Ladies and gentlemen, if you are a non-Muslim, do you have anything against the dome and the crescent moon found on mosques? If you are a non-Christian, do you have anything against the cross? If you are a non-Buddhist, do you have anything against the pagoda? If you are a non-Hindu, do you have anything against the statues, each representing every deity available in the Hindu religion?
We need to look back at why we need MPs for. Are they there in Parliament to discuss such irrelevant and sensitive issues? Have the MPs no sense for moderation of speech? While they are in need of wisdom, where has it gone?
If you answer yes to any of the questions above, then you do not belong to this country. Obviously, this country is not suitable for you, because you cannot even respect the traditions, culture and the theology of the various religions in the world. Also, you would believe that your own religion is the only correct religion in the world. People who think like this are the ones who will bring about social turmoil and unrest.
So, what has all this got to do with our Members of Parliament (MP)? Well, personally, I have nothing against them. It's just that sometimes it is indeed appalling to see how some of our representatives could not suppress their tongues from making foolish, baseless statements. It makes you think, "Have we chosen a wrong MP?"
On the 29th of October 2007, the Dewan Rakyat had its usual parliamentary meeting which started around 10.00 or 11.00 a.m. and ended at about half past eight at night. I managed to get a copy of the hansard which can be downloaded from www.parlimen.gov.my. I read most of the content (it was 147 pages long) and this one particular page got me interested. The following picture is a facsimile of one of the pages of the hansard:
Referring to the extract of the hansard above, you will see that there is this MP for Parit Sulong making an interesting statement. For those who do not know Malay, I shall tell you the gist of the extract. The MP for Parit Sulong made the following claims or allegations:
- Missionary schools such as Convent, La Salle and Methodist schools have Board of Governors that are partially administered by the Vatican City.
- The permission of the Board of Governors, in which part of it is controlled by the church, must be obtained first before a surau is permitted to be built within the premise of the school.
- Muslim parents who send their children to missionary schools complain because school sessions begin with the singing of church hymns (or church songs).
- Religious symbols are seen within the compound of the school and the MP for Parit Sulong feels disappointed to see the statue of the Virgin Mary right in front of the school should he be visiting, say, a Convent school.
The MP for Parit Sulong was then interrupted by the MP for Sri Gading, who stood up and said that a father informed the former that such missionary schools did not close during Hari Raya Aidilfitri. He then sat down, in which the MP for Parit Sulong continued to make the following statements:
- Not only are statues seen within the premise of the school, but crosses are often found as well. What the MP for Parit Sulong could not comprehend was whether the Education Ministry officials failed to see them or is it that allowing such statues or crosses displayed is within the base of the Constitution.
- Seeing it as his responsibility to himself, his religion, his race as well as his country, he proposed that the statues be demolished, the crosses destroyed and the church influence be stopped.
So much for his "factual" speech. Let me now correct all the above statements that the MP for Parit Sulong made and state them as facts:
- The missionary schools do have a Board of Governors, but they are NEVER governed by the Vatican City. Why would the Vatican City be interested with schools that are built here in Malaysia? Would it bring any economic growth to the Vatican City? For all you know, it will be a headache to them. So why, would they bother?
- No missionary school is unequipped with the surau. Permission to build a surau need not be obtained from the Board of Governors. It is just that perhaps relocating the surau from one section of the school to another section may not be approved so easily due to the lack of floor space available in the school. Face the fact, not all schools have plenty of space to waste. No school in Malaysia has a prayer room for non-Muslims AND non-Christians. So if you have one within the school premise, be contented about it and shut up (unless there are other reasons that would expedite immediate relocating of the prayer room). If you don't, then request for one.
