This is Our Country

Despite living thousands of miles apart, and the racial and ethnic differences, the two authors of this article share the same experience of being an ethnic minority.

Wan Saiful Wan Jan is a Malay Muslim who has been living in Britain as an ethnic minority since 1993. As a Muslim, he feels the need to contribute to the British society that he is now part of, although he still feels a strong attachment to Malaysia. Tricia Yeoh has been living in Malaysia her whole life. A Chinese Christian, she too is an ethnic minority. Like many other minority groups in Malaysia, she considers Malaysia to be the only home she knows and loves.

In Britain, the Muslim minority is demanding that they are treated as equals. Things are not much different for ethnic minorities in Malaysia. Just like minority Muslims in Britain, the minority non-Muslims in Malaysia too are asking to be treated as equals.

The reactions they get are also more or less the same. In Britain, some among the majority say, "Don't challenge us, this is our country!". In Malaysia, once again, some among the majority Malay Muslims also say "Don't challenge us, this is our country!".

It is not easy being a minority, is it?

Speaking in London on Nov 15, 2007, Professor Tariq Ramadan called for the Muslim minority in Britain to speak up. He said that, although their parents may have come from other countries, for the younger generation of Muslim minority, Britain is their home. Speaking up therefore is not an option, but an obligation. Everyone, minorities included, is obliged to speak up to improve the country – our country.

We believe that the same arguments can be applied to minorities in Malaysia.

What we need to do now is to accept that everyone, Muslim or not, is part and parcel of the fabric of the Malaysian society. We have to move away from the emotional debates on issues like race and religion.

Why is it that, every time we talk about Islam, we must discuss apostasy? Why is it that when we talk about Hinduism, it is as if Hindus are trying to destroy the country? Why is it that when we talk about Malaysian Chinese, it is as if they are trying to rob the country's wealth from the Malays? Why is it that when we talk about Malaysian Christians, it is as if all Muslims must always be suspicious of them?

The two of us are of different race and religion. But we are proud to say that Malaysia is our country and we both equally love this country. Rather than debating our religions – in our case, Islam and Christianity – we believe it is better to use the values derived from these great religions to find ways to improve the country. The common set of values includes principles of justice and integrity that should be strongly emphasised and equally translated into policies in the interest of all Malaysians.

As Muslim and Christian respectively, there is a plethora of ways in which we can agree on to create a better, developed and more matured Malaysia. One of the best ways of demonstrating justice is to ensure equal opportunity for all. Eradication of poverty irrespective of race should not just be rhetoric. Instead, this principle should be strictly implemented through corresponding plans and policies. Only then can we satisfy our consciences on respecting human dignity at its very core.

Fifty years after independence, it is time we grow up. Racial and religious politics still permeate our kedai kopi talk and even some intellectual discourse. We inherit a historical baggage of compromise and conflict based on ethnicity. As a result, Malaysia is trapped in a vicious cycle she is struggling to get out of, at both political and community levels.

We both believe that if this continues, it will cripple any hope of developing into a truly harmonious society in the long run. New views and ideals have begun to emerge amongst the young. New visions for the future of our country have been shared. Inheriting prejudice is not a part of this.

Malaysia is not a country for just one group of people. You can see the diversity of our population as soon as you venture outside your own house. You experience the richness of the varied cultures through friendships, food and fashion throughout your day.

This is not my country or your country. This is our country.

No one community should be made to feel unwelcome in a country of their own.

In taking ownership of Malaysia, minorities have an equal responsibility to shape and craft a nation that all our children and grandchildren will be proud to inherit. Together with their neighbours in the majority community, they must play an important participatory role in contributing to the country's welfare as a whole. As concerned citizens, if minorities express displeasure at weaknesses in Malaysia it is only because they want the country to improve.

Muslim or non-Muslim, we all belong to the same country that is Malaysia. It is time that we remove the old shackles of debates along racial and religious lines. It is time that we recognise minority groups as equal Malaysians. It is time to realise that each person is himself endowed with special rights – that of being Malaysian.

Justice, fairness, liberty and equality: these are what minority Muslims are calling for not only in Britain, but around the world. These are also what minority non-Muslims in Malaysia are calling for, and they should be given no reason to expect otherwise.

