The pandemic virus that causing multiple deaths in Mexico is now officially called Influenza A (H1N1). I was trying to understand on the source of this virus & the news reported by the local Mass Media pointed to pig but the study below shows that it is actually more than that as the virus continue to mutate from the swine & avian virus.
Read below to further understand the study before jumping to any conclusion that will create kiosk. Based on the news last night, the pig consumption has dropped 30% while price of other meat continue to increase...
Interesting quotes from below:
" Influenza viruses mutate constantly and they also swap genetic material with one another promiscuously, especially if an animal or person is infected with two strains at once. "
New flu virus may be a real mongrel, study shows (Reuters)
WASHINGTON, April 30 (Reuters) - The new virus that has killed as many as 177 people and spread globally is a mongrel that appears to have mixed with another hybrid virus containing swine, bird and human bits, U.S. researchers reported on Thursday.
Raul Rabadan and colleagues at Columbia University in New York analyzed the published genetic sequences from the H1N1 virus that has brought the world to the brink of a pandemic.
"The closest relatives to the virus we have found are swine viruses," Rabadan said in a telephone interview.
"Six segments of the virus are related to swine viruses from North America and the other two from swine viruses isolated in Europe/Asia," they wrote in the online journal Eurosurveillance.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said last week after discovering this virus in two U.S. children that it had four virus types -- two swine, an avian and a human component.
It may be even more complex than that.
Influenza viruses mutate constantly and they also swap genetic material with one another promiscuously, especially if an animal or person is infected with two strains at once.
Rabadan's team said this particular strain looked partly like another hybrid, or what scientists call a reassortant, virus.
"The North American ancestors are related to the multiple reassortants, H1N2 and H3N2 swine viruses isolated in North America since 1998," they wrote.
"In particular, the swine H3N2 isolates from 1998 were a triple reassortment of human, swine and avian origin."
Scientists can study those genetics to try to track the origin of the new virus. Mexican officials have denied it came from pigs in Mexico and pork producers have been battling rumors it could have come from pig farms there.
Rabadan said the findings did not show the virus came directly from pigs. "We don't know how long this virus has been in humans," he said.
Many different influenza strains are circulating at any given time and pandemic strains -- the ones that cause global outbreaks from a whole new strain -- are believed to have come from animals.
"We know that with the two pandemics in 1957 and 1968 they were coming from a mixture of human and avian viruses," Rabadan said. The H1N1 strain that caused the far more serious 1918 pandemic appears to have been virtually a pure avian strain, according to published analyses. (Reporting by Maggie Fox; Editing by Peter Cooney)
Read more...
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
Govt will continue to focus on NEP, says Mukhriz (The Star)
Talking about 1-Malaysia in new administrative line-up. Looks like the Cruel Joke article that posted 2 days ago really come to a reality.
While the claim continue to reflect the goodness of NEP for all races...then the follow-on question is: Why there is a need for NEP or special term for NEP?
Govt will continue to focus on NEP, says Mukhriz (The Star)
KUALA LUMPUR: The Government will continue to focus on the National Economic Policy (NEP) despite the liberalisation of equity ownership of 27 service sub-sectors, said Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir.
The NEP, introduced in 1971, is aimed at restructuring society to narrow the economic disparity among the different races in the country.
“The NEP will still enjoy primary focus as it has a lot of benefits for all races although there is some specifications towards the bumiputras. And with the liberalisation, there will be a lot more opportunities from foreign investments in Malaysia,” Mukhriz told reporters after opening the Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Forum and Exhibition yesterday.
The two-day event is organised by the Malay Businessmen and Industrialist Association of Malaysia.
Mukhriz said liberalisation would create jobs and strengthen the ability of local firms to compete against international companies.
“When we open up our market, the chances to explore foreign markets for our products and services will also increase,” he said
Read more...
While the claim continue to reflect the goodness of NEP for all races...then the follow-on question is: Why there is a need for NEP or special term for NEP?
Govt will continue to focus on NEP, says Mukhriz (The Star)
KUALA LUMPUR: The Government will continue to focus on the National Economic Policy (NEP) despite the liberalisation of equity ownership of 27 service sub-sectors, said Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir.
The NEP, introduced in 1971, is aimed at restructuring society to narrow the economic disparity among the different races in the country.
