Vivekananda Ashram - Brickfield Kuala Lumpur

 The Tourism Ministry will soon conduct an open hearing to formally receive views and suggestions on conserving Vivekananda Ashram as a heritage site.

DAP national vice chairman, M. Kula Segaran said this was promised by Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, who stated the hearing was a necessary measure for all parties, including the Ashram's trustees, who are opposing the move to grant it heritage status.

Kula Segaran said Nazri promised to hold a formal hearing at a meeting between the minister and other lawmakers, including Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun and DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng to discuss the state of the 110-year-old Ashram, which has been earmarked for development. 

"Nazri is most accommodative of our suggestion to declare the ashram grounds as heritage.

"However, in view of the trustees’ objections, a formal open hearing of the matter will be conducted soon for all parties to be given an opportunity for their views, suggestions and opinions to be heard," Kula Segaran said in a statement today.

Kula Segaran said Nazri had also expressed shock that the trustees were objecting to the conferting of heritage status to Vivekananda Ashram.

"The issue of declaring heritage status for the ashram was raised in Parliament late last year. The Heritage Department then followed up by issuing a written notice under Section 272(2) of the National Heritage Act on January 14.

"However the notice expired last Thursday, and a day before that, the Ashram Trustees submitted a last-minute objection to the proposal to grant heritage status to Vivekenanda Ashram," said Kula Segaran. 

Kula Segaran said Nazri had agreed there was an overwhelming need to preserve Vivekenanda Ashram after meeting with local leaders and politicians who supported conserving the iconic building in the middle of Little India in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur.

"The Ashram stands out as a historical iconic building that is also a tourist attraction to this area. It is the last bastion of a century-old culture of the Indian community.

"It is most sad and shocking that the Ashram's board of trustees are not with the local community on this issue," said Kula Segaran.

The DAP lawmaker added that Nazri also gave assurance that the tourism ministry would be in touch with the Federal Territories ministry as the authority in charge of deciding on the proposed redevelopment of the ashram into a 23-story residential tower with 264 units and an eight-storey car park.

In November last year, Nazri said hearings on any objection to the plan to gazette the site as a national heritage were expected to be held between March and May this year

He said the same process will be repeated again in June until its final hearing in September.

"If everything goes according to procedure, the minister will make a decision on this in October," he had said.

He said if the ministry did not receive any objection, the site could be gazetted as a national heritage site as early as March this year.

During a visit to the ashram last November, Nazri also revealed that the Vivekananda Ashram Board had rejected an initial offer by the national heritage department on November 13, 2008, to gazette the site as a national heritage.

Non-governmental organisations, concerned individuals and political parties then came together after it was revealed there were plans to develop the site into a multi-storey apartment building.

A signature drive was carried out, with tens of thousands signing the petition to save the ashram from redevelopment, and handed over to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall.

The Vivekananda Ashram Board of Trustees defended their redevelopment proposal, saying that the move would provide funds for schools and charity homes under its care and for its future plans.

In the campaign, Brickfields Asia College co-founder Raja Singham, who was instrumental in efforts to save the site, had offered to start a fund to save the Vivekananda Ashram and started the ball rolling with RM1 million.

Following the furore, the ashram management committee finally broke its silence and stated that its redevelopment plans did not include demolishing the building. Instead the building would remain intact and the Swami Vivekananda statue outside the building would be retained. – March 24, 2015.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/tourism-minister-promises-public-hearing-on-heritage-status-for-brickfields#sthash.c3MXUJuf.dpuf

lvbala,

This issue has been lingering around for sometimes and I come in light about this Ashram after I received a whats app announcing all Tamil Malaysian to support to keep the Vivekananda Ashram in Brickfield.

Many including me would understand how much the ashram has contribute to Tamil society in the region. Uncountable numbers of good deeds, helping the poor and the needy is part of the asram contribution which doesn't count on race and religion base.

I would say, this ashram has been declared as a Heritage by UNESCO and could not understand how far this place guaranteed protected or shall I say reserved.

Anyway, I do believe this Ashram shall nnot be reserved because its belongs to the Indian community, who cares to protect it?

It doesn't bring any benefits to the country, It doesn't bring any benefits to other race in Malaysia. It doesn't serve any purpose to the BUMIS or Malaysia.

And why wasting time and energy to protect the old building?

I am always 99% good in guessing. I am guessing this is what will happen to this Ashram.


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Aviation Horror - A320

An Airbus operated by Lufthansa's German wings budget airline crashed into a mountainside in the French Alps yesterday, killing all 150 people on board including 16 schoolchildren.

