklah mempunyai 50 orang ahli sebelum boleh menghantar perwakilan.

Setelah berdebat panjang, akhirnya mesyuarat bersetuju bahawa ketetapan yang dibuat oleh Jawatankuasa Pusat badan silat itu adalah bercanggah dengan Perlembagaan dan terbatal akibat telah melampaui peruntukan yang diberikan oleh Perlembagaan itu sendiri.

Pengajaran yang ingin saya timbulkan di dalam tulisan ini bukan berkaitan isu mengenai badan silat itu tetapi mengenai kepentingan Perlembagaan. Setiap badan bukan kerajaan yang ditubuhkan di Malaysia ini lazimnya terdiri atas satu Perlembagaan yang diluluskan oleh Pendaftar. Perlembagaan ini akan mengawal selia perjalanan badan tersebut. Perlembagaan akan memperincikan nama badan itu, tujuan ianya ditubuhkan, syarat keahlian, hak-hak sebagai seorang ahli, pencalonan penjawat jawatan, tugas penjawat jawatan, hal-ehwal mesyuarat agung dan mesyuarat agung luar biasa dan lain-lain mekanisma perjalanan badan itu.

Oleh itu, perjalanan badan itu akan dikawal selia sepenuhnya oleh Perlembagaan tersebut. Ini bermakna Perlembagaan akan menjadi sumber kuasa tertinggi dalam badan berkenaan dan segala tindakan oleh ahli mahupun penjawat jawatan haruslah selaras dengan Perlembagaan. Sebarang tindakan yang melampaui peruntukan Perlembagaan boleh diisytiharkan tidak sah dan terbatal oleh mahkamah atau lain-lain badan berotoriti. Hal ini mungkin boleh menimbulkan kerugian material dan kewangan apabila suatu pihak mungkin terpaksa membayar pampasan atau gantirugi kerana menafikan hak pihak yang lain yang dijamin dalam Perlembagaan.

Selain itu, penjawat jawatan juga harus sedar bahawa meskipun mereka diberikan kuasa untuk mentadbir tetapi kuasa mereka adalah terhad. Mereka tidak boleh dengan sewenang-wenangnya menghalang hak seseorang ahli seperti hak untuk mengundi atau hadir dalam mesyuarat agung melainkan ahli berkenaan sudah dilucutkan keahliannya menurut Perlembagaan.

Saya fikir prinsip dan kaedah yang sama juga terpakai dalam sistem perundangan di Malaysia. Malaysia ini terbentuk selepas kewujudan Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Perlembagaan Persekutuan telah memperincikan apakah hak-hak rakyat yang merupakan ahli kepada negara Malaysia dan apakah tugasan pemerintah iaitu Perdana Menteri, anggota kabinetnya dan seluruh jentera pemerintah seperti anggota polis dan kakitangan kerajaan.

Oleh itu, hak-hak rakyat seperti hak untuk berkumpul secara aman, hak untuk berjumpa peguam tatkala ditangkap, hak untuk beragama, hak untuk bergerak di dalam Persekutuan dan lain-lain hak haruslah dihormati oleh pemerintah. Hak-hak berkenaan hendaklah tidak dicabul dan dilanggar. Ini kerana, jika semua pihak sedar bahawa kuasa tertinggi dalam negara ini adalah Perlembagaan Persekutuan dan seterusnya kuasa tersebut dihormati barulah keamanan dan keharmonian akan tercapai.

Dalam hal ini, saya bersyukur kepada Tuhan dan berterima kasih kepada guru-guru saya khususnya kepada profesor saya yang telah mengajar dan mendidik saya mengenai ilmu Perlembagaan ini sehingga saya boleh menghargai dan menghormati prinsip-prinsip kenegaraan ini.

OPEN HOUSES

1. I don't know whether we should copyright open houses but they are certainly a Malaysian invention.

2. I was gratified to see everyone, Malays, Chinese and Indians congregating at open houses during Hari Raya. They all seem to get along fine with each other. The Malays, Chinese, Indians, Sabahans and Sarawakians all seem to behave like true Malaysians, greeting the Malays with "Selamat Hari Raya" and being thanked by the Malays. Even little Chinese and Indian children were taught by their parents to shake hands and try to say Selamat Hari Raya.

3. It makes we wonder whether the country would not be better off if we don't have politicians. Of course I am one. But it does seem that it is the politicians who keep on stoking the fires of racism. Left to themselves the people would accept the way of life that has kept Malaysia almost conflict free all these years.

4. Malaysia has different schools for different races. They also live in racial ghettoes, speaking their own languages and promoting their own cultures. Few have friends not from their language groups. They really never get a chance to truly mix with each other. We are truly different from Thailand or Indonesia or the Philippines or indeed any other country in the world.

5. But the religious or racial festivals are celebrated together. We had four days to be together for the Raya. And the open houses would continue for at least one month, giving us a chance to forget racial politics and be just Malaysians. Even leaders of the opposition parties went to the Prime Minister's residence.

6. Maybe we should have continuous festivals throughout the year. Then we would come together the whole year long to celebrate and get to know each other. Maybe then we would be able to create a bangsa Malaysia.

7. Selamat hari Raya, Kong Hee Fatt Choy, Happy Deepavali and Merry Christmas to everyone.

Isa Samad - Local warlords more important than integrity of BN

by Nathaniel Tan

In all seriousness, I never thought they’d actually do it :P

It really means only one of two things:

a) Umno was wrong in its earlier conviction of Isa for money politics - ie, he was unjustly victimised as part of an malicious political ploy.

b) In Umno, criminals and bribery are truly loved.

Najib can’t have been oblivious to this decision, which has repercussions that extend well beyond Bagan Pinang, in terms of how BN is viewed by the general public.

Almost all urban seats (where people talk politics a lot) in 2008 fell to Pakatan, and it appears Najib has little interest in retaining them by at least making some show of keeping to the straight and narrow & maintaining some honour in the coalition.

Another good sign is that this may well mean they are getting increasingly desperate in their bid to hang on to the seat - the winability of which may be becoming precarious.

Surely there must have been pressure from the local machinery, but it looks like Najib is far more concerned with appeasing local Umno warlords than building a BN based on integrity and principle (haha, did you choke reading that? my bad :)

That BN did this even after the disbarred lawyer scandal is ever the more telling.

Nonetheless, it will be a tough fight. For a seat like this, if we lose but close to even within 500-1000 votes (let’s not forget the massive postal votes), I’d consider it a thumping victory. An actual victory ain’t outta sight either, if you ask me.

As someone joked: anti-ISA shirts will be all the rage again, aheh.

Isa Samad Is The Best Choice - MIC Chief

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- Former Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Tan Sri Isa Abdul Samad is the "best choice" for Barisan Nasional (BN) to retain the Bagan Pinang state constituency in Negeri Sembilan in the Oct 11 by-election, MIC president Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu said on Tuesday.

"We are very happy with the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's) decision to pick Tan Sri Isa," he said in a statement here today and added that the party was confident that the voters would turn out in full force on polling day to cast their vote for Isa who is "a well-liked and humble person."

Samy Vellu said the MIC had camped in Bagan Pinang for the past two weeks, and "we will now enter stage two of our work in Bagan Pinang, and I can say that Indian voters will vote for Tan Sri Isa."

In PORT DICKSON, Home Minister and Umno vice president Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein said Isa was the right candidate for the seat.

"His candidature is in line with the wishes of the people in the constituency. It is also in line with the BN's policy that the people come first," he told reporters after Isa was announced as the candidate for the by-election here.

Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan concurred saying Isa was well-liked by the people in Bagan Pinang and would easily garner the support of voters there.

UMNO information chief Ahmad Maslan said Isa was the right choice as he was a popular figure in Port Dickson having had about 30 years of experience serving as an elected representative of the people of the state.

Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon said the the 1Malaysia concept espoused by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was being translated on the ground by picking Isa as the BN's candidate for Bagan Pinang.

The man-in-the-street also voiced similar views saying Isa's popularity wound ensure a BN victory in the by-election.

An estate labourer, K. Sagesaran, 46, said he was confident Isa would win as he was a "people's leader".

A trader Ahmad Shuib Masran, 36, said Isa was the best choice for the BN for the seat while David Lee, 34, the manager of a hotel, said Isa would get broad support from the Indian and Chinese communities as he was a popular figure among them.

Isa Samad Is The Best Choice - MIC Chief

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- Former Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Tan Sri Isa Abdul Samad is the "best choice" for Barisan Nasional (BN) to retain the Bagan Pinang state constituency in Negeri Sembilan in the Oct 11 by-election, MIC president Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu said on Tuesday.

"We are very happy with the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's) decision to pick Tan Sri Isa," he said in a statement here today and added that the party was confident that the voters would turn out in full force on polling day to cast their vote for Isa who is "a well-liked and humble person."

Samy Vellu said the MIC had camped in Bagan Pinang for the past two weeks, and "we will now enter stage two of our work in Bagan Pinang, and I can say that Indian voters will vote for Tan Sri Isa."

In PORT DICKSON, Home Minister and Umno vice president Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein said Isa was the right candidate for the seat.

"His candidature is in line with the wishes of the people in the constituency. It is also in line with the BN's policy that the people come first," he told reporters after Isa was announced as the candidate for the by-election here.

Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan concurred saying Isa was well-liked by the people in Bagan Pinang and would easily garner the support of voters there.

UMNO information chief Ahmad Maslan said Isa was the right choice as he was a popular figure in Port Dickson having had about 30 years of experience serving as an elected representative of the people of the state.

Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon said the the 1Malaysia concept espoused by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was being translated on the ground by picking Isa as the BN's candidate for Bagan Pinang.

The man-in-the-street also voiced similar views saying Isa's popularity wound ensure a BN victory in the by-election.

An estate labourer, K. Sagesaran, 46, said he was confident Isa would win as he was a "people's leader".

A trader Ahmad Shuib Masran, 36, said Isa was the best choice for the BN for the seat while David Lee, 34, the manager of a hotel, said Isa would get broad support from the Indian and Chinese communities as he was a popular figure among them.

Zulkefly Is The Best Candidate For Pas In Bagan Pinang

PORT DICKSON, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- Negeri Sembilan PAS commissioner Zulkefly Mohamad Omar, 45, has been chosen as the party candidate for the Oct 11 Bagan Pinang state-by-election.

PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, when announcing this at the DAP headquarters here on Tuesday's night, said Zulkefly Mohamad was the best candidate because he was young and with high education.

Also present at the function were PAS deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa, its vice-presidents, Salahuddin Ayub and Datuk Mahfuz Omar, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali and its vice-president, Mohamed Azmin Ali.

Meanwhile, Zulkefly Mohamad, when met by reporters, thanked the Pakatan Rakyat leadership for their trust in him.

In the last general election, Zulkefly Mohamad was the PAS candidate for the Lenggeng state seat, but lost to Barisan Nasional's Mustafa Salim with a 1,285 vote-majority.

A businessman, with a masters degree in science from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and a degree in Communication from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), was a former manager in a government-linked company and a telecommunications company.

The Bagan Pinang by-election is called following the death of its incumbent Azman Mohammad Noor on Sept 4.

A Tale of Two Schools of Thought

By Marina Mahathir,

The other day there was this interesting article in The Star. It's not anything women's groups have not known but now we have empirical evidence for it. It just goes to show that stereotypes about both boys and girls benefit neither.

The Star Online - Education
Sunday September 27, 2009

Boy, it's a tough world for girls!

By CHOI TUCK WO

The world has come a long way since the days of calling for the emancipation of women but gender bias is prevalent in many nations, including Malaysia.

BOYS seem to fall behind girls in Malaysia. And it's not for lack of attention.

On the contrary, their preferential treatment in school and at home may have contributed to their somewhat lax attitude towards their studies.

While most girls see education as their passport to the future, boys appear to take it for granted, according to a study on gender bias in schools.

Yet despite this subtle gender discrimination at almost all levels - in the classroom, textbooks and even sports and games - the boys appear to be outsmarted by girls.

With most leaders and role models being men, it is little wonder that boys harbour a surreal feeling that they can do well in life even if they don't excel in education.

"The compelling factor to perform well in studies doesn't exist for boys as much as they do for girls," explains Dr Jyotsna Jha, one of the authors of a new book, Exploring the Bias: Gender and Stereotyping in Secondary Schools.

Published by the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, the 272-page book covering seven countries including Malaysia showed that schools in general reflected and reinforced gender disparities.

The survey involved two groups, the first on India, Pakistan and Nigeria, where girls lag behind boys and the second on Malaysia, Seychelles, Samoa and Trinidad and Tobago, where boys struggled behind girls.

As a follow-up to the study, a second book The Gender-Responsive School: An Action Guide has also been published, providing teachers and head teachers guidance on how to make schools more gender-responsive.

Both reports come in the wake of a survey by the Lancaster University Management School that sex discrimination in the hiring and promotion of women is still a thorny issue in Malaysia. (The Star Eurofile July 26, 2009 under the heading 'Man, it's tough going for women'.)

Stereotypical view

Dr Jha notes that most researchers usually looked at the issue of access to education, but they wanted to examine how gender bias worked when children get to school.

"The rising trend of boys' under-achievement has been deliberated among Commonwealth countries over the years," she says, adding that in Malaysia, boys did not perform as well as girls.

She cites a number of reasons, including the fact that they see education differently despite getting better treatment in school and at home.

Dr Jha draws attention to the stereotypical view on domestic roles for girls like sweeping the floor, looking after siblings and washing dishes while boys almost had a free hand in what they do.


Hence, girls feel resentful about the favouritism towards the boys, who prefer to get involved in mat rempit (motorcycle racing) activities, hang out at cybercafes and lepak (loiter) at shopping malls.

"Such a bias attitude generally existed in all seven countries, not just Malaysia, but with slight changes in forms," she says.

For instance, in Pakistan, Nigeria and parts of India, their only focus was on boys and education was still considered 'more manly', she adds.

She also touches briefly on the conclusion that there's evidence of gender discrimination at almost all levels in Malaysia. It can be seen in the attitudes, thinking and behaviour of students, teachers, and principals.

"Even school games and sports are highly geared towards boys' interests, while library books focus mostly on male personalities," she notes.

Dr Jha says they came up with a second book which provides a practical guide to support schools to change and address certain stereotypes.

"We had teachers who went through the whole process of teaching certain things differently, so that both boys and girls take more interest in them," she says.

Unwritten rule

Malaysian women's rights activist Maria Chin Abdullah says that educational institutions must recognise that the 'Education for All' policy did not mean that girls and boys would automatically have equal access (to education) and develop similarly.

She says girls and boys have adapted differently, have different expectations and have been exposed to different social expectations and pressures.

"This gender neutral policy must be supported with a deeper analysis of how it impacts boys and girls," says Maria, who undertook the study on Malaysia based on a gender analysis of classroom and other processes in schools.

She says that where girls might do well in studies, the support was about breaking the stereotype values that still viewed girls as subordinate, hence their contribution was seen as supplementary and not key to the nation's development.

Maria, who conducted the study on four secondary schools in Sungai Petani, Kedah, speaks of the 'unwritten rule' in two of them, where only boys were appointed as head prefects and class monitors.

"School text books are also good examples of the kind of sexism that is unintentionally practised," she says, adding that both teachers and students hold stereotyped ideas on the roles of boys and girls.

On girls' roles, she says they were taught to take on responsibilities as part of growing up and were also taught to multi-task.

In contrast, boys are often excused from housework, given freedom to have fun and socialise with friends.

