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Oxford Study In Malaysia: For Malays, Being Malaysian Equals Being Malay

KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 — National identity and what it means to be Malaysian hold different meanings to Malays and non-Malays, according to a research paper sponsored by the CIMB Foundation.

The study by Oxford University found that while respondents from the three major ethnic groups (Malay, Chinese, Indian) identified more strongly with their ethnic identities rather than a national one, Malay respondents believed that there was little difference between “being Malaysian” and being Malay.

It added that integration efforts by the government, such the 1Malaysia concept, may not be successful in its intention as different ethnic communities had varying ideas as to what being Malaysian was.

“Speaking in terms of being Malaysian to a Malay audience may not promote integration, and could potentially hinder it. More research is necessary to replicate and further investigate the relationships between these variables,” it added.

By associating the Malaysian identity with being “Malay”, the researchers said that this could in the long run create “negative consequences”, as non-Malays may then view their contributions to the national identity as being disregarded.

The study added that by assuming the Malaysian identity as being Malay, there was also a risk of it being perceived as an exercise in assimilation rather than integration.

In its recommendation, the study said that the government should rethink its 1Malaysia policy.

Source: www.themalaymailonline.com

May 6, 2017
Seeing His Way Blocked,Frustrated Man Persistently Honked Outside Surau During Friday Prayers, Attacked By Mob

A 28-year-old man was injured and the car he that was driving, damaged, when he was attacked by several men outside a surau just after Friday prayers concluded at Taman Austin Perdana here today.

Johor Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said the 1.30pm incident occurred when the man found another car blocking his path and he started honking.

“After that, a man appeared to move the car and the disgruntled driver honked the other man again as he was driving off.

“Suddenly a group of men approached the first driver and started hitting him with their hands and helmet. The complainant’s vehicle was also damaged,” said Kamarul in a statement.

Kamarul said a face-to-face meeting was conducted between the driver and members of the surau’s committee at the Setia Indah police station after incident

“All parties involved have agreed to leave the matter for the police to investigate,” he said, adding the case was being investigated under Section 147 of the Penal Code for rioting.

He said police are now tracing the people who attacked the man.

Source: www.nst.com.my

May 6, 2017
From ‘Malacca’ to ‘Melaka’: Is it worth the effort?

Is it worth the effort, standardising the spelling of “Malacca” to “Melaka”?

The answer appears to be yes, according to members of the public polled.

Tour guide Shaukani Abbas said the move is commendable as it can bring an end to confusion, especially among tourists.

“The state was previously spelled ‘Melaka’ (even in English) and it should be maintained as such. It is good that the state government finally standardising it,” he said.

Mr Shaukani said, as a tour guide, he was often quizzed by puzzled tourists on the actual spelling of the state’s name.

“It can be confusing to have two spellings. It should be spelled as ‘Melaka’.

“It is high time we finally spell the state name out as ‘Melaka’, not ‘Malacca’,” he said.

On Wednesday (May 3), the Malacca State Executive Council decided that the Anglicised state name spelling of “Malacca” will cease to be used, and that reference to the state in English shall henceforth be exclusively “Melaka”.

Melaka State Secretary Naim Abu Bakar said that all newspapers and the media, whether Bahasa Malaysia, English or any other language, shall use “Melaka” in writing or when mentioning the state.

“This is intended to standardise the use of the name “Melaka”, especially in English,” he said.

Meanwhile, over on social media, Facebook user Abdul Rasyid Muhammad Razak, said it was a good effort.

“Don’t let them change it (the name) like Singapore (from Singapura). Pulau Pinang (Penang) should also do the same,” he said.

Other netizens felt that changing the name wasn’t an issue, as it is also practised elsewhere historically.

“No issue. Indonesia, India, China, Russia and many other countries have changed the names of their cities before,” said Facebook user Tuan Zamani Amir.

Another netizen Sureen Tan also shared a similar sentiment, saying that the word “Malacca” is commonly used in conversation only.

“Only the Strait settlement has this spelling – Penang/Pulau Pinang, Singapore/Singapura and Malacca/Melaka… I don’t see an issue. Putting ‘Melaka’ (as the) name in the Unesco World Heritage is proper.”

