Gov't promises to explain missing jet engines

The BN government has reportedly promised to explain the scandal of missing RMAF jet engines to the country as well as the United States. Many observers are still not sure whether the explanation to be given to the country and the report for America are of the same version. Is the report going to be submitted to Americans public or confidential ? The official reports to the country and the United States will certainly be compared and contrasted by media, analysts and observers as well as governments all over the world with those news reports of the New Straits Times (NST), which first reported the highly defence-sensitive Malaysian scandal purportedly on the strength of 'intelligence reports'.

Confusing M'sian news on "stolen" jet engines

Said Zahari : Chin Peng is son of Malayan land

In an exclusive interview with the independent Malay-language online media Merdeka Review, former editor-in-chief of Utusan Melayu Said Zahari argues that CPM veteran Ong Boon Hua @ Chin Peng is indeed a bumiputra of Malaya and that under the stipulations of the Haadyai Peace Accord (1989), Chin Peng is entitled to return to our homeland. In an exclusive interview with malaysiakini, Malaysia' s ex-IGP Rahim Noor also publicly endorses the request of Chin Peng for homecoming. In their 673-page specialist book Forgotten Wars: The End of Britain's Asian Empire (London, Penguin/Allen Lane, 2007), leading Cambridge University historians Christopher Bayly and Tim Harper verify the fact that Chin Peng was born "in Sitiawan in Perak where his parents ran a bicycle shop " (p. 35). In his autobiography My Side of History, @ Chin Peng reveals that the graves of his grandfather, parents and brothers are located in a Chinese cemetery close to Sitiawan in Perak. (p. 509)

New Year greetings from Pak Said in hospital

My live interview at AiFM radio station today

I visited Angkasapuri this morning and also accepted an one-hour live interview on major global events and trends in 2009 by AiFM channel. I was told that the Chinese-language Oriental Daily will publish points I made at the very youthful radio station in the New Year supplement.

Disorderly party not reflective of X'mas spirit

The disorderly 'Christmas' eve celebration in Penang is absolutely not reflective of the spirit of the festival. Clare Street supports effective and reasonable efforts, including the appropriate use of police force, to maintain law and order for the safety of the community in general.

New Year greetings from Pak Said in hospital

I visited Pak Said this morning at a hospital in Shah Alam where he is still undergoing psysiotherapy. Both of us sembang-sembang for quite a while macam biasa. Pak Said would like to convey his warm regards to Chin Peng, Suriani and family as well as all his esteemed friends of all races. Pak Said would also like to wish everybody Happy New Year.

BN fails to fully honour Haadyai Peace Accord

FM Anifah : Arshad Hussain not resuming post

According to Bernama, Malaysia' s Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman has denied a local media report that Ambassador Datuk Arshad Hussain is resuming his post as Malaysia's permanent representative to the United Nations in Vienna. However, it is still not clear whether the ambassador has been "dismissed" as speculated by media in Iran.

Media in Iran: M'sia sacks recalled ambassador

Media in Iran: M'sia sacks recalled ambassador

According to the English-language Tehran Times and Press TV in Iran, the Malaysian Ambassador to Vienna Datuk Mohd Arshad Hussain has been "dismissed" for casting a controversial vote at a board meeting of the inter-governmental International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). However, quoting unnamed 'sources', The Star newspaper in Malaysia reported today that Mohd Arshad Hussain is " to resume" his UN post. There is clearly a need for an official clarification by the government.

Confusing M'sian news on "stolen" jet engines

Confusing M'sian news on "stolen" jet engines

Quoting intelligence sources, a news report of the New Straits Times claimed that the missing jet engines have been "transported to a US-sanctioned Middle Eastern country" but the police has reportedly said that the parts have been "traced to Argentina". Since the New Straits Times is a mainstream media which projects an authoritative image, the question of whether it or the police is to be believed is pertinent. Is the New Straits Times or police more authoritative on this matter? The New Straits Times was the first media that reported the scandal.

Merry Christmas greetings from James' family

My family and I would like to wish people who choose to celebrate the nativity of Christ in Bethlehem on 25 th December a Merry Christmas. To our cherished relatives, neighbours and friends : Happy New Year. I would also like to thank the Ambassador of Sweden to Malaysia H.E. Ms. Helena Sångeland for the kind invitation for me to share the joy of the Swedish community in Kuala Lumpur at a party held recently to welcome Christmas with Scandinavian carols, cuisine as well as wine.

