May the force be with you

May the force be with you Malaysiakini Madhatter Nov 1, 07 5:53pm

Democracy and freedom of the media went out the door when Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Ramli Yusuff requested Malaysiakini journalists to leave his press conference. It is strange that a man who wants the truth to be known should pick on the very people who have been getting the truth out into the public space. He may rue the day he did that when he desperately needs an avenue to defend himself in future, as one infamous opponent of Malaysiakini, now a critic of the government, discovered. The latest police scandals, the apparent tit-for-tat actions of the parties involved, including factions in the police force and Anti-Corruption Agency are reason why the IPCMC (Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission) is long overdue. Pak Lah has been derelict in his duty and appears to be incompetent. He should relinquish his role and take on the portfolio of foreign minister since he likes to travel abroad when business at home demands his attention. It is okay for him to take his new bride for a ride but not the people. Judging the comments of ministers in response to the judiciary fiasco, one can't avoid concluding that incompetence and the lack of honesty are behind the government's reluctance to quickly resolve the Lingam video intrigue. It is the only credible explanation when the views of the government are so divergent from ours on something so obvious as the Lingam video. Trying to defend the indefensible when the monkey has been caught with his hands in the coconut is another stroke of pure stupidity and self-delusion for which the government is renowned. Current events in Malaysia speak of a government that is out of control because of Pak Lah's lack of leadership. Each time something of major public concern occurs, he hides behind the scene and lets his ministers or some other person manage the problem. Then he appears when the damage has been done by his ministers and appears the nice guy making all the right moves, correcting his ministers and taking the high moral ground. This is leadership by dereliction and deceit. A good leader will come out in the open and lead from the front not the back. But this backpedaling method of Pak Lah happens too often. Perhaps Malaysiakini may dig its archives and list the litany of Pak Lah's backpedaling ways, and each time it is some bureaucrat who did not understand the government's stand and did the wrong thing, not Pak Lah's government. Members of the royal family have better things to do than comment on the country's management. But for the Sultan of Perak, once the country's top judge to openly comment on the judiciary in response to the Lingam video scandal, manifests the growing impatience of Malaysians with the government's recalcitrance in forming a royal commission to sort out the judiciary. The government is only digging a larger hole for itself. A royal commission should clean out the rotten apples in the judiciary. Lingam's video is a symbolic expose of what really occurs behind the scenes. Multiply it and the people can peer into how business is conducted by the corrupt in tandem with their links in the administration. In typical style, the prime minister lambasted the Bar Council, whose lame response to his criticism of their actions also leaves much to be desired. The premier does not know how to do his job and has no reason to preach to the Bar Council which must show more backbone in dealing with the government. It is not proper for the government to tell the Bar Council, the country's best legal brains, what to do when its so-called law minister does not even understand the basic notion of natural justice. The time has come when Malaysians have enough of government nonsense. Those elected goons acting like rajahs and dictators, overruling and stemming public debate on every important major issue of public concern have got to be stopped. Another disgraceful politician is the speaker of the House. This man is supposed to uphold the Constitution and ensure there is proper parliamentary debate but his obscenely biased clamping down of opposition members is beyond belief. It has brought disrepute to the august house of the people and the speaker should himself be referred to a disciplinary board. The Election Commission is another tool of the government when it is supposed to be neutral and fair. How can it claim to be an election commission when everyone knows that the electoral boundaries are so biased and skewed against democracy? Is it any wonder that the Barisan always wins the elections? An analysis of the voting results of past years will tell you that if the electoral