In less than 70 hours, 2014 would be officially over and everyone would welcome the coming of 2015, although this year it is likely that Malaysians will invite 2015 with grim and probably absence of warmth and excitement.
2014 has been a tragic year for the world, particularly Malaysia.
Early March this year the nation was shaken when MH370 was reported missing en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Malaysia Airlines has an impressive safety record, with only one fatality accident since its establishment back in 1960s. Understandably the incident shook the nation and the nation watched the investigation unfolded with shock. The remains of the plane remain largely unknown, not a single debris, victim or any traces could be found. It remains one of the greatest aviation mysteries to date.
Mid July 2014, 17/7/2014 night 11pm, Facebook was suddenly filled with news that Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, another Boeing 777, was shot down in eastern Ukraine. The news was a double blow to Malaysians, particularly MAS, as it is the second deadly incident involving MAS in less than a year for an airline relatively safe for 40+ years. The world, this time, was perplexed, angry, and extremely shocked, because this time it was clearly established that the plane was brought down by human. A barbaric act that snatched away almost 300 lives who have no involvement in whatever interests they had. The culprits, to date, remain unknown.
Just yesterday, Malaysia-based Indonesian AirAsia lost a plane in the vicinity of Jawa Sea, en route from Surubaya to Singapore. Until the moment of writing, the aeroplane remains unaccounted for. The lives of those on board are presumed dead, and the authorities are preparing for the worst.
Three aviation accidents, extremely deadly and earth-gripping, happened to Malaysia-linked airlines. Although the AirAsia case is an Indonesian aircraft, carrying Indonesian flag and bearing Indonesian name, it is still based in Malaysia, and the link certainly wasn't nice.
Besides aviation incidents, racist views that are uncalled-for are frequently made the headlines. The calling for the burning of bible by Ibrahim Ali angered Malaysians but he was let away scot-free for "defending the sanctity of Islam", according to the Attorney-General. What an excuse! Then ISMA, Perkasa and UMNO have frequently voiced out racist views and controversial comments like Muslims are not allowed to wish Christians Merry Christmas and these views, understandably, are simply preposterous. Extremists getting loud are, to some, a sign of desperation that those in power realise they could no longer cling on their position long, and thus resort to irrational, desperate measures to attempt to remain seated by making unfounded threats on issues never raised and claimed by keeping them in power, those issues would not be an issue anymore. What a laughing stock.
Then we have the worst flood to hit Malaysia in more than 30 years. Kelantan, the worst hit state, was inundated with water 2 floors high, and the people are trapped in some building completely in darkness with no electrical and water supplies and are sustaining their lives with whatever food they could scavenge before aids could reach them via air or boat. Hundreds of thousands are forced to evacuate and towns are literally paralysed and rendered inoperable. Lives have lost, but our Prime Minister was still playing golf in Hawaii and was "summoned" to come back due to terrible disaster. Another laughing stock. Let's just hope the water recede soon, it would be sad to see more lives are lost due to the monsoon season which is exceptionally terrible this year.
Outside Malaysia, we see Russia and Ukraine beginning to create tension and eventually we witness what the West called an intrusion. It is the tension between this two countries that brought down MH17. Then in Korea, a ferry sank and lives are lost, majority are high school student. Preliminary investigation showed sailor's negligence was part to be blamed, and the people are enraged because lives are disregarded to gain business.
In Taiwan a plane, ATR-72, crashed due to harsh weather. Again, lives are lost. In Africa, Air Algerie too lost a plane because of harsh weather and the plane broke into pieces on impact. In US, race relation gained some friction when a white policeman shot dead a black boy who witnesses saw unarmed and has his both hands raised went away scot-free, and then similar events broke out in other states. African-American have been, according to certain media, constantly discriminated against and this issue certainly hit the boiling point.
In Syria and Iraq, religious extremists ISIS expanded their territories and invaded Iraq, took control of Mosul, the second largest Iraq city and the site where Christians thrived, and declared a caliphate. Christians and Yazidi are slaughtered simply because of their religion and race. They are forced to either convert, pay taxes, or die. It is reported that those who opted for paid taxes are robbed of everything and was later told they have to either flee or convert. They face discrimination, and worse, genocide, for not professing Islam. ISIS also began recruiting people from various countries and threatened to obliterate the West. Kobane became the highlight when ISIS attempted to seize the control, but was stalled when US and other countries intervened.
