An insight into Hinduism

Thursday October 25, 2012

By LOH FOON FONG foonfong@thestar.com.my

Hindu perspective: Murugesan giving a talk on Hinduism at Menara Star.

PETALING JAYA: Why is the cow sacred in Hinduism? Is there a relationship between the caste system and Hinduism? What is aum? What is the Hindu perspective on sex?

These were among the questions posed to lawyer Datuk S. Murugesan during a talk on Hinduism at Menara Star yesterday.

“Generally, Hindus would not interfere with the actions of other individuals because it is a religion that leaves each to its own with God,” said Murugesan, who is well-versed in Hindusim as well as its customs and rituals.

As such, the tattooing of the aum was not offensive to Hindus, said Murugesan, explaining that the aum was a cosmic sound incantation which Hindus recite before chanting mantras.

When asked what Hindus felt when the media published stories of temples being demolished by local councils, Murugesan, who is also the MIC secretary-general, said the main concern revolved around the deities in the temples.

“Fair enough that there may be no proper permits but if they are going to break the temple, they should contact the Hindu Sangam to remove the deities. The councils can demolish the temple after the necessary rituals and prayers have been performed to remove the deities,” he said.

Likewise, there was also a lack of respect for Hindu deities when devotees carry kavadis bearing the emblem of English Premier League teams such as Liverpool and Manchester United, said Muru-gesan.

Murugesan said cows were sacred for practical and sensitivity reasons.In India, cows were animals of labour and if they were eaten, their numbers would dwindle and this would adversely affect people's livelihood.

On the caste system, Murugesan said the discriminatory variety practised today was not the same as that practised in the past, which was based on the division of labour.

The talk on Hinduism is part of a series of lectures on the various faiths and festivals in the country organised by The Star for its staff.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/10/25/nation/12224519&sec=nation

Thursday October 25, 2012

Stop condo project, govt urged

PETALING JAYA: The Selangor Government has been urged not to allow any high-rise development near Batu Caves, a site considered sacred by the Hindus.

MIC secretary-general Datuk S. Murugesan said this included the 29-storey condominium pro- ject near the area which had caused much concern among the Sri Mahamariamman Batu Caves Temple committee.

“The project should be stopped if possible,” said Murugesan.

He noted that the state government had said it would conduct soil testing in the Batu Caves area in view of the fact that it was a fragile limestone area.

“The land was approved in 2007 for general development but the concern is that the piling and construction work may destabilise the 42.7m statue of Lord Murugan,” he said during the talk on Hinduism at Menara Star yesterday.

On whether low-rise buildings could be built instead, Murugesan said it was a possibility.

On whether MIC would join the 100,000 people protest against the project on Friday, he said the party would leave members to their own devices.

On Monday, it was reported that the Batu Caves temple committee had given a notice of demand to the developer of the proposed condominium project near the limestone hill.

The developer was ordered to immediately stop all works related to the construction of the property.
The proposed project has sparked anger among not just the temple management, but nature lovers and residents as well.

Registration for the high-rise property was recently opened on property websites, It was advertised as a serviced residence located “a stone's throw away” from Batu Caves and with a “panoramic view” of the natural rock formation site.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/10/25/nation/12224520&sec=nation

Cop: Tear gas canister may have left mark on Bersih protester

The Star, Wednesday October 17, 2012

By LOH FOON FONG
foonfong@thestar.com.my

 

Precise aim: FRU personnel showing how tear gas is fired during the Suhakam inquiry into the incidents of Bersih 3.0.

 

KUALA LUMPUR: A police officer admitted that a wound on the neck of a protester at the Bersih 3.0 rally could have been caused by a tear gas canister's inner shell.

Asst Comm Jamaludin Abdul Rahman said it was a possibility because of a burn mark that was evident on the neck of the protester, Chong Min Shih.

“However, I cannot say for sure if it was caused by the shell or other objects,” he said at the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) Base yesterday during the Suhakam inquiry into the incidents of Bersih 3.0 on April 28.

ACP Jamaludin and other FRU personnel were asked about the photograph exhibit of Chong with a wound on the right side of her neck.

Asked by Suhakam Commissioner Detta Samen how tear gas was fired, ACP Jamaludin said the gun would be pointed upwards and the gas shell would be fired 50m into the air and hit the ground about 100m to 150m away.

He said the gun would sometimes be pointed downwards or straight ahead, but this method was seldom used.

He said about 900 canisters of gas shells were used that day.

