Toll discount increases road accidents?

Taking advantage of the long weekend holidays due to the Eidil Fitri celebration, my family and I drove all the way to the Cherating beaches to enjoy the sea, sun and sand last weekend. Food was also on the agenda as we tasted some local delicacies like the keropok lekor and "Satar otak-otak" which were sold along the Cherating road to Kemaman. We even joined the big tourist crowd that swamped the famous stuffed crab in Kemaman. All the restaurants selling the stuffed crab were fully patronized.

The thought of enjoying a free use of the tolled road from Gombak in Kuala Lumpur to Jabor in Terengganu remained a wishful thought. Even though the highway concessionaire MTD Prime Sdn Berhad declared the "free gift" for the road users using the highway on 18 and 24 of September between 12 midnight to 5am, the drive toll free period are nothing more than a free publicity stunt. The operator of the North-South highway, PLUS Expressway Berhad announced a discount up to 20%  for road users during the festivities for time of travel from 12 midnight to 7am.

How many people will actually take the RISK to drive from 12 midnight to 5am? Most drivers would have prefered to hit the road when they are in the best frame of mind and alertness. The timing contradicts with the information given by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research ( MIROS) which warned that road collisions involving express buses increases during hours between 12 midnight to 6am! MIROS which was set up in January 2007 is a government body involved in research and dissemination of information on road safety. A road safety campaign advisory in the local The Star newspaper published before the start of the mass exodus from the city to the kampongs highlighted the similiar fact that the risk of road accidents increases up to 4 times from 12 midnight to 6am.

With Malaysia having one of the highest rate of road accidents in the world, is the relevant highway operators doing the public a favour to reduce roads accidents as claimed or enticing more people to be part of the increasing accident statistics for the sake of saving a couple of bucks?

The highway operators need to have a rethinking on their purported "social responsibility" if they are really sincere and serious about the welfare of the road users.The Road Safety Department should have advised the toll highway operators accordingly before more accidents happens due to the discounts.- Loka

Aidil Fitri

To all followers of the Islamic faith, wishing you all a peaceful and memorable Aidil Fitri.

Jalan K Sri Dhammananda

The Most Venerable Dr. Kirinde Sri Dhammananda Nayaka Maha Thera is a great spiritual master in the eyes of Buddhists all over the world. To the non-Buddhists and other co-religionists, he is a man who believes and promotes peace, mutual respect and understanding amongst all mankind.

In the international arena, the late Ven Dhammananda stands tall amongst other great Buddhist Dhamma masters like the His Holiness The Dalai Lama, Plum Village's Most Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh and  Fo Guang Shan's founder Venerable Master Hsin Yun.

In Malaysia he is accorded the highest level of respect befitting a great monk by the Buddhist community and widely recognised as the Father of Malaysian Buddhism amongst the Buddhists. By far he is the only Buddhist monk in Malaysia to be conferred a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Malaysian Buddhist community for his service and contribution towards the propagation and development of Buddhism in his adopted country.

 

For more than 50 years since his arrival in 1952 on the shore of the then colonial Malaya, the late venerable travelled all over the country to propagate the Buddha Sasana to all levels of society. No one is too young or too old to learn from him. He has his ways in disseminating the Teachings of the Buddha to all who came to see him for guidance and spiritual teachings.

 

His capabilities as a charismatic speaker and prolific writer enable him to propogate the Buddha Sasana to many people. To reach out to a wider scale of people who are interested to learn about Buddhism, he founded the Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia which publishes articles and books on Buddhism for distribution all over the country and the world. His religious work had touches and changed the lives of millions when he was alive and after his passing his books are still being read by millions all over the world in different languages.

 

As a man who stand firms on the importance of inter religious understanding and mutual respect amongst people of different religion, he reaches out to people of other religions with loving hands and compassionate heart. Religious leaders of Christians, Hindus, Muslims and others have deep respect for this man of peace and religion.

 

World Buddhist leaders and scholars from different schools and denominations sees him as a great Buddhist teacher and leader. His international and national stature as a religious teacher can be observed from the presence and messages from Buddhist leaders from all over the world during his funeral three years ago.

 

Residing at the same temple for more than 50 years by no means a great feat for one who came from Sri Lanka to share the sublime Teachings of the Buddha to the people of this country. The Brickfields Buddhist Temple, now known as Buddhist Maha Vihara at Jalan Berhala was his base for his Dhammaduta work for more than half a century. The temple became synonymous with Venerable K Sri Dhammanada.

 

Many who passes through the temple arch at Jalan Berhala for the first time became long term devotees of the temple because there is one person that managed to provide answers to the many questions that arises in their mind. That person that able to provide the meaning of life and answers on Buddhism is non other than the late Most Venerable Dr K Sri Dhammananda Nayaka Maha Thera.