“The NEP will still enjoy primary focus as it has a lot of benefits for all races although there is some specifications towards the bumiputras. And with the liberalisation, there will be a lot more opportunities from foreign investments in Malaysia,” Mukhriz told reporters after opening the Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Forum and Exhibition yesterday.
The two-day event is organised by the Malay Businessmen and Industrialist Association of Malaysia.
Mukhriz said liberalisation would create jobs and strengthen the ability of local firms to compete against international companies.
“When we open up our market, the chances to explore foreign markets for our products and services will also increase,” he said
Read more...
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Israel to EU: Criticism of Netanyahu government unacceptable (Haaretz)
Let’s don’t jump into conclusion so fast and more time is needed for a long term solution to be crafted.
Confrontation is good but it has to be Constructive else the process will always remain in “process”…
Israel to EU: Criticism of Netanyahu government unacceptable (Haaretz)
A Foreign Ministry official has been warning European countries that unless they curtail criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu's government, Israel will block the European Union from participating in the diplomatic process with the Palestinians.
The main target of the offensive is EU External Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, who recently called for a freeze in upgrading ties with Israel over its peace process policies.
Link
Several days ago, the deputy director for Europe at the Foreign Ministry, Rafi Barak, began calling European ambassadors in Israel regarding the attitude toward the new government. The first conversations were with France's Jean-Michel Casa, Britain's Tom Phillips and the Charge d'Affaires of the German embassy.
Barak sharply protested the criticism by European ministers and senior EU officials about Israel's government.
Barak singled out Ferrero-Waldner in his rebuke and said her statements were troubling in their form, style and timing.
"For some weeks now, we have been telling everyone in Europe that Israel's government needs time to reformulate policies, and not to begin a war in the press," Barak told the diplomats.
He also noted that the European Union had not made an official decision on freezing the upgrading of ties, and therefore it was unclear what gave Ferrero-Waldner the authority to make her statements.
"We want the European Union to be a partner [in the diplomatic process] but it is important to hold a mature and discreet dialogue and not to resort to public declarations," Barak told the diplomats.
"A public confrontation was created that required Prime Minister Netanyahu, and even opposition head Tzipi Livni, to intervene. We have noted that the large European countries have respected our request and are granting the government time, but it is important that Europe be uniform in this matter," Barak added.
Barak concluded by "warning" that Europe's influence in the area would be undermined by such behavior. "Israel is asking Europe to lower the tone and conduct a discreet dialog," he said. "However, if these declarations continue, Europe will not be able to be part of the diplomatic process, and both sides will lose."
In a telegram to the Israeli missions in Europe, Barak briefed the Israeli diplomats on his conversations and noted that the sole ambassador in Israel who backed Ferrero-Waldner was the French. He was quoted as saying that her statements reflect the European public's feelings.
A political source in Jerusalem noted that Ferrero-Waldner was sharply criticized by European officials, and one European foreign minister said in a private conversation that she "is causing damage to European foreign policy in her attacks on Israel."
Read more...
Confrontation is good but it has to be Constructive else the process will always remain in “process”…
Israel to EU: Criticism of Netanyahu government unacceptable (Haaretz)
A Foreign Ministry official has been warning European countries that unless they curtail criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu's government, Israel will block the European Union from participating in the diplomatic process with the Palestinians.
The main target of the offensive is EU External Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, who recently called for a freeze in upgrading ties with Israel over its peace process policies.
Link
Several days ago, the deputy director for Europe at the Foreign Ministry, Rafi Barak, began calling European ambassadors in Israel regarding the attitude toward the new government. The first conversations were with France's Jean-Michel Casa, Britain's Tom Phillips and the Charge d'Affaires of the German embassy.
Barak sharply protested the criticism by European ministers and senior EU officials about Israel's government.
Barak singled out Ferrero-Waldner in his rebuke and said her statements were troubling in their form, style and timing.
"For some weeks now, we have been telling everyone in Europe that Israel's government needs time to reformulate policies, and not to begin a war in the press," Barak told the diplomats.
He also noted that the European Union had not made an official decision on freezing the upgrading of ties, and therefore it was unclear what gave Ferrero-Waldner the authority to make her statements.
"We want the European Union to be a partner [in the diplomatic process] but it is important to hold a mature and discreet dialogue and not to resort to public declarations," Barak told the diplomats.