boundaries were fairly delineated, as they should be if the EC has done its job fairly and professionally, Umno in particular would not have won as many seats as it has done. The other crucial factor is the bureaucracy, those public servants who are under the people's payroll. Instead of performing their duties according to the highest code of conduct and professionalism and being above politics they act as if they are the servants and sycophants of the politicians. They simply have failed to understand that being a government servant is not the same as being a stooge of the ruling political party. In Japan, for example, you see this separation of the politicians and the bureaucrats clearly. So no matter who forms the Japanese government, the bureaucracy is able to function smoothly and effectively and in fact there is even a joke that you don’t need the politicians to run the country in Japan. Also in developed countries, heads of departments and public servants have taken the politicians, including their ministers, to task if they are forced to do something that is unethical or unconstitutional. But in Malaysia, the pengarahs (directors) are in bed with the politicians and is it any wonder that so many of them receive datukships and fancy titles. So how can the country progress with this sort of mentality - that all you have to do is be a good servant, not of the public but the politicians, and all will be well. This shallowness of the bureaucracy has been around for a long time and now the judiciary is in danger of falling into the same quagmire. The government is so used to doublespeak and deceit that it is unable to think straight and that is why it is full of contradictions. Either the warlords in the Umno fiefdom are flexing their muscles more boldly or they are pathetically schizoid. Take for example, the shameful keris waving matter. Now they are coming out and saying that it will be a permanent part of their political culture. Shish! It shows their duplicitous nature. The keris we all know is held in high regard as a symbol of Malay militancy. It is acceptable to use it decoratively in formal cultural attire. But when young political turks start waving it in the air accompanied by aggressive chanting and intimidating postures, you'd have to be an idiot not to get the message. The keris should be banned for any other use than cultural and when used like it was at the Umno assembly, should be deemed a provocative act. Western kings and princes have a ceremonial sword as part of their attire but we don’t see their politicians waving swords at their political meetings do we? Well, they are simply more civilised and honest. But please politicians, spare us your dishonesty. If you want to wave a weapon at anyone and intimidate them and commit a felony, don't pretend and make dishonest excuses. In a civilised country, someone who makes a verbal assault on another in a threatening manner can be charged in court. But in Malaysia, only the government's youth party, reminiscent of Hitler's Nazi youth groups, can do it and we know the outcome of such behaviour years later. The country spends untold sums of money on religion, building mosques at taxpayers' expense, spending millions and millions on religious schools, yet corruption is so rampant and it affects every echelon of the economy. For years, every Malaysian knows that the traffic police are corrupt. Yet the government has not done anything to stop the corruption. It has not explained why religion has not bitten into the moral conscience of the police. The government has indeed failed the religious test. The rift in the police force is denied but the proof is in the pudding. If there is no rift why is CCID director Ramli Yusuff being accused of amassing a whopping 27 million ringgit? Why is he alleging that he is being picked on because his officers exposed the collusion of other police officers with a top gangster? Who needs soap operas when the Malaysian police, judge-fixing lawyers and politicians provide so much entertainment? Let's face it. Call an ace an ace and a spade a spade. The Malaysian government has been in power for too long and lost its moral compass. It is lost in the jungle of greed. Politics is the short route to personal power and riches and what they bring. The Zakaria Derios mansion is a monument of such obscenity. The only thing worse than a corrupt government official is the people who support him. I am not suggesting Zakaria is guilty of corruption but I would like to know the secret of his success. The government should ask him to conduct seminars for the Malay business people whom Pak Lah has recently chided for their lack of success. It is strange and no coincidence that every time the