Najib Razak: The Epitome Of Redundancy, Where is the defender of Wasatiyyah?

Nearly a week has passed since Jais raided the Bible Society of Malaysia, and we have heard nothing from Putrajaya that would soothe the hearts of the many Malaysians who must now be harbouring misgivings about our future as a nation of diverse cultures and creeds.

Prime Minister Najib did not even mention the raid in a recent speech to civil servants about maintaining “maturity and calmness” in handling inter-community disputes. Still, that is not as bad as his deputy’s virtual refusal to rein in Selangor Umno from its plan to demonstrate outside the state’s churches.

The suspicion is in fact growing stronger that Jais was acting not in the religious the interest of Muslims, but the political interest of Umno. The more vocal of the groups defending the raid and protesting against the Christian insistence on invoking God’s Arabic name are the same ones that have been supporting Umno against the opposition parties.

While they speak in the name of Islam, these groups are led by people not especially known to be exemplary Muslims. One of them, the government-funded Perkasa, has as its president someone who has more than once committed calumny with the innuendos that he directed at Anwar Ibrahim. And calumny is a grave sin in Islam.

Furthermore, while supporters of the Christians’ right to call on Allah have quoted from the Quran to back their position, we have yet to hear the other side do the same.

It does not take more than average intelligence to figure out Umno’s probable agenda. It’s the old divide-and-rule game again. Even the most blinkered Umno strategist must have seen—from the first Bersih rally to the recent Turun demonstration—that protests against the establishment have been multiracial in nature, with Malays making up a sizeable portion of the participants.

The problem is that the ruse might just work and Umno would gather more support from those Malays whose only sources of information are the government media and news outlets affiliated with Barisan Nasional. The outcome of the 13^th general election showed us that BN propaganda did achieve results with rural Malays.

It’s a problem not because we grudge any increase of support for Umno, but because it would mean a deeper rural-urban divide of the nation and perhaps an abiding animosity between Muslim and Christian Malaysians.

But where is PAS in all this? Apart from a few voices assuring support for the Christians in their hour of strife, the party itself has not made an official stand on the issue, at least none that is clear.

It would indeed be a balm to ease the national suffering if President Hadi Awang would reiterate the unambiguous statement he made around the  time of the church burnings several years ago that PAS was with the Quran when it came to Allah being God for all. If he did that, he might just upstage Najib as the champion of wasatiyyah.

The Malaysian Crusade: UMNO against Christians in Malaysia?

Despite having Christian members inside of one of the most powerful political parties in Malaysia, UMNO's recent foray attacking Christians in Malaysia is just to much to be tolerated.

We at the CU4M condemns any action, that will destroy the sanctity of Article 11 of the Federal Constitution in Malaysia. UMNO leaders should understand, as the "big brother" in Barisan Nasional they need to be more sensitive about making statements.

UMNO Delegates making Police report on the usage of the word "Allah"

What if we the Christian of Malaysia would deprive our Muslims brothers and sisters their rights to pray in our shopping Mall and many Christian or non muslim owned establishment? Will they be angry? The same goes to us. Just let us be. We are not bothering anyone at all. Stop attacking the Christians.

However, if they tried to test us again all of these UMNO freaks of nature will fail! They are an abomination, and it is God's will that we the Christian of Malaysia will do what we can to preserve our faith.

Justice Through Unity! Unity Through Faith!

Lawan Tetap Lawan!

The Brits have it right: forget Happy Holidays, just wish people Merry Christmas I'd rather be able to wish people in the US a Merry Christmas this week without having to worry if they'll be offended

A colleague made a curious statement when she returned to New Yorkrecently from London, "Everything was so Christmas-y there."

At first glance, it's a bizarre statement. New York and London (among other cities in both countries) are decked out for the holidays. Who hasn't heard of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree or London'sOxford Street lights and mince pies? And that's to say nothing of the famous storefront windows all aglow.

But look beyond the seasonal window treatments at Macy's and you'll quickly find a different story. In corporate America, everything is "happy holidays". Ads refer to "holiday shopping", end-of-year office soirees are "holiday parties" and kids' school concerts this time of year are "holiday concerts". You get the idea.

Even at the Guardian, when we put up our Christmas tree in the New York office, the first thing one of our interns said was, "Where's the menorah?"

It's the "politically correct" question. Evergreens and menorahs go hand in hand in most public places in the US. Some offices have gone a step further on the PC scale and simply done "winter wonderland" themed decorations. They have silver, gold and white lights aplenty, but no red and green anything. In short, snow globes are fine, Santa is not.

An annual survey that came out last week revealed just how conflicted Americans are on whether it's better to say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" this time of year. Half of America prefers one term and half the other. However, in a business or public setting, nearly two-thirds of those under 30 feel it's better to wish someone the more generic Happy Holidays. It's about trying to be polite in an increasingly diverse society.

