Showing posts with label Penang Issues. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Penang Issues. Show all posts
Sunday, February 19, 2012
How can we learn from USA Presidential Debate 2012?
This was a Republican President candidates debates or GOP Presidential Debate at Iowa, unlike the Chua-Lim debate, which is debate on a specific topic. The candidates are from the same party.
Can we learn from their political debate, on how the debaters presented themselves, and how the audience behave and disciplined themselves to listen to the speakers. This behavior was the respect to the speakers and as well as the organizer, and to the American people who are watching the program all over USA.
The 2012 Republican presidential primaries are the selection processes in which voters of the Republican Party will choose their nominee for President of the United States in the 2012 presidential election. There are 2,286 delegates to be chosen. A candidate must accumulate 1,144 delegate votes at the national convention to win
The Iowa caucus are an electoral event in which residents of the U.S. state of Iowa meet in precinct caucuses in all of Iowa's 1,774 precincts and elect delegates to the corresponding county conventions. There are ninety-nine counties in Iowa, and thus there are ninety-nine conventions. These county conventions then select delegates for both Iowa's Congressional District Convention and the State Convention, which eventually choose the delegates for the presidential nominating conventions
If you want to follow on the election, or to know more about USA Presidential election, please visit Republican Party presidential primaries, 2012, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_presidential_primaries,_2012 or to http://republican2012.org/
Iowa caucuses
The Iowa Caucuses are commonly recognized as the first step in the U.S. presidential nomination process for both the Democratic and the Republican Parties.
The Iowa caucuses are noteworthy for the amount of media attention they receive during U.S. presidential election years. Since 1972, the Iowa caucuses have been the first major electoral event of the nominating process for President of the United States. Although only about 1% of the nation's delegates are chosen by the Iowa State Convention (25 Republican delegates in 2012, assigned proportionately), the Iowa caucuses have served as an early indication of which candidates for president might win the nomination of their political party at that party's national convention, and which ones could drop out for lack of support.
To know more details of Iowa Caucuses, please visit their official website, http://iowacaucus.com/ or http://caucuses.desmoinesregister.com/
By the way, "GOP" stands for "Grand Old Party," the nickname of the Republican party.
What we can learn from Taiwan presidential debate 2012?
2012總統大選電視辯論
This was also the video of recent Taiwan Presidential Debate 2012.
The election for the 13th-term President and Vice-President of the Republic of China (Chinese: 第十三任中華民國總統副總統選舉) was held in the Free Area of the Republic of China (ROC) on 14 January 2012.[2] The election was held concurrently with legislative elections. It was the fifth direct election for the President of the Republic of China. Prior to 1996, the President was elected by the ROC's National Assembly and not directly by the people.
Incumbent Ma Ying-jeou was re-elected as President with 51.6% of the vote. DPP challenger Tsai Ing-wen resigned her post as chairperson of the DPP following her election defeat.
What we can learn from Taiwan presidential debate 2012?
This was also the video of recent Taiwan Presidential Debate 2012.
The election for the 13th-term President and Vice-President of the Republic of China (Chinese: 第十三任中華民國總統副總統選舉) was held in the Free Area of the Republic of China (ROC) on 14 January 2012.[2] The election was held concurrently with legislative elections. It was the fifth direct election for the President of the Republic of China. Prior to 1996, the President was elected by the ROC's National Assembly and not directly by the people.
Incumbent Ma Ying-jeou was re-elected as President with 51.6% of the vote. DPP challenger Tsai Ing-wen resigned her post as chairperson of the DPP following her election defeat.
What we can learn from Taiwan presidential debate 2012?
Saturday, February 18, 2012
This is not the political debate we want
The political debate between Dr Chua Soi Lek and Lim Guan Eng on 18-2-2012 was organized by the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI) and MCA’s Institute of Strategic Analysis and Policy Research (INSAP). This was only the second political debate in the country between senior Barisan National(BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders since opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s debate with then-information minister Datuk Seri Shabeery Cheek — was broadcast live on Astro.
The topic - “Chinese at the Crossroads: Is the Two-Party System Becoming a Two-Race System?”
But the debate anticipated highly by Malaysian turned up to be a political talk and not really political debate we anticipated at. Dr Chua was more vocal on attacking DAP as a party and Lim was merely repeating what he has been talking in the political dinners. We anticipate for high class political debate as it was organized by ASLI, and focused more on policy on two party system Vs Two race system like what happen in Sarawak in recent state election. Both speakers should have talk about their party's stance on the issue, and why the party support or against the two party system. What will be the outcome, and how the party is going to face it if the two party system become a reality in Malaysia. Why the two party can or cannot become two race system. What is the impact to the Malaysian if the two party system become two race system, and how the party is going to tackle it if it happen.
The standard of the debate was very low , not even comparable to the school debate. I happen to have a young relative who is in school debating team, he and his team mates gave low grade to the political debate. No standard at all... may be they should learn from the school debating team. It failed the expectation that Malaysian anticipated....
The moment the first speaker, Dr Chua started, it geared up to attack aggressively on DAP, the political debate was expected to go as normal political election campaign.
They did touch little about the two party system but only superficial without an analytical on the impact to Malaysia if two party system or two race system arise after the election. But Dr Chua was more on attacking DAP, and even on a former MCA President. Lim Guan Eng was only defending his policy in Penang. By the way, this is debating on national issue and not local or merely party issue, it is debating on your party stance on the topic given. It seems to be out of topic. We expected higher standard debate.
It was more like party propaganda, a pre-election political campaign.
Did the public debate help the audience to understand the view of the political parties?...
The standard of audience who asked the questions was low, asking irrelevant questions, and the supporters was not a matured enough to be in a political debate, giving praise to good debating points, and silence when necessary to listen to the speech. The emotional out pour of the supporters, mainly from MCA during the questioning time is unwanted. It was not a political fight but a political debate, where we should be like the two speakers, be a good listeners. No point to be emotional as this is not election day, the quality of audience was poor.
The organizer should has as for questions to be written, and screen through the questions to ensure the questions are relevant, otherwise it is wasting the time of majority of the audience.
The political parties concerned should disciplined their party members before the start of the debate, things to do and not to do. The organizer need to look at the rules to the political parties. Since this is political debate, we cannot avoid the attendance of their members. But they should have foretold this is not election campaign, it is only a debate, a discipline audience will help to crate a positive atmosphere to the debate. What happen if the emotion turn wild , then the democratic debate will turn ugly, and their supporters will become crazy and wild. Democracy become demon go crazy.....
Most of the audience who ask questions were from MCA, which is heavily biased, the organizer should be experienced to select the audience, representing both political parties, and neutral party. At this point I should say that Lim Guan Eng maintain his coolness, this is a plus point for him. Some of them seems to take the opportunity to impress their boss, hoping for a chance in next election?...
We have to congratulate Dr Chua Soi Lek and Mr Lim Guan Eng for participating in the debate, using the language they are not very good at. They are both English educated, but use Chinese as debating language. This we need to give credit to them. They will be remember for being man who dare to take up the challenge to provide a good start for the sake of democracy in the country. In a way, they both are winners.
Both speakers may have won in their way, but the political debate was a flop, not worth to listen on its content.....but as Lim GE had say it is a start, and hope the political debate will continue and become a norm in future.
Even the standard was considered low, I would say it was not bad for a start....
We expected the 2nd debate will be more policy and issue centered.
We also anticipated for more quality political debate, we know Malaysian will love it....
Remember debating is not public speaking, some political party may has well trained youth group with public speaking skills under training like Toastmaster; preparing for the coming election. But a good public speaker may not be necessary a good debater....or as good audience who know how to question.....a good debater do not need to be aggressive, yet your argument and reasoning win the heart of the audience... it is ability to present your view on the topic given.....it is not merely super public skills without substance...
We hope we will soon have a good political debating culture...
Further readings
1. Cheap shot’ shows Soi Lek not secure, says Tee Keat, http://my.news.yahoo.com/cheap-shot-shows-soi-lek-not-secure-says-013433905.html
2. BN ready for political debates, says Ku Nan, http://my.news.yahoo.com/bn-ready-for-political-debates-says-ku-nan-071836262.html
3. Dr M: Malaysians not mature enough for debates, http://my.news.yahoo.com/dr-m-malaysians-not-mature-enough-for-debates-104555244.html
The topic - “Chinese at the Crossroads: Is the Two-Party System Becoming a Two-Race System?”
But the debate anticipated highly by Malaysian turned up to be a political talk and not really political debate we anticipated at. Dr Chua was more vocal on attacking DAP as a party and Lim was merely repeating what he has been talking in the political dinners. We anticipate for high class political debate as it was organized by ASLI, and focused more on policy on two party system Vs Two race system like what happen in Sarawak in recent state election. Both speakers should have talk about their party's stance on the issue, and why the party support or against the two party system. What will be the outcome, and how the party is going to face it if the two party system become a reality in Malaysia. Why the two party can or cannot become two race system. What is the impact to the Malaysian if the two party system become two race system, and how the party is going to tackle it if it happen.
The standard of the debate was very low , not even comparable to the school debate. I happen to have a young relative who is in school debating team, he and his team mates gave low grade to the political debate. No standard at all... may be they should learn from the school debating team. It failed the expectation that Malaysian anticipated....
The moment the first speaker, Dr Chua started, it geared up to attack aggressively on DAP, the political debate was expected to go as normal political election campaign.
They did touch little about the two party system but only superficial without an analytical on the impact to Malaysia if two party system or two race system arise after the election. But Dr Chua was more on attacking DAP, and even on a former MCA President. Lim Guan Eng was only defending his policy in Penang. By the way, this is debating on national issue and not local or merely party issue, it is debating on your party stance on the topic given. It seems to be out of topic. We expected higher standard debate.
It was more like party propaganda, a pre-election political campaign.
Did the public debate help the audience to understand the view of the political parties?...
The standard of audience who asked the questions was low, asking irrelevant questions, and the supporters was not a matured enough to be in a political debate, giving praise to good debating points, and silence when necessary to listen to the speech. The emotional out pour of the supporters, mainly from MCA during the questioning time is unwanted. It was not a political fight but a political debate, where we should be like the two speakers, be a good listeners. No point to be emotional as this is not election day, the quality of audience was poor.
The organizer should has as for questions to be written, and screen through the questions to ensure the questions are relevant, otherwise it is wasting the time of majority of the audience.
The political parties concerned should disciplined their party members before the start of the debate, things to do and not to do. The organizer need to look at the rules to the political parties. Since this is political debate, we cannot avoid the attendance of their members. But they should have foretold this is not election campaign, it is only a debate, a discipline audience will help to crate a positive atmosphere to the debate. What happen if the emotion turn wild , then the democratic debate will turn ugly, and their supporters will become crazy and wild. Democracy become demon go crazy.....
Most of the audience who ask questions were from MCA, which is heavily biased, the organizer should be experienced to select the audience, representing both political parties, and neutral party. At this point I should say that Lim Guan Eng maintain his coolness, this is a plus point for him. Some of them seems to take the opportunity to impress their boss, hoping for a chance in next election?...
We have to congratulate Dr Chua Soi Lek and Mr Lim Guan Eng for participating in the debate, using the language they are not very good at. They are both English educated, but use Chinese as debating language. This we need to give credit to them. They will be remember for being man who dare to take up the challenge to provide a good start for the sake of democracy in the country. In a way, they both are winners.
Both speakers may have won in their way, but the political debate was a flop, not worth to listen on its content.....but as Lim GE had say it is a start, and hope the political debate will continue and become a norm in future.
Even the standard was considered low, I would say it was not bad for a start....
We expected the 2nd debate will be more policy and issue centered.
We also anticipated for more quality political debate, we know Malaysian will love it....
Remember debating is not public speaking, some political party may has well trained youth group with public speaking skills under training like Toastmaster; preparing for the coming election. But a good public speaker may not be necessary a good debater....or as good audience who know how to question.....a good debater do not need to be aggressive, yet your argument and reasoning win the heart of the audience... it is ability to present your view on the topic given.....it is not merely super public skills without substance...
We hope we will soon have a good political debating culture...
Further readings
1. Cheap shot’ shows Soi Lek not secure, says Tee Keat, http://my.news.yahoo.com/cheap-shot-shows-soi-lek-not-secure-says-013433905.html
2. BN ready for political debates, says Ku Nan, http://my.news.yahoo.com/bn-ready-for-political-debates-says-ku-nan-071836262.html
3. Dr M: Malaysians not mature enough for debates, http://my.news.yahoo.com/dr-m-malaysians-not-mature-enough-for-debates-104555244.html
Monday, February 13, 2012
Pseudo Election Campaign
Looking at the political scene , the pseudo election campaign have already started by both ruling and opposition parties, despite the Election Commission has not announced the election date.
The political talk show, and the political festival events, recently has produced two of the negative feedback. The foul mouth spokesman of opposition has caused him into problem with the pressmen. Being a scholar with PHD holder, he should know what to say and what not to say. he suddenly has overdo it, and offense the reporters. May be the young politician has been away from the country for too long, that he forget the important of reporters in the election campaign. He will surely gain less votes or lost his seat if he go for this coming election, if the relationship with the press is not amended.
The proxy of the ruling party has created the "White Ang Pow" incident. This old politician has been an MP for so many terms. Jumping from Barisan to Pas, and now an independent. He has been attending the Chinese New Year open house of his friends, supporters, and his allies for so many times, and he has never receive a white ang-pow. Either he has lost his past memory, or use the sentiment of Chinese new year as his election campaign to gain publicity for his personal political agenda, or to make news for his linked NGO, the action back fire. He will surely caused his master to loose some important votes, or even some seats...
From the two incidents, the voters must open the eyes to see who are the opportunists, who are the actors in the coming election. They may just only proxies for their master, they may or may not go for the coming election. Let them remain as an actor for their master in the political games, they are not fit to be a representatives of the people in the parliament. Please do not vote them in. There are more actors and opportunists to come, when election date become closer....some are big names.....
It is funny why there are so much monies from the government and political parties moving around, closing to election. There will be cheques sending from businesses and unknown sources into the account of political parties, either for the political campaign fund or some personal gain....this will not be disclose in our own eyes, it will be under the counter, without disclosure. That is why it is important to limit the election campaign expenses for each candidates, to avoid political corruption. The budget and actual expenses should be accounted for....may be to disclose their personal assets prior to and after the election day.
Other than the cow incident of federal level. the potential voters also must be aware of the two incidents happen in two of the states, Kedah and Pahang government.
Kedah
Rebate money or kickback, "consultation fee" or even lobby money is common. if you are in government contract business, you will hear that generally the award was not given to the best tender or the best contractor who can do the work. That is why recently there were so many cases pending in the court on the corruption based on the government contracts, the largest being the Port Klang PKFZ case. This is the issue which has been around for a long time, big or small....
Pas-led state government is currently facing claims that some Pakatan Rakyat representatives in Kedah have sought 30% in “rebate money” from allocations Chinese associations received from the state government.(source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/2/13/nation/10726605&sec=nation). It has been reported that several Chinese association leaders claimed that the Pakatan representatives wanted a share of the allocations because of the role they had played in helping the groups secure them. If it is true, this will seriously affect the creditability of the state government and Pakatan Rakyat , and the chances of their retaining of the state in the coming election.
Pahang
From Pahang, not only Lynas issue, come the news of court award related to timber related transaction. Pahang state was famous for Tengku Wong incident years ago, during Dr M's time, if readers can still remember. Some readers may remember about Rahman Ya'kub's disclosure on timber concession in Sarawak in Ming Court affair in 1987. Logging concession has been one of the main sources of cases of corruption in Malaysia. Timber land and Timber concessions are normally awarded to people with no connection with actual logging business. Except for some small concessions or small timber land, normally it was given to people with connections, either politically or otherwise. Timber land was alienated to individual or companies with low layout. The actual loggers need to pay a large sum of consideration to buy the right of logging from the land owners or concession owners. Without any financial outlays(if you can arrange for someone to pay upfront the land premium and related expenses), the concession owners can easily gain millions of dollars form giving the right to the loggers. The problem is why the timber concessions are not given to the ultimate logging companies, and it must go to the third party to enjoy unproductive gains. This type of the industry(timber industry) is the biggest source of Ali-Baba collaboration. The timber concession is the biggest source of revenue for state government. Dr M had done some positive work in the industry, but not completely erase the malpractice, with some shit still remain. It has been the modus operandi in the states since independence.
A 55-year-old man threatened to burn himself to death if the Pahang government does not pay the RM70 million in damages to his company, as awarded in a court ruling.(source: http://my.news.yahoo.com/man-threatens-to-burn-self-over-rm70m-court-043425461.html). In a May 2007 decision by the Kuantan High Court, Seruan Gemilang Makmur was awarded RM37,127,471.60 in damages with eight per cent interest per annum backdated to December 31, 2000 after it won a breach of contract suit against the Pahang government and the state forestry director.The court ruled that state government and the state Forestry Department were in breach a of logging concession contract concerning the extraction of timber logs from a 10,000-acre plot of Umno-owned land in Mukim Bebar, Pekan district.
Voters, especially in Pahang must read carefully of the news, the case was a private business suit against a state government, for breach a of logging concession contract. The private business Seruan Gemilang Makmur obtained logging concession contract concerning the extraction of timber logs from a 10,000-acre plot of Umno-owned land in Mukim Bebar, Pekan district.
The land was owned by a political party, a ruling political party; and the awarding party is a state government. Unless the political party purchased the timber land in a arm length transaction(with financial consideration), and not obtain directly from the alienation of the state land. Is there any issue of legal complication or good state governance in the related or connected party transaction(from state government to a ruling political party)? let us ponder....if it is a business corporation(state government to ruling party link corporation) it will be in big trouble.... the moral of the story is why political party was involved in timber business? or owned a timber land?.....why compete with the ordinary businessmen for limited source of supplies in timber logging business?....
