Glass houses for "Yes" Men ?

I read a reader's letter to the NST's editor today, and find it quite interesting. Interesting because it clearly reflect Malaysian's inability to accept criticisms and our own ingrained narrow mindedness. We are after all living in the legacy of past administrations' censorship mentality. The environment has conditioned us to be submissive and accept what has been forced down our throats. We have been so narrow minded that, our first reaction is to silence those who criticized us with angers, and sometimes, threats of violences. And we arrogantly and unfairly denied other people the rights to express their opinions simply because these opnions are not soothing to our ears.

The former Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Anwar Ibrahim was subject to the same treatments. Now, the former Prime Minister, Tun Mahathir are ask to shut-up simply because we are embarrassed by his criticisms and opinions. So what does that make us ? Live high with false moral standard and held our head low with tails between our legs ( yes, some of us do have long emotional tails because we are still entrapped with the intelligence of chimpanzee ), forever say YES, and forever live on Hand-outs. Isn't that some of us are told not to bite the hands that feed us ? As a result of this mental suppressions, we forever romanticized the American's freedom of speech. We go around the world to demand the rights to criticize others, but whenever we are criticized, we react irrationally.

So, people who live in the glass house should not throw stone ? Hello, are you a mental retards ? This is the 21st century. There are no more glass house out there. Glass house is only for little girls with moronic intelligent. Which glass houses you are refering to ? That one you build for yourself or the one you build to cage the person you intent to demonized ? However, I respect your rights to entrapped yourself to forever live in your mental glass house. But please, in your eagerness to silence others' right to expressions, please have the moral decency of not forcing people to live in your mental glass houses. We should move forward to accept a more open and tolerance society. We should not be guided by incompatible philosophy that move us closer to a future society that is intolerance and narrow minded.

Is it our cultural norm to demonize those who longer in power simple because they choose to voice differing opinions and criticisms ? Kacang should breakfree from its kulit, but kacang should never forget its kulit !

I am not an admirer of Tun Mahathir. He has his time. He no longer hold executive power in the Government. Of course, to some, it is counter productive to be seen to be at his side. Is this what politics are all about ? Real Politics ? But as long as he still has his last breath, he should be given all the rights to express his opinions and criticisms. He is merely discharging his duty to the country by voicing out what he felt is not rights. Again, he could be wrong. But isn't that what democracy is all about ? Isn't that what the present administration promised to all Malaysians in the previous general election - A transparent government that is gemilang, cermelang, and terbilang ?

I still have faith in the present Abdullah's administration. I know, he is eager to bring Malaysia to greater heights. He is eager to leave his legacy of social developments. But in his eagerness, he should also listen to differing opinions. Having said that, I am also beginning to acquire admirations for Tun Mahathir. At the age of 80+, he is still so passionate about the well beings of Malaysia, to the extend that, he is willing to subject himself to humiliations by standing up to what he believed should be righted.

To all those who are not comfortable with Tun Mahathir's criticisms and opinions, I like to say this to you, show your emotional maturity by giving him the rights to voice his opinions and criticisms, and most important of all, do not shut down his avenues for expressions. Who knows, Tun Mahathir may be right.

In the name of freedom of speech, I say, let Tun Mahathir talk, and let him present his facts and arguments......... If you silenced him because you felt that he is wrong, then what does that make you ?

.............................................................................................
Those who live in glass houses...
30 Jun 2006
A.M. NORAN, Subang Jaya

Dear Dr Mahathir,
TODAY, I would like to share a proverb with you as it seems to suit the present situation. Are you familiar with the saying "People who live in glass houses should not throw stones"? Lately, I have been wondering whether you have lost your ability to discern, since even my older sister, who has always been a full-time home maker, understands the full explanations given by the present administration and others about the "crooked bridge" and the sale of MV Agusta plus all the other issues you raised.She was puzzled when she read of you saying your queries regarding these issues had not been answered and wondered aloud how much clearer an explanation was required. It is not that I question your intelligence, but I just hope that what others said — that only when the answers are what you want to hear would you accept them — is not true. That is saying that you are being biased or prejudiced and cannot accept the truth when it stares you in the face.Being a product of the science stream, and a medical doctor to boot, I am sure there must be some misunderstanding since scientists think logically and only accept clear, precise explanations — and the Government has done just that since even home makers understand the rationale behind the decisions made. Do you remember the story about the curious girl Pandora, who was told not to open the magic box? Of course, she did not listen and released all of mankind’s woes but fortunately "Hope" was also released. You have done the same but I am not certain you will emerge unscathed as now all kinds of charges about your administrative style are being bandied around by all and sundry.I just pray that there was a "Hope" somewhere in that box you opened to salvage the high esteem and respect that you used to command from the Malaysian public when the current brouhaha dies down. I used to be an admirer and regarded you as a national icon, but lately the petty things and personal attacks emerging from you are so unbecoming of an elder statesman.So just remember: "People who live in glass houses should not throw stones." Have a nice day!

mahathir

Of cracked pots and flawed abilities.....

I received an email today, and love to share the content of this email with readers of this blog :

A man carried two large pots on the opposite ends of a long pole across his back. Unfortunately, one of the pots developed a small crack. While the other pot was perfect and consistently delivered a full portion of water after the long walk from the stream, the cracked pot leaked out, arriving only half full.

Working to capacity, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishment. But the cracked pot was ashamed of its imperfection. It felt miserable that it accomplished only half of what its colleague could.