elections are near that the prime minister picks on the Malays. It all started with Mohamad Mahathir. But this time, the non-Malays and the Malays can't be fooled. The non-Malays know that Pak Lah and his cronies tell them one thing and another to their own people. They are masters of doublespeak and politicians are renowned for speaking with a forked-tongue. Even the Red Indians knew that, how much more clever the Malaysians. More and more Malays now know that only a handful of cronies take the lion's share of the nation's wealth which is meant to be distributed among them more evenly. Mahathir duped them with his plan to establish a few super rich Malay tycoons. And Malaysians all fell for it. How silly. It is like the man who wants to satisfy his lust and says he married another woman to keep her from getting poor. Why? Couldn’t charity help her in this modern age? And why are the needy women all young and sweet? How many men have married old and frail women, to help them out of poverty? Alas, the heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick! The state of the nation is not healthy. Pak Lah's administration has failed the moral test. He himself has failed the test that he established himself. Judged by his own words and standards, he has failed. Tell me the truth, work with me, yak, yak, yak, but what do we get? The opposite! And now that the Bar Council has told him the truth - he scolds them. Shish. Let’s face the truth. Politicians are not royalty, born to lead. They are given the chance to lead. Take away Pak Lah's role and what is he? Look at the high and mighty Mahathir. Where is he now? He is battling to stay alive and let's hope long enough to redeem himself. He is the architect, engineer, developer, real estate agent - the consummate maestro of the Malaysian Dilemma. He lived by it and now leaves this legacy for us. The Malay Dilemma was a myth created by Mahathir to exploit the psyche of a victim's complex innate in the Malays of yesteryears. Under the British, only Mother England's interest mattered. Everyone else had to make a go of it. But cunning Mahathir made it out that the Chinese and the British put the Malays at a disadvantage. And after 50 years of Umno rule, what have changed? Malaysians are stupid if they allow their country to be run like a mafia country. Now the gangsters are so bold. They gun down the police. But has anyone investigated if it was an inside job? Were the police walking into a trap? Were the crooks tipped off and the police sacrificed to warn off other honest cops? We have spent millions to send a Malaysian to celebrate Hari Raya in space. Yet we couldn’t find enough money to provide the police who were involved in the drugs raid without the proper attire. Shish! Here is a government trying to join the space race but can't do a simple thing like providing bullet proof vests to its policemen on a dangerous raid. Why wasn’t this raised in Parliament? Malaysians should not be stupid but angry that their country is being exploited by the people they elected to benefit them. The masses need to get the message out to the common folks everywhere. It took a long time to get 5,000 people to sign the petition to the King. It should have taken five minutes! Or five days. What's wrong with Malaysians? But if I announce a free porn video, be sure I will have 500,000 people sign up. The young in Malaysia had better wake up and start to do something about their country, about their future. Don't be an idiot and think that because you know so and so and enjoy some benefits now that everything will be okay. Talk to those who once were Mahathir's cronies. Where are they now? So you want to postpone the nation's problems to your grandchildren? Don't make the mistake of your parents and grandparents who did nothing. See what their inaction has caused them. The time is ripe now to rid the country of all those corrupt politicians who should not be allowed to get away with murder and having a great time at the people's expense. Don't be fooled by the politicians who say the Chinese are the enemy, the Malays are the enemy, the Indians are the enemy. There is only one enemy. The one who is corrupt. Everyone else is your friend. Save Malaysia and vote out the corrupt politicians and take part in every activity that you can to make your country a better place. Surely there must be some honest and decent politicians left in the government. Support them also because it is not the party that counts but the people whom you entrust to lead you. Remember your future is in your hands and don't blame anyone if you suffer because you made the wrong choice. The last time many of us were fooled - but once bitten, twice shy. Do I need to say more?

