Benazir and Destiny

UPDATE:

Anyone interested in Pakistani politics may be interested in this article by Tariq Ali in the London Book Review here.


ORIGINAL POST:


It's really sad that 2007 has to end on such a violent note with the death of Benazir Bhutto. But in many ways, any keen observer of Pakistan could see it coming. There was already a bomb which killed 139 people the day she arrived back in Karachi in October. She escaped then but it was a matter of time before they got her. So the daughter of one man and the sister of two men who all died violently also did the same. I have to wonder if it was worth it.

As also the daughter of a (former) head of government, I have watched Benazir with some fascination, even though I don't identify much with her. I read her book Daughter of the East when it came out and was struck by how little we knew about what was going on in Pakistan at the time and also by how totally devoted she was to her father, to a point I thought where she seemed to be blind to his weaknesses. Which is something I try not to be with my own.

I did get to meet Benazir once when she came on an official visit. She had brought her mother Begum Nusrat Bhutto ( according to some, so her mother wouldn't stage a coup while she was away) and her husband Asif Ali Zardari. I was invited along to the official dinner at Sri Perdana and beforehand we were given instructions by Protocol that Asif does not shake hands with women, therefore we, the few women who were invited, were not to stick our hands out hospitably.

So there I stood with mostly male government officers and assorted businessmen in the reception room in a semi-circle waiting for the Pakistani entourage to arrive. First to arrive was the Begum who proceeded to shake hands with everyone in the receiving line (obviously she isn't as strict as her son-in-law). But when she came to me, she ignored me completely!!! Both the men on either side of me turned to look at me puzzled at the obvious rudeness. She must have thought I was just someone's wife or some other unimportant underling.

It was only later when I joined my parents in the waiting room before dinner along with Benazir, her husband and mother, that any of them even realised who I was. Even then, I can't say that Benazir had much time for me. I guess I wasn't the one in the seat of power and didn't even look remotely interested in acquiring it. Which makes me, in Benazir's book, a nonentity.

I've seen descriptions of Benazir as haughty. I'm not sure if that's a word that can only be used for her. Certainly it suits her mother, in my limited experience. And later on, when I met Musharaff's wife,she seemed the same. So maybe it's just the Pakistani power style.

But...I have been to Pakistan once and I have many Pakistani friends, many of whom are Benazir supporters. And why wouldn't they be? Mostly they are the elite educated wealthy, same as Benazir and her family. They are friendly and hospitable to a fault. But apart from a few, I really wonder how far any of them will truly make changes in Pakistan that would benefit the most number of people.

I have a problem with a country that calls itself Islamic and yet has an adult literacy rate for men which is only 63% and an appalling 36% for females. These are 2004 figures which means during Benazir's tenure as President between 1988 and 1996, they were no better and probably even worse. It is a country where huge gaps between the rich and poor exist, where the Government spends 2% of its budget on education and 20% on defence, and where poor women are treated so inhumanely , subject to violence and even murder with the killers rarely ever brought to justice. Often these perpertrators and killers are the women's own family members. I've met Mukhtaran Mai, the poor illiterate woman who decided to speak out and demand justice after she was raped by men bent on exacting revenge for something her brother allegedly did. Hers is a story that makes you gasp in horror, even while you have to admire her courage in speaking out. Interestingly Mukhtaran believes that if both men and women are better educated in Pakistan, these appalling acts of violence would be lessened.

As much as I think it's terrible what has happened to Benazir, I have to wonder how much good she would have done for Pakistan had she won the elections. She might seem better than Musharaff to outsiders but it's a pretty thin selection of candidates nevertheless. Every single one of them is tainted in one way or another. And I don't know if her track record in governing is all that exemplary.

I'm not sure I buy all these explanations that Al-Qaeda is behind Benazir's assasination. It seems too convenient and a good way to get more money from the Americans for the so-called 'war on terrorism'. Is it just my imagination that things have gotten worse since Pakistan got so much money from the US to fight the Taliban, Al-Qaeda and assorted terrorists? Meantime, according to my friends in NGOs over there, the drug problem along the border with Afghanistan, among Afghan refugees and local Pakistanis, has increased and along with it, HIV/AIDS.



I feel sad for Benazir's kids who will surely be brought up to believe that Pakistani politics is their legacy and they have to exact revenge for their mother's death. The cycle goes on as it does in India and elsewhere. If entering politics is for the purpose of truly doing something about the people's problems in Pakistan, that would be something but if it's just about family name and legacy, I am fearful. Maybe they believe it's just destiny but can people continue to be so cavalier after so many deaths in one family?

