26 November 2010

Cheng Ho Tak Kaut Harta - Nik Aziz


Nik Aziz: Cheng Ho tak kaut harta, dia hanya berniaga.

Nov 26, 10 12:50pm

NONE
Misi Pelayaran Laksamana Cheng Ho, bukan sahaja untuk berdagang tetapi pada masa yang sama kesempatan itu diguna untuk menyebar risalah Islam, kata Mursyidul Am PAS, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

Akhbar rasmi PAS, Harakahdaily melaporkan Nik Aziz yang juga menteri besar Kelantan, berkata Cheng Ho, yang diberi tugas oleh Maharaja China, juga berjaya membuktikan bahawa Islam bukan sahaja milik Melayu, tapi semua bangsa di dunia.

"Kelantan dengan dasar 'Membangun Bersama Islam', melangkah ke hadapan, melangkaui sempadan bangsa, yang ditiup pihak tertentu, berjaya menganjurkan Ekspo Cheng Ho yang julung kali diadakan di rantau ini.

"Alhamdulillah, di tengah seruan perkauman yang hebat, ditiup politik bangsa yang melampau, kita bangkit menerobos sempadan dengan mengenengahkan Islam sebagai dasar berpolitik," katanya.

Nik Aziz berkata demikian ketika berucap merasmikan majlis penutup Ekspo Cheng Ho 2010 di Kelantan Trade Centre, di Kota Bharu, semalam.

Baca lagi di sini.

22 November 2010

Kaki Bodek

Sikap yang tak molek
jangan dikelek
nanti diri tergolek
bila orang sudah celik
jangan pelik
mereka jadi serik
kena main dengan pembodek
dendam menaik
mengundang sengketa jelek
silap-silap mata kena korek
muka jadi robek

Cikgunikmie
3/11/2010

Dipetik dari http://wwwcikgunikmie.blogspot.com

21 November 2010

Blue Moon?


The full moon of November arrives on this Sunday (Nov. 21, 2010) and will bring with it a cosmic addition: It will also be a so-called "blue moon."

"But wait a minute," you might ask. "Isn't a 'blue moon' defined as the second full moon that occurs during a calendar month? Sunday's full moon falls on Nov. 21 and it will be the only full moon in November 2010. So how can it be a 'blue' moon?"

Indeed, November's full moon is blue moon – but only if we follow a rule that's now somewhat obscure.

Read more here.


20 November 2010

Lessons Life Taught Me


Written by a 90 year old, Regina Brett of Plain of Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
This is something we should all read at least once a week!!!!!
Make sure you read to the end!!!!!!

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come...
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Source: An email from Mr. Yang Qingyou


19 November 2010

Interesting Quote


... some people appear bright,
until you hear them speak.

Kah Kah Kah..... Cam Tu Lak!!!


Pemain Bola Tampar Pantai (beach volleyball) dari pasukan Yemen yang kalah dalam pertandingan telah menyalahkan amoi amoi sexy yang menjadi cheer squads.

Penganjur Guangzhou Asian Games di Guangzhou, Cina menyediakan beberapa kumpulan cheerleader berpakaian baju mandi bagi memeriahkan pertandingan itu tetapi ia rupanya telah mengalihkan konsentrasi para pemain Yemen.

"Saya rasa ia mempunyai kaitan dengan kekalahan kami", Adeeb Mahfoudh memberitahu akhbar Tianfu Morning News.

Baca lagi di sini.
Read more here.

A Planet Has Been Found!


by Jean-Louis Santini Jean-louis Santini Thu Nov 18, 3:41 pm ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) – A hot, gaseous and fast-spinning planet has been found orbiting a dying star on the edge of the Milky Way, in the first such discovery of a planet from outside our galaxy, scientists said Thursday.

This artist's impression shows HIP 13044 b, an exoplanet orbiting a
star that entered our galaxy.


Slightly larger than the size of Jupiter, the largest in our solar system, the newly discovered exoplanet is orbiting a star 2,000 light years from Earth that has found its way into the Milky Way.
The pair are believed to be part of the Helmi stream, a group of stars that remains after its mini-galaxy was devoured by the Milky Way some six to nine billion years ago, said the study in Science Express.

