I usually do not like to publicly say things that I am about to write here. However, if I do not write these things I will be failing as a citizen, and a Muslim.
I cannot understand what was the real purpose of Selangor UMNO Youth in confronting Mr Karpal Singh in the "sacred" precincts of Parliament. According to the newspaper reports, they had wanted him to apologize over the accusations that he made against UMNO Youth.
Of course Mr Karpal should not make accusations without proof. No one likes to be accused. We do not know until today whether there is proof or not. If it had been a baseless accusation, Mr Karpal should apologize. On the other hand, if it is true, investigations should proceed to apprehend the culprits.
Lets assume that the accusations are baseless. Does this then vindicate Selangor UMNO's youth escapade in Parliament? Firstly, the scuffle should not happen in Parliament. You need to feel secure at the place where issues are being debated hotly.
Secondly, a group of young people approaching an old man in a wheelchair is certainly intimidating. It is a complete no-no, especially if you are a GROUP OF MUSLIMS. Adakah agama Islam menyuruh kita berlaku kurang ajar atau menakutkan seorang tua? Whether we agree with Mr Karpal's political inclinations or not, I am certain this old man's contribution to the Nation would have been more than the group of young people who mobbed him. Am I wrong here? [ A similar principle upset me when Dr Mahathir was ill-treated despite his contributions]
Thirdly, this is UMNO - it is a party that does not stand on the same footing as the other parties. It is the party that purportedly provides leadership for the country. It is the backbone of the Government. Even when the political foe behaves less than honourable, DOES A LEADER REACT IN THE SAME OR WORSE MANNER TOO?
Most importantly, it is doubtful that Selangor UMNO Youth would have achieved what they had intended to do - to get an apology. Knowing their efforts will be futile, what then was the purpose for being in Parliament? The Rakyat will view this as nothing more than political. But the Rakyat will be upset that even Parliament cannot be safe from political "tunjuk taring".
I hope this is just a misadventure by some misguided youth.I do not believe that this one incident is reflective of UMNO Youth in general. I know quite a number of UMNO youth leaders and members who are sincere in their struggle and noble in their behaviours.
If one has to, then one must learn to explore more sophisticated methods of making a political score.
PEACE！
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
GANGSTERISM V RULE OF LAW
Of course there must have been many times in most of our lives where we may have felt like clobbering the daylights out of someone whom we feel has visited upon us injustice. However, Malaysians have mostly exercised restraint in responding violently. We allow sense to prevail and let the law takes it course or we just exercise patience and pray for divine justice.
We have not yet become a cowboy nation where we take the law into our own hands. Gangsterism has largely been confined to crooks, criminals, and schoolboys.
Malaysians still believe that the laws we have can still mete out justice.
But what happens when we allow numbers to come to Parliament house to intimidate another MP? What happens if there is gangsterism in and around Parliament? Is this the kind of culture we want to develop in our Nation? Have we ever thought that once it starts as a 'normal' thing, it can never be stopped.
In India, it is common. If a politician is really corrupt, his life is on the line. If a judge metes out injustice, his legs or hands may be the price and so on. Such gangsterism is common in India because people have lost faith in the law and the system. There are other countries too where people are prepared to be violent to achieve an end. When people become completely helpless, they are prepared to give up their lives. Ultimately, in this game everyone ends up being blind.
So let's NOT start this game, especially if we are believers in God.
PEACE !
We have not yet become a cowboy nation where we take the law into our own hands. Gangsterism has largely been confined to crooks, criminals, and schoolboys.
Malaysians still believe that the laws we have can still mete out justice.
But what happens when we allow numbers to come to Parliament house to intimidate another MP? What happens if there is gangsterism in and around Parliament? Is this the kind of culture we want to develop in our Nation? Have we ever thought that once it starts as a 'normal' thing, it can never be stopped.
In India, it is common. If a politician is really corrupt, his life is on the line. If a judge metes out injustice, his legs or hands may be the price and so on. Such gangsterism is common in India because people have lost faith in the law and the system. There are other countries too where people are prepared to be violent to achieve an end. When people become completely helpless, they are prepared to give up their lives. Ultimately, in this game everyone ends up being blind.
So let's NOT start this game, especially if we are believers in God.
PEACE !
Thursday, February 26, 2009
EVENING WITH DATUK AZIZ SATAR
For me, it is like a long wait to meet this famous actor – Aziz Satar. Everyone fondly remembers him as the team member of the “sudin-ramlee-aziz” team. I have met the late P.Ramlee and the late A.R. Tompel before but then I was very young.
We chatted about the genius of P.Ramlee and how Malaysia lost a visionary actor and script writer well ahead of his time. I recall that Malaysia did not give P.Ramlee the support that he needed when he returned to Malaysia from Singapore. This is the malady of the Malays – inability to recognize real talent and real leadership.
It is even sadder that we still have not woken up to the idea of tapping on the experience and knowledge of veterans.
Dato’ Aziz spoke about 6 things that P.Ramlee told him, which I found interesting:
(a) Aziz, Allah Taala tidak memberi kita segala-gala. Kekurngan akau ada pada kamu, pada Sudin, pada semua kawan-kawan.
(b) Aziz, kalau gua mati, gua akan hidup lagi 1000 tahun.
(c) Aziz, seni gua bukan untuk wang, tapi seni gua untuk masyarakat
(d) Kalau kita sudah ada diatas, kalau ada kawan nak naik, pimpinlah ia.
(e) Rezeki yang Tuhan bagi tidak semua hak kita, sebahagian hak ibu, hak ayah, hak saudara dan ada kalanya jadi hak pencuri.
(f) Aziz, jangan selalu menyalahkan orang lain kerana nak melindungi salah sendiri.
The social messages in P.Ramlee movies are brought forth subtly, sometimes in the manner of comedy.
Dato Aziz Satar recalls a scene in the movie “Semerah Padi” where two farmers in dispute appeared before the penghulu. The Penghulu advised them:
“Apa yang digaduhkan? Kan elok kalau hari ini kau tolong sawah dia? Dan esok dia tolong sawah kau pulak dan buat lah seterusnya macam ni”.
I cannot help thinking that this will be useful advise to politicians in the cause of National interest issues. Apparently, P. Ramlee had PAS and UMNO in mind when he penned this dialogue.
Dato Aziz Satar is currently completing a book recording his experience with P.Ramlee and it is scheduled to be published by the end of this year.
We wish him the best and look forward to the book.
PEACE !
AGAINST NATIONAL INTEREST!
The true test of citizenship is when the country is facing a crisis. I believe that the country is now facing an economic crisis.
At this time of crisis, national interest takes precedence over selfish interests. Hence this is the time to be Raperas and this is the time to “pay back to the country” for all the good times we have enjoyed.
AT time of crisis, there are only two groups – those who worsen it OR those who make it easier to recover. This is the time that leadership that entrusted to safeguard the nation must take RADICAL measures, not the worn out solutions given by the failed Oxbridge and Harvard graduates (who do you think got us in this mess in the first place?).
We have to customize our economic defence and our economic strategies.
In this regard, I submit that the following are anti-national interests:-
1) Banks and financial institutions who refuse to “restructure” debts during these times- by restructure I do not mean another “financial trap” to enslave the borrower.
2) Credit card companies who would rather bankrupt the credit card user instead of giving him a chance to pay according to his means.
3) Civil servants who make it difficult for small and medium industries to earn a living.
4) Civil servants who do not carry out economic recovery plans diligently;
5) Companies that make profits and yet retrench worker without exhausting other methods of cost reduction, including renegotiating pay with the workers;
6) Workers who cause economic disruption by picketing in the face of fair and benevolent temporary pay cuts;
7) Politicians who insist on using these difficult times against each other;
8) Any group who maliciously distract economic recovery efforts by the Government and the people;
9) Any person or persons who diverts economic recovery funds for corrupt purposes;
If you have any more, please add on to the list. The point is – we NEED RADICAL action. It can be done, if there is a WILL.
PEACE !
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
A Letter of Appeal to Malaysians Politicians.
Dear Malaysian Politicians,
Please stop the power chase, call for a truce and focus on the economy.
I do not claim to speak on behalf of all Malaysians, but I have strong convictions that many share my sentiments.
Our concern today is not who rules the country or heads the state governments but the looming bad economy.
Whether Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat leads, it is meaningless if Malaysians have no job to go to, no money to pay rent and no means to put food on the table.
