A Gesture of Love

In this time of selfishness, greed, hypocrisy, corruption, nepotism, cronyism, racial and religious discrimination, when lies, deception and cheating are more often than not norms.

When there is too little love and too much hate, when there is bias and favouritism, crime without punishment and punishment without crime.

Take a look at this short video and reflect on important issues affecting everyone, and vow to do something to make things better.





And please remember this too:

Als die Nazis-(1945) by Rev. Martin Niemöller

Als die Nazis die Kommunisten holten,

habe ich geschwiegen;

ich war ja kein Kommunist.

Als sie die Sozialdemokraten einsperrten,

habe ich geschwiegen;

ich war ja kein Sozialdemokrat.

Als sie die Gewerkschafter holten,

habe ich nicht protestiert;

ich war ja kein Gewerkschafter.

Als sie die Juden holten,

habe ich geschwiegen;

ich war ja kein Jude.

Als sie mich holten,

gab es keinen mehr, der protestierte.

English Translation:

When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not protest;
I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn't a Jew.

When they came for me,
there was no one left to protest.

Martin Niemöller (1892–1984)

Expressio unius est exclusio alterius



The mention of one thing may exclude others




Respice post te, mortalem te esse memento



Look around you, remember that you are mortal.

Death, but Hope in China. Death, but only Dismay and Desperation in Burma

THE DEAD ARE DEEPLY MOURNED
MAY THOSE LEFT BEHIND FIND COMFORT AND A SYMPATHETIC SHOULDER TO CRY ON

Réquiem ætérnam dona eis,
et lux perpétua lúceat eis.
Requiéscant in pace.

Eternal rest grant unto them,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace.

THE CHINA EARTHQUAKE

HOPE

Rescue workers in China are struggling to reach nearly 60,000 people who are reported as missing near to the epicentre of the Sichuan earthquake, prompting fears that the death toll will continue to soar way past the present total which is close to 15,000.

The efficiency of the rescue work, the openness and the grateful acceptance of international aid, by the Chinese government, will, it is hoped, help to speed up the recovery of trapped victims, as well reduce the risk of the outbreak of epidemics of disease and also the risk of exposure to the elements, hunger or even starvation.

A video of the rescue work going on after the devastating earthquake in China is to be found HERE

THE BURMA CYCLONE

DISMAY AND DESPERATION

Nearly two weeks after cyclone Nargis hit the shores of the Irrawaddy Delta, the inflow of overseas aid is still being restricted and expert foreign rescue workers are still prevented from entering to assist in the rescue and other humanitarian work.

And now, threatening to make matters even worse, a second cyclone is bearing down on Burma, whilst the country is still in the midst of a gargantuan humanitarian crisis,which was initially caused by devastation wrought by cyclone Nargis, and which is being exacerbated by the evil Generals who head the inhuman tyrannical murderous military junta which enslaves and tortures the noble Burmese people.

Up to now over 128,000 lives have been lost, according to the latest Red Cross estimations (and the number is certain to rise when diseases and starvation take their toll), and it is estimated by a UK aid organisation, that between 1.6 to 2.5 million souls are now in dire need of help such as shelter, clothing, food and clean water, as well as other essential emergency aid.

To view a video, please go HERE

The international community needs to exert maximum pressure on the Junta, and if they remain intransigent, then whatever has to be done, must be done to ensure that all the required help, both in the form of manpower and materials, is supplied to help the Burmese people, with or without the consent of the wicked men who control Burma.

When the emergency is over, the Generals should be charged and brought to an international court to be tried for their crimes against humanity, then if found to be guilty, they should be severely punished.

Or even better, their own people should do unto them as they have done to their people!

Conscientia mille testes

-Conscience is as good as a thousand witnesses

Places of Worship Destroyed in Malaysia

There have been numerous cases of Hindu Temples, Chinese Temples, and Churches being demolished in Malaysia, and obtaining a permit to build any place of worship except a Mosque or Surau (smaller place of worship for Muslims) is all but impossible. Mosques have, however, mushroomed everywhere, this seems to be an attempt to accelerate the Islamification process in Malaysia. Please watch the video below regarding the wanton destruction of a Buddhist Temple.

This sacrilege must stop, and the transgressors should be justly punished, remember what has happened in history to those who abuse their power and become too powerful. They will fall as sure as the night follows the day.