Sydney Siege was partly inspired by ISIS. A lone gunman of unsound mind stormed into a Sydney cafe, held everyone in there hostage and forced them to stand against the window and hold a flag bearing Islamic symbols. After almost one day standoff, it ended with three dead.
US proposes to bring North Korea human right issues to International Criminal Court, but faces challenges from China, North Korea's ally, and to date is unable to make further movements.
There are more events that have happened in 2014. So many dark moments.
It ends in two days. Can 2014 end with no more sufferings and instead bring closure to all sad events that have yet to be closed?
Monday 29 December 2014
Monday 22 December 2014
Back Home
You know, coming back home, I realise I forgot how it feels like to be eating Penang food surrounded by people speaking Penang Hokkien.
I forgot how it feels like to meet up with old friends chat like old friends act like high school student because, to be honest, friends we made at high school are the simplest and thus when we get along we put our serious side away.
I forgot how it feels like to shower in a bathroom without worrying you'll hit the wall when you turn around.
I suddenly feel driving is heavy and driving at night can be very daunting.
I realise I don't have to worry for 3 meals per day at home, and better still at home I don't need to sweat all day because I don't need to walk all day going from one place to another.
I forget how it's like to have a strong wifi to use.
I forgot how it feels like to be burden-free, to not using both hands to wash clothes, to not worry about your stuffs constantly get stolen, to have a refrigerator to use, to have clean water supply that have no suspended particles in it.
Lastly, I forgot how it feels like to feel belonged. To feel truly part of a community because you speak and behave like the community. Home, is still the best place to be. Three and a half month is what it takes for me to realise all these, and for this, the first semester in university is not wasted.
I forgot how it feels like to meet up with old friends chat like old friends act like high school student because, to be honest, friends we made at high school are the simplest and thus when we get along we put our serious side away.
I forgot how it feels like to shower in a bathroom without worrying you'll hit the wall when you turn around.
I suddenly feel driving is heavy and driving at night can be very daunting.
I realise I don't have to worry for 3 meals per day at home, and better still at home I don't need to sweat all day because I don't need to walk all day going from one place to another.
I forget how it's like to have a strong wifi to use.
I forgot how it feels like to be burden-free, to not using both hands to wash clothes, to not worry about your stuffs constantly get stolen, to have a refrigerator to use, to have clean water supply that have no suspended particles in it.
Lastly, I forgot how it feels like to feel belonged. To feel truly part of a community because you speak and behave like the community. Home, is still the best place to be. Three and a half month is what it takes for me to realise all these, and for this, the first semester in university is not wasted.
Sunday 14 December 2014
Baffling Conscience
The Court of Appeal last month ruled that Negeri Sembilan ban of cross-dressing criminalises and discriminates against male Muslims suffering from Gender Identity Disorder, and therefore, in its landmark ruling, declared section 66 as unconstitutional and thus, void.
While I am not a Muslim, I cannot deny the fact that the Mufti and the relevant authority fails to address how Muslims who are sufferers of GID should be subjected.
In my opinion, time has changed, and the law has to change according to the time. While it is true Islamic laws are divine, enacted laws are man-made, and man-interpreted, and therefore subjected to errors and should be reviewed.
As I have read in an article previously, Hudud punishes those who steal with amputation of hand is because in the past, there was no technology to effectively sever one hand, and thus subject the thief to gross and brutal amputation of hand because there was no alternatives in the past.
The time has changed. While the law could be upheld, the way it is upheld can be amended.
It too baffles me when certain Middle East Muslims, and certain in Malaysia, view this as "a new wave of assault on Islam", and that such law "promotes cross-dressing, and unhealthy liberalism that leads to the degradation the haunts US".
While I have no grounds to comment on the first, I have comments regarding the latter.
This ruling does not promote cross-dressing, and it is insulting to Malaysians to think that just because there was no rule, civilisation will disappear and people will start acting in a crazy way. This rule simply de-criminalises those suffering from GID, because they were born this way, and they do not have a choice. It is a recognition that people should be treated equally.
There is scientific evidence to back that GID is an existent medical condition, and there is no scientific evidence as to how GID could be treated.
To say that such ruling promotes cross-dressing is preposterous, and such statement is without basis and mere speculation.
To say that such ruling encourages liberalism is not accurate. While we indeed does not agree with oppressive laws that discriminates against the minority, supporting this ruling does not mean we agree that US liberalism is what we seek after.