Read more here.


18 November 2010

UFO in Penang?




Comment: From the pattern of movement of the object(s), I am very sure not UFO(s).
Wait for explanation from the authority concern.

17 November 2010

Interesting Quote


Actually, the present problems facing PKR were triggered by the so-called PKR strong supporters who enjoy mocking others. This is probably the way for

small people to imagine themselves as big people.


by Raja Petra Kamaruddin


Watch Video of Aung San Suu Kyi Released


Aung San Suu Kyi Freed


15 November 2010

The evil you do remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!


A woman baked chapati for members of her family and an extra one for a hungry passerby. She kept the extra chapati on the window sill, for whosoever would take it away. Everyday, a hunchback came and took away the chapati. Instead of expressing gratitude, he muttered the following words as he went his way: "The evil you do remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!" This went on, day after day. Everyday, the hunchback came, picked up the chapati and uttered the words: "The evil you do, remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!" The woman felt irritated. "Not a word of gratitude," she said to herself.."Everyday this hunchback utters this jingle! What does he mean?"

One day, exasperated, she decided to do away with him. "I shall get rid of this hunchback," she said. And what did she do? She added poison to the chapatti she prepared for him! As she was about to keep it on the window sill, her hands trembled. "What is this I am doing?" she said. Immediately, she threw the chapati into the fire, prepared another one and kept it on the window sill. As usual, the hunchback came, picked up the chapati and muttered the words: "The evil you do, remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!" The hunchback proceeded on his way, blissfully unaware of the war raging in the mind of the woman.

Everyday, as the woman placed the chapati on the window sill, she offered a prayer for her son who had gone to a distant place to seek his fortune. For many months, she had no news of him.. She prayed for his safe return. That evening, there was a knock on the door. As she opened it, she was surprised to find her son standing in the doorway. He had grown thin and lean. His garments were tattered and torn. He was hungry, starved and weak. As he saw his mother, he said, "Mom, it's a miracle I'm here. While I was but a mile away, I was so famished that I collapsed. I would have died, but just then an old hunchback passed by. I begged of him for a morsel of food, and he was kind enough to give me a whole chapati. As he gave it to me, he said, "This is what I eat everyday: today, I shall give it to you, for your need is greater than mine!" As the mother heard those words, her face turned pale.

She leaned against the door for support. She remembered the poisoned chapati that she had made that morning. Had she not burnt it in the fire, it would have been eaten by her own son, and he would have lost his life! It was then that she realized the significance of the words: "The evil you do remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!"

Do good and If you like this, share it with others and I bet you so many lives would be touched.

Have a wonderful day.

Source: An email from Mr. Lim Chin Hong, Taiping

14 November 2010

Study = Fail ????


cid:11.3840665902@web38208.mail.mud.yahoo.com


Unpatriotic? I'm and I'll Still Be Here Despite .....

by Emmanuel Joseph
........

To me, a municipal cleaner who honestly cleans his street corner well, simply because its his duty, is more of a patriot than a high profile municipal councillor who steals from the coffers he should be guarding. To me, a poor single mother who teaches her child the virtues of loving your country is more of a patriot than some venom-spitting bigwig politician who berates another race to climb the political ladder at the cost of race relations.

To me, an honest policemen who stands at a street corner in the rain and shine, directing traffic on a busy intersection, is a bigger patriot than a corrupt high ranking cop who’s on the take from every Ah Long, Ah Hor and A-Hak Ser Wie out there. To me a stuttering Mentri Besar who is honest and tries genuinely to make his state better is more patriotic than any smooth talking Casanova look-alike minister whose ego is only surpassed by his bank balance and whose biggest contribution to the nation is some collapsed stadium or a roof-leak in a government building or a cracked highway.

To me a politician who tries to fight for a better Malaysia, regardless which camp he or she belongs to, is a patriot.

Read more here.

Lack of Patriotism, Really?


by Damian Denis

In 1995/6 after my STPM exams I went to the Penang Police HQ (Penang Rd.) to apply for the post of Police Inspector. The requirement was a STPM qualification at that time.

