Say NO to book banning

Yet another book
(politically unacceptable to UMNO?)
has been banned in Malaysia.

The latest banned book:
"The March To Putrajaya"
by Kim Quek

TO READ THE BOOK, all 375 pages, "The March To Putrajaya"
by Kim Quek ON-LINE, OR TO DOWNLOAD
the pdf version, please click
HERE

This is yet another nail in the coffin of freedom of speech and freedom of expression.

Even the freedom of thought is not encouraged in Malaysia!

What type of democratic system does Malaysia have?

It seems to more like a system stinking of dictatorial edicts, nepotism, feudalism, racism, which is run by pathetic, pigheaded, pompous, pie-in-the-sky politicians, who are a plague on Malaysia.

What is needed is more power to the people and free speech, freedom of expression, a free press and a truly democratic, open, unbiased and transparent system of governance.


These simple questions, and many more, need to be properly answered:

• Why is Malaysia way far behind Singapore in every respect?
• Where has all Malaysia's wealth gone to in the past half century?
• Why is there still institutionalised racism in Malaysia?
• Why do race and religion based political parties still thrive?
• Why is religion so entwined with politics?
• Why has corruption, from top to bottom, not been eradicated?
• 
  

Tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis


The times change, and we change with them. (John Owen)



Summum ius, summa iniuria


The extreme law is the greatest injustice. (Cicero)



Ubi concordia, ibi victoria


Where is the unity, there is the victory. (Publius Syrus)

MALAYSIAN BOXER BEATEN & SLASHED BY MEN IN BLACK– JEALOUSY &/or RACISM?

Perabagaran

The Star had a rather brief and toned down report, click HERE

A more detailed report can be read by clicking HERE

Extract:

Mr Perabagaran said the men, all dressed in black, gloated about the attack and asked him: 'With your condition like this, how are you going to go to the SEA Games, do you think there are no boxers in Kuala Lumpur who are better qualified than you?'

'I feel these people were jealous because I was selected for the SEA Games ... It was also sad that nobody from the National Sports Council came to visit me in the hospital,' he added.

It may well have been jealousy, I certainly hope there was no racial element in this despicable incident.

Questions also need to be asked why the Malaysian National Sports Council ignored Perabagan's plight.

This incident brings shame to sports and also to Malaysia.

I suppose it will just be swept under the carpet as is usually the case!


O tempora, O mores!




Oh, the times! Oh, the morals!

Vulpem pilum mutat, non mores

A fox may change its hair, not its tricks.

MALAYSIA'S BEERY BULLSHIT BAFFLES BRAINS

The Malaysian government has barred Muslims from a concert by US hip-hop stars the Black Eyed Peas next month because the event is organized by Irish beer giant Guinness, an official said on Thursday 27th August 2009.


Maybe they though that GUINNESS is a acronym for:

Guru Ugama Islam Negera Negara Europa Semua Setuju?

In English: [European Islamic teachers all support it]


Also they may have thought that the Irish green will be confusing as the colour favoured by Islam is green.

Ignorant, idiotic imbeciles!


Click HERE to read the news report


Click HERE to read another news article about 'The Rise of Islamic in Malaysia'.


Extract: “The dramatic case of a Muslim model who faces caning for drinking beer in Malaysia has highlighted concerns Islamic law is on the rise and that the nation's secular status is under threat”.


Read about this HERE too








De asini umbra disceptare


To argue about the shadow of an ass. (petty things for petty minds)

MALAYSIAN MINISTER - SO RUDE & UNCOUTH

Watch the YouTube video below, and listen to a disgraceful Malaysian example of human behaviour. Hear what minster of information Rais Yatim has to say, and observe his body language.

What an excellent example of the arrogant, self centred, pig headed, ignorant, rude, crude and uncouth attitude of many UMNO / BN politicians.

Rais Yatim's behaviour obviously brings shame and disgrace to the nation.





Rais Yatim has been called a dinosaur and a selfish opportunist, perhaps he is just that?
Malaysia should have no place for such UMNO / BN arrogant and rude kind of behaviour in this era, the 21 century.
Roll on the next general election.
Then the voters can kick out all of those corrupted racist goons who are now in power.

