An Outraged Girl

The following angry retort excerpt was by a Malay girl who's presently studying in a mission school who was visibly upset with the outrageous insensitive remarks by two government Barisan Members of Parliament demanding the removal of Christian crosses in schools and the baseless accusation that the Roman Catholic Vatican controlled the mission schools in Malaysia.

To read more, go to "Dramatic Musings"

This is going to be a semi-political post that might or might not get me thrown into ISA but I am willing to take the risk because I am pissed off. Indeed, I am.

I have long given up in reading the newspapers and watching the news because in Malaysia, democracy is just a charade and the media is a political propaganda tool. There's nothing more to elaborate there. To keep myself updated what I do is I peruse through these political blogs and read about the news written by bloggers with credibility. Today I stumbled across this over at Malaysians says the darnest things! and it pissed the hell out of me.

Apparently in the Parliament, some exceedingly brilliant gentleman, the representative of Parit Sulong (where?) have nothing to do with his time and nothing to do in his community that he had to point out that mission schools in Malaysia, such as Convent, La Salle and Methodist have crosses and statues representing the Christian faith in them. These crosses and statues must be demolished.

Well no shit Sherlock.
Its called mission schools. Built by the British back when they invaded Malaya.

Also he pointed out that these schools have strong Christian influences and apparently sing "church songs" during school assembly.(FYI: Those are hymns, not songs). And shock and horror!!- apparently Malay-Muslim parents send their children to these school as well!! What is the world coming to?!!

Then his sidekick, an even more incredible genius of a man, the representative from Sri Gading (bitch, again - from where?) have to butt in and mentioned that apparently "a father have alerted him that these missionary schools are not close during Raya". Raya is Eid Mubarak; as in the main festival celebrated by Muslims. Bear in mind, Malaysia is an Islamic nation.

Not close during Raya? Right....

Ok listen up geniuses, I am a Malay woman. A Muslim-Malay woman and my parents sent me to be educated in SRK. Convent Klang and then, oh nooo they didn't stop there. They then sent me to my high school: SMK. Convent Klang. That's right bitch, I'm a Convent girl. A Muslim-Malay woman educated the Convent way.

When I went there, there was never a moment where we were made to sing...what did you called it again...right "church songs" during assembly. We did read prayers but it was the Islamic prayer that we read weekly at the assembly while the other students who weren't Muslims stood in silence of respect to it. Did they other students have parents alerting the Parliament members about how the have to stand in silence when the Muslims were saying their prayers? No. Perhaps its a little thing called religious sensitivity or maybe because they were shit scared of idiots like you who are in the Parliament talking about Islamic supremacy.

Also calling into the demolishing of the crosses and Christianity artifacts. Where I went to school, we no longer have a church in it. The church have been converted into the hall and where the altar where the people used to pray, a stage have built over it. There were no crosses at all though on the walls where they used to hang, one can see the outline of Jesus Christ. When the school was repainted, all that gone missing. So what is there to demolish? We do have a giant cross in front of the school but it never bothered us. It is a part of the British/Malaya heritage, it is a part of Malaysian history. Demolish that? Demolish a part of our country's history just because you are an uneducated prick that have no religious tolerance?

F**k you.

You are not above history.

And then about the 'Raya' comment....Dude, that shit is not just stupid. It is BEYOND stupid, I don't even have a word to comment on that because seriously, you have created a whole new level of stupidity here. What kind of BS is that, that the school is not closed during Raya? You think that there would be no heavy media coverage of that if that ever happened? Stop talking mindless shit. It is embarrassing. If anything at all, Convent gave more holidays. We get day off during Good Friday while the other kids go to their non-mission school. You don't hear no one complaining because who would say no to a day off?

Oh look ma! Christian architecture! Tear down the school now!

These mission schools, Convent, La Salle and so on and so forth are not just schools. They are historical landmarks that have been around before Malaysia achieved her independence, back when she was Malaya instead of Malaysia. The fact that they have Christian identity is undeniable because the title itself is 'mission schools'. Demolishing them or trying to hide their identity is stupid because the very act itself is telling us to turn our back on history. The fact that so-called Parliament members have to make up stories to make these schools as if it is out there to convert students are false and unfounded. Further more it is also offensive and hurtful for those who have been in those walls and know such accusations are false.

The Constantly Dramatic One is all about school pride after all.

Religion is a set of beliefs. You choose what to believe. Just because you think your religion is better than other peoples' does not give you the right to condemn and push your religion onto them.

Last time I checked, we promote this country to the outside world as a country where people of different races live harmoniously and without conflict. Last time I checked, we are a country that is proud of our religious diversity and sensitivity. Last time I checked, this country wasn't run by a bunch of idiots with the Taliban-mentality.

But we all know that's all bullshit right?

