Where do "rights" end?

I'm wondering, after a sleepless night, thanks to the incessant noise from industrial-grade firebombs (not crackers) burnt by the Chinese for some festival last night (after a huge round earlier ushering in the Chinese New Year)...I'm wondering where the right to religious freedom in our constitution ends and public nuisance and endangerment begins.

Yes, I will have people up in arms at what a Taliban I am, Wahhabi, yada yada yada...whatever (actually so-called "wahhabis" are more tolerant than others...just read Dr Asri's (demonised as a "wahhabi") writings ;) )

I am merely voicing aloud what sooooo many people are feeling, especially the "embattled" Muslims who are the majority in this nation and other long-suffering peoples of other "quietly dignified" religions that don't create a ruckus to akcnowledge their beliefs (as in starting huge bonfires, spewing burning embers all over our houses and properties/cars during this dry season and landing KLCC-New Year celebration grade exploding and unexploded ordnances into other peace-loving people's open courtyards and gardens and windows at between 8 pm to 4am and scaring the pee out of our sleeping kids and old mums and dads). In residential areas, know what I mean?

This nation has always been tolerant of other religions (just try going to the US and trying this shit in quiet neighborhoods :) ). But all we have heard so far is how "they" have been oppressed. Is that really true? I don't know. No one ever told a Sikh to remove his turban.No one ever told a nun to remove her habit. Or a monk to stop wearing his orange robe. No one ever said no to the building of temples and churches (under reasonable and properly gazetted areas that is...not simply under any tree, nook and cranny because its convenient for them). Yet, we even have that huge dangerous complex up Gasing Hills that could cause a major catastrophe, but we are so afraid of being labeled "muslim extremists", racist Malay leaders! and all that jazz, and so the government just turns a blind eye.

We have every other Muslim sovereign nation trying to go back to the tenets of Islam immediately labeled as "dictators", "talibans", "extremists" and invaded by satanically cruel armies sent under the guise of "spreading democracy" (ala-ugly American bulldogs trained by Zions/Yahudi/Jews -like it or not, its already in the Quran, all about these Jews...or should we reinterpret it to appear politically correct "liberally stupid" Muslims?)

We have people of other religions telling us the hijab is oppressive, France for example, and in Aghanistan itself the US send drones to massacre civilians to protect them from the dreaded BURQA :) Yeah. Right. We know the (real) drill. We have people telling us beards are the hallmark of terrorists (tell that to the Ultra Jews too...okay?). We have people telling us how we should pray, how we should celebrate Eid with other idol-worshipping religions, how we should not segregate the sexes, how we should learn "modern" knowledge and not become "parrot-like" reciters of the Quran (hello? anyone home up there? what's wrong with wanting to memorise every ayah of His Words and making sure its IN our kids and protected through the years? isn't that what every great Muslim scholar started with?)

Really. I'm so sick of others telling us how to practise our religion. How we have to accommodate every other peoples up to the extent of selling out our own beliefs in order to appease their kuffar and stubborn hearts closed off to the word of Allah.

This is Malaysia. Islam is the highest religion. Take it or leave it. Don't start comparing the azan, a SOOTHING call to prayer, with the BOOM BOOM BOOM of gunpowder. Don't start whining why we can and you can't. Did I protest when in the US I couldn't celebrate Eid because it wasn't a public holiday and I had exams? That the azan couldn't be called out with loudspeakers? Did I cry and whine how UNJUST these Yankees were? Nope. I respected their laws and their majority choices. You want to practise your beliefs, FINE. But don't become a danger to the public and a general nuisance while you are at it.

The Prophet SAW's advise has always been to make "hijrah" if unable to practise our beliefs in a muslim minority nation. Not to create havoc and demand this or that and threaten public safety and by calling in the damned marines. So, if unhappy, then please leave by the front door and close it quietly after you. Can always go to Hong Kong or China. Birds of a feather. That's why my grandparents came here too. Birds of a feather (Muslim nation...yes it is, like it or not).

These CNY and Chap Goh Meh celebrations are getting out of hand with the BANNED firecrackers (bombs) exploding everywhere disregarding and disrespectful of people's eardrum health (my ears are still ringing..I should sue these neighbours of mine) and beauty sleep and general well-being (kids have to get up early for school and people have to go to work and their sleep is disrupted!).

There HAS to be a limit to all this.

Religious freedom within the boundaries of decency.

NOT a free for all.

I'm sure many would agree with me.

Only they don't want to say it.

Some things just have to be said.

I'm not the poster girl for "perfect Muslim", but that's my human failing, not my religion's. And I will defend it to my death. If I have to. Islam I mean.

