林明华编辑文章“4点感想”第4点，基于选票不再集中一起点算，而是改为依投票箱一个一个计算，质问如此“透明”计票制度是否应该检讨？我认同他。
投票不是所谓“秘密”的吗？那么为什么国人对于投票结果能够分析某某族群支持某某政党的呢？他们又怎样知道多少巴仙的某某族群支持谁呢？原来其中弊病之一就是计票制度。
在计票中心，计票乃按个别投票站票箱计票。基于从选民册我们知道各投票站的种族比率，所以从它的投票结果，可以分析这些族群支持的对象。举例这次乌雪补选以华裔为主的叻思，再益获得四分之三华裔支持他。分析也说，在全部马来人的垦殖民区，民联皆墨。
目前在我国，无论是大选或补选，虽然华印裔是少数族群，但却扮演着举足轻重的角色。华印裔肯定不想被责怪为造成国阵败阵的罪人，尤其在获得选举糖果后，为何依然不投选国阵？目前的计票制度，任何种族都感到太沉重。因为选民不能发挥自由权，因怕秋后算账而违背良心投票。
我认为大马已经独立了52年，在选举制度上应该改革得更公平，民主及透明。既然每个票箱已经在投票结束后被密封，双方也监督运输过程，选委会应该把所有箱子的票都倒在一起，搅杂后才来计票。这般的算票制度，选民才不会顾虑秋后算帐的烦恼。制度改革也会使到政治人物玩弄种族课题的情况减少。他们会减少对这个族群讲一套话，对那个族群讲另一套话的情况。不让政党知道哪个族群投票给哪个阵线，有助于迫使朝野阵线努力服务选区，否则的话就别想获得选民支持。
目前我国政治是以族群为政策。纳吉的“一个马来西亚”理念必须做到决心消灭种族化政治，人民若以’“我们都是马来西亚人”而自豪的话，国家才会兴旺。
选区无论由在朝党或在野党当议员，基于支持哪方的人民都是纳税人，因此双方获得国库拨款发展乃是理所当然的。城镇国人对政治意识越来越成熟了，在选举时才来大派糖果的作法已经在他们当中行不通了。在许多国家，金钱政治经常是民主的致命伤。大马也不例外，我们要成为先进国，必须大刀阔斧地改进国家的选举制度，尤其必须让选委会独立。只有在公平竞争下，赢得选举才是光荣的。
---------------------------------------------
作者：林明华
4点感想
乌鲁雪兰莪补选的结果没有太大的意外，但选战的过程及选举结果所传达出来的讯息和意义，依然值得我们深入思考。
和以往一样，选举过后，各党的焦点，都离不开各族选民的投票倾向。
依初步的观察，和308大选时比较，乌雪选举的基本盘並没有太大的差异，民联的再益虽然败选，但公正党得票增加了95张；国阵的卡玛拉纳登贏了1725票，除了归功於巫印选民回流；另一不可忽视的因素，是国阵成功把弃权票从1466张锐减到731张，间中的差异是735票。如果这 735票都改投给了国阵，则意味著，从民联怀抱回流国阵的巫印选民，其实並不如一般人所想像的那么多。
马来选票和印人选票都有回流国阵趋向，但多达三分之二的华裔选民依然倾情民联，乃是不可否认的事实。
绝大多数的乌雪华裔选民不为国阵在选战期间排山倒海而来的亲民政策所动，毫无疑问，会令国阵非常失望，也可能產生不同的解读，影响未来政局的走向。
以下4点个人的感想，希望能引起各方反思：一、乌雪华裔选民选择民联，与其能简单的解读为反国阵，不如说华裔选民更加反极端、反保守和反种族政策，並且更喜欢一个比较崇尚开明、开放、公平和多元政策的政党。
国阵如果想要贏回华裔选民的心，今后唯有展现更大的改革决心，摒弃极端和保守的政策，並证明她会长期坚定地走改革开放的路，而不是在选举之时才来派糖果而已。
二、如果巫统党內的强硬派和右翼势力想要通过这场补选的结果来证明她的“正当性”，並把巫统导向一个更加极端和保守的方向，那將是她的另一错误的开始。这样的错误，最终会迫使至今仍然心系国阵或对国阵仍存有一线希望的选民也倒戈相向。
三、民联经此一役，应该认真检討，她今后到底是要把目標订在下届大选夺取中央政权，还是务实一点，先整顿好內部，治理好她执政的州属，让民联变得更加强大並且更加让人可信赖，从而巩固好“两线制”的基本盘，才来重拳出击？
四、自从选票不再集中一起点算，而是改为依投票箱一个一个计算之后，不同种族选民的投票倾向已经变得一目了然。这固然有助於各政党依据不同种族的投票倾向而作出政策上和策略上的调整，但这也使到选举的种族色彩愈加浓烈。投票本应是秘密的，如此“透明”的计票制度，是否应该检討？
星洲日报／云淡风轻‧作者：林明华‧2010.04.26
来源：http://opinions.sinchew-i.com/node/14468
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Barisan Nasional has flouted the Election Law
Though Zaid Ibrahim of PR lost to Kamalanathan of BN, I don't see PR has a dim hope of moving to Putrajaya. I really pitied BN that it has given so much and has gotten so little in return. In the next GE, is BN able to mobilize so much resources again?
And I regret to say, whatever BN has given out to Ulu Selangor, they are in fact the money from the treasury. It is the money of all Malaysians. How can Najib use it as a machinery for BN campaign? A horrendous sum of RM160 million should come out from BN's funds itself. However you are not justified with that, because you have indeed flouted the Election Law by buying votes. BN has made Malaysia's rating of Election Transparency drop.
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The Hulu Selangor by-election debacle: Is it worth it, Najib?
The single event that impacted most on the electoral outcome was perhaps the occasion of Najib himself handing over RM5 million cash to 100 Felda settlers in a highly trumpeted ceremony two days before polling. These settlers were among victims of a failed project committed to a private developer 15 years ago.
by Kim Quek
Prime Minister Najib Razak might have won the electoral battle at Hulu Selangor, but he sure has made a giant step of retreat in the defence of Putrajaya against the relentless advance of Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
The orgy of election bribery indulged over those few days leading up to Polling Day on April 25 would have put any other pseudo-democracy to shame when comparing election excesses.
To induce votes, Najib and his colleagues made innumerable on-the-spot grants of cash and promises of goodies (many were conditional upon a Barisan Nasional win) that run easily to hundreds of million of ringgit during that compact campaign period. These include the construction of a university and several schools, an expressway interchange and many other infrastructures, several low cost housing projects, upgrading of mosques and temples, grants to community guilds and associations, cash payments to individuals, etc. These election goodies were so many and so large that I doubt Najib and his deputy, Muhyiddeen Yassin, could keep track of their numbers or total costs involved.
The single event that impacted most on the electoral outcome was perhaps the occasion of Najib himself handing over RM5 million cash to 100 Felda settlers in a highly trumpeted ceremony two days before polling. These settlers were among victims of a failed project committed to a private developer 15 years ago.
The greatest irony was that amidst this election bribery spree, Najib made an impassioned last-minute plea to the electorate through an open letter bearing his signature, asking the electorate to give him another chance to institute ‘change’ in his administration so as to redeem Barisan Nasional’s past mistakes. But was Najib not aware that this endless stream of impromptu election goodies constitute serious offences under our Election Offences Act 1954 (Section 10)? By committing these acts of corruption to such an unprecedented scale while simultaneously articulating his ‘change’ agenda, he was in effect telling the world: “This is what I mean by ‘change’ – I will not hesitate to escalate corrupted activities and damn the laws, if my political interests so demand.”
