This is a poem written by a First Grader...... it does not seem complicated at first glance but there is a surprising depth in the simple words used. A literature and poetry writing professor said "It captured the truth about personal space. The misspellings make it more primal and deliberate. At the end there's an epiphany about dancing and what that means....and it has so much spark and orignality...any time you put a word on the page, you are making a choice"...and it is clear that, for this six-year-old, it was the right ones.
We did the soft wind.
We danst slowly. We swrld
Aroned. We danst soft.
We lisin to the mozik.
We danst to the mozik.
We made personal space.
A poem for National Poetry Month by a New York City first grader. Photo: Jason Gardner.
AFPMH370 remains a mystery as Malaysia releases report
Kuala Lumpur (AFP) - Malaysia on Thursday released a much-anticipated report on Flight MH370 that chronicled its slow-footed response to the airliner's disappearance but contained no new clues on what happened to the missing plane.
The brief five-page report dated April 9, and which was submitted earlier to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), was mostly a recap of information that had already been released over time.
The document and accompanying materials contained no major revelations in what remains one of the greatest mysteries in aviation history.
"Over a month after the aircraft departed Kuala Lumpur International Airport, its location is still unknown," said the report, which was emailed to news organisations.
But the information indicated it took authorities four hours from the time the Malaysia Airlines jet was first noticed missing at around 1:38 am on March 8 to initiate an official emergency response.
The air force, meanwhile, took eight hours to formally notify civilian authorities that it had tracked a plane believed to be MH370 moving back across Malaysian airspace and out toward the Indian Ocean.
The jet vanished en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people aboard.
It is believed to have crashed in the Indian Ocean, but a massive search for wreckage has found nothing.
The information release included a summary of exchanges between the national airline and confused Malaysian, Vietnamese and Cambodian air-traffic controllers as they sought to determine what happened to the plane after it disappeared from primary radar over the South China Sea at 1:21 am.
The main report is required by the ICAO within 30 days of a crash, and Malaysian authorities have confirmed it was submitted on time.
However, they waited another three weeks before releasing the brief document, with Prime Minister Najib Razak saying last week he wanted it to be reviewed first by an "internal" team of experts.
- Call for real-time tracking -
Malaysia's long-ruling government, which has a poor record on transparency, was heavily criticised for a seemingly chaotic response and contradictory statements on MH370 in the early days of the crisis.
It has been tight-lipped about the progress of its ongoing investigations.
Some relatives of passengers have angrily accused the government and airline of incompetence and withholding incriminating information, charges that are denied.
A statement accompanying Thursday's release said "as long as the release of a particular piece of information does not hamper the investigation or the search operation, in the interests of openness and transparency, the information should be made public".
Malaysia is continuing to investigate what happened to MH370, saying this week it had appointed a former head of the country's civil aviation department to head an overall probe that will include members of the US National Transportation Safety Board and other foreign aviation agencies.
Thursday's release did not contain information from an ongoing Malaysian police investigation into whether a criminal act such as terrorism was to blame.
Malaysia's air force has acknowledged tracking a radar blip later determined to be MH370 after the plane went missing.
It has come under fire for failing to respond to the unidentified image, letting it slip away toward the Indian Ocean and wasting an opportunity to track it.
Thursday's data confirmed that Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein was not informed of the radar blip until 10:30 am on March 8, nearly eight hours after it was first monitored.
The report concluded by recommending that the ICAO "examine the safety benefits of introducing a standard for real-time tracking of commercial air transport aircraft," to prevent planes going missing in future.
Malaysian authorities have previously said the plane's transponder, which relays its location, and a separate automated system that transmits information on the state of the aircraft both appeared to have been shut off around the time it was diverted, suggesting a deliberate act.
steadyaku47 comment : In the early hours of this Friday morning I came across this email from one of my schoolmates, Azam, outlining his views on hudud with a clarity that typifies his thoughts on issues that moves him to write....I think it worth sharing it here on this blog. With thanks to Azam.
Proper explanation is a must. The Prophet (pbuh) explained and discussed issues with
the ummah during his time.
Let us question further, why is there the need to introduce the Hudud now. Human
society dislikes change, it is the natural inertia to carry on as usual. Change happen
when there are compelling reasons. Human society indeed had undergone major and
drastic changes even revolutions.when there were reasons.
Are we, the Malay Muslim unhappy with our lot. The proposal came from Pas, but it
may be that they bring it up because the majority in our society wants it. Yes, we do
have many grouses. Economically our progress had not been much, in education some
progress. The well being of a society that is feeling safe and secure, a future with hope
for our children. Around us there are Malay drug addicts, involve in all sorts of crime.