After years of consistent failure, the cracked pot mustered up courage, and spoke to the water carrier. "I am ashamed of myself. I want to apologize to you." "Why?" asked the carrier. "I deliver only half my load because the crack in my side leaks. My flaw makes you work extra," said the pot.

Feeling sorry for the cracked pot, the water carrier wanted to pick up its spirits. "Watch the beautiful flowers on the roadside," he said.

The cracked pot noticed the beautiful flowers on the roadside, and it cheered it a bit. But at the end, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, so it again apologized to the carrier for its failure.

The carrier said to the pot, "Did you notice that the flowers were only on your side of your path, not on the other side? Knowing about your flaw, I planted seeds on your side of the path. You watered them very day as we walk back from the stream. Without you being just how you are, we could not have these beautiful flowers to grace the house."

Unlike those who are full of themselves, each of us has a flaw. We're all cracked pots. But it's our flaws that make our lives rewarding. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.

Let us appreciate each person for what they are, and look for the good in them.

Coffee prevent diabetes ?

An 11-Year Prospective Study of 28,812 Postmenopausal Women by US researchers, Mark A. Pereira, Emily D. Parker, and Aaron R Folsom in Iowa, USA has concluded that “Coffee intake, especially decaffeinated, was inversely associated with risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in this cohort of postmenopausal women”. The report also state that women who consumed 6 or more cup of coffee daily were 22% less likely to develop diabetes than women who did not consumed coffee. The findinds is published in The Archives of Internal Medicine, U.S.A. ( Vol. 166 No 12, June 26, 2006). The report is available HERE.

Hmmm.. Oh, coffee, an aromatic cup in the morning will send my brain wave in angelic harmony, and bolsters my esprit.

Give me one cup of Kopi-O-Kaw-Kaw please !

The Animal's Kingdom

We are indeed animals living in Satanized Animal's Kingdom.

Reading through the major Internet newspapers, it is indeed very discouraging and saddening to read all those mentally retarded decendents of Adam and Eve resorting to killing each other. In the repetitive process of suppressing my misplaced angers, I have became a bittered man...

The pan-Arabal-Arabiya satellite TV reported on June 25th 2006 that Four Russian Embassy workers which was kidnapped earlier has been executed by the kidnapper. The Kidnapper has issued a statement “ we have carried out God's verdict on the four Russian diplomat...” with picture and video clip. The four hostages appeared at the beginning of the videotape, speaking Russian. Then the tape showed the beheading of one hostage and the shooting of a second and a beheaded body of a third.....

On the morning of June 25th 2006, an group of Islamic gunmen linked to Palestinian's HAMAS crossed the border to attack an Israel army post near Karem Shalom, killing 2 soldiers and kidnapped a 19 years old Corporal Gilad Shalit. After 2 days of diplomatic negotiation without result, the Israeli government has assembled troop, tanks, and helicopter preparing to enter Gaza Strip to conduct “search and rescue” operations and to manhunt the gunmen. Look like violence is begetting more violences, and there will be a lot of human collateral damages....

Two bloody bomb attacks at two crowded Iraqi markets killed at least 15 people and wounded dozens on June 26th 2006. The first bomb exploded in the market in Hilla, a mainly Shi'ite town south of Baghdad, killing at least eight people. Around the same time, the second bomb on a parked motorcycle killed seven people and wounded 25 at a market in the mainly Shi'ite village of Khairnabat, northeast of Baghdad.....

In southern Thailand, a roadside bomb planted by the Islamic separatist exploded, killing One Soldier and four volunteers on January 27th 2006. The soldiers and volunteers are on their way to guard a school. More than 1000 people has been killed in the Muslim majority provinces in Southern Thailand in religion instigated violences.....

I guess I have enough readings tonight. I must go to bed to rest rest my troubled mind and let my dream takes me to an adventure of beautiful people in a beautiful world where religions, races, and cultures are not the causes of human conflicts and pains. Where shallow minded intoleranced mental retards have the courteousy to voluntarily submit themselves to mental asylum.


Let me recite this Prayer for Peace to you :

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 sorrowless.
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.

Om Namo Amithaba Buddha
Good Nite.......... ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz......

Crocodile's Tears

Bushism : Freedom to intolerate....

Canada apologizes for racist head tax on Chinese

To those racists out there, don't subject your future generations to shames and humiliations with your current inmoral and despicable acts. Or you may end-up being shamed and cursed by your own decendents many years down the road. Hello, didn't your God told you that all human beings are born equal ? Didn't your God told you that racism is the most despicable crime ? Or perhaps you are listening to the wrong God ( aka Satan ). Believe me, there is no heaven but only Hell for racists.

Hmm... Let's see which other countries have the moral courage to apolozise for their past misdeeds done on the decendents of the celestial dragon.......

To all Canadians, God bless you all for the courage to right the wrongs... Namo Amithaba Buddha

...........................................................................................