- Never in my eleven years of study life in St. Michael's Institution (a La Sallian school) had I sung any church hymns or church songs. Complaints stating that church hymns are sung are simply a complete farce. If the singing of hymns did take place, why is it that the mass media never covered such stories, and that the Education Ministry never reported such cases? Also, why is it that other missionary schools never receive any directives regarding that matter? We would have been informed about it, would we not? By the way, while having our weekly prayers during assembly, we have a Muslim prayer followed by a non-Muslim prayer. See for yourselves how such schools actually respect and care for every religion and culture. The least you could do is show some respect to these schools and not just blurt out any baseless arguments in the Parliament.
- Not all symbols or statues are religious ones. The Paterfamilias statue standing at the foyer of St. Michael's Institution is not for a religious purpose. It represents a teacher imparting knowledge to a student. It also represents the commitment and the dedication that academicians in SMI would portray. Even if some of the structures, such as the cross, are religious symbols, does it kill you to look at them even if you are not a Christian? Also, why is it that you cannot enjoy and appreciate the diversity of culture and tradition that we have in architecture? Such structures are rare and some of them have even been sanctioned by the state governments as valuable historical sites. What the MP for Parit Sulong proposed was to eliminate such history! This is atrocity at its worst!
- The Education Ministry has nothing against the cross and the statues displayed in the compound of missionary schools. They have the wisdom in knowing that such tradition and display is rare and bear a meaningful beginning or legacy of the school. Thus, they should be left alone. If the Education Ministry does not even have anything against those structures, why should the MP for Parit Sulong even bother in the first place?
- His proposing to have the statues demolished and crosses destroyed is outrageous. Assume that a school is built with all the Islamic features available in a non-Islamic country. Now, here is then an MP who proposes that the dome be removed and replaced by a flat roof and the crescent moon be replaced by the symbol of a lion. I wonder how will the MP for Parit Sulong feel? If he is angered, what about the Christians who have now heard of his proposal to have the crosses and statues removed?
Ladies and gentlemen, did you know that many of our politicians, royalty and great personalities hailed from such missionary schools? I will name some: YAB Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia), His Highness Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah (the Raja Muda of Perak), YAB Datuk Seri Dr. Lim Keng Yaik (Minister for Energy, Water and Communications), YAB Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye (former MP), Mr. Koo Kien Keat (Badminton champion), Mr. Ralph Marshall (CEO of Astro), Ahmad Farid Ridzuan (CEO of TV3) and many more! Why is it that the MP for Parit Sulong never bothered to inquire from the people available in the politicians sphere in which many came from missionary schools as well?
We need to look back at why we need MPs for. Are they there in Parliament to discuss such irrelevant and sensitive issues? Have the MPs no sense for moderation of speech? While they are in need of wisdom, where has it gone?
Members of Parliament have been chosen and elected by the people to represent them for various constituencies. They are there to see that our welfare and the economic needs are met. They are to report to the government whatever dissatisfaction that have occurred. The MPs are also responsible to help resolve certain dilemmas that are happening in their constituencies. We don't need MPs who can talk a lot of nonsense, we need MPs who can speak up for the people's rights and walk the talk!
The fact that they have been elected by the people as their representatives mean that the people put a certain amount of trust in them to lead them. However, from what we can see from the hansard, it's clearly a misuse of trust. We have elected MPs who go to the Parliament to invoke racial and religious sentiments and are so desensitised to the fact that people are hurt by such remarks. Do we need such people in the Dewan Rakyat? Clearly, ladies and gentlemen, we should vote them OFF from the Parliament. Why should we have such people wasting everybody's time with absurd, baseless, appalling remarks? It's time we get to see a show of maturity within the august House.
Our MPs really need to think first before they say anything in the august House. If they have nothing to say, it is far better that they just don't attempt to find a convenient (yet offensive) topic to speak about and just shut up. Nobody is going to penalise them for just keeping their tongue still. It is far better to keep quiet, rather than to let the tongue damage one's reputation. Better be led by wisdom rather than be led by the heart.
Therefore, ladies and gentlemen, my most important advice is THINK!
