Friday, January 30, 2009

UMNO Registration is now online


Finally, another feature of modernity and IT-savvy image of UMNO. It's never too late to have the registration process online. Just some pointers for keen applicants who are not giving up just yet in times of turmoil and despair, don't use Mozilla because it doesn't support it. Use IE and the latest or recent version. There was a bug though. When I selected "Wilayah Persekutuan" as mailing address for a colleague, it prints "Perlis" in the print preview.

Despite the 'archaic' look, it serves its purpose for now. Let's observe how fast and efficient approval comes along.

Click here for registration.
Click here to visit the Kelab Penyokong UMNO group on fb.
UMNO President launching the website.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Obama Sets to Fulfill Another Campaign Promise


The beginning of higher standards for emission that the US has been trying to dodge for years with Kyoto and such? Obama thinks not. Obama is pushing states to create legislations for higher standards despite cringing from Detroit. California is taking the lead.

Obama was also interviewed recently by Al-Arabiya, addressing the Muslim nations to extend America's new foreign policy of stronger friendship and family ties. Coming from a family with Muslim members also, he is trying to win the hearts and minds of the moderates to reject extreme Muslims who resort to violence to achieve political objectives. He is also endorsing Israeli's rights to defend from external threats. He does sound like Bush prior to Sept 11. At any rate, we'll give him the benefit of the doubt to be wiser than his predecessors in dealing with the Middle East.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Obama Watch

1. Obama avoided his predecessors mistakes by preparing and planning his transition hard and well. He got on the ground running on his first day as POTUS by phoning world leaders in the Middle East and discussing the Gaza conflict.

2. His next step is to close Gitmo, the infamous detention center which supposedly escaped the Geneva Convention embodiment on enemy combatants and the use of torture. The principal issue surrounding this is the relocation and reprocessing of current detainees.

3. He has also kept Robert Gates as SecDef, a clear indication of his intention to maintain continuity in the military front and commence sketching withdrawal plans for troops in Iraq. His new military focus will be Afghanistan stating that the war on terror began in Afghanistan and will end there. He has also signed an Executive Order to ban the use of waterboarding and other "advanced techniques" for interrogation used by non-military agencies such as the CIA.

4. Republicans have begun their onslaught and dubbing the President's economic stimulus package as ineffective and irrelevant. Obama plans to repair roads, bridges and buildings all over the country to keep Americans working. Republicans fear that the plan may not be sufficient to tackle the crisis (more jobs will be lost compared to the new jobs created).

Click here to track Obama's Campaign promises.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Politicians Say The Darnest Things

Compiled By Amir Muhammad, Off The Edge

"Malaysia is rich in geology. We have to protect the geology that is our national treasure".

N Gobalakrishnan. When a backbencher asked if he meant to say 'natural resources' instead of 'geology', he replied "Geology is everything. I got it from Wikipedia." (Parliament Hansard, 25 June 2008).

"I have just returned from Sarawak. And because of corruption....there is still no road to my kampung."

N Gobalakrishnan. Others found this puzzling because he is from Perak and his constituency is in Kedah. Exasperated at the incessant heckling that he was receiving elsewhere in his speech, he challenged Islamil Mohd Said (BN - Kuala Krau) to 'stand up if you are jantan.' When the latter stood up, Gobalakrishnan dismissed him with, 'Ah no, he's a betina.' (Malay Mail, 17 December 2007).

"Football is only one kind of sport. And in this sport we have sometimes succeeded and sometimes failed."

Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Yee Jeck Seng, while saying that the alarm over the low standards of Malaysian sports, especially football, is exaggerated. Two backbenchers then helped to clarify whether Malaysia was ranked 160th or 170th in the world. His reply did not please anyone from either the Opposition or the government. He ended his speech by saying, "I have only been Deputy Minister for seven months." (Malay Mail, 24 October 2008).

"Mana bocor? Batu Gajah pun bocor setiap bulan"

Former MP Mohd Said (BN - Jasin) and MP Bung Mokhtar (BN - Kinabatangan) during a heated debate with MP Fong Po Kuan (DAP - Batu Gajah) at Parliament.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Here we go again

Another protest in on the horizon to show dissent for another concert by a Western artist. This boycott is organized by the young turks in PAS calling the concert indirectly a tool to fund further Israeli aggression through foreign aids paid by the US government.

There are numerous inconsistencies in their stands. The young turks are protesting because of Rihanna's outfits. The artist has vowed to dress up decently to show her respect for our values and beliefs. The FT Youth Chief was cited by Star that the performance by Rihanna is an insult to Eastern artists. Perhaps the young Youth Chief could cite a few sources and convictions, unless he is an artist himself. PAS also mentioned that Rihanna's fashion is against "Asian values". They might want to elaborate further and enlighten the Malaysian public what it means by "Asian values".

PAS may think they have popularity right now after wrestling the KT seat (reminding ourselves that it was only a 2,000 some majority in a Malay-centric population, but a win is a win) from BN. Nevertheless, the federal territory is a different beast all together. PAS leadership needs to put a leash on these young puppies and acknowledge that if these are the best arguments they could craft to justify a cause, they need more artillery fire and erudition to convince people that they're not trying to manifest themselves as extremists. If they are, they should start with boycotting Astro and RTM and asking the newscasters to "tutup aurat".

