Water Stress

In light of the recent tit for tat between the Federal Government, Selangor State Government and Syabas, and also between members of Pakatan Rakyat and BN,  I feel it is important that we are not distracted or misled from the real issue, which is water management. The core issue or problem if you like, is MANAGEMENT.

Below are a couple of charts which will hopefully give a better picture of the issue, instead of swallowing the dumb excuses and accusations dispensed by those incompetent fools.

As you can see, Malaysia is actually one of the least water-stressed countries in the world. Which means Malaysians actually have more than enough water for their own needs, with spare to sell to our neighbour, Singapore which happens to belong to one of the water-stressed countries.

First question: Why are we facing a water shortage then? The answer is mismangement and incompetence! And they have the cheek to blame the consumers!

Second question: Is the current company, Syabas, delivering in their job? Short answer, no. Long answer, although they have put the state in jeopardy, there's nothing you can do about it! Either they are untouchable or the governments are powerless or simply refuse to take action.

Which brings us to the third question: What kind of people do we have running the government? Both state and federal are incompetent and mismanaged the country's resources. They also seem to be powerless against a water management corporation or any other corporations which controls the privatised assets, such as the IPPs.

And the irony is, all the parties involved, federal, state & Syabas seemed to have agreed on one thing, which is to put the blame on the people!

Which begs the question, who actually runs and controls the country?

Water disruptions affect over 700,000 Klang Valley households

You've gotta hand it to these people. They have absolutely no conscience. You can almost imagine them holding back their glee when they make these announcements... so much for aspiring to be a developed nation.

If they've already decided that this will go on indefinitely, then obviously, we have an incompetent water management company and an equally incompetent state government.

But it's the people who have shown examplary tenacity, taking it like a champion with hardly a whimper.

I think the state government should draw up new building guidelines for Selangor and KL to include wells, rain water recycling and bigger water tanks. How about subsidising the people for bucket & water filter purchases? Not everyone possess the qualities and talents to be able to earn as much as you guys, you know.

As you can see, despite their jobs being one of the toughest in the world, could still manage to smile and laugh in the face of such huge responsibilities. Running a government is serious business you know... Syabas!

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Water disruptions affect over 700,000 Klang Valley households

PETALING JAYA: Over 700,000 households are affected by water disruptions caused by low water levels at treatment plants in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.

Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) said Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, Petaling, Klang/Shah Alam and Hulu Langat districts will face water cuts and low water pressure for an indefinite period of time.

According to a Syabas statement, the reduction in the flow of raw water from Sungai Selangor have forced the water concessionaire to reduce the water pressure to treatment plants which led to the water issue.

Some areas in Hulu Langat and Kuala Lumpur suffered water shortages and low pressure since June 17 due to production of treated water from the Sungai Semenyih and Sungai Langat treatment plants which could not meet the demand.

Some areas in Klang/Shah Alam also experienced water outages and low pressure on June 24 due to the temporary closure of the Sungai Selangor Phase 1 managed by the  Syarikat Pengeluar Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (SPLASH).

This was due to the interruption of electricity supply from 4am to 6am the same day at the water treatment plant. This resulted in the reduction of treated water from the plant. The water supply to the affected areas are still not fully recovered.

Several areas in Gombak, Kuala Lumpur and Petaling experienced water outages and low pressure from June 25 due to the reduced treated water production from Sungai Selangor Phase 3. which was due to the rapid drop in the level of flow Sungai Selangor raw water.

“The water cut is inevitable as there is no alternative water sources that could be channelled to the affected areas,” the statement said.

Syabas predicted that the water issue will continue for a long time and the rehabilitation of water supply depended on the water level at the treatment plants.

Consumers are advised to use water wisely and to reduce usage where possible.

Syabas will be deploying water lorries and static tanks during emergencies but the resources are limited, as such priority will be given to places such as hospitals and dialysis centres.

Consumers can call Syabas hotline at 1-800-88-5252 for more information.