While Muslims in Britain are working hard to be treated as equals, Muslims in Malaysia must lead the way and prove to the world that Islam is a religion of fairness. Muslims must be the first to treat others as equals. In Britain, the minority Muslims are speaking up because they love Britain as their country. When the minority non-Muslims in Malaysia speak up, that too is because they love this country.

Wan Saiful is Director General of Malaysia Think Tank London. Tricia Yeoh is Director of the Centre for Public Policy Studies (For more information on their respective organisations, please log onto www.malaysiathinktank.org and www.cpps.org.my
Tags: Wan Saiful Wan Jan, Tricia Yeoh, Malaysia Think Tank London, Centre for Public Policy Studies, Malay Muslim, Chinese Christian, Britain, Malaysia, Ethnic Minority

Happy Chinese New Year 2008

Dong Dong Dong Chiang! Happy Chinese New Year to everyone who drops in at my blog. May God's richest blessings be upon you and your family.

Received this cute CNY SMS message:-

May Stuart Little brings u comfort,

Mickey Mouse brings u joy,

Ratatouie brings u abundance of good food and most importantly,

Minnie Mouse brings u ultimate beauty & pleasure!

Tags: Chinese New Year, CNY, Rat Year, Year of the Rat,

Find the Motorcycle

Can you find the motorcycle?

A picture is worth a thousand words.

The Honda rider was traveling at such a 'very high speed', his reaction time was not sufficient enough to avoid this accident. Swedish Police estimated a speed of 250km/h (155 mph) before the bike hit the slow moving car side-on at an intersection.

At that speed, they predicted that the rider's reaction time (once the vehicle came into view) wasn't sufficient enough for him to even apply the brakes. The car had two passengers and the bike rider was found INSIDE the car with them. The Volkswagen actually flipped over from the force of impact and landed 10 feet from where the collision took place.

All three involved (two in car and rider) were killed instantly. This graphic demonstration was placed at the Stockholm Motorcycle Fair by the Swedish Police and Road Safety Department. The sign above the display also noted that the rider had only recently obtained his license.

At 250km/h (155 mph) the operator is traveling at 227 feet per second. With normal reaction time to SEE-DECIDE-REACT of 1.6 seconds the above operator would have traveled over 363 feet while making a decision on what actions to take. In this incident the Swedish Police indicate that no actions were taken.

In other words, they didn't even have time to say, 'Oh, ####!'

For those Malaysians who will be on the road going back to their respective hometowns during this Chinese New Year holidays, do drive carefully.
Tags: Swedish Police, Stockholm Motorcycle Fair, Honda, Volkswagen

Airlines Charging 2nd Checked In Bags

Airlines around the world are charging their passengers who checked in more than one baggage. Budget carriers/airlines have begun that charges. First almost all airlines restricted the size of your baggage that you could bring carry along into the passenger area and keep it in baggage compartment above your head.

After limiting those spaces, they are squeezing you on the checked in baggage. In a way, you have to pay no matter what and as long as you travel. You can still check in as many baggages as you want as long as you are willing to pay the premium.

Budget carriers such as Spirit Airlines (free for 1st bag), Ryanair and Easyjet have been charging passengers for checked in bags. Looks like the regional budget carriers (Airasia, Jestar Airways and Tiger Airways) will commence such step to earn a little bit extra bearing in mind the rising costs.

Be prepared to lots more of cash when you travel so that you could pay for the extra baggages charges. Maybe credit card payment facilities have to be put in place to cater for such payments. Heard that many airports don't cater for such and people have to go through the trouble of re-packing by throwing away some personal stuff in the airport. Can you beat that?

The higher they charge, the more inconvenience the airlines will create for you.

Reading: Airlines will charge for 2nd bag checked - Goliath
Reading: How Much Stuff Can I Check In - The Airline Policies - About.com

What else will the airlines think of? Charge you according to your weight?
Tags: Travel, Checked In Baggage, Baggage Allowance, Airlines, Budget Carriers

Travelling to Northern Malaysia

A friend called up asking where was I since Friday as he didn't see me blogging on anything, very uncommon of me. Well, I was rushing my work since last Monday, day in day out. Stayed past 12 midnite in office on Wednesday. It was half day leave on Thursday and need to finalise a few documents prior to leaving office. Thought I could leave at 12.30pm but ended leaving close to 2pm.