We seek after liberalism, but we have clear conscience that we do not wish to have the lifestyles the Americans practise. Having sex, switching partners constantly or sex party such things were, and will never be, part of Malaysian culture. To support liberalism is to seek after healthy thinking and healthy lifestyle, and it is not the Asian culture to practise American's liberalism.
What we more seek after is the culture those Koreans and Japanese practise. They have clear conscience, progressive, show huge interest in learning, and at the same time, clearly conserve their culture and religion. This is how a country should function.
There is no need to fear that Malaysia will degrade to American's morale because Malaysia will never degrade to such level. What is there to fear is that unless prompt actions and the silent moderate Muslim majority voice out against the extremists, Malaysia is more likely to go on a path that plunges into the darkness that currently surrounds Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, where extremists wrongly interpreted and politicised the teaching of the religion, and throw their own countries into turmoil.
At the end, it is their own people who suffer. And we, a rather civilised country who is rather developed, certainly can do more to better interpret the Islamic teaching that promotes religious tolerance, moderation, and equality.
On a side note, I disagree with UMNO that claims vernacular school inhibits racial harmony. This comment is as absurd as stating that religious schools is an obstacle to religious tolerance, or is that what UMNO is insinuating?
It is time for Malaysians to speak out against the tyranny, who have now frequently abused their power to oppress those who do not concur with them, and politicise a religion and render a peaceful religion into one that is breaking the practitioners apart.
While I am not a Muslim, I cannot deny the fact that the Mufti and the relevant authority fails to address how Muslims who are sufferers of GID should be subjected.
In my opinion, time has changed, and the law has to change according to the time. While it is true Islamic laws are divine, enacted laws are man-made, and man-interpreted, and therefore subjected to errors and should be reviewed.
As I have read in an article previously, Hudud punishes those who steal with amputation of hand is because in the past, there was no technology to effectively sever one hand, and thus subject the thief to gross and brutal amputation of hand because there was no alternatives in the past.
The time has changed. While the law could be upheld, the way it is upheld can be amended.
It too baffles me when certain Middle East Muslims, and certain in Malaysia, view this as "a new wave of assault on Islam", and that such law "promotes cross-dressing, and unhealthy liberalism that leads to the degradation the haunts US".
While I have no grounds to comment on the first, I have comments regarding the latter.
This ruling does not promote cross-dressing, and it is insulting to Malaysians to think that just because there was no rule, civilisation will disappear and people will start acting in a crazy way. This rule simply de-criminalises those suffering from GID, because they were born this way, and they do not have a choice. It is a recognition that people should be treated equally.
There is scientific evidence to back that GID is an existent medical condition, and there is no scientific evidence as to how GID could be treated.
To say that such ruling promotes cross-dressing is preposterous, and such statement is without basis and mere speculation.
To say that such ruling encourages liberalism is not accurate. While we indeed does not agree with oppressive laws that discriminates against the minority, supporting this ruling does not mean we agree that US liberalism is what we seek after.
We seek after liberalism, but we have clear conscience that we do not wish to have the lifestyles the Americans practise. Having sex, switching partners constantly or sex party such things were, and will never be, part of Malaysian culture. To support liberalism is to seek after healthy thinking and healthy lifestyle, and it is not the Asian culture to practise American's liberalism.
What we more seek after is the culture those Koreans and Japanese practise. They have clear conscience, progressive, show huge interest in learning, and at the same time, clearly conserve their culture and religion. This is how a country should function.
There is no need to fear that Malaysia will degrade to American's morale because Malaysia will never degrade to such level. What is there to fear is that unless prompt actions and the silent moderate Muslim majority voice out against the extremists, Malaysia is more likely to go on a path that plunges into the darkness that currently surrounds Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, where extremists wrongly interpreted and politicised the teaching of the religion, and throw their own countries into turmoil.
At the end, it is their own people who suffer. And we, a rather civilised country who is rather developed, certainly can do more to better interpret the Islamic teaching that promotes religious tolerance, moderation, and equality.
On a side note, I disagree with UMNO that claims vernacular school inhibits racial harmony. This comment is as absurd as stating that religious schools is an obstacle to religious tolerance, or is that what UMNO is insinuating?
It is time for Malaysians to speak out against the tyranny, who have now frequently abused their power to oppress those who do not concur with them, and politicise a religion and render a peaceful religion into one that is breaking the practitioners apart.