Malaysian jihadists in Syria

Looks like we have a serious problem. Young Muslim men are joining the islamists groups to fight overseas. In the first video, the boys were clearly excited and happy to be there. If it wasn't for the tanks and guns, one would think that they were in summer camp. The others on the ground watching them must be wondering why this group is so happy.

This is really sad and worrying.

What motivates them to take up arms to kill others in a foreign country? Most importantly is why.

I hope our government is aware of this problem even before it was publicised. I believe our intelligence agencies like the Special Branch, whom have proven to be a highly effective organisation are on the ball.

This is very real.

Beneath the veneer of terrorism, I think it is also a serious social and cultural problem in Muslim society. Hopefully the authorities can stop this before it escalates.

Video of possible Malaysian jihadists up on YouTube

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: PETALING JAYA: A video showing a group of people clad in military outfits with turbans, holding rifles and speaking in Malay has surfaced on Youtube.

The minute and half long video titled ‘Syria- Asian mercenaries fighting in the terrorist ranks’ (the original title in Spanish), showed the men preparing to leave for war.

“The tanks are leaving to its destination…towards the war zone,” a voice is heard speaking Malay with a Northern dialect.

About 10 men were seen holding their smartphones, smiling and cheering on their comrades, some of whom looked Middle-Eastern.

“These are the handsome mujahid (fighters). We are all going to be martyrs,” one of the men said.

“These are our friends. All of them are preparing to fight. Look at my friends. They are not afraid, they will not be cowed,” the man continues.

Shouts of ‘hero-hero Malaya’ (Malayan heroes) could be heard in the background during the speech.

The video, which was picked up from syriantube.net, was uploaded on June 7 and has been viewed more than 5000 times.

On June 18, Permanent Representative of Syria to the United Nations in New York alleged that 15 Malaysian nationals involved in terrorism and jihadist activities with the militant Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) had been killed in Syria.

According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the representative also alleged that apart from Malaysia, nationals from several other Asean countries were also involved in such activities in Syria.

Recently, a Pahang-born man also made headlines when he became the first Malaysian suicide bomber in Iraq.

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/06/25/Jihadist-Youtube-Malaysia/

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ISIS and the first Malaysian suicide bomber

PETALING JAYA: Just a year ago, Ahmad Tarmimi Maliki was a quiet 26-year-old factory worker. Now, he has the dubious honour of being Malaysia’s first suicide bomber linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS).

He is credited with blowing up 25 elite Iraqi soldiers at Iraq’s SWAT headquarters in al-Anbar on May 26.

Reports state that Ahmad Tarmimi, who received militant training in Port Dickson at the end of last year, drove a military SUV filled with tonnes of explosives into the SWAT headquarters, blowing himself up in the process.

The bombing preceded an attack on the headquarters by ISIS commandos.

His exploits were published in the ISIS official website with the title, “Mujahidin Malaysia Syahid Dalam Operasi Martyrdom” with his photograph also featured.

The report also stated that the ISIS militants had seized a large weapon cache from the headquarters. It described Ahmad Tarmimi as the first Malaysian suicide bomber in Iraq.

Ahmad Tarmimi’s family members said their last meeting was in March before he left for the Middle East to further his Islamic studies.

He had been working in a factory in Selangor since 2012. While he did not act strangely, Ahmad Tarmimi had become more pious and more secretive, said his family.

From Facebook postings, it is learnt that Ahmad Tarmimi first went to Syria via Turkey before finally ending up in Iraq, where he turned suicide bomber.

Sources said the ISIS network had local links in South-East Asia, including Indonesia, and many youngsters were being lured to fight the war and die for their Muslim brothers in the Middle East.

ISIS was formed in April 2013 and grew out of al-Qaeda in Iraq.

According to Terrorism Research and Analysis Consortium (http://www.­trackingterrorism.org), ISIS has extensive financial resources (mostly derived from alleged organised crime activities in areas of control as well as diaspora funds and unidentified financial sponsors from within Gulf states) as well as human capital that enable operations in various locations. This is seen in attacks executed in areas regarded as primarily Shi’a areas in Iraq, such as Najaf, Karbala, Kut and Wasit as well as bombings in Baghdad (Iraq).