Attack on police a wake up call

Citizens living in fear

I refer to “Musa orders thorough probe” (Star October 27).

The fury of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Musa Hassan over the slaying of two of his detectives by gunmen was understandable so is his frustration over the uncontrollable crime rate in general. The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) should go all out to track down the murderers so that they can be punished in accordance with the laws.

The death of two trained and experienced policemen is definitely a great loss to the nation especially coming at a time when the country is facing such a high crime rate that is threatening the peace and harmony that we were enjoying all these years. It would be great setback to the efforts of the police to stop the escalating crime.

Whether the unfortunate police raid was conducted properly and what really went wrong is for the PDRM to investigate in a professional manner and take remedial measures to overcome any shortcomings there may be. What is important is not who is at fault but rather what has happened, a very serious crime in the form of a well planned attack on the police. It is equally important to ask why it occurred. Were the raids well planned and coordinated and adequate precautionary measures taken?

It is also timely that to review the protective measures like the use of bullet-proof vests and patrol cars. Definitely these will go a long way to reduce the deaths among members of the police force while carrying out their on duties. There should be no hesitation in providing adequate protection for our men in blue however costly it may be. On the contrary it would be grossly unfair and even negligent to deny them these for whatever reasons.

This fatal attack on the police should be an eye opener for the police force. It is a sign that all is not well as far as public security is concerned. When armed criminals can fatally strike at the police, I dread to imagine what they could do to ordinary citizens. Who would dare come forward to lodge complaints against criminal activities?

The numerous complaints from the public on the fear created by the escalating crime is not unfounded and it is time that the authorities take these grouses very seriously. Not a day passes without some gruesome crime being committed and we wonder what our country is really coming to. We can hardly go anywhere without fear of assault, robbery, rape and even murder.

We have reached a critical state where citizens are living in fear even within their own homes behind heavily locked doors, grilles, sophisticated alarm systems and security guards. Even being caged in such heavily fortified homes do not appear to guarantee security for them and their families from criminals who seem to be better organized, equipped and even armed.

Our crime-busting authorities must take public complaints very seriously. They must devise ingenious ways and means to counter crime more efficiently and effectively. They must ensure that law and order prevail at all costs, failing which will only result in thugs taking over the running of the country.

Dr.Chris Anthony

EPF should not abdicate its obligation

EPF should strive for higher dividends

I refer to “EPF scheme to help members save more for retirement” (Star October 23).

The Employees Provident Fund’s (EPF) initiative to introduce the “Beyond Savings” scheme to help its members to save more for retirement should be commended.

The plan to allow all EPF contributors to withdraw part of their funds to invest in schemes like unit trusts may no doubt bring greater returns on the long run but it is not without risks. There is no guarantee that investing in such schemes will automatically bring bigger profits than that offered by the EPF itself.

Investing in such schemes requires knowledge and acumen to manage these funds which I am afraid many, even among the upper income group, may be lacking. To these contributors it may be better to depend on the dividends provided by the EPF that guarantees security rather than invest for greater profits in schemes that they are not familiar with. They run the risk of being victimized by agents who are out to make quick profits. The EPF management is in a better position to manage these funds more prudently and it should strive harder to provide higher dividends to its members rather than living it to them to do so.

The primary aim of the EPF is to provide post-retirement funds for its members by their compulsory savings throughout their working life. It should therefore be very careful in deciding the quantum of the “required amount” in the various accounts, the excess of which a contributor can withdraw for other more lucrative investment purposes. The amount available to the contributor at any one time must be adequate to support him and his dependents if any untoward happens to him. If this is not so it would defeat the very purpose for which the fund was set up.

Currently EPF contributors are allowed to withdraw their retirement savings for various purposes – unit trusts, medical expenses, children’s education and housing. If an average earner were to withdraw his savings for all these reasons I am afraid there will be not much left when he retires especially now when life expectancy is prolonged by better medical care.

The RM500 a month is a gross underestimate of the needs of a retired individual. It would be hardly sufficient to sustain oneself on that amount considering the escalating cost of living these days.

Providing investment opportunities outside for greater monetary returns for its members is definitely an encouraging move by the EPF. At the same time it must also consider the undesirable consequences of such moves – the premature depletion of hard earned savings by ignorant misuse.

The government on its part should not use it as an excuse to abdicate its moral obligations to the rakyat. It is the responsibility of the government to provide affordable and quality basic healthcare, education and housing for the people, particularly those from the lower income group. It would be unfair to expect them to use up almost all their retirement funds to “self-finance” these basic amenities which, as a result of over-enthusiastic privatization, have become beyond the means of the majority of the people.

Dr.Chris Anthony

Not waiting for the cows to come home

Malaise, Chinese and Indians

Helen Ang
Oct 11, 07 11:30am


The good news is that Malaysian-Indians are no longer waiting for the cows to come home. The bad news is that after sacred cows are corralled, they're still not easy to slaughter.Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) chairman P Waytha Moorthy was busy working on the class action suit brought against Britain on behalf of Malaysia's two million Indians when I spoke to him.

