When Pariahs Interlok ....

If a book - by our National Laureate, no less - had to be amended
before it could be made mandatory reading in our school,
why the hell did we decide to use that book in the first place?
- Art Harun, ARTiculations.
========================

Precisely- if it had to be amended, then it doesn't qualify to be made a text book!!
It is simply unfit. Let it be because the Tamilian/Indian community isn't matured enough .... all the more reason!
So why then the love story of Muhyidin with Interlok?
Why is he so adamant? Now I'm beginning to get suspicious, and intend to scrutinise the book myself ..... maybe I'll try to buy the original version online.
Is there some agenda behind this?
Some subtle indoctrination perhaps?

Yes- there is nothing wrong with the book per se, since "it is only a Malay literary classic" littered with cultural, historical and geographical errors..... after all, the readers will know what a crappy piece of work it is when they do some Indian geography/history/culture studies (if they had a chance).

Of course- the book burning by the Indian/Tamilian NGOs was totally uncalled for- book burning is so passe & fascist.
However- as much as I may agree with your opinion on Interlok, and the hypersensitivity of many Tamilians over the word pariah for its negative connotations- in a way, I empathise with them.

Since Mahathir, they are the new underclass. They have been trampled on economically & socially during the Sami Value era- and are generally regarded as the underclass who are struggling to live with pride. For a very long time , they lived in their own world (so to speak)- everything was about being "Tamil". Tamil was Indian, and Indian was Tamil - despite not knowing
Many are regarded as social misfits who wouldn't stand for being laughed at. The incidence of school droputs, drug addiction, alcoholism, violence, crime, suicides, extra-judicial deaths and discrimination speak volumes towards confirming this.

Hindraf was an awakening- an "epiphany" of sorts ... towards achieving their aspirations as citizens with equal rights. It was an admission of their failures as citizens of Malaysia under the leadership of BN's MIC. In fact they are today regarded as the only failures among the Indian diaspora!!
Today, they therefore tend to see discrimination, insults and threats all around them- even where there are none.
Therefore- to them, that the word "pariah" in the book was contexual, is irrelevant. They do not complain that it won an award for the writer despite the writer's "brutal"/limited vocabulary for a "classic", ignorance of Indian geography or the readers thought it was a great book. (It beats me how they could consider a book littered with factual inaccuracies as a literary classic).

They cannot accept that the Ministry or Muhyidin is in love with the book, and forces it upon them- especially after all the derogatory comments passed against them children by the teachers. They do not trust a system which discriminates them. They do not trust the Education Ministry which hesitates to punished racists among the teachers.
So why should they accept a book (even if it is literature) which makes derogatory references to their ancestry? What guarantee is there that these racist teachers wouldn't use it to highlight the ancestry of the students today in a derogatory way?
What has the Ministry done to convince them that they're capable of using such a book to teach positive values? Nothing!
In fact, the Ministry has done plenty to prove otherwise!!

Use the book to teach children that the word "Pariah" is unacceptable?
You must be dreaming ...
There are teacher calling the students "monkey/dogs/pariah"- and the goverment supports them (even if they are given a slap on the wrist publicly). In fact, some are very subtly "rewarded" with transfers they'd be happy with!!
You wanna trust these people to teach virtues?
Did someone say, "critical thinking"?

With the current breed of unthinking pariahs among the teachers, liars among education directors , bigots/racists among policy makers and certified morons coming out of our univerities- I don't think so, mate ....

Who said there are no miracles?

The following report was found in an obscure (yet sworn to be reliable by the FARK/Taliban/CIA/MI6/IRA) online newspaper somewhere on the net yesterday unknown to Bolehsia's PDRM. Sources have been very secretive of the website URL. Apparently they didn't want The much dreaded unHoly Quartet Autarities' (Mr. Guni al-Patail, Mr. Krismudin, Mr. Taximan & Mr. Rice Al-Yatim) to bring it under a redefined PPPA:

Batican City, January 29- The Holy Bee has called an emergency conference for the Cardinals to discuss the amazing and miraculous events taking place in Bolehsia. The beatificaation of a few Saints have been put on hold pending review of these amazing events which many faithful have claimed to be miracles. According to sources strong lobby group from Mongolia has vouched for the miracles. Out of humility & due to a conflict of interest, the Archbishop of Bolehsia has stayed out of the events that transpire.

