Bar Council honours doyen Raja Aziz Addruse

Last weekend, the Bar Council of Malaysia held an indoor gathering of lawyers to honour its three-term president Raja Aziz Addruse. 'I could very strongly sense that the deep respect for the brave constitutional expert transcends ethnicities and faiths. Raja Aziz Addruse dedicated one of 'his last missions in life to 'an historic process of reconciliation premised upon the very important principle of sanctity of treaty ('and contract') publicly and also solemnly signed among consenting parties. In classical Chinese expression, Raja Aziz Addrus was indeed a yi ren.

British scientist sees peril in computer games

Dr. Susan Greenfield, a top neurologist in Britain, has warned against 'addiction' to computer games, 'particularly among children. 'Concerns over the adverse impacts of computers and cyberspatial activities on psychological wellbeing seem to be increasingly widespread in Britain.

Dr. Collin Abraham's book in Chinese out now

Last evening, distinguished fellow Malaysian Tan Sri Dato' Dr. 'Ramon Navaratnam launched, in his personal capacity, the Chinese-language edition of Dr. Collin Abraham' s book, at the KL and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall. Dr. Collin Abraham, 79, was not feeling well and, as a result, 'he did not attend the book launching ceremony and discourse.

British scientist's 'Grand Design' in paperback

To achieve a scientifically innovative and creative society, our teens and youths should also be encouraged to read, discuss and debate on books written by, 'for example, Stephen Hawking. 'The Grand Design is now available 'in paperback in most major book stores in Malaysia.

Thomas Paine' s 'Common Sense' as great idea

One of Thomas Paine's' famous essays Common Sense is now included in Penguin Books' popular Great Ideas Series, which are not banned in Malaysia. 'Unlike Sam Harris whose books are also readily available in Malaysia, 'Thomas Paine was clearly not a faithless atheist. 'However, 'he criticized institutionized religion like historian Edward Gibbon did. Gibbon (1737'-1794) died 153 years before the onset of the Cold War, or 123 years before the outbreak of the October Revolution in Russia. For the country to mature and progress, youths and teens in Malaysia should be encouraged to discourse and debate on world-historic ideas and also discouraged 'from being obssessed with sex stories or ghost. Adults too must learn how to criticise without shouting or yelling '#%!.

No pornographic elements in Paine's writings

Nowadays, tt is difficult to find Thomas Paine's writings in Malaysian book stores but some of them, 'such as 'Common Sense and 'The Age of Reason, ''are accessible for free in the cyberspace. ''Thomas Paine ( 1737-1809 ), one of the famous Fathers of American Independence, died 79 years before Karl Marx ( 1818-1883 ) was born and 9 decades before V.I. Lenin set up the COMINTERN '('1919'-'1943'). Tom Paine' s writings contain no pornographic words and images, or ghost stories.

Debate over ghost stories continues in media

The debate on the proliferation of 'ghost' stories, 'triggered off by an observation of former PM Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, continues with one participant asserting that 'ghost' stories could be presented 'factually'.

Simple question & answer for study of history

Seen with a positive attitude, ''there is actually a subtle development of national consciousness among Malaysians. Now, if the question of "why can't we hire another British policemen to be our IGP?" is asked, most Malaysians would answer : "because our country is independent and sovereign". The straightforward answer is self-evidently correct.

Linear timeline aids understanding of history

In 1955, which came after 1950 ( in a linear timeline ), there was, 'on earth, a peace talk in Baling, which failed. Then in 1989 ( which came after 1955 in a linear timeline '), ''a peace treaty was successfully and happily concluded, also verifiably on earth, 'between the Government of Malaysia and CPM. The CPM also signed another peace treaty with the Thai Government. ''Both peace treaties were signed publicly on '2 December 1989 in Haadyai, Thailand. On 3 December 1989, all major newspapers in Malaysia ''reported that open ceremony 'in front pages. Rational understanding of history requires 'mental discipline with the aid of, 'not only verified facts and figures, 'but also a linear timeline.

Basic facts of history of Internal Security Act

Indisputable historical facts now clearly reveal that : (1) the now very controversial Internal Security Act ('or ISA') was first enacted in 1960 when Tunku Abdul Rahman was then the prime minister and that: (2) the draftman of the said legislation was a Derby'-'born Reginald Hugh Hickling while the IGP was a London-born Claude Fenner (who served from 1958 to 1966'). '1960 was certainly subsequent to 1957 in linear timeline. No place in Malaysia has ever been named London or Derby.

Critics of history professors can also speak up

Needless to say, in a democratic society, 'anybody who disagrees with history professors also enjoy rights to present their facts, figures and arguments. Both sides, however, 'should discourage their overzealous supporters to use vulgar words or indecent expressions in the debate. Now, there are more scholarly books and writings for all to consult 'or study before taking parts 'in the discourse rationally and 'with civility. Yelling '*&^ can never establish any truth, 'whether on earth or above.

M' sian history books for professorial critique

In a democratic society, history professors, such as 'Dr. Khoo Kay Kim certainly enjoy the right to review or comment on Dr. Kua Kia Soong's and / or 'Dr. Collin Arabham' s books on the struggle for Merdeka. We should encourage and welcome 'such debate 'for the nation to mature.
One of the early academic efforts to rediscover more fully the history of independence struggle was conducted as 'a doctoral dissertation at an university in USA in the mid-1970s by (now 'Dr.) 'Khong Kim Hoong and it was published as a book Merdeka ! British Rule & The Struggle for Independence in Malaya, 1945'-'1957 '('Petaling Jaya, SIRD, 2007'). The comic book Where Monsoons Meet : A People's History of Malaya is fairly useful as a teens' 'guide to the subject of Alternative History. These books are written in fairly good English and are not proscribed.

Proliferation of ghost stories in M'sian society

According to an observation, many Malaysians are indeed "obssessed" with 'ghost' stories and there are now simply too many horror movies, which could be detrimental to the development of a scientific society. However, it is fairly rare in Malaysia nowadays to hear news of young boys jumping from high-rise buildings after watching fantasy movies.

DPM Muhyiddin disputes no-colonialism claim

DPM Muhyiddin Yassin has reportedly rebutted, in the Parliament, the legalistic as well as 'too-smart-by-half sophistry asserting that Malaya was never colonised by the London-based or -centered British Empire. Meanwhile, Dr. Colin Abraham's English book Finest Hour': Malaysian'-CPM Peace Accord in Perspective (Kuala Lumpur,SIRD, 2006) has also been translated into the Chinese language and the edition is going to be launched pretty soon' in Kuala Lumpur by the author and publisher. Dr. Abraham, a former government servant and ex'-academic, added the perspective of Indian workers, 'symbolised by the 'selfless as well as ultimate sacrifices of union leaders such as S.A. Ganapathy and P'. Veerasenam, in the multipartisan struggle for Malaya's independence.

Debate on impacts of horror movies on minds

Recently, ex -PM Dr . Mahathir Mohamad made some observations on horror movies and has elicited some responses. In April 2007, a state museum cancelled an 'exhibition' called the Mysterious World of Ghost & Genies. It displayed items like "jenglot", "pocong" and also "supar".