Two contrasting takes on Merdeka mo(U)rn

Just for the record, and some sombre "reflection" on Independence Day mo(U)rn, Two Takes from The Star ~~ Desi resevwes Comments. I hope my EsteemedReaders can see why Desi has on several occasuions posed this:

NegaraKu, and to its leaders especially, QUO VADIS?

PrimeTake

Nation
Thursday August 31, 2006


Maintain strength in unity

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians must retain the spirit of consensus and cooperation which have become the pillar of national strength since independence, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said last night.

He said the country's development enjoyed today was the result of unity that had long been forged among the people of various races and religions.

“The solidarity of Malaysians is our strength, we need to ensure that we maintain that strength. A good consensus, a strong and effective cooperation, these are important,” he said in a special message aired over radio and television in conjunction with the nation's 49th National Day celebration.

Abdullah said in instilling and safeguarding unity, each Malaysian must have patience, be considerate, give priority to collaboration and respect each other.


VIPS CELEBRATING: (From left) Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, Najib, Abdullah, Taib and Rais waving the Jalur Gemilang at the stroke of midnight during the Ambang Merdeka celebration in Kuching last night.
Referring to the May 13, 1969, incident, Abdullah reminded Malaysians to learn from the dark moments in the country's history and avoid doing something that could disrupt unity and racial collaboration.

Things that caused consensus to crumble would erode the country's strength and make it weak, he said.

“What causes hardship to us, we must avoid, that's the meaning of learning from history. Besides, we need to make our mark in history to build a civilisation for the future,” he said.

Abdullah said the present generation now enjoying the fruits of the struggle of past generations had the obligation to make Malaysia a more developed and successful country to be inherited by the next generation.

“Or at least ensure that the country has a government with well organised plans so that our country can progress further,” he said.

Abdullah said serious attention must be given to the struggle towards achieving Vision 2020, when Malaysia would hopefully be declared as a developed nation in that year.

He stressed that the people should strive wholeheartedly to face various new challenges like globalisation, liberalisation and competition from other countries.

“Are we able to succeed when faced with such competition (from other countries)? Will we be able to get as much as we need when faced with such rivalry? These are the questions before us, and we must have the best answers and respond to them,” Abdullah said.

“Therefore, it's my fervent hope that the people and Government will continue to cooperate and both sides will put their minds and efforts to realise it.”

The Prime Minister also reminded the public sector that it had a crucial role in developing the country even though the private sector had been given the role to generate a more robust economic growth.

“The public sector has the power to enforce laws and regulations, and also the capacity to draw up the necessary policies. So, its role cannot be separated, and cannot be considered less important,” he said.

Therefore, he said, the public sector must strive to facilitate any private sector initiative that would bring benefit and prosperity to the country.

Touching on the National Day celebrations, Abdullah said all Malaysians should celebrate the day with pride as a way to show their gratitude and joy for the peace and progress enjoyed so far.

After 49 years of independence, the Prime Minister said, Malaysia had developed robustly and achieved successes in various fields.

“Surely, we are grateful because we can say that our country is peaceful and safe for all Malaysians, even though we still remember the incident that happened in 1969,” he said.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MERDEKA! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TakeTwo



Bikers on smashing rampage

KUALA LUMPUR: At least 13 cars were broken into, their windows and windshields smashed, along Jalan Medang Serai in Bangsar, leaving residents both angry and baffled.

Residents who witnessed the incident at 5am yesterday said young men on at least four motorcycles took their time smashing the windows before taking anything of value inside.

They also claimed the youths were the same ones who often raced illegally along the Sprint Highway that runs parallel to their road.


DESPICABLE ACT: Ng taking a closer look at the mess after a group of motorcyclists smashed the windscreens and windows of 13 cars along Jalan Medang Serai, Bangsar, early Wednesday morning.
Tedin Ng, 51, a resident for more than 20 years, found the windows of his BMW and Renault SUV smashed and the coins in the ashtray compartment missing.

“This happened to me last month as well, when they took the radio in my BMW. Even before I had time to fix that, they struck again,” he said, adding that the culprits seemed to be sending some kind of message to the residents there.

“Almost all the cars had both the front and passenger windows smashed. If they were merely out to get valuables in the car, there is no reason for them to smash both windows,” a puzzled Ng said.

Another resident, who declined to be named, said he saw what happened and called the police immediately.

“They started at one end of the road and smashed cars all the way to the other end. They would wait awhile before going on to the next one. They were not afraid and did not run away,” she said.

“The police came a little too late as the youths had gone by then,” she said, claiming that the police also did not bother to ask any of the residents what had happened or who had called.

Brickfields OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Dzuraidi Ibrahim, who confirmed the incident, said only six people had come forward to make reports, so far, even though 13 cars were smashed.

“According to the reports, the suspects were young men who were riding four Yamaha RX-Z motorcycles,” he said, adding that police would increase patrols in the area.

“We believe there were around eight men in all.”

ACP Mohd Dzuraidi said a similar incident happened in the Jalan Terasek area about a month ago.

“In that incident, the men were also on motorcycles, but we still don’t know if this is the same group or a different one.”

He asked witnesses to contact the police via the Rakan Cop hotline at 03-2115 9999 or call the Brickfields district headquarters at 03-2274 2222.


~~~~~~~ What's Happening? Kyels asks. Quo Vadis, Desi asks. ~~~~~~~