Commanding officer for Unit I of Kuala Lumpur FRU Supt Zahari Yusoff said they had been ordered to shoot the tear gas upwards all the time.

He also said tear gas contained 1% of a chemical which caused the eyes to sting.

In total, there were 360 FRU personnel on that day and they were ordered to practise restraint and were barred from using pepper spray and the baton, he said.

Asked about a witness, Kumar Suppiah, who had claimed he was kicked until boot print marks were left on his Bersih T-shirt, Supt Zahari said the marks looked like they were made by a combat boot and was different from the boots worn by FRU personnel.

On razor wires, Supt Zahari said they were used for the first time in the rally as barricades from Jalan Tun Perak to Bank Pembangunan and at the two tunnels below Jalan Hishamuddin.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/10/17/nation/12180772&sec=nation

MCA Youth to give input on education blueprint

Sunday Star, Sunday October 14, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA Youth will be submitting its recommendations on the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025 in a week's time to the Education Ministry.

Its Education Bureau chairman Chong Sin Woon said MCA Youth and eight major Chinese youth-based organisations would jointly monitor the implementation of the blueprint.

“There is unanimous support from the floor for Chinese schools and to recognise the Unified Examination Certificate,” he said after a dialogue on the blueprint yesterday.

However, Chong said there were mixed views on the status of Remove and religious classes.

Generally, all disagreed with the proposal for the Bahasa Malaysia (BM) syllabus of national primary schools to be implemented in national-type schools as it would take up more time and impede Chinese studies.

They proposed that alternative methods be used to enhance proficiency in the national language.

“Those who want Remove Class retained have asked for the syllabus and quality of teachers to be improved.

“Others said Remove Class is a waste of time as it does not help improve Bahasa proficiency,” he said.

On religious classes, Chong said some wanted various religions to be taught in school while others felt that it should be replaced by civic education, philosophy, morals and universal values.

The participants agreed on the need to produce more critical thinking students and encourage them to participate in NGOs as well as religious-based and non-profit organisation activities, said Chong.

He also said that participants wanted funding allocated systematically to Chinese primary schools and that sufficient Chinese language teachers be trained as well as teachers of other subjects.

They also agreed that the teaching of Mathematics and Science in English be reintroduced, he said.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/10/14/nation/12171245&sec=nation

Agriculture to go hi-tech

The Star, Saturday October 13, 2012

Video: http://thestaronline.tv/View.aspx?vid=9215&cid=1

By LOH FOON FONG
newsdesk@thestar.com.my

Healthy choice: Noh Omar checking out the Orygold drink during the agriculture expo in Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang.

SERDANG: There are plans to make farming go hi-tech with information and communications technology (ICT) to attract the young to agriculture, said Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar.

He said the use of ICT would enable the young to earn high income.

“This will attract the young into the field,” he said.

Noh Omar said the potential of ICT should be used to benefit the whole food production chain.

“The use of precision farming at the estate level, for instance, had been quickly developed to reduce the use of fertiliser, chemical and water and bring about good agricultural produce,” he said during the Agriculture Expo during Universiti Putra Malaysia's 36th Convocation yesterday.

He said ICT could be used in food traceability system to ensure food security.

Currently, ICT is also used in biotechnology food development.

At the event, Noh Omar launched the Orygold drink, a drink made from germinated brown rice.
Universiti Putra Malaysia laboratory of molecular biomedicine head Prof Dr Maznah Ismail said that the germinated brown rice has health benefits as it contained high-antioxidants.

“It is also low in amylose and could be eaten by people with diabetes,” she said.

She said brown rice was a healthier option than white rice, but germinated brown rice had even higher nutrition value.

The new product is currently only available through her.

Five states to be worst hit

The Star, Friday October 12, 2012

Reports by LOH FOON FONG, EMBUN MAJID, FARIK ZOLKEPLI, A. RUBAN and HAN KAR KAY

 

Monsoon reign: Dark clouds looming over Terengganu’s iconic Crystal Mosque in this picture taken from the Pulau Kambing jetty in Kuala Terengganu yesterday afternoon. — ZABIDI TUSIN / The Star

SPECIAL REPORT

 

PETALING JAYA: The full force of the northeast monsoon is expected to lash five states next month and the people are warned to be prepared for heavy flooding.

The Department of Irrigation and Drainage said the monsoon was expected to hit the east coast and several other parts of the country and flooding would occur mainly in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perak, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak, between November and March.

Its Hydrology and Water Resources Division director Datuk Hanapi Mohamad Noor noted that the average annual rainfall was 3,000mm, and added: “With 1,800mm registered from January to September, 1,200mm more is expected from October to December which is a lot.”