"A public confrontation was created that required Prime Minister Netanyahu, and even opposition head Tzipi Livni, to intervene. We have noted that the large European countries have respected our request and are granting the government time, but it is important that Europe be uniform in this matter," Barak added.
Barak concluded by "warning" that Europe's influence in the area would be undermined by such behavior. "Israel is asking Europe to lower the tone and conduct a discreet dialog," he said. "However, if these declarations continue, Europe will not be able to be part of the diplomatic process, and both sides will lose."
In a telegram to the Israeli missions in Europe, Barak briefed the Israeli diplomats on his conversations and noted that the sole ambassador in Israel who backed Ferrero-Waldner was the French. He was quoted as saying that her statements reflect the European public's feelings.
A political source in Jerusalem noted that Ferrero-Waldner was sharply criticized by European officials, and one European foreign minister said in a private conversation that she "is causing damage to European foreign policy in her attacks on Israel."
Read more...
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Palestinian gets death sentence for selling land to Israel (Haaretz)
Seems like a little bit too harsh for the punishment...But there are 2 key take-aways:
1. He is selling land not belong to him. That will wash his accusation away to Fraud charges
2. How could this be happend & wondering how the buyer is convinced if the law is already stated treason for selling land to Israeli
Weird...
Palestinian gets death sentence for selling land to Israel (Haaretz)
A Palestinian military court has sentenced a man to death by hanging for selling land to an Israeli company.
Land sales are considered treason by the Palestinians because of their long-running dispute with the Israelis, however the sentence is unlikely to be implemented.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas routinely withholds the required approval for executions. Several others are on death row as suspected informants for Israel.
The sentence was handed down Tuesday in a military court in the West Bank city of Hebron after two days of closed-door hearings.
Prosecutor Issa Amer said the defendant sold land that didn't belong to him in the village of Beit Ummar
Read more...
1. He is selling land not belong to him. That will wash his accusation away to Fraud charges
2. How could this be happend & wondering how the buyer is convinced if the law is already stated treason for selling land to Israeli
Weird...
Palestinian gets death sentence for selling land to Israel (Haaretz)
A Palestinian military court has sentenced a man to death by hanging for selling land to an Israeli company.
Land sales are considered treason by the Palestinians because of their long-running dispute with the Israelis, however the sentence is unlikely to be implemented.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas routinely withholds the required approval for executions. Several others are on death row as suspected informants for Israel.
The sentence was handed down Tuesday in a military court in the West Bank city of Hebron after two days of closed-door hearings.
Prosecutor Issa Amer said the defendant sold land that didn't belong to him in the village of Beit Ummar
Read more...
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
World battles to curb deadly Mexico flu strain (Reuters)
In last several days the swine influenza A (H1N1), a new strain of influenza, has created an outbreak in North & Central America & Mexico. Some news reported that all 3 countries in North America (Mexico, US, Canada) have confirmed human infections with a new strain of influenza, swine flu A/H1N1. Some cases are under investigation in Spain & Israel.
Do be extra careful when you are traveling and take good care of personal hygiene...
Some advices:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth as germs are spread that way.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people:
- Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people
World battles to curb deadly Mexico flu strain (Reuters)
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Governments around the world took steps Tuesday to curb the spread of a new strain of flu that has killed up to 149 people in Mexico in a couple of weeks and spread to Europe and possibly Asia.
In Asia, financial markets were on edge over the risk the flu could develop into a pandemic and kill off fragile signs of recovery in the global economy after the World Health Organization raised its alert level for the outbreak.
Link
No one has died outside Mexico but more than 50 infected people have been found in the United States, six in Canada and three across the Atlantic in Spain and Scotland. Possible cases were being tested as far away as Norway and South Korea.
The swine flu bug is curable if treated quickly with antiviral medicine but no one is naturally immune and the WHO has lifted its pandemic alert to phase 4, indicating the risk of a deadly global outbreak.
"This can be interpreted as a significant step toward pandemic influenza, but also it is a phase which says that we are not there yet," acting WHO Assistant Director-General Keiji Fukuda told a teleconference Monday.
Most Asian stock markets slipped into negative territory after tentative early gains, and the yen climbed to a seven-week high against the euro and a one-month high versus the dollar as investors cut their exposure to riskier currencies.
