Saturday, April 30, 2011
The colour blind Ong Kim Koon
APRIL 25 — An incident took place amidst the “1Malayu, 1Bumi” movement and
“using Chinese to subdue Chinese” advocacy.
Two weeks ago, 52-year-old lorry driver Ong Kim Koon saw a road accident on
the MRR2 highway near the Tesco roundabout on his way home. A seriously
injured Malay couple were trapped inside their mangled car.
Ong stopped and quickly pulled out Zainal Mohammad.
When he was about to return to rescue Zainal’s wife, Rosamiah Hashim, after
placing Zainal on a road divider, he was hit by a MPV and dragged for a few
metres. The MPV driver then fled the scene.
Together with the Malay couple, Ong was rushed to a hospital.
The couple were in a stable condition while Ong was put in an induced coma
and had his right leg amputated.
The MPV driver who had sped off after hitting Ong was reported to be a
Chinese.
Ong had been struggling on the edge of death over the past two weeks and his
left leg had to be amputated too due to infection. However, the surgery was
postponed as his condition was too weak. His condition deteriorated and he
passed away on April 22, 2011.
It is a great story about an ordinary man. Perhaps, similar incidents have
taken place in car accidents, fire, flood and other disasters. They might
not necessarily make front page stories or attract great attention.
However, when some people are advocating the “1Malay, 1Bumi” movement while
some are talking about “using Chinese to subdue Chinese”, I am sad and angry
over the incident.
When Ong stopped to help the couple, he did not check whether they were
Chinese or Malays. What he saw were two lives waiting to be rescued.
When Ong was rescuing them, he did not consider whether they were Chinese or
Malay, he just wanted to pull them out of the car as quickly as he could.
Every single life is precious regardless of race. It is a glorious human
nature to view all lives as equally important.
I do not know whether the Utusan Malaysia covered the incident or not and I
am not sure either what Mingguan Malaysia columnist Awang Selamat and Utusan
Malaysia assistant editor-in-chief Datuk Zaini Hassan would feel when they
read the news report.
I just want to ask that under the “1Melayu, 1Bumi” movement, should Ong just
turn around and walk away when he found that the trapped couple were Malays?
When Awang Selamat said that the Chinese should not be taken care of, did
Ong consider not to rescue Zainal and his wife because they were Malays? No,
of course Ong did not do so as he was a humane Malaysian. He saw no skin
colour but life.
One day, if Awang and Zaini are in great need of help, would they ask those
who come to rescue them: “Are you Malay or Chinese?”
Similarly, if MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek’s theory of “using
Chinese to subdue Chinese” is justifiable, the Chinese MPV driver would have
immediately rushed Ong to a hospital and sincerely apologise instead of
speeding off when he found that they were having the same skin colour.
Foolish racial arguments have indeed disgraced the great spirit of Ong.
“using Chinese to subdue Chinese” advocacy.
Two weeks ago, 52-year-old lorry driver Ong Kim Koon saw a road accident on
the MRR2 highway near the Tesco roundabout on his way home. A seriously
injured Malay couple were trapped inside their mangled car.
Ong stopped and quickly pulled out Zainal Mohammad.
When he was about to return to rescue Zainal’s wife, Rosamiah Hashim, after
placing Zainal on a road divider, he was hit by a MPV and dragged for a few
metres. The MPV driver then fled the scene.
Together with the Malay couple, Ong was rushed to a hospital.
The couple were in a stable condition while Ong was put in an induced coma
and had his right leg amputated.
The MPV driver who had sped off after hitting Ong was reported to be a
Chinese.
Ong had been struggling on the edge of death over the past two weeks and his
left leg had to be amputated too due to infection. However, the surgery was
postponed as his condition was too weak. His condition deteriorated and he
passed away on April 22, 2011.
It is a great story about an ordinary man. Perhaps, similar incidents have
taken place in car accidents, fire, flood and other disasters. They might
not necessarily make front page stories or attract great attention.