A modicum of common sense might not hurt the young turks. Try to remember who organizes concerts better than anyone.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

ANC Rips Israel

CAPE TOWN (JTA) -- African National Congress lawmakers said Israeli abuses against Palestinians "make apartheid look like a Sunday school picnic."

Christopher Dickey of Newsweek calls for Arabs to reform first before demanding rights for the Palestinians. Arabs need to embrace justice and democracy as cardinal rules of their societybefore trying to impose and preach civic righteousness and social justice to others.

Nevertheless, the lack of democracy in the Arab world does not justify occupation and mass murder of thousands of innocent lives in Palestine.

Israel seeks to control Palestinian finances by blocking funds transferred to Abbas, citing possibilities of the funds to be utilized by Hamas. Obviously, what Israel meant was whether the funds will be used for Hamas to retaliate. While Israel continues to receive foreign aid from the US government to fuel and arm its massive and sophisticated armed forces, the Palestinians are continued to be oppressed economically and physically. This is the point where OIC needs to intervene, immediately. We all know UN lacks the political will to execute anything. This was clearly proven during the Iraq invasion.

Mission Accomplished for IDF

Israel has now pledged to withdraw its troops from Gaza and cease the 3-week conflagration. They are withdrawing their troops as we speak, admitting that Israel has completed their military objectives. After 22,000 buildings demolished by precision munition and tank shelling, 1300 lives and 20 cheap inaccurate rockets fired into Israel, IDF begins its withdrawal and expects a ceasefire from both sides.

Malaysia is calling United Nations to setup a war crime tribunal for Israel over Gaza. Malaysia has also called for OIC to establish a defence alliance ala NATO to act as buffer between IDF and the poorly-armed and poorly-financed Palestinians. This would ensure an absolute cease fire while border discussion is underway.

The Israeli Defence Force is one of the few armed forces in the world which calls itself a Defence Force. It's been anything but a defence force since its incursion into Palestinian territories.

The Haaretz reported that IDF has indiscriminately killed children and innocent civilians. The death toll is now at 1234. One British MP excuses the Israeli government of using the Holocaust as an excuse to justify its incursion into Gaza. His grandmother, who died at the hands of the Nazi, did not die so that the IDF could slaughter Palestinian grandmothers.

When the Qataris were trying to broker a truce between Israelis and Palestinians, the Saudis and Egyptians boycotted the summit. What were the Saudis afraid of? Afraid of the rising influence of the Persians in the region? The Arabs are known to be tribal, bitter and resentful of one another. As long as this continues, the hope for peace in the middle east is bleak regardless of how unbiased Obama would turn out to be in crafting his foreign policies for the Middle East.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

The 44th Gets Ready for Battle


1 day from inauguration, Obama gets his transition team ready for the real transition. He has made his selection for key economic advisory positions and cabinet posts. He has made promises of closing down Gitmo, create 2.5 million jobs in the green industry, increase taxes for the rich, reform healthcare and above all, cure the ailing economy (he is expected to approve a USD 1 trillion economic aid package). Obama will also end the war in Iraq and focus his tactical attention on Afghanistan.

Critics have begun their spinning and others are giving their 3 cents worth of how Obama should run his presidency. Fred Barnes of weeklystandard.com thinks Obama is a spoof, second-guessing the soon-to-be President would not make tough, decisive calls despite his army of Ivy-league elites. Some are stating the obvious that Bush's mistakes will be Obama's lessons of things not to do, especially with regards to foreign policy.

Friedman wants Obama to hold the some 300 bank presidents responsible and start scrutinizing their balance sheets. “So here’s what we’re going to do: we’re going to unclog the arteries. My banking experts have analyzed each of your balance sheets. You will tell us if we’re right. Those of you who are insolvent, we will nationalize and shut down. We will auction off your viable assets and will hold the toxic ones in a government reconstruction fund and sell them later when the market rebounds. Those of you who are weak will be merged. And those of you who are strong will receive added capital for your balance sheets, after you write down all your remaining toxic waste. I am not going to continue rewarding the losers and dimwits amongst you with handouts.”

Obama will also be tasked to expedite peace process in the middle east, an issue past presidents have failed to complete, for whatever reason. He will also be tested as to how he will tackle terrorism, disassociate it from Islam and conclude the ridiculous and failed campaign of 'War on Terror'. At any rate, his constituency is not only Americans, but also the entire planet, waiting to see what change he would do that we could believe in.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Barisan Nasional Will Fall If It Fails To Reform

This is the message by TDM if BN fails to reform. Both Permatang Pauh and KT by-election are sufficient indicators to measure the level of discontent for the coalition. Several factors have been identified as contributors to the loss from no confidence in BN and UMNO's current leadership, selection of candidate to state machinery infighting.

Whatever the reason, the majority has spoken in Kuala Terengganu. Will we hear a different voice in the 13th General Election? Will BN be given its first national defeat in the next general election? Possibly, if BN fails to reform. This is also coming from staunch supporters of UMNO and Barisan Nasional. Its members are tired of seeing corrupt leaders getting nominated and elected, subsequently running the powerful government machinery.
Many have accussed TDM for being a hypocrite as the plague of money politics started during his era of presidency. Nevertheless, it does not explain why suddenly Barisan Nasional is receiving this level of disapproval. Some may say it is the advent of blogs and alternative media. There was no such element used for political purposes during TDM's rule.

