By TAN RENJIE
With the recent ban on the poco-poco dance based on the report that it contained elements of Christianity and soul worship, one cannot help but wonder what has gotten into the heads of our politician recently.
Before this, Christians in Malaysia had to go through a period of negotiation and confusion with the Home Ministry regarding the release of the Malay language Bibles which were held back from being distributed. Finally, through compromising with the Home Ministry, the Malay language Bibles were allowed to be published, but with certain conditions, namely, stamping them with the words “For Christianity”.
Looking further back, Christians, especially those from East Malaysia, were caught in the struggle in the usage of the word “Allah” in their worship and prayer. Although the High Court had approved of the usage of the word for Christians in December 2009, but the Home Ministry filed and appealed against the decision. The case is still pending in the Court of Appeal.
Malaysia which prides itself on being a multi racial, multi ethnic country, celebrates the freedom of practicing the religion of our choice. Our unity, peace and harmony among the different religions are the envy of other countries. Where else can you find a country where a church, a Buddhist temple, a Hindu temple and a mosque can be located on the same street without trepidation of being attacked by devotees of another faith?
But now, with the Home Ministry’s increasing attacks on the Christian community, one starts to wonder if the government has forgotten what Malaysia stands for. The shouts of being 1Malaysia seems to be fading in the distance as the people of different faith in the country are being subtlety persecuted. The Government has strayed from the noble and beautiful vision of a country whose people have the liberty of believing in whatever religion they want.
In view of this happening, we should not just stay silent and let those who have hidden agendas do what they want. If the people do not stand up now and remind the Government of their rights to practicing the religion of their choice, slowly but surely, certain parties would manipulate the sanctity of religion for their own purposes. One of the worst phenomenons to happen is when religion is twisted for the selfish gains and personal issues of certain parties.
Will you stand up in this sinking sand of religious freedom and turn Malaysia into a solid rock of where each and everyone of us can practice the religion of our choice?
With the recent ban on the poco-poco dance based on the report that it contained elements of Christianity and soul worship, one cannot help but wonder what has gotten into the heads of our politician recently.
Before this, Christians in Malaysia had to go through a period of negotiation and confusion with the Home Ministry regarding the release of the Malay language Bibles which were held back from being distributed. Finally, through compromising with the Home Ministry, the Malay language Bibles were allowed to be published, but with certain conditions, namely, stamping them with the words “For Christianity”.
Looking further back, Christians, especially those from East Malaysia, were caught in the struggle in the usage of the word “Allah” in their worship and prayer. Although the High Court had approved of the usage of the word for Christians in December 2009, but the Home Ministry filed and appealed against the decision. The case is still pending in the Court of Appeal.
Malaysia which prides itself on being a multi racial, multi ethnic country, celebrates the freedom of practicing the religion of our choice. Our unity, peace and harmony among the different religions are the envy of other countries. Where else can you find a country where a church, a Buddhist temple, a Hindu temple and a mosque can be located on the same street without trepidation of being attacked by devotees of another faith?
But now, with the Home Ministry’s increasing attacks on the Christian community, one starts to wonder if the government has forgotten what Malaysia stands for. The shouts of being 1Malaysia seems to be fading in the distance as the people of different faith in the country are being subtlety persecuted. The Government has strayed from the noble and beautiful vision of a country whose people have the liberty of believing in whatever religion they want.
In view of this happening, we should not just stay silent and let those who have hidden agendas do what they want. If the people do not stand up now and remind the Government of their rights to practicing the religion of their choice, slowly but surely, certain parties would manipulate the sanctity of religion for their own purposes. One of the worst phenomenons to happen is when religion is twisted for the selfish gains and personal issues of certain parties.
Will you stand up in this sinking sand of religious freedom and turn Malaysia into a solid rock of where each and everyone of us can practice the religion of our choice?
By MANMEET KAUR
This fear of losing oneself has become an excuse for not getting married today. The pull between the desire to love and be loved and the desire to be free is then as fierce as ever.
Our grandmothers made the mistake of surrendering too much of themselves for others. They committed themselves to marriage very early in life and later felt imprisoned by their lifelong domesticity. Life offered little choice for them. They chose their husbands in the manner in which we might choose our first car. First, there was a scheduled viewing, a quick look at the interior, a glance at the exterior, a nervous intake of breath as the terms and conditions are read and finally the signing of documents. If you didn’t sign you entertained a few more prospects until you found THE ONE. Whether you accepted or rejected, you didn’t dawdle.
