Archive for April 4th, 2011
Bible impasse: CCM youth reject 10-point proposal
by Hazlan Zakaria | Apr 4, 11
Malaysiakini
The youth wing of the Council of Churches Malaysia (CCM) today rejected outright the government’s 10-point proposal to appease Christians in Sabah and Sarawak over restrictions on the publication and import of the Bible.
The movement made this known in a tweet this morning:
“Say NO to 10-pointers. Malaysian Christians want FULL FREEDOM, FULL RIGHTS to practise their faith.”
Contacted by Malaysiakini, CCM youth secretary Daniel Chai explained: “We don’t agree with the suggestions because they represent no firm commitment from the government. We shall continue to observe and see how things develop.” Read the rest of this entry »
10 more deserving RCIs
Posted by Kit in Anwar Ibrahim, Corruption, Good Governance on Monday, 4 April 2011
The Malaysian Insider
April 04, 2011
APRIL 4 — The Barisan Nasional (BN) is apparently seeking to file a parliamentary motion seeking a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) to investigate a sex video clip allegedly featuring Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in a sexual tryst with a prostitute.
Perhaps because he is a lawmaker and also the parliamentary opposition leader. Then again, he is already facing his second sodomy charge in 12 years. So why not another trial.
However, if the ruling coalition is keen on holding RCIs to investigate a tape of a man having sex, perhaps it should consider setting up royal panels for the following issues:
1. Corruption involving ministers, senior government officials and other decision-makers
2. Leakage and other distortions in Malaysian policies and initiatives, including the New Economic Policy (NEP)
3. Racial polarisation and discrimination in Malaysia
4. Religious freedom and the rights of minorities to practise their religion Read the rest of this entry »
Who speaks for the government?
Posted by Kit in Elections, nation building, Religion on Monday, 4 April 2011
The Malaysian Insider
April 04, 2011
APRIL 4 — All the Christians had asked was for Putrajaya to prove its sincerity over the Alkitab issue. And the government failed the first test.
In the space of two days, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the 10-point solution announced by Datuk Seri Idris Jala last Saturday was not final.
“We’re still in the middle of negotiations. Nothing is finalised yet,” Hishammuddin told The Malaysian Insider. Read the rest of this entry »
Somewhere out there, shampoo is needed
Posted by Kit in Elections, Sarawak, Zairil Khir Johari on Monday, 4 April 2011
by Zairil Khir Johari
The Malaysian Insider
These are busy and exciting times. I have less than two days to pack for a two-week adventure in a land full of charm and mystique. Besides the usual necessities — toothbrush, clothes, Blackberry (Heaven forbid I forget that) — I will also be stuffing my luggage with bottles and bottles of… shampoo.
Now, I am not particularly fastidious about hair care, but I have heard that where I’m headed, there is a great need for a very special kind of shampoo. You see, in this land not so far away, I have heard that people are suffering from a chronic attack of a noxious condition known simply as “white hair”.
As far as my research has revealed, this plague, colloquially called pek moh, began to manifest exactly 30 years ago. In the beginning it appeared harmless enough, innocently revealing only streaks of silver. Read the rest of this entry »
Monitoring the Dirtiest Elections Ever
Posted by Kit in Elections, Lim Teck Ghee, Sarawak on Monday, 4 April 2011
by Dr Lim Teck Ghee
CPI
Monday, 04 April 2011
According to Bernama, the Election Commission (EC) has decided not to give accreditation to Mafrel (Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections) to be an independent observer in the Sarawak state election, polling of which is to take place on April 16.
EC secretary Datuk Kamaruddin Mohamed Baria is reported to have said that this was because Mafrel had failed to fully comply with EC’s requirements. “Among them is for Mafrel and its affiliates to be non-partisan in their work,” he said in a statement.
This statement coming from the EC makes it clear that the Government is afraid of –and will prevent – independent observers from monitoring the coming Sarawak election which, in all likelihood, will be the dirtiest one ever since the stakes are so high. Sarawak has to date been the biggest of the BN’s electoral fixed deposit. If Sarawak goes to the opposition or if the expected landslide for the BN component parties does not take place, it could be a precursor to the BN losing power at the national level in the coming general election. Read the rest of this entry »
Enhancing Human Capital – Charter Schools
Posted by Kit in Bakri Musa, Education on Monday, 4 April 2011
by M. Bakri Musa
Chapter 7: Enhancing Human Capital
Charter Schools
Another avenue for private sector participation would be a joint private and public partnership to form charter schools. Charter school is a new concept and becoming increasingly popular in America. The underlying idea is to empower the ultimate “consumers” of schools – students and their parents – by taking control away from the central bureaucracy and giving it to the schools. The ministry would be concerned only with monitoring the quality and compliance with rules and regulations, and setting the standards.
To gain charter status, such schools must meet certain conditions. Their graduates must demonstrate competency in our national language (Malay) and history. These schools must also recognize the uniqueness and special sensitivity of Malaysian society. Thus their student body must reflect the greater community.
In return, these schools would get state funding – the same amount of funds it would have cost the government to educate these pupils in the public system. Additionally, the state would guarantee loans for capital expenses. The actual lending however would be done through private sources. With the guarantee, the interest rate should be favorable. Read the rest of this entry »
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