ISIS has since become one of the main forces to launch attacks against government forces in Syria and Iraq.

Reports revealed that the final “S” in the acronym ISIS stems from the Arabic word “al-Sham”.

This can mean the Levant, Syria or even Damascus but in the context of the global jihad, it refers to the Levant, an area that now consists of Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and part of southern Turkey.

The organisation is led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Little is known about him, but it is believed he was born in Samarra, north of Baghdad, in 1971 and joined the insurgency that erupted in Iraq soon after the 2003 US-led invasion.

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/06/14/ISIS-and-the-first-Malaysian-suicide-bomber/

Syabas Unscheduled Water Cuts

Ok, so here's how it's going to be. According to the "Powers who control water", they will cut water supply whenever they want. Why bother with rationing when it only manages to reduce consumption by a measly 6%. Better just cut it unannounced so that the people do not have time to prepare.

The reason, this time is, of course, the people's fault again. You see, according to the "Powers who control water" whenever everyone takes their showers or flushes their toilets at the same time, the water level at the treatment plants drop so fast that they are forced to stop the supply lest the ponds dry up... yadda... yadda... yadda...

So, people, best you guys take turns to shower. I'm sure Syabas will be happy to come up with a schedule for you.

And that Priscilla woman should really stop accusing others of wasting water already... Sorry to spoil your fun, but, really, if you can't supply enough water, just let someone else do it. Then you wouldn't have to come up with these condescending excuses.

Sometimes, how I really envy them.

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Unscheduled water disruption because of over-consumption and dry spell, says Syabas

THERE will be no water rationing for now although there were unscheduled water disruptions in some parts of Kuala Lumpur over the past week because of the dry spell.

Confirming this, Local Government and Research Committee chairman Datuk Teng Chang Kim said there had been no discussion at the state level over a possible water rationing.

“Rationing can only be done with the consent of the state government and the National Water Services Commission (SPAN),” he told StarMetro yesterday.

Teng added that the decision to carry out water rationing would be made by SPAN.

“Whoever proposes for water rationing, SPAN will have the last say,” he added.

Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) corporate communications and public affairs manager Priscilla Alfred reiterated that Syabas did not order the water cuts last week.

“It was over-consumption of water and the dry season that had led to the disruptions of water supply in some parts of the city,” she said.

“Unscheduled water disruption happens when the water level at the treatment plant reduces quickly due to heavy usage.

“It is impossible for Syabas to estimate how quick water in the treatment plant diminishes, it all depends on the water consumption,” she said.

Water level at the treatment plant mostly drops drastically in the evenings due to heavy consumption, she added.

During the dry season in June, July and August, the public tend to consume more water too, said Priscilla.

“Water consumption is mostly heavy in the evenings when people get back home after work.

“During the hot season, people consume more water and within few hours we can run out of treated water. This leads to unscheduled water disruption. Syabas does not cut water supply,” she said.

Priscilla advised the public not to use too much water to prevent water disruption.

As at press time, the Selangor Water Management (LUAS) website, showed that the water level at all dams in Selangor was above the critical level of 35%.

However, Sungai Selangor dam showed the level being at 43.16%.

It was earlier reported that unscheduled water disruption in parts of Kuala Lumpur could have occurred for an indefinite period unless users reduced their consumption.

About 17,500 people were affected by the latest water disruption since June 19, which was attributed to the demand exceeding supply.

http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Community/2014/06/24/No-rationing-for-now-Unscheduled-water-disruption-because-of-overconsumption-and-dry-spell-says-Sy/

RPK: ‘May 13’ version 2: Malaysia is about to erupt

Article by Raja Petra Kamarudin - http://www.malaysia-today.net/may-13-version-2-malaysia-is-about-to-erupt/

I have been monitoring the comments and postings in Facebook and Twitter and I can see that the racial and religious divide has gone beyond the point of no return. Malaysia is now poised to explode into ‘May 13’ version 2.

