An online petition to the Malaysian Government

To: The Malaysian Government

We, the undersigned, Malaysian men and women from all ethnic and faith backgrounds, are concerned about recent events and statements that undermine the supremacy of the Federal Constitution.

We wish to remind our national leaders that Article 4(1) emphatically

declares that the Constitution is the supreme law of the Federation and that the oath of office of all parliamentarians, cabinet ministers and judges is singularly to defend the Constitution.

Further, Article 3(1) of the Federal Constitution states that 'Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions may be practised in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation'.

The Federation of Malaya Constitutional Commission, 1956-57 Report, states that this Article 'shall not imply that the State is not a secular State'. The Supreme Court decision in Che Omar Che Soh (1988) reaffirmed that "the law in this country is still what it is today, secular law".

Yet, increasingly we hear claims that Malaysia is an Islamic state.Liberty and justice for all Malaysians may only effectively be realizedthrough an independent judiciary with full powers of review. Sadly,Malaysians have witnessed the abdication of this power by our judges largely due to an ill-conceived amendment to the Constitution in 1988. In recent cases in the High Courts, judges have declined to adjudicate on pressing issues simply because they involved some elements of Islamic law, leaving litigants without any remedy. This is a most unsatisfactory state of affairs and one which no civil society must endure.We recognise that the spirit of the Constitution encompasses universal values of democracy, good governance and respect for all. This is compatible with the principles of all faiths represented in Malaysia.

We therefore:
- call on the government and judiciary to uphold the supremacy of the Federal Constitution;
- call upon the government to ensure governance in accordance with the Federal Constitution and premised on the universal values of all Malaysian peoples;
- call upon the government to reaffirm that Malaysia shall not become a theocratic state;

- call upon the government to recognise the proper position of the judiciary within the Constitutional framework, as an independent and equal arm of Government.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned Click http://www.PetitionOnline.com/constsup/petition.html to sign this petition

Public Forum

HEALTH! WATER & THE RIGHT TO KNOW!

The Government's recent pronouncements on both our water service system and our public health care system has left many unanswered questions. Early last year, the government announced a new health financing scheme, calling it the National Healthcare Fund. The Coalition Against Healthcare Privatisation comprising 82 organisations in Malaysia have been pursuing adialogue with the Ministry of Health and to date the coalition does not know exactly how the health financing scheme is going to take place. Information has been sparse at best and there is growing concern that this "Fund" will have far-reaching effects on the way health care is managed and delivered in Malaysia. To add to our concern, the Health Minister flatly denied any knowledge of the apointment of a consultant for the proposed scheme. At the same time certain government hospitals have already started their own small "private wings". Meanwhile The Coalition Against Water Privatisation (CAWP) has been urging the Government for a more tranparent and accountable public management of our water system. The goverment is proposing two water related bills i.e. The Water Services Industry Bill 2005 and The Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan AirNegar a Bill 2005. These two bills, not only do not guarantee that thewater services will not be privatised in the future, instead will paveway for steps to privatise water services.

The right to water and the right to an adequate and affordable healthcare system are our basic rights which must be guaranteed by the State. Efforts at privatisation of such fundamental issues will without doubt affect us all, more so those from the lower income group. The lack of information and transparency surrounding these efforts have caused added hardship for citizens who want to have a say in matters that directly impact their lives. The recently established Freedom of Information Coalition, a grouping of NGOs and individuals hopes to raise awareness among Malaysians our our right to know, our right toinformation and our right to public participation! As such The Coalition Against Water Privatisation, The Coalition against Healthcare Privatisation and The Freedom of Information Coalition wouldlike to invite you to attend a public forum which will discuss and examine these issues.

The details are as follows:

DATE:10 MARCH 2006 (FRIDAY)

TIME:7:45PM - 10:00PM

VENUE: SELANGOR CHINESE ASSEMBLY HALL,

No 1, JALAN MAHARAJALELA, KL

For registration and further inquiries you may contact:

Cynthia Gabriel: 012 379 2189 -

Latheefa Koya: 012 3842 972

No money no talk!

The working class in Malaysia today would be bonded with Sam Hui's music, my favourite singer. His lyrics poked fun at ordinary life and complained of struggles. l'm glad that I'm a Cantonese who can appreciate his songs, also, he can bring out the plight of the poor in lively, soulful ballads, as well as poking fun at the rich, making satirical jokes about the rich and poor alike! Eventhough his songs are written for Hong Kong people, but yet we could share the same feeling as we are now living in a high price but low pay era....

Use these to sing along if you want.

Remember to include people saying "Chi Chi Chi Chi" and ":No money no talk" in the background throughout the song...

