2008/08/25
Malaysian diplomat speaks on the P.Ramlee way towards promoting harmonyZakaria Abdul Wahab, Bernama
'nstonline';
SINGAPORE, MON:
“Our country should play P. Ramlee films everyday. His films can teach us how we can live together happily and harmoniously like the good old days,” says the Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore, Datuk N. Parameswaran.
Parameswaran made the comment when asked what his wishes are for Malaysia and Malaysians in conjunction with the 51st National Day celebrations on Sunday.
He said during the P. Ramlee era, all races could go for a Malay ronggeng or joget dance and mixed happily.
(Tan Sri) P. Ramlee, who died in 1973 at a young age of 44, was a Malaysian as well as Singaporean icon long known for his significant contributions to the local, particularly Malay, film and entertainment industries.
He acted in and directed many films that focused on multi-racial themes and people in Malaysia and Singapore, having good relations and living harmoniously.
“But I do not like what I see now,” Parameswaran said, adding that he felt that some racial and religious polarisation may have unfortunately emerged.
He recalled that when he was studying in Universiti Malaya, he and a Malay friend shared a room rented from a Chinese family at Paramount Garden in Petaling Jaya.
“I’m the product of May 13, 1969,” Param, as he being affectionately called by those closed to him, said tersely.Soon after graduation he joined the government service on May 2, 1969, and very soon after that May 13 broke out.
During the difficult days of the May 13 riots, he said the Chinese family helped by giving him and his Malay room-mate food.
“I knew what it was then, when Malaysia was in shambles,” Param said, adding that he disliked with what had happened.
But after the May 13 incident, the country and Malaysians moved forward, never to let such ethnic strife surface again.
“We became one country, blurring the lines of race and religion,” he added.
But Param felt that in recent years some people failed to perpetuate harmonious relations among the Indians, Malays and Chinese.
The High Commissioner wished that Malaysians would go back to the good old days like in the 1960s, like the days of P. Ramlee.
He said Malaysians should emulate what they see in the P. Ramlee movies, which depicted them living together in harmony.
“We should begin to appreciate the differences in our races and religions. I like to see this happen as it is important,” Param said.
In other words, a country with different races but all living in unity and with little discord. Param said he was proud that Malaysia had a system that accommodated all the different races.“You know, our Prime Ministers are protected by our Unit Tindakan Khas boys who come from all races,” he pointed out.
On the Malaysia Day celebrations in Singapore, Param said since it would fall on the fasting month of Ramadan, the high commission would celebrate it with a ’buka puasa’ event at a hotel with about 600 to 800 guests.
For his final wish come Aug 31, Param said, “I want a harmonious Malaysia.” And more P. Ramlee movies to show the way it should be.
Monday, August 25, 2008
UNITY is the word
Friday, 22 August 2008
UNITY is the word
Well, do you agree. Whatever colour is our skin, our blood is still RED. Let us join our hands together. We are born, breed and nurture here, so we are MALAYSIAN. Stay united is the word.
NST Online » Letters2008/08/22
National day: Don't take unity for granted
By : TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE, Kuala Lumpur
AUGUST is of utmost significance to all Malaysians because it is the month to commemorate our independence.
It will be a smaller budget for the 51st Merdeka celebration when compared with the previous years, in view of the present austerity drive by the government.
But despite a drop in its budget, the 51st Merdeka anniversary should remain a spirited event to help remind Malaysians of the significance of the Merdeka celebrations.
We have been independent for 51 years. Although the Malaysian nation may not be perfect, it has weathered many storms and laid the foundation for the attainment of racial harmony and unity.
Let us not jeopardise what we have achieved so far through a spirit of understanding and accommodation. Let us not allow extremism and violence in whatever form to divide the nation, which is our birthplace, our home, our workplace and eventually our final rest destination.
As Malaysians of all races commemorate another anniversary of our independence, allow me to stress once again the very fundamentals that have brought us together, which are the principles contained in the Rukun Negara.
The Rukun Negara is our guide for nation-building and should be respected by all. It is a shared vision for national unity. Its principles should always be upheld and practised for we must never take for granted the stability, peace and harmony we have attained so far.
Many people are taking unity for granted. This is not a healthy development, for in a multiracial, multireligious and multicultural country like Malaysia, continuous efforts must be made by all Malaysians to nurture and reinforce unity.
Malaysians must be prepared to reduce their strong sense of ethnicity in order to achieve "Bangsa Malaysia". We should start accepting each other as Malaysians, regardless of race and religion, and should not be preoccupied with ethnic origin.
UNITY is the word
Well, do you agree. Whatever colour is our skin, our blood is still RED. Let us join our hands together. We are born, breed and nurture here, so we are MALAYSIAN. Stay united is the word.