An Explanation for Bigotry

Here's the latest on the issue, courtesy of Malaysiakini-the online news portal with all the good, bad and ugly facts.

'Remove crucifixes' MP explains himself
Yoges Palaniappan
Dec 4, 07 4:33pm

The Barisan Nasional MP who suggested that crucifixes be removed from mission schools today explained that he was merely raising public concern.

Syed Hood Syed Edros (BN-Parit Sulong) told reporters in Parliament that he raised the issue in the Dewan Rakyat in order to get clarification from the Education Ministry.

On Oct 29, Syed Hood and Mohamad Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) suggested that crucifixes in mission schools be removed and church influence over these schools be stopped.

Syed Hood told the Dewan Rakyat that he believes that the school board in mission schools are partially administered by foreign churches, for example the Vatican City in Italy.

He said he was "ashamed and disappointed" that schools in an Islamic country like Malaysia are still under the control of churches and that they display icons like crosses and statues.

However, he told reporters today that he did not raise the issue in bad faith but had merely raised the “grouses of the public”.

"As the people's representative, I hear complaints and laments from the public. And every complaint must be given a proper explanation," he said, adding that PAS would play up the issue if no proper explanation was given.

Thanking mission schools for providing education to Malaysians in the early years, Syed Hood said: "Then, Malay parents didn't send their children to mission schools. But now that the country has developed, we have many of them doing so and we need to explain to them when they have doubts."

Explaining that Deputy Education Minister Noh Omar's reply in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday had clarified the matter, Syed Hood said: "The clarification would provide much relief to the people of all races."

Respect for religion

Syed Hood said the issue was played up in emails and blog-posts by those "who did not understand his intention".

"What I said in the Dewan does not reflect Syed Hood the MP. I, as an individual and politician, always respect other races and religions.

"I personally don't have any issue with crosses being displayed in mission schools. We have to respect the religion of others to gain their respect for our religion."

He said his eldest child had attended SMK Convent Batu Pahat when his family lived in the town.

Asked to comment on Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz's statement that action would be taken against him if a police report is lodged regarding his remarks, Syed Hood said: "We have to hope for the best and prepare for the worst."

He also said that, in life, one has to make mistakes and learn from these, and if he has made one, then it can still be rectified.

'Hisham must explain'

However, Nazri reiterated today that no action would be taken against Syed Hood unless there is a complaint from other MPs.

"I am the (BN) deputy whip. I have to wait for other members to complain," he told reporters today.

Parliamentary Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang, at a press conference, urged Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein to explain if it is true that crucifixes in mission school emblems have been removed and replaced.

"I call on Hishammuddin to explain how many mission schools in the country have replaced the cross in the school emblem, together with a full list of the schools concerned and the relevant particulars on the year of removal and why," he said.

He also explained that he had received complaints in his blog about several mission schools where the crucifixes on their emblems have been replaced.

"Among the schools are St David High School, Malacca (crucifix replaced with a crown), Convent Girls School, Muar (crucifix replaced with a crescent moon), and Methodist Boys Secondary School, Kuala Lumpur," he said.

The Best Bigot Awards

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I was just preparing The Best Bigot Awards for the two Members of Parliament Syed Hood Syed Edros, M.P. for Parit Sulong (left) and Mohammad Aziz, M.P. for Sri Gading (right)who raised the sensitive religious issue in parliament recently of the placement of crucifixes in mission schools and the influence of the Church. However, it seems that sometimes the evil that men do will have a positive outcome.

The defacto law minister Nazri has denounced the matter of touching the issue following, justifiably, the public outcry over the cheap remarks by the two ignorant parliamentarians.

This brings up the question as to who is responsible for what is happening in the mission schools these days.

It has now come to Malaysians' attention that there are some fishy things going on quietly in the mission schools in West Malaysia such as the enforced decision to get them to remove these symbols.

Interestingly, there is a growing placement of Malay students in mission schools, even in East Malaysia. Many other non-Malays attempt to unsuccessfully enroll to study in these schools as well. Yet, despite this complimentary-perhaps- fact, Malaysian mission schools with the grace of Christ still produce outstanding results, despite the attractions or as some see it, enticements to other special institutions of some of the brightest students by the government...

So after years of Merdeka (Independence) and tolerance of many people and many things... today, the world will see that there are bigots in Malaysian society who are increasingly stripping the values of the Rukun Negara (Constitutional Beliefs) away.

If the Ministry of Education is implicated it must explain itself. If the Minister himself is implicated, as a gentleman, do something truly honorable for once. Maybe he ought to apologise or even resign.

If the ministry doesn't explain itself satisfactorily, it will prove to many that there is a sinister conspiratorial clandestine motive in whatever the government is doing these days in advancing an Islamic agenda in Malaysian society. It will only be seen as undermining the peaceful religions of others.

