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Monday, January 29, 2007
Ethnic Cleansing with a touch of class. Come to Malaysia
http://policewatchmalaysia.com/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1165309711&archive=&start_from=&ucat=5&
Note - Malaysia is not a signatory nor has ratified the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, 1948
HINDRAF
Hindu Rights Action Force
No. 135-3-A, Jalan Toman 7,
Kemayan Square,
70200 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan
Malaysia. Tel : 06-7672995/6
Fax: 06-7672997 Email waytha@hotmail.com
Y.Bhg.Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail
Attorney General of Malaysia 5.12.2006
Aras 1-8, Block C3, Parcel C Fax:88889369
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan Email: ag@atgc.gov.my
62512 Putrajaya
RE: 1. Latest: 30 year old Devi Sri Karumaniamman Hindu Temple, Petaling Jaya
Utara, Section 21, Kampung Taman Aman Unlawfully Demolished on 30/11/2006.
2. From 22/2/2006 to 30/11/2006 (9 months) 71 Hindu Temples Demolished,
Threatened with Demolitionment, Burnt to the Ground, Forced to Relocate Next to
Sewerage Tanks and 51 Letters Written to the Government of Malaysia.
3. Opposition PAS State Government in Kelantan Does Not Demolish Temples and
Neither Does the Gerakan State Government in Penang. Only UMNO Led State
Government are Demolishing these Hindu Temples.
4. Over 200 Families deprived of their Constitutional Rights through the
Unconstitutional and Unlawful Demolishment of Their Hindu Temple Without a Court
Order.
5. Malaysian Government in Violation of Article 2 and 18 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 (Entitlement of All to the Rights and Freedoms
to Manifest Ones Religion or Belief through Practice and Worship in Community
with Others Without Distinction of Race, Colour, Religion, Social Origin or
Other Status).
6. Your Responsibility in Upholding the Sanctity of Article 8 (Equality before
the Law) and Article 11 (Freedom of Religion) of the Federal Constitution.
We refer to the above matter and to our letter to your goodself dated
28/11/2006, 13th June 2006, letter dated 6/11/2006, letter dated 12th June 2006
addressed to the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister and to our Memorandum on Indiscriminate
and Unlawful Hindu Temple Demolishment in Malaysia dated 20th October 2006, 11th
May 2006, letter dated 3rd November 2006 and our final appeal to the Honourable
Prime Minister dated 20/11/2006 and copied to your goodselves along with
numerous other letters all addressed/copied to your goodself.
We wish to draw your attention to the latest demolition of the Devi Sri
Karumaniamman Hindu Temple, Petaling Jaya Utara, Section 21, Kampung Taman Aman
on 30/11/2006. The demolishments of Hindu Temples have been consistently brought
to your attention in particular over the past 11 months. We strongly believe
that your good office and your goodself would have taken particular note of the
same.
This latest incident happened on 30.11.2006 where a 30 year old temple was
unlawfully and unconstitutionally demolished. By reason of the Municipal
Councils inaction and complacency there is no doubt that the Council authorities
have acquiescence the said act of demolishment.
Contrary to Article 8 of the Federal Constitution (Equality before the Law) the
conduct of these authorities is nothing but a calculated attempt to humiliate
and belittle the Hindu faith and customs. You are the guardian and custodian of
the Federal Constitution.
We are deeply concerned of the fact that the government authorities are seen to
be taking such aggressive attempts to “cleanse” this Temple and many others.
You are the guardian and the custodian of the Federal Constitution.
Please take Note that from 22/2/2006 to 30/11/2006 (about 9 months) 71 Hindu Temples have been demolished / threatened with demolishment/ burnt down or forced to relocate next to sewerage tanks and we have written 51 letters to the Government of Malaysia.
May we also bring to your kind attention that even the Opposition fundamentalist Islamic Pas State Government in Kelantan does not demolish temples and neither does the Gerakan State Government in Penang. We regret to inform you that only the UMNO led State Governments are demolishing these Hindu temples.
However if action is not taken within forty-eight (48) hours from the date
hereof we are left with no alternative but to initiate legal proceedings against
all parties including your goodselves to compel you to act and/or to obtain a
Court Declaration that you have failed in your duty to protect and uphold the
Federal Constitution and Section 376 of the CPC and have acted contrary to the
powers bestowed upon you under Article 145 of the Federal Constitution and the
section 376 of the CPC.
Thank You
Yours Faithfully,
P.Uthayakumar,
Legal Adviser
Note - Malaysia is not a signatory nor has ratified the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, 1948
Non-muslims are not marginalised they are cleansed.
http://policewatchmalaysia.com/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1162776898&archive=&start_from=&ucat=5&
HINDRAF
HINDU RIGHTS ACTION FORCE
No. 135-3-A, Jalan Toman 7,
Kemayan Square,
70200 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan
Malaysia. Tel : 06-7672995/6
Fax: 06-7672997 Email waytha@hotmail.com
Y.Bhg.Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail
Attorney General of Malaysia 6.11.2006
Aras 1-8, Block C3, Parcel C Fax:88889369
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan Email: ag@atgc.gov.my
62512 Putrajaya
RE: 1. Ancient Hindu Temple on Private Land Unlawfully and Unconstitutionally Demolished by the Kajang Municipal Council.
2. Demolishment of Sri Muniswara Hindu Temple, Bandar Rincing Seksyen 2, Semenyih Selangor Darul Ehsan on 31.10.2006.
3. 100 over Working Class Youths may go Astray into Gangsterism, Drugs, Alcohol etc. with this Temple Demolishment.
4. Septic Tank Built Next to Nearby Mariaman Himdu Temple at Bandar Baru Bangi.
5. Hindus Belief and Rights to Worship “mutilated” by the District Council of Kajang.
6. Your Responsibility in Upholding the Sanctity of Article 8 (Equality before the Law) and Article 11 (Freedom of Religion) of the Federal Constitution.
7. Arrest, Remand and Prosecute the President of the Kajang District Council under section 298A (causing racial disharmony and hatred) and section 295 (defiling a place of worship) of the Penal Code.
8. Local and State authorities taking the law into their own hands and acting arbitrarily and without valid Court Order.
We refer to the above matter and to our letter to your goodself dated 13th June 2006, letter dated 12th June 2006 addressed to the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister and to our Memorandum on Indiscriminate and Unlawful Hindu Temple Demolishment in Malaysia dated 11th May 2006, our letter dated 3rd November 2006 to your goodselves along with numerous other letters all copied to your goodself.
We wish to draw your attention to the latest demolition of the Sri Muniswarar Hindu Temple, Bandar Rincing Seksyen 2, Semenyih Selangor Darul Ehsan on 31.10.2006. The demolishments of Hindu Temples have been consistently brought to your attention in particular over the past 11 months. We strongly believe that your good office and your goodself would have taken particular note of the same.
This latest incident happened on 31.10.2006 where a 100 over year old temple built on private land was unlawfully and unconstitutionally demolished. This was carried out by about 30 (thirty) over Kajang District Council enforcement officers, eight (8) armed police officers in two (2) police patrol cars on instructions from the President of the Kajang District Council, Tuan Haji Zainal Abidin Bin Haji Arsad and the Kajang District Police Chief (Refer to Malaysia Nanban 3/11/2006 at page 4).
One hundred over youths who are currently actively managing and praying in this temple may now go astray and get involved in gangsterism, drugs, alcohol etc. with this temple demolishment. In the long run this may be sowing the seed for terrorism and violence.