Malaysians no longer care what they say and whether what they say offends others or hurts the feelings of others. Chinese and Indians, and some Malays as well, no longer want to show respect to their own country by calling it Malaysia. They would rather mockingly call it ‘Bolehland’.

I wonder how the French would feel if you call France ‘Frogland’ or how the Singaporeans would feel if you call their island-state ‘Kiasuland’? You would probably get punched in the face, as I feel like doing to those who show disrespect to their own country by calling Malaysia ‘Bolehland’.

Europeans (or even the other South East Asian nationals) may be angry with their government or with their politicians. But they are loyal citizens of their own country and are proud of their country and their flag. Malaysians, in particular the Chinese and Indians, do not appear to have this kind of decency.

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This is the most hypocritical article I've come across in recent times. Did the "Chinese, Indians, and some Malays" hold a brainstorm session to coin the word "Bolehland" specifically to mock Malaysia? And coincidently, there also happens to be many "loyal" Malaysians who are currently residing in those examplary western countries. It's true that there are Chinese and Indians who run down their own country. The question is, aside from bad manners, why do they do it? Why do they behave like that? Why are they so full of hate?

Decency is taking responsibility. Decency is not using others for your agendas. Decency is not making Statutory Declarations based on heresay. Decency is to uphold the truth. Yes, the ego is indeed a very difficult animal to tame.

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Malays will say ‘marah nyamuk, bakar kelambu’, or cut the nose to spite the face. You may hate Umno, or Barisan Nasional, but you lash out at Malaysia, the Malays, the Muslims, and Islam to vent your anger and frustration. Is it right for those who do not support DAP to lash out at the entire Chinese race? Then why is it right for those who are angry with Umno to lash out and mock their own country, the Malays, the Muslims, and Islam?

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Who taught and told the youths and also the not so young to hate? Your lot plus the politicians radicalised the Chinese, told them to hate UMNO (which is a Malay party), goaded them to overthrow the government (which is Malay-led), deceived them to vote for an Islamic party, and now you suddenly wonder why they behave like this? That they have themselves to blame? Well, what have your lot done to mend fences? Do you even have the ability to mend the things you broke? 

People like you who fight in the political ring come prepared to pay the price. The common people, on the other hand, have to pay a much higher price but don't even know what hit them!

It could almost be comical if only it was not so hypocritical.

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The way some of you talk is as if Malaysia is another country and not your country. You mock Malaysia and lash out at Malaysia just like China looks at Japan or North Korea looks at South Korea.

Are you saying that Malaysia is Malay-Islam and since you are not Malay-Islam then Malaysia is your enemy? Many of you despise the Malays, the Muslims and Islam. That, by now, is very clear from your comments and postings in the social media.

Most Malays are very aware that the non-Malays hate them and their religion. This message is very clear and there is no confusion about what that message means. However, as much as the non-Malays may hate the Malays, Muslims and Islam, we would at least expect the non-Malays to love their country and not show so much hatred for their own country.

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Coincidentally, these are exactly the same thoughts the Chinese have when they come across those numerous Malay blogs and comments filled with hate speech towards the Chinese.

Reality check. Most non-Malays and Malays are very aware that they are not particularly fond of each other. When has the races ever been particularly fond of each other? Was it during the time of the baby boomers generation which RPK happens to belong to? Was it then that the races were so loving towards each other that May 13 happened?

But still, we managed to live peacefully, minding our own business, until some "stirrers", like your kind, decided to have some fun. And as proven through history, things always goes too far. And when it does, then the same "stirrers" would conveniently turn around and tell those whom they've radicalised to take responsibility.

Your ilk and politicians have done more damage to the country than all people from all the races combined. Honestly, which race hates UMNO more? The Chinese, Indians or Malays? Has anyone listened to the speeches made by PAS and PKR leaders through the years?

