Tuesday, December 1, 2009

To those interested.. pls.. help yrself..

Applications invited from Asian Civil Society Professionals for the Asia Leadership Fellow Program 2010

The International House of Japan and the Japan Foundation is currently accepting applications for the 2010 Asia Leadership Fellow Program (ALFP). The ALFP is an opportunity for individuals working in the civil society/NGO sector in Asia to gain increased professional understanding about related issues through workshops, seminars, the retreat meeting, field trips and the public symposium.


The Program will be held in Tokyo, Japan for a period of nearly one month and has been scheduled from 12 September to 13 November 2010. The theme of the program is “Asia in Dialogue: Visions and Actions for a Humane Society.”


The fellowship includes a round trip airfare to and from Tokyo, daily allowance to cover accommodation, meals and other incidentals, medical insurance during the stay and other costs related to group activities such field trip and retreat.
Eligible candidates can be from Northeast-,Southeast-and South Asian countries and should be between the age group 35-59 years. Although it is not necessary to have a postgraduate degree, but the candidate should have a good command over English and should demonstrate outstanding leadership ability or potential in his/her profession.
The application form can be downloaded from the link given below. The deadline to submit applications is 11 January 2010. For more information, visit this link.
http://www.i-house.or.jp/en/ProgramActivities/alfp/Call_for_applications2010.htm
The fellowship includes a round trip airfare to and from Tokyo, daily allowance to cover accommodation, meals and other incidentals, medical insurance during the stay and other costs related to group activities such field trip and retreat.

Eligible candidates can be from Northeast-,Southeast-and South Asian countries and should be between the age group 35-59 years. Although it is not necessary to have a postgraduate degree, but the candidate should have a good command over English and should demonstrate outstanding leadership ability or potential in his/her profession.


The application form can be downloaded from the link given below. The deadline to submit applications is 11 January 2010. For more information, visit this link.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Master of Human Rights and Democratisation (Asia Pacific)

Those interested... pls.. help yourself..

Nov 26 2009

Call for Applications
Master of Human Rights and Democratisation (Asia Pacific).
*********************************************
From:

Announcement

Call for Applications
Master of Human Rights and Democratisation (Asia Pacific).

Applications are now being accepted for study and for scholarships in the Master of Human Rights and Democratisation (Asia Pacific) (MHRD).

The MHRD is a unique Master degree program in which students undertake a foundational semester of study at the University of Sydney, and then a second semester at one of the four partner universities:

Gadjah Mada University (Indonesia)
Mahidol University (Thailand)
Katmandu School of Law (Nepal)
University of Colombo (Sri Lanka)

Graduates of the course will gain an interdisciplinary understanding of human rights and democratisation in the Asia Pacific, and will have opportunities to research and examine the application of human rights and democratisation in the field with the partner institutions.

Course Structure
In the first semester at the University of Sydney, students will undertake a foundational course in social science, legal and political approaches to human rights and democratisation. During the second semester students will follow two core units of study complemented by either supervised
research, an internship at an in-country organisation specialising in human rights/ democratisation or undertake further specialised electives. Students must select one of the four partners universities listed above to undertake their second semester study.

Courses
Core Courses
Human Rights Norms and Laws (1 & 2)
Human Rights and Democratisation Research
Dynamics of Human Rights Violations
Democratisation: Theory and Practice
Critical and Emerging Issues in the Asia Pacific

In the second semester, students will take one of the following options:

a) Specialised electives
b) Internship program
c) Research thesis

Graduates will have both the ability to undertake independent scholarly research on current issues pertaining to human rights and democratisation in the Asia Pacific and skills to put their academic understanding and practical experience to use in real situations.

Potential Students
We are looking for people who have a strong commitment to or experience on working on issues about human rights and democratisation. The degree will strongly benefit people already working in, or seeking to work in the fields of human rights and democratisation in our region.

Through a combination of academic and practical educational experiences, the objective of the program is to produce graduates who can support ongoing efforts to strengthen institutions dedicated to the protection and promotion of human rights and democracy and to enhance a regional culture of human rights and democracy.

Recognising the critical institutional developments that are taking place both regionally and in particular countries during this time, the program has been set up to ensure that human rights and democracy advocates in the region are well resourced to lead us into the next decades.

Scholarships

Thirty scholarships, covering course fees and a living and travel allowance, will be offered to outstanding applicants from across the Asia Pacific region. This is made possible with the support of a significant grant from the European Commission.