I am a business owner, like other business owners and managers of corporations I have a responsibility to ensure people under my care and payroll continue to have jobs and a decent income to take home. We work hard and willing to go the extra mile to make sure our nation not only survive this crisis but come out stronger and wiser. We need your help.
Let me explain. I am in the business of Training, Development and Consultancy and have 20 people in my team.
Saedah is 42. She keeps the office clean and helps organise the training rooms. She has four children and her husband is unemployed. She was first hired on a part time basis, because she is very hard working and has a great attitude, we offered her a full time job to help provide a stable income for her family. Even then, when her third child started school this year, it was a struggle for her to buy new school uniforms and other necessities. Saedah lives on a ‘kais bulan, makan bulan’ basis, so, if she is jobless, her tap runs dry.
Samsuri is 27 years old. He lives with his sister and her family in a low cost government flat in Sunway. He does our despatch, helps with various clerical works and occasionally acts as a driver. During the first week at zubedy, we learned that he not only did not have money to buy new clothes and shoes for work, he had no money for lunch. Like Saedah, if he has no job, his tap runs dry too.
Alicia in Client Servicing turns 26 this year. She lives with her dad who is 71 years old and retired. Her mom passed away when she was little. Alicia is a hard-working team member, has a gentle caring outlook and fun to be with. (We like to poke fun at her as she blushes easily). Last May her dad went through a major operation, thank God he has recovered well. Alicia needs a job, both for herself and her dad.
Sudesh, 38, is one of our facilitators. When his father passed away last year, he moved back and lives with his mother in Seremban. He shuttles between Kuala Lumpur and Seremban daily, leaving home sometimes as early as 4 in the morning and returning late at night. He is no stranger to hard work and sacrifice, he knows what he needs to do to survive and to care for his mother, but he too needs a job.
Like fellow Malaysians, every one of us in zubedy needs employment, those that live from hand to mouth like Saedah and Samsuri and others like Alicia and Sudesh with family to care for. We Malaysians need the Malaysian economy to be strong. We need you, our leaders, to work hard and to work together to make our economy viable.
So this is my plea.
Pakatan Rakyat, please stop your attempts to take over the federal government and persuade BN’s lawmakers to join you. Stop all legal proceedings, no more 916 and let go, just let go. The nation can wait till the next general elections if they want change. By doing so, Malaysians will see your party as caring, unselfish and gracious and give you their support in the next elections.
Barisan Nasional, please stop any attempts to take over PR states and win over PR’s lawmakers. You have proven your point with Perak. The nation can wait for the next general elections if they want your party. Focus all your talent, energy and hard work in steering the country out of an economic downturn. By doing so, Malaysians will see your party as caring, unselfish and smart and give you their support in the next elections.
BN and PR! Call for a truce. Get together and compromise. Someone has to give in. Or has hate consumed your heart till it blinds you? You can do it. You have enough intelligent people between you. I am sure you can find solutions. Take the nation to heart. That is why you are in politics in the first place.
Focus on the people.
Focus on the economy.
Anas Zubedy
Managing Director
Zubedy (M) Sdn Bhd
LOOKING FOR LEADERSHIP
As March draws close, many are looking towards the new Prime Minister to be - Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak for effective,and firm leadership. The country has clearly undergone an unprecedented five years of total uncertainty and completely new political experiences. Since March 8, 2008, it is as if the country is going through an eternal General elections. Even now, the Rakyat is perceiving that politicians are focusing more on the next General elections rather than the well being of the Rakyat.
The Rakyat has grown very weary. The economy is slowing down and is expected to become worse.
The Rakyat needs HOPE. They need LEADERSHIP to steer them through the economic storm that lurks ahead. They want an end to mindless politicking and desire real economic and social reforms that will truly benefit the Nation.
The messages are clear. The Rakyat wants CHANGE for the BETTER. They do not want any more recycled leaders who have lost their positive creativity. They are tired of rhetoric, puerile advice, dramatic speeches and political drama.
They are tired of cosmetic reforms and the rhetorical call for reforms. They want less talk and more effective action.
This is Najib's challenge - to provide leadership, to present to the People a working, transparent and effective cabinet, at least a cabinet of HOPE. To provide the Nation with a NATIONAL DIRECTION that can capture the imagination and commitment of the Rakyat.
For this to be done, you need a firm hand so that actual work of REBUILDING THE NATION can take place. Enough of theatrics.
We really have to move along.
PEACE !
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
CRYSTALBALL: THE FAKE UNFAKED before the aisle of May
While he was standing on the shores of the sea with his back to the sea, he closed his eyes and tuned himself to nature. He heard sounds of or what he tought were the sounds of a bird, the waves and the wind. Holding on to his curiosity and to the interpretations of his mind for a few seconds, he then turned to confirm.
What he thought was the sound of bird was nothing more than a little boy exeprimenting with his voice in the sea.
What he thought was the sound of the wind was nothing more than his breathing.
What he thought was the sound of wave was just a boat that passed by.
The FAKE unfaked as it will be by the laws of nature.
Once the fake is unfaked, the predictable ensuing responses will be:
how could we have allowed ourselves to be fooled?
Where did we go wrong?
Ｗｈｙ ｄｉｄ ｗｅ ｄｉｓｐｅｎｓｅ ｗｉｔｈ ｃｏｍｍｏｎ ｓｅｎｓｅ？
Ｗｈｙ ｄｉｄ ｗｅ ｊｕｓｔ ｆｌｏａｔ ｗｉｔｈ ｔｈｅ ｃｒｏｗｄ？
PEACE！
［ＮＯＴＥ：＂ａｉｓｌｅ＂ｉｓ ｎｏｔ ｓｐｅｌｔ ｗｒｏｎｇｌｙ］
DESIRE OR AMBITION?
Obviously, mainstream thinking will tell you that you need to have ambition. You need to have the drive to fuel that ambition so that you will ACHIEVE. Almost most motivators speak of the “power of ambition”. In today’s largely capitalistic and selfish orientated system, ambition is held in high esteem.
I know that quite a number of “achievers” are fueled by ambition in their lives. Of course many more ambitious people have failed to realize their ambitions, but this story is often not told. Concepts and theories which are dubious but sounds “good” are often supported by looking at the smaller “successes” rather than the greater number of failures.
Ambition is doing something in order to achieve something or to get somewhere. If you get somewhere due to your ambition, you consider your self successful. On the other if your ambition does not lead you achieve the desired goal or does not get you anywhere, you are considered a failure. Ambition is specific goal driven. An ambitious person is one who will do anything it takes to achieve that ambition. Ambition per se may not be a bad thing.
Ambition sets a goal. Ambition gives you a sense of time frame and it makes you aware of the raw materials you need to move towards the realization of that ambition. It also alerts you of what to avoid if you want to achieve that ambition.
What about desire? Desire is to do something because the doing of it gives you pure joy. An act driven by desire gives you joy but it may not get you anywhere. Therefore the very act of doing the act is a success and the consequence of joy is automatic. While you do it, you experience joy. Desire has no goal except to do the very thing desired.
In the above sense therefore, a politician who is driven by desire to do “good” does good simply because it gives him joy. Whether the act of doing good gets him somewhere politically or financially or personally is immaterial. That is not the goal. His joy is derived simply from the act of doing good. When a politician is driven by the desire to serve, he finds joy in the very act of service. In other words, any opportunity to be of service will be a joy. Whether his service is recognized is irrelevant to him. What is relevant is that his service is beneficial to the target group. His success lies in the opportunity to do service.
On the other, an ambitious politician is one who is driven by his ambition to get somewhere - politically, financially, personally. Every act of his, including the good that he does, is a product of his ambition. In order words, doing a good act is not the objective of his act. He does good because he wants the doing of the good to GET HIM WHERE HE WANTS TO GO. If the doing of the good does not politically benefit him, he will not repeat the act. He will feel that he has failed. The fact that he has done good is immaterial to him.
In this line of thinking, if the doing of good is irrelevant to his ambition, he will not do any good. Alternatively, if the perception of doing good is more effective than the actual act of doing good, he will opt for the perception. This is because; his sole purpose is the realization of his political ambition.
If the above reasoning is correct, an ambitious politician is then a person who is NOT motivated by the desire to do good and be of service to the Nation. He will be strongly motivated to chart his political progress based purely on what is necessary and expedient to achieve his political goal. He will learn to the master the essential tools of political “craftsmanship” – ability to influence, manipulate mass sentiments, make fiery and entertaining speeches, create an image of “caringness, cleverness, etc”.