The first event to be discussed at this emergency session would be the spontaneous combustion of a Mongolian lady by the name of Sister Altantuya Shaaribu who piously worshipped the US Dollar and was blown to bits. All it took was a Quran swearing - and it has convinced all and sundry, that the Prime Minister (or his fat lady) was not involved in the explosive event. Claims by some quarters that C4 explosives were used have been proven false by the unHoly Quartet of Bolehsia.
In another Quranic swearing event, a "nice looking boy" called Psyfool, swore (they call it "sumpah laknat") swore that he was buggered forcefully, after he willingly showered and "cleaned" himself for the frail assailant to sodomize him. Miraculously, despite having only one assailant, investigators found no signs of forceful buggery in or around Psyfool's holy anus- but found traces three different DNAs in the holy anus. As a result, Fox Moulder is apparently trying to wangle his way into Psyfool's anus to investigate this phenomenon. Geneticists are also reportedly excited about this "Bolehsia Boleh" ejaculate, and have urged the Autarities to speed up investigations.
According to "inside information", after deep meditation & contemplation, the Pope himself declared that it was a miracle of titanic proportions, worthy of a sainthood ....

In a move that surprised even the Pope, the Bolehsian Autarities declared that another miracle of titanic proportions had taken place. A young man by the name of Kugan was apparent found dead at a police station. It was first thought that he died because he drank (water) and aspirated to death, since water was found in the lung. Later it was confirmed that he had developed multiple lacerations/abrasions/bruises as though he was whacked & bitch-slapped to death.

A recent development (click here for Cop cleared of hurting Kugan) the accused assailant, presumably set up- was released. Therefore, it would be safe to declare that there were no assailants in the incident.

The Holy Dee has launched a high-powered team to investigate if in repentence, Kugan had suffered as Jesus Christ did prior to his death- or if was just a Toyol which beat him to death. The Toyol investigation has been sub-contracted to Fox Moulder & Dana Scully of FBI's "X-files" team.

Prior to that, an erudite lawyer had claimed that remorseful Bolehsians can even strangle themselves in remorse- failing which they can fling themselves off the fourteenth floor & plunge to their death!!

Numerous other miracles have been taking place in Bolehsia- like the incorruptable face of its FLOB (fat lady of Bolehsia) akin to St. Bernadette's, the virginity of some people akin to the holy mother, the numerous miraculous parangs found in cars of child gangsters (who drive like Karamjit Singh), people dying due to drinking holy PDRM water, bullets from cowering policemen entering heads of rampaging bandits from above & exits lower etc etc etc.

When pressed for comments, His Boldiness Pope Bunedict XXVI joyously declared that it was a manifestation of the various prophecies- that the end of times are here, and God had probably selected Bolehsia to be initiators of the events due to the holiness shown by the dUMNO Government there. He even said that he would not rule out the possibility of the "rapture" taking place in Bolehsia very soon, considering the "rapture-readiness" of dUMNO leaders with the RM888 billion disappearing from the Bolehsian coffers.

His Boldiness advised all Bolehsians to pray to God for a piece of the pie .....

In another online daily ......

The international news network cited a secret investigation which was sparked by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who had complained that the Saudis appeared to be funding Anwar in upcoming elections.

CNN claimed that Malaysian authorities suspected two senior Saudi princes of involvement in funding Anwar, and this led to a secret investigation by Riyadh.

A secret report seen by CNN concludes: "There is no evidence any Saudi official ever supported Anwar Ibrahim" and "claims of support from the Saudi royals named in the initial report [names redacted] were found to be without basis."

In other words- the person who alleged these things, is a big fat liar!!

Phang Resigns, and Gani Patail Lies for PPPA?

"Abdul Gani told reporters at the Jalan Duta Court Complex
the A-G’s Chambers has also engaged the Bar Council
and stakeholders on the proposed changes to the laws. "

Bar Council refutes A-G’s claim over publishing law

By Debra Chong

January 27, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 — The Bar Council said today it has not been consulted on Putrajaya’s plan to change a publishing law widely believed will restrict media freedom, contrary to the Attorney-General’s statement yesterday, adding to the controversy.

