File 43 : What a provocation!

What a provocation!

What had happened at Bangunan SAAS last Friday shocked me like hell. Unbelievable that thing like this happened 52 years after Merdeka. I am ashamed and angry over what had happened especially coz' it happened at my hometown, Shah Alam. It's true that all religions have right to build their worship places in Malaysia. This is enshrined in Article 11(3)(b) of our Federal Constitution which states that every religious groups have their right to establish and maintain institutions for religious or charitable purposes. However, when there is a dissatisfaction by the people in Section 23, the state government should explain to them the rational behind the relocation. If this had been done, maybe such incident will not occurred.

Nevertheless, the protesters should be condemned and their act was a stupid provocative act, done by people who do not understand the multiracial concept that we embraced. We all know, every Malaysians know, and should know, that cow is a sacred animal in Hinduism. Since we were kids, we were told and exposed to the believes and cultures of others, and we all know how sacred a cow is to Hindus. So, it was so provocative when they protested by bringing a dead cow's head in front of Bangunan SAAS. Even while eating, we often tell our Hindu friends that this food contains beef, so they cannot eat it. But when it comes to emotions, all the respects gone. Why?!

So, action must be taken by the authorities before it's too late. We have been independence for half a century and this is not the way it should be. Respect each other and live harmoniously together. We don't want a repeat of May 13 1969, do we? We should be glad that we live in Malaysia, a golden land for everyone. Don't let a stupid act of a small group of people change this golden land to a dumping site...

Photo property of: Malaysiakini.

File 42 : Beer in Selangor...

Recently, the issue of beer selling in Selangor was hotly debated. We heard many opinions either from the mainstream medias or the alternative medias. Its ok. Malaysia is a democratic country and we upheld freedom of speech, right?

Well, I want to give a neutral view over this matter. An honest opinion from the eyes and thinking of a student who's neutral, partyless, and apolitical. Firstly, I totally disagreed with EXCO Hal Ehwal Agama Islam, Datuk Hassan Ali. And secondly, I agreed with MB Khalid's approach - self-regulatory.

Datuk Hassan Ali had said that there will be a total prohibition on beer selling at Muslim-majority areas in Shah Alam, comprising of Section 1 to 24.When asked, how if a non-Muslim wants to drink, he answered that the person has to go to any section where there is no ban on beer selling, such as Section 25. It's true, his intention is noble i.e to prevent Muslim youths from abusing alcohol. However, he didn't realized that his decision directly affect the non-Muslims while we know as a matter of fact that Syariah law does not apply to non-Muslims. When there is a total prohibition, wouldn't it directly affect the non-Muslims?

I am not against the idea of controlling the sale of alcoholic beverages. But when there is a total prohibition, many things can happen. TheSun daily had included a small column recently, highlighting the impact of prohibiton on beer selling in the USA. When there was a total ban in the USA, the selling of alcoholic beverages were done underground and controlled by the mafia. It had became an underground industry where gangsters were fighting to control the selling of such drinks at a particular territory. Just as drugs. When drugs selling is ban, people get it underground. Black market, my friends...

That's why I agreed with MB's approach. Self regulatory is the way it should be. Sellers and buyers should have a sense of responsibility. That way, it will become less controversial and if the guideline is followed properly, alcohol abuse will be lesser.


Photo is theSun's property.

File 37 : Politics...

Politics. Sick with it. Sick as in eating four pieces of Original Recipe 'Kentaki' Fried Chicken [read: KFC]. Why do I feel that way?

Simple. Because Malaysian political scenario is as same as people who has eaten one large bucket of KFC but still order it again and again. Do not know when to stop.

Other people in other countries involve in politics too. Even during Prophet Muhammad [PBUH] time, he had established the Syura Council where parties in the council will have meetings, discussions, consultations what not with regards to the political situation.

But his involvement in political activities was not 24/7. Not at all.

Politics is good. It is the fundamental ground for a good administration of a nation as well as any other institutions. But over-politics will cause disruption to the country. Will the country be productive if the leaders still play political games every seconds in every minutes?

Please...think wisely...

p/s: Just concern if young generations like my peers had lost interest in politics. What will happen then to the future of this beloved nation?

File 33 : National keADILan Congress...

Those who want to watch Live! coverage of the 5th National Keadilan Congress 2008, held at Shah Alam Malawati Stadium, watch it here...

File 21 : A qualified mandate...

I was quite fascinated with an article that I read in the Star recently. It is true when the writer said that what the Opposition or Pakatan Rakyat had right now is a qualified mandate given by the Rakyat. Well, we have to remember that Pakatan Rakyat won 5 states in the Peninsula through the ballot box. It is a qualified mandate as to the extent that the Pakatan Rakyat won the states through proper channel i.e through the election. Not through other means e.g stumbling upon the government, power seizure or a coup.

As for that matter, it is very tiring to see that the Pakatan Rakyat, instead of properly governing the states that they had won, are busy over the matter of cross over. People are tired to see all this dramatic-political-storyline that are happening in Malaysia. If, let's say the Pakatan Rakyat managed to get the numbers needed to form a new government, is it a qualified mandate? Is it chosen by us, the Rakyat?

The question is not mine to answer, but it is for you, the Pakatan Rakyat leaders and for you, the readers of Voices of Young Malaysians, to evaluate it and answer it.

God bless Malaysia...

File 19 : Anwar arrested...

It's quite a long time since I last posted here. Maybe because of my life as a student and the money that I had to fork out every time I wanted to update my blog in cyber cafes.

Yesterday was a historic day. For the first time, Malaysians had watched a live telecast of a debate between an opposition figure, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Minister of Information, Datuk Shabery Cheek. Although I did not managed to catch the live telecast, I am able to watch the debate through recorded telecast at TV3 as well as through the net.

It was quite amazing to see how DSAI managed to tackle the questions intellectually by giving out fact and numbers. It was also amazing as to the extent that he managed to give out his speech calmly despite the tense that flew all over him [well, he said yesterday that he might be caught anytime...].

However, it was quite disheartening to see the way the minister answered the questions. Although he is a good speaker and yes, some of his answers were good, the fact that there were too many personal attacks made towards DSAI had made the minister looks more like a person who like gossips as if he was gossiping to tell the people things that he himself was not sure whether they are true or not...

Anyway, this afternoon DSAI was detained and the policemen who detained him were Special Squad cops with balaclavas!! Looks like they [the policemen] were arresting a highly wanted global terrorist...

Well, I'm still young but I think that I can think rationally too. Is it necessary to have Special Squad with balaclavas to detained a yet-to-be proven suspect of an alleged sodomy?? Plus, why arrest him when the time for him to give his statement is not yet due? mmm...

File 17 : 100 days of Pakatan Rakyat in Selangor...

I went to Shah Alam Stadium last Friday night. Well, quite a lot of people there. I think they went there with the same intention as mine. The eagerness to know what does the Selangor state government has for us, the people of Selangor.

For the moment, the government has 7 major projects for us which include 'program peningkatan hasil daripada bahan batuan dan mineral', 'tabung anak kelahiran Selangor', 'hadiah anak masuk universiti', 'caruman takaful dan perubatan percuma warga emas', 'pusat khidmat krisis sehenti (OSCC'), and 'tabung pendidikan anak-anak pekerja ladang.'

Well, those are some of the promises made under their manifestos. How about other promises? Let's just wait and see...