The demolition of this ancient temple is another recent example of the ruthless, barbaric and unlawful act of top officers of the Government. We regret that despite our latest letter dated 3rd November 2006 urging your goodselves to intervene and initiate criminal action against those perpetrators which were blatantly ignored by your good office. WHY?
By reason of your inaction and complacency there is no doubt that these perpetrators i.e. the President of the Kajang District Council, Tuan Haji Zainal Abidin Bin Haji Arsad and the Royal Police Force have now gained momentum and strength and gone on another rampage to continue their lawlessness, ruthless and barbaric act. This is evident from the demolishment of the Sri Muniswara Hindu Temple in Semenyih on 31.10.2006.
The said temple has existed for a period of 100 over years and has devoted mostly “labour class” devotees. Why weren’t this pre independence temples made Hindu temple reserves, gazzeted and the land alienated for temple purposes by the government and the local authorities as is being done for Muslim places of worship? The said temple, located on private land was not obstructing the development and/or construction of any other site at the material time of demolishment. Even should the temple be in the way of development why didn’t the government and local authorities take serious and sincere effort to relocate the same as is being done for Muslim places of worship? Contrary to Article 8 of the Federal Constitution (Equality before the Law) the conduct of these authorities is nothing but a calculated attempt to humiliate and belittle the Hindu faith and customs.
We are deeply concerned of the fact that the government authorities are seen to be taking such aggressive attempts to “cleanse” this Temple and many others. As the guardian of the Federal Constitution wouldn’t you Mr. Attorney General be suspicious of any misdeed?
Having perused this newspaper report it is evident that Semenyih District Council and the police acted in such violent and in humane manner of which no decent citizen would accept by any standards.
Mr. Attorney General, are you still willing to believe the official account which you have always heard? Are you continuously going to ignore these allegations and conveniently accept that the Police and Government authorities acted legally? Where is the valid Court Order for the demolishment especially on a private land? Where is the respect for the Federal Constitution and the Penal Code? The rule of law and justice?
Please also take note that in the year 2000, the nearby Mariaman Temple which was initially located on a road side in Bandar Baru Bangi was relocated to a nearby valley. Immediately thereafter a septic tank was built next to the temple. Devotees of the Mariaman Temple besides having been humiliated thus have to bear with the foul smell and the environmental risks on each occasion of worship.
The Malaysian public in general is no longer ignorant nor innocent to believe “the official version” as has always been portrayed by the Police and Government authorities in the media.
Under Article 145 of the Federal Constitution and Section 376 of the Criminal Procedure Code, you are the sole soul entrusted by His Royal Highness the Yang Dipertuan Agong (king) to institute any criminal proceedings against any subject who has committed a crime. It is therefore your utmost duty to respect and uphold the great trust placed upon you by His Royal Highness.
We now write in a final attempt to urge your good office to exercise all powers conferred exclusively upon you under Article 145 of the Federal Constitution and Section 376 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) and the great confidence the Malaysian public has on you to immediately initiate criminal proceedings against the President of the Kajang District Council, Tuan Haji Zainal Abidin Bin Haji Arsad, the Enforcement Officers of the Kajang District Council, and the said members of the Royal Malaysian Police Force for aiding and abetting the violent and ruthless criminal conduct by the Kajang District Council and Kajang District Police Chief.
However if action is not taken within fourteen (14) days from the date hereof we are left with no alternative but to initiate legal proceedings against you to compel you to act and/or to obtain a Court Declaration that you have failed
in your duty to protect and uphold the Federal Constitution and Section 376
of the CPC and have acted contrary to the powers bestowed upon you under Article 145 of the Federal Constitution and the section 376 of the CPC.
Thank You
Yours Faithfully,
P.Uthayakumar,
Legal Adviser
s.k
The Honourable
Keeper of the Royal Seal Post/Fax:20704646
Istana Negara, (Malaysian Palace) Malaysia
Jalan Istana
Kuala Lumpur
Secretary to
His Royal Highness, Tuanku Duli Yang Maha Mulia,
Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, ibni Almarhum Sultan Salahuddin
Abdul Aziz Shah Al-Haj
The Sultan of Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia,
Istana Klang, Jalan Istana Klang, Selangor Malaysia
Y.A.B. DATO’ SERI ABDULLAH AHMAD BADAWI
Prime Minister of Malaysia
Block Utama,
Bangunan Perdana Putra, Email: reduceredtape@pmo.gov.my
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Perseketuan, Email: abdullah@kdn.gov.my
62502 Putrajaya
Y.A.B. Dato’ Sri Haji Mohd. Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak
Deputy Prime Minister
Deputy Chairman
National Implementation Action Body Fax:88883983
Aras 4, Blok Barat, Bangunan Perdana Putra,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan 62502 Putrajaya
Y.B D ato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri Bin Abdul Aziz
Law Minister
Chairman
Parliamentary Human Rights Caucas, Fax:88894177
Aras 4 Block Barat, Bangunan Perdana Putra
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan, Persekitaraan 62502
Putrajaya
Y.A.B. Dato’ Seri Khir Toyo
Menteri Besar Negeri Selangor,
Tingkat 21, Bangunan Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Fax: 55190032
40503 Shah Alam, Selangor.
Tan Sri Abu Talib
Chairman
Malaysian Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM)
Malaysian Human Rights Commission
Tingkat 29, Menara Tun Razak
Jalan Raja Laut 50350
Kuala Lumpur
Y.B. Sdr Lim Kit Siang
Opposition Leader,
Parliament Malaysia Fax:603-79575718
Bangunan Parlimen Email: Yoke12@Pc.Jaring.My
Jalan Parlimen 50680 Kuala Lumpur
Y.B. Datuk Seri Utama Dr.Rais Yatim
Minister for Culture Arts and Heritage
Pejabat Menteri
Aras 35, Menara TH Perdana
1001 Jalan Sultan Ismail
50694 Kuala Lumpur
E-mail:fizo2811@g.mail.com
Yeoh Yang Poh
Chairman
Bar Council Malaysia Email: council@malaysianbar.org.my
No.13, 15 & 17, Leboh Pasar Besar
Kuala Lumpur
Your Excellency Mr.Kofi Annan,
Secretary General of the United Nations
United Nations New York N.Y. Fax:0012129634879/4360
10017 USA
Paul Hauch Fenger
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Fax:41(0)229179703
UNOG-OHCHR
CH-1211, Geneva 10 Email: phauchfenger@ohchr.org
Petitions Team
Office of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights Fax:+41 22 917 9022
UNOG-OHCHR
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland tb-petitions@ohchr.org
SENAT
Human Rights Committee
15, rue de Vaugirars
75291 PARIS Cedex 06
Standard: +33 (0) 1 42 34 20 00
Telex: 205-773 F SENAT PARIS
Telecopie: + 33 (0) 1 42 34 26 77
Human Rights Council of Australia Inc.