"Basically, they're free from responsibility. At times, society and their families excuse boys for behaving irresponsibly through escape valves," she says.

Sexuality programmes

These have given rise to different expectations being placed on boys as their parents, and to a large extent society, expect them to be bread winners, hence leaders, while girls' roles are supplementary and domestic in nature.

Such different expectations may have pushed girls to do well in their studies, while boys may feel that even if they do not excel, they have alternatives and are still regarded as leaders and heads of households.

Maria admits that her respondents were concerned about the discrimination, but have not been able to change it.

Most of the girls, she says, accepted the unequal relationship as given and static. This sentiment is stronger with those from the rural schools.

"However, I remember three respondents stating they will not accord such treatment to their children nor will they allow them to discriminate against women".

She says that so far, there had been little change in the education system where gender issues were concerned.

In teacher training courses, such concepts and challenges need to be raised, discussed and teachers have to be taught on how to bring about change.

But there is no gender or women's rights course taught in teacher training or in refresher courses, she says.

Maria says women groups in Malaysia had to constantly fight for sexuality programmes to be taught in schools but they have not as yet been implemented.

She believes that discrimination and violence against women still remain the country's biggest challenges.

The two books are available at; MDC

Book Distributors Sdn Bhd, MDC Building, 2717 & 2718, Jalan Permata 4, Taman Permata, 53300 Ulu Klang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

(tel: 603-4108-6600), University Bookstore (M) Sdn Bhd, 43, Jalan 34/154, Taman Delima, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (tel: 603-9100-1860) and major book stores in Malaysia.

Kashmir girl overpowers militants

By Binoo Joshi BBC News, Jammu

Rukhsana Kauser said she 'fired endlessly'

A teenage girl says she killed a militant with his own gun after insurgents attacked their home in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Three militants stormed into Rukhsana Kauser's home in a remote village in Jammu region on Monday and started beating her parents in front of her.

Ms Kauser, 18, and her brother turned on the gunmen, killing one and injuring two more. Police praised their courage.

One of the militants wanted to marry Ms Kauser against her will, police said.

The militants escaped and are now being sought by police who are using their blood trails as clues.

'Fired endlessly'

The insurgents went to the house looking for Ms Kauser but her father, Noor Hussain, resisted their demands, Rajouri district senior police superintendent Shafqat Watali told the BBC.

I had never touched a rifle before this, let alone fired one - but I had seen heroes firing in films Rukhsana Kauser

Three gunmen then entered the house and attacked Ms Kauser's parents, while four other militants remained outside.

"My parents told me to hide under the bed and then opened the door," Ms Kauser told the BBC.

"Without saying anything they [the militants] started beating my parents and my uncle. They beat them so badly that my parents fell on the ground. I could not see that and pounced on one of the militants while my brother hit him with an axe," she said.

"I thought I should try the bold act of encountering militants before dying."

Ms Kauser said she grabbed one of the militants by the hair and banged his head against the wall. When he fell down she hit him with an axe, before snatching his rifle.

"I fired endlessly. The militant commander got 12 shots on his body."

Her brother, Eijaz, 19, grabbed one of the other militants' guns and also began shooting.

Ms Kauser said the exchanges of gunfire with the militants had gone on for four hours.

"I had never touched a rifle before this, let alone fired one. But I had seen heroes firing in films on TV and I tried the same way. Somehow I gathered courage - I fired and fought till dead tired."

'Bravery'

Police identified the militant commander as Abu Osama, who they say was a member of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba group and had been active in the Rajouri area for the past five years.

Local residents told police that he wanted to marry Ms Kauser - and was prepared to do so forcibly.

Rajouri police superintendent Shajqat Watali praised what he said was the "exemplary bravery" of Ms Kauser and her brother.

"The reaction by these teenagers was extraordinary."

There are now fears the family could face retaliatory attacks, so they have been given police protection.

But Ms Kauser wants more: "We cannot live here in this village. They should relocate us to a safer place in Rajouri town or elsewhere. The militants are not going to leave us after this embarrassment in which a top commander was killed."

Boycott threatened unless BN nominates Isa

By Adib Zalkapli - The Malaysian Insider

PORT DICKSON, Sept 29 — Just hours before the announcement of the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Bagan Pinang by-election, several banners declaring support for Tan Sri Isa Samad and threatening a boycott have been put up in the state constituency.

One banner threatening a boycott if the former Negeri Sembilan mentri besar is not fielded was put up just next to the BN operation centre in Batu 6 here, where Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin are scheduled to name the coalition’s candidate later today.

Just yesterday, Muhyiddin who is also the BN election director revealed that the Teluk Kemang Umno division led by Isa had submitted more than one name to be candidate, suggesting that the former Umno vice-president was not the only name being considered by the party’s central leadership.

Commenting on the appearance of the banners, Teluk Kemang Umno division deputy chief Datuk Ismail Taib said he had directed party workers to bring them down.

“This is the work of mad people, even Tan Sri will not agree to this. I have asked my boys to tear down the banners,” Ismail told The Malaysian Insider.

Isa is widely expected to be named the BN candidate, a decision backed by Negri Sembilan Umno warlords and also the majority of the electorate according to a survey commissioned by PAS.

If Isa is fielded in Bagan Pinang, it will be his second attempt at making a comeback after failing to defend the vice-president’s post during the party elections in April.

The Bagan Pinang by-election was triggered by the death of BN’s Azman Mohammad Noor on Sept 4.

It is situated within the Teluk Kemang parliamentary constituency represented by PKR’s Datuk Kamarul Baharin Abbas.

Apart from Bagan Pinang, Umno also won the neighbouring Linggi state seat in last year’s elections, while PR controls three other state seats in Teluk Kemang — Chuah (PKR), Lukut (DAP) and Port Dickson (PKR).

In March last year, Azman defeated Ramli Ismail of PAS, by some 2,000 votes.

BN is currently ruling the state with a simple majority after winning jsut 21 out of the 36 state constituencies.

Race? What’s that?

The Star,

As Malaysia today is a melting pot of race and culture, many of us are not defined by ethnicity anymore. We’d rather be Malaysian.

It’s quite difficult to tell the races apart from looking at faces nowadays. And people with a name like mine usually get curious stares from people who have difficulty trying to figure out what we are.

Is she Chinese? Is she Malay? Is she mixed?

Young faces of Malaysia: We’re Malaysian, that’s all that matters. — G.C.TAN/The Star

I have been ticking the Lain-lain box when it comes to filling out forms here, and I’ve always wondered what the big deal is.

Why do I have to tick that box when others tick different boxes? Aren’t we all the same? Perhaps it’s for data collection purposes, rather than to segregate us, but I can’t help but feel that we should all be known as just Malaysians.

We talked to a few “race-ambiguous” Malaysians who grew up embracing their Malaysian identity to see what they have to say.

Regina Goh, 30
Consultant

“Both my mum and dad are of Peranakan descent but I don’t look Chinese at all because of my dark complexion. It was fine when we were growing up because children generally accept each other, but it was a different scene all together when I started working.

“People will say things like: ‘Wah, you Chinese, ah?’ or ‘What race are you?’ I’ve been mistaken for a Malay (‘Eh, you bukan Melayu?’) when wearing a kebaya, Chindian (at an Indian wedding) and even Punjabi (they thought my surname was Kaur!).

“Once, while I was crossing the Thai-Malaysian border, the Thai customs people thought I was Thai and triple-checked my passport. Another time, my cheeky friends told some new acquaintances that I was of Cherokee descent and these people actually believed them!

“I usually tell people I’m Chinese, but they’ll retort with: ‘Are you sure you’re not mixed?’ Sometimes, I just smile and reply that I’m Malaysian, or tell them: ‘Whatever you think I am’.

“Most of the time, I laugh off the misconceptions but sometimes, it’s tiring having to repeat myself, especially when speaking Hokkien while ordering food in a Chinese kopi tiam and the seller ignores what I’ve just said and replies in Malay.