Reflecting on Najib’s rule since taking effective control of the country in early 2009, this philosophy of ‘the end justifies the means’ as exemplified by his conduct in the Hulu Selangor by-election seems to aptly explain the series of scandals that illustrated the ruling power’s contempt for the Constitution and the rule of law. These include the unconstitutional power grab in Perak, the continuing persecution of Anwar Ibrahim via the universally condemned phoney sodomy 2 trial, the awkward attempt to hide the real culprits in the show trial of Altantuya’s grisly murder, and the tragic death of Teoh Beng Hock under custody of MACC and the subsequent dubious inquest.
In the aftermath of this sordid by-election, Najib and his cohorts have expectedly hailed this disgraceful victory as the nation’s endorsement of Najib’s new policy and the shifting of support to Barisan Nasional (BN). However, removing the thin veneer of this pyrrhic victory, we find that the contrary is true. In fact, a cursory review of this by-election (many prefer to call it ‘buy-election’) has revealed trends and phenomena that should cause BN to get worried, very worried.
First, winning by a majority of 1,700 votes does not necessarily indicate an increase of support. On the contrary, it could mean a substantial drop of support, if we consider the fact that in the last general election in March 2008, BN’s combined majority of the three state constituencies that made up the parliamentary constituency of Hulu Selangor was 6,300 votes.
If UMNO can secure only a marginal victory (24,997 vs. 23,272) after such heavy abuses of public funds and politically manipulated institutions, there is not the slightest chance that the same can be repeated in a general election, during which, Hulu Selangor will surely fall back to PR, just as Ijok did previously.
Second, judging from the response of the electorate during the election campaign, Najib’s ‘1Malaysia’ advocacy has failed to take root among BN’s supporters. This was prominently reflected in the respective finale of the two protagonists’ election campaign on the eve of polling. While the BN rally, estimated at 3,000, was attended almost exclusively by Malays, with a sprinkling of Indians, the 15,000-strong PR rally was a colourful display of multi-racialism with a healthy proportion of the three races of Malays, Chinese and Indians. It left one with the unmistakable impression that the coalition that has really succeeded in realising ‘1Malaysia’ is PR, not BN.
Third, the Chinese support to BN has dwindled to an even smaller minority (less than one third) despite the many carrots dangling in their faces – particularly Najib’s personal promise to grant a RM3 million grant to a Chinese school the very next day of polling, conditioned upon a BN win. This indicates that the Chinese electorate has politically matured to the point that they are relatively immune to BN’s election bribery. For them, nothing short of real reforms would do.
As UMNO is not capable of instituting real reforms, this naturally spells the end of the political life span of the Chinese racial party MCA, and by corollary, that of Gerakan. With the Indian racial party MIC also having lost the support of Indians, the isolation of UMNO in Peninsular Malaysia is complete, since these three parties are UMNO’s only major partners in the Peninsula. Considering that they had been the bulwark of support to UMNO in past elections, their present eclipses mean that UMNO’s political wings in Peninsula are clipped.
Hence, UMNO’s final grasp at power is now hinged to its relationship with the BN component parties in Sabah and Sarawak, which unfortunately are not in the best of terms with the UMNO-dominated Federal government.
Known for their strong regionalism and thrust to their king-maker position by the political tsunami of the 2008 general elections, Sabah and Sarawak are now a hive of discontent and resentment against the exploitation and short-changing of their autonomous rights under the autocratic UMNO dominated BN leadership.
With a maimed UMNO in the Peninsula, and a surging Pakatan Rakyat offering a just deal and restoration of autonomy to these two states, the people there for the first time have the real option of clinching the best political deal since the formation of Malaysia almost five decades ago.
Since the people in Sabah and Sarawak are less race-conscious than their Peninsular counterparts and in fact rather irritated by the heavy racism practiced by UMNO, for how long can UMNO’s race politics withstand the challenge for influence by the multi-racial Pakatan Rakyat in these two territories, and by extension the political power over the entire country?
The Hulu Selangor by-election has given us a pointer, and it ain’t looking good for UMNO.
Source: http://malaysia-today.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31463:the-hulu-selangor-by-election-debacle-is-it-worth-it-najib&catid=17:guest-columnists&Itemid=100130
And I regret to say, whatever BN has given out to Ulu Selangor, they are in fact the money from the treasury. It is the money of all Malaysians. How can Najib use it as a machinery for BN campaign? A horrendous sum of RM160 million should come out from BN's funds itself. However you are not justified with that, because you have indeed flouted the Election Law by buying votes. BN has made Malaysia's rating of Election Transparency drop.
----------------------------------------------------
The Hulu Selangor by-election debacle: Is it worth it, Najib?
The single event that impacted most on the electoral outcome was perhaps the occasion of Najib himself handing over RM5 million cash to 100 Felda settlers in a highly trumpeted ceremony two days before polling. These settlers were among victims of a failed project committed to a private developer 15 years ago.
by Kim Quek
Prime Minister Najib Razak might have won the electoral battle at Hulu Selangor, but he sure has made a giant step of retreat in the defence of Putrajaya against the relentless advance of Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
The orgy of election bribery indulged over those few days leading up to Polling Day on April 25 would have put any other pseudo-democracy to shame when comparing election excesses.
To induce votes, Najib and his colleagues made innumerable on-the-spot grants of cash and promises of goodies (many were conditional upon a Barisan Nasional win) that run easily to hundreds of million of ringgit during that compact campaign period. These include the construction of a university and several schools, an expressway interchange and many other infrastructures, several low cost housing projects, upgrading of mosques and temples, grants to community guilds and associations, cash payments to individuals, etc. These election goodies were so many and so large that I doubt Najib and his deputy, Muhyiddeen Yassin, could keep track of their numbers or total costs involved.
The single event that impacted most on the electoral outcome was perhaps the occasion of Najib himself handing over RM5 million cash to 100 Felda settlers in a highly trumpeted ceremony two days before polling. These settlers were among victims of a failed project committed to a private developer 15 years ago.
The greatest irony was that amidst this election bribery spree, Najib made an impassioned last-minute plea to the electorate through an open letter bearing his signature, asking the electorate to give him another chance to institute ‘change’ in his administration so as to redeem Barisan Nasional’s past mistakes. But was Najib not aware that this endless stream of impromptu election goodies constitute serious offences under our Election Offences Act 1954 (Section 10)? By committing these acts of corruption to such an unprecedented scale while simultaneously articulating his ‘change’ agenda, he was in effect telling the world: “This is what I mean by ‘change’ – I will not hesitate to escalate corrupted activities and damn the laws, if my political interests so demand.”
Reflecting on Najib’s rule since taking effective control of the country in early 2009, this philosophy of ‘the end justifies the means’ as exemplified by his conduct in the Hulu Selangor by-election seems to aptly explain the series of scandals that illustrated the ruling power’s contempt for the Constitution and the rule of law. These include the unconstitutional power grab in Perak, the continuing persecution of Anwar Ibrahim via the universally condemned phoney sodomy 2 trial, the awkward attempt to hide the real culprits in the show trial of Altantuya’s grisly murder, and the tragic death of Teoh Beng Hock under custody of MACC and the subsequent dubious inquest.
In the aftermath of this sordid by-election, Najib and his cohorts have expectedly hailed this disgraceful victory as the nation’s endorsement of Najib’s new policy and the shifting of support to Barisan Nasional (BN). However, removing the thin veneer of this pyrrhic victory, we find that the contrary is true. In fact, a cursory review of this by-election (many prefer to call it ‘buy-election’) has revealed trends and phenomena that should cause BN to get worried, very worried.