“No, we were not consulted on that. We were only consulted on preventive laws, laws that allow for detention without trial, like the ISA (Internal Security Act) and the Emergency Ordinance (EO),” the law society’s chief, Ragunath Kesavan (picture), told The Malaysian Insider today.

A public furore broke out after a Home Ministry official disclosed two days ago that the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) 1984 will be amended to expand its scope to cover online “publications” and plug loopholes created by advances in technology.

National news agency Bernama reported Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Mahmood Adam as saying the ministry was working with the Attorney-General’s Chambers to study the proposed amendments.

“We hope the amendments will be tabled in Parliament by March this year because we need to overcome weaknesses, especially those involving multimedia content,” Mahmood was quoted as saying.

Yesterday, A-G Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail confirmed his department has drawn up drafts to amend several laws.

He named the PPPA, the Sedition Act 1948 and ISA among them.

Abdul Gani told reporters at the Jalan Duta Court Complex the A-G’s Chambers has also engaged the Bar Council and stakeholders on the proposed changes to the laws.

He refused to comment when pressed further on who the stakeholders were, or the scope of the amendments, or even if the drafts were final.

Instead, Abdul Gani redirected the questions back to the Home Ministry.

“If he said that, it must be true. They are my clients,” he said, referring to the Home Ministry secretary-general’s statements.

“I’m not they policymaker. I don’t make the law,” he replied when asked to confirm if the laws were to be amended to cover online news.

However, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein appeared to backpedal on the issue in a news conference held later the same day.

The minister said the proposed amendments were still in the early stages and had not been finalised.

Robert Phang Quits in DISGUST!!

MY RESIGNATION TO PRESERVE MY INTEGRITY AND THE MACC

PRESS STATEMENT BY: TAN SRI DATUK ROBERT PHANG MIOW SIN. Justice of Peace, Chairman – Social Care Foundation

1. Recently, I came under personal attacks from various anonymous blogs after I raised concerns about public perceptions on a host of issues namely about the lack of action in the MAS Scandal; AG Gani Patail’s Haj Trip under suspicious circumstances; AG Gani Patail’s relationship with the former Chairman of MAS, Tajudin Ramli’s proxy, one En Shahidan Shafie; whether AG Gani Patail was compromised in his decision to not act on the recommendation of Dato’ Ramli Yusuff to institute prosecution against Tajudin and several others; about perceived selective prosecution; and also the attempt to clear AG Gani Patail of these allegations of wrongdoing without any investigation.

2. For merely asking AG Gani Patail to be accountable for all these controversies that were already in the public domain, I suddenly became the subject of these venomous attacks. On January 19, the anonymous blog also accused me of trying to bribe a Secretary-General of a Ministry. I was subsequently told that that the Attorney-General had directed an investigation paper to be opened against me. On January 21, I met the Chief Commissioner, Datuk Seri Abu Kassim Mohamed to confirm that information. He told me that was not true.

3. Despite what Datuk Abu Kassim had told me, the Malay Mail subsequently reported that the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Liew Vui Keong, had urged the MACC to initiate an investigation against me. The Malay Mail also quoted that the MACC Anti-Corruption Advisory Board member, Tan Sri Megat Najmuddin Megat Khas, had said that the MACC cannot allow its credibility to be undermined by an advisory panel member.

4. On January 22, the NST carried a news report that the Malay rightist movement, Perkasa, had lodged a report against me and that the MACC will be investigating me. Then on 22nd January 2011, I received a telephone call from Tuan Haji Mustafar Ali that he wished to record my statement. I was surprised as that was inconsistent with what Datuk Abu Kassim had told me earlier.

5. All these seem to be a concerted attack against me. The attacks against me centered on my past business activities in Sabah and most of it were fictitious. It is a fact that AG Gani is from Sabah. It is also a fact that Datuk VK Liew is from Sabah. Datuk VK Liew is Deputy to Dato Seri Nazri Aziz, our de facto Minister of Law. To me, fanning these issues publicly is a calculated and orchestrated effort to discredit me. It is to put me on trial by media in a most unfair manner.