German wings confirmed its flight 4U 9525 from Barcelona to Duesseldorf went down with 144 passengers and six crew on board.

One of the plane's black box recorders has been found at the crash site, about 100 km (65 miles) north of the Riviera city of Nice, and will be examined immediately, France's interior minister said.

In Washington, the White House said the crash did not appear to have been caused by a terrorist attack, while Lufthansa said it was working on the assumption that the tragedy had been an accident, adding that any other theory would be speculation.

Aerial photographs showed smouldering wreckage and a piece of the fuselage with six windows strewn across the steep mountainside cut by ravines.

"We saw an aircraft that had literally been ripped apart, the bodies are in a state of destruction, there is not one intact piece of wing or fuselage," Brice Robin, prosecutor for the city of Marseille, told Reuters after flying over the wreckage in a helicopter.

German wings believed 67 Germans had been on the flight. Spain's deputy prime minister said 45 passengers had Spanish names. One Belgian was also aboard.

Also among the victims were 16 children and two teachers from the Joseph-Koenig-Gymnasium high school in the town of Haltern am See in northwest Germany, a spokeswoman said.

Barcelona's Liceu opera house said on Twitter that two singers, Kazakhstan-born Oleg Bryjak and German Maria Radner, had died while returning to Duesseldorf after they had performed in Wagner's Siegfried at the theatre.

French police at the crash site about 2,000 metres (6,000 feet) above sea level said no one had survived and it would take days to recover the bodies due to difficult terrain, snow and incoming storms.

Police said search teams would stay overnight at altitude. "We are still searching. It's unlikely any bodies will be airlifted until Wednesday," regional police chief David Galtier told Reuters.

In Paris, Prime Minister Manuel Valls told parliament: "A helicopter managed to land (by the crash site) and has confirmed that unfortunately there were no survivors."

It was the first crash of a large passenger jet on French soil since the Concorde disaster just outside Paris nearly 15 years ago. The A320 is a workhorse of aviation fleets and one of the world's most used passenger jets.

It has a good safety record. However, according to data from the Aviation Safety Network, Tuesday's crash was the third most deadly involving an A320. In 2007 a TAM Linhas Aereas A320 shot off a runway in Brazil, killing 187 people, while 162 people died when an Indonesia AirAsia jet went down in the Java Sea in December.

Sharp descent

Germanwings said the plane started descending one minute after reaching its cruising height and continued losing altitude for eight minutes.

"The aircraft's contact with French radar, French air traffic controllers, ended at 10.53 am at an altitude of about 6,000 feet. The plane then crashed," German wings' Managing Director Thomas Winkelmann told a news conference.

Winkelmann also said that routine maintenance of the aircraft was performed by Lufthansa on Monday.

Experts said that while the Airbus had descended rapidly, its rate of descent did not suggest it had simply fallen out of the sky.

France's DGAC aviation authority said air traffic controllers initiated distress procedures after they lost contact with the Airbus.

"The aircraft did not itself make a distress call but it was the combination of the loss of radio contact and the aircraft's descent which led the controller to implement the distress phase," a DGAC spokesman said.

In emergencies, pilots are trained to try to fly the aircraft as their first priority, then pay attention to navigation and only then communicate with the ground.

The aircraft came down in an alpine region known for skiing, hiking and rafting, but which is hard for rescue services to reach. The search and recovery effort based itself in a gymnasium in the village of Seyne-les-Alpes, which has a small private aerodrome nearby.

Storms, snow, cloud

As helicopters and emergency vehicles assembled, the weather was reported to be closing in.

"There will be a lot of cloud cover this afternoon, with local storms, snow above 1,800 metres and relatively low clouds. That will not help the helicopters in their work," an official from the local weather centre told Reuters.

Lufthansa Chief Executive Carsten Spohr, who planned to go to the crash site, spoke of a "dark day for Lufthansa".

"My deepest sympathy goes to the families and friends of our passengers and crew," Lufthansa said on Twitter, citing Spohr.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she would travel to the site on Wednesday. German wings and the Catalan regional government were preparing to take Spanish relatives there.

Family members arrived at Barcelona's El Prat airport, many crying and with arms around each others' shoulders, accompanied by police and airport staff.

In Llinars del Valles, the Spanish village that hosted the German schoolchildren, Mayor Marti Pujol said the whole village was distraught. "The families knew each other," he told Reuters. "The parents had been to see them off at 6 this morning."