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I think it is time that the non-Malays and non-Muslims ponder as to who the real enemy is. Christians scream about how Jesus taught us to hate the sin but love the sinner. Christianity is about love, so say the Christians. But we can see through this Christian bullshit when they not only despise the sinner but they also despise those who never did anything to them.

Did 18 million Malays sin against you? Even if three million Malays did sin against you (taking the Umno membership into consideration) why do you despise the other 15 million Malays who did you no wrong? And you tell me this is what Christ taught you, to love?

Where is the love? You only show hatred. And you show hatred for the country you were born in just because you hate a certain political party.

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Well, who exactly is the "real enemy" of the non-Malays and non-Muslims that RPK speaks of? Why on earth would you want the nons to have enemies? You want them to share common enemies as yours? And that would make it ok in your books?

Only when you decide to have a fight or conflict, you will naturally, require an enemy and sometimes in the absence of a real one, you will create one. Unlike the easy task of starting fires, RPK and his ilk have no power to put out fires. All we have to do, especially the non-Malays and non-Muslims, is to identify those who are lighting and fanning those fires, and we will find crawling in both the political divide.

The truth is the non-Malays & non-Muslims were driven to hysterical proportions, to change the current government led by Malays, to a new one led by another group of Malays! And when it failed they were the ones getting the heat. Is it any surprise that some of them might just feel a little bit fed-up after getting it non-stop, even after more than a year after the last election? The Chinese are practically being told to pack their bags and you want to lecture them about loyalty? Come on.

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Serious damage has been done to race relations in Malaysia. And the problem with this is the damage is so severe and so far gone that reconciliation is almost impossible. So where do we go from here? Are we going to settle our differences on the streets? The way we are going it looks like there is no other way to settle our differences.

We can no longer detect who is the victim and who is the aggressor. Both sides are equally aggressive and are spoiling for a fight. At the end of the day the winner will be the one with the most number of guns. And in such a situation there will be victims from both sides.

Be careful with what you wish for because you might not like what you receive. And don’t pretend you are the victim when you are equally guilty of provoking race and religious tension.

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Let's dispense with the pretensions.

It is a certainty that the Chinese and non-Muslims will be the victims. The Chinese seem to get dragged into issues they have no business in. The kalimah Allah issue, and lately, the hudud issue.

Speaking of going to the streets, who are the ones most fond of taking to the streets? How did the Chinese and Indians end up as participants in those huge street demonstrations in great numbers? Again, who are those responsible for the damage done? The common people? or the leaders and organisers?

That's the problem. Those who start the fires are nowhere to be found when things go wrong. It's usually the people who will be blamed and suffer the consequences. Always.

In short, minus the hypocritical accusations, RPK is saying that he only told you to hate UMNO and  didn't specifically tell you to hate Malays & Muslims. So it's not his fault. On top of that, we will never know exactly who started it, but ultimately, if the Chinese and Christians don't shut up and back down, they are asking for it. And then, he will pen one of his "I told you so" article, just to gloat.

Actually, the Chinese really do need to calm down and return to the middle path. The Christians, especially the evangelical leaders, also need to mindful of the well-being of their flock and the country. Sometimes, winning is actually losing. 

Is Smoking a Crime?

What's wrong with people nowadays? Don't the Health Ministry have more constructive things to do? How about ensuring the people have access to excellent healthcare?

I'm neither apologetic nor ashamed to indulge in a puff or two. I'm considerate enough not to inconvenience others. Respect works both ways. Those who are critical of cigarette smoke, keep your distance from smokers, and your opinions to yourselves. Because smokers can't stand the smell of self-righteous bigots either.

Since there are so many rules and regulations which most smokers dutifully abide by, here's my friendly advise to the nons on behalf of the smokers:

• If you walk past a smoker, hold your breath. You don't own the street.
• If you can't stand the sight of someone smoking, close your eyes. We can't stand your ugly face either.
• If you feel like ticking off a smoker, bite your tongue.
• If you feel like making the stupid gesture of waving your hand in front of your face, you will get a bigger puff in your face and maybe a broken hand!
• Mucking with smokers when they are having their much needed fix is actually more dangerous than the smoke they emit! Smokers have a little higher tolerence for assholes after their fix though.