6. On January 24, I asked the Chief Commissioner for confirmation on the following :-

(a) Whether the identity of the blogger has been identified. If so, that I be provided with their full particulars;

(b) Whether the blogger has lodged a report against me. If so, that I be provided with a copy so that I may ascertain the exact nature of the complaint;

(c) Who is the Secretary General referred to by the blogger;

(d) Whether an investigation paper has been opened, and if so, when and at whose initiation.

7. I have lived long enough to know that this is an attempt to intimidate me for speaking out. The trial of Dato’ Ramli Yusuff has shown how cover reports after cover reports were filed to conceal the fact that there never was a real complainant and that there was never a predicated offence to prosecute him. The same is about to be done to me now. The speed at which an investigation has commenced against me is also amazing considering the inaction over the public disclosure of AG Gani Patail’s association with En Shahidan Shafee. I consider all these wholly unsatisfactory and smacks of double standards.

8. On January 25 when my Panel convened a meeting, I have informed the Chief Commissioner and all my Panel members that if they consider that I have caused disrepute to the MACC, I would resign. They have advised me not to do so.

9. I am not unmindful of the argument that unlike the position of the Attorney-General who controls criminal prosecutions, in my position as a non-executive Panel member I cannot interfere with the process of investigation or any decision for prosecution. That seems a compelling reason for me to remain on the Panel.

10. However, I feel very aggrieved at this orchestrated attempt to discredit me by rogues from within and outside the government. What has happened to me in this case can happen to any of the MACC Panel members and also to any innocent citizens of this beloved country. It is a sad day when a person should face action merely for speaking out the truth and for seeking accountability by those who wield power.

11. I have considered this matter and I will walk the talk. I think tendering my resignation is only the right thing for me to do to sincerely help facilitate investigations. Thus, in order to protect my integrity and that of the MACC, I hereby announce my resignation. I give my assurance that I will give my fullest co-operation to the MACC’s investigators.

12. I remain committed in the fight against graft. I will keep my pledge to continue speaking out against injustice and abuses until all these rogues within and outside of government are weeded out. That is a pledge that I will keep.

“HUMBLENESS IS GOOD VIRTUE, ARROGANCE SHALL FALL, THE MEEK WILL RULE THE WORLD”.

Tan Sri Datuk Robert Phang Miow Sin

Justice of Peace

Google and blogger sued by curry fish head restaurant

Google and blogger sued by curry fish head restaurant

Thursday January 27, 2011
By MUGUNTAN VANAR
vmugu@thestar.com.my

KOTA KINABALU: The director of a fish head curry restaurant which is recommended by Lonely Planet is suing a blogger and Google for defamation.

Jothys Sdn Bhd director Tharumaraj Sivaperumal filed a RM6mil civil suit at the Kota Kinabalu High Court, naming blogger Poh Huai Bin as the first defendant and California-based Google Inc as the second defendant.

The suit filed on Monday is over allegedly defamatory statements made about Jothys Fish Head Curry Restaurant here which was posted in May last year by Poh, who is originally from Sibu, Sarawak and now resides in Kuala Lumpur.

The company, which is represented by counsel Marcel Jude Joseph, is seeking exemplary or punitive damages and an order to restrain Poh from defaming the restaurant on the Internet.

Lonely place: Tharumaraj says business at his restaurant in Kota Kinabalu has been affected by the blogger’s negative postings.

The company is also seeking an order from the court to remove the offending articles from Google and other popular search engines used on the Internet.

The company claimed that the alleged defamatory statements published by both defendants would be injurious to its business.

Tharumaraj said he felt very let down when the blogger demeaned his fish head curry and banana leaf restaurant and urged the people to “avoid it like a bad case of herpes”.

“There were many people who posted positive things about my restaurant in his blog but it was removed and only the negative chats were kept,’’ he said, adding that he did not know the blogger.

On why he decided to sue Google, he said if one used Yahoo or other search engines, the offending blog does not appear immediately but in Google, it would show up first.

As a result of the defendants’ action, Tharumaraj claimed he suffered losses and damages and his restaurant’s reputation had been affected, both locally and internationally.

The plaintiff claimed that the restaurant, which opened in 1987, was known globally and had been reported as a well-known destination in Sabah in a global TV and book series known as Lonely Planet, which was an authority for tourists throughout the world.