PO B ox 1071 Tel: +61 (0) 2 9957 5200
North Sydney NSW 2059 Fax: +61 (02) 9957 4063
Australia Email: Patrick Earle pearles@optusnet.com.au
Human Rights Commission
135 State Street, Drawer 33
Montpelier, Vermont 05633-6301
Human.rights@state.vt.us
American Civil Liberties Union
125 Broad Street
18th Floor New York
NY 10004
Commissioner for Human Rights
Council of Europe
Commissioner.humanrights@coe.int
LIBERTY
21 Tabard Street Tel: 0207403 3888
London SE1 4LA Fax: 020 7407 5354
Email: info@liberty-human-rights.org.uk
H.E.William boyd Mccleary
High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Malaysia
No.185, Jalan Ampang Fax: 21702370
50450 Kuala Lumpur
Movement Against Racism and For Friendship
Between Peoples
MRAP, 43 Boulevard Magenta Tel: 01 53 38 99 99
75010 Paris Fax: 01 40 40 90 98
Peace Brigades International France
21 ter, rue Voltaire
75011 Paris
T. Kumar
Advocacy Director
Asia and Pacific
Amnesty International USA
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Tel: 202.544.0200 Ext.224
5th Floor, Washington DC 20003 Fax:202.546.7142
Email: tkumar@aiusa.org
Veena Siddharth
Washington Director
Human Rights Watch Tel: 202-612-4341
1630 Connecticut Ave., N.W. 202-612-4321
Suite 500 Fax: 202-612-4333
Washington, D.C. 20009 Email: siddhav@hrw.org
Matthew Easton
Senior Associate
Human Rights Defenders Program Tel: (212)-845-5287
333 Seventh Avenue, 13th Floor Fax: (212)-845-5299
New York, NY 10001 Email: EastonM@humanrightsfirst.org
www.humanrightsfirst.org
David Geer
Executive Director
Interights Tel: 44 20 7278 3230
Lancaster House 33 Islington Fax: 44 20 7278 4334
High Street London Direct Line:44 20 7843 0485
N1 9LH UK Email: dgeer@intrights.org
Yuval Ginbar
Legal Adviser
International and Legal Organizations Program
Peter Benenson House Tel: 44 020 7413 5739
1 Easton Street Fax: 44 020 7956 1157
London WCIX 0DW Email: yginbar@amnesty.org
UK
Shelina Thawer
Asia & Pacific
Programme Coordinator Tel: 44 020 7422 4215
54 Commercial Street Fax: 44020 7422 4201
London E1 6LT, UK Email: shelina.thwar@mrgmail.org
Iain Byrne
Commonwealth Law Officer
Interights Tel: 44 20 7278 3230
Lancaster House 33 Islington Fax: 44 20 7278 4334
High Street London
N1 9LH UK Email: ibyrne@intrights.org
Ryan Schlief
Amnesty International
Asia-Pacific Programme
1 Easton Street Tel: 44020 7413 5500
London WCIX 0DW Fax: 44 0 7413 5722
United Kingdom Email: rschlief@amnesty.org
Greg Mayne
Programme Manager
Human Rights Institute Tel: 44 0 20 7691 6868
10th Floor, 1 Stephen Street Fax: 44 0 20 7691 6544
London W1T 1AT Email: greg.mayne@int-bar.org
UK
Matthew A. Cenzer
Country Officer for Malaysia
United States Department of State CenzerMA@state.gov
2201 C Street NW, Room 5210
Washington, DC 20520
Telephone: (202) 736-7056
Fax: (202) 736-4559
Karin T. Finkler
Senior Foreign Relations Advisor
Congressman Joseph R. Pitts
16th District, Pennsylvania
221 Cannon Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-2411
(202) 225-2013 fax
Lisa Williams, PH.D.
Chief of Staff
Congressman Eni F.H. Faleomavaega
American Samoa
2422 Rayburn House Office Bldg.
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Tel: (202) 226-4421
Fax: (202) 225-8757
Email: Lisa.Willaims@Mail.House.Gov
Hans-Joachim Hogrefe
Democratic Professional Staff
International Relations Committee
U.S. House of Representatives
Human Rights Issues
Director, Human Rights Caucus
2413 Rayburn Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-3531
hans.hogrefe@mail.house.gov
Charles E. Dujon
Legislative Director
U.S. House of Representatives
Jesse L. Jackson, JR
Member of Congress
Second District, Illinois
2419 Rayburn Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-0773
Fax: (202)-225-0899
E-Mail: Charles.Dujon@Mail.House.Gov
Douglas C. Anderson
Counsel
U.S. House of Representatives
Committee On International Relations
Subcommittee On Asia And The Pacific
B358 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
Telephone: (202) 226-7825
Facsimile: (202) 226-7829
doug.anderson@mail.house.gov
Dennis L. Curry
Foreign Affairs Fellow
Subcommittee On Africa
Global Human Rights
And International Operations
Congressman Christopher H. Smith
255 Ford Hob
3rd & D Street SW
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-226-1745
Fax: 202-225-7491
dennis.curry@mail.house.gov
W. Keith Luse
Senior Professional Staff Member
Committee On Foreign Relations
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510-6225
Tel: (202)-224-4651
Fax: (202)-228-0403
Keith_Luse@foreign.senate.gov
Emilie Kao
Foreign Affairs Officer
Office Of International Religious Freedom
U.S. Department Of State
2201 C Street N.W.
Washington, DC 20520
Phone (202) 647-0352
Fax (202) 647-3209
KaoEL@State.Gov
Scott Flipse, Ph.D.
Senior Policy Analyst
United States Commission On
International Religious Freedom
800 North Capitol Street, NW Suite 790
Washington, DC 20002
202-523-3240 ext. 23
202-523-5020 (fax)
sflipse@uscirf.gov
Yuval Ginbar
Legal Adviser
International and Legal Organizations Program
Peter Benenson House
1 Easton Street
London WC1X 0DW
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7413 5739
Fax: +44 (0)20 7956 1157
E-mail: yginbar@amnesty.org
Shelina Thawer
Minority Rights International
Asia & Pacific
Programme Coordinator
54 Commercial Street
London E1 6LT, UK
+44 (0)20 7422 4215
fax +44 (0)20 7422 4201
shelina.thawer@mrgmail.org
Jolyon Ford
Commonwealth Secretariet
Human Rights Officer
Human Rights Unit
Marlborough House Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HX
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7747 6408 Fax: +44 (0)20 7747 6418
e-mail: j.ford@commonwealth.int
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Bloggers United, the awakening
War has been waged on New Straits Times Press, Malaysia's de-facto propaganda instrument and mouth piece of the Government. To me this seems to be a silent psychological revolt against the culmination of political high handedness within the ruling elites.Main link at http://sloone.wordpress.com/bloggers-united/
Learn how it all started hereYou can find the bombshell here and here. What triggered this movement to start in the first place.
May we all prevail, may a better Malaysia emerge.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Brendan Pereira and friends tried to take on the BBC. As expected the BBC couldn't care less. To save face, they now have turned their guns to two of our very own bloggers screenshots and Rocky's Bru
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Little Napoleons again, this time MAS
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/62169
Offloaded and rudely treated - well done MAS...
Bertha Chin, London
Jan 16, 07 4:27pm Adjust font size:
My family – my mother, my brother and I – were travelling from Kuching to London via KLIA on Jan 8. This is a biannual trip for us, and my mother is a frequent flyer on MAS, travelling on this particular route every two or three months per year. As usual, we were booked and confirmed on the MH2 flight from KLIA to London.
Upon arrival in KLIA, we made our way to the transfer desk to collect our boarding passes. I handed our tickets to the staff on duty at the transfer desk, and asked if there was a problem with our pre-booked seats (as this has happened before when Kuching told us they couldn't issue our KL-London boarding passes). The lady on duty ignored my question and continued conversing with her colleague. After making us wait for a few minutes, we were told, without any apologies, that my mother has been ‘off-loaded’! Again, any queries we had regarding the situation were blatantly ignored.
At this moment, the duty manager, an Ahmad Faizal appeared at the request of a British couple next to us who were caught in the same situation. It was only after much pointless argument that we were told that the reason why people were being off-loaded was because the flight to London was over-booked. As far as we, as travellers, were concerned, it was hardly our problem, and we shouldn't have been made to suffer the consequences of the mistakes MAS has made. We weren't consulted on this, and MAS shouldn't have volunteered any passengers for this kind of arrangements.
