Screenshots

The furores are caused by the beliefs and not the emotions. If we are level headed we can feel the appropriate emotions generated, allow them to flow through and then they disappear. Once held back and let them build up and fan up by others, they cause havoc.

In physical existence we learn and understand all our energy translated into feelings, thoughts and emotions causes ALL experience. There are NO exceptions. Emotions follow our beliefs and not the other way around.

Many people do not question their religious beliefs but accept them as fact. It is far simpler to recognize your beliefs in regard to religion, politics or similar subjects than to pinpoint your deepest beliefs about yourself and who and what you are.

unlike those self servers with a personal vendetta, NST has hundreds of rice bowls to be concerned about. removing non sequitar is only being pragmatic. as for admission of guilt, how are you feeling jeff?

kimberlycun,Being as cun as you are , i agree that NST has hundreds of rice bowls to be concerned about but Back track news a bit ,and ask yourself,why wasn't NST thinking about the hundreds of SARAWAK TRIBUNE empty rice bowls when they went to town with the caricature story ?I didnt say they are responsible for it,but they sure had a hand in the closure." The Dogs Can Bark But The Caravan Must Move" Let the games begin!

serpico: sarawak tribune as a matter of fact did publish the controversial caricature in question amidst the furore. however, this other caricature doesnt even come close to the severity of the original one, its "severity" has only been overdramatised and exagerated. ST stepped over the line definitely, but NST?

Ok Kimberly,You got me there , Maybe i just hate NST's guts,and the fact that they think they are God's Gift to Journalism and also the fact that they can even get away with Murder.I'm probably taking this Crusade Personal. Guilty As Charged.

p.s : 'Amidst The Furore' These Moron's chose to REPRINT the strip again ! Defiant or We Got Balls ? You Decide .

serpico: i dont disagree with you about NST. in this case though if NST does get into trouble, mass media in malaysia will become even more hopeless than it already is.

Not to go off track, however I find this to get more and more funny and ridiculas, first one says this is my religion and NO one else can make "any" drawing what so ever about a person in my religion, then someone else makes a cartoon that still mocks it all in every respect, we have people all over giving their own ideas to what the artist was tryign to say and half say it is wrong, the other half saying it is not. Here is my view:

First I have every right to make a drawing, cartoon, painting or what ever else I want about anything in this world even any religious prophet period. If I do not follow your religion then you have and that religion has no right what so ever to tell me what I can and not draw. It does not mean I am being insensitive, in fact I can say people who try to tell me I can not draw it, or have it published are being insensitive to me and my rights. The followers of a religion can follow what their religion says, I do not have to at all. In fact maybe I do not believe in any god and thus religion to me is nothing more then an idea, a thought but not fact, thus again why would I follow somethhing, becuase I might offend, well that is not my fault, that is the other person's fault for being so sensitive and not mature enough to turn away and not look at it.

The Severity of offence...

Sarawak Tribune,
Graphic Impact = Severe
Responsibility = Low
Reason = 1st scene report

GuangMing,
Graphic Impact = Moderate
Responsibility = Medium
Reason = Situation Aroused

New Strait Time,
Graphic Impact = Low
Responsibility = High
Reason = Situations Stirred

Since both Sarawak Tribune and Guangming had been sentensed, and yet NST did not learn from the acts there after and fuel-up the fire, disturbed the already calm general public, not once but twice, which may promote more participation of scheduled early next month protest.

As a warning to others that not to add salt onto heeling wounds, NST should be punish more severely.

If as claimed by NST who practice press freedom.
Sarawak Tribute should be the one we need to salute to, because they keep the general public who are not e-generation informed on what the orgasm of caricutures on xx...xx really is.

Since Internal Minister accidentally killed an innocent Daily without trial, he should not let the real fire starter escape freely.

Tidak Apa Lah...

i don't find the strip really that offending, not that it refers to the Prophet but merely muhammad ...

but anyhow, NST really padan muka when they chose to reprint it in their 2nd page the next day

if Sarawak Tribune and the chinese daily also kena, why not NST ?

this is to illustrate that indeed no newspaper company is really above the law ...

if ST can also kena from the government, why not NST ?

we shall await and see the so-called show-cause ...

Serpico wrote.."Defiant or We Got Balls ? You Decide ."

Ans..none of the two...the correct answer is the person who decided to have the cartoon in NST is farrrking stooopid.

kimberlycun say:
mass media in malaysia will become even more hopeless than it already is.

Huh? You mean local media are not hopeless now?

I guest The next Wiley Miller's cartoon NST should publish for the front page will be --> http://images.ucomics.com/comics/nq/2006/nq060222.gif

he he he

klman ,I will NOT call u a [ DELETED - Short of name calling ].In case you didnt know ,"Malaysia is a multi-racial country with a rich cultural heritage. The base of the national culture is Malay culture, which is native to this region. Islamic values are embedded in Malay Culture.

