INTERCONNECTIONS. Everything is connected, somehow.
two kids waving their hands over a card to determine its contents - blind-folded
with Wai Leng at ESL Connection speaking to interested parents
Wai Leng speaking to Buddhist Sunday School teachers @ the Caring Community Center
I am currently in Penang for talks and workshops. Great time to take break and reflect on coming days.
Hope you are having a great weekend
WCIT, one of the world's most important event on information was held in Malaysia for the first time. The opening day coincided with the most important Buddhist holy days - Wesak Day. Incidentally, Wesak Day is a national holiday in Malaysia.
If we change our attitude and outlook to life..jpg)
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It took 41 years for Malaysian PM to visit the BMV after Tuanku Abdul Rahman. In his speech, the PM emphasised on our multi-racial community working together. Also present were opposition member or Parliaments.
Updated:
Yes, I updated this posting in between the beehoon and the currypuff.
For a fairly good coverage of the event (other than the mainstream media), try this, it.s pretty well covered on www.hueymei.blogspot.com
Some interesting observation, see PM VIsits Buddhist Maha Vihara, NO BIG DEAL
My car has been assigned to be official wedding car for the ceremony of David and Michelle. Thanks for giving me this honour.
May both of you have long happier years together ahead, and remember this car.
Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye,
When I read your letter, there was disappointment in me and the thoughts I wish to express reiterate what many parents have called for: Stop the NS programme!
With all due respect, I cannot comprehend how can you could publicly declare previously that most of the issues have been ironed out and in giving assurances to us parents you further claim: ‘We have a team to monitor the effectiveness of the co-curricular activities as well as the infrastructure and management at all camps’.
You also assured us parents that: ‘Another measure soon to be set up is the flying squad that would resolve problems related to welfare, cleanliness and conflicts immediately’.You ‘urged parents not to worry as steps had been taken to ensure the trainees were well taken care of at the 83 camps nationwide’.
Furthermore, you claimed that: ‘Trainees and their parents can also provide their feedback to further improve the programme".
Since then, another two young lives, with full of potential and a great future ahead of them, have been lost. Now in your latest statement you wash your hands stating: ‘There is only so much I can do as a non-executive chairperson given the fact that I do not have executive powers. I am never directly involved in the administration and management of the National Service Training Programme and the camps which fall squarely on the shoulders of the National Service Training Department's Director-General and his officers. Camp commandants take directives and instructions from the director-general and his officers.
So how could you make a statement before to give us the impression that you were in-charge and claim most issues had been ironed out and tell us parents not to worry? Immediately after another two lives are lost, you wash your hands and say its not your fault!
Why do you make claims and promises you cannot fulfill? What good is it being a chairperson who cannot make good on your promises? You wrote about the need to have a caring approach while your letter remained heartless - there was no apology for the deaths (of course, it’s not your fault), not even a word of condolence to the parents of the deceased. You continue to give, what I deem as, excuse after excuse. This proves you are not capable of this position and lack the principles to continue.
The National Service has come to a point where there is no more anything good about the programme. The camps are now regarded as ‘death camps’ and trainees think about how not to be selected into the programme. With over 20 deaths in its five years of existence, it is the best result you can claim, along with the many more complains of bullying, sexual harassment, indiscipline and what not. The people who are running these camps have little heart for the youths and obviously no consideration for their well-being.
I (among with many, many others if you care the read the alternate media and blogs) personally feel this programme is a waste of time and money which could be better spent elsewhere, such as in schools where at least, there are still teachers passionate about teaching and have the young people at heart.
Many parents have declared that they will resist this programme and I am one of them. I feel every parent should do this also and make known to you that this programme is a failure - something you have not yet admitted as the NS chairperson.
It is time for this NS be stopped and be stopped NOW.
THE National Service Training Council, acting as an advisory body to the Defence Minister, cannot be unconcerned over yet another health-related death of a National Service Trainee Too Hui Min from the Geo Cosmo National Service Training Camp in Selangor.
Every time an NS trainee dies while undergoing training, I am devastated. I put myself in the position of the parents concerned and fully understand their sense of loss, anguish and suffering.
Since I accepted the appointment of Chairman of the National Service Training Council for a three-year term in June 2005, I have served with commitment and do my utmost best simply because it is a responsibility and a trust and I spend almost 90% of my time doing National Service duties.
I go to the office almost daily to assist the National Service Training Programme by providing feedback, complaints, suggestions and mete out advice to the National Service Training Department. I also spend a considerable amount of time listening to and attending to parents and needs of trainees who approach me from time to time.
In the course of two years, I have visited some 60 National Service Camps, giving motivational talks to the trainees while at the same time reminding the camp commandants and their staff to ensure the proper management of the camps.
I constantly emphasise the need to be caring to all trainees and treat them as if the trainees are their own children. I had also called on all camp commandants to take all the necessary steps within their powers to ensure camps are problem-free and strive towards zero-deaths.