First, winning by a majority of 1,700 votes does not necessarily indicate an increase of support. On the contrary, it could mean a substantial drop of support, if we consider the fact that in the last general election in March 2008, BN’s combined majority of the three state constituencies that made up the parliamentary constituency of Hulu Selangor was 6,300 votes.
If UMNO can secure only a marginal victory (24,997 vs. 23,272) after such heavy abuses of public funds and politically manipulated institutions, there is not the slightest chance that the same can be repeated in a general election, during which, Hulu Selangor will surely fall back to PR, just as Ijok did previously.
Second, judging from the response of the electorate during the election campaign, Najib’s ‘1Malaysia’ advocacy has failed to take root among BN’s supporters. This was prominently reflected in the respective finale of the two protagonists’ election campaign on the eve of polling. While the BN rally, estimated at 3,000, was attended almost exclusively by Malays, with a sprinkling of Indians, the 15,000-strong PR rally was a colourful display of multi-racialism with a healthy proportion of the three races of Malays, Chinese and Indians. It left one with the unmistakable impression that the coalition that has really succeeded in realising ‘1Malaysia’ is PR, not BN.
Third, the Chinese support to BN has dwindled to an even smaller minority (less than one third) despite the many carrots dangling in their faces – particularly Najib’s personal promise to grant a RM3 million grant to a Chinese school the very next day of polling, conditioned upon a BN win. This indicates that the Chinese electorate has politically matured to the point that they are relatively immune to BN’s election bribery. For them, nothing short of real reforms would do.
As UMNO is not capable of instituting real reforms, this naturally spells the end of the political life span of the Chinese racial party MCA, and by corollary, that of Gerakan. With the Indian racial party MIC also having lost the support of Indians, the isolation of UMNO in Peninsular Malaysia is complete, since these three parties are UMNO’s only major partners in the Peninsula. Considering that they had been the bulwark of support to UMNO in past elections, their present eclipses mean that UMNO’s political wings in Peninsula are clipped.
Hence, UMNO’s final grasp at power is now hinged to its relationship with the BN component parties in Sabah and Sarawak, which unfortunately are not in the best of terms with the UMNO-dominated Federal government.
Known for their strong regionalism and thrust to their king-maker position by the political tsunami of the 2008 general elections, Sabah and Sarawak are now a hive of discontent and resentment against the exploitation and short-changing of their autonomous rights under the autocratic UMNO dominated BN leadership.
With a maimed UMNO in the Peninsula, and a surging Pakatan Rakyat offering a just deal and restoration of autonomy to these two states, the people there for the first time have the real option of clinching the best political deal since the formation of Malaysia almost five decades ago.
Since the people in Sabah and Sarawak are less race-conscious than their Peninsular counterparts and in fact rather irritated by the heavy racism practiced by UMNO, for how long can UMNO’s race politics withstand the challenge for influence by the multi-racial Pakatan Rakyat in these two territories, and by extension the political power over the entire country?
The Hulu Selangor by-election has given us a pointer, and it ain’t looking good for UMNO.
Source: http://malaysia-today.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31463:the-hulu-selangor-by-election-debacle-is-it-worth-it-najib&catid=17:guest-columnists&Itemid=100130
Saturday, April 24, 2010
The Psalmist's Cry becomes Mine
I who dwell in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
For You will deliver me from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
You will cover me with Your pinions,
and under Your wings I will find refuge;
Your faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
I will not fear the authority terror of the night,
nor the arrow of plot that flies by day,
nor the pestilence of corruption that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction of media lies that wastes at noonday.
A thousand may fall at my side,
ten thousand at my right hand,
but it will not come near me.
I will only look with my eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.
Because I have made the LORD my dwelling place—
the Most High, who is my refuge—
no evil of charges shall be allowed to befall me,
no plague of authority stooges come near my tent.
For You will command Your angels concerning me
to guard me in all my ways.
On their hands they will bear me up,
lest I strike my foot against a stone.
I will tread on the lion which devours and the adder which deceives;
the young lion and the serpent I will trample underfoot.
Because I hold fast to You in love, You will deliver me;
You will protect me, because I know Your name.
When I call to You, You will answer me;
You will be with me in trouble;
You will rescue me and honor me.
With long life of sound body-soul-spirit You will satisfy me
and show me Your salvation.”
Source: Psalm 91: 1-16
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
For You will deliver me from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
You will cover me with Your pinions,
and under Your wings I will find refuge;
Your faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
I will not fear the authority terror of the night,
nor the arrow of plot that flies by day,
nor the pestilence of corruption that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction of media lies that wastes at noonday.
A thousand may fall at my side,
ten thousand at my right hand,
but it will not come near me.
I will only look with my eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.
Because I have made the LORD my dwelling place—
the Most High, who is my refuge—
no evil of charges shall be allowed to befall me,
no plague of authority stooges come near my tent.
For You will command Your angels concerning me
to guard me in all my ways.
On their hands they will bear me up,
lest I strike my foot against a stone.
I will tread on the lion which devours and the adder which deceives;
the young lion and the serpent I will trample underfoot.
Because I hold fast to You in love, You will deliver me;
You will protect me, because I know Your name.
When I call to You, You will answer me;
You will be with me in trouble;
You will rescue me and honor me.
With long life of sound body-soul-spirit You will satisfy me
and show me Your salvation.”
Source: Psalm 91: 1-16
Begin to pray for the 13th General Elections
Today at Andrew Wong's monthly gathering at his house in Kota Kemuning, I was privileged to meet Elder Goh Keat Peng.
I heard of him and read his blog, but today was the first time I met this man of God. He put in lots of effort to fight for a better Malaysia. We are on the same boat. Let us continue to cause a 2-Party System establish in our country. The next General Elections will be very crucial for the fate of Malaysia. Therefore, let us begin to pray diligently.
1. God, Your plans are firm, faithful and forever. The purposes of Your heart prevail through all the generations. Let Your mighty, perfect will bring about a better Malaysia. (Psalm 33:11)
2. Lord, bring righteous people who fear You to be elected. Establish godly leaders who glorify You as they lead, and let their tenure be as welcome as the light of morning at sunrise and like the brightness after rain that brings green grass to the earth. (2 Samuel 23:3)
3. Lord, grant that wicked and evil influences will be weak and impotent in their efforts at bringing down the candidates for election. Usher into authority those who are committed to leading with righteousness. (Proverbs 25:5)
4. Heavenly Father, You promised to bless us with rejoicing when righteous leaders are in charge. So we ask You for godly, good leaders who will bring joy to those they lead. Do not allow any wicked persons to gain public office, but only those who will honor You. (Proverbs 29:2)
5. Lord, You value so deeply the qualities of good judgment and discernment, but it is easy for us to lose sight of them. Guide all those who will vote a sense of discernment and sound judgment, and let that discernment in turn bring discerning leaders into office. (Proverbs 3:21)
6. Lord God, during election time it is easy to get wrapped up in the negative, in fault-finding, criticism and contentiousness. Cause our hearts to be sweet and pure, obediently acting as You want Your children to act, so no one can find fault. In this way, we can shine for you in our darkened world. (Philippians 2:14-15)
7. Mighty God, we look to You for protection and safe keeping, especially during the days leading up to the next General Elections. Keep the candidates, the public rallies and the media safe from every kind of harm, O Lord, and deliver us from any evil plots that have been arranged. Let no weapon that is formed against our nation or the leaders prosper. (Psalm 32:7, Isaiah 54:17)
8. Father God, You love truth and are displeased with lies. Grant a spirit of truthfulness in the elections, particularly on the part of all media. Grant a spirit of fairness and honesty in the reports created by all members of the media, and give discernment and wisdom to citizens as they seek information from the media. (Proverbs 12:22)
9. God, You are actively involved in every part of Your creation at every moment. Grant to all Malaysians a willingness to get involved in the upcoming General Elections, resisting complacency and passivity, especially for Christians to rise to intercede fervently. Let each one know the value of his or her vote, and let each one exercise their privilege with diligence and faith. (Amos 6:1)
I heard of him and read his blog, but today was the first time I met this man of God. He put in lots of effort to fight for a better Malaysia. We are on the same boat. Let us continue to cause a 2-Party System establish in our country. The next General Elections will be very crucial for the fate of Malaysia. Therefore, let us begin to pray diligently.
