News to cheer, more burden to bear!

Desi selects two news breaks fro The Star today -- and sees some "bright lighT' from an "unexpected" source, and another dampener -- with long and lasting negative connotations for our nation-- from yet another "unexpected" sopurce.


Saturday January 21, 2006


Move by non-Muslim Cabinet ministers ‘improper’

KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the action by 10 non-Muslim Cabinet ministers in submitting a memorandum to the Prime Minister calling for a review of laws that affect the rights of non-Muslims was “improper” and “not nice”.

“It is against the Cabinet system and unprecedented,” he told reporters at the Malaysian-French Chamber of Commerce annual dinner here last night.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamad Nazri Abdul Aziz said the non-Muslim ministers should withdraw their memorandum.

“It is a dangerous precedent. In principle, the Cabinet had already discussed and agreed on a review of all laws pertaining to a conversion of a non-Muslim to Islam.

“Their action seems to suggest a rift between non-Muslim and Muslim ministers. The Muslim ministers are patient and moderate and we can discuss this in the Cabinet,” he added.

In PUTRAJAYA, Umno Youth said the Cabinet members must abide by the principle of working together.

“They acted as if they were not part of the Cabinet line-up appointed by the Prime Minister. They should instead use the present channel like the Cabinet meeting and Barisan Nasional meeting,” the movement's exco member Datuk Pirdaus Ismail told reporters.

He also said religious issues were sensitive in multi-racial Malaysia and the ministers should have discussed it in the Cabinet.

However, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz said it was okay with her.

“We, the Muslims, are also concerned over the process which determines who is a Muslim and who is not. If a person is a Muslim convert and he is wrongly buried, we are concerned.

“Similarly, if a Muslim who professes to have left the faith (apostate) but is buried as a Muslim is also of concern to us,” she said.

Rafidah felt what her colleagues in the Cabinet had brought up was appropriate as they represented the views and thoughts of the non-Muslims on the matter.

DESIDERATA:Under Pak Lah, there has been a discerning "opening up" of the Cabinet forum for members to speak their mind. I don't share the DPM's and Minister in the PM's Department about their concern over what is a memorandum by their Cabinet colleagues on a "national concern".

I see the development as a positive development in the democartisation of the maturing Malaysian society. You push away such openings or prefer to "sweep them under the carpet", you only encourage guerilla activities, and more violents expressions leading to law breaking and anarchy, which are poor options to the average JoePublic.

So it was a "ray of hope" when the Minister who got so much "flak" over the infamous AP issue finally expressed a stand I must applaud her for!

Let's give credit where credit is due -- and her support for her non-Muslim fellow members for their initiative shows there is at lwast one clear thinking and progressive mind among Pak Lah's policy-makers.

Her stance is in line with a nation striving to find its place among the Developed Nations community and fostering First World mentality and helping cultivating among us some "Towering Malaysian" performers.


Let's not try to drape the Jalur Gemilang over the Egyptian Pyramids when we chase a French man doing "Spider man" stunt on thhe Petronas Twin Towers.
Let's not sweep things under the carpet when some countries use such carpets for "flying" -- Imagination from thinking outside the box?

Next to a dampening which Malaysians can do without.Desi gets more and more depressed with such developments ...an unfolding event which IMHO, does NOT doing the nation any good. It reminds Desi of former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad warning the Malaysian society against following unhealthy trends as had happened in other countries. Malaysia is becoming overly litigious for its own good...

Students sue over teaching in English



KUALA LUMPUR: Four students have filed a suit against the Government over its policy to teach Science and Mathematics in English.

The students – Mohammad Syawwaal Mohammad Nizar, Mohammad Fadzil Nor Mohd Rosni, Nur Najihah Muhaimin and Syazaira Arham Yahya Ariff – are seeking to declare two circulars on the execution of the policy dated Nov 27, 2002, unconstitutional, null and void, and of no effect.

They are also seeking a declaration from the High Court that the Government had no power and privilege to introduce, enforce and implement the policy stated in the two circulars.

Apart from that, the students also want the High Court to issue an order to compel the Government to change or restore the policy stated in those two policies according to the provisions of the Federal Constitution and written laws regarding the matter.

Mohammad Syawwaal is a Year Four student in SK Batu Tiga while Mohammad Fadzil and Nur Najihah are Form Three students in SMK Tok Muda Abd Aziz and SMK Seri Perak, respectively.

Syazaira Arham is a Form Four student in Madrasah Idrissiah.

The four students, who are all from Perak, filed the suit through their fathers Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, Mohd Rosni Abu Bakar, Muhaimin Sulam and Yahya Ariff Kamaruzzaman.

In their originating summons, the students claimed that the policy had been enforced without taking into consideration Article 152 of the Constitution and the provisions of laws like the National Language Act 1967 and Education Act 1996.

(The Malay language is enshrined as the national language under Article 152 of the Constitution.)

They also claimed that the differences in the time allocated for the teaching of Science and Mathematics for Year 1 in national schools, Tamil schools and Chinese schools, and the fact that the two subjects were taught in English and Mandarin in Chinese schools had resulted in a form of discrimination and inequality.

This, they argued, was against Article 8 (1) of the Federal Constitution because it “results in a big discriminatory gap between urban and rural students”.

The policy, they added, contradicted the National Education Policy that was based on the National Education Philosophy which, among other things, stressed on an education system using the national language as its medium.

As students, the plaintiffs claimed that they were “victims” because they were deprived of learning the two subjects in the national language.

The suit was filed through the legal firm of Mohamed Hanipa & Associates at the appellate and special powers division of the High Court here yesterday.

DESIDERATA: The court is not the proper forum for adult Malaysians to pursue what is clearly a matter to be decided by the "political process". Take it to your MPs and political leaders, don't jeopardise our already heavily burdened judiciary system... they have enough on their plate!

Fight the political opponents via political and socio-civic or community organisations and societies -- but using children to pursue a political cause in the courts? Let the children be -- studying in the library, and playing in the sunshine. Yes, even like what brother Imran advises: "Waste their youth a little." Desi adds: Don't use them as pawns in our adult games to add burden to their yound shoulders.

Heaven forbid, don't open more such negative Pandora's Boxes! Enough is enough!