Drug stocks extended Monday's gains while airline stocks were hit once again. Oil dropped a further 1 percent, sinking below $50 a barrel.
TAKING ACTION
Governments around the world have taken steps to tighten monitoring of their airports or advised against non-essential travel to Mexico.
Britain, France, Germany and the United States issued travel alerts for Mexico, which relies on tourism as its No. 3 source of foreign currency. Japan advised its citizens in Mexico to consider returning home soon, saying they might find themselves unable to leave and not be able to get adequate medical care.
China vowed to disclose any human cases of swine fever promptly, while state-run newspapers urged officials to be open and avoid the kind of cover-ups that brought panic during the SARS epidemic in 2003.
The last pandemic, a Hong Kong flu outbreak in 1968, killed about one million people around the world.
Mexicans from company directors to delivery men on tricycles wore face masks while airlines checked passengers for flu symptoms.
"We will defeat this threat," Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard vowed late Monday as several hundred people suspected to be suffering from the flu were treated in hospitals and life in the normally hectic capital took on an eerie hush.
Mexico City shut restaurants, bars, cinemas, stadiums, gyms and some government offices to stop the infection from spreading.
Unsure how worried they should be, people stocked up on food, drinking water, rental movies and surgical masks and canceled hair appointments. Some opted to work from home and schools were closed across the country until May 6.
Facing a dent to tourism and trade -- key motors of an economy that is already tipping into recession with the global downturn -- Mexico said it would not order a mass closure of businesses to try to contain the infection.
"Economic activity must continue," Labor Minister Javier Lozano told a news conference Monday evening.
NO VACCINE
Worldwide, seasonal flu kills between 250,000 and 500,000 people in an average year. The new strain is worrying as it spreads rapidly between humans and there is no vaccine for it.
Most of the fatalities have been people aged between 20 and 50, an ominous sign because a hallmark of past pandemics has been the high rate of fatalities among young adults.
Mexican media have speculated the flu may have originated at a pig farm in the tropical southeastern state of Veracruz.
But Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said the first case that alerted authorities to a possible rogue flu strain was in the southern state of Oaxaca. He said it was too early to identify the cause or geographical source of the virus.
Officials say the virus is not caught from eating pig meat products but several countries banned U.S. pork imports.
The heavy volume of visitors to Mexico only underscores the risk of contagion. Airlines fly more than 1 million passenger seats in and out of Mexico's international airport each week.
The flu crisis, which blew up over the weekend, also rocked financial markets Monday, hitting oil prices, the dollar, Mexico's peso and airline stocks.
Uncertainty over the swine flu outbreak could get soured recent optimism that trillions of dollars injected into the world economy might soon start to slow the global downturn.
Read more...
Do be extra careful when you are traveling and take good care of personal hygiene...
Some advices:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth as germs are spread that way.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people:
- Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people
World battles to curb deadly Mexico flu strain (Reuters)
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Governments around the world took steps Tuesday to curb the spread of a new strain of flu that has killed up to 149 people in Mexico in a couple of weeks and spread to Europe and possibly Asia.
In Asia, financial markets were on edge over the risk the flu could develop into a pandemic and kill off fragile signs of recovery in the global economy after the World Health Organization raised its alert level for the outbreak.
Link
No one has died outside Mexico but more than 50 infected people have been found in the United States, six in Canada and three across the Atlantic in Spain and Scotland. Possible cases were being tested as far away as Norway and South Korea.
The swine flu bug is curable if treated quickly with antiviral medicine but no one is naturally immune and the WHO has lifted its pandemic alert to phase 4, indicating the risk of a deadly global outbreak.
"This can be interpreted as a significant step toward pandemic influenza, but also it is a phase which says that we are not there yet," acting WHO Assistant Director-General Keiji Fukuda told a teleconference Monday.
Most Asian stock markets slipped into negative territory after tentative early gains, and the yen climbed to a seven-week high against the euro and a one-month high versus the dollar as investors cut their exposure to riskier currencies.
Drug stocks extended Monday's gains while airline stocks were hit once again. Oil dropped a further 1 percent, sinking below $50 a barrel.
TAKING ACTION
Governments around the world have taken steps to tighten monitoring of their airports or advised against non-essential travel to Mexico.
Britain, France, Germany and the United States issued travel alerts for Mexico, which relies on tourism as its No. 3 source of foreign currency. Japan advised its citizens in Mexico to consider returning home soon, saying they might find themselves unable to leave and not be able to get adequate medical care.