The ultimate goal is the realization of his political ambitions. All else are TOOLs and stepping stones for this sole objective.
Can you then imagine the colossal damage that can be unleashed by a person who has political ambitions from day one? The stronger the political ambition, the more dangerous he is to society and the people. An ambitious politician must necessarily be a narcissist. He sees himself as the center of the world and any reasonable dissent as a personal attack on his ambitions.
Do not be confused. I am not saying that one should not be in “higher positions”. All I am saying is that one should not aspire ambitiously to be in higher positions for the sake of the higher position. On the other hand, one may desire to do a greater good and in that process be lumbered with a greater level of responsibility. What is the difference?
An ambitious person will sacrifice the doing of any good if that may risk him losing the higher position.
A person who has the desire to do good will sacrifice the higher position if that may risk him losing the opportunity to do good.
What do you think?
PEACE !
I know that quite a number of “achievers” are fueled by ambition in their lives. Of course many more ambitious people have failed to realize their ambitions, but this story is often not told. Concepts and theories which are dubious but sounds “good” are often supported by looking at the smaller “successes” rather than the greater number of failures.
Ambition is doing something in order to achieve something or to get somewhere. If you get somewhere due to your ambition, you consider your self successful. On the other if your ambition does not lead you achieve the desired goal or does not get you anywhere, you are considered a failure. Ambition is specific goal driven. An ambitious person is one who will do anything it takes to achieve that ambition. Ambition per se may not be a bad thing.
Ambition sets a goal. Ambition gives you a sense of time frame and it makes you aware of the raw materials you need to move towards the realization of that ambition. It also alerts you of what to avoid if you want to achieve that ambition.
What about desire? Desire is to do something because the doing of it gives you pure joy. An act driven by desire gives you joy but it may not get you anywhere. Therefore the very act of doing the act is a success and the consequence of joy is automatic. While you do it, you experience joy. Desire has no goal except to do the very thing desired.
In the above sense therefore, a politician who is driven by desire to do “good” does good simply because it gives him joy. Whether the act of doing good gets him somewhere politically or financially or personally is immaterial. That is not the goal. His joy is derived simply from the act of doing good. When a politician is driven by the desire to serve, he finds joy in the very act of service. In other words, any opportunity to be of service will be a joy. Whether his service is recognized is irrelevant to him. What is relevant is that his service is beneficial to the target group. His success lies in the opportunity to do service.
On the other, an ambitious politician is one who is driven by his ambition to get somewhere - politically, financially, personally. Every act of his, including the good that he does, is a product of his ambition. In order words, doing a good act is not the objective of his act. He does good because he wants the doing of the good to GET HIM WHERE HE WANTS TO GO. If the doing of the good does not politically benefit him, he will not repeat the act. He will feel that he has failed. The fact that he has done good is immaterial to him.
In this line of thinking, if the doing of good is irrelevant to his ambition, he will not do any good. Alternatively, if the perception of doing good is more effective than the actual act of doing good, he will opt for the perception. This is because; his sole purpose is the realization of his political ambition.
If the above reasoning is correct, an ambitious politician is then a person who is NOT motivated by the desire to do good and be of service to the Nation. He will be strongly motivated to chart his political progress based purely on what is necessary and expedient to achieve his political goal. He will learn to the master the essential tools of political “craftsmanship” – ability to influence, manipulate mass sentiments, make fiery and entertaining speeches, create an image of “caringness, cleverness, etc”.
The ultimate goal is the realization of his political ambitions. All else are TOOLs and stepping stones for this sole objective.
Can you then imagine the colossal damage that can be unleashed by a person who has political ambitions from day one? The stronger the political ambition, the more dangerous he is to society and the people. An ambitious politician must necessarily be a narcissist. He sees himself as the center of the world and any reasonable dissent as a personal attack on his ambitions.
Do not be confused. I am not saying that one should not be in “higher positions”. All I am saying is that one should not aspire ambitiously to be in higher positions for the sake of the higher position. On the other hand, one may desire to do a greater good and in that process be lumbered with a greater level of responsibility. What is the difference?
An ambitious person will sacrifice the doing of any good if that may risk him losing the higher position.
A person who has the desire to do good will sacrifice the higher position if that may risk him losing the opportunity to do good.
What do you think?
PEACE !
Sunday, February 22, 2009
MOVIE REVIEW1: ABIYUM NAANUM
A friend suggested that I write about the movies I like on this blog since I speak about them in my talks and discussions. Ok, Here is the first.
“Abiyum, Naanum” means “Abi and me”. It is a well produced movie about a father’s experience of “letting go” ie letting his only child, Abi, grow up into an individual. Abi is his only child whom he loves very much. While the story relates how a loving father copes with the child’s growing up, it has successfully explored other issues marvelously.
Abi is an intelligent child who has a soft spot for “less fortunate people”. One day, when she was in primary school, she brought a beggar back to live with them and asked her father for permission! It is hilarious and yet touching how this subject was approached.
Later when she went off to Delhi for studies, she came back and informed her parents that she was in love with a man. Her father was in a dilemma while her mother was supportive. As events unfolded, the man of Abi’s choice is of a different ethnic origin – a Punjabi! Again, the movie handled magnificently the issue of inter marriage and humanity.
It is also a movie about relationship. About growing up. Fathers who love their daughters should watch.
Over all, the movie is very entertaining while touching on very human issues. You will laugh and be moved by the movie. It is a brilliant movie produced and acted by Prakash Raj as only he can.
I believe such movies should be translated/dubbed and shown here.
PEACE !
[God’s signs comes in Tamil movies too. Allah is multilingual!]
“Abiyum, Naanum” means “Abi and me”. It is a well produced movie about a father’s experience of “letting go” ie letting his only child, Abi, grow up into an individual. Abi is his only child whom he loves very much. While the story relates how a loving father copes with the child’s growing up, it has successfully explored other issues marvelously.
Abi is an intelligent child who has a soft spot for “less fortunate people”. One day, when she was in primary school, she brought a beggar back to live with them and asked her father for permission! It is hilarious and yet touching how this subject was approached.
Later when she went off to Delhi for studies, she came back and informed her parents that she was in love with a man. Her father was in a dilemma while her mother was supportive. As events unfolded, the man of Abi’s choice is of a different ethnic origin – a Punjabi! Again, the movie handled magnificently the issue of inter marriage and humanity.
It is also a movie about relationship. About growing up. Fathers who love their daughters should watch.
Over all, the movie is very entertaining while touching on very human issues. You will laugh and be moved by the movie. It is a brilliant movie produced and acted by Prakash Raj as only he can.
I believe such movies should be translated/dubbed and shown here.
PEACE !
[God’s signs comes in Tamil movies too. Allah is multilingual!]
Saturday, February 21, 2009
BOOK REVIEW9: THE REPUBLIC BY PLATO
I recall one bored evening when I was in Form Five where I strolled in and out of the many second-hand book shops along Macalister Road, Penang. I came across this book. Read it and re-read it. As a teenager this book shocked me for weeks. I never knew that many things which I had accepted as normal are actually "things" set up by experimenting adults. I did not even realise that I could question so - called accepted concepts. This book challenged my teenage mind's acceptance of so many things and so many things I was unhappy with. It also opened my mind to the fact that not all adults are thinking people as I had assumed all were. This is one the books that changed my life radically.
Plato was born in 427 B.C. Plato was born into a distinguished family with many political connections. Though he had all the opportunities to be active in politics (since his friends and family members were), he withdrew because he was disgusted with the wickedness of the politics of his time. He also was very upset that the State had put his friend Socrates to death on a charge of impiety and corrupting the young. He had seen that even though Socrates himself had the opportunity for political power, he had risked it by also refusing to be part of any political ploys that not benefit the people of Athens. Plato, apparently met Socrates when Plato was about 23 years of age.
Socrates wrote nothing. But he was always engaged in dialogue with whosoever engaged him. Someone who had met Socrates wrote that Socrates was a wisest man in Greece. Socrates knew that he was not and set out to prove the person wrong. His method of doing so was to cross examine people he met about their beliefs, and their ethical belief in particular, since for a Greek, 'wisdom' had a strong ethical meaning. And his questions would commonly take the form of asking people what they meant when they referred to common ethical questions like self-control, or justice or fairness. He found that they did not really know, or at any rate could not give a satisfactory account of what they meant; and to that extent he was wiser than they - he was aware of his ignorance, they were not.