The "Malaysian "culture emphasises values on courtesy, moderation, tolerance, harmony and cordial relations among family members, neighbours and community. As Malaysian respect each other's beliefs and faiths, cultural and religious festivals such as Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali, Christmas, Gawai Day and other auspicious occasions are given due importance.

One of the unique features of Malaysia is its "multi-racial" population which practises various religions such as Islam, Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism and Christianity. Each ethnic group has its own beliefs. Under the Federal Constitution, Islam is the official religion of Malaysia but there is freedom of worship.

[ DELETED - OT/Off Tangent ]

Not only the comic strip is not that really offensive unlike the earlier caricatures, except to the extremist... in the first place, it was also not noticeable, except for those vultures who have revenge in their eyes for NST's blood.

Some SURVIVAL rules:

• When a building is on fire, do not go into it or even near it. You may get burnt. After the fire has died down, you make your approach.

Sarawak Tribune and part of Guang Ming Daily have been consumed by the “fire”. The memory is painful, people are hurt, livelihoods are lost.

And, here comes NST walking right into the fire when it is still roaring hot.

• If the cause of fire is uncertain or disputed, people will be meticulously watching, examining, investigating and processing the scene. If you make one suspicious move, you may end up being accused as an arsonist.

The Danish caricatures on Islam are still causing global outcry and rebuttal. Emotions are still running high and innocent people have died.

And, here comes NST printing a cartoon on Islam by a cartoonist whose religion is not Islam.

• If you are accused of arson but you are innocent, do not attack your accusers. If you do, you are guilty of causing grievous hurt even if you are not guilty of arson.

The recipe for your freedom is humility and diplomacy.

YgArif,Let me be the first to Admit that i am one of those vultures who have revenge in their eyes for NST's blood.The End justifies the means!
Whatever means, be it killing, lying, breaking alliances, or anything else, are all OK in the end as long as your goal is achieved.They jumped into the hole,i'm just the man with a shovel .

Freedom of choice

If you have wronged someone, you can choose either

• to be humble and apologize, or
• to be stubborn and arrogant

If you have been wronged, you can choose either

• to be humble and forgive, or
• to be bitter and vengeful

There was a time I wanted to kill, maim, destroy the people who have hurt my family. We have since let go of our pain and freed ourselves from the past.

I have mentioned somewhere in this blog that my family runs a business here – with a large Muslim Malay work force. We have never let any ugly incidents destroy the good multi-racial and multi-religious relationship that we have built in the company.

We as a family have freely chosen.

I hope this piece can bring some peace.

serpico,
I sympathise with you. Make good use of that shovel... go bury the hatchet instead. To forgive is divine. It is the quintessence of happiness.

Wonderful news. Hopefully this will be the end of the Government propaganda, one-sided biased newspaper.

Having said that closing them down for an inocuous cartoon which in truth offends no-one may be a little harsh, but hey, so was shutting down the ST and Guangming was harsh as well. I wonder what young Khairy is going to say about this.

Pity.....I really enjoyed this cartoon strip everyday. Made me think long and hard about life at times. That's what happens when you are a thinking man.... you are always ruled by fools

To understand the sebab, look at the intent.

The intent of the 2nd publishing could be to enlighten people who missed the first publishing or to spur debate. It is different from the intent to incite hate or criticizing religions although the pictures are the same. We can’t penalize people for a good intent. We can’t shut our eyes to evil if we want to understand it.

What is the intent of the 1st publishing? Oversight? To test freedom? I don’t know. But I do know that it didn’t break the rule of “you can’t draw Muhammad”. Merely referring to Muhammad is done in every newspaper and that can’t be wrong or every newspaper will be closed down. There is no direct link like the Danish cartoons.

Again on the 1st publishing. The intent of the cartoons is not hatred or anti-religion, clearly. The reason could be to criticize the press on the current issue where the current issue is violence/terrorism under the banner of religion, and I think that is within the public interest.

I use a lot of “could be” because the interpretation of the satire can be very imaginative.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

oh dear ...
I posted on the wrong topic. Should be in the "How dare you English tabloid editors!... ( 4 )"

serpico

I appreciate your views, however ple4ase spare me the "multi-racial_ aspect of Malaysia, it is a culture of roughly 4-5 cultures primarily, not "that" multi. I admit it is a great and fabulious country, and it does share many cultural aspects of different ethnic groups, however there are far more many countries that a far more racially diversed than Malaysia by a long shot: the USA, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Australia, Turkey, Brazil, Holland, etc, these countries share far more racial diversity, unity, ethnic variations and religious tolerance than Malaysia does to any degree, this is not an opinion but simplay a fact, an undisbuted fact. With that said, I never rasied the issue pointing soley to Malaysia, now did I?

