I came across this interesting reply from Ktemoc for an article written by kadir jasin in his blog.

Almost all countries have created anti-discrimination law (even Indonesia) to prevent discrimination but in Malaysia, discrimination is state sanctioned and legally allowed!

I don’t understand why even to open a bank account , we need to state our race and religion! recently even MMC’s APC application forms have been amended to include religion, for what purpose, I got no idea! I responded by answering “relevance?”

Even when you register your child for Standard 1, every form that you fill up will ask about race and religion. Sometimes I get really frustrated filling up these forms. We are sending our children to schools for education, what is the relevance of race and religion in the application forms?

In Australia, you can be sued in court if you ask any question in the form or interview which is not relevant to the purpose of the application or interview. The only question they are required to answer is whether you are a citizen, PR or foreigner.

I wish to remain a M’sian –

KTemoc replies Kadir Jasin

Written by KTemoc

Monday, 15 March 2010 14:31

This article is a response to ‘I wish to remain a Malay’, (http://kadirjasin.blogspot.com/2010/01/saya-mahu-terus-jadi-orang-melayu.html)a translation carried by CPI(http://english.cpiasia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1873:i-wish-to-remain-a-malay-&catid=222:english&Itemid=170) on March 2.

I am always been proud to be a Malaysian, but unlike Kadir Jasin I don’t need to apologise for this. However, like Pak Kadir, I too am embarrassed when some Malaysians showed their tidakapathy (attitude of not being bothered) towards or, worse, involvement in corruption, bigotry, intolerance and a reluctance to accept responsibility for their personal deeds and achievements (or lack of both). I’m very sure of myself as a Malaysian, which has been why I have a very keen interest in knowing where the current political polemics and posturing will take our nation to. I hope every citizen of this God-blessed country, regardless of his/her ethnic origin, personal names, religious beliefs, political affiliation, social background and education will be equally proud to be Malaysians and hold dear the future of our Motherland. And on names, quite frankly, is your pride as a Malaysian dependent on whether your name is Parameswara, Ningkan, Kitingan, Dompok, Nadim, Kadir, Maniam, Yasmin, Kaur, Rodriguez, or Swee Lan?

Admittedly some have felt, and justifiably too, they have been marginalised on the basis of their names because these draw attention to their ethnic origin (or skin colour), and religious beliefs. Since they have been thus identified by and consequentially sidelined because of these very characteristics, can you blame them for querying whether it would be better to drop from forms and identity cards all these discriminatory socio-religio-ethnic differences? These unnecessary divisive discriminatory distinctions are not only disadvantageous to some but creepy too, making one wonder whether they’re a modern form of wearing the yellow Star of David. Of course those marginalised appreciate that some who have benefitted solely by virtue of the mentioned differences would naturally want the distinction between ethnic-religious groups to continue as official indicators in forms and identity cards. The consolation of the marginalised is that at least their identity cards do not describe their religious dietary constraint, like Hindus or some Buddhist denominations not eating beef. Meals in the military

Talking about beef, it seems not so long ago when two of my uncles served in the armed forces during the Emergency. Both were devout adherents of the Kuan Yin Bodhisattva, where like Hindus they did not partake of beef. They recall during their times in the military they were often served with just that, beef curry or beef stewed in sweet soya sauce. This happened despite their official notification of their religious diet to the military administrators. But did they make a song and dance about this faux pas? No, they just requested for an omelette in lieu. It was the commonsense Malaysian thing to do. Were they mad that they were given beef, a religiously taboo-ed item, as part of their mess food or even missing some [protein] items with their field rations and thus having to rely on the contingency of salted fish and sambal udang kering which most servicemen carried? They realized in the military, defending Malaysia against the insurgents in the jungles involved a cast of thousands with numerous simultaneous field activities, thus mistakes could and did occur. So heigh ho, they being the typical Malaysians just made the best out of a less-than-satisfactory situation. Nor did they feel any necessity to demand that their military identity cards or dog tags carry more prominent notice of their religion, race or the associated dietary taboos. Neither did they demand that the military official forms be revised with the ‘Religion’ box be made more conspicuous. There were far more important issues like service numbers (identity minus any other discriminatory indicators), next of kin, blood group type and any particular medical condition for the administrator’s attention.