Lee explained that the company had spent about RM10 million to obtain a logging licence for the 10,000-acre land in 2001. However, at the end of 2002, the mentri besar had decided to stop issuing license to them. We do not know the detail of the case, but the High Court has decided for the damage award. The Court of Appeal, in reversing the Kuantan High Court’s decision, ruled that Seruan Gemilang Makmur had wrongly named the mentri besar as the respondent in the judicial review proceeding in the High Court to demand for the judgment sum from the state government.
State government and ruling political party were the stake holder in the case. From the court judgement, the victim of the case is a private business entity. Forget about the legal, remember about the big issue, why a political party was involve?
Some of the political donation may be from cases similar to the above two cases during coming election. Will it be political implicator for the coming state election?.
Voters, you must follow the cow case and the above cases, these are the icebergs floating in the sea, 8/9 of the actual story was not disclosed....
The big gun has lawyer to help them to escape from the legal barrier, and the transaction will look perfectly legal, but morally wrong in the law of God...
Why must the country allow the malpractice to carry on for so long...which increase our cost of production....unnecessary...with higher cost of production in the country due to corruption, political or commercial, we will not able to compete in the global environment sooner....
We need a clean environment, not only physical environment, but also clean political environment for the future....the non-corruption nation.
Your votes in coming election is very important. Look at the big issues, the election campaign is actually now on the move.....
Further readings:
1. Kedah MB vows to get to the bottom of ‘rebate money’,http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/2/13/nation/10726605&sec=nation
2. Man threatens to burn self over RM70m court award, http://my.news.yahoo.com/man-threatens-to-burn-self-over-rm70m-court-043425461.html
3. Abdul Rahman Ya'kub, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdul_Rahman_Ya%27kub
4. The Ming Court Affair, http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=101101495585
5. SPECIAL REPORT: The Ming Court Affair, Part 1-5, http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/51574
The political talk show, and the political festival events, recently has produced two of the negative feedback. The foul mouth spokesman of opposition has caused him into problem with the pressmen. Being a scholar with PHD holder, he should know what to say and what not to say. he suddenly has overdo it, and offense the reporters. May be the young politician has been away from the country for too long, that he forget the important of reporters in the election campaign. He will surely gain less votes or lost his seat if he go for this coming election, if the relationship with the press is not amended.
The proxy of the ruling party has created the "White Ang Pow" incident. This old politician has been an MP for so many terms. Jumping from Barisan to Pas, and now an independent. He has been attending the Chinese New Year open house of his friends, supporters, and his allies for so many times, and he has never receive a white ang-pow. Either he has lost his past memory, or use the sentiment of Chinese new year as his election campaign to gain publicity for his personal political agenda, or to make news for his linked NGO, the action back fire. He will surely caused his master to loose some important votes, or even some seats...
From the two incidents, the voters must open the eyes to see who are the opportunists, who are the actors in the coming election. They may just only proxies for their master, they may or may not go for the coming election. Let them remain as an actor for their master in the political games, they are not fit to be a representatives of the people in the parliament. Please do not vote them in. There are more actors and opportunists to come, when election date become closer....some are big names.....
It is funny why there are so much monies from the government and political parties moving around, closing to election. There will be cheques sending from businesses and unknown sources into the account of political parties, either for the political campaign fund or some personal gain....this will not be disclose in our own eyes, it will be under the counter, without disclosure. That is why it is important to limit the election campaign expenses for each candidates, to avoid political corruption. The budget and actual expenses should be accounted for....may be to disclose their personal assets prior to and after the election day.
Other than the cow incident of federal level. the potential voters also must be aware of the two incidents happen in two of the states, Kedah and Pahang government.
Kedah
Rebate money or kickback, "consultation fee" or even lobby money is common. if you are in government contract business, you will hear that generally the award was not given to the best tender or the best contractor who can do the work. That is why recently there were so many cases pending in the court on the corruption based on the government contracts, the largest being the Port Klang PKFZ case. This is the issue which has been around for a long time, big or small....
Pas-led state government is currently facing claims that some Pakatan Rakyat representatives in Kedah have sought 30% in “rebate money” from allocations Chinese associations received from the state government.(source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/2/13/nation/10726605&sec=nation). It has been reported that several Chinese association leaders claimed that the Pakatan representatives wanted a share of the allocations because of the role they had played in helping the groups secure them. If it is true, this will seriously affect the creditability of the state government and Pakatan Rakyat , and the chances of their retaining of the state in the coming election.
Pahang
From Pahang, not only Lynas issue, come the news of court award related to timber related transaction. Pahang state was famous for Tengku Wong incident years ago, during Dr M's time, if readers can still remember. Some readers may remember about Rahman Ya'kub's disclosure on timber concession in Sarawak in Ming Court affair in 1987. Logging concession has been one of the main sources of cases of corruption in Malaysia. Timber land and Timber concessions are normally awarded to people with no connection with actual logging business. Except for some small concessions or small timber land, normally it was given to people with connections, either politically or otherwise. Timber land was alienated to individual or companies with low layout. The actual loggers need to pay a large sum of consideration to buy the right of logging from the land owners or concession owners. Without any financial outlays(if you can arrange for someone to pay upfront the land premium and related expenses), the concession owners can easily gain millions of dollars form giving the right to the loggers. The problem is why the timber concessions are not given to the ultimate logging companies, and it must go to the third party to enjoy unproductive gains. This type of the industry(timber industry) is the biggest source of Ali-Baba collaboration. The timber concession is the biggest source of revenue for state government. Dr M had done some positive work in the industry, but not completely erase the malpractice, with some shit still remain. It has been the modus operandi in the states since independence.
A 55-year-old man threatened to burn himself to death if the Pahang government does not pay the RM70 million in damages to his company, as awarded in a court ruling.(source: http://my.news.yahoo.com/man-threatens-to-burn-self-over-rm70m-court-043425461.html). In a May 2007 decision by the Kuantan High Court, Seruan Gemilang Makmur was awarded RM37,127,471.60 in damages with eight per cent interest per annum backdated to December 31, 2000 after it won a breach of contract suit against the Pahang government and the state forestry director.The court ruled that state government and the state Forestry Department were in breach a of logging concession contract concerning the extraction of timber logs from a 10,000-acre plot of Umno-owned land in Mukim Bebar, Pekan district.
Voters, especially in Pahang must read carefully of the news, the case was a private business suit against a state government, for breach a of logging concession contract. The private business Seruan Gemilang Makmur obtained logging concession contract concerning the extraction of timber logs from a 10,000-acre plot of Umno-owned land in Mukim Bebar, Pekan district.
The land was owned by a political party, a ruling political party; and the awarding party is a state government. Unless the political party purchased the timber land in a arm length transaction(with financial consideration), and not obtain directly from the alienation of the state land. Is there any issue of legal complication or good state governance in the related or connected party transaction(from state government to a ruling political party)? let us ponder....if it is a business corporation(state government to ruling party link corporation) it will be in big trouble.... the moral of the story is why political party was involved in timber business? or owned a timber land?.....why compete with the ordinary businessmen for limited source of supplies in timber logging business?....
Lee explained that the company had spent about RM10 million to obtain a logging licence for the 10,000-acre land in 2001. However, at the end of 2002, the mentri besar had decided to stop issuing license to them. We do not know the detail of the case, but the High Court has decided for the damage award. The Court of Appeal, in reversing the Kuantan High Court’s decision, ruled that Seruan Gemilang Makmur had wrongly named the mentri besar as the respondent in the judicial review proceeding in the High Court to demand for the judgment sum from the state government.
State government and ruling political party were the stake holder in the case. From the court judgement, the victim of the case is a private business entity. Forget about the legal, remember about the big issue, why a political party was involve?
Some of the political donation may be from cases similar to the above two cases during coming election. Will it be political implicator for the coming state election?.
Voters, you must follow the cow case and the above cases, these are the icebergs floating in the sea, 8/9 of the actual story was not disclosed....
The big gun has lawyer to help them to escape from the legal barrier, and the transaction will look perfectly legal, but morally wrong in the law of God...
Why must the country allow the malpractice to carry on for so long...which increase our cost of production....unnecessary...with higher cost of production in the country due to corruption, political or commercial, we will not able to compete in the global environment sooner....
We need a clean environment, not only physical environment, but also clean political environment for the future....the non-corruption nation.
Your votes in coming election is very important. Look at the big issues, the election campaign is actually now on the move.....
Further readings:
1. Kedah MB vows to get to the bottom of ‘rebate money’,http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/2/13/nation/10726605&sec=nation
2. Man threatens to burn self over RM70m court award, http://my.news.yahoo.com/man-threatens-to-burn-self-over-rm70m-court-043425461.html
3. Abdul Rahman Ya'kub, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdul_Rahman_Ya%27kub
4. The Ming Court Affair, http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=101101495585
5. SPECIAL REPORT: The Ming Court Affair, Part 1-5, http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/51574
Thursday, February 9, 2012
We cannot see the wrongs in cow issue
If I was given a grant or banking facilities to built low cost housing, and I found that cow breeding is more lucrative, and I used the fund to buy cows.
Am I wrong?
Will the bank withdraw my credit line?
Have I comply with the terms and conditions of the grants?
how about the legal implication of my contravention of the objective clause of the company?
How the facilities was granted? is that any undue influence for granting of the facilities? Did the company has experience in low cost housing development? Is that any wrong in granting facilities to company without the core business experience? Is there any non arm length transaction or related parties transaction?
If the cows are all under the names of my father, my mother, my wife and my relatives, not the company's names. What will happen? Will the bank tell me that your are sucking out the company's fund.....for business purpose or for your private family members....
What is the conflict of interest?
What is related party transaction? is it a form of political or commercial corruption?
If all the cows died, who is responsible for the wrong investment? if the cows are all sold for large profit, who will gain from the extra ordinary profits?
Have the investment in cow breeding properly authorized? Have they obtain the consent of the grant giver for investing not for the purpose of the grant?
Is all the extraordinary gains full disclosed and channeled back to the company?
Is the investment speculative risky?
If it is not banking fund, but government monies, people monies....is it wrong to go against the purpose of the ultimate grant?.....if it is not your money,you are only a trustee for the government, can you use all the monies at your fancy?...
We may say all is right, all is legal, all is Ok; but is it really OK?
Where is responsible accounting and accountability?
Is the investment and expenses reported fair and reasonable for the core business?
Why when the country need urgently fund for domestic investment , the government fund was channeling out to other country?
Can you still trust them to continue with the money?
If the nation cannot understand the basic and fundamental of the issues... what happen to our society?
Is it stil OK?.....
Penang lang, you understand the cow issue?....it is more serious than the latest Chicken or KFC(kick, fight, the customer)issue....
Am I wrong?
Will the bank withdraw my credit line?
Have I comply with the terms and conditions of the grants?
how about the legal implication of my contravention of the objective clause of the company?
How the facilities was granted? is that any undue influence for granting of the facilities? Did the company has experience in low cost housing development? Is that any wrong in granting facilities to company without the core business experience? Is there any non arm length transaction or related parties transaction?
If the cows are all under the names of my father, my mother, my wife and my relatives, not the company's names. What will happen? Will the bank tell me that your are sucking out the company's fund.....for business purpose or for your private family members....
What is the conflict of interest?
What is related party transaction? is it a form of political or commercial corruption?
If all the cows died, who is responsible for the wrong investment? if the cows are all sold for large profit, who will gain from the extra ordinary profits?
Have the investment in cow breeding properly authorized? Have they obtain the consent of the grant giver for investing not for the purpose of the grant?
Is all the extraordinary gains full disclosed and channeled back to the company?
Is the investment speculative risky?
If it is not banking fund, but government monies, people monies....is it wrong to go against the purpose of the ultimate grant?.....if it is not your money,you are only a trustee for the government, can you use all the monies at your fancy?...
We may say all is right, all is legal, all is Ok; but is it really OK?
Where is responsible accounting and accountability?
Is the investment and expenses reported fair and reasonable for the core business?
Why when the country need urgently fund for domestic investment , the government fund was channeling out to other country?
Can you still trust them to continue with the money?
If the nation cannot understand the basic and fundamental of the issues... what happen to our society?
Is it stil OK?.....
Penang lang, you understand the cow issue?....it is more serious than the latest Chicken or KFC(kick, fight, the customer)issue....
Monday, February 6, 2012
Preserve Our Heritage" - Jalan Sultan
The Land and Mines Department has given Jalan Sultan landowners a final date of 30th January, 2012 to negotiate with MRT Corp, before it invokes the 1960 Land Acquisition Act to acquire land and property for the purpose of constructing the RM40 Billion Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) which runs underground along Jalan Sultan.
What can you learn from the issue of Jalan Sultan? Will the incident one day happen to Penang?.....
Jalan Sultan is heritage to Malaysia, like Jalan Petaling, it has been going through the time with the development of Kuala Lumpur.
Penang lang , what is your feeling?......
What can you learn from the issue of Jalan Sultan? Will the incident one day happen to Penang?.....
Jalan Sultan is heritage to Malaysia, like Jalan Petaling, it has been going through the time with the development of Kuala Lumpur.
Penang lang , what is your feeling?......
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Stop Moral Education subject in school
Is it necessary to have Moral Education as compulsory subject for public examination?
In Malaysia, Pendidikan Moral (Malay for "Moral Studies") is one of the core subjects in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination. It is a required subject for all non-Muslim students in the public education system in Malaysia. Muslim students are required to take the Islamic Studies (Malay: Pendidikan Islam) course.
When I was in the secondary school, moral education was not a compulsory examination subject for public examination. There were no religion studies for me in school , but I was a scout in school, which was my source of moral education. After my form 5, I did 3 months volunteer service in School for Mentally Retarded Children as volunteer teacher. I have no time for other undesired activities. That was in the 60s.
The Malaysian education system makes Moral Studies compulsory for non-Muslim students at secondary and primary schools. Muslim students instead partake in Islamic Studies lessons. Both subjects figure among the seven compulsory subjects undertaken by students for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia. There has been considerable debate about the usefulness of the "Moral" subject, primarily due to the strict exam-oriented marking-schemes.
Moral Education or Pendidikan Moral
Pendidikan Moral, along with Islamic Studies, is governed by the Department of Islamic and Moral Studies (JAPIM), a branch under the Ministry of Higher Education.
The core of the syllabus is the 36 moral values (called "nilai" in Malay). These values include "Kepercayaan kepada Tuhan" (creed), "Bertanggungjawab" (responsibility) and "Sikap Keterbukaan" (open-mindedness) among others. The 36 values are divided categorized into 7 major fields of study (called "bidang" in Malay), namely:
• Perkembangan Diri (self-development)
• Kekeluargaan (family)
• Alam Sekitar (nature)
• Patriotisme (patriotism)
• Hak Asasi Manusia (human rights)
• Demokrasi (democracy)
• Keamanan dan Keharmonian (peace and harmony).
These values are presented in detail in textbooks and form the basis of corresponding examinations. Each value is defined by the Education Ministry. Answering examination questions requires some interpretation of these definitions.
Pendidikan Moral is often learned by rote. Teachers in schools tend to concentrate on answering techniques rather than the teaching material provided in the textbook. Instead of interpreting the appropriate value based on the information given, students are taught to look for specific keywords in the description and identify the corresponding moral value. Thus, strict memorization of the values is required without any emphasis on understanding or application. There have been suggestions to reform the system and incorporate other forms of assessment and not rely completely on written examinations but thus far, they have not been implemented.
(source: Wikipedia)
Then, what is the point of study moral education in school? Unfortunately, the subject only evaluates the cognitive dimension of Moral Education or what is called Moral Knowledge by strictly memory work. Can passing of the subject by memory make the student actually understand the moral values?....it is actually wasting the students' time.
Religious Studies
“On Bible Knowledge as an examination subject for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Tan Sri Koh said the subject would be taught in schools after hours on request by parents. "If no suitable teacher is available at the school concerned, then a pastor or priest from a nearby church could be recruited to conduct classes." (http://www.nst.com.my/top-news/solutions-to-christian-concerns-1.28080)
Bible knowledge classes in schools should be a normal class in normal hours of the school. Why the class should be held after school hours. When Muslim students are having their Ugama class, the other students can have their classes on their respective religion. Buddhist student can have their Buddhism class, Hindu student can have their Hindu religion class, and Christian students have their Bible Knowledge class at the same time.
Religion studies are much better than Moral Studies, which is a exam oriented class. Religious Education is the term given to education concerned with religion. It may refer to education provided by a church or religious organization, for instruction in doctrine and faith, or for education in various aspects of religion, but without explicitly religious or moral aims, e.g. in a school or college. The term often overlaps with Religious studies. Religious studies is the academic field of multi-disciplinary, secular study of religious beliefs, behaviors, and institutions. It describes, compares, interprets, and explains religion, emphasizing systematic, historically based, and cross-cultural perspectives. The school need Religious studies not religion studies. The only risk factor is, the education department should ensure that no teachers with religion extremist background should be allowed teaching the subject. I still remember the Malaysian studies subject in public university was abused by some religion fanatic lecturer to propagate their belief to students, even students from different religion background. The students were undergoing mental torture for 3-4 years just to pass the examination. I hope this will not happen to students taking Religious studies in secondary schools.
If the students have studied religion studies, there is not necessary for them to take moral education, just like the Muslim students who take Islamic Studies.For students that do not belong to any religion group, with the parent’s consent, he can attend any of the religion class or opted for class like comparative religions, or a liberal art subjects or foreign language subjects.
Another form of National Service- replacement for moral education
National service of Moral education for school students , can be then make compulsory practical engagement on social services or voluntary services in charitable organization, hospital, fire station, orphanage, old folk homes, and even police, town council, military. There is no point to have national services, when not all are called to the service, and many resources need to channel to the national project.
The school army cadets, police cadets, and fire brigade cadets, Red Cross, St John Ambulance, can continued their engagement after leaving schools at the respective uniform units. The others like scouts and boys brigade have their national organization to launch a national program for school leavers to engage them in voluntarism. May be, suggested that students should make joining one uniform unit as compulsory school activity.
Other non-uniform school leavers can engaged themselves in environment conscious projects, or attached to hospitals, local councils, and other charitable organization, orphanage, old folks homes, school for blinds and deaf etc. The students should be allowed 3 months service, duly documented and a certification given as one of the compulsory criteria for local education and employment. This can apply to oversea education, when certification is required for applying of student visa to oversea.