Others, however, felt that the name change was unnecessary as the state government should be focusing on more pressing matters.

Rilek1Corner

Source: http://www.todayonline.com/

May 5, 2017
Modern Malay Wedding: Full Karaoke Session, Groupies, Gangster Rituals And “Wedding Critics”

If attending a Malay Wedding meant for you to take turns singing and showing off your vocal talent and choosing the most ridiculous unrealistic songs ever, then you are missing the whole point of attending a Wedding. And best of all eating still when the bride and groom arrived displaying ignorance and being disrespectful. Agree not but the Malay Wedding has become a Karaoke session recently. With their grating voice coming from the nose and flat, I wonder what they are smoking before holding those microphone. And most of the time they sounded depressed over the mic instead of singing and all you want to do is throw your fork and spoon at them. I can only feel sorry for these people and those who had to listen while eating and who too could easily choked to death.

Let’s move on to the way the young people dress – MAT & MINAH. Seriously where are your customs and values? I don’t care how “Gangster” you are or how cool you want to look like but this is someone’s Wedding (I hope you were really invited). Boys you don’t wear bermudas with short sleeves showing off your tattoos swinging your god knows what Logo stickers paste all over your helmet. And girls you don’t wear tight ripped jeans with short sleeves and snicker! And tie up that nasty looking gold yellow hair if you can’t set it nicely please, really.
What’s wrong with you people? You go to school? Watch TV at least? No?
I believe you do somehow in that tiny little brain have seen somewhere how the Malay Traditional cloths or a decent cloths people dress for this occasion. You for sure have no respect for the elderly people there, the family members and relatives of the b&g, neither do you have any respect for yourself.

And then we have those “free lance critics”taking notes about the whole event, from the food to the bride & groom attire. seriously, go kill yourself or attend a funeral. They save money for this special day so shut up and eat or go home drink Dettol and die nicely near your toilet seat.

Finally, the “groupies” with the same printed logo T-Shirt from Queensway Shopping Center marching in like a Rugby team chanting some kind of poem that gives them a “Super natural power”. Singapore Sports Hub is it? What’s up with that? What are you resembling again? Which community? What group? Groupon? I thought groupies were from the 80s. Next time we all shall clap for them and throw flowers.

Listen, we all know that Malay Wedding are held mostly in the neighbourhood void deck/halls where everyone could see. And we are quick to react and get upset when other race comment about how we behave, the noise level the ridiculous behaviour and the list could go on. But the fact is, people like this gives the Malay a bad name.

But of course having said all this, there are those respectful ones though who dress accordingly and behave properly. They are what we call, Civilised people.

I am not spreading hate here. I am a proud Malay myself. But I feel some of us have tolerated a lot of this kind of nonsense. Not cool man, not cool.

#So much of preserving our culture.

Rilek1Corner

Source: Luciano Lucky

May 5, 2017
Two Arrested For Sending Threatening Letters And Hell Notes To Ministers

The police have arrested two people, aged 18 and 53, for their suspected involvement in sending threatening letters and hell notes to four Cabinet ministers and a reporter.

The Straits Times understands the 18-year-old is a woman, while the 53-year-old is a man.

Between April 27 and May 4, the police received several reports that threatening letters related to the closure of the Sungei Road flea market had been sent to these individuals, under the name of the chairman of the Sungei Road flea market’s association.

Among the Cabinet ministers who received the letters were Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

The Straits Times understands that the letters were written in English and had hell notes attached to them.

Officers from the Central Division and Criminal Investigation Department identified the two suspects and arrested them on Thursday (May 4).

Handwritten letters, mobile phones, a laptop, envelopes and hell notes were seized after their arrest.

The case has been classified as criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication under Section 507 of the Penal Code.

If convicted, the suspects are liable to up to two years’ imprisonment, in addition to the punishment in Section 506 – punishment for criminal intimidation – of up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both.

Speaking to The Straits Times, Mr Koh Eng Khoon, chairman of the Association for the Recycling of Second Hand Goods at Sungei Road flea market, said: “I’ve been cooperating with the police. I’m glad that they have arrested the two suspects. I hope the right people will be punished.”

Investigations are still ongoing.

Rilek1Corner

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com

May 5, 2017