"Debate" on article 153.

I also read the attempt by the Malay nationalistic group (MMKM) in refuting the article by Raja Aziz Addruse and Helen Ting in NST Sunday. Wonder why NST allow such racist group to put forth their positions when they do not extend the same priveledge to groups like Don Jiong or God forbit... Hindraff, the 'Tamil tigers". Comparing both articles, one is written with reference to other documents/ research and the other one is ... uhmm.. a good attempt. It is like reading the judgement of ex CJ Ahmad Fairuz and compare it to to Richard Melunjun's judgement in Lina Joy's case. You just know where quality sits. But as usual in Malaysia, it is not facts that decide the matter but emotions and who shouts louder. Esp. when the article have threats like "I think it is not safe" and"It is a sensitive issue and no one should question it". Excellent summary of a 'debate' by a Tan Sri is that the other side should keep quiet. (http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Sunday/Columns/2286159/Article/index_html)

Support equality of Malaysian Muslim Women

Image from current.com

One of the best piece of factual writtings from The Star!

It is sad to note that in summary, the rights of Malaysian Muslim womens have been trampled from progressive to suppressive. It is a sad state of affair that makes me ponder the parralel of this with many things in Malaysia currently. The NEP has regenerated, the Syariah has superceeded common law, the deterioration in leadership, the growing Islamisation, the lost of individual rights etc.

If Islam is for Justice, may good politicies come out of these leaders who are overwhelmingly Muslim. At minimal, for your own women folks. Protect them better.

Malaysia Going Nuclear! ?

Photo taken from http://www.sonnenseite.com/

Trouble are brewing politically and seemed that there is a direction to project these troubles on unseen enemies of countries with vested interest. While the ex-foreign minister engages in strong rhetorics to the usual 'threats' of US and Singapore, he should be giving direct answers on using Internal Security act against BSA Tahir (Dewan Rakyat: Minister ducks the question) which is coincidentally within his jurisdiction.

So, why the sudden interest in nuclear technology since Najib mentioned it? Suddenly, the science minister scrambled to present a paper to outline the strategy. Do wonder what happened to the ex-science minister who wasted RM100 million on a space journey and tried to grope a lady in a cigar bar?

Anyway, here is what the government say and lets examine it.

Pro Nuclear arguments from Science, Technology and Innovation Deputy Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusof .

Statement 1 "been no accidents in nuclear power plants in the world in the last 20 years, including in earthquake-prone countries like Japan."

There are 56 nuclear power plants in Japan and generally with their work ethics and preciseness, this statement will be taken at face value. Contrast that with the Malaysian maintainence culture and one one will wonder if the benchmark is an overstretch. Surely, nuclear plants do have risks and is not as simple as this statement. Even with the best maintainence culture and a country that comes out with philosophies like TPM and poka yoke, accidents do happen.

In the last 20 years,
a) 2007 - Radiation leak, and into Sea of Japan due to earthquake.
b) 2004 - 4 death and 7 injured.
c) 1999 - 2 death and hundreds of public affected.
d) 1991 - leak in cooling water in Mihama.

From greenpeace on 'cover ups' from the Japanese government.

March 2007 - It was discovered that the Hokuriku utility did not inform the public or nuclear inspectors about a serious incident at Shika nuclear power plant. On July 18th, 1999, failure of control rods lead to an uncontrolled chain reaction.

April 2006 - A radioactive spill of 40 litres of liquid containing plutonium occurred in a brand new reprocessing plant in Rokkasho-Mura.

August 2004 - A pipe rupture in Mihama nuclear power plant killed five workers. TEPCO utility - the same one operation Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant - was forced to shut down its 17 reactors when it was discovered that if faked documents about safety inspections.

September 1999 - Workers at a fuel factory in Tokaimura failed to follow guidelines, leading to an uncontrolled chain reaction that lasted for three days. Three workers died due to high irradiation and local people had to be evacuated from the neighbourhood

Verdict : False statement that there are no nuclear plant accidents in the world in the last 20 years , even when we only examine Japan's record. With our poor maintaince culture and lower compliance culture, it will a huge risk to Malaysian public should issues like this are swept under a blanket of progress.

Statement 2: "economic viability is definitely attractive,"

From the article, cost of building of a 1,000 Megawatt

a) Electric nuclear plant, it can cost between US$1 billion and $2.5 billion.
b) Coal power plant costs up to US$1.5 billion
c) Gas-fired plant costs between US$500 milllion and US$1 billion."

It then listed down the rationale of mitigating against the increasing pricing of crude based fuels and the demand of eco friendly solutions to lessen carbon emission. All this is well and dandy. Do remember that when more countries use radioactive materials, the prices of these materials will increase. "The price of uranium was approximately $10.75 per pound in early 2003. By mid 2006, the price had risen to approximately $45.00 per pound. In early 2007 the price approached $100.00 per pound."( Argonne national Lab) The price have decreased in 2008 and like other commodities, is subjected to supply-demand and speculations.

