Malaysian Muslims not ready for religious dialogue

KUALA LUMPUR (June 21, 2007): The majority of Muslims in the country are not ready for open dialogue on religious issues, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said.

"Our intention is to have dialogues. However, religious issues are something sensitive. Dialogues need (the communication) of both sides.

"If the majority of Malaysian Muslims do not want to take part (in dialogues), we can't do anything more. So we can only continue (with) our efforts without inciting any sensitive feelings by holding closed-door dialogues," he said in reply to Chow Kon Yeow (DAP-Tanjong) in the Dewan Rakyat (Parliament) today.

Nazri also took Chow to task for accusing the prime minister of double standards on inter-religious and cultural dialogue by saying one thing in the international arena and taking a different stand at home.

"In foreign countries, the premier does not have (decisive) power. He can only propose something. And the matter of sensitivity does not arise abroad, so he is free to say anything as it will not offend anyone.

"At home, although he has power, there is religious sensitivity (that should be taken care of). In our history, there was racial clash. Therefore, we have to be extra cautious," he said.

"Accusing the premier as having double standards is not only incorrect, but also unfair and disrespectful to the head of the government. This question was intentionally asked by the Opposition to fish votes."

Earlier, Nazri said the premier and other cabinet ministers had meetings to discuss issues concerning Malaysians who have different religious and cultural background from time to time.

"We hold closed-door dialogues. Having debates openly in newspapers is not the choice for the government. The closed-door dialogues do not mean that they are less efficient than open dialogues."

On a supplementary question from Baharum Mohamad (BN-Sekijang) who said he was "offended" by Chow's question, Nazri said many other Malay Muslims out there shared the same feeling.

"I hope the opposition will be careful in raising questions like this. We practise democracy so we allowed this question. Next time, you must be careful," he said to cheers from some backbenchers.

That whole article came from the web edition of the sun dated 21 June 2007. Other comments can be read from Mr Chow's and Marina Mahathir's rantingsbymm blogs.

When will this 'not ready' policy end? Till kingdom come I guess if the present hold on to power. The silent majority must speak up, or else our fate will forever be dictated by these enlightened members of parliament...

Rapidkl where art thou

Let us wait and see whether SPNB will reply to this letter to the editor which appeared in the Star of 4th June 2007.


'We pay the fare, we expect to arrive on time
On May 29,passengers on the LRT Kelana Jaya line had to wait about 30 minutes in the train just because of an uncertain reason. Yes, we understand that if the management didn’t take any safety measures it might end up with a disaster. A problem will not be a problem if it only appears once in a while, but there had been too many ‘breakdowns’, too many delays and too many letters telling us, we are sorry. I don’t want any letters anymore. I don’t want to know your problems. I don’t want to know the solutions. I pay the fee and I want to use the train without hassle, and without getting to the office late. I hope SPNB will understand that inefficiency in the system will cause a lot of problems, especially to the working population. And if SPNB fails to cater for 16% of the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor population (as per October, 2006) how would it manage to cater for 40% more?
E-DAN RAWA Kuala Lumpur'


Will this be just another letter to the editor that is thrown into the rubbish can? I have a feeling that is the fate of countless other letters and calls to SPNB on the subject of the frequent delays and breakdowns of their trains.
Does the management even have an iota of interest in the long suffering commuter?

Air Asia Express boarding

I saw for the first time how this system works when I took a flight from the LCCT on Saturday, 2nd June 2007. For the aged, infirmed and those with young children, it is a good idea to fork out the extra ringgit to get into the queue. Air Asia seems heartless when introducing this system. The usual group of elderly citizens and those with young children are now at the mercy of the unruly mob at the normal queue.
As a letter to the editor in one of the local dailies suggested, it might be a good idea to have this group as the second priority after the express boarding group. Profits is one thing and making money out of every conceivable opportunity is another matter altogether. The human face of Air Asia should also be taken into consideration. Surely, the management does not want the 'Now everyone can fly' to be changed to 'Now only those with money and the fit can fly'.