A Buddhist Prayer

By the power and the truth of this practice,
may all beings have happiness, and the causes of happiness.
May all be free from sorrow, and the causes of sorrow.
May all never be separated from the sacred happiness
which is sorrow less.
And may all live in equanimity,
without too much attachment and too much aversion,
And live believing in the equality of all that lives.

May all beings be filled with joy and peace.
May all beings everywhere,
The strong and the weak,
The great and the small,
The mean and the powerful,
The short and the long,
the subtle and the gross:
May all beings everywhere,
Seen and unseen,
Dwelling far off or nearby,
Being or waiting to become:
May all be filled with lasting joy.
Let no one deceive another,

Let no one anywhere despise another,
Let no one out of anger or resentment
Wish suffering on anyone at all.
Just as a mother with her own life
Protects her child, her only child, from harm,
So within yourself let grow
A boundless love for all creatures.

Let your love flow outward through the universe,
To its height, its depth, its broad extent,
A limitless love, without hatred or enmity.
Then as you stand or walk,
Sit or lie down,
As long as you are awake,
Strive for this with a one-pointed mind;
Your life will bring heaven to earth.

Sutta Nipata
Buddha's Discourse on Good Will

LINK here

Your life will bring heaven to earth!

NOW THE INDELIBLE INK HAS CHANGED TO INVISIBLE INK!

NOW YOU SEE IT, NOW YOU DON’T

NO INK AND RM 2,000.000 DOWN THE DRAIN

BERNAMA on line reported today, 04 March 2008 at 17:10 (5:10 PM)

“EC Scraps Indelible Ink Plan

PUTRAJAYA, March 4 (Bernama) -- The Election Commission Tuesday cancelled plan to use indelible ink in the upcoming general election.”

-- BERNAMA

45 minutes later at 17:55, THE STAR on line reported:

Tuesday March 4, 2008
MYT 5:55:31 PM

“EC cancels use of indelible ink

By RAPHAEL WONG

PUTRAJAYA: The Election Commission has cancelled the use of indelible ink in polling this Saturday, citing public order and security reasons.

Its chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman said following a meeting held Tuesday, the EC was obliged to make a firm and final decision to ensure the smooth conduct of the 12th general election.

He said provisions to the law needed if the ink was to be used still could not affect the constitutional right of a voter to cast his vote, even a person whose fingernail had been marked with indelible ink or one who refuses to have his or her fingernail marked this way.

"From a practical point of view, the issuance of a ballot paper to such a voter would render the EC's proposal meaningless and will not bring about a positive result, whilst having the potential to create misunderstanding as well as altercations and arguments at polling stations," he said.

The Federal Constitution gives you the right to vote, and a black mark on your fingernail should not bar you from exercising this right, he said.

Abdul Rashid said there were also reports made to the police confirming that certain irresponsible quarters had purchased indelible ink from abroad with the intention of creating confusion and suspicion as to the status of voters.

"The EC views these issues seriously as the election process and public order and security cannot be compromised," he said.

The use of indelible ink was first proposed last June to safeguard against multiple or phantom voting. Abdul Rashid then said that the system would be subject to amendments to the Election (Conduct of Election) Regulation 1981.

He said indelible ink had been chosen over other measures, such as a biometric system working off the MyKad (chip-based identity card carried by all Malaysians above the age of 12) because such such smartcard readers would have cost about RM60,000 each, and every voting stream would have to be equipped with one. Using such a system would have cost in excess of RM30mil. The commission bought about 47,000 bottles of the indelible ink, manufactured in India, for RM2mil.”

Four hours later BERNAMA reports

March 04, 2008 21:58 PM

“Police Uncover Attempt To Create Confusion During Polls

PUTRAJAYA, March 4 (Bernama) -- Police have uncovered an attempt by some irresponsible people out to create a confusion during Saturday's elections by having voters dipped their fingers in indelible ink before the polling day.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said four individuals had lodged police reports alleging that there were people buying such ink from overseas and planning to persuade misinformed voters to use it before the polls.

One report was received in Kelantan, one in Kedah and two in Perlis from Feb 16 to 21, and police had classified them as attempted cheating, he told reporters here today.

He said the allegation was found to be true but so far, no arrests had been made as the police were still identifying the people involved based on the statements recorded from by the complainants, aged between 30 and 50, who were traders and self-employed.

Asked whether the complainants were from political parties, he said: "I don't know but they are locals."

When asked how soon the case was expected to be solved, he said: "I am trying to get all the assistance on this.