Bribery is almost a part of life. Your commercial vehicle will not pass the Puspakom
exam without paying some kind of a tax through the runner. Is our society sick now?
Most will say that our society will be better, if matters were done differently.
Is this the underlying reason for the need to introduce the Hudud? Will it improve our
lot, or improvement can be made by some other ways. The Jews inherited laws from
Moses, the Christians had their biblical laws. These have similarities to the Hudud.
But the Jews and Christians don't miss these similar laws, they had enacted new
laws except for the capital punishment for murder. They are more progressive than
Malaysia, which shows that how laws are implemented is the criteria for progress.
Is the introduction of the Hudud really wanting to implement the laws as in the Quran?
The categories of punishment in the Islamic penal code are not only the Hudud, but also
Qisas, Takzir and Diya. Qisas and Takzir had been covered in the introduction to this
posting.
Diya is a gift from Allah to us, followers of Prophet Muhammad. It was not given to
followers of previous prophets. By it the punishment for murder need not be a life,
but the victim's heirs can forgive, or forgive and seek a just and reasonable
compensation from the guilty party. The punishment in Malaysia for murder is still
the capital punishment, a legacy of the British common law which was derived from
the bible. If any party really wants to introduce Islamic law in Malaysia, this should
be done before the Hudud. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan already practice this.
So what are the reasons for introducing the Hudud. Is it just to gain political mileage,
to show that I am holier than thou. I hope I am wrong here.
By Yeo Bee Yin, State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) for Damansara Utama
I refer to the article written by Khairy Jamaluddin entitled “Who is to be blamed for Selangor’s Water Woes?”. He has brilliantly put in some facts while conveniently ignored some, leading the readers to believe that Selangor government is solely to be blamed for the current water crisis.
First of all, I would like to point out that the current water shortage is due to a change in rain patterns as a result of climate change. Therefore, while the federal government’s 2010 ‘prophecy’ saying that water crisis will happen in 2014 seems to have come true, the cause of the crisis is not due to demand growth as predicted by the federal government. Based on the demand growth trend, Tan Sri Khalid then believed that we have sufficient water supply to meet the demands up to 2019. While he might have made a mistake of not taking into account the weather risk (this rain pattern change happens first time in the history), the federal government should stop waving the “I told you so” card just because it has coincidentally gotten the water crisis prediction right.
Secondly, Khairy has pointed out that the refusal of Pakatan Rakyat government to allow Syabas to increase water tariff has caused Syabas to lose its revenue to reduce its non-revenue water (NRW). I would like to remind Khairy that even without the water tariff increment, Selangor water tariff is already second highest in the country. The reason Syabas is unable to reduce its NRW is none other than the misuse of people’s money.
Thirdly, Khairy mirrored many of his Barisan Nasional ministers to claim that if Langat 2 was completed, we would have been able to avoid the current water crisis. I would like to remind Khairy that even if the state government approved Langat 2 project, the earliest the plant would come on stream is 2015. How would that solve our water crisis now?
In addition, Khairy has conveniently ignored the fact that the water distribution network in Klang Valley is actually not interconnected due to years of underinvestment of piping system by Syabas. Currently, our major problem is water shortages at Sungai Selangor, which supplies 60 percent of the water for the Klang Valley. Langat 2 is geographically far away from Sungai Selangor. With current fragmented water grid, even if Langat 2 is completed now, Syabas will not be able to distribute the water to the users affected by water shortages at Sungai Selangor. This is also why Langat 2 approval should come with the taking over of water assets.
Fourthly, Khairy has proudly pointed out that for the sake of the people, the Federal Government has compensated Syabas by taking over its RM 6.2 billion bonds and injected RM 400 millions for operations and maintenance. But how have the ‘intervention measures’ helped Syabas to reduce its NRW? Khairy seems to have forgotten the fact that despite repeated ‘intervention measures’ by the federal government, Syabas distribution network is as fragmented as before and its NRW still revolves at its 2007 level at 33%.
As a matter of fact, it is exactly because the federal government repeatedly gives financial assistance to the poor performing water concessionaires that allow them to repeatedly reject the offers from the state government to buyout the water assets. I would also like to remind Khairy that this is the first time, after 5 years, that the federal government is willing to consider invoking Section 114 of Water Services Industry Act to allow forced take over of the water concessionaires. So now, who is to be blamed for the delay of water restructuring?