Ab alio spectes alteri quod feceris


As you do to another, expect another to do to you




Accipere quam facere praestat injuriam


It is better to suffer an injustice than to do an injustice

Part 2 The Gates of Hell Home at Kuala Kubu Baru

Where the Ray of Hope was extinguished

The Mindful Mariner's own comments:

This so called sheltered home (it is more like a Hell Hole) belongs to and is run by the Malaysian Government, through the Department of Social Welfare which is under the control of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development.

Disciplinary action needs to be taken from top to bottom, at both the Ministry & the Department; in fact the honourable thing initially, would be for the Minister (Sharizat Abdul Jalil) and the DG of the Social Welfare Department (Meme Zainal Rashid) to resign forthwith.

Then all types of care homes, shelters, orphanages and other similar institutions, public and private, should thoroughly checked and independently audited. After that they should all, without exception, be required to be operated to impeccable international standards of best practice.

Subsequently the Social Welfare Department should conduct regular frequent and comprehensive inspections of all shelters, care homes and orphanages for the disadvantaged in Malaysian society.

To ensure:

1. They are all fully equipped, sanitary and are run in a professional, caring, humane way.

2. That the are staffed by sufficient numbers of qualified, able, caring and dedicated staff.

3. That all the residents receive good quality, nutritional healthy food in sufficient quantities.

4. That all residents receive regular medical examinations and adequate health care.

And many other things, about which others are better qualified than me, need to be set out in full clearly mandating what has to be done.

PS But I am not too hopeful that effective sustained action will be taken.

There will be buckets of faux tears, sympathetic [or perhaps a better word is pathetic] remarks, much empty talking, but very little or more likely no effective action, as per usual!!!!

Commented on 05 July 2009 at 20:52

Reactions:

The statements by th Malaysian Bar Council:

Bar Council constitutional law committee chairman Edmund Bon said he was shocked to learn how the residents were being treated, describing it as “cruel and degrading”.

Statement by a human rights lawyer:

Amer Hamzah, human rights lawyer called on those responsible for the care of the residents to be charged with a criminal offence should there be any evidence of physical abuse resulting from the treatment.

See the news report HERE

Lots of reaction and a flurry of what is probably an attempt at 'clearing yardarms' and 'reactive damage control' from the government and their agencies:

Civil servants from the Social Welfare Department, the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, volunteers and hoards of media personnel descended upon the home on Sunday 5^th July 2009, after the wicked, cruel and degrading conditions there were exposed by the Star newspaper.

Minister of Health Liow Tiong Lai, reportedly ordered his staff to check on the residents of the home in Kuala Kubu Baru, and said he was wants those who are confirmed to have mental problems, to be transferred to government hospital psychiatric wards for treatment.

Click HERE

Other related Stories HERE, HERE, & HERE

Oh Shit! Add a little to a little, and there will be a great heap.*

Watch out for the swarms of politicians!

*Adde parum parvo, magnus acervus erit

Of course the politicians involved, and their minions, will now be buzzing around like flies round a turd trying to gain political mileage out of the misery they have directly or indirectly inflicted on the inmates of government run shelter homes.

"Politicians love visible beneficiaries and invisible victims." Dr. Walter Williams

"God has no role to play in politics except to make sure politicians go where they belong. To hell." P.J. O'Rourke

"If a politician found he had cannibals among his constituents, he would promise them missionaries for dinner." H. L. Mencken

In Malaysia the disabled in a shelter home are treated worse than animals!

Minister of Women, Family and Community Development

Sharizat Abdul Jalil

The Department of Social Welfare is her responsibility

This is a welfare home, one of seven, operated by The Department of Social Welfare, click HERE

"About 30 men, naked, some chained up, caged and covered in their faeces and urine – that is the scene inside locked rooms at the Taman Sinar Harapan home... " (Ray of Hope home, more like the Kiss of Death home!!!)

This Malaysian government operated shelter home (near Kuala Buru Baru hospital and adjacent to a golf course), close to the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, is not a shelter home for the disabled, it is far worse than a goal!