At any rate, we were expecting some level of awareness of what needs to be done to change public perception of UMNO during the divisional election last year. We were naive to believe that. A massive organization such as UMNO would react against any form of reform or change. Some just want to 'cari makan'. Whatever the excuse they utilize to justify what it is they're doing, others are hoping for a defeat. It may be the only way of reforming the fractured party.

Watch out for Sarawak state election.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Why are Jews so powerful?

Here's a good article about the backwardness of Muslims combined in this world. Despite the fact of having a strong 1-billion followers, the Muslims fall behind in every aspect of education, economic prowess and social standing. This is measured with number of universities in islamic countries, literacy rate, books produced, GDP, scientists, discoveries and other indicators. Despite the fact that most Islamic countries are laden with resources such as oil, we are still behind.

The first message from God to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was Iqra' (read), which clearly demonstrates the need for literacy and knowledge for greater purposes in life.

By: Dr Farrukh Saleem

The writer is an Islamabad-based freelance columnist

There are only 14 million Jews in the world; seven million in the Americas, five million in Asia, two million in Europe and 100,000 in Africa. For every single Jew in the world there are 100 Muslims. Yet, Jews are more than a hundred times more powerful than all the Muslims put together. Ever wondered why? Read more here.

Why are Muslims so powerless? There are an estimated 1,476,233,470 Muslims on the face of the planet: one billion in Asia, 400 million in Africa, 44 million in Europe and six million in the Americas. Every fifth human being is a Muslim; for every single Hindu there are two Muslims, for every Buddhist there are two Muslims and for every Jew, there are one hundred Muslims.

Ever wondered why Muslims are so powerless?

Here is why: There are 57 member-countries of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), and all of them put together have around 500 universities; one university for every three million Muslims. The United States has 5,758 universities and India has 8,407. In 2004, Shanghai
Jiao Tong University compiled an 'Academic Ranking of World Universities', and intriguingly, not one university from Muslim-majority states was in the top-500. As per data collected by the UNDP, literacy in the Christian world stands at nearly 90 per cent and 15 Christian-majority states have a literacy rate of 100 per cent.

A Muslim-majority state, as a sharp contrast, has an average literacy rate of around 40 per cent and there is no Muslim-majority state with a literacy rate of 100 per cent. Read more here.


Noble prize winners

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Liberating America From Israel

By Former Congressman Paul Findley 9-12-2


Nine-eleven would not have occurred if the U.S. government had refused to help Israel humiliate and destroy Palestinian society. Few express this conclusion publicly, but many believe it is the truth. I believe the catastrophe could have been prevented if any U.S. president during the past 35 years had had the courage and wisdom to suspend all U.S. aid until Israel withdrew from the Arab land seized in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.


The U.S. lobby for Israel is powerful and intimidating, but any determined president - even President Bush this very day - could prevail and win overwhelming public support for the suspension of aid by laying these facts before the American people:


Israel's present government, like its predecessors, is determined to annex the West Bank - biblical Judea and Samaria - so Israel will become Greater Israel. Ultra-Orthodox Jews, who maintain a powerful role in Israeli politics, believe the Jewish Messiah will not come until Greater Israel is a reality. Although a minority in Israel, they are committed, aggressive, and influential. Because of deep religious conviction, they are determined to prevent Palestinians from gaining statehood on any part of the West Bank.


In its violent assaults on Palestinians, Israel uses the pretext of eradicating terrorism, but its forces are actually engaged advancing the territorial expansion just cited. Under the guise of anti-terrorism, Israeli forces treat Palestinians worse than cattle. With due process nowhere to be found, hundreds are detained for long periods and most are tortured. Some are assassinated. Homes, orchards, and business places are destroyed. Entire cities are kept under intermittent curfew, some confinements lasting for weeks. Injured or ill Palestinians needing emergency medical care are routinely held at checkpoints for an hour or more. Many children are undernourished. The West Bank and Gaza have become giant concentration camps. None of this could have occurred without U.S. support. Perhaps Israeli officials believe life will become so unbearable that most Palestinians will eventually leave their ancestral homes.


Once beloved worldwide, the U.S. government finds itself reviled in most countries because it provides unconditional support of Israeli violations of the United Nations Charter, international law, and the precepts of all major religious faiths.


How did the American people get into this fix?


Nine-eleven had its principal origin 35 years ago when Israel's U.S. lobby began its unbroken success in stifling debate about the proper U.S. role in the Arab-Israeli conflict and effectively concealed from public awareness the fact that the U.S. government gives massive uncritical support to Israel.


Thanks to the suffocating influence of Israel's U.S. lobby, open discussion of the Arab-Israeli conflict has been non-existent in our government all these years. I have firsthand knowledge, because I was a member of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee in June 1967 when Israeli military forces took control of the Golan Heights, a part of Syria, as well as the Palestinian West Bank and Gaza. I continued as a member for 16 years and to this day maintain a close watch on Congress.