But the cure of ignorance is knowledge, and so in addition to showing that conventional moral notions were often confusing and contradictory, Socrates insisted on the importance in morals of knowledge. If only we knew what was right, the problems of morality would be comparatively simple; and in the quest of that knowledge he never ceased his constant cross examination of himself and others. It is from this book that I learnt that examination of oneself can lead to the discovery that what we thought we knew, we were actually ignorant of it!
Many, many years later I discovered the correct concept of this in the Quran -"conjecture". We live lives based on conjectures and due to lack of or absence of examination, we assumed it to be facts and norms. We confuse guesswork with facts and truths. Even worse, collective guesswork becomes norms for the society!
Since reading the book, I used to spend hours with Thinavan, a school mate every evening who will entertain me with examinations of various topics like, morality, justice, emotions, sex, "right and wrong" ,etc. I think I carried this attitude through life and sometimes, it does cause problems at home! (people do not like being questioned). It also made me my constant critic.
Back to the book,, if you are looking for a mental adventure into the process of inquiry, a discovery of how foolish our thinking can be, a shocking experience of how we transmit illogical and irrational thoughts from one generation to the next, then this is the book to give you that 'high'.
In this book, Plato records, Socrates's dialogues and conversations with various people on various subjects like education, the philosophical ruler, imperfect societies, the soul, the reward of goodness in life, etc. To me, reading this book is like a roller coastal ride because the journey will be in your mind and heart.
You will enjoy it and if you have the patience to read it through and think about it - it will change your perspective of life radically!
PEACE !
Friday, February 20, 2009
MALAYSIAN ANTI CORRUPTION COMMISSION (MACC) IMAGE SMEARED?
MACC is one of the bodies that has emerged from Pak Lah's reform moves before he quits in March. Formerly, it was known as the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACA). The MACC is meant to be independent, transparent, efficient and carry out their duties according to the rule of law.
The claim by the opposition leader in Parliament recently that an operation concerning corruption which was carried out by ACA has yet to see any development is indeed disturbing. The facts and validity of this claim must be investigated and made public. Otherwise, the public may perceive that the MACC is indeed ACA in new clothes. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said he would seek information on the claims. Read TheStar for the full report.
It is important that the image of MACC is intact for public confidence to be maintained in the body. Corruption must be weeded out but must be done in accordance with the law.
The claim by the opposition leader in Parliament recently that an operation concerning corruption which was carried out by ACA has yet to see any development is indeed disturbing. The facts and validity of this claim must be investigated and made public. Otherwise, the public may perceive that the MACC is indeed ACA in new clothes. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said he would seek information on the claims. Read TheStar for the full report.
It is important that the image of MACC is intact for public confidence to be maintained in the body. Corruption must be weeded out but must be done in accordance with the law.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE?
When I first launched this blog a year ago with its message that 'POLITICIANS ARE IRRELEVANT TO SAVING THE NATION", I was softly reprimanded by some of my YB friends on both sides of the political divide.
One said, "Jahamy, you cannot deny that the politicians in power have done much for the country。“ Another said. " Tak kan lah saudara menafikan peranan siasah didalam pembentukkan ummah?". My mental antenna gets even sharper when religious sentiments are invoked, specially when Arabic is used by a non-Arab. To me, both were missing the point.
They missed the point that until politicians are able to evolve into Raperas, they are not only irrelevant but dangerous to the well-being of the Rakyat.
I recall a brain storming discussion with some "high=powered think tanks" (by their own definition) some three years ago. It was at this forum that I first mentioned the need for "Rapera consciousness". I explained at length but was dismissed as being philosophical, academic and idealistic. Of course that was the first and last time I attended that groups' meetings because I decided it is difficult to share the same breathing space with people who have completely different wave lengths on matters that I deem basic. After March 2008, they called me again. I went but only to realize that mind set does not change overnight. In fact on the pretext of a stomach cramp, I left the "meeting" early.
Frankly, I am not too pleased with either side or even convinced that they actually have the interest of the people at heart. Both sides only have power in mind. Both Maybe they are blinded by their apparent "success“ of their political thought and behaviour thus far. March 8 never really exposed their weakness, they rationalise. And the other side seems to think that March 8 is the Rakyat's condonation of what they stand for!
No one seems to consider a third option - the Rakyat is experimenting with balancing the two sides or three!
Whether religious or nationalistic or racial platforms are being used, all these parties still operate within the same out moded thinking arena and the same SYSTEM OF THOUGHT - in principle. You remove the jargon, they are all the same.
Some of them conjecture that they are thinking out side the box. I may be wrong, but I perceive that they are still within the box, though now have moved to another corner of it. Still the same thought processes premised on the same, outmoded perceptions and assumptions!
Some of my friends get upset when I refer to these as the "struggle within the peripherals". What！，they exclaim. How can I ever describe mainstream political thought as peripheral thinking? My response is: when peripheral thought has entered mainstream thinking, it is conceptually still peripheral. In lay man's terms - buang masa dengan remeh temeh. Making a storm in a tea cup. Making a mountain out of a mole hill.
Thinking that the hill is the mountain, we keep missing the mountain. That's how peripherals became mainstream in a society that nurtures sub standard thinking patterns.
IF You DO NOT get the central concept right, you run around in circles chasing your own butt.
So, what is the purpose of current political thought in the country? Is there any other objective other than the primary purpose of being in power?
Are they the only options?
PEACE.
One said, "Jahamy, you cannot deny that the politicians in power have done much for the country。“ Another said. " Tak kan lah saudara menafikan peranan siasah didalam pembentukkan ummah?". My mental antenna gets even sharper when religious sentiments are invoked, specially when Arabic is used by a non-Arab. To me, both were missing the point.
They missed the point that until politicians are able to evolve into Raperas, they are not only irrelevant but dangerous to the well-being of the Rakyat.
I recall a brain storming discussion with some "high=powered think tanks" (by their own definition) some three years ago. It was at this forum that I first mentioned the need for "Rapera consciousness". I explained at length but was dismissed as being philosophical, academic and idealistic. Of course that was the first and last time I attended that groups' meetings because I decided it is difficult to share the same breathing space with people who have completely different wave lengths on matters that I deem basic. After March 2008, they called me again. I went but only to realize that mind set does not change overnight. In fact on the pretext of a stomach cramp, I left the "meeting" early.
Frankly, I am not too pleased with either side or even convinced that they actually have the interest of the people at heart. Both sides only have power in mind. Both Maybe they are blinded by their apparent "success“ of their political thought and behaviour thus far. March 8 never really exposed their weakness, they rationalise. And the other side seems to think that March 8 is the Rakyat's condonation of what they stand for!
No one seems to consider a third option - the Rakyat is experimenting with balancing the two sides or three!
Whether religious or nationalistic or racial platforms are being used, all these parties still operate within the same out moded thinking arena and the same SYSTEM OF THOUGHT - in principle. You remove the jargon, they are all the same.
Some of them conjecture that they are thinking out side the box. I may be wrong, but I perceive that they are still within the box, though now have moved to another corner of it. Still the same thought processes premised on the same, outmoded perceptions and assumptions!
Some of my friends get upset when I refer to these as the "struggle within the peripherals". What！，they exclaim. How can I ever describe mainstream political thought as peripheral thinking? My response is: when peripheral thought has entered mainstream thinking, it is conceptually still peripheral. In lay man's terms - buang masa dengan remeh temeh. Making a storm in a tea cup. Making a mountain out of a mole hill.
Thinking that the hill is the mountain, we keep missing the mountain. That's how peripherals became mainstream in a society that nurtures sub standard thinking patterns.
IF You DO NOT get the central concept right, you run around in circles chasing your own butt.
So, what is the purpose of current political thought in the country? Is there any other objective other than the primary purpose of being in power?
Are they the only options?
PEACE.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
ELIZABETH WONG'S TEST
I have been asked again and again to write something on the recent event in Elizabeth Wong's life - the intrusion into her private life.
This is how I see it:- The "Elizabeth event" is a test for those who know of it, read about it, hear about it and comment on it. It is a test for us. I do not see it as purely her problem, but like everything else it is a test to all those who come into proximity with the issue.
How do people respond to it? The loudest on the streets are of course the politicians. Those who are opposed to her immediately position this issue as a political capital to be exploited. I pray that the same event never occurs to their daughters, wives or mothers. It is comforting to note that there are politicians on the other side who have exhibited humane qualities in responding to Elizabeth's event.