In fact, it can be so obviously blatantly seen and heard over the airwaves with breaking round the clock religious messages to everyone, particularly youngsters who listen to the radio for modern music and news . It has never been like this in the past since Independence, and yet slowly but surely, there are attempts to brainwash other Malaysians by questionable subtle means.

It is therefore possible that a positive outcome will be the result of the opening of the mini Malaysian Pandora's box by some UMNO bigots.

I hopefully pray so.

Come to think of it, I won't award them the awards of bigotry because they have galvanised Malaysians to speak out. Indeed, it has gotten many Malaysians to speak out, more than some of the elected representatives who lack guts. Just read the comments in the hugely popular Zorro Unmasked blog. It's increasingly more of a reason for me to cast my vote for the Opposition in the coming election.

Lingamgate-Parliamentary Motion?

As a non-partisan ordinary man on the street, I fully support this decent elected parliamentarian's action if it comes to pass. Realistically, knowing how overwhelmingly lop-sided the powers of those against the opposition are, the motion is not gonna be an easy 'dun deal'! Good try, mate! The following report is from Malaysiakini.

Royal commission or no-confidence motion
Oct 2, 07 1:07pm
Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang warned he will move a motion of no confidence against the chief justice in Parliament if the cabinet fails to establish a royal commission of inquiry into the judiciary tomorrow.

In a statement today, Lim said the no-confidence motion against Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim will be moved when Parliament reconvenes on Oct 22.

“The cabinet (in its weekly meeting) tomorrow must not abdicate from its national duty to do what is right for the country and future generations [...] by disbanding the three-man panel on the authenticity of (the VK) Lingam tape.

“(And replace it with) a royal commission of inquiry with wide-ranging powers to inquire into the rot in the justice system to restore national and international confidence in the Malaysian judiciary,” he said.

The scandalous video clip released by opposition party PKR two weeks ago showed senior lawyer Lingam in a phone conversation, purportedly with Ahmad Fairuz, allegedly fixing the appointment of ‘friendly’ senior judges

The video clip ignited an uproar among the legal fraternity, with the Bar Council - the governing body for 13,500 lawyers - pressing for the formation of a royal commission of inquiry to get to the bottom of the matter.

The government subsequently set up a three-man panel headed by former Chief Judge of Malaya Haidar Mohd Noor, National Service Council chairperson Lee Lam Thye and former Court of Appeal Judge Mahadev Shankar.

Grounds for impeachment

Meanwhile, Lim also listed down the grounds to impeach Ahmad Fairuz for judicial misconduct and failings as chief justice. These include:

* Failure to honour his public undertaking when he first became chief justice more than four years ago to recast the Judges’ Code of Ethics 1994 to restore public confidence in judicial independence, impartiality and integrity.

* Publicly tarnishing the image of the judiciary by failing to take action and substantiate grave charges which he made against judges for accepting bribes.

* Failure to take action against judges, including from the Federal Court, who had obstructed the course of justice in not writing up judgments – with one case of a Federal Court judge who had a backlog of some 35 outstanding judgments since his High Court appointment.

* His call for the abolition of the common law system and its replacement by Islamic law system.

* The seven-month constitutional deadlock over the appointment of a suitable Chief Judge of Malaya after the retirement of Siti Norma Yaakob on Jan 5, 2007.

* The Lingam video scandal implicating him in an expose on the perversion of the course of justice involving the fixing of judicial appointments and the fixing of court decisions and judgments.

Nazri was wrong

Lim also rebutted de facto law minister Nazri Abdul Aziz’s statement that the conduct of judges cannot be debated in Parliament.

“He is wrong. There is nothing in the parliamentary standing orders or the Constitution preventing judicial misconducts from coming under the scrutiny and debate in Parliament except that it must be by way of a substantive motion which has to comply with a special procedure,” he said.

Lim highlighted that three former judges had also added their voices in support of a royal commission of inquiry and the setting of a judicial commission on appointments and promotions of judges.

The views of Court of Appeal judges Shaik Daud Ismail, KC Vohrah and VC George were reported in The Star on Sunday.

Ahmad Fairuz has since denied through Nazri being the person to whom Lingam was talking to in the eight-minute edited clip.

Civics 3: Powers of the Judiciary

Part 3 Continuation of 1970s Compulsory Malaysian Civics Lessons: Powers of the Judiciary

Brother: In the last class, I talked about the Malaysian constitution. Today we talk about the powers of the judiciary.

In Malaysia, all judicial power rests with the Federal Court and the High Courts, which control all the subordinate courts.

The Federal Court of Malaysia comprises of the Lord President* as the Head, the two Chief Justices of the High Courts and two judges*. It is within its capacity to interpret the Constitution and to determine the validity of any enactment made by Parliament or a State legislature.

The Federal Court also has the exclusive jurisdiction to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, when called upon to do so, as to the effect of any provision of the Constitution.

