Comics: (TH)ink 07/21

P/S: Makes me wonder all these years what’s going on with our MPs in the Parliament sessions. Talk about renaming the diseases’ name (because of its ‘obscenity’)? heck, there are loads more important issues to be taken into account!

Independent Body To Probe Death Of Youth

The police should arrange for an independent body to probe the death of a youth while in police custody at the USJ 8 police station in Subang Jaya yesterday, said Kapar Member of Parliament S. Manikavasagam to Berita Nasional Malaysia(BERNAMA).

He said the death of A. Kuhan, 23, while at the police station had raised many questions which demanded an independent probe be conducted.

He told this to reporters after lodging a police report on the youth’s death at the Subang Jaya police headquarters at 4pm today.

The victim’s father, who only wanted to be known as Ananthan and had accompanied Manikavasagam in making the report, said his son’s seven-day remand into a luxury car theft investigation was supposed to have ended today.

‘We believe there was foul play in my son’s death as there were signs of torture on his body. It has been reported he died of asthma but he never suffered from it,’ he said.

Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said police were conducting a thorough probe into Kuhan’s death.

‘A post-mortem is due to be done today. It will be able to tell us the exact cause of his death,’ he said.

Khalid also said he received reports that some youths had barged into the Serdang Hospital mortuary where his body was kept to take photographs.

‘I cannot understand how the hospital could have allowed this before a post-mortem was done,’ he said.

He said the victim was nabbed by police in front of a condominium in Puchong on Jan 15 and a scuffle had taken place between him and policemen when the arrest was made,

‘Following his arrest police recovered 15 luxury cars that had been stolen, two at the condominium and the rest at a warehouse in Puchong,’ he said, adding that police investigations, however, revealed that Kuhan did not have a past criminal record.

He added that police were tracking down an accomplice of Kuhan who managed to escape when Kuhan was being arrested.

Malaysia: More Films On National Culture

The Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry today called on the film industry to venture into films which showcase more on national cultures.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Afdal said the making of such films would inadvertently help introduce and lure the world’s attention on Malaysia’s multi-cultural society.

As reported by BERNAMA, ‘Countries like Japan, South Korea and Iran have been showing off their cultures to the world through their films.

‘We too must increase our effort to introduce our various cultures to the world via our films and plays,’ he said after officiating the pre-launch of epic film entitled ‘Bunian Mahkota Seri Helang’, here, today.

Meanhile, Shafie said the ministry anticipated over 35 films to be produced by the local film makers in the next three years.

The ‘Bunian Mahkota Seri Helang’ film will be produced by composer Adnan Abu Hassan using the Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) techniques to create realistic visual effects.

The shooting for the RM3.5 million film, featuring actor Rusdi Ramli and actress Nasha Aziz, is set to begin next month.

P/S: LOVE Nasha Aziz. Career-minded she somehow sets her life on just working -is she a robot?- and boy she looks good even at the age of around 40!

The Herald: Defied A Ban Until The Courts Rule

Catholic paper defies Malaysian government ban on using the word 'Allah'

A Catholic newspaper in Malaysia has defied a ban on using the word ‘Allah’ as a translation for ‘God’, in a row with the government which has threatened to close the weekly publication.

The editor of the Herald newspaper, Father Lawrence Andrew, said this week’s edition uses the banned word and that he intends to continue doing so until the courts rule on the issue next month.

‘We find this restriction on the use of ‘Allah’ unacceptable when we have been using it as a translation for ‘God’ for centuries in Malaysia,’ he told AFP.

Authorities have said the word should only be used by Muslims.

The government last month ordered a ban on the Herald’s Malay edition until the court makes its decision, as part of conditions for it to be allowed to continue printing its editions in English, Chinese and Tamil.

But after the newspaper warned it would take legal action to overturn the ban, the home ministry backed down and said it could continue publishing as long as it did not use the disputed translation.

‘Munshi Abdullah, the father of modern Malay literature, translated the Bible into Malay in 1852 and he also translated ‘God’ as ‘Allah’ so there is strong historical proof of what we have been using for centuries,’ said Andrew.

The Herald, circulated among the country’s 850,000 Catholics, nearly lost its publishing licence last year for using the disputed word.

Religion and language are sensitive issues in Malaysia where 60 percent of the nation’s 27 million people are Muslim Malays.

The rest of the population takes in indigenous tribes as well as ethnic Chinese and Indians, variously practising Buddhism, Christianity and Hinduism among others.

P/S: COME ON PEOPLE, we’re human beings who are capable of ‘adopting’ to our surroundings. There’s a Malay saying ‘lain padang, lain belalang’. It means that every place  or country for that matter has its own ways laws and please, when the country is peaceful enough don’t try ruining it by questioning your rights -as your not ‘originally’ from the country itself- have some shame on yourself. Treat others with respect and they will do the same to you.

Malaysia: Don’t Blindly Boycott U.S Goods

Don't blindly boycott U.S goods

The people have the rights to boycott American goods although the government may not do so, said principal fellow with the Faculty of Economics and Management, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Datuk Muhammad Salleh Majid to Berita Nasional Malaysia(Bernama).