Read the whole shameful exposé in the Star on-line, Click HERE & also HERE

So much for all the empty talk from the Prime Minister and his ministers in the Federal Government about how caring Malaysia is.

More deception and distortion of the facts.

Do those responsible, directly and indirectly for this shelter home, have no shame, compassion, love or basic decency?

They should be punished for their crimes against the helpless disabled residents of this shelter home.

Sadly this situation is very likely to be the norm is the six other Welfare Department shelter homes in Malaysia and in some of the private ones too.

Cui bono?

For whose benefit is it?

Dum tempus habemus, operemur bonum

While we have the time, let us do good

A so called 'Sex Orgy' on Malaysian Island in May 2009

Pride & Prejudice, Prude & Prudery, Dumb & Dumber in 21^st Century Malaysia.

If drugs were used then that is really very bad, as far a having sexual intercourse and consuming alcohol surely these things are not unlawful as such, even in Malaysia,............... or are they?

Of course sexual intercourse should be in private between consenting adults and the drinking of alcohol, and even many other seemingly normal activities in most parts of the world, are in Malaysia, outlawed to Muslims, and even to others.

But why all the drama about a beach part which has been labelled a “Sex Orgy”.

On what grounds were alcoholic drinks confiscated, are the local council enforcement officers endowed with the power to do this?

Once again this is the type of off-the-cuff over-zealous action which time and again makes Malaysia a laughing stock, and which will further damage the reputation and credibilty of Malaysia.

To me Malaysia appears to becoming rather Xenophobic in recent years, and that is yet another retrograde step into the darkness.

Read the news in the media HERE

Meanwhile there have been some recent cases, highlighted in the electronic media, regarding local boat boys, drugging and then sexually molesting and raping both local and foreign female visitors visiting the beautiful islands off the east coast of peninsular Malaysia for snorkelling.

It is therefore surprising that there have been no dramatic media reports about the authorities investigating and, if there are indeed such crimes being committed, apprehending, trying and punishing the offenders!

Double standards perhaps?

Blame the Foreigners. Blame the Immigrants

Quaere verum

Seek the truth

Double Standards, Discrimination, Bribery and Corruption are all still Alive and Well in Malaysia

Thinking Prohibited, do as the Malaysian government says!

Double Standards and Discrimination

First this was reported in the Star on 13^th June 2008:-

Malaysian Permanent Residents Who Own Vehicles are not entitled to cash rebates.

Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yaakop said

“Only Malaysian citizens were entitled to the rebate.

"It had been stated very clearly. Only vehicle owners who are Malaysian citizens get the rebate,"

he was reported to have said.

If had been stated very clearly, how come no one knew about it?

Permanent Residents Are Not Entitled To Claim Cash Rebates

Then on 14^th June 2008, an arm Malaysian government propaganda machine, the national news agency BERNAMA reported:

Permanent residents (PR) are not entitled to claim cash rebates as it is strictly for eligible Malaysian citizens, Pos Malaysia Berhad (PMB) said Saturday.

In a statement,

PMB said this was to prevent unauthorised claims and protect the integrity of eligible vehicle owners.

It said customers were allowed to use their temporary identity cards or temporary police/army cards as part of the verification to claim the cash rebates, provided they brought along a second form of identification which was either a driving licence or a Malaysian passport.”

Regarding the PMB statement “this was to prevent unauthorised claims and protect the integrity of eligible vehicle owners”

What the hell does this meaningless bullshit mean?

Bullshit Prohibited

Malaysia continues to practice discriminatory double standards, and blatant discrimination; perhaps next we shall be told that only bumiputras are entitled to the rebate, to protect unauthorised claims and integrity of vehicle owners!!

Permanent residents have always had to pay the same taxes as Malaysian Citizens, their cars are the same price, they pay the same price for petrol and everything else (except for their National Registration Identity Cards which are dearer!), so why this outright outragious discrimination?

If PRs cannot claim the rebated, then they should be allowed to buy petrol and diesel at the previous price rates!