China View

OTTAWA, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper offered on Thursday a long-awaited formal apology to the Chinese community for the racist head tax levied more than 120 years ago.
"On behalf of the people and government of Canada, we offer a full apology to Chinese-Canadians for the head tax and express our deepest sorrow for the subsequent exclusion of Chinese immigrants," Harper said at the House of Commons with a few aged survivors of the head-tax era looking on from the gallery.
The head tax, ranging from 50 Canadian dollars to 500, was assessed on Chinese immigrants from 1885 until 1923 when immigration from China was banned entirely. Canada opened its doors again to Chinese immigrants in 1947.
Harper said his government will offer symbolic payments to living head tax payers and living spouses of deceased payers to give substantive meaning to the apology.
The government will also fund community projects, he said, without specifying on the amount of the money.
He acknowledged the contributions made by Chinese immigrants in building the country's national railway. Chinese immigrants were a crucial part of "the most important nation building exercise in Canadian history -- the construction of the Canadian pacific railway," he said, "the Canada we know today would not be what it is without the work of Chinese workers."
Chinese immigration to Canada began as early as 1858 and thousands labored at the Canada Pacific Railway construction from 1881 to 1885. However, the head tax was applied immediately on Chinese immigrants after the railway was completed in a bid to deter further immigration.
About 81,000 people are believed to have paid the tax, which amounted to about two years' wages. In many cases, Chinese immigrants were either unable to bring their families to Canada or were reduced to long-time poverty because of the heavy tax.
"The apology, (one that is) sincere and in depth, is very important because Chinese have been in this country for over 150 years," Gim Wong, a Canadian-born son of head tax payers and Second World War veteran, said on Thursday.
"They contribute so much to the country and building the CPR (Canadian Pacific Railway) alone -- when as many as 4,000 died out of 15,000 or 16,000 -- that is horrific," Wong said.
It is believed that today there are about 35 survivors, 360 of their widows and fewer than 4,000 of their children. Some of these people were present at Thursday's apology ceremony.
To witness the event, about 100 head tax payer survivors and their relatives arrived in Ottawa Wednesday by a train dubbed "Redress Express".
The journey, which started off last Friday from Vancouver, the starting point of the Pacific Railway, is an intentional symbolic act reminding people of the painful connections between early Chinese immigrants and the railway.
"The purpose of tying this in with a railway ride is to remind ourselves that the railroad is part of the mythology of Canada and helped build Canada," said Susan Eng, co-chair of the Coalition of Chinese Head Tax Payers, on Wednesday. "And we have to remember the Chinese workers who gave their lives to build this country."

I am sicked and tired.........

Why ? Because I was born a Malaysian, and I am a Malaysian.

I am sicked and tired that there are actually a small group of noisy minority wanting to transform Malaysia into a religious country when our constitution clearly state that Malaysia is a secular state. Our constitution is being treated as if it is being written using Microsoft Word where words and meanings can be interchanged and reprinted without due regards to the founding principles and out of political convenient to gain short term communal popularity.

I am sicked and tired that academic meritocracy means political acceptance of social irresponsibilities. Good students are sometimes denied opportunity for better education. Undeserving Student are sometimes given but wasting the opportunity for better education. After more than 45 years of independent, we are still not able to identified ourself as Malaysian, educational policies and opportunities are still modelled along proportional ratios. How can our universities produce quality talents when fundamentals of qualities are systematically ignored and politically accepted ? In the name of level playing fields, don't expect good universities to turn balacans into pretty shrimps. When our local universities score low ratings by international agencies, we beat our chests, shouting stupidities to condemn the rating agencies !

I am sicked and tired that we are still not able to agreed to disagreed. We are still invoking the false premise of racial harmony and sensitivity to disrupt intelligent discussions. Misplaced emotions reigned supreme to mask selfish and greedy interests. When comes to things that mattered, our skin colours are always the final determinants. This great country is slowly regressing into a racially divide third word country syndrome incapable of putting the best foot forward. Racial inequalities are still being perpetuated by irresponsible and incompetence politicians seeking niche acceptance.

I am sicked and tired that, although we pride ourselves that, freedom of religions is guaranteed in this country, but we continuously distrust each other. We want the rest to respect and observe sensitivity to our own religions, but we are unable to show tolerance and acceptance of other religions. Are we developing a culture of freedom to intolerate other religions ?

I am sicked and tired that we seemed to take pride that other countries are more racist than us! Although Malaysia did not invent racisms, but we seem to think that it is our racial rights to indiscriminately perpetuating discriminations in the name of championing communal rights.

I am sicked and tired that we allowed a few rogue policemen to shake our confidence in our police force to maintain law and order with impartiality and integrity despite the fact that our police force are the most selfless and disciplined uniformed unit in the world. Our appointed legislators suddenly have no political guts to implement the necessary changes to restore our confident in the Police so that our Police personnel can held their heads high when carry out their risky responsibilities to the nation.

I am sicked and tired that despite our constitutional guaranteed of freedom of speech, but we seemed to think that people who criticized the government are ungrateful and less patriotic. We seemed to think that only the ruling legislators are entitled to freedom to speak all kinds of absurdities and irrationalities. We are still afraid to speak-up against wrongs. Some seemed to think that it is okay to force their narrow and misguided views and opinions on others simply because they have the means to silence the rest.

I am sicked and tired that there are actually morons who thinks that, going to places of worships regularly made them a leaned religious people and entitled them to force their religious values on others. So does that make me a cow if I eat beef every day ?

I am sicked and tired that some political elitists seemed to think that their duties to the country are by being visible in Putrajaya, attending corporate functions, and annual dinners. Unimportant and average people are being treated like servants to these elitists. Have they forgotten that the unimportant and average Malaysians are the one who continuously paying for their comfortable lifestyles ?

I am sicked and tired that it seemed so easy for us to cry injustices and want other people to respect our sensitivity, and yet we have no shame to show disrespect, accord unfair treatments, and insensitive to others. We are in fact forked tongues deceitful hypocrites.

