Mistakes of past a lesson for future
The tragedy that struck the 1 Malaysia camp in Kuala Dipang, Kampar was indeed very regrettable. It led to the death of an 11 year old girl with two 2 others still missing. It is dreadful to imagine the agony of the parents especially those anxiously awaiting the fate of their missing children. We are told that these 1 Malaysia camps are for a noble purpose, to foster unity and interaction among primary school children of all races, through activities such as traditional cooking, cultural training and games.
However are these camps the best and only means of fostering racial unity? Do we need to take young primary school children into remote areas for such a purpose? Are the teachers adequately trained and equipped to handle emergencies in such areas like this tragedy? What was the need for these children to cross a river 30meters wide and 1.5 meters deep on a suspension bridge at 10.30pm at night? Shouldn’t young children of their age be in bed by that time? Why weren’t they provided with life jackets when crossing the river? How was that 30 to 50 children were allowed to get onto the bridge at the same time?
Another series of questions concern the quality and safety of the bridge itself.The bridge collapsed after one of the metal pillars supporting it got ripped off the ground by the weight of the children. We are told it was newly built but was it built to specifications? If so why did the metal pillar and its concrete block foundation got ripped off the ground in the incident? Obviously the size of the base concrete block did not match the metal pillars which held the cables.
Why was a suspension bridge chosen instead of the traditional wooden or concrete one over a river as wide, deep and hazardous as the Kampar River that is known for extreme water sports? We are also told that the bridge was given free. It is hard to believe that today one would give something free without some rewards in other forms.
These are some of the disturbing questions that must be addressed by the authorities, police and if necessary the MACC with some urgency and impartiality. A detailed and independent probe must be conducted to get to the truth so as to prevent such tragedies in the future. There is the general perception among ordinary people that corruption and cronyism may the underlying cause in this all previous tragedies.
Tragedies from human error are inevitable but we must learn from such incidences and take steps to prevent the repeat of such fatal mistakes. It looks like we never seem to learn from past our mistakes but keep repeating them over and over again. Each time such a tragedy occurs there is so much hoo-ha in the media, committees are set up to investigate but no concrete results come out of all that, only to be struck by another disaster at a later time and at a different place.
We hope this tragedy in Kampar will open the eyes of the authorities to place the welfare of the people above everything else. They should temporarily suspend all unity camps for children and get the experts to check the safety of all the facilities in them. It is also timely to review in a truly professional manner the needs for such camps to promote unity among the children of various races. It is time to seriously look into better, safer and more effective ways of doing that than by bringing the children of various races to a remote camp for a few days with all the attendant risks.
Children of all ethnicity are essentially color blind to start with; it is the adults, as leaders, parents and teachers, who sow the seeds of racism in them by their own examples for whatever reasons. Unless they get rid of racial and religious bias in them and stop reminding them of their ethnic differences, there is no way our children can be united by all the unity camps that we may hold.
Dr.Chris Anthony
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
TBH death homicide or suicide?
Act to reveal the truth
Renowned Thai forensic patho¬logist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand’s conclusion that there is a 80% probability that Teoh Beng Hock’s death was an act of homicide was shocking and it has created an interesting twist to the inquest into the case. Though it was shocking but not surprising as most Malaysians believe that something sinister should have happened during the detention, interrogation and mysterious death of Teoh in the premises of the Malaysain Anti-Corruption Commission(MACC).
Dr.Pornthip’s remarks, if proven to be true, would cast serious doubts on the operations of the MAAC and on the capability and integrity our own forensic experts who concluded that it was a suicide. It would reinforce the general perception that all was not well with the interrogation of Teoh who was just a witness to assist the MACC. It has also created fears among those who could be investigated or called up as witnesses by the MACC in the future.
Her basis for her conclusion as reported in the media appear to be logical and scientifically sound which contradicts with the findings of our own experts. If she is right then we have some very serious issues to address. What has gone wrong with our experts and their investigations? Aren’t our forensic experts and crime investigators as capable as their foreign counterparts?
Dr.Pornthip has been a practicing forensic pathologist for many years and is presently the Director of the Central Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, in Bangkok. Her work in forensic pathology involved many complicated and puzzling cases particularly those involving police abuses in her country.