However, when some people are advocating the “1Malay, 1Bumi” movement while
some are talking about “using Chinese to subdue Chinese”, I am sad and angry
over the incident.
When Ong stopped to help the couple, he did not check whether they were
Chinese or Malays. What he saw were two lives waiting to be rescued.
When Ong was rescuing them, he did not consider whether they were Chinese or
Malay, he just wanted to pull them out of the car as quickly as he could.
Every single life is precious regardless of race. It is a glorious human
nature to view all lives as equally important.
I do not know whether the Utusan Malaysia covered the incident or not and I
am not sure either what Mingguan Malaysia columnist Awang Selamat and Utusan
Malaysia assistant editor-in-chief Datuk Zaini Hassan would feel when they
read the news report.
I just want to ask that under the “1Melayu, 1Bumi” movement, should Ong just
turn around and walk away when he found that the trapped couple were Malays?
When Awang Selamat said that the Chinese should not be taken care of, did
Ong consider not to rescue Zainal and his wife because they were Malays? No,
of course Ong did not do so as he was a humane Malaysian. He saw no skin
colour but life.
One day, if Awang and Zaini are in great need of help, would they ask those
who come to rescue them: “Are you Malay or Chinese?”
Similarly, if MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek’s theory of “using
Chinese to subdue Chinese” is justifiable, the Chinese MPV driver would have
immediately rushed Ong to a hospital and sincerely apologise instead of
speeding off when he found that they were having the same skin colour.
Foolish racial arguments have indeed disgraced the great spirit of Ong.
[Source: SinChew]
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Good news for our Hindu brethren in Selangor
The controversial Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Kampung Rimba Jaya, Padang Jawa which was demolished in November 2007 is set to be rebuilt on 15,000 sq feet of land near the Keretapi Tanah Melayu quarters.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place today at the site in Padang Jawa and was attended by Selangor state excos, community leaders and the Indian settlers from the former Kampung Rimba Jaya.
The temple was ordered to be torn down by the authorities as it stood in the vicinity of the Rimba Jaya squatter settlement. Its controversial demolition by the state government in 2007 had led to many Indians turning their backs on BN.
The Hindu groundbreaking ceremony started at 9.00am with bricks coupled with religious paraphernalia arranged in a four foot-deep hole, which will sit right below the main altar of the soon to be built temple.
Land ceded by developer
According to the Selangor State Health, Plantation Workers, Poverty and Caring Government Committee Chairman, Dr A Xavier Jayakumar, the land was donated by the developer, Ken Rimba Jaya.
"The land was given to state government, and was ceded by the developer. Then we, the state government will decide, whom, and how much of the land will be given," said Xavier (left) when queried on how the land was allocated to this temple.
He also said that all the land for places of worship in Selangor is gazetted under the state secretary.
Xavier also announced that RM300,000 had been allocated by the Selangor state government for the building fund and the land will be managed by the temple association.
Xavier the temple saviour
The temple committee and community leaders in Padang Jawa honoured Xavier with garlands and gave him the title "temple saviour".
According to the temple committee chairperson, Madhu Manogaran, the Selangor state government and Xavier has worked tirelessly to help save temples in Selangor.
"We are very grateful to the state government, Tan Sri Khalid and Xavier for helping us to rebuild this temple, which means a lot to us," said Madhu during his speech.
Xavier also said that the state government had managed to help around 70 temples by giving them land.
"We are prepared to do more for the Indian community, last year we spent RM2.5 million for Hindu places of worship," said Xavier in his speech.
The Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, along with the squatter settlement of Rimba Jaya, was demolished in 2007 by the then BN-led state government as part of its Zero Squatter programme.
The demolition of the temple led to a massive protest by Indian groups and helped trigger the historic Hindraf rally on Nov 25 that year.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place today at the site in Padang Jawa and was attended by Selangor state excos, community leaders and the Indian settlers from the former Kampung Rimba Jaya.