Disputes between States, or between the Federation and any State, can be determined by the Federal Court.

So can appeals from the decisions of a High Court. In this case, the Federal Court decides on the propriety of these decisions, and may uphold these decisions or amend them.

However it may not pardon offenders in capital cases. Only the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has this right to exercise clemency, though he cannot interfere with the judicial proceeding while it is being conducted or administered, and though the judges are responsible to him for its administration.

There are two High Courts in Malaysia-one in Malaya, the other in Borneo. They have equal powers, though these are more limited than those of the Federal Court. They are equal in rank and status as well.

Each of these courts has a Chief Justice* and a number of other judges, the least of which is four. It exercises control over all the subordinate courts in its particular division, the Sessions Courts and Magistrates' Courts. Religious Courts do not come under its control.

Major offences against the law, criminal, civil or regulatory, are tried in the High Court, which may also hear and determine appeals from the subordinate courts. Criminal law offences are taken to mean those against the community, though the acts themselves may affect certain members. In cases where capital punishment may be involved, trial is by jury*. Such trials may be conducted only in the High Court.

Civil law matters concerns disputes between individuals, or groups of individuals, on infringements of rights and obligations; while regulatory law cases usually involve violations against registration and licensing rulings.

In criminal and civil law offences, judgement is not based solely on a written code of law, as new and more complex cases constantly arise. It is also based on precedence, where previous judgements on cases of a similar nature are taken as a guide. Thus the law, in this respect, is constantly changing, as new judgements are made and new precedents set.

In contrast, laws which regulate our daily lives and activities are codified and enacted by Parliament. However, such laws are open to interpretation, and in many past instances, the Judiciary has resorted to the use of its wide discretionary powers.

It may also exercise these powers when it determines the degree of punishment each criminal offender should receive. The kind of punishment he should receive for his offence has been established by Parliament. So were the maximum and minimum penalties...


* CHANGED PRESENTLY
** No longer practised in Malaysia.
To be continued

Civics Lessons For Malaysia (1)

What do the early books written by text-book writers, some of whom were truly idealists, say about Malaysia? Here are some of the many exceptionally well-written history lessons that were ingrained in our young minds when there was a brighter world for all Malaysians then... instead of the sabre-rattling or kris-rattling and zealous religious bomblastic words and actions today.

Before going into the text-books, here something to remind everyone about the formation of Malaysia by Malaya in partnership with Sarawak and Sabah. Before the public proclamation of nationhood there were some exciting actions. It's cited from the autobiography by one of the world's greatest leaders, Lee Kuan Yew's (I say, chaps, hire the good man to solve the woes of this nation's problems such as corruption, financial bailouts and subsequent losses, serious crimes... and unease with Islamic hadhari, Namewee-phobia and racial & sexual discrimination...) The Singapore Story (Lee Kuan Yew. The Singapore Story. 1998: Times Editions, 2003).

At 7 pm on 1 August, the Tunku and Macmillan signed the agreement that would bring Malaysia into being, the ceremony having been delayed for one day so that it would fall into the lucky eighth month of the year for the Tunku. The governors of North Borneo and Sarawak signed on behalf of the Borneo territories. Singapore and Brunei were briefly referred to in a joint statement, although they had loomed large in the two weeks of discussions that preceded the ceremony. The sultan of Brunei held out for better terms. So did we.

The Cobbold Commission's report was released at the same time that the agreement was signed. It was well-written, presenting the case in the best possible light. The commission's assessment of the wishes of the Borneo people was that one-third were strongly in favour of Malaysia's early realisation, without concern about the terms and the conditions. Another third favoured Malaysia but wanted safeguards. The remaining third were divided between those who preferred to see British rule continue for some years and a hard core, vocal and politically active, which will oppose Malaysia on any terms unless it is preceded by independence and self-government. In other words, never. On his part, Cobbold rejected a plea from the Borneo territories for the right to secede during a trial period. This was final (pp 442-3).

Back to our Civics lessons-here's what we learnt in school in the 1970s about our government ...

Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy, a form of government which is not uncommon in the world today. However, it is a unique system, in so far as her sovereign, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, is elected to office for a term of five years by the Conference of Rulers through a secret ballot. Unlike the constitutional rulers of Great Britain, Denmark, Holland, Greece, Sweden and Norway, who are hereditary monarchs, the Malaysian royal Head of State can only be chosen from one of the nine royal State Rulers.
... The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is a very important component part of parliament. Only after he has given his assent does a bill become law. He may abstain from assenting to any bill presented to him, either by the Dewan Ra'yat or the Dewan Negara for his signature. The grounds for his abstention are limited, the main one being that the bill, if enacted may infringe on the rights of the citizens. In this way, he upholds the Constitution and protects the citizens from a loss of constitutional rights... (Secondary Civics for Malaysians, Book Four... written for Malaysian secondary students in the 1970s).