Scholarships will be available to citizens of Asia Pacific countries (a full list of countries is available from the Academic Director upon request). The award of scholarships will be determined by academic qualifications and potential contribution to human rights and democratization.

Dates
Applications are now open.
Applications for the MHRD close on 30 April 2010 and are considered upon receipt.
Applications for the Human Rights and Democratisation Scholarship close on 12 March 2010.

Contacts and Further Information
If you are interested in the program, you can find more information at
http://www.arts.usyd.edu.au/departs/ssp/postgraduate/2010_pgcw_ssp_human_dc069.htm

For any questions, or for a copy of the application form, please contact Academic Director Dr. Danielle Celermajer at danielle.celermajer@usyd.edu.au


Wednesday, November 18, 2009

It's Senator Syed Husin

Malaysian Mirror
Tuesday, 17 November 2009

SHAH ALAM - Veteran politician and PKR deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali has been nominated a senator to represent Selangor.

Mentri Besar Khalid Ibrahim forwarded Syed Husin’s name for a vote to the state assembly sitting on Tuesday, with 32 agreeing and three objecting, the Star reported. Twenty assemblymen were not present when the vote was taken.

syed husin ali.jpgAnother candidate is lecturer and Petaling Jaya Municipal Councillor S Ramakrishnan Suppiah, 53, from the DAP, whose nomination had 32 votes in favour and two objections.

Ramakrishnan, a DAP member for nine years, was proposed by Kinrara assemblyman Teresa Kok and seconded by Kota Anggerik assemblyman Yaacob Sapari.

Two vacant seats on Dec 6

V Ganabatirao, a former member of the Hindu Rights Action Force, was originally named to represent Selangor with the backing of DAP assemblymen but was dropped.

Selangor’s two senate seat allocation will be vacant after the terms of Ikhwan Salim Sujak and Yip Kum Fook end on Dec 6.


Syed Husin was the long serving president of Parti Rakyat Malaysia who brought his party to merge with Keadilan forming the new entity, Parti Keadilan Rakyat, in the process.

Friends and associates immediately hailed his election to the Senate, saying that Syed Husin was most deserving of the appointment.

Comment:
Right choice, right moment and right man. Lets have some intellectuals in the hall.. I am sure this respected man will contribute a lot to the assembly.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Tujuh mitos, tujuh pembohongan



Hishamuddin Rais
Malaysiakini.com
1 Okt 09

Mitos ialah naratif yang dibuat bertujuan untuk memesongkan hakikat.
Contohnya: Raja dikatakan jelmaan tuhan - mitos ini bertujuan membodohkan kaum tani agar mereka memberikan tanaman mereka pada satu kumpulan manusia yang malas bekerja.

Mitos ini berpanjangan dan ditokok tambah: selepas satu, satu lagi ditambah. Hakikatnya mitos raja dari muntah lembu atau raja jelmaan tuhan bertujuan untuk menipu. Walhal antara raja dengan sesiapa sahaja tidak ada bezanya. Yang melahirkan perbezaan hanyalah mitos.

Contoh mitos: Pokok itu berhantu. Pokok itu wujud dan dapat dilihat dan dibuktikan. Tetapi hantu itu tidak wujud. Mitos hantu diwujudkan untuk menakut-nakut. Apabila kita takut, maka kita akan mencari perlindungan.

Peranan untuk melindungi kita daripada hantu ialah bomoh dan dukun. Akhirnya kita tunduk pada kuasa bomoh dan dukun.

Mitos diwujudkan untuk tujuan baik dan tujuan jahat. Jangan pergi di dalam gua ini, ada hantu adalah nasihat yang bersalurkan penakutan. Nasihat ini baik kerana cuba menjaga keselamatan. Ia juga tidak baik kerana asasnya satu pembohongan.

Hari ini mitos masih cuba di wujudkan – tetapi agak susah. Dengan kemajuan ilmu, tidak ramai yang akan mempercayai mitos-mitos baru yang hendak direka.

Mitos seperti angkasawan Neil Armstrong turun ke bulan dan kemudian terdengar suara azan. Atau mitos Bruce Lee mati kerana bersilat dengan Dicky Zulkarnain – semua ini cuba disebarkan untuk menjadi bahan lawak jenaka.