The (Evil) Empire Discovers Yemen

"Yemen, who would have thought of Yemen as the new front? Somalia for sure, maybe Mauretania, Mali, or Chad. And it all happened because of a Christmas surprise on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit. Good thing a couple of guys in Sana’a were able to fit a confused Nigerian with an underwear bomb that failed to go off otherwise we Americans would not have been alerted to the Yemeni threat. Why, by some reports there are as many as two or three hundred al-Qaeda supporters in the country. Time to land a couple of Marine divisions, if we had them to spare."

hehehe...read full piece HERE

Can you cane Razak Baginda too?

Aik, Razak Baginda terlepas plak? Bukan dia mengaku in court? Why double standard meh?


Three women caned under syariah law (Updated)
PUTRAJAYA: Three Muslim women became the first in the country to be caned for committing syariah offences.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the three were found guilty of having illicit sex and had the caning sentence meted out to them on Feb 9 at 10am at the Kajang Prison.

He said two of the women were given six strokes of the rotan while the third was whipped four times.

The trio were found guilty of committing illicit sex under Section 23 (2) of the Federal Territory Syariah Criminal Act 1997. The Federal Territory Syariah High Court had issued the caning order between December last year and January 2010.

Hishammuddin said one of the women was released on Feb 14 after spending a month in prison and another was expected to be released over the next few days.

The third woman was currently serving her jail term and would be released in June, he said.

“Based on interviews with the three women after the sentences were carried out, they did not suffer from any cuts or bruises on their bodies.

“But they said that the caning sentence had a deep impact on them because they feel sorry for committing these wrongdoings and have since repented,” he claimed.

“These women hope that other Muslims would shy away from doing things that are prohibited by the religion,” he told a press conference after his ministry’s post-cabinet meeting Wednesday.

Hishammuddin said the reason why the caning of the three Muslim women was brought to public attention was because “so much hype” has been created over the caning order imposed on part-time model Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno for consuming alcohol in public.

“People are saying that no woman has been caned before and that Kartika should not be caned. Today I am announcing that we have already done it (caned women). There is no hidden agenda but we are merely executing our responsibility and we did it according to the law,” he said.

On July 20 last year, Kartika was fined RM5,000 and ordered to be caned six times by the Kuantan Syariah High Court after she pleaded guilty to consuming alcohol in public. She is expected to undergo her caning sentence after her audience with the Tengku Mahkota of Pahang, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.

Hishammuddin said the Prisons Department had taken necessary steps to ensure that caning sentences could be meted out on Muslim women offenders, adding that he had directed the department’s director-general to consult with experts from the Islamic Development Department (Jakim), the Syariah Department and the Attorney-General’s Chambers on the matter.

He said a meeting between the relevant authorities was held on Dept 4 last year where they had agreed on the procedure for such caning, which would follow syariah requirements.

This includes examination checks before and after the caning was meted out, ensuring the woman is not pregnant and is appropriately attired according to the Muslim dress code, and the offender’s position when she is caned.

The minister said when the caning was executed, 13 people, including officials from the Federal Territory Religious Department, Jakim, the Syariah Court, the AG’s Chambers and his (Hishammuddin’s) officer were present.

“I hope there will be no more issue arising from caning sentences which the Syariah court can impose on Muslim women, so much so that it can affect the sanctity of Islam.

“The punishment is aimed at getting the offenders to repent and seek Allah’s forgiveness. It is also meant to educate Muslims to follow the teachings of Islam,” he said.

Siapa Yang Dipinggirkan Sebenarnya?

What have all these rich Chinamen given back to Malaysians/Malaysia? That I would like to know. Helped their fellow poor brethren regardless of race? I hope so...

Because all we hear is how Malays/Muslims oppress other races/discriminate etc etc. Is it really true? We wouldn't have this if it were. Now would we?

40 richest Malaysians get richer

Tan Sri Robert Kuok

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 16, 2010): In what is perhaps an indication of an improved economy, the collective income of the country's 40 richest individuals spiked upwards by 63%.

In revealing the annual local rich list, business magazine Malaysian Business said Malaysia's 40 richest individuals are collectively worth RM156.7 billion -- much more than the RM96.3 billion they accumulated last year.

However, according to the fortnightly magazine's survey results released in a statement today, their combined wealth was still less than the RM171.9 billion recorded in 2008.

The full list of the 40 tycoons and details of their wealth were published in the magazine's Feb 16 issue.

The wealth of the top 40 was assessed based on the value of their stakes in listed companies as at Jan 15, with almost half jumping 50% or more. There are also more billionaires this year - 22, eight more than last year.

Concurrently, the benchmark FBM KLCI has risen 44.3% within the same period.

Southeast Asia's richest man and now former Sugar King Tan Sri Robert Kuok Hock Nien maintains his position at the top with RM42.76 billion, while telecommunications tycoon Tan Sri T Ananda Krishnan a distant second, clocking RM27 billion.

