Kathmandu & Kuala Lumpur - Earthquake

An eight-month pregnant mother was among 104 Malaysians who arrived safely at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM) Base, Subang, from Kathmandu, Nepal in a TUDM C-130 aircraft early this morning.

Sheila Vandalasamy, 34, who works at the Malaysian Embassy's Immigration Division in Kathmandu, returned home with husband A. Kumaraw, 37.

"This is the first time we had such a terrifying experience (the earthquake). Prior to this, there were tremors, but they were small. Our house in Kathmandu suddenly shook that morning (Saturday). We rushed out of the house when it started shaking and household items fell to the floor and broke," she told reporters met at her home at 12.30am today.

Sheila said every second was a very fearful one before the arrival of the rescue team due to the aftershocks and all buildings shaking.

She said, the experience of witnessing bodies sprawled in the ruins of buildings and the shouts of people who tried to save themselves or looked for loved ones, would not never be forgotten.

Meanwhile, Nazahiyah Muhd Hadzir, 30, one of the 13 participants of a High Altitude Ride who was met at the base, said during the incident she was purchasing some essential items at a sundry shop in the town.

She said suddenly the shophouse shook and she was almost thrown out of the shop when attempting to save herself.

"I saw people running for cover, and I heard people shouting earthquake. I saw the shop started to crack and collapse. There were bodies all over the place," she said.

All the Malaysians who arrived home departed from the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu last night (April 28).

They were received by family members and friends who started gathering at the TUDM base since yesterday evening.

The flight by the C-130 to Kathmandu also had 30 members of the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team and 20 medical officers from Mercy Malaysia and the Malaysian Red Crescent Society on board to help the earthquake victims.

The earthquake, measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale, hit Nepal in the area between the capital, Kathmandu and the town of Pokhara at 2.56pm (Malaysian Time) on Saturday. Several aftershocks also took place.

So far, the earthquake, the worst to have struck Nepal in 81 years, is  reported to have left more than 5,000 people dead with 8,000 more injured. – Bernama, April 29, 2015.

lvbala said;

WHERE IS MERCY from Kuala Lumpur Malaysia? Oh ya, its not a Muslim country and so let it be as it is. Mercy only goes to Muslim countries because they are the only human living in the mother earth.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/malaysians-recount-terrifying-experience-in-nepal-bernama#sthash.Y51RlqyQ.dpuf

All comments are good comments. There are no bad comments or good comments. So everyone have the right to comment. How about you?

PM Najib Must Answer - Pak lah

Another pressure mounted on PM Najib to hold responsible and answer all pending unanswered questions. 

Malaysian former fifth prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who is well known by the name Pak Lah, echos and strengthen the claim made by the fouth prime minister Tun Mahathir that Najid should be hold responsible for all the questions while he was in charge.

"Because he is the prime minister, anybody who is the prime minister has the responsibility to tell the people," Abdullah said after opening a seminar on biodiversity and conservation in Kuala Lumpur.

He said, as a Prime Minister of the country, Najib is in his best position to answer all question raised by opposition, the rakyat, and must be accountable for country's need.

At the same time, Permatang Pauh battle shall be in the ring on the 07th May 2015 and PM's answers are vital to influence rakyat's decision.

All comments are good comments. There are no bad comments or good comments. So everyone have the right to comment. How about you?

Padang Besar Hospital Project Cancelled

Putrajaya will not go ahead with the Padang Besar Hospital project in Perlis citing economic situation, said Perlis Health and Rural Development Committee chairman, Jafperi Othman.

Speaking to Bernama, he said the Economic Planning Unit in the Prime Minister's Department was forced to make the decision despite the state asking that the project be given priority.

"This project is important for Perlis residents in the long term. That is why we want it to proceeed," Jafperi said in Kangar yesterday.

The hospital project is part of Barisan Nasional's promise during the 13th general election in 2013.