The issue is not merely political. In fact, political is the least of it. It is more a test of our humanity.
I have never seen the photos but if it is true that they were taken while she was sleeping in the privacy of her home as alleged, then it is an evil invasion of her privacy. Do Malaysians want the victim whose modesty has been outraged to be further victimized? The culprit must be severely punished as a lesson to would be offenders.
Our moral ground is being tested. If Elizabeth re-contests in a by-electon and if her privacy has been violated without her knowledge as appears to be the case, then it would appear that the only way to protest against such an evil act is to revote her in. This is beyond party politics. THIS WILL BE A VINDICATION FOR ALL WOMEN WHOSE RIGHTS HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED FOR EONS.
I agree with lawyer Akbar Din that the best legal recourse for Elizabeth is the Penal Code, not the Syariah courts as the impossible issue of 4 witnesses will arise.
In the meantime, I can only share with Elizabeth that Allah has promised that he will not burden us with a burden greater than what we can bear.
PEACE.
POLITICS VS HUMANITY
Does it have to be one or the other? In the final analysis, it is entirely your choice. It does not matter that the whole world is saying that if you are in politics you cannot be a human. If you want to be in politics and yet it is important that you maintain your humanity, then, you simply have to persist with your humanity. Any reader of the Quran will tell you that God had already warned us that the demons will wait for us at every corner to way lay us. So, you have to choose – do you want to be a servant of God or a servant of the demon?
And who says that a servant of God cannot be of service while he maintains his humanity? Look at the world around us. Surely it is not the animalistic politicians that are responsible for the sustenance of human beings? None of them can make the rain come down or stop the downpour. Neither can they make the sun rise or set. Everything that is truly important to you and me is taken care of by “an invisible hand”. However, when things go wrong, like wars, food shortages, lack of housing, etc, we can see the handiwork of the demonic politicians.
Most of us do not even have the chance to personally meet or to know these politicians (which may actually be a good thing). They too hardly touch our lives on a personal level. They do not sit down with you and talk over your problems, do they? When you are short of some cash, you run to your family or friends for rescue not them. When you are sick, who takes care of you? With them hardly affecting your personal lives, have you ever wondered why some citizens place them on pedestals of assumed respect? In fact to the politicians, you are just part of the faceless crowd that they need to show support, to clap and to make their presence noticed. That is why they hardly TALK TO YOU but they TALK DOWN TO YOU. Empathy is a humane quality. Politicians lack that.
It really does not matter that the whole world says you are idealistic if you do not subscribe to the animalistic nature of current politics. Raperas would readily know the difference between what is perceived as pragmatic and what is “right”. Pragmatism is often a tool for the demon to fool the people with short term solutions that will only bring forth long term ruin. It is pragmatic that the citizens are given sweets every time there is an election even though you do not get it when it is really needed. It is pragmatic that one politician must necessarily disagree with another politician from another party even though it is in the national interest.
It is pragmatic that the opponent be “killed off” by any means even though the methods are completely animalistic. When you sit down and analyse the “pragmatic methods” used by these animalistic politicians in almost every sphere of their empty lives, you cannot decide whether to laugh or cry. What makes the dilemma even greater is the frenzy with which the respective uninformed political supporters swamp around their respective “leaders” supporting the pragmatic moves. I always contend that life will be their best teacher and it never fails to teach well.
Raperas must recognize the outmoded, borrowed political philosophies that we faithfully carry on in this country – that too not fully understanding it. I recall a young aspiring politician in this country who does not seem to understand the concept of philosophical foundations. He got into the thick of things and picked up animalistic political behavior thinking that is the norm. I pray that him being still young, he will be short on pride and arrogance and will allow his humility to grow. Perhaps with the sprouting of humility he may learn. The young must be allowed to grow and learn from their mistakes.
Humanity means the quality of being humane; the kind feelings, dispositions, and sympathies of human; especially, a disposition to relieve persons or animals in distress, and to treat all creatures with kindness and tenderness. Is this antithesis to politics? If you think so, then you are simply expressing your own inner preferences but excusing it away as a ‘practical outlook’. Surely there must be a difference between recognizing that current political climate is animalistic and outmoded and, condoning it as normal. To me, it is an aberration.
There has to be real change in political thought. We have to move forward. This has to start with the people themselves, especially the Raperas. We have to understand and accept that humanity does not have to be sacrificed at the altar of politics.
Raperas must reject any politician that sacrifices humanity for political expediency and gain. Hopefully, through such action and awareness among the people, more politicians will be motivated to cultivate their humanity.
PEACE.
And who says that a servant of God cannot be of service while he maintains his humanity? Look at the world around us. Surely it is not the animalistic politicians that are responsible for the sustenance of human beings? None of them can make the rain come down or stop the downpour. Neither can they make the sun rise or set. Everything that is truly important to you and me is taken care of by “an invisible hand”. However, when things go wrong, like wars, food shortages, lack of housing, etc, we can see the handiwork of the demonic politicians.
Most of us do not even have the chance to personally meet or to know these politicians (which may actually be a good thing). They too hardly touch our lives on a personal level. They do not sit down with you and talk over your problems, do they? When you are short of some cash, you run to your family or friends for rescue not them. When you are sick, who takes care of you? With them hardly affecting your personal lives, have you ever wondered why some citizens place them on pedestals of assumed respect? In fact to the politicians, you are just part of the faceless crowd that they need to show support, to clap and to make their presence noticed. That is why they hardly TALK TO YOU but they TALK DOWN TO YOU. Empathy is a humane quality. Politicians lack that.
It really does not matter that the whole world says you are idealistic if you do not subscribe to the animalistic nature of current politics. Raperas would readily know the difference between what is perceived as pragmatic and what is “right”. Pragmatism is often a tool for the demon to fool the people with short term solutions that will only bring forth long term ruin. It is pragmatic that the citizens are given sweets every time there is an election even though you do not get it when it is really needed. It is pragmatic that one politician must necessarily disagree with another politician from another party even though it is in the national interest.
It is pragmatic that the opponent be “killed off” by any means even though the methods are completely animalistic. When you sit down and analyse the “pragmatic methods” used by these animalistic politicians in almost every sphere of their empty lives, you cannot decide whether to laugh or cry. What makes the dilemma even greater is the frenzy with which the respective uninformed political supporters swamp around their respective “leaders” supporting the pragmatic moves. I always contend that life will be their best teacher and it never fails to teach well.
Raperas must recognize the outmoded, borrowed political philosophies that we faithfully carry on in this country – that too not fully understanding it. I recall a young aspiring politician in this country who does not seem to understand the concept of philosophical foundations. He got into the thick of things and picked up animalistic political behavior thinking that is the norm. I pray that him being still young, he will be short on pride and arrogance and will allow his humility to grow. Perhaps with the sprouting of humility he may learn. The young must be allowed to grow and learn from their mistakes.
Humanity means the quality of being humane; the kind feelings, dispositions, and sympathies of human; especially, a disposition to relieve persons or animals in distress, and to treat all creatures with kindness and tenderness. Is this antithesis to politics? If you think so, then you are simply expressing your own inner preferences but excusing it away as a ‘practical outlook’. Surely there must be a difference between recognizing that current political climate is animalistic and outmoded and, condoning it as normal. To me, it is an aberration.
There has to be real change in political thought. We have to move forward. This has to start with the people themselves, especially the Raperas. We have to understand and accept that humanity does not have to be sacrificed at the altar of politics.
Raperas must reject any politician that sacrifices humanity for political expediency and gain. Hopefully, through such action and awareness among the people, more politicians will be motivated to cultivate their humanity.
PEACE.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
The Violence of Hypocrisy
The minds of human beings have been trained by our current system to recognize only what is superficial and what is physically imminent. Our kindergartens, schools and universities are geared towards “physical survival studies”. Hence we may produce excellent technocrats but poor human beings. Academically brilliant but with poverty of character.
You may continue to read it here
You may continue to read it here
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
What would you do if you knew you were the only one who could save the planet from imminent danger?