Once there we were given a physical routine check up and those who were qualified were given the application form. Simple as that!

But went it came to my turn the officer in charge refuse to hand-over the application form to me on the basis that my STPM results were good. My physical check up was fine.

He said “kamu tak payahlah masuk polis. Buang masa aje dengan result yg bagus cam tu”. (You don’t need to enter the Police Force. Just a waste of time since you have a good STPM results.)

Read more here.

13 November 2010

Aung San Suu Kyi Released

Aung San Suu Kyi

YANGON, Myanmar – Myanmar's military government freed its archrival, democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, on Saturday after her latest term of detention expired. Several thousand jubilant supporters streamed to her residence.

A smiling Suu Kyi, we aring a traditional jacket and a flower in her hair, appeared at the gate of her compound as the crowd chanted, cheered and sang the national anthem.

"If we work in unity, we will achie ve our goal. We have a lot of things to do," she told the well-wishers, who quickly swelled to as many as 5,000. Speaking briefly in Burmese, she said they would see each other again Sunday at the headquarters of her political party.

The 65-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate, whose latest period of detention spanned 7 1/2 years, has come to symbolize the struggle for democracy in the Southeast Asian nation ruled by the military since 1962.

Read more here.


11 November 2010

Appreciation


A very interesting and meaningful story to share with your friends and those who have kids...

Story of Appreciation

One young academically excellent person went to apply for a managerial position in a big company.

He passed the first interview, the director did the last interview, made the last decision.

The director discovered from the CV, that the youth's academic result is excellent all the way, from the secondary school until the postgraduate research, never has a year he did not score.

The director asked, "Did you obtain any scholarship in school?" and the youth answered "none".

The director asked, " Is it your father who paid for your school fees?" the youth answered, my father passed away when I was one year old, it was my mother who paid for my school fees.

The director asked, " Where did your mother worked?" the youth answered, my mother washes clothes for people. The director requested the youth to show his hand, the youth showed a pair of hand that is smooth and perfect to the director.

The director asked, " Did you ever help your mother washed the clothes before?" The youth answered, never, my mother always wanted me to study and read more books, furthermore, my mother can wash clothes faster than me.

The director said, I had a request, when you go back today, go and help to clean your mother's hands, and then see me tomorrow morning.

The youth felt that the chance of landing the job is high. When he went back, he happily wanted to clean his mother's hands, but his mother felt strange, happy but mixed with fear, she showed her hands to her son.

The youth cleaned his mother's hands slowly, with his tears falling as he did that. It was the first time he found his mother's hands so wrinkled, and there were so many bruises in her hands. Some bruises incited pains so strongly that brought shivers to his mother's body when cleaned with water.

That was the first time the youth realized and experienced that it was this pair of hands that washed the clothes everyday which earned him the school fees, the bruises in the mother's hand was the price that the mother paid for his graduation and academic excellence and probably his future.

After finishing the cleaning of his mother hands, the youth quietly cleaned all the remaining clothes for his mother.

That night, mother and sons talked for a very long time.

Next morning, the youth went to the director's office

The director noticed the tears in the youth's eye, and asked: " Can you tell you what have you done and learned yesterday in your house?"

The youth answered, " I cleaned my mother's hands, and also finished cleaning all the remaining clothes'

The director asked, " please tell me your feeling."

The youth said, Number 1, I knew what is appreciation, without my mother, I would not be successful today. Number 2, I knew how to work together with my mother, then only could I realize how difficult and tough it was to get something done. Number 3, I knew the importance and value of family relationship.

The director said, " This is what I am asking, I want to recruit a person who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knew the sufferings of others to get things done, and a person who would not put money as his only goal in life to be my manager. You are hired.

Later on, this young person worked very hard, and received the respect of his subordinates, every employee worked diligently and in a team, the company's result improved tremendously.

A child who has been protected and habitually given whatever he does, develops "entitlement mentality" and always puts himself first. He is ignorant of his parent's efforts. When he starts work, he assumes that everybody must listen to him, and when he becomes a manager, he would never know how the sufferings of his employees and would always blame others. He could have good results, may be successful for a while, but eventually would not feel a sense of achievement, which would be full of complaints and full of hatred as he wants to fight for more. If we are this kind of protective parent, are we loving the kid or destroying the kid?

