#249 law to cane for drinking beer

Can the civil law pass judgment to cane one for drinking beer?
Has Malaysia become a theocracy where there is law to cane a muslim for drinking beer? Should a verdict be passed in the law of courts? Is this not a religious issue? Is Malaysia mixing religious law with civil law?
It is an offence for a muslim to [...]

#248 poverty

Finally the real question is asked on poverty in some nations: why is Africa poor?
A commentator, an African, candidly acknowledges that Africa is rich in resources but it is their national leaders who are corrupt and squandered the people’s wealth for their own pleasure.
The leaders fill their own stomach but the people…?
Should surrounding or rich nations offer [...]

#245 hiv positive: suffering silently

I’m grateful to Shane, a New Zealander, for sharing his journey that he was HIV+ on this   ‘Death Diminishes Me’   [produced in NZ] on BBC World radio on 17 July 2009:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/documentaries/2009/07/000000_global_perspective_death_diminishes.shtml
Trust that this will speak to those who champion and are proponents of the homosexuality and gay community rights which is a controversial issue and a taboo subject for the average person!

#240 thai red-tees

Sad indeed to see and hear that the red-tees protestors (of ousted and exiled Thaksin) stormed into the venue where the Asian Summit leaders were to meet over the weekend. The leaders were evacuated and the meeting cancelled.
These protestors appear to become bolder and bolder as the day passes…

“The government can’t do anything,” said Lada Yingmanee, a [...]

#223 protestors

Interestingly, within a span of four months, there was a change of leadership in Thailand – from Samak to Somchai to Abhisit.
What were the protestors thinking when they sat in the two airports halting all flights and creating an economic crisis within the nation? Were they not slapping their own cheeks? Have they not made life difficult for the masses?
Have [...]

#213 european rights prize

Hu Jia, a prominent activist and currently serving jail sentence from China apparently won the European rights prize. What does this prize stand for?
Will this prize given to Hu Jia encourage more dissent in China?
When people are given the housing and food, will they rise up against the leadership of a country?
Will any nation in Europe [...]

#211 dispute over ancient temple

The latest dispute according to news left 2 Cambodians dead and 2 wounded while 5 Thai soldiers wounded.
Where is negotation? Where is peace? What do some leaders know about peace?
These leaders certainly know how to add spicy spices to the lives of the villagers.
As it is, the villagers are living in dire poverty, will they have to flee?
Are temples [...]

#199 domestic maids pregnant?

I read this interesting news today:
Maternity perks urged for maids
The proposed changes to the Employment Act may see more local workers coming under its umbrella, but two non—government organisations (NGOs) want the protection extended to domestic workers too — including the provision of the latest maternity benefits….
Domestic workers here, most of whom are women, number [...]

#193 bloggers detained

Can bloggers be detained under the Internal Security Act? Is the ISA applicable to those blogging?
The latest in Malaysia: a blogger had been detained under the ISA. Was the blogger writing in official capacity…like a journalist? Sources given: he was warned by the authorities before.
Yikes…what is a blog? What is blogging? This has given a new [...]

#157 can man control weather?

There is constant vigilance and scrutiny these days about pollution and the weather on the forthcoming Olympic Games in Beijing…will the pollution hinder or bring some side-effects on the health of the athletes?
What is the media doing by constantly harping upon whether China is able to clean up the air for the Games?
Is China not doing her level-best [...]