(For a much more informative analysis on Pakistan and Benazir, do read Wajahat Ali's excellent piece here.)

Weekend in Bandung

(Karya Umbi kerupuk shop, Jalan Cihambelas)

Haven't been posting anything because I'm on holiday with my family and they complain if I spend too much time on my laptop. We are in Jakarta to visit my in-laws. Arriving on a rainy evening last week, it took us two hours to get home..which is good. Actually thus far Jakarta has been relatively quiet which means the traffic is decent. But it's been raining a lot and the sea levels in North Jakarta has been rising and submerging the areas nearest the coast.

We decided to take a trip out of town for a change and drive up to Bandung. It's a two hour drive past some lovely scenery of padi fields and mountains. You would never think that Java was so over-populated. That is, until you hit Bandung. Apparently the rest of Jakarta had the same idea as us so traffic along Bandung's narrow streets, especially in the main drag in Dago, was horrendous, crawling at snail's pace if it moved at all. Most people had come to shop at the many factory outlets. That's fun for about a day. Then it gets a bit tiresome fighting the hordes for clothes you don't really need.

Bandung used to be known to the Dutch as Parijs Van Java or the Paris of Java. Not sure why but it does have a lot of very cute houses that must have contributed to its charm in a previous era. Now many of these houses have been converted into factory outlets which rather spoils it.

We took a drive out to Ciumbeluit which is further up the hills to have lunch at the Malya Hotel which used to be known as the Chedi. The lounge and dining room looks out to lovely green hills and it's a nice peaceful retreat from the busyness of downtown Bandung. My kids took a quick ride on some colourfully-decorated horses outside the hotel which probably cost more than it should have but the kids were thrilled so it was worth it.

Back down the hill we thought of visiting Lembang and the strawberry farms there but the sight of the traffic was enough to put us off. So we drove down Jalan Cihampelas where you can buy any type of jeans and took photos of the 'giants' on the shop roofs (see photos).



There was also an amazing kerupuk shop where you can find any type of kerupuk you can think of and even those you haven't thought of.(Top photo)

Bandung is the home of the Institiut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) which is well-known for its hard-to-get-into art school. My husband tried many decades ago and didn't succeed. My son's friends had better luck (and talent) so he came with us to hang out with them for a bit. The art school vibe is all over Bandung, including in some alternative clothes boutiques where they sell t-shirts with interesting graphics on them. Strictly for the young and hip of course.

It also took us a surprising two hours to get home to Jakarta again, though it was a hazardous trip. (I shall not complain about Malaysian drivers for at least another four days).

For more information about Bandung, go here.There's a direct flight from KL to Bandung by Air Asia which accounts for the many Malaysian accents you hear.

Oh by the way, the food is good. Try Bumbu Desa for Sundanese food and if you're not picky about where you eat, there's a stall under a tent called Si Jangkung (The Tall One) which sells delicious beef and mutton ribs cooked in some oily spicy concoction. Worth queuing up for. I forget the name of the street but it's famous so any native Bandungite should be able to point you in the right direction.

Travel tales on Christmas Day! Have a merry one, folks!

A Flood Appeal

(Photo from The Age, Sydney of floods in Kota Bharu,Kelantan)

I got an urgent sms from a friend appealing for help for the flood victims in Pahang. The floods are getting worse especially in Pekan area. 8000 people are stranded and the roads have been cut off. Not sure how they are going to get supplies to the Pekanites but these are items they need:

diapers
baby milk
sanitary pads
eggs
canned food
rice
sugar
water
other foodstuffs
candles and torchlights
clothing

Those living in KL, please deliver your contributions to the Flood Relief Centre at Istana Pahang, Persiaran Raja Chulan, KL. Please contact Dato Nordin at 012-988-9149 or 012-900-7068.

The drenched folks in Pahang and I ( in equally wet Jakarta) thank you!

An Anniversary (I Thought)

For some reason I thought I had done my first ever post on Dec 18 2006 so yesterday I wanted to do a 1st anniversary posting. But my Streamyx connection was down all yesterday so couldn't do anything. Just as well. I checked today and my first post in this blog was on December 5 last year!!! So I missed it!

But never mind. I can't believe it has been year plus plus since I started blogging. Considering that I thought about it for a year before that and was finally pushed into it, it's incredible that the time has gone by so fast.

But what a year it's been. Blogging has been everything I thought it would be and more. It's really made me feel quite liberated to be able to say what I want without the space and editorial limitations that my column in The Star has. And it's been quite an experience to get such immediate feedback from all of you.