Today they feel their service and those of various ethnic groups in the Malaysian armed forces and police force have been worthwhile on hearing Prime Minister Najib Razak declaring: “In fostering a 1Malaysia government, it has been proposed that the mention of race on government forms be eliminated except for the purpose of census and statistics.” Proud to serve country Did and do my uncles love Malaysia any less because they are of Chinese descent? Have they been regretful of their personal sacrifices because they and their children are lesser citizens than those recent arrivals from neighbouring countries who were once our nation’s enemies? Well, let’s talk about some of their police and military compatriots, people to whom the nation owes incredible debts to such as police superintendent Paul Kiong, police deputy superintendent Sia Boon Chee and Capt. V. Mohana Chandran – recipients of Malaysia’s highest gallantry honour, the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP) conferred by the Agong Then there were those awarded the Pingat Gagah Berani (PGB) like the late lieutenants Choo Yoke Boo and Chang Tatt Min of the RMAF who both died in action, and 2nd Lt David Fu Chee Ming of the 4th battalion, Royal Rangers. When a soldier, sailor or airman is wounded in the service of his country, regardless of his race, religion, culture, education or social origin, the colour of his blood he sheds is red. When he is killed, the colour of his bones is white. He is proud to be a Malaysian who has served Malaysia, in some cases with the ultimate sacrifice. He did all these without first considering what was his race or religion, or whether he was a pribumi, which was why he unhesitatingly put his blood and body where his heart was –Tanah tumpahnya darahku!

And precisely because of this, while my uncles and their Indian friends in the Armed Forces have been proud and grateful they have inherited their rich legacies of thousands of years of culture and history, they are even more proud to be Malaysians, because they were born here as citizens. Malaysia is their Motherland. They utilise the best moral lessons of their socio-cultural inheritance to enhance themselves and their children to be even better Malaysians and not as Chinese or Indians suffering from a bad case of hubristic snobbery or territorial intolerance. They no longer feel the need to brandish their proud ethnic heritage as if these should like a special pass which entitles them and their heirs to privileges beyond those available to other fellow Malaysians. If fate had decreed that my uncles were to perish in their battles against the terrorists, as did some of their compatriots, they would have been proud to go into the next world as Malaysians. Having served their nation, my uncles would not have been unduly worried who or what would stumble across their corpses. For their Maker would know them by their deeds on earth and to their country, and not by the indicators in their identity cards or military dog tags. Malaysia negaraku, tanah tumpahnya darahku!

Over the past three weeks, the government has postponed electricity price rises and ended plans to hike subsidised petrol prices, part of measures planned to reduce a budget deficit that stands at a 20-year high.

Prime Minister Najib Razak took office last year pledging to liberalise the economy and reduce the deficit after the government that has now ruled this Southeast Asian country for 52 years changed premier following its biggest-ever losses in the general elections in 2008.

“They will have to wait for Najib to get a big mandate from the election before he can continue to really push through the reforms,” said James Chin, a politics professor at Monash University in Kuala Lumpur.

The next general election does not have to be held until 2013, but could come as early as 2011 to coincide with elections in the state of Sarawak, a government stronghold that supplies 30 of the ruling BN coalition’s 137 lawmakers.

The goods and services tax (GST) would have replaced an existing sales tax from 2011 and generated around RM8.8 billion in revenues annually. Legislation was due to be presented in the current parliamentary session.

“The bill will not be tabled this session as the government needs more time to engage with the public for feedback,” a top Finance Ministry official told Reuters.

Policy flip-flop

Najib vowed last year to reform public finances in order to cut the budget deficit to 5.6 percent of gross domestic product in 2010 from 7.4 percent of GDP in 2009 and pledged to tackle a
subsidy regime that accounted for 15 percent of all federal government spending in 2009.

Savings from food and fuel subsidies amounted to RM3.6 billion this year alone under Najib’s budget plans announced in October last year.

A return to economic growth this year, seen at 5 percent versus a 1.7 percent contraction in 2009, has reduced pressure on an unpopular government to push through with reforms.

“The question is which of these they want to secure – a balanced budget or an election victory,” said Azrul Azwar Ahmad Tajudin, chief economist at Bank Islam in Kuala Lumpur.