Meanwhile, Jafperi said the contruction of a new building besides the Padang Besar District Health Clinic will be completed and can cater to 200 patients. – April 22, 2015.

lvbala;

Hospital for Rakyat (public) cancelled but million can be spent to buy official aircraft. Luxury trip using official transport to go around the world from Los Angeles to Dubai till London which amounting to millions can be spent but a hospital for the poor and needy can't be built because of insufficient of fund.

macam macam PM....

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/putrajaya-cancels-perlis-hospital-project-citing-economic-situation#sthash.biwbcxfy.dpuf

Sedition Act On The Protesters

The Cabinet today agreed that police must investigate the protest by a group of residents against a church in Taman Medan, and warned that action could be taken under the law.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said that the Sedition Act or other existing laws could be used against the protesters.

"The protesters should have discussed with the church, instead of taking actions that have created worry and restlessness in this multi-racial country.

"Police will investigate the group that protested in Taman Medan. If they are found to have violated any laws, action can be taken under the Sedition Act or other laws," Najib said in a statement this evening.

"The people must abide by the country's laws and practice respect of other religions as enshrined in the Constitution.

"We also need to have an attitude of tolerance and mutual respect among communities of different religions," Najib said.

In the incident on Sunday, some 50 people gathered outside the new church to demand that the cross affixed to the building be removed.

The protesters said the presence of a cross in a Muslim-majority area posed a challenge to Islam and could sway the faith of youths in their community. The cross was taken down by church leaders a few hours later.

The Selangor government today announced that the church did not need to register itself with the local authorities nor did it need a permit to operate on the basis of constitutional guarantees on the freedom of religion.

The Inspector-General (IGP) of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar and Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi were initially at odds over whether the protest was seditious.

The IGP cleared the protesters of any wrongdoing, saying that they were only protesting the location of the church and were not against Christianity itself.

But Zahid said the protesters's actions were seditious and action could be taken against them.

Khalid today said the police would investigate the matter and he would not interfere, even if action was taken against his older brother, Datuk Abdullah Abu Bakar, who had participated in the protest. – April 21, 2015.

lvbala said;

I dont have any confident if this shall be taken into consideration by investigating the protesters. When its done, than I shall comment. But most likely this is just a gimic.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/cabinet-orders-police-probe-on-church-protestors-says-najib#sthash.IKMUswGb.dpuf

All comments are good comments. There are no bad comments or good comments. So everyone have the right to comment. How about you?

Wardina Safiyyah - Artist With Brain

Local celebrity Wardina Safiyyah Fadlullah Wilmot has joined social media users in condemning the protest by Muslim residents outside a church in Taman Medan, Petaling Jaya, two days ago and even apologised on their behalf for the disrespectful act.

"Please send my love to the Pastor and convey my apologies to the Christians in Taman Medan.

"To my fellow Muslims in Taman Medan – Your behaviour is not ‘Islam’," she wrote on her Facebook page yesterday.

Wardina, who is currently furthering her studies in Australia, said she hoped the cross, which was taken down on Sunday following the protest, would be reinstalled in its original place.

"Please don't take it down. My heart goes out to my Christian brothers and sisters. I am so sorry that you are being bullied by my fellow Muslims," she said.

Expressing her surprise by the incident, she said for centuries, including the times of Prophet Muhammad, Muslims have lived harmoniously with the Christians.

"I believe the Christians to be the closest to us Muslims," she added.

Now staying in Australia, Wardina said she understood how it felt to be a minority, how hurtful it could be being bullied because of your faith and what it means to have support by a non-Muslim standing in solidarity.

"When a non-Muslim supports us Muslims here in Australia, I am so grateful and thankful. It means a lot. I hope we lend our support to the Christians when some of ‘us’ treats them with such harshness," she said.

It was reported that about 50 residents gathered outside a new church in Taman Medan on Sunday to demand that the cross affixed to the house of worship be removed as it was "challenging Islam".

