Pakatan rally draws more support in Sarawak

Posted on April 10, 2011 by Puteri

BN troubled as Pakatan rally draws more support, so says the headline in the Malaysian Insider today.  Well, I hope they are troubled!  About time they are afraid!

I think the people of Sarawak are finally waking up to the corrupt state BN government under the leadership of the even more corrupt Chief Minister, Taib Mahmud.   The last several years have been hell for people living in rural Sarawak.  Their customary rights land have been stolen right before their eyes.  Those who dared protect their land have been beaten, detained and sued by the thugs hired by cronies of Taib Mahmud who were given the permission to grab the land under the guise of rural development.

Adding to that, the issue of the rights of Christians to freely practise their faith, the use of the Bible in the Malay language, and to freely use the term “Allah” to refer to their God, in the fore-front of the national debate, this election cycle in Sarawak, which also happens to have a population of majority Christians, is unlike previous elections.

In the past people, especially the rural folks, were easily bought off with cash handouts, and a little project in their locality, but this time, the anger over the land grab of their NCR land is not likely to be appeased.

With the Pakatan Rakyat skilfully exploiting the grievances of the people, I would hope the BN in Sarawak are quaking in their boots!  I would hope that the Prime Minister’s effort in rallying the people on behalf of the state BN will be for nought.

I sincerely hope so!  It is about time the people of Sarawak take back their state and give Taib Mahmud and his similarly corrupt political allies the boot!  And once Taib Mahumud is out of power, sue him and his family for the return of the wealth that they had stolen from the state while they were in power!

Wake up, Sarawak, and make history on April 16!

 

Posted in Sarawak | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Half-truths and inaccuracies evident in History syllabus says historian

Posted on April 9, 2011 by Puteri

PETALING JAYA, April 9 — Secondary school history textbooks are too Islamic and Malay-centric and have downplayed the contribution of non-Malays and other religions in the country’s history, a historian said today.
Historian Dr Ranjit Malhi Singh also believed that “scant attention” has been given to the efforts of the Chinese and Indians in the development of the nation.

The author of history textbooks up until 1996 also charged that there were too many “half-truths and factual errors” in the current syllabus, and that it was laden with “value judgments.”

“There should be no value judgment in our textbooks. It is the greatest sin in any history book.

“There is a lopsided emphasis on Islamic civilisation… five out of 10 chapters of the current Form Four history textbook deal with Islamic history whereby earlier the Form 4 history textbook only had one chapter on Islamic history,” Ranjit said at a discussion organised by Catholic Teachers’ Association at the Assumption Catholic church here.

According to Ranjit, “half-truths” and inaccuracies were evident in the existing syllabus. As an example, he said the history books have omitted the fact that Parameswara (founder of Malacca) was a Hindu prince from Palembang who died a Hindu.

He also said the current syllabus gave the wrong impression that the other races did not fight courageously in defending Malaya during the Japanese Occupation, and that only the Malay Regiment did so.

“Thousands of Punjabi, Gurkha, British and Australian soldiers died defending Malaya during the Japanese onslaught.

“Thirty-three of the 232 names on the Tugu Negara are Sikhs,” said Ranjit.

The historian pointed out that the current Form Four history textbooks had reduced by more than 25 per cent of the text related to Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism compared to the previous syllabus (from 1,112 words to about 832 words.)

Full story at Malaysia Insider.

With Ketuanan Melayu types running the government and the Education Ministry, is anyone even surprised? This trend of over-emphasizing the role of Malays and Islam in the Malaysia’s history has been going on for over 20 years.

I would say the trend became apparent when Bahasa Melayu became the compulsory language of communication in the Malaysian education system.

It is a shame though, that there are parents (based on comments left on the Malaysian Insider story) who just tell their kids to accept what they are taught and to pass the exam and when they leave school to completely ignore what they have learned.  Why do we need to subject our kids to this brain-washing and waste their time on things that are totally useless?   Do we think that our kids are too dumb to know that Malaysia is where she is today mostly due to the sacrifice of one racial and religious group in the country?

I think that Dr Ranjit Malhi Singh is right in bringing attention to this blatant bias in the content of the History syllabus.  I hope enough people, especially parents, object to the content of the current History syllabus and cause the Ministry of Education to drop it and come up with one that is more accurate, factual and more in keeping with what the country has gone through and the people who have influenced that direction without adding unnecessary value judgments to it.

I don’t want to be pessimistic but recent events and trends do not look too promising.  The government is filled with the Ketuanan Melayu crowd.

 

Posted in Education | 2 Comments

MP Says Men Have Affairs Because Wives ‘Neglect’ Their Duty in Bed

Posted on April 8, 2011 by Puteri

Malaysian men have extramarital sex because of “wives who neglect their responsibilities” to their husbands, a Malaysian lawmaker told Parliament on Thursday, outraging women’s groups.

“Husbands driving home after work see things that are sexually arousing and go to their wives to ease their urges,” said independent lawmaker Ibrahim Ali, according to online portal Malaysiakini.

