Malaysia 7955
UPDATED VERSION.
7 Things to Remember in Nation-building
Raja Nazrin Shah Ibni Sultan Azlan Shah, the crown prince (Raja Muda) of Perak, didn't have to use royal language to spell out seven priority areas that Malaysians must be be mindful of when he delivered a keynote address at the Young Malaysians' Roundtable Discussion on National Unity and Development in Malaysia: Prospects and Challenges for Nation Building, April 3:1 ) All Malaysians must defend and promote the integrity of the Federal Constitution.
2 ) In seeking solutions to problems in nation building, don't assume away problems.
3 ) Nation-building requires accommodation and compromise.
4 ) Avoid enforced solutions.
5 ) Be open, tolerant and forward-looking.
6 ) Nation building is a process, not an outcome.
7 ) Political, social and economic incentives must reward good behaviour and penalise bad.The forum was organised by the Bar Council's National Young Lawyers Committee and Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute's Centre for Public Policy Studies.
The context is blogged here. The Internet has the long and short version of Raja Nazrin's text. Law professor Azmi Sharom has an analysis on Raja Nazrin's views: Perak prince has hit the nail on the head.
9 Questions of Law & Subashini
R. Subashini, the 28-year-old Hindu lady who was ordered by the Court of Appeal last month to go to the Syariah Court to fight for her matrimonial rights, intends to pose 9 questions of law to the Federal Court when her application for leave to appeal comes up.One question is whether the High Court has the exclusive jurisdiction to grant a decree of divorce, where one spouse in a civil marriage has converted to Islam.
The Federal Court has fixed May 14, 2007 (Monday) for the hearing of Subashini's application for leave to appeal. If she loses, the decision of the Court of Appeal will stay.
The context was blogged in Screenshots here. Related news item is available on Star Online.
5 Special Prayers for the Restoration of Religious Freedom
The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) has been holding special prayers in light of the Court of Appeal decision where Hindu woman, R. Subashini, was asked to seek marital recourse in a Syariah Court.The prayers were held by the Sikh community on Saturday (March 31), Christians on Sunday (April 1) and the Taoists Monday (April 2). Hindus will hold prayers on Friday (April 6, 6.30pm at Sundaraj Perumal Temple in Klang) and the Buddhists this Sunday (April 8, 10am at Wisma Buddhist, Jalan Klang Lama).
As a unified practice, a brief statement of concern would be read to the congregations and followed by a prayer for the restoration of religious freedom, said MCCBHST president Datuk Chee Peck Kiat in Star Online.
5 Million Eligible Voters Yet to Register
About 5 million young Malaysians will get the government they deserved -- and decided by 10.3 million others on their behalf -- as they have not registered themselves as voters.There are 4.9 million eligible Malaysians who have not registered as voters, said Election Commission (EC) deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar.
As at December 2006, Selangor had the highest number of eligible but unregister voters, followed by Sarawak (450,000), Johor (400,000) and Perak (375,000).
Some 70% of these people are between the ages of 21 and 35.
Ponder over this Malaysia 7595 before you head for Magnum, Toto or Da Ma Cai. Your constitutional right is not something to gamble away.
Comments
Funny eh...This speech was carried in yesterday's, Wednesday 4.4.07, NST as its leading story. The STAR chose to remain silent. I did not see The Sun yesterday, but today's Sun carries the entire speech like as if it has never been reported upon.
Is it a question of who wants to bell the cat syndrome? I can imagine the debates in the newsroom? Should we or should we not? Too sensitive!!..And especially what is seen to be a Chinese owned newspaper to report this speech, especially in the light of the Subashini case, my seem like as if they are taking on their protagonists in this matter. And that could mean disaster if fellas who can shout "Racist" 41 times decide to refer such an act as incitement or whatever. So, I guess it must have been agreed among the lot that to be safe NST carries the speech first and all the rest will follow the next day. Or maybe, they were all waiting in suspicion and weary about what to do. And NST just beat them to it.
Jeff, maybe your little birds can fill in on the newsroom debate.
Posted by: Observer![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.my/nav-commenters.gif)
|
April 5, 2007 09:32 AM
i am one of the unregistered voters. not that i do not want to vot but how can i vote?
first, we all can clearly see's how the leaders behave during the Parliment meetings. like a 'gang style' meeting
secondly, during the pre-election, road surfacing exercise and etc was common but after that, where are they?
i do not see the point of voting, cos it's back to square one.....sorry, i am negative but it's true and disappointing.
Posted by: lovehurts![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.my/nav-commenters.gif)
|
April 5, 2007 11:51 AM
Do not forget to count those Malaysian who are overseas who cannot vote. Unless you are a diplomat or your family member is a diplomat or a student, you cannot vote in the upcoming General election. Hence, the oversea UMNO, MCA clubs in England. SPR will not register you and is denying you as a Malaysian, your right to vote......Do they have something to be afraid of ?
Posted by: lupus![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.my/nav-commenters.gif)
|
April 5, 2007 03:25 PM
I am 29 and I am not a registered voter. Why? It's simple.
I think the present Government is clueless and some of our Ministers are better suited as comedians. So, yes, a change for the better would be nice - to put it mildly.
But hey, can we really change for the better? Key word: change for the better? Sorry Jeff, I just don't see better alternatives. If the current Govt were to be defeated, I fear mayhem. I cannot afford to gamble with the lives of people i dearly love.
But if TunM were to make a comeback, I would seriously consider.
Bottom line, whatever my vote is, I'll be damned. Till someone can convince me otherwise, I'll not waste my time.
This is my personal opinion.
Posted by: AverageJoe![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.my/nav-commenters.gif)
|
April 5, 2007 03:51 PM
Raja Nazrin is right and one wonders why all the PMs of this country haven't displayed equal intellectual honesty to have said something like that. He did the right thing in easy style, with heartfelt concern for all the rakyat and long-view for the future of this nation. Unlike some in a state further south, he does the royalty proud.
The Subashini case will tear the fabric of our society. If her rights as a mother and non-muslim are not recognized, no amount of national-service or muhibbah campaign or national unity rah-rah will work. How do you measure what is in peoples' heart when injustice is done to them in the name of your God? Badawi said "it's the law of God"; he must have thought he was making a smart statement, that imam of putrajaya. Half the population will tell him he's wrong with just one question in rebuttal:
'whose's God meant you?'
And on voting - we've been through hell together; make your vote count where it can still squeeze in some good.
Posted by: Neil![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.my/nav-commenters.gif)
|
April 6, 2007 08:16 AM