You can let your kid live in a big house, eat a good meal, learn piano, watch a big screen TV. But when you are cutting grass, please let him experience it. After a meal, let him wash his plate and bowl together with his brothers and sisters. It is not because you do not have money to hire a maid, but it is because you want to love your child in the right way. You should want them to understand, no matter how rich their parents are, one day their hair will grow gray, same as the mother of that young person. The most important thing is your kid learn how to appreciate the efforts and experience the difficulty and learn the ability to work with others to get things done.


Chinese Version:


感恩的故事


一名成績優秀的青年去申請一個大公司的經理職位。

他通過了第一級的面試,董事長做最後的面試,做最後的決定。

董事長從該青年的履歷上發現,該青年成績一 貫優秀,從中學到研究生從來沒有間斷過。

董事長問,你在學校裏拿到獎學金嗎?該青年回答,沒有。


董事長問,是你的父親 為您付學費嗎?該青年回答,我父親在我一歲時就去世了,是我的母親給我付的學費。


董事長問,那你的母親是在那家公司高就?該 青年回答,我的母親是給人洗衣服的。董事長要求該青年把手伸給他,該青年把一雙潔白的手伸給董事長。


董事長問,你幫你母 親洗過衣服嗎?該青年回答,從來沒有,我媽總是要我多讀書,再說,母親洗衣服比我快得多。


董事長說,我有個要求,你今天回家,給你母 親洗一次雙手,明天上午你再來見我。

該青年覺得自己成功的可能很大,回到家後,高高興興地要給母親洗手,母親受寵若驚地把手伸給孩子。

青年給母親洗著手,漸漸地,眼淚掉下來了,因為他第一次發現,他母親的雙手都是老繭,有個傷口在碰到水時還疼得發抖。


青年第一次體會到,母親就是 每天用這雙有傷口的手洗衣服為他付學費,母親的這雙手就是他今天畢業的代價。

該青年給母親洗完手後,一聲不響地把母親剩下要洗的衣服都洗了。

當天晚上,母親和孩子聊了很久很久。

第二天早上,該青年去見董事長。


董事長望著該青年紅腫的眼睛,問到,可以告訴我你昨天回家做了些什麼嗎?


該青年回答說,我給母親洗完手之後, 我幫母親把剩下的衣服都洗了。

董事長說,請你告訴我你的感受。

該青年說,第一,我懂得了感恩,沒有我 母親,我不可能有今天。第二,我懂得了要去
和母親一起勞動,才會知道母親的辛苦。第三,我懂得了家庭親情的可貴

董事長說,我就是要錄取一個會 感恩,會體會別人辛苦,不是把金錢當作人生第一目標的人來當經理。你被錄取了。


這位青年後來果真工作努力,深得職工擁護,員工也都努力工作,整個公司業績大幅成長。

假如一位孩子從小嬌生慣養,習 慣了被人圍著寵著,什麼都是第一,父母的辛苦都不知道,上班後,以為同事都應該聽他的,當了經理後,不知道員工的辛苦,還要怨天尤人。這樣的人,會有好的學校成績,會有得意風光的一時,但社會上的這類人,都不能成大事,都不會感覺到幸福,都要跌跟鬥,那父母是愛孩子呢還是害孩子呢?


你可以讓你的孩子住 大 房子,吃大餐,學鋼琴,看大屏電視,但你在割草時,也要讓你的孩子在大太陽下拔拔野草,你在吃飯後,也要讓你的孩子洗洗碗,不是你沒有錢雇人,而是你真心 愛孩子。你要讓孩子知道,即使父母掙不少錢,但早早的白髮,和那位洗衣服的母親沒有本質的差別。但更重要的是,要讓你的孩子學會感恩。

Source: An email from Mr. David Ng

What is Love?

For those who misuse the word love, even kids have a better understanding than adults. A group of professional people posted this question to a group of 4 to 8 year olds: "What does love mean?" The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined.

