SJBA Merdeka Celebration

The national flag Jalur Gemilang was raised high with great pride at the Subang Jaya Buddhist Association when its devoteess celebrated the 52nd Independence Day of Malaysia on 31st August 2009.



After a "Merdeka breakfast" for everybody who came for the celebration, the SJBA president Chim Siew Choon gave a Merdeka welcoming speech.

The resident monk of SJBA Venerable Nyanaramsi was then invited to officiate the opening of the new temple mural with Dhammapada verse 183 on it.

All the merdeka babies were invited to celebrate their birthday with a cake.

Happy 52nd Merdeka Day

Present during the celebration were Subang Jaya assemblyman Hannah Yeoh, Kelana Jaya Federal Development Officer Ong Chong Swen and Subang Jaya Federal Development Officer Lee You Hin.

Devotees were very proud to sing the patriotic song "Jalur Gemilang"

So is this patriotic kid.

Hannah Yeoh leads the crowd in shouting "Merdeka" seven times.

Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!

Wishing all Malaysians a memorable and meaningful 52nd Merdeka Day.

Look forward to the future.
Do not hold on to the past.
Live now in the every moment of our life.
For tomorrow may not come.

On Merdeka day, I was invited as a guest on RTM TV2 program "Hello On 2" on the topic
Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! - Loka

Hello on Two was broadcasted live from the International Broadcasting Studio, RTM.

With the other guest, former deputy Information Minister Khalid Yunus

Our nation is our responsibility - my parting statement before the end of the program

Buddhist against bulldozers

Last week I was invited to share some of my thoughts on the Buddhist community and nation building in conjunction with the celebration of our beloved nation Malaysia’s 52nd Independence.

As we take a glance at the last 52 years of independent Malaysia, what does it meant to all us, Malaysians of the Buddhist faith?

For the past 52 years of independence, religious programs are carried out in all nooks and corners of the country by different traditions, using different languages and methods. Buddhist publications are in abundance nowadays and we even exported it to other countries. Fund raising campaigns are happening everywhere to build new temples or to extend the current one.

In social development, Buddhist community has been moving on community services. Buddhists has been supporting the needy beyond race and religions. During the time of crisis and natural disasters, whether locally or overseas, Malaysian Buddhists will be out in the streets to collect funds to help those suffering from the calamities.

It can be acknowledged that the Buddhist community in this country is always respectful to the rule of law, honouring the Federal Constitution and follows the principles of the Rukun Negara. In the last 52 years, we have been playing the role as responsible citizens of the country even during the time when we faced continuous challenges.

Have we ever heard or come across of Buddhists contructing illegal structures as their temples and is there any incidents of Buddhist temples being demolished because it was built on land belonging to private owners or the government? Have we ever heard of Buddhists barricading themselves against the bulldozers to defend any temple which was built against the law?

We always persevered peacefully with patience and compassion. But then, does the powers-that-be knows and acknowleged this act of compassion and respect of the rule of law by the Buddhist community? Did they take notice that we have not ever gives them any headaches in running the country or in any state in the country? We just meditate in silence and transferred our merits to them hoping they will open their hearts to hear and understands our goodwill and compassion.

As Buddhists we are guided in our daily living based on the Five Precepts. As laymen we undertake to respect everybody and not to cause harm to other being, either through body, speech or mind. In that sense, this applies to all disregarding what religious beliefs the person upholds. This is the least we expected from those who claim to serve us and managed the country.

But one thing I am sure, we must keep on putting our efforts in nurturing and educating our children and young ones along the path of Dharma. With our strong commitment in developing our children to be a good person, caring and compassionate, benevolence and spiritually strong, we will be building the next generation of good citizenship for our beloved country. - Loka

Tiong Lai, please recites the Ratana Sutta

As of today the influenza A H1N1 flu pandemic already claimed 71 lives throughout the country. What is the Ministry of Health up to? The whole country is getting worried day by day and national day parades has been called off or down graded to a smaller scale. It won't be surprising if parents of school children will take the initiative to self declare an extended school holidays for their beloved children.