Well, how many of you would actually have the guts to tell off your bosses or clients if they smoke in front of you huh?

Smoking is a bad habit, among others such as drinking, drug taking, gambling, swearing, nose-picking, lying, cheating, pissing others off, etc. It is addictive and bad for health, which is why they are called bad habits. Propaganda has led many people to demonise the user, instead of the substance. Instead of just accepting the fact that smokers have the right to do so, just as we have to accept the fact that there are stupid people on earth, these people prefer to penalise and demonise smokers. Because these self-righteous fools are selfish people.

Over the years, the anti-smoking campaign, just like other similar campaigns, have bred a group of brainwashed hypocrites. It always starts with subtle persuasion. Through the years, these campaigns will slowly take on a more confrontational tone. Study the campaigns against plastic bags, save the whales, rainforests, pandas, etc. The last I checked, the human species is not too far down the list!

Granted the intentions are noble, but the methods have evolved to confrontational rather than educational. Take open burning for example. If you do it in your garden, they will come after you. When big plantation companies do it, choking the whole nation, nothing happens.

Back to the smoking ban. I'm not defending smoking. I'm putting things in perspective and deluded people in their place. Let's face the facts without the hypocrisy shall we?

The Penang "Cigarette-Smoke-Free" campaign is a fine example of a hypocritical campaign in their distinction on the type of smoke. Penangites deserve clean air, free from cigarette smoke. Other types of smokes from cars, lorries, factories, burning, are welcomed!

Non-smokers demand the air they breath to be free from cigarette smoke because they think that a whiff of that stuff will kill them, eventually, if they should be lucky enough not to die from other causes first. But their bodies seems to be immune to exhaust fumes, factory smoke, haze, alcohol, transfats, dirty water and insecticides.

Now, they even go as far as taking away the rights of smokers to smoke in open spaces! But it is acceptable for everyone to breath in the exhaust fumes from your vehicles? Are these people stupid?

Here are some pointers for the Health Minister, Dr. S Subramaniam to help him set his priorities right:

Alcohol

Would a person who doesn't consume alcoholic drinks have the moral authority to stop drinkers from drinking in public places? After all, an intoxicated drinker can become violent. Or if he drives, might cause an accident. Girls might be harrassed. And it is a bad influence on the kids! Moreover, it is bad for health especially the liver.

Alcohol actually poses higher risks on others than cigarettes. Other people actually die, sometimes instantly, due to road accidents or violent acts. How many actually died from inhaling a whiff of second-hand smoke? Smoking does not even intoxicate a person! (not from tobacco anyway)

Why aren't there any anti-drinking campaigns in a country where the majority of the people does not drink? What happened to the drink-driving campaign? What? You mean you can enjoy your alcohol anywhere you like while others cannot enjoy their nicotine within your sight? What happened to equal rights?

How many alcoholics are there in the population? Habitual drinkers? How many drunk-driving accidents? How many violent incidences and crimes of passion were commited under the influence of alcohol?

Drinkers are a danger to society and should not be permitted to drink in public.

Smokers kill themselves. Slowly. Drinkers kill others, instantly! None of the major religions condone nor encourage alcohol consumption.

If I were the Health Minnister, I would make alcohol consumption and abuse my priority due to the damger it poses on society. Ban alcohol too!

Air pollution

Everyone is affected by this. How much toxic exhaust fumes do we breathe in everyday? Does anyone actually believe that cigarette smoke is more toxic than exhaust fumes? Really? Then why do people choose to kill themselves by locking themselves in the car and inhaling the exhaust fumes? Why not use cigarettes?

You can't even smell anything other than exhaust fumes at those places! People are practically eating with an exhaust pipe in front their faces! And the Health Minister & non-smokers are more concerned about a little cigarette smoke? Really?

