A time to understand human rights: Human Rights Day on 10 Dec

A time to understand human rights: Human Rights Day on 10 Dec
Malaysia is still rated fairly free despite fall in Human Development Index ranking.

Reuters

The existence of a Human Rights Day ironically translates into an apparent lack of human rights in the world, even with laws which are supposedly meant to protect the innocent.

In 1950, the United Nations General Assembly declared 10 December as Human Rights Day. It has been twenty years since 1993, when a mandate of High Commissioner was created for the promotion and protection of all human rights during the World Conference on Human Rights held in Vienna the same year.

Furthermore, Women’s Rights are now acknowledged as a fundamental human right. Discrimination and acts of violence against women are at the forefront of the human rights discourse.

Human rights cover a wide range of issues including access to basic necessities, equality, life and the right to tell the truth. In the Universal Declaration of Human the first and second article states that:

1. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood;
2. Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Human Rights in Malaysia

According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in a survey done under Human Development Index (HDI), Malaysia has backslidden in its ranking, from 61st place in 2011 to 64th place out of 187 countries in 2013.

Two massive rallies, dubbed Bersih 2.0 and Bersih 3.0, held on 9 July 2011 and 28 April 2012 respectively attributed to the drop in the HDI ranking. Bersih is the Malaysian acronym for Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections, and aims to promote free and fair elections in Malaysia. During Bersih 2.0, over 1600 protesters were arrested while over 500 protesters were similarly detained for Bersih 3.0. Riot police also used tear gas and water cannons on protesters at both rallies.

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM), a human rights organisation in Malaysia, is still actively pursuing the case of the Defence Ministry’s controversial Scorpene submarine purchase through the French court. The world still mourns the death of a central figure in the Scorpene deal - Altantuya Shaariibuugin, who was blown up with C4 explosives in 2006 and her immigration records erased.

Another blatant violation of human rights in Malaysia is the rape of indigenous Penan women in Sarawak. Workers of a large timber conglomerate had been constantly harassing the local women, but there has no action taken against them, even though the incidents were broadly publicised.

Do laws protect or are they used to prosecute and silence the victims?

In Malaysia, the Internal Security Act (ISA), which allowed for detention without trial was replaced with the Security Offences (Special Measures) 2012 Act (SOSMA). SOSMA and the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) which replaces Section 27 of the Police Act have been criticised as being even more draconian and restrictive.

The officially endorsed policy of preferential treatment towards the majority practised in Malaysia is another instance of human rights violation, according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Any attempts to question or discuss the matter will be dealt with by the Sedition Act or the Printing Presses and Publication Act.

Even Christians in the country are not spared. A recent ban on the use of the Arabic word ‘Allah’ by Christians created international headlines and much negative publicity.

Ops Lallang, an operation carried out in 1987 saw a total of 106 people arrested under the ISA. Forty people were detained without trial for two years and sent to the Kamunting Detention Centre. These people included political figures, social activists and individuals. Two daily newspapers, The Star and Sin Chew Jit Poh had their publishing licences revoked for a period of time.

Custodial deaths and the licence to kill

According to SUARAM, there have been 12 custodial deaths alone this year. Two other high-profile deaths were Teoh Beng Hock and Gunasegaran who died the same day – 16 July 2009.

When Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said, “I think the best way is not to compromise with them, don’t give anymore warnings to them, [if] we have evidence, we [will] shoot first”, it created a furore among right-thinking Malaysians.

With such a statement, Ahmad Zahid has displayed a lack of understanding about the rule of law.

Your right is just as much my right

Just a few days ago, an UMNO division head asked for the 1Malaysia slogan to be changed to 1Melayu during the party’s General Assembly. Such blatantly racist statements are nothing new in Malaysia. Even former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew has claimed the minorities face systematic marginalization in Malaysia.

It is bizarre how a human can treat another human with so much contempt, and this plainly justifies the existence of something like Human Rights Day. Laws are written by men, but some men manipulate the law to favour the rich and influential. Can we then blame the 47% who voted the present government into power?

While most would frown upon giving out election goodies and rightfully view it as a form of vote-buying, the Prime Minister has been quoted as saying ‘you help me, I help you’ during a state election campaign in Sarawak in 2011.

It comes as no surprise at all that immediately after the General Election and heavy spending, the prices of all essential goods shot up, due to a hike in petrol prices, the removal of the sugar subsidy and a rise in electricity tariffs. To add insult to injury, an impending Goods and Service Tax of 6% will be imposed from April 2015.

Inflation affects the livelihood and affordability of the average wage earner. Although a moderate inflation rate is healthy for the country’s economy, knee-jerk changes to the country’s fiscal policies will create shock and unrest. To make things worse, the Prime Minister’s wife, who apparently obtained the cabinet’s approval to represent the country for official visits using the country’s jet plane, has displayed spendthrift ways unbecoming of someone in her position.

How UMNO equates itself with the great Nelson Mandela who passed away on 6 December this year is yet another mind-boggling claim. One fights for human rights, while the other fights against it. One helped in the removal of the noxious apartheid policy, while the other promotes superiority of a certain race.

Facts are indeed stranger than fiction.