The point of the blog, for me at least, is really to provoke discussion on the issues that affect us and I hope that I have managed to do that. Some of you don't agree with me but that's not the point so I thank everyone equally for taking the time to join the discussion and to give your opinion whichever side of the fence you may sit on, or even if you sit right on top of it. Mostly it's been great and I feel that I've gotten to know some of you just from your style of writing.

Of course the high point was those 50 days when Dad was in hospital. Writing about that whole experience was really therapeutic for me and your warm and loving responses helped my family and I through it all so much. For that we can never thank you enough.

I also can't thank you all enough for the generosity that you showed towards Melina Jokita. It just goes to show not only that Malaysians are basically kindhearted but also that blogs can be a very effective way of helping people.

Talking of which, you might remember that little girl Siti Aisya in Ipoh who was born with Fraser's Syndrome which means she has no eyelids. Daphne Ling, who has been helping her out, along with blogger Pi Bani, has some great news about how she and her family are getting along here. Some real good news for end of the year.

I also was asked by one of my commenters Dr Muhammad Mohd Isa, who is doing a survey on the public's perceptions of services at Government hospitals in the Klang Valley if I would help get respondents. I'm sure many of you have opinions on our public hospitals so if you would like to participate in this survey, please go here.

Meantime I'd like to wish all Muslim readers out there Selamat Hari Raya Haji



Also wishing all Christian readers a Very Merry Christmas!



I am off to visit the in-laws again but will no doubt post some more before the end of year. Meanwhile enjoy the holidays!

The Denial Declaration

For all those interested, here's the memo that Damai Malaysia gave to the PM. This took up only 2 pages or so. The rest of the thick document contained the signatures and stamps of the 395 NGOs whose names we still don't know. The bold emphases are mine.

MUKADIMAH

Kebebasan, kemakmuran dan kestabilan yang kita kecapi selama ini adalah aset terpenting hasil perjuangan pemimpin terdahulu yang diasaskan kepada dasar tolak-ansur, hormat-menghormati berlandaskan kepada budaya Melayu diikat oleh Kontrak Sosial yang telah dipersetujui bersama oleh semua kaum sebagaimana termaktub di dalam Perlembagaan Negara.

Dasar tolak-ansur, muafakat dan perkongsian kuasa antara kaum yang telah terbukti berjaya menyatupadukan semua kaum merupakan teras utama yang wajib dipertahankan. Sebarang tindakan yang boleh menjejaskan kestabilan Negara merupakan satu ancaman yang wajib dihentikan segera.

Sebagai sebuah Negara yang mengamalkan sistem Demokrasi Berparlimen ;

∑ Hak bersuara semua golongan perlu dihormati tetapi perlulah berlandaskan kepada undang-undang dan saluran yang dibenarkan

∑ Rakyat boleh menentukan kepimpinan Negara melalui pilihan raya di mana setiap individu mempunyai hak mengundi. Penggunaan kekerasan serta tindakan mengundang campur tangan kuasa luar merupakan satu pengkhianatan kepada Negara.

∑ Setiap rakyat Malaysia mempunyai kebebasan untuk mencari kekayaan dan pendidikan tanpa sebarang diskriminasi dan sistem kasta yang membezakan mereka dari segi keturunan dan fahaman agama serta bebas menjalankan kehidupan tanpa sekatan

Atas keyakinan ini maka,

‘DAMAI MALAYSIA’ sebagai sebuah gerakan massa rentas fahaman politik, rentas perkauman, rentas sempadan dan rentas kepentingan diri mengambil ketetapan :

1. Terus memperjuangkan hak kebebasan bersuara mengikut lunas-lunas perundangan yang telah diperuntukkan sebagaimana yang diamalkan selama ini

2. Bertekad memperkasakan semula semangat perpaduan dan kerjasama antara kaum

3. Komited kepada usaha menolak sebarang budaya dan amalan yang mampu merosakkan suasana harmoni antara kaum

4. Memastikan Malaysia kekal sebagai sebuah Negara yang aman dan progresif

5. Mempertahankan kestabilan politik dan semangat perpaduan yang terus membawa Malaysia ke arah kegemilangan pada masa akan datang

6. Menolak sebarang usaha untuk membincangkan isu sensitif yang melibatkan kaum dan agama secara terbuka termasuk melalui demonstrasi politik jalanan

7. Memastikan Malaysia yang kita cintai akan terus hidup subur


DEKLARASI / KOMITMEN


“DAMAI MALAYSIA”

∑ Akan terus komited meneguhkan amalan toleransi dan kerjasama antara kaum untuk masa hadapan Negara

∑ Akan terus menjadi pendokong kepada budaya ‘demokrasi yang bertanggungjawab’ khasnya di kalangan generasi muda Malaysia