Hanapi said flooding would happen if one month's amount of rainfall poured continuously for one to three days in the same area.

From October last year till last month, 227 cases of flooding were reported, with Selangor being the most hit with 70, followed by Perak with 40.

Hanapi said Selangor had more flooding because it was “exposed” to the southwest monsoon rains, the northeast monsoon rains and convectional rain. He also said Kuala Lumpur would face flash floods from mid-November to March, but the cause would be convectional rain.

A rainfall of more than 100mm per day was enough to cause flooding in urban areas but not in in rural or forested areas, Hanapi added.

He said the DID would use data from satellites, radars and the Global Forecast System to warn of floods.
Meteorological Department director-general Che Gayah Ismail said that El Nino was not expected to have any significant impact on rainfall during the monsoon season and the whole country was expected to receive normal average rainfall.

“However, three or four episodes of heavy rain are expected and in each, two to three days' non-stop rain will end in floods,” she said in an e-mail.

She urged the public to be “sensitive to current weather conditions” and heed the department's warnings.
Che Gayah said they could also go to http://www.facebook.com/malaysiamet, http://www.twitter.com/malaysianmet or www.met.gov.my.

The Weather Forecast Centre operates round the clock and can be reached at 03-79678116.

Relief centres can hold a million victims

PETALING JAYA: The 5,068 flood relief centres nationwide are ready for operations and can accommodate 1.3 million people, Social Welfare Department principal assistant director Ahmad Hashim Selamat said.

These centres were sited in schools and community centres, he said.

Five regional depots would store food and other items such as blankets and mats, he said at the National Forum on Climate: The Northeast Monsoon yesterday.

Ahmad said that 2,474 volunteers had been briefed and given training on their tasks at relief centres.

For this year, federal funding of RM1.25mil had been allocated for cleaning kits and hygiene kits while another RM10.1mil would be given to states for food and other necessities, he said.

Meteorological Department director-general Che Gayah Ismail said the northeast monsoon would usually hit the east coast and southern part of the peninsula, the coast of Sarawak and east coast of Sabah in stages, starting from Kelantan and Terengganu next month and early December.

It would then hit the east of Pahang and Johor in December and early January and Sabah and Sarawak in January and February, she said in her speech.

Last year, there were five episodes of heavy rain where two were strong on Nov 19 and Dec 17 and affected Johor, Pahang, Sabah and Sarawak and displaced 15,000 victims and left seven dead, said Che Gayah.

Marine and Oceanography director Lim Zhe Hui said that an advisory on strong winds and rough seas would be given four days before an incident and a warning three days ahead.

The first category of advisory/warning is given for small boats, recreational boats and sea sports to stop operation when wind speed reaches 40 to 50km per hour and the wave at 3.5m, he said.

The shipping line and ferry services would be warned when the wind speed reaches 50 to 60km an hour and wave hits 4.5m while all fishing and work at oil rig should stop when wind speed reaches 60km an hour and wave above 4.5m.

On health preparation, health medical officer Dr Rozlan Ishak said officers would carry out health checks at all relief sites.

During disasters, the Health Ministry would set up mobile clinics and doctors would be sent to treat injuries as well as monitor water-born diseases, he said, adding that health inspectors would also inspect surrounding area for mosquitoes.

Crisis Relief Squad of MCA national chief Datuk Dr Lee Hong Tee said they had 600 volunteers who would assist victims by sending them to relief centres.

“The volunteers will also help send the victims home and clean up their houses after the floods.

We are ready to face the floods, says Nazri

KUALA TERENGGANU: Terengganu, Kelantan, Kedah, Sabah and Sarawak are expected to be the worst-hit during the monsoon season which starts next month, Central Disaster Management committee chairman Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said.

“We have instructed all agencies to be well prepared with logistical supplies such as boats as well as food rations.”

For Terengganu, Nazri said big floods were expected between Nov 14 and 19 as well as between Nov 27 and 30.

“We hope people can take note of the dates and be prepared for the worst,” he said.

Speaking to reporters after chairing the Terengganu Disaster Management committee meeting here, he said the committee had prepared 353 relief centres in Terengganu which could accommodate 49,052 people.

“The Welfare Department will also be supplying 15 mobile toilets for the relief centres,” he said.

Nazri said the Terengganu Welfare Department had identified 110 front-line bases which would be equipped with supplies such as food and blankets.

“Each base will be able to supply food to a centre for three days.”