King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain called off a state visit to France in a sign of mourning for the victims. They had arrived in Paris minutes after the crash happened.

In Washington, President Barack Obama said his thoughts and prayers were with Germany and Spain after what he called the "awful tragedy".

Airbus confirmed that the plane was 24 years old, having first been delivered to Lufthansa in 1991. It was powered by engines made by CFM International, a joint venture between General Electric and France's Safran. – Reuters, March 25, 2015.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/world/article/black-box-found-in-germanwings-crash-site-at-french-alps#sthash.uSxR2LeL.dpuf

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GST - And Continues

BUKIT AMAN: Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar described as "barbaric" the actions of a group of anti-GST protestors at the Federal Customs headquarters and Kelana Jaya police station on Monday.

"I'm confused, what do these individuals want?

"If they wanted to express their grouses over the implementation of GST or have their questions answered, why the need to break into government offices?" he told reporters after attending prayers in conjunction with Police Day celebrations.

The demonstrators, among them Parti Socialist Malaysia activists, had walked into the Customs headquarters in Kelana Jaya at 11am demanding answers to 106 questions relating to the GST.

They wanted to speak to and hand over a memorandum to the Customs director-general on the tax regime.

Police, along with the FRU, later barricaded the office complex and barred anyone from entering with a group of protesters still inside.

At least 80 people were later taken away in a police truck at the end of the protest.

However, scores of people converged at the Kelana Jaya police station later in the night with the FRU on stand by to control the crowd.

Asked if there was a need for the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) to be deployed at both locations, Khalid said the FRU would be used if there was a need.

"The Selangor police chief has my green light to use the FRU.

"At the moment, let the Selangor police handle this case before action is taken against those who broke the law.

"We will take stern action against them as we can't afford to let this situation continue," he said, adding that the situation at the Customs headquarters and police station were under control.

lvbala said,

Can anyone called us Malaysian as Barbaric???? When we are claimed to act as Barbaric it will make you a Barbaric person, would you agree?

And if not, can I say, You behave like a PIG... will he agree and settle down with it??

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HUDUD - Nazri Aziz

Hudud is unsuitable for Malaysia and those who discuss it are fools, former de facto law minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said today, becoming the first Umno minister to openly dismiss the implementation of the Islamic penal code in Kelantan.

Nazri, who is now Tourism Minister, said hudud could only be implemented by amending the Federal Constitution and this would require two-thirds of legislators in Parliament to support it.

"No need to discuss something that will not happen. It's stupid for anyone to even be discussing hudud," he told reporters in the Parliament lobby today.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/only-fools-talk-about-hudud-in-malaysia-says-umno-minister#sthash.id5ZHA1m.dpuf.

lvbala said, 

These are some comments done by the the UMNO minister with regards to HUDUD. He got the point of course. But whether it is practical to practice or to implement is another story chapter. In politics, anything can happen, anything is possible.  But the core identification of the exception is base on the rational theory which meant to be practical.

Hudud or not Hudud come base on majority support. It also must be considered in implementing to non Muslim as well. Can a HUDUD applicable to non Muslims?

These are the questions which need to be considered and practiced base on rationalism and humanitarian concept.

It is not that  we are against it, because nothing is to be against when something is proven to be good to all.  If implementing HUDUD is good for all and benefit for the citizen, it should be welcomed.

Rationalism and humanatarian is a must to practice HUDUD as this law has been practice many manyt years and centuries ago and whether it is suitable or not must be considered. Other countries who practice HUDUD should be exampled and shared.

When all views are considered, than HUDUD should be in place without any excuses.


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RIP - LEE KUAN YEW

RIP - LEE KUAN YEW

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Malaysia Boleh - Sickening Citizens.

The police will take action against any party who tries to incite hatred against non-Malays. 

Kuala Lumpur CID chief Senior Asst Comm Zainuddin Ahmad said those caught doing so would be detained under the Sedition Act. 

“We will not tolerate anyone who tries to influence others to discriminate against any particular race or religion. 

“We will take action under the Sedition Act,” he said when contacted on Friday. 

SAC Zainuddin was commenting on a poster being circulated, urging Muslims to gather at Dataran Merdeka on Saturday, in a bid to pressure the Government to drive away non-Malays from the country. 

“So far we have not received any indication that the demonstration will be held,” he said.

lvbala said,

I am posting this second article of mine after I posted the first one just a couple of minutes ago.

I am happy to hear and read the above statement from SAC Zainuddin Ahmad. Thats the way it should be.

