The Malaysia-Darfur Connection

Malaysia must stop supporting the genocidal government in Khartoum, Sudan.
By Sally Ong

April 13, named “Global Day for Darfur”, marks the fifth anniversary of the genocide in Darfur, a western region of Sudan. Since the conflict in Darfur erupted in 2003, at least 200,000 people have died and more than 2.3 million people have been displaced from their homes. Most of the displaced Darfuris are now living in refugee camps in neighboring Chad and in a network of internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Darfur.

Although the conflict began five years ago, it has its roots in decades of neglect, oppression, drought and small-scale conflicts in Darfur. The current crisis began when two rebel groups attacked the central government in Khartoum. The two groups represented agrarian farmers who are mostly “non-Arab black African” Muslims from different tribes. In response to the rebel movement, the Khartoum government increased arms and support to local tribal and other militias, who later became known as the Janjaweed. Members of the Janjaweed are mostly “Arab black African” Muslims who herd cattle, camels and other livestock. Janjaweed mean “devils on horseback” and are thus named because members of the militia would arrive on horseback to systematically murder, torture and rape hundreds and thousands of Darfuris. In addition, armed bands of Janjaweed have destroyed food and water supplies, effectively wiping out entire villages.

Malaysia is, unfortunately, complicit in the genocide. We are currently the second largest investor in Sudan after China, and thus funding Khartoum’s genocidal activities. Petronas, Malaysia’s state owned oil company, is a major player in Sudan’s oil industry. As of April 2007, Petronas had invested approximately RM 4.8 billion (or US$1.45 billion) in Sudan. Petronas’ involvement has also facilitated significant investment of other Malaysian companies in Sudan. Ranhill Berhad, Muhibbah Engineering Berhad, Kencana Petroleum Berhad, Kejuruteraan Samudra Timur Bhd, Scomi Group Berhad and PECD Berhad are other Malaysian companies that have major stakes in Sudan’s oil industry.

All these companies have been identified by Sudan Divestment Taskforce, a U.S. based non-profit, as companies with highly problematic practices in Sudan. They are thus labeled because their business dealings 1) involve engagement with the Government of Sudan, 2) provide little to no benefit to the disadvantaged populations of Sudan and 3) may be inadvertently contributing to the government’s genocidal capacity.

Because of these business dealings, Malaysia has also strengthened bilateral relations with Sudan. Malaysia has provided military assistance and political protection to Sudan. A memorandum of understanding between the two countries signed in February 2004 included an agreement to cooperate on military matters. Although Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has expressed concern about the conflict in Darfur, he has not called for increased pressure on the Government of Sudan. Instead, he appealed to Muslim world leaders to provide help to the Sudanese government. When he visited Sudan in April 2007, Pak Lah also urged western governments not to impose sanctions on Sudan.

Malaysia’s involvement in the killings in Darfur, whether direct or indirect, is shameful and must stop. The Malaysian government must use its economic leverage to pressure the Sudanese government to stop the killing and destruction of Darfuri lives. Malaysian owned companies in Sudan should also do the honorable thing and withdraw completely from Sudan if Khartoum refuses to restore peace to Darfur.

I urge all concerned Malaysians to protest our government’s role in empowering Khartoum. To learn about the lives of displaced Darfuris, please visit here, a website with videos and journal entries posted by volunteers who visited sites in Darfur and Chad. Lim Yuen-Ling, a Malaysian, visited refugee camps in Chad last year as a volunteer for Stop Genocide Now. To sign an online petition asking the Malaysian government to unequivocally oppose the genocide, please visit here.

No one should have to die because of our economic interests. How many more thousands of people must die before we will speak up?
Tags: Africa, Sudan, Darfur, Global Day for Darfur, Darfuris, Janjaweed, Devils on Horseback, Sudan Divestment Taskforce, Stop Genocide Now, Genocide, Internally Displaced Persons, Non-Arab Black African, Arab Black African

Ministry Trip to Malacca

On Saturday morning, waited for a banker to drop by at my house to discuss further on a home loan. Yeah, they can make home calls now. Getting lots of good proposals despite the financial meltdown elsewhere in the world.

Thereafter, rushed to the foodcourt for lunch with friends before moving out to church to meet the rest for a trip to Malacca, a church ministry work. Left church around 2.25pm.

Drove the church van down, cruising at the speed of 80km/hr to 90km/hr. Can't push further otherwise everyone would have to get out to push the van later on, all the way to Malacca. An old van but still usable. Just need to know how to handle it. After the interchange to Bukit Mahkota, an accident occured between a pick-up truck and a car on the fast lane. Guessed the highway operators pulled both the vehicles to the emergency lanes for further investigations and to allow the traffic to move on. Was stucked there for about 30 minutes.