For 35 years, not a word has been expressed in that committee or in either chamber of Congress that deserves to be called debate on Middle East policy. No restrictive or limiting amendments on aid to Israel have been offered for 20 years, and none of the few offered in previous years received more than a handful of votes. On Capitol Hill, criticism of Israel, even in private conversation, is all but forbidden, treated as downright unpatriotic, if not anti-Semitic. The continued absence of free speech was assured when those few who spoke out-Senators Adlai Stevenson and Charles Percy, and Reps. Paul "Pete" McCloskey, Cynthia McKinney, Earl Hilliard, and myself-were defeated at the polls by candidates heavily financed by pro-Israel forces.


As a result, legislation dealing with the Middle East has been heavily biased in favor of Israel and against Palestinians and other Arabs year after year. Home constituencies, misled by news coverage equally lop-sided in Israel's favor, remain largely unaware that Congress behaves as if it were a subcommittee of the Israeli parliament.


However, the bias is widely noted beyond America, where most news media candidly cover Israel's conquest and generally excoriate America's complicity and complacency. When President Bush welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, sometimes called the Butcher of Beirut, as "my dear friend" and "a man of peace" after Israeli forces, using U.S.-donated arms, completed their devastation of the West Bank last spring, worldwide anger against American policy reached the boiling point.


The fury should surprise no one who reads foreign newspapers or listens to BBC. In several televised statements long before 9/11,Osama bin Laden, believed by U.S. authorities to have masterminded 9/11, cited U.S. complicity in Israel's destruction of Palestinian society as a principal complaint. Prominent foreigners, in and out of government, express their opposition to U.S. policies with unprecedented frequency and severity, especially since Bush announced his determination to make war against Iraq.


The lobby's intimidation remains pervasive. It seems to reach every government center and even houses of worship and revered institutions of higher learning. It is highly effective in silencing the many U.S. Jews who object to the lobby's tactics and Israel's brutality.


Nothing can justify 9/11. Those guilty deserve maximum punishment, but it makes sense for America to examine motivations promptly and as carefully as possible. Terrorism almost always arises from deeply-felt grievances. If they can be eradicated or eased, terrorist passions are certain to subside.


Today, a year after 9/11, President Bush has made no attempt to redress grievances, or even to identify them. In fact, he has made the scene far worse by supporting Israel's religious war against Palestinians, an alliance that has intensified anti-American anger. He seems oblivious to the fact that nearly two billion people worldwide regard the plight of Palestinians as today's most important foreign-policy challenge. No one in authority will admit a calamitous reality that is skillfully shielded from the American people but clearly recognized by most of the world: America suffered 9/11 and its aftermath and may soon be at war with Iraq, mainly because U.S. policy in the Middle East is made in Israel, not in Washington.


Israel is a scofflaw nation and should be treated as such. Instead of helping Sharon intensify Palestinian misery, our president should suspend all aid until Israel ends its occupation of Arab land Israel seized in 1967. The suspension would force Sharon's compliance or lead to his removal from office, as the Israeli electorate will not tolerate a prime minister who is at odds with the White House.


If Bush needs an additional reason for doing the right thing, he can justify the suspension as a matter of military necessity, an essential step in winning international support for his war on terrorism. He can cite a worthy precedent. When President Abraham Lincoln issued the proclamation that freed only the slaves in states that were then in rebellion, he make the restriction because of "military necessity."


If Bush suspends U.S. aid, he will liberate all Americans from long years of bondage to Israel's misdeeds.


Mr. Paul Findley, who served as a Republican congressman from Illinois for 22 years, is the author of 'They Dare to Speak Out' and a member of the American Educational Trust's Foreign Relations Committee


From RePortersNoteBook.com

Friday, January 16, 2009

State Car Watch

State excos travel a bit to conduct their daily affairs as Wakil Rakyat. As such, their vehicles take a beating on mileage and maintenance. As a result, Terengganu took the lead with their purchase of Benzes, claiming that the Perdana V6 cost too much for maintenance.

Other states subsequently followed suit, with Perak and Selangor purchasing Toyotas. Pak Lah then ordered Terengganu to only use the new fleet of Mercs for ferrying state visitors only. To no one's surprise, the excos went on to use the cars anyway and disregarded Pak Lah. Dato' Zaabar, one of the proud user of the newly acquired Mercedes Benz was quoted saying that "the issue was overblown".

Khalid Ibrahim had assured Selangor people that he would use his own car to reduce the state expense, then later purchased cars for other excos. Now, KT is claiming Khalid bought a Lexus SUV for his use. Nik Nazmi accussed KT of approving funds for his own Mercedes Benz S350 when he was MB.


So our home-grown Proton is losing support from our own state governments. I can understand providing our elected politicians with reliable vehicles to travel, as they do this quite a bit. The federal government has been using the V6 for years. Why is this an issue now, especially when we are in the midst of an economic downturn? Well, for sure, Malaysians know how to prioritize.

