Thesun says moderation, the right way to celebrate Merdeka Day was celebrated on a much smaller scale this year. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak alluded to the training and disciplining that fasting during Ramadan does to those who practise it to strengthen their mind and spirit.
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Thesun 2009-09-02 Page08 Acceptance Must Be the Buzzword
Thesun says moderation, the right way to celebrate Merdeka Day was celebrated on a much smaller scale this year. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak alluded to the training and disciplining that fasting during Ramadan does to those who practise it to strengthen their mind and spirit.
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Thesun says moderation, the right way to celebrate Merdeka Day was celebrated on a much smaller scale this year. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak alluded to the training and disciplining that fasting during Ramadan does to those who practise it to strengthen their mind and spirit.
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8 TELLING IT AS IT IS theSun | WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 2 2009
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thesun says
Moderation, the right way to celebrate
MERDEKA Day was celebrated on be just as plush and extravagant as in alluded to the training and disciplining truly united and multicultural nation. honestly say that they have success- a much smaller scale this year and most years considering the state the that fasting during Ramadan does to For those who submit completely to fully fasted. They may have been able most of the activities associated with national economy is in and the fact those who practise it to strengthen its rigours, fasting also cleanses the to deny themselves food and drink but it were held within the compound of that the global recession has affected their mind and spirit. Speaking to souls and Najib said this is important have they been successful in disciplin- Parliament building and in the states many of our neighbours and friends student representatives from18 pub- for all Malaysians who are preparing ing their mind? Do they entertain bad the celebrations, also on a moderate even more badly than us. lic universities and their lecturers in themselves to contribute effectively thoughts or plan devious means of scale, were mostly held indoors. While fasting during Ramadan is conjunction with Merdeka Day he said to nation building. acquiring something they have cov- There are good reasons for this and only for Muslims, there is nothing to for Malaysia to progress and for nation However, everyone would probably eted? Do they entertain evil intentions an important one is the Influenza A prevent others from inculcating in building to be successful all Malaysians agree that it is almost next to impos- towards their neighbours? Can they at (H1N1) pandemic. The other reason is themselves the values that it encour- must strengthen their mind and spirit. sible for all Malaysians to be totally the end of Ramadan truly say that they the economy and this fits in nicely with ages. For instance extravagance is Indeed only those who are mentally tolerant, understanding, restrained, have mended their ways? Others may the fact that the important date falls something that it discourages and and spiritually strong can be tolerant, clean in deeds and to possess clean have their own “cleansing” process but in the Muslim fasting month of Ram- therefore a celebration on a grand understanding, restrained and clean souls. But in the interest of a peaceful whatever the processes the net result adan where moderation and restraint scale would be in total disregard of in deeds. And these are values all Ma- and harmonious nation Malaysians should be Malaysians who want a truly are called for. Also it would be most the restraint encouraged by Ramadan. laysians must be imbued with in their must try. peaceful, prosperous, harmonious and inappropriate for the celebrations to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak long and hazardous journey towards a After all how many Muslims can united multicultural nation.
‘Acceptance’ must be the buzzword
MONDAY was Merdeka Day. A good part of the day was spent in the office hard as I opened the inbox. There were comments, news reports, Brian Chambers. They were arrested at Penang International Airport on Nov 9, 1983 with a large History brought alive I REFER to “Two ‘budak Cina’ in a Ma- lay household” (52nd Merdeka Special, Aug 28). Initially, I thought it would be looking into the archives of what had video clips, photographs and other amount of heroin. They were both found guilty the usual story of two Chinese boys been penned in these columns over evidence of the madness that had of drug trafficking and sentenced to death by the living with a Malay family and their the past year. Reading the newspapers, taken place in Shah Alam on Friday. High Court on Aug 6, 1985 in Penang. Barlow and experiences of growing up in a Malay one could not but support the clarion Honestly, no one saw it coming. Chambers were hanged in Pudu Prison on July culture. It was as what I had expected call by the prime minister to “restore While the majority was carrying 7, 1986. but deep between the lines were valu- the bridge and tear down walls”. In out its routine activities, for a few Regularly, the government makes its stand on able traces of our history and culture. every Merdeka story, one word stood hours that day, a small group held drug trafficking and it is clear that there will be no The writer has depicted the events out. “Unity” is that key word. Everyone the rest of Malaysians at bay. Had change in its policies to deal with such merchants in a positive and cheerful manner to screams “unity” but is it from the heart we lost it all? Had we lost what we of death. However, this innocuous report must the extent that I was transported back and soul or is it treated like a password had built from the ashes of May 13? have given the impression that Malaysia has to my childhood days, living in a Malay to get into the realm of politics? Then CitizenNades One moment of organised madness changed its tough stance on drug traffickers. kampong next to a Kampung Baru (new there are those who talk about “toler- by R. Nadeswaran resulted in a massive damage to The Star reported that Deputy Foreign Minister village) and a row of railway quarters ance”. And I will unequivocally say that the whole country. If we already Kohilan Pillay has promised to look into provid- inhabited by a few Indian families. it is the wrong word. It should be “acceptance”. It had honorary mention in CNN and BBC for the ing financial assistance to four Malaysians jailed This story is authentic and the is no use grudgingly acknowledging each other “beer and rotan”, we made it to Forbes and other in Peru for drug trafficking. information is priceless. Our young as Malaysians. It must be accepted and not just international publications. The newspaper quoted a Wisma Putra