The company also claimed that Google conducts business within the jurisdiction of Malaysian courts by reason of the fact that its search engine is used regularly by Internet users in the country.

When contacted, a Google official in Kuala Lumpur said the company could not comment on cases that were in litigation.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

NOTE:-
I believe it is silly for this guy to sue a blogger for a personal opinion he published. That was his taste, for gottsakes!!
For all you know, there might have been some conflict between the two parties - maybe the defendant was "taken for granted", and treated like an ignorant tourist, when knew knew Indian food very well.
Just because Lonely Planet mentions them (for which he might have paid), or tourist ignorant about really good Indian food know his outlet - doesn't mean they are good!!
This smug-looking Tharumaraj fella would do better by improving his food/ services, instead of making things worse for himself with added negative publicity for the restaurant- now everybody knows such an article was written, and would intead of avoiding it like herpes- would instead avoid it like the plague!!
Personally- Based on my experience in KK around last June, I'd concur with the opinion of Mr Poh Huai Bin- and my better half would vouch for it. Another (unair-conditioned) restaurant futher down the street served better South Indian food- although still far from the quality of the food served in the average Banana Leaf shop in Semenanjung/KL .......

A killer blow to online media - Malaysiakini

COMMENT Many had expected Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to be more stringent in enforcing controls a la Dr Mahathir Mohamad over the media. Few expected that he would be worse than Mahathir.

Yesterday, the Home Ministry announced that the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) - the mother of all censorship laws - would be amended to cover online content. Its secretary-general Mahmood Adam said the changes will plug loopholes in the law.

There is no doubt that Malaysiakini and other online media have gained from the 'loophole', derived from Mahathir's pledge not to censor the Internet in 1995 as he kick-started the Multimedia Super Corridor project.

Since his retirement in 2004, Mahathir has himself turned blogger.

Free of censorship, the online media went on to lay the foundations for the 'political tsunami' in 2008, resulting in then prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi conceding that the government had “lost the Internet war”.

While the traditional media and online media are both kept in check by some 35 laws which restrict freedom of expression in Malaysia, there is one crucial difference between the two.

The online media, unlike its print and broadcast cousins, does not need government approval to put out the news or to go back to the Home Ministry each year to renew the publishing and printing permits. It is this which keeps editors and journalists in the traditional media on a short leash.

It is likely that, should the proposed amendments become law, the online media too will be required to apply for a licence.

This will be the final nail in the coffin for press freedom. The little freedom of expression that Malaysians have enjoyed online over the past 16 years will end.

The licensing regime will enable the government to apply political pressure to the online media, and worse, allow the all-powerful home minister to declare news websites illegal. Don't forget that, under the PPPA, the minister's decision cannot be challenged in court.

This is why Najib is worse than Mahathir when it comes to media operations.

Instead of freeing up the traditional media by doing away with the licensing regime under the PPPA, Najib and his cousin, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, are taking the regressive step of controlling the online media.

Singapore-style Internet censorship

The timing and the speed of the amendment - it is expected to be tabled in Parliament by March - shows that the government has the upcoming general election in mind.

This proposal comes hot on the heels of similar curbs imposed by Singapore on its fledgling online media.

Only two weeks ago, the Singapore government announced a litany of restrictions on political website The Online Citizen, often dubbed as the island-state's version of Malaysiakini.

As part of the new requirements, The Online Citizen must declare itself a political organisation. This will bar its team of volunteers from writing, reporting, analysing or commenting about the elections expected to be called as early as March.

It is clear that the Malaysian government is taking a leaf from Singapore's Internet censorship playbook.

The move to amend the PPPA to include the online media must be defeated. Otherwise, Malaysia will return to the bad old days when the government had complete monopoly on truth.

STEVEN GAN is editor-in-chief and co-founder of Malaysiakini, an online media organisation launched in 1999.

Facebook PIs "find" abuser & form Community ....

"Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Selangor marketing and communications manager Jacinta Johnson-Chan said a total of 657 cruelty cases were reported last year with 90% of it involving dogs but none were prosecuted.
The rare abuse cases that went to court resulted in
the owners getting off with just a paltry fine."
-Animal Cruelty Laws Need More Bite

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