“I don’t see being race-ambiguous as an advantage or disadvantage. Rather, it’s more about being able to adapt to different cultural situations and environments. Having grown up with friends of different races and beliefs, I’m comfortable being around people, regardless of race or religion. I guess the best part would be that I’m able to blend in easily.

“My view on the 1Malaysia concept? Do we really need 1Malaysia when we grew up in a muhibbah environment from young? The Government should instead revamp the education syllabus to promote a more muhibbah melting pot culture and take small steps like removing the race column from forms.

“It should be a Malaysia for all Malaysians, not Malaysians of different races or religion.”

Jojo Struys, 34
TV host

“Mum is half-Chinese and half-Scottish, while dad is part-Asian, part-French, part-Dutch and maybe Portuguese. I’ve been told I look Mexican, Thai, Indian, Chinese, Arabic, Filipino, Hawaiian, you name it!

“I seem to always get asked: ‘Where are you from?’ and ‘What’s your mix?’

“I don’t take any offence, though. When I was shooting an Indian music video, I had really dark kohl around my eyes and the crew kept saying: ‘She looks like Catherine Zeta Jones with this makeup’.

“Looks are so subjective, like the cliche has it: beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

“In modelling, it (the ambiguity) has made me more versatile. I could be made up with light colours to look more Asian or heavier, smokier eyes could make me look more Caucasian. It’s an advantage when doing regional advertising campaigns because the ‘mixed look’ can be adapted across markets. I also can’t be racist, being so mixed myself.

“The disadvantages? My father looks almost pure Caucasian so I don’t look like him. When we walk together, my hand would sometimes be on his arm, and we would get all these awful stares when we’re walking alone. I think I need a placard with an arrow pointing at him saying: This is my Dad.

“I think the 1Malaysia concept is ideal to form a united, peaceful and prospe-rous Malaysia, with abundant opportunities for all. I would like Malaysia to be a multicultural place where people respect each other’s cultures.”

Sharyn Lisa Shufiyan, 24
Conservationist
(Tunku Abdul Rahman’s great granddaughter)

“Both my parents are Malay. My mum’s heritage includes Chinese, Thai and Arab, while my dad is Minangkabau. Due to my skin colour, I am often mistaken for a Chinese.

“I’m happy that I don’t have the typical Malay look but I do get annoyed when people call me Ah Moi or ask me straight up: “Are you Chinese or Malay?”

“Like, why does it matter? Before I used to answer ‘Malay’, but now I’m trying to consciously answer ‘Malaysian’ instead.

“There’s this incident from primary school that I remember till today. Someone told me that I will be called last during Judgement Day because I don’t have a Muslim name. Of course, I was scared then but now that I’m older, I realise that a name is just a name. It doesn’t define you as a good or bad person and there is definitely no such thing as a ‘Muslim’ name. You can be named Rashid and still be a Christian.

“I’ve heard of the 1Malaysia concept, but I think we don’t need to be told to be united. We’ve come such a long way that it should already be embedded in our hearts and minds that we are united. Unfortunately, you can still see racial discrimination and polarisation. There is still this ethno-centric view that the Malays are the dominant group and their rights must be protected, and non-Malays are forever the outsiders.

“For the concept to succeed, I think the Government should stop with the race politics. It’s tiring, really. We grew up with application forms asking us to tick our race. We should stop painting a negative image of the other races, stop thinking about ‘us’ and ‘them’ and focus on ‘we’, ‘our’ and ‘Malaysians’.

“No one should be made uncomfortable in their own home. A dear Chinese friend of mine said to me once: ‘I don’t feel patriotic because I am not made to feel like Malaysia is my home, and I don’t feel an affinity to China because I have never lived there’.

“I know some Baba Nyonya friends who can trace their lineage back hundreds of years. I’m a fourth generation Malaysian. If I am bumiputra, why can’t they be, too? Clearly I have issues with the term.

“I think the main reason why we still can’t achieve total unity is because of this ‘Malay Rights’ concept. I’d rather ‘Malay Rights’ be replaced by human rights. So unless we get rid of this bumiputra status, or reform our views and policies on rights, we will never achieve unity.

“For my Merdeka wish, I’d like for Malaysians to have more voice, to be respected and heard. I wish that the Government would uphold the true essence of parliamentary democracy. I wish for the people to no longer fear and discriminate against each other, to see that we are one and the same.

“I wish that Malaysia would truly live up to the tourism spin of ‘Malaysia Truly Asia’.

Jacqueline Rinda Siow, 23
TV host/student

“My mum’s family is from Betawi, Indonesia and my dad is a Chinese from Negri Sembilan. I used to have a hard time mixing with people but as I grew older, I had a balanced mix of friends of various races.

“Nine out of ten people will mistake my race. Am I Chinese? Malay? Eurasian? My reaction? I am Malaysian.

“Because of my name and the fact that I speak fluent Malay, I am always mistaken for a Malay or Muslim. Though I’m Christian, I have difficulty buying meals, especially during Ramadan.

“I am used to the misconceptions and am more amused than annoyed. People assume my mum is Malay, so it’s normal for me. After explaining my heritage, people usually understand and treat me the same as anybody else.

“Being race-ambiguous is not a big deal for me as I have many friends of mixed parentage. It helps me to blend in easier, understand other people’s culture and respect each other better. There are disadvantages, though, as some people think that life is easier for those who are race-ambiguous as we get whatever we want. This is not true.

“We are the same. In fact, due to the misconception and also the prejudices, race-ambiguous people have to work twice as hard to prove their ability and their skills.

“Regarding the 1Malaysia concept, I think it will bond people together, regardless of their ethnicity or culture. It focuses more on who we really are, what we can do for the country and how we can unite and stand strong together.

“This concept of encouraging unity should begin in schools as the young ones are the key to our future. Everyone needs to play a role, especially parents and teachers, to teach the children not to be judgemental or racist. I would like Malaysia to be a more free-spirited country, a country which treats its people equally.

“I am happy that we have no wars. Respect and courtesy is the key to a successful country.”

Paul Naquiddin Stewart Mohammad, 29
Graphic designer

“My mum is a Malay from Johor and dad is from Scotland. I lived abroad until 2001 and came back to Malaysia after finishing my studies in Australia. Even though I was in other countries, I have always been proud to say that I’m from Malaysia.

“People here look at me weirdly and ask: ‘Where are you from, you look a bit Malay, but different’.

“I think it’s my Australian accent that sparks this. It’s quite funny, actually. Some of my friends whom I’ve known for years just recently found out I am Malay-Scott. They thought I was Chindian or Sabahan the whole time! I’ve never been annoyed with these misconceptions. It feels quite good when people ask about my background. I’m always very proud to tell them.

“The advantages to being race-ambiguous would be that I’ve got the best of both worlds. My Malay and Scottish sides are rich in culture, which I feel very lucky to experience.

“I think the 1Malaysia concept is good as it brings all races together, to patch up all the holes and to help Malaysia become a brighter place to live. I think the Government should give equal rights to all. Regardless of what race we are, we are all Malaysian citizens and hence, we deserve equal rights.

“I wish for Malaysia to be a very developed country. I would like to see people of all races help our very diverse country to achieve such possibilities. Malaysia Boleh!”

Mariam Bee Osman Ally, 60
Retiree

“My mum is Chinese while dad is Indian-Muslim so I’m mostly mistaken as Chinese, Portuguese, Burmese or Thai. During my school years, mixed parentage wasn’t prevalent so it was quite disturbing when some Malays were not friendly with me because my mother is Chinese hence I had more Chinese and Indian friends.

“Malays would talk to me as if I were Chinese. The Indian-Muslims would look at me in a weird way, asking in Tamil what this Chinese lady is doing here, not knowing that I understood Tamil. I enjoy being ‘mistaken’ as I find out a lot of interesting stuff because they don’t realise I can understand Tamil and Chinese. It’s great to be of mixed parentage as we have the best of both worlds.