Later on, heavy downpour but not as bad till we can't see the road ahead. Could still move on smoothly.

We reached our Malacca church outreach close to 5pm. Our senior pastor who was there on Friday told us to grab our dinner before our performance later on.

Good thing there was a pasar malam (night market) just across the road from the church. Six cars (incl. mine) made our way to Malacca and we swarmed the pasar malam.
My Malacca church's main santuary.
At the end of the service, the church deacons, the pastor-in-charge and our senior pastor cut a cake to celebrate the church outreach's 12th anniversary.
Thereafter and as usual when we are down in Malacca, off to the Portuguese settlement for our supper? dinner? meal? Whatever. The moment I got down from my van where we parked the nearest to the stalls, we were swarmed by restaurant operators/staff.

Restaurant operator: "Sir, sir, come we have table ready for you"
Me: Oh, wait first. Need to ask my friends. (They went straight to my friends in the van)
Restaurant operator: "Sir, sir, come we have table ready for you"
Me: Not only them. We have five other cars. There! (pointing at the rest of the gang)

When I turned my head towards my other gang members, they were also swarmed by other restaurant operators/staff ................ just when I wanted to fend off this few of them.



We still need to stand around as one or two of our guys were still haggling over the price. Who can offer the lowest, there we will go.
They wanted to put us here which was near the restaurant that won the tender to serve us. That was restaurant no. 6, can't remember the name.
But we wanted that spot, nearer to the beach instead of near the car park area.
The only stall which was opened selling handicrafts.

Finished our meals around 12.30am and dreaded that meal as it would mean late arrival back in Kuala Lumpur. Well, the five cars zoomed off to Kuala Lumpur leaving my van behind. Light downpour halfway back. Dislike travelling in night time though no traffic. Looks like we were the only vehicle that kept to the speed limit. Almost every single car, lorry and bus overtook us.

We celebrated when we overtook a Kancil much much later on. yeahhhhhhhh, it was boring so we have to keep ourselves sane. Reached home at 3am.

On Sunday morning, I was struck with a terrible migraine and only woke up at 1pm. Totally knocked out. Missed church in the process. The migraine only went off just before I went for dinner. What a day.

My neighbour said that the migraine went off just nice for the coming Man United vs. Arsenal game later on. Blogged about this when I was watching the game actually. And Man United won yet again (Man United won 2-1). Four more games to go and the cheers of the English Premier League champion is getting nearer.
Tags: Malacca, Pasar Malam, Night Market, Portuguese Settlement, Ministry Trip

Coconut Tree Personality Test

There is a very, very tall coconut tree, and there are 4 animals:-

King Kong,

Ape,

Orang Utan;

and a Monkey.

They have a competition to see which animal is the fastest to get the banana.

Who do you guess will win? Your answer will reflect your personality.

Try and answer within 30 seconds.

Got your answer? Scroll down to see the analysis.
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If your answer is ....

Orang Utan = dull

Ape = foolish

Monkey = idiot

King Kong = stupid


Why ?????

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Coconut tree, doesn't have bananas .........??

It's obvious you're stressed by your work. It's Friday today, have a good rest this weekend!
Tags: Jokes, Funny, Humour, Stress, Coconut Tree, Orang Utan, Ape, Monkey, King Kong

Such a Time as This

On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king's hall. - Esther 5:1a

Esther was a woman who lived for a cause greater than herself. God used this woman to save the entire Jewish people from extermination. However, before God could use her, she had to come to a place of death in herself. It was not an easy decision. Her uncle Mordecai was the instrument God used to challenge her to measure up to the task.

Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this? (Esther 4:13b-14)

Mordecai was telling it straight. For her to speak up meant great risks if the king did not receive her. It was automatic death if the king did not extend his scepter, which meant acceptance of her approach to the throne. It was also a time to realize that God may have brought her to this place and time for this specific purpose. However, if she did not respond in faith, God would use another instrument to deliver the people. What would she do?

Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish (Esther 4:16).

On the third day of the fast she came and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king's hall. She was like Jesus who stood in the inner court of Heaven on that third, resurrection day. She gave up her life, but God raised it up on that day and delivered an entire people from destruction because of one woman's willingness to give up her life for a greater cause.

God has called each of us to a purpose greater than ourselves. Know that it will require death before life can be given to this purpose. It must be His life that lives, not ours.
by Osman Hill

Do you know your life's purpose?
Tags: Esther, Mordecai, God, Jews

Women's Favorite E-mail of the Year 2007

A man was sick and tired of going to work every day while his wife stayed home. He wanted her to see what he went through so he prayed:-
'Dear Lord, I go to work every day and put in 8 hours while my wife merely stays at home.
I want her to know what I go through.
So, please allow her body to switch with mine for a day.
Amen!'