state- generation should be encouraged to tolerated. “Unity” can only come if “tolerance” is On Friday night, all kinds of messages filled up ment which said Kohilan met the four during his read such stories. It will help them replaced by “acceptance”. cyberspace. There were calls for “calm” from our two-day working trip to Peru starting Aug 11. The to further understand the 1Malaysia Over the years, the voices of the extreme leaders, and rightly so. What happens next? What four are awaiting full pardons from the Peruvian spirit. The writer’s life experience is were considered as voices in the wilderness is there to ensure that there will never be another government. valuable and I thank him for sharing seeking attention. But religious and racist fer- mad-cap incident like the one during lunch break Now, the inevitable question is: Why are we it with us. vour, fanned by selfish politicians gave credence on Friday? giving money to a bunch of drug traffickers, when I would like to suggest to theSun to to such nuances. Of late, such voices have got No one can guarantee this because by nature, we ourselves don’t brook their nonsense? Why set aside a page or two for such similar louder. On Jan 20, after hearing a narrow- humans can sometimes be driven to do the most in the world should taxpayers’ money be used stories to be published weekly. Teach- minded, bird-brained councillor of the ruling idiotic things. One moment they behave saintly to “assist” those who peddle deadly substances? ers would be able to use the material coalition in Selangor speak with racial under- and in a flash, they turn into monsters. We have to Why should those found guilty of drug trafficking for their history or English language tones, I asked these questions: Are we ready for a identify these characters and take appropriate ac- get sympathy, let alone money from the govern- classes. Perhaps, it would also be a truly multiracial Malaysia? Can we hold a decent tion failing which; they will go back to the streets ment? way for us to inculcate the 1Malaysia conversation without bringing race into the is- to disseminate more hatred and fear. While our It is ludicrous for a deputy minister to even spirit. sue? Can we talk to each other without looking leaders are building bridges and tearing down consider giving them any kind of assistance To Martin Lim Say Leong, thank at skin colour? Can we address issues, collectively walls, there is within, yet another group which is – monetary or moral – especially that they had you for the remarkable and out of the as Malaysians instead of looking at ourselves in tearing down bridges and building walls. been convicted and sentenced in a court of law. ordinary story. You are truly a Malay- our ethnic background? Is the Pakatan Rakyat’s As a nation, we cannot afford that. Didn’t we ignore the then Australian Prime sian at heart. I have enjoyed reading promise of a Bangsa Malaysia for real or is it Minister Bob Hawke’s passionate plea for a stay your story and intend to share it with political hogwash? Are politicians hiding behind *********************** of execution on behalf of Barlow and Chambers? my friends. To the editor of theSun, a facade of unity only to throw the race card THE pre-arrival announcements on almost all Didn’t we take umbrage when he later described congratulations and thank you for when it suits them? aircraft landing in Malaysian airports are stand- the hanging as “barbaric”? So why the money and publishing such an interesting and The events of the past week were hitting ard. Besides advice on removing luggage from sympathy for Malaysian criminals abroad whose exciting story. overhead cabins, they end up with a mouthful: acts are as despicable as those of the infamous “Malaysia has tough laws on drug trafficking. It Australian duo? Lecturer carries the death penalty.” The warnings have Kuantan not been heeded as some have discovered to their dismay. R. Nadeswaran is editor (special and investigative One of the most celebrated cases of drug traf- reporting) at theSun. He can be reached at citizen- fickers was that of Australians, Kevin Barlow and nades@thesundaily.com. No room for letters fanaticism letters@thesundaily.com NEWS of Malaysians bloodying a cow’s head to protest against the proposed construction of a Hindu temple made me shudder. The behaviour maligns
Stop issuing logging permits the Tunku’s legacy as well as Islamic
teaching. The Tunku (Abdul Rahman) repeat- I REGULARLY watch the news diminishing forests? We can ers who must also continue to edly voiced his support for a secular on ntv7 at 8pm and I have ob- stop buying wooden furniture, grow more crops and food for Malaysia. While he did believe Islam to served a short advertisement on not have wooden floors and the world. be the state religion, he never meant the felling of trees. houses, and try to plant some Sustainable forest develop- this doctrine to assume an iconoclastic The clip first shows a screen trees wherever we can find ment to me, is just a dirty word. shape. Articles 3 and 11 of the Federal full of trees, and they are being some space. But who is solely There is never an adequate Constitution support this view. felled to the sound of chainsaws, responsible for the felling of replacement for a 100-year-old The Tunku aside, Islam condemns until only a single tree is left trees and the destruction of pri- tree, that has been cut down in intolerant attitudes towards religion. standing. The punchline: “What mary and virgin forests around less than 10 minutes. The Quran declares a sweeping pro- will we do when all the trees are the world. The main culprits are So, my point is, what is the tection of freedom of religion (2:257), gone?” the timber corporations and the reason for showing that clip going so far as to order Muslims to It’s great to have programmes large plantation owners. on TV? The only way we can protect other houses of worship, in the that raise the public’s awareness Timber companies, for prevent the punchline from event of an attack, before attending to of our social responsibilities, and example, in order to survive happening, ie “What will we do any mosque (22:41). the things they do that destroy must increase or at least main- when all the trees are gone” is to Malaysian Muslims, that is those the environment and the Earth, tain profits from their primary stop issuing any more approv- who do truly represent the country leaving nothing for our future businesses each year, and that als for timber concessions, and and the religion, must therefore live generations. means they must continue to have the United Nations protect up to their name and stop fanaticism However, I think this TV clip obtain new forest concessions the jungles in Borneo and the from threatening their very identity. is directed at the wrong audi- and new trees to fell. Not doing Amazon. ence. To be frank, what good so, would mean the certain Sardar Anees Ahmad can we do, even when we are demise of their companies. Tam Yeng Siang Waterloo (New York state) made aware of the plight of the Likewise, plantation own- Petaling Jaya