“In this age of globalisation, it helps to be sensitive to other religions and cultures, and I think being exposed to Indian, Muslim and Chinese cultures has made me a wholesome individual, which I hope is true of my children as well.

“The disadvantage is that because we look ‘ambiguous’, the public, or at least those who like to stereotype, give passing comments, especially insensitive ones touching on religion and race. I remember my father being derogatorily referred to as tau see (‘black bean’ in Cantonese), much to his anger because he understood Chinese even though he was mamak.

“1Malaysia is not a new concept. Back in the 40s and 50s, we were all One Malaysia. Nothing new. I just hope this campaign will make some difference. Somehow, over the years, there has been increasing segregation among the races. Perhaps our politicians are manipulating it, or some higher authority, but seriously, we are reinventing the wheel again here.

“I think the government should go back to basics. Give everyone equal rights regardless of race. We are Malaysians, made up of Chinese, Malays, Indians and others. I find it weird that we call ourselves Malay-Malaysian, or Chinese-Malaysian when we are, in fact, all one.

“I would like equal opportunities for everyone. Democratic governance where the voices of the people are taken into consideration and not where politicians have fancy campaigns and throw words around. We need to build a nation where knowledge is provided fair and square, and where we develop a new generation of high achievers — academically, emotionally and psychologically.”

Farrell Tan, 34
Company director

“My parents are both predominantly Chinese, but I have Portuguese and Dutch ancestry, courtesy of Malacca’s rich cultural heritage. In terms of the way I look, depending on how much time I spend in the sun, I am sometimes mistaken for a Malay, Filipino or even Chindian.

“It has never really perturbed me, and, coming from a family of mixed marriages and having friends of many different races, I am a firm believer that the world is a giant melting pot, and that to move forward, one needs to embrace diversity in all its shapes and sizes.

“When I was a lot younger, I found it annoying because people found it hard to pronounce or even spell my name. It’s definitely a lot better now, and to a certain extent, I have to credit Colin Farrell for breaking into Hollywood! At least now my name doesn’t sound so strange!

“I’m mostly amused by these misconceptions as some people act differently when they find out about my race or upbringing. Mostly, they are intrigued but sometimes, due to lack of know-ledge, they stereotype me. So part of the ‘fun’ is trying to alter their perception.

“About the 1Malaysia concept, the thought process behind it may be noble, but I think a lot of non-Malays are slighted over the fact that they have been given ‘minor’ roles and are relegated to becoming bit players. They do not want to be accorded second-class status; they yearn to be treated as equals in the only country they call home.

“I think the Government should walk the walk, and not just talk. They need to refine the concept by taking into account that Malaysia is made up of many different races. Everyone needs to feel that they matter and that their contributions count.

“It is an uphill task and the pundits will be out there waiting for the Government to fail, but I think that if the people see the positive efforts and results, then half the battle is already won.

“I would like Malaysia to be known as a TRULY multi-racial country — not just by definition, but by its actions. Everyone should be given equal opportunities to excel in whatever field they have chosen to embark in, and merit should be awarded to those who truly deserve it, not because of their race.”

No-show in prosecution of Kugan death - Malaysiakini

The fizz over the expectation that a police officer would be charged this morning for the death of detainee Kugan Ananthan has dissipated.

Thus far, there is no sign that the case will come up at the Petaling Jaya Magistrate's Court today, as anticipated.

Tun Majid Tun Hamzah, the head of prosecution in the attorney-general's chambers, said “nothing has been confirmed” at this point.

Kugan's uncle V Raviroy, who arrived at the court at 8am, said he is uncertain if the police personnel involved will be charged.

"I found out about this from (Kota Alam Shah assemblyperson and lawyer) M Manoharan, but up to 11am today, there has been no sign (of the police officer)," he said.

He and another of Kugan's uncles, N Ravi, were accompanied by Manoharan and Kapar parliamentarian M Manikavasagam.

Reporters too had been waiting as early as 8am, only to find out that the case may be postponed. However, they are on standby for any developments.

Contacted this morning, Selangor police chief Khalid Abu Bakar indicated that he is in the dark.

"I haven't any news about this and I am not sure what is happening at the moment," he said.

Kugan, 23, died on Jan 20 at the USJ Taipan police station, five days after he was picked up in connection with a car theft case. His family has accused the police of foul play.

Two post-mortem examinations were conducted. The second of these revealed that Kugan had been beaten, burnt and starved prior to his death.

Concerned groups have long complained about the lack of action in the case, which exploded into a national issue after a video recording revealed severe lacerations on Kugan's body.

WAYTHA’s PASSPORT : WHO IS DECEVING - MP Kapar

Waythamoorthy’s International Passport has been revoked by Government of Malaysia that’s for 101% sure , if not why he uses travel documents issued under Geneva protocol. I have run through his travel documents and letters from UK Government confirming his Malaysian passport revocation.

Who is Deceving Malaysian Now ? Malaymail Sept 28 ,2009 reported denial of Syed Hamid Albar former Home Minister . Who is Syed Hamid Albar now? Why present Home Minister keep his lips zipped? Whom they try to protect, the civil servants whom blindly follow instructions from master or civil servants that overwrite their matters order? This is their nature of DENYING everything including tthe current pathetic status of Malaysian Indians. Not only on Indians, they did that when our Economy was trembling by none other than current 1Malaysia PM.

After Chennai, I got a chance to met Waytha at Singapore last friday off course with party leadership’s knowledge where he brief out the matter and requested myself to find out status of his Malaysian passport . We discussed some issues pertaining to Malaysian Indian pleads. The answer why Malaysian Indian clearly reported here “Najib continues courting Indians”. Again , they trying to throw bones and peanuts by mere RM100 million allocation which subsequently freezed and planned to charge so call murderer among themselves after almost 8 months.

If they desperately need Malaysian Indians vote at just one State Assembly seat that shows the real value of it. We don’t need pleadges any longer? Stop deceving the Indians? If you’re sincere, simply reissue Waytha’s International passport and let him return home to answer all allegations against him.

Surely, Waytha’s passport will not solve the Indians problem here in Malaysia as long as government don’t embark a clear policy of up lifting the community economically. ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT is the prime answer to problems faced by Malaysian Indians.

MIC firmly against bid to usurp its role

(The Star) - KUALA LUMPUR: The MIC will not allow another Indian-based party to be admitted into Barisan Nasional, party Youth chief T. Mohan said.

“We won’t allow parties that mushroom today to usurp our role in the coalition.

“We have been bringing in the Indian support for Barisan all this while,” he told reporters after chairing an emergency meeting of the national MIC Youth Council here yesterday.

He said that the MIC was not the only party that suffered defeats in the last general election.

As such, it was not appropriate to blame the party alone for the losses suffered by Barisan, he said.

Mohan said the party had taken several measures to regain support from the Indian community.

“We know that Indians who voted for the Opposition are now slowly returning to the MIC,” he said.

Mohan said the wing would strongly oppose efforts by those having differences with the party leadership to destroy the 63-year-old MIC.

On the Makkal Sakthi party, he said Barisan leaders should really find out whether its members supported Barisan or not.

“As far as we know, the majority of them are supporters of the Opposition and this will not benefit Barisan,” he said.

However, he said because Malaysia was a democratic country, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had the right to officially launch Makkal Sakthi.

Mohan said Makkal Sakthi was a rallying call used by the banned Hindraf movement leaders in 2007 but certain people had used it for their own benefit.

He said Makkal Sakthi president R.S. Thanendran had collected several thousand ringgit to help the families of the five detained Hindraf leaders.