So what are Human Rights? Human Rights are the ability to treat another fellow human being with goodwill and mutual respect to achieve peace and unity. In Malaysia, with things as they are now, that ideal scenario is a long time coming. Until then, we still need Human Rights Day.

** Article published in MSN Malaysia

Stepping out of men's shadows by Carolyn Khor

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Domestic violence is not the norm

 

Domestic violence, rape and unwanted pregnancies are problems that are synonymous with less fortunate women who are often left in a lurch with a series of problems that follow. The predicaments these women find themselves in are less likely to be publicly acknowledged due to the conservative attitude of the society towards such occurrences. 

While it is widely agreed that women are the victims of such incidences, nonetheless cases like these are often swept under the carpet or settled between two disputing parties to save the hassle of going through court proceedings to seek compensation or justice.

The instance of the recently divorced 13 year old girl in Kulim who married her rapist highlights the severity of how families are willing to compromise their daughter’s wellbeing in order to save face. Both families of the adolescences conceded to allow their teenage children enter a contract of marriage even though both may not have been ready or prepared for the responsibilities of starting a family. Both families had thought that through marriage the family honour may remain intact and the stigma that comes along as being a victim and rapist could just be eventually forgotten. This shows that conservative families still opine that the happiness of the teenagers comes secondary to any face-saving measures that may keep gossip-mongers at bay.

The promotion of abstinence and rigid religious outlook form the basis of such bias atrocities towards women.

Men on the other hand, escape criticism, penalties and deterrent actions.

Consent to marriage for minors involved in rape should only be precipitated if sufficient care and understanding towards the marriage institution are taken into consideration. This swift and candid solution towards the victims cannot be taken as an absolute response to resolve the matter.

The heavy burden placed on the child in premature marriages interferes with the child’s opportunity to education and better work opportunities. An early bride is expected to carry out the responsibilities of a wife which includes child-bearing.  As and when the child bride is left to fend for herself, she will be unable to do so and this creates additional stress and problems to the community.

Domestic violence is inevitably associated with the lack of support and awareness that violence is not an acceptable form of communication. Domestic violence happens in households of varying lengths and ages although younger women and very young women might find it doubly challenging to verbalise or respond adequately towards it. Women who fall in this category are often made to feel shameful of themselves and are belittled for voicing out, as domestic problems are still largely considered a personal problem and not something to complain about.

Perpetrators of domestic violence dictate the situation with emotional and mental manipulation and blackmail. The aggressor blames the victim for provoking him and uses contemporary examples of how other women submit and accept such incidences. Families of these aggressors normally take the side of the aggressor while families of the victim can only advise the victim to tolerate even more to avoid divorce or a break-up in the marriage, many times for the sake of the children.

Although the society does not wish for more single parents, smug attitudes towards single parents and divorcees should not form basis as hindrance for women to choose to lead a healthier and less conflicted life - whether both parties part amicably instead of continually suffer in a high-tension situation daily or face the consequences of being in a lopsided contract. Children involved in such conflicts are also the victims and will stand to gain if they were shielded from the devastating dilemma.

Instead of feeling helpless, women should stand firm in their conviction whether to allow the society’s opinion affect their decision to stay or leave a bad relationship, or to make changes to halt the assaults. The obstacles that women face daily are marked with expectations and limitations. However, no matter what the decision, it should be a beneficial choice with room for personal growth and with provision to provide a healthy ground for their children’s growth.

** Article published in MSN Malaysia

Understanding women by Carolyn Khor

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Women are often described as gentile, docile, mild, sensitive and emotional. On the other hand, the unflattering sides of women are generally characterised by terms like unforgiving, petty, overreactive, narrow-minded and judgmental.

These definitions of women we should then ask - are they what the women really think of themselves or are women being conveniently shoved into neat little categories by those who lack understanding of who the real women are?

The way our society has been trained to think from young is skewed towards gender segregation and discriminatory practices. There are no rules to say that baby boys should be dressed in blue and baby girls in pink, but sadly, commercial advertising and consumers alike move along the trend of mass stereotyping.

The superiority of man as a gender did not come by accident. It has been reflected in cultures through time, reinforced through language and then practiced through the laws that govern us as a society.

Two main bodies that regulate our daily lives are the civil and religious law. People subscribe to these notions and hold them in high regards as the commonly accepted principles in life. With that, an acceptance of the punishments that follow if these rules were deviated from arose.

Although there are obvious physical differences between men and women, the role that each gender take upon may not be that distinct anymore especially with our modern lifestyle. Whereas the man used to be the sole breadwinner in the family, the worsening economic situation has forced many women to seek work to supplement the family income. As more and more women get access to education and work opportunities, the gender gap has become narrower.

Even so, people should not forget that women too, since ages ago used to toil the land, braved many difficulties and shared the responsibilities of shaping the world into what we have today. All these are left unspoken for while increasing barriers are placed upon the women to restrict them from realising their true potential.

It is not to say that women should revolt and start abandoning caution to the wind in the battle against men; but rather, to rely on their inner strength, develop and inculcate a sense of worthiness to combat the disunity that have taken roots among the women.