There is only so much I can do as a non-executive chairman given the fact that I do not have executive powers. I am never directly involved in the administration and management of the National Service Training Programme and the camps which falls squarely on the shoulders of the National Service Training Department’s Director-General and his officers. Camp commandants take directives and instructions from the director-general and his officers.
The health and safety of trainees are among the many issues brought up by the council members each time the National Service Training Council meets. In fact the idea of mandatory medical check-ups for National Service Trainees prior to their participation in the programme was recommended three years ago but it could not be implemented by the Ministry of Health.
Just two weeks ago, I met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence to discuss the need to revisit the suggestion of compulsory medical check-ups for National Service trainees. I even recommended recruiting full-time doctors to be stationed in all camps.
But even with compulsory medical check-ups, there is no assurance that trainees, who have been certified healthy, will not fall ill in the course of their three-month stay in the camps. Hence, what is necessary is for all medical complaints of trainees to be properly investigated and attended to.
If sick trainees show no signs of improvement after 24 hours, they must be sent immediately to the nearest hospital for further treatment as stated in the Standing Operating Procedure. Camp commandants and the medical personnel in the camps must never take risks when it comes to the health of the trainees. Every illness must be treated seriously no matter how trivial it may be.
Calls from the public for each death to be thoroughly investigated, the results to be made public and action taken against those responsible must be carried out in line with transparency.
As chairman of the council I am compelled to state that each time a death occurs in the camps, it nullifies all the good work and efforts put in by the council and the Department to promote the National Service.
Although many improvements have been introduced since 2004, what really matters is the implementation of these improvements by the people in charge of the camps. In the final analysis, what is crucially important is whether all those given responsibilities and the trust to manage the camps discharge their duties with care, honesty, integrity and a sense of commitment.
To me the caring approach, attitude and culture towards trainees needs to be further reinforced if we are to prevent any more mishap. I maintain that National Service training is a good programme for building discipline, character and unity as has been testified by the vast majority of former trainees and their parents but it has to be properly managed by committed and truly caring people.
TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE,
Chairman, National Service Training Council.
UPDATED (May 10,2008)
What is really painful is the deputy prime minister now do not even bother to make any statement about this death although the NS programme falls under his Defense Ministry. Where is Lee Lam Thye with the crocodile tears? Such an important (or is it really important?) incident, it is sad thaty only a NS Training Council member came out with a statement promised that another internal investigation would be conducted. We cannot trust the words of Lee Lam Thye, the Chairman of the NS program, who is this junior office to make this statement?
Meanwhile the NS Training Department director-general was quoted as saying that the training programme will not be scrapped "just because of one or two deaths". We find this an absolutely insensitive remark when another life was lost.
This is more the reason to STOP THE NS NOW!
here's my contribution to light up cyberspace for Malaysia's King of Blogs. 
The Syariah High Court in Penang has delivered a landmark decision allowing a Chinese convert to renounce Islam and revert back to her Buddhist faith.
Indeed, it is very timely and wind of fresh air. Signs of religions freedom is according our constitution is seeing some light. I appreciate Judge Othman Ibrahim's bold decision that reflects very positively of Islam.
Under section 3(1), those acts defined as having a seditious tendency are acts with a tendency:
| “ | (a) to bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against any Ruler or against any Government; (b) to excite the subjects of the Ruler or the inhabitants of any territory governed by any government to attempt to procure in the territory of the Ruler or governed by the Government, the alteration, otherwise than by lawful means, of any matter as by law established; (c) to bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against the administration of justice in Malaysia or in any State; (d) to raise discontent or disaffection amongst the subjects of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or of the Ruler of any State or amongst the inhabitants of Malaysia or of any State; (e) to promote feelings of ill-will and hostility between different races or classes of the population of Malaysia; or (f) to question any matter, right, status, position, privilege, sovereignty or prerogative established or protected by the provisions of part III of the Federal constitution or Article 152, 153 or 181 of the Federal Constitution. | ” |
Section 3(2) provides certain exceptions, providing examples of speech which cannot be deemed seditious. It is not seditious to "show that any Ruler has been misled or mistaken in any of his measures", nor is it seditious "to point out errors or defects in the Government or Constitution as by law established". It is also not seditious "to attempt to procure by lawful means the alteration of any matter in the territory of such Government as by law established" or "to point out, with a view to their removal, any matters producing or having a tendency to produce feelings of ill-will and enmity between different races or classes of the population of the Federation". However, the act explicitly states that any matter covered by subsection (1)(f), namely those matters pertaining to the Malaysian social contract, cannot have these exceptions applied to it.
Section 3(3) goes on to state that "the intention of the person charged at the time he did or attempted (a seditious act) ... shall be deemed to be irrelevant if in fact the act had, or would, if done, have had, or the words, publication or thing had a seditious tendency". This latter provision has been criticised for overruling mens rea, a legal principle stating that a person cannot be guilty of a crime if he did not have the intent to commit a crime.[1]
A person found guilty of sedition may be sentenced to three years in jail, a RM5,000 fine, or both.