That is alternative form of National Service....
There is no necessary to have a compulsory subject on Moral Education, when the purpose is just to memorize to score A for SPM Examination. A student who scored A in Moral Education may not guaranteed that he will be a morally right student. What is the purpose to have Moral Education subject compulsory for public examination, which is not useful for his or her academic education in tertiary level?
Religion education and full engagement in social services or uniform units, will be sufficient for them to develop into a responsible young citizen of the nation, all 36 moral values required by Moral Education syllabus are well covered .
Please stop Moral Education in school.
Further readings/ References:
1. ASSESSMENT IN MORAL EDUCATION AT THE SECONDARY SCHOOL LEVEL: THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL PERSPECTIVES, by Wan Hasmah Wan Mamat, http://myais.fsktm.um.edu.my/5116/1/10.pdf
2. Government To Implement Several Measures To Address Concerns, BERNAMA,- http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v6/newsindex.php?id=637994
In Malaysia, Pendidikan Moral (Malay for "Moral Studies") is one of the core subjects in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination. It is a required subject for all non-Muslim students in the public education system in Malaysia. Muslim students are required to take the Islamic Studies (Malay: Pendidikan Islam) course.
When I was in the secondary school, moral education was not a compulsory examination subject for public examination. There were no religion studies for me in school , but I was a scout in school, which was my source of moral education. After my form 5, I did 3 months volunteer service in School for Mentally Retarded Children as volunteer teacher. I have no time for other undesired activities. That was in the 60s.
The Malaysian education system makes Moral Studies compulsory for non-Muslim students at secondary and primary schools. Muslim students instead partake in Islamic Studies lessons. Both subjects figure among the seven compulsory subjects undertaken by students for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia. There has been considerable debate about the usefulness of the "Moral" subject, primarily due to the strict exam-oriented marking-schemes.
Moral Education or Pendidikan Moral
Pendidikan Moral, along with Islamic Studies, is governed by the Department of Islamic and Moral Studies (JAPIM), a branch under the Ministry of Higher Education.
The core of the syllabus is the 36 moral values (called "nilai" in Malay). These values include "Kepercayaan kepada Tuhan" (creed), "Bertanggungjawab" (responsibility) and "Sikap Keterbukaan" (open-mindedness) among others. The 36 values are divided categorized into 7 major fields of study (called "bidang" in Malay), namely:
• Perkembangan Diri (self-development)
• Kekeluargaan (family)
• Alam Sekitar (nature)
• Patriotisme (patriotism)
• Hak Asasi Manusia (human rights)
• Demokrasi (democracy)
• Keamanan dan Keharmonian (peace and harmony).
These values are presented in detail in textbooks and form the basis of corresponding examinations. Each value is defined by the Education Ministry. Answering examination questions requires some interpretation of these definitions.
Pendidikan Moral is often learned by rote. Teachers in schools tend to concentrate on answering techniques rather than the teaching material provided in the textbook. Instead of interpreting the appropriate value based on the information given, students are taught to look for specific keywords in the description and identify the corresponding moral value. Thus, strict memorization of the values is required without any emphasis on understanding or application. There have been suggestions to reform the system and incorporate other forms of assessment and not rely completely on written examinations but thus far, they have not been implemented.
(source: Wikipedia)
Then, what is the point of study moral education in school? Unfortunately, the subject only evaluates the cognitive dimension of Moral Education or what is called Moral Knowledge by strictly memory work. Can passing of the subject by memory make the student actually understand the moral values?....it is actually wasting the students' time.
Religious Studies
“On Bible Knowledge as an examination subject for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Tan Sri Koh said the subject would be taught in schools after hours on request by parents. "If no suitable teacher is available at the school concerned, then a pastor or priest from a nearby church could be recruited to conduct classes." (http://www.nst.com.my/top-news/solutions-to-christian-concerns-1.28080)
Bible knowledge classes in schools should be a normal class in normal hours of the school. Why the class should be held after school hours. When Muslim students are having their Ugama class, the other students can have their classes on their respective religion. Buddhist student can have their Buddhism class, Hindu student can have their Hindu religion class, and Christian students have their Bible Knowledge class at the same time.
Religion studies are much better than Moral Studies, which is a exam oriented class. Religious Education is the term given to education concerned with religion. It may refer to education provided by a church or religious organization, for instruction in doctrine and faith, or for education in various aspects of religion, but without explicitly religious or moral aims, e.g. in a school or college. The term often overlaps with Religious studies. Religious studies is the academic field of multi-disciplinary, secular study of religious beliefs, behaviors, and institutions. It describes, compares, interprets, and explains religion, emphasizing systematic, historically based, and cross-cultural perspectives. The school need Religious studies not religion studies. The only risk factor is, the education department should ensure that no teachers with religion extremist background should be allowed teaching the subject. I still remember the Malaysian studies subject in public university was abused by some religion fanatic lecturer to propagate their belief to students, even students from different religion background. The students were undergoing mental torture for 3-4 years just to pass the examination. I hope this will not happen to students taking Religious studies in secondary schools.
If the students have studied religion studies, there is not necessary for them to take moral education, just like the Muslim students who take Islamic Studies.For students that do not belong to any religion group, with the parent’s consent, he can attend any of the religion class or opted for class like comparative religions, or a liberal art subjects or foreign language subjects.
Another form of National Service- replacement for moral education
National service of Moral education for school students , can be then make compulsory practical engagement on social services or voluntary services in charitable organization, hospital, fire station, orphanage, old folk homes, and even police, town council, military. There is no point to have national services, when not all are called to the service, and many resources need to channel to the national project.
The school army cadets, police cadets, and fire brigade cadets, Red Cross, St John Ambulance, can continued their engagement after leaving schools at the respective uniform units. The others like scouts and boys brigade have their national organization to launch a national program for school leavers to engage them in voluntarism. May be, suggested that students should make joining one uniform unit as compulsory school activity.
Other non-uniform school leavers can engaged themselves in environment conscious projects, or attached to hospitals, local councils, and other charitable organization, orphanage, old folks homes, school for blinds and deaf etc. The students should be allowed 3 months service, duly documented and a certification given as one of the compulsory criteria for local education and employment. This can apply to oversea education, when certification is required for applying of student visa to oversea.
That is alternative form of National Service....
There is no necessary to have a compulsory subject on Moral Education, when the purpose is just to memorize to score A for SPM Examination. A student who scored A in Moral Education may not guaranteed that he will be a morally right student. What is the purpose to have Moral Education subject compulsory for public examination, which is not useful for his or her academic education in tertiary level?
Religion education and full engagement in social services or uniform units, will be sufficient for them to develop into a responsible young citizen of the nation, all 36 moral values required by Moral Education syllabus are well covered .
Please stop Moral Education in school.
Further readings/ References:
1. ASSESSMENT IN MORAL EDUCATION AT THE SECONDARY SCHOOL LEVEL: THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL PERSPECTIVES, by Wan Hasmah Wan Mamat, http://myais.fsktm.um.edu.my/5116/1/10.pdf
2. Government To Implement Several Measures To Address Concerns, BERNAMA,- http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v6/newsindex.php?id=637994
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Are we historically blind?
History (from Greek ἱστορία - historia, meaning "inquiry, knowledge acquired by investigation") is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Amongst scholars, the fifth century BC Greek historian Herodotus is considered to be the "father of history", and, along with his contemporary Thucydides, forms the foundations for the modern study of history.
Historians write in the context of their own time, and with due regard to the current dominant ideas of how to interpret the past, and sometimes write to provide lessons for their own society. In the words of Benedetto Croce, "All history is contemporary history". History is facilitated by the formation of a 'true discourse of past' through the production of narrative and analysis of past events relating to the human race. The modern discipline of history is dedicated to the institutional production of this discourse.
All events that are remembered and preserved in some authentic form constitute the historical record. The task of historical discourse is to identify the sources which can most usefully contribute to the production of accurate accounts of past. Therefore, the constitution of the historian's archive is a result of circumscribing a more general archive by invalidating the usage of certain texts and documents (by falsifying their claims to represent the 'true past').
(source: Wikipedia)
History & Geography
When I was in primary school, History and Geography was a favorite subjects, just because I have two great teachers, who did not follow strictly the textbooks. The two teachers I admired and benefited much were a good teachers who instill the desire of students to explore more on the respective fields. From the primary school textbooks, I moved to the books shops in the Carnarvon Street, standing and reading on all books I can found on History and Geography. I read world history, I read world Geography. Malaya history and geography was too small for me, I acquired the global perspective of the subjects.
Even after my primary schools, Geography and History was my strong subjects in lower secondary; but I have to leave history in my upper secondary since I was a pure science student. I scored a A1 in Geography, considered a difficult subject for science student. I have teachers who do not use school textbooks, who will draw a world map, and tell us the location of the country, and then start to tell the story of the country(history and geography), his experience during his visit to the country...this created interest among the students towards the history of the country. When I read Geography, it was habit of reading with history of the country, to know the country better, lesson from my teachers. This habit later helped me in my adult life where I am more global and not narrow minded, it also helped me during my back packing days to other countries.
Developing countries normally have less emphasis on liberal art subjects. In my secondary school days, the educationalists deprived me on my favorite history subject. Today, history is compulsory, but they deprived the students from Geography subjects. History and Geography need to come together.
School History Textbook
Looking at my daughter’s history book, I really feel sad. The history book was very biased towards specific history for secondary students. The school textbooks focused largely on specific national history, and specific religion history. There are many factual errors and historical errors, some deliberately concealed for some hidden agenda. Study history for the current students is just remembering one book, as their teacher told them to do so. Study history is just to pass examination. Many of them knew the history recorded in their history textbook are totally with biased views, and considered it unimportant. They are able to gain more history knowledge from the internet. This created a disrespect attitude toward history subject, just like Moral Education, useless and time wastage for the students. Overzealous textbook authors toward nationalism, had killed the enthusiastic of the students on the history subject.
I asked the students, and they do not know Dr Sun Yat-sen, Abraham Lincoln, Adolf Hitler, Xiang Yu or Liu Bang(Han Dynasty), Martin Luther King, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Winston Churchil....and many historical figures. Making thing worst, Dr Sun Yat-sen and Jawaharlal Nehru had been to Malaya, and yet we did not make use of the story to teach world history.Some politician was so narrow minded that they said this is history of foreigners, why should we know them?. Sooner, our students forgot Malaysian history figures, Yap Ah Loy, Parameswara,Sir Henry Gurney, Lt-Gen Sir Gerald Templer, Dato Onn bin Jaafar, Tun Tan Cheng Lock..... who to blame?...
We produced students who dislike history subject. This history- phobia students matured into adults with historically blind mindset. They are misled by phobia and pseudo history. If they are politician , they will become narrow minded politician who will lead us to more extremism.
In School, we no longer learn actual history; we learn the official history as told by the political party who governed the nation. History was written by the teachers or historian who are not independent, but employed with the government, writing history to please the ruling party. Their views on issues are always biased, either tainted with personal, racial or religion bias. They do not see the alternative views or alternative history. You cannot ignore the past history of the colonization, Japanese occupation, CPM, Socialist Front, DAP, PAS, other opposition and reformation movement, and their contribution to our nation. You cannot only reported the good historical events, and forget the war, revolution, riots, strikes, demonstration, disasters(the ugly historical events). These are all historical events. The students only see the history wrote by the rulers, they did not see the actual history happen in the grassroots and community. They see the history of the upper class, and reject the history of lower poor’s. They see the history of the winners, did not see the history of the losers. They see the form of the history, not substance behind the history. They see the surface and not the historical cause of the event. They do not see the diversity but focus only on their biased personal views.
This will make the students limited their knowledge of history restricted to memory for examination. There will not be any critical thinking of the students on the cause of the past historical events and their consequences to the current and the future. They will be satisfied knowing only their own history and not knowing the history of other countries, other civilization, other religion, and other individuals. A mass generation of narrow minded and historically blinded people will be cultivated by our education system, listening to the history concept of their teachers, the history of the ruling political party. Their history will be limited to their examinations, knowing only history that their teachers want to hear, the education system want to hear....
After 54 years of independence, do the nation has the confidence that our people are able to stand at par with any others in global platform; having an open mind to determine their destination, and to be a responsible global citizen? The teaching of history in schools will tell us the future of this generation.....
Historically blind
Basically, is the nation historically blind? Looking at the many politician's views on national history, and their request to amend the history again, revealed some weaknesses in our history despite 54 years after independence. The nation is still not open, still closed to diversity, alternatives, and differences....
We do not need to be historian to know history; but need to aware of the traps of the history;
1.Pseudohistory - is a term applied to texts which purport to be historical in nature but which depart from standard historiographical conventions in a way which undermines their conclusions. Works which draw controversial conclusions from new, speculative, or disputed historical evidence, particularly in the fields of national, political, military, and religious affairs, are often rejected as pseudo history.
2.History censorship - In many countries history textbooks have been censored to put the national story in a more favorable light. For example, in Japan, mention of the Nanking Massacre has been removed from textbooks and the entire World War II is given cursory treatment. Other countries have complained. It was standard policy in communist countries to present only a rigid Marxist historiography. In the United States the history of the American Civil War was phrased to avoid giving offense to white Southerners and blacks.
3.Politicization - Politicization of history is very common in communist countries and one party ruled country. The ruling power write history or conceal history according to their political motives and agenda. Academic historians have often fought against the politicization of the textbooks, sometimes with success.
4.Historical revisionism - is either the legitimate scholastic re-examination of existing knowledge about a historical event, or the illegitimate distortion of the historical record such that certain events appear in a more or less favorable light. For the former, i.e. the academic pursuit, see historical revisionism. This article deals solely with the latter, the distortion of history, which—if it constitutes the denial of historical crimes—is also sometimes (but not commonly) called negationism. The post-war minimization of the war crimes of Japanese imperialism is an example of illegitimate historical revisionism.
5. Suppression of different views - either by using legal law to restrict or prohibit the alternative history views, some may face imprisonment or death for holding the alternative historical views, especially against the militarism or the one party ruled government. This is against the freedom of expression advocated by the United Nation Human Right.
6. Biased History - History written based on biased prejudice , either personal biased, political biased, religion biased, racial biased, etc, which distorted the actual history or concealed the actual history.
As a commoner, we need to be wise to know the difference between actual and pseudo history. Let the official history telling their glorious days, we know how the national history was formed not by a single person, by a single political party, by single event, it was the interaction of multiple forces, from individuals to communities, from societies to nations, from nations to global. No person can make history alone.....not even his own history.
Unless he is blind towards history....
National History is by the people, for the people....
History is the story of the past, we can created history for the future, but we cannot created history for the past, the actual events had happened, the history of the past needed historian to explore and rediscover the truth, good or ugly, it was our history, you like it or dislike, it is still the truth, our history.
“ I do not believe that history repeats itself in exactly the same form, but it is not a fact that the old questions are always coming up again in a new form? As the years passed on after the war, the bitter lesson of war are forgotten, and such thing as peace and freedom , the authority of learning or the truth , are opt to be lost.In universities and among scholars there is tendency to lose the strength and the spirit to remain loyal to the truth, and not to fawn upon or yield to the power of the world, which I believed should be avoid at all cost…..by Dr Yanaihara Tadao
(source: The Way I have walked(Watakushi no Ayundekita Michi) , 1958)
Historians write in the context of their own time, and with due regard to the current dominant ideas of how to interpret the past, and sometimes write to provide lessons for their own society. In the words of Benedetto Croce, "All history is contemporary history". History is facilitated by the formation of a 'true discourse of past' through the production of narrative and analysis of past events relating to the human race. The modern discipline of history is dedicated to the institutional production of this discourse.
All events that are remembered and preserved in some authentic form constitute the historical record. The task of historical discourse is to identify the sources which can most usefully contribute to the production of accurate accounts of past. Therefore, the constitution of the historian's archive is a result of circumscribing a more general archive by invalidating the usage of certain texts and documents (by falsifying their claims to represent the 'true past').
(source: Wikipedia)
History & Geography
When I was in primary school, History and Geography was a favorite subjects, just because I have two great teachers, who did not follow strictly the textbooks. The two teachers I admired and benefited much were a good teachers who instill the desire of students to explore more on the respective fields. From the primary school textbooks, I moved to the books shops in the Carnarvon Street, standing and reading on all books I can found on History and Geography. I read world history, I read world Geography. Malaya history and geography was too small for me, I acquired the global perspective of the subjects.
Even after my primary schools, Geography and History was my strong subjects in lower secondary; but I have to leave history in my upper secondary since I was a pure science student. I scored a A1 in Geography, considered a difficult subject for science student. I have teachers who do not use school textbooks, who will draw a world map, and tell us the location of the country, and then start to tell the story of the country(history and geography), his experience during his visit to the country...this created interest among the students towards the history of the country. When I read Geography, it was habit of reading with history of the country, to know the country better, lesson from my teachers. This habit later helped me in my adult life where I am more global and not narrow minded, it also helped me during my back packing days to other countries.
Developing countries normally have less emphasis on liberal art subjects. In my secondary school days, the educationalists deprived me on my favorite history subject. Today, history is compulsory, but they deprived the students from Geography subjects. History and Geography need to come together.
School History Textbook
Looking at my daughter’s history book, I really feel sad. The history book was very biased towards specific history for secondary students. The school textbooks focused largely on specific national history, and specific religion history. There are many factual errors and historical errors, some deliberately concealed for some hidden agenda. Study history for the current students is just remembering one book, as their teacher told them to do so. Study history is just to pass examination. Many of them knew the history recorded in their history textbook are totally with biased views, and considered it unimportant. They are able to gain more history knowledge from the internet. This created a disrespect attitude toward history subject, just like Moral Education, useless and time wastage for the students. Overzealous textbook authors toward nationalism, had killed the enthusiastic of the students on the history subject.