∑ Akan terus bersama kepimpinan Negara untuk bersama sama menyumbang kepada pembinaan Negara


Kami atas nama “DAMAI MALAYSIA” dengan ini bersepakat

1. Terus menjunjung Keluhuran Perlembagaan

2. Menolak sebarang Demonstrasi Politik Jalanan

3. Menentang penggunaan isu agama dan perkauman sebagai alat untuk menambah kebencian sesama sendiri

4. Mengutuk mana-mana individu/persatuan yang menggunakan penipuan, fitnah, hasutan dan mengheret kuasa luar untuk mencampuri urusan dalaman Negara

5. Mengutuk perbuatan biadap yang menuduh kepimpinan Negara yang dipimpin oleh orang Melayu sebagai melakukan ‘penghapusan kaum’ sedangkan semua kaum mendapat layanan yang sama rata

I don't know about you guys but I don't see what this has to do with reality. It's as if there are no issues at all, and certainly none that can be discussed openly. Also it makes it sound as if anyone who wants to discuss real issues also doesn't want peace, prosperity and stability for our country. Excuse me!

For those curious to know who Damai Malaysia is, do read Walski's little bit of investigation here. We still don't know who the 395 NGOs are. I do think that the major NGOs that did NOT sign this should also declare themselves. Do also participate in Walski's poll on the Silent Majority.

How Dare They Insult Us!!

It isn't often that I start the day feeling angry but today took the cake. No sooner had I picked up the newspaper when I started to foam at the mouth in outrage so strong that even an hour and a half torturing myself in the gym could not quell it.

It wasn't just about the five people who got arrested under the ISA. Surely there must be a How-to-Govern manual somewhere that says 'Thou Shalt Not Martyr Thy Opponents Unless Thou Really Is Not Interested in Winning the Hearts and Minds of Thy People'.

It was this:

Friday December 14, 2007

PM: Silent majority have spoken – we don’t want demos

By ZULKIFLI ABD RAHMAN

PETALING JAYA: The silent majority of Malaysians have spoken up and they want a stop to street demonstrations which disrupt people’s lives and cause disharmony among the country’s multi-racial population.

Representatives of Damai Malaysia – an umbrella body comprising 395 non-governmental organisations – handed over to Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday a memorandum criticising the illegal street rallies.

The Prime Minister said the memorandum was a sign that people were angry with illegal protests and violent acts.

They want peace: Representatives of NGO groups under Damai handing the memorandum to Abdullah yesterday expressing their wish that peace be maintained.

“The country’s successes and achievements didn’t come about due to street demonstrations or illegal protests.

“We have progressed because we have been able to maintain democratic institutions which respect the law while the people enjoyed the fruits of peace and political stability.

“If freedom cannot be respected and used in a responsible manner, the people themselves will be at the losing end.

“As can be seen from today’s memorandum, the people who remained silent have now stood up to make their stand. They want peace to be maintained.”

He said he was informed that the street demonstrations had caused a 10% cancellation of hotel room bookings and rental of tour buses, while retail stores also reported a drop in sales.

Abdullah was speaking to newsmen after receiving the memorandum before flying off to visit flooded districts in Pahang.

At the outset, the group of about 20 people led by Damai chairman Mohd Saiful Adil Mohd Daud was not allowed to enter the Royal Malaysian Air Force Subang airbase but after waiting for the airbase authority to get back to them, they were finally allowed to go in.

Mohd Saiful Adil gave a brief speech before proceeding with five other representatives to hand over the memorandum. The group applauded before they left the place.

The whole episode took less than 15minutes.

Damai represents 1.5 million members and its representatives include those from 75 Chinese-based and 20 Indian groups and associations.

In the joint declaration read by Mohd Saiful Adil, the members expressed their disgust at street demonstrations and the use of religious and racial issues to create hatred among Malaysians.

They condemned individuals and groups who used lies and slander against the country and asked for foreign intervention in Malaysia’s internal affairs.

“We also condemn accusations that the country’s leaders had allowed ethnic cleansing to occur in the country,” he added.

Damai advisor and Bukit Bintang MCA chief Senator Datuk Dr Lee Chong Meng said the Bersih and Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) illegal demonstrations last month had caused tourists to cancel trips to Malaysia.

Cheras Hindu Youth Organisation vice-president S. Ariivazhagan regretted that Hindraf had used religion to protest.

“Hindraf has presented the wrong view to the world that the Indian community here is being persecuted. This group is not fighting for our rights,” he said.

On arrival in Kuantan, Abdullah labelled those who solicit support from outsiders as traitors and the action of Hindraf, which claimed to fight for the rights of the Indian community in Malaysia, as an attempt to destroy the country and racial unity, Bernama reports.