It is uncanny. I am in Malaysia and Chris Goslow is in California. I chose the word 'Rapera' in Malay to mean saviour citizen and she produced a piece of music called "Rapera" about a youth who attempts to save the world. This is the email I received from her:
Hi, Jay:
This is quite an extraordinary coincidence. I am a composer of a piece of music called "Rapera" about a youth who attempts to save the Earth. The funny thing is, I chose the title because I was putting rap together with opera, hence "rapera." But your description of what a rapera is http://jahaberdeen.blogspot.com/2008/11/who-is-rapera-and-what-can-heshe-do.html is absolutely consistent with the title I chose. I was inspired to contact you because I thought it could be useful for me in the work I'm doing to extend this work, because I'm thinking of writing in an organization called "the rapera" which is seeking to save the world.
You can read more about my work here: www.cwiggz.com.
Thanks, I look forward to hearing from you.
Best,
Chris Goslow
This is what I replied:
Chris,
You are correct..this is an extraordinary coincidence. I only recently found out that the word "Rapera" means rap! It may be strange that the word "Rapera" inspires both in you and me a sense of being a "savior human". Truths and good works, I suppose are universally connected. I went to your site and when I read the synopsis of your musical work, I had chills down my spine - the story seems to capture precisely the message that I am trying to put across in the word "rapera"! These words that you wrote was like reading my mind:
"but instead he is given an ultimatum: that humanity is given one more chance to redeem itself or else the Earth will be destroyed".
God has already given us the choices and the capability that we need to make this earth (and anything else that comes our way) a "heaven".
I would be happy to be part of any effort to cultivate the "rapera" conciousness.
Please keep in touch and let me know how I may be helpful. I am in Malaysia..and you? US?
May I link you on my blog?
jay.
I hope the work by Chris Goslow can come to Malaysia.
Hi, Jay:
This is quite an extraordinary coincidence. I am a composer of a piece of music called "Rapera" about a youth who attempts to save the Earth. The funny thing is, I chose the title because I was putting rap together with opera, hence "rapera." But your description of what a rapera is http://jahaberdeen.blogspot.com/2008/11/who-is-rapera-and-what-can-heshe-do.html is absolutely consistent with the title I chose. I was inspired to contact you because I thought it could be useful for me in the work I'm doing to extend this work, because I'm thinking of writing in an organization called "the rapera" which is seeking to save the world.
You can read more about my work here: www.cwiggz.com.
Thanks, I look forward to hearing from you.
Best,
Chris Goslow
This is what I replied:
Chris,
You are correct..this is an extraordinary coincidence. I only recently found out that the word "Rapera" means rap! It may be strange that the word "Rapera" inspires both in you and me a sense of being a "savior human". Truths and good works, I suppose are universally connected. I went to your site and when I read the synopsis of your musical work, I had chills down my spine - the story seems to capture precisely the message that I am trying to put across in the word "rapera"! These words that you wrote was like reading my mind:
"but instead he is given an ultimatum: that humanity is given one more chance to redeem itself or else the Earth will be destroyed".
God has already given us the choices and the capability that we need to make this earth (and anything else that comes our way) a "heaven".
I would be happy to be part of any effort to cultivate the "rapera" conciousness.
Please keep in touch and let me know how I may be helpful. I am in Malaysia..and you? US?
May I link you on my blog?
jay.
I hope the work by Chris Goslow can come to Malaysia.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
RETHINKING OIL POLICY?
The Journey Towards Crude Oil Independence
By AMIR FAIZAL NAIDU BIN ABDUL MANAN
This was an article i submitted to NST last year, but didnt get published for reasons unknown. So facts may have changed since.
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The Government lately announced that due to the drastic increase in crude oil prices of the recent past, a major revamping of the fuel subsidy structure had to be done in order to reduce the financial burden the country would otherwise have to shoulder. No doubt, there were lots of hues and cries from the public, myself including despite the fact that I positively understand and agree that there is a need for the Government to review the subsidy structure. However, I also understand that this necessary adjustment will not protect us from future oil-price volatility. What will happen when the price is unbearably high and the Government decides that they have to revoke the subsidy completely? Will that then mean that we, the public, would continue to be susceptible to the volatility of petrol prices?
The Government should realize that the restructured fuel subsidy will merely offer a temporary and short-term relieve on Malaysia’s financial stresses. It is not a solution but rather a way of passing the problem from the Government to the public. We need to address the main problem head on and not make it another elephant in the room!
Fact one: global energy demand will continue to rise in the future to come, in fact it is globally agreed that world energy demand will double in the next few decades, particularly in light of the fact that China and India are gradually moving into an energy-intensive industrialization phase.
Fact two: supply of conventional oil and gas will struggle to keep pace with the growing energy demand. Supply of easy oil is no longer easy. Oil companies will surely attest to this, and I believe that the CEO of Petronas (Tan Sri Hassan Marican) confirmed this (NSTP- 6th June) when he revealed that much bigger investment is required to extract less oil.
Fact three: Because of the fact that we will struggle to meet demand with supply in the years to come, the price of oil is subjected to greater uncertainties, and looking at the volatility of oil prices the way it is right now, I seriously doubt that it will get any better. I doubt it will drop below 100USD per barrel, and I doubt that the burden we carry around for being heavily dependent on conventional oil and gas will ease on the public’s wallet and also on the Government’s wallet. But even if does drop below 100USD, I don’t think it will be long before OPEC decides to cut production with hope of driving the prices back to its glorious days (i.e. profitable for OPEC).
The Government needs to start looking into biofuels, which could serve as an alternative for gasoline. I applaud the Government’s effort in developing and promoting the use of Palm Oil for biodiesel. Indeed this is a brilliant step towards the right direction. However, we strongly need something similar for gasoline. We should not be contented and overly focused on the development of alternatives for diesel only, particularly when diesel only represents a smaller percentage of our total transport energy consumption. There are many alternatives that we could look into. Currently, bio-ethanol is assuming a bigger role as a replacement for gasoline worldwide. Brazil is the leader, and is closely followed behind by the US. The EU too is mandating the use of ethanol as a blending component for gasoline, and even in the East, the use of ethanol is gaining popularity. For example Thailand is already currently supplying E10 (10% ethanol blend) and E20 (20% ethanol blend) at its retail stations nationwide. In the news recently, the Thai government announced their plans of introducing E85 into the market by the end of the year, despite the many objections. Philippines on the other hand, too have been offering E10 for the last few years in some of its stations. The Philippines Biofuels Act of 2006, has stipulated that 5% of their total gasoline volume in 2009 will be substituted with ethanol. In fact, many other countries in the East (Australia, India, China etc) are gradually blending ethanol into their gasoline pool. I struggle to understand why we are not jumping into the bandwagon when this is clearly beneficial for the nation. I am not suggesting that we need to have the herd mentality, but bio-ethanol is already accepted worldwide, and car manufacturers are already in the race to develop and promote their versions of ethanol-compatible vehicles. If it is already coming to us, why wait till the very last minute and only follow pace after being left a few generations behind?
Many may feel that there would be compatibility issues surrounding the use of ethanol in our conventional gasoline car parc. However, many also fail to realize that in other markets in the world where bio-ethanol is mandated, typically car manufacturers (OEMs) endorse (and extend the warranty) the use of ethanol in gasoline of up to 10% (E10) in modern (without the use of carburetor) vehicles. Western countries that are big on using bio-ethanol, particularly Brazil, have been aggressively and actively promoting the use of ethanol in their own country in order to reduce their dependence on imported oil and their vulnerability to price volatility. The gradual implementation of ethanol-blended fuel together with the radical measures taken to motivate OEMs to develop and market ethanol-compatible cars (FFVs- flexible fuel vehicles) in Brazil, as well as offering incentives to the public for the use of bio-ethanol, Brazil is now the biggest consumer and exporter of bioethanol in the world. At present, FFVs represent the biggest passenger car market share in Brazil, and they offer gasoline laced with ethanol as high as 85% (E85).
There are lots of OEMs currently producing FFVs and in fact, if my memory serves me right, Ford, not too long ago, established a plant in the Philippine specializing in the production of FFVs for the Asean market. As a matter of fact, Volvo is already offering FFVs in the Thai market.
Ethanol could generally be produced via many ways, using various feedstocks, such as sugar cane, cassava, sorghum potato, wheat, rice, molasses and many more. To avoid competition with food crops, there are technologies out there where bio-ethanol could be produced from waste agricultural products. This will indeed tie in very well with the Prime Minister’s suggestion of developing many more agricultural lands, and would also be a plus side for the environment.
Therefore, why not emulate the same initiatives taken by the Brazilians (and other countries worldwide) and maybe hopefully at some point we could be 85% less vulnerable to the volatility of oil prices ?