NST Online » Letters2008/08/22
National day: Don't take unity for granted
By : TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE, Kuala Lumpur
AUGUST is of utmost significance to all Malaysians because it is the month to commemorate our independence.
It will be a smaller budget for the 51st Merdeka celebration when compared with the previous years, in view of the present austerity drive by the government.
But despite a drop in its budget, the 51st Merdeka anniversary should remain a spirited event to help remind Malaysians of the significance of the Merdeka celebrations.
We have been independent for 51 years. Although the Malaysian nation may not be perfect, it has weathered many storms and laid the foundation for the attainment of racial harmony and unity.
Let us not jeopardise what we have achieved so far through a spirit of understanding and accommodation. Let us not allow extremism and violence in whatever form to divide the nation, which is our birthplace, our home, our workplace and eventually our final rest destination.
As Malaysians of all races commemorate another anniversary of our independence, allow me to stress once again the very fundamentals that have brought us together, which are the principles contained in the Rukun Negara.
The Rukun Negara is our guide for nation-building and should be respected by all. It is a shared vision for national unity. Its principles should always be upheld and practised for we must never take for granted the stability, peace and harmony we have attained so far.
Many people are taking unity for granted. This is not a healthy development, for in a multiracial, multireligious and multicultural country like Malaysia, continuous efforts must be made by all Malaysians to nurture and reinforce unity.
Malaysians must be prepared to reduce their strong sense of ethnicity in order to achieve "Bangsa Malaysia". We should start accepting each other as Malaysians, regardless of race and religion, and should not be preoccupied with ethnic origin.
Parents: Teachers targeting Indian pupils
Friday, 22 August 2008
Parents: Teachers targeting Indian pupils
Another extract from The Star.
My personal comment: Well guess we have to believe it otherwise no one will dare to point out. But please do bear in MIND NOT all teachers are like these.
We also have to understand that teachers are human being too. They too have STRESS.
Friday August 22, 2008
Parents: Teachers targeting Indian pupilsBy WANI MUTHIAHKLANG:
More cases of teachers picking on Indian students here have emerged.
Several parents of children attending a primary school here have lodged police reports since November last year alleging that five teachers in the school had physically and verbally abused Indian students.
R. Sathasnam, 52, said he and another parent had complained to the school’s administration repeatedly but the abuses continued.
He alleged that these five teachers regularly hit the students and told them to transfer out of the school, as they (the teachers) were “fed-up of seeing their faces”.“One of the teachers called some Indian students derogatory names ,” alleged Sathasnam.
He alleged that many Indian students were slapped, kicked, punched and caned by these teachers for misdemeanours such as talking while lining-up to enter the classroom.
“My 10-year-old son was lifted-up by the ears by a male teacher and slapped and kicked for talking before entering the classroom after recess in February,” alleged Sathasnam.
He claimed his son’s ears turned blue-black and his cheeks swelled after the beating. When he rushed his son to the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital, the doctor there advised him to file a police report.
Another parent R. Viganaspary, 40, said her son was repeatedly hit on the head with a rolled-up newspaper and caned on the legs for not having a particular exercise book.
Meanwhile, Coalition of Malaysian Indian NGOs secretary Gunaraj George, who met Sathasnam and Viganaspary recently, said the coalition would present a memorandum on the matter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi soon.
“These are young impressionable children and the alleged incidents will only teach them to hate,” said Gunaraj.
When contacted, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Senator T. Murugiah said he would speak to the principal next week when school reopens.
Deputy Education Minister Dr Wee Ka Siong said he would comment only after he had seen copies of the police reports.
The alleged incident in the primary school comes on the heels of the transfer of a teacher from a secondary school in Banting. The teacher is facing an inquiry after she admitted to levelling racial slurs against Indian students.
Parents: Teachers targeting Indian pupils
Another extract from The Star.
My personal comment: Well guess we have to believe it otherwise no one will dare to point out. But please do bear in MIND NOT all teachers are like these.
We also have to understand that teachers are human being too. They too have STRESS.
Friday August 22, 2008
Parents: Teachers targeting Indian pupilsBy WANI MUTHIAHKLANG:
More cases of teachers picking on Indian students here have emerged.
Several parents of children attending a primary school here have lodged police reports since November last year alleging that five teachers in the school had physically and verbally abused Indian students.
R. Sathasnam, 52, said he and another parent had complained to the school’s administration repeatedly but the abuses continued.
He alleged that these five teachers regularly hit the students and told them to transfer out of the school, as they (the teachers) were “fed-up of seeing their faces”.“One of the teachers called some Indian students derogatory names ,” alleged Sathasnam.