1. When my grandma got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandpa does it for her now all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.
Rebecca - age 8

2. When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouths.
Billy - age 4

3. Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving Cologne and they go out and smell each other.
Kari - age 5

4. Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French Fries without making them give you any of theirs.
Chrissy - age 6

5. Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.
Terri - age 4

6. Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.
Danny - age 7

7. Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My mommy and daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss.
Emily - age 8

8. Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.
Bobby - age 7

9. If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate.
Nikka - age 6

10. Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.
Noelle - age 7

11. Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends, even after they know each other so well.
Tommy - age 6

12. My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.
Clare - age 6

13. Love is when mommy sees daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.
Chris - age 7

14. Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.
Mary Ann - age 4

15. When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.
Karen - age 7

16. Love is when mommy sees daddy on the toilet and doesn't think it's gross.
Mark - age 6

17. You really shouldn't say "I LOVE YOU" unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.
Jessica - age 8

Source: An email from Mr. David Ng

09 November 2010

Would You Try This 'Miracle Drink'?

MIRACLE DRINK - CARROT, POTATO AND APPLE

It is like a Miracle Drink! It is simple.
You need one potato, one carrot and one apple that combine together to make the JUICE !

Wash the above, cut with the skin on into pieces and put them into the juicer and immeadiately you drink the juice.

You can add some lime or lemon for more refreshing taste.

This Miracle Drink will be effective for the following ailments:
1. Prevent cancer cells to develop. It will restrain cancer cells to grow.

2. Prevent liver, kidney, pancreas decease and it can cure ulcer as well.

3. Strengthen the lung, prevent heart attack and high blood pressure.
4. Strengthen the immune system.
5. Good for the eyesight, eliminate red and tired eyes or dry eyes.
6. Help to eliminate pain from physical training, muscle ache
.
7. Detoxify, assist bowel movement, eliminate constipation. Therefore it will make skin healthy and look more radiant. It is God sent for acne problem.

8. Improve bad breath due to indigestion, throat infection,

9. Lessen menstrual pain.
10. Assist Hay Fever Sufferer from Hay Fever attack.

There is absolutely no side effect.
Highly nutritious and easily absorbs.
Very effective if you need to loose weight.
You will notice your immune system will be improved after 2 week routine.
Please make sure to drink immediately from the juicer for best effect.


WHEN TO DRINK IT;

DRINK IT FIRST THING IN THE MORNING WITH THE EMPTY STOMACH! AFTER ONE HOUR YOU CAN EAT BREAKFAST.

IT DOES NOT COST YOU MUCH MONEY!


Source: An email from Mr. Simon Ng.

06 November 2010

Minnesota Mom Hit With $1.5 Million Fine for Downloading 24 Songs


What's the value of a song? Jammie Thomas-Rasset has spent the last few years in court debating that question. The Minnesota mother of four is being penalized for illegally downloading and sharing 24 songs on the peer-to-peer file-sharing network Kazaa in 2006, but how much she owes the record labels has been in question. The jury in her third trial has just ruled that Thomas-Rasset should pay Capitol Records $1.5 million, CNET reports, which breaks down to $62,500 per song. It's a heavy penalty considering the 24 tunes would only cost approximately $24 on iTunes, which was Thomas-Rasset' argument, too.

Thanks to Thomas-Rasset's colorful case, she has become the public face of the record industry's battle with illegal downloaders. In her first trial, in 2007, the jury demanded she pay $222,000 for violating the copyright on more than 1,700 songs by Green Day, Aerosmith and Richard Marx, to name a few. (Marx said he was "ashamed" to be associated with the "farcical" prosecution of an illegal downloader.) Thomas-Rasset maintained she wasn't the computer user who did the file sharing, and her legal team cited an error in jury instruction to secure a second trial in 2009 that ended with a much harsher result: an astronomical fine of $1.92 million. However, earlier this year a U.S. District Court judge found the $1.92 million penalty against Thomas-Rasset to be "monstrous and shocking" and "gross injustice" before lowering it to $54,000, or $2,250 a song. Thomas-Rasset and her legal team decided to appeal that decision, too.

Read more here.