1. God, Your plans are firm, faithful and forever. The purposes of Your heart prevail through all the generations. Let Your mighty, perfect will bring about a better Malaysia. (Psalm 33:11)
2. Lord, bring righteous people who fear You to be elected. Establish godly leaders who glorify You as they lead, and let their tenure be as welcome as the light of morning at sunrise and like the brightness after rain that brings green grass to the earth. (2 Samuel 23:3)
3. Lord, grant that wicked and evil influences will be weak and impotent in their efforts at bringing down the candidates for election. Usher into authority those who are committed to leading with righteousness. (Proverbs 25:5)
4. Heavenly Father, You promised to bless us with rejoicing when righteous leaders are in charge. So we ask You for godly, good leaders who will bring joy to those they lead. Do not allow any wicked persons to gain public office, but only those who will honor You. (Proverbs 29:2)
5. Lord, You value so deeply the qualities of good judgment and discernment, but it is easy for us to lose sight of them. Guide all those who will vote a sense of discernment and sound judgment, and let that discernment in turn bring discerning leaders into office. (Proverbs 3:21)
6. Lord God, during election time it is easy to get wrapped up in the negative, in fault-finding, criticism and contentiousness. Cause our hearts to be sweet and pure, obediently acting as You want Your children to act, so no one can find fault. In this way, we can shine for you in our darkened world. (Philippians 2:14-15)
7. Mighty God, we look to You for protection and safe keeping, especially during the days leading up to the next General Elections. Keep the candidates, the public rallies and the media safe from every kind of harm, O Lord, and deliver us from any evil plots that have been arranged. Let no weapon that is formed against our nation or the leaders prosper. (Psalm 32:7, Isaiah 54:17)
8. Father God, You love truth and are displeased with lies. Grant a spirit of truthfulness in the elections, particularly on the part of all media. Grant a spirit of fairness and honesty in the reports created by all members of the media, and give discernment and wisdom to citizens as they seek information from the media. (Proverbs 12:22)
9. God, You are actively involved in every part of Your creation at every moment. Grant to all Malaysians a willingness to get involved in the upcoming General Elections, resisting complacency and passivity, especially for Christians to rise to intercede fervently. Let each one know the value of his or her vote, and let each one exercise their privilege with diligence and faith. (Amos 6:1)
Friday, April 23, 2010
David's Song of Thanks becomes Mine
I give thanks to You my LORD, call upon Your name. I make known Your deeds among the peoples!
I sing to You, sing praises to You. I tell of all Your wondrous works.
Glory in Your holy name. The heart of mine who seek You my LORD rejoice!
I seek You my LORD and Your strength. I seek Your presence continually!
I remember the wondrous works of delivering me that You my LORD have done, Your miracles of pronouncing the so-called seditious case void, and the judgments on the puppets of ruling forces You uttered.
O me Allen, an offspring of Israel Your servant, son of Jacob, Your chosen one!
You are the LORD my God. Your judgments are in all the earth.
I remember Your covenant of salvation forever, the word that You commanded, for a thousand generations,
the covenant that You the LORD made with Abraham, Your sworn promise to Isaac,
which You the LORD confirmed as a statute to Jacob, as an everlasting covenant to Israel,
saying, “To you, Allen, I will give the land of Canaan, as your portion for an inheritance.”
When Christians, including me, were few in number, and of little account, and sojourners in it,
wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people,
You allowed no one to oppress us. You rebuked kings, prime ministers, presidents on their account,
saying, “Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets, pastors, ministers no harm!”
All the earth and I sing to You the LORD. I tell of Your salvation from day to day.
I declare Your glory among the nations, Your marvelous works among all the peoples!
For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and You the LORD are to be held in awe above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but You the LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before You the LORD; strength and joy are in Your place.
I ascribe to You my LORD, ascribe to You my LORD glory and strength!
I ascribe to You my LORD the glory due Your name; bring an offering and come before You my LORD! I worship You my LORD in the splendor of holiness.
All the earth and I shall tremble before You the LORD, yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, and say among Malaysian authorities, “The LORD reigns!”
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before You the LORD, for You the LORD comes to judge the earth.
Oh all the earth and I give thanks to You the LORD, for You the LORD are good; for Your steadfast love endures forever!
All the earth and I say also: “Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather and deliver us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to Your holy name, and glory in Your praise.
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, and the God of Malaysia from everlasting to everlasting!”
And all the people in Malaysia and in all over the world shall say, “Amen!” and praise You the LORD.
Source: 1 Chronicles 16: 8-36
I sing to You, sing praises to You. I tell of all Your wondrous works.
Glory in Your holy name. The heart of mine who seek You my LORD rejoice!
I seek You my LORD and Your strength. I seek Your presence continually!
I remember the wondrous works of delivering me that You my LORD have done, Your miracles of pronouncing the so-called seditious case void, and the judgments on the puppets of ruling forces You uttered.
O me Allen, an offspring of Israel Your servant, son of Jacob, Your chosen one!
You are the LORD my God. Your judgments are in all the earth.
I remember Your covenant of salvation forever, the word that You commanded, for a thousand generations,
the covenant that You the LORD made with Abraham, Your sworn promise to Isaac,
which You the LORD confirmed as a statute to Jacob, as an everlasting covenant to Israel,
saying, “To you, Allen, I will give the land of Canaan, as your portion for an inheritance.”
When Christians, including me, were few in number, and of little account, and sojourners in it,
wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people,
You allowed no one to oppress us. You rebuked kings, prime ministers, presidents on their account,
saying, “Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets, pastors, ministers no harm!”
All the earth and I sing to You the LORD. I tell of Your salvation from day to day.
I declare Your glory among the nations, Your marvelous works among all the peoples!
For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and You the LORD are to be held in awe above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but You the LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before You the LORD; strength and joy are in Your place.
I ascribe to You my LORD, ascribe to You my LORD glory and strength!
I ascribe to You my LORD the glory due Your name; bring an offering and come before You my LORD! I worship You my LORD in the splendor of holiness.
All the earth and I shall tremble before You the LORD, yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, and say among Malaysian authorities, “The LORD reigns!”
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before You the LORD, for You the LORD comes to judge the earth.
Oh all the earth and I give thanks to You the LORD, for You the LORD are good; for Your steadfast love endures forever!
All the earth and I say also: “Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather and deliver us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to Your holy name, and glory in Your praise.
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, and the God of Malaysia from everlasting to everlasting!”
And all the people in Malaysia and in all over the world shall say, “Amen!” and praise You the LORD.