The temple was ordered to be torn down by the authorities as it stood in the vicinity of the Rimba Jaya squatter settlement. Its controversial demolition by the state government in 2007 had led to many Indians turning their backs on BN.
The Hindu groundbreaking ceremony started at 9.00am with bricks coupled with religious paraphernalia arranged in a four foot-deep hole, which will sit right below the main altar of the soon to be built temple.
Land ceded by developer
According to the Selangor State Health, Plantation Workers, Poverty and Caring Government Committee Chairman, Dr A Xavier Jayakumar, the land was donated by the developer, Ken Rimba Jaya.
"The land was given to state government, and was ceded by the developer. Then we, the state government will decide, whom, and how much of the land will be given," said Xavier (left) when queried on how the land was allocated to this temple.He also said that all the land for places of worship in Selangor is gazetted under the state secretary.
Xavier also announced that RM300,000 had been allocated by the Selangor state government for the building fund and the land will be managed by the temple association.
Xavier the temple saviour
The temple committee and community leaders in Padang Jawa honoured Xavier with garlands and gave him the title "temple saviour".
According to the temple committee chairperson, Madhu Manogaran, the Selangor state government and Xavier has worked tirelessly to help save temples in Selangor.
"We are very grateful to the state government, Tan Sri Khalid and Xavier for helping us to rebuild this temple, which means a lot to us," said Madhu during his speech.
Xavier also said that the state government had managed to help around 70 temples by giving them land.
"We are prepared to do more for the Indian community, last year we spent RM2.5 million for Hindu places of worship," said Xavier in his speech.
The Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, along with the squatter settlement of Rimba Jaya, was demolished in 2007 by the then BN-led state government as part of its Zero Squatter programme.
The demolition of the temple led to a massive protest by Indian groups and helped trigger the historic Hindraf rally on Nov 25 that year.
[Source: Mkini]
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Nostalgic Weekend - Matthew and The Mandarins
I was introduced to this group by George Das who once worked with The Star in the 70s. George had his column where he did record review for the paper. One day, he asked me to listen to a group and guess it's origin without looking at the record sleeve. I only have to listen to one track and I told him it must be a group from Nashville, Tennessee. He said, "Wrong. It's Singapore!" I couldn't believe it because the music had all the works of a country and western group from the States, you know, like singing with a southern drawl, slide guitar, banjo and the whole works. The next thing I knew, I was making a beeline to the nearest record shop to purchase a copy of "Matthew and The Mandarins". That was the group's first release in 1976. Out of the many tracks, the one that stood out was Matthew's own composition, "Singapore Cowboy". In 1979, they released their second album and that too has become part of my collection.
Each time when I was in Singapore on a business trip in the late 70s, I would take a cab, after dinner, and head for the Shangri-la Hotel, to see the group performing live at The Peacock Room. The room would be filled with American oil riggers who would be clapping and dancing to the songs performed by the group. All I can say is, they were simply outstanding.
In 1980, Matthew Tan left the group to go solo and released an album to that effect. However, it is gratifying to note that Matthew and his boys are still performing till today with a large following in Singapore.