China vowed to disclose any human cases of swine fever promptly, while state-run newspapers urged officials to be open and avoid the kind of cover-ups that brought panic during the SARS epidemic in 2003.
The last pandemic, a Hong Kong flu outbreak in 1968, killed about one million people around the world.
Mexicans from company directors to delivery men on tricycles wore face masks while airlines checked passengers for flu symptoms.
"We will defeat this threat," Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard vowed late Monday as several hundred people suspected to be suffering from the flu were treated in hospitals and life in the normally hectic capital took on an eerie hush.
Mexico City shut restaurants, bars, cinemas, stadiums, gyms and some government offices to stop the infection from spreading.
Unsure how worried they should be, people stocked up on food, drinking water, rental movies and surgical masks and canceled hair appointments. Some opted to work from home and schools were closed across the country until May 6.
Facing a dent to tourism and trade -- key motors of an economy that is already tipping into recession with the global downturn -- Mexico said it would not order a mass closure of businesses to try to contain the infection.
"Economic activity must continue," Labor Minister Javier Lozano told a news conference Monday evening.
NO VACCINE
Worldwide, seasonal flu kills between 250,000 and 500,000 people in an average year. The new strain is worrying as it spreads rapidly between humans and there is no vaccine for it.
Most of the fatalities have been people aged between 20 and 50, an ominous sign because a hallmark of past pandemics has been the high rate of fatalities among young adults.
Mexican media have speculated the flu may have originated at a pig farm in the tropical southeastern state of Veracruz.
But Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova said the first case that alerted authorities to a possible rogue flu strain was in the southern state of Oaxaca. He said it was too early to identify the cause or geographical source of the virus.
Officials say the virus is not caught from eating pig meat products but several countries banned U.S. pork imports.
The heavy volume of visitors to Mexico only underscores the risk of contagion. Airlines fly more than 1 million passenger seats in and out of Mexico's international airport each week.
The flu crisis, which blew up over the weekend, also rocked financial markets Monday, hitting oil prices, the dollar, Mexico's peso and airline stocks.
Uncertainty over the swine flu outbreak could get soured recent optimism that trillions of dollars injected into the world economy might soon start to slow the global downturn.
Read more...
Monday, April 27, 2009
1 Malaysia: A cruel joke? (Malaysian Insider)
Actually I don’t think this is a joke nor think that it is “cruel”. Most of the “rakyat” crafted the perception based on leader’s performance on how they run the country.
Of course every PM has to start to work from below & start gaining people trust before holding nation’s top post.
It is good that the country now has a vision from the new PM that integrates people from different background.
I am still optimistic & can’t wait to see the superficial agenda as well as the hidden one behind this noble move.
Before jumping to any conclusion, I think we shall give him some benefit of doubts but that has to be aligned with his cabinet members as there are separate news reporting some members singing different tune….Probably the first time to do is to have the same alignment?
1 Malaysia: A cruel joke? (Malaysian Insider)
APRIL 27 – It never ceases to amaze me how simple and trusting we Malaysians are.
We have heard all these promises before. Pak Lah, the Mr Clean and Mr Nice Guy of Malaysian politics proclaimed his great mission of fighting corruption after 22 years of unprincipled and largely unaccountable governance under Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
We lapped it all up, initially at any rate, and believed every word the spin doctors spewed out about Abdullah Badawi.
Link
It was not too difficult a job for Abdullah Badawi, or anyone else for that matter, after Mahathir, to look ethically spotless, clean and pure as the driven snow.
Badawi, with his religious credentials, gave every appearance of being the reformer that this country had been praying for. Alas, his leadership proved a total let-down for Malaysia.
What began as a journey full of hope and promise turned very quickly into a national nightmare. Abdullah, who skippered the good ship MALAYSIA, was in truth an incompetent and inept rating playing at being Admiral of the Fleet.
We discovered soon enough that he could not tell north from south and a sexton from a pair of compasses. We had to put up with his erratic command, watching with increasing anxiety as he set the ship adrift aimlessly, with no prospect of ever making landfall.
Now let me move away from naval to boxing metaphors, and I hope I am not mixing them in the process.