Reason for leaving early - took half day off to so that I could reach Penang to attend my niece's church wedding rehearsal. Yeah, last week was the pre-wedding dinner hosted by the bride's family. In Penang, it's the bridegroom's family's turn. Moreover, the church wedding will be in Penang as well.

Left Kuala Lumpur at 3.30pm and took the PLUS Highway up north. Only managed to leave the state of Selangor at 5.00pm. What took me so long????? It was heavy thunderstorm again. It slowed all the cars down to 60km/h (way down from the highway speed of 110km/h) and the highway was restricted to one lane due to road construction........... what a time to do construction.

By 6pm, I was only at Tapah, where usually it would take only 1 hour's drive from KL. See how far I was.
Halfway through the journey, there was this Gua Tempurung (Tempurung Cave) where people could actually venture into the caves within. Never been to it.
A limestone hill where I heard that there were many cave routes and even a stream flowing in it. Adventurers would definitely like this place.

Update: if you really wonder (like me) how it looks inside, a blogger has some pictures detailing her venture in it. View it at ~Labyrinth ~.

More on the travel up to Penang.
Tags: Penang, Pulau Pinang, Gua Tempurung, PLUS Highway, Travel

Hell & Heaven Involved in Politics

While walking down the street one day a Malaysian Boleh Minister is tragically hit by a truck and dies.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in," says the man.

"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."

"Really, I have made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the Yang Berhormat

"I'm sorry, but we have our rules," says St. Peter.

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down,down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and dressed in the finest batik there is. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then indulge themselves on lobsters, caviar and the most expensive food there is.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises.

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.

"Now it' s time to visit heaven."

So, 24 hours pass with the Yang Berhormat joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."

The Yang Berhormat reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I am better off in hell."

So, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage.

He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder.

"I don't understand," stammers the Yang Berhormat. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"

The devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning just like you during an election...... Today you voted."

VOTE WISELY IN THE COMING ELECTION!

Tags: Election, Hell, Heaven, Jokes, Funny, Humour, St. Peter, Yang Berhormat

Historical Malacca Trip

Over the last weekend, I made trip down to the historical city of Malacca for my niece's wedding. Along the PLUS Highway heading south, I noticed a lorry with its laden goods (I think it was long pieces of woods) has dropped almost the whole batch on the highway on the oppposite lane.

Phew! Good thing not on my side of the traffic.

This resulted in a terrible traffic standstill. I reckoned it was more than 3km long as the highway operator was cleaning the goods on the highway.

Stayed at a seaside bungalow owned by a foreign bank. Somehow kept forgetting to take the frontage photo of the bungalow. It has 8 rooms, 2 living halls, a children's pool and a slightly bigger pool for adults or older kids.

I didn't swim as one plunge or one kick in the pool would end up at the other end.
Since the family members are excited about the trip with lots of energy left after the road journey, we made our way to Jonker Street, the place where you could traditional stuff, local food delicacies and olden days buildings.

The place has been decorated with red lanterns in view of the forthcoming Chinese New Year which will fall on 7 Feb 2008.









Found this shop selling clogs that has various sizes.
Besides the well-known Hollandish clogs, this businessowner made his clogs extraordinaire.

This is the Durian Cendol - a must try dessert when you are in Malacca.
This was one of my food, the Roti John sandwich with Otak fried with eggs. Slurp!

Continued our walk and bought some traditional local delicacies for munching back home.
Seen this before but can't remember its name.

In the evening, we were early at the restaurant and the ladies got the reception area ready.

Malacca people do come early for the wedding dinner. Just look at the bright daylight outside the restaurant. By 7.30pm, all the tables were filled.

Not like Kuala Lumpur ("KL") where people generally have no manners or time concious during wedding dinner . Supposedly to start at 7.30pm but KL folks would still be making their way into the restaurant at 8.30pm. Would say that these kind of people have no ethics in life.

Happy for this young couple. Either they walked too fast or the person manning the lighting was sleeping.

Wondering where he was aiming the light at.
Tags: Wedding Dinner, Malacca, Clogs, Durian Cendol, Roti John, PLUS Highway, Chinese New Year, Jonker Street