I felt funny too, to receive such a treat from fellow country man to gather and chase away non Muslims from this country. I felt this must be another sickening thought that comes from those was mentally retarded deceased.

Anyway, this world is going to end soon as mentioned in all region and let it end by the name of GOD. 

And so we can have another new world created by GOD and let new way of ADAM & EVE thinking human produced.

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Does Malaysia Safe To Live? - Mohamad Tajuddin

The latest incident about a BFM newsreader being threatened with death, rape and being burnt alive by those whom  I assume to be Malay-Muslim netizens brings forth serious questions for this country.

Is this country safe for our children to live in? If a simple point of view is raised against such issue as hudud or even such issue as democracy and clean elections can produce outburst of murder, rape and burning people alive, what does it say about our country, its citizens and our leadership? Where did this culture come from?

I have noticed that the ones making threats of this nature come from mostly Malays who I assume are Muslim. Where did we, as a nation go wrong in educating these Malays? What are we teaching in our secondary schools? More importantly are our public universities producing people of such culture?

I sincerely hope that those who made the threats have never stepped foot in our public universities because if not I would like to ask these Vice Chancellors, what kind of Malay Malaysians are you producing? Yes, they are passable engineers and architects but are they barely passable Malaysian citizens, or passable Muslims or worse are they even passable human beings with a humane conscience? "Apa sudah jadi?" I have been to mosques and I have listened to thousands of youtube ceramah by our so called eminent ustazs and I know that their understanding of Islam is a strong contributor to the kinds of comments made by these young social media users.

Although I feel anger towards these netizens that have made the threats like it was just a “terminator” movie of mowing people down with a big machine guns, but I am ready to forgive them because I know it was our society that have created such a culture.

When the Prophet Muhammad was faced with the persecution of the young people of Taif till his body was bloodied, he stood in front of the angel Gabriel at the command of a host of a heavenly army ready to eliminate the people of Taif, he said,”No, do not do anthing against these people because they knew not what there are doing. Perhaps future generations may accept my message if these people do not at the present time.”

The Prophet had the magnanimity to forgive these people because he knew those that threw the stones and rocks are teenagers and young adults being influenced by their elders.  I am afraid, our religious scholars may be teaching a brand of Islam that is very much distant from the examples of the holy Prophet himself.

With this incident I ask Malaysians again… are we safe to raise our children in this country? If not, should we start looking elsewhere and create a much safer place for our children to have a future? I write these words with a heavy heart. I write these words as a concerned Malaysian citizen and as a simple Muslim for the sake of all our children.

And finally, I write these words as the father of Aisyah Mohd Tajuddin, the BFM girl. – March 20, 2015.

*Professor Dr Mohamad Tajuddin Mohamad Rasdi reads The Malaysian Insider. 

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/after-death-threats-against-my-daughter-is-malaysia-safe-mohamad-tajuddin#sthash.IinOAyNL.dpuf

lvbala,

When someone question how safe you are to live in your own country, matter of fact, this is something serious to be looked into.

In fact, situation will be worse when you don't feel safe in your own house and when you have no where to go, and where and which direction you shall turn too?

Mostly, in worst case scenario, If anyone, who face this situation in their own place, the first thing they do is to run away because of their family safely.

But, but in fact...... if they were cornered, they will fight back. Their fight back shall be deadly and dangerous. It will be mortal, and shall continue to spread and the fight back shall prolong to next generation.

This is what we have witnessed in many country around the world. Sri Langkan Tamils is one of many ethnic that fought back. Deadly fight back and hatred can last for generations. 

Revenge and mentally attached hatred shall move on till dead shall do apart.

Mostly, people who are affected by RELIGIOUS and race base hatred, shall take this hatred till the end of their life.   

And so, if we are living in a country with many ethnics and believe, we should be sensitive and practice sensitivity.

But mainly, those who are living in Islamic country or living in a country which Islam is the official religion, we shall be facing this issues. If you don't agree with me, than look into the historical evidence surround you. 

Ask this question and find out yourself.. 

1. Who are those believers is fighting through out this world, by the name of GOD or by the name of religion?.
2. Even in the country with minorities, they still do face the same issue and it comes from the them.
3. Even in the country which face worst economic issues to the extend of no meal on the plate, they still fight for their religious right.
4. And now, Malaysia is challenged by those still in lime of religious matters. They are trying to be religious and stay united by the name of religion but they are intend to make the same mistake which I am looking to be serious problem in future.

I would never understand the stand but I am clearly understand that mankind s are no more can be tolerant when comes to Religion and GOD mission. 

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