SINGAPORE COWBOY
MOVIN' ON
SHOWBOAT GAMBLER
Previous Features:
The Saints, Kuala Lumpur
The Quests, Singapore
The "Little" Falcons, Kuala Lumpur
The Crescendos, Singapore
Rose Iwanaga, Sarawak
Naomi & The Boys, Singapore
Rocky Teoh, Ipoh
The Surfers/October Cherries, Singapore
Janice Wee, Sarawak
Roy Chew & The Merrylads, Kuala Lumpur
The Checkmates, Singapore
Terry Thaddeus and The Teenage Hunters, Kuala Lumpur
The Thunderbirds, Singapore
The Straydogs, Singapore
The Strollers, Kuala Lumpur
The Western Union Band, Singapore
Frankie Cheah, Kuala Lumpur
Sharifah Aini, Kuala Lumpur
Sudirman Arshad, Kuala Lumpur
Tracy Huang, Singapore
Kathy Ibrahim, Kuala Lumpur
The Saints, Kuala Lumpur
The Quests, Singapore
The "Little" Falcons, Kuala Lumpur
The Crescendos, Singapore
Rose Iwanaga, Sarawak
Naomi & The Boys, Singapore
Rocky Teoh, Ipoh
The Surfers/October Cherries, Singapore
Janice Wee, Sarawak
Roy Chew & The Merrylads, Kuala Lumpur
The Checkmates, Singapore
Terry Thaddeus and The Teenage Hunters, Kuala Lumpur
The Thunderbirds, Singapore
The Straydogs, Singapore
The Strollers, Kuala Lumpur
The Western Union Band, Singapore
Frankie Cheah, Kuala Lumpur
Sharifah Aini, Kuala Lumpur
Sudirman Arshad, Kuala Lumpur
Tracy Huang, Singapore
Kathy Ibrahim, Kuala Lumpur
A little help goes a long way, for the senior citizens of Penang
Judging from the initial response 'warga emas' (senior citizen) programme in Penang where senior citizens are given an annual RM100 handout got off to an encouraging start this morning.
Some 115,000 residents of the state, aged 60 and above, had registered to receive the handouts in a programme that was launched last year and which drew flak from Pakatan Rakyat's critics in BN, especially Umno.
The latter's broadside that money for the handouts had come from sources of revenue deemed 'haram' from the Islamic standpoint was expected to stymie the appeal of the programme for Muslims.
But the posse of senior citizens, comprising Malays, Chinese and Indians, that turned up at Bukit Jambul in Batu Maung this morning for the event suggested that questions about the legitimacy of the handouts' origins were not a forbidding constraint.
PKR assemblyman for Batu Maung and state executive councilor for religion, Abdul Malik Abul Kassim said he was encouraged by what he saw at the bank outlet in Bukit Jambul where the RM100 vouchers were to be cashed.
He said he arrived more than two hours before the bank outlet opened at 9.30am and there were already senior citizens milling in the tented area outside.
"The signs are that the response of senior citizens to this year's programme would be better than last year," said Malik, who was at hand to supervise the handing out of vouchers by a platoon of party workers.
For the poor, RM100 goes a long way
According to Malik, some 4,300 senior citizens had registered for the entitlement in the adjoining state constituencies of Bayan Lepas and Batu Maung. The number exceeded the figure for last year which was 2,586.
Buns, mineral water and hot drinks were dispensed while the eligible citizens waited for the bank to open and their numbers to be called.
By noon some 500 warga emas had already collected their dues.
Some 115,000 residents of the state, aged 60 and above, had registered to receive the handouts in a programme that was launched last year and which drew flak from Pakatan Rakyat's critics in BN, especially Umno.
The latter's broadside that money for the handouts had come from sources of revenue deemed 'haram' from the Islamic standpoint was expected to stymie the appeal of the programme for Muslims.
But the posse of senior citizens, comprising Malays, Chinese and Indians, that turned up at Bukit Jambul in Batu Maung this morning for the event suggested that questions about the legitimacy of the handouts' origins were not a forbidding constraint.
PKR assemblyman for Batu Maung and state executive councilor for religion, Abdul Malik Abul Kassim said he was encouraged by what he saw at the bank outlet in Bukit Jambul where the RM100 vouchers were to be cashed.
He said he arrived more than two hours before the bank outlet opened at 9.30am and there were already senior citizens milling in the tented area outside."The signs are that the response of senior citizens to this year's programme would be better than last year," said Malik, who was at hand to supervise the handing out of vouchers by a platoon of party workers.
For the poor, RM100 goes a long way
According to Malik, some 4,300 senior citizens had registered for the entitlement in the adjoining state constituencies of Bayan Lepas and Batu Maung. The number exceeded the figure for last year which was 2,586.