I am sicked and tired that we continuously promoting patriotisms and nationalisms even when we are surrounded by friendly countries who has no intention to have wars with us. How much more money we need to spend to satisfy our animal behaviors ? Why can't we emphasized more priority and focus our financial resources in social development, academic excellence, and business competitiveness ?

I am sicked and tired that our people go around the world preaching equality, anti-discriminations, anti-racism, and human rights. And yet at the home front, we are not able to shake off our obsessiveness and greediness to demand and denied other people of their rights along racial lines.

I am sicked and tired to accept the realizations that not many our members of parliament or state assemblies hold Master degree, Doctorage degree, or are professionally qualified to enggage in constructive and strategic discussions of national issues. It is always the emotional rhetorics..... why can't the parliament raise the minimum requirement of academic and professional qualifications needed before a politician is allowed to contest in an election.

I am sicked. I am tired. But despite all these negative sentiments. I still love my country, Malaysia. My friends, let me say this to you, being more critical does not made me a lesser Malaysian. I am exercising my rights to criticize and at the same time accept criticisms. Now that you get my message of how sicked and how tired I am, it is about time you do some soul searching to rid yourselves of ......................

God bless you all. Namo Amithaba Buddha.

Fool's Balls Germany 2006 World Cup

The 2006 FIFA World Cup Soccer Tournament is held in Germany, starting on June 9th 2006 and culminating to the final showdown in Berlin on July 9 2006. All in all, 32 best soccer nations from across the globe participated in this greatest game event on earth.

The official FIFA World Cup 2006 website is translated in 9 languages. Namely, English, Chinese, Deutsch, Francaise, Espagnol, Italiano, Portuguese, Korean, and Japanese. The list of countries participated in this World Cup Tournament are Angola, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Iran, Italy, Japan, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Netherlands, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Serbia and Montenegro, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Togo, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Ukraine, United States of America.

I would definitely love to see our Malaysian team play in the World Cup. Fat hope ! Maybe not in my life time.

Some interesting developments around the world related to this soccer mania :

IN Somalia, the Islamic Courts shut cinema halls and barred residents from watching the World Cup. The Deputy Chairman of the Islamic Courts said "We shall not even allow the showing of the World Cup because they corrupt the morals of our children whom we endeavour to teach the Islamic way of life”

In Saudi Arabia, the cleric Nasser bin Sliman Al-Omar explains why watching the World Cup may cause you to be condemned to eternal torment. He said “I am saying to the fathers, to the mothers, and to the people who watch these games: On Judgment Day, a page in the book will be opened for you, and it will say that you sat and watched the games. Will this make you happy or miserable? Will this make you happy on Judgment Day, when you face -----, or will you wish you had never watched these games?”

In Ivory Coast, the various warring factions in the country's north-south civil war lay down their weapons to observe cease-fire to focus their attentions on the World Cup. Let's hope after the game is over, the Ivorian carry footballs rather than guns to the battlefields....

In certain part of the world, some religion authorities are against the players wearing jersey and shorts on the field as it is claimed these type of sport clothings is against their religious values. Maybe FIFA should consider making it mandatory for all players to wear their respective national costumes when playing on the fields during the next world cup.

In many countries, including Malaysia, people are more interested in results rather than the football skills and tactics of the participating nations. Illegal betting become a favorite pastimes. I would not be surprised to see illegal loan sharks starting to display their arsenal of debt recovery skills few months down the road.

Finally, the Israelis and Palestinians can come to agreed on ONE thing, Football. Both of them love football, and both them agreed that the TV subscription fees for them to watch the World Cup 2006 is too high. Maybe Kofi Anand should send FIFA president as special mediator to this perpetual middle east crisis. Bush, Blair, Abdullah, and the univited imported freedom fighters ( because they can not find employment in their own countries ) should stay out in order not to complicate the middle east peace negotiations.

In Cambodia, Non Nget, chief of monks in Phnom Penh, was quoted as saying that monks can watch the televised tournament but they must do so silently. “Laughing, cheering or making noise inside the pagoda violate Buddha's rules." Though watching matches in silence and solemnity on TV is allowed, Non Nget said that betting on the games would not be tolerated. "If I found any monk betting money on a football match...I might fire him from the pagoda," he warned.

In Thailand, the government has given the monk permission to watch the matches because exposure to worldly affairs including soccer is beneficial for their religious education, said Preecha Gunteeya, director of Thailand's Religious Affairs Department. But he added: "They must be calm and quiet, and there must be no gambling."

I did not know 24 men and 1 referee chasing after a small ball in a perimeter field can have so much influence worldwide. This is a very funny world.

Father's Day

Father's Day originated from United States of America. It was first celebrated by Mrs Sonora Dodd on June 19th 1910 to honour her father, Mr William Smart. Smart was a civil war veteran, he was a single parent raising six children by himself on a rural farm in eastern Washington. In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson proclaimed the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's day. In 1972, President Richard Nixon signed a law to make Father's Day permanent.

Father's Day is not a religious celebration. To those religious fools, if you feel that this american's tradition of celebrating father's day can weaken your faith, please don't celebrate. You are not oblige to honour your father, it is your rights. But please refrain from sabotaging this honourable and traditional celebration. Not everything originated from the US of A is bad.