“Was there ethnic cleansing? There was nothing about wiping out the Indians in the country,” he said at a function to welcome him and his wife, Datin Paduka Seri Jeanne Abdullah at the RMAF base.

*******************************************************************************

I'm sorry, who are Damai Malaysia and who are the supposed 395 NGOs represented by them? Where is the list of those NGOs? So far the ones mentioned are all related to political parties which, in my book, don't count as NGOs.

Secondly, where do they get off saying that they represent the silent majority? Were YOU asked? I'm sorry, I haven't said much but I am NOT represented by this Damai lot. Who the hell is Mohd Saiful Adil Mohd Daud anyway?

Thirdly, what is in the memo? If they are claiming to represent the silent majority, then don't the silent majority have a right to read that memo? I haven't seen any report that actually tells us what is contained in that memo. And I love how thick it is! They seriously expect the PM to read the entire thing? (Or maybe it just says nothing except 'we love you' throughout?)

Fourthly, what is the difference between presenting this memo and those other memos? Just because this one says 'We Think You're Wonderful' and 'People Who Demonstrate Are All Thugs', they get to hand it directly to the PM? While the ones that say 'Please Can You Listen and Deal with Real Issues?' have to go through police barricades, water cannons and tear gas? Is the inability to go shopping the most important issue of the day?

I can tolerate most things but I can't abide being insulted and treated as if I'm stupid. Since when does peace mean maintaining hotel room bookings and retail sales? You mean, as long as tourists come and we're shopping we're OK? How dumb is that?

Peace is not possible without justice and equality. Look at places like Palestine; without justice and equality for all the people who live there, there can be no peace. Do we condemn their need to protest, even while we may not support some of their violent forms of expression?

Just because we don't have violence doesn't mean we have true and meaningful peace. Peace doesn't mean just being able to go round without worrying if someone is going to shoot you ( though going by some of the stories in the papers, we should worry about this too). It also means living with a clear conscience, that your friend and neighbour is not suffering from injustice. It means everyone has the opportunity to better themselves, not just some.

I resent the implication that those who support the right to dissent and protest do not want peace and want violence. Hey, I have kids too and I want them to grow up in a peaceful country. But I don't want them to grow up in place where they cannot say what they think, where they are treated as if they are retarded if they want to express what they feel, where if they do not agree with the Government they are immediately labelled traitors. Excuse me!!! Do you know of any country where whole swathes of people are called thugs and traitors yet still remain peaceful? It is the name-calling, accompanied by thuglike behaviour on the part of Government institutions, that leads to violence, not the other way round.

All it takes is some empathy. I am so appalled that all the discussion is about what a nuisance demos and protests are when the real issues are swept under the carpet. Demos are just symptoms, not the real issue. What is so difficult about saying, "OK, enough already. Let's all be civilised and sit down and talk?"

One oft-used criticism is that the protesters have not gone through 'the proper channels'. It is unclear to me what the 'proper channels' are. If that was so, then why does Damai need to hand over their memo at TUDM base? Is that the 'proper channel'? Do people have to lie in wait at airports and places in order to be able to talk about their grievances?

I am so fed-up of being condescended to by intellectual midgets who think they are smart just because they have power. This, for example:

Friday December 14, 2007

Commission a balanced team, says Nazri

By LEE YUK PENG AND FLORENCE A. SAMY

KUALA LUMPUR: It is a balanced team, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz in describing the five members of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the videoclip of a senior lawyer allegedly brokering the appointment of judges.

This was so, because one of the members was a woman and two were on the earlier three-man independent panel to verify the authenticity of the clip, he said yesterday.

On why social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, who was one of the members in the earlier panel, was not in the commission, Nazri replied: “I do not know why he declined.”

Asked whether reports by the independent panel and the royal commission would be made public, Nazri said: “We will see later.”

***********************************************************************************
Oh wow, 'balance' means putting a token woman in there? And if Lee Lam Thye had not declined, then there wouldn't be a woman there and therefore it wouldn't be balanced? Give me a break!

And what is this ' we will see later' nonsense? Is that the same as saying 'Its depend'? Depending on whether the panel and commission reports the 'right' things or not?

I am so annoyed today that I'm probably not being very articulate. But it is getting too too much. I read letters to the Editor which are universally echoing the Government line about demos, and not the issues. Have any of you written letters that have not been published because they have not been complimentary about the Government? If so, I'll be happy to publish them on the blog (no obscenities please!). Also if any of you have the full list of the 395 NGOs that are part of Damai, please also send that. I'm pretty sure that none of the ones that I am associated with is part of it.