Buns, mineral water and hot drinks were dispensed while the eligible citizens waited for the bank to open and their numbers to be called.
By noon some 500 warga emas had already collected their dues.Eligible recipients have a full month in which to collect the handouts.
"I don't think we are going to have a problem with eligible Muslim recipients," opined Malik after observing the crowds that turned up at Bukit Jambul today.
"The sum may be small but for the poor a hundred ringgit goes a long way," he said.
Uh-oh, this is not good, not good at all
BN's Joseph Mauh has been caught red-handed on a double election cheat. He not only promised a poor Headman RM10,000 to gain his vote, but then the cheque bounced!
In this way, Mauh cheated his constituents twice. Firstly, he cheated them of their right to a free vote by bribing the Headman, which is an exceedingly serious crime. Secondly, he didn't even carry out his promised payment to a poor community.
You could say that a person who takes a bribe in exchange for their most precious freedom, the freedom to choose their rulers and lawmakers, deserve what they get. But, of course, such communities agree to these bribes because the treacherous BN government has kept them so poor and desperate.
The police must act to arrest election criminals
Sarawak Report assumes that now this incontrovertible evidence has been placed before them, the police will move immediately to detain and question Joseph Muah. Likewise, the Election Commission should suspend the result of the election.
In the evidence is proved (and it should be done quickly) then there should be a re-election. In the light of this abuse, other similar claims across the length and breadth of Sarawak should also be investigated. We are not talking about 'opposition troublemakers', we are talking about a respected and appointed Headman, who voted for BN!
Joseph Muah, if found guilty faces the most serious criminal charge of election fraud. This is the testimony of the Headman against him:
"My name is Kuching ak Moyan and I am one of the headmen in Tamin constituency. In the just concluded State election, I was given three cheques, one for RM2,000, another for RM3,000 and the third for RM5,000 by the Barisan Nasional candidate, Joseph Muah. I have cashed out the first two cheques, both for a total of RM5,000 but the last one, for RM5,000 was bounced. So I sent it back to him and he promised that he will bank in the amount instead into my account. Up till today, I have not received the RM5,000. The three cheques were given to me on the 13th of April so that we will give our support to the Barisan Nasional. In the year 2006 State election, each voter here was given only RM20 but in this election, the amount was increased to RM50 per voter. There are 15 voters in this longhouse and all of them were given RM50 each. I think all of us have voted for Barisan Nasional. Of course, I know that the money the Barisan Nasional give to us would amount to nothing if the government grabbed our land. But what to do, we will have to vote for the government as the government has given us the money. Yes, I know we can just accept the Barisan Nasional money and vote for the Opposition but since everybody else voted for Barisan Nasional this time, I decided to follow suit."
This is just the beginning of the evidence about this election. No wonder BN in KL was so worried about the election and so relieved at the outcome. But likewise, not wonder Taib rushed in the middle of the night, in the middle of the weekend to the Governor to get sworn back in before anyone could shout, "Stop Thief!"
But if he hopes this is the end of the matter, the the Chief Minister is older and stupider than even we realised. The cheated voters of Sarawak are not going to take this sitting down. Because the victory of the last election was that despite the bullying, bribes and cheating the Opposition still managed to gather 45% of the vote!
Imagine what percentage would have gone to the Opposition without the rigging and cheating and bribes? The swings across the country were HUGE and they were away from the BN in town and rural areas alike.
Imagine what the percentages would have been if all those half million native voters who Taib refuses to give voter registration to had been able to vote too? This is why BN is worried. They are an illegitimate government who stole the election and they deserve to be investigated and prosecuted and then punished with the full force of the law.
Sarawak Report is currently in Geneva, where this NGO is joining others who have been invited to speak at the UN about the problems over human rights and democracy in Sarawak. We will present the case of this Headman and also the many others who have been cheated in this election.
[Source: Sarawak Report]
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