Condolence to Mumbai Siege victims' families

There will be no entry in Clare Street for one day tomorrow to convey its condolence to the families of the victims of the Siege of Mumbai.

India-Pakistan ties from American standpoints

According to the analyses of Jane Perlez as well as Mark Mazzetti and Peter Baker, the changing relationship between India and Pakistan in the aftermaths of the Siege of Mumbai could impact on the American strategic planning in the security complex also involving Afghanistan.

Delhi: all security operations in Mumbai over

Delhi: all security operations in Mumbai over

The Times of India has quoted M L Kumawat, Special Secretary in the Union Home Ministry in Delhi, as saying that all security operations in Mumbai "are over" and "there are no more terrorists now in Mumbai". The search for critical details, like the real identities of the attackers and also their doctrine, networks and motives to re-construct a more coherent picture of what had actually transpired, has already started.

India-Pakistan ties under nervous observation

India-Pakistan ties under nervous observation

According to some news reports in India, some security officials have declared that the rampage of an unidentified number of gunmen and hostage crisis in Mumbai is over, but, it is only prudent for the world to wait for more official and publicly accountable announcement from PM Manmohan Singh, or other governmental spokesmen in New Delhi. Meanwhile, the detoriating relationship between India and Pakistan is being monitored quite attentively and nervously by the world at large.

Gunmen in Mumbai for protracted operations

Gunmen in Mumbai for protracted operations

There are news reports that bags of edible almonds have been found in the dead bodies of the gunman in Mumbai providing further proof that their operations were planned and to be carried out as a form of protracted urban guerrilla warfare in the densely populated centre of finance. The actual figure and real identities of the gunmen who are still in operations in the areas are not clearly known yet to the public.

Observation on gunmen' s rampage in Mumbai

Observation on gunmen' s rampage in Mumbai

It seems to me that the gunmen still rampaging in Mumbai, whatever their organisation and motives, are fairly well-trained, well-equipped, well-financed and well-conditioned for protracted war-like operations. The coordinated simultaneity of their attacks at different locations in an urban setting also indicates that the operations were well-planned.

Secular India confronts rise of 'holy' violence

Dream of exploring Egypt & ancient pyramids

One of my childhood dreams yet to be fulfilled is to visit the pyramids in Egypt, which is one of the four great ancient civilisations on earth. I have always been fascinated by these truly awe-inspiring symbols of the productive force, both physical and mental, of the toiling masses. Since my working tour to Oman in July 2000, I have been maintaining occasional contacts with some senior journalists from Egypt who have been enriching my amateurish understanding of their nation's history.

Educational values of stamp collecting hobby

Classic Chinese literature in English language

Needless to say, many Chinese classics like The Water Margin, Dream of Red Chamber, Journey to the West and also The Romance of Three Kingdoms have long been translated into English and other languages. Literary translators have always been playing fairly important roles in strengthening intercultural communication and multicultural harmony.

Western classics in Chinese-language editions

Western classics in Chinese-language editions

In the last several decades, many of the classics in the West, like the great works of Hugo and Dickens, have been translated into Chinese. Nowadays, some youths in China also enjoy these Western classics in the original languages, such as English, French, Russian and Spanish.

Charles Dickens' writings still good for youths

Charles Dickens' works such as A Tale of Two Cities and Oliver Twist were, of course, the reading favourites of Ng Xiao Qing's father Beng Ching and I when we were younger in our hometown Ipoh. We think Dickens' writings are still morally inspiring for youths today, whether the works are consumed in English, Malay, Chinese or Tamil.

Another timeless masterpiece of Victor Hugo

Spirit & ideals of Dr. M. K. Rajakumar live on

The body Dr. M.K. Rajakumar was cremated in Kuala Lumpur at 4 pm yesterday but his patriotic spirit and humanistic ideals, like those of martyrs S.A. Ganapathy and P. Veerasenan, will, without doubts, live on to sustain the movement for the betterment of human conditions.

Unyielding Dr. M.K. Rajakumar rests in peace

Unyielding Dr. M.K. Rajakumar rests in peace

I visited the house of the late Dr. M.K. Rajakumar just now to convey my condolence to his family, and also to bid final farewell to the well-respected people' s intellectual as well as unyielding forerunner of the democratic struggle and movement of the people of Malaya/Malaysia.

Dr. Rajakumar departs with unyielding belief

Dr. Rajakumar departs with unyielding belief

According to a Chinese-language obituary penned by his close friends and comrades, Dr. M.K. Rajakumar held the unyielding conviction, to the last moment in his life, that socialism offers the best system for societies on earth. He passed away yesterday in Kuala Lumpur at 76.

People' s intellectual Dr. M.K. Rajakumar dies

People' s intellectual Dr. M.K. Rajakumar dies

I have just been told that Dr. M.K. Rajakumar, a very well-respected people's intellectual as well as an unyielding forerunner of the people's democratic movement in Malaysia, has passed away at the age of 76. A medical doctor as well as a former Deputy Secretary-General of the now officially defunct Labour Party of Malaya (LPM), he was detained without trial for four years under the Internal Security Act (ISA) from 1966 to 1969. His funeral will take place tomorrow at 3 p.m., leaving from 22-A, Jalan Kent 1, 54000 Kuala Lumpur. Rest in peace, Doctor.