Source: 1 Chronicles 16: 8-36
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Earth Day Has Pentecostal Roots
Tuesday, 20 April 2010 01:28 PM EDT
The man who coined the name Earth Day was a Pentecostal minister who thought the observance would help promote peace and unity.
According to the Assemblies of God (AG) Heritage magazine, 95-year-old John McConnell Jr., a longtime Pentecostal and peace activist, first proposed the idea for Earth Day in 1969. His plan was to mark the day in late March at the start of spring to promote peace and justice as a prerequisite for ecological preservation.
But McConnell also was motivated by his faith. "We love God ... [and therefore should] have an appreciation for His creation," McConnell told AG Heritage, which is published by the Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center.
McConnell submitted his proposal for Earth Day to San Francisco city officials on Oct. 3, 1969, and the first governmental recognition of Earth Day was held March 21, 1970. The event gained support from Congress and the United Nations, which McConnell hoped Earth Day supporters would partner with in protecting the environment.
Yet the original Earth Day was quickly overshadowed. McConnell said Sen. Gaylord Nelson, D-Wis., wanted to move Earth Day to April 22, when he had scheduled a political protest called Environmental Teach-In Day. Nelson wanted to change the name of the teach-in to Earth Day, but McConnell would not agree to the idea.
"I said, ‘Absolutely not," McConnell told AG Heritage. "Earth Day on nature's event is too important for this global occasion. So the next thing I knew they stole my name Earth Day and they used it for April 22. I was urged to sue, but I didn't. I didn't believe in suing.
"San Francisco kicked it off and later on we had the United Nations. The Secretary General ... thought Earth Day was a great idea, and the United Nations [still] celebrates Earth Day on the March equinox."
McConnell's biographer, Robert Weir, said Nelson admitted that he got the idea for Earth Day from others, but he did not specify from whom. In time, Nelson began to publicly claim full credit for founding Earth Day, which he wanted to use to protest pollution.
McConnell says the current Earth Day observance is too political, though he appreciates its goals of improving environmental stewardship. He notes that April 22 is also the birthday of communist leader Vladimir Lenin, one of several reasons he continues to mark Earth Day in March, during the spring equinox.
McConnell comes from a strong Pentecostal lineage. His grandfather was at the Azusa Street revival in 1906 and his parents were founding members of the AG in 1914. Although McConnell's father was an ordained minister in the AG for a time, and McConnell himself became a preacher, both men were strongly independent thinkers.
The elder McConnell's ministry credentials were not renewed in 1929 because AG leaders struggled to pin down his positions on doctrinal issues. And he took a strong pacifist position, which the AG endorsed until 1967, believing Christians were not supposed to kill even in war.
The younger McConnell adopted his father's view. After being drafted into World War II, he asked for an exemption as a conscientious objector but was refused. While participating in target practice during basic training, he kept seeing an image of Jesus flash through his mind whenever he prepared to shoot a target. He refused to shoot and ended up in solitary confinement, eventually escaping the military base and fleeing the country with his wife.
McConnell began ministering off the coast of British Honduras and was eventually discovered by the FBI, which decided to leave him and his wife alone because they were not engaged in subversive activities, according to AG Heritage.
McConnell later became a peace activist and organized the Star of Hope and Minute for Peace movements. The first encouraged the U.S. to launch a satellite as a symbol of peace, and the latter urged people to spend a minute in prayer each day. The first Minute for Peace was held Dec. 22, 1963, a month after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, and short Minute for Peace radio messages have been read by heads of state and United Nations officials.
McConnell says all of his work, including his push for an Earth Day observance, sprang from his Christian faith. "If there had been no Christian experience in my life there would be no Earth Day - or at least I would not have initiated it," he told AG Heritage. "I'm a peacemaker, and part of the reason was my father, who was, without question, the greatest influence in my life."
Though he says April 22 is not Earth Day, he sees the observance as an opportunity for Christians to be a witness. "While Earth Day is non-sectarian and non-political," he said, "it provides a great opportunity for Christians to show the power of prayer, the validity of their charity and their practical concern for Earth's life and people."
Resource: http://www.charismamag.com/index.php/news/28103-earth-day-has-pentecostal-root-#ixzz0lnnA9FcS
Friday, April 16, 2010
Najib should issue an invoice to Mahathir
Mr. Mahathir, now you know how hurtful you are when Nazri had dumped all the nasty bill into your account. When you made USA Malaysians' enemy, the country lost tonnes of job opportunities.
Unfortunately, Najib, the PM whom you strongly pushed up, has sailed on your faults, and managed to secure a hand-shake with Obama, the US President. But the stupid move has cost the national treasury RM76.82 million. He probably did not know this was an enormous sum. Maybe comparably with the cost of submarines he purchased, the "meet-up fees" is insignificant to him.
Dr. M, the logic is, since the Najib admin put a blamed on you for ruining the Malaysia-US tie, so they should issue you with an invoice. Najib is answerable to all Malaysians. There are still thousands of Malaysian folks only survived from hand-to mouth. But yet an 40 minutes' meeting with Obama has made Najib squander an 8-figure sum.
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Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/60162-dr-m-dont-put-apco-bill-on-my-tab
Dr M: Don’t put APCO bill on my tab
By Debra Chong
[Dr Mahathir said the US had never shown displeasure at his administration. — file pic]
Dr Mahathir said the US had never shown displeasure at his administration. — file pic
KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today he disagrees with the Najib administration for spending a whopping RM76 million to arrange a meeting between the prime minister and US President Barack Obama earlier this week.
“Meeting is good but to say this money is spent because of what happened in the past, I don’t think is good,” the former premier said, rubbishing claims the government needed to spend the enormous sum of money.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz had disclosed this week the amount paid to global public relations firm, APCO Worldwide, and claimed it was necessary to “repair” Malaysia-US ties strained during his 22-year rule from 1981 to 2003.
“I don’t care,” Dr Mahathir said, when asked to comment on Nazri’s charge.
“Whether the ties are good or bad, the fact is the US has not done anything that would show they were offended by us,” he added, citing the absence of official US complaints lodged with his administration.
Dr Mahathir also pointed out that investments from the US continued to flow into Malaysia.
“We did not get anything from the US,” he claimed, but was quick to make an exception that the world military superpower had given “one million US dollars” (RM3.2 million at current rates) to Malaysia “for the training of our armed forces”.
“They want it back? We have one million US dollars,” he quipped.
Dr Mahathir was speaking to reporters after delivering a keynote speech here, in conjunction with the 44th anniversary celebration of Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara), a government agency formed to aid the indigenous community.
He appeared disinterested in continuing the subject, noting that he was no longer in power. He noted that the Najib administration had the authority to do as it sees fit with federal funds.
“If I’m in power, I have my own way of doing things,” he said with a smile, capping the subject.
Unfortunately, Najib, the PM whom you strongly pushed up, has sailed on your faults, and managed to secure a hand-shake with Obama, the US President. But the stupid move has cost the national treasury RM76.82 million. He probably did not know this was an enormous sum. Maybe comparably with the cost of submarines he purchased, the "meet-up fees" is insignificant to him.
Dr. M, the logic is, since the Najib admin put a blamed on you for ruining the Malaysia-US tie, so they should issue you with an invoice. Najib is answerable to all Malaysians. There are still thousands of Malaysian folks only survived from hand-to mouth. But yet an 40 minutes' meeting with Obama has made Najib squander an 8-figure sum.