He alleged that many Indian students were slapped, kicked, punched and caned by these teachers for misdemeanours such as talking while lining-up to enter the classroom.
“My 10-year-old son was lifted-up by the ears by a male teacher and slapped and kicked for talking before entering the classroom after recess in February,” alleged Sathasnam.
He claimed his son’s ears turned blue-black and his cheeks swelled after the beating. When he rushed his son to the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital, the doctor there advised him to file a police report.
Another parent R. Viganaspary, 40, said her son was repeatedly hit on the head with a rolled-up newspaper and caned on the legs for not having a particular exercise book.
Meanwhile, Coalition of Malaysian Indian NGOs secretary Gunaraj George, who met Sathasnam and Viganaspary recently, said the coalition would present a memorandum on the matter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi soon.
“These are young impressionable children and the alleged incidents will only teach them to hate,” said Gunaraj.
When contacted, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Senator T. Murugiah said he would speak to the principal next week when school reopens.
Deputy Education Minister Dr Wee Ka Siong said he would comment only after he had seen copies of the police reports.
The alleged incident in the primary school comes on the heels of the transfer of a teacher from a secondary school in Banting. The teacher is facing an inquiry after she admitted to levelling racial slurs against Indian students.
Where politician failed, Lee Chong Wei delivered
Friday, 22 August 2008
For your thoughts
Another new cutting for your thoughts.... An extract from The New Straits
Times.2008/08/22
HARDEV KAUR:
Where politicians failed, Chong Wei delivered
By : HARDEV KAUR
ON Sunday night Malaysians set aside their religious, racial and political differences to cheer Lee Chong Wei. They all rooted for him as he took on the world's number one badminton player, Lin Dan from China. Lee was the country's best hope for gold at the Beijing Olympics. And it did not matter that he was of Chinese descent; what mattered was that he is a Malaysian and that he was close to bringing home Malaysia's first-ever gold from the Olympics.
In the end it was not to be. But he achieved, even if it was for 39 minutes, something no party in the country has been able to -- unite the country and all Malaysians irrespective of race, religion or political affiliation.
Feuding politicians, even the candidates for the Permatang Pauh by-election, took a break from the campaign and set aside their differences for a common goal -- hoping to see a fellow Malaysian win.
Malaysians can rally around a common cause, if they want to. But the religious, political and social divisions that are rearing their ugly heads threaten the very fabric of society and all that our founding fathers stood and fought for.
As the country marks 51 years of independence at the end of this month, the hard work and the example set by the founding fathers should not be wasted. But it seems to be fraying and in danger of being destroyed by the differences that are beginning to emerge. As the country moves into the next stage of its independent life, its citizens should work together to forge ahead and strengthen the ties that bind us and not what divides us.
The leaders of the Malays, Indians and Chinese, in the run-up to independence, saw the importance and the need to cooperate and present a united front to the colonial masters and to live in harmony. After half a century of self government, Malay-sians should have learnt to live together in harmony. But unfortunately, disturbing trends are emerging. Gangster tactics are being used, as evidenced over the weekend with that attack on journalists who are there to do their job.
P. Ramlee movies, which we all never tire of watching no matter how many times they are repeated, have a multiracial and multicultural theme. The different races, cultures and beliefs coexist side by side in his movies, with no barriers. There are no religious police or self-appointed guardians of morality who break down doors and wake sleeping women and children, including foreign visitors.
It is still not too late to take stock of the situation. Malaysians are capable of proving to the world that we are citizens of a nation that embraces racial and religious harmony. The country has been held up around the world as an example of a success story in racial and religious co-existence. But with the disturbing trends that are emerging, we may not be an example for others to emulate. We may be seen as an example not to be followed.
A multiracial, multireligious and multicultural society living in peace and harmony cannot be taken for granted. Even Tunku Abdul Rahman admitted that "we have internal problems and these problems require our immediate attention". This statement by the Tunku is still very relevant and true today.
Perhaps even more true today!And in these difficult and challenging times when religious bigotry is beginning to exhibit its naked ugliness, Malaysians can and should lead the world in showing that different races and religions can co-exist. But unfortunately we are beginning to fall into the mould that others want us to -- that the different races and religions cannot live and work together.
The detractors will point to the ugly scenes of supporters of political leaders beating up journalists and meetings being disrupted by rowdy individuals and politicians.
Mob rule cannot be allowed in this country. Civilised and mature discussions on even the most sensitive issues can and should be held. This has been done in the past; why not now? Why are we, as a nation, bent on destroying all that we stand for? Demolishing the foundation that the founding fathers laid and all that has been built upon it so far?
Individual ambitions should be set aside for the greater good of the majority and of the nation as a whole. There are enough examples around the world to prove that selfish interests can lead a nation to ruin. No one benefits from the aftermath of "creative destruction".