The Brand New Hearts Meet

Melina, Dad, Fikri and Hui Yi cut their cake.

Tuesday December 11 was a rather special day for four people. All of them had been through heart surgery at IJN; one for a bypass, one for two holes in the heart and two for transplants. All of them are healthy now. It seemed like a great occasion to celebrate.

My Dad, the oldest of the group at 82, had invited three young people, Tee Hui Yi, 14, Melina Jokita, 14 and Muhd Fikri Noor Azmi, 17, to have tea with him at his office on the 86th floor of the Petronas Twin Towers. Also joining them were my Mum, Hui Yi's parents Mr and Mrs Tee, Melina's other friends from Timor Leste, Fikri's Mum Puan Fatimah and sister Fatin, Col Ismet Nayan from Terendak Camp and others from Mindef, Sister Salina, the IJN Transplant Coordinator, Staff Nurse Sharifah and three of the doctors who took care of these four patients, Dato Dr Azhari Yaakob, Dr Ezani Taib and Dr Jeswant Dhillon. Plus me and my two daughters.

The very excited group of young people were taken up three different high-speed lifts up to the 86th floor where they enjoyed the amazing views from the floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Then they had tea around the large oval conference table. Afterwards the four Brand New Hearts cut a heart-shaped cake to celebrate.

To commemorate the occasion, Fikri and his family presented my parents with framed photographs of the first time they had met almost two years ago. Fikri was the first person to be given the mechanical heart on July 30 2005 and on December 16 he will celebrate the second anniversary of his heart transplant. He's just sat for his SPM and is writing a book about his experiences which will be out next year hopefully. He's also a blogger and has a blog called Echoes of My Heart.



Then the Timorese delegation gave my parents traditional Timorese scarves and handicraft which they had made. In return everybody got little diaries and a card from my parents with their photo in it.

After tea, the entire group went on a VIP tour of the Skybridge on the 42nd floor. Encik Saiful Bahari from Petronas explained the history of the Twin Towers and its special features including how the Skybridge is able to swing in the event of an earthquake. Here's the photo of the group on the Skybridge:

The group on the Skybridge. Hui Yi and Melina (in the middle) have become friends and email each other all the time.

It was a really happy day for all of us including my parents and me. Having spent so much time in IJN with all the attendant worries and hopes, we feel like kindred spirits with other patients especially these young people who have much brighter futures because of their successful heart operations. We feel sad however for those who didn't make it like the late Siti Salmah Jasni and Fauziah (whom I learnt about through one of my blog commenters). But it was nice to see Hui Yi, Melina and Fikri doing well after all that they had been through.

Dig in and Help Out!

Hi folks, it's the year end and with Hari Raya Haji, Christmas and the New Year all coming in a row, I'm thinking we should up the good news factor, ignore the bad news (for a while) and collect some merit points by doing our little bits for charity.

Here's one way you can do it. If any of you are in KL next week and need to do some shopping, especially for presents, forget about the crazy crowds at the malls trampling everyone underfoot for dubious bargains and head to Wisma MAA for the Budimas Year End-Charity Bazaar on December 18 and 19.

What's more, some of the proceeds will go to charity which the Budimas Charitable Foundation has adopted. These are:

Asrama Damai Anak-Anak Yatim, Kuang, Selangor
Bethesda Children's Mission Home, Kajang, Selangor
Good Samaritan Home, Klang, Selangor
Precious Gift Home, Ipoh, Perak
Hannah Home, Ipoh, Perak
The Children's Protection Society (CPS), Penang
Persekutuan Kebajikan Anak-Anak Yatim Islam (Perempuan), Penang
Pondok Penyayang Raudhah, Gombak, FT

So come and shop folks and help out at the same time!

Here We Go Blaming Others Again...

(Hi folks, am back. Sorry for late posting of comments but something is wrong with Blogger which doesn't seem to be sending me all comments to moderate. Hence apologies if you don't see your comment yet. Am clearing them soon as I can.)

The Star is running a series of discussions called Cafe Latte Chat and the latest is in crime featuring the IGP Tan Sri Musa Hassan, Ambiga Sreenivasan, the Bar Council chairman, YB Wee Ka Siong, MP for Ayer Hitam, Datuk Wong Chun Wai, Acting Editor in Chiff of The Star and Lourdes Charles, head of The Star's Crime Desk. You can read the whole thing here .

I just wanted to pick out one thing which the IGP said here. Not sure what the basis for it is but it seems to illustrate the Malaysian penchant for a) making sweeping statements b) making prejudiced statements about foreigners and c) blaming other people for our own faults. So now Mat Rempits are the fault of Indonesians too?