Faizal assured us that alternative arrangements have been made to ensure that we get to London. He told us that we have been booked onto an Air France flight to Paris, which leaves KLIA at 11:25 pm (30 minutes earlier than the MH2 flight bound for London) and arriving in Paris at 7.05 am where further arrangements for a connecting flight to London had been made for us (arriving into London two hours later than expected).
At the same time, we were promised an upgrade to business class seats for all the inconveniences caused. When we agreed to the arrangements, Faizal left to get our boarding passes and organise our luggage. When Faizal returned, we were told that the business class upgrade promised us was no longer available and we should either take the alternative arrangements MAS has made for us, or leave it.
As we all had pressing work and school appointments that we needed to keep in London, we had no choice but to take the alternative arrangements. It seemed pointless and a waste of time to continue arguing since it was made clear that we were not getting on the MH2 flight. Unfortunately, the disaster did not stop there. When we finally got to the boarding gate, we discovered it wasn't an Air France flight, but an MAS flight bound for Paris.
The flight (MH20) was delayed for nearly two hours, causing us to miss the connecting flight to London. When we got into Paris, there was no MAS ground staff to meet us so we had to find our way around Charles De Gaulle airport. We also found out that we were not even booked on the Paris-London connecting flight that MAS had supposedly booked us on (as shown on the new flight itinerary print-out given to us prior to leaving KLIA).
Instead, we discovered that my mother had been booked on a different connecting flight than my brother and I! To add to that, we had no idea where our luggage was as Paris seemed to think that our luggage came with us on the fight while KLIA told us they would not remove our luggage from MH2 that was bound for London! When we finally managed to get on a flight, we discovered it was arriving at a different terminal, where it took us nearly two hours to finally locate our luggage. Rather than arriving into London at 7am as we had originally planned, it was 2 pm by the time we located our luggage.
This is clearly atrocious treatment from a major airline – and worse, the national carrier of Malaysia. It's clear that MAS had already known they were overbooked on the MH2 flight, so why were we not informed before we even boarded the plane in Kuching? Why confirm our booking if there was such an issue?
What this experience showed me – and without a doubt, the rest of the passengers who were off-loaded – was that even if our travel agents had confirmed our bookings, MAS can just choose to disregard them at its convenience. We made our travel arrangements at least a year in advance, and are travelling on full fare tickets. We are also Enrich members, but more importantly, we are paying customers. Malaysian customers!
Not only did the MAS ground staff at KLIA treat us without any courtesy or respect; the manner in which they informed us that my mother has been ‘off-loaded’ from a flight she has been booked and confirmed on was rude and offensive. Not once was an apology offered for all the inconvenience caused, and we were all made to stand at the transfer counter like fools.
It is unacceptable treatment from a national carrier. If this is how MAS, as the national carrier of Malaysia treats its own citizens, then all the pride over the awards won is for nought! Furthermore, the distasteful and unhelpful attitude of the ground staff at the transfer counter is going to be such a nice welcome for tourists visiting Malaysia in 2007.
If this is the kind of attitude you want tourists to be exposed to first hand upon arrival at KLIA during Visit Malaysia Year no less, then I must say, KLIA and MAS, you have definitely trained your staff very well indeed! Kudos for offending not only tourists, but your own Malaysian travellers (and Enrich members) as well.
Offloaded and rudely treated - well done MAS...
Bertha Chin, London
Jan 16, 07 4:27pm Adjust font size:
My family – my mother, my brother and I – were travelling from Kuching to London via KLIA on Jan 8. This is a biannual trip for us, and my mother is a frequent flyer on MAS, travelling on this particular route every two or three months per year. As usual, we were booked and confirmed on the MH2 flight from KLIA to London.
Upon arrival in KLIA, we made our way to the transfer desk to collect our boarding passes. I handed our tickets to the staff on duty at the transfer desk, and asked if there was a problem with our pre-booked seats (as this has happened before when Kuching told us they couldn't issue our KL-London boarding passes). The lady on duty ignored my question and continued conversing with her colleague. After making us wait for a few minutes, we were told, without any apologies, that my mother has been ‘off-loaded’! Again, any queries we had regarding the situation were blatantly ignored.
At this moment, the duty manager, an Ahmad Faizal appeared at the request of a British couple next to us who were caught in the same situation. It was only after much pointless argument that we were told that the reason why people were being off-loaded was because the flight to London was over-booked. As far as we, as travellers, were concerned, it was hardly our problem, and we shouldn't have been made to suffer the consequences of the mistakes MAS has made. We weren't consulted on this, and MAS shouldn't have volunteered any passengers for this kind of arrangements.
Faizal assured us that alternative arrangements have been made to ensure that we get to London. He told us that we have been booked onto an Air France flight to Paris, which leaves KLIA at 11:25 pm (30 minutes earlier than the MH2 flight bound for London) and arriving in Paris at 7.05 am where further arrangements for a connecting flight to London had been made for us (arriving into London two hours later than expected).
At the same time, we were promised an upgrade to business class seats for all the inconveniences caused. When we agreed to the arrangements, Faizal left to get our boarding passes and organise our luggage. When Faizal returned, we were told that the business class upgrade promised us was no longer available and we should either take the alternative arrangements MAS has made for us, or leave it.
As we all had pressing work and school appointments that we needed to keep in London, we had no choice but to take the alternative arrangements. It seemed pointless and a waste of time to continue arguing since it was made clear that we were not getting on the MH2 flight. Unfortunately, the disaster did not stop there. When we finally got to the boarding gate, we discovered it wasn't an Air France flight, but an MAS flight bound for Paris.
The flight (MH20) was delayed for nearly two hours, causing us to miss the connecting flight to London. When we got into Paris, there was no MAS ground staff to meet us so we had to find our way around Charles De Gaulle airport. We also found out that we were not even booked on the Paris-London connecting flight that MAS had supposedly booked us on (as shown on the new flight itinerary print-out given to us prior to leaving KLIA).
Instead, we discovered that my mother had been booked on a different connecting flight than my brother and I! To add to that, we had no idea where our luggage was as Paris seemed to think that our luggage came with us on the fight while KLIA told us they would not remove our luggage from MH2 that was bound for London! When we finally managed to get on a flight, we discovered it was arriving at a different terminal, where it took us nearly two hours to finally locate our luggage. Rather than arriving into London at 7am as we had originally planned, it was 2 pm by the time we located our luggage.
This is clearly atrocious treatment from a major airline – and worse, the national carrier of Malaysia. It's clear that MAS had already known they were overbooked on the MH2 flight, so why were we not informed before we even boarded the plane in Kuching? Why confirm our booking if there was such an issue?
What this experience showed me – and without a doubt, the rest of the passengers who were off-loaded – was that even if our travel agents had confirmed our bookings, MAS can just choose to disregard them at its convenience. We made our travel arrangements at least a year in advance, and are travelling on full fare tickets. We are also Enrich members, but more importantly, we are paying customers. Malaysian customers!
Not only did the MAS ground staff at KLIA treat us without any courtesy or respect; the manner in which they informed us that my mother has been ‘off-loaded’ from a flight she has been booked and confirmed on was rude and offensive. Not once was an apology offered for all the inconvenience caused, and we were all made to stand at the transfer counter like fools.