Coming back to Father's Day. Every year on this beautiful Sunday morning, I will wake up early in the morning, burn 2 joss sticks, and offer prayers to my late father. This is the man, who cycle to work 7 days a week, 365 days a year to work. The only rest day he has is the first day of Chinese New year. He worked pratically 18 hours a day. He spoke few words and he was uneducated. I saw him literally bleed from his rough palm, and he just use a piece of worn out clothes to bandage it, and carry-on with his work. Not a single words of complaints escaped his mouth. He has no time for pains nor complaints. Because, he knows, he is the pillar of the family, and he has to adapt to the harsh reality to bring foods home. Through his weary eyes, I saw in him the unselfish love and commitment he has for his family.

He never dictated and influenced me how I should live my life, he lived his life. As I grow older, the memories of him made me appreciate his shining eloquence in dealing with faith and hard work in his life. I am proud to be his son. In my eyes, he is a good father. Faultless, determined, and unselfish sacrifices to bring material comforts and security to the family. I shall follw his footsteps and I shall never be discouraged to face life's uncertainties. I am growing old. But the truth is, I still miss my Daddy !

I know, Life is tough. It was a difficult and hard journey to get to where I am now. But, for my father, I know it is even more difficult for him to put me to where I started. And I shall valued this opportunity given to me by him. He was a poor man, but he has given me a rich inheritance of shining life experiences through his sacrifices.

Now that I am also a father, I am beginning to understand what my father went through to bring up the children. The fear, anxiety, hapiness, sadness, jubilations, etc. A life of emotional roller coaster with no exit. O' father I understand your every wishes. I shall deliver all my promises to you....

Om mani padme hung, Om mani padme hung, Om mani padme hung, Om mani padme hung, Om mani padme hung. My great Buddha of love, wisdom, and compassion, from my humble heart, I offer my most sincere prayer to you. I seek your kind compassion to bless the soul of my father. Please shine your radiant light to guide him in heaven and the elightenment to your beautiful garden of eternity. Om Namo Amithaba Buddha.

To my father, Happy Father's Day.

When the seasons go round & round........

Life is never fair and never perfect.
At one time or another,
or at one place or another,
unfair and biased abuses causes rage,
misplaced angers, and Irrational emotions.
Consequently, the environment surrounding us becomes a dangerous habitat.

In the midst of this hostile environment,
I am reminded of an analogy involving the great man, Buddha.
A man shouting abuses to Buddha, In reply,
Buddha said “Kind man, if the giver give the gift to the receiver,
and the receiver refuse the gift, the gift's ownership belong to who ?
The giver or the intended recipient ?”
The man said “of course, the ownership is with the giver !”
Buddha said “Good, in this case, I refuse your abusive words.
Please take it all back. You shall be the owner of your own abuses.”

In life, we don't have to carry the burden of abuses,
hatreds, racisms, discriminations, misplaced angers, violences,
and unfair treatments from ignorant sub-species.
Ignore them, let them carry the burdens of their misguided deeds.
If on earth, they refuse to accept heaven, and
heaven shall be a living hell to them in their after life.

God in his graceful way always find a way to handle these sub-species.
In life, there is always a choice for us to define our living environment.
We don't have to subject ourselves to live with extreme realities.
Some choose to make their environment an utopia, and
some choose to make it a hell and forever live in misery, jealousy, and angers.
A misguided soul will never find peace and happiness in Life.......

To all the racists, bullies, and intolerance species,
this is my sincere advise to all of you...
“ Think of others, give more and expect less,
free your heart from hatreds,
free your mind from jealousy,
free your deed from greeds,
free your thoughts from revenge,
free your words from hurts,
free your actions from causing pains,
do not do unto other others what you would not want to be done.

you can never lose anything that is yours, and
you can never possess anything that is not yours.”

Be a civil man and care for your fellow human beings and environments.
Remember, God will always deliver miracles and remain anonymous.
The same God will also occasionally deliver punishments
using the awesome power of natures to remind you who is the Boss.

Please remember, there is a GOD, and you are not HIM.
So, repent and stop using the name of God to carry out misdeeds.

May my big fat smiling Buddha smiles on you.
Om Namo Amithaba Buddha....

Blowin' in the chilly winds......

The national news agency, Bernama, has reported that Ulamas ( learned religious people) attending the Ulama Conference 2006 had came up with a list of resolutions to be presented to the government for considerations. One of the resolutions called for the reviewed of “sharing” of traditional cultural cerebrations (Kongsi Raya) as they might contradict Islamic Law. It is also decided that celebrating the festivals of other religions could lead to blasphemy.The Government was also urged to set up a monitoring body made up of academicians and ulamas to stop the spread of liberal Islamic thinking, especially through the Internet.

Frankly, all this while, my thought was that, “Kongsi Raya” was a promoted Malaysian way of Life. I did not know participation in joyous cerebrations of religion and cultural festival contradict religion law and values. I also sincerely do not know that cerebrating the festivals of other religion can lead to blasphemy. Looks like, “Kongsi Raya” is going to become a dirty and politically incorrect word soon. Well, in the name of sensitivity and respect, I guess I should keep my mouth shut and not to comment or voice my disgreements. I guess the most sensible thing for me to do, in order not to offend these learned peole, is to re-educate my children and friends to refrain from participating in festival cerebrations of other religions.

With the current state of business environment, I guess it is a good call. We can all indeed saved lots of money without having to participate in other people's religion festivals. We should all cerebrate our own religion and cultural festivals in our own house in closed doors in order not to offend morons.

We are not what we used to be......