Another timeless masterpiece of Victor Hugo

Victor Hugo (pix), as I told Xiao Qing and her young friends, was also the author of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, or Notre Dame de Paris. I am happy that Xiao Qing and her young friends know how to allocate time for enjoying literature, east and west, in this age when many of their contemporaries are very seriously 'addicted' to computer games.

Younger fans of Victor Hugo' s Les Miserables

Younger fans of Victor Hugo' s Les Miserables

Last evening, Xiao Qing and her young friends came to my house and asked me to explain to them the historical context of Les Miserables. I am glad that they are also deeply interested in this morally uplifting musical performance based on one of magnum opuses of Victor Hugo.

Educational values of stamp collecting hobby

Al Qaeda still passionately hostile to America

Despite the change of presidency in the United States of America, Al Qaeda remains very hostile to the country as clearly evidenced by the condemnation of President-elect Barack Obama by Ayman al-Zawahri. Like it or hate it, Al Qaeda and its cells seem to have developed into a decentralised network which can still be operational without Osama bin Laden, whether dead or still alive, in public command and control.

America' s first female four-star army general

While many of us in the world cheers the presidential triumph of the first Black president in the USA, the country's Army has also selected a woman, Ann E. Dunwoody, as a four-star general on her own merit.

Panyu girl scores first Olympic gold for China

Republican movement revitalised in Australia

According to a news report in the United Kingdom, the long-standing debates on whether Australia should be turned into a republic is now back on the mainstream political agenda as both PM Kevin Rudd and Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull (above) are avowed republicans.

India commemorates Republic Day every year

Critical & touchy decision for Obama to make

One of the most intense speculations on the future policy direction of the Obama presidency is whether it would retain the plan of the Bush administration to install a missiles defence system in eastern Europe. Like it or hate it, Obama will have to make a yes-or-no decision soon after he has been sworn in as the USA president on 20 January, 2009.

Putin could return as Russian president again

Putin could return as Russian president again

For good or for ill, Vladimir Putin may return as a powerful president of an increasingly assertive Russia just when the tense Russia-West geopolitical competition in and around Europe has always been back. Russia has also increased activities in the Caribbean region recently.

Obama' s presidency faces 3 major challenges

Obama' s presidency faces 3 major challenges

It is abundantly clear, by now, that the three major challenges facing the Obama presidency are (1) Iran, (2) financial crisis and (3) Russia. These three major challenges are also most pressing for the moment. Pogroms and terrorism apparently inspired or motivated by faiths, to be sure, still call for special attention as well as very active concerns.

History back to Europe from East & Southeast

History back to Europe from East & Southeast

Like it or not, Europe now faces the return of history not only in the form of a resurgent Russia in its east, but also a fairly bellicose and increasingly powerful Iran (Persia in ancient history) to its southeast.

Nuclearising Iran test-fires upgraded missiles

Nuclearising Iran test-fires upgraded missiles

As the speculation of Israel could be launching surgical strikes against nuclear facilities inside Iran anytime from now on to 19 January next year is abuzz, Iran has reportedly just test-fired a new generation of missiles, which reportedly can reach Israel and even southern Europe.

Barack Obama under Iranian fire from Tehran

News read from a world-historic perspective

Future historians would, I believe, consider the presidential victory of Barack Obama in America and the abolition of the 239-year monarchy in Nepal as world-historic events which are transformative in essence and progressive in direction with equality for all on earth as the goal.

World-historic meaning of French Revolution

Legend of Rashid Maidin (1917-2006) lives on

Pak Rashid Maidin (1917-2006) has left behind a short autobiography which offers an alternative narrative, from his personal experiences in life, of the modern history of our country. In one of his last public statements, he thanked the party for transforming and trusting him. When I met him in early 2005, Pak Rashid still cherished the memory of anti-colonial martyrs such as S.A. Ganapathy and P. Veeraseenan; and in his autobiography published shortly before his passing in 2006, he also paid personal tribute to his mentor and friend, Toh Lung San who brought him into the CPM and who was martyred in Ipoh in 1943.

Makcik Minah now enjoys feeding fish in pond

Makcik Minah now enjoys feeding fish in pond

Makcik Minah or Siti Norkiah was an activist of Angatan Wanita Sedar (AWAS) in Pahang in the late 1940s before she joined the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM), and took up arms at the outbreak of the Anti-Colonial War on 20 June 1948. She is the wife of Pak Abu Samah and she enjoys feeding fish kept in a concrete pond in front of her house. Needless to say, Makcik Minah is still proud of her contribution to the accelaration of the historical process of true Merdeka through armed struggles with comrades and patriots of all races against colonialism. When I met her in her house in southern Thailand in 2006, Minah told me that it was Kamarulzaman Teh (1920-2002) who asked her to join the CPM and that she did in late 1947 and she had never regretted it.