The protesters said the presence of a cross in a Muslim-majority area posed a challenge to the religion and could sway the faith of the youth.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/local-celebrity-slams-cross-protesters-for-being-disrespectful#sthash.BBbSvJVM.dpufMuslim residents outside a church in Taman Medan, Petaling Jaya, two days ago and even apologised on their behalf for the disrespectful act.

"Please send my love to the Pastor and convey my apologies to the Christians in Taman Medan.

"To my fellow Muslims in Taman Medan – Your behaviour is not ‘Islam’," she wrote on her Facebook page yesterday.

Wardina, who is currently furthering her studies in Australia, said she hoped the cross, which was taken down on Sunday following the protest, would be reinstalled in its original place.

"Please don't take it down. My heart goes out to my Christian brothers and sisters. I am so sorry that you are being bullied by my fellow Muslims," she said.

Expressing her surprise by the incident, she said for centuries, including the times of Prophet Muhammad, Muslims have lived harmoniously with the Christians.

"I believe the Christians to be the closest to us Muslims," she added.

Now staying in Australia, Wardina said she understood how it felt to be a minority, how hurtful it could be being bullied because of your faith and what it means to have support by a non-Muslim standing in solidarity.

"When a non-Muslim supports us Muslims here in Australia, I am so grateful and thankful. It means a lot. I hope we lend our support to the Christians when some of ‘us’ treats them with such harshness," she said.

It was reported that about 50 residents gathered outside a new church in Taman Medan on Sunday to demand that the cross affixed to the house of worship be removed as it was "challenging Islam".

The protesters said the presence of a cross in a Muslim-majority area posed a challenge to the religion and could sway the faith of the youth.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/local-celebrity-slams-cross-protesters-for-being-disrespectful#sthash.BBbSvJVM.dpuf

All comments are good comments. There are no bad comments or good comments. So everyone have the right to comment. How about you?

Malaysia is Not An Islamic Country

Religious extremists would be encouraged to trample on the rights of Malaysians of other faiths, should no action be taken against Sunday's church protesters in Taman Medan, Petaling Jaya, said a group of former Malay high-ranking civil servants.

"Firm action must be taken against the ‘ignorant, intolerant’ Muslims who protested for the removal of a cross from a church," the group dubbed G25 said today.

"It will also provide damning evidence to the international community that Malaysia is no longer a country where racial harmony reigns and religious freedom is practised.

“This unfortunate incident, happening so close to the questionable guidelines issued by Jakim (Malaysian Islamic Development Department) on entertainers, will have serious implications on our economy as it may well frighten away foreign investors as well as tourists," said G25, referring also to the proposed guidelines which the department announced on Saturday which included gender segregation at concerts.

G25 added that the protesters' actions were an embarrassment to Islam and proved they were ignorant of the tenets of their own faith, which preached tolerance and respect for all religions.

"This abhorrent act of intolerance and bigotry against another religion's place of worship has no place in Islam and deserves the strongest condemnation.

"The protesters are obviously ignorant of the tenets of their faith and need to deepen their knowledge of Islam and of Islamic history."

The group said Islam's history was rich with examples of tolerance and respect for other faiths and their places of worship. 

It cited an example in which Prophet Muhammad allowed a visiting Christian delegation from Yemen, led by their bishop, to pray in his mosque in Madinah.

"The Taman Medan protestors, by their crude, disrespectful and unreasonable behaviour, have tarnished the image of Islam, the very religion they claim to 'protect'.

"Islam is a religion of peace, mercy and compassion and there is no place in Islam for intolerance towards other faiths and their places of worship," said G25.

On Sunday, some 50 people gathered outside the new church, which is housed in a corner shop lot, to demand the removal of a cross affixed to the building.

The protesters reportedly said the presence of a cross in a Muslim-majority area posed a challenge to the religion and could sway the faith of the youth.

The cross was taken down by church leaders a few hours later.

However, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said yesterday there was no element of sedition in the protest as the demonstration was not against Christianity, but the location of the church in a largely Malay-Muslim neighbourhood.