Finally, Khairy has described the water deal signed in the recent MoU as a ‘sweet deal’ for Selangor since the federal government will provide RM9.65 billion to acquire water companies. He has ignored yet another important fact that under the original national water restructuring plan, the federal government is to buy over the water assets from the states and concessionaires. It has been done in Negeri Sembilan, Perlis and Johor. Just that in Selangor, we requested for the operation of water assets to be under Selangor GLC Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Berhad (KDEB) instead of Federal GLC Pengurusan Aset Air Berhad (PAAB). Therefore, I do not see how this arrangement will make federal government paying for water assets in Selangor any ‘sweeter’ than other states.
All in all, we can argue till the cows come home as to who is to be blamed for the current Selangor water crisis and we will not reach an agreement. I believe that instead of finger pointing at each other, we should now focus on how to prepare against the looming drought, which is expected to be more serious this year. As for the long-term water management, I hope that the water concessionaires, the state government and federal government will find an amicable solution as soon as possible so we could start water restructuring in Klang Valley.
If Khairy Jamaluddin is really concerned about the welfare of the people in Selangor, I hope that he would use his capacity as a minister to push the federal government to give full support to the state government, despite our political differences, in the current water crisis management and water restructuring in the long run. -The Rocket
- See more at: http://www.therocket.com.my/en/five-mistakes-khairy-jamaluddin-made-on-the-selangor-water-crisis/#sthash.KN66gdOO.sohi2KWn.dpuf
Sloth, greed, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony and pride plague us all but seems difficult for Umno to eradicate or change.
COMMENT
All of us have within us varying
measures of laziness, greed and wrath. Sloth – a reluctance to work or make an
effort – is a perceived bane of the bumiputeras.
Too lazy to do anything for
themselves, they require Umno’s spoon-feeding, discounts to put a roof over
their heads, education privileges for their children and Ketuanan Melayu
conferred upon them so they do not have to work as hard as ‘others’ to earn a
living.
Greed, so they say, personifies
the Chinese community. They are not bothered about where the money comes
from…be it from prostitution, gangsterism, cheating or gambling… as long as it
finds its way into their pockets.
Wrath is now owned by the Indian
community. After years of neglect and being marginalised, the community has
taken up ‘arms’ and is on the ‘warpath’ to claim what they perceive their share
of the nation’s wealth for their betterment.
The Dayaks and Kadazans too are
filled with wrath and rightly angered over how they have been treated as the ‘anak
tiri’ (step-child) in this coalition known as Malaysia.
No effort to
change
Umno is burdened not only with the
afflictions we all have – laziness, greed and wrath but also lust, gluttony,
envy and misplaced pride – all the seven deadly sins God bestowed on us.
Within Umno there is sloth – shown
by its reluctance to work towards change within the party in meeting the
people’s aspirations.
No effort has been made by Umno
leaders to be the change that Malays and Malaysians demand of them – even as
the people they govern are already changing.
Umno is abound with greed. Their
personal, public and political life is ruled by materialistic needs and gains.
Wrath is unleashed by them on
those who are against them with the connivance of all the agents at their
disposal.
Lust is rite of passage they
consider their own, despite Islamic teachings – an affliction visited more by
Umno first tier leaders.
Gluttony is exhibited by the girth
of leaders and followers indulging in the ‘good things in life’ that money can
buy.
Envy is the catalyst that drives
Umno leaders to outdo each other in their personal pursuit of materialistic
gains and political power.
Pride…misplaced pride actually,
sees Umno portraying themselves as the champion of the Malays and the savior of
all Malaysians – a perception already discarded by Malaysians if the results of
the last two elections are to be regarded as a reality barometer.
Umno sees itself as the protector
and champion of Malay supremacy – a sentiment relevant and necessary decades
ago but no longer. Today, respect for individual rights is the universal norm
of any responsible government!
Pakatan Rakyat too is afflicted by
these burdens but where they differ from Umno is that they are not in denial.
They understand the people’s aspiration
and they know what they have to do…the devil is in the details…they are streets
ahead of Umno when it comes to being the change catalyst that we all want.
CT Ali is a reformist who
believes in Pakatan Rakyat’s ideologies. He is a FMT columnist.
First posted on Saturday, September 17, 2011...nothing has changed!
All the usual suspects....
What Najib did yesterday triggered a stampede of sycophants trying to out do each other in their praise for his so called abolishment of the ISA. Does it mean that the ISA that was here yesterday is now gone today? Let me tell all those gullible people out there….the election is coming…if Najib does not come up with the abolishment of the ISA he will have to invent something similar. Let me explain Najib’s thinking process.