Busting crime

Wong: How are the police addressing the people's concern about crime and security?

Musa: The trend of crime has changed. It is not like before (traditional crime) where crimes only involved local people. Globalisation has brought in an influx of immigrants and the population has increased; people are migrating from the kampung to towns and youths are getting into unlawful activities. Criminals are also not like before because we have people bringing their culture here. It is normal in Jakarta to see people racing here and there. Our youths tend to imitate the wrong things, that's why we see all these Mat Rempits now.

So us poor KL people are blameless. It's only because of Other People coming here either from other countries or from the kampungs. And is it really normal for people to be racing here and there in Jakarta? Anyone who's been there will know that you'd be lucky to find an empty road to race on.

And our youth are so weak and stupid, they 'tend to imitate the wrong things' huh? Thanks a lot.

But later on he continues about the Mat Rempits:

Ambiga: The police do not seem to be doing much about the Mat Rempit problem.

Musa: Our people are doing extensive surveillance on them. There have been times when they have even crashed through our roadblocks. The Mat Rempit gangs can be very aggressive and violent. There have been cases when their members were arrested and the gang threw stones at the police station where their buddies were held. The parents have a role to play here. These people are mostly teens, they don't even have licences when they begin riding motorcycles. They are blatantly going against the law and their parents should be made accountable for their actions. But people do not like it when I say this.

I don't get it. If it's a crime, then the police have to do their job. But why blame parents because their kids have no licenses? It's not the lack of licenses that's the main crime surely? So if you jail the parents, is this going to solve the 'imported culture' problem?

I am confused. It would be nice if the authorities didn't give such convoluted explanations for everything. And surely the existence of Mat Rempits can't solely be attributed to foreign cultural influence? (And it's a culture that's part of the heritage of some of us too!!!)

A Brief Hiatus

Folks, I am off for a short break so will not be posting anything for the rest of the week. Apologies in advance if I take a long time to post your comments but am just not sure about Internet connections where I'm going.

Meantime, here's a photo of my Mum with her two favourite handsome guys having lunch at The Loaf in Langkawi today:

Let's Create Panic, Shall We?

What is it about politicians that they constantly need to be alarmist and distort facts?

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Monday December 3, 2007

Fomema fees to be reduced

JOHOR BARU: Mandatory medical check-ups for foreign workers will be cheaper in the future.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said they were in the process of reviewing the medical fees paid by employers to Fomema.

“The current fees can be reduced. Right now, it costs RM185 for a male worker and RM195 for a female. The Cabinet has agreed that we study this. We are studying how we can reduce it to a more reasonable rate,” he said after launching a book fair here yesterday.

However, Dr Chua refused to speculate on the reduced amount.

He also dismissed a call by a non-governmental organisation to abolish mandatory medical check-ups.

On Sunday, the Coordination of Action Research on HIV/AIDS and Mobility (Caram Asia) urged the Government to scrap mandatory testing for foreign workers and to opt for voluntary testing.

Regional coordinator Cynthia Gabriel was quoted as saying that voluntary testing would help encourage illegal foreign workers to come forward.

Dr Chua said the ministry disagreed with the organisation’s views, as there was still a need for mandatory testing.

“Every year, the Ministry of Health, through Fomema, conducts tests on foreign workers one month after they have landed in Malaysia. We find that 2% to 3% are not healthy.

“At the end of the year, they have to take a second mandatory test, and the results still show that 2% to 3% are not healthy,” he said.

Dr Chua added that there were 25,000 to 30,000 foreign workers, including maids, with infectious diseases who could spread them to Malaysians.

“Can you imagine 25,000 to 30,000 people walking around with HIV, tuberculosis, syphilis and Hepatitis B and C?” he asked.

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Let's look at this properly. 2-3% of foreign workers being 'unhealthy' is not a lot, especially when they deport them almost immediately, often without telling them the reason why.

The last statement is designed to work on people's prejudices towards foreign workers as if they are pools of disease just waiting to infect our people. The fact is , except for TB, most of these diseases cannot be spread by casual contact to others. Unless Malaysians are in the habit of sleeping with their foreign employees, including their maids, they are unlikely to catch any of these diseases. TB can be treated easily enough.

The Minister is misleading us by making it seem as if the workers are tested twice, when they arrive and then a year later. The fact is, if they are found with any disease, including pregnancy, at the first test, then they are immediately deported. Therefore the issue of them 'still' not being healthy at the second test does not arise. Furthermore, if they are 'still' not healthy, it means that either their employers did nothing to get them treatment after the first test, or, they became infected with these diseases in our country.

