Priceless, the real ‘kuih kapit’ by Soo Ewe Jin - The STAR

Letters and cards help to build up your treasure trove of special memories with loved ones.

SOON after I got married, I was privileged to be selected for a short-term press fellowship in the United States. It was only for six weeks, but for someone who had just tied the knot, saying goodbye to your better half while still in the honeymoon phase was not easy.

At the airport, my wife quietly slipped me a letter with clear instructions not to read it until I was up in the air.

Well, if saying goodbye was tough, the letter made it even tougher. Her words, so poignantly woven together, were guaranteed to make even a grown-up man cry. In my short sojourn there, we would faithfully write to each other, trusting the postman to always deliver.

At another phase of our life, she was the one going away when she was awarded a press fellowship to be in Cambridge for three months.

I was then a full-time househusband and though our time apart was longer, the two young boys kept me well occupied.

There was still no e-mail and Skype then, so the hand-written letters were something to look out for.

I reckon that we suffer less from separation anxiety these days because there are so many ways for us to stay in touch, no matter how far apart we may be geographically.

But in my household, we have maintained this wonderful tradition of writing love letters to one another for special occasions, and even for no apparent reason.

Early in our marriage, we had read a book that taught us how to store such treasures, from letters to cards to little mementos. There are many such boxes in my home and it is a joy to rummage through them to bring back those special moments.

And our sons also joined us. The cards they send to us are always special, never a Hallmark card but always homemade ones that reveal the creative streak in them that make the words truly meaningful.

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Happy Chinese New Year !

We are very lucky to live in Malaysia. In a year we can experience so many different cultures without having to chop our passports and leaving the country. This is the Gong Xi Fa Cai season. Another season to experience and celebrate as Malaysians – Have a meaningful and happy Chinese New Year

Many Colors, One Race.

Emergency powers of the monarch by Shad Saleem Faruqi - The STAR

A caretaker government’s advice on emergency proclamation is not binding on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

THIS column had on Jan 10 noted that the last date for the Dewan Rakyat’s dissolution is April 27; a general election must be held on or before June 26; and the next Parliament must be summoned on or before Aug 25.

This is presuming and praying that no emergency under Article 150 intervenes to suspend the general election or postpone the summoning of Parliament.

In response to the Jan 10 article, some readers have raised enthralling questions of constitutional politics.

First, can the Yang di-Pertuan Agong act on his own initiative to proclaim an emergency even if the Prime Minister does not so advise?

Second, if a PM, who fears defeat at the general election, improperly advises the King to declare an emergency and to postpone the elections, is the monarch bound by this advice or is it constitutionally permissible for him to refuse his premier’s counsel?

Third, is the King’s exercise or non-exercise of emergency power subject to challenge in the courts?

Subjective language: Article 150 states that “If the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is satisfied that a grave emergency exists whereby the security, or the economic life, or public order in the Federation or any part thereof is threatened, he may issue a Proclamation of Emergency making therein a declaration to that effect”.

A literal interpretation of Article 150(1) appears to indicate that the proclamation of an emergency is within the sole discretion of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and is within the subjective powers of the monarch under Article 40(2).

Article 40(2) states that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong may act in his discretion in the performance of three enumerated functions, namely appointment of the PM, dissolution of Parliament and convening of the Conference of Rulers, plus “in any other case mentioned in this Constitution”.

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Have a Meaningful Chinese New Year - tomorrow in The STAR

Tun Dr. Lim Keng Yaik (1939-2012)

“Build on our commonalities and not on our differences. Be moderate and not extreme.”

Back to basics:

The spirit of the Merdeka Constitution

Our Merdeka Constitution is awesome - inclusive, moderate, accommodating, compassionate, and yet pragmatic.

It is our social contract. It is our promise to live together orderly, happily, and with empathy. Our Constitution is the glue that keeps us together - a society of diverse cultural, historical, geographical, and religious backgrounds. It serves as our footing as well as our compass.

Our Constitution was prepared and written by learned forefathers who breathed into it the spirit of inclusiveness, moderation, accommodation, and compassion. Choosing to be pragmatic - balancing idealism with realism and rejecting absolutism: focussing on what will work and how to make things happen. It does not try to be perfect but seeks to be functional.

It is these foundations set by our Merdeka Constitution that we have endured the clefts of race and religious politics and challenges to many political and economic crises. The Merdeka Constitution believes that in this land there is a place for everyone and each has a stake. Everyone must get something and no one must get everything. Both the rich and the poor are safely guarded.

It recognises that Malaya was historically the land of the Malays yet the Malay-Muslim features are balanced with provisions for a multiracial and multi-religious society. Secularism and Religion co-exist preserving the best of religious, moral, and cultural traditions while staying open to everything new. It sets our nation a way to blend our past, present, and our future.