It is unacceptable treatment from a national carrier. If this is how MAS, as the national carrier of Malaysia treats its own citizens, then all the pride over the awards won is for nought! Furthermore, the distasteful and unhelpful attitude of the ground staff at the transfer counter is going to be such a nice welcome for tourists visiting Malaysia in 2007.
If this is the kind of attitude you want tourists to be exposed to first hand upon arrival at KLIA during Visit Malaysia Year no less, then I must say, KLIA and MAS, you have definitely trained your staff very well indeed! Kudos for offending not only tourists, but your own Malaysian travellers (and Enrich members) as well.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Who is Mr. Bleyer ?
From the last post and from Malaysia-today.net, it seems Malaysia's lifeline for the next 5 years, or USD 50 billion worth of it will be brokered through Union Financial Services Corporation of Australia.Details of Union Financial :
Union Financial Services Corporation
PO BOX A 2286, Sydney South 1235
A person named Roland Bleyer is mentioned as President.
Incidentally a Roland Bleyer also runs a website for Credit Cards (Australia)
Domain name: creditworldaustralia.com
Registrant:
Roland Bleyer (RQPY7) roland@imarketing.com
Virtual Office Space
6/1220 Pittwater Rd
Narrabeen, NSW 2101
Australia
Phone: +61 299714371
Administrative Contact:
Roland Bleyer (PNQVC) roland@imarketing.com
Virtual Office Space
6/1220 Pittwater Rd
Narrabeen, NSW 2101
Australia
Phone: +61 299714371
Technical Contact:
Roland Bleyer (RQPY7) roland@imarketing.com
Virtual Office Space
6/1220 Pittwater Rd
Narrabeen, NSW 2101
Australia
Phone: +61 299714371
Billing Contact:
Roland Bleyer (KLKNN) roland@imarketing.com
Virtual Office Space
6/1220 Pittwater Rd
Narrabeen, NSW 2101
Australia
Phone: +61 299714371
Record last updated on 2006-07-29 00:00:00
Record created on 2005-08-26 00:00:00
Record expires on 2008-08-26 00:00:00
Domain servers in listed order:
ns1.instanthosting.com.au
ns2.instanthosting.com.au
Registration Service Provider: AplusNet(APRO)
apro-n4e-racc@abac.com
http://www.malaysia-today.net/Asasatu/Asasatu3.htm
One should also read this regarding Project Equity Services Group (Fund Manager for the USD50 BILLION)
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/biz/2006/06/581285/
Are we a sovereign nation ? Or a private pawn for USD50 billion loan
Are we a sovereign nation ?
Or just a pawn for USD50 billion.
What ails patriotism ? There is none in Malaysia, it is as corrupt as it gets and for the sake of the nation, I pray this is a mere urban legend cum hoax
http://malaysia-today.net/blog2006/corridors.php?itemid=1859
"On 15 June 2006, Reezal Merican Naina Merican wrote a letter to Datuk Zamani Abdul Ghani, the Deputy Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia. The letter is about an amount of USD50 billion required by Malaysia to fund its national development. In case you may have forgotten, Malaysia recently launched its Ninth Malaysia Plan or Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan (RMK9). The RMK9, which runs from 2006 to 2010, is going to cost the nation RM200 billion. What many do not know, however, is that Malaysia does not actually have the money to finance the RM200 billion RMK9."
"The USD50 billion is being procured from 25 prime banks but will be channelled through a private limited company, Asasatu Technology Sdn Bhd. The name Ir. Hj Zubir bin Hj Ahmad is mentioned in that letter as the Managing Director of the company. It appears that the USD50 billion will be channelled through a private limited company and not directly to the Malaysian government. This would mean, officially, Malaysia is not borrowing any money. The money is being borrowed by a private limited company."
"What is even more interesting is that the agent who will arrange the financing is named in that letter as Union Financial Services Corporation of Sydney, Australia, and the address is listed as PO Box A2286. So there is no way of confirming whether this company is just a ‘PO Box’ company or a legitimate fund manager. Considering that we are talking about Malaysia’s funding requirement for the five years until 2010, this makes it very dicey indeed. In a way, this USD50 billion is going to be Malaysia’s lifeline and the whole matter is being handled through a PO Box in Australia and a private limited company in Malaysia in the process of being wound up. Two weeks earlier to that 15 June 2006 letter, on 30 May 2006, Asasatu Technology Sdn Bhd had written Abdullah Ahmad Badawi a letter offering the USD50 billion and mentioning in that letter that their partner is Union Financial Services Corporation. The letter was signed by Ir. Hj Zubir bin Hj Ahmad. A person by the name of Roland Bleyer is also mentioned as the President of Union Financial Services Corporation. Reezal Merican’s 15 June 2006 letter is in response to this letter of 30 May 2006. "
"Reading the three letters together, it is clear that Bank Negara has agreed that a private limited company currently in the process of being wound up is to be used as a front to borrow USD50 billion and that this company will act as a front for the Malaysian government so that it will not be seen that Malaysia is borrowing USD50 billion from overseas. Secondly, the whole package was brokered by a Singapore outfit, but so as not to reveal that Singapore is involved, lest fingers start pointing to the prime Minister’s son-in-law, they shall put the whole thing through an Australian PO Box that will front as the ‘partner’ for the Malaysian outfit."
Finally, it is clear that when the Malaysian government announced the RM200 billion RMK9 in Parliament, they did not have the money to finance it. However, not wanting it to appear like the country is borrowing interest-bearing US Dollars, plus is subject to currency fluctuations, to finance its development plans, they used a small private limited company as a front which again used an Australian PO Box company which in turn is backed by Singapore. In short, through many layers or levels of front companies and PO Box companies, Singapore is funding Malaysia’s development proudly touted as the Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan or RMK9.
Or just a pawn for USD50 billion.
What ails patriotism ? There is none in Malaysia, it is as corrupt as it gets and for the sake of the nation, I pray this is a mere urban legend cum hoax
http://malaysia-today.net/blog2006/corridors.php?itemid=1859
"On 15 June 2006, Reezal Merican Naina Merican wrote a letter to Datuk Zamani Abdul Ghani, the Deputy Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia. The letter is about an amount of USD50 billion required by Malaysia to fund its national development. In case you may have forgotten, Malaysia recently launched its Ninth Malaysia Plan or Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan (RMK9). The RMK9, which runs from 2006 to 2010, is going to cost the nation RM200 billion. What many do not know, however, is that Malaysia does not actually have the money to finance the RM200 billion RMK9."
"The USD50 billion is being procured from 25 prime banks but will be channelled through a private limited company, Asasatu Technology Sdn Bhd. The name Ir. Hj Zubir bin Hj Ahmad is mentioned in that letter as the Managing Director of the company. It appears that the USD50 billion will be channelled through a private limited company and not directly to the Malaysian government. This would mean, officially, Malaysia is not borrowing any money. The money is being borrowed by a private limited company."