Has it ever occured to him that polluted air can cause lung cancer as well? The annual haze seems to be speeding up this rather nicely, especially to those who are suffering from respiratory illnesses.

People are breathing in polluted and toxic air 24 hours a day! What is the amount a passerby inhale from a smoker in an open area? 2 or 3 whiffs? 

So, again, has there ever been a anti-haze/open-burning campaign? Has there ever been an anti air-pollution campaign at all? What about vehicle emission pollution? What standards of petrol and diesel is Malaysia currently adopting? What exhaust emission standards do we have?

It is the rights of everyone to have clean air!

Water

Most of us would already be familiar with the quality of our water supply. Most houses and eateries are fitted with expensive water filters to make it potable. Compare our water quality with some countries where they can drink straight from their taps. We probably use and consume ten of thousands of litres in our lifetime. It is astounding that people show little concern about water safety, but get so hysterical on a few whiffs of cigarette smoke. In Selangor, you people are drinking mining pond water!

Now would be a good time for a clean water campaign don't you think?

What about the polluted rivers where they source the water from? Why are factories still discharging their toxic waste into the rivers and drains?

Is the Health Minister concerned about the safety of our water? What are the levels of contaminants, floride, bacteria, micro-organisms? What are the health effects?

Epidemics

Oh my, there are just so many to choose from... but let's just take dengue as an example. Statistics show that the numbers have increased exponentially these past years. Why? Because the drains are clogged, uncleared rubbish dumps and construction sites are breeding grounds for the Aedes mosquitoes. Do they need to wait for cases to happen before they take action? How many times a year do his people check on construction sites? How frequent are the drains cleaned? How often are the public parks, gardens and roadsides swept and maintained?

I think the few issues above would keep the good minister occupied and help him reprioritise. There's actually a list of more harmful things the government should ban: processed sugar, condensed milk, transfat, GMOs, MSG, sodium nitrate, floride, BHA, BHT, aspertame, food colourings, fast-food, soft-drinks, radioactive wastes, etc, etc, but importantly ban stupid people from talking and working in government.

Time for my ciggy break.

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“Smokers are not criminals”

A Penang Umno leader is 'smoking' over smoking ban at highway R&R areas.

GEORGE TOWN: Don’t treat smokers as though they are criminals, especially when the government has been collecting so much tobacco tax from them, said a local Umno leader who is himself a non-smoker.

Penang Umno secretary Musa Sheikh Fadzir said it was ridiculous to ban smoking at open rest and recreational (R&R) areas along the highways across the country.

He said that if the government was serious in wanting to stop Malaysians from smoking then they should close down all cigarette manufacturing plants and ban the import of cigars and cigarettes.

Health Minister Dr. S Subramaniam had announced that all highway R&R areas would be gazetted as “No Smoking” zones by the end of 2014, and offenders would be fined between RM250 to RM500.

The measure is part of the Healthy Ministry’s effort to reduce the number of smokers in the country by 16%.

The Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2011 revealed that 23.1%, or 4.7 million Malaysians, were smokers.

Musa said it was acceptable for the ministry to ban smoking in government buildings, closed door areas and air-conditioned places.

“But not in open R&R areas where smokers stop for a cigarette and release their tobacco addiction before proceeding on their journey.

“It is hypocritical for the government to allow for the sale of cigarettes on one side and then segregating smokers as if they are criminals.

“The sale of cigarettes has allowed the government to collect so much tax from smokers. Just close the cigarette factories and ban sales,” Musa told FMT here today.

He urged the Health Minister to review the latest government ban on smokers and suggests the ministry to study the issue thoroughly before making a decision.

Meanwhile, the Penang government plans to gazette certain city heritage areas as smoke-free zones next month.

Executive councillor in charge of welfare, caring society and environment Phee Boon Poh indicated that core and buffer zones located in the heritage areas will be gazetted as part of an overall plan to make Penang smoke-free.