Today, it can be said that we lead lives that are exactly the opposite of our grandmothers’. A recent survey by the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) on population trends between 2000 and 2007 revealed that more and more Malaysian women are now marrying later, or not at all.
The average age at first marriage for women rose from 22.0 years respectively in 1970 to 25.1 years in 2000. Meanwhile, the number of those who had never been married between the ages of 25 and 29 years had more than doubled for women from 13% to 29.8%. The survey also indicated that the average marrying age of Malaysians would increase to 33 years by 2015.
While certain individuals implied “choosiness” and “over-ambition” among single women as the root of the “problem”, others do not believe that women are delaying marriage or opting out of marriage on purpose.
Consultant psychologist Valerie Jacques when interviewed by The Star thinks that most people are busy focusing on a career, which leaves them very little time for building relationships.
“With little time to build a relationship and share, people are not certain about their family life. So family life and marriage end up being something in the mind or at the back of the mind as the worklife balance is affected,” she says, adding that marriage decisions and relationships take a longer time to develop.
Counselling lecturer Assoc Prof Dr Saedah Abdul Ghani of Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia told The Star that the higher ratio of women than men getting university education (an average of 65:35) is making it hard for women to find someone who is compatible with them.
The situation causes unwillingness among women to marry down or for men to marry up, says Assoc Prof Dr Rumaya Juhari of the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia.
“For women, marrying someone with a lower social economic status is not appealing enough, while men fear losing the title ‘King of the household’ due to social stigma,” she said.
In short, it can be said that if previous generations of women were raised to believe that they could only realize themselves within the roles of wife and mother, now the opposite is thought true. While having a husband and children were central to a woman’s identity in the past, today they are seen as accessories that women attach only after they have achieved their high-flying careers.
These days, women are of the belief that they are only able to realize their full potential and worth as human beings outside of marriage. Hence, a 20-year-old bride is considered as pitiable as a 30-year-old spinster used to be.
Does this mean that the young ladies today are plain materialistic?
Although this statement may ring true for some, I believe that women today are not materialistic but accustomed to certain comforts and strive to continue being able to enjoy the little luxuries in life. That being said, most working women can afford their own materialism - if we want a pair of Christian Louboutins or the latest Chanel handbag, we’re just going to pay for it out of our own pocket. We are no longer forced to be dependent on men. We reap what we sow. We work hard and gain freedom through financial independence.
This fear of losing oneself has become an excuse for not getting married today. The pull between the desire to love and be loved and the desire to be free is then as fierce as ever.
Our grandmothers made the mistake of surrendering too much of themselves for others. They committed themselves to marriage very early in life and later felt imprisoned by their lifelong domesticity. Life offered little choice for them. They chose their husbands in the manner in which we might choose our first car. First, there was a scheduled viewing, a quick look at the interior, a glance at the exterior, a nervous intake of breath as the terms and conditions are read and finally the signing of documents. If you didn’t sign you entertained a few more prospects until you found THE ONE. Whether you accepted or rejected, you didn’t dawdle.
Today, it can be said that we lead lives that are exactly the opposite of our grandmothers’. A recent survey by the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) on population trends between 2000 and 2007 revealed that more and more Malaysian women are now marrying later, or not at all.
The average age at first marriage for women rose from 22.0 years respectively in 1970 to 25.1 years in 2000. Meanwhile, the number of those who had never been married between the ages of 25 and 29 years had more than doubled for women from 13% to 29.8%. The survey also indicated that the average marrying age of Malaysians would increase to 33 years by 2015.
While certain individuals implied “choosiness” and “over-ambition” among single women as the root of the “problem”, others do not believe that women are delaying marriage or opting out of marriage on purpose.
Consultant psychologist Valerie Jacques when interviewed by The Star thinks that most people are busy focusing on a career, which leaves them very little time for building relationships.
“With little time to build a relationship and share, people are not certain about their family life. So family life and marriage end up being something in the mind or at the back of the mind as the worklife balance is affected,” she says, adding that marriage decisions and relationships take a longer time to develop.
Counselling lecturer Assoc Prof Dr Saedah Abdul Ghani of Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia told The Star that the higher ratio of women than men getting university education (an average of 65:35) is making it hard for women to find someone who is compatible with them.