Let me take a sip of my sinful black coffee, Om, and recite my favorite Hindu Prayer.....

Oh God, lead us from the unreal to the Real.
Oh God, lead us from darkness to light.
Oh God, lead us from death to immortality.
Shanti, Shanti, Shanti unto all.
Oh Lord God almighty, may there be peace in celestial regions.
May there be peace on Earth.
May the waters be appeasing.
May herbs be wholesome, and may trees plants bring peace to all.
May all beneficent beings bring peace to us.
May thy Vedic Law propogate peace all through the world.
May all things be a source of peace to us.
And may thy peace itself, bestow peace on all,
and may that peace come to me also.

Let me take another sip of my intoxicating black coffee, and with laughters, watch the clouds move. My big fat laughing Buddha, you are my numero uno. Om Namo Amithaba Buddha....

Que Sera Sera ( Kau Salah Salah )

Que sera sera
( aka Kau salah salah )

Not too long ago,
a narrow minded soul with misplaced angers told me,
that his father was a dedicated arm force personnel,
that his father risked his life to fight and defend the country.
So we must not forget history, and as a son,
he must be given more privileges in this country.

Silently and under hot toiling sun
my father, a vegetable seller,
worked day and night,
to make enough money,
to contribute to the bullets,
uniforms, and wages for the uniformed personnel.

They said, bullet does not discriminate.
But so is sweats, determinations, and hard earned money....

So, ungrateful arrogant sons,
please remember the many sacrifices
of all the silent patriotic men.

Forget we must not.
But this country is not founded
by fathers of the ungrateful and arrogant sons only.
This country is evolved and constituted
by people from all walks of life,
with their sweats, tears, and hardworks.
In their own unselfish way,
they had silently and willingly contributed
to the success and sovereignty of this country.

So, please do not be misguided by selfish desires
to conveniently rob the rights of others.

So, am I supposed to claimed more privileges,
because my father contributed to the feedings
of the uniformed personnel,
who in turn defend the country ?

The question you should ask yourself is,
What are your contributions thus far,
that has contributed to the betterments of future generations ?

Do we want to forever
live like parasites begging for special privileges ?
Is that how you want your children to emulate ?
my friends,what happened, happened.
What ever will be is not que sera sera.
The future is for us to determine.

Let us has the self respect of not having
to live on other people past.
Yes,
our fathers has sacrifices and contributed a lot,
and, praise the heaven,
we are all now enjoying
the fruits of their hard labours.
But let us not overstep our limits
to conduct unfair demands,
Let us not resorting
to live under the shadows of the past,
Let us not live like parasite now, and
let us not
build another generation of parasites.


Negara ku,
tanah tumpah nya darah ku.......
I sincerely do not wish to see my future generations
shed even a single drop of bloods.....

Teach our children
to respect other religion, race, and culture,
to accept equality, fairness, and tolerances,
to have the pride of not depending on charities of others,
to not blaming others for our own failures,
to not having to depend on hand-outs,
to not be a parasite and a communcal pariah.

Teach our children to be
a hardworking and responsible Malaysian.
And, together, let us all now work hand–in–hand,
to create mutual respect, and better understanding
of our cultural diversities and differences.
Let us acknowledge and defend each other's rights.
Together, standing tall and side by side,
we shall claim our equal places
in this blessed land of perpetual sunshines.

I can see the beautiful rainbow now on the eastern sky...........
Namo Amithaba Buddha

Let the bitter winds pass through...

Found this article published recently in The Sun very interesting. I am indeed very lucky of never having the opportunity to experience this early dark chapter of political confrontation and civil war in the early statehood of Malaysia. As I mentioned in my previous blog entry “Lest we forget and never forgive”, it is about time now, we all closed rank and move forward.

In any confrontations, there are casualties and deaths on both sides. Let's us learn from the lesson of this divisive confrontations, Let's now us forgive and forget, let us move together in unison to bring greater progress to the nation.

In reading some published articles in the local newspapers and the Internet regarding the political ideological confrontations, I believe Chin Peng was a misguided Patriot who do love Malaysia with his communist ideology. The British lead a multi nations armies including Australia, Gurkha, etc to help us to forced out the communists..... but I am also involuntarily draw to the parallel comparison between the US lead invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq. A sad chapter of humanity and let's pray that the goods shall triumphed over evils.

At one point or another, we must be sensible enough to acknowledge that, having different ideologies does not made a person less patriotic. Similarly, being more outspoken against the government does not mean the person love the country less. Being a fence sitter and harbouring misplaced angers, intolerances, and disrespect for other people way of life in the name of patriotism does not make a person more patriotic either....

What is past is past, no amount of logical or illogical arguments is going to turn back the clock. But what we can do now is to hold true to our religious upbringings and our respect for humanity – STOP spreading hatreds, stop influencing, and stop forcing upon others to carry the burdens of our own hatreds ! Sow the courage now to forgive each other of our past deeds. Show some respect to our religions and upbringings, let us all accept the diversities in thoughts, religions, way of life, and cultures and live together as a united nation to bring peace and progress for all future generations.

Negaraku, tanah tumpah nya darah ku, rakyat hidup, bersatu dan maju.......