Tujuan asal mitos ialah untuk membodohkan dan dalam masa yang sama menakut-nakutkan orang ramai. Kalau Raja Jepun berasal daripada Tuhan, maka diharapkan rakyat Jepun akan tunduk. Walhal kalau Raja Jepun ini makan petai, kencing dia tetap hancing. Kalau Putera Charles tercirit, baunya tetap busuk.

Lawan mitos ialah fakta. Fakta dapat dibuktikan melalui pengkajian. Ilmu pengetahuan manusia datang dari fakta dan pemikiran manusia. Semua ilmu dalam dunia ini berpunca daripada tiga sumber.

Pertama: Pengumpulan pengalamnan.
Kedua: Kaji selidik.
Ketiga: Ujian dalam bilik makmal.

Sesuatu mitos akan pecah jika kita berfikir secara rasional. Kajian ilmiah akan dapat membuktikan sama ada sesuatu itu mitos atau fakta. Jika sesuatu masih dalam kajian dan belum dapat dibuktikan betul atau salah, maka ia masih di tahap teori.

Satu ketika dahulu Letupan Besar atau Big Bang hanya satu teori. Hari ini ia telah diterima sebagai fakta. Teori menjadi fakta apabila kajian dapat membuktikan teori ini.

Ilmu pengetahuan adalah pengumpulan pengalaman manusia dari suatu zaman ke suatu zaman. Buruk atau baik pengalaman ini akan menjadi panduan. Panduan ini adalah ilmu pengetahuan. Ada ilmu pengetahuan yang turun dari mulut ke mulut. Ada yang dibukukan.

Dalam negara kita, ada beberapa mitos yang disebarkan. Pada ketika mitos ini disebarkan, ramai warga negara kita belum bersekolah. Maka mitos ini diterima bulat-bulat. Penyebaran mitos ini memang bertujuan untuk membodohkan kita semua.

Tetapi dengan adanya internet, kita dapat memecahkan mitos-mitos ini melaui pengkajian berdasarkan fakta-fakta.

Mitos pertama
Hari Malaysia bukan pada 31 Ogos tetapi 16 September.
Bohong. Sabah, Sarawak, Singapura dan Tanah Melayu menjadi persekutuan Malaysia pada 16 September 1963.

Singapura meninggalkan Malaysia pada 9 Ogos 1965. Tidak percaya, sila tanya orang Sabah dan Sarawak.

Mitos kedua
Merdeka dimulakan oleh United Malays National Organisation.
Bohong
. Parti yang awal memperjuangkan dan melaugkan slogan MERDEKA ialah Kesatuan Melayu Muda (KMM) yang ditubuh pada 1938. United Malays National Organisation belum wujud lagi.

Apabila wujud, slogan United Malays National Organisation ialah HIDUP MELAYU

dan bukan MERDEKA!

Mitos ketiga
Kemerdekaan dicapai tanpa pertumpahan darah.
Bohong
. Parti Komunis Malaya, Angkatan Pemuda Insaf (API), Angkatan Wanita Sedar (AWAS), Hizbul Muslimin, Peta, Malayan Democtaric Union, KMM dan ribuan warga telah bangun mengangkat senjata.

Pada mulanya melawan Jepun, kemudian melawan British. Tanpa angkat senjata, British tidak akan undur.

Mitos keempat
Lagu Negaraku dikatakan lagu kebangsaan kita.
Bohong
. Lagi ini bukan ciptaan warga Tanah Melayu. Penciptanya orang Perancis bernama Pierre Jean de Beranger (1780-1857).

Nama asal lagu ini, Memula Moon. Bertukar menjadi Terang Bulan.

Di zaman konfrontasi Malaysia-Indonesia, radio repuklik itu memainkan lagu ini untuk mengejek Tunku Abdul Rahman yang dianggap budak suruhan British. Dari Terang Bulan menjadi Negaraku.

Mitos kelima
Bendera Jalur Gemilang – namanya baru berusia lima tahun. Ia adalah tiruan bulat-bulat bendera Amerika Syarikat yang bernama Star Spangled–Banner, Stars and Stripes dan Old Glory. Jalur Gemilang diciplak daripada bendera Amerika.

Buktinya, lihat Jalur Gemilang tidak ada motif Nusantara atau Melayu. Warna merah dan putih adalah motif Nusantara - merah ertinya darah rakyat dan putih pula hati rakyat. Motif Nusantara ini wujud pada bendera Singapura dan Indonesia.