-----------------------------------------
Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/60162-dr-m-dont-put-apco-bill-on-my-tab
Dr M: Don’t put APCO bill on my tab
By Debra Chong
[Dr Mahathir said the US had never shown displeasure at his administration. — file pic]
Dr Mahathir said the US had never shown displeasure at his administration. — file pic
KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today he disagrees with the Najib administration for spending a whopping RM76 million to arrange a meeting between the prime minister and US President Barack Obama earlier this week.
“Meeting is good but to say this money is spent because of what happened in the past, I don’t think is good,” the former premier said, rubbishing claims the government needed to spend the enormous sum of money.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz had disclosed this week the amount paid to global public relations firm, APCO Worldwide, and claimed it was necessary to “repair” Malaysia-US ties strained during his 22-year rule from 1981 to 2003.
“I don’t care,” Dr Mahathir said, when asked to comment on Nazri’s charge.
“Whether the ties are good or bad, the fact is the US has not done anything that would show they were offended by us,” he added, citing the absence of official US complaints lodged with his administration.
Dr Mahathir also pointed out that investments from the US continued to flow into Malaysia.
“We did not get anything from the US,” he claimed, but was quick to make an exception that the world military superpower had given “one million US dollars” (RM3.2 million at current rates) to Malaysia “for the training of our armed forces”.
“They want it back? We have one million US dollars,” he quipped.
Dr Mahathir was speaking to reporters after delivering a keynote speech here, in conjunction with the 44th anniversary celebration of Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara), a government agency formed to aid the indigenous community.
He appeared disinterested in continuing the subject, noting that he was no longer in power. He noted that the Najib administration had the authority to do as it sees fit with federal funds.
“If I’m in power, I have my own way of doing things,” he said with a smile, capping the subject.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
灾难与人为伍
中国又发生地震，四川大地震仍然记忆犹新，这次在青海省，令人心痛。进入2010年，地震显明变得比往年频繁。海地和智利地震较为严重外，一些轻微的地震发生在印尼、日本、希腊、台湾等。
不但地震威胁人类生存，各种天灾侵袭人类越来越凶猛。观看中国历史，它其实是一个灾难国。本来中国在三、四月间，陆地春寒跟海面热风交叉，导致多雨，尤其在中国南部。除此华人熟悉的杜牧《清明》诗，“清明时节雨纷纷……”朗朗上口，历年印证这时节是很湿的时候。其实在这个时期，东南亚一带也是多雨时期的，所以大马人都经历“清明时节雨纷纷”的真实情景。但今年却反常，除了中马外，其他地区（尤其东马）都干旱。
杜牧已经是1200-1150年前的人物了，隔开这么多年，今天和以前的气候是否还相同，看来无从考证。不过近十年来人们都见证气候发生显著的异常变化。今年的清明节，中国不再雨纷纷了。中国南部干旱仍然还未结束，人类和动植物都挣扎求存！
近30年中国迅速发展，到今天中国已经成为世界排放废气最高的国家了。中国，美国和欧洲的工业大国，发展和环保难以兼顾。两天前读到中国各地竞相扩建高铁将酿成恶果的新闻。基于中国大规模建设高铁令电力和煤炭需求急剧加大，因此专家说：“高铁建设也已经进入一个只要发展不要环境的时期了。”
不久前北半球的雪暴，中国北京和13个省份的沙尘暴，及柏斯的冰雹，说明了地球的剧烈变化。工业大国追求舒服生活的享受，不惜破坏地球的环境生态，连累大多数无辜的国家也跟它们付上代价。富强国不带头作大部分的牺牲，贫穷和发展中国家最遭殃。
地球人几时才同心解决地球问题呢？去年12月哥本哈根地球气候峰会只落得一个“讲”字，因为没有一个富强国愿意承诺削减废气，真的是个败笔！若不争取时间救地球的话，看来灾难就与人为伍也！既此，每当天灾发生时，灾黎诉苦连天，其他人除了同情捐款外还能作什么呢？看到别人受灾，才发觉人类是何等脆弱的。原来我们人类夸口的“人定胜天”言论是不堪一击的！地球暖化带来的灾难有骨牌效应的，譬如中国这次旱灾导致农作物歉收，下来的日子，亚洲肯定面对粮食涨价问题。若旱灾和地震等灾难在许多地方频繁发生，最坏的情况是饥荒。所以，人类为了生存，是否必须摒弃自私的生活习惯而保护地球吗？
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
纳吉见美国总统，国家破财7千682万
呜呼哀哉，纳兹里啊，纳兹里！呜呼哀哉，国阵啊，国阵！请你们不要花人民的钱好像花水一样呀！
其实我看雇用APCO乃是想提高纳吉的身分，想在下届大选让国阵胜出这一个理由而已。