What a half-past-six, reactionary and useless government Malaysia has, no planning is carried out, financial matters are haphazard and bribery and corruption are truly endemic (see below)

The time for a change is undoubtedly at hand, perhaps there is not very long to wait now.

Abdullah, Najib and the rest of the bunch are ‘shitting in their own nests’ so fast and so much that they will have no choice but to vacate them very soon.

Adde parum parvo, magnus acervus erit

- Add a little to a little, and there will be a great heap

Then the UMNO bullshit will really hit the fan and soon BN / UMNO will be gone!

And as everyone should know, when the bullshit is removed from UMNO, there is nothing else of any substance left!!!

VICTIM = Malaysian Post Offices?

PS:

I am awaiting news of hold-ups at post offices (now well stocked with cash for the rebates) nationwide, as they must now be tempting soft targets for robbers.

Bribery and Corruption

This type of arrest is a rare occurrence in Malaysia; I cannot help but wonder whose toes this guy stepped upon?

A news report in the Star stated:

“A director in the Fire and Rescue Department based at the headquarters has been arrested by the Sarawak Anti Corruption Agency (ACA) for allegedly receiving bribes of RM925,000.

The 45-year-old suspect was arrested at the Putrajaya ACA headquarters on Wednesday.

Investigations showed that the suspect committed the offence on July 31, 2003 when he was a deputy director in the Fire Department headquarters.

The suspect was accused of accepting RM925,000 from a man in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.

The money was meant to support the man’s proposal to create an office building and workshop for the Sarawak Fire Department.

It was learnt that the suspect had been living beyond his means for several years and owned several luxury cars and apartments in Kuala Lumpur and Sarawak.

The ACA would also be investigating his bank accounts.”

One down, many tens, (even hundreds) of thousand still to go?

There must also be many much bigger fish still awaiting the ACA hook.

Beneficium accipere libertatem est vendere




- To accept a favour is to sell freedom.

The Disabled score a TKO on Ibrahim Ali

NST photo by Rosdan Wahid.
(Click on image for a larger picture)

"UNDER ATTACK:Members of Malaysians Against the Discrimination of the Disabled confronting MP Ibrahim Ali (right) at the lobby of Parliament yesterday over his remarks about DAP MP Karpal Singh. Ibrahim says he will never apologise to Karpal."

"THE fiery Ibrahim Ali met his match at Parliament lobby yesterday when a group of disabled confronted him over an "insensitive" statement about DAP chairman Karpal Singh." More...

Use the link above to read about the foolishly ignorant, unapologetic and unrepentant MP Ibrahim Ali who gravely insulted all the disabled community when he questioned why MP Karpal Singh, (who was disabled and subsequently wheelchair bound after he was injured in a road accident), did not stand up to ask a question in the Malaysian Parliament, and then would not properly apologise for those remarks.

Is there any wonder MADD got mad?

Infinitus est numerus stultorum



- Infinite is the number of fools

Suppression of Democracy, Freedom of Speech. Ethnic and Racial Discrimination in Malaysia

The last edition of Makkal Osai printed on 16th April 2008,
now the people do not have a voice!

The Malaysian government has effectively closed down a popular newspaper catering to Tamil speaking ethnic minority Indians - a move the daily newspaper's news editor considered was punishment for its critical coverage of social and political issues.

The Tamil-language Makkal Osai, (People's Voice), received a letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday 16^th April 2008, stating its annual operating license (an oppressive permit which is held over the head of each and every printed publication in Malaysia, like the Sword of Damocles) would not be renewed, no reason was given said news editor B. R. Rajan.

Consequently there was no edition of Makkal Osai published today, 17^th April 2008.

"It's very shocking. ... It's mostly because of the issues we covered. We go more on social issues ... That has caused some kind of anger to the ministry,'" he reportedly told The Associated Press.

A Home Ministry official, who declined to be identified, said it was Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar's decision not to renew the permit and so he could not comment. Syed Hamid nor any of his minions could not be reached.

Mr Rajan said: "The daily newspaper had given 'wide coverage' to opposition rallies and the Indian activists (Hindraf) who marshalled some 20,000 ethnic Indians to protest last November against racial discrimination in this Muslim Malay-majority country."