 

While many had the highest level of respect for the late venerable when he is alive, it is critically important to have gratitude and remembers all the good deeds that he had selflessly contributed to this country and her people. In this respect efforts must be taken to petition the Malaysian government and the Kuala Lumpur City Hall to proclaim the name of Jalan Berhala to be changed to Jalan K Sri Dhammananda. This will be apt and respectful to honour a person who contributed so much to the spiritual development and peaceful living of Malaysians while based at that particular road for more than 50 years.

 

Buddhist organisations particularly Buddhist Missionary Society Malaysia and temple custodian Sasana Abhiwurdhi Wardhana Society must take the necessary actions to engaged the Kuala Lumpur City Hall to ensure name change for Jalan Berhala, should be changed to Jalan K Sri Dhammananda and not the name of another politician. The spirituality of the road must be maintain and defended. - Loka

Malaysia Day

Today is Malaysia Day. The day when all the free people of Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore comes together to established what is known now as Malaysia on 16 September 1963. Even though Singapore decided to withdraw from the federation in August 1965, Malaysia as one country stays intact until today 46 years later.

Malaysia Day used to be known as Hari Perpaduan or Unity Day but it seems nowadays it has not been promoted and emphasised as one though. When Malaysia celebrates its independence day on 31st of last month, there are people who felt that this country should celebrate as one nation on 16 September.

Sabah and Sarawak will be putting more efforts in celebrating Malaysia Day compared to those states in Peninsula Malaya. In some states, the day will just pass by without any significant commemoration but people in Sabah and Sarawak will be celebrating their nationhood as Malaysians.

Even though the government had declared that there will be only one Independence day celebration which is on 31 August, more efforts and political will need to be taken to place significant importance on Malaysia Day. This is not only about Sabah or Sarawak but the people of Malaysia as a whole where those who called this land their home will feel, think and live as one under the big Malaysian umbrella. - Loka

MCA fires BN?

Ong Tee Keat is keeping his agenda for the upcoming MCA's EGM close to his heart even as supporters of Dr. Chua Soi Lek is trying to prise open the closely guarded resolutions.

Two of the agendas already expected to be tabled concerns the endorsement on the sacking of deputy president Chua Soi Lek and the Port Klang Free Trade Zone debacle. Another possible resolution on the drafting board will be a vote of confidence on Ong Tee Keat's leadership in relation to the alleged donation of RM10 million by Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd CEO Tiong King Sing.

Basing on Tee Keat's political acumens and straight forward courage for change,  is there a possibility another resolution that will create waves throughout the nation will also be put to the 2400 delegates to vote? The resolution will be similiar to the controversial opinion poll which was conducted in Tee Keat's blog after the 308 Political Tsunami. The opinion poll was taken out from his blog after it became an issue especially amongst Umno's supporters. The poll result shows about 76% of 2,525 respondents are in favour of MCA withdrawing from BN.

It will not be surprising if Tee Keat decides to throw the question on whether MCA should quit Barisan Nasional to the delegates during the EGM. By having the earlier "MCA quits BN" opinion poll in his blog even before his ascendency to the presidency, it reflects his inner feelings to seek direction on the matter.

The obvious lacked of support from his BN Cabinet colleagues on the PKFZ fiasco and the existence of under current which is stacking against him amongst BN members especially those linked to the fiasco will be a point of consideration for him to put the quit BN agenda for debate. With the rumour mills circulating that MCA representation in the Cabinet will be reduced and he himself will be dropped from Najib's Cabinet surely will put more fire in his belly to unleash the first strike before being shown the door.

After fighting and winning his political wars against various opponents in recent years, some of them single handedly, those who expect Ong Tee Keat to throw down his towel and surrender meekly like some of his predecessors will be in for a surprise. - Loka

Religious land saga

Incidents of Malay-Muslims residents protesting against the building of places of worship other than their own in their backyard would not stop re-occurring even if the Hindu temple issue in Section 23 Shah Alam is solved in the next few days.

Protests against the building of places of worship for adherents other than Islam as in the Section 23 incident will not be an isolated case. These incidents happens not because of anyone's God instruction but are human created  due  to intolerance towards others religionists and weak understanding of one's own religion.

When the country's population increases every year, more and more housing facilities are required to accommodate the expanding population especially those in the urban areas. More land are required to build houses, public infrastructures and transportation, commercial and industrial lots and recreation and community facilities. When this happens, existing places of worship located in estates and sub-urban areas which has been in existence years before the arrival of development faces the threat of eviction and relocation.

Basing the on the demographic growth of different religions and races in this country, the time will come when only a few residential areas which majority of the residents are not non-Muslims. By then where can the non-Muslims have their place of worships and practice their devotion in a peaceful atmosphere but at the midst of Muslim majority areas. Muslim majority states like those in Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis are already having many non-Muslims place of worships in their areas where non-Muslims are less than Muslims. If Muslims in these states can live with the Buddhist temples and Thai Wats built nearby their villages for so many centuries, why Muslims in a premier state like Selangor are having issue with it?