As such, if the policy-makers comprised of an equal number of men and women, it would then make a difference as to how women are perceived in general. The capabilities of a woman are equal to the flow of the universe; the rhythm of growth; the womb of the earth and the unleashed power of the mind. All these latent gifts are within reach, if only women spared a moment to silently draw on all their experiences to plant the seeds of mutual respect towards themselves and other women starting with their own children.

In summary, it is as the eighteenth-century English writer, philosopher and advocate of women’s rights Mary Wollstonecraft once said: “I do not wish women to have power over men; but over themselves”.

** Article published in MSN Malaysia

Raven Murugesan touches the hearts of all Malaysians

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A simple act of kindness goes a long way.

What is an act of kindness? Do we really need to ponder what kindness is? Don’t human beings have an innate sense of kindness and compassion that outweighs logical reasoning?

Has the world forgotten about all the heroic deeds of ordinary folks? Strangers who save one another out of burning buildings; or people who do not know how to swim diving in to save a drowning child; or people who donate their organs to others just so they can live another day?

The above simple act of kindness by Raven Murugesan was shared on Facebook over 9,000 times as of 11PM last night. Raven had suggested to a Muslim cashier to drink and eat a little before continuing work at the checkout counter of a supermarket in Kepong. This occurred during breaking fast time and so only one counter was open at that time.

Many people are overwhelmed by the bombardment of racist and racial remarks made by certain quarters intended to aggravate the fragile interracial tolerance of the country. Even so, little acts of compassion such as the above transcend all barriers and offer a glimmer of hope in humanity.

“I cried when I read it. I was so thankful there are mindful non-Muslims”, said Samsiah Ismail, a Facebook user who was touched by the kind gesture and shared the post with her friends.

What Raven had done is very touching and speaks volume of our human character.

Carolyn Khor

Sometimes even under extreme conditioning, it is still impossible to erase that benevolence which is almost instinctive and second nature to the human psyche. However, something must be really wrong somewhere when people start to behave otherwise.

Raven revealed that he has received more than 1000 friend requests over his Facebook account since his posting went viral today. Many positive comments can be seen on his page.

“Compassion, tolerance and respect are very important values to inculcate into the minds of our youngsters to forge unity”, said Raven, a 50 year old school teacher who grew up in a small town called Bukit Rotan.

Raven is strictly a vegetarian and currently teaches the Malay and English language in Kuala Selangor.

The rest of the interview is as follows:

What compelled you to react so kindly when most people might have overlooked that it was time for breaking fast?

R: As a teacher, that is a built-in mode. We must treat everyone as our family members.

What is your opinion on racial harmony in Malaysia?

R: I belong to the olden days of unity where I would sleep over for 3 or 4 days in my Malay friend’s house and vice-versa. We were one big happy family back then. If there is an Indian wedding, you can see all the Chinese and Malay youths working together to decorate the house. The excitement of friendship and the depth of unity were not molded by advertisement or promotions.

Socially, the environment was matured to allow children to mingle freely without prejudice. We get to peek and see into their living rooms and lives and they get to do the same to ours. I called my friend's Mak ngah as Mak Ngah and his Mak Andak as Mak Andak. My Chinese friends call my uncle Chittapa. This goes to show the close knit community we were back then.

Do you think that enough has been done in our education system to forge racial unity?

R: I have been teaching for 30 years, and have conducted hundreds of seminars. And in all the seminars, I have never failed to take the opportunity to tell the present generation what they have been missing. What we have now is a formally devised platform to integrate, which is not natural. It gives that ‘fake’ feeling. I personally feel that sections of our society have isolated themselves for various reasons.

Teachers should instill love beyond racial identification in every student. I guess at the end of the day, unity will always start from school.

When I was in Year One in 1970, my shirt was accidentally torn because one of my friends pulled it. My teacher, a Malay lady immediately called me and gave a brand new shirt which she said she had bought for her son. I never saw her as my teacher after that. She was my hero, my mum. That is what we need amongst our young teachers.

Are there remedial steps that we may take to halt the deterioration in racial relations?

R: I really do not know if there is a cure for it but what I believe is if more and more people realise that humanity is one of the most important thing in our lives to move forward, then in years to come, we might see wonders. There is humanity in each of us but at times it is dormant.

We should teach the children to respect the culture, language and people of other races.  Once we can cultivate respect and admiration, it will become a good platform to move forward. However, if we belittle other people’s culture and language, there will be no ‘X-Factor’ in the students to look forward to for any interactions with other groups.

Do you think that vernacular schools are a hindrance to national unity?

R: Many will say that vernacular schools are the problem but they are definitely not the problem. Back in the 50's vernacular schools were the order of the day, but the children of that era had wonderful relationship between them because the society was more relaxed.

We were taught right from the start the differences between government and political parties.

Vernacular schools do not propagate partisanship. So I guess all the talk about vernacular schools being the reason for racial disharmony is pure drama.

How you you think the media is contributing in forging racial unity?

R: Today, United States can accept an American of African origin because of its media. It started way back in the 60's where the media such as movies started to coin with the idea of non-white becoming the President. The media took the first steps in that direction.

In Malaysia, the reverse is happening. I guess the media needs to be more responsible on racial issues and not contribute towards more racial tension.