“But when they come home to their wives, they will say, ‘wait, I’m cooking,’ or ‘wait, I’m getting ready to visit relatives’,” Ibrahim said.

“In Islam, wives are supposed to stop everything to fulfill their husband’s demands.”

Ali heads Perkasa, a right-wing Malay nationalist group seeking to protect ethnic Malay dominance in politics.

His strident comments came as he asked about plans by the government’s religious development department to educate wives on their responsibilities.

Wives failing in their duties pushed men to go to “private places to satisfy their urges”, he said.

Full story here.

Where was this guy when Anwar Ibrahim’s alleged sex video surfaced?! I would think that since this was how he felt about married Muslim men and adultery, he would be the first to come to Anwar’s defence!  He should have been out there defending Anwar loudly and clearly and giving the reasons why Anwar had to go to a prostitute to satisfy his sexual urges!

Ibrahim Ali’s comment, so soon after another Parliamentarian, Bung Moktar’s dumb and sexist comment about slow women drivers, shows a disturbing pattern.  That there is no shortage of dumb, sexist, adulterous, and polygamous men in Parliament!

And yet these are the very same people eager to condemn Anwar’s supposed sexual proclivities! Oh wait, I forget.  Anwar is not on their side of the political aisle, so he is fair game!

The saddest part is that these very same people, despite their sexism and stupidity, get elected over and over again.  When are Malaysians going to wake up and see these corrupt, immoral, self-serving politicians for what and who they are?

Readings:
Malaysian MP Says Men Have Affairs Because Wives ‘Neglect’ Their Duty in Bed
Bung Moktar riles women, told to quit
Malaysian MP: Women Drivers ‘Slow’ and ‘Oblivious’

Posted in Culture, Religion | Leave a comment

Reciting from Quran only allowed if it’s to understand religion

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Puteri

ACTION can be taken under the Penal Code against those who cite Quranic verses with the ulterior motive of causing hatred or ill-will, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said.

He added that while there was no law prohibiting non-Muslims from reciting verses from the Quran, they were only allowed to do so in an effort to know more about Islam.

He said there was no prohibition in Islam against non-Muslims who quote verses from the Quran if it was done to understand the religion.

“Based on the National Fatwa Council edict on Islamic affairs, the Government can take appropriate action against parties that abused Quranic verses for ulterior motives or to question Islamic practices.

“This is to ensure that racial harmony is maintained,” he told Datuk Ibrahim Ali (Ind-Pasir Mas).

Asked on the action of non-Muslims who cite the Quran at political ceramah, Jamil Khir said the council had, on Dec 3, 2010, issued an edict that non-Muslims who quoted or interpreted Quranic verses freely on their own understanding and do so without sincerity were deemed to have insulted the Holy Book.

Quoted from The Star.

Is the Taliban now running the country?

There is no law prohibiting non-Muslims from reciting the Quran nor does Islam prohibit it, but action can be taken against you under the penal code if the reason for reciting the Quran causes hatred. Gee, thanks for nothing!

Causing hatred and/or ill-will?! Is it the fault of the person quoting from the Quran that the listener does not like to hear words for his own Holy Book?!  I would think the listener would take it upon himself to study his Holy Book more intimately,  and if he has problems with any interpretation made by the non-Muslim than it is up to him to argue his case! Why must the government bully anyone with threats of the full force of the law in the name of ensuring racial harmony?

Are we now to assume that the edicts from the National Fatwa Council have the same standing as laws passed by Parliament?  I have no problem with the Fatwa Council banning Muslims from doing the poco poco and micro-managing every aspect of the Muslim’s life, but I take serious issue with any pronouncement that affects non-Muslims!

That is way beyond their job description and if Malaysians allows this to happen then before long we will have blasphemy laws and anyone caught blaspheming Islam on the flimsiest of reason will be stoned to death.  At the rate the influence the ultra Muslims have in the government/country it is not outside the realm of impossibility!

Posted in Religion | Leave a comment

Bolehwood

Posted on April 5, 2011 by Puteri

In the current porno sandiwara that has been produced by Bolehwood, the main backers of the sandiwara, Datuk T Productions, appear to be intimately linked to UMNO.  In fact one of the backers, Rahim Thamby Chik, himself is no stranger to the theme of politicians and sex.  The self-produced and self-financed porn sandiwara that he was most known for, involved an under-aged school girl.   That porn flick became too hot to handle that he had to resign in disgrace from his post as Chief Minister of Malacca.

However, it appears that producing porn flicks still runs deep in his blood.  The current porn sandiwara, that he, Rahim Thamby Chik co-produced, is causing an uproar in Boleh Land, because the supposed “star” of the porn flick is a well-known opposition party leader.

Before we get to the bio of the “star” in the porn flick that is a current big hit in Malaysian Politics and the Blogosphere, let us be reminded that the screening and possession of pornographic material are still illegal in the country.  But because this is Boleh Land, even when the backers and producers of the current big hit have already admitted their involvement and their identities not a secret,  no one, not even the Police (who are always eager to raid homes for illegal private porn screenings) are making any move to detain and question the producers of the porn flick.