He also announced that flood victims who refused to move to relief centres would be required to fill up an “anti-fraud” form to receive aid.

“We have received numerous complaints about such fraud previously, so we want to make sure only deserving recipients get the aid.”

For more information, check http://etindakan.terengganu.gov.my or http://portalbanjir.mkn.gov.my.

In ALOR SETAR, the monsoon season is expected to hit Kedah, Perlis and Penang soon.

“We have earmarked several low-lying areas that need to be monitored closely. They are Padang Terap, Kubang Pasu, Pendang, Pokok Sena and Kota Setar.

“We need to be prepared as the floods could be much worse than those in 2010 or it could last much longer this time around,” said Kedah Civil Defence Department operation coordinator officer Saifuddin Abdullah.
Perlis Civil Defence Department director Ishak Md Radzi said Titi Tinggi, Kampung Bakau and Pengaras were flood-prone areas.

“We will be carrying out regular inspection at main rivers,” he said.

As for PENANG, its state Fire and Rescue Department director Azmi Tamat said 250 firefighters were on standby to help evacuate victims.

“We have also conducted checks on the rescue equipment,” he added.

Penang Water Supply Corporation corporate affairs manager K. Jeya-balan said efforts had been taken to reduce water level at Air Itam dam following a spillover on Oct 5 due to heavy rains.

State exco in charge of flood mitigation Law Choo Kiang said all relevant departments had been instructed to carry out maintenance works especially in flood-prone areas such as the Sungai Pinang river bank, Jalan P. Ramlee, Kampung Masjid and Kampung Dodol.

Help spread message of unity, ‘dakwah’ movements urged

The Star, Tuesday October 9, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR: The Islamic missionary (dakwah) movements in the country have been called upon to play a major role in spreading the message of unity to all layers of society.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said they could play an effective role due to their independence and influence that cuts across political barriers.

“I am confident the unity of the ummah can be achieved if all parties are sincere in pursuing it, without any motive except to see Islam being upheld in this country,” he said at the launch of the National Missionary seminar yesterday.

Muhyiddin warned of the emerging challenges of liberalism and religious pluralism, which pro-posed that Muslims free themselves from their beliefs and religious rules that were based on their faith.

He expressed concern that such a belief system would result in a society not based on religious guidance and direction, while man would no longer believe in the existence of God.

“Islamic teachings that emphasise the order of relationships between individuals, families, communities and the nation will no longer be upheld, but be regarded as something old-fashioned and restrictive to freedom,” he said.

Muhyiddin said the close relationship between the dakwah movement and the Government had enabled syariah practices to spread quickly in Malaysia.

He added that one such spread was through the education system.

The emphasis on syariah in the education system would also be implemented through the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013 to 2025, he added.

Muhyidin said the Government would make Islamic teachings an important component that built people's faith and devotion, as well as created good character.

“Such values would also instill a good relationship with other religious beliefs.”

Latest malaria drug may be available in govt hospitals in January

The Star, Thursday October 4, 2012

By LOH FOON FONG newsdesk@thestar.com.my

Watch video at: http://videos.thestar.com.my/View.aspx?vid=9171&cid=1

KUALA LUMPUR: The latest malaria combination drug treatment approved by the World Health Organisation will enable patients to reduce the treatment period to three days from the present 14 days.

The drug, which was registered with the ministry's Drug Control Authority in March, is expected to be available at government hospitals in January, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

The drug combination contains contributions from Malaysian research data.

He said the fixed dose combination of Artesunate-Metefloquine or ASMQ FDC would enable patients to reduce the malaria treatment period.

“In the past, it took 14 days to treat a malaria case but now a patient takes only one pill a day for three days,” he said after launching the Drug for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDI) Jubilee celebrations yesterday.

The pills for three days would cost RM9 to RM10 for adults and RM4.50 for children, he said.

Last year, there were 5,306 malaria infection cases, including 18 deaths, while 3,000 cases, including 14 deaths, were reported up to August this year.

Liow said the case-fatality rate was currently low at 0.35% per case.

“Neglected diseases are mainly due to parasitic and bacterial infections and they affect about 2.7 billion people, especially in rural areas,” he said.

“The diseases could lead to long-term disability, morbidity and premature deaths.”

Since the DNDI was established as a non-profit, public-private partnership effort in 2003, it had introduced six cost-effective drugs and would introduce another seven by 2018.

On the issue of antibiotics abuse, Liow said the ministry had issued a circular to government clinics and hospitals not to over-prescribe medication.

DNDI founding member and former Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said patients preferred doctors who gave them a strong dose of antibiotics.