WWII veteran to the defence
THOSE WHO DID NOT LIVE THROUGH NIGHTMARE OF THE WAR ARE NOT IN POSITION TO CALL FOR BAN ON THE LAST COMMUNIST, SAYS CAPT (RETIRED) LAWRENCE CHEW
by Giam Say Khoon
The Sun

KUALA LUMPUR: A World War II veteran who first fought alongside the communists during the Japanese occupation, and then against them after Japan was defeated, says the ban on The Last Communist (Lelaki Komunis Terakhir) should be lifted.
"The government should let the people judge the film for themselves," retired Captain Lawrence Chew (pix), 82, said.
He said those who did not live through the nightmare of World War II are also not in a position to call for a ban on the Amir Muhammad documentary which traces the towns in which exiled Communist Party of Malaya leader Chin Peng lived.
Chew, who served the British Army from 1941 ­ when he was just 17 ­ to 1950, said many comments about the documentary made by those who were not even born during the time of the war were baseless.
Although the Censorship Board approved Amir's semi-musical documentary for viewing by all ages with no cuts, the Home Ministry banned the movie on May 5 citing sensitivities at a time when Umno was celebrating its 60th anniversary.
Amir has charged in his blog that the ban was the result of a campaign by Malay daily Berita Harian, which carried criticisms of the movie by people who had not watched it.
Chew said that during their occupation of Malaya, the Japanese killed many, especially the Chinese because of the long war between Japan and China.
"Chin Peng gathered people and led them into the jungle for survival. He later taught and trained the British forces to fight the Japanese in the jungle.
"I would say he was a freedom fighter who believed in his own ideology," Chew told theSun at his home in Selayang.
He added that during the Emergency between 1948 and 1960, Chin Peng fought against the British who had re-colonised Malaya after the Japanese withdrew, and not against the people.
According to him, Chin Peng worked closely with the British to liberate Malaya from the Japanese before the falling out between the communists and the British.
"I believe something went wrong between him and the British, which led to the communist insurgency, as the two parties must have made agreements that were not realised after the liberation (from Japan)." From friends, the communists became foes, Chew said. "We had no choice left as it was either kill or be killed." He remembers that the communists were experienced jungle fighters and the British army was no match for them.
Chew said it was ironic that while the world has forgiven the Germans for waging World War II, Chin Peng, who is no longer a threat to the country, is not allowed to come back to visit his family.
Believed to be living in Thailand, Chin Peng, 82, whose real name is Ong Boon Hua, last year filed a court application on behalf of himself and other former CPM members seeking, among others, a declaration that they be entitled to enter and reside in Malaysia.

Taiping - Ngah Ibrahim's Fort

The Ngah Ibrahim Fort is situated at Matang, Taiping and was built in 1855 as the administrative center as well as for the handling of tin ore. The total area of this fort is 0.4 hectare, the length is 131 meters and the width is 110 meters. This fort became the centre for administration, trade and defence. For more information and photos on this historical building, please visit HERE and HERE



The following is a news item published in the local New Straits Times on June 5th 2006 :

Cross Country: Restoring Ngah Ibrahim’s fort
05 Jun 2006
Jaspal Singh

TAIPING : The restoration of the 150-year-old fort in Matang built by Tengku Menteri Ngah Ibrahim, the richest Malay aristocrat of his time, is nearly complete. Arrangements by the National Heritage Department to bring his remains back to Matang from Singapore, where he died in exile, is also on the cards.That’s the good news. The bad news is that the last leg of the restoration, the reconstruction of the fort’s two large watchtowers, is likely to be tricky.Museums Department’s assistant curator Osman Kassim, who has been supervising the restoration and conservation of the fort since 2001, said the absence of data on the original shape and layout of two towers was hindering reconstruction."There is hardly any evidence in the form of drawings, sketches or otherwise to guide the Museums Department in its restoration of the towers," he said.Osman said the department was gathering as much information as possible as to the shape of the towers, including from local folklore and from the design of Fort Cornwallis on Penang island."The department wishes to complete the restoration of both towers before Ngah Ibrahim’s remains are brought back to Matang sometime this year," he said.Made of small bricks said to be imported from India, the watchtowers are located at the south, facing Sungai Melawati and the sea, and the north, overlooking the hinterland.While the battles fought around the fort between Ghee Hin and Hai San in the late 1800s, and the crash of a Japanese fighter plane into the fort during WWII, damaged the fort, a century of neglect and erosion was the main cause of the destruction of the towers, said Osman.The department is planning to leave the breach caused by the fighter plane as it is an added tourist attraction. Pieces of metal, including engine parts , were found at the base of the destroyed portion of the fort during the excavation.The fort has a rich history. It was built in 1856 by Ngah Ibrahim when he succeeded his father, Long Jaafar, as the administrator of Larut and he ruled his fiefdom with pomp and ceremony from the fort. It was also in that fort that he, Raja Abdullah, Datuk Maharaja Lela, Datuk Sagor, Laksamana Mohd Amin and others were tried by assistant resident Captain T.C.S. Speedy for the murder of the first British Resident, J.W.W. Birch, in 1875.Ngah Ibrahim, Raja Abdullah and Mohd Amin were banished to the Seychelles while Maharaja Lela and Sagor were hanged from a tree just outside the fort in 1876.

One cuckoo flew over the rest ?