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;;Yeap. Thats right. Believe it or not. Existence as you know it is THE lowest rung on the metaphysical level of all things good, bad and shine.
Why you ask? Well let me enlighten you.
First we look at Hell's composition. Fire, Brimstone, Demons, Gore, Suffering bla bla bla (insert Sunday school image of choice here)
You get the picture right?
Now try imagining each of those elements...
I guess you could say its a lot like this...
Look familiar? You'd bet your last pair of panties yes!
So... if hell is here then where is good ol' planet Bob?
Well... Let me say this;
People we do not elect rule the through sheer tyranny and the whip that is political correctness.
Of all things that are certain in this world inevitable eventual failure will ALWAYS be one of them.
God appeared to us "ONCE" in mortal form and we crucified him.
And well nobody's perfect. And we WERE created in Gods image. Ipso-facto he ain't perfect either. All powerful sure. Sadistic sure. But perfect? Pshaw!
Perfection is a hoax. How can everyone be perfect? Be PERFECTLY pure and PERFECTLY corrupted all at once? Pure Corruption i say.
God created all things. Perhaps. Which means he created evil too. Sure he gave us that carrot on a stick you people call hope but seriously; the murderer who grows flowers is still a murderer first and foremost. So...
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then is he impotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then is he malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Whence then is evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?
Don't get me wrong. I bet most of you are thinking why the fuck the "Turbanator" bothers with his cultural mane of furry fur when he rants so much about hating the big Kahuna? Well you just answered your own question. Culture and Religion are two different concepts that are two separate, though significantly interwoven, entities. Sorta like politics and lying.
I keep my beard as a sign of respect to my forefathers. It is a symbol of my people. A part of their identity. Not a sign of my devotion to any one deity.
Also i cannot for the life of me understand the concept of faith. What i say i believe and all is forgiven? I say i believe and i am accepted? Why does God ask this of us? Does the father ask the fetus to show faith of existence outside the womb before he may be born?
Or worse. The fanatics. If you are not of our faith you are doomed to hell! And so we convert. Insincerely choosing a faith over gospel truth. Thats okay? What kind of segregation is this?
Didn't god want us all to be together? One big happy incestuous family? Then why the prohibition of inter marriage? More shit from the bull i say!
Conclusion; I hate God. Why? Coz he deserves it. What right do i have you ask me? What right don't i have? He put me in this shithole! I dint ask for any of it. Didn't anyone ask what I wanted? Sorry let me rephrase; Did anyone who gives a shit and actually makes an effort to help ask what i wanted?
P.S. This was a rant. I don't give a quarter pound of turd whether you were offended. So there! Swallow it.
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;;This message goes out to all RANDSTers, past and present.
I shall not be very subtle with the fact that I am indeed becoming quite disappointed that although RANDTS has come a long way, it is ending up becoming nothing. More and more people are leaving this blog, and must I say it will not be long before this blog becomes defunct?
I have no idea what is running in your minds, but allow me to give my two cents on this matter. When all of us first participated in this project, we were full of hope that it will grow into something great. The passion was initially there and all seemed to go well at first. We had seen an influx of posts for the first two months and it seemed to be such a good indication for RANDTS. We had our gatherings and exchanging of views.
However, later on, I would observe that our bloggers here occasionally slack and sometimes disappearing for a few good months. I do not even really know whether some of the RANDSTers that we have here even bother to view this blog.
Then, previously, I have made a similar post to this. The response was that the fire for blogging was burning again, but quite short-lived. Now, after Joe has left us, we see that Timothy has also left and Khael is showing indications that he is leaving.
Many times I have asked this question, "Why is it that people are leaving our blog? Why is it that initially they have the passion, only to lose it in the end?" But this question was never answered.