This suit, among other things, will obliquely challenge Article 153 of the Federal Constitution on Malay special rights. "Malaysia is probably the only country in the world with racial discrimination explicitly written into its constitution, "

The Economist had once observed. For the first time ever, this never-ending privilege will be legally contested. But as the lawsuit is filed in London, the challenge is academic. Nonetheless it serves to break a mental barrier on a hitherto taboo subject, says Waytha, the lead lawyer on the suit. He explains the Reid Commission which oversaw Independence was negligent in not putting a written cap on the duration of special rights, which Malaya founding father Tunku Abdul Rahman had not asked to be instituted forever.

Waytha adds the lawsuit is a chance to break new ground to "undo the wrongs" of the departing British, at least on paper. But it is a start. While institutionalised racism has done its work to uplift the Malays, the discriminative policies facilitated by Article 153 have shut out Indians from their desired upward mobility. Waytha counts the absence of affirmative action for poor Indians as part of the government neglect which has led to the creation of an Indian underclass.

The suit catalogues a host of longstanding grievances of the Indian community and it is a legitimate list that needs to be looked into in all good faith. Lagging behind in everything In melting Malaysia's curry pot, the Indians are among the worst off. Doubtless they are over-represented in law and medicine. But Indians also predominate as "labourers, industrial manual workers, office boys, road sweepers, beggars and squatters," lawyer P Uthayakumar told IPS last month when speaking on the suit. When I was a kid, all the peons in my school were Indian.

Today and still, the evidence of our eyes bears out the truth of Uthayakumar' s statement. The Malaysian-Indian' s paucity of economic advancement and prospects – comparatively, they are doing well as professional minorities in Singapore and Western countries – has led to dire social consequences. According to Police Watch, Indians make up 60 percent of those arrested by police and news reports have quoted government statistics saying 40 percent of convicted criminals are Indians. This is a gross imbalance considering that Indians comprise a mere eight percent of the Malaysian population.

Thus, the setting up of an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) has strong backing from Indians who are the main victims of police brutality and custodial deaths. Ranked among the top three issues of concern to the community are crime and gangsterism, a survey by the Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research found in the fourth quarter of 2006. Indians complain they are continually targeted by police, this bias further exacerbating the community's fraught relations with a uniformed force that is predominantly Malay. Police role in relentless temple demolitions and the Kg Medan clashes have not helped ease the tensions.

Negotiation is futile As Islamisation is being ratcheted up, Waytha believes the "aggressive conduct" of the Islamic authorities is a mutilation of individual rights, commenting on the Hindu cases including cause celebre M Revathi and P Marimuthu. "These are nothing but provocative acts designed to humiliate, frustrate and belittle the faith and belief of the non-Muslims, " he says. The destruction of Hindu temples is not something only happening this year or started last year. It has been ongoing for years and is a sustained campaign. The emergence of rights groups like Hindraf is symptomatic of Indians deciding they're not waiting for Godot, and "the BN way" of backroom dealing, to preserve their houses of worship and defend their rights.

Indians are also beginning to splinter into newer political parties and no longer remain in thrall to MIC as sole 'guardian' of the community. This emancipation from the previously entrenched acquiescence to BN has uncorked the bottled-up rumblings we're hearing now. Adding salt to the Indian's sense of injury is Putrajaya in denial. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is fast immortalising himself for inanity.

A week before Merdeka, he piously reminded Malaysians: "Don't mock any religion." After performing the groundbreaking ceremony for a new UiTM (university especially for Malays) campus built to the munificent tune of RM150 million, Abdullah delivered his groundbreaking homily: "Do not do things which may offend the believers of other religions ... this is not good" – and in the process rather lowering the bar for prime ministerial gravitas. Hindraf rejoined: "What about demolishing Hindu temples at the rate of one in every three weeks, Mr Prime Minister?"