Remembering father as Christmas approaches

History of La Sallean schools in M'sia & S'pore

I am certainly very glad to have received another personal gift before Christmas and it is the impressively designed, very colourful and also highly informative 168-page De La Salle : The Tradition. The Legacy. The Future (Ipoh, Media Masters, 2009) with Dato' K K Lim's Forward. The St. Michael's Institution (SMI) in my hometown Ipoh is one of the eight missionary schools whose history is well -preserved in the book.

Girl for just causes now writes own memoirs

Chinese celebrate Festival of Winter Solstice

Today is Dongzhi or Winter Solstice festival in the Chinese calender. The other three major festivals are Xinnian, Qingming and Duanwu. Xinnian or the Chinese New Year for 2010 falls on 14 February (Sun).

Moon Cake Festival 2009 falls on 3rd October

Girl for just causes now writing own memoirs

Delivering her Acceptance Speech in English at the Confucian Private Secondary School in Kuala Lumpur, lawyer and also Malaysia' s former ambassador PG Lim recalled, inter alia, how her father, an appointed Asian 'legislator' of the colonial administration, protested against the financial discrimination against Chinese and Tamil -language schools. The 94-year-old England-born barrister also remembered fairly clearly that her father was particularly upset by the remarks frequently made by colonial officials that Chinese and Indians should 'go back' to China or India if they did not like, or refused to accept the education policy. PG Lim is now penning her autobiography for the benefit of posterity.

Community honours PG Lim's sense of justice

M' sia-US FTA negotiations end without result

The Malaysia-US FTA negotiation has reportedly ended without result. Malaysia' s official Representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also recently cast a controversial vote on Iran's nuclear program which has been seen by the US, Europe and Israel as a threat to the security and stability in the Middle East as well as Persian Gulf.

Community honours PG Lim's sense of justice

In my Chinese-language citation for P.G. Lim, I recalled how she, Lee Meng and I met in her residence in Kuala Lumpur one fine day in 2007 and also how the normally tough-minded Lee Meng was really touched by her great sense of justice and humbleness. Finally, I also conveyed to her publicly a congratulatory note on behalf of Ian Ward, a reporter who talked to her in the riot -ravaged Kuala Lumpur on 14 May, 1969. About 1, 500 people from all over the country attended the ceremony.

Rendezvous with PG Lim at Confucian School

Rendezvous with PG Lim at Confucian School

Last night, I was with Malaysia's former diplomat and lawyer P.G. Lim at the iconical Confucian Private Secondary School in downtown Kuala Lumpur. The 94-year-old England-born and English-educated barrister was given a pretigious award by the Chinese education movement for her undoubtedly outstanding contributions to the Chinese community. At the invitation of the LLG Cultural Development Centre now headed by Dr. Toh Kin Woon, I presented a short citation for the counsel who saved the life of Lee Meng and now prays for the return of Chin Peng.

American focus on "radicalization" of Muslims

" Radicalization " of domestic Muslims, especially among youths, has reportedly become a homeland security concern of the United States. After being assaulted on 11 Sept. 2001, the United States have been fighting two wars in the predominantly- Muslim Iraq and Afghanistan. Obama has announced a surge of 34,000 soldiers for the Afghan War and reaffirmed the Augustinian doctrine of Just War recently in Oslo. Moreover, while the US-Iran relations are still generally negative, the Obama administration has focussed its security concern on Pakistan, especially with the support of India after the Mumbai Siege last year.

Reading more Bernard Lewis writings in 2009

Christmas gift from Les Miserables' young fan

Xiao Qing has bought the Penguin's Series 1 of Great Ideas for me as Christmas gift and also as a token of gratitude to me for lending her many books, VCDs and DVDs, particularly the Les Miserables musical. The series includes titles by Gibbon, Darwin, Paine, Marx and Engles.

Remembering father as Christmas approaches

Remembering father as Christmas approaches

American singer Bing Crosby's Christmas songs, like White Christmas and Silent Night remain classic. My father liked the songs fairly much although he was educated with Chinese- character Confucian classics in an old-fashion private school in Ipoh in the 1930s by a Teacher Ho. One of the sons of Teacher Ho became a Western doctor whose clinic provided medical services and medicines for my family till late 1970s. Ipoh town has always been a bridge for East-West cultural exchanges.

Dickens' message clear & simple for everyone

BN fails to fully honour Haadyai Peace Accord

Last evening, I presented my own observations on the Haadyai Peace Accord (1989) at the Selangor & Kuala Lumpur Chinese Assembly Hall. I pointed out , inter alia, that, while the Government of Malaysia has fulfilled some of its treaty obligations, it has still has NOT (A) allowed Chin Peng to return to his - and our - homeland, AND also (B) entirely ceased to employ abusive and hostile words to refer to Chin Peng and the Communists with impunity as if there is no such treaty on record. The public seminar was organised by the Chinese-language edition of malaysiakini and Rock News website as well as the Youth Wing of the strictly non-partisan Selangor & Kuala Lumpur Chinese Assembly Hall.