The intent of this article is to demand that the Malaysian government be open to different solutions than just depending on a single tracked mind. The solutions may have been proposed convincingly or have been accepted by a powerful person, yet the job of the officers in the government is to be really sure of what the next steps are to be.

Try the solar power path instead.

The same 1000 Megawatt solar panel plant by Shell Showa costs just US$948 million to build. It is lower than any of the other plants, really brings down the carbon emission level, utilize our natural sunshine resource and does not need any fuel ( and hence lower the cost of operations) to get it to work. Would this solution be intensely studied by the panel in determining our way ahead in our energy need?

Samudi, the UKM radioactive expert summarized "Almost every month, there is a death in the coal mines, but why are people not so sensitive to that? The negative perception stems from the bombing in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, that's all." While it is true in some way, do remember that any accidents involving radioactive is long term, can be far reaching and potentially devastative. The fear of the rakyat ( people) is real and should not be dismissed with rhetorics. Our hope is that any solutions will be weighted and carefully analysed in its true value.

Inikah Kebenaran? (Is this the truth?)

If one is to google "Injil" ( bible ) and "remaja" ( Youth) , one will find an interesting website called Inilah Kebenaran. ( The truth). Like great websites set up in United Kingdom and United States, it saught to tell stories of converts of the great religion of Islam especially from Christian backgrounds. The only difference is that it is written in local language ( BM ) and have local contents.

Gerakan Kristianisasi di Malaysia -http://malay.bismikaallahuma.org/gerakan-kristianisasi-di-malaysia/

An excellent summary of this website come from the 2 writters where they exclaimed that only thru the admitance of the this great religion ( from non Muslims) and implementation of Syariah law can it bring back the majesty of the Malay race in Malaysia. (Hanya dengan pengakuan Daulah Islamaiah dan sistem perundangan Islam sahaja yang akan dapat mengembalikan keagungan Melayu di Malaysia)

Do not like to waste too much time on it but here are 2 observations.

1. The article correctly identify Malaysian Muslims who wanted to officially convert to Christianity but are not allowed.

2. The supposed proof that books with ambigous titles like "Kaabah, Wahyu Ilahi dan Mengenal Rasul" turns out differently. This would be similar to the stories of bible being packaged to look like Quran. Perhaps those books are from different Islamic sects or maybe not. Yet the photos were books that have titles that are able to distinguished to be non Muslim books. Anyway, i always believed that my Muslim friends are more than able to distinguish between books/ articles ( consistent with my writtings during protest on book seizure, the BM Bible ban )

Awas Perangkap Kristian Untuk Remaja Islam - http://malay.bismikaallahuma.org/awas-perangkap-kristian-untuk-remaja-islam/#more-23

On the lighter note, this article steals the show...

1. Christian youths are encouraged with benefits ( perhaps monetory) and were taught different techniques to lure Muslim girls in Malaysia.(skim galakan kepada para jejaka Kristian serta diberi tunjuk ajar mengenai teknik untuk memikat)

2. These Christian man would then act to be attracted to the politeness, clothing & demureness of the Malay girls. (mereka akan berlakon seolah-olahnya mereka telah tertarik dengan kesopanan, cara berpakaian serta kelembuatan tingkah laku anak-anak gadis kita ini)

3. At the right time, these devious mans will make their first move by being 'pictured' together (not sure literally or taking photos to perhaps blackmail) in love, and to have sex with the girls.

( mereka akan digambarkan seolah-olah mereka terbawa-bawa oleh perasan cinta sehingga si gadis ternoda)

4. Finally,these sweet talker will convince the girl that they will get married since she is pregnant, but she has to convert because:-

a) In Islam, they would have sinned and be punished.

b) In Christian, they would be forgiven and since Mary is a single mother, it is more readily accepted. (menganggap awak senasib dengan Mary (Mariam))

- Oh btw, it is a sin in the bible. And Joseph never had premarital sex with Mary .. if u believe the bible.

I never thought of those logics. And i never thought about the precise words ( or pschyology) used to deviously manipulate some people. I do know however that figuratively, " a thief will know another thief". Perhaps there are and if really that there is a group that systematically target conversion thru such immoral techniques, i would be the first to be disheartened. Certaintly, the teaching of the bible and Christ urges us to not stoop to that level. For the issue of conversion is not of man, but God is the one who converts.

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out. (Proverbs 10.9)

Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity [ Many manuscripts holiness] and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God's grace. 2 Cth 1.12

I would not be able to throw the first stone, but let us be careful to distinguish between emotions, propoganda and truth.