I asked the students, and they do not know Dr Sun Yat-sen, Abraham Lincoln, Adolf Hitler, Xiang Yu or Liu Bang(Han Dynasty), Martin Luther King, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Winston Churchil....and many historical figures. Making thing worst, Dr Sun Yat-sen and Jawaharlal Nehru had been to Malaya, and yet we did not make use of the story to teach world history.Some politician was so narrow minded that they said this is history of foreigners, why should we know them?. Sooner, our students forgot Malaysian history figures, Yap Ah Loy, Parameswara,Sir Henry Gurney, Lt-Gen Sir Gerald Templer, Dato Onn bin Jaafar, Tun Tan Cheng Lock..... who to blame?...
We produced students who dislike history subject. This history- phobia students matured into adults with historically blind mindset. They are misled by phobia and pseudo history. If they are politician , they will become narrow minded politician who will lead us to more extremism.
In School, we no longer learn actual history; we learn the official history as told by the political party who governed the nation. History was written by the teachers or historian who are not independent, but employed with the government, writing history to please the ruling party. Their views on issues are always biased, either tainted with personal, racial or religion bias. They do not see the alternative views or alternative history. You cannot ignore the past history of the colonization, Japanese occupation, CPM, Socialist Front, DAP, PAS, other opposition and reformation movement, and their contribution to our nation. You cannot only reported the good historical events, and forget the war, revolution, riots, strikes, demonstration, disasters(the ugly historical events). These are all historical events. The students only see the history wrote by the rulers, they did not see the actual history happen in the grassroots and community. They see the history of the upper class, and reject the history of lower poor’s. They see the history of the winners, did not see the history of the losers. They see the form of the history, not substance behind the history. They see the surface and not the historical cause of the event. They do not see the diversity but focus only on their biased personal views.
This will make the students limited their knowledge of history restricted to memory for examination. There will not be any critical thinking of the students on the cause of the past historical events and their consequences to the current and the future. They will be satisfied knowing only their own history and not knowing the history of other countries, other civilization, other religion, and other individuals. A mass generation of narrow minded and historically blinded people will be cultivated by our education system, listening to the history concept of their teachers, the history of the ruling political party. Their history will be limited to their examinations, knowing only history that their teachers want to hear, the education system want to hear....
After 54 years of independence, do the nation has the confidence that our people are able to stand at par with any others in global platform; having an open mind to determine their destination, and to be a responsible global citizen? The teaching of history in schools will tell us the future of this generation.....
Historically blind
Basically, is the nation historically blind? Looking at the many politician's views on national history, and their request to amend the history again, revealed some weaknesses in our history despite 54 years after independence. The nation is still not open, still closed to diversity, alternatives, and differences....
We do not need to be historian to know history; but need to aware of the traps of the history;
1.Pseudohistory - is a term applied to texts which purport to be historical in nature but which depart from standard historiographical conventions in a way which undermines their conclusions. Works which draw controversial conclusions from new, speculative, or disputed historical evidence, particularly in the fields of national, political, military, and religious affairs, are often rejected as pseudo history.
2.History censorship - In many countries history textbooks have been censored to put the national story in a more favorable light. For example, in Japan, mention of the Nanking Massacre has been removed from textbooks and the entire World War II is given cursory treatment. Other countries have complained. It was standard policy in communist countries to present only a rigid Marxist historiography. In the United States the history of the American Civil War was phrased to avoid giving offense to white Southerners and blacks.
3.Politicization - Politicization of history is very common in communist countries and one party ruled country. The ruling power write history or conceal history according to their political motives and agenda. Academic historians have often fought against the politicization of the textbooks, sometimes with success.
4.Historical revisionism - is either the legitimate scholastic re-examination of existing knowledge about a historical event, or the illegitimate distortion of the historical record such that certain events appear in a more or less favorable light. For the former, i.e. the academic pursuit, see historical revisionism. This article deals solely with the latter, the distortion of history, which—if it constitutes the denial of historical crimes—is also sometimes (but not commonly) called negationism. The post-war minimization of the war crimes of Japanese imperialism is an example of illegitimate historical revisionism.
5. Suppression of different views - either by using legal law to restrict or prohibit the alternative history views, some may face imprisonment or death for holding the alternative historical views, especially against the militarism or the one party ruled government. This is against the freedom of expression advocated by the United Nation Human Right.
6. Biased History - History written based on biased prejudice , either personal biased, political biased, religion biased, racial biased, etc, which distorted the actual history or concealed the actual history.
As a commoner, we need to be wise to know the difference between actual and pseudo history. Let the official history telling their glorious days, we know how the national history was formed not by a single person, by a single political party, by single event, it was the interaction of multiple forces, from individuals to communities, from societies to nations, from nations to global. No person can make history alone.....not even his own history.
Unless he is blind towards history....
National History is by the people, for the people....
History is the story of the past, we can created history for the future, but we cannot created history for the past, the actual events had happened, the history of the past needed historian to explore and rediscover the truth, good or ugly, it was our history, you like it or dislike, it is still the truth, our history.
“ I do not believe that history repeats itself in exactly the same form, but it is not a fact that the old questions are always coming up again in a new form? As the years passed on after the war, the bitter lesson of war are forgotten, and such thing as peace and freedom , the authority of learning or the truth , are opt to be lost.In universities and among scholars there is tendency to lose the strength and the spirit to remain loyal to the truth, and not to fawn upon or yield to the power of the world, which I believed should be avoid at all cost…..by Dr Yanaihara Tadao
(source: The Way I have walked(Watakushi no Ayundekita Michi) , 1958)
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Who is our national hero?
Who is national hero?
Hero
Coined in English 1387, the word hero comes from the Greek "ἥρως" (heros), "hero, warrior", literally "protector" or "defender" the postulated original forms of these words being *ἥρϝως, hērwōs, and *ἭρFα, Hērwā, respectively. It is also thought to be a cognate of the Latin verb servo (original meaning: to preserve whole) and of the Avestan verb haurvaiti (to keep vigil over), although the original Proto-Indoeuropean root is unclear.
According to the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, the Indo-European root is *ser meaning "to protect". According to Eric Partridge in Origins, the Greek word Hērōs "is akin to" the Latin seruāre, meaning to safeguard. Partridge concludes, "The basic sense of both Hera and hero would therefore be 'protector'."
Nation
A nation may refer to a community of people who share a common language, culture, ethnicity, descent, and/or history. In this definition, a nation has no physical borders. However, it can also refer to people who share a common territory and government (for example the inhabitants of a sovereign state) irrespective of their ethnic make-up. In international relations, nation can refer to a country or sovereign state. The United Nations, for instance, speaks of how it was founded after the Second World War by “51 countries” and currently has 193 member states. Malaysia is a nation only after 1957, now 54 years old……
National Hero
From the definition of “Hero” and “Nation”, the national hero is defined as the hero of a nation. If the hero is fighting for independence under colonial rule, can it be national hero? If yes, Hero for which country, as a new nation is not formed yet. The hero rightfully is only a freedom fighter, an independence fighter, or if you want to call him hero, he is an independence hero. To a student during the initial period after independence, the school history book told us Hang Tuah was our national hero. Even today the emphasis was no longer on him as national hero, I was wondering he was hero for which nation? Hero for Malacca sultanate, formed by a prince from Sri Vijaya, Sumatra, or just merely a folk hero…..
Can Lt Adnan bin Saidi, (1915 - 14 February 1942) be our national hero? He was a British Malayan soldier of the 1st Infantry Brigade which fought the Japanese in the Battle of Singapore. He is regarded by Malaysians and Singaporeans today as a hero for his actions on Bukit Chandu in Singapore. Can he be a national hero when it happened during WW2, before independence? He is fighting under colonial British Army. We cannot deny his heroic act, but is he a British hero, or Singapore hero, or Malayan/Malaysian hero? Technically he was a historical hero, not national hero, as Malaysia as a nation is not formed yet. He died fighting in Singapore(now not part of Malaysia). However he was Minangkabau, born at Sungai Ramal near Kajang, Selangor, now Malaysia, he died at Singapore, historically part of Malaya.
I do not mind Lt Adnan is our national hero, as he deserved to be a hero, he is worthy, despite he was fighting for British colonial government, he was fighting to protect his homeland, Malaya.
Similarly Lim Bo Seng (27 April 1909 - 29 June 1944), a World War II anti-Japanese resistance fighter from Sino-British guerrilla task force ,Force 136 should also be a national hero. Lim was captured by the Japanese under Marshal Ōnishi Satoru (大西覚) at a roadblock in Gopeng the next day. Lim was taken to the Kempeitai headquarters for interrogation and he refused to provide the Japanese with any information about Force 136 despite being subjected to severe torture. Instead, he protested against the ill-treatment of his comrades in prison. He fell ill with dysentery and was bedridden by the end of May 1944. Lim died in the early hours on June 29, 1944. He was later buried behind the Batu Gajah prison compound in an unmarked spot. After the Japanese surrender, Lim's wife, Gan Choo Neo, was informed of her husband's death by the priest of St. Andrew's School. Gan travelled with her eldest son to bring her husband's remains to Singapore. Lim's remains was transported in a coffin to a hill in MacRitchie Reservoir for burial with full military honours. He was a Singaporean, at that time part of Malaya, died at Batu Gajah, Malaya, now Malaysia, under Operation Zipper fighting to re-capture his homeland.
Other members of Force 136, General H.H. Tan Sri Tunku Osman Khalil Shah bin Tunku Muhammad Jiwa [Osman Jiwa],the Malay group that fought under F136 was called Tigers of Malaya of Force 136 (Harimau Malaya Force 136), included Tengku Mahmood Mahyiddeen( former student of Penang Free School,son of last Sultan of Pattani, Tengku Abdul Kadir Kamaruddeen),General (Rtd) Tun Ibrahim bin Ismail, KBE (1922–2010), who retired as a full general and chief of the Malaysian armed forces in the 1970s; Captain Tun Hussein Onn, Malaysia's 3rd Prime Minister, and many more...
Alliance of Force 136 was MPAJA or Malayan Peoples' Anti-Japanese Army, formed in 1942. On December 8, 1941, the Japanese Empire invaded Malaya. The British colonial authorities now accepted the Malayan Communist Party or MCP's standing offer of military co-operation. On 15 December, all left-wing political prisoners were released.
From 20 December the British military began to train party members in guerilla warfare at the hastily established 101st Special Training School (101st STS) in Singapore. About 165 MCP members were trained before the British defences collapsed. These fighters, scantily armed and equipped by the hard-pressed British, hurriedly dispersed and attempted to harass the occupying army.
Just before Singapore fell on 15 February 1942, the party began organise armed resistance in the state of Johore. Soon four armed groups, which became known as 'Regiments', were formed, with 101st STS trainees serving as nuclei. In March this force was dubbed the Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA) and began sabotage and ambushes against the Japanese. The Japanese responded with reprisals against Chinese civilians. These reprisals, coupled with increasing economic hardship, caused large numbers of Malayan Chinese to flee the cities. They became squatters at the forest margins, where they became the main source of recruits, food, and other assistance for the MPAJA. The MPAJA consolidated this support by providing protection.
The MCP also participated in the defence of Singapore; they formed the largest group in Dalforce, the volunteer army that was formed to fight alongside the regular British soldiers. After the fall of Singapore, some members of Dalforce joined MPAJA.
For information, not all members of MPAJA were communists. The MPAJA was joined by isolated Allied personnel who had been left behind in the retreat, or had escaped prisoner of war camps. One of them was Nona Baker.
Malaya 's Only English Girl Guerilla EDITED FREEDOM NEWSPAPER After living and fighting with the Chinese guerillas for three years in the jungle near Kuantan, Pahang, Miss Nona Baker, the only English girl guerilla in Malaya, has returned to civilization. She came here in 1939 to keep house for her brother, Vincent(Vincent Brice Carew Baker , 1888-1944), Mine Manager of Pahang Consolidated Tin Mines , at Sungei Lembing, north of Kuantan( The Straits Times, 7 October 1945, Page 2).
After the WW2 ended, on 12 September 1945 the British Military Administration (BMA) was installed at Kuala Lumpur. Later MPAJA reluctantly agreed to disband ...
(source: http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=84216)Just click at the picture to view the documentary movie. If you are not able to view it for reason unknown, you can still try http://pathebeta.bigeyedeers.co.uk/video/mpaja-disarms/query/wildcard or http://pathebeta.bigeyedeers.co.uk/video/mpaja-disarms-1/query/wildcard or backup.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=84216(Note: Pathé is a reputable source of info. From March 2010, British Pathé relaunched its archive as an online entertainment site, making Pathé News a service for the public as well as the broadcasting industry.In August 2011, British Pathé launched a YouTube channel)
This was extract of what reported in The Strait Time, Singapore:
G.O.C. Thanks Guerilla Army Malaya's "Maquis'* the Anti- Japanese Army was officially "de-mobbed" yesterday after three and a half years' of splendid achievements. In Johore Bahru. headquarters of the 4th Regiment, 500 of the Three -Star men paraded for the ceremony, and, while they listened to a message of thanks and congratulation from GOC , Malaya, Spitfires and Mosquitos of the RAF roared over them and dipped low in salute. The men were assembled behind Johore Law Court and the address by Lieu general Sir Frank Messervy, GOC , Malaya was read out by Brigadier JJ McCully , DSO, Commander of 4th Brigade , British 2nd Division, in Malaya. Col MC Hay, the SCAO of Johore asked the disbanded men to dedicate themselves to the task of restoring prosperity of Malaya. The 3 Star men’s own Officer Commanding, Chen Tian, and Mr Wu Tian Wang , representative of the Singapore branch of Malayan Communist Party , also urging the ex-guerillas to co-operate the administration (The Straits Times, 2 December 1945, Page 3)
Guerrillas Farewell Probably for the first time in their Incident-packed existence, men of the Three-Star Army participated m a ceremonial parade on Saturday when the Malayan "Maquis “ were officially demobbed. Brigadier JJ McCully, D.S.O Commander of the 4th Brirade. British Second Division, Malaya, reviewed the parade of Johore AJA (The Straits Times, 5 December 1945, Page 3)
GUERILLA LEADERS DECORATED BY SUPREMO Campaign Medals Awarded On the wide stone steps of Singapore's Municipal building, in which the historic surrender was signed, Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander, pinned the Burma Star and 1939-45 Star to the proud breasts of 16 leaders of the Malayan Resistance Movement. Three were Malay, the remaining Chinese.( The Straits Times, 7 January 1946, Page 3)One of the Malay was Che Yeop Mahidin from Pahang(The Straits Times, 6 January 1946, Page 2)
Note: there is also Pathe Newsreels on Footage of Lord Mountbatten giving speech concerning food supply in Malaya in the youtube, consider lucky if you can view it now. Otherwise, try http://pathedev.bigeyedeers.co.uk/video/mpaja-decoration-ceremony/query/Band.
The best book on the part of history is not our school history textbook, but The Jungle is neutral, by Chapman, Freddie Spencer, published by Lyon Press(ISBN 1-59228-107-9).
The most important factor to understand the history, is to understand the political development in the international environment, it affect not only Malaya,it was all over the world, a global phenomenon....
That was the resistance during Japanese Occupation(1941-1945). They were all resistance fighters. Fighting for their land and race, whatever their political and nationalism orientations, whatever their racial backgrounds...they give their life for their land...their main agenda was to knock Japanese Imperial Army out form Malaya. Are they national heroes, it is for history to judge...
Malaysian Hero
The cut off criteria is the nation formation in 1957, prior to that some argued that Malay states were independent protectorates of British empire, and not colony.
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory
Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on a political fact for which no purely legal explanation can be provided. The United Nations currently only requires that a sovereign state has an effective and independent government within a defined territory. According to current international law norms, states are only required to have an effective and independent system of government pursuant to a community within a defined territory.
The criteria for an independent state is power to rule e.g. an independent self-government, and power to make law. Politically, British effectively control the administration under the federal administration, legally English Law applied to all states in the federation.
The centralized Federal administration controlled the states, the government staff especially senior level staff in civilian department and military were all from Britain.
The statutory introduction of English law to the Federated Malay States comprising the states of Perak, Selangor, Pahang and Negeri Sembilan occurred in 1937 with the introduction of the Civil Law Enactment, 1937. The Unfederated Malay States, consisting the states of Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan, Terengganu and Johor, became part of the Federation of Malaya in 1948 and the Civil Law (Extension) Ordinance, 1951, extended the application of the Enactment to these states.
This revealed politically who had the control....
Bukit Kepong Incident was an armed encounter which took place on February 23, 1950 between the police and the Malayan Communists in pre-independence Malaya. This conflict took place in an area surrounding the Bukit Kepong police station in Bukit Kepong. The wooden station was located on the river banks of the Muar River, about 59 km from Muar town, Johor.
It happens during Malayan Emergency(1948-1960). The Malayan Emergency was a guerrilla war fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army (MNLA), the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party, from 1948 to 1960. The Malayan Emergency was the colonial government's term for the conflict. The MNLA termed it the Anti-British National Liberation War. The rubber plantations and tin mining industries had pushed for the use of the term "emergency" since their losses would not have been covered by Lloyd's insurers if it had been termed a "war.". It was in a war period under British Federation of Malaya.( refer to Malayan Emergency, wikipedia). The MNLA termed it the Anti-British National Liberation War. It was a war, you may call it emergency or liberation war, it is still a war.....
After the Japanese surrendered, the MPAJA came out of the jungles. It split with Force 136 and under the leadership of the Malayan Communist Party entered towns to fight for political power. Its political aim was to seek independence from British rule and established a "Malayan people's government".(Source: Infopedia, National Library Board Singapore) or some local academician called Communist Republic or Communist state. This revealed they are fighting for independence from colonial rule or British rule, as WW2 or 2nd Sino-Japanese War was over, it was no longer the war to support the China Resistance War as some local academicians and self professed historians has wrongly claimed.