国阵要胜出大选，不应该使用国库的钱。它们是属于全国人民的。国阵应该用自己的钱来提升形象，若你们这样作，人民可不必理会。
难怪国库钱不够用了，所以才会说要实行销售税（GST），要停止燃油津贴，学校的拨款削减，发售债券，增加这个那个领域的税务等。你知道7千682万令吉水多少吗？执政者不心痛我们心痛呀！
说也奇怪，马来西亚是一个在世界地图的弹丸小国，人口只有区区的2千700万。美国总统奥巴马对这么多的大国总统，首相和总理不见，反而见我国首相纳吉？奥巴马这么繁忙，他本来应该有更重要的事要作。无他，现在美国已经变穷了，它乃是目前全世界欠债排行榜首的国家。所以，有国家愿意出钱来见总统的话，真的谢天谢地呢！
美国总统真的很重要吗？非见他不可吗？
纳兹里说前首相马哈迪搞坏马、美关系。我要质问国家领导层说，就是一个领袖的不智行为，却要全国人民付代价？我认为，马哈迪应该出这笔钱，以向全体马来西亚人请罪。
-------------------------------------
以纳吉成功会美正副总统为例
纳兹里辩称天价聘请安可值得
首相署部长纳兹里今日继续为政府以7682万令吉聘用安可国际公司（APCO）的决定辩护，声称这项天价合约旨在改善马美两国关系，最明显的例子就是首相纳吉的访美行，成功与美国总统奥巴马会面。
他也解释，本身早前即场回答媒体的访问，所以才会误以为政府聘用安可公司的费用是2800万令吉。
他说，经过查证后，有关聘用费确实是7682余万令吉，但并这不代表这笔钱花得不值。
指马哈迪导致马美关系成冰
他傍晚在国会办公室接受媒体访问时，解释为何政府迫切需要聘请安可公司，而不能单靠本地公司来改善我国的国际形象。
他强调，经过前首相马哈迪的22年领导后，马美两国的关系已陷冰点，就算是第5任首相阿都拉上任后，也没采用特别亲美的外交政策。
“两任首相总共执政了28年，你以为我们可以不需花钱，就可改善马美关系？”
盛赞安可表现标青改善关系
NONE纳兹里盛赞安可公司的表现标青，所以奥巴马才会在百忙中抽空接见纳吉。
“奥巴马也有接见中国国家主席胡锦涛。胡锦涛不要提啦，因为中国是个大国，但马来西亚却是个小国，如果我们不对美国好，美国不会理睬我们。”
他也进一步举例，纳吉在访美行程中，除了会见奥巴马外，还与副总统拜登共进午餐，在在显示安可公司的表现，确实改善了马美的关系。
“我本身的2月份访美行程中，也见到了我要见的人。首相访美时，成功会见奥巴马，与拜登共进午餐。”
“我认为安可的表现标青，你也可以自己做出评价。”
称纳吉为国家利益聘用安可
至于为何必定要选择安可公司，而不能聘用本地公司，纳兹里解释，这是因为美国流行“游说文化”，而安可公司是其中的佼佼者。
他反问记者：“难道你认为本地公司可以为马来西亚做游说方面的工作？”
他也强调，我国有必要亲近美国，因为美国是一个大国，马美交好将能改善两国的双边贸易。
他声称，纳吉选择聘用安可公司，并非只是为了本身着想，反之是为了举国的利益。
来源：http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/129078
其实我看雇用APCO乃是想提高纳吉的身分，想在下届大选让国阵胜出这一个理由而已。
国阵要胜出大选，不应该使用国库的钱。它们是属于全国人民的。国阵应该用自己的钱来提升形象，若你们这样作，人民可不必理会。
难怪国库钱不够用了，所以才会说要实行销售税（GST），要停止燃油津贴，学校的拨款削减，发售债券，增加这个那个领域的税务等。你知道7千682万令吉水多少吗？执政者不心痛我们心痛呀！
说也奇怪，马来西亚是一个在世界地图的弹丸小国，人口只有区区的2千700万。美国总统奥巴马对这么多的大国总统，首相和总理不见，反而见我国首相纳吉？奥巴马这么繁忙，他本来应该有更重要的事要作。无他，现在美国已经变穷了，它乃是目前全世界欠债排行榜首的国家。所以，有国家愿意出钱来见总统的话，真的谢天谢地呢！
美国总统真的很重要吗？非见他不可吗？
纳兹里说前首相马哈迪搞坏马、美关系。我要质问国家领导层说，就是一个领袖的不智行为，却要全国人民付代价？我认为，马哈迪应该出这笔钱，以向全体马来西亚人请罪。
-------------------------------------
以纳吉成功会美正副总统为例
纳兹里辩称天价聘请安可值得
首相署部长纳兹里今日继续为政府以7682万令吉聘用安可国际公司（APCO）的决定辩护，声称这项天价合约旨在改善马美两国关系，最明显的例子就是首相纳吉的访美行，成功与美国总统奥巴马会面。
他也解释，本身早前即场回答媒体的访问，所以才会误以为政府聘用安可公司的费用是2800万令吉。
他说，经过查证后，有关聘用费确实是7682余万令吉，但并这不代表这笔钱花得不值。
指马哈迪导致马美关系成冰
他傍晚在国会办公室接受媒体访问时，解释为何政府迫切需要聘请安可公司，而不能单靠本地公司来改善我国的国际形象。
他强调，经过前首相马哈迪的22年领导后，马美两国的关系已陷冰点，就算是第5任首相阿都拉上任后，也没采用特别亲美的外交政策。
“两任首相总共执政了28年，你以为我们可以不需花钱，就可改善马美关系？”
盛赞安可表现标青改善关系
NONE纳兹里盛赞安可公司的表现标青，所以奥巴马才会在百忙中抽空接见纳吉。
“奥巴马也有接见中国国家主席胡锦涛。胡锦涛不要提啦，因为中国是个大国，但马来西亚却是个小国，如果我们不对美国好，美国不会理睬我们。”
他也进一步举例，纳吉在访美行程中，除了会见奥巴马外，还与副总统拜登共进午餐，在在显示安可公司的表现，确实改善了马美的关系。
“我本身的2月份访美行程中，也见到了我要见的人。首相访美时，成功会见奥巴马，与拜登共进午餐。”
“我认为安可的表现标青，你也可以自己做出评价。”
称纳吉为国家利益聘用安可
至于为何必定要选择安可公司，而不能聘用本地公司，纳兹里解释，这是因为美国流行“游说文化”，而安可公司是其中的佼佼者。
他反问记者：“难道你认为本地公司可以为马来西亚做游说方面的工作？”
他也强调，我国有必要亲近美国，因为美国是一个大国，马美交好将能改善两国的双边贸易。
他声称，纳吉选择聘用安可公司，并非只是为了本身着想，反之是为了举国的利益。
来源：http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/129078
安可国际公关费一年耗7682万 蔡添强：若加一个大马达到1亿
安可国际公关费一年耗7682万
蔡添强：若加一个大马达到1亿
经过在野党长时间的穷追猛打后，首相署终于公布政府聘用安可国际公关公司（APCO）的费用详情，短短1 年的总费用竟达到惊人的7600余万令吉，远远超出媒体早前报道的2800万令吉。
根据首相署部长纳兹里发给人民公正党峇都国会议员蔡添强的书面回答，政府聘用安可公司负责公共及通讯工作的费用，1年竟然达到美金2420万7158元。
根据3.1至3.2之间的外汇兑率，蔡添强计算这笔聘用费高达7682万563令吉。
缴付给Mind Teams掀争议
书面回答说，政府把这笔聘用费缴付给一家Mind Teams有限公司，并声称有关公司是安可国际的子公司。
不过，国会反对党领袖安华曾经指称，在安可国际于马来西亚设立分公司前，其前身正是Mind Teams有限公司。
书面回答指出，安可只向我国提供媒体专业及通讯服务，这可分为两类，即“公共事务及政府事务服务”和“策略传播、公共关系及媒体宣传”。
总共4份合约，半年一续
以下是首相署针对这两项服务，所列出的聘用详情：
（一）公共事务及政府事务服务
合约长度：2009年7月15日至2010年1月15日
合约价格：美金42万元
其他费用：美金12万元
续约合约长度：2010年1月 16日至2010年7月15日
续约合约价格：美金42万元
其他费用：美金12万元
（二）策略传播、公共关系及媒体宣传
合约长度：2009年6月3日至2009年12月2日
合约价格：美金927万3579元
其他费用：美金258万元
续约合约长度：2009年12月3日至2010年6月4日