Such a well-thought social contract must have demanded our forefathers to bring out the best in them; inclusiveness, courage, sacrifice, moderation, compromises, and the fearlessness to say no to the radicals within their own group. We need to do the same.

Let us go back to basics. Let us go back to The Spirit of the Merdeka Constitution.

At zubedy, our programs draw strength from shared values and traditions. We believe that at heart, all Malaysians want good things for themselves and for their brother and sister Malaysians, simply because our nation cannot prosper as a whole if some of us are left behind.

Let us be first and foremost Malaysians.

Let us add value,

Have A Meaningful Chinese New Year.

How to save when you’re broke By Eugene Mahalingam - The STAR

Saving money is not impossible when you're in financial dire straits

SAVING money can be a tall order for a lot of people but it becomes near 
impossible when you're broke or financially challenged.

Still, it's not a position you can't come out of.

Here are some simple steps to follow to help you save despite
being broke.

Set up a budget plan

If you're broke and trying to save money, than it's best to come up with a 
budget plan, says Standard Financial Planner Sdn Bhd's Jeremy Tan.

“If you're broke, then you need to evaluate what you're doing wrong.

“Have a budget plan. Look at what assets you have?

“Perhaps you could try liquidating some.

“But even before you're broke, you should have contingency 
or emergency funds,” he tells StarBizWeek.

Keep working

MyFP Services Sdn Bhd managing director Robert Foo believes that 
if a person is broke, it's imperative for one to continue working or seek
a new form of employment - as soon as possible.

“If you have a job, then you should continue working.The experience that 
you already have would be invaluable.

And what happens if you've lost your job or unemployed?
All is not lost, says Foo.

“Don't feel hopeless. You've got skills and should be able 
to have contacts that can help you find a new job.

“If you have a job and you feel it's unstable or that you might lose it, 
then you should ensure that your resume is with headhunters, 
to ensure your income position remains as stable as possible.”

Tan also points out that age can be a factor

“Of course if you're young, you'll be able to take on multi-tasking jobs. 
If you're old, then you might need to go easy on the job load,” he says.

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The ‘Allah’ Debate: Be like Jesus. Be like Muhammad.

            Dear Brother and Sister Muslim and Christians,

            We need to resolve this issue and reconcile with one another. There are things we can do that are not opposed to our faith, but ironically require us to be more true to our calling. 

1.         Be like Jesus. Be like Muhammad.

            First of all, at the heart of it – Muslims must be more like Prophet Muhammad and Christians must be more like Christ. The message taught by both Prophet Muhammad and Jesus is one of reconciliation and love between all Allah’s people. We need to have more empathy, to be gentler with one another. All of us need grace. Most importantly, let us have faith that if we truly desire to follow the ways of Allah demonstrated by Muhammad and Jesus, Allah is with us. The Bible in Colossians 3:12-13 says,

“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” – Colossians 3:12-13

The Quran in 3:159 says,

“It was by the mercy of Allah that thou wast lenient with them (O Muhammad), for if thou hadst been stern and fierce of heart they would have dispersed from round about thee. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult with them upon the conduct of affairs. And when thou art resolved, then put thy trust in Allah. Lo! Allah loveth those who put their trust (in Him).”

– Quran 3:159

            I know it is not easy to do this. I understand the struggles this involves. But it is something we must all try to do, lest we end up arguing over the use of the word ‘Allah’ and leave Allah Himself out of the picture. Let us always bear in mind the gentle humility and wisdom with which Jesus and Muhammad responded to others, even those who tried to cause them harm. They were kind even to those who were unkind to them. They forgave those who denied them and hurt them. Instead of revenge, they outpoured love. They did not mind taking blows from people as long as they were true to

Allah. All their actions were guided by love. Friends, let us seek to follow these examples and trust that Allah Himself will guide our words and actions.

2.            Make Allah a universal name of God in each corner of the World!

“Verily Allah is my lord and your lord: Him therefore serve ye:this is a Way that is straight.”

- Quran 19:36

            Let us make the best of the situation. Let us find a compromise. Let us look at this episode as a chance for us to get to know each other better. Perhaps this conflict will bring us to a place where we can learn how to love one another amidst our differences. Maybe this is Allah’s way of showing us how we can work together at being better Muslims and Christians. Let’s be like Jesus. Let’s be like Muhammad. How would they have handled a similar situation? Surely they would not have been petty because they know that in the bigger picture, it is about the kingdom of Allah on earth. Let us recognize that this kingdom cannot be built on hatred, or through legal quarrels with each other. This kingdom can only be built on the love and comradeship between Allah’s people to defend one another and take care of all His creation, whoever and whatever they may be. Let us learn to work towards our common values. Perhaps making ‘Allah’ the universal name for God is a good place to start as we come to share the understanding of the Good God whom we all serve.

