Once again we have a gomen minister reminding us not to lose the caring spirit.
We are also often told that we have a caring gomen.
Makes one wonder if it is true and wonder who is actually losing the caring spirit.
Just take a look ::
Since the US-made Nuri helicopters came into service in Malaysia in 1968, we have had 18 crashes involving them and 95 deaths. The gomen is just thinking of replacing them and it appears that it will take another three long years for them to be replaced. Meanwhile will the number go beyond 18!
Fuel prices, food prices and the cost of living have all sky-rocketed. Meanwhile "the-don't-lose-that-caring-spirit" minister insists that Malaysia is not ready for a minimum wage policy.
Malaysiakini reported :: Speak up against increasing crime rate :: mentioning a reported average of 8.2 rapes a day. Meanwhile it is alleged that "Cops 'beat' welder beyond recognition" and that the cops had been busy arresting a prominent blogger before investigating his alleged offence. The caring gomen knows very well that the IPCMC is needed in order to have a caring polis force but the caring gomen has yet to demonstrate its caring spirit. The gomen knows the IPCMC would boost the morale of the nation as well as the good cops but it is still keeping its caring spirit in check while "Whither Malaysia".
On 11th July we were told in the NST that the Deputy Home Affairs Minister Datuk Tan Chai Ho said that :
Seventy per cent of Malaysians who surrender their citizenship in favour of life overseas are Malays. Home Affairs Ministry statistics showed that from 1996 to April this year, 106,000 Malaysians have given up their citizenship. Of these, 79,199 were Malays; 25,107 Chinese, 1,347 Indians and 350 of other races.
Deputy MInister Datuk Tan also said that more women than men were emigrating, with marriage being cited as the most common reason by these women. Most men cite better career options as the reason for migrating.
According to Datuk Tan the preferred top five countries of emigrating Malaysians were the United States, Australia, Taiwan, Singapore and Indonesia.
A lot of bloggers and netizens were surprised by the figures. Many could not imagine and were surprised that the Malays comprised as much as 70% of migrating Malaysians who had given up their citizenship. As the figures were attributed to statistics from the Home Affairs Ministry, many thought they had to be right.
Less than 10 days later we are told that all the figures were wrong. The STAR reported ::
Only 1,720 Malays have surrendered their citizenship to migrate to other countries between 1996 and April this year, Home Affairs Minister Datuk Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said. He said the total number of Malaysians who had left the country since Independence was 106,003, of which 10,411 were Malays, 86,078 Chinese, 8,667 Indians and other races 847. “I want to clarify the figures given by my deputy (Datuk Tan Chai Ho) who said recently that more than 79,000 Malays have surrendered their citizenship to live abroad,” he said. Mohd Radzi said that between 1996 and April this year, 28,527 Malaysians had surrendered their citizenship.
Who and what are we to believe? Did 106,000(or 106,003) Malaysians left her shores in the past 50 years (from 1957 to 2007) or in the past 10+ years (from 1996 to 2007)? We can only conclude that gomen statistics must be taken with a big pinch of salt.
Recently Malaysiakini also reported on the crime figues provided by the PM in Parliament. From the PM and IGP’s statements, the Opposition Leader deduce that "the average monthly crime incidence for the first five months of this year was 17,516 cases (87,582/5), while the crime incidence for June was 18,654, i.e. the crime incidence in June was 6.5% higher than the monthly average crime index recorded in the first five months of the year". Lim Kit Siang also deduced that "from Jan to June 2007, there were 1,507 cases of rape as compared to 1,186 for the same period in 2006 – an increase of 27.1%. This works out to 8.2 cases of rape per day in the first six months of this year as compared to four cases a day in 2003 and 6.7 cases a day in 2006" Shocking figures but will they be repudiated once again soon!
Sometime before the former PM, the Tun, left service, he pronounced that Malaysia is an Islamic state. CNN.com reported Mahathir telling the world that Malaysia is an 'Islamic fundamentalist state'. That was in 2002.
Now in 2007 and less than 50 days away from when we are to celebrate our 50th year of Independence, the present DPM has suddenly shocked us with a bombshell with his interpretation of the Constitution. Out of the blue, the DPM has pronounced that Malaysia "had never been affiliated to secularism but was always driven by the fundamentals of Islam". In other words saying that Malaysia is an Islamic state as far as he is concerned.
When was the last time the present DPM had a look at our Constitution?.