The requirement for prospective employees to be fluent in Mandarin should be made optional. Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr Fong Chan Onn said making it a must would limit employers to a small pool of people when searching for dedicated and hardworking staff. “I will talk to the private sector on this and I hope this demand for Mandarin proficiency when employing new workers will stop”

Let me see if I get it correctly. If the job requirements need proficiency in Mandarin ( or other languages), and our Mr Datuk want to put a stop to employers from hiring relevant candidates with the right language proficiency ? Mr Datuk, the employment market is just like any supply-demand market. If the market demand it, you meet it. How about the requirements of “ Candidate must have a minimum of CREDIT in Bahasa Malaysia at SPM level” usually put up by the government agencies ? Would you also made this requirements optional and put a STOP to it ?

Welcome message by Mr Datuk in a human resource website - “Opportunities at the workplace today and in future belong to those who are proficient in at least two languages...."

This made sense. Very visionally of you to advise people to be proficient in AT LEAST two languages. Now a small group of employer with genuine requirements insist on proficiency in one extra language, and you want to put a STOP to it ? Please be consistent in your words and actions !

Mr Datuk, I have this to say to you. Please stay out and don't interfere in the affairs of private sector businesses. There is a only small number of private businesses that required to hire candidates with proficiency in Mandarin language. Leave them along, don't attempt to single them out and tell them how they should run their businesses. I believed you are not qualified to comment on them. Don't make a big issue out of small genuine requirements. This is not about woman's virginity where you can make a big issue out of a small piece of tissue !

Tow-kay, Seng Lee bai chor ! As it is, running private businesses is already a very tough commitment, don't make it more difficult for private businesses. With no or limited fundings, don't expect private sector business to be run like a charitable organizations. Kan nah sai.. chit hung beh sai, hit hung bei sai... lu chiat par kuey tow eng ah ? Choy Kang-lang lu pun ai char luan... wau kah lu kong ah.. wou si chin chin beh tar han liow..

As an important person in the Human Resource Ministry, the future of our nation's youth seriously depend on your strategic foresight and planning ! Do something about it... create a blueprint to train and deliver a pool of creative, skilled, and competent workforce for the future economies. Make no mistake about it ( Bush said it ), don't push the blame to employers simply because there are too many unemployed graduates out there.

Namo Amithaba Buddha

How come my Pot is blacker than your Kettle ?

“Mandarin Demand Is Discriminatory !” So shouts in the May 31st 2006's New Straits Times by a Encik Datuk Seri. The question is, is the requirement of proficiency of language constitutes a discriminatory practices by employer ? I am amazed that a Encik Datuk Seri, with his political maturity, claimed that this request for language proficiency is discriminatory practice. I am also equally amazed with the simplicity of his comments on unemployment problems in Malaysia.

Encik Datuk Seri, let me say this to you :

• Let us face the fact. As long as we are required by law to fill in any official form stating our racial origin, religion, and sex, then we can safely assumed that this information requirement is in itself a tendency for potential for discriminatory practices. Has the government take any initiative to put a stop to this requirement and lead by example ? You want to Talk the walk, but can you walk the talk ?
• If a private company has ascertained that Language proficiency is a requirement, please learn to respect and support this business requirement. Likewise, if the public sector or GLC ascertained that “Only Certain Race is encouraged to Apply”, then so be it. We have learned to respect this practice as honouring the social contract and affirmative actions. So, face it, depending on who using it, the word “Discrimination” mean different things to different idiots. Some cried wolf all the times and practised it with no sense of guilts !
• Depending on nature of the jobs, some jobs required proficiency in English language, some required proficiency in Bahasa, some required proficiency in Tamil, some required proficiency in Mandarin ( or Cantonese, Hokkien, Hakka, etc). This is part and parcel of the acquired unique competency and competitiveness of private businesses. So let's not burden or make it anymore difficult for the private sector with prejudiced and biased rhetorics. As it is, if you are not helping the private sector businesses, please refrained from giving incompetent demands. Perhaps, it would be wiser to look into how public sectors and Government Linked Companies' personnel policies first. Do what you preached !!! Stop meddling with the honest affairs of private businesses.
• Stop using the word “Discrimination” to force private sector businesses to participate in the employment of personnel with mismatched skills. This is tantamount to forcing private companies to degrade its competitiveness by wasting resources to feed parasites. I understand and can smell “discrimination” miles away. Requirements of proficiency in certain language is definitely not discriminatory but a business requirement. However, requirements of racial origin, religion, and colour of the skin is definitely a discriminatory practice. Am I politically correct enough to make this assertion !
• The private sector does not contribute to the unemployment problems in Malaysia. Unemployment is a complicated situation arising from formulations and implementation of government's policies against real market requirements.
• If the unemployed graduate are not passionate enough to equip themselves with relevant skills to be employed, what makes you think that they can be successfully trained to be passionate as an entrepreneur. What I fear most is, the unemployment problems may be levitate to higher level of not having enough projects to be awarded to all these “young entrepreneurs” few years down the road...
• Sometimes, it is easy for politically bankrupt politicians diverting political responsibilities by making irresponsible political statements to gain political popularity. But please bear in mind that this irresponsible sweeping statements tend to cultivate a culture of hatreds among Malaysians.
• Stop diverting the responsibilities of the unemployment issues to the private sectors. Stop spoon feeding the unemployed graduates ! They should be matured enough to equip themselves with the necessary skills to get real employment. They should be passionate enough to make practical changes to adapt to changing business environment. Don't burden the private sectors anymore. The milk has been unneccessarily spilled too often. Crying babies get the milk ? There are basically not enough milks to be given to all these parasitic crying babies !

So do the right things. Take a hard look at yourself, stop making incompetent political statements all over the place. I just simply can not understand why there are so many unconciously incompetent people.........