Mitos keenam
Wujud perpaduan Melayu.
Bohong. Tidak ada perpaduan Melayu. Tidak pernah terjadi perpadun Melayu semenjak konsep Melayu itu wujud. Tidak mungkin adanya perpaduan Melayu seperti mustahilnya lahir perpaduan Cina, perpaduan Arab, perpaduan Itali, perpaduan India.

Mitos perpaduan Melayu bergerak dengan menakut-nakutkan orang Melayu daripada 'ditelan' oleh Cina dan India. Apabila Melayu jadi takut maka akan datang pembantu. Seperti mitos pokok ada hantu. Orang kampung yang takut pada hantu memanggil bomoh untuk menghalau hantu.

Ini cara klasik sesuatu mitos bergerak - takut-takutkan orang ramai. Apabila orang ramai takut, maka mereka akan mencari perlindungan. Maka muncul United Malays National Organisation menjadi pelindung, walhal yang menimbulkannya gerombolan ini juga.

Mitos ketujuh
Malaysia negara unik.
Bohong
. Mitos ini disebarkan untuk membodohkan rakyat negara ini yang malas membaca dan hanya suka mendengar.

Mitos ini bertujun untuk menunjukkan hanya gerombolan United Malays National Organisation sahaja yang dapat memerintah kerana Malaysia ini unik.

Hakikatnya Malaysia tidak unik; bukan Malaysia sahaja dalam dunia ini yang berbilang-bilang kaum, berbilang-bilang bahasa, pelbagai agama dan budaya. Tidak ada negara yang monolithic dalam dunia ini – semua ada kepelbagaian. Setiap negara dalam dunia ini ada kepelbagaian.

Teknologi boleh memecahkan mitos. Lihatlah betapa teknologi dan ilmu pengetahuan telah memecahkan mitos-mitos ini. Betapa internet telah membolehkan kita bersama-sama mencari fakta dan menilai dokumen sejarah.

Kalau dulu kita tidak tahu asal-usul lagu Negaraku. Hari ini gambar dan riwayat hidup pembuat lagi ini kita kenali. Kalau dulu ada yang menerima mitos tentang kemerdekaan dicapai tanpa tumpah darah. Hari ini mitos ini telah terbarai, pecah.

Dokument-dokumen sejarah ini semuanya boleh kita baca melalui internet.

Kemajuan manusia akan terus memecahkan mitos-mitos yang lapuk dan berkarat ini. Teknologi akan membebaskan manusia daripada diperangkap dan dibelenggu mitos-mitos.

Tanpa mitos, manusia akan jadi berani. Insan yang berani bebas adalah insan yang berfikir. Manusia yang berfikir tidak akan tunduk kepada sesipa kecuali fikrahnya yang rasional.

Komen: Tanpa sedar pelbagai metos sudah dianggap sebagai fakta. Namun perbincangan itu sudah pergi kepada peringkat lapisan kedua atau tiga. Lapisan pertamanya masih ramai yang tidak menerima konsep mitos, dan apa lagi menerima bahawa semua itu adalah mitos..

Friday, October 30, 2009

Democratic rights still far off

http://www.thenutgraph.com/domestic-rights-still-far-off
29 Oct 09 : 8.00AM By Ding Jo-Ann

"POST-8 March, [the election results] left civil society exhilarated and giddy knowing that change is possible," says Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) executive director Ivy Josiah. "It has strengthened Malaysians as a whole to speak up, organise and demand reform."

Candlelight vigils have become part of the fabric of city life
http://www.thenutgraph.com/user_uploads/images/2009/10/28/281009_CIVIL_JUSTICE.j/
pg

Indeed, since the last general election, Malaysians have been upping their engagement with issues in the public sphere. Citizen movements such as the Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia and Fast for the Nation initiatives have been organised by citizens who want to see a better Malaysia. Candlelight vigils have become part of the fabric of city life. With civil society leaders such as residents' association frontperson Edward Lee and human rights activist Elizabeth Wong elected into government, the expectation is civil society's influence will be stronger in the days to come.
http://sayaanakbangsamalaysia.net/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuySyteKyO0
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/9/6/nation/4663770&sec=nation


But have the election results of 20 months ago resulted into tangible change on the ground?