FOOD SECURITY
There is a good article on food security which is worth thinking about. Syed Akbar Ali writes on his blog:
"As we are sitting and reading this, little termites are eating away here and there maybe without us realizing it.
We talk about food security, being self sufficient in food production, saving valuable foreign exchange which is now used to import food, providing employment in the agricultural sector etc. We import about 800,000 tonnes of rice a year. At RM1,500 per tonne, we are spending RM1.2 Billion to import rice".
You may continue reading the article at OutSyed TheBox
"As we are sitting and reading this, little termites are eating away here and there maybe without us realizing it.
We talk about food security, being self sufficient in food production, saving valuable foreign exchange which is now used to import food, providing employment in the agricultural sector etc. We import about 800,000 tonnes of rice a year. At RM1,500 per tonne, we are spending RM1.2 Billion to import rice".
You may continue reading the article at OutSyed TheBox
Monday, February 9, 2009
Why the fight to use the word “Allah”?
The term “Allah” as many in many parts of the world knows is a term that is used exclusively by Muslims to denote the concept of “The” “One God” who has no partners, does not beget nor is begotten. The term “Allah” used by the Muslims also encompasses the following belief:
“God! There is no god but He,-the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permits? He knows what (appears to His creatures as) is before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass any of His knowledge except as He wills. His Throne extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory)”. (Quran: 2.255).
You may continue reading the article here.
“God! There is no god but He,-the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permits? He knows what (appears to His creatures as) is before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass any of His knowledge except as He wills. His Throne extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory)”. (Quran: 2.255).
You may continue reading the article here.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
The Passing of a Rapera....Rest in Peace Markus
I never got to know this young man. I did make a note to get to know him. Read his blog last year and found a soul that had a message for the world, a mission of love. Now he has passed away to another "dimension" having finished his task here.
Rest in peace Markus Chung Yau Ng [1985 to 2009].
Rest in peace Markus Chung Yau Ng [1985 to 2009].
Without doubt, Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir has been watched very closely by political observers for many years. He has capabilities, those who know him know him as a thinker, and he is approachable. In short, he is viewed as Menteri Besar material. I personally think he is right choice. Only events thereafter will determine whether this view is correct.
However, it may be unfortunate that a capable man is fated to assume such responsibilities under these circumstances. But many say, it is only another political event. What remains important is - can the new Government deliver?
The younger generation Rakyat generally do not seem to care which party is in power anymore. What they want to see is intelligent, efficient and effective leadership that can benefit the Rakyat. They want less rhetoric and more caring action.
The Rakyat is actually waiting to see politicians that can evolve into a higher state of statemen. The Rakyat no longer want to be sponsors for politicians to make wealth, assume power and walk arrogantly. Everyone will have to work hard and honestly for their income. This includes politicians.
If the politicians fail to evolve to this higher level of political existence, they may be viewed as redundant as the appendix - when the pain sets in, surgery is the answer.
Crossovers, other than for explicitly stated inevitable principled reasons (which may even be questioned) would be frowned upon in any society that upholds the sanctity of the voter's mandate. Crossovers WITHOUT the consent of the voters will tantamount to breach of the voter's trust. Politicians must understand what MANDATE means. It is a contract between the voters and the candidate with explicit and implicit terms.
For this reason, the current issue has given rise to objections from many quarters both from UMNO and non-UMNO quarters.
PEACE !
Friday, February 6, 2009
Nazrin: Courts not for political antics
The courts should not be used for political influence or perceived by the people as “a place for theatrical performance with pre-written scripts,” said Raja Muda of Perak Raja Nazrin Shah. You can read the full report in The Star“Practice according to the highest code of ethics to strengthen the democratic system in line with check and balance mechanisms for the three pillars — the legislative, executive and judiciary,” he said.
DAULAT TUANKU !
Thursday, February 5, 2009
The PERAK PERPLEXITY
The Perak political drama is perplexing in many ways. It also gives rise to two issues- one moral and the other legal.
Legally, it involves constitutional issues and if not properly handled, it may give rise to a constitutional crisis in the State. It appears that PR and already seen the Sultan and BN will be doing soon. It will be the Sultan who will then decide whether to dissolve the Assembly or allow BN to form the government. Until such dissolution or forming of the new government by BN, the current PR government i still valid.
On the moral side, there is the issue of unprincipled politicians who go before the Rakyat on one party and then defect to another platform. It may be very possible that such leaders may be completely rejected by the Rakyat should they seek a re-election from the Rakyat. This has to be tested.
Shad Faruqi opines that “Party-hopping is a despicable activity no matter which party does it. Not only does it bring shame to the political process, it is also a bad way to form a government,” he added. You can read it here.
What are your views? Can a politician do whatever he wants once he is voted in by the Rakyat or is his mandate cancelled once he party hops without going back to the voters to get their views?
Peace !
Addendum.
And this is Tun Dr Mahathir's take on Perak:
"Apakah UMNO begitu terdesak sehingga tidak dapat tunggu keputusan mahkamah berkenaan tuduhan terhadap mereka sebelum menerima mereka? Jika diterima sekarang dan kemudian mereka didapati tidak bersalah maka Kerajaan pimpinan UMNO (lebih kurang) akan dituduh mempengaruhi mahkamah. Benar tidak benar bukan soalnya. Pada pandangan masyarakat tuduhan ini tetap akan dipercayai. Ia akan punyai kesan dalam PRU13".
Legally, it involves constitutional issues and if not properly handled, it may give rise to a constitutional crisis in the State. It appears that PR and already seen the Sultan and BN will be doing soon. It will be the Sultan who will then decide whether to dissolve the Assembly or allow BN to form the government. Until such dissolution or forming of the new government by BN, the current PR government i still valid.
On the moral side, there is the issue of unprincipled politicians who go before the Rakyat on one party and then defect to another platform. It may be very possible that such leaders may be completely rejected by the Rakyat should they seek a re-election from the Rakyat. This has to be tested.
Shad Faruqi opines that “Party-hopping is a despicable activity no matter which party does it. Not only does it bring shame to the political process, it is also a bad way to form a government,” he added. You can read it here.
What are your views? Can a politician do whatever he wants once he is voted in by the Rakyat or is his mandate cancelled once he party hops without going back to the voters to get their views?
Peace !
Addendum.
And this is Tun Dr Mahathir's take on Perak:
"Apakah UMNO begitu terdesak sehingga tidak dapat tunggu keputusan mahkamah berkenaan tuduhan terhadap mereka sebelum menerima mereka? Jika diterima sekarang dan kemudian mereka didapati tidak bersalah maka Kerajaan pimpinan UMNO (lebih kurang) akan dituduh mempengaruhi mahkamah. Benar tidak benar bukan soalnya. Pada pandangan masyarakat tuduhan ini tetap akan dipercayai. Ia akan punyai kesan dalam PRU13".
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
PERAK: BN OR RE-ELECTION?
According to the little humming bird that perched on the window sill, it appears that Barisan Nasional will be governing Perak.
But a crow whispered that if that happens, PR will try to engineer a by-election.
Which is good for the People? A Government that cannot govern its assemblymen must give way to one that can? Or another waste of public funds?
Peace.
But a crow whispered that if that happens, PR will try to engineer a by-election.
Which is good for the People? A Government that cannot govern its assemblymen must give way to one that can? Or another waste of public funds?
Peace.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
RETURN GUANTANAMO TO THE PEOPLE OF CUBA.
President Barack Obama should take immediate steps to return the US naval base at Guantanamo to the people of Cuba without pre-conditions.
Cubans have on numerous occasions demanded that the US dismantle its military base on their homeland which has been there for 106 years. It was established following the Spanish-American War of 1898 and is a direct consequence of colonialism. The terms of the treaty governing the base and its usage are so lopsided that the Cuban people have no choice but to put up with the base ad infinitum --- unless the US government decides to relinquish its control over Guantanamo.
If Obama is sincere about dealing with other states on the basis of mutual respect, he should begin by changing US attitude towards its little neighbor which since the Cuban Revolution of 1959 has been characterized by insufferable arrogance and insolence that has no parallel in the modern world. Apart from perpetuating an edifice of colonial occupation in Guantanamo, successive US Presidents in the last 50 years have subjected Cuba to every conceivable injustice. A suffocating trade embargo against the island has been in place for 46 years. Cuba has been invaded with the active collaboration of the US; terrorist attacks have been conducted on Cuban soil by groups and individuals affiliated to the CIA; a Cuban civilian aircraft carrying children among other passengers was destroyed with the connivance of the US; Cubans languish in US jails on trumped up charges; and numerous attempts have been made by agents linked to US buttressed networks to assassinate Fidel Castro, the leader of the Cuban Revolution.