Fairest one of all If you care to find out what Islam Hadhari is about, read the FAQ on the Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) website or Abdullah's dozens of speeches, text on the Prime Minister's Office website.

A fair representation of Hadhari is distilled in Abdullah's declaration: "I have been fair, I want to be fair and I will always be fair. This is my promise to you." Under Hadhari-in-a- hurry, we've seen Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim suggest that the use of English common law be scrapped, Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail suggest that it be replaced with Syariah and Minister for religious affairs in the PM's Department Dr Mohd Abdullah Zin saying what a jolly good idea. Ahmad Fairuz had also written in his judgment on Lina Joy: "… seseorang tidak boleh sesuka hatinya keluar dan masuk agama". If we pay heed to the learned CJ's injunction, then 'fairly', an Indian cannot simply leave Hinduism at his whim and fancy to become Muslim at his whim and fancy.

Indian apostates outnumber Malay apostates by far. Among the famous names are Muhammad Fitri Abdullah (M Revathi's counsellor), Muhammad Shafi Abdullah (formerly T Saravan, husband to R Subashini) and Muhammad Ridzwan Mogarajah (formerly M Jeyaganesh, husband to S Shamala). Nobody's yet suggested that the men should have obtained permission from their state or national Hindu organisation in order to leave the religion they were born into. Or recommend that they be subjected to detention and rehabilitation before they are sanctioned to abandon Hinduism.

These hindrances would, of course, be against the spirit of Article 11. And illegal, don't you think? Go forth and multiply In any case, it is not that the Islamisation juggernaut can today be in any way hamstrung; we have passed the point of no return. Allied Co-ordinating Committee of Islamic NGOs (Accin) and Pertubuhan-pertubuh an Pembela Islam attacked the similarly NGO-backed Merdeka Statement and its provisions on promoting freedom of religion – in Malaysian context, the freedom of religions other than Islam – and marking their ever widening Muslim-only territory.

Meanwhile, the dakwah (proselytising Islam) movement is active on the ground with NGOs like Perkim, Yadim and JIM well-networked, and the state pumping the wind behind their sails. Last weekend, Abdullah said religious and racial divisions are an increasingly serious problem in Malaysia. However, on Aug 27 when he launched the Merdeka Award, the prime minister cited findings that said 81 percent of Malaysians believe ethnic relations to be "favourable" . Abdullah seems to have experienced quite a big perception shift within the span of a short month, wouldn't you say? Now which is it, increasingly serious problem or favourable relations? As with its racial discrimination, Malaysia is probably the only country in the world with definition of race also explicitly written into its constitution. Article 160 (2) defines Malay as a person professing Islam, habitually speaking Malay and conforming to Malay custom. An Irish is Irish, Inuit is Inuit but when is an Indian constitutionally Malay in Malaysia?

The international convention is that a child takes on the ethnicity of his father. Over here, this universal norm poses somewhat of a 'dilemma' to mixed(-up) leaders. Perhaps the 'who is Indian' conundrum can be best explicated by ex-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Confused Indian identity Abdullah vaguely mentioned our country's "most precious identity" in the run-up to Merdeka. But as far as the tub-thumpers of his administration go, Malay-Muslim is the only mould this precious identity is going to take. And knowing full well the Malaysian predilection for conformity, there will be enough takers. With Hindu temples and shrines bowled over like dominoes, Tamil schools dilapidated, hardly any state funds for religious activities and centres, or training and stipend for the priesthood, it is understandably much more onerous for an Indian to learn the religion of his forebears.

Thus Revathi was accused to have had "zero knowledge of Hinduism" and not receiving adequate instruction in faith from her Hindu husband. Exposure to the Religion of the Federation is comparatively more persuasive as proven by the healthy rate of conversion to Islam. It's technically possible to transmogrify into Malay as per Article 160 (2) and you can witness some Malaysians in the throes of such a metamorphosis shedding their old skin to crawl into a new one. Perhaps to avert segments of the minority communities plunging into an identity crisis, the government should seriously resolve to uplift the Indians and others by ensuring that everyone who deserves NEP help gets it.