"We do not see it as seditious as it did not touch on Christianity but only on the location of the church," he said.

"The cross was taken down following the community's request. There was no violence," Khalid had said, adding that the matter was deemed a community issue, and had been left to the Petaling Jaya City Council and the Selangor government to deal with.

But later that day, Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi contradicted the IGP and insisted that the protest was seditious.

"Of course! Yes, yes, yes!" he was quoted as saying.

"I am very colour-blind. The police (are) very colour blind. Action has to be taken or will be taken against them."

Zahid, who is also Umno vice-president, was reported as saying that party members ‎who had joined in the protest would have disciplinary action taken against them.

"Of course, of course, of course... Because they are breaching the law. In Umno, we have to respect other religions. They have to face the consequences." – April 21, 2015.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/act-firmly-against-ignorant-cross-protesters-says-g25#sthash.3fB7TtlT.dpuf

lvbala said;

Yes, if we look at the way we are heading, we are going towards building a nation with out any tolerance. Let it be  religion, let it be politics or let it be anything to do with other religion. 

What I am focusing now is simply, is to high light that Malaysia is going towards a direction where by we are losing our trademark as a multi religious country. This is because some quarter in this country is focusing on making this country as an Islamic country and some even claiming this is an Islamic country. 

Are we? Can any one comment on this to show you actually know and aware where and what we are standing.

Out country is not an Islamic country. Malaysia is not an Islamic country. Because we don't practice Islamic law. Islam is the official religion but it doesn't make us an Islamic country. Bahasa Malaysia is our official religion but it doesn't make us becoming a Malay.

And so to all those who never understood this, please open your mind because mind is like a parachute, its only works when it open.  

Cheers.

All comments are good comments. There are no bad comments or good comments. So everyone have the right to comment. How about you?

55 or 60?

brahim seorang pesara kerajaan, namun dia turut menentang cadangan mengubah had umur pekerja sektor swasta mengeluarkan simpanan mereka daripada 55 kepada 60.

Kritikan terhadap cadangan Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP) menonjolkan sekali lagi masalah gaji rendah di kalangan majoriti rakyat Malaysia yang membawa kepada simpanan persaraan yang sedikit.

Hujah yang mengatakan ia meningkatkan simpanan mereka juga tidak dipedulikan kerana pekerja tidak mempercayai Putrajaya menguruskan wang mereka dengan baik.

Juga, cadangan itu terlepas pandang hakikat kebanyakan rakyat Malaysia tidak menghabiskan simpanan persaraan mereka dengan bijak, kata seorang perancang kewangan.

"Tidak kira jika anda mengeluarkan simpanan pada umur 55 atau 60, atau berapa banyak wang yang anda ada. Jika anda tidak menguruskannya dengan baik, tidak kira berapa banyak wang anda ada, ia masih akan habis dalam beberapa tahun sahaja," katanya yang tidak mahu dikenali.

Nilai faedah kompaun

Bagi KWSP, dengan menunggu lima tahun lagi, pencarum boleh mendapat sehingga lebih 33% dalam simpanan mereka, hasil faedah kompaun daripada dividen tahunan dana itu.

Sebagai contoh, seorang pencarum yang menyimpan sehingga RM100,000 pada usia 55 tahun boleh mendapat tambahan RM33,000 jika dia mengeluarkannya pada usia 60, jika KWSP membayar dividen sekurang-kurangnya 6% setiap tahun dalam tempoh lima tahun itu.

Dalam taklimat KWSP semalam, dua kes pencarum memperoleh RM3,000 sebulan dan mengumpul RM100,000 pada usia 55 dibandingkan.

Tetapi Ibrahim, bekas kakitangan awam dari Klang, masih sangsi dengan hujah KWSP bahawa pulangan lebih tinggi pada umur 60.

"Simpanan itu merupakan ganjaran bagi titik peluh mereka yang mereka usahakan hingga berumur 55 tahun. Itu yang mereka tunggu-tunggu dan digunakan untuk membayar segala pinjaman yang masih berbaki supaya boleh bersara dengan selesa.