“If the drug does not work for them, they tend to consider the doctors lousy. But doctors must explain to them about antibiotics use,” he said.

Asked if a patient with viral infection should accept antibiotics because some doctors give antibiotics in view of possible bacterial attack, Dr Ismail said a doctor should not prescribe antibiotics, but should instead find out the cause of the infection.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/10/4/nation/12120414&sec=nation

PM: Hire more women

Wednesday October 3, 2012

By LOH FOON FONG foonfong@thestar.com.my

Watch video at: http://videos.thestar.com.my/View.aspx?vid=9166&cid=1

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has challenged public-listed companies to appoint more women to their board of directors.

He said that there are about 200 capable women who have been trained by the Government for such tasks.

The public sector has appointed many women as top decision makers, and it was now up to the private sector to follow suit, he added.

“Don't give the excuse that we have no women. Yes, we do. Ask the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry for the list of women who can serve as directors,” the Prime Minister said at the National Women's Day Celebration 2012 yesterday.

Tribute to women: Najib and Rosmah sharing a light moment with the Anugerah Tokoh Wanita recipients (from left) Puan Seri Sukumari Sekhar, Datuk F.R. Bhupalan, Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Heng Seai Kie, Puan Seri Professor Datuk Dr Fatimah Hamid Don and the Ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Dr Noorul Ainur Mohd Nur during the celebration.

The ministry's Malaysian Directors' Academy had targeted about 200 competent and experienced women to be trained and offered as potential candidates for the boards of directors of companies by December this year.

A total of RM50mil has been allocated in Budget 2013 to, among others, train 500 women as board members under the Women Director's Programme.

Najib also hoped that more companies and government departments would set up childcare centres as employers would be given a double deduction on the allowance or subsidies provided to the employees and expenses for the maintenance of the centres.

“We hope that these measures will enable more women to join the workforce,” he said, adding that currently only 46% of women work.

The ministry's NAM Institute for the Empowerment of Women director Tan Sri Dr Rafiah Salim said that to date, about 400 candidates have registered with the Women Directors' Registry, with 100 of them trained and ready for board placement.

Securities Commission market oversight director Hasnah Omar said the programme was timely, given the fact that women make up more than 50% of the country's population.

Among the 100 are First Principles Sdn Bhd principal consultant Datin Meha Sivamohan, Sibu Water Board deputy general manager Alice Jawan, AJA EQS Certification Malaysia Sdn Bhd group CEO Jacqueline Francis, Shearn Delamore & Co advocate and solicitor Cheow Wai Yee and Negri Sembilan Pardons Board member Tunku Datuk Nazihah Tunku Mohd Rus.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/10/3/nation/12118387&sec=nation

British education experts share tips

Tuesday October 2, 2012

Watch video at: http://videos.thestar.com.my/View.aspx?vid=9161&cid=1

KUALA LUMPUR: Green issues in schools and the use of social networking to improve English proficiency are some of the exciting topics at the British Educational Suppliers Asia Forum 2012.

For the second day running today, some of the out-of-the-norm workshops will touch on the use of iPads in teaching Art, Maths, Science and Physical Education.

Workshops on student development such as on education wellness, the best in British anti-bullying practices, and successful sex education will also be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

British Educational Suppliers Association director-general Dominic Savage said he recognised the strong existing education links between Britain and Malaysia.

“We try and bring to this event some new ideas including innovative ways teachers can be supported in offering the best, latest and the most relevant approaches to education for the 21st Century,” he said at a press conference yesterday.

Savage said it was important to use technology in teaching, especially among the young.
British Council director Gavin Anderson said 15,000 Malaysians were currently studying in Britain while 58,000 students in Malaysia had access to education there.

He also said the National Education Blueprint (2013-2025) had done a good job in analysing some of the challenges that still exist in Malaysian education.

In his speech, British High Commissioner Simon Featherstone said Britain aimed to double trade with Indonesia and Malaysia in the next five years from the current £6bil (RM29.7bil) in goods and services.

On Featherstone's announcement on Friday that Malaysians no longer needed to show documentary proof of financial maintenance when applying for a student visa to Britain beginning yesterday, Deputy Science, Tech-nology and Innovation Minister Fadillah Yusof said he welcomed the move.

“This is based on the existing strong ties between Britain and Malaysia. This is where they have accommodated us by giving us some incentives and reducing red tape, which is sometimes troublesome especially for those who are not funded by the Government or banks,” he said.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/10/2/nation/12109596&sec=nation