There are those who may be under the misassumption that only Malays and pseudo-Malays are eligible for social benefits. Then there is the other popular notion that a Muslim name is a vehicle to acquiring preferential shares in stock-market floatation, contracts and other economic perks. What has the consistent actions of government shown about its approach to the "most precious identity" of Malaysian-Indians as Indians? Has national life displayed a genuine respect for Indian culture? Supported the teaching, dissemination and practice of Hinduism?

The Indians have pleaded themselves hoarse; now the PM finally promises he'll listen "even if the truth hurts". Abdullah promises, promises, sweet talks and honey-coats his words. Ants are practically swarming over all that sugar and termites over the temples that have come a-tumbling down. The Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research last year found that Malays identify themselves first and foremost as Muslim (correct!), Chinese by race (yes, naturally) and Indians by nationality (oh, I see …)

Proud-to-be Malaysians are living in a country shaped by confused leaders and a regime 22 years under a 'Malay Dilemma-ed' ex-premier, who perhaps unbeknownst to his own self suffered an identity crisis. Or maybe it was just a prolonged skin rash that refused to heal. This confused premier left us a confused successor and an inheritance of confused ministers; some like the Law Minister more confused than others. And top civil servants who are confused about the country's secular laws and battery-dead 'independent panels' confused about what laws they are empowered with. It's no wonder then that in this country not a few Malaysians too are confused about the race to which they belong. Bangsa Melayu should not be taken as synonymous with Bangsa Malaysia!

Kudos to a brave judge

Hope others follow the example

The original dismay caused by the possible extension of the service of the Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim was alleviated, at least temporarily, by the encouraging the landmark decision by the Kuala Lumpur High Court to grant former ISA detainee, Abdul Malek Hussin,RM2.5million in damages over his unwarranted arrest and torture in 1998.

In making such a bold decision High Court judge Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus had demonstrated that there still judges up there who could rise up to the occasion to safeguard the integrity and independence of our judiciary. All Malaysians salute him for his brave act that shows his deep sense of patriotism to the nation. We hope his example will prod others like him to rise up to restore the reputation that we were once the envy of others.

His harsh criticism of the police officers at the highest level, in causing the inhumane torture of Abdul Malek, is gratifying and is shared by all Malaysians. In endorsing these forms of torture, the government has no doubt lost its moral credibility to condemn the atrocities committed by others like the military junta in neighboring Myanmar.

Justice Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus has beyond doubt demonstrated that he is the right person to replace Ahmad Fairuz as the next CJ.If the government and the Conference of Rulers are serious in wanting to restore the judicial integrity and independence, they should seriously consider Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus and other judges like him to be elevated to higher posts so that together, by their fearless actions, restore the status of the judiciary to its past glory.Syabas justice Mohd Hishamudin and may God bless him and his family.

Dr.Chris Anthony

Myanmar massacre

10/08/2007 13:11

MYANMAR

Opposition supporters burnt alive in Yangon crematorium

AsiaNews sources confirm the existence of a crematorium in the suburbs of the former capital to hide the number of victims and add: detainees seriously injured during the September protests are also being thrown in. The junta’s fear of the monks grows: the largest Buddhist monasteries are ordered to transfer outside city limits and seminaries are closed.

Yangon (AsiaNews) –Myanmar’s repression has become open religious persecution and the cruelty used against protesters asking for an end to the dictatorship, has gone beyond all stretches of the imagination. AsiaNews sources confirm the existence of a crematorium in the suburbs of Yangon, where soldiers burn the bodies of protesters as well as detainees

gravely injured during the anti-regime demonstrations. In this way the military junta hopes to make it impossible to estimate the exact number of victims.