"Terdapat kebimbangan yang walaupun mereka mendapat lebih banyak apabila mereka mengeluarkan caruman pada usia 60, mereka tidak akan dapat menikmatinya jika mati beberapa tahun selepas itu," kata Ibrahim, yang tidak mahu memberikan nama penuhnya.

Pekerja sektor swasta, Abdul Rahman Mohd Said, setuju dengan sentimen itu, mengatakan golongan umur 50an mempunyai jangkaan berbeza berapa lama lagi mereka akan hidup.

Seseorang yang menginjak usia 55 tahun menjangkakan akan hidup sihat sehingga usia 60, itulah sebabnya mereka mahu mengambil simpanan mereka dan menikmatinya untuk tempoh lima tahun selepas itu, kata Rahman.

"Bagi umat Islam, terutama dalam kumpulan umur 55 hingga 60 tahun, ini waktu mereka ingin menunaikan ibadah haji. Jadi mereka mahu mengeluarkan simpanan dalam usia 55. Mereka tidak mengharapkan hidup lama selepas 60."

George, seorang perancang kewangan, berkata sikap mengenai simpanan KWSP adalah kesilapan biasa ramai orang.

Perancang kewangan sepertinya menasihati pelanggan agar menganggap simpanan mereka sebagai dana pencen kerajaan, di mana pencarum mengeluarkan jumlah tertentu setiap bulan untuk dibelanjakan atas makanan dan utiliti.

"Ia tidak sepatutnya digunakan untuk membayar pinjaman kereta atau pendidikan anak-anak anda atau pergi bercuti. Ia hanya untuk perbelanjaan bulanan anda."

Malah, KWSP sendiri melihat simpanan itu dalam bentuk yang sama.

Dalam perkirannya, pekerja yang bersara tahun ini harus ada sekurang-kurangnya RM196,800 simpanan bagi menampung kos kehidupan sekurang-kurangnya RM800 sebulan.

Rahman, yang akan mencapai 55 dalam tempoh enam tahun, berkata aspek ini – kesedaran dan nasihat kewangan – tidak diberikan semasa KWSP membuat cadangannya, menyebabkan ramai yang menentang cadangan itu.

"Jika anda menekankan idea menggunakan simpanan anda sebagai sistem pencen, mungkin orang akan terbuka kepada cadangan itu."

Defisit amanah

Para pencarum juga sangsi dengan cadangan itu kerana ia dibuat ketika hampir semua orang tahu mengenai skandal kewangan 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) dan akibatnya kepada negara.

"Ramai pekerja hilang keyakinan KWSP menguruskan wang mereka dengan baik," kata Setiausaha Agung Kongres Kesatuan Sekerja Malaysia (MUTC), N. Gopal Kishnam (gambar, kiri).

"Terdapat kebimbangan wang itu akan digunakan untuk urus niaga perniagaan yang boleh dipersoalkan dan itulah kebimbangan besar di kalangan pekerja."

Disember lalu, Kesatuan Kebangsaan Pekerja-pekerja Bank (NUBE) membangkitkan kemungkinan dana KWSP digunakan untuk melabur dalam 1MDB.

Walaupun Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif KWSP Datuk Shahril Ridza Ridzuan berkata tidak pernah ditawarkan membeli saham dalam syarikat-syarikat 1MDB, ini masih tidak menenangkan kebimbangan.

"Persoalannya ialah, mengapa mereka mengubah peraturan ini sekarang?" kata Rahman, menjelaskan kesangsian orang ramai ke atas motif KWSP berdasarkan kes 1MDB itu.

Kebimbangan simpanan KWSP akan disalah urus dan menghasilkan dividen lebih rendah dirasakan mereka yang berpendapatan rendah, kerana golongan ini bergantung sepenuhnya kepada simpanan persaraan mereka bagi segala-galanya.