Third is Tan Sri Lee Shin Cheng of IOI Group, who more than doubled his fortune to RM11.92 billion.

The only woman in the top ten is Puan Sri Lee Kim Hua. The widow of Genting Group's Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong is ranked eight with RM4.4 billion, while their son Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay is fourth with earnings of RM10.38 billion.

The five newcomers to the top 40 were KNM Group's Lee Swee Eng, brothers Datuk Shahril Shamsuddin and Shahriman Shamsuddin of Sapura Group, CIMB Group's Datuk Seri Nazir Razak and Ong Leong Huat of OSK Holdings.

Here's the Top 10 richest Malaysians:

1) Tan Sri Robert Kuok Hock Nien (Kerry Group/Kuok Group) RM42.76b

2) Tan Sri T. Ananda Krishnan (Usaha Tegas) RM27b

Tan Sri Vincent Tan	Tan Sri T. Ananda Krishnan

3) Tan Sri Lee Shin Cheng (IOI Group) RM11.92b

4) Tan Sri Teh Hong Piow (Public Bank) RM10.86b

5) Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay (Genting Group) RM10.38b

6) Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan (Hong Leong Group) RM7.09b

7) Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary (Al-Bukhary Foundation) RM6.01b

8) Puan Sri Lee Kim Hua (Genting Group) RM4.4b

9) Tan Sri Tiong Hiew King (Rimbunan Hijau) RM3.5b

10) Tan Sri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun (Berjaya Group) RM3.2b -- theSun

More of me Pics...

my very unprofessional pics...suka2...

Sunset Pasir Panjang last weekend

Sunrise over Duke Hiway

Sun peeking from cloud near oxidation pond

Sunrise Duke Hiway 2

Sunrise Setiawangsa Hill

Playground my house, evening sky

Sunset my place

Evening my place..cloudy sunset

Evening clear day my place..blue sky day

Port Dickson last weekend

My fav shot

A mazing how I don't have to go far to get these shots ;) This is near an oxidation pond near my place on a blue sky, breezy day

Christian Charity

'Trafficked' Haitian children not orphans

By Lisa Millar for The World Today



Members of the charity New Life Children's Refuge have been charged with child trafficking.

A young girl allegedly targeted by an American church group engaged in a child trafficking operation in quake-hit Haiti says she thought she was being taken to a summer camp.

Ten members of American Baptist church group New Life Children's Refuge were arrested and charged with child trafficking overnight as they attempted to take 33 children out of the country.

But the group says they were only trying to rescue abandoned and traumatised children.

The children are now in an orphanage while officials try to locate their families, and one of the girls told George Willeit from the SOS Children's Village in Haiti that she thought she was being taken to a summer camp.

"We will reunite them with their parents or with their relatives because we already know that some of these children still have parents," Mr Willeit said.

"An elder girl, maybe eight or nine years old, told us crying 'I am not an orphan. I do have my parents. I thought I am going to a boarding school or to a summer camp. We don't know exactly - to the Dominican Republic. I do have my parents.'"

Haitian officials have imposed new controls on adoptions since the earthquake because of fears that the disaster would leave children open to exploitation.

Orphanages were destroyed in the earthquake and many of the children who were living there were not actually orphans but had been left by families who could not afford to care for them.

The Haitian Government has halted many types of adoptions but is worried even legitimate aid groups have flown young earthquake survivors out of the country before every effort could be made to find their parents.

Now only the country's prime minister can authorise the departure of any child.

Hearing tomorrow

The Americans will face their first hearing tomorrow and spokeswoman Laura Silsby says the group was simply trying to rescue the young earthquake survivors.

"In the course of the time frame we had them with us ... the entire team deeply fell in love with these children," she said.

"They are very, very precious kids that have lost their homes and their families and are so deeply in need of, most of all, God's love and his compassion and just a very nurturing setting."

The group's website describes the Haitian orphan rescue mission. It says they were taking the children by bus across the border to the Dominican Republic where a hotel was being turned into an orphanage.

Ms Silsby says the group simply did not have the right documents.

"The mistake obviously we made is we did not understand that there was additional paperwork required," she said.

The pastor at the Idaho Baptist Church where at least five of the group worship, Clint Henry, says it is disappointing his church has been dragged into the controversy.

"I know there has been illegal activity that has been going on down there. It is unfortunate that we would be associated with that," he said.

A spokesman for Unicef in Haiti, Kent Page, says he is amazed the Americans thought their actions were acceptable.

"You can't just go and take a child out of a country no matter what country you're in. This is not what is done," he said.

"There are processes that need to be followed. You can't just pick up a child and walk out of the country with the child, clearly, no matter what your best intentions are."