Are Penangites Caring Enough?

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The five-foot walkway is often utilised by eateries and hawker stalls to provide seating for their customers who happily munch away, totally unaware why this should be disallowed in the first place. This poses an inconvenince for many people, especially for people with disabilities.

Most traders are of the opinion that they are just earning a living, and that the government should allow some leeway for them to sustain their livelihood. Such is the miserable condition of our society. Food outlets usually set up additional tables outside of their shop premises and some even occupy the pavements and auxiliary lanes. Street vendors are no different.

Despite the Penang council's effort to provide proper booths with facilities in complexes like food courts and markets, roadside traders quite adamantly insist on flouting local regulations, citing reasons like the loss of regular customers and problems with accessibility if they moved elsewhere. Most offenders simply pay the fines and are not particularly concerned with whatever warnings or summonses that they are being issued with.

The question is what sort of living environment do we want?

Facilities for those with physical limitations should be priority for all involved in town and urban planning, from the architects to interior designers. Buildings and walkways that are constructed to accommodate people with disabilities reflects a caring society. Providing accessibility and proper accessories for people with disabilities is a collective responsibility the society should undertake, failing which, creates unnecessary frustrations that tend to lead to chain reactions.

Such cumbersome situations are easily felt if for instance, someone close to us gets involved in some unfortunate mishap and are unable to move around independently even for a brief period. Confining loved ones to the house or a home is simply not the solution.

Penang is still way behind in terms of facilities for disabled people. Older buildings like the Town Hall, where many events are held, are not equipped with ramps or elevators. Among some of the complaints from those caring for wheelchair bound people are that sometimes, even if ramps were provided, the material used for the ramps are slippery and that makes it hard to advance the gradient.

One of the first public places renovated to be disabled-friendly was Gurney Drive and Esplanade. Incidentally, large trees, street lights and even telephone booths block the walkways with roots bursting out from beneath the sidewalk tiles. Fixtures that are meant to keep out motorcycles also keep out wheelchairs and prams. Inconsiderate drivers who park haphazardly also obstruct pathways meant for pedestrians and people with disabilities while selfish people utilise reserved car parking spaces and toilets meant for special people.

Although measures have been taken to install disabled-friendly features in public places, most are placed without sufficient deliberation. Some places have ramps with bends but do not provide enough turning radius to enable the wheelchair to move comfortably, especially those who manoeuvre around by themselves using manual wheelchairs instead of the motorised ones, which cost a lot more.

Caring for disabled people does not stop there. Hearing-impaired and mute people can function just as well as other able-bodied people and should be given equal employment opportunities. Some corporate companies do employ people with disabilities as workers, especially in jobs that do not require much communication.

Joblink’s Centre, a Penang-based organisation created under the registered body of the Society for Aid to the Handicapped sources sub-contract jobs from companies that are labour intensive. So far, about 35 trainees from Joblink, age ranging from 17 to 45 years do simple and light work like assembling files and electronic parts. These trainees have different degrees of disabilities and are diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Autism and other intellectual shortcomings, and are not suitable for open employment. About half of the trainees are in wheelchair.

Yvonne Ruffell, the honorary secretary for Joblink and a volunteer says that most of the trainees come from low-income groups, and that the government subsidises each person with disability with RM300. The trainees also get paid for their work at the centre which operates from Mondays to Fridays.

As Joblink is a volunteer organization, Yvonne hopes that more people would step up to help or give financial assistance.

“We need people with experiences in psychology, physiotherapy and occupational therapy,” she said.

Mohd Tajudin Mohd Kassim, from Rapid Penang, says that there are currently 200 disabled-friendly busses in Penang. Disabled friendly busses come with low floor, ramps, safety belts and a special buzzer.

“We are expecting another 80 disabled-friendly Scania buses this year,” said Tajuddin who is manager of Commercial and Communications.

“We look forward to providing the best service to all Penangites, especially the disabled community”, he said.

However, he added that while engaging with the disabled community, he had received complaints that the bus-stops were not disabled-friendly enough.

“The local council may want to look into building curbs that have the same level as the bus entry points,” he elaborated.

So, while we blissfully enjoy our food on the curbside or kaki lima, we should also spare a thought on why these pathways were built in the first place. Are they meant for hawker stalls and customers? Or are they meant for the safety, comfort and ease of mobility of walkway users?

Restaurants and eateries need to realise that blocked corridors and sidewalks should remain as free space while the local council can do more to ensure that enforcements are carried out effectively. Many disabled people would like to be self-reliant and independent, but we, as a society need to be more thoughtful and attentive while going about our daily lives. Caring for one another is definitely much better than only caring for ourselves.

Malaysian sex bloggers post tasteless breaking fast greeting Muslims offended by ‘Bak Kut Teh’ Ramadan greeting.

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Muslims offended by ‘Bak Kut Teh’ Ramadan greeting.