“We want him to show proof that the money was distributed to the five families or account for the monies collected from the public,” Mohan said

Sujatha committed suicide, court rules

The late K. Sujatha was a former assistant to Vell Paari. — file pic

UPDATED

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 — The Coroner’s Court ruled today that the death of actress K. Sujatha was a suicide.

Coroner Mohd Faizi Che Abu ruled that she committed suicide after drinking Paraquat weedkiller.

“To conclude my finding, I held that the deceased had died... (and) her cause of death is Paraquat ingestion and she died in the manner in which she had committed suicide.”

The coroner, however, admitted that the missing urine samples and the absence of a post-mortem report due to Sujatha’s family’s refusal allow one to be conducted had “deprived him from knowing the cause of death from the medical point of view.”

“I am now left with the circumstantial evidence and oral testimony of the witnesses... in my considered view, the family members and the doctor who are professionals and independent witnesses could not have agreed on something that is fictitious or untrue,” he said.

Sujatha, 28, died at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang on June 25, 2007, six days after being admitted to the hospital for allegedly ingesting Paraquat.

Among witnesses at Sujatha’s death inquest were S. Vell Paari, the son of MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and Maika Holdings chief executive officer; his cousin Dr S. P. Saktiveloo, a specialist attached to the hospital; and Sujatha’s two brothers.

Sujatha had once worked as a personal assistant to Vell Paari.

Federal opposition leaders, chiefly PKR Kapar parliamentarian S. Manickavasagam, alleged foul play in Sujatha’s death, claiming that Vell Paari was connected to the event.

The Kapar MP claimed that a poison pen letter also alleged a third party’s involvement in Sujatha’s death. He also claimed Sujatha’s father had called him, pleading that he probe an anonymous phone call the former had received.

The phone call purportedly made a similar claim that “someone” had been involved in Sujatha’s death.

In his judgement, the coroner said the claims made by Manickavasagam were not backed by substantial proof.

He also said the lack of injuries other than internal ones caused by Paraquat and testimonies from family members that she had admitted to drinking the weedkiller “unknowingly” all pointed to suicide instead of murder.

On Vel Paari’s alleged intimate affair with the deceased, the coroner said a thorough check through Sujatha’s diary did indicate that “she was in love.”

And although evidence such as the discovery of Vell Paari’s photos and other testimony indicative of their close relationship were presented during the course of the inquest, the coroner said the matter has no bearing on the inquest.

“He could be the person the deceased was in love with but I am reluctant to decide on this issue as it has no bearing in this inquest.”

“Her lover may be morally wrong but not legally,” added the coroner.

When Najib’s proposal for a “multi-racial hostel” could make front-page headline news in mainstream media

By Lim Kit Siang,

When Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s proposal for a multiracial hostel to foster better national integration among pupils in secondary schools under the 1Malaysia spirit could make front-page headline news in the mainstream media, it is testimony of how far Malaysian multiracial nation-building had deviated and failed in the past five decades.

As Malaysia is internationally publicized as “Malaysia truly Asia” show-casing multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-lingual unity in diversity, multiracial hostels should have long become an accepted part of national life.

Instead, they seem to have become an increasingly extinct species after over five decades of nationhood to the extent that Najib’s proposal for a multiracial hostel in Kuala Lumpur appeared to be a great brain-wave of his 1Malaysia slogan.

Malaysia has traversed the road from multiracial hostels in the early decades of nationhood, celebrating Malaysia’s diversity of races, languages, cultures, religions, cuisines to increasingly mono-ethnic hostels where tolerance and acceptance of unity in diversity have assumed decreasing importance.

Is there a political will under Najib’s 1Malaysia to examine why Malaysia’s multi-racial nation-building had gone so wrong in the past five decades in failing to take full advantage of the rich diversity of ethnicity, religions, languages, cultures, cuisines and customs in the country?

Will Najib’s proposed multi-racial hostel be truly multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-lingual where the new generation of Malaysians can meet, live, learn and play in the hostels to appreciate Malaysia’s multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-lingual unity in diversity in everyday life – the greatest and richest assets of the country?

Or will it end up as another manifestation of empty sloganeering without seriously addressing the acute and complex problems of nation-building and national unity in Malaysia?

What happened to Malaysia Today

By Malaysia Today’s technical team

With so much confusion and speculation making its rounds about what is happening to Malaysia Today over more than a week, we are compelled to offer our explanation so that the record can be set straight. Only limited technical details will be mentioned to allow you to appreciate the scale of challenge the site is facing.

You may now be aware that the site has been up and down since Friday, 17 September 2009. This was due to malicious activities by those behind the effort to cripple Malaysia Today. This is just one of the many rounds of cyber-attacks that we at Malaysia Today have had to face for more than a year now.

Coincidentally, this latest round of attacks started immediately after RPK’s explosive expose two weeks ago on Tuesday regarding the Malaysian Cabinet’s knowledge and ‘approval’ of the PKFZ scandal long before it became public knowledge. Suspicious activities against the site happened as early as Wednesday, but the first damage was done in the afternoon of Thursday, which brought the site down.

The site was quickly recovered and by 6.00pm we were up and running again although with some loss of data. The attack revolved around the long-time problem faced by the site – a rather old version of Joomla content management system and the use of third-party components.

Lack of resources (financial, manpower, etc.) has always been a challenge faced by Malaysia Today, which affected the maintenance and operations of the site. During the recovery process, we locked down the site to reduce the danger of further compromises.

The next wave of attacks came the following day on Friday. This time it was in a wave of DDoS traffic crippling one of our nodes at Singapore. The Singapore node operates with about 30Mbps of bandwidth, a luxury by Malaysian standards but far short if we need to match any serious DDoS attacks. The node was basically choked with illegitimate traffic. Typical of DDoS network attacks, the origin of the attacks is difficult to pinpoint and sometimes pointless as the attack agents/zombies are likely compromised systems themselves.

We then activated our resources at our US node to recover the site. The process required optimisation of the site to cope with demand. (The demand on the site seemed much higher, possibly due to the interest on the PKFZ expose.) Hence the intermittent site outage, due to either overloading or optimisation process.

Being a service provider of a larger scale and sophistication, the US node has a higher capability of sustaining the attacks. Still, the attacks persisted on a daily basis and we tried deflecting them as far as we could. The DDoS traffic we suffered ranged from 227Mbps to 835Mbps, a mammoth scale for anyone familiar with maintaining Internet sites. The attacker does not appear interested in defacing the website, typical of self-styled college hackers. He/she just deleted articles published on Malaysia Today, literally one by one, with the single-minded aim of erasing all the explosive stuff on the site.

Further complicating the trace of attacks is the use of free proxy servers, on random basis, by the attackers. This is an irony, as we have been advising our users to use such proxy servers to overcome any potential content filtering by the government.

All the malicious activities and behaviours bear the hallmark of professional, for-hire hackers. These are certainly no amateurs, judging from the persistence and frequency of the attacks, with the main objective of making the content of Malaysia Today inaccessible to the public.

We believe that there is NO explicit blocking of the site by the various Malaysian ISPs. The inconsistent and intermittent accessibility of the site in the past many days are the result of the situation described above, although we must caution that it is almost impossible to detect any clandestine censorship.

The MCMC has in the past failed to silence Malaysia Today officially through blocking it in August 2008. Now, with even more revelations of various scandals of the government exposed through this site, we can’t help but suspect that there is a more significant force, a hidden hand at play aimed at bringing down Malaysia Today.

Living with the Ahmadiyah

By Shanon Shah
thenutgraph.com

Osman

"WE have to live with those who do not accept Islam," Emeritus Prof Datuk Dr Osman Bakar tells The Nut Graph in a phone interview. Osman, who is deputy chief executive officer of the International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS) Malaysia, says this applies to how Muslims treat Ahmadiyah as well.

"The theological aspect is clear, based on the 1975 fatwa that declares them to be outside the fold of Islam," he says. "But what should Muslims do to those who accept the Ahmadiyah founder, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, as a prophet? Should they go about discriminating against these people?"