Kedah timbang guna V6
Perak Exco needs bigger cars
Proton: Maintenance cost of Perdana V6 not high
Kualiti V6 Perdana Tak Elok - Azizan
Perak Exco to Get Camry
Selangor Govt Denies Buying Cars

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Acing an Interview and Writing Smashing Resumes


Talks about job losses probably take center stage in the media after Israeli incursion and KT by-election. It's not a half-bad idea to update your resume, at least quarterly. Writing good resumes and getting prepared for interviews seemed trivial to many, however, I'm amazed as to how much recruiters tell me about the current sorry state of our youngsters these days. Poor command of the English language is the most common trait among candidates. For experienced hires, resumes and interviews are taken less seriously given that they think they've seen the circus and can weather a good barrage of tough questions. If you do not possess a unique skill to offer to the market and would be competing with thousands others for a particular job, start preparing yourself. The common mistake people do when writing resumes is trying to cramp everything that they've done in their lifetime. The trick is to showcase highlights of your career. Keep it short and concise. Recruiters do not have time to peruse a 6-page resume. In an interview, try not to present yourself as flawless, rather show them your strengths and best of all, what you are doing to work on your weak spots.

Here's a good article from Forbes about interviews and writing resumes.
Being good at your job no longer suffices
Here's a good article about getting noticed doing a good job, rather than getting unnoticed doing a great job.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Rob Got Whipped

Rob's Comments on TDM's Open Letter to President-Elect Obama:

Dr. Mahathir Mohamad wants the United States to weaken ourselves because he is intimidated and fearful of our more advanced society. Many countries are becoming obsolete due to advances in technology and don’t know how keep up.

Dr. Mahathir Mohamad pretends the United States did NOT suffer an attack on our homeland where 3000 of our innocent citizens were incinerated in their place of employment. He wants us to let dictators, governments and terrorists organize and plan their acts of evil.

Dr. Mahathir Mohamad wants the United States to stop defending itself and to stop killing terrorists. He thinks the United States is to blame for evil in this world, and it has absolutely nothing to do with primitive cultures, archaic religions, aggressive and torturous fathers who know nothing about how to raise boys to be good and productive adults. The fact that terrorists hide behind women and children is irrelevant to him.

He wants us to stop supporting Israel, who’s citizens are regularly terrorized by suicide bombers and are regularly bombed from Hamas operatives launching rockets from civilian garages.

Dr. Mahathir Mohamad thinks the United States should stop punishing bad behavior and thinks we should have continued to allow Saddam Hussein kill people with poison gas and bury them in mass graves.

According to him, the rape and torture rooms should still be open and people continue to be fed to the lions (after all, lions have to eat also).

Dr. Mahathir Mohamad wants us to stop defending ourselves with advanced technology, like missile defense systems and weapons which kill fewer civilians. He also wants the United States to end capitalism, which shares the basic human need for freedom and liberty. He does not want us to have any allies in this world that share these ideals and wants us to sign international agreements to weaken the United States and appease his anxiety over his countries weakness and incompetence.

Finally, we should apparently join him in appeasement, incompetence and wasting time and money through the United Nations.
Dr. Mahathir Mohamad should go back to school, perhaps in the United States, and start informing himself somewhat better.

>> Rob got dismantled by the more eloquent TDM.

"3. Sorry for the 3,000 of your innocent citizens incinerated in their place of employment. At least three of those incinerated were actually Malaysians. I understand hardly any Jews were in the building. They were not incinerated".

"4. But consider the 300,000 Vietnamese, 50,000 Afghans, 100,000 Iraqis whom you have killed. Mostly they were not soldiers. They were not working in the offices either. They were babies, schoolchildren, sick men and women in hospitals. Of course they could all be terrorists, including the babies and the schoolchildren".

"11. I think you need to go to school to improve your knowledge and understanding of what is happening around you, not American school of course because obviously they don't teach anything beyond glorifying the genocides perpetrated by you throughout history".

My Lai Massacre by the US Army

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

OIC Defence Alliance


After September 11, the US waged an all out offensive labeled the 'War on Terror'. The US quickly labeled Iran, Iraq and North Korea as the 'Axis of Evil'. With reports from the broken intelligence community of Iraq amassing Weapons of Mass Destruction, US launched the biggest military offensive since World War II, footing bills amounting to USD20B a month (UN reported a few years ago that it would cost some USD 70B to solve world hunger) despite their shrinking economy back home.

Israeli has not denied the use of white phosphorous in their assault in Gaza. The chemical burns the skin and has been classified as illegal in the Geneva Convention even if it's used against enemy combatants. Even with this blatant violation, not even the UN or US could stop the incursion and escalating number of Palestinian deaths. The UN seems incapable of enforcing its resolution. There is no logic to force Hamas to stop firing cheap, inaccurate rockets after they have suffered thousands of deaths. The logic is to force the aggressor to withdraw, not the kids throwing rocks at tanks.

What the OIC needs to do immediately is form a NATO-like defence agreement comprising of troops from OIC countries. This peace-keeping force will act as buffer between the Israelis and Palestinians. Only then negotiations could recommence. Similar to NATO article 5, if a nation member is attacked, then the attack represents an assault on all members. This is the kind of partnership islamic countries must have. The UN is no longer relevant or effective in this crisis.

Israel rains Gaza with Phosphorous shells

Monday, January 12, 2009

Friday, January 9, 2009

Umat Islam Lemah, Palestin Menjadi Mangsa



Palestin telah menyaksikan beberapa pertukaran pemerintahan sejak 3000 tahun yang dulu. Orang Islam telah memerintah jajahan ini selama 8 kurun, Yahudi selama 2 kurun dan sebelum itu dikuasai oleh Farsi dan Rom (Byzantine).