The situation causes unwillingness among women to marry down or for men to marry up, says Assoc Prof Dr Rumaya Juhari of the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia.
“For women, marrying someone with a lower social economic status is not appealing enough, while men fear losing the title ‘King of the household’ due to social stigma,” she said.
In short, it can be said that if previous generations of women were raised to believe that they could only realize themselves within the roles of wife and mother, now the opposite is thought true. While having a husband and children were central to a woman’s identity in the past, today they are seen as accessories that women attach only after they have achieved their high-flying careers.
These days, women are of the belief that they are only able to realize their full potential and worth as human beings outside of marriage. Hence, a 20-year-old bride is considered as pitiable as a 30-year-old spinster used to be.
Does this mean that the young ladies today are plain materialistic?
Although this statement may ring true for some, I believe that women today are not materialistic but accustomed to certain comforts and strive to continue being able to enjoy the little luxuries in life. That being said, most working women can afford their own materialism - if we want a pair of Christian Louboutins or the latest Chanel handbag, we’re just going to pay for it out of our own pocket. We are no longer forced to be dependent on men. We reap what we sow. We work hard and gain freedom through financial independence.
| Reasons For Not Marrying | Percentage | ||
| Peninsular Malaysia | Sabah | Sarawak | |
| Financial Problems | 14.0 | 7.0 | 4.2 |
| No Suitable Candidate | 40.0 | 38.0 | 49.3 |
| Career Advancement | 8.4 | 14.0 | 7.6 |
| Family Commitments | 7.2 | 11.0 | 9.0 |
| Enjoying single life | 8.4 | 9.0 | 8.3 |
| Fear of Commitment | 2.8 | 10.0 | 9.0 |
| Age | 3.6 | 2.0 | 4.9 |
| Health Problems | 1.6 | 2.0 | 2.1 |
| *Others | 14.0 | 7.0 | 5.6 |
| * Includes still studying, long distance relationship, not ready Source: LPPKN | |||
By MANMEET KAUR
Our politicians appear to have nothing better to do than to spend time, money and energy in pointing out on the weaknesses of others, digging up the dirt on them and then very happily slinging slimy mud on their political opponents.
While Libya is being bombed and Japan is facing the aftermath of a natural disaster, we Malaysians are squatting under our tiny coconut shells drooling over the latest sex scandal. While only a handful of people had seen the so-called sex tape involving opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, it did not prevent the rest of the masses from wildly speculating.
The chatter was ceaseless. It was the only thing anyone was talking about. Over the phones. In coffee shops. On Twitter and Facebook. It would be the single most read item on every news portal in the country. Libya and Muammar Gaddafi were quickly forgotten. Similarly, the fear of a nuclear Armageddon was pushed to page two.
Now, is the latest sex scandal in town that important? Of course it is. Why? Because sex sells newspapers. Because we live in a time where public persons are not allowed to lead private lives. Because we live in a time where gossip is taken for gospel, where rumours are accepted as fact. And most importantly because the consequences of these events can break a politician.
I believe that no other politician in this country has had to face as many allegations of a sexual nature as Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. First, there were so many accusations about him and men and now there are accusations about him and women. What next? Anwar is a transvestite, a transsexual maybe? I am being facetious here of course. Come on people, can lightning strike at the same place, or in this case, the same man, so many times? Very unlikely.
Now, consider the manner in which the sex video was exposed. It was rather unusual don’t you think? Why was it not circulated on the internet? Was there something to hide? Perhaps it was obvious that the video was inauthentic and the public could see right through it.
What was with the cloak-and-dagger operation with journalists being given last minute instructions on the time and location, the dark glasses and metal scanner plus the mysterious Datuk T? Am I the only one who feels that there’s something fishy to all these?
Not only that, despite the hush-hush viewing, within hours of the first screening at Carcosa Seri Negara, word leaked out about what was taking place. Reporters were alerting each other and the organiser said that over 20 pressmen were coming to watch it. The show ended abruptly.
The very next day, the people behind it - Tan Sri Rahim Tamby Chik, Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah and Datuk Shuaib Lazim - were exposed.
The question that arises is whether Eskay had very conveniently stumbled upon the video recorder ahead of the Sarawak polls in April or he was indeed the mastermind.
Then, tiny bits of information have emerged about Eskay’s background. He was said to be close to Anwar and was his physiotherapist. If he is Anwar’s ally as he claimed, why did he turn against the PKR leader?