It is a timely question. The Ahmadiyah community in Selangor has been targeted over the past year by the Selangor Islamic authorities, led by Selangor's religious exco Datuk Dr Hasan Ali. In fact, in April 2009, the Selangor Islamic Religious Council forbade Ahmadiyah in Selangor from worshipping in their own headquarters in Batu Caves on Fridays. In December 2008, the Selayang Municipal Council tried to make them remove the kalimah syahadat, or Islamic creed — "There is no God but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God" — from their headquarters.

The question of why the Islamic authorities are training their sights on Ahmadiyah is interesting, given that the 1975 fatwa explicitly declares them not Muslim. "If they are to be treated as non-Muslims, then we should not treat them differently from other non-Muslims in Malaysia," says Osman.

What seems to complicate matters is that Ahmadiyah not only preserve most of the prayer rituals that make them indistinguishable from Sunni Muslims in Malaysia. They are also mostly Malay Malaysians in this country. In other words, one cannot tell if a Malay Malaysian is an Ahmadiyah just by looking at him or her. Perhaps this is why the 1975 fatwa also asks for the state to strip Ahmadiyah of special Malay privileges.

And that's not the end of it — even though Ahmadiyah are considered non-Muslim according to the 1975 fatwa, Ahmadiyah children have to attend Islamic Studies classes in primary and secondary school. Their identity cards list "Islam" as their religion.

This, then, is the quandary that Ahmadiyah in Malaysia face. Osman says, however, that the formulators of the 1975 fatwa would have taken these complexities into account.

"You see, there are two schools of thought in the Ahmadiyah movement. In the Indian subcontinent, they have distinguished between these two groups. The group that views the movement's founder more as a saint, who urged spiritual renewal, is not considered to have fallen out of Islam," says Osman.

This group is the Lahore Ahmadiyah Movement, but it is not the sect that exists in Malaysia. In Malaysia, Ahmadiyah believe that their founder, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, was a prophet, only not a law-giving prophet as Muhammad was. But according to Osman, "The word for prophet in Arabic, 'nabi', is very technical and cannot be taken lightly."

Even so, Ahmadiyah in Malaysia are but a tiny minority. They number only 2,000 at the most — that's a mere 0.007% of a population of 28.3 million. Assuming roughly that Muslims form 60% of the Malaysian population, Ahmadiyah would only form 0.012% of all Muslims. That is, if they are considered Muslims at all.

Seeing the humanity

Zaid

Zaid Kamaruddin, president of Muslim non-governmental organisation Jamaah Islah Malaysia (JIM), tells The Nut Graph that it is important to just see the humanity in everyone.

"Somebody who was born into that sect only knows that as their religion, and we have to see this person as a human being. Only knowledge can alleviate matters," he says in a telephone interview.

"Nobody should take the law into their own hands," he says. "We don't want violence towards them the way it happens in Indonesia.

"But as far as the fatwa goes, it is up to the Islamic council to decide. After all, those sitting on the religious councils are appointed by the sultans. It is not the purview of the state exco to implement the fatwa," he says.

Osman agrees. "It is true, there are claims that Ahmadiyah in Malaysia try to propagate their religion even to Malay [Malaysians]. But the authorities have to act wisely, and not let people take matters into their own hands. We have seen what has happened to Ahmadiyah in countries like Pakistan and Indonesia."

In Pakistan in 1974, the constitution under Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's administration was amended to effectively render Ahmadiyah as non-Muslims. After Zia-ul-Haq seized power from Bhutto in 1977, the persecution of Ahmadiyah intensified under his Islamisation project.

In Indonesia in 2005, the Indonesian Ulama Council issued a fatwa calling for the government to ban Ahmadiyah. This opened a floodgate of violence against Ahmadiyah by Muslim groups which persists to this day.

Thus, Ahmadiyah in Malaysia are afraid for their safety. However, they remain transparent and upfront about their beliefs and do not attempt to disguise or hide their headquarters. In fact, they say they have called for several public dialogues with the religious authorities, including the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department and religious exco Hassan. However, they say their requests have yet to be entertained. The Nut Graph's attempts to reach Hasan also proved futile.

"The Ahmadiyah community here should have their own private engagement first with the authorities," says Zaid. "Only if there are people taking the law into their own hands should the Ahmadiyah here press for a public dialogue."

But with or without private or public dialogue, the fate of the Ahmadiyah at the hands of the state doesn't look all that promising. From being declared non-Muslims to being persecuted as "deviant" Muslims, it is obvious that the state is unlikely to provide protection for the rights of this minority group of believers

Tsu Koon: 'We are preparing the candidates' Muhyiddin: 'Too early. Reform party first.'

By Jeff Ooi,

Don't put the cart before the horse, and don't count the eggs before there are hatched.

That's the way Umno No. 2 has publicly rebutted Gerakan No. 1 on how BN should prepare for the next general election expected anytime before March 2013.

However, the news of Umno censuring Gerakan only appeared in Sin Chew Daily, the top-selling Chinese newspaper in the country.

September 27, Dr Koh (backdoor minister) Tsu Koon announced in Batu Pahat that Parti Gerakan has initiated a talent-scouting exercise nationwide to prepare for a pool of winnable candidates to be fielded in the next general elections.

The potential candidates shall include current and retired elected representatives and those who stood but lost in GE2008, Tsu Koon said.

However, Deputy PM and Umno deputy chief Muhyiddin Yassin disagreed.

'Reform now, candidates later'

On September 28, Muhyiddin announced in Putrajaya that it was too premature to draw up the candidate list at this juncture.

What is more pertinent, Muhyiddin said, is for all BN parties to hasten the pace of reforms, besides holding more people-oriented activities.

"After GE2008, everyone without fail had expected all-round change for BN component parties," said Muhyiddin.

"This is very important," he added. "If the BN component parties don't reform, I fear the people will perceive that BN is incapable of change, and they will no longer have confidence in BN and the government."

Muhyiddin clarified that it was not wrong to start preparing early for the candidates, but he felt it was still too premature to do so at this juncture.

He advised Gerakan to better leave the matter for internal deliberations by the coalition's highest leadership.

'Umno should be Penang BN chief'

Umno sources told Screenshots that Muhyiddin took to dampening Tsu Koon because the Umno hawk felt he hadn't seen the current Gerakan leadership initiate any effective reform programmes within the party. Nor was there a strategic direction from Gerakan or Penang BN to re-capture the state from Pakatan Rakyat.

In fact, Umno Penang had voiced its desire to drop Tsu Koon as the state BN Chief, and to have the post passed on to Umno.

In Penang, Umno is the sole Opposition with 11 seats in the State Assembly. With all 13 candidates it fielded in GE2008 annihilated, Gerakan is zero for now.

MCA lost all 9 state seats it contested in 2008. Thus far, Penang MCA has echoed in support of Umno's demand.

Livestock farmers protest over state's inaction

Kugan's death: Cop to be charged tomorrow - Malaysiakini

After more than eight months since Kugan Ananthan had breathed his last, at least one policeman is expected to be hauled to court tomorrow over the 23-year-old detainee's death.

The latest development comes 48 hours after the deceased's family and supporters failed in their bid to submit a petition to the King in protest of the snail-paced response from the authorities.

Contacted this evening, a senior police officer confirmed that a suspect would be charged tomorrow.

Although it could not be ascertained how many would face the rap, the source said: "I strongly believe that it is one person."

"We don't have the details pertaining to the case as the matter is being handled by the Attorney-General's Chambers," he added.

It is believed that the police personnel would be charged at the Petaling Jaya Magistrate's Court early in the morning.

Malaysiakini later learnt that there is a possibility the AG may defer his decision to charge the suspect tomorrow.

Concerned groups have long complained about the lack of prompt action concerning the case, which exploded into a national issue after a video recording revealed severe lacerations on the deceased's body.