I simply said that I will not be dictated by any religous belief, that is my belief, and you have the right to your thoughts as I do mine. I am certain I have beliefs that you or other people may directly offend, but I am not demanding you to accept my way. For an example: you state that no other person even if they are not a follower of Islam should not ever draw a cartoon of the Prophet becuase it offends you and your belief in your religion, even if the artisit is not Muslim. Ok if that is so, then are you willing to allow Christains to come here and try to convert everyone they see to their religion, it is a strong belief in Christianity to go out and spread the word of Jesus, are you willing to allow to not use electricty or modern means, it is a strong belief of the Amish that we should live humble and simple lives, forget that you are no Amish, I am just asking since it is their belief are you willing to change your ways to suit that. Well I am getting off track from the topic of this blog, I do apologize to Jeff and everyone else here,

JEFF OOI says: Pleased to know you realised you are off-tracked. Don't repeat it, please.

what I am simply saying is why is it so hard for someone to turn their eyes away, I know you will say cause it is somethign you ho.ld dear to your heart and deep beleifs, well that is fine for you and your friends and followers of the same beliefs, however what "right" do you have to tell someone who is not of your belief to follow the same way, that is what it comes down to, is forciing someone else to folow the same way.

Oh and by the way, if you think issue like these wil cause civil unrest, disrupt the racial harmoney and cuase a riot in the streets here in Malayaisa, then I say the problem is not talking about or publishing issues like the above, but the people and their ability to take critisim and to act maturely and intelligently like other countries are able to, you do nto solve the problem by always putting a bandage on the sores, you fix them by fixing the problem that caused the sore, thus the mindset of the people.

JEFF OOI says: What's the relevance of all these rants to this blog topic?.

From what I understood about this comic strip is about the actual author of the 12 cartoons, he became an 'outlaw' and seems having a hard time to survive besides becoming the world's most feared person (wanted).

Theres nothing wrong with it. Some may find it offensive but life will go on.

However, I strongly disagree with NST republishing the strip in the name of freedom & blaming others for their defiance & mistake.

I also agree that the InSecurityAct Ministry is bias towards political reasons. Its understandable as the ruling parties have the tendency to bend the rules for survival.

I am more concerned about the future of freedom of press. A clear seperation between conveying a message and offending readers (even its graphically inappropriate) must be tabled.

Its (SHOULD BE) the readers point of view to support or not to support the media. I Believe Malaysians are mature enough to understand what is offending & what is news.

NST will laughing along to the bank with a minute slap in the wrist & everything will be fine. So what are we to argue about?

I mean the goverment cant go on like this forever. If they were to be fair, they should also suspend the Danish Newspapers also but unfortunately, their authority does not span that far & the only viable option is to discipline fellow malaysians (media & those whos jobs insecured).

Malaysian Media will understand the nature & will start being global to exist in such a way that local goverment cant intefere. Examples are the web papers that are not based in Malaysia, but accessible by Malaysians.

The story will again go back to Individual choice.

If NST should be given some form of punishment, the next logical step is for someone to target this very website.

A total reprint of the cartoon leads to total shutdown of the Sarawak newspaper.

An indirect reprint of the cartoon leads to a suspension of two weeks of the chinese daily.

A censored reprint of the cartoon should lead to some sort of punishment for Screen Shot. Suspension of this website for two to three days would be fine.

The context is irrelevant. A reprint in any forms is guilty, although the degree of seriousness might differ.

Jeff is of no exception.

regards
st

Did you know that there was a lot of restraint on the part of the powers that be in respect of the handling of your "case" some time ago.......it could have been much worse for you? So do exercise the same restrain and don't fan the flames of hatred.You are supposed to be a builder of bridges not burn them!

"I guest The next Wiley Miller's cartoon NST should publish for the front page will be --> http://images.ucomics.com/comics/nq/2006/nq060222.gif"

readerdee, from where on earth did you manage to uncover that gem? :)

Quoting:

Why axe Non Sequitur at this juncture, one might ask? Is it an admission of guilt for having published a controversial instalment on Feb 20, and defiantly re-published it on Feb 22 despite having caused much furore among the Muslim community in Malaysia?

Funny. By the same logic, Jeff should be censored too. Selective free speech doesn't work Jeff.

MikeWang,

Nolw that is a GREAT cartoon and so so true, so very true, and where we are headed-or where some want us to Be-Headed

Many wrongs don't make 1 right.
In fact, they make many witch hunting morons.

What a paper ought to publish is not based on what is prohibitive, but what and who not to offend.

God save Malaysia !

I don't know when paintings and drawings of the prophet became taboo but I read in another website that medieval muslims often created paintings and illuminated manuscripts depicting the prophet in full. The main url is

http://www.zombietime.com/

For those who are easily offended, pls do not follow the link that says "The Mohammed Image Archive". This site contains photographs of actual paintings on display.

As for the NST's cartoons, if anyone is offended, they have to ask themselves if it is because it ridiculed the prophet or themselves. Please do not use the prophet to justify their action.

//As for the NST's cartoons, if anyone is offended, they have to ask themselves if it is because it ridiculed the prophet or themselves//

That's a really great quote. People should ask WHAT they are offended about. Good one JJ.