Indeed, I have got bored with this blog now that it has so little interesting updates. Apart from stories, photographs and more stories, I see no fresh material worth reading.We have more than ten contributors to this blog but it does not reflect that fact at all. It seems more like three or four zealous bloggers who would try to find time to blog and would only give up if the time does not permit them to do so. We have too many lukewarm and cold bloggers who do not deserve to be put up as contributors in the first place.
Blogging is all about passion, patience and effort. If you lose any one of these, the fire to blog will simply diminish in no time. I still have the passion and effort to blog here, but I no longer have the patience, because I have lost my patience seeing that the latest post in RANDTS is always the outdated one.
We did not want to have this blog just because we want to have it. We did not want to have this blog just because it is mere fun. We want to have this blog because we believe that besides displaying our creativity, our thoughts and so on, we could unite bloggers from around the country or even worldwide under one roof. We have sent in proposals and numerous e-mails (all done by Jared) stating that participating as a RANDSTer demands quite a lot of commitment and patience, and should only accept the invitation to join the RANDTS community if you feel that you are able to do so. It is indeed a privilege to be accepted as part of the RANDTS community. No Tom, Dick or Harry could just come in like that!
RANDTS is not really a blog where you are free to just contribute or leave as you like. Perhaps you should think about the people who have put in all the effort here to make this blog alive and to even create it in the first place. The sincere intention of this blog has either never been comprehended or taken for granted.
Really, people, if you are busy for about two or so weeks, I could accept that. But if you are continuously busy for two or three months and could not even spend just half an hour posting something up in RANDTS, I think at this point there is no need to evaluate your commitment to RANDTS. It is as good as none.
Call me hard-hearted but if you think that what I have said here is being unfair to some of you, let he or she voice themselves up against me. I would be happy to engage myself in a discussion to find out the true cause of such lack of commitment. Then we will know if it is really due to other commitments or just plain laziness.
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How many of you do not understand the above sign?"
Nothing annoys me more than some people being so inconsiderate during classes. I have got an important question here for all of you - how many of you deliberately refuse to turn your mobile phones to silent mode during lectures?
You see, during lectures, everybody wants to pay attention to the lesson. For those who are not interested in the lesson, they can always do something else, but please do not distract other people, or cause other people to lose their concentration! Just because one is not able to catch what the lecturer is saying does not mean that you are given the liberty to cause others to stumble as well.
There are some people in my university who are either plain dumb (as in stupid) or just deliberately going against university rules and regulations, or even universal ethics.
The rule, though unwritten, is simple: During lectures, please keep your phone to silent mode or switch them OFF. However, I find, much to my annoyance, that I constantly hear mobile phones ringing away with short text messages coming in, or beeps that indicate whether the phone receives any reception or otherwise. This happened during my Health, Safety and Environment lesson. Worst of all, they put their mobile phones on the table so it was so loud and clear to me when the phones ring. Yet after the phone rings, they still had the audacity to keep their phones at the General mode rather than the Silent mode.
Such people exist in university, much to my disappointment. If we were primary and secondary school students, it might have been still acceptable for teachers or parents to tell us off that we must keep our phones off or at silent mode at all times during lessons. But with that fact planted firmly in our minds, I still find some people totally ignorant to that. Just because they have not been reminded to turn their phones to silent mode does not give them the permission to just keep them on the General mode. When phones ring, they are an interruption. With about one hundred phones in the lecture hall, can you imagine what happens if just one quarter of them ring every now and then during class?
So much for our education system! Yet the Malaysian mentality is such that we practise such egotistical values without thinking about other people. We are already approaching the country's 50th Independence Day, and yet there are people who still possess Third World mentality and refuse to change their ways for the better of society as a whole.
Do not give me excuses or reasons as to why some students cannot keep their phones to silent mode OR even switch them off. If it is so important that you keep your phone on and allows it to ring during classes, then it must be something urgent or must be some form of emergency. If it is so, then why attend the class in the first place? Quickly deal with the emergency and then only come back. Do not undermine the priorities of other students who want to focus during the class. It is very unfair to undermine other people's welfare just to protect one's.