Suriani Abdullah explores Internet nowadays

Suriani Abdullah explores Internet nowadays

At 84, CPM veteran Suriani Abdullah (nee Eng Ming Ching) herself not only operates handphone, but also knows how to explore the Internet. She seems to really enjoy surfing in the cyberspace nowadays besides watching television programmes received through a parabolic gadget.

Abdullah CD' s memoirs to be completed soon

Abdullah CD' s memoirs to be completed soon

Also according to Eng Ming Ching, her husband as well as fellow CPM veteran Abdullah CD (pix) is now double-checking the last book of his three-part memoirs before it is published in both Malay and Chinese.

Abu Samah still in reasonably good conditions

Abu Samah still in reasonably good conditions

CPM veteran Suriani Abdullah or Eng Ming Ching called me yesterday. She told me that she and other veterans living in southern Thailand, such as Pak Abu Samah (pix), are still in reasonably good conditions.

Obama presidency to face Russian challenges

Like it or otherwise, the Obama presidency in America will still have to confront with the geopolotical reality that resurgent Russia is now a self-respecting power that sees itself very differently from the self-depracating period in the immediate aftermath of the disintegration of the ex-USSR and the then political, economic and social disorders.

Barack Obama under Iranian fire from Tehran

Barack Obama under Iranian fire from Tehran

Ali Larijani (pix), Iran's Speaker of Parliament, reportedly "cautioned" American President-elect Barack Obama on his earlier statement that Iran's plan of developing nuclear weapons is "unacceptable" to the US. The speculation that Israel could launch surgical strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities anytime from now to 20 January, 2009 is still abuzz.

Major & critical foreign policy test for Obama

Major & critical foreign policy test for Obama

The most pressing and critical challenge to Obama in the conduct of international relations will be, I believe, the question of an Iran that is reportedly developing nuclear weapons with the repeatedly stated objective of "wiping off the map" the only Jewish homeland on earth, which is also a close military, political and diplomatic ally of the USA. John Bolton, a former ambassador of the United States to the United Nations, was reported by a British newspaper Daily Telegraph in June as saying that he believed Israel could attack Iran after the American presidential election, but before George Bush's successor is sworn in.

Obaman Revolution as world-historic process

Obaman Revolution as world-historic process

From the perspective of historical materialism, the attitudinal as well as social changes in the United States which has led to the election of Barack Obama as the American president is merely a culmination of a world-historic process of the many struggles of the oppressed people, including those in South Africa, for dignity and also equality on earth. The world-historic process has not ended with one man's presidential triumph in the United States of America as there are still millions of dhimmis, dalits and the likes in some stagnant portions of the world.

Central point of Obama' s presidential victory

Central point of Obama' s presidential victory

The triumph of Senator Obama in the presidential election in America has certainly demonstrated that race or colour of the skin is no longer a political consideration in the minds of most of the American voters.

Muslim presidents in Hindu-majority republic

Watching return of USA presidential election

Joining Ambassador James Keith and other American friends and also friends of America later this morning in Kuala Lumpur to observe the return of the Presidential Election in the United States with telecasts. I have been following the electoral campaign from the very outset as a Malaysian observer of the political institutions and processes in the United States, and not a partisan of the domestic politics of America.

Next American president to face new reality

Court judgement on Chin Peng case criticised

I have just been informed that Mr. M.R. Pearce, an observer of Chin Peng's homecoming case on behalf of the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) issued a critique of the judgement of the Court of Appeal, delivered on 15 May, 2008 (Thurs) in Kuala Lumpur. The International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) is a NGO granted with consultative status to the United Nations' Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and also Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). IADL's current president is Jitendra Sharma.

Chin Peng's FC appeal proceedings postponed

Implication of yoga ban on Mr. Chamil Wariya

While the disputes of whether God can be called Allah is still in court for a decision in Malaysia, another such controversy has arisen as to whether Muslims can practice yoga which is believed by some Islamic scholars to contain elements or traces of Hinduism. If the trend goes on, I won't be surprised that one day, people like Chamil Wariya and Dr. Mahathir would be denounced in fatwas for being 'secret Hindus'.

Next American president to face new reality

Whoever becomes the next American president, he will certainly have to face and deal with a vastly changed and still rapidly changing world without the absolute certainty that history is going to end fairly soon.

Analyzing post-Bush America' s foreign policy

As guest of Abdullah Ahmad' s HR open house

I visited Abdullah Ahmad's open house just now to greet him and his family Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri as well as Minta Maaf Zahir Batin. Abdullah Ahmad is Malaysia' s ex-Ambassador to the United Nations, and also former Editor-in-Chief of the New Straits Times newspaper. He was also the political secretary to former PM Abdul Razak and an ex-MP as well as ISA detainee for five long years from 1976 to 1981.

Guests of Said Zahari' s Hari Raya open house