Red veteran Ah Hai & I cross paths in Haadyai

Public seminar in PJ on Perak's political crisis

According to the Malay- language edition of Merdeka Review, a public seminar on the still unresolved political as well as constitutional crisis in Perak will be held on 9 Dec (Wed) at the auditorium of the PJ Civic Centre. Legitimate Perak MB Mohd. Nizar Jamaluddin, Professor Shad Faruqi and also Professor Kevin Y. L. Tan will explore the vital issues. Admission is free and open to members of the public AND journalists.

Red veteran Ah Hai & I cross paths in Haadyai

The paths of communist veteran Ah Hai and mine crossed once again in Haadyai on 30 November and we had our dinner together in a Thai restaurant. I thanked Ah Hai for the time and patience for reviewing some of my research notes and adding more points for the studies of the modern history of Malaysia when we first met last year in Betong. When Ah Hai was a teenager working in Perak' s Pusing, he also read Nikolai Ostrovsky's How The Steel Was Tempered with great passion. Ah Hai told me that he is now "without burden" as all his children and grandchildren can take care of themselves, and he has also published all the five books of his memoirs recalling his own fairly eventful life.

Eng Ming Ching emerges in Haadyai for peace

Eng Ming Ching emerges in Haadyai for peace

The health of CPM veteran Suriani Abdullah (Eng Ming Ching) seemed to have seriously deteriorated when she appeared on 30 November in Haadyai City to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the signing of the Peace Accords between the CPM and the Government of Malaysia. Suriani's autobiography Setengah Abad Dalam Perjuangan is available in Malay and Chinese and it tells why she had to fight for our country. Other communist veterans who have published their autobiographies in the Malay language include Abdullah Che Dat, Rashid Maidin (1917-2006), Abu Samah (1926-2009 ) and Ibrahim Chik. A posthumous but meticulously researched biography of Kamarulzaman Teh (1920-2002) was also written by Dr. Mohamed Salleh Lamry and published in 2006.

Rahim Noor : CPM fully fulfilled Peace Accord

Rahim Noor : CPM fully fulfilled Peace Accord

In a videoed interview with malaysiakini recently, former IGP Tan Sri Rahim Noor confirms in no uncertain terms that the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) has fully performed obligations of the Haadyai Peace Accord it signed with the Malaysian government on 2 December 1989. Rahim Noor also reveals that there was no open opposition within the government to the conclusion of the agreement with the communists. On 30 November 2009, a retired Deputy Director of the Police Special Branch Datuk Yau Kong Yew travelled alone in his personal capacity to Haadyai to meet and join Chin Peng, Abdullah C.D., Shan Ruhong and other to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the peace agreement.

Said Zahari supports Chin Peng's homecoming

Said Zahari supports Chin Peng's homecoming

Icon of Malay- language journalism and also former Editor-in-Chief of Utusan Melayu, Said Zahari told Clare Street that " there is no reason for the government not to permit CPM veteran Chin Peng to return to tanahair kita". Said shares the opinion that the BN government must fulfill all its legal and moral obligations under the peace treaty signed with the Communist Party of Malaya. Said , currently in a hospital for psysiotherapy, has recently been re-appointed as the Resident Writer of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia on the modern history of Malaysia. At 81, Said is still very fluent in his command of Chinese and English.

Malays for national reconciliation & solidarity

Malays for national reconciliation & solidarity

As a matter of verifiable facts, a visibly significant number of Malays from both side of the Malaysian - Thai border also participated in the multiethnic ceremony in Haadyai on 30th Nov (Mon) to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Peace Accords between the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) and the Government of Malaysia as well as those between the CPM and the Government of Thailand. CPM veteran Chin Peng, 85, delivered his own address in Malay eloquently.

Anwar & Rahim for homecoming of Chin Peng

Anwar & Rahim for homecoming of Chin Peng

Former DPM Anwar Ibrahim and ex-IGP Rahim Noor are supportive of legendary CPM veteran Chin Peng's return to his- and our - homeland. Yesterday, retired Deputy Director of the Police Special Branch, Datuk Yau Kong Yew met and joined Chin Peng in Haadyai to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the official signing of the 1989 Peace Accord.

Trustworthiness as foundation of social order