Menurut kitab Hebrew pula, keturunan Nabi Ibrahim telah dijanjikan tanah oleh Tuhan dan tanah ini kerap dipanggil "the Promised Land" (Israel pula bermaksud "Land of the Hebrew"). Penurunan kitab kepada Nabi Isa juga dikatakan telah berlaku dalam kawasan Palestin.

Mengikut sejarah, orang2 Yahudi (yang bukan pendatang dari Eropah, tetapi orang2 asal tanah Palestin) telah mendirikan kuil pertama sewaktu pemerintahan Raja Sulaiman (King Solomon), 1000 tahun sebelum Masihi.

Mereka diserang oleh tentera Asyria (Iraq masa sekarang) dan dihantar ke Babylonia. Selepas penubuhan empayar Farsi, mereka kembali ke Palestin dan diberi tanah untuk penempatan semula.

300 tahun sebelum Masihi, Farsi dikalahkan oleh empayar Greek diketuai oleh Iskandar atau Alexander the Great. Selepas kejatuhan Iskandar, kawasan jajahan empayar itu dibahagi antara jeneral2 Alexander. Berlaku beberapa perang saudara untuk merebut tanah. Selepas itu, dunia menyaksikan kebangkitan empayar Rom yang menakluki sebahagian besar Eropah dan kawasan Mediterranean.

Sekitar tahun 630 menyaksikan pemerintahan Palestin oleh Saidina Omar, salah seorang Khalifah. Orang Yahudi dibenarkan kembali ke Palestin setelah diusir oleh penjajah Rom dan dibuang negara selama 500 tahun. Masjid Al-Aqsr juga dibina pada zaman pemerintahan beliau. Selepas pemerintahan Saidina Omar, Palestin terus diperintah di bawah empayar Islam (Mesir dan Ottoman) sehingga tahun 1917.

Selepas Perang Dunia II, dunia telah menyaksikan pemindahan pendatang2 Yahudi dari Eropah yang tidak bertanah dan ditempatkan di Palestin untuk berlindung dari kekejaman Nazi. Tanah penempatan untuk pendatang-pendatang asing ini diberi status negara oleh Amerika Syarikat dan Britain. Sikit demi sedikit, orang2 Yahudi merampas tanah jajahan mereka. Sekarang orang2 Palestin pula diusir seperti mana Yahudi diusir oleh tentera Byzantine.

Jiran-jiran Arab beberapa dekad dahulu sememangnya memihak saudara2 Islam mereka dari Palestin. Beberapa peperangan telah tercetus antara negara2 Islam dan tentera Israel, yang memang hebat dengan peralatan canggih mereka buatan sendiri dan Amerika. Lama kelamaan, jiran2 ini seolah2 telah dibeli satu persatu oleh Amerika dengan dana2 dari carigali minyak dan gas.

Kuasa2 Arab juga tercabar apabila Palestin menjalankan pilihanraya mereka yang pertama, meletakkan Hamas sebagai pemerintah negara. Ini merupakan titik permulaan demokrasi di benua Timur Tengah. Mungkin orang2 Arab takut hilang kuasa, takutkan dengan negara2 Imperialis yang lebih kuat atau tiada minat untuk mempertahankan saudara2 Islam mereka. Yang pasti, semuanya hanya memberi omong2 kosong sahaja. Resolusi2 yang diputuskan oleh PBB akan sentiasa diveto oleh Amerika. Resolusi PBB tidak akan mematahkan serangan dan bedilan tentera Zionis yang biadap.

Pencerobohan baru2 ini seolah2 dilakukan untuk menarik perhatian umum dari bimbang dengan kegawatan ekonomi Amerika yang begitu tenat. Nampak gayanya, hanya ada dua cara sahaja untuk menyelesaikan masalah ini, dari segi ekonomi atau ketenteraan.

Dari segi ekonomi, negara2 Islam boleh bersatu dan memboikot penggunaan dolar Amerika. Hanya dengan cara ini negara Amerika akan dipaksa membuat sesuatu dan kembali ke meja rundingan. Tetapi hal ini tidak akan berlaku kerana peperangan merupakan salah satu sumber ekonomi utama Amerika. Serangan ekonomi mungkin tidak efektif kerana dunia masih memerlukan produk keluaran Amerika. Maka, kita hanya mempunyai satu cara yang tinggal untuk menyelesaikan konflik ini.

Tuhan tidak akan mengubah nasib kita kecuali kita berusaha untuk mengubah nasib kita. Boikot dan bantahan suara boleh dibuat, cuma ianya tidak mencukupi kerana tentera Zionis yang tidak mempedulikan komuniti dunia. Kalau negara Islam mengambil tindakan individu, kesannya tidak seberapa kerana negara Islam masih lemah dari segi ekonomi dan ketenteraan. Hanya dengan kerjasama yang erat dan akrab dapat mematahkan serangan luaran. Tetapi kerana kedegilan orang2 Arab, saya berpendapat bahawa konflik ini akan berterusan sehingga seluruh kawasan Palestin dijajah sepenuhnya.