"What is even more interesting is that the agent who will arrange the financing is named in that letter as Union Financial Services Corporation of Sydney, Australia, and the address is listed as PO Box A2286. So there is no way of confirming whether this company is just a ‘PO Box’ company or a legitimate fund manager. Considering that we are talking about Malaysia’s funding requirement for the five years until 2010, this makes it very dicey indeed. In a way, this USD50 billion is going to be Malaysia’s lifeline and the whole matter is being handled through a PO Box in Australia and a private limited company in Malaysia in the process of being wound up. Two weeks earlier to that 15 June 2006 letter, on 30 May 2006, Asasatu Technology Sdn Bhd had written Abdullah Ahmad Badawi a letter offering the USD50 billion and mentioning in that letter that their partner is Union Financial Services Corporation. The letter was signed by Ir. Hj Zubir bin Hj Ahmad. A person by the name of Roland Bleyer is also mentioned as the President of Union Financial Services Corporation. Reezal Merican’s 15 June 2006 letter is in response to this letter of 30 May 2006. "
"Reading the three letters together, it is clear that Bank Negara has agreed that a private limited company currently in the process of being wound up is to be used as a front to borrow USD50 billion and that this company will act as a front for the Malaysian government so that it will not be seen that Malaysia is borrowing USD50 billion from overseas. Secondly, the whole package was brokered by a Singapore outfit, but so as not to reveal that Singapore is involved, lest fingers start pointing to the prime Minister’s son-in-law, they shall put the whole thing through an Australian PO Box that will front as the ‘partner’ for the Malaysian outfit."
Finally, it is clear that when the Malaysian government announced the RM200 billion RMK9 in Parliament, they did not have the money to finance it. However, not wanting it to appear like the country is borrowing interest-bearing US Dollars, plus is subject to currency fluctuations, to finance its development plans, they used a small private limited company as a front which again used an Australian PO Box company which in turn is backed by Singapore. In short, through many layers or levels of front companies and PO Box companies, Singapore is funding Malaysia’s development proudly touted as the Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan or RMK9.
The floods, the human toll, time for the awakening
The Floods, The Awakening.
I like Axinar's post on the flood situation.
Please allow me to use pictures to relay my message.
From USAToday (December 21, 2006)
From Malaysia Star (Dated January 15,2007)
From DAP's (Democratic Action Party) Website. Malaysia's leading opposition party, with any semblance of any check and balance mechanism
Note - I have to make a notation to the situation. Barbershop owner needs help to have an army rescue boat to come to his shop to rescue his customers and bring food to his customers.
And this is what he got.
From a Malaysia-Today.net blog writer
Thursday, January 11, 2007
People Power
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. This is the case in Malaysia. From afar, I feel for them, the trodden ones. The people's patience has finally reached tipping point. These pictures are almost surreal - the usually non confrontational Malaysian has finally opened up to stand up against injustice, corruption and government inefficiencies. A Picture paints a thousand words. This is indeed a proud moment for all Malaysians.
Reposted from : http://www.lensamalaysia.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3558&page=3
Reposted from : http://www.lensamalaysia.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3558&page=3
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Little Napoleons Again, this time the Immigration Department
Reposted from
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/61853
Two-day ordeal at immigration dept
I absolutely agree with RKG’s letter that the immigration department in Malaysia is ruining the government’s effort to attract tourists as well as to popularise the Malaysia, My Second Home programme.
My French husband, who was then my fiance, and I had a similar experience at the Putrajaya immigration department a few months ago. We had gone there voluntarily to inform the immigration department of my husband’s expired visa and to apply for an extension. The fact is, as a French citizen, my husband is usually granted a three-month social visit pass upon arrival in Malaysia. It was his third visit to Malaysia then and we were both working abroad.
However, due to a mistake by an immigration officer at the KLIA airport, he was only given a one-month social visit pass. Undeniably, it was our own mistake for overlooking the fallibility of the officer and only noticed the mistake a few weeks after the visa expired. Upon this, we immediately went to the immigration department in Putrajaya to rectify the matter.
We were told that we would need to pay a fine of RM2,000 for overstaying to which we agreed, since we accepted our responsibility of overlooking the mistake. What could have been settled in a few hours turned out to be two full days spent at the immigration department! On the first day, we were told to wait despite the fact that we took a number and those who came later were attended to before us.
At the end of the day, we were told to come back the next day and that we had to submit a letter of explanation. We were not given any further explanation or direction as to why it was taking so long and we were reluctant to ask since most of the officers looked unfriendly and unhappy. We even saw and heard an officer screaming at one person at the counter. I felt embarrassed that my husband had to witness this.
When we came back the next day, we were told that we had been waiting at the wrong floor! We just could not understand why we were not told the day before. We couldn’t help but feel that we had been pushed around by the officers who didn’t seem to care or bother about our time.
When we finally met the appropriate officers for the matter, we had a private interview in an enclosed room. We went through the normal procedure of submitting a report to an officer who took down the statement while I acted as the translator since there was no appointed official translator there. Again, we told the officers that we agreed to pay for the fine and I would need to withdraw the money from an ATM machine in another building. My husband had to remain in their custody until the fine was to be paid.
I had to take quite a long walk to the ATM machine and by the time I returned, I was panting as I was walking briskly to get back as fast as I could. Then one of the officers asked me why I had rushed? Was I afraid that they would beat up my husband? Although it was a joke, we didn’t appreciate it since the gesture could easily be misinterpreted as something else. Funnily enough, we were then told that we could go and have lunch despite not having paid the fine. So we couldn’t understand what ‘game’ was being played by the officers.
After lunch, we were told to wait again at the common waiting room. The officer who took down my husband’s statement came to us in private and gave us his private mobile number and told us that if we needed any help, we should contact him only. He told us that he could help us to get our fine reduced. We were skeptical towards his kind gesture because we found it odd that an officer would provide us with his private number and asked us to contact him alone and help us get the fine reduced, despite us agreeing to pay for the RM2,000 fine. So we both agreed to ignore the officer’s offer because we were not willing to consider bribery as an option.
Of course, we then ended up having to wait for another full day and in the meantime, we were both summoned many times to answer some questions with several more officers, which we couldn’t understand since an official written statement had been taken. Since my husband couldn’t understand Bahasa Malaysia, I was asked many times why my husband had visited Malaysia so often. In my mind, I wanted to tell the officers that my husband loved Malaysia and was it against the law to visit the country? Instead, I told the officer that we were engaged and my husband usually accompanies me to Malaysia when I visit my family here. I tried my best to be patient and polite since I didn’t want to jeopardise my husband’s visa application. Then, I was asked to present official evidence that we were engaged!
I just couldn’t believe it and I told the officer that there is no paper to prove our engagement. I was literally asked this question many times by different officers. My husband came up with a theory that the officers were testing our patience so that we might just break and pay them a bribe to expedite the process. At the end of the day, we were finally told that we would pay RM100 only for a special pass to allow my husband to stay one more day in order for him to repatriate from the country. This was told to us by a senior officer who also took the opportunity to lecture us in public. Although we were grateful that we ended up paying much less, we believed that we were indeed just pushed and played around with. Whenever my husband is asked whether he likes Malaysia or not, he would always be reminded of his two-day ordeal at the immigration department. The truth is, he did like Malaysia which explains why he had decided to move to Malaysia to live with me. However, when he was treated like an illegal immigrant or a criminal, especially when he had voluntarily submitted himself to the immigration department, he can no longer imagine this country to be his second home.
------
Note - One wonders about rules and procedure that the Department should follow. Firstly, French nationals are granted social visits Visas upon arrival. One would think a simple fine then an extension would suffice for him to cross the border and come back in again (he has automatic Visa upon arrival anyway).
But no, we need little Napoleons to play mind games with you and ensure their ego is boosted.
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/61853
Two-day ordeal at immigration dept
I absolutely agree with RKG’s letter that the immigration department in Malaysia is ruining the government’s effort to attract tourists as well as to popularise the Malaysia, My Second Home programme.
My French husband, who was then my fiance, and I had a similar experience at the Putrajaya immigration department a few months ago. We had gone there voluntarily to inform the immigration department of my husband’s expired visa and to apply for an extension. The fact is, as a French citizen, my husband is usually granted a three-month social visit pass upon arrival in Malaysia. It was his third visit to Malaysia then and we were both working abroad.