In a nutshell, US Administrations in the past have not shown an iota of respect for the independence and sovereignty of the 11.4 million Cuban people. It is the Cuban people’s desire to be independent and their refusal to submit to US hegemony that has provoked the wrath of US Administrations. Obama should demonstrate through deeds that he respects those who seek to protect their independence and integrity. That is the change that we would like to see in US foreign policy under his presidency.
Dr. Chandra Muzaffar,
President,
International Movement for a Just World (JUST).
Malaysia,
February 2, 2009.
Cubans have on numerous occasions demanded that the US dismantle its military base on their homeland which has been there for 106 years. It was established following the Spanish-American War of 1898 and is a direct consequence of colonialism. The terms of the treaty governing the base and its usage are so lopsided that the Cuban people have no choice but to put up with the base ad infinitum --- unless the US government decides to relinquish its control over Guantanamo.
If Obama is sincere about dealing with other states on the basis of mutual respect, he should begin by changing US attitude towards its little neighbor which since the Cuban Revolution of 1959 has been characterized by insufferable arrogance and insolence that has no parallel in the modern world. Apart from perpetuating an edifice of colonial occupation in Guantanamo, successive US Presidents in the last 50 years have subjected Cuba to every conceivable injustice. A suffocating trade embargo against the island has been in place for 46 years. Cuba has been invaded with the active collaboration of the US; terrorist attacks have been conducted on Cuban soil by groups and individuals affiliated to the CIA; a Cuban civilian aircraft carrying children among other passengers was destroyed with the connivance of the US; Cubans languish in US jails on trumped up charges; and numerous attempts have been made by agents linked to US buttressed networks to assassinate Fidel Castro, the leader of the Cuban Revolution.
In a nutshell, US Administrations in the past have not shown an iota of respect for the independence and sovereignty of the 11.4 million Cuban people. It is the Cuban people’s desire to be independent and their refusal to submit to US hegemony that has provoked the wrath of US Administrations. Obama should demonstrate through deeds that he respects those who seek to protect their independence and integrity. That is the change that we would like to see in US foreign policy under his presidency.
Dr. Chandra Muzaffar,
President,
International Movement for a Just World (JUST).
Malaysia,
February 2, 2009.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Detoxing the Economic Crisis4 - MANAGE PERCEPTIONS
PERCEPTIONS as any economist will tell you can be lethal causes that unleash behaviors that will adversely affect the economy. If the businessmen perceive that the economy will slow down, he will already take steps to cut down costs - cut production, meaning retrenchment of resources.
Likewise, if a consumer perceives that the economy is slowing down, he may cut down on consumption expenditure will lead to a decline in demand for goods and services which in turn will affect the productive sector which in turn may lead to rising unemployment.
I think by now you can see the point - negative perceptions about the state of the economy can bring forth chain reactions which actually brings the economy into a bad shape! So perceptions must be managed.
Political instability only fuels negative perceptions.
Average leaders who are totally unimaginative in their economic solutions will only fuel negative perceptions.
Financial leaders who speak negatively of the economic future and/or speak completely unintelligently will only fuel negative perceptions.
Leadership that is unable to provide economic direction and move the public (both on the consumer and the producer side) will only fuel negative perceptions.
Negative perceptions leads to speculative behaviour which will injure the national economy.
These MUST be managed.
There must be firm, intelligent leadership. Rhetoric and mere politics will only drown the country with the economic tsunami which may largely be a result of speculative behaviors due to lack of economic perception management.
Peace!
Likewise, if a consumer perceives that the economy is slowing down, he may cut down on consumption expenditure will lead to a decline in demand for goods and services which in turn will affect the productive sector which in turn may lead to rising unemployment.
I think by now you can see the point - negative perceptions about the state of the economy can bring forth chain reactions which actually brings the economy into a bad shape! So perceptions must be managed.
Political instability only fuels negative perceptions.
Average leaders who are totally unimaginative in their economic solutions will only fuel negative perceptions.
Financial leaders who speak negatively of the economic future and/or speak completely unintelligently will only fuel negative perceptions.
Leadership that is unable to provide economic direction and move the public (both on the consumer and the producer side) will only fuel negative perceptions.
Negative perceptions leads to speculative behaviour which will injure the national economy.
These MUST be managed.
There must be firm, intelligent leadership. Rhetoric and mere politics will only drown the country with the economic tsunami which may largely be a result of speculative behaviors due to lack of economic perception management.
Peace!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Detoxing the Economic Crisis3: - Increase Spending
There is enough news already to create an economic slowdown even if there was none impending in the first place - news of 40.000 layoffs, news of factories closing down, etc. Negative economic perceptions often become self-fulfilling prophesies. Perceptions have to be managed because speculative behaviors impact economic realities.
Clearly, spending is necessary to stimulate the economy. However, under circumstances where unemployment is rising and where the private sector foresees dark horizons in the future, they will cut back on investment expenditure (meaning: no new employment) and on costs (meaning unemployment increases). This as we saw earlier will only start the vicious cycle of further decline in income levels and increase unemployment.
But the economy needs investment. There has to be injection of capital into the economy which will allow resources to be employed and generate income so that the economy can grow by the multiplier effect. This expenditure must come initially from the Government. It is a start to counter falling incomes and rising unemployment. The spending however must be in the sectors that can stimulate employment.
The other approach will be to boost private sector confidence and by giving them the access to capital so that investments can increase. The capacity of the private sector to expand and to produce goods and services must be increased. One good move recently by Bank Negara was the reduction of the BLR. Whether the banks will now renegotiate interests with the business sector and consumers is important for the BLR reduction to be of any real effect.
The consumers (people) must also be given the ability to spend by reducing the various taxes levied that largely reduces the real income of the consumers. The capacity of the people to spend must be increased. I am totally amazed that to date the "brains" in the government have not come up with tax proposals that will confront the economic slowdown.
Increase in government expenditure that does not relate to increase in employment of resources may only cause inflationary pressures for example, if 30% of of the government expenditure goes to "commission" or "corruption", then these money increase will not stimulate the economy.
SMEs need stimulus and assistance because they are important agents of stimulating the economy. They have the ability of becoming "shock absorbers" for economic slowdowns.
Mega projects that does not contribute to a substantial increase in the employment of local resources are useless for the purposes of sheltering or reducing the impact of economic slowdown on locals.
So, increase both spending and the capacity to spend.
Peace.
Clearly, spending is necessary to stimulate the economy. However, under circumstances where unemployment is rising and where the private sector foresees dark horizons in the future, they will cut back on investment expenditure (meaning: no new employment) and on costs (meaning unemployment increases). This as we saw earlier will only start the vicious cycle of further decline in income levels and increase unemployment.
But the economy needs investment. There has to be injection of capital into the economy which will allow resources to be employed and generate income so that the economy can grow by the multiplier effect. This expenditure must come initially from the Government. It is a start to counter falling incomes and rising unemployment. The spending however must be in the sectors that can stimulate employment.
The other approach will be to boost private sector confidence and by giving them the access to capital so that investments can increase. The capacity of the private sector to expand and to produce goods and services must be increased. One good move recently by Bank Negara was the reduction of the BLR. Whether the banks will now renegotiate interests with the business sector and consumers is important for the BLR reduction to be of any real effect.
The consumers (people) must also be given the ability to spend by reducing the various taxes levied that largely reduces the real income of the consumers. The capacity of the people to spend must be increased. I am totally amazed that to date the "brains" in the government have not come up with tax proposals that will confront the economic slowdown.
Increase in government expenditure that does not relate to increase in employment of resources may only cause inflationary pressures for example, if 30% of of the government expenditure goes to "commission" or "corruption", then these money increase will not stimulate the economy.
SMEs need stimulus and assistance because they are important agents of stimulating the economy. They have the ability of becoming "shock absorbers" for economic slowdowns.
Mega projects that does not contribute to a substantial increase in the employment of local resources are useless for the purposes of sheltering or reducing the impact of economic slowdown on locals.
So, increase both spending and the capacity to spend.
Peace.