These same sources – anonymous for obvious security reasons – tell of a veritable persecution and absurd measures being used against the Buddhist monasteries, the starting point of the peaceful protests against the generals. The government is waging a defamatory campaign against the monks, who – according to state media – do not follow Buddha’s teachings, violate his laws and thus deserve to be punished. But as criminals, they underline, not as political prisoners. The propaganda machine meanwhile continues to propose pro government marches throughout the country: every family must “contribute” one or two members, or face a fine and up to 3 months prison, Burmese citizens explain. They add: “People take part, but refuse to shout the slogans imposed by the regime”.

The tone is one of open religious persecution. This weekend authorities called the heads of the major monasteries and ordered they be transferred outside city limits in an attempt to quell the protests. “We are worried for the fate of the monks – they say in Yangon – how will they survive outside the city, or collect alms which are their only maintenance”. The government fears most of all the activities of the young novice monks, on the frontline of marches since August. This is why it has ordered that seminaries be closed, and that all student monks return to their villages of origin.

The harsh international criticism and the threat of UN sanctions have in no way upset the Burmese generals, who have ruled the country with an iron fist for over 45 years. Yesterday fresh raids and arrests were carried out. Authorities maintain that they found arms, knives and bullets in some monasteries. According to the State newspaper “The New Light of Myanmar”, 135 monks are still being detained along with 78 civilians under interrogation. Diplomats and activists say these estimates are false and speak instead of more than 6 thousand people detained and “hundreds” dead.

Eye witnesses tell AsiaNews: “Soldiers strip the arrested monks of their tunics, as if to avoid committing a sacrilege, and then during the interrogation they beat and torture them”.

Amend organ donation laws with caution

Consent from relatives vital

I refer to “Organ donors’ pledges to be upheld by law” (Star,October 9)

The whole nation watched with awe-inspiring excitement a dramatic mission well executed – the successful double heart transplant on the young girl, Tee Hui Yu. Malaysians of all walks of life are proud of this remarkable feat by our very own medical team.

However the euphoria created by the success of the cardiac transplant should not be allowed to be carried too far as to rashly amend the various legislations governing the pledge to give away one’s organ. There should be an elaborate and careful study into its ramifications before embarking on such amendments.

Taking the organs from a brain dead patient may be just a physical maneuver for the doctors and the medical staff but an emotion - wrecking experience for the members of the family especially when the death is sudden as in an accident. It is of utmost importance that the emotions and feelings of the loved ones to be taken into consideration before harvesting their organs.

The braid dead patient may have given the consent when he was alive but it is the close relatives who have to endure the torments of a brain dead member of the family.They would keep hoping against all odds that their loved one would miraculously recover in due course. Until they are convinced beyond doubt, it would be unfair to remove any vital organs from them.

Brain death is the cessation and irreversibility of all brain functions, including the brain stem. It is the irreversible end of all brain activity. A brain-dead individual has no clinical evidence of brain function upon physical examination. This includes no response to pain no cranial nerve reflexes.

These reflexes include pupillary response (fixed pupils), oculocephalic reflex, corneal reflex, no response to the caloric reflex test and no spontaneous respirations. These signs must be diligently looked for before certifying a person is brain death.

It is important to distinguish between brain death and states that mimic brain death (e.g., barbiturate intoxication, alcohol intoxication, sedative overdose, hypothermia, hypoglycemia, coma or chronic vegetative states).

The diagnosis of brain death needs to be rigorous to determine whether the condition is irreversible as it can be misleading in some cases. It needs a certain degree of competence and experience by the physician who examines the patient. Although it needs two qualified physicians to certify brain death, in a society where medicine is so commercialized, how can the next of kin be convinced to accept the decision of these physicians without the slightest doubt?

Organ donation may an unselfish act on the part of the donor but it should have the willingly consent of the close relatives out of respect for the deceased and a passionate love to sustain another fellow human life. Kindness should be instilled by education and example; it cannot be compelled by laws and legislation.

Dr.Chris Anthony