Now back to the bio of the “star” of the current porn flick.  The supposed “star” of Bolehwood’s current big hit is opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, has denied that the person in the flick was him. His wife, other family members, and supporters who have viewed the flick also denied that the person in the flick was Anwar Ibrahim.

It is hard for Anwar Ibrahim to shake off this accusation of being the person in the flick because he is currently defending himself in a sodomy trial, and in the past has also faced a similar charge, and accusations of affairs.

But whatever the case may be, in Boleh Land politicians are not above using sex scandals, sexual innuendos and sleaze to bring down an opponent, even when the evidence was illegally obtained.  Ask Chua Soi Lek.

The most amusing part to the whole Bolehwood fiasco are the calls for the porn flick to be screened in Parliament!  Why? So every Parliamentarian and back benchers can see for themselves if indeed the “star” was Anwar Ibrahim.  And I bet, so that they can satisfy their curiosity about the video and even maybe get a cheap sexual thrill from watching it under the guise of putting the whole issue to rest!

And now the Malaysian Ulama Association (PUM) has stepped in and pronounced the screening and distribution of the Bolehwood’s sex video as “haram” and that those who call for the screening in Parliament are “suffering from a cancer of rubbish politics that is rotten.”  I totally agree with the Ulamas’ point of view!

To say that Boleh Land’s politics have turned to gutter politics is to put it mildly.

Readings:
Malaysian Insider: Releasing sex video is haram, say Muslim scholars
Malaysian Insider: Dr Chua says speculation must stop over sex video

Posted in Culture, Malaysian Politics, Scandals | Leave a comment

Pakatan wants me out of the way

Posted on April 4, 2011 by Puteri

“Pakatan wants me out of the way,” says Taib according to a Malaysian Insider article.  Oh ya-ah!  Only a megalomaniac politician, who has amassed an obscene amount of wealth by plundering the resources of the state and appropriating all the big government contracts for his family and cronies’ businesses, can believe that he is indispensable and beloved by the people.

Pakatan and the majority of the people of Sarawak would love to see the last of Taib and his extended family.   It is a pity that the majority of the people of Sarawak do not get to see the kinds of assets – mansions overseas, yachts, fleets of expensive cars, and the luxurious lifestyle that the family members enjoy,  otherwise, they will be as offended as I am at the sight of all that, and they will be more convinced than ever before that it is about time Taib leave with his ill-gotten wealth.

And then you get boot-lickers like Joseph Salang ( of “Christians are making fools of themselves” fame) who claims that despite corruption allegations against Taib, he (Salang) cannot imagine anyone better than Taib that can be found to replace him.  Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t know, so he says.  Well, I suppose Salang is only protecting his own personal interests when making that statement.  With Taib gone, there goes his benefactor too.

But that is what makes it doubly offensive.  Taib with his glaring corruption remains in power because there is no one that dares stand up to him.  For the longest time, I have objected to the way leadership of a political party, and by virtue of that leadership position the assumption of the head of government’s post, is handed over to an anointed/chosen person. Why can’t eligible, and capable people vie for that position?  Let that person prove that he is able and capable.  The anointing of a successor only perpetuates cronyism, corruption and bad government policies.  There is no room for real change, no room for greater transparency in government, because there will always be turfs to protect, and political backers to appease.

And what of the rakyat?  They get the chaffs in all these political machinations.

Taib Mahmud must go.  BN must go.  It is time the people of Sarawak take charge of their destiny by replacing the current corrupt government.

Reading:
Malaysian Insider – Taib: Pakatan wants me out of the way

Posted in Sarawak | Leave a comment

Drop the “Allah” enactment. Seriously?

Posted on April 3, 2011 by Puteri

It didn’t take very long, did it? That somebody or some group would oppose the government’s decision to allow the Alkitab to be imported, printed and distributed freely in Sabah and Sarawak and with conditions in the peninsula.

In this instance it is the Mufti of Perak (of the “poco poco is haram” fame) who is daring the federal government to follow through with their accommodation of the Christians’ demands by repealing the law outright that bans the use of “Allah” in non-Islamic publication.

I know the Mufti is not sincere, instead it is his way of showing his disgust at how the Alkitab is now being allowed to be distributed freely in the country despite the law banning the use of “Allah” in non-Muslim publication being in effect.  I wished, however, that there were enough sane Muslims who would say something like that and actually meant it.

Only in Malaysia is the use of “Allah” by non-Muslims an insult to the Quran.  I am sure with enough voices like the Mufti’s it won’t be long before the government bows to the pressure, and it will, as it was and has been, back to the good, old days where the Alkitab is once again impounded, the printers harassed and distribution restricted. When that day happens I won’t even bother saying, it was good while it lasted, because that sentiment would be a lie.

Reading:
Malaysian Insider: Mufti dares Putrajaya to drop Allah enactment

Posted in Race Relations, Religion | Leave a comment