Seek dialogue to resolve "Allah" controversy peacefully

I refer to the Malaysiakini report 'Allah' issue: Home Ministry gets stay order
and to the recent issue about the High Court reversing the home ministry's ban on the use of the word 'Allah' for the Catholic weekly newsletter, 'The Herald'.

Calmer heads are needed to resolve the issue about the term 'Allah' and we should not let our emotions run high as this will only cause unnecessary tensions on the religious harmony which we have long enjoyed for many centuries.

This is evident by the fact that East Malaysian Christians have been using the word 'Allah' for the past 400 years as revealed by the Herald's editor, Father Lawrence Andrew.

When we are calm, we are able to reason together in peace. The suggestion by opposition stalwart Lim Kit Siang to convene an inter-religious conference to reach an out-of-court settlement for this controvery is an excellent proposal for the government to seriously consider to maintain religious harmony in the country.

This is to avoid any protracted legal tussle in the courts which will not benefit either party in the long run.

The important issue here is not about who is right or wrong but about strengthening national unity through the concept of a '1Malaysia'. All parties need to have an avenue for inter-religious dialogue to resolve any contentious issues between Malaysians of different faiths.

If different religious groups sue each other in the courts of law, does it not mean that we are '2Malaysia' and not '1Malaysia' when it comes to religious freedom? If religious sentiments continue to be fanned by extremist groups, they will only derail any effort by the government to foster national unity through its '1Malaysia' concept.

The government should not have bowed to pressure by certain quarters in filing an appeal against the High Court's decision but should have respected the rights of all Malaysians of different religions to practice their faith without any hindrance or restrictions.

The way for the government to respect religious freedom is to form an inter-religious conference to settle this issue over the term 'Allah' out of court and reach an understanding between all parties involved without any recourse to the legal system.

Jamuan Makan Malam Krismas 2009

Kenyataan Media Oleh DAPSY Selangor di Petaling Jaya pada hari Rabu, 16hb Disember 2009

DAPSY Selangor akan mengadakan suatu Jamuan Jejaring Makan Malam bersama-sama ahli wakil rakyat pemuda, sempena sambutan Krismas 2009. Aktiviti ini adalah sebahagian daripada usaha kami untuk jejaring dan berkenalan dengan pemuda-pemudi serta menarik perhatian generasi muda sekarang terhadap bidang politik yang masih disegani oleh ramai pemuda-pemudi.

Oleh yang demikian, kami dengan sukacita menjemput saudara-saudari sekalian untuk jamuan makan malam bersama kami, dan mengambil peluang untuk berkenalan dan berinteraksi dengan Ketua Pengerusi DAPSY Kebangsaan, YB Anthony Loke Siew Fook, Naib Pengerusi Wanita Kebangsaan, YB Jenice Lee Ying Ha dan ahli-ahli wakil rakyat profesional yang lain. Jamuan ini dibuka kepada semua ahli professional, khasnya generasi muda di bawah umur 40 dan butir lanjut adalah seperti berikut:

Tarikh: 19hb Disember 2009 (Sabtu)
Masa: 7 pm
Tempat: Restoran Chef & Brew (Halal), Plaza Damansara, Medan Setia 2, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur .
Kod Pakaian: Kasual

Kami menempah duduk untuk 40 para jemputan sahaja dan tempahan adalah secara "Datang Dahulu, Layan Dahulu”. Harga jamuan dianggarkan RM35++ perseorangan (anggaran harga untuk 3 set makan, tidak termasuk minuman).

Silalah RSVP sebelum 3.00 petang pada 19hb Disember 2009 dengan emel kepada radiantash@yahoo.com atau telefon 019-316 7027, dan berikan penerangan ringkas tentang (pekerjaan, pendidikan, umur dan cita-cita politik anda) untuk memberikan peluang kepada kami memperkenalkan anda kepada para hadirin semasa sesi kenalan tersebut.


Terima kasih.


B/p DAPSY Selangor
Ashvin Raj
Ahli Jawatankuasa
019-316 7027
Emel: radiantash@yahoo.com

Christmas Networking Dinner 2009 (DAPSY Selangor)

民主行动党雪州社青团于2009年12月10日（星期四）在八打灵再也所发表的文告：

民主行动党雪州社青团将举办一场圣诞佳节联谊聚餐会，与年轻民选议员共同欢庆圣诞节，同时藉此机会接触更多年轻人，并吸引年轻一代对政治的兴趣。

我们欢迎有兴趣者共赴这场聚餐会，并近距离接触我们的嘉宾——社青团总团长陆兆福国州议员、署理总团长李映霞州议员以及其他年轻专业的民选议员。这场活动开放予所有年龄40岁或以下的青年参与。

日期：2009年12月19日（星期六）
时间：晚上7时
地点：Venue: Restaurant Chef & Brew, Plaza Damansara, Medan Setia 2, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur.
衣着：休闲时尚

