Reckless

It was reported today that Road Transport Department (JPJ) director-general Datuk Solah Mat Hassan was 'shocked' at the 'lawless behaviour of motorists'.

You can read the news report here.

I was curious as to what are the terrible things the motorists are doing to shocked Datuk Solah. As i read the article, i was shocked myself - but more at Daruk Solah's reaction!!!

Among the things that were allegedly shocking were drivers overtaking along double lines or jumped queue using the emergency lane or the road shoulder.



Among other things pointed out were failure to stop at traffic lights, drivers using their handphones and failure to buckle up or motorcyclists who failed to put on a helmet.

I was like 'Hello????' I see these things happen on almost a daily basis!

It is surprising that Datuk Solah was shocked - and it is really sad that drivers in Malaysia drive in such a reckless way.

Malaysia boleh!

Caned for what?

Malaysia made it to BBC News Online again - and as usual, it was not in a flattering light. The headlines read "Malaysia Canes Three Women For Extra-Marital Sex". You can read it here.

It was reported in the local papers here.

Please do not get me wrong - i am NOT blogging to comment about the Syariah Law. I am merely commenting on what Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein was quoted saying regarding this matter in the local news article linked above.

Here is what was reported:-

Hishammuddin said he decided to bring to public attention the punishment meted to the three women because there had been "too much hype" over Kartika’s sentence.

"People are saying that no woman has been caned before and that Kartika should not be caned.

"Today I am announcing that we have already done it."

Pic taken form The Star Online

Earlier in the news report, it was said that the 3 women "...were the first women in Malaysia to receive such punishment under syariah law".

Wait a minute. It seems to me then that these unfortunate 3 women were caned so that people cannot complain against Kartika's sentence (who has been sentenced to caning for drinking beer). Now, according to the Home Minister, no one can say that 'no woman has been caned before'.

When i teach my students on the purposes of punishments imposed by law, it is never a reason that it is to prevent others from complaining about another's sentence!

Malaysia boleh!

Condemned for following the law

A huge banner put up by the country's ruling party which had a photo of the current PM was removed by the council workers. The reason is simple - they did not obtain a permit to put up the the banner.

You can read the entire news report here.


Pic obtained from The Star

So what was the response? The local council was condemned for following the law! Even the headlines of the report read as 'Removal of Klang Banner Condemned'.

The State Government (which happens to be run by the opposition party - this has probably nothing to do with the condemnation...???) has been accused of 'overreacting'.

Datuk Ti Lian Ker (pic left, obtained from his blog) alleged that their act was one of 'arrogance' and a 'display of power'.

My question to the learned Datuk is since when does the adherence of the law amount to arrogance? Do we not as Malaysian citizens believe in the 'Rule of Law' (Kedaulatan Undang-Undang)?

The learned Datuk alleged that "... the act was not in the spirit of cooperation between the local, state or federal authorities". Does this mean that the spirit of cooperation involves not enforcing the law or disregarding the law? Does this apply to everyone or just the federal government?

The learned Datuk Ti went on to talk about things like spirit of peace, harmony and so on, and promotion of respect, understanding and tolerance of the Chinese culture, tradition and practices etc, etc. Does this mean that the law can be broken or disregarded? Would there not be anarchy in our country if people started to not follow laws?

Please pardon me if my understanding of this is wrong.

I just wonder would it have made any difference if the positions were reversed. And would the headlines still read the same.

But the local council enforcing the law has been roundly condemned.

Malaysia boleh!

So emotional

So many things have been going on in this country that i have given up talking about it.

But i think i'll start again.

It's about a report i read in today's papers entitled "Protesters burn effigy of Lim" (read the report here).

Pic taken from The Star

I have much to say about this - but i will refrain. Save for one matter. The report quoted Penang deputy police chief Senior Asst Comm (1) Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah saying that "no arrests were made at the scene as emotions were running high among the protesters" (quote from the papers, not a direct quote from him).

Tun Hisan on the left (Pic taken from The Star)

I was like "What....??????"

So no one was arrested because the police were perhaps afraid??? Is that a proper basis to decide whether or not to arrest anyone???? Should it not be based on whether the person has committed an arrestable act???

Well, here is a tip for people in Penang who are planning to commit crimes - when cops come, just let yr emotions run high - and u may end up not getting arrested!

Malaysia boleh!

Thou shalt not question (Part 2)!

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin has called on all parties to stop questioning the status and position of Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM)... .
“Thus I would like to urge, let there be no one who question the status and position of UiTM”.

You can read the whole report here.

For those who do not know, UiTM only allow people of a certain race to be students in that institution. This of course has been a major complaint of a lot of people! Does this not appear to be blatant discrimination?

In the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, racial discrimination is defined in Article 1 as:-

any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life.

So clearly on the international level, this is racial discrimination. What is the justification? In typical Malaysian fashion, none is given and instead, his majesty, the King of the country simply tells us all not to question.

Malaysia boleh!

Thou shalt not question!

BTN course teaches disunity

AS parents we are glad that our grown up children attend the Biro Tata Negara (BTN) course, which is compulsory for government servants. They are all mature professionals.

But what angers me is that, instead of talking integrity, unity and harmony among the various races, participants are taught about disunity and racial hatred. Is this what our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib wants for 1MALAYSIA?

Throughout the five days of the course, participants are repeatedly told not to question Malay rights and so on. The course coordinators keep talking about social contracts and telling non-Malays not to question Malay rights and so on.

Many participants, including my Malay friends, are upset.

Are we still living in a primitive age? If the BTN course is to be conducted in this manner, it is better to abolish it or let it concentrate on only one ethnic group.

The course is not bringing unity but only arousing anger and hatred.

As it is handled by the Prime Minister’s office, please do not say that they do not know what is going on.

DISAPPOINTED,
Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur.

Reproduced from here.

Malaysia boleh!

Biased Bar

The Bar Council’s actions seem to be slanted and their position on certain issues does not seem fair lately, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.

He said for instance, the call by the Council for the Human Rights Commission to conduct a public inquiry into the arrest of five Legal Aid Centre lawyers at a police station recently seemed inappropriate.

Read the full report here.

So the DPM is accusing the Bar Council of being biased. So shall we listen to the views of a politician or do we trust in the independent body made up of the legal minds of the country? Just because the Bar Council does not agree with the actions taken by the government does not mean that they are not acting fairly. If the government wants the Bar Council to agree with their actions, perhaps the government should act fairly in the interest of justice and righteousness.

The Bar is biased? Yes, i think so. It is biased towards justice and fairness.

Malaysia boleh!