I see the trend just by looking at the greeting cards I've received this year in the mail and how people are signing off their emails. The majority wish me something along the lines of: happy holidays, peace, warm wishes for the New Year, and my least favorite, "seasons greetings". The cards have nice images of mittens, ice skates and snow covered landscapes (not to mention photos of cute kids), but not much overtly Christmas-y. They offer me everything jolly and merry this time of year, except a Merry Christmas.

I'm not to saying that Christmas isn't prominently visible in the states. There are still plenty of Santas and pine trees for sale here, and a drive around the neighborhood, especially in parts of America outside of the major cities, and you'll see people go all out with the Christmas lights and decorations outside their homes (there's even a TV show about it). But even people who are clearly celebrating Christmas in their homes tend to be conflicted about what to say in the workplace or at school. No one wants to offend anyone or make assumptions about people's religious beliefs, especially at work.

In America, the term "Christmas" still has a strongly religious connotation to it (despite what years of Santa and the "buy buy buy" mentality have done to the spirit of holiday). That's only further reinforced by claims on Fox News and other conservative outlets that there is a "war on Christmas" and, by extension, a war on the Christian faith. Now wishing people a "Merry Christmas" almost has a political tone to it.

What's striking to anyone who has spent time in the UK is that everyone says Merry (or Happy) Christmas. I've even had Muslim friends in the UK send me cards and write Merry Christmas on my Facebook wall. The saying in Britain seems to have lost its religious meaning. People say it regardless of whether or not they celebrate Christmas, and businesses feel no remorse whatsoever at openly calling things "Christmas sales" or "Christmas parties".

Of course, I am making broad generalizations. As a British friend reminded me, the UK has been celebrating Saturnalia long before Christmas, and plenty of places such as Birmingham have generic Winterval celebrations. Christmas isn't ubiquitous.

But by and large, in two diverse societies with similar roots, Americans have opted to try to find neutral sounding holiday greetings, while Brits have chosen to make Christmas as open to everyone as possible.

Personally, I think the Brits have this one right. I'd rather be able to wish people a Merry Christmas this week without having to worry if they'll be offended. I'd also rather have people wish me Happy Hanukkah, Happy Diwali or Eid Mubarak when those holidays come around. It makes me feel more a part of their celebration. Let's call each holiday what it is instead of trying to lump Jewish, Christian and even the Kwanzaa ritual together. If we need a generic holiday, we've already got the New Year, which touches all people and cultures.

Telling someone to "enjoy your holiday" or worse, sending them "seasons greetings" are cop-outs. Instead of feeling more diverse and inclusive, it just feels like someone took a bit of sparkle out of the December festivities.

Singapore on The Brink:

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong :   “whatever events may have sparked the  rioting, there is no excuse for such violent, destructive, and criminal  behaviour.”    “We will spare no effort to identify the culprits and deal with them with  the full force of the law,”.

It appears that the cloak of Singapore’s manufactured and artificial meritocracy (Sinocracy) is slowly but surely coming apart at the seams.

This “showcase” of “Asian values and economic prosperity” appears to be struggling to maintain its carefully crafted artificial image of a fair and prosperous society as the veneer of respectability peels away in the heat of an human experiment gone wrong.

Earlier this year Singapore deported with unholy haste 29 bus drivers (guest labourers) back to the mainland China. Their crime? Striking for better working conditions. The leader of the strike was jailed for 7 weeks. These were all ethnic Chinese (of the lesser variety if you asked a Singaporean).

“Human Rights” activists and civil societies supported by the US and George Soros have remained mute. First generation Singaporeans have nothing but contempt for its imported workforce with a common Singaporean insult being “you must be from China”.

A HUMAN DIMENSION OF SINGAPORE EMERGES FROM THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC DOWNTURN

With Thailand to the north on the boil, Malaysia now quiet having contained Singapore’s stirring of its political pot and the world economic mess not yet fully disclosed to Singaporeans, the government of Singapore through its Prime Minister continues to demonstrate the priorities  of his state. Human suffering and rights last, property and the island state’s image first.

The media carries a story about a riot in “little India” today. The story and any information about it will be contained and sanitized in every which way but……if Singapore has its way.

The prime minister has vowed swift and harsh retribution against these 'offenders'. But little or no mention is made of the victim or the circumstances in which he met his end under a bus which precipitated the riot. Not even a cursory “my condolences to his family” or a “promise to get to the bottom of it” nor a “promise to investigate the root causes of what it is that created a flash riot in such circumstances”.

It is all about effect and image. It always was and the government hopes it always will be the case. And there are those who support such an ideological stand amongst Singaporeans. It is demonstrative of the contempt with which first generation Singaporeans treat their workers and those they consider a lesser people. Especially migrants with limited or no rights on the island.