3.         Practice Empathy

            Let us practice empathy. Let us unearth the root of the issue, which is fear. Let us do what we can to dilute each others’ fears.

            The Muslims are wary of overzealous proselytism by some Christians. Any discussion of religion should be done with understanding and mutual respect. But when there are some who are overzealous, the Muslims are on guard and see their brother and sister Christians in Malaysia in the same light without recognizing the difference. The task of Malaysian Christians is to show that they are not overzealous Christians who are out to convert others at all cost, but true practitioners of Christ’s call to love our neighbours.

            On the other hand, Malaysian Christians are fed up with inconsistent rules and hindrances in practicing their religion. This is a frustration that they go through day to

day. To get permits, they have to plow through red tape and shifting administrative requirements. They need to wait a long time, sometimes years, before they obtain approvals. Christian groups in some schools and varsities face difficulty getting permission to gather. 

                These barriers do not only happen to churches, but also to the Buddhist, Hindu and Sikh communities, to social and business organizations. Sometimes these conditions are not explicitly stated, but when it comes to administration it seems as if these obstacles are placed on purpose.

           

            What seems as unfairness has actually a lot to do with unclear processes and inefficiency that happens across the board. Let us clean up and clarify administrative processes, as this will go long way to reduce misunderstandings. Let us make clear laws and standardize the processes in matters regarding religious activities in all states. This will need the attention of the King and all the Sultans as religion is under their care. We need to make         it very clear so that our officers working at the ground level will know the exact processes to follow and our people will know the exact procedures and requirements involved.

4.         Ban direct proselytism for the time being

          Let us stop direct proselytism to convert people into religions through enticement or campaigning perhaps for the next fifty years. Let us discourage direct proselytization for any religion, be it Islam or Christian. We are in a time of history where the faithful of each religion are in the hundred millions. In such a context, let us focus on tending to our own sheep first. Let’s encourage our own brothers and sisters to be better Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs… Let us share our beliefs not through empty words but through our everyday actions. Let us compel people not through fear or rules or superficial compulsions, but because he or she sees good people practicing a good religion.  Actions must speak louder than words.

           

            As a businessman, I find an analogy in marketing. In marketing we always focus on engaging our existing clients first, before trying to approach a fresh contact and convince someone completely unfamiliar.

            Similarly, it is my belief that at this point of time, instead of increasing the number of converts, what we need are Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, and Sikhs who are true representatives of the ways of their faith. When Muslims follow the true teachings of Muhammad and Christians become more Christ-like, others will be attracted to you naturally – not because of your convincing words, but because you are a good personwho makes the world a better place. You become like an airborne positive virus and people simply will catch your fever.

5)         Use love, logic and wisdom

Finally, in all our considerations, may all of us guide ourselves with love, logic and wisdom. 

Love, because love will make us fair

with our hearts;

Logic, because logic will make us fair

with our mind;

and Wisdom, because wisdom will lead

us to combine our love and logic

in the way of God and for the benefit

of Mankind.

Anas Zubedy

Kuala Lumpur

Hindus and Human Rights Around The World.

Hindus in South Asia and the Diaspora:A Survey of Human Rights, 2010 by the Hindu American Foundation.

Summarized by Vera Joschko, Petaling Jaya, 04.08.2011( Taken from JUST Commentary Nov 2011)

This summary is generated out of the Seventh Annual Hindu Human Rights Report assembled by the Hindu American Foundation (HAF). It highlights the human rights conditions in different countries and accentuates the discrimination of Hindus.

Hinduism is one of the oldest surviving religions with its origins tracing back to at least the third millennium BCE. Hindus are pluralistic in their beliefs and accept the myriad means of worship and prayer. Furthermore Hindus, numbering nearly one billion, constitute the third largest religious group in the world.

While focusing in this summary on Hindus outside India one cannot ignore the plight of Hindus in India itself as consequence of the caste system which continues to discriminate and oppress the ‘Dalits’ and other low castes – this is a fact which recently HAF noted in its updated edition of the report (http://www.hafsite.org/media/pr/not-cast-caste-big-picture-and-executive-summary.) Nevertheless there is evidence that some of the twenty million Hindus living outside India have been subjected on occasions to discrimination, violence, forced conversions, socio-political ostracization, disenfranchisement and the demolition of places of worship. In some countries, fundamentalists from other religions advance a discriminatory and non‐inclusive agenda, and promote hatred of religious and ethnic minorities in league with politicians and other government officials.

For a detailed account of events and conditions in various countries I have decided to give a short description of Trinidad and Tobago.