Therefore, let us not be part of such idiots. When you are attending classes or lectures, remember to TURN YOUR MOBILE PHONES TO SILENT MODE OR SWITCH THEM OFF!
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;;X said he's a nice boy. I would hardly think so. Maybe its because I'm connected to the victim. His family probably think, he's so young, let him free. But if they'd step out as the general member of public. What would a reasonable member of the public say?
He stabbed and slashed her 24 times. Slashed her face, from one eye, past her nose, right down her cheeks. Stabbed somewhere almost to her heart, then slashed her back when she turned to close the door to the toilet, where she died, bleeding from the 24 stabs and slashes.
He was 13. What makes a 13 year old do things like these? Tell me? Seriously... There is something seriously mentally wrong with this boy, I dont know whether some bad spirit took over his mind or he's just inborn with this instict, but eventhough its been 5 years, I hardly think its enough for a person to be reformed. People who go in for killing, come out after decades and still kill.
If they'd just do something like put him under parole and constant mental checks it will help determine whether he's actually ok in the head down the road. It seems like justice isnt doing well in trying to avoid future calamities. Seriously... it's endangering everyone else out there to let him just walk out free with no strings attached.
I'm seriously sorry for those related to this fella, but as another member of the public, I wouldnt want me of my child grow up to live in such a society with people with such backgrounds walk scotch free.
Blame it on her? She's playful I know, but shes nice too. She was with me just a few days before that happened. She was sitting on my lap, playing around and joking with me, I know well enough. The newspaper plastered all facts to state that she was a bully. Thats because the boy is still ALIVE, she's NOT and she cant defend what she said or did not say. BIAS judgement. They make it in such a way that states as though she asked for it.
Can you imagine, if you son/daughter calls someone fatty. Fine, scold the kid, the other kid prolly gets pissed and says something bad back, but to stab 24 times. Now if you think he deserves to be free and that he's ok in the head... okay... Whatever but fine, think you as a kid, would you stab a person 24 times, slash her face, try to stab her in the heart just because she calls you that? No? Precisely, only a person with something reaaaallly wrong would.
Would you kill a person because he/she called you fatty? ? ? ?
If they would actually monitor him, it would be acceptable.
He hid the weapon, he knew what he did was wrong, he fled from the scene, they convicted him, but what happened, ... the courts cant sentence the boy, because the Child Act 2000 doesnt provide for them to do so.... .... zzzz
Karpal Singh, one defending him agrees too, that the laws should be ammended. Dont you see that as this case sets precedence to the fact that minors can get away free for murder by spending a short period of time, comparatively to adults.
Dont you see that it gives the impression that people can ask kids to murder in their place, and there is possibilty for all parties to walk free just within a few years?
think, you say its absurd, but there are many opportunists out there!!
I do know the fact that there will be people opposing my statement here. Its important to see both sides, but I dont think there's any way for me to be less pissed with the judgement. Even the lowest of sentences, freaking parole couldnt be placed upon him. Its not much to ask for. But hey, ...
*insert cynical comment here*
RIP Mei Fong, its almost 5 years since then.
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;;Hi everyone! I haven't posted anything for so long. Really sorry for not contributing anything to the blog. I just thought about something & decided to post it. I assure it it won't be the last post. (^__^)
Old friends. New friends. I'm sure everyone has it. Ever since we were young until now, we have gained so many friends. Some might be your friend at school, some might be your neighbour & some might even be a person you just happen to meet. We learn a lot from friends. We learn how to share our stuff with them, share secrets & even share a common hobby or a liking. I remembered we used to say that our friendship last forever. We will be friends to the very end. But how can you make sure that really happens?