Abdullah had come to lead us laden with his own strange stock-in-trade. It was a mix, in no particular order, of Islam Hadhari that he himself could not explain to save his life, the memorably inane “Work with me and not for me” catchphrase, and the almost absurdly messianic anti-corruption clarion call that he had used to fool the entire nation.
I am embarrassed to admit, on reflection, that he had me fooled from Day One.
Abdullah was persuaded by close family members and advisers that he was doing a brilliant job, and this was what he wanted to hear.
He believed that he had what was needed to punch above his weight. He did not realise until too late that the Islam Hadhari as he had postulated it was no match for the reality of Umno politics with its long-established culture of money politics (for which, read grand corruption), in-fighting and back-stabbing.
Soon enough, he found himself out-pointed at every turn by his own seconds, Najib and Muhyiddin, whose protestations of eternal love and loyalty made with a straight face before the disastrous March 2008 elections seemed the height of black humour.
They pushed all the responsibility for the electoral failure to him, and with indecent haste, distanced themselves from him. They turned collective responsibility on its head. This was their interpretation.
And now, they are now leading Malaysia.
I am recalling the Abdullah years as a way of reminding ourselves not to be tempted into swallowing the “right noises” that Najib is making, hook, line and sinker.
He is apparently good at developing popular policies on the trot, and all his reform promises seem to flow so effortlessly and glibly off his silvery tongue and that worries many people who are looking more for substance rather than form.
His 1 Malaysia is a case in point. How does Najib propose to give practical effect to his excellent concept given the reality of Malaysia’s race-biased policies of racial discrimination?
Does he not see a contradiction? Is he clear in his own mind what he is talking about? For now, it remains a slogan and, without a clear vision of what 1 Malaysia is intended to be, it could well turn out to be nothing more than a grand illusion.
Does he really believe that he has what it takes to reconcile Umno’s pathological obsession with bumiputra rights on the one hand with the principles of inalienable equality for ALL Malaysians on the other?
1 Malaysia without complete equality of opportunity is nothing if not a cruel and dishonest practical joke.
So, until Najib sets out his plan for 1 Malaysia that accords with the conditions for a truly “Malaysian Malaysia” (with apologies to Lee Kuan Yew), I suggest, in a manner of speaking, we do not put the champagne on ice as it could be premature.
Read more...
Of course every PM has to start to work from below & start gaining people trust before holding nation’s top post.
It is good that the country now has a vision from the new PM that integrates people from different background.
I am still optimistic & can’t wait to see the superficial agenda as well as the hidden one behind this noble move.
Before jumping to any conclusion, I think we shall give him some benefit of doubts but that has to be aligned with his cabinet members as there are separate news reporting some members singing different tune….Probably the first time to do is to have the same alignment?
1 Malaysia: A cruel joke? (Malaysian Insider)
APRIL 27 – It never ceases to amaze me how simple and trusting we Malaysians are.
We have heard all these promises before. Pak Lah, the Mr Clean and Mr Nice Guy of Malaysian politics proclaimed his great mission of fighting corruption after 22 years of unprincipled and largely unaccountable governance under Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
We lapped it all up, initially at any rate, and believed every word the spin doctors spewed out about Abdullah Badawi.
Link
It was not too difficult a job for Abdullah Badawi, or anyone else for that matter, after Mahathir, to look ethically spotless, clean and pure as the driven snow.
Badawi, with his religious credentials, gave every appearance of being the reformer that this country had been praying for. Alas, his leadership proved a total let-down for Malaysia.
What began as a journey full of hope and promise turned very quickly into a national nightmare. Abdullah, who skippered the good ship MALAYSIA, was in truth an incompetent and inept rating playing at being Admiral of the Fleet.
We discovered soon enough that he could not tell north from south and a sexton from a pair of compasses. We had to put up with his erratic command, watching with increasing anxiety as he set the ship adrift aimlessly, with no prospect of ever making landfall.
Now let me move away from naval to boxing metaphors, and I hope I am not mixing them in the process.
Abdullah had come to lead us laden with his own strange stock-in-trade. It was a mix, in no particular order, of Islam Hadhari that he himself could not explain to save his life, the memorably inane “Work with me and not for me” catchphrase, and the almost absurdly messianic anti-corruption clarion call that he had used to fool the entire nation.
I am embarrassed to admit, on reflection, that he had me fooled from Day One.