"Bagi pekerja kelas pertengahan, mereka mempunyai wang mencukupi untuk membeli insurans, mengadakan tabung pendidikan untuk anak dan membayar pinjaman mereka," kata George.

"Tetapi bagi mereka yang berpendapatan rendah, mereka tidak mempunyai apa-apa simpanan lain di hujung bulan."

Inilah sebab mengapa menurut Ibrahim, bagi sesetengah orang, mereka tidak banyak pilihan selain menggunakan simpanan KWSP bagi membayar pinjaman atau membiayai pendidikan universiti anak-anak.

Menurut kajian Institut Penyelidikan Khazanah pada 2014, 62% daripada pencarum aktif KWSP memperoleh pendapatan kurang daripada RM2,000 sebulan.

Oleh kerana gaji memang sentiasa rendah, terutamanya dalam sektor pembuatan dan perkhidmatan berkemahiran rendah, jumlah caruman kepada KWSP juga rendah, kata Gopal.

Ini seterusnya memberi kesan kepada jumlah simpanan persaraan mereka memandangkan dividen KWSP kini masih dalam angka tunggal.

Jadi, penyelesaian sebenar untuk meningkatkan simpanan persaraan tidak terletak sepenuhnya kepada KWSP, kata ahli ekonomi Azrul Azwar Ahmad Tajuddin.

Putrajaya perlu juga memastikan gaji pekerja dinaikkan dengan adil dan kerap, sepadan dengan produktiviti serta inflasi supaya pekerja mempunyai wang mencukupi untuk hidup sehingga selepas mereka bersara. – 21 April, 2015.

Comments :

Dah cukup la dengan drama dan cerita dongeng semata mata nak gelap kan duit rakyat. Jangan lah cuba nak guling duit rakyat, cukup lah dengan tanya soal yg timbul mengenai wang 1MDB. Tak perlu lah nak uar ura, nak cuba cuba nak tolong tolong rakyat.... 

Orang tua kata, kalau makan duit titik peluh orang, nanti tak senang hidup kita anak beranak nanti, jadi tak payah lah nak berangan angan mat jenin.... 

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/bahasa/article/mengapa-ramai-tidak-percaya-cadangan-kwsp-walaupun-ia-bernas#sthash.3HtnJSfG.dpuf

All comments are good comments. There are no bad comments or good comments. So everyone have the right to comment. How about you?

Sun Bear Recovering

The sick sun bear found near Sibu early this month is now able to eat and climb but remains in quarantine at the Matang Wildlife Centre. 

The bear is currently under the care of Dr Silje Robertsen, a volunteer veterinarian from Norway. 

"As of today, the animal is alert, able to climb and to eat normally.  

"The sun bear is still kept in quarantine, as she is still weak and suffering from hook worms, mite infestation and moderate anaemia," Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) said in a statement on Friday. 

SFC said it was still too early to determine whether the sun bear could make a full recovery as it had been very sick for a prolonged period of time. 

"In the meantime, her treatment will continue based on a carbohydrate-rich diet with food supplements, antibiotics and protein.

"She will remain quarantined to minimise external disturbances," SFC said. 

It added that the wildlife centre had been inundated with calls about the sun bear. 

The centre's manager Siali Aban said there had been many enquiries from visitors wanting to see it. 

The sick sun bear had been spotted in January by Indonesian plantation workers, who were shocked by its strange and hairless appearance. 

Photos and videos of the animal went viral online, attracting many comments on its Gollum-like appearance. 

It was found by workers near a palm oil estate in Meradong district on April 2 and handed over to SFC. 

Sun bears are the smallest of the world's eight bear species and are found throughout mainland Asia, Sumatra and Borneo. 

They are classified as "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List and are at risk of becoming endangered unless circumstances threatening their survival improve. 

In Sarawak, the sun bear is protected under the Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998.

 All comments are good comments. There are no bad comments or good comments. So everyone have the right to comment. How about you?

MH370 - Search Continue.