"We have interviewed the individuals. We want to know where they obtain the information."

He said police were also trying to ascertain where the ink came from.”

-- BERNAMA

THE PLOT THICKENS

What is going on?

This all sounds rather fishy, it seems that something else stinks in the State of Malaysia.

Does the BN consider that there is a risk of it losing the magical 2/3 majority?

Is this a last minute ploy to enable phantom voters to vote, so that the votes for BN can be padded?

There will now be serious doubts that the Malaysian General Election on Saturday 8^th March 2008 will be free and fair.

There is now a greater possibility that voting for both the Federal Parliamentary and the State Legislature Elections will be more easily gerrymandered.

Two fingers to the voters

BEWARE OF THE ISA TOO!!

Vote wisely!

Trials and Tribulations

Abdul Razak kicks chairs and hits a door at his murder trial
Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda, who is being tried for abetting two policemen in murdering Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, was widely reported to have lost his cool on the 90^th day of the trial on Wednesday.

He had an angry look when his father Datuk Abdullah Malim Baginda whispered something to him before the trial resumed at about 9.30am.

After the proceedings were adjourned for lunch, the 48-year-old political analyst surprised all those present in the High Court when he suddenly kicked at chairs and banged a door with his hands. He was also seen crying before his lawyer Wong Kian Kheong and mother calmed him down.

Finally, about three hours later, Razak Baginda apparently could not stand it any longer and he ‘exploded’.

What did he say?

Reporters who were in court have been quoted as saying that Razak shouted again and again,

“Matilah kau Pak Lah!”

“Matilah Pak Lah!”

“I am innocent!”

“I am innocent!”

NOTE: “Matilah kau Pak Lah” means ‘Death to (the end of) you Pak Lah’ (Pak Lah is the well known nickname for Abdullah Ahmad Badawi)

Clarification:
It needs to be pointed out that the words in Bahasa Malaysia above, are a simple spoken form of the language, the word 'mati' could mean, dead, death, end, over, finish. Since the proper contex is unclear, the interpretation of the phrase "Matilah kau Pak Lah" is debateable.

After which he went on a rampage and kicked the chairs and doors in the courtroom.

The Judge was said to have been flummoxed and appeared to be unsure of what to do.

Both the defence lawyers and the prosecution legal team were reported as being shocked.

The Sun newspaper evidently initially carried the full story, complete with the details of Razak Baginda's outburst.

However, it is understood that the Ministry of Home Affairs ordered The Sun to withdraw their first print run which carried the 'Matilah Kau Pak Lah!' outburst by Razak Baginda.

Consequently the Sun was forced to withdraw thousands of copies of their initial print run.

Whatever actually happened that day in court, strange, dangerous and devious things are happening in Malaysia folks.

Court cases and Royal Commissions of Inquiry are developing into soap operas, and one cannot help but wonder if justice is being properly administered.

Are defendants the only persons implicated, or even worse, could they be convenient scapegoats?

Good people are never involved in the suppression of facts, denial of free expression and imposition of restrictions on the open reporting of the news, only the wicked, devious and manipulative would effect and condone such things.

One thing which is certain, in the Malaysian main stream print and electronic media, and on the local radio and television stations, the truth is never apparent, and there is little or no transparency and very little openness or honesty.

Such occurrences are not sign of a healthy democracy; to the contrary they are indicative of autocracy, elitist supremacy and distaste for accountability.

The truth will always prevail sooner or later, and then those who are truly guilty will certainly receive their due punishment.

TWO FACES, YES / NO?


Saúde!

A GOOD OMEN, MUSHARAF IS DEFEATED?

This is heartening news from Pakistan.

"Musharraf's ruling party concedes defeat 
in Pakistan parliamentary elections as early
results show opposition gains"
BBC

Come 8th March 2008.
Malaysians too will have the
opportunity to vote.

This will be the time to clean up,
and get Malaysia back on the right path.

The lawlessness, the bribery & corruption,
the greed, the injustice, the racialism and
the arrogance must go.

Sanda bashi!

Suharto has gone!

The death of Suharto will be welcomed by many people in both Indonesia and elsewhere.

He was undoubtedly a tyrant, and was ultimately responsible for the deaths of many political opponents, but to some he was considereed to be a great leader.

Readers may wish to read this article from the BBC, see url link below.

I consider that Jonathan Kent has given a fair and balanced summary of the life and times of Suharto, but you make up your own minds.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7183191.stm