New opportunities

"The post-March 8 [climate] has given us a window of opportunity to work with legislators who are keen on reforms and changes using the human rights framework," says Centre for Independent Journalism(CIJ), Malaysia executive director Gayathry Venkiteswaran. "Residents and human rights non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have the ears of the state leaders in some states like never before."

She cites the example of the Selangor government trying to address the issues of displaced estate workers due to the commercialisation of plantations. "It is still early to tell if these will yield the results, but the process is in place."
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/16/nation/20960840&sec=nation

It's not just Pakatan Rakyat (PR) representatives who are now accessible to civil society. "Interestingly, [BN] government representatives including ministers and Members of Parliament have also been seeking out civil society as they too have learnt that they should listen and take action," Josiah says.

The increased attention has resulted in an increased workload for some NGOs. Centre for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC) director Dr Colin Nicholas says COAC's work has increased "manifold" as certain governments have started taking steps to address Orang Asli concerns.
http://www.coac.org.my/codenavia/portals/coacv2/code/main/gateway.php

"[T]wo states - Perak (before the BN wrested the state from PR) and Selangor - have taken very proactive steps to protect and advance Orang Asli rights and interests. This has resulted in diverting a lot of our time and resources to working with the state on ways to realise the new thrust of these two opposition-led governments," says Nicholas.
http://www.thenutgraph.net/measures-under-nizar-must continue,http://www.thenutgraph.com/sgor-withdraw-appeal-dispute-temuans

With the "window of opportunity" that has opened, civil society groups have their work cut out for them in the next few years.

From aiming to pass freedom of information laws in at least two states, to reforming Islamic family law, to recognising indigenous rights, it's clear that civil society is not idle.

http://thenutgraph.com/freedom-of-information-making-it-happen http://www.sistersinislam.org.my/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=706&I\
temid=273

But many more hands are needed. "There are so many areas of human rights violations in this country that need proper research, documentation and representation. In terms of human resources, we are still at a shortfall," says Khoo.

He says that on a recent trip to Miri, he heard of many cases where indigenous customary land rights had been violated because the state had granted mining concessions and plantation rights to companies. However, there weren't enough lawyers to file actions against the Sarawak government. http://www.thenutgraph.com/land-rights-key-to-survival

Nicholas also says they are under-resourced, while Josiah cites the need for more resources so that WAO's work can expand into non-urban areas where it is also much needed.

Holding "friends" accountable

Although great strides forward have been made, the task at hand remains enormous.

Bar Council human rights committee co-chairperson Andrew Khoo says: "To a certain extent, we've grown up a bit since 8 March. We've realised that things are not so easy to accomplish. Even when those we were working with have become members of state governments, we have
learnt it's not so easy to deliver on some of the promises that were made."

Khoo says that the pace of change has in some instances been disappointing. He cites the delay in implementing local government elections in PR-held states.

http://www.thenutgraph.com/modified-local-elections-wanted-in-selangor

Gayathry concurs. "One of the challenges we face is the diluted commitment by PR members in some core areas of reforms," she says. "Among them are their own manifestos to introduce local council elections. You get a sense that there is some backtracking now and that is not healthy."

http://www.thenutgraph.com/keep-election-promises-suaram-tells-guan-eng

With former civil society leaders now in government, people like Gayathry also find themselves redefining some relationships, especially with friends who have since been elected into public office.

"Our expectation is that these friends will be able to push the reform agenda to the fullest but this is not always the case...Sometimes the leaders of the PR parties think we unfairly target them but they don't understand that we are only keeping them in check," she says.

Although it is often BN leaders who label civil society as "irresponsible NGOs", Nicholas and Josiah both acknowledge that there are also those in PR who need to be better informed about human rights issues. "[W]e have friends in Pakatan and BN states just as we have detractors in Pakatan and BN," Josiah says.
http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2003&dt=0528&pub=Utusan_Express&sec=F\

ront_Page&pg=fp_07.htm
International shame
In terms of political support, the federal government has yet to demonstrate a clear commitment to engaging with civil society. Khoo says the government only seems to respond when there is a risk of foreign direct investment drying up.

