Tuesday, September 30, 2008
My name is Cass and I am an Ebay junkie
Friday, September 26, 2008
KL to fight ‘Islamophobia’
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said that Malaysia had agreed to work with the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) to play a more positive role in the effort.
To counter the “illogical” portrayals of Islam, he said an international forum would be held early next year in the United States to be attended by the heads of government, scholars and representatives from organisations linked with religious tolerance.
In discus sion: Dr Rais (left) in talks with Commonwealth Secretary- General Kamalesh Sharma (right) and his counterpar t from Uganda Sam Kutesa on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers Meeting in New York on Wednesday. — Bernama
Briefing Malaysian journalists here on Wednesday of his meeting with OIC secretary-general Ekmeleddin Ihsa-noglu, Dr Rais said there should be a more accurate portrayal of the religion.
The minister, who is leading Malaysia’s delegation to the United Nations General Assembly here, said the OIC had expressed the need for Malaysia’s involvement in the effort.
“If we, as a member nation of the OIC, do not give our co-operation, then we would be failing as a member of the OIC,” he added.
Dr Rais said the United States was picked to host the forum because of “the diverse views of religions here.” “This is also where Sept 11 took place,” he said, referring to the terrorist attacks here in 2001.
He also hoped that the forum would open a new window to better understanding of civilisation, adding that he would present a report to the Cabinet on the plans for the forum.
Monster says: Personally I find it ironic (re: laughable) that Malaysia, of all nations, seeks to engage with representatives linked with religious tolerance.
This is when as Malaysian citizens:
- we are not allowed to hold dialogues on religion freedom (re: Article 11 forums)
- unable to sit together to address common issues and religion concerns (re: shooting down of attempts to set up the Inter-faith Commission)
- dissuaded from discussing conversion (re: Bar Council’s attempt at its highly politicised public forum)
- being intimidated from writing one’s mind over religion (re: RPK’s detention in Kamunting by virtue of s8 ISA )
- do not have clear recourse to justice when there is a conflict of jurisdiction. (Re: Shamala Sathiyaseelan v Dr. Jeyaganesh C. Mogarajah; Moorthy Maniam). There is no progress towards pluging this lacuna because the initiatives by the Bar Council and civil groups have so far failed, and the government does not seem to see a need to legislate.
And if we are as secure in our beliefs as we say we are, there will be no need for fear, intimidation or disrespect because we will hold true to our common religious values of peace, humility and wholesomeness.
But then, who ask me to be an idealist. End up I am so constantly disappointed.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Things fall apart, the centre cannot hold
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Sex, Lies and Forwarded news
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Finally, a stateman in government
KOTA BARU: The Internal Security Act (ISA) should not be used against civilians, de facto law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said.
The Act should only be used against terrorists or those trying to topple the Government by force, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said at a press conference at his home here on Sunday.
He was commenting on the arrests of three people -- Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kama rudin and Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng -- under the ISA.
Tan has since been released.
“I will seek a meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to have a frank discussion about this issue to seek his views as soon as possible,” he told reporters.
“I know I am breaking rank here ... I am prepared to face the consequences. If I am told to resign, I will do so.
"I am not a trouble maker and I don't want to cause any trouble for the Prime Minister, but I have my principles and will always be a vocal critic of the use of the ISA.
"I joined his administration to make changes and everybody knows, I am also for a more open form of media reporting," he added.
Zaid said it was time for the Federal Government to revert to the original spirit of the ISA, which was enacted to curb Communism and today should be used only on armed terrorists or those out to topple the Government by force.
“I am not calling for a repeal of the ISA, but it should only be use when there is a real threat to national security, such as armed terrorists, and not on civilians,” he said.
He said by using the ISA randomly, the Government was sending out a message that it does not trust the capabilities of its own enforcement agencies, such as the police, in maintaining peace.
There are ample punitive legislations such as the Penal Code, Sedition Act and criminal defamation to take against those who break the law or are involved in activities which may destabilise the Government, without having to invoke the ISA, Zaid said.
He said the use of the ISA also gives the impression of “selective prosecution” as the Government cannot incarcerate everybody.