Abdullah was persuaded by close family members and advisers that he was doing a brilliant job, and this was what he wanted to hear.
He believed that he had what was needed to punch above his weight. He did not realise until too late that the Islam Hadhari as he had postulated it was no match for the reality of Umno politics with its long-established culture of money politics (for which, read grand corruption), in-fighting and back-stabbing.
Soon enough, he found himself out-pointed at every turn by his own seconds, Najib and Muhyiddin, whose protestations of eternal love and loyalty made with a straight face before the disastrous March 2008 elections seemed the height of black humour.
They pushed all the responsibility for the electoral failure to him, and with indecent haste, distanced themselves from him. They turned collective responsibility on its head. This was their interpretation.
And now, they are now leading Malaysia.
I am recalling the Abdullah years as a way of reminding ourselves not to be tempted into swallowing the “right noises” that Najib is making, hook, line and sinker.
He is apparently good at developing popular policies on the trot, and all his reform promises seem to flow so effortlessly and glibly off his silvery tongue and that worries many people who are looking more for substance rather than form.
His 1 Malaysia is a case in point. How does Najib propose to give practical effect to his excellent concept given the reality of Malaysia’s race-biased policies of racial discrimination?
Does he not see a contradiction? Is he clear in his own mind what he is talking about? For now, it remains a slogan and, without a clear vision of what 1 Malaysia is intended to be, it could well turn out to be nothing more than a grand illusion.
Does he really believe that he has what it takes to reconcile Umno’s pathological obsession with bumiputra rights on the one hand with the principles of inalienable equality for ALL Malaysians on the other?
1 Malaysia without complete equality of opportunity is nothing if not a cruel and dishonest practical joke.
So, until Najib sets out his plan for 1 Malaysia that accords with the conditions for a truly “Malaysian Malaysia” (with apologies to Lee Kuan Yew), I suggest, in a manner of speaking, we do not put the champagne on ice as it could be premature.
Read more...
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Time for Arabs to face truth (Ynetnews)
I doubt this will ever happen in this life time...the fact is crystal yet people chose to be in distorted state...
Time for Arabs to face truth (Ynetnews)
For first time in 60 years, Arabs must ask themselves tough questions about Israel
Guy Bechor Published: 04.25.09, 15:51 / Israel Opinion
As strange as it may sound, despite dozens of years of Israeli "peace" with states such as Egypt and Jordan, Arab societies in the Middle East didn't quite bother with the following question: What's Israel all about?
Many people never bothered to find out what is this Israel and who comprises it; besides, peace with it was perceived as a matter for the kingdom and governments. The kind of peace that is irrelevant for the masses. It was seen as a sort of financial agreement between the ruler and some kind of dark and imaginary kingdom, a shadowy fortress whose outrageous existence can only be seen on television channels.
This is also why it's so easy to hate it, as it is easy to hate anonymous terms or people.
However, the new position of the Israeli government, which demands recognition of both parts of the "two-state" slogan, is placing a mirror before Arab societies for the first time. This is an important development that must be insisted on at any price.
The need to recognize Israel as a Jewish state or as the Jewish people's state will force the Arabs to make a decision, look at Israel, and understand what it's all about. Is there a Jewish people? Most Arab community leaders would say: Not at all, just like Mahmoud Abbas or Saeb Erekat believe; at most, there is a Jewish religion, and perhaps Jewish culture. However, in order to get their own state, they will have to recognize this people, its identity, and its national movement – that is, Zionism. They will have to start to truly take interest in it, in reality and not in the world of illusions.
These are tasks that were never required of the society around us, and therefore we had a cold and sterile peace, vis-à-vis the regime only, along with a limited economic elite made up of those who enjoyed personal perks as result of the peace.
In the Arab online community at least, the first discussion since Israel's establishment is taking place at this time on the question of whether Israel exists, and whether it should exist –as a Jewish state no less. This is what the slogan "two states for two peoples" is all about. Yes, the Jewish people is also a nation, and the Arabs will have to accept it, without the compromises of the failed Oslo Accord. For that reason, Israel must insist at any price on both sides of the equation, as Prime Minister Netanyahu is wisely doing at this time.
No shortcuts
Placing a mirror in front of someone is a moral thing to do. In my view, this is the only way for the Arabs to understand that they have not approached Israel properly to this day, assuming they looked at it at all.