However, due to a mistake by an immigration officer at the KLIA airport, he was only given a one-month social visit pass. Undeniably, it was our own mistake for overlooking the fallibility of the officer and only noticed the mistake a few weeks after the visa expired. Upon this, we immediately went to the immigration department in Putrajaya to rectify the matter.
We were told that we would need to pay a fine of RM2,000 for overstaying to which we agreed, since we accepted our responsibility of overlooking the mistake. What could have been settled in a few hours turned out to be two full days spent at the immigration department! On the first day, we were told to wait despite the fact that we took a number and those who came later were attended to before us.
At the end of the day, we were told to come back the next day and that we had to submit a letter of explanation. We were not given any further explanation or direction as to why it was taking so long and we were reluctant to ask since most of the officers looked unfriendly and unhappy. We even saw and heard an officer screaming at one person at the counter. I felt embarrassed that my husband had to witness this.
When we came back the next day, we were told that we had been waiting at the wrong floor! We just could not understand why we were not told the day before. We couldn’t help but feel that we had been pushed around by the officers who didn’t seem to care or bother about our time.
When we finally met the appropriate officers for the matter, we had a private interview in an enclosed room. We went through the normal procedure of submitting a report to an officer who took down the statement while I acted as the translator since there was no appointed official translator there. Again, we told the officers that we agreed to pay for the fine and I would need to withdraw the money from an ATM machine in another building. My husband had to remain in their custody until the fine was to be paid.
I had to take quite a long walk to the ATM machine and by the time I returned, I was panting as I was walking briskly to get back as fast as I could. Then one of the officers asked me why I had rushed? Was I afraid that they would beat up my husband? Although it was a joke, we didn’t appreciate it since the gesture could easily be misinterpreted as something else. Funnily enough, we were then told that we could go and have lunch despite not having paid the fine. So we couldn’t understand what ‘game’ was being played by the officers.
After lunch, we were told to wait again at the common waiting room. The officer who took down my husband’s statement came to us in private and gave us his private mobile number and told us that if we needed any help, we should contact him only. He told us that he could help us to get our fine reduced. We were skeptical towards his kind gesture because we found it odd that an officer would provide us with his private number and asked us to contact him alone and help us get the fine reduced, despite us agreeing to pay for the RM2,000 fine. So we both agreed to ignore the officer’s offer because we were not willing to consider bribery as an option.
Of course, we then ended up having to wait for another full day and in the meantime, we were both summoned many times to answer some questions with several more officers, which we couldn’t understand since an official written statement had been taken. Since my husband couldn’t understand Bahasa Malaysia, I was asked many times why my husband had visited Malaysia so often. In my mind, I wanted to tell the officers that my husband loved Malaysia and was it against the law to visit the country? Instead, I told the officer that we were engaged and my husband usually accompanies me to Malaysia when I visit my family here. I tried my best to be patient and polite since I didn’t want to jeopardise my husband’s visa application. Then, I was asked to present official evidence that we were engaged!
I just couldn’t believe it and I told the officer that there is no paper to prove our engagement. I was literally asked this question many times by different officers. My husband came up with a theory that the officers were testing our patience so that we might just break and pay them a bribe to expedite the process. At the end of the day, we were finally told that we would pay RM100 only for a special pass to allow my husband to stay one more day in order for him to repatriate from the country. This was told to us by a senior officer who also took the opportunity to lecture us in public. Although we were grateful that we ended up paying much less, we believed that we were indeed just pushed and played around with. Whenever my husband is asked whether he likes Malaysia or not, he would always be reminded of his two-day ordeal at the immigration department. The truth is, he did like Malaysia which explains why he had decided to move to Malaysia to live with me. However, when he was treated like an illegal immigrant or a criminal, especially when he had voluntarily submitted himself to the immigration department, he can no longer imagine this country to be his second home.
------
Note - One wonders about rules and procedure that the Department should follow. Firstly, French nationals are granted social visits Visas upon arrival. One would think a simple fine then an extension would suffice for him to cross the border and come back in again (he has automatic Visa upon arrival anyway).
But no, we need little Napoleons to play mind games with you and ensure their ego is boosted.
Monday, January 8, 2007
First hand harassment
Many have seen this, but for our non-initiated readers, this is the ugly side of a Malaysian University.
Can't expect much when 60% of those that got in - in my opinion, are academically undeserving and intellectually empty.
Can't expect much when 60% of those that got in - in my opinion, are academically undeserving and intellectually empty.
Islamisation of national schools - a parent’s view
Reposted from Malaysiakini.com
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/61811
Islamisation of national schools - a parent’s view
Not that this is unknown or new. However, as a parent, I found it quite disturbing that this has reached an alarming state. Allow me to give you a first-hand insight. We had enrolled our daughter at a national school in Bandar Sri Damansara for Primary 1. What was supposed to be an eagerly anticipated 'graduation' into formal schooling turned out to be a worrying scenario that has caused us to rethink our future in this country as well as our plans for our kids. We had, of course, heard of the instances of the growing Islamic influence in national schools and some horror stories to go along with it.
But perhaps we underestimated the level of abuse that was occurring. Orientation was conducted on Jan 2 and the very first horror story to greet us was that all children were required to attend Arab language classes. Don't get me wrong. I am of the opinion that learning a foreign language is beneficial. However, in this case, rather than it coming across as knowledge, it smells of propaganda and a subtle attempt to reinforce Islamic principles on us - Muslims and non-Muslims alike. We insisted that our children be exempt from the class. What perplexed us the most was the lack of options presented for non-Muslim students. When we inquired, the response was that there were no teachers for other languages, namely Mandarin or Tamil. Also, it was told to us that the children need not worry about the Arab classes as it was purely language and there were no elements of religion in it - something that we came to discover was not true.
This became apparent when this morning one of the parents chanced upon the Arab language teacher in class. Prior to starting the lesson, the teacher made all the students rise and lift their hands to recite the ‘Bismillah’ prayer and other chants. There was no attempt to inform the non-Muslim students that they did not need to do so. Just imagine, these were impressionable seven-year-olds who have just come out of kindergarten. The fact that there was no regard for the rights of the non- Muslim kids by these teachers was just unbelievable! One would easily be tempted to think that this was part of a bigger plan to influence non-Muslim children into embracing Islamic way of life. This should not be happening in national schools. There was more to come. Not only was it necessary for the children (Muslims) to start off the assembly with a prayer (Islamic, of course), the teachers also made it a point to enforce this before and after recess. The students would be ushered out of the classrooms and be made to line up prior to visiting the canteen.
But just before that, the ‘Bismillah’ prayer is recited (there were attempts to inform the non-Muslims that they were not required to do so) and once recess is over, the Muslim students are again required to recite another prayer. All this is done together with the non-Muslim students. Would this not confuse a child that is eager to learn and yet be constantly reminded that they should not do this and that? There's a lot more but I just wanted to highlight the crux of the matter. I just cannot comprehend the need for all this when, at the heart of the matter, is sound education and growth of the children that matters. The religious needs are already met by the Agama/Moral studies, so why the need for Arab classes? What is the objective of these programmes? Why is there no proper alternative for those who do not practice Islam? What scares me the most is that this is being practiced or implemented at the national level. If this is the case, then why talk of national integration and a new education blueprint? How can you achieve this with so many divisive policies?
To say I am disappointed is an understatement. I just hope that common sense will prevail - but as they say, common sense is not so common after all. The school later did accede to our request to have the children segregated during Arab classes, but after having one too many encounters with the lackadaisical attitude of the teachers, we are not convinced.