“In this latest episode, we (the Government) have generated an impression of selective prosecution since no action was taken against the person who allegedly uttered seditious remarks.
“We are saying that we are only acting against those who are disloyal to us.”
“The Government needs to change and Cabinet members need to realise this -- we have to be progressive.”
Asked whether the ISA was likely used because of strained “race relations” which may undermine national stability, Zaid said that while he placed paramount importance on national stability, the role of the Government was to find solutions, not to make matters worse.
“I agree we have many issues and sensitivities to address but for me, racial disharmony is a seasonal thing in Malaysia. We must engage in open dialogues and discussions to resolve these issues,” he said.
On whether the ISA was used because the court process may be too long, Zaid noted that the Government never even attempted to use the court system first -- instead, it simply went ahead with using the ISA first.
“If our court system is too slow, we must ... make it more efficient by hiring more prosecutors, while the police must conduct proper investigation to acquire credible evidence,” he said.
- The star.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
BN digging its own grave
Today democracy has died been dealt a severely blow. I guess, I can't not talk about politics. Especially now.
You'll see this section used alot. To understand this section lets go back to what is the ambit of the act:
Section 8(1) of the ISA provides that ‘(i)f the minister is satisfied that the detention of any person is necessary …’ then s/he may issue an order for his/her detention. The three grounds given in Section 8(1) upon which the order may be based is where a person has acted in any manner prejudicial to the:
a) security of Malaysia or part thereof; or
b) maintenance of essential services; or
c) economic life.
In that light, s73(1) says:
"Any police officer may without warrant arrest and detain pending enquiries any person in respect of whom he has reason to believe that there are grounds which would justify his detention under section 8 (below); and that he has acted or is about to act or is likely to act in any manner prejudicial to the security of Malaysia or any part thereof or to maintenance of essential services therein or to the economic life thereof."
Section 8 ISA: Power to order detention or restriction of persons. "(i) If the Minister is satisfied that the detention of any person is necessary with a view to preventing him from acting in any manner prejudicial to the security of Malaysia or any part thereof or to the maintenance of essential services therein or the economic life thereof, he may make an order (hereinafter referred to as a detention order) directing that that person be detained for any period not exceeding two years."
So they slap the racist Ahmad Ismail who readily admitted to uttering the racial slurs with a 3 year suspension from Umno and they lock up the journalist who reported it. Logic ke? So they are indeed prosecuting her for exposing what pigs BN politicians really are.
But what is Teresa Kok in for? RPK, well we knew he had it coming sooner or later.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Can we populate the moon?
Monday, September 08, 2008
These Eyes I Have Known Before
but, unlike countless others, I can't ignore
these icy blues with snowy whites
that hold me firm within their sight
and pin me to the floor.
No-- these eyes are more, much more
than the many weaker ones that I have known before
no-- these eyes are unquestionably stronger
than the countless others (though, I've known them longer)
and cannot their gaze ignore.
Yes, these eyes I have known before
yet, I do not know what they hold in store
for me and my dual browns
these eyes, content to stare me down
pinned upon the floor.
Monday, September 01, 2008
Storm in a teacup, sex in a handbag
Love at first sight. That was what it is. I kid you not. Forget smitten. Forget crush. This is lurve, baby.
Very rarely, and when I say rarely I mean as rare as a politician who keeps his promise, do I fall this hard. The sweaty hands, the inability to think of anything else, the kan-cheong ness.
Haiya, hurry up and tell us the juicy bits, I hear your brain going.
Before I blow your sordid mind, I am referring to shopping.
Men, you can click Next Blog now.
Ladies, you know what I am talking about. If orgasms can be achieved through shopping, we can minimize heartbreak and we'd be a far happier lot.
Being head over heel with merchandise, that mon ami is quintessential true love. Its all there, no hidden agendas, no expectations beyond what is there, sitting patiently on the shelf, honest and pure, seductively calling your name in dulcet tones that only you can hear.
So that is how I ended up paying top dollar for a non-designer leather hobo bag. Still reeling but what is money between lovers.