The public is in a major state of confusion. Those who are with Anwar have condemned the sex tape as a fake and another conspiracy to bring him down. Those who are against him are ever ready to believe that he is the man in the video. As for those in the middle, some feel incredulous while others are suspicious.
At this point, there are probably more sceptics than believers. Many are seeing this as an attempt to destroy the Opposition Leader, who is already on trial on a sodomy charge. They are also asking whether he is into women or men. They find it hard to comprehend.
This scepticism isn’t just confined to Anwar’s supporters. Those who dislike the Government but are not pro-opposition are also in the same boat. Even the strongest of UMNO supporters have their reservations. They added that they are being blamed and that they could do without it.
Dear perpetrators, to be frank, I am sick and tired of these sex exposés. I couldn’t care less if a politician has sex with men, women, lesbians, gays, bisexuals or transsexuals. What concerns me is whether the politician is capable of carrying out his duty honestly and that he is well qualified for the job.
Our politicians appear to have nothing better to do than to spend time, money and energy in pointing out on the weaknesses of others, digging up the dirt on them and then very happily slinging slimy mud on their political opponents.
While Libya is being bombed and Japan is facing the aftermath of a natural disaster, we Malaysians are squatting under our tiny coconut shells drooling over the latest sex scandal. While only a handful of people had seen the so-called sex tape involving opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, it did not prevent the rest of the masses from wildly speculating.
The chatter was ceaseless. It was the only thing anyone was talking about. Over the phones. In coffee shops. On Twitter and Facebook. It would be the single most read item on every news portal in the country. Libya and Muammar Gaddafi were quickly forgotten. Similarly, the fear of a nuclear Armageddon was pushed to page two.
Now, is the latest sex scandal in town that important? Of course it is. Why? Because sex sells newspapers. Because we live in a time where public persons are not allowed to lead private lives. Because we live in a time where gossip is taken for gospel, where rumours are accepted as fact. And most importantly because the consequences of these events can break a politician.
I believe that no other politician in this country has had to face as many allegations of a sexual nature as Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. First, there were so many accusations about him and men and now there are accusations about him and women. What next? Anwar is a transvestite, a transsexual maybe? I am being facetious here of course. Come on people, can lightning strike at the same place, or in this case, the same man, so many times? Very unlikely.
Now, consider the manner in which the sex video was exposed. It was rather unusual don’t you think? Why was it not circulated on the internet? Was there something to hide? Perhaps it was obvious that the video was inauthentic and the public could see right through it.
What was with the cloak-and-dagger operation with journalists being given last minute instructions on the time and location, the dark glasses and metal scanner plus the mysterious Datuk T? Am I the only one who feels that there’s something fishy to all these?
Not only that, despite the hush-hush viewing, within hours of the first screening at Carcosa Seri Negara, word leaked out about what was taking place. Reporters were alerting each other and the organiser said that over 20 pressmen were coming to watch it. The show ended abruptly.
The very next day, the people behind it - Tan Sri Rahim Tamby Chik, Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah and Datuk Shuaib Lazim - were exposed.
The question that arises is whether Eskay had very conveniently stumbled upon the video recorder ahead of the Sarawak polls in April or he was indeed the mastermind.
Then, tiny bits of information have emerged about Eskay’s background. He was said to be close to Anwar and was his physiotherapist. If he is Anwar’s ally as he claimed, why did he turn against the PKR leader?
The public is in a major state of confusion. Those who are with Anwar have condemned the sex tape as a fake and another conspiracy to bring him down. Those who are against him are ever ready to believe that he is the man in the video. As for those in the middle, some feel incredulous while others are suspicious.
At this point, there are probably more sceptics than believers. Many are seeing this as an attempt to destroy the Opposition Leader, who is already on trial on a sodomy charge. They are also asking whether he is into women or men. They find it hard to comprehend.
This scepticism isn’t just confined to Anwar’s supporters. Those who dislike the Government but are not pro-opposition are also in the same boat. Even the strongest of UMNO supporters have their reservations. They added that they are being blamed and that they could do without it.
Dear perpetrators, to be frank, I am sick and tired of these sex exposés. I couldn’t care less if a politician has sex with men, women, lesbians, gays, bisexuals or transsexuals. What concerns me is whether the politician is capable of carrying out his duty honestly and that he is well qualified for the job.
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