Umat Islam di rantau itu sememangnya lemah. Pihak yang saya labelkan lemah bukannya orang2 Palestin yang bersemangat tinggi untuk sentiasa menentang kekejaman Zionis. Orang2 Islam lemah yang saya labelkan adalah jiran2 Palestin yang hipokrit dan mementingkan diri sendiri sahaja. Orang2 Islam di Malaysia perlu mengambil iktibar dari episod yang amat sedih ini.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Major Social Issues


What a way to start our new year 2009. The eve of new year was tainted with news of sex party raided in KL. News of mat rempits in the city breaching police blockades also captured some air time the next day. Yesterday, a gang of them seriously injured one of our policeman.

A few teenagers were interviewed and admitted that they were addicted to sex. Somehow, the pre-marital sex issue, baby dumping, mat rempit, drug abuse and other social ills are plaguing the Malays. I am not saying the other races do not have these problems, but the Malays cloud their numbers any day.

These social ills are painting a bleak future for the Malay kids. Statistically speaking, most of them lack education and would be rejected later in the job market (if they even finish their papers). Who will save these kids from more misery? It only takes a little bit of push until they adopt the life of crime. Forget the 2,000,000 sophisticated new voters whom UMNO are trying to woo for the next election. These problematic kids should be given a higher priority for the sake of human capital development.

For Mat Rempits, make them pay dearly. Launch a nation-wide campaign to clamp their activities down. Show no mercy. Penalize parents for blatant negligence and lack of supervision. Discipline is required, not mild counseling and mundane community service. Crack the whip.

What about the pre-marital sex and baby dumping problems?

Shocked by sexploit
Menace to Society
Teens addicted to sex

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

The Malaysian Indians Rejecting Both Sides


From the last General Election in March, the Indians indicated that they have rejected the MIC leadership and rendered the component party incompetent of championing the rights of the Indians in Malaysia. As a result, the voters swung their support to Anwar's Pakatan Rakyat. Anwar must have promised them the world to gain their backing back in March.

Subsequently, Hindraf was born. Hindraf sparked numerous controversies including its allegation of genocide in Malaysia and disrupting the Prime Minister's Hari Raya open house. The latter caused a big stir among the majority Muslims as insulting and disrespectful. Despite all the oppression and alleged genocide, somehow the leadership of Hindraf was spared, having become a fraternity of rich and well to do lawyers in this country. Certain groupings in the Bar Council are testament to that fact.

Meanwhile, in Barisan Nasional, both PPP and MIC leaders lost their bids in their respective Parliamentary election in March. Kayveas of PPP since then has become a strong critic of the government, especially on the controversial but necessary Internal Security Act. Despite his effort to show that he is still fighting tooth and nail for some cause, he has been urged to step down by party members. The same could be said about Samy Vellu. Ever since the destruction of MIC in the last election, the pressure has been mounting to get the incumbent President for the last 2 decades to pass the baton to the next in line.

Dato' Nalla left Pakatan Rakyat and formed his own party, the Malaysian Indian United Party. Dubbed as Anwar Ibrahim's right hand man, he had left Pakatan due to his lost of confidence in the de facto PKR leader. He boasted a strong 10,000 membership in MIUP. Dato' Nalla was also seen with Barisan Nasional machinery during the Permatang Pauh by-election.

Kapar MP Manikavasagam
relinquished his post in Pakatan Rakyat over his claims of Pakatan Rakyat being insensitive to the Indians. Recently, the Indians in Pakatan Rakyat claimed they have little stake in the coalition and also gave Anwar Ibrahim an ultimatum to resolve their issues or face further action from them. Anwar must be a political demigod if he could indeed magically cure this ailing before getting more heat from the Indians. Kulasegaran was unhappy with Anwar's promise for the post of Ipoh Deputy Mayor but later was only given a post as Councillor. He recently gave up his post in the Council.

Where would the Indian votes go to then for the next general election?

Sunday, January 4, 2009

THE KUALA LUMPUR FOUNDATION TO CRIMINALISE WAR


By
Dr. Mahathir Mohamad
on January 2, 2009 6:02 PM

The barbaric and wanton massacre of the Palestinians in Gaza which started some days ago and is now still continuing is yet another example of the blatant war crimes committed by Zionist Israel since its establishment in 1948.

Supported and encouraged by the United States and Britain, Israel has ignored international condemnation and insists that she has the unfettered right to murder innocent men, women and children on account of some rocket attacks by Palestinians who were retaliating against the blockade of Gaza. The blockade over the last 9 months has brought starvation and untold suffering to the Palestinians. The heroic Palestinian people have every right to take action in self-defence to break this inhuman siege.

The United Nations has condemned this attempt to starve and deny the medical needs of the Palestinians in order to force them into submission, but as usual, Israel backed by the United States has ignored international opinion and international law.

The peace loving peoples of the world must not just sympathise with the Palestinians but must take concrete action to bring the war criminals to justice.

For various reasons Governments will not do anything to put a stop to Israeli intransigence. It remains for the people to take positive action individually or through their Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO).

We propose that the peoples of the world boycott Israeli products and stop all trade with Israel.

Secondly we call upon the international community to abandon the use of the US Dollar in international trade, and to stop buying United States' bonds. Such purchases have enabled the United States to grant substantial aid to Israel and to supply it with the weapons now being used against the people in Gaza and elsewhere. The concerned peace loving peoples of the world must not, even if it is in a small way, be the participants and financiers in the massacre of the Palestinians, the Iraqis and the Afghans.