The paper has had repeated conflicts with the autocratic rule of the Malaysian government.

"Earlier this year, Makkal Osai received a 'small reminder' to tone down its coverage of the Indian protest movement", Rajan said.

Last year, the paper was told to suspend publication for a month after printing an blurred picture on its front page of Jesus Christ seemingly holding a cigarette in one hand and what may have been a can of beer in the other, this was 'deemed offensive' by the government in this multi-religious country where religion is regarded a sensitive political issue.

Mr Rajan said Makkal Osai, which employs over 100 people, would appeal to the Ministry concerned to reconsider its decision.

“Being journalists, we did our job by reported what had happened, the paper would have to be more careful if its operating license was renewed.”

The 27-year-old Makkal Osai competes directly with another Tamil Language daily Tamil Nesan which is linked to the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), and reportedly owned by Sami Vellu, an elderly former minister who was ousted in the recent general election, he is still president of MIC a party included in the Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition, but he has lost a lot of support; this cancellation of the printing permit for Makkal Osai may well be politically motivated, or perhaps a form of racism and oppression!

Ethnic Indians make up approximately 8 per cent of Malaysia's 27 million people.

News sources AP and Straits Times, Singapore, Malaysiakini, and others.

A fonte puro pura defluit aqua


- From a clear spring clear water flows

UN Convention on theRights of Persons with Disabilities

EQUAL RIGHTS
FOR THE DISABLED ARE
A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT

Last Thursday, 10^th April 2008, it was reported that Malaysia had finally signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

The signing was witnessed by Annebeth Rosenboom, chief of the treaty section at the UN's Office of Legal Affairs, the Malaysian Consular officer at New York Raja Nurshirwan Zainal Abidin, and Malaysia's National Population and Family Development director Aminah Abdul Rahman.

The Convention demands the disabled are equally given all human rights and ensures full and effective participation as well as total inclusion in society, on an equal basis.

The eight general principles of the Convention are:

1. Respect for inherent dignity and individual autonomy;
2. Non-discrimination;
3. Full and effective participation and inclusion in society;
4. Respect for difference and acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity;
5. Equality of opportunity;
6. Accessibility;
7. Gender equality and respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities; and
8. Respect for the rights of children with disabilities to develop and preserve their identities.
   

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol was adopted on 13^th December 2006 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, and was opened for signature on 30 March 2007.

There were initially 82 signatories to the Convention, 44 signatories to the Optional Protocol, and 1 ratification of the Convention, this is the highest number of signatories in history to a UN Convention on its opening day.

It is the first comprehensive human rights treaty of the 21st century and is the first human rights convention to be open for signature by regional integration organisations.

The Convention marks a "paradigm shift" in attitudes and approaches to persons with disabilities.

It takes to a new height the movement from viewing persons with disabilities as "objects" of charity, medical treatment and social protection towards viewing persons with disabilities as "subjects" with rights, who are capable of claiming those rights and making decisions for their lives based on their free, and informed consent as well as being active members of society.

The Convention is intended as a human rights instrument with an explicit, social development dimension. It adopts a broad categorization of persons with disabilities and reaffirms that all persons with all types of disabilities must enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

It clarifies and qualifies how all categories of rights apply to persons with disabilities and identifies areas where adaptations have to be made for persons with disabilities to effectively exercise their rights and areas where their rights have been violated, and where protection of rights must be reinforced.

The Convention was negotiated during eight sessions of an Ad Hoc Committee of the General Assembly from 2002 to 2006, making it the fastest negotiated human rights treaty.

To date there have been:-

· 127 signatories to the Convention (including Malaysia)

· 71 signatories to the Optional Protocol

· 20 ratifications of the Convention

· 13 ratifications of the Optional Protocol

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities received its 20th ratification on 3rd April 2008, triggering the entry into force of the Convention and its Optional Protocol 30 days later. This marks a major milestone in the effort to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.

The Convention will enter into force on the thirtieth day after the 20th ratification or accession. The Optional Protocol will enter into force on the thirtieth day after the 10th ratification or accession.