Alvin and Vivian, the couple who posted the Bak Kut Teh greeting for Ramadan have publicly apologized through a video uploaded yesterday to their YouTube channel called SexcussionsAlvivi. The video, which was recorded in Malay with English subtitles, seeks forgiveness from all Malaysians for offending the Muslims during Ramadan. Alvin went on to describe the Bak Kut Teh greeting that included a Halal logo that is only used by Jakim (the Islamic authority of Malaysia). He also claimed that both he and Vivian are aware that Muslims were forbidden to take pork, but made the greeting 'for humour'. 

The 1:22 minute video shows Alvin speaking in a rather tensed and somber mood, with Vivian sitting next to him. Alvin also conveyed his regrets for his actions.

"We truly regret offending religious beliefs and sensitivities in multi-racial Malaysia," he said, adding that they had no intention to insult, ridicule or trivialize Islam, or incite racial conflict.

"With that, we apologize to all offended parties."

The video ends with an Aidilfitri greeting and another apology. Vivian was silent throughout the video.

Alvin and Vivian were in the headlines sometime in October last year for uploading videos and pictures of themselves in various suggestive positions and detailing their sexual liaisons in Tan's personal blog. Alvin was a student of the National University of Singapore*. Since then, Alvin has had his scholarship withdrawn. It is unknown if they are still studying. Now they are making headlines again, for all the wrong reasons.

Alvin and Vivian, both in their mid-20s posted a greeting online that says ‘Selamat Berbuka Puasa, dengan Bak Kut Teh… Wangi, enak, menyelerakan!’ In English, it means happy breaking fast with Bak Kut Teh, aromatic, tasty and appetizing.

Bak Kut Teh is a popular Chinese Malaysian recipe commonly served with pork ribs in herbal soup. Although, the name of the dish does not specifically mean pork, the greeting certainly raises eyebrows and courts disapproval from many quarters.

“They have gone overboard and they are very disrespectful towards us,” said a young tech- savvy urban Malay who declined to be named.

Sinar Harian, a Malay daily reported that Seremban MCA chief, Dr. Yeow Chai Thiam had lodged a police report yesterday at Campbell Road and had urged the police to take action against them.

He said that this is not something to be taken lightly and that the couple should not have insulted Muslims who are fasting. He also said that the couples’ actions have agitated many people including the Chinese.

“If left unaddressed, we fear that it might affect our racial harmony and lead to larger issues,” he said.

This insensitive greeting especially in the month of Ramadan, is potentially harmful especially when the Chinese in Malaysia were blamed for the marginal win during the 13^th General Elections held in May this year. Prime Minister Najib Razak termed the dwindling support for the national coalition as a Chinese Tsunami, a move generally seen as an attempt to distant himself from the poor performance compared to his predecessor.

Muslims are forbidden to consume pork as stated in the Quran with no less than four references made.

“He has forbidden you only dead animals, and blood, and the swine, and that which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for other than God.” (Quran 2:173)

However, some netizens have mischievously defended the couple by asking whether the meat that was being referred to was ‘chicken, rabbit or venison?’

Although most ordinary Malaysians balk at any attempts to further disintegrate racial unity, it must be said that resentments towards the different ethnic groups are deeply rooted and that racial harmony are constantly under threat. Extremist groups like Perkasa and Jati often openly provoke discord along racial lines and are unabashed for their unilateral views.

More often than not, some pockets feel marginalised even though government policies provide affirmative actions like quotas and incentives. These policies, however, have had a negative impact, as only a handful of them were made very rich through the National Economic Policies. The widening the gap between the rich and the poor are the primary source of discontentment, although some politicians have boldly pointed the finger at the Chinese.

Tanda Putera, a full-length movie that was supposed to be screened before the general elections, portray the Chinese as the provocateurs during the May 13, 1969 riot with a scene showing Chinese youths allegedly urinating on the flagpole bearing the Selangor flag. The movie, which is funded by the government arm FINAS, is still unreleased. Even so, private screening to selected audiences especially students were made prior to the last election.

Another controversial matter which had the non-Muslim community up in arms, was the introduction of Interlok as compulsory literature for Form 5 students. The story, written in 1971 by Abdullah Hussain gives the impression that the Chinese are greedy, smokes opium and sell their daughters away; and the Indians as pariahs. The book has since been removed from the syllabus.

The 1Malaysia slogan has so far, been just a slogan and a catchy phrase at best. Ironically, the Prime Minister calls for a national reconciliation despite contradictory to his accusation of the Chinese voting for the opposition. In the 12th General Election,  the Indians were made the scapegoats. It would have been better if there was some consistency in claiming to be a multiracial country and not confuse people every now and then.

Even after 56 years of independence, we can still hear people say ‘Go back to China’ or ‘Go back to India’.

Perhaps the latest stunt by Alvin and Vivian is just another attempt to draw attention, or it could be an underlying problem within our multiracial society. According to blogs around the internet, the couple had claimed that they posted the greeting for ‘no reason’. The MCMC will be conducting an investigation into the complaints made against the couple.

In order to strive for a more balanced and healthy society, people need to discard prejudices and categorisation by religion, colour and race. This tit-for-tat mentality has to end someday if we ever hope to live peacefully. What we do not want is more ire or confrontational approaches, but what we do truly need are level-headed leaders who believe in equal opportunities, have a combative attitude towards racism and an ability to lead his people forward as Malaysians.