As May draws near, the worry I have is that they are going to say: “That’s it. We have done all we can. It’s time to stop the search.

“It’s expensive. It’s been a year and the plane is buried deep in the Indian Ocean and we can’t find it.”

But it’s there because all evidence (Immarsat) points to it.

Then Prime Minister Najib’s words on March 25, 2014, runs through my head when he said that the Indian Ocean was the final resting place of all 239 on board MH370. Nightmare!

But thank you ministers for making the right decision in continuing the search.

Today’s announcement that the search will continue at least puts a little of the worries and fears to rest for now.

It was said from the beginning that they were confident that they were searching in the right area with the highest probability.

How confident are they that it’s going to be in the additional 60,000 sq km?

Is it going to be another year of waiting? Whatever it is and how ever long it takes, all on board MH370 need to return home. They are missed terribly.

We would like to thank all those who are out there in the Indian Ocean trying their very best to look for our loved ones and bring them home.

Lastly, to my husband Patrick, we have not given up. We love you, we miss you and want you home with us.

All comments are good comments. There are no bad comments or good comments. So everyone have the right to comment. How about you?

Stop Eating Meat

WHERE does our meat come from? What goes on in the journey from the farm to our tables? Those are some questions that do not get asked often.

Our high demand for meat in our diets has consequently resulted in producers churning out meat as cheaply and quickly as they possibly can.

President of the board of World Animal Protection Dr Mark Watts calls it “intensive farming” or “factory farming”.

“Animals are kept in conditions which are not pleasant for them, making them suffer,” says Dr Watts.

He shares an instance where female pigs are kept in small grates that prevent them from lying down, making it easier for them to produce litters.

“The pigs are kept in crates that are so narrow that they cannot turn around, sit or lie down. They don’t allow the animal to exhibit any of their natural tendencies,” says Dr Watts.

“This is the result of the need to produce more and more meat, and to meet that growing demand.”

Dr Watts said consumers should be educated on how they can choose “natural meat” where the animals have their five freedoms, which are the rights of animals under human control.

These freedoms are the freedom from hunger or thirst; discomfort; pain, injury or disease; freedom to express normal behaviour; and freedom from fear and distress.

“I think our responsibility is to look after animals properly,” said Dr Watts.

“It is actually beneficial to the farmer to treat their animal well because they'll get more out of the animal.

“If you don’t care for the animal, it won’t last very long,” he said.

Currently, Malaysia does not have any regulations in regards to the treatment of farm animals. And I feel that they are very much overlooked by the Malaysian public.

But with the upcoming Animal Welfare Bill, deputy director-general of veterinary services (DVS) Datuk Dr Quaza Nizamuddin says that farms and slaughterhouses will be among the businesses that will have to be licensed.

“There will be specific standards (to receive a licence) at all levels. Those standards will be clear, comprehensive and transparent,” said Dr Nizamuddin.

“At farms, there will be standards on how to rear the animals, how they are kept, and the food and water they must receive.

“At slaughterhouses, there will be standards on how to handle the animal before and during the slaughter, and ensuring that the animals are properly kept and fed.

“If those standards are adhered to, the abuses will be less, because people will be ensuring that those standards are adhered to,” he said.

Dr Nizamuddin said that the Bill promotes animal welfare and their five freedoms.

He explained that animal welfare is important because if they’re in good health, their productivity will increase, which will then garner better profits.

“If they are healthy, we will have better produce that’s safer to eat. We will also have fewer animal deaths. There are so many more advantages that is beneficial to us,” he said.

To be honest, I never really thought about where my food was coming from. But I am glad that with the upcoming Animal Welfare Bill (that was tabled in the last parliamentary session), Malaysia will be taking a huge step forward in terms of animal welfare.

With the help of the Bill, I hope that the mindsets of Malaysians will slowly start to change. I hope that we will not only take better care of our domestic pets, but also farm animals, working animals and zoo animals. All animals deserve to have their rights upheld!