Imagine this…there is Najib at home sitting down for dinner with the Prime Minister…opps sorry …there is Najib sitting down for dinner with Rosmah.
As usual Rosmah briefs Najib on the REAL situation - re the possibility of her remaining as FIRST LADY. It does not look to good. Her recent attempt (over Hari Raya) at having a regular spot on national TV to “connect” with the people of Malaysia bombed because the people did not want to connect with her! So how now brown cow? What else to do?
Tell the real story about Altantuya? No can do! Spending time behind bars is not what this First Lady wants to contemplate doing even in the company of her beloved Najib!
Fast track PKFZ? No can do. That would bring the whole BN house of cards tumbling down.
Clean up PDRM, MACC and the Judiciary? ..and leave UMNO up the Tembeling River in a raft without a paddle? No can do too!..there must be something else they can do without getting themselves wet.....Rosmah does not look to good without her makeup!
And then their “Eureka” moment…abolish the ISA! Nobody who is against them can say that abolishing the ISA is not a good thing! And while Najib is at it why not abolish the Printing Presses and Publication Act, etc etc.
Now of course it never occurred to them that it is “THEM” that the people wanted to abolish…but since when has what the people want been of any concern to Rosmah? Never!
This is what I like about Rosmah She manages to offend all the right people...like all Malaysians! She thinks that making Najib abolish the ISA will secure her another tenure as First Lady. Well Rosmah I have news for you. Najib has to be reelected as PM first at the 13th general election to allow you to remain as First Lady – NOT The other way around!
Anyway the announcement has been made and all the usual suspects are wheeled out to put in their two cents worth of support.
Take this drivel posted by that pretentious little git of a reporter from NST:
"THE prime minister's instruction to abolish or reconstruct a slew of security laws, chiefly the Internal Security Act, heralds a new age of political enlightenment that seeks to eliminate British colonial remnants and antiquated edicts of the Cold War.
Being a true game-changer, DatukSeriNajibRazak's fresh set of humane security laws are going to provide new rules of socio-political engagement, one without the threat of police detention without trial. In fact, Najib's radical transformation of the security environment may have been designed to free police from the encumbrances of having to tail critical pro-democratic activists and focus on criminals.
From now, all threats, whether they are connotations of vile thought or subversive inclinations, will be counter-argued with stronger and superior ideas. There's no other option".
Nak muntah aku! How anyone can sit down and actually make himself write that sort of stuff is beyond me! His job might be secure at NST but where is your dignity brother? Have some pride in your work lah…you are writing about a political decision made by a desperate PM who lacks legitimacy because of the way he came into office.
Only after 29 months in office is Najib finally going to the people for a mandate to be their PM – so please don’t write about “ a new age of political enlightment”, “being a true game-changer” “humane security laws”….. ”connotations of of vile thoughts or subversive inclinations”….. you are writing rubbish you pompous idiot!
And then of course the IGP has to have his 15 seconds of fame and he comes up with this gem:
KUALA LUMPUR:The repeal of the Internal Security Act will not affect police work, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar.
"We have been entrusted with maintaining internal security and public order and will continue doing so even without the ISA. "Emergency laws are no longer needed in this time and age," he told the New Straits Times.
In other words, with or without the ISA PDRM will still hantam and whack all demonstrators, will still murder suspects in Police custody, will still condone heavily armed Police murdering defenseless people...and not to forget the collection of "TOL" from the Rakyat to grease the palm of all those babi from the mata mata up.....business as usual!
I like his “. "Emergency laws are no longer needed in this time and age,"What time and age brother? This is still 2011 and it is still September….and all that has happened is that we are all a day older. When you are no longer IGP will qualify as a new time and a new age!
And in closing do not forget what Najib also said:
KUALA LUMPUR:Prime Minister DatukSeriNajibRazak yesterday announced an orderly “political transformation”, seeking the repeal of the Internal Security and Banishment acts.
Read the above statement very carefully….”orderly political transformation”….which translated means “let us win the 13 general election first lah and then we see!”
Please brothers and sisters stop any celebration to celebrate the abolishment of the ISA or the PPPA. It has not happened yet. Saying that it will be abolish does not make it happen. Take it for what it is….it has nothing to do with our freedom to practice whatever political ideology we choose or to let a responsible Media print what the public should know : It has everything to do about winning the 13th general elections.
So we must deal with this announcement the same way we deal with the announcement about KPI’s, about the creation of MACC, about the government promise to “leave no stone unturned” on the Lingam, Teoh Beng Hock and any other inquiry and any other announcements made by this BN government….straight into the rubbish bin!