God, in his infinite wisdom, granted the man's wish.
The next morning, sure enough, the man awoke as a woman.
He arose, cooked breakfast for his mate,
Awakened the kids,
Set out their school clothes,
Fed them breakfast,
Packed their lunches,
Drove them to school,
Came home and picked up the dry cleaning,
Took it to the cleaners,
And stopped at the bank to make a deposit,
Went grocery shopping,
Then drove home to put away the groceries,
Paid the bills and balanced the check book,
He cleaned the cat's litter box and bathed the dog.

Then, it was already 1.00 p.m.
And he hurried to make the beds,
Do the laundry, vacuum,
Dust,
And sweep and mop the kitchen floor,
Ran to the school to pick up the kids and got into an argument with them on the way home,
Set out milk and cookies and got the kids organized to do their homework,
Then, set up the ironing board and watched TV while he did the ironing,

At 4:30 p.m., he began peeling potatoes and washing vegetables for salad, breaded the pork chops and snapped fresh beans for dinner,
After dinner, he cleaned the kitchen,
Ran the dishwasher,
Folded laundry,
Bathed the kids,
And put them to bed.

At 9.00 p.m., he was exhausted and, though his daily chores weren't finished, he went to bed where he was expected to make love, which he managed to get through without complaint.

The next morning, he awoke and immediately knelt by the bed and said:-
'Lord, I don't know what I was thinking.
I was so wrong to envy my wife's being able to stay home all day.
Please, oh! Oh! Please, let us trade back.
Amen!'

The Lord, in his infinite wisdom, replied:-
'My son, I feel you have learned your lesson and I will be happy to change things back to the way they were.
You'll just have to wait nine months, though.
You got pregnant last night.'

This has been voted Women's Favorite E-mail of the Year 2007!
Tags: Jokes, Funny, Humour, Email of the Year

Man United in Champions League Semis

This was Carlos Tevez's header that sent Manchester United through to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals and will face Barcelona at Nou Camp first on 22 Apr 2008.

AS Roma couldn't break down Man United's defence even with a gifted penalty. Man United played with a 4-5-1 formation which is quite defensive with only Carlos Tevez playing upfront.

I predict that with Man United's hot form and hot players, they will overcome Barcelona and meet Liverfool in the finals to be held in Moscow, Russia next month.

Man United is on form right now and when you can't beat them or worry about their domination, you destroy them by buying their best player. Real Madrid has sounded that they would place a bid of £100million (more than RM630million) for Cristiano Ronaldo. This amount is similar to an oil production plant which could produce 100,000 barrels of oil per day. Work that figure out at the current oil price of US$112 per barrel.

Man United knew that they have to place a higher price on Ronaldo's head in order to keep him at their club. Rumours are flying around that he would be offered a £140,000 per week salary package plus many other benefits. Will he accept that package or try out Real Madrid's offer?

Reading: Reports claim record Ronaldo bid - Skysports
Reading: Ron Hijack Threat - Sport of the World
Reading: Ronaldo will laugh all the way to the bonk - News of the World
Tags: Manchester United, Man U, Man United, Man Utd, Carlos Tevez, Cristiano Ronaldo, UEFA Champions League, AS Roma, Barcelona, Nou Camp, Liverpool, Football, Soccer

Malaysian Made Cars Are Not That Bad

When you read about the Malaysian car being recalled for some repair in my blog entry for Proton Savvy, your mind may think that "aiyah, that's our national car, what do you expect? a Ferrari quality standard?

The following days after Proton Savvy has announced for a recall, two other foreign car manufacturers made a similar recall.

Volkswagen AG is recalling some 410,000 Passat sedans sold in the United States due to potential problems with heat shields and fuel line components - wow, fuel line????? The car could turn into a fireball out of a sudden.

Toyota Motor Corp will recall 539,500 Corolla and Matrix vehicles for the 2003 and 2004 model years due to potential power window problems. In case of any emergency and the door was stucked, they can't even escape through the windows. Just last Sept 2007, Toyota has to recall certain Toyota Lexus and Toyota Camry due to its floor mat which may not be attached properly.

General Motor Corp will recall 122,598 Pontiac Vibe hatchbacks, a joint production with Toyota, also due to power window issues.

Now after reading the above, Proton Savvy is ain't that bad after all as compared to the other three car manufactuers who had to recall hundreds of thousands. But the question is - was there a failure in the quality assurance part? It's so easy for these car manufacturers in just requesting for a recall as and when they found out about the defects.

What if the defects have caused human lifes to be taken away?
Tags: Car, Proton Savvy, Volkswagen AG, Passat, Toyota Motor Corp, General Motors Corp, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Matrix, Pontiac Vibe, Motor Vehicle, Car Manufacturer, Power Window, Fuel Line Component