Did the Health Ministry authorities made a big blunder and ill advised the minister from taking a more proactive action during the initial stage of the flu attack on this country? Flip-flop decisions were made on the roles of the reference hospitals for the H1N1 to the prescription of the Tamilflu drugs. Something is not right somewhere with the top decision makers in the ministry.

Since these guys are already drained of any new measure to eradicate this flu, please paused a while and look upon alternative intervention in the form of divine power.

During the Buddha's time a city by the name of Vesali was afflicted with famine and thence causing death to many people. The huge number of death bodies from the famine causes a epidemic. The people from the city then seek help from the Buddha who was residing at Rajagaha.

The Buddha recited the Ratana Sutta to Venerable Ananda who then went around Vesali with the people of Licchavi doing the same. The city was finally cleared of the plague and all evil spirits roaming the city were excorcised.

If Health minister Liow Tiong Lai do not have anymore ideas or is not getting the right advise from his advisers and top officials to address this pandemic, I think it is time for him to visit a Buddhist temple and recite the Ratana Sutta (Jewel Discourse) together with the Buddhist community to eradicate this killer disease. - Loka

Chinese bogeyman

No matter what the political divides are saying about each other, the signs and voices on the ground is telling the same thing. The rakyat is still supporting whichever party they supported during last year's general election.

With the Permatang Pasir result showing PAS candidate winning the by-election with a similiar percentage point of votes casts, the score is now 7-1 in favour of Pakatan Rakyat after eight by-elections since March 2008. With another two by-elections looming in Kedah and possibly one in Selangor, the stage fight for political supremacy and face saving antics in showdowns between rival parties will be an open show for all, albeit a stressful and frustrated one for the people.

As usual there will a bogeyman in the fight for this political war between Najib's Umno and Anwar's led PKR/Pakatan Rakyat. It it very clear all this by-elections are the platform for ring fights between Najib in one corner and Anwar on the other for the coveted premiership. Other parties are merely ring side supporters. As usual the bogeyman role will be specially alloted to the Chinese community. The losing candidate from Umno already spelt it out in his statement after his trouncing by the PAS candidate in Permatang Pasir. He blamed his loss on the Chinese voters for not voting him.

Since the self declared Chinese "taikor" MCA is in shambles now where internal fire is gutting the Wisma MCA, it won't be too long the party will go through another round of party war between two factions. When the MCA is in state of uncertainty, the vultures and hawks in Umno will strike when the water is still muddy by maneuvering the departure of MCA leaders whom they think are not submissive to Umno bullying and arrogant attitude.

Signs are there to lead to the unseen hand of Umno's meddling in the MCA affairs. One of it is by not defending or even supporting the Transport minister who is also MCA president Ong Tee Keat handling of the PKFZ fiasco. Even the appointment of MCA deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek, who is at logger head with Tee Keat, as the specially created BN coordinator position is an attempt to slap Tee Keat's face in front of all BN component party leaders.

Whatever it is, knowing Tee Keat's strong stance in pursuing any controversial issue as matter of principle and accountability, I suspect that he will be able to survive this round of onslaughts from all corners. The worst kind of all betrayals is when he is stabbed on the back by his own comrades. Another round has just begun when six divisions in Perak demanded for his suspension as party president and minister.

Chinese politics especially in MCA has a history of periodic party upheavals where a line is drawn between two rival factions. MCA may be able to survive from the possibility of the party splitting into two where one group lead a mass departure of members from the party to form another. While the party may be intact after the storm, the same cannot be said about the Chinese community whom MCA self declared as their saviour and protector.

Time has changed. MCA may be able to stay intact after an internal strife, but the grassroot support from the Chinese would have shifted to DAP or even PKR for good. A point of no return. There will be no winners in MCA internal struggle, just losers left to lick their wounds and their pride. - Loka