Her evidence should not be taken lightly considering her years of experience and her passion for her job as it exposes severe weaknesses in our system that needs to be addressed with urgency. The independence and integrity of the MAAC, police and the professionalism of our forensic experts has come under suspicion and the people’s confidence in these agencies is greatly undermined.
Instead of writing off Dr.Pornthip’s comments as irrelevant and politically motivated, the government should give her the full cooperation, including carrying out another post-mortem, to get to the truth surrounding this tragic death as our credibility among the international community is at stake. The quicker we act to put things in order the better for the nation.
The government and the MACC in particular has been given an opportunity to get to the truth of this tragedy and bring to justice those, if any, involved in the death of Teoh. That is the only way to prove to the people that the government is really serious in bringing about genuine change in governance that is has promised. It is the only way to win the confidence and support of the people.
Dr.Chris Anthony
Renowned Thai forensic patho¬logist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand’s conclusion that there is a 80% probability that Teoh Beng Hock’s death was an act of homicide was shocking and it has created an interesting twist to the inquest into the case. Though it was shocking but not surprising as most Malaysians believe that something sinister should have happened during the detention, interrogation and mysterious death of Teoh in the premises of the Malaysain Anti-Corruption Commission(MACC).
Dr.Pornthip’s remarks, if proven to be true, would cast serious doubts on the operations of the MAAC and on the capability and integrity our own forensic experts who concluded that it was a suicide. It would reinforce the general perception that all was not well with the interrogation of Teoh who was just a witness to assist the MACC. It has also created fears among those who could be investigated or called up as witnesses by the MACC in the future.
Her basis for her conclusion as reported in the media appear to be logical and scientifically sound which contradicts with the findings of our own experts. If she is right then we have some very serious issues to address. What has gone wrong with our experts and their investigations? Aren’t our forensic experts and crime investigators as capable as their foreign counterparts?
Dr.Pornthip has been a practicing forensic pathologist for many years and is presently the Director of the Central Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice, in Bangkok. Her work in forensic pathology involved many complicated and puzzling cases particularly those involving police abuses in her country.
Her evidence should not be taken lightly considering her years of experience and her passion for her job as it exposes severe weaknesses in our system that needs to be addressed with urgency. The independence and integrity of the MAAC, police and the professionalism of our forensic experts has come under suspicion and the people’s confidence in these agencies is greatly undermined.
Instead of writing off Dr.Pornthip’s comments as irrelevant and politically motivated, the government should give her the full cooperation, including carrying out another post-mortem, to get to the truth surrounding this tragic death as our credibility among the international community is at stake. The quicker we act to put things in order the better for the nation.
The government and the MACC in particular has been given an opportunity to get to the truth of this tragedy and bring to justice those, if any, involved in the death of Teoh. That is the only way to prove to the people that the government is really serious in bringing about genuine change in governance that is has promised. It is the only way to win the confidence and support of the people.
Dr.Chris Anthony
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Umno Assembly 2009 : A sign of maturity?
Multiracial politics the way forward
At the recent Umno General Assembly, its president and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak rightly said the party must look after the welfare of not just the Malays but that of all the races in the country.As the backbone of the ruling Barisan Nasional(BN) it has the obligation to look after all Malaysians regardless of race. However being a party exclusive for Malays and bumiputras will it be possible to effectively take care of the others? History has shown it cannot do that.
Of late Najib is going all out to woo the support of not just the Malays but the non-Malays as well and he may be meeting some degree of success in his endeavors.He realises that a harmonious environment where all races live side by side is essential for lasting peace without which he will not be able to rule effectively to bring development and prosperity to the nation.
Furthermore without the support of all races the ethnic polarisation will further widen which will not be good for long-term peace and stability in the country. While we laud his attempts to cater for all races with his 1Malaysia policy, there is still much more to be done to convince the majority of the people of his sincerity. His words and pledges need to translated into action and the people must be made to see the results of this 1Malaysia.
While Najib’s call to Umno to care for the non-Malays as well is highly commendable,it is unfortunate that he stopped short of opening its doors to other races although he did not rule out that possibility in the future.Umno could take the lead but the only way it can effectively take care of the non-Malays is by adopting an inclusive policy to admit all races into its fold as legitimate members.