Finally we call upon the United Nations General Assembly to condemn Israel the same way that the Security Council condemns Darfur, Rwanda and Burundi and to set up a Tribunal to try Israeli war criminals.

Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad

Chairman

Kuala Lumpur Foundation to Criminalise War

and Perdana Global Peace Organisation

From: http://www.chedet.cc/

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Obama on Israel


Millions of people were moved by Obama's campaign of change. Obama has been critical of George W Bush's way of tackling terrorism and domestic economic issues. The President-Elect has been huddling up with his newly-formed economic council to create an effective stimulus package to steer America back on track. Obama's rhetoric to develop alternative energy and create 2.5 million additional jobs caught the attention of American voters. George Bush's War on Terror was indeed a big blunder. Obama capitalized on that failure and on January 20th, he will be the 44th President of the United States of America.

The biggest question the people of the world are asking is, what is his stance on the long-drawn Israeli-Palestinian conflict? Will he push for the return of Palestenian land pre-1967? Will he continue to supply Israel with weapons and foreign aid? Time will tell.

7th Day of Israeil offensive
The problems of Israel and Palestine
Tun M's open letter to Obama

Friday, January 2, 2009

Menace To Society


Update 8/5/09: Tan Sri IGP proposes setting up rehab centers for Mat Rempit
Update 6/1: Mat Rempits beat up policeman

Putera UMNO's publicity stunt of embracing Mat Rempits has failed miserably. They've achieved training a small group to jump off an airplane with parachutes in the North Pole but unfortunately have failed in improving their economic and social positions. The coming of the new year 2009 was tainted by news of Mat Rempits evading police and creating havoc at road blocks. They are a menace to society. The bigger the group is, the more damage and carnage they demonstrate especially against innocent bystanders and road users. Even the police force has not been spared. Many have been caught not just for traffic violations and vandalism, but for alcohol and drug abuses.

Sadly, only the Malays are involved in this shameful activity. Whether this is a coincedence, no one knows. Many have theorized how this social phenomena had evolved, from poor economic background, the desire for adrenaline rushes to parental negligence. These youngsters risk their lives performing dangerous stunts, racing on the road like speed demons and have no respect for the law.

Obviously, these youngsters are an asset in terms of human capital given the small size of our country. With a strict regime and proper training, they could add value to businesses. If the government is truly interested in salvaging these youngsters and add value to their lives, it has to crack the whip on them with shock & awe. A massive nationwide campaign must be undertaken, not through counseling or talks, but with brute force in clamping down this unfortunate scenary of Malaysian streets. If we could be serious in enforcing the use of seat belts for rear passengers, surely we could conduct a more strategic campaign to eliminate this menace.

Failed campaign

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Open Letter to Barack Hussein Obama President-elect of the United States of America By Dr. Mahathir Mohamad on January 1, 2009 3:59 AM


Dear Mr. President,

I did not vote for you in the Presidential Election because I am Malaysian.

But I consider myself one of your constituents because what you do or say will affect me and my country as well.

I welcome your promise to change. Certainly your country, the United States of America need a lot of changes.

That is because America and Americans have become the best hated people in the world. Even Europeans dislike your arrogance. Yet you were once admired and liked because you freed a lot of countries from conquest and subjugation.

It is the custom on New Year's day for people to make resolutions. You must have listed your good resolutions already. But may I politely suggest that you also resolve to do the following in pursuit of Change.

1) Stop killing people. The United States is too fond of killing people in order to achieve its objectives. You call it war, but today's wars are not about professional soldiers fighting and killing each other. It is about killing people, ordinary innocent people by the hundreds of thousands. Whole countries will be devastated.

War is primitive, the cavemen's way of dealing with a problem. Stop your arms build up and your planning for future wars.

2) Stop indiscriminate support of Israeli killers with your money and your weapons. The planes and the bombs killing the people of Gaza are from you.

3) Stop applying sanctions against countries which cannot do the same against you.

In Iraq your sanctions killed 500,000 children through depriving them of medicine and food. Others were born deformed.

What have you achieved with this cruelty? Nothing except the hatred of the victims and right-thinking people.

4) Stop your scientists and researchers from inventing new and more diabolical weapons to kill more people more efficiently.

5) Stop your arms manufacturers from producing them. Stop your sales of arms to the world. It is blood money that you earn. It is un-Christian.

6) Stop trying to democratize all the countries of the world. Democracy may work for the United States but it does not always work for other countries.

Don't kill people because they are not democratic. Your crusade to democratize countries has killed more people than the authoritarian Governments which you overthrew. And you have not succeeded anyway.

7) Stop the casinos which you call financial institutions. Stop hedge funds, derivatives and currency trading. Stop banks from lending non-existent money by the billions.

Regulate and supervise your banks. Jail the miscreants who made profits from abusing the system.

8) Sign the Kyoto Protocol and other international agreements.

9) Show respect for the United Nations.

I have many other resolutions for change which I think you should consider and undertake.

But I think you have enough on your plate for this 2009th year of the Christian Era.

If you can do only a few of what I suggest you will be remembered by the world as a great leader. Then the United States will again be the most admired nation. Your embassies will be able to take down the high fences and razor-wire coils that surround them.

May I wish you a Happy New Year and a great Presidency.

Yours Sincerely,

Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad

(Former Prime Minister of Malaysia)