If such demand is made, and they rejected it to this day, what does it say about them? That they're racist? Unwilling to recognize the other? Living in an imaginary reality? They claimed that Israel is imaginary, but perhaps they are the ones who are imaginary and unrealistic? After all, up until now they claimed that Israel is the racist one, yet by rejecting the existence of a Jewish people they are in fact being exposed as racist. It's not easy for them.
The new formula requires them to see Israel in a realistic light. It has a right to exist, it is home to 7.5 million people, and it has an economy, life, culture, and existence. This isn't easy for those who grew up with blatant anti-Semitic norms or with cold disregard for this Israel. The mirror placed before them teaches them about themselves.
They are not looking at Israel now, but rather, at themselves. And they don't like what they see. Yet they have no choice: Without this, there would be no Palestinian state and no agreement.
It's about time that after more than 60 years, the educational process of peace with the Arab world is underway. It will be long and difficult, as real educational processes tend to be, but there is no escaping it. There are no shortcuts here; it's unavoidable.
Read more...
Time for Arabs to face truth (Ynetnews)
For first time in 60 years, Arabs must ask themselves tough questions about Israel
Guy Bechor Published: 04.25.09, 15:51 / Israel Opinion
As strange as it may sound, despite dozens of years of Israeli "peace" with states such as Egypt and Jordan, Arab societies in the Middle East didn't quite bother with the following question: What's Israel all about?
Many people never bothered to find out what is this Israel and who comprises it; besides, peace with it was perceived as a matter for the kingdom and governments. The kind of peace that is irrelevant for the masses. It was seen as a sort of financial agreement between the ruler and some kind of dark and imaginary kingdom, a shadowy fortress whose outrageous existence can only be seen on television channels.
This is also why it's so easy to hate it, as it is easy to hate anonymous terms or people.
However, the new position of the Israeli government, which demands recognition of both parts of the "two-state" slogan, is placing a mirror before Arab societies for the first time. This is an important development that must be insisted on at any price.
The need to recognize Israel as a Jewish state or as the Jewish people's state will force the Arabs to make a decision, look at Israel, and understand what it's all about. Is there a Jewish people? Most Arab community leaders would say: Not at all, just like Mahmoud Abbas or Saeb Erekat believe; at most, there is a Jewish religion, and perhaps Jewish culture. However, in order to get their own state, they will have to recognize this people, its identity, and its national movement – that is, Zionism. They will have to start to truly take interest in it, in reality and not in the world of illusions.
These are tasks that were never required of the society around us, and therefore we had a cold and sterile peace, vis-à-vis the regime only, along with a limited economic elite made up of those who enjoyed personal perks as result of the peace.
In the Arab online community at least, the first discussion since Israel's establishment is taking place at this time on the question of whether Israel exists, and whether it should exist –as a Jewish state no less. This is what the slogan "two states for two peoples" is all about. Yes, the Jewish people is also a nation, and the Arabs will have to accept it, without the compromises of the failed Oslo Accord. For that reason, Israel must insist at any price on both sides of the equation, as Prime Minister Netanyahu is wisely doing at this time.
No shortcuts
Placing a mirror in front of someone is a moral thing to do. In my view, this is the only way for the Arabs to understand that they have not approached Israel properly to this day, assuming they looked at it at all.
If such demand is made, and they rejected it to this day, what does it say about them? That they're racist? Unwilling to recognize the other? Living in an imaginary reality? They claimed that Israel is imaginary, but perhaps they are the ones who are imaginary and unrealistic? After all, up until now they claimed that Israel is the racist one, yet by rejecting the existence of a Jewish people they are in fact being exposed as racist. It's not easy for them.
The new formula requires them to see Israel in a realistic light. It has a right to exist, it is home to 7.5 million people, and it has an economy, life, culture, and existence. This isn't easy for those who grew up with blatant anti-Semitic norms or with cold disregard for this Israel. The mirror placed before them teaches them about themselves.
They are not looking at Israel now, but rather, at themselves. And they don't like what they see. Yet they have no choice: Without this, there would be no Palestinian state and no agreement.
It's about time that after more than 60 years, the educational process of peace with the Arab world is underway. It will be long and difficult, as real educational processes tend to be, but there is no escaping it. There are no shortcuts here; it's unavoidable.
Read more...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