05 November 2010

Can This Be A View For 1Malaysia!?

The view of a true Malaysian

Received this email from a good friend and the content of the view of this prominent person who has hold numerous significant positions in the government, has taken me deeply.
I would like to share his view over here and for us to ponder about, hopefully something better, even how small it is, conciously or unconciously can be done.

Dominating role not healthy for nation, I think we are farther apart now than we were in 1969. But you have to remember that I grew up going to an English school, to a university where there were people of all races. At that time, although we did think in terms of race, it wasn’t in the way people do now. We felt that we were Malayans. We socialised much better than we do now.

Bahasa Malaysia can be a unifying factor. But it can be a factor separating people, too. As Sukarno would say, “The important thing is the jiwa.” You don’t have to have a common language, if you have the same jiwa (heart, spirit, passion, devotion). This is what we don’t have right now....

In 1956, the historical society of Universiti Malaya went to India . There were lots of Indians in the group, but they didn’t think of themselves as Indians, they thought of themselves as Malayans. That’s the jiwa. But later on, because of certain reactions, suddenly people stayed away from this jiwa - they don’t feel as though they are fully Malaysian. They are made to feel that way.

When I was in the service, there were lots of non-Malays in the civil service, holding good positions. But do you see them now? If you go to the universities, where are the non-Malay professors? After 1969, suddenly there was this drive to make sure that all university vice-chancellors and faculty deans were Malay. So, in the end, we chased away all the best brains among the non-Malays.

When schools say you must start school with a doa (Muslim prayer recitation), you push away all the non-Muslims. When I was at school, we never had any prayers. Whatever we learnt in religious class was a separate thing. I think it’s more important that we bring people together, rather than pushing religion so hard that it alienates other people. This is what’s happening. I can’t blame the Chinese and Indians; why should they go to a sekolah kebangsaan (national school), when they have to do all these things?

All the things are breaking down. Our school system is not as it used to be. We are producing supposedly so many students with so many As, but what do they know? Are we happy about it? The leaders seem to be happy about it. We came up with the Rukun Negara because, after 1969, there was the feeling that the nation was breaking down.

People had forgotten what it was all about. So, we thought we could bring people back together - unite them. That’s what the first part of the Rukun Negara is about: the objectives of the nation. Unfortunately, we did practically nothing to promote an understanding of the Rukun Negara. And when schools make mistakes, nobody corrects them. That should have been the role of the Department of Information.

In the beginning, Tan Sri Ghazali Shafie did try to apply the test of whether something was in consonance with the Rukun Negara or not. But then, the government just forgot about this.

We are supposed to be a united nation, not only in terms of state, but also in terms of people: that they would all consider themselves as Malaysians, and that this was their country and their nation.

We wanted all these people to share the wealth of the nation. One of the things we thought contributed to ’69 was the economic disparities, joblessness. The New Economic Policy was a policy for all Malaysians; not just for the Malays. But we wanted to restructure the economy so that the Malays would come out of the rural agriculture sector into the commercial sector.

We wanted Malay participation at all levels of economic activity. We wanted to uplift the Malays without reducing the position of the others.. - “eradicating poverty regardless of race”. And this was supposed to be in a situation of growth. Not just sharing the existing cake, but the cake must grow, so that these people also have the opportunity to grow.

At the same time, we also hoped that the Malays would grow a little faster. So, they set this target of 30 per cent equity in 20 years. I was not much in favour of that because I didn’t think it was achievable. I felt that participation was more important than wealth.

We never thought that we would produce multi-billionaires. That was never the intention of the NEP. If some people can come up as everyone comes up, it’s okay. But it wasn’t supposed to be about some people getting contracts. We did say that we should have Malay millionaires just as we should have Chinese and Indian millionaires, but not so much so that you don’t have to do anything.

You must differentiate between dominance and domination. As Tun Dr Ismail said,
“We want to be dominant, but we don’t want to dominate.”

Dominant in the sense that we wanted the Malays to be everywhere; but not to dominate all the others. But we seem to be dominating; and I don’t think that’s healthy for the nation. It’s not about taking your share and not caring about the rest.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...