He said if the people were to do so, they should know the reasons for the boycott, otherwise it would serve no purpose.

‘They should not do it blindly and they should also be prepared for the consequences. The intention must be firm and clear,’ the former president of the then Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (now Bursa Malaysia) told Bernama today.

Muhammad Salleh said Malaysia was capable of boycotting American products just like in the early 1980s when former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad launched the “Buy British Last” campaign.

‘Likewise, we can do a similar campaign or stop using the USD and switch to Euro.

More in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;-

‘There are 1.5 billion Muslims around the globe compared to 14 million Jews and we ought to stick together to fight them,’ said Muhammad Salleh.

On the United Nations’ resolution on the Israeli invasion of Gaza, he said, ‘the UN is a lame duck. Too much belong to the Jews… Hollywood, the media… the list goes on and on. We must not touch, buy or use Jewish products.’

Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) secretary-general Datuk Dr Ma’mor Osman said the people should boycott American products although it was their choice.

‘We should detest the dehumanisation and incursion which threaten world peace. Those devoid of human norms do not care the pain inflicted on others,’ he said.

Malaysian should continue develop food chains and products while the people should give preference to local products, he said, adding that Malaysians should emulate South Koreans and Japanese who support local goods.

 

P/S: There are real foods in containers and packets that you can get instantly at vending machines in Japan. Certain foods doesn’t even require you to add any sauce but it tastes as delicious as real ones. Despite our tries on the sandwich vending machines a while back, maybe the aspiring inventors in Malaysia can learn a thing or two from the Japanese to invent something other and attract more people to support Malaysian local products. 

To know more about various kinds of vending machines in Japan, you can click here.

Malaysia: Economy Will Suffer If Racial Harmony Collapses

Yang Amat Berhormat Dato' Sri. Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak

The Agence France-Presse(AFP) has reported today that Malaysia’s economy will suffer and the country will break-up if racial unity collapses, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak warned ahead of a key by-election.

‘No unity means no political stability. No political stability means we are all in trouble,’ he was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency late Saturday.

‘The Malays (will be) in trouble, the Chinese (will be) in trouble, the Indians (will) also be in trouble,’ he told a rally.

Najib said foreign investors would pull out their funds if there was political instability.

‘Capital can shift in a blink of an eye. Capital knows no loyalty. If our economy is under pressure, funds will flow (out). That is how sensitive capital movement is in the context of a modern global economy,’ he said.

The ruling National Front coalition, led by the dominant United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), is contesting a critical by-election that will test its popularity since disastrous losses in national polls last year.

Najib, who is UMNO deputy president, is leading the charge for the January 17 vote in northeastern Terengganu state.

Recently there have been growing fears over ‘Islamisation’ of Malaysia and the increasing polarisation of the three main ethnic communities.

About 60 percent of Malaysia’s 27 million people are ethnic Malay Muslims. The country’s minority Chinese and Indians are mostly Buddhists, Hindus or Christians.

Issues related to religion, language and race are sensitive matters in Malaysia, which witnessed deadly riots in 1969.

Malaysia is already tipped for slower growth of up to 3.5 percent for 2009, well down on earlier projections as the global crisis bites into export demand and foreign direct investment inflows.

Najib urged voters to return the Kuala Terengganu seat to UMNO to ensure racial unity and economic growth.

‘If we do make the right decision, our country can disintegrate and we will never be able to pass on this strong Malaysia to our next generation,’ he said.

P/S: We’re learning Ethnic Relations subject even in our higher learning stage, seriously haven’t we learned that racial harmony is the key to our national multiracial integration? Spread the peace people, come on!

Malaysia: FREE PALESTINE!

One of the banners at the protest, the feelings of a human being towards humanity however doesn't occur on the Israelis.

The Associated Press(AP) has reported today that some 3,000 Malaysians protested on Friday against Israel’s invasion of Gaza, burning Israeli flags and effigies of President George W. Bush.

The mainly Muslim protesters, waving Palestinian flags and chanting anti-Israel slogans, marched to the U.S. Embassy in downtown Kuala Lumpur from a nearby mosque after Friday prayers.

They called on the U.S. to use its influence to stop Israel’s military offensive on Gaza, which has left more than 750 people dead -at least half of them civilians, according to Gaza health officials. Thirteen Israelis have died.

Israel has defended its two-week operation, saying it wants to stop rocket attacks from Hamas-controlled Gaza into Israeli territory.

‘The killing continues. … We are urging the American government to demand that Israel withdraw from Gaza,’ said Adnan Mohamad Tahir, an activist.

The protesters, who burned two Israeli flags and effigies of Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, dispersed after an hour.

The United States abstained from a U.N. Security Council resolution passed Thursday that called for a cease-fire.

Malaysia’s government, which has no diplomatic ties with Israel, has condemned Israel’s ground offensive as a ‘an act of total war.’ On Thursday, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi called for international sanctions on Israel.