由于场地限制，我们仅开放40个名额，报名预订以先到先得为准。聚餐会收费为35令吉（不包括饮品）。欢迎在12月17日之前向阿斯文报名，电邮radiantash@yahoo.com或短讯至019-316 7027。报名的同时请附上简单的自我介绍（职业、年龄、教育背景及政治），以方便我们在聚餐会上介绍你。

谢谢。


行动党雪州社青团
Ashvin Raj
019-316 7027


Media statement by DAPSY Selangor in Petaling Jaya on Thursday, 10th December 2009:

DAPSY Selangor is holding a Christmas networking dinner with some of our young elected representatives to celebrate the Christmas season in 2009 as part of our efforts to engage the youth as well as to attract the interest of the younger generation.

We’re delighted to invite you to join this dinner, where you will get the opportunity to interact personally with our guests of honour - DAPSY National Chairman YB Loke Siew Fook, Deputy Chairlady YB Jenice Lee and other young and professional elected representatives. It's open to all professionals especially to the younger generation below the age of 40.

Date: 19th December 2009 (Saturday)
Time: 7pm
Venue: Restaurant Chef & Brew, Plaza Damansara, Medan Setia 2, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur.
Dress code: Smart casual

We have limited seats of 40 guests only and reservations will be taken on a first come first served basis. Dinner tickets are priced at RM35/++pp (approximation for 3 course meal, excluding drinks). Please RSVP by 17th December 2009 to Ashvin Raj at radiantash@yahoo.com or 019-316 7027, and include a simple description of yourself (work, age, education, politics) so that we could better introduce you during the networking session.

Thank you.


DAPSY Selangor
Ashvin Raj
019-316 7027

Reflections on Merdeka - 1Malaysia or 1Police State?

As I reflected on the 52nd Merdeka Day celebration and its 1Malaysia slogan that has been championed by Najib, I can’t help but ponder the many inconsistencies and contradictions inherent in our public institutions.

Firstly, the institution of the Royal Malaysian Police has changed its character from a guardian of the people, to one that has become a secret police, whose behaviour is no different from the Gestapo. We are mindful that we are living in a police state, rather than a 1Malaysia State. A grim reminder of this is when Pakatan Rakyat Perak launched a three-day hunger strike from 26 to 28 May 2009 to protest the refusal by BN Perak to dissolve the State Assembly and let Perakians decide the government of their choice through state elections. The scenes surrounding the Perak State Secretariat were reminiscent of a war zone, where instead of battling crime, the police overreacted by channelling all their energy to arrest lawmakers and other democracy loving citizens for wearing black and holding candlelight vigils!

The term police state describes a state in which the government exercises rigid and repressive control over the social, economic and political life of the people. This seems to fit our nation’s state of affairs. The inhabitants of a police state would also experience restrictions on their mobility and on their freedom to express views contrary to the government of the day.

The police had overstepped its authority by the harassment of duly elected representatives, and of peaceful protesters exercising their rights of assembly guaranteed under the Constitution. The police must remain above politics to have any integrity and the confidence of the people. Unfortunately, it has not, with the selective arrests of citizens wearing black and taking part in candlelight vigils. Detaining peaceful protesters who pose no threat to law and order would make Malaysia a 1Police State, rather than a 1Malaysia State.

The people of Malaysia must wake up and see their ideals of a free, democratic and multiracial society that is governed by the rule of law does not generate into a police state. If the Prime Minister is serious about 1Malaysia, then the government must be colour blind and end ethnic profiling for PSD scholarships. Najib’s 1Malaysia dream has been thrown into confusion when thousands of Malaysia’s best and brightest young students had been victims of injustice of the government’s scholarship system.

Secondly, the institution of the judiciary is more of a kangaroo court than a people’s court, when cases concerning the rightful Perak MB, has been suppressed without recourse for the people to decide through the ballot box. The 1Malaysia concept will not amount to anything if the Perak crisis remains stuck in limbo, as it will only mean that we are living in a 1Police State.

Najib’s much trumpeted “1Malaysia” slogan and even a song that goes with it, was openly trampled upon by none other than his Deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who had announced some time ago that UMNO would not impose any conditions for UMNO-PAS Unity government talks and was even prepared to accept whatever terms set by PAS and will discuss it “anytime, no problem”.

After 52 years of Merdeka, should we not be talking about Malaysian unity, instead of Malay unity? Surely the people must be wondering if 1Malaysia is just an empty slogan, as Malaysians are still divided along racial lines. As long as our country is still dominated by the racial politics of UMNO, MCA and MIC, it makes little sense to celebrate Merdeka, with all its inconsistencies and contradictions, when we still have racism and injustice that goes with 1Malaysia.

In memory of Michael Jackson

MJ: The talent, the tragedy and the triumph
Martin Jalleh

You brought back magic into music, leaving an indelible imprint. You gave dance an indescribable grace and showed impeccable mastery of movement.

