A Multi-racial Nation

Its' a nation with many diverse races.

How can it stay united in the face of growing extremism on many sides?

Just look around us today and compare everything with the past we knew. There's a certain polarity from dress to religion.

While I was in school in the '70s no Malay girls wore a scarf or tudung. Today, everyone of them wears one and it's even made compulsory. There are no exceptions to the rule.

We even exchanged photos with each other in those times. The girls' hair flowed freely and some of them had hair that went way below their shoulders. Was that sexy? Was it so sinful? Was it such a turn-on?

No, it wasn't. The rape statistics would also prove that there were fewer sexual abuse cases in those days compared to these days, I'm sure.

I'm a social animal and there were many days in my youth when we had Malays, Dayaks, Indians and Chinese friends coming together to work and play. We ate, drank and made merry.

Religion was never an issue.

Today I look at the kids and what do I find? They hang around those of their race; drink their own 'brew' and there are even questions and issues on the halal nature of food and for Pete's sake, the cooking pots and pans and so forth.

How's there going to be a simple get-together or pot-luck party when there's a quarrel over the 'clean' state of the utensils?

Another case in point: a Neighborhood Watch or 'Rukun Tetangga' party was held for my neighborhood. I went there for fun and games expecting a party like in the old days. We'll have lucky draws, games and even dancing.

Man, what do I get? It started with a solemn prayer, even though there were more persons of other faiths. With that, my interest to mingle with the opposite sex or others dissipated. When religion comes in, who wants to gossip or talk about exciting things like sex, movies, fashion and so forth? One might as well dress in black as in a funeral wake.

Of course my high expectations of fun included dancing as in old times. Right. No dance, no games-just some spicy food supplied by certain people who were 'clean' enough to prepare it and paid for by RT money.

I never went to another RT party after that.

So I say that people have to be more considerate. In fact, Malaysia should go the liberal way, not attempt to Islamise everything and let people see the importance of sharing and not just one race taking from others only. The Lina Joy court decision was a national tragedy.

The defeatist uncompromising atitudes towards other converts and converts' cases in emotional traumatic matters related to death were and are grievious hari-kiri for bigots who selfishly and stubbornly hold them.

Perhaps too the Singapore model of getting everyone to learn more languages instead of concentrating on one should be encouraged or decreed to buckle the dangerous extremist trend this country is heading for.

Short of making changes now will surely see more widespread polarization and a resulting failed state.

By the way, to my good stern U of A Islamic professor, Dr. Earl Waugh, a graduate of the world famous Islamic University, Al Azhar University of Egypt, I have to withdraw my opinion in my first thesis that Malaysia will be the shiny beacon of perfection amongst multi-national nations.

Unpublished Newspaper News

This interesting excerpt, taken from a counter-terrorism blog is about the late notorious Malaysian terrorist, Dr. Azahari:


"Dr. Azahari, a 48-year old Malaysian , joined JI when the group was based out of southern Malaysia in the early 1990s. He had a secular upbringing and was a university lecturer at the University of Technology of Malaya. He received his education in Adelaide, Australia, the University of Technology of Malaya and completed his PhD at the University of Reading in the UK. After joining JI, he was trained by Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. He left his wife at her bedside when she was undergoing treatment for throat cancer to commit his life to the jihad in Indonesia".

As I said before, I used to have good Arab buddies overseas and I hold no grudges against any of this race. It is just that we need to know more about them as there is a growing influx of these tourists to Malaysia.

The Arab World

Rape on Arab primetime TV

Egyptian star places rape and sexual abuse on Arab world's agenda

Smadar Peri, Ynet News.

Published:

09.20.07, 16:12 /

Yousra, the queen of the silver screen in the Arab world, is not only a beauty but also a highly opinionated actress who views her status as a springboard for conveying social messages. Every year during the Ramadan fast, the peak season for TV viewing in the Arab world, Yousra pushes urgent social issues to the forefront.

This is what happened two years ago, with a reality show about a single mother's uncompromising struggle against a conservative and chauvinist society; the same goes for "The Yacoubian Building," which has its say about the polygamy prevalent in Arab high society.

The authorities have yet to decide how to deal with this new social phenomenon. A quick glance at the headlines of criminal law sections run stories from the global media (including ours,) to find solace in the fact that they are not alone.

Every such series, 30 consecutive episodes broadcasted nightly while families get together to break the fast, turns into a heated dispute. A year ago Yousra was appointed an ambassador of goodwill by UNESCO, which was a boost of encouragement for her persistence.

"A Case of Public Opinion," the latest Ramadan series, has become the talk of the town even before being aired in 22 Arab countries. Ratings are sky high; no one dares miss the show. This time the queen of the screen from Cairo chose to focus on a topic that Arab society has insisted on burying deep underground: Violent rape and sexual abuse.

The series recounts the story of three young female doctors who work in a respectable hospital in the heart of Cairo; the three are summoned in the middle of the night to treat an urgent case. As they race to the destination from a remote neighborhood, drugged thugs pounce on them from behind the shadows. They are attacked and raped, including the doctor whose pregnancy is very obvious. They weep, cut and bruised, while three knife cuts are evident on the cheek of the department head, portrayed by Yousra.

Ahead of the broadcasts, one of the human rights organizations in Egypt held a referendum among tens of thousands of women. The findings were shocking: 40 percent of respondents admitted that they had been raped and forced to remain silent. An additional 10 percent revealed that they are forced to deal with sexual harassment in the workplace. If they open their mouths, they will lose their jobs.

In a "Case of Public Opinion", the marriage of the star doctor is falling apart. Her husband insists on ignoring the facts, and the legal authorities remove the complaint against one of the rapists, the son of a senior government minister. Even the fate of her two colleagues plays against them, when the hospital director hints that "if they don't shut up, they will be fired."

The rape scene was not aired in full on Egyptian TV. The censorship left just subtle hints, arguing that the harsh images may shock young viewers. On the other hand, Dubai TV went for lock, stock and barrel; 15 minutes that left no room for imagination. As expected a dispute was immediately aroused: Was it appropriate to share the experiences of the group rape with viewers?

Shaking up traditional family structure

This is undoubtedly a "women's year" throughout the Arab world. In Saudi Arabia they are finally being allowed to drive, with the blessing of the royal family. In Morocco and Tunisia women are now permitted to file for divorce. In the oil Emirates women's organizations are calling for equal rights, and the regime is expanding employment opportunities. In Jordan murders committed in the name of "family honor" are treated harshly.

Yet throughout this entire voyage, which is shaking up the traditional family structure, the issue of sexual harassment and rape remains within the realm of a "red rag." Women who find the courage to complain are accused of "starting it" or told they "should not have been walking around alone." Also, "those who don't wear a veil are entitled to be defiled."

Advertisement

Decorated with a host of international awards as well as an impressive screen, theater and TV career behind her, Yousra pledges to keep going. Female attorneys have been hired in recent days to file cases of harassment, and internet blogs reveal chilling accounts by women who have been raped.