This fact has been clearly shown over the last 52years of communal politics that has resulted in increased racial polarisation and unease.The politics along racial lines,Umno for Malays,MCA for Chinese and MIC for Indians,have clearly failed to unite the races and the system was dealt a serious blow by the people in the last general elections.If only Umno had headed the call of its founding forefather,Dato Onn Jaffar, we may be in a better footing today as a united Malaysian nation without racial distinction and disparity.
Umno has been given another chance to reshape history which it rejected almost 60 years ago.We hope its members under the leadership and guidance of Najib will gain the wisdom to envisage the long-term benefits of a multiracial Umno and BN.With the component parties all in disarray,it may be time to seriously consider the formation of a multiracial BN to save them from disintegration.
The just concluded Umno assembly has portrayed a more mature debate by the delegates who by enlarge refrained from raising issues that were offensive to their fellow non-Malays citizens.Najib must be credited for this clear departure from its traditional racial overtones unlike at previous assemblies.If the proceedings this year is sign of future trend in Umno,then I am sure the time for Umno to open its doors to all races will become a reality in the not so distant future.
More and more Malaysians of all races are being convinced that multiracial politics is the only way forward for lasting peace and prosperity.With this change in the mindset of the people,only parties with multiracial ideals are going to survive in the future.The Opposition has opted for such a multiracial platform and unless Umno and BN do likewise they risk becoming obsolete.
Dr.Chris Anthony
At the recent Umno General Assembly, its president and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak rightly said the party must look after the welfare of not just the Malays but that of all the races in the country.As the backbone of the ruling Barisan Nasional(BN) it has the obligation to look after all Malaysians regardless of race. However being a party exclusive for Malays and bumiputras will it be possible to effectively take care of the others? History has shown it cannot do that.
Of late Najib is going all out to woo the support of not just the Malays but the non-Malays as well and he may be meeting some degree of success in his endeavors.He realises that a harmonious environment where all races live side by side is essential for lasting peace without which he will not be able to rule effectively to bring development and prosperity to the nation.
Furthermore without the support of all races the ethnic polarisation will further widen which will not be good for long-term peace and stability in the country. While we laud his attempts to cater for all races with his 1Malaysia policy, there is still much more to be done to convince the majority of the people of his sincerity. His words and pledges need to translated into action and the people must be made to see the results of this 1Malaysia.
While Najib’s call to Umno to care for the non-Malays as well is highly commendable,it is unfortunate that he stopped short of opening its doors to other races although he did not rule out that possibility in the future.Umno could take the lead but the only way it can effectively take care of the non-Malays is by adopting an inclusive policy to admit all races into its fold as legitimate members.
This fact has been clearly shown over the last 52years of communal politics that has resulted in increased racial polarisation and unease.The politics along racial lines,Umno for Malays,MCA for Chinese and MIC for Indians,have clearly failed to unite the races and the system was dealt a serious blow by the people in the last general elections.If only Umno had headed the call of its founding forefather,Dato Onn Jaffar, we may be in a better footing today as a united Malaysian nation without racial distinction and disparity.
Umno has been given another chance to reshape history which it rejected almost 60 years ago.We hope its members under the leadership and guidance of Najib will gain the wisdom to envisage the long-term benefits of a multiracial Umno and BN.With the component parties all in disarray,it may be time to seriously consider the formation of a multiracial BN to save them from disintegration.
The just concluded Umno assembly has portrayed a more mature debate by the delegates who by enlarge refrained from raising issues that were offensive to their fellow non-Malays citizens.Najib must be credited for this clear departure from its traditional racial overtones unlike at previous assemblies.If the proceedings this year is sign of future trend in Umno,then I am sure the time for Umno to open its doors to all races will become a reality in the not so distant future.
More and more Malaysians of all races are being convinced that multiracial politics is the only way forward for lasting peace and prosperity.With this change in the mindset of the people,only parties with multiracial ideals are going to survive in the future.The Opposition has opted for such a multiracial platform and unless Umno and BN do likewise they risk becoming obsolete.
Dr.Chris Anthony
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