Saturday 13 December 2014
Court Cases
Apparently, Ibrahim Ali, or are more fondly been called katak, has decided to sue The Star CEO Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai over an article he wrote in The Star.
He demanded Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai to retract his statements, declare an apology, and pay a hefty sum of compensation, in which he denied and said he would not back down to extremism and wwill see Ibrahim Ali in court.
I have followed up this story for quite a time, and am quite keyed-up when this news was released.
It too baffled me how calling for the burning of a bible is deemed not seditious. According to the Attorney General, the call must be viewed in context and it cannot be taken literally. As convenient as it sounds, it expresses that the call of the burning of the bible is to defend the sanctity of Islam, and it is therefore not seditious as he was defending a religion.
But what move is that towards Christianity? Is it allowed to defend a religion by attacking another?
Ibrahim Ali too claims that people are being biased against him. He claims himself as a moderate person, and does not understand why even the 25 prominent Malays, who recently wrote an open letter to call for a moderate dialogue, labelled him as "extremist" and likely insinuate that he is a threat to the nation than what he wants to be.
It's an inspiring and respectable move by Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai to challenge Ibrahim Ali's lawsuit. The court case should be interesting.
I wonder whether he could evoke any laws to challenge Ibrahim Ali's remarks, and have the court probed whether it is seditious and thus take appropriate measure.
Ibrahim Ali is a danger man who does not contribute anything to the nation except instigating hatred between races. He should be brought to court, and challenged, because at the end, moderation will be the victory, not extremism.
Four court cases I have set myself to watch
1) The Federal Court's decision on Anwar's appeal, whether it is rejected or accepted.
2) The Negeri Sembilan appeal on the cross-dressing ban, which was declared unconstitutional by the Court of Appeal as it criminalises Muslim males with Gender Identity Disorder.
3) Sister In Islam (SIS) challenge to quash fatwa, which was granted by the High Court only recently.
4) Katak vs Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai.
Moderates are beginning to stand up against the aggressive oppressive.
Interesting days ahead.
He demanded Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai to retract his statements, declare an apology, and pay a hefty sum of compensation, in which he denied and said he would not back down to extremism and wwill see Ibrahim Ali in court.
I have followed up this story for quite a time, and am quite keyed-up when this news was released.
It too baffled me how calling for the burning of a bible is deemed not seditious. According to the Attorney General, the call must be viewed in context and it cannot be taken literally. As convenient as it sounds, it expresses that the call of the burning of the bible is to defend the sanctity of Islam, and it is therefore not seditious as he was defending a religion.
But what move is that towards Christianity? Is it allowed to defend a religion by attacking another?
Ibrahim Ali too claims that people are being biased against him. He claims himself as a moderate person, and does not understand why even the 25 prominent Malays, who recently wrote an open letter to call for a moderate dialogue, labelled him as "extremist" and likely insinuate that he is a threat to the nation than what he wants to be.
It's an inspiring and respectable move by Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai to challenge Ibrahim Ali's lawsuit. The court case should be interesting.
I wonder whether he could evoke any laws to challenge Ibrahim Ali's remarks, and have the court probed whether it is seditious and thus take appropriate measure.
Ibrahim Ali is a danger man who does not contribute anything to the nation except instigating hatred between races. He should be brought to court, and challenged, because at the end, moderation will be the victory, not extremism.
Four court cases I have set myself to watch
1) The Federal Court's decision on Anwar's appeal, whether it is rejected or accepted.
2) The Negeri Sembilan appeal on the cross-dressing ban, which was declared unconstitutional by the Court of Appeal as it criminalises Muslim males with Gender Identity Disorder.
3) Sister In Islam (SIS) challenge to quash fatwa, which was granted by the High Court only recently.
4) Katak vs Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai.
Moderates are beginning to stand up against the aggressive oppressive.
Interesting days ahead.
Friday 12 December 2014
Exam
My final exam begins tomorrow and ends next Wednesday, so I'll be very busy.
After my final exam, I'll be more rigorous in updating my daily lives.
My blog serves as my diary, and thus it'll not be left abandoned, because leaving it abandoned would signify I abandon my own life, and I have no intention to do so.
Busy.
After my final exam, I'll be more rigorous in updating my daily lives.
My blog serves as my diary, and thus it'll not be left abandoned, because leaving it abandoned would signify I abandon my own life, and I have no intention to do so.
Busy.
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