WE ARE ALL EQUAL (TO OUR BANK BALANCE)

As the world readies itself to bury the mortal remains of the late Nelson Mandela, Singapore reminds us that the legacy of Mandela may also be buried with him if no one acts.

Singapore has long housed the scum of this world in its midst. Providing these wealthy imports behaved themselves Singapore style whilst in Singapore. there will always be a welcome mat out for them. From joint venturing with the late Lo Hsin Han the Chinese Burmese opium and heroin producer and warlord, to supplying and housing Tamil Tiger ventures (supplying the RDX that was used to assassinate Rajiv Gandhi), to banking the murderous Suharto regime, its cronies and other despots regardless of their crimes against even the Chinese in the region, Singapore is always ready to welcome  money and the monied.

Only recently has Singapore appeared to suffer a slight pang of conscience when it refused to accommodate the commercial interests of deposed Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. There is more to that decision than pangs of conscience and that which meets the eye.

Singapore is a great and gracious host if you have the money. Lots of it. It has no capacity to boast of  in terms of the welfare of its population of robots who often fall between two stools. And there are many indeed amongst them. Singaporeans and the government have no capacity for compassion, viewing it as a weakness rather than a strength and a virtue. They suffer from a distorted and confused interpretation of Confucianism. Their troubled citizens and residents fall out of high rise buildings or riot as a means and a way out of their emotional, economic and psychological stresses. And Singapore breeds much of that. Problems created by the state and their Kia Su mentality.

THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM, AN EXCUSE FOR EXPULSIONS

This little India incident may give Singapore the opportunity to now get rid of a problem it has been struggling with of late. That problem is its imported labour, the bane of many first generation Singaporeans. Singapore’s population and its demographic today is another example of Neo Nazi, Apartheid style experimenting in social engineering, using humans they consider  lesser people as their guinea pigs. And they have the support of their first generation population. Mute and compliant.

An estimated 38% of Singapore, by some statistics, consist of imported labourers. The wretched, the cold, the displaced and the hungry.Many the by product of foreign labour scams and people smugglers. But who cares?  These are not first generation Singaporeans. Mostly not rich Chinese. They are vulnerable, disposable and dispensable commodities. And if there is a dollar to that misery then it’s a virtue in Singaporean terms. FIrst generations have been abandoning their island state for "greener pastures" like Australia and the US only to discover its not  all milk and honey on the other side.

GLOBAL ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, BOGEYMEN AND FOREIGN EXPEDITIONS IN STREET RIOTS

The reality of the global economic  recession conveniently swept under the carpet by many industrialised nations is beginning to rear its ugly head from under that carpet and starting to bite in places as far away as Singapore.

Singapore desperately needs to shed its imported labour force. Many will be without work soon. the government may claim otherwise  in denial and there may be some truth to their denials. But since when did the Singapore government let the truth get in the way of a good profitable political ideological statement devoid of any human considerations?

Singapore is now faced not only with a world focus on its pathetic treatment of its imported labour force, it is also having to come to terms with a changing world it has been this far insulated from with its large foreign reserves and small population. There is also a non compliant and suppressed Muslim volcano waiting to erupt in its midst.

SILENT KNIGHTS

Keen till recently to support an anti Malay coalition in Bersih and Anwar Ibrahim Malaysia and to regurgitate and reinforce an anti Islamic coalition of the west locally, it remains to be seen whether the chickens have finally come to roost on this mission.  It would be more interesting indeed to see how Singapore interprets what is fundamentally a class and race riot of the dispossessed as Bersih claimed to be supporting in Malaysia (which Singapore supported).

Organizations like Transparency International and its corruption perception indexes will have to back peddle very fast in the wake of these riots to adjust their latest published index to accommodate the emerging truths of the image of a clean state they helped to create.

It appears that Singapore is indeed headed for interesting times.

GOPAL RAJ KUMAR

Bow Down To The Creator

Singapore bus death triggers riot

The violence erupted late on Sunday night, sparked by a fatal bus accident

Police in Singapore have arrested 27 South Asian suspects after hundreds of people took part in a riot sparked by the death of an Indian national.

Trouble started after the 33-year-old man was knocked down by a private bus in a district known as Little India.

About 400 foreign workers took to the streets, hurling railings at police and torching police cars and an ambulance.

At least 18 people were hurt, most of them police officers, before the violence was brought under control.

Police commissioner Ng Joo Hee said it was the first rioting in Singapore in more than 30 years.

He condemned it as "intolerable, wanton violence". "It is not the Singapore way," he added.

The outbreak of public disorder is rare in strictly-governed Singapore.

The wealthy city-state depends heavily on foreign workers, with migrant labourers from South Asia dominating sectors like construction.

Many congregate in Little India on Sundays to shop, drink and socialise.

Rioters overturned these two police cars in the Little India district

Around 300 police were deployed to the area