----------
My Notes - Why Arabic ? Arabic has no place in Malaysia as a sovereign nation. If there's any semblance of a concerted effort to benefit the nation it would be languages that are spoken by their fellow citizens, English, Chinese, Tamil, or a language of economic importance and potential. But why Arabic ?
This is a secular nation, why are prayers recited in school.
It seems that the school administrator has no intention to be accountable, they have a 'take it or leave' attitude.
Where does one air his grievances on this issue ? How does one ensure that one's inalienable rights of religion is protected. This again is the constant and gradual erosion of basic rights and forced Islamisation of against their personal wishes.
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/61811
Islamisation of national schools - a parent’s view
Not that this is unknown or new. However, as a parent, I found it quite disturbing that this has reached an alarming state. Allow me to give you a first-hand insight. We had enrolled our daughter at a national school in Bandar Sri Damansara for Primary 1. What was supposed to be an eagerly anticipated 'graduation' into formal schooling turned out to be a worrying scenario that has caused us to rethink our future in this country as well as our plans for our kids. We had, of course, heard of the instances of the growing Islamic influence in national schools and some horror stories to go along with it.
But perhaps we underestimated the level of abuse that was occurring. Orientation was conducted on Jan 2 and the very first horror story to greet us was that all children were required to attend Arab language classes. Don't get me wrong. I am of the opinion that learning a foreign language is beneficial. However, in this case, rather than it coming across as knowledge, it smells of propaganda and a subtle attempt to reinforce Islamic principles on us - Muslims and non-Muslims alike. We insisted that our children be exempt from the class. What perplexed us the most was the lack of options presented for non-Muslim students. When we inquired, the response was that there were no teachers for other languages, namely Mandarin or Tamil. Also, it was told to us that the children need not worry about the Arab classes as it was purely language and there were no elements of religion in it - something that we came to discover was not true.
This became apparent when this morning one of the parents chanced upon the Arab language teacher in class. Prior to starting the lesson, the teacher made all the students rise and lift their hands to recite the ‘Bismillah’ prayer and other chants. There was no attempt to inform the non-Muslim students that they did not need to do so. Just imagine, these were impressionable seven-year-olds who have just come out of kindergarten. The fact that there was no regard for the rights of the non- Muslim kids by these teachers was just unbelievable! One would easily be tempted to think that this was part of a bigger plan to influence non-Muslim children into embracing Islamic way of life. This should not be happening in national schools. There was more to come. Not only was it necessary for the children (Muslims) to start off the assembly with a prayer (Islamic, of course), the teachers also made it a point to enforce this before and after recess. The students would be ushered out of the classrooms and be made to line up prior to visiting the canteen.
But just before that, the ‘Bismillah’ prayer is recited (there were attempts to inform the non-Muslims that they were not required to do so) and once recess is over, the Muslim students are again required to recite another prayer. All this is done together with the non-Muslim students. Would this not confuse a child that is eager to learn and yet be constantly reminded that they should not do this and that? There's a lot more but I just wanted to highlight the crux of the matter. I just cannot comprehend the need for all this when, at the heart of the matter, is sound education and growth of the children that matters. The religious needs are already met by the Agama/Moral studies, so why the need for Arab classes? What is the objective of these programmes? Why is there no proper alternative for those who do not practice Islam? What scares me the most is that this is being practiced or implemented at the national level. If this is the case, then why talk of national integration and a new education blueprint? How can you achieve this with so many divisive policies?
To say I am disappointed is an understatement. I just hope that common sense will prevail - but as they say, common sense is not so common after all. The school later did accede to our request to have the children segregated during Arab classes, but after having one too many encounters with the lackadaisical attitude of the teachers, we are not convinced.
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My Notes - Why Arabic ? Arabic has no place in Malaysia as a sovereign nation. If there's any semblance of a concerted effort to benefit the nation it would be languages that are spoken by their fellow citizens, English, Chinese, Tamil, or a language of economic importance and potential. But why Arabic ?
This is a secular nation, why are prayers recited in school.
It seems that the school administrator has no intention to be accountable, they have a 'take it or leave' attitude.
Where does one air his grievances on this issue ? How does one ensure that one's inalienable rights of religion is protected. This again is the constant and gradual erosion of basic rights and forced Islamisation of against their personal wishes.
Sunday, January 7, 2007
Do I have an axe to grind ?
I have only known one place called home, and it's this little strip of land mass which forms a small conduit between the East and the West.
A trading post, a melting pot of cultures, and a nation destined for great heights.
Malaysia.
Benefactor of the English Westminster-styled system of Government, British administered Civil Service and a series of English-modeled public schools that dotted the West coast. Hardworking population, blessed with an abundance of natural resources, the tropical sunlight, fertile and arable land, warm seas
How does one ruin it all in 2 generations ?
1. Provide a system of political patronage for everything in society. From getting a street peddler license to lucrative government contracts for heavy steel industries
2. Encourage political patronage to fester with 'yes-men' and reward them with lucrative state contracts
3. At the same time, stomp out creative, industrious, intelligent, economically efficient community as these individuals/communities do not succumb to political patronage.
4. Continue to implement point (3) incessantly.
5. Continue to build your base of mindless zombies and parrots and encourage them to repeat point (3) and (4) down the food chain.
6. Imprison those who question anything on point (3) and (4)
7. Do everything you can to selfishly enrich yourselves, while keeping your zombies (5) lucidly oblivious.
It is said that officials during Mao's leadership were so terrified of persecution that they spent more time drafting praises for Mao's leadership and drumming up success stories.
"Due to the Chairman's brilliant policy, we have such an abundant harvest that even the rats that scrimp from the grain stores are as fat as pigs"
The rest is history as tens of millions of Chinese starved to death during the Cultural Revolution.
I don't have an axe to grind - where Malaysia is headed is morally wrong, decadent and history has served us the consequences of such policies.
Millions may die because of this, pray I do not wish to bury my loved ones before their time.
A trading post, a melting pot of cultures, and a nation destined for great heights.
Malaysia.
Benefactor of the English Westminster-styled system of Government, British administered Civil Service and a series of English-modeled public schools that dotted the West coast. Hardworking population, blessed with an abundance of natural resources, the tropical sunlight, fertile and arable land, warm seas
How does one ruin it all in 2 generations ?
1. Provide a system of political patronage for everything in society. From getting a street peddler license to lucrative government contracts for heavy steel industries
2. Encourage political patronage to fester with 'yes-men' and reward them with lucrative state contracts
3. At the same time, stomp out creative, industrious, intelligent, economically efficient community as these individuals/communities do not succumb to political patronage.
4. Continue to implement point (3) incessantly.
5. Continue to build your base of mindless zombies and parrots and encourage them to repeat point (3) and (4) down the food chain.
6. Imprison those who question anything on point (3) and (4)
7. Do everything you can to selfishly enrich yourselves, while keeping your zombies (5) lucidly oblivious.
It is said that officials during Mao's leadership were so terrified of persecution that they spent more time drafting praises for Mao's leadership and drumming up success stories.
"Due to the Chairman's brilliant policy, we have such an abundant harvest that even the rats that scrimp from the grain stores are as fat as pigs"
The rest is history as tens of millions of Chinese starved to death during the Cultural Revolution.
I don't have an axe to grind - where Malaysia is headed is morally wrong, decadent and history has served us the consequences of such policies.
Millions may die because of this, pray I do not wish to bury my loved ones before their time.
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