Hopefully, there will be no more replicas of Alvin and Vivian.

*Correction made: Vivian Lee was never a NUS student

What do you do while waiting out traffic jams?

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While patience is a virtue, time is also money. Many cities in the world face similar problems with traffic congestion. In densely populated areas, people spend up to 72 hours a month just waiting out jams; and traffic jams often cause impatience among drivers which lead to road rages.

A person’s personality is often reflected in the way he drives. During traffic gridlocks, a variety of driving attitudes may be spotted, namely the abiding driver, the inattentive driver, the road hog and the road bully.

As road users, we very much wish that drivers are considerate enough not to hog the yellow boxes, run a red light or cut queues. Oh, the incessant honking and warning‘flash beams’ – don’t they just make driving wearisome, tiresome and bothersome!

So what do people do while stuck in traffic?

It will definitely be good to exert full concentration and calmness behind the wheel. However, balancing these against aggravated situations may well tip the scale over. Just imagine, you are especially late for a meeting, or you have to pick up your kid from school. Or worse, you just got an earful from your boss at work, or, you just got fired.

No matter, traffic jams intensifies our foul mood, and the only way is to gain control of our emotions.

Be happy

Nothing beats being happy. When there are happy thoughts, time flies. Some like to turn the radio on. Some like to hum, some like to sing, some like to dance, and some like to listen to news.

Some like to chat on the phone, some like to browse the web (highly unadvisable if driving), and some like to text friends (also highly unadvisable if driving).

Some like the silence. Some like to formulate plans, some like to recall events of the day, and some like to think up excuses.

Some like to check the spots on their faces, some like to shave or put on make-up, and some like to fiddle with their noses or comb their hair.

Some like to play guessing games or look into other people’s cars.

Of course, being happy is one thing, but multi-tasking is another – it makes an inattentive driver.

Making good use of time

Time and tide waits for no man, as the saying goes.

Although studies show that couples are more likely to have disagreements during car rides, it is actually more comforting to travel with another person to distract boredom. Having meaningful discussions in the car may be highly satisfactory and at the same time lessen one’s agitation towards the agonizingly slow-moving vehicles.

Many successful business deals and worthy ideas have been worked out during traffic jams. The invention of earphones, Bluetooth, and other hands-free accessories make it possible for drivers to safely conduct brainstorming sessions and conversations over the cellular phone.

Businessmen, negotiators, agents and students would then discover that tolerating congestions are not that bad after all.

A writer, for instance, may most probably be thinking of his opening phrase while stuck in traffic. A composer might be trying to make up a new tune; the detective scrutinizing new evidence; the scientist comprehending facts and figures; the philosopher contemplating the congestion; and the religious man examining the will of God. And so on and so forth.

Yes, all these will make the rush hour sweeter by comparison, and diminish the frustration that comes with it. Hopefully, this will also lessen road bullies and road rages.

But when all else fails, just grin and bear it. (Meditation works too!)

Penang State backbencher employs first transgender

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Seen as yet another first for Penang and perhaps Malaysia, a transgender has been engaged to assist Teh Yee Cheu oversee the transgender community’s welfare, after the proposal was tabled and approved in the State Assembly last week.

Teh who is the Tanjung Bungah representative, heads the panel with the support of both Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan National representatives, including State opposition leader, Jahara Hamid.

The committee, set to be formed within two months, aims to collect data and alleviate the status and social stigma associated with the transgender community. The committee plans to also conduct forums and spread public awareness on the issue.

“…they have rights over their bodies, and have a right to decide what gender they are most comfortable with,” said Teh.

At a press conference today (10/7/13), Teh, who proudly claims to walk the talk, announced that he had engaged transgender Hazreen Shaik Daud as his political secretary.

“I am thankful to YB Teh for giving me the opportunity to work with him,” said Hazreen, a 33 year old diploma holder who speaks fluent Mandarin and English besides the national language. Hazreen is expected to assume duties on July 15 and had previously worked for an NGO known as the Penang Family Health Development.

The demure and pretty ‘lady’ revealed her concerns over employment opportunities available to the transgender.

“Even with qualifications, we are turned down just because of how we look,” she said, adding that she would eventually want to operate her own boutique.

An edict, issued by the Fatwa Committee National Council of Islamic Religious Affairs Malaysia held on 13th December 1989, had declared that sex change was prohibited under the Shariah. According to Chong Eng, facilitator to the committee who also holds the State EXCO portfolio for Youth and Sports, Women, Family and Community Development claims that there are between 10 and 50 thousand transgender persons in Malaysia.

Gender is actually not the issue – it is the segregation of gender that makes gender the issue. Gender in our society have, till recently, been plainly categorized as male and female, and though the transgender community have been seeking legal redress in terms of recognition and status, the struggle against age-old conformities are nothing short of an arduous task.

Among the top agendas of the transgender welfare committee are to seek better accessibility for transgender persons in terms of basic needs like accessibilities to healthcare, employment and to provide equal treatment to persons with gender disagreements at public places such as schools, hospitals and detention centres.

‘Mak Nyahs’ as they are commonly termed refers to a transgender who was born a male but identifies himself more as a woman. Presently, Mak Nyahs or pondans, another derogatory term, have trouble seeking employment, are still scorned at by the society by large and even unaccepted by parents.