"For example, the problem of trafficking in persons. It wasn't until the United States government put us on the watch list that [the government] did something about it. The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act 2007 came into force, and then we were taken off the watch list.
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/68555
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=419407


"[But] after one year of nothing happening, we were then put back on the watch list. Now, we're seeing prosecutions," Khoo observes.
http://www.humantrafficking.org/updates/855

Khoo also says that since the Internal Security Act has received international attention, the government has decided to make changes to it. However, he points out that there are many people detained without trial under the Emergency (Public Order and Prevention of Crime)Ordinance 1969 and Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act 1985 which no one is doing much about.
http://thenutgraph.com/isa-review-includes-revising-detention-period
http://www.thenutgraph.com/not-just-isa


Way forward
Injustices suffered by Penan people are seen as inadequately addressed by the government (© Sofiyah Israa / Flickr)
http://www.thenutgraph.com/user_uploads/images/2009/10/28/281009_CIVIL_PENAN.jpg

It remains to be seen how civil society can galvanise the extra support it needs to see the kind of changes required for a "basic democracy" to function.

Nicholas, who has been working to establish indigenous rights for years, says: "A total change of government appears to be our best option in achieving this at the moment compared to the tedious and expensive court cases, lobbying, dialogues and other methods we have been using."

Khoo believes that more human rights education is needed for those in positions of leadership. "We need basic understanding of human rights to permeate administrative and judicial decisions. We need more training for our judges and decision-makers to take into account basic human rights norms," says Khoo.

But perhaps more importantly, how much change and how quickly it will happen will depend on public support. Without citizens actively clamouring for full civil liberties and democratic rights, it would be a rare government indeed that would deliver democracy on a silver platter.

Comment:
It still depends on the angle that you are looking from. If you ask somebody in one of the Arab countries they would say our democracy is far ahead and the best among developing countries... yet if you ask somebody from Australia...hm.. he may not list us as democratic country at all..

Monday, October 19, 2009

UM students in trouble for inviting politicians

16 October, 2009
by charlessantiago
Source : Malaysian Mirror
Thursday, 15 October 2009 16:48

KLANG – A black cloud is looming over eight students of the Universiti Malaya, who face stern action from the university for inviting politicians to attend their campus functions.

Two of them face disciplinary action for allegedly inviting the Selangor Mentri Besar’s political secretary, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, to open the annual general meeting of the UM’s Muslim Students Society (PMIUM), without the university’s approval.

The others have been called for questioning over their invitation to several politicians to act as jury for a Chinese language debate on current political issues.

The university charged that the eight students had breached the campus regulations as well as the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 by inviting the politicians to grace their events.


MP claims UUCA infringes students’ rights
UM disciplinary committee chairman Prof Faisal Ali said the committee will determine if the students had acted against the Act, which provides expulsion as the most severe punishment for offenders.

According to the UM students’ representative council, the student affairs department had already given its approval for the debate and was also aware of the topics to be discussed and who the judges would be.

A student spokesman added, however, the department said it would only allow the debate as a ‘one off’ thing that should not be repeated in future as it involved politicians'.

Klang MP Charles Santiago said the UUCA is a controversial Act and contained articles that were against the students’ basic human rights, including the right to free expression.

The irony faced by the government
“Universities and institutes of higher learning should encourage intellectual activities that do not infringe on the students’ academic freedom and the campus autonomy."

“Students should be encouraged and motivated in the way that their right to think and voice up is not affected by threats of action against them."

“The irony is that whenever the government finds a university’s world ranking is slipping, it immediately wants to rectify the situation by amending the Act to give universities more autonomous power and to get students to be more innovatve in their thinking,” he said.

Santiago added that ‘rules and regulations’ will continue to dominate the minds of university managers for as long as the universities are not given their true autonomy.

He said the action against the eight UM students had stunted the joy of seeing the UM returning back to the list of the worlds’ 200 best universities.

Santago urged the UM to withdraw disciplinary action against the students and the Higher Education Ministry to amend the UUCA by taking away all articles deemed offensive to academic freedom and the student’s basic human rights. – Malaysian Mirror.

Comment:
1Malaysia is supposed to be a rational and moderate state and society. Unfortunately University students have yet to move into the real state of a modern, developed, cultured society. The students only ask for reasonable freedom, exchanges of ideas and freedom of expression. They were hindered by the draconian law. Blocking their activities won't stop them from thinking ideals and ideas that you don't like. Just like the English proverb : you can pull the horse to the river but you can't ask it to drink...

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

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Happy Deepavali
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To my Indian friends and all...

Have a wonderful Deepavali..



Sincerely
nidzam sulaiman
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