Malaysiakini reported that in an immediate reaction the Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang said that Najib had repudiated the Merdeka “social contract” by his latest pronouncement. Opposition Leader Lim added that the DPM has cast a very dark cloud over the 50th Merdeka anniversary celebrations this year.
Who is the DPM trying to score "brownie points" with? Whatever, we must repudiate the DPM's latest pronouncement of the state of our beloved nation and insist that she remain secular as pronounced by the Constitution. View the relevant articles here.
Haris of The People's Parliament has more to say of this issue and ask the DPM to "bring forth the proof" of his pronouncement.
Missing Pieces thinks that the DPM has gone "politically amok".
What has our "truthful" PM got to say? Will he let us know and stand by the Constitutional truth?
Does the DPM knows peanuts or what. After officiating the "International Conference on the Role of Islamic States in a Globalised World", the DPM reportedly said ::
the country (Malaysia) had never been affiliated to secularism but was always driven by the fundamentals of Islam as it is clearly stated in the constitution that Islam is the official religion.
"Islam is the official religion and we are an Islamic state. But as an Islamic state, it does not mean that we don't respect the non-Muslims. The Muslims and the non-Muslims have their own rights (in this country)."
Many of us would beg to differ with the DPM's take on things. Do check out the Malaysian Constituition here. The last time i checked, Malaysia was secular.
Malaysiakini has the latest on blogger Nat Tan. According to this report, Nat can expect to be freed at noon today.
According to the report, a press circular released by PKR said that Nat’s lawyer Latheefa Koya was informed about the release by the polis this morning.
Nat would be released 12noon at the Bukit Aman's Cyber Crime Division, Jalan Dato Onn, Bukit Perdana. Those who can make it, please show solidarity with Nat by being there at his release.
Say NO and TAK NAK to intmidation on the blogosphere.
Found this in the Malaysiakini letter section today :: "My son, Ryan, who is 18, left to further his studies in Australia today. He goes to embark on his tertiary studies at a reputed university - ordinarily, something to be proud of. However, it was more sadness than pride that ruled the day......"
How many parents have bid their offsprings similar farewells and how many more will do so in the coming days when like Ryan, their offsprngs are sent away from the land of their birth and probably never to return? How many (or few) will be like the Nats and the Tua Kias and will eventually return to fight the good fight?
The Deputy Internal Security Minister (DISM) has been cleared/cleaned by the ACA amd the AG. BERNAMA reported this.
This is how he has been given the ACA (all clean act) ::
1. On 5th March 2007, the ACA received information that the DISM allegedly received RM5 million for releasing several criminals detained under the Emergency Ordinance 1969
2. The ACA opened 5 investigation papers
3. For three investigation papers, the ACA investigation found that the said criminals had denied giving DISM any bribe.
4. Two other investigation papers opened showed that several of the criminals who are important witnesses could not be traced after their release.
5. With the denials provided by the said criminals and the inability to trace several criminals who could be important witnesses, it was concluded that the DISM could not be linked to corruption.
6. The AG ordered that the ACA investigation involving the five investigation papers opened against the DISM be closed.
7. Thus clearing the DISM who in a telephone interview on NTV7 soon after, said that it was something he already knew himself as early as when the allegations surfaced.
So like we say when solving maths problems, for the ACA it was QED. Now how many of us remember that.
Now it is time for the ACA to go through the QED investigations of the recently extended IGP who is facing allegations somewhat similar to the DISM. Check out this article in Malaysiakini for further details for this tit for tat.
Bloody Parliament :: Am disgusted, appalled, ashamed, hurt........
If what has been reported by Malaysiakini is true; there is reason for all true Malaysians to feel hurt by the mass slaughtering of cattle and goats in our august house grounds by the BN BBC (BN Backbenchers Club).
How can they be so insensitive! Coming from a party whose youth wing was 'hurt' by a monty python picture of their revered deputy president. They should have known better having such sensitive members amongst.
What can be so noble as to the mass slaughtering of animals in the grounds of our august house?
The only way to atone is for the members to come out with a better manner of things to celebrate the recent marriage of the PM. Those who are truly sensitive and noble will know how to stay clear of the dinner this evening.
Where indeed does Islam Hadhiri fit into all this?
LONE's rantings for all interested, COMMENTS/KOPI-0s welcomed. Comments are solely the views of their makers MALAYSIA, a great place to be in, BUT we can, will and must make HER better.
You may say I'm a dreamer but I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one. IMAGINE:youtube::John Lennon
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:: LONE