The event took place in 1950, Malaya is still under British colonial rule. Before 31-8-1957 or independent of Malaya, the nation is not yet formed. The colonial rule was under Federation of Malaya (Malay: Persekutuan Tanah Melayu) is the name given to a federation of 11 states (nine Malay states and two of the British Straits Settlements, Penang and Malacca)that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation of Malaya Agreement was signed on 21 January 1948 at King House by the Malay rulers, and by Sir Edward Gent as the representative of the British government. The Agreement superseded the Agreement creating the Malayan Union, and prepared for the establishment of the Federation of Malaya on 1 February 1948. The position of the Malay rulers was also restored. The Federation became independent only on 31 August 1957. Prior to Federation of Malaya, it was Malayan Union,Due to opposition from Malay nationalists, the Union was disbanded and replaced by the Federation of Malaya, which restored the symbolic positions of the rulers of the Malay states. So whatever political position prior to WW2 was all over.....a new federation was formed under the British colonial rule until 1957....
(Field Marshal Sir Gerald Walter Robert Templer KG, GCB, GCMG, KBE (11 September 1898–25 October 1979) was a British military commander. He is best known for his defeat of the guerrilla rebels in Malaya between 1952 and 1954).
Within the Federation, while the Malay states were protectorates of the United Kingdom, Penang and Malacca remained British colonial territories. The federation agreement Perjanjian Persekutuan set the powers of the federal and state governments. Financial matters must be handled by the respective states. The Sultan was given full power on religious issues and Malay customs. Foreign policy and defence continued to be administered by the British government. The federation agreement was made the Constitution of the Federation of Malaya and officially declared on 1 February 1948. Within the federation, there was separation of powers of the federal and state government.
All Malay states under FMS(4 states), UFS(5 states) and Strait Settlements states(2 states), were federal states under the federation, lost their sovereign power as independent nation, but become a state in the federation of 11 states. Malay states prior to WW2 were Unfederated Malay States(Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis, and Terengganu) and Federated Malay States of Selangor, Perak, Pahang, and Negri Sembilan. The five Unfederated Malay States lacked common institutions, and did not form a single state in international law. Under Federation of Malaya, the 11 states formed a political entity of statehood under British colonial rule.
If Federation was not colony, why against Malayan Union as the Malay states will still be independent states, and have sovereignty over the Malay states. Why sign the Federation of Malaya agreement, when you have the power not to do so? Why obtain independence from British colonial government, when Malay states were not colony? Which revealed the British have political control over the states.
A protectorate, in the British Empire, is a territory which is not formally annexed but in which, by treaty, grant or other lawful means, the Crown has power and jurisdiction. In 1880, the British government the administration of its Colonial protectorate from its Foreign Office to Colonial Office. This transfer symbolize that the colonial protectorate was removed from the sphere of international law and relegated to that of national law, thus coming with the same orbit as colony in the narrower meaning It is in the general trend that the great international treaties of the period, always listed colonies and protectorate at the same level(source: The epochs of international law, by Wilhelm Georg Grewe, Michael Byers, Walter de Gruyter, 2000 –pg 473).
(Sir Donald Charles MacGillivray, KCMG, MBE was the last Colonial Administrator to serve in Malaya.He served Malaya from 1954 until 1957. He chaired during his administration in British Malaya, the first Legistrative Council for the Federation of Malaya, with appointed local and European council members).
The Federation of Malaya Legislative Council held its first meeting at colonial building at British garrison camp, located 109, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur(now Malaysia Tourism Center)on 24th Feb 1948.(Note: The hall was later named Tuanku Abdul Rahman Hall on 24 Feb. 1958 after the first Prime Minister). It was opened by the British High Commissioner Sir Edward Gent. Attendees included the British Minister of State for Colonial Affairs, Lord Listowel. The membership of the Council was structured to include:
•the British High Commissioner (as President);
•3 ex-officio members (namely the Chief Secretary, the Financial Secretary, and the Attorney General);
•11 "State and Settlement Members" (the President of the Council of State of each Malay state, and a member elected by each of the Settlement Councils)
•11 official members; and
•34 appointed "unofficial" members.
Look at the members of the council, 34 appointed unofficial members and others were official members, who were the forces that control the council? Take note British Minister of State for Colonial Affairs, Lord Listowel was there, if Malay states and Strait Settlement were not British colony, either protectorate or crown colony, why the Minister of Colonial Affairs was there? Why not Minister of Foreign Affairs? a question to ponder.
The first federal election only in 1955. The Federal Legislative Council established under the Federation of Malaya Agreement was dissolved to make way for a General Election. This marked the first time that the people of Malaya went to the polls to elect their representatives to the Federal Legislative Council. Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra was appointed the first Chief Minister of the Federation of Malaya and thereby formed his first Cabinet. The self government commenced.
Federation of Malaya gained independence on 31-8-1957, it is now an independent nation.....
Technically and logically, a Malaysian hero is the one who is a Malaysian, who contribute to well being of a nation or protect her from invasion, of an independent nation called Malaysia, are Malaysian heroes.
Tunku Abdul Rahman, being Father of Malaysia, will be our first Malaysian national hero.
Bernama TV cameraman Noramfaizul Mohd Nor, shot dead on Friday while covering a Malaysian humanitarian aid mission in famine-hit Somalia is a Malaysian national hero..
Recipients of PGB(Pingat Gagah Berani or Pahlawan Gagah Berani)are officially Malaysian national heroes....
Before 31-8-1957 or independent of Malaya, the nation is not yet formed, there is no national hero. Whoever contributes to fight for independence is called independence fighter, freedom fighter or independence hero. Only after formation of nation, we have national hero. A national hero is a Malayan/Malaysian who has been recognized as a hero for his or her role in the history of the country. However some countries may consider their independence hero as national hero after the nation gained independence from the colonial rule.
Regardless of political ideology, and the methods they used(peaceful or military),any person or institution who fight for freedom or independence from British colonial rule are freedom fighters. Nobody will participate in an independent war or political activities, risking their own life and facing the threat of imprisonment, without any justified cause. The only reason must be for the country and homeland they loved, and they see it worthy to risk their life.
For Malayan independence, there were two forces fighting for independence. One using peaceful method, by believed in election by people, another being illegal, fights jungle warfare against the colonial government. Whatever their political ideology, whatever method they use, they are freedom fighters.
Mat Kilau, Mat Janggu(or Tok Janggu), DATUK DOL SAID, RENTAP,SHARIF MASHHOR, DATU MAT SALLEH,DATUK ABDULLAH SANI RAJA KECIL(Ahmad Boestamam),DATUK ISHAK MUHAMMAD(Pak Sako),DATUK ONN JAAFAR,TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN PUTRA,TUN TAN CHENG LOCK,SIR DAVID MARSHALL( a Jew),SIR HARRY LEE KUAN YEW,DATUK ERNEST THURAISINGAM,Tan Sri Datuk Amar Ong Kee Hui,Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Yong Kuet Tze .... and many who were from MNLA....are freedom fighters prior to independence...
The CPM was considered illegal party by the colonial British, as the CPM’s negotiation to register as political party was rejected by the British colonial government after the war. This is despite the history of alliance between MPAJA and Force 136, and British war government during the Pacific War and later World War 2, when they fight together against the Japanese Imperial Army during Japanese occupation. After the WW2, it was cold war era(1947-1991), the British turn their alliance away.
They cannot be national hero, the new nation is not yet form. If the party want to award for his heroic act, it is only CPM’s award. (For information, Chin Peng was awarded OBE by the British, but later withdrawn). Just ponder, are they national hero for fighting British(for whatever their agenda, personal or institutional)?
Are they national hero under definition? Are they fighting for their country?
The colonial police force was the uniform unit of colonial government, British. They are working for colonial government. They cannot be national hero or Malaysian hero, but if a heroic act was done, he is British hero, only British award will be given. For example George medal. The George Medal (GM) is the second level civil decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. The medal is primarily a civilian award, but it may be awarded to military personnel for gallant conduct that is not in the face of the enemy. For example, the late Inspector (Retired) Chew Kim Chuan was given the George Medal by Her Majesty the Queen of British Empire, for gallantry to his part played in the successful operation against Communist Terrorists in the Ulu Langat Forest Reserve on the 10th December, 1956. (Note: Sybil Kathigasu - Malayan nurse who supported the resistance during the Japanese occupation of Malaya. She is the only Malayan woman to be ever awarded with the George Medal for bravery during World War II)
Just ponder, are they national hero? Are they fighting for their country?
History will recorded the heroic act of the winner, who will form the new government for the new nation. If the CPM wins the war against British, a different history will be rewritten. They will have different type of criteria to name their heroes. The new government of the new nation, however can have the liberty to recognize anyone as their national heroes.....
We also remember The Batang Kali massacre, an incident that took place in Malaya on December 12, 1948 during British military operations against native and Chinese communists in the post-World War II Malayan Emergency.The 7th Platoon, G Company, 2nd Scots Guard surrounded a rubber estate at Sungai Rimoh, Batang Kali, Selangor in Malaya and shot 24 villagers before setting fire to the village. The only adult male survivor was Chong Hong, who was in his 20s at the time. He fainted and was presumed dead by the Guardsmen. Eye witnesses include the victims' spouse and children and others including Tham Yong age 78 and Loh Ah Choy age 67. The men had been separated from the women and children for interrogation before the shooting began. The incident today is sometimes described as "Britain's My Lai massacre". It was in this campaign that Sir Gerald Templer first coined the now famous phrase "hearts and minds" as part of his strategy for victory.(source: wikipedia). A British High court ruled on Aug 31, 2011 in favour of the family members for a review of the British government’s refusal to probe the incident, where 24 unarmed rubber plantation workers in Batang Kali, were killed(http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/9/9/courts/9457983&sec=courts).
Any old folk living at the Chinese dominated rural area or new village will tell you the fear during the Emergency, the simple villagers were the sandwich between the British forces and communist forces, they were at the risk of to be killed, if they were at the wrong place at wrong time. Batang Kali massacre was one fine example.
The British finally won the war by using mainly psychological warfare....
After the independence(1957), it is easier to identify a national hero....the CPM who still fighting against an independent nation, lost their right to be independent fighter...as the nation is an independent country, as Malaya, and later Malaysia. The new government give them a new name, communist terrorist. The police force is now Royal Malaysian Police, The Malaysian Armed Forces is Angkatan Tentera Malaysia.
In 1989 the CPM finally laid down its arms On December 2 at the town of Had Yai in Southern Thailand, Chin Peng, Rashid Maidin, and Abdullah C. D. met with representatives of the Malaysian and Thailand governments. Separate peace agreements were signed between the CPM and both governments. The cold war political games was finally over for Malaysia ....
The national identity is now strong and clear....but Chin Peng, now an old man is still longing to go home..... looking back, who was the hero? and does it matter now to him? .....
Then who are the national heroes?
The ruling government or the winner will officially name their national hero for independence. They can have a long list of whoever they want, and even gazette it with honor and awards. The loser who cannot form the country, will similarly have their own heroes, but will be always in their heart, but they are not official as national heroes.
But an open government will look at historical background, and even acknowledge the person who fight for independence or contribute to the nation as hero; regardless of their political background and the method they used, provided there are no war criminal record. A nation will normally not name a national hero with war criminal background. This is national pride….
Mat Kilau and Tok Janggu will never be a hero under colonial government, he will be a criminal under the colonial law as they were fighting British colonial government; but today he is a hero for the nation as independence fighter. You can now see a chapter in the school history textbook....
If you look at our historical records, even the The Strait Time, the newspaper during the colonial period from the pre war days to post war days….you will discover that the news reported was different from what is officially being told, and what is being taught in our school history textbooks….
To a winner, his man is a hero; to a looser, his hero will become a criminals or terrorists of the winner...in modern politic, it is a winner's games...the heroes of winner is official heroes, that will be publicly acknowledged; the heroes of losers is unofficial heroes that will be forgotten through time...
Ultimately, a real national hero is for people to decide…..
The cold world ended after The USSR was declared officially dissolved on December 25, 1991. Today the communist state left only Cuba, other so called communist states are more capitalist than capitalist country, or just a single party nation. The debate of who are the national hero has no political significance anymore. The communism era is over.
What happen to our history book? If you look at the school history book today, you will realize that the books are historically blind and biased. No wonder our politician cannot recognize the national hero, because they are historically blind and do not know who are hero….
After Mat Sabu raised the issue(which was under his right of expression), many self professed historian suddenly raised their voices and views, many are historically blind, and not directly involved in Emergency era. I have the right to give my view, as my father was a jungle squad police, staying in police station in a communists active area during my childhood, family was worried about the security situation every hours of the day. My father served the police force not as national hero, but to feed the family in the 50s. The stories of the police jungle squad, the brutal act of both the British and communist were daily news. I believed, policeman or communist, as a person, they do not want the war, no body win, it was just a political games by two political ideologies(USA and Russia, and their allies)during the cold war. We need to look at both side of the stories....they are only a simple soldier, follow the order, once they have decide to join the forces, government or communist....it is regret for the families who lost their loved one, from either camps, it was a sad chapter of the nation.....
These people who served their respective armies/police were the real hero, they use their life to earn a living or to fight for their ideal to change the future, for themselves, for the family or for the perceived future country. They are the unknown heroes who will make history for their country, win or loose, no matter which side they fight for......there was no right or wrong.....
Politicians are adding salt to the old wound....they only use their big mouth for their personal political agenda.... the politician has no right to speak for them, they do not know the sad and bitter reality, only their families known.
After 54 years of independence, a nation still worry about who is their national hero, I was sad to ponder is our nation mature with confidence to go forward for another 54 years…..looking at the life cycle of a human, a 54 years old man is a mature person who had accomplished their task and on the way for retirement to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Is our country reaching the status?.....
A 54 years old nation should be able to look at our national history with open mind, good or ugly…..our people should not be misled by historian who blindly followed the agenda of the rulers, but should independently read history from all reliable sources and make their own mind, who is his national heroes.....
Note: For the readers of the blog, please take note of Racial Policies played by the colonial government, both British and Japanese in their administration of the colony, and some of the elements still remained after independence. So some of the academician, self professed historian, politician still tinkled with colonial thinking left over by their racial policies. Their mind still remained in historical past, not in a Malaysian perspective. Please look at the historical factor on the issue)
References & Suggested readings:
1. British court rules in favour of Batang Kali kin, The Star online, http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/9/9/courts/9457983&sec=courts
2. Justice sought in UK over Malaysia deaths, by Alastair Leithead, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11976821
3. Sudden awareness for need to restore Bukit Kepong cemetery, by G. Prakash and
T.K. LETCHUMY TAMBOO, The Malay Mail, http://www.mmail.com.my/content/81881-sudden-awareness-need-restore-bukit-kepong-cemetery
4. Raj Salutes Defenders of Bukit Kepong, http://www.malaysiandigest.com/component/content/article/38-health/30823-raj-salutes-defenders-of-bukit-kepong.html
5. Bukit Kepong Incident, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bukit_Kepong_Incident
6. Mat Indera was not a communist’, by Tarani Palani,Free Malaysia Today, dated September 7, 2011 http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/09/07/mat-indera-was-not-a-communist/
7. Malaya’s only English girl Guerilla, Nona Baker( The Straits Times, 7 October 1945, Page 2).
8. Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA),http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_905_2004-12-23.html
9. Sybil stirs a new awakening, http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/05/24/sybil-stirs-a-new-awakening/
10. Nilai Monument – Learn the difference between resistance against Japanese and CPM , http://www.mca.org.my/en/nilai-monument-learn-the-difference-between-resistance-against-japanese-and-cpm%C2%A0/
11. Cold War, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War
12. The unsung heroes, by LOUISA LIM, http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2010/2/20/lifefocus/5670446&sec=lifefocus
13. official representatives selected for the Victory Parade In London: (The Straits Times, 18 April 1946, Page 3)
14. GUERILLA LEADERS DECORATED BY SUPREMO, The Straits Times, 8 January 1946, Page 3)
15. FORMER M. P.A.J.A. MEN DISCHARGED, The Straits Times, 19 November 1946, Page 11
16. Jungle is neutral, by Chapman, Freddie Spencer, published by Lyon Press(ISBN 1-59228-107-9).
17. The price of peace: true accounts of the Japanese occupation,edited by Choon Hon Foong, Asiapac Books Pte Ltd, 1997.(you can know some heroes in the book)
Hero
Coined in English 1387, the word hero comes from the Greek "ἥρως" (heros), "hero, warrior", literally "protector" or "defender" the postulated original forms of these words being *ἥρϝως, hērwōs, and *ἭρFα, Hērwā, respectively. It is also thought to be a cognate of the Latin verb servo (original meaning: to preserve whole) and of the Avestan verb haurvaiti (to keep vigil over), although the original Proto-Indoeuropean root is unclear.
According to the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, the Indo-European root is *ser meaning "to protect". According to Eric Partridge in Origins, the Greek word Hērōs "is akin to" the Latin seruāre, meaning to safeguard. Partridge concludes, "The basic sense of both Hera and hero would therefore be 'protector'."
Nation
A nation may refer to a community of people who share a common language, culture, ethnicity, descent, and/or history. In this definition, a nation has no physical borders. However, it can also refer to people who share a common territory and government (for example the inhabitants of a sovereign state) irrespective of their ethnic make-up. In international relations, nation can refer to a country or sovereign state. The United Nations, for instance, speaks of how it was founded after the Second World War by “51 countries” and currently has 193 member states. Malaysia is a nation only after 1957, now 54 years old……
National Hero
From the definition of “Hero” and “Nation”, the national hero is defined as the hero of a nation. If the hero is fighting for independence under colonial rule, can it be national hero? If yes, Hero for which country, as a new nation is not formed yet. The hero rightfully is only a freedom fighter, an independence fighter, or if you want to call him hero, he is an independence hero. To a student during the initial period after independence, the school history book told us Hang Tuah was our national hero. Even today the emphasis was no longer on him as national hero, I was wondering he was hero for which nation? Hero for Malacca sultanate, formed by a prince from Sri Vijaya, Sumatra, or just merely a folk hero…..