Maybe it's just me but I notice as time goes by....the friends we use to know will slowly be forgotten & we will make new friends. Old friends being replaced with new ones? That sounds kind of rude, don't you think? Sounds like a friend is alight bulb waiting to be replaced. Although it sounds kind of bad but it's true. Not many friendships can last a long time. So far the longest friendship that I have is with a friend who was with me since I was in primary school until now. But along the way, I lost contact with some friends. The bond we use to share is no longer there & they slowly drift away.
It like we don't know our friends anymore. Friends that I use to talk now seem to be strangers. All I get from chatting is simple,
Brian : hi
Friend: yo
Brian : how's life?
Friend : fine. U?
Brian : i'm ok. how the weather? over here it's raining.
Friend: the weathers fine over here.
Brian : k. what r ya doing?
Friend : sry. gtg. busy
Brian : ic. k. bb
Friend: bb
That's basically it. When I do have the time, it's like I got nothing to talk about with my friends. It feels kind of awkward. Do you guys get that kind of feeling? I don't want to lose the contact with all the friends that I've made but what should I do? I'm confused.... (>.<)''''
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;;After reading this, you decide for yourselves whether this scenario should have happened in the first place or otherwise.
My university prides in its efficiency in the form of technology. We have the facility to register our laboratory and tutorial sessions online (which, sadly, not many lecturers would utilise it, not even the IT lecturers, much to our chagrin!) and we also have the convenience of being able to register for our next semester subjects on the Internet, too. Therefore, you can say my university cares quite a lot about technology.
But imagine my frustration when I am forced to drop a subject that I have registered for this semester. Professional Communication Skills, or PCS, is a subject that is scheduled for me to take this semester, therefore I signed up for it in the course registration. My friends and I spent days trying to find out which lecture slot would fit our timetable and not long after setting up our timetable (in which I found my Moral Studies lecture clashing with Principles of Solid Mechanics), we read the announcement from the E-Learning that PCS is open to students who are due to go for industrial training next semester and those who have just came back from the training.
Therefore, the others have to drop the subject. No further negotiation. I sent an e-mail to my lecturer, but later on I was told he won't be back until Wednesday. So, I called up three other lecturers. All of them told me that they could accommodate 600 students for PCS but at the moment they received 1000 plus registrations, and out of that, 400 are students returning from industrial training. And to top that up, the second lecturer whom I called was condescending in tone, unfriendly and most of all, unhelpful.
It is so unfair to us students who are scheduled to take up that subject, only to be forced to have it delayed to a later semester. But how long are we to defer it? In addition to that, they are not suggesting us the other options to take in place of PCS! So now that they are having a problem of their own, they dump all the responsibilities on us innocent students, eh? And even if we do register for another subject, how sure are we that they will not clash with our current classes at all? Fine enough, we could check the module timetable, but for your information, I have a friend who currently cannot find any subject that will suit his timetable without clashing with anything. Go figure.
When asked about this matter at the Registration Unit, they seemed to be utterly blur about what is going on, and I was told that it was the unit that issued the directive to the PCS coordinator to have the first and second year students to drop PCS.
The main question is why does the university still require these students who are going for the industrial training and those returning from it to do PCS? This PCS course was made compulsory just last semester. Previously, it was offered as an elective course. Can they not exempt these group of third year students onwards from PCS?
Now, about 500 or 600 students in the first year must delay their PCS till much later. How late? And when these 500 to 600 students take PCS in their later semesters, wouldn't this cause the future first year students to have their PCS delayed as well? How long do they intend to delay, then? Conclusion: Inefficient!
And besides, what's the point of setting it in the course planner, only to find out we aren't going to follow it at all? Why must we as students be subjected to all this absurdity due to negligence of other parties? They should have known better, right?
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;;Yes thats right you heard me. The The Juggernaut has been stopped dead... (ironic innit? ;P) But fear not my darlings for i shan't abandon thee so easily... Just to occupy u guys in the meantime check this out! Here are some songs that i currently like/am listening to/are on my playlists... ;D
Enjoy! ;p
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