You merged music and video and brought about a MTV generation. You magnificently and incredibly blended and bridged arena rock, soul and pop.

You moved the world's conscience with your humanitarian spirit and inspired us with your clarion call to care for the hungry, homeless, HIV/AIDS victims and those without hope.

You mesmerized peoples of all races, languages and cultures, in every country, instilling in them the message that what mattered most was love and mutual respect.

You were matchless - you were an original, creative, unique and magnetizing musician and artist.

You were a true troubadour who ruled and "thrilled" the world" and you were also a tortured soul and a troubled life with a tumultuous childhood.

You were the very "Man in the Mirror" who chased after a "Childhood" you never had. You craved to be Peter Pan, and clamoured to be a child forever on Neverland.

You were extraordinary. You were enchanting, exciting, entertaining and enamouring and you were also notoriously eccentric and erratic.

You were the world's greatest pop icon, and an inspiration to countless - and sadly you were also accused of ignoble deeds such as being a child predator and "dangerous" to the young.

You dared us to look at the "Man in the Mirror" - and you would also literally deface and deform what you saw in the mirror, with three decades of plastic surgeries.

You sang "We are the World". You moonwalked all over the earth. But often you waked alone - like a lonely lost comet spinning out of control, a sullen solitary sorry sight.

You wanted to "heal the world" - you, a "wounded orphan", a masked man with a "washed-out dream" and a weary worn-out soul of make-believe marriages, a King of pop finding peace in painkillers.

You were so free and yet so "addicted" to the adulation and adoration of your fans which in the end annihilated you. You were alienated from a normal life, a man of undisputed fame made to look like a freak.

You were a "beautiful boy" who tried so hard to bounce back and to "beat it" when you realized you were near-barren of creativity and bankruptcy. You were a blessed soul who died of a broken heart.

You were a superstar scarred. You were a very human hero - frail and flawed - and yet, the finest and "simply the greatest entertainer that ever lived".

You were tainted talent with transcendent creativity - musical magnificence of immeasurable magnitude. Goodbye Michael Joseph Jackson. May God grant you peace.

We will remember you - a man who made HIStory.

By Martin Jalleh

Two party system is better than unity govt

Nik Aziz denounces unity government advocates as ‘Umno puppets’ (Malaysian Insider)

KOTA BARU, June 11 – PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat today rapped party members who defended the proposal for a unity government mooted by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and described them as “Umno puppets”.

He also disagreed with the party’s central election director, Datuk Mustafa Ali, who had called on all PAS leaders and those in the Pakatan Rakyat to cease issuing statements on the proposed unity government to avoid confusing party members.

“I cannot run away from the decision made at the PAS assembly in Ipoh last year ... the decision was to support the Pakatan Rakyat. Those who support this unity (government) are Umno puppets, clear and obvious.”

“The unwarranted call from PAS to form a unity government is (by) Umno puppets,” he told reporters at his official residence, JKR 10, here today.

When put to him that the idea of the unity government came from Abdul Hadi himself, Nik Abdul Aziz said the statement did not reflect PAS’ desire.

“The president is a leader of an organisation, and (since) the decision is not made by the organisation, then it is his personal statement,” he added.

On Mustafa’s call for all leaders in the Pakatan Rakyat to stop issuing statements on the issue, Nik Aziz said there was no reason why they should do so.

“The differences in opinion do no come from PAS, but certain people in PAS who are now feeling the heat and want the matter to be closed. How to close people’s mouth?” he added. – Bernama

Yes, how to close my mouth? I'm upset with this Unity Govt talk, after all the hardwork done by Pakatan Rakyat. How to pakat now? Now certain quarters in PAS want to pakat with UMNO. It's sad that they don't seem to learn their lessons from past history..

In the midst of darkness, the light of justice will shine on...

I've seen judges and lawyers wear black to Court. Does that mean others who wear black are law breakers? The police paranoid fear of black shirt protesters mourning the death of democracy in Malaysia near YB Teresa Kok's office yesterday seems to indicate that they are more fearful of black shirted protesters than criminals who continue to roam the streets threatening the lives of ordinary people.

It also shows that the police are incompetent and answerable only to their BN masters and not the people nor do they respect the sanctity of the Federal Consitution which provides the right to freedom of assembly and freedom of speech.

They are swift in punishing Pakatan leaders but painfully slow when it comes to other ordinary citizens. Take for example the following crimes which has been dreadfully slow in their investigations: Kugan, Altantuya, cases of missing kids, snatch thefts, robberies, rapes, etc.

So what is going on??? Why the senseless and needless arrests over elected reps and others who don't even pose a threat to national security but only because they were wearing black to get their messages across. I thought mourners wear black in funerals. Are the police prepared to arrest them too???

I wear black too and black is the colour of justice. That's why lawyers wear them. Come arrest me too and make my day!!!