Can Lt Adnan bin Saidi, (1915 - 14 February 1942) be our national hero? He was a British Malayan soldier of the 1st Infantry Brigade which fought the Japanese in the Battle of Singapore. He is regarded by Malaysians and Singaporeans today as a hero for his actions on Bukit Chandu in Singapore. Can he be a national hero when it happened during WW2, before independence? He is fighting under colonial British Army. We cannot deny his heroic act, but is he a British hero, or Singapore hero, or Malayan/Malaysian hero? Technically he was a historical hero, not national hero, as Malaysia as a nation is not formed yet. He died fighting in Singapore(now not part of Malaysia). However he was Minangkabau, born at Sungai Ramal near Kajang, Selangor, now Malaysia, he died at Singapore, historically part of Malaya.
I do not mind Lt Adnan is our national hero, as he deserved to be a hero, he is worthy, despite he was fighting for British colonial government, he was fighting to protect his homeland, Malaya.
Similarly Lim Bo Seng (27 April 1909 - 29 June 1944), a World War II anti-Japanese resistance fighter from Sino-British guerrilla task force ,Force 136 should also be a national hero. Lim was captured by the Japanese under Marshal Ōnishi Satoru (大西覚) at a roadblock in Gopeng the next day. Lim was taken to the Kempeitai headquarters for interrogation and he refused to provide the Japanese with any information about Force 136 despite being subjected to severe torture. Instead, he protested against the ill-treatment of his comrades in prison. He fell ill with dysentery and was bedridden by the end of May 1944. Lim died in the early hours on June 29, 1944. He was later buried behind the Batu Gajah prison compound in an unmarked spot. After the Japanese surrender, Lim's wife, Gan Choo Neo, was informed of her husband's death by the priest of St. Andrew's School. Gan travelled with her eldest son to bring her husband's remains to Singapore. Lim's remains was transported in a coffin to a hill in MacRitchie Reservoir for burial with full military honours. He was a Singaporean, at that time part of Malaya, died at Batu Gajah, Malaya, now Malaysia, under Operation Zipper fighting to re-capture his homeland.
Other members of Force 136, General H.H. Tan Sri Tunku Osman Khalil Shah bin Tunku Muhammad Jiwa [Osman Jiwa],the Malay group that fought under F136 was called Tigers of Malaya of Force 136 (Harimau Malaya Force 136), included Tengku Mahmood Mahyiddeen( former student of Penang Free School,son of last Sultan of Pattani, Tengku Abdul Kadir Kamaruddeen),General (Rtd) Tun Ibrahim bin Ismail, KBE (1922–2010), who retired as a full general and chief of the Malaysian armed forces in the 1970s; Captain Tun Hussein Onn, Malaysia's 3rd Prime Minister, and many more...
Alliance of Force 136 was MPAJA or Malayan Peoples' Anti-Japanese Army, formed in 1942. On December 8, 1941, the Japanese Empire invaded Malaya. The British colonial authorities now accepted the Malayan Communist Party or MCP's standing offer of military co-operation. On 15 December, all left-wing political prisoners were released.
From 20 December the British military began to train party members in guerilla warfare at the hastily established 101st Special Training School (101st STS) in Singapore. About 165 MCP members were trained before the British defences collapsed. These fighters, scantily armed and equipped by the hard-pressed British, hurriedly dispersed and attempted to harass the occupying army.
Just before Singapore fell on 15 February 1942, the party began organise armed resistance in the state of Johore. Soon four armed groups, which became known as 'Regiments', were formed, with 101st STS trainees serving as nuclei. In March this force was dubbed the Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA) and began sabotage and ambushes against the Japanese. The Japanese responded with reprisals against Chinese civilians. These reprisals, coupled with increasing economic hardship, caused large numbers of Malayan Chinese to flee the cities. They became squatters at the forest margins, where they became the main source of recruits, food, and other assistance for the MPAJA. The MPAJA consolidated this support by providing protection.
The MCP also participated in the defence of Singapore; they formed the largest group in Dalforce, the volunteer army that was formed to fight alongside the regular British soldiers. After the fall of Singapore, some members of Dalforce joined MPAJA.
For information, not all members of MPAJA were communists. The MPAJA was joined by isolated Allied personnel who had been left behind in the retreat, or had escaped prisoner of war camps. One of them was Nona Baker.
Malaya 's Only English Girl Guerilla EDITED FREEDOM NEWSPAPER After living and fighting with the Chinese guerillas for three years in the jungle near Kuantan, Pahang, Miss Nona Baker, the only English girl guerilla in Malaya, has returned to civilization. She came here in 1939 to keep house for her brother, Vincent(Vincent Brice Carew Baker , 1888-1944), Mine Manager of Pahang Consolidated Tin Mines , at Sungei Lembing, north of Kuantan( The Straits Times, 7 October 1945, Page 2).
After the WW2 ended, on 12 September 1945 the British Military Administration (BMA) was installed at Kuala Lumpur. Later MPAJA reluctantly agreed to disband ...
MPAJA DISARMS
(source: http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=84216)Just click at the picture to view the documentary movie. If you are not able to view it for reason unknown, you can still try http://pathebeta.bigeyedeers.co.uk/video/mpaja-disarms/query/wildcard or http://pathebeta.bigeyedeers.co.uk/video/mpaja-disarms-1/query/wildcard or backup.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=84216(Note: Pathé is a reputable source of info. From March 2010, British Pathé relaunched its archive as an online entertainment site, making Pathé News a service for the public as well as the broadcasting industry.In August 2011, British Pathé launched a YouTube channel)
This was extract of what reported in The Strait Time, Singapore:
G.O.C. Thanks Guerilla Army Malaya's "Maquis'* the Anti- Japanese Army was officially "de-mobbed" yesterday after three and a half years' of splendid achievements. In Johore Bahru. headquarters of the 4th Regiment, 500 of the Three -Star men paraded for the ceremony, and, while they listened to a message of thanks and congratulation from GOC , Malaya, Spitfires and Mosquitos of the RAF roared over them and dipped low in salute. The men were assembled behind Johore Law Court and the address by Lieu general Sir Frank Messervy, GOC , Malaya was read out by Brigadier JJ McCully , DSO, Commander of 4th Brigade , British 2nd Division, in Malaya. Col MC Hay, the SCAO of Johore asked the disbanded men to dedicate themselves to the task of restoring prosperity of Malaya. The 3 Star men’s own Officer Commanding, Chen Tian, and Mr Wu Tian Wang , representative of the Singapore branch of Malayan Communist Party , also urging the ex-guerillas to co-operate the administration (The Straits Times, 2 December 1945, Page 3)
MPAJA DISARMS
Guerrillas Farewell Probably for the first time in their Incident-packed existence, men of the Three-Star Army participated m a ceremonial parade on Saturday when the Malayan "Maquis “ were officially demobbed. Brigadier JJ McCully, D.S.O Commander of the 4th Brirade. British Second Division, Malaya, reviewed the parade of Johore AJA (The Straits Times, 5 December 1945, Page 3)
GUERILLA LEADERS DECORATED BY SUPREMO Campaign Medals Awarded On the wide stone steps of Singapore's Municipal building, in which the historic surrender was signed, Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander, pinned the Burma Star and 1939-45 Star to the proud breasts of 16 leaders of the Malayan Resistance Movement. Three were Malay, the remaining Chinese.( The Straits Times, 7 January 1946, Page 3)One of the Malay was Che Yeop Mahidin from Pahang(The Straits Times, 6 January 1946, Page 2)
MPAJA DECORATION CEREMONY
Note: there is also Pathe Newsreels on Footage of Lord Mountbatten giving speech concerning food supply in Malaya in the youtube, consider lucky if you can view it now. Otherwise, try http://pathedev.bigeyedeers.co.uk/video/mpaja-decoration-ceremony/query/Band.
The best book on the part of history is not our school history textbook, but The Jungle is neutral, by Chapman, Freddie Spencer, published by Lyon Press(ISBN 1-59228-107-9).
The most important factor to understand the history, is to understand the political development in the international environment, it affect not only Malaya,it was all over the world, a global phenomenon....
That was the resistance during Japanese Occupation(1941-1945). They were all resistance fighters. Fighting for their land and race, whatever their political and nationalism orientations, whatever their racial backgrounds...they give their life for their land...their main agenda was to knock Japanese Imperial Army out form Malaya. Are they national heroes, it is for history to judge...
Malaysian Hero
The cut off criteria is the nation formation in 1957, prior to that some argued that Malay states were independent protectorates of British empire, and not colony.
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory
Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on a political fact for which no purely legal explanation can be provided. The United Nations currently only requires that a sovereign state has an effective and independent government within a defined territory. According to current international law norms, states are only required to have an effective and independent system of government pursuant to a community within a defined territory.
The criteria for an independent state is power to rule e.g. an independent self-government, and power to make law. Politically, British effectively control the administration under the federal administration, legally English Law applied to all states in the federation.
The centralized Federal administration controlled the states, the government staff especially senior level staff in civilian department and military were all from Britain.
The statutory introduction of English law to the Federated Malay States comprising the states of Perak, Selangor, Pahang and Negeri Sembilan occurred in 1937 with the introduction of the Civil Law Enactment, 1937. The Unfederated Malay States, consisting the states of Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan, Terengganu and Johor, became part of the Federation of Malaya in 1948 and the Civil Law (Extension) Ordinance, 1951, extended the application of the Enactment to these states.
This revealed politically who had the control....
(MALAYAN EMERGENCY)
Bukit Kepong Incident was an armed encounter which took place on February 23, 1950 between the police and the Malayan Communists in pre-independence Malaya. This conflict took place in an area surrounding the Bukit Kepong police station in Bukit Kepong. The wooden station was located on the river banks of the Muar River, about 59 km from Muar town, Johor.
It happens during Malayan Emergency(1948-1960). The Malayan Emergency was a guerrilla war fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army (MNLA), the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party, from 1948 to 1960. The Malayan Emergency was the colonial government's term for the conflict. The MNLA termed it the Anti-British National Liberation War. The rubber plantations and tin mining industries had pushed for the use of the term "emergency" since their losses would not have been covered by Lloyd's insurers if it had been termed a "war.". It was in a war period under British Federation of Malaya.( refer to Malayan Emergency, wikipedia). The MNLA termed it the Anti-British National Liberation War. It was a war, you may call it emergency or liberation war, it is still a war.....
After the Japanese surrendered, the MPAJA came out of the jungles. It split with Force 136 and under the leadership of the Malayan Communist Party entered towns to fight for political power. Its political aim was to seek independence from British rule and established a "Malayan people's government".(Source: Infopedia, National Library Board Singapore) or some local academician called Communist Republic or Communist state. This revealed they are fighting for independence from colonial rule or British rule, as WW2 or 2nd Sino-Japanese War was over, it was no longer the war to support the China Resistance War as some local academicians and self professed historians has wrongly claimed.
The event took place in 1950, Malaya is still under British colonial rule. Before 31-8-1957 or independent of Malaya, the nation is not yet formed. The colonial rule was under Federation of Malaya (Malay: Persekutuan Tanah Melayu) is the name given to a federation of 11 states (nine Malay states and two of the British Straits Settlements, Penang and Malacca)that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation of Malaya Agreement was signed on 21 January 1948 at King House by the Malay rulers, and by Sir Edward Gent as the representative of the British government. The Agreement superseded the Agreement creating the Malayan Union, and prepared for the establishment of the Federation of Malaya on 1 February 1948. The position of the Malay rulers was also restored. The Federation became independent only on 31 August 1957. Prior to Federation of Malaya, it was Malayan Union,Due to opposition from Malay nationalists, the Union was disbanded and replaced by the Federation of Malaya, which restored the symbolic positions of the rulers of the Malay states. So whatever political position prior to WW2 was all over.....a new federation was formed under the British colonial rule until 1957....
GENERAL TEMPLER INSTALLED HIGH COMMISSION OF FEDERATION OF MALAYA
(Field Marshal Sir Gerald Walter Robert Templer KG, GCB, GCMG, KBE (11 September 1898–25 October 1979) was a British military commander. He is best known for his defeat of the guerrilla rebels in Malaya between 1952 and 1954).
Within the Federation, while the Malay states were protectorates of the United Kingdom, Penang and Malacca remained British colonial territories. The federation agreement Perjanjian Persekutuan set the powers of the federal and state governments. Financial matters must be handled by the respective states. The Sultan was given full power on religious issues and Malay customs. Foreign policy and defence continued to be administered by the British government. The federation agreement was made the Constitution of the Federation of Malaya and officially declared on 1 February 1948. Within the federation, there was separation of powers of the federal and state government.
All Malay states under FMS(4 states), UFS(5 states) and Strait Settlements states(2 states), were federal states under the federation, lost their sovereign power as independent nation, but become a state in the federation of 11 states. Malay states prior to WW2 were Unfederated Malay States(Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis, and Terengganu) and Federated Malay States of Selangor, Perak, Pahang, and Negri Sembilan. The five Unfederated Malay States lacked common institutions, and did not form a single state in international law. Under Federation of Malaya, the 11 states formed a political entity of statehood under British colonial rule.
If Federation was not colony, why against Malayan Union as the Malay states will still be independent states, and have sovereignty over the Malay states. Why sign the Federation of Malaya agreement, when you have the power not to do so? Why obtain independence from British colonial government, when Malay states were not colony? Which revealed the British have political control over the states.
A protectorate, in the British Empire, is a territory which is not formally annexed but in which, by treaty, grant or other lawful means, the Crown has power and jurisdiction. In 1880, the British government the administration of its Colonial protectorate from its Foreign Office to Colonial Office. This transfer symbolize that the colonial protectorate was removed from the sphere of international law and relegated to that of national law, thus coming with the same orbit as colony in the narrower meaning It is in the general trend that the great international treaties of the period, always listed colonies and protectorate at the same level(source: The epochs of international law, by Wilhelm Georg Grewe, Michael Byers, Walter de Gruyter, 2000 –pg 473).
MALAYA'S NEW ERA
(Sir Donald Charles MacGillivray, KCMG, MBE was the last Colonial Administrator to serve in Malaya.He served Malaya from 1954 until 1957. He chaired during his administration in British Malaya, the first Legistrative Council for the Federation of Malaya, with appointed local and European council members).
The Federation of Malaya Legislative Council held its first meeting at colonial building at British garrison camp, located 109, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur(now Malaysia Tourism Center)on 24th Feb 1948.(Note: The hall was later named Tuanku Abdul Rahman Hall on 24 Feb. 1958 after the first Prime Minister). It was opened by the British High Commissioner Sir Edward Gent. Attendees included the British Minister of State for Colonial Affairs, Lord Listowel. The membership of the Council was structured to include:
•the British High Commissioner (as President);
•3 ex-officio members (namely the Chief Secretary, the Financial Secretary, and the Attorney General);
•11 "State and Settlement Members" (the President of the Council of State of each Malay state, and a member elected by each of the Settlement Councils)
•11 official members; and
•34 appointed "unofficial" members.
Look at the members of the council, 34 appointed unofficial members and others were official members, who were the forces that control the council? Take note British Minister of State for Colonial Affairs, Lord Listowel was there, if Malay states and Strait Settlement were not British colony, either protectorate or crown colony, why the Minister of Colonial Affairs was there? Why not Minister of Foreign Affairs? a question to ponder.
The first federal election only in 1955. The Federal Legislative Council established under the Federation of Malaya Agreement was dissolved to make way for a General Election. This marked the first time that the people of Malaya went to the polls to elect their representatives to the Federal Legislative Council. Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra was appointed the first Chief Minister of the Federation of Malaya and thereby formed his first Cabinet. The self government commenced.
Federation of Malaya gained independence on 31-8-1957, it is now an independent nation.....
PROCLAMATION OF INDEPENDENCE CEREMONY - KUALA LUMPUR
Technically and logically, a Malaysian hero is the one who is a Malaysian, who contribute to well being of a nation or protect her from invasion, of an independent nation called Malaysia, are Malaysian heroes.
Tunku Abdul Rahman, being Father of Malaysia, will be our first Malaysian national hero.
Bernama TV cameraman Noramfaizul Mohd Nor, shot dead on Friday while covering a Malaysian humanitarian aid mission in famine-hit Somalia is a Malaysian national hero..
Recipients of PGB(Pingat Gagah Berani or Pahlawan Gagah Berani)are officially Malaysian national heroes....
Before 31-8-1957 or independent of Malaya, the nation is not yet formed, there is no national hero. Whoever contributes to fight for independence is called independence fighter, freedom fighter or independence hero. Only after formation of nation, we have national hero. A national hero is a Malayan/Malaysian who has been recognized as a hero for his or her role in the history of the country. However some countries may consider their independence hero as national hero after the nation gained independence from the colonial rule.
Regardless of political ideology, and the methods they used(peaceful or military),any person or institution who fight for freedom or independence from British colonial rule are freedom fighters. Nobody will participate in an independent war or political activities, risking their own life and facing the threat of imprisonment, without any justified cause. The only reason must be for the country and homeland they loved, and they see it worthy to risk their life.
For Malayan independence, there were two forces fighting for independence. One using peaceful method, by believed in election by people, another being illegal, fights jungle warfare against the colonial government. Whatever their political ideology, whatever method they use, they are freedom fighters.
Mat Kilau, Mat Janggu(or Tok Janggu), DATUK DOL SAID, RENTAP,SHARIF MASHHOR, DATU MAT SALLEH,DATUK ABDULLAH SANI RAJA KECIL(Ahmad Boestamam),DATUK ISHAK MUHAMMAD(Pak Sako),DATUK ONN JAAFAR,TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN PUTRA,TUN TAN CHENG LOCK,SIR DAVID MARSHALL( a Jew),SIR HARRY LEE KUAN YEW,DATUK ERNEST THURAISINGAM,Tan Sri Datuk Amar Ong Kee Hui,Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Yong Kuet Tze .... and many who were from MNLA....are freedom fighters prior to independence...
The CPM was considered illegal party by the colonial British, as the CPM’s negotiation to register as political party was rejected by the British colonial government after the war. This is despite the history of alliance between MPAJA and Force 136, and British war government during the Pacific War and later World War 2, when they fight together against the Japanese Imperial Army during Japanese occupation. After the WW2, it was cold war era(1947-1991), the British turn their alliance away.