“There will be no compromise,” Phee who also chairs the Cigarette Smoke-Free Penang (Penbar), told newsmen yesterday.

Hudud not fair unless applied to all, says Dr M

I don't understand why the Chinese are even drawn into this hudud issue. Other than for political expediency, I don't see any other reason. PAS is the one calling for Hudud to be implemented in Kelantan for Muslims. PAS being a partner in Pakatan Rakyat, the Chinese do have to share some responsibility for supporting and voting PAS. But since PAS only proposes hudud for Muslims only (for now), then the Chinese have no business in this issue. However, for the current bill, if PAS was to propose it for the whole nation, then the Chinese do have a right to object. Anyway, PAS has always stated their stand on the hudud issue, which is to fully implement it. That would make their slogan "PAS for All" to mean "Hudud for All".

Politics aside, somehow, I can't seem to grasp the logic behind these statements. For example:

"The enforcement of hudud only on Muslims and not on followers of other religions would create inequality that goes against the notion of fairness in Islam"

"applying hudud with its relatively more severe punishments on Muslims alone would be unfair to adherents of Islam."

"Because a Muslim who committed theft, his hand will be amputated, and the Chinese who commits the same theft will only be jailed for two months, that is unfair"

 
Inequality? Fairness? Aren't those the very things the Chinese have been accused of demanding from the government resulting in threats of bodily harm? But when it comes to religious punishments, equality and fairness suddenly becomes a priority. According to their logic, it is unfair to Muslims because their religious laws are not applied to non-Muslims. But why not apply the entire Syariah Law rather than just the punishment? Makes no sense. I suppose, to be truly fair, then we should apply laws from all religions, on all the people.

The Muslim only loses a hand in this life.
The Christians get to keep his hand in this life, and will be forgiven in his afterlife.
Due to the law of karma, the Chinese still has his hand in this life, but will probably be reborn without limbs in his next few lives!

On a more serious note, we can't deny the influence of Islam and Islamic Laws within the Malay-Muslim community. Minorities should be mindful. As should the politicians.

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Hudud not fair unless applied to all, says Dr M

KUALA LUMPUR, June 17 — The enforcement of hudud only on Muslims and not on followers of other religions would create inequality that goes against the notion of fairness in Islam, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said,

But the former prime minister also warned that attempting to apply the Islamic penal code on multicultural Malaysia would lead to its own set of problems.

“If (you) want hudud, then it has to be enforced on everyone, but if that is done, it will create a lot of instability and give rise to problems in the society, that is not what Islam wants, because Islam is for fairness,” he was quoted as saying yesterday by Chinese language newspaper Sin Chew Daily.

Dr Mahathir also added that applying hudud with its relatively more severe punishments on Muslims alone would be unfair to adherents of Islam.

“Because a Muslim who committed theft, his hand will be amputated, and the Chinese who commits the same theft will only be jailed for two months, that is unfair. If it is unfair, it doesn’t fit Islam’s teachings,” he said.

Yesterday, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said the critics who mock and call hudud laws as unjust are “ignorant”.

Harakah Daily, the PAS organ, quoted Hadi as saying that the wisdom behind the severe physical punishments such as stoning and the amputation of limbs prescribed under hudud was to instil fear and deter crime, saying that many criminals will repent instead of racing to commit crimes.

He pointed out that hudud punishments have very strict prerequisites, and that judges would do their best to acquit criminals instead.

The debate over hudud is raging once more in Malaysia after PAS made known its plan to enforce the Islamic criminal law in the state of Kelantan that it has governed since 1990.

Last month, PAS said it will delay tabling two Parliamentary private members’ bills needed to pave way for the enforcement of hudud in Kelantan, to allow a proposed national-level committee to study the implementation of the Islamic penal code.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, the deputy prime minister and also the Umno deputy president had said his party will push for a national-level committee on hudud, with local and foreign experts on the Islamic penal code to be on the panel.

- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/hudud-not-fair-unless-applied-to-all-says-dr-m#sthash.4wllLBOw.dpuf