Historically Trinidad and Tobago had an indigenous population with a tradition which was not exposed to the world religions. The emergence of Hinduism in this society is therefore a unique development.

For an overview of the ‘situation in different hotspots’ I also singled out Afghanistan and Australia.

In Afghanistan one can find out how three different existing legal frameworks (International Human Rights, Islamic principles and traditional Afghan law in action) compete with one another and how religion is exploited by the ‘so called government’ for the implementation of political issues.

With Australia a good example is given for a ‘racial overtone’ affecting Asians (in this case: Hindus) which is linked to an ongoing and pervasive xenophobia.

Trinidad and Tobago

The democratic republic of Trinidad and Tobago, which is described as a “plural society” and which constitution legally guarantees the right to equality of treatment and freedom of religious belief, is headed by the first female Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who is of Indian and Hindu descent and took office in May 2010. Citizens of Indian descent (approximately 40.3% of the islands’ population), who had been marginalized now look forward to their rightful place in this multi‐ethnic and multi-religious society after nearly six decades of discrimination.

Hindus are still frequently subjected to discrimination, hate speech, acts of violence and faced a multitude of human rights issues, including physical attacks and temple desecration. Furthermore Indo-Trinidadians have been systematically denied government benefits and employment in public sector jobs. Hindu institutions and festivals are subject to acts of violence and are denied equal access to public funds. Discrimination against Hindus is also present in the educational system. In many primary and secondary schools and colleges, Hindu children are prevented from practicing their religion and debarred from wearing Hindu clothing and other symbols. Over and above Hindus fear a systematized attempt of denial in the media. For instance, photographs in tourism brochures depict Trinidad and Tobago as a nation whose population is predominantly of African descent.

The Trinidadian government has repeatedly violated the signed UN Covenants by failing to protect its Hindu and Indian citizens and discriminating against them on ethnic and religious grounds, even though Trinidad’s Constitution provides for “equality before the law” and freedom of religion. Indians and Hindus have, however, faced systematic discrimination and harassment. With the change in government in 2010 and an Indian/Hindu heading the new government, it is expected that pressure will ease on the Indo-Caribbean population. However, it is incumbent upon the government to pay attention to enforcing civil and criminal laws and to protect all citizens. Trinidadian leaders should discourage racial and religious stereotypes, recognize Hindus and Indians as equal partners in the rule and governance of the nation and distance themselves from hatred against Hindus and Hinduism.

Hotspots of Trouble

 Afghanistan:

The unclear situation in Afghanistan is characterized by foreign occupation and also by three different competing laws (the International Human Rights principles, Sharia law (Islamic principles) and the traditional Afghan law in action). For this reason social tensions are rising and make a deep impact on the everyday life of people which is marked by instability and insecurity. And even though Afghanistan is one of the oldest Hindu centres of the world and Afghanistan's constitution grants equal rights to all to practise their religious ceremonies, Hindus still face many problems. For example in February 2001, during the Taliban's reign, Hindus were forced to wear a distinguishing yellow stripe on their arm, similar to the Jews during Hitler’s reign. Furthermore Hindus are not allowed to be in charge of a governmental body or office or even to cremate dead bodies, Hindu-owned land and property has been seized and/or occupied.

Finally, Afghanistan is only one example of religious bigotry and Islamic fundamentalism but it is doubtful that the Hindu minority will survive any longer in Afghanistan. This is ironic because to this day, Indian movies and music are popular in the country. Also, India is the sixth largest foreign aid donor to Afghanistan and Indian companies are rebuilding roads and schools in Afghanistan despite the constant security threats.

It is obvious that Afghanistan’s lawlessness has exacerbated the plight of the Hindus.

Australia

The Australian government and society has to concern itself with an ongoing xenophobia which affects people from the Asian region. In January 2010, there were about 70,000 Indian students studying in the country and make up 18% of Australia's total overseas student population, the second-largest group of students after the Chinese. One can hypothesize that the majority of Indian students in Australia are Hindus.

The Victoria Police Commission reported that there were many cases of robbery and assault against Indians – some with fatal consequences.

Another report submitted in early 2010 to the Indian Parliament by the Overseas Indian Ministry said that many of the attacks that the Indian Consulate was aware of had "racial overtones".

Given the fact that international students contribute $13 billion to the Australian economy every year, and Australia stood to lose nearly $70 million because of the attacks against and flight of Indian students, the Indian government and the Australian government sought to repair the damage with ministers traveling to and from to learn the facts and establish goodwill.

Over and above the ongoing public debate pertaining to the Aborigines and the issue of asylum seekers and resettlement programs there is an unsettled and alarmingly xenophobia concerning Indians and Hindus in Australia. This is a challenge which also demands urgent attention through bilateral cooperation.