They cannot be national hero, the new nation is not yet form. If the party want to award for his heroic act, it is only CPM’s award. (For information, Chin Peng was awarded OBE by the British, but later withdrawn). Just ponder, are they national hero for fighting British(for whatever their agenda, personal or institutional)?
Are they national hero under definition? Are they fighting for their country?
The colonial police force was the uniform unit of colonial government, British. They are working for colonial government. They cannot be national hero or Malaysian hero, but if a heroic act was done, he is British hero, only British award will be given. For example George medal. The George Medal (GM) is the second level civil decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. The medal is primarily a civilian award, but it may be awarded to military personnel for gallant conduct that is not in the face of the enemy. For example, the late Inspector (Retired) Chew Kim Chuan was given the George Medal by Her Majesty the Queen of British Empire, for gallantry to his part played in the successful operation against Communist Terrorists in the Ulu Langat Forest Reserve on the 10th December, 1956. (Note: Sybil Kathigasu - Malayan nurse who supported the resistance during the Japanese occupation of Malaya. She is the only Malayan woman to be ever awarded with the George Medal for bravery during World War II)
Just ponder, are they national hero? Are they fighting for their country?
History will recorded the heroic act of the winner, who will form the new government for the new nation. If the CPM wins the war against British, a different history will be rewritten. They will have different type of criteria to name their heroes. The new government of the new nation, however can have the liberty to recognize anyone as their national heroes.....
We also remember The Batang Kali massacre, an incident that took place in Malaya on December 12, 1948 during British military operations against native and Chinese communists in the post-World War II Malayan Emergency.The 7th Platoon, G Company, 2nd Scots Guard surrounded a rubber estate at Sungai Rimoh, Batang Kali, Selangor in Malaya and shot 24 villagers before setting fire to the village. The only adult male survivor was Chong Hong, who was in his 20s at the time. He fainted and was presumed dead by the Guardsmen. Eye witnesses include the victims' spouse and children and others including Tham Yong age 78 and Loh Ah Choy age 67. The men had been separated from the women and children for interrogation before the shooting began. The incident today is sometimes described as "Britain's My Lai massacre". It was in this campaign that Sir Gerald Templer first coined the now famous phrase "hearts and minds" as part of his strategy for victory.(source: wikipedia). A British High court ruled on Aug 31, 2011 in favour of the family members for a review of the British government’s refusal to probe the incident, where 24 unarmed rubber plantation workers in Batang Kali, were killed(http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/9/9/courts/9457983&sec=courts).
Any old folk living at the Chinese dominated rural area or new village will tell you the fear during the Emergency, the simple villagers were the sandwich between the British forces and communist forces, they were at the risk of to be killed, if they were at the wrong place at wrong time. Batang Kali massacre was one fine example.
The British finally won the war by using mainly psychological warfare....
After the independence(1957), it is easier to identify a national hero....the CPM who still fighting against an independent nation, lost their right to be independent fighter...as the nation is an independent country, as Malaya, and later Malaysia. The new government give them a new name, communist terrorist. The police force is now Royal Malaysian Police, The Malaysian Armed Forces is Angkatan Tentera Malaysia.
In 1989 the CPM finally laid down its arms On December 2 at the town of Had Yai in Southern Thailand, Chin Peng, Rashid Maidin, and Abdullah C. D. met with representatives of the Malaysian and Thailand governments. Separate peace agreements were signed between the CPM and both governments. The cold war political games was finally over for Malaysia ....
The national identity is now strong and clear....but Chin Peng, now an old man is still longing to go home..... looking back, who was the hero? and does it matter now to him? .....
Then who are the national heroes?
The ruling government or the winner will officially name their national hero for independence. They can have a long list of whoever they want, and even gazette it with honor and awards. The loser who cannot form the country, will similarly have their own heroes, but will be always in their heart, but they are not official as national heroes.
But an open government will look at historical background, and even acknowledge the person who fight for independence or contribute to the nation as hero; regardless of their political background and the method they used, provided there are no war criminal record. A nation will normally not name a national hero with war criminal background. This is national pride….
Mat Kilau and Tok Janggu will never be a hero under colonial government, he will be a criminal under the colonial law as they were fighting British colonial government; but today he is a hero for the nation as independence fighter. You can now see a chapter in the school history textbook....
If you look at our historical records, even the The Strait Time, the newspaper during the colonial period from the pre war days to post war days….you will discover that the news reported was different from what is officially being told, and what is being taught in our school history textbooks….
To a winner, his man is a hero; to a looser, his hero will become a criminals or terrorists of the winner...in modern politic, it is a winner's games...the heroes of winner is official heroes, that will be publicly acknowledged; the heroes of losers is unofficial heroes that will be forgotten through time...
Ultimately, a real national hero is for people to decide…..
The cold world ended after The USSR was declared officially dissolved on December 25, 1991. Today the communist state left only Cuba, other so called communist states are more capitalist than capitalist country, or just a single party nation. The debate of who are the national hero has no political significance anymore. The communism era is over.
What happen to our history book? If you look at the school history book today, you will realize that the books are historically blind and biased. No wonder our politician cannot recognize the national hero, because they are historically blind and do not know who are hero….
After Mat Sabu raised the issue(which was under his right of expression), many self professed historian suddenly raised their voices and views, many are historically blind, and not directly involved in Emergency era. I have the right to give my view, as my father was a jungle squad police, staying in police station in a communists active area during my childhood, family was worried about the security situation every hours of the day. My father served the police force not as national hero, but to feed the family in the 50s. The stories of the police jungle squad, the brutal act of both the British and communist were daily news. I believed, policeman or communist, as a person, they do not want the war, no body win, it was just a political games by two political ideologies(USA and Russia, and their allies)during the cold war. We need to look at both side of the stories....they are only a simple soldier, follow the order, once they have decide to join the forces, government or communist....it is regret for the families who lost their loved one, from either camps, it was a sad chapter of the nation.....
These people who served their respective armies/police were the real hero, they use their life to earn a living or to fight for their ideal to change the future, for themselves, for the family or for the perceived future country. They are the unknown heroes who will make history for their country, win or loose, no matter which side they fight for......there was no right or wrong.....
Politicians are adding salt to the old wound....they only use their big mouth for their personal political agenda.... the politician has no right to speak for them, they do not know the sad and bitter reality, only their families known.
After 54 years of independence, a nation still worry about who is their national hero, I was sad to ponder is our nation mature with confidence to go forward for another 54 years…..looking at the life cycle of a human, a 54 years old man is a mature person who had accomplished their task and on the way for retirement to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Is our country reaching the status?.....
A 54 years old nation should be able to look at our national history with open mind, good or ugly…..our people should not be misled by historian who blindly followed the agenda of the rulers, but should independently read history from all reliable sources and make their own mind, who is his national heroes.....
Note: For the readers of the blog, please take note of Racial Policies played by the colonial government, both British and Japanese in their administration of the colony, and some of the elements still remained after independence. So some of the academician, self professed historian, politician still tinkled with colonial thinking left over by their racial policies. Their mind still remained in historical past, not in a Malaysian perspective. Please look at the historical factor on the issue)
References & Suggested readings:
1. British court rules in favour of Batang Kali kin, The Star online, http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/9/9/courts/9457983&sec=courts
2. Justice sought in UK over Malaysia deaths, by Alastair Leithead, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11976821
3. Sudden awareness for need to restore Bukit Kepong cemetery, by G. Prakash and
T.K. LETCHUMY TAMBOO, The Malay Mail, http://www.mmail.com.my/content/81881-sudden-awareness-need-restore-bukit-kepong-cemetery
4. Raj Salutes Defenders of Bukit Kepong, http://www.malaysiandigest.com/component/content/article/38-health/30823-raj-salutes-defenders-of-bukit-kepong.html
5. Bukit Kepong Incident, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bukit_Kepong_Incident
6. Mat Indera was not a communist’, by Tarani Palani,Free Malaysia Today, dated September 7, 2011 http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/09/07/mat-indera-was-not-a-communist/
7. Malaya’s only English girl Guerilla, Nona Baker( The Straits Times, 7 October 1945, Page 2).
8. Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA),http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_905_2004-12-23.html
9. Sybil stirs a new awakening, http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/05/24/sybil-stirs-a-new-awakening/
10. Nilai Monument – Learn the difference between resistance against Japanese and CPM , http://www.mca.org.my/en/nilai-monument-learn-the-difference-between-resistance-against-japanese-and-cpm%C2%A0/
11. Cold War, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War
12. The unsung heroes, by LOUISA LIM, http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2010/2/20/lifefocus/5670446&sec=lifefocus
13. official representatives selected for the Victory Parade In London: (The Straits Times, 18 April 1946, Page 3)
14. GUERILLA LEADERS DECORATED BY SUPREMO, The Straits Times, 8 January 1946, Page 3)
15. FORMER M. P.A.J.A. MEN DISCHARGED, The Straits Times, 19 November 1946, Page 11
16. Jungle is neutral, by Chapman, Freddie Spencer, published by Lyon Press(ISBN 1-59228-107-9).
17. The price of peace: true accounts of the Japanese occupation,edited by Choon Hon Foong, Asiapac Books Pte Ltd, 1997.(you can know some heroes in the book)
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Today, life is yellow
I just come back from New World Park, I have wonderful time of durian feast, eating the famous Balik Pulau durian, what I see is all yellow...the flesh of durian, be it 700, 800, 604, ... I see yellow...
Ang Hae, Xiao Hung should be red, but I still see yellow...
The months of June and July are month of durian in Penang, we talk not only only durian, but talk about yellow. We want durian with yellow flesh, "ooi bak" lah(literally means yellow flesh in Penang Hokkian dialect)...it is funny, we do not say "ang bak"(red flesh in Hokkian) for Ang Hae or Xiao Hung, it is still " ooi bak". Ooi, ooi, oooi, oooi, and still ooooooooooi bak. And I see yellow, yellow for the month of June and July, the month of yellow. We forgot of the story of seedless durian, the popular story of durian with no seed or "boh hood", today it is the story of yellow.....
The month of April to July is also month of yellow, when the angsana flowers were blossom in Penang, the small yellow flower petals fell like yellow rains, pouring over the street, building a yellowish street carpet in Penang. It was Yellow, the flower of Angsana trees, the street trees in Penang. May be it should call a state flower, the flower of yellow. Yellow is such a beautiful natural color.
When I went to New World Park, I wear a yellow T shirt, sad to say no one noticed me. May be I am not a politician, I should wear a T shirt with durian image or angsana flowers as background, so that it will be more yellow, may be other people can notice me. Then I will not clean the T shirt, to keep it as souvenir for the month of yellow. Yellow is popular color for cultural fashion, come the 9th lunar month in Penang, you will see crowds of people wearing yellow T shirt during Kow Long Yah( 9 Emperors) festival.
Recently people wearing yellow T shirt is having trouble with the authority, I suddenly remember the black shirt and the rain trees; it was prohibit to wear black shirt then. This time the color of the yellow is having the same fate. I still do not understand why the yellow is sinful color, as sinful as black color.
Wikipedia told me " Yellow is the color evoked by light that stimulates both the L and M (long and medium wavelength) cone cells of the retina about equally, with no significant stimulation of the S (short-wavelength) cone cells. Light with a wavelength of 570–580 nm is yellow, as is light with a suitable mixture of red and green. Yellow's traditional RYB complementary color is purple, violet, or indigo, while its colorimetrically defined complementary color in both RGB and CMYK color spaces is blue". It is too complicated and I do not understand what wikipedia is talking about...
In the English language, yellow has traditionally been associated with jaundice and cowardice. Yellow is associated with the word "caution" and is the second light on stop lights. The color is associated with aging as well, for both people and objects (e.g. "yellowed" paper). Ethnographically, the term "yellow" has been used as a slang term for both Asians ("yellow peril") and, in the early 20th century, light-skinned African-Americans (High yellow). That is because the British empire and the cowboy from early American, as a colonist and militarian, use discrimination to the Asian and African people they ruled, and at time white color is superior, and black and yellow are inferior to them.
The only crime yellow did, is the yellow culture(黃色) in Chinese, which is similar to blue pornographic in English. The sin is the usage of yellow in language.
Carotenoids are organic pigments which give many biological objects, including egg yolks, autumn leaves and yellow flowers, their color. Yellow, like orange and red is healthy color.
What sin has Yellow done?
Yellow is the color of Philippine's People Power Revolution of 1986, yellow was the dominant theme, the color being associated with former Philippine President Corazon Aquino. It is now a symbol of both support for her as well as in commemoration of the popular revolt. Yellow is the color of people power, the color of democracy and freedom....
Yellow is the King color in Thailand. The Thai will wear yellow for 2- 3 weeks in and around the King's birthday. Yellow is also political fashion, it is the color of people who opposed to former Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra and his allies. The supporter of Thaksin Shinawatra wear red in Thailand. Some joked that orange, a mix of yellow and red, may be the best color to wear in Thai politics. I was once in dilemma when traveling from South Thailand to North Thailand, wonder what to wear in train and in the plane....but one thing remain, yellow or red, Thailand respect the freedom to fashion, and freedom to color....and the most important the freedom of expression....
Maybe during emergency of political demonstration, you need yellow pages to help you to locate your next help....Yellow, obviously is a color of help....
What can you see in yellow? a color of cleanliness, a color of purity, a color of truth, a color of loyalty, or a color of change.....yellow has no sin.....
Today I see yellow in my heart.....
Ang Hae, Xiao Hung should be red, but I still see yellow...
The months of June and July are month of durian in Penang, we talk not only only durian, but talk about yellow. We want durian with yellow flesh, "ooi bak" lah(literally means yellow flesh in Penang Hokkian dialect)...it is funny, we do not say "ang bak"(red flesh in Hokkian) for Ang Hae or Xiao Hung, it is still " ooi bak". Ooi, ooi, oooi, oooi, and still ooooooooooi bak. And I see yellow, yellow for the month of June and July, the month of yellow. We forgot of the story of seedless durian, the popular story of durian with no seed or "boh hood", today it is the story of yellow.....
The month of April to July is also month of yellow, when the angsana flowers were blossom in Penang, the small yellow flower petals fell like yellow rains, pouring over the street, building a yellowish street carpet in Penang. It was Yellow, the flower of Angsana trees, the street trees in Penang. May be it should call a state flower, the flower of yellow. Yellow is such a beautiful natural color.
When I went to New World Park, I wear a yellow T shirt, sad to say no one noticed me. May be I am not a politician, I should wear a T shirt with durian image or angsana flowers as background, so that it will be more yellow, may be other people can notice me. Then I will not clean the T shirt, to keep it as souvenir for the month of yellow. Yellow is popular color for cultural fashion, come the 9th lunar month in Penang, you will see crowds of people wearing yellow T shirt during Kow Long Yah( 9 Emperors) festival.
Recently people wearing yellow T shirt is having trouble with the authority, I suddenly remember the black shirt and the rain trees; it was prohibit to wear black shirt then. This time the color of the yellow is having the same fate. I still do not understand why the yellow is sinful color, as sinful as black color.
Wikipedia told me " Yellow is the color evoked by light that stimulates both the L and M (long and medium wavelength) cone cells of the retina about equally, with no significant stimulation of the S (short-wavelength) cone cells. Light with a wavelength of 570–580 nm is yellow, as is light with a suitable mixture of red and green. Yellow's traditional RYB complementary color is purple, violet, or indigo, while its colorimetrically defined complementary color in both RGB and CMYK color spaces is blue". It is too complicated and I do not understand what wikipedia is talking about...
In the English language, yellow has traditionally been associated with jaundice and cowardice. Yellow is associated with the word "caution" and is the second light on stop lights. The color is associated with aging as well, for both people and objects (e.g. "yellowed" paper). Ethnographically, the term "yellow" has been used as a slang term for both Asians ("yellow peril") and, in the early 20th century, light-skinned African-Americans (High yellow). That is because the British empire and the cowboy from early American, as a colonist and militarian, use discrimination to the Asian and African people they ruled, and at time white color is superior, and black and yellow are inferior to them.
The only crime yellow did, is the yellow culture(黃色) in Chinese, which is similar to blue pornographic in English. The sin is the usage of yellow in language.
Carotenoids are organic pigments which give many biological objects, including egg yolks, autumn leaves and yellow flowers, their color. Yellow, like orange and red is healthy color.
What sin has Yellow done?
Yellow is the color of Philippine's People Power Revolution of 1986, yellow was the dominant theme, the color being associated with former Philippine President Corazon Aquino. It is now a symbol of both support for her as well as in commemoration of the popular revolt. Yellow is the color of people power, the color of democracy and freedom....
Yellow is the King color in Thailand. The Thai will wear yellow for 2- 3 weeks in and around the King's birthday. Yellow is also political fashion, it is the color of people who opposed to former Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra and his allies. The supporter of Thaksin Shinawatra wear red in Thailand. Some joked that orange, a mix of yellow and red, may be the best color to wear in Thai politics. I was once in dilemma when traveling from South Thailand to North Thailand, wonder what to wear in train and in the plane....but one thing remain, yellow or red, Thailand respect the freedom to fashion, and freedom to color....and the most important the freedom of expression....
Maybe during emergency of political demonstration, you need yellow pages to help you to locate your next help....Yellow, obviously is a color of help....
What can you see in yellow? a color of cleanliness, a color of purity, a color of truth, a color of loyalty, or a color of change.....yellow has no sin.....
Today I see yellow in my heart.....
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Patriotism, Politician & Soldiers.
Talking about patriotism, the litmus paper is the war time. The only time Malaysia ever have any modern war was the WW2; Emergency was just like small civil war, a war of ideology, a by product of cold war after WW2. Japanese occupation was the real test, a tribulation of 3 years and 8 months. During the time, there were war hero, who fight for Malaya against the Japanese. Looking at the war only with historical view, without any corruption from political and racial views, the majority who were in the anti-Japanese armies were the Chinese. This is historical fact, partly due to the political development in the Far East. They were soldiers, patriotic soldiers. So there is no reason that Malaysian Chinese are not interest in uniform.