The human factor in creating this problem to the people and the government happens when the town planners and developers did not take into serious considerations the need of allocating ample lands for the building of places of worship other than Islam. Civil servants in state planning agencies and land offices who are mostly Muslims may not be motivated and enlightenment enough to look into the religious needs of the other communities.

To enable them to obtain the necesssary development approvals, developers will adhered to the official requirement to designate a piece of land for the building of a surau or a mosque but will be not be driven to set aside a piece of land for those other than Islam as it may not be in the development order requirements.

Even if the developers do take this need into consideration, they will most probably be allocating just one piece of land for religion other than Islam, which means the Buddhist, Christians, Catholics, Hindus, Taoists and Sikh would have to scramble for the miserable piece of land.

The Federal and State governments need to develop a policy which will ensure lands are to be made available for the building of places of worships not only for Muslims but also people of other faiths to practice and manage their respective religion as per guaranteed in the Federal Constituition. It will not help if fire fighting methods are activated whenever a similiar issue arises from time to time.

The writing is already on the wall. There is no other choice but to acknowleged and accept that this country comprises a multi-religious society. Everybody have to live with each other, respect one another and accept the differences in each religious beliefs and learn to live peacefully- within and without disregarding one's personal belief and political affiliation.

The government have to come out with a long-term concrete plan to safeguard and ensure the religious needs of all faiths are well taken of. A law must be drawn to ensure town planners allocate land for all religions in specific area of new development in their town planning and developers must be compelled to fulfill their obligations. If it fails it will not be surprising if similiar incidences like the one in Shah Alam will be replicated elsewhere by bigots copycats. - Loka

Candle in the heart

The cow head protesters marches to the State secretariat

Hishammuddin (left pic) the Umno Home Minister did not give any surprises when he met with the cow head protesters yesterday. He further enhanced his image as a cow's brain politician when he became the protesters apologist and defends their action of stomping and spitting on a severed cow head which the protesters brought to the entrance of the Selangor State Secretariat front gate last Friday.

Being the minister previously in charge of the education and youth and sports ministries before his assumption as home minister, he should know very well that cows are sacred in Hinduism and the intention of the protesters bringing the severed cow head during their demonstration is clearly an attempt to provoke and incite hatred and ill feelings amongst peace loving Malaysians. But then, what more can be expected from someone with a big mouth. ( I just replicate this words used by a former Umno Selangor State Exco who co-incidentally was seated beside Hishammudin during another meeting with a Malay-centric NGO the day before the cow head protesters met Hishammudin)

The so-called protesters who claimed to be residents of Section 23 in Shah Alam had protested against the relocation of a Hindu temple from Section 19 to to Section 23. They objected to the temple being built in their vicinity which they argued is a Muslim majority area.

In the name of democratic process and respecting the freedom of movement and assembly, it is the right of the cow head protesters to assemble and march to highlight their concerns and objection to the temple but please do it with utmost decency and self respect as a fellow human being. The moment any group starts to ridicule and blasphemed other religion, it says all and sundry to the whole world how shallow and narrow minded these people are. By claiming to represent a certain religion which proclaimed to be a religion of peace, it really brings disrepute and shame to their own religion.

If a person of any religion claims that the building of a place of worship other than his own, in close proximity to his place of residence will challenge his commitment to his own religion, it is time for him to have self reflection on his personal cultivation. If by virtue of taking the argument that close proximity to a place of worship other than his own will affect one's faith, many in this country include many past and present Cabinet ministers would have left their original faith or converted to Christianity because many had studied in schools runs by the La Sallian Brothers and Catholic nuns.

A La Sallian school - Saint Anthony School in Teluk Intan

Churches and chapels were usually situated nearby these schools and some are even within the school compound. Those in the older generations would have studied or interacted with the La Sallian Brothers priests whom were famous with their strict discipline and academic acumens. What's more can be said of those that studied in western countries where the populations are predominantly Christians. Hishammudin himself was western educated but did he renounced the religion of his forefathers after many years surrounded by churches and Christians symbolism? No. He still declares himself as a Muslim.

By defending the cow head protesters, is he trying to tell everybody that he is having doubts on the protesters resilience towards external influences? One's faith and commitment towards any religion are just like a lighted candle in the heart, no outsiders will ever be able to snuff it out or reduces its illumination unless the person concern allows it to happen. - Loka

Mind is the forerunner of all states,
Mind is chief, mind-made are they.
If one speaks or acts with pure mind, because of that,
happiness follows one, even as one's shadow that never leaves.

- Dhammapada verse 2