‘If my son was a pondan, I would beat him to death’ is the response of many fathers whose sons are considered soft.

In 2011, boys with effeminate tendencies were sent to a four day behavioural camp in Besut, Trengganu in an effort to ‘toughen’ them up.

In contrast, other countries have begun a larger acceptance of the LGBT (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgender) community with even some religious leaders, celebrities and politicians coming out of the closet to proclaim their sexual orientation and preferences.

Take the example of the recently concluded decision of the Washington Supreme Court. Two cases were ruled on the same day in favour of gay marriages and the constitutional rights of same-sex marriages.  The liberal stance of the US court may have an impact on the overall perception and tolerance towards LGBT.

Although Malaysia may still be considerably homophobic and reluctant to address the transgender and LGBT issues, the fact remain that such people exist and should be accorded proper and equal rights. As what the late Neil Armstrong said, this is one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. Penang has given new hope to the discriminated.

Prosecutors fail to deliver justice on Chee Gaik Yap’s case

Nationwide signature campaign to petition against High Court’s acquittal and discharge of suspect.

Reeling in from the shock and anger over the prosecution team to provide a prima facie case against a rape and murder suspect, civil societies, state and national leaders all helped collect signatures and make police reports nationwide to urge the Attorney-General’s Chamber file an appeal in 14 days. Today is the eighth day.

A free man now, Shahril Jaafar was discharged and acquitted by the Alor Setar High Court last Thursday. Shahril had absconded to Perth in 2006 while out on bail during trial. He was only apprehended by the police when he landed at the Subang Airport in January 2012.

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50,000 Signatures sought for Chee Gaik Yap

According to the Section 388 (1) of the Criminal Code of Procedures (CPC), it states that::

When any person accused of any non-bailable offence is arrested or detained without warrant by a police officer or appears or is brought before a Court, he may be released on bail by the officer in charge of the police district or by that Court, but he shall not be so released if there appears reasonable grounds for believing that he has been guilty of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life…

With such clear regulations, why then was an accused man suspected of both rape and murder allowed bail? Is it because he is the son of a prominent figure? And why was he only charged with murder and not rape as well?

As a woman, I feel totally appalled and rebuke the incompetence of the law enforcers in administering justice in this case. Have law practitioners forgotten their duties to protect their citizens?

How can we expect the streets to be safe when the odds are stacked against the victim and the system flawed? Despite conflicting public opinion, official statistics released by the government always claim that crime rate in the country have gone down.

Not unlike a direct contradiction, three strikingly high-profiled cases of home burglary were reported within the last two months. One was the home belonging to the sister of Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin, at SS3 Petaling Jaya. Another break-in happened in Mantin, Negeri Sembilan, home to the sister of Inspector-General of Police, Khalid Abu Bakar; and the latest, at Bukit Damansara, home of Khairy Jamaluddin, Minister for Youth and Sports.

“This incident is a reminder to us all that crime is a serious problem in our country. It is a real issue and not just merely a perception,” said Khairy Jamaluddin, admitting the severity of crime in the country.

Judicial Commissioner Zaki Abdul Wahab ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prove that the accused killed the victim, Chee Gaik Yap, who was then only 25 years old. The DNA in the semen found on the victim did not completely match that of the accused, as there might be a third person involved, Zaki elaborated as he read out his judgment.

With lop-sided and partisan structures within the judiciary and legislature, it is little wonder that stained mattresses and three-day old evidences left up in the nether region orifices can be presented in court as sufficient evidence to incriminate someone while the brutal and depraved criminals go scot-free, and the lack of evidence cited.

How can we entrust our safety and lives to an authority that treats serious crimes with a lackadaisical and indifferent attitude? Malaysian Crime Watch Task Force (MyWatch) insisted on June 25 that the Deputy IGP, Mohd Bakri Zini should clarify crime statistics.

“Serious crimes such as criminal intimidation, abduction, extortion and causing grievous hurt are classified as non-indexed crimes, which are not included in the national crime statistics,” MyWatch revealed, and stressed the need to ascertain if this was the normal practice by the Interpol and neighbouring countries.

If 50,000 signatures still fail to persuade the Attorney-General to rise to the occasion and make good an opportunity for reparation towards the family of Chee Gaik Yap, the public are then forced to agglomerate yet another example of the severe abortion of the law, to the likes of Teoh Beng Hock, Kugan and many others.

For now, we can only hope and pray. Tomorrow, any one of us can be the next victim.

Link to article in MSN

Link to photo gallery at MSN

Lim Guan Eng proposes, Anwar disposes

Exchanging oranges for limes, but still better than nothing.

Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng is expected to propose on behalf of Pakatan Rakyat, Law Choo Kiang as Speaker and Ustaz Maktar Hj. Shapee as Deputy Speaker for the Penang State Assembly tomorrow (28/6/2013). Both are second term PKR state assemblyman for Bukit Tambun and Sungai Bakap respectively. Deputy Chief Minister 1 for Penang, Rashid Hasnon will second the motion.