As the country prepares to mark Merdeka, it is incumbent on all to ensure that peace and security is maintained. Political stability is one of the main pillars of a stable nation, which foreign investors look for before deciding where to put their money. The on-going political brinksmanship does not send the right signals to businessmen and entrepreneurs.
The global economic difficulties that lie ahead call for collective effort to meet the challenges head-on. We do not, and should not, be shooting ourselves in the foot. There is much to celebrate as Malaysia marks 51 years of independence, even as we deal with the internal problems. Let us not destroy what has been built, but strengthen the ties and move forward as a united nation proud of our diversity.
For your thoughts
Another new cutting for your thoughts.... An extract from The New Straits
Times.2008/08/22
HARDEV KAUR:
Where politicians failed, Chong Wei delivered
By : HARDEV KAUR
ON Sunday night Malaysians set aside their religious, racial and political differences to cheer Lee Chong Wei. They all rooted for him as he took on the world's number one badminton player, Lin Dan from China. Lee was the country's best hope for gold at the Beijing Olympics. And it did not matter that he was of Chinese descent; what mattered was that he is a Malaysian and that he was close to bringing home Malaysia's first-ever gold from the Olympics.
In the end it was not to be. But he achieved, even if it was for 39 minutes, something no party in the country has been able to -- unite the country and all Malaysians irrespective of race, religion or political affiliation.
Feuding politicians, even the candidates for the Permatang Pauh by-election, took a break from the campaign and set aside their differences for a common goal -- hoping to see a fellow Malaysian win.
Malaysians can rally around a common cause, if they want to. But the religious, political and social divisions that are rearing their ugly heads threaten the very fabric of society and all that our founding fathers stood and fought for.
As the country marks 51 years of independence at the end of this month, the hard work and the example set by the founding fathers should not be wasted. But it seems to be fraying and in danger of being destroyed by the differences that are beginning to emerge. As the country moves into the next stage of its independent life, its citizens should work together to forge ahead and strengthen the ties that bind us and not what divides us.
The leaders of the Malays, Indians and Chinese, in the run-up to independence, saw the importance and the need to cooperate and present a united front to the colonial masters and to live in harmony. After half a century of self government, Malay-sians should have learnt to live together in harmony. But unfortunately, disturbing trends are emerging. Gangster tactics are being used, as evidenced over the weekend with that attack on journalists who are there to do their job.
P. Ramlee movies, which we all never tire of watching no matter how many times they are repeated, have a multiracial and multicultural theme. The different races, cultures and beliefs coexist side by side in his movies, with no barriers. There are no religious police or self-appointed guardians of morality who break down doors and wake sleeping women and children, including foreign visitors.
It is still not too late to take stock of the situation. Malaysians are capable of proving to the world that we are citizens of a nation that embraces racial and religious harmony. The country has been held up around the world as an example of a success story in racial and religious co-existence. But with the disturbing trends that are emerging, we may not be an example for others to emulate. We may be seen as an example not to be followed.
A multiracial, multireligious and multicultural society living in peace and harmony cannot be taken for granted. Even Tunku Abdul Rahman admitted that "we have internal problems and these problems require our immediate attention". This statement by the Tunku is still very relevant and true today.
Perhaps even more true today!And in these difficult and challenging times when religious bigotry is beginning to exhibit its naked ugliness, Malaysians can and should lead the world in showing that different races and religions can co-exist. But unfortunately we are beginning to fall into the mould that others want us to -- that the different races and religions cannot live and work together.
The detractors will point to the ugly scenes of supporters of political leaders beating up journalists and meetings being disrupted by rowdy individuals and politicians.
Mob rule cannot be allowed in this country. Civilised and mature discussions on even the most sensitive issues can and should be held. This has been done in the past; why not now? Why are we, as a nation, bent on destroying all that we stand for? Demolishing the foundation that the founding fathers laid and all that has been built upon it so far?
Individual ambitions should be set aside for the greater good of the majority and of the nation as a whole. There are enough examples around the world to prove that selfish interests can lead a nation to ruin. No one benefits from the aftermath of "creative destruction".
As the country prepares to mark Merdeka, it is incumbent on all to ensure that peace and security is maintained. Political stability is one of the main pillars of a stable nation, which foreign investors look for before deciding where to put their money. The on-going political brinksmanship does not send the right signals to businessmen and entrepreneurs.
The global economic difficulties that lie ahead call for collective effort to meet the challenges head-on. We do not, and should not, be shooting ourselves in the foot. There is much to celebrate as Malaysia marks 51 years of independence, even as we deal with the internal problems. Let us not destroy what has been built, but strengthen the ties and move forward as a united nation proud of our diversity.
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