Sang Yat Yiu Tsin Dor (Always need more money)

Gone Shui Mud Doh Woh (No money everything is no luck)

Jeh Tsin Jui Tsit Doh (Borrowing money is dishonourably.... )

Pah Die Ai Kite Goh (Begging someone on your knees)

(Lyric of : Bon Kan Ba Leung)
我地呢班打工仔通街走 直頭係壞腸胃
搵個些少到月底點夠洗(奀過鬼)
確係認真濕滯最弊
波士郁的發威(癲過雞)
一味係處係唔係就亂黎吠
翕親加薪塊面挪起惡睇(扭下計)你就認真開胃
(半斤八兩)做到隻積咁既樣
(半斤八兩)濕水炮仗點會響
(半斤八兩)夠薑呀楂支槍去搶出左半斤力，
想話欏番足八兩家陣惡搵食邊有半斤八兩咁理想(吹漲)
我地呢班打工仔一生一世為錢幣做奴隸
個種辛苦折墮講出嚇鬼(死俾你睇)咪話冇乜所謂
(半斤八兩)就算有福都無你享(半斤八兩)
仲慘過滾水碌豬腸(半斤八兩)
雞碎咁多都要啄出左半斤力，
想話欏番足八兩家陣惡搵食邊有半斤八兩咁理想(吹漲)
我地呢班打工仔一生一世為錢幣做奴隸
個種辛苦折墮講出嚇鬼(死俾你睇)
咪話冇乜所謂

hmm.....

Seminar on Islamo-Christian civilization

THE INSTITUTE OF MALAYSIAN AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES (IKMAS)UNIVERSITI KEBANGSAAN MALAYSIA

Cordially invites you to SIRI SEMINAR IKMAS

The Case forISLAMO-CHRISTIAN CIVILIZATION
By:RICHARD W. BULLIET, Columbia University

Date/Venue: 14 February 2006 (Tuesday),
2.30 pm-4.30 pm
IKMAS Seminar Room,Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi

Abstract
Contrary to the "clash of civilizations" theory put forward by SamuelHuntington, the idea of "Islamo-Christian" civilization grows out of manycenturies of historical interaction, cross-fertilization, and sharedexperience between the Christian West and the Middle East and NorthAfrica.The current discord between Islam and the West conceals but does not erasetheir sibling relationship. Cultural traits that Islamophobes deplore allhave parallels in the West, and vice versa. Finding a way to navigatetoday's controversies depends on a deeper understanding of the past.Biographical SketchRichard W. Bulliet is Professor of History at Columbia University in NewYork City. He has been studying Muslim societies and the Middle East formore than forty years and is the author of numerous books and articles.Twoof his books relevant to the present seminar are The Case forIslamo-Christian Civilization (2004) and Islam: The View from the Edge(1993). His current research takes a new approach to the economic andcultural history of Iran in the early Islamic centuries.

All Are Invited(For further information please call 8921-3205/4169 or 8921-3625)

Cartoon Issue: Is Islam Above Criticism?

An article here regarding the recent cartoon issue happened in Europe. Do read it.

How the factor of civilization and religion affected the relation between the West and Islamic world today

Introduction
The wealth of human civilizations is rooted in its great diversity – especially, in the era of globalization. At the same time, however, the differences in cultural identity are often the cause of misunderstandings and the potential roots of crisis and conflict.
The main problem in today relation between the West and Islamic world is the deficiency of mutual understandings, or rather to say, it was and is rooted in the sense of distrust, suspicious and hatred. For instance, given its “crusader mentality”, Islam is often associated with terrorism and violation of human rights as far as the West is concerned. These images of scimitar-wielding hordes easily spring to mind when the concept of Islam is mentioned; while for Islamic world, the West is the corruption of morality, cultural arrogance and avaricious hegemony in force; and these diametrically opposed images become even sharpened after the September 11, 2001.

read my article

What is the significance of the ideas of Enlightenment for our time?

''The intellectual power, honesty, lucidity, courage, and disinterested love of the truth of most gifted thinkers of the eighteenth century remain to this day without parallel. Their age is one of the best and most hopeful episodes in the life of mankind.’

~ Isaiah Berlin

read my article

Through the Eye of Enlightenment

Through the Eye of Enlightenment
Eighteenth Century Views on Man
Throughout societies, throughout time, man has questioned. And, no matter how abstract or indifferent his analysis may attempt to be, his eye will eventually fall upon himself and speculation as to the exact character of man. So it was, by necessity, that man created ideas on his own nature during the Age of Enlightenment, the historical period after the Renaissance was over in its entirety. These particular ideas would have the power to shake and reshape the world, starting during the late eighteenth century, when the European monarchies, having grown to almost unimaginable heights, would begin to be questioned to the very core, and in many cases, fall. The Enlightenment saw revolutionary political and religious philosophy, venomous satire, and statesmen who would forever change the face of government. As the realm of philosophy is often too abstract and shows its impact elsewhere, four works of the latter two types will be considered instead in speaking on eighteenth century man’s views on himself. The single most important pair of documents in American history, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, will be considered first, and then the great French satirist Voltaire’s considerably less serious views on man from the novellas Candide and Zadig will be discussed. The uttermost seriousness of ideas and the parody of men will then be seen to form a more satisfying Aristotelian mean between extremes. continue

What Does a Red Rose means?

What is Red Rose Youth Center doing? Please read here.

Copy right

Please link here to have further information in regards of copyrights.