All comments are good comments. There are no bad comments or good comments. So everyone have the right to comment. How about you?

GOD (Generator / Operator / Destroyer)

One interesting thing about studying philosophy of religion is that you look at religion not just from the theological aspect but also from the philosophical aspect. You research how theology explains religion from the doctrinal or dogmatic aspect and you try to apply philosophy to these beliefs and see what you come up with.

My favorite three religions are, of course, the Abrahamic faiths or Semitic religions mainly because these are the three religions that have been at war with one another for more than 1,000 years plus there are so many similarities as well as contradictions between one and the other(s). Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Taoism, etc., although are considered also amongst the major world religions, are less likely to give us much problem.

We can very simply divide the world into three: theists (or polytheists), atheists or agnostics. Theists believe in God (mainly one God). Polytheists believe in a pantheon or compendium of Gods. Atheists do not believe in God or the existence of a God(s). Agnostics are not sure: there may be something up there but they adopt an open mind about it and accept that there could be some sort of power whether it can be called God or not.

If you study the Abrahamic concept of God then you will learn that God has certain properties. One of these properties is that God transcends time. God was not born nor will God die. God has always existed and will never cease to exist. God created everything from nothing and all that is created will eventually be uncreated.

So, before the universe came into being there was already a God. Long after the universe disappears there will still be a God. God does not exist in time. God just exists: period.

Time exists only for that which is created. Time begins when creation begins. Time ends when creation ceases to exist. For something that is uncreated, there is no beginning of time and there is no end of time. Time does not apply to that which is neither created nor will become uncreated or cease to exist.

God is here and God is everywhere at the same time. God is not subject to any place or period in time. If God is here today but no longer exists yesterday then God is subject to time. Since God is not subject to time then God never ceased to exist yesterday.

We are here today. In some other part of the world it is still yesterday. In yet another part of the world it is already tomorrow. Hence today, 1st April 2015 for us, could be 31st March for some people or 2nd April for others, depending on what time it is for us here.

God is with us here today. God is also with those who are still in yesterday. And God is also with those who are already in tomorrow. Hence God is present every day wherever we may be. Only we are here today and no longer in yesterday and not yet in tomorrow because we are the created.

So, if God is present in yesterday, today and tomorrow all at the same time, that means God is still present 10,000 years ago and is already present 10,000 years from now. God cannot no longer exist 10,000 years ago and cannot not yet exist 10,000 years from now. God is omnipresent, as the Abrahamic faiths teach us.

The prefix ‘omni’ comes from Latin meaning ‘all’. So, to say that God is omnipresent is to say that God is present everywhere. In many religions, God is regarded as omnipresent, whereas, in both Judaism and Christianity, this view is further subdivided into the transcendence (beyond and above) and immanence (inherent or intrinsic) of God. Although God is not totally immersed in the fabric of creation (pantheism), He is present everywhere at all times.

That definition of omnipresent means God is here, there, today, yesterday and tomorrow.

If that is so, meaning God is everywhere and is present at all times, then yesterday has not ceased to exist and tomorrow has already existed. So, whatever happened 10,000 years ago is still happening (since that time still exists) and what is going to happen 10,000 years from now has already happened (since that time already exists).

We, because we are created, measure time in terms of past, present and future. God, because He is uncreated and not subject to time, has no past, present and future. God just exists, in all places at all times.

Food for thought, is it not? We always thought that the present is here and now, yesterday no longer exists, and tomorrow has not come yet. But that is because we are measuring things in human values. But if we look at things from the perspective of God, in the perspective of God’s omnipresence, while we may be here, now, yesterday is still around and tomorrow has already happened.

So, can we really change our fate when tomorrow has already happened? In short, whoever is going to win the next general election in 2018 has already won it. It has already happened.

Sigh…that’s what happens when you look at religion from the philosophical rather than the theological aspect…

lvbala;

Lets share some input from the author ; RPK

All comments are good comments. There are no bad comments or good comments. So everyone have the right to comment. How about you?