In Hong Kong, several hundred people outside a mosque chanted slogans and held placards reading, ‘Stop the Israeli Attacks on Gaza’ and ‘Stop Killing Children and Innocent.’

P/S:  The protest is still going on today in Selangor, Malaysia at The  Melawati Stadium. FREE PALESTINE!

Malaysia: Emergency UN Session On Gaza Needed

Today, Malaysia has called on the United Nations to convene an emergency session on the Israeli military offensive in Gaza, saying it had a ‘moral duty’ to end the violence as reported on the AP.

‘I note that the UN Security Council continues to fail to act on this critical matter,’ Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said in a statement.

‘I therefore urge that an emergency special session of the UN General Assembly be convened to adopt a ‘Uniting for Peace’ resolution.’

While the Security Council includes the five permanent members and 10 elected nations, the General Assembly represents all member states.

‘The United Nations Security Council has a moral duty to stop the atrocities committed by Israel and demand a ceasefire by all sides,’ he added.

Abdullah said Malaysia’s representative to the UN would raise the issue with the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) of developing nations and the 57-member Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

The premier of majority-Muslim Malaysia accused the United States of failing its responsibilities as a superpower by failing to take action.

‘The United States has the capacity to and can stop the atrocities but they have chosen other options,’ Abdullah said according to state media.

‘I hope the United States and its allies will not impede efforts to convene the special general assembly.’

Abdullah condemned Washington for blocking a UN resolution calling for an end to the Israeli offensive, and said it should have used its influence to bring about a ceasefire.

‘This move is something which the world community cannot have respect for,’ he said according to the official Bernama news agency.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon has said he regretted the Security Council’s failure to reach an accord on Israeli’s military assault on the Gaza Strip and appealed for unity to end the nine-day crisis.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas and Arab foreign ministers were to convene at UN headquaters in New York on Monday to appeal for international pressure to end the hostilities that have killed some 500 Palestinians.

P/S: Come on, lets get this over with and get a move on with everybody’s freakin peace life already! If they don’t want YOU in their space -which clearly they don’t- STOP with the barging and bombing already!

Sex Party Raid: Newscaster And Actress Caught

According to BERNAMA in the raid at about 3.30am somewhere in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 26 people were detained and scores of hallucination pills besides ketamine, cocaine, syabu, liquour and condoms were found at a hotel room in Jalan P.Ramlee here. The party was believed to have been organised by a couple, in their 20’s, who were married three weeks earlier.

Meanwhile in another raid in Kuala Lumpur, a newscaster with a private TV station and a local drama actress together with six of their friends, who were earlier detained by police after being tested positive for ketamine and syabu drugs at a new year eve party, were released yesterday evening.

Kuala Lumpur Narcotics Crime Investigation Department head, ACP Kang Chez Khiang said the eight, who were detained during a police raid on Jan 1, were released on police bail at about 7pm.

He said another man, who was also tested positive for drugs, was still being detained on suspicion of being the drug supplier for the party.

However, he said, police would recall all the eight when the outcome of the urine tests carried out by the Kuala Lumpur Hospital was expected to be released in two weeks’ time.

‘Meanwhile, 17 other people at the party who had been detained earlier had been released without condition,’ he said when contacted here at the BERNAMA office today.

Watch Out For These BANNED Words Of 2009

Lake Superior State University of Detroit once again came out  for their annual List of Words to Be Banished from the Queen’s English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness. The 34th version of the list was released last Tuesday, which means, ‘It’s that time of year again,’ as reported by AP.

The school in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula selected 15 entries from about 5,000 nominations.

Despite the year’s economic meltdown (which itself wasn’t banished but don’t rule it out for next year), the most entries came from the environmental category; for ‘green’ or ‘going green’.

The list wasn’t overrun with politics despite the national election;  no “change,” for instance ;  but one simply couldn’t escape the critics’ wrath.

‘I’m a maverick, he’s a maverick, wouldn’t you like to be a maverick, too?’ offered Michael Burke of Silver Spring, Md., in his entry for the label embraced by unsuccessful Republican presidential candidate John McCain.

‘If I see one more corporation declare itself ‘green,’ I’m going to start burning tires in my backyard’, wrote Ed Hardiman of Bristow, Va., in his submission. Nominators also had their fill of ‘carbon footprint’; the amount of greenhouse gases an individual’s lifestyle produces.

Also knocked was ‘first dude’, a term adopted by Todd Palin, husband of McCain’s running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

An emoticon made the list for the first time. The strings of characters used in e-mails and text-messaging commonly represent a face; like or :-0 ; but the school singled out an emoticon heart, formed with a ‘less than’ symbol and the number 3.

Think these gendarmes of jargon should ‘get a life’? Watch it, kiddo. That phrase was banished in 1997.

You can read the full article and the school’s 2009 Banished Words Lists here.

P/S: Malaysia is also famous for their ‘kiasu’-ness… Hurm, I wonder how it would be like if our ‘kiasu’ words like ‘-lahhh’ would be nominated for banishment? Any takers? anyhow, Happy New Year’s Eve Everybody!