The Secretary General will convene the first meeting of the Conference of States Parties no later than six months after the entry into force of the Convention, which will elect members of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

This Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities shall be established at the time of entry into force of the Convention, and shall consist of twelve experts. After an additional sixty ratifications or accessions to the Convention, the membership of the Committee shall increase to a maximum number of eighteen members.

Malaysia has thus far only signed the Convention, this is heartening but half hearted, as Malaysia has not ratified it, nor has it signed the Protocol

• Malaysia signed the convention: 8^th April 2008
• MALAYSIA HAS NOT RATIFIED THE CONVENTION
• MALAYSIA HAS NOT SIGNED THE PROTOCOL

Merely signing the Convention is not good enough, Malaysia, if it is serious and sincere about ensuring that the rights of persons with disabilities are protected,

(this means that there must be zero discrimination, respect for their dignity and autonomy, universal accessibility, equal opportunity, full inclusion and effective participation, gender quality, respect for the rights of children with disabilities, and the full compliance of all aspects of the Convention and the Protocol),

should also ratify the Convention, sign the Protocol and then ratify the Protocol, only then will the rights of persons with disabilities in Malaysia be able to be fully upheld.

Anything less is totally unacceptable, it demeans and disrespects each and every one of the disabled citizens of Malaysia.

Qui dedit benificium taceat; narret qui accepit

- Let him who has done a good deed be silent; let him who has received it tell it.

The Seven Steps to Revolution

losthorizons

Malaysia seems to be nearly there already.

The seven conditions (steps)

1. Soaring then crashing standards of living.
2. A rising class war and disillusionment.
3. A generation of abandoned intellectuals.
4. Incompetent government
5. Failure of leadership
6. Fiscal irresponsibility
7. Inept and inconsistent use of force.

DO YOU THINK THAT MALAYSIA HAS MET THOSE SEVEN CRITERIA AS YET?
I CERTAINLY DO!

"Those who make peaceful evolution impossible make violent revolution inevitable."

-John F. Kennedy

Of course no one wants a violent revolution, rioting and looting, but unless the Malaysian government changes tack, the writing is on the wall.
Unless there is a sea change for the better, sooner, rather than later,
THE SHIT MAY HIT THE FAN

Links Here & Here

Power to the people!

One Small Step For The Disabled

The Star reports;

"Show Social Welfare ID to get 50% off on Rapid buses

PENANG: Effective Monday, senior citizens and the disabled registered with the Social Welfare Department need only show the identification cards issued by the department when travelling on Rapid Penang and RapidKL buses to get a 50% discount.

To reduce red tape, the Government has done away with the requirement for them to apply for the Rapid Card, issued by the companies.

“We want to simplify things. It is sufficient for them to show the card issued by the department to obtain the 50% ticket concession," said Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop.

He was speaking to reporters at the St Nicholas' Home here on Saturday."

Common sense, a very rare thing it seems, has finally prevailed.

The elderly and the disabled should all along have been allowed to use their official ID cards issued by the government, so this is no big deal.

A 50% discount is a small, but nevertheless a welcome discount.

Now the bigger issue, all Rapid Penang Buses are inaccessible for those using wheelchairs, as are many RapidKL buses.

Even the few buses which are said to be outfitted to accommodate wheelchair users, are inadequately designed and are potentially dangerous.

Furthermore the two wheelchairs occupy nearly 50% of the floor space due to the poor floor layout and configuration. The resulting lack of seats will annoy the other passengers and could perhaps make them resentful of the disabled persons in wheelchairs.

These are yet more examples of stupidity and the lack of common sense.

Click here for PETPOSTIVE'S Post re RapidKL & Penang

What about the usability of the Kuala Lumpur LRT systems and the KL Monorail vis-à-vis the disabled and the elderly? That's another story.

Watch this space

Gëzuar!

What Malaysian politicians have said and done!

Those were verbatim reports from various media sources regarding various shameful incidents and what assorted politicians in Malaysia have said both in Parliament and elsewhere.

(double-click on the images for a bigger view)

The politicians have spoken for themselves.

Cherio!