Case classified as murder

Following the massive public outcry, Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail classified the case as murder.

Subsequently, 11 police personnel were reassigned to desk duties pending investigations.

Kugan had died on Jan 20 at the USJ Taipan police station, five days after he was picked up in connection with a car theft case.

The deceased's family had accused the police of foul play, and a second post-mortem commissioned by them revealed that the youth was beaten, burnt and starved prior to his death.

Two days ago, some 20 people, including Kugan's family members, attempted to submit a petition to the King to call for a speedy probe into the case.

The group was led by opposition parliamentarians Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong) and S Manikavasagam (PKR-Kapar).

Gobind had demanded that the attorney-general come forward and explain why nothing had been done in the past eight months.

"The entire country cannot understand why the silence on the part of the AG, who had already classified it (Kugan's case) as a murder," he added.

The first post-mortem concluded that Kugan died due to fluid accumulation in the lungs.

Also pending in court is a suit filed by Kugan's mother against the police for seizing items from the office of Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) pathologist Dr Prashant N Sambekar who performed the second post-mortem.

A Letter of support for the Hindraf request for debate with Lim Guan Eng

Dear YB Lim Guan Eng

I am Dr. Shan Narayanan from Ipoh, Perak. I have been following the Kampung Buah Pala Issue closely. Many of the villagers have been displaced and are homeless. Obviously the Penang Government especially DAP will not take responsibility. This has not surprised me as over time it is becoming very clear that DAP is not multiracial. DAP creates a perception that it is multiracial. In politics Perception is very important.

In Malaysia Today, Naragan. N on 24/9/09 has invited you for a debate:( I have cut and paste the invite here)

Invite to YB Lim Guan Eng for a debate on the Kampung Buah Pala Issue :

By Naragan N.
I write this with regards to your several invites to the Gerakan Party Politicians for a live debate on the Kampung Buah Pala issue. There is now a suggestion from the public that maybe you should debate this issue with other groups as well.
I would like to humbly invite you to a televised debate on the Kampung Buah Pala issue at any time on any of the Malaysian TV channels. I will represent the Villagers and a section of Malaysian society's point of view in the debate.
The debate will be in the English Language and can take a format we will establish once you accept this invitation.
If you will accept this invitation for the debate, it will be a great day for democracy in Malaysia. Thank You and I really look forward to your response.
Malaysia-Today.net - No Holds Barred, Corridors of Power and more @ mt.m2day.org
http://

I have not seen any response from you. Are you afraid to address the issue? If you have fully supported the Kampung Buah Pala folks, you have nothing to fear. If the perception that DAP has created that the Kampung Buah Pala Folks are greedy is true you should have nothing to fear. However, if the developers are you friends than you certainly need to fear an open debate.

The Indian Community is watching you and the DAP. We are watching to see if you are brave to accept the challenge. I get the feeling that DAP still believes they have the undivided support of the Indian Community? Barisan lost touch with the ground after 50years but DAP has lost touch in just over 1 year.

YB be a brave man and accept the challenge. The Community wants to know if you actually represent all races.

Dr.Shan Narayanan
Ipoh Perak

HUMAN RIGHTS AND PLURALISM DOMINATE AS HINDU AMERICANS ARRIVE ON CAPITOL HILL

Washington, DC (September 25, 2009) -- Flanked by a towering icon of James Madison and soaring marble walls adorned by the founding father's memorable quotes, Hindu American Foundation (HAF) members capped a long day of intense congressional visits with an dinner reception in the ornate Madison Building of the Library of Congress here Wednesday. Human rights and pluralism were the themes of the evening as members of the House of Representatives and Senate stopped in and Foundation leaders honored a diverse list of supporters with its annual awards and recognitions.

Rep. Frank Pallone (D, NY), perhaps the earliest supporter of the Foundation since its first meetings on the Hill in 2004, accepted a recognition award and addressed the crowd of over 150.

"The Hindu American Foundation has done so much to help end the campaign of violence against Hindus," said Rep. Pallone. "In today's world, it has become extremely important to promote understanding of all cultures and religions and your Foundation has done an admirable job advocating for religious tolerance.”

While Rep. Pallone forcefully spoke out against Pakistan sponsored terror in India's Kashmir and elsewhere, specifically calling out the Lashkar-e-Taiba for its terror attacks in Mumbai, Rep. Danny Davis (D, IL) blasted Sri Lanka's failure to safeguard the human rights of Tamil civilians.

"Many Tamils feel threatened and unsafe and that the [Sri Lankan] government may very well violate their rights," Rep. Davis said at the reception. "It is my hope that peace will mean exactly that, peace and good will."

Also this year, HAF presented two of its Mahatma Gandhi Awards for the Advancement of Religious Pluralism. Rev. Canon Dr. Gwynne Guibord, the Officer of Ecumenical and Interreligious Concerns of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, and the Reverend Karen Macqueen, a priest and Associate Rector, joined the Right Reverend J. Jon Bruno, Bishop of their Diocese, in electrifying Hindus last year after issuing a formal apology “for centuries-old acts of religious discrimination, including attempts to convert them.”

After reading a formal letter (click here to read the entire contents of the letter) from Bishop Bruno, Rev. Dr. Guibord said, "We must continue to bear witness to the truth that it is simply not possible to say with any integrity or authentic witness to the values that under-gird our two great faiths, that One loves God but hates another human being." (click here to read the entire speech)

Also honored was the American Jewish Committee (AJC), represented by Richard Foltin, Legislative Director and Counsel in the AJC's Office of Government and International Affairs in Washington, D.C, and Nissim Reuben, Program Officer on Indian-Jewish American Relations, for their work in building bridges between the Jewish and Hindu communities.

Foltin, Reuben and Shadow Senator Paul Strauss (D, DC) spoke on values shared by both the Jewish and Hindu faith traditions. "We seek a more just world allowing us to promote universalist values even as we work to strengthen the viability of our discrete communities, to be both particularistic and universalistic at the same time," said Foltin in his address. (click here to read the entire speech)

"We were honored this year to be joined by our Episcopalian and Jewish partners at this inspiring venue, and our shared message could not be clearer--pluralism and human rights are universal concerns," said Suhag Shukla, Esq., the Foundation's Managing Director. "Looking back on five years of bringing a loud and clear voice to our nation's leaders, we are optimistic that Hindu Americans across our nation see this Foundation as a key stakeholder and an institution that reflects their own coming of age."

Anju Bhargava, the only Hindu member of President Obama's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships capped the evening with a call to Hindu Americans to "focus on infrastructure development within our dharmic faith based institutions and access federal funding in its outreach."

Earlier in the day, members of the Foundation's Board of Directors, senior staff and active members fanned out for meetings in over a dozen offices of key Senators and House members. They pressed for increased scrutiny on aid appropriations to Pakistan, garnered support for a letter to the Pakistani Ambassador to the U.S. urging diplomatic measures to address the mounting human rights violations in that country against Hindu minorities and endorsed a congressional resolution advocating for safeguarding Tamil lives in Sri Lanka.

Turning to domestic issues, the Foundation added its own voice to those of many faith based groups demanding fairness and compassion in legal immigration legislation, especially as it applies to the religious workers, J-1 exchange physicians and widows and widowers of U.S. citizens. The religious worker Special Immigrant program as well as the J-1 waiver that gives state health agencies the ability recruit foreign physicians to underserved rural and inner-city communities, are set to expire at the end of this month. The end of both programs would have a significant impact on Hindus. The Foundation also advocated for the end of the "widow penalty" which places spouses of U.S. citizens whose citizen spouse die prior to the end of a two year conditional period, in deportation.

The Hindu American Foundation is a 501(c)(3), non-profit, non-partisan organization promoting the Hindu and American ideals of understanding, tolerance and pluralism. Contact HAF at 301.770.7835 or on the web at www.HAFsite.org.