“This is a policy flip-flop. Back-pedalling will always send the wrong signals to the market and to foreign investors,” he said.

Malaysia has seen its status as a favoured destination for foreign direct investment erode in recent years and recorded US$7.5 billion (RM24.9 billion) of outflows in 2009, according to government data released last week.

Net portfolio inflows were roughly balanced in 2009, in sharp contrast to neighbouring Indonesia which attracted a net US$10.1 billion in the same year thanks to economic reforms.

I find it rather amusing at times when I come across news like this. Only in Malaysia, we find buildings, stadiums, bridges and roof tops collapsing without even needing a bomb!

AND no one will be held responsible or charged in court, simply because they are UMNO/BN cronies……… you can make multiple police reports but nobody cares.

They are just plain lucky that these buildings did not collapse when it was full with people or children. Somehow I am not surprised why things like this is happening so frequently.

Fresh engineering graduates becoming lecturers in local university! Imagine, you graduate today and tomorrow you are appointed as a lecturer !! Now you know why our graduates are so pathetic and unemployable.

I just hope 1 day, the building will collapse when a VIP is sitting inside. I wonder whether they will take action then.

Cracks in Putrajaya govt quarters, 515 evacuated

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk T. Murugiah said the maintenance work by the Public Works Department involved a cost of RM200,000.

“The 515 residents evacuated their houses and were moved temporarily to a nearby apartment block since March 1, to enable maintenance works which would begin on April 1,” he told reporters after visiting the quarters here Wednesday.

The quarters in Precinct 11 comprise five residential blocks with a total of 755 houses which have been occupied since 2004

I wonder where are all the UMNO cronies that Mahathir made rich in the list below!

If you look at the list of top 40 richest man in Malaysia, you will see a number of UMNO cronies who became rich due to their close relationship with Mahathir and due to the misuse of NEP.

But where are they in this list? People who became rich without going through tough times will never do noble things like this as they only want to get richer. I hope Mahathir will live long enough to see all this and realise that there is no short cut to success.

Four Malaysians make it into magazine’s Heroes of Philanthropy list

Both made it into a list of 48 prominent givers to society in the Asia-Pacific region, whose causes range from disaster recovery, education, health and culture to science, with education being the popular choice among the featured philanthropists this year.

Two other Malaysians in the list are Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin, the chief executive of property developer SP Setia and Tan Sri Francis Yeoh, YTL group managing director.

John Koppisch, Associate Editor, Forbes Asia said those listed were not always the biggest givers.

“Instead we aim to highlight a varied group of generous people, some holdovers from last year, but mostly new names who deserve recognition. By calling attention to these 48 (givers) we hope to encourage more giving,” he said in a statement yesterday.

According to Forbes, Ananda, who received a scholarship to earn his undergraduate degree at Melbourne University, has been extensively developing talents through school programmes.

Through his privately-owned company Usaha Tegas, he has helped underprivileged, high-achieving Malaysian students of South Asian descent to continue their studies in non-Tamil secondary schools, as well as supporting education for other groups in Malaysia.

 Generous donors: Giving away to various charitable causes are (from left) Ananda Krishnan, Khong, Liew and Yeoh.

The global financial crisis hammered fortunes all over Asia, but the past year was still a good one for Ruby Khong who donated US$400,000 (RM1.32mil) to the Kechara Soup Kitchen (KSK), which she helps to run.

She was homeless in her teens and started the kitchen in 2006 with five friends. KSK delivers 830 packets of vegetarian food a week to the urban poor in Kuala Lumpur.

Liew, through SP Setia Foundation which he set up in 2000, pays the school fees and basic essentials for 2,300 children a year. It also provides medical aid to the disabled and poor as well as community enrichment programmes.

One of Yeoh’s charitable acts is the Pride Foundation, which promotes awareness of breast cancer and provides support to victims.

Yeoh was also honored by Queen Elizabeth II with a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for his philanthropic work.

Last year, four Malaysians were listed as Forbes Asia’s Heroes of Philanthropy: Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Ahmadshah Abdullah, Sunway Group founder and chairman Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah, Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing and Datuk Raya Erom.