Recently I look through on the military history of WW2, Malaya, and Japan; British had no plan to defense Malaya even before the war, they are more worry about their home country against the Nazi. May be they were over confidence that Imperial Japanese Army will not attack their Singapore, or they believe they have enough power to defend their fortress. Their best air defense was in Europe. When the war come, they are not prepared, they think only of evacuation of their own people. The Indian soldiers and Malayan soldiers were left behind to become POW. Their grand escape plan backfire, many end up in POW Camp or died in the sea of Java, only few who evacuated earlier managed to escape, and some lucky one. The escape of British colonist, revealed negatively on them, especially the Indian soldiers and local residents in Malaya. They were some brave soldiers, some battle, .....but not enough to protect Malaya, and in the end, the defeat of British empire in the most shameful war that British had ever fight.
The Indian had their dilemma, to believe the promise by the Imperial Japanese Army, that they will support their independence of India, or prepare to suffer under their occupation , or even go to POW Camp. Many aligned with the Japan initially and joined Indian National Army(INA), with anticipation for Japanese support for independence of India from British. But there were some who were ready to POW Camp. The aim of the army was to overthrow the British Raj in colonial India, with Japanese assistance. Initially composed of Indian prisoners of war captured by Japan in her Malayan campaign and at Singapore, it later drew volunteers from Indian expatriate population in Malaya and Burma. Some of the member of British Indian soldiers even provide information to Japan for their invasion of Malaya. Their main core of support was from Indian in Malaya, Singapore and Burma.
Initially formed in 1942 immediately after the fall of Singapore under Mohan Singh, the first INA collapsed in December that year before it was revived under the leadership of Subhas Chandra Bose in 1943 and proclaimed the army of Bose's Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind (The Provisional Government of Free India). This second INA fought along with the Imperial Japanese Army against the British and Commonwealth forces in the campaigns in Burma, Imphal and Kohima, and later, against the successful Burma Campaign of the Allies. The end of the war saw a large number of the troops repatriated to India where some faced trial for treason and became a galvanising point of the Indian Independence movement.
After Indian independence, the ex-INA members, with some exceptions, were refused service in the Indian Army. However, a number of notable members later became involved in local politic or public life in India and in Southeast Asia.
For further information on INA,,please read wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_National_Army. I have personally know some of ex-member of INA, one of them even become an active politician and public figure in Penang. They sincerely and strongly believe in the promise of Imperial Japanese Army.
The Malay was also indulged in the hope for independence of Malaya and Indonesia, and there was engagement and participation in the occupation government.
In administering Kedah, the Japanese implemented a policy of cooperation with the right winged elites. The then Monopoly and Customs Commissioner Tunku Muhamad Jiwa ibn Sultan Abdul Hamid and Ismail Harun (2nd assistant secretary) initiated the cooperation. The Kulim district officer also cooperated with the Japanese. In his speech aired by Radio Pulau Pinang, Tunku Abdul Rahman urged the people of Malaya and Sumatra to accept the Japanese occupation to avoid further bloodshed((by Abu Talib Ahmad). Even though the Malays (who are Muslims) and Indians were not badly treated by Japanese forces in the beginning of the occupation, later they too felt the hardship of life under the occupation and this was magnified by the brutal treatment of anyone who was suspected of being anti-Japanese (although hardly any atrocities were inflicted on them). Thus the SOE found a suitable backing among a few Malays and sent their officers to train local resistance forces famously known as Harimau Malaya Force 136 (Tigers of Malaya of Force 136). However, certain individuals in Malaya were strong supporters of the Japanese, and were actively involved in the notorious Kempeitai "mopping up" operations and other atrocities(source: wikipedia). Note: Force 136 was the general cover name for a branch of the British World War II organization, the Special Operations Executive (SOE)
But there were some individuals who joined Force 136 and Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA).
The battle of Bukit Panjang was fought mostly by the 1st Malay regiment with a little support from the British. Most of the men fought to the death and when they ran out of ammo,they charged with their bayonets at the enemy. But what really stood out was that though Lt Adnan was wounded,he fought on and in the end was hung from a tree and stabbed to death.
Tunku Osman Khalil Shah Tunku Muhammad Jiwa, a student from Hutching School, Penang was another hero from Force 136, and there were others. Some joined Harimau Malaya Force 136 (Tigers of Malaya of Force 136). Lieutenant Ibrahim bin Ismail (M.B.E.)who retired as a full general and chief of the Malaysian armed forces in the 1970s; Captain Hussein Onn, Malaysia's 3rd Prime Minister. They have served their country well....
For Force 136, there are books; but Wikipedia do have write up on the topic.It was interesting to know that some Canadian Chinese joined Force 136, one of them is Willie (Jun Wai) Chong, Frank Lee ,Victor Eric Wong , Paul Chan ,Harry Fong,Gordon J.K. Quan. What did these Canadian Chinese do in Malaya, risking their life with Force 136?. If you want to know the story, visit their website http://www.ccmms.ca/vets/ccmrem136.asp.
The rest was history......
The Chinese was the one that suffered most from Japanese Occupation; yet many also joined the resistance movement. Be it communist MPAJA or under Force 136. Many lost their life for the land they lived and love. They become soldiers, not their choice, but for the reason to take up arms against Imperial Japanese Army that occupy Malaya.
From time to time the MCP released policy statements or manifestos to the public. Below is Wikipedia's initial attempt to list them:
* 1940. Manifesto calling for expulsion of British imperialism.
* February 1943. Anti-Japanese Programme (nine points).
* 27 August 1945. Eight Point Manifesto. Generally moderate; the only demands objected to by the British were those for an elected assembly and a wide franchise. It "expressed the hope" (Cheah's words) that the British would consider granting self-government to Malaya.
MPAJA is not treated as part of the anti Japanese war and hence is excluded from the history book and museums. Some of the historian begin to argue that is MPAJA a patriotic force in history, and played a critical role in the independence of Malaya , like INA? Force 136?....
History tell us that at the political development of the world at the time; and the fight against independence from the colonist in Asian; many had believed in communist struggle for their independence. Burma, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaya...
After the war, the ugly side of the colonist returned, more chaos despite the war was over. Many freedom fighters failed to term with their colonist government when the war ended. They were not provide with political right to form a political party like Japanese Communist Party. Many were forced into the jungle to take up arm, and classified as terrorist by the colonist propaganda. That was the period we see the political struggle of the British Empire in Malaya, Burma and India, their swan days in Asia. They use their propaganda machine to discredit the independence fighters, trying to salvage their pride. The independence fighters lost the war, and history was not fair to them...and it just happen many of them were Chinese, it become blurred with racial tone....looking at the political scene in the world, it was just an ideology, a chosen way to make a political stance....they lost their life for their ideology, their home land, and their nation.....a cruel historical fact.
....the story and history were ..... tainted with wrong perception and polluted with hidden political agenda, not from the prospective of historical view, neither from the neutral view, but from the perspective of winner or losers...the winner write their history.....In war, for ordinary people, either way you loose.
The history proved that Chinese are patriotic, in war; but they preferred peace to make a living, in a fair and just environment. During the WW2, Emergency, Confrontation, there were still many Chinese soldiers who joined the government arm forces ; but there are many who choose to remain as an ordinary people, working hard, paying taxes.....the silence patriotic people, who despite having their political stance, silently contribute to society, their community, and the nation. No historian will remember them, for they are not soldiers in the battlefields, but brave patriotic solders in their own life.....
Going back to the Canadian Chinese who joined Force 136, and those who participated in WW2 as soldiers, they were recognized by the open minded Canadian government, despite fighting a war in Malaya, and not Canada.....
Politician are politician; wearing a mask, either way they win....they make policy, some are not good one, with their political power, they can justify it. They write new history, in tune with their political agenda, history that they want to see, history that please them.....and they can change often. Great nation is the one who has confidence to accept their identity, their history, good or ugly, as genuine history. There were opportunists in the WW2, traitors to the land and people, who cooperate with the enemy, but transformed to become hero, public figure, politician, millionaires.....after the war. Many change their hats, as pure blood opportunist, they want to change their history, to erase their past life. But people who died during the war, lived through the war, know their history, their ugly past.
But the fact remain, patriotism is from the heart, at the moment of war, when it out pour; regardless of other factors, just for the land and family. Even they are not soldiers....
A simple fact for simple man....a patriotic person will let the next generation know their historical truth, and not to erase the truth from their children...... the internet world will play the role to continue telling the truth, if you know to differentiate the reliable source.
...We really need to learn from the German.......
Still remember Bunga Raya?......
Suggested articles
1. MUSEUMS AND THE JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF MALAYA,by Abu Talib Ahmad,
http://eprints.usm.my/1018/ /Museums_and_the_Japanese_Occupation_of_Malaya_%28Abu_Talib_Ahmad%29.pdf( Interesting article, as the author traced the history of WW2 in the museums)
2.Chapman, Freddie Spencer. The Jungle is neutral. Lyon Press. ISBN 1-59228-107-9.
3.WILLIE CHONG, http://williechong.com/
4. Force 136, http://www.ccmms.ca/vets/ccm136.asp
Recently I look through on the military history of WW2, Malaya, and Japan; British had no plan to defense Malaya even before the war, they are more worry about their home country against the Nazi. May be they were over confidence that Imperial Japanese Army will not attack their Singapore, or they believe they have enough power to defend their fortress. Their best air defense was in Europe. When the war come, they are not prepared, they think only of evacuation of their own people. The Indian soldiers and Malayan soldiers were left behind to become POW. Their grand escape plan backfire, many end up in POW Camp or died in the sea of Java, only few who evacuated earlier managed to escape, and some lucky one. The escape of British colonist, revealed negatively on them, especially the Indian soldiers and local residents in Malaya. They were some brave soldiers, some battle, .....but not enough to protect Malaya, and in the end, the defeat of British empire in the most shameful war that British had ever fight.
The Indian had their dilemma, to believe the promise by the Imperial Japanese Army, that they will support their independence of India, or prepare to suffer under their occupation , or even go to POW Camp. Many aligned with the Japan initially and joined Indian National Army(INA), with anticipation for Japanese support for independence of India from British. But there were some who were ready to POW Camp. The aim of the army was to overthrow the British Raj in colonial India, with Japanese assistance. Initially composed of Indian prisoners of war captured by Japan in her Malayan campaign and at Singapore, it later drew volunteers from Indian expatriate population in Malaya and Burma. Some of the member of British Indian soldiers even provide information to Japan for their invasion of Malaya. Their main core of support was from Indian in Malaya, Singapore and Burma.
Initially formed in 1942 immediately after the fall of Singapore under Mohan Singh, the first INA collapsed in December that year before it was revived under the leadership of Subhas Chandra Bose in 1943 and proclaimed the army of Bose's Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind (The Provisional Government of Free India). This second INA fought along with the Imperial Japanese Army against the British and Commonwealth forces in the campaigns in Burma, Imphal and Kohima, and later, against the successful Burma Campaign of the Allies. The end of the war saw a large number of the troops repatriated to India where some faced trial for treason and became a galvanising point of the Indian Independence movement.
After Indian independence, the ex-INA members, with some exceptions, were refused service in the Indian Army. However, a number of notable members later became involved in local politic or public life in India and in Southeast Asia.
For further information on INA,,please read wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_National_Army. I have personally know some of ex-member of INA, one of them even become an active politician and public figure in Penang. They sincerely and strongly believe in the promise of Imperial Japanese Army.
The Malay was also indulged in the hope for independence of Malaya and Indonesia, and there was engagement and participation in the occupation government.
In administering Kedah, the Japanese implemented a policy of cooperation with the right winged elites. The then Monopoly and Customs Commissioner Tunku Muhamad Jiwa ibn Sultan Abdul Hamid and Ismail Harun (2nd assistant secretary) initiated the cooperation. The Kulim district officer also cooperated with the Japanese. In his speech aired by Radio Pulau Pinang, Tunku Abdul Rahman urged the people of Malaya and Sumatra to accept the Japanese occupation to avoid further bloodshed((by Abu Talib Ahmad). Even though the Malays (who are Muslims) and Indians were not badly treated by Japanese forces in the beginning of the occupation, later they too felt the hardship of life under the occupation and this was magnified by the brutal treatment of anyone who was suspected of being anti-Japanese (although hardly any atrocities were inflicted on them). Thus the SOE found a suitable backing among a few Malays and sent their officers to train local resistance forces famously known as Harimau Malaya Force 136 (Tigers of Malaya of Force 136). However, certain individuals in Malaya were strong supporters of the Japanese, and were actively involved in the notorious Kempeitai "mopping up" operations and other atrocities(source: wikipedia). Note: Force 136 was the general cover name for a branch of the British World War II organization, the Special Operations Executive (SOE)
But there were some individuals who joined Force 136 and Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA).
The battle of Bukit Panjang was fought mostly by the 1st Malay regiment with a little support from the British. Most of the men fought to the death and when they ran out of ammo,they charged with their bayonets at the enemy. But what really stood out was that though Lt Adnan was wounded,he fought on and in the end was hung from a tree and stabbed to death.
Tunku Osman Khalil Shah Tunku Muhammad Jiwa, a student from Hutching School, Penang was another hero from Force 136, and there were others. Some joined Harimau Malaya Force 136 (Tigers of Malaya of Force 136). Lieutenant Ibrahim bin Ismail (M.B.E.)who retired as a full general and chief of the Malaysian armed forces in the 1970s; Captain Hussein Onn, Malaysia's 3rd Prime Minister. They have served their country well....
For Force 136, there are books; but Wikipedia do have write up on the topic.It was interesting to know that some Canadian Chinese joined Force 136, one of them is Willie (Jun Wai) Chong, Frank Lee ,Victor Eric Wong , Paul Chan ,Harry Fong,Gordon J.K. Quan. What did these Canadian Chinese do in Malaya, risking their life with Force 136?. If you want to know the story, visit their website http://www.ccmms.ca/vets/ccmrem136.asp.
The rest was history......
The Chinese was the one that suffered most from Japanese Occupation; yet many also joined the resistance movement. Be it communist MPAJA or under Force 136. Many lost their life for the land they lived and love. They become soldiers, not their choice, but for the reason to take up arms against Imperial Japanese Army that occupy Malaya.
From time to time the MCP released policy statements or manifestos to the public. Below is Wikipedia's initial attempt to list them:
* 1940. Manifesto calling for expulsion of British imperialism.
* February 1943. Anti-Japanese Programme (nine points).
* 27 August 1945. Eight Point Manifesto. Generally moderate; the only demands objected to by the British were those for an elected assembly and a wide franchise. It "expressed the hope" (Cheah's words) that the British would consider granting self-government to Malaya.
MPAJA is not treated as part of the anti Japanese war and hence is excluded from the history book and museums. Some of the historian begin to argue that is MPAJA a patriotic force in history, and played a critical role in the independence of Malaya , like INA? Force 136?....
History tell us that at the political development of the world at the time; and the fight against independence from the colonist in Asian; many had believed in communist struggle for their independence. Burma, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaya...
After the war, the ugly side of the colonist returned, more chaos despite the war was over. Many freedom fighters failed to term with their colonist government when the war ended. They were not provide with political right to form a political party like Japanese Communist Party. Many were forced into the jungle to take up arm, and classified as terrorist by the colonist propaganda. That was the period we see the political struggle of the British Empire in Malaya, Burma and India, their swan days in Asia. They use their propaganda machine to discredit the independence fighters, trying to salvage their pride. The independence fighters lost the war, and history was not fair to them...and it just happen many of them were Chinese, it become blurred with racial tone....looking at the political scene in the world, it was just an ideology, a chosen way to make a political stance....they lost their life for their ideology, their home land, and their nation.....a cruel historical fact.
....the story and history were ..... tainted with wrong perception and polluted with hidden political agenda, not from the prospective of historical view, neither from the neutral view, but from the perspective of winner or losers...the winner write their history.....In war, for ordinary people, either way you loose.
The history proved that Chinese are patriotic, in war; but they preferred peace to make a living, in a fair and just environment. During the WW2, Emergency, Confrontation, there were still many Chinese soldiers who joined the government arm forces ; but there are many who choose to remain as an ordinary people, working hard, paying taxes.....the silence patriotic people, who despite having their political stance, silently contribute to society, their community, and the nation. No historian will remember them, for they are not soldiers in the battlefields, but brave patriotic solders in their own life.....
Going back to the Canadian Chinese who joined Force 136, and those who participated in WW2 as soldiers, they were recognized by the open minded Canadian government, despite fighting a war in Malaya, and not Canada.....
Politician are politician; wearing a mask, either way they win....they make policy, some are not good one, with their political power, they can justify it. They write new history, in tune with their political agenda, history that they want to see, history that please them.....and they can change often. Great nation is the one who has confidence to accept their identity, their history, good or ugly, as genuine history. There were opportunists in the WW2, traitors to the land and people, who cooperate with the enemy, but transformed to become hero, public figure, politician, millionaires.....after the war. Many change their hats, as pure blood opportunist, they want to change their history, to erase their past life. But people who died during the war, lived through the war, know their history, their ugly past.
But the fact remain, patriotism is from the heart, at the moment of war, when it out pour; regardless of other factors, just for the land and family. Even they are not soldiers....
A simple fact for simple man....a patriotic person will let the next generation know their historical truth, and not to erase the truth from their children...... the internet world will play the role to continue telling the truth, if you know to differentiate the reliable source.
...We really need to learn from the German.......
Still remember Bunga Raya?......
Suggested articles
1. MUSEUMS AND THE JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF MALAYA,by Abu Talib Ahmad,
http://eprints.usm.my/1018/ /Museums_and_the_Japanese_Occupation_of_Malaya_%28Abu_Talib_Ahmad%29.pdf( Interesting article, as the author traced the history of WW2 in the museums)
2.Chapman, Freddie Spencer. The Jungle is neutral. Lyon Press. ISBN 1-59228-107-9.
3.WILLIE CHONG, http://williechong.com/
4. Force 136, http://www.ccmms.ca/vets/ccm136.asp
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