Lim had also, in his press release, made known that prior to the final decision, Penang PKR chairman, Dato Mansor Othman was unanimously proposed and supported by the Penang EXCO, consisting of both DAP and PKR members, for the Speaker post. He attributes the change to a consultation with Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, PKR’s de facto leader and Parliamentary Opposition Leader.

The initial move to propose Dato Mansor may be politically correct, or reversely, simply an olive branch from DAP to iron out the outburst of the ‘Tokong’ issue which emerged since last August. A recording purportedly of Dato Mansor accusing Lim as being a deity, and in no circumstances a friendly term, put him under unfavourable conditions in the months that followed, leading to his ‘upgrade’ to contest during the 13^th General Elections as a Member of Parliament instead of a state assemblyman.

Law proposed to appease Chinese PKR members

While the nomination for Law to be the Speaker may appease some Chinese members in PKR, many still fume over the loss of the Chinese EXCO seat, which was previously held by Law. To add salt to the wound, only four Chinese candidates were fielded in the state seats this time round as compared to five in 2008. All four won their seats with a larger majority than before; they are: Law Choo Kiang (Bukit Tambun), Ong Chin Wen (Bukit Tengah), Lee Khai Loon (Machang Bubuk) and Cheah Kah Peng (Kebun Bunga).

Even though Dato Mansor was largely supported to be the Speaker, the nomination of Law instead, points to the rationale that the PKR leadership appreciates the contributions of its Chinese members and proportioned all three EXCO seats in Penang to PKR Malays only because there was a lack of Malay leaders in DAP.

Although a similar situation arose in Selangor, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, Menteri Besar of Selangor, reduced the number of EXCO seats to DAP from four to three, to accommodate a PKR Chinese appointment. DAP was compensated with a Speaker seat originally meant for PAS.

Nomination not based on gender quota

The nomination of Ustaz Maktar as Deputy Speaker displaces Dr. Norlela Ariffin, the state assemblyman for Penanti, initially announced by Dato Mansor to be the Deputy Speaker. An enthusiastic newcomer to politics, she was a beacon of hope for women. While women continue to struggle for more representation, the post of the Deputy Speaker went in favour of a senior politician with more experience.

It remains to be seen the length of time taken for PKR to attain her commitment in achieving 30% women’s representation in politics.

Lim Guan Eng proposes, Anwar disposes link to MSN

Where there is haze, there is fire

The episodes of haze has returned yet again, and this is among two of the bad haze conditions faced since 1997 and 2005.

There is no exception to human error when the health of the whole region comes under siege annually due to the clearing of land by palm oil and timber companies in Indonesia. So far, eight concessionaires have been identified by the Indonesian Environment Minister and National Disaster Mitigation Board, Balthasar Kambuaya.

An environmental group known as Greenpeace claim that these plantations belong to Indonesian, Malaysian and Singaporean conglomerates. The forest fire are said to originate from Riau and Jambi, the eastern side of Central Sumatra. Based on reports by the NOAA satellite, there are currently 227 hotspots and it is expected to continue burning well into the following month due to the high temperature and dry weather.

Efforts for cloud-seeding in the region have borne little results as clouds do not form over the hotspots. It is also impossible to trace clouds through the satellite imagery because of the thick haze. The most recent cloud-seeding operation which was carried out on Sunday triggered half an hour of rain in the Dumai district of Riau province. However, this did not prevent new hotspots from emerging. This highly technical operation involves dumping iodized salt onto dense clouds to help induce rain.

When the westerly monsoon winds start blowing in June, the haze gets carried into Malaysia and Singapore.

The alarming Air Pollution Index and poor visibility have prompted an emergency call for schools to shut down in several states in Malaysia, since Monday. The burning, which started on June 11 poses a health threat and is potentially life-threatening especially for children, the elderly and those already with cardiac and respiratory problems like asthma. Ordinary face masks do not help much as the smog molecules are smaller than what the masks filter. The haze consists of tiny particles measuring 2.5 microns in diameter or smaller.

Although citizens are encouraged to purchase N95 respirator masks, it is also not advisable to provide the N95 masks to those categorized as vulnerable as the mask causes the lungs to work harder and requires more effort to breath. Experts caution against providing the elderly, pregnant women, those below 15 years of age and those with chronic respiratory and cardiac diseases with N95. According to NIOSH, the agency responsible for the N95 rating, these masks are supposed to filter out 95% of airborne particles.

In spite of recurring occurrences together with two especially bad episodes of haze, one in 1997 and another in 2005, not much has been done by the authorities. This had however, prompted an agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, signed by the ASEAN countries in 2002, to monitor and combat pollution caused by forest fires.

Regionally, neighbouring countries are pressuring Indonesia for a solution. So far, no companies have been fined or taken action against. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono publicly apologized to Singapore and Malaysia today for the illegal raging fire that caused the air pollution hitting hazardous levels.

"As the president of Indonesia, I apologize for what has happened and ask for the understanding of the people of Malaysia and Singapore," Mr Yudhoyono said. "We accept it is our responsibility to tackle the problem."

He also sought for understanding from Singapore and Malaysia over the problem.

Please click the below link for the story:

Where there is haze, there is fire link to MSN