Please let us have more intelligent discussion of the very real problems of public health and not have distortions of facts aimed at intensifying the already rampant prejudice we have towards foreigners who, out of economic need, have no choice but to come to our country to obtain work.

What's more, it's not the legal workers who have to go through FOMEMA that we have to worry about. It's the illegal ones who, because of that very illegality, are unrecognised and are afraid to ever get medical treatment when they are ill in case they get arrested that we really should be concerned with. As long as they remain underground, we are allowing public health to be compromised.

For the full text of CARAM Asia's statement, please see here.

Actually, the Minister doesn't give any reason for the need to reduce the FOMEMA fees. The tests are mandatory so employers have no choice. Is he saying there is a problem of employers not getting their workers tested and hence they need an incentive? Bet FOMEMA will protest as it will cut into their enormous profits. See Jeff Ooi's story on this.

A Sad Tragedy

You may have read this story today.


Sunday December 2, 2007
MYT 8:32:53 PM

Military exercise mishap at Lima claims 3 lives

By DERRICK VINESH

LANGKAWI: Strong winds claimed the lives of three paratroopers, including a woman who drowned during a parachute training exercise at the Mahsuri International Airport here Sunday morning.

Siti Hajar Yaakub, 24, died at sea while her teammates Nurul Wahida Yusuf, 20, and Raymond A/K Duncan, 25, an Iban, died at the Langkawi Hospital.

They were among 160 paratroopers from the 10th Paratrooper Unit of the Terendak Camp, Malacca who took part in the exercise in conjunction with the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (Lima) 2007 event.

Langkawi district police chief Supt Mohamed Ali Jamaluddin said the three officers and 17 others drifted 200m off course and fell from a height of about 300m into the sea off Pantai Cenang during the exercise at 10.15am.

He said five women and six male officers were admitted at the hospital for hypothermia and minor injuries.

One of them, Suraya Ali, 23, was warded in the Intensive Care Unit for broken ribs and punctured lung. Another officer Zaliza Zakaria, 23, who also suffered similar complications.

“We called off the 170-member rescue operation at 12.53pm after all 138 officers who jumped off two aircrafts were rescued,” he said.

He added that the marine police together with the armed forces personnel and fire and rescue services conducted the search and rescue.

Supt Mohd Ali said the team were practising for a performance during the Lima opening on Tuesday.

“The paratrooper team from Malacca usually performs this exercise every Lima.

“This year, the Eastern wind has been somehow quite strong,” he said.

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The reason I am mentioning this is not just because it is a terrible loss of life but also because these young women and man belonged to the same Terendak Camp Paratrooper unit whose Deputy Commander Col Ismet Nayan bin Ismail has been so instrumental in caring for Melina and her friends from Timor Leste.

I'd like to convey my condolences to the families of the three young paratroopers as well as to Col Ismet and the 10th Paratrooper Unit for their loss. I also wish the other injured paratroopers a speedy recovery.

Thar He Blows Again...!

Sunday December 2, 2007

Ministry displeased over reports on walk

KUALA LUMPUR: An English daily has been criticised by Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin for reporting on the Bar Council’s plan to organise a “People’s Freedom Walk” on Dec 9 in conjunction World Human Rights Day. (What?! You can't report on events that haven't happened yet?)

“I have contacted the paper and voiced my dissatisfaction about their propensity to carry reports that do not show respect to the spirit of national unity,” he said yesterday. (A walk doesn't show respect for the spirit of national unity? And racist remarks do?)

He said the ministry would write an official letter to the newspaper to ask it not to play up such news. (Not report, or not play up?)

“The newspaper gave details like the time to gather and also encouraged the people to bring posters. (So?)

“This is a sinister action, especially when police are facing pressure from certain groups bent on using street demonstrations for political purposes,” said Zainuddin.

Bar Council chairman S. Ambiga said they met with police on Friday to discuss how to best organise the Human Rights Day march.

“We will get a reply from the police on Monday and we are hopeful that they will help us make the event a success,” she said at a press conference.

Ambiga, who said many people had misunderstood the purpose of the rally, added that it should not be associated as an anti-government protest.

“The march is part of the Festival of Rights and will only last 20 to 30 minutes.

“It is a peaceful march that unites all Malaysians to celebrate International Human Rights Day, which falls on Dec 10, and to raise awareness on human rights.

“This is what we have been doing for the past two years,” she added.

Zam hadn't noticed the past two years' walks before, I guess. He probably didn't even know that International Human Rights Day falls on Dec 10. But then he'd say human rights are some Western plot anyway. Figures...