Datukship goes to Bollywood

When we say Malaysian politicians never fail to amuse us, it's not an exaggeration.

The Malacca chief minister Mohd Ali Rustam's decision to confer a datukship to Sharukh Khan, the heartthrob of Bollywood is simply amazing. The amazement in fact has puzzled most minds in Malaysia. When pressed for deriving such decision Ali Rustam said, the actor has been recommended by Daim Zainuddin. The justification is because Khan has shot a number of movies in Malacca that made the state to become famous as tourist destination.

I wonder if it was because of Sharukh Khan, what was the role then for the tourism minister of Malaysia. We understand the tourism ministry spent millions of ringgits to promote Malaysia, where Malacca is a part of. Does it mean the effort and money spent by ministry to promote Malaysia a waste and ineffective?

It's not a question whether Sharukh Khan deserves the conferment of datukship but the merits the state considered to confer such honour to him. Don't we have many deserving Malaysians who could be considered for datukship? I see it as an insult to those individuals who have contributed enormously to Malaysia. All the chief of minister of Malacca has to do is to look around for a fireman, a nurse, a doctor, or a good Samaritan who runs an orphanage home. All of them are individuals who have dedicated their lives to help and save others. Their contribution cannot be equated with ringgit and sen.

And finally if this is the level of wisdom the chief minister projects to convince Malaysians to become a future DPM, it is not at all surprises me when Dr.Mahathir called him and the likes of him as bunch of jokers!

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri

To All Our Muslim Friends I Wish You Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri. Maaf Zahir dan Batin!

Dear RPK.....

Let others lead small lives,

but not you.

Let others argue over small things,

but not you.

Let others cry over small hurts,

but not you.

Let others leave their future in someone else's hands,

but not you.

A Very Happy Birthday To You,

Warrior RPK!

Saluting RPK …..

In a time of uncertainties when the nation is ruled by people who are aliens to virtues and values, we have defenders like you RPK who risks his own life for the sake of truth and justice. I can’t thank you enough for inspiring this nation.

And for that I dedicate the following quotes in honouring you!

On your attributes as true Muslim

“The best of persons in God's sight is the best amongst his friends; and the best of neighbors near God is the best person in his own neighborhood.”

- Prophet Muhammad (570-632)

(RPK, you are indeed one of the best as the thousands supporting are the testimony to your credit)

“Do you love your creator? Love your fellow-beings first.”

- Prophet Muhammad (570-632)

(We believe you are truthful to god as we can see how much love ordinary Malaysians have for you)

“This world is a prison for the Faithful, but a Paradise for unbelievers.”

- Prophet Muhammad (570-632)

(Your preference to be jailed for the sake of truth proves your faithfulness to god)

On your fight for equality among races and religion

“I detest racialism, because I regard it as a barbaric thing, whether it comes from a black man or a white man”

-Nelson Mandela

“As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

-Nelson Mandela

“Before the throne of the Almighty, man will be judged not by his acts but by his intentions. For God alone reads our hearts.”

-Mahatma Ghandi

“A religion that takes no account of practical affairs and does not help to solve them is no religion.”

-Mahatma Ghandi

On your spirit and strength to fight injustice

“The time comes in the life of any nation when there remains only two choices - submit or fight. That time has now come to South Africa. We shall not submit and we have no choice but to hit back by all means in our power in defense of our people, our”

-Nelson Mandela

“It is said that no-one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails. A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones,”

-Nelson Mandela

“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”

-Mahatma Ghandi

“I believe that a man is the strongest soldier for daring to die unarmed.”

-Mahatma Ghandi

May god bless you, Theresa and all other ISA detainees. Thank you Heroes!

Inept Accolade to Award

In The Star yesterday, a particular topic caught my interest. “What a Howling Shame” by Veera Pandiyan in his column "Along the Watch Tower" was in reference to the “impeccable” English applied in an advertorial in the NST on 23.8.08. This is what I wrote to Malaysiakini on the following day, 24 .8.08 expressing my dismay . Surprisingly it did not get published.

I reproduce the same here, please read...

University Tun Hussein Onn, published an advertorial in the NST (23.8.08) on page page 43, to congratulate Her Highness, Yang Amat Mulia Raja Zarith Sofiah, on the award of an honorary doctorate of Philosophy in Education at its 7^th convocation ceremony.

Virtually every sentence in every paragraph is not only wrong grammatically, the gender of Her Highness has also been changed. One has to pause and wonder with dismay and disgust at the ineptitude of the administrators of this University who are guilty of gross negligence in allowing this advertorial to be published.

They are also guilty of committing an act bordering “Lese Majeste” (disrespect of Royalty) to not only the recipient of the award but also to the chancellor of the University, who happens to be her husband, His Highness the Tengku Mahkota of Johor.

Her Highness Raja Zarith Sofiah, is a lady who is an author of distinction who writes in beautiful English. Her writing on family values, ethical behaviour as well as her pieces on “Mind Matters” have been well received by her numerous readers.

This advertorial demeans Her Highness and all that she has achieved. If this is the level of competence in the English language at tertiary level, especially amongst University administrators and academics, then it is indeed a very sorry state of affairs.

The minister of Higher Education should ensure that those responsible for the publication of this gibberish should publicly apologize to their majesties. The Vice-Chancellor should take responsibility of this disgraceful episode and resign forthwith.

All institutions of higher learning in this country have been tainted by this advertorial. Perhaps the NIE should conduct a suitable programme to ensure all administrators and academics in our Institutions of higher learning are competent in the English Language.

This is the original piece appeared in NST ( An apology was made in the same paper later)