续约合约价格：美金927万3579元
其他费用：美金200万元
蔡添强声称或达到1亿
azlan针对这份书面回答，蔡添强今午在国会走廊召开记者会，质疑政府聘用安可公司的费用，是否只值7600余万令吉。
他声称，若把政府聘用安可公司负责推广“一个马来西亚”概念的费用计算在内，整笔费用将近1亿令吉。
无论如何，首相署已经多次强调，政府聘用安可公司，只是负责通讯及公关工作，没有涉及任何“一个大马”的创造或推广工作。
首相署部长纳兹里曾经表示，政府聘用安可公司的费用是2800万令吉。蔡添强针对此曾多番在议事厅内质问纳兹里，为何不敢正式发表声明，列明有关费用的详情。
质问为何不选聘本地公司
在获得纳兹里口头答应公布详情后，蔡添强正式以书面向首相署询问，并在今午获得这份书面回答。
他揶揄纳兹里，早前把有关费用误指为2800万令吉，是否纳兹里使用不同的外汇兑率。
“我不知道纳兹里是否懂得算术。可能他以为马币很强劲，1 对1兑换美元。”
他也质问政府，是否确需要安可公司来负责通讯及公关工作，毕竟许多本地公司也可提供类似的服务。
“这是一项很大笔的预算，更何况聘用安可公司，将侵害我国的国家安全。”
来源：http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/129064
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
廿四节令鼓可续发扬光大
读了廿四节令鼓在美国职业篮球联盟（NBA）登场表演，我对于这项海外发扬鼓艺乍喜还忧。已故陈徽崇与陈再藩创立的廿四节令鼓已二十多年，但普及化只是近十年的事情。
既然廿四节令鼓是国家文化艺术，无论海内外的演出，务必确保严密根据正规技巧演出。这样的话，就必须有一个总会，或许由陈再藩组织起来，然后任何要设立鼓队的团体都必须向总会注册，即此可以监督会员的素质。
譬如在NBA表演的队伍，是由几个国家的人士组成，从照片看到在结束的那一刹那，各人举起的手势就有点尴尬，有人举右手，有人举左手，有人手臂下垂且弯曲。这样的高潮令人眼花缭乱，这显明是指导的失误和排练的不足。击鼓的姿势和跳舞的姿势乃一致的，必须讲求以整齐和美感作为出击点。
目前，大马到处的廿四节令鼓鼓队各自为政且一盘散沙，各自训练鼓队，表演水准不高却没有一个可向它交代的总会。在两个月前的春节，我在某购物广场碰巧有机会观赏廿四节令鼓表演，旁边的一个马来少女问我为什么只有十八个鼓，因为节目介绍说廿四节令鼓，而我也不知怎样回答她。可见这项艺术表演必须名副其实，因为常有十鼓，十二鼓等形式呈现。而当天鼓队来时匆匆，去也匆匆，为了到别处赶场，这样恐怕日后不少鼓队变成一种商业利润为出发点，罔顾素质和国家声誉，必久而久之造成伤害。
任何的组织，面对的困境通常是经费问题。看到奥克拉荷马大学愿意资助鼓队和购买廿四个鼓，我感到喜悦。不过，大马留学生必须确保鼓艺维持大马本色，不因外国人出资而妥协校方的不利条件。基于美国人以为廿四节令鼓是源自中国或香港，大马人罗永强等，更须大力宣传，或许在鼓身上除了印上节令外，不妨也印上大马国旗。
基于廿四节令鼓是国家艺术，我呼吁国家文化部和旅游部能够拨款支持成立廿四节令鼓总会。总会的工作是维护国家资产的声誉，它们是借着提供技术训练和监督，让廿四节令鼓在国内外发扬光大。我建议在每项表演，分发介绍廿四节令鼓的历史和意义的传单。政府和总会若能配搭，就能把大马文化推广到国际，对于增加旅游外汇必有帮助。
24节令鼓登场表演‧NBA观眾大开眼界
奥克拉荷马州立大学24节令鼓队让24节令鼓，在美国土地上萌芽、扎根。
（柔佛‧新山）24节令鼓的隆隆鼓声，上週日（4月5日）响彻美国奥克拉荷马州福特中心球馆，强劲的擂鼓节奏一次次地撞击观眾心房，让观眾大开眼界。
由4名马来西亚留学生联合创办的奥克拉荷马州立大学24节令鼓队，早前在美国职业篮球联盟（NBA）球队雷霆队和木狼队的比赛中粉墨登场。
鼓队在比赛的中场休息时间登场。当第一声鼓声响起，即刻吸引观眾目光，同时摒住呼吸，专注地欣赏队员擂鼓的英姿。
工作人员更利用摄影机，把队员的表演画面，转播至球场上方的看板上，让身处球场不同位置的观眾都可以欣赏这场难得的表演。
罗永强：鼓队获资助
建议向中国买鼓
另一方面，鼓队创办人之一罗永强表示，当初选择继续留在奥克拉荷马州立大学深造，是因为奥克拉荷马州立大学拥有最佳的航空航天课程，並有提供研究助理奖学金。
他说：“奖学金和研究是我留下来最大的原因！”
他表示，自鼓队获得校方资助后，鼓队便向校方提议向中国买鼓的可行性。
他说：“当时，我不肯定是否留下来修读我的博士学位，因为我在大学已约5年了。我也觉得若无人领导鼓队，向中国买鼓也只是浪费钱而已。”
“不过，在我决定修读博士学位后，购鼓的计划就变得坚定了。决定修读博士学位和购鼓恰好发生在同一个时间，这是很难得的机会！”
星洲日报‧2010.04.06
来源：http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/155804?tid=1
既然廿四节令鼓是国家文化艺术，无论海内外的演出，务必确保严密根据正规技巧演出。这样的话，就必须有一个总会，或许由陈再藩组织起来，然后任何要设立鼓队的团体都必须向总会注册，即此可以监督会员的素质。
譬如在NBA表演的队伍，是由几个国家的人士组成，从照片看到在结束的那一刹那，各人举起的手势就有点尴尬，有人举右手，有人举左手，有人手臂下垂且弯曲。这样的高潮令人眼花缭乱，这显明是指导的失误和排练的不足。击鼓的姿势和跳舞的姿势乃一致的，必须讲求以整齐和美感作为出击点。
目前，大马到处的廿四节令鼓鼓队各自为政且一盘散沙，各自训练鼓队，表演水准不高却没有一个可向它交代的总会。在两个月前的春节，我在某购物广场碰巧有机会观赏廿四节令鼓表演，旁边的一个马来少女问我为什么只有十八个鼓，因为节目介绍说廿四节令鼓，而我也不知怎样回答她。可见这项艺术表演必须名副其实，因为常有十鼓，十二鼓等形式呈现。而当天鼓队来时匆匆，去也匆匆，为了到别处赶场，这样恐怕日后不少鼓队变成一种商业利润为出发点，罔顾素质和国家声誉，必久而久之造成伤害。
任何的组织，面对的困境通常是经费问题。看到奥克拉荷马大学愿意资助鼓队和购买廿四个鼓，我感到喜悦。不过，大马留学生必须确保鼓艺维持大马本色，不因外国人出资而妥协校方的不利条件。基于美国人以为廿四节令鼓是源自中国或香港，大马人罗永强等，更须大力宣传，或许在鼓身上除了印上节令外，不妨也印上大马国旗。
基于廿四节令鼓是国家艺术，我呼吁国家文化部和旅游部能够拨款支持成立廿四节令鼓总会。总会的工作是维护国家资产的声誉，它们是借着提供技术训练和监督，让廿四节令鼓在国内外发扬光大。我建议在每项表演，分发介绍廿四节令鼓的历史和意义的传单。政府和总会若能配搭，就能把大马文化推广到国际，对于增加旅游外汇必有帮助。
24节令鼓登场表演‧NBA观眾大开眼界
奥克拉荷马州立大学24节令鼓队让24节令鼓，在美国土地上萌芽、扎根。
（柔佛‧新山）24节令鼓的隆隆鼓声，上週日（4月5日）响彻美国奥克拉荷马州福特中心球馆，强劲的擂鼓节奏一次次地撞击观眾心房，让观眾大开眼界。
由4名马来西亚留学生联合创办的奥克拉荷马州立大学24节令鼓队，早前在美国职业篮球联盟（NBA）球队雷霆队和木狼队的比赛中粉墨登场。
鼓队在比赛的中场休息时间登场。当第一声鼓声响起，即刻吸引观眾目光，同时摒住呼吸，专注地欣赏队员擂鼓的英姿。
工作人员更利用摄影机，把队员的表演画面，转播至球场上方的看板上，让身处球场不同位置的观眾都可以欣赏这场难得的表演。
罗永强：鼓队获资助
建议向中国买鼓
另一方面，鼓队创办人之一罗永强表示，当初选择继续留在奥克拉荷马州立大学深造，是因为奥克拉荷马州立大学拥有最佳的航空航天课程，並有提供研究助理奖学金。
他说：“奖学金和研究是我留下来最大的原因！”
他表示，自鼓队获得校方资助后，鼓队便向校方提议向中国买鼓的可行性。
他说：“当时，我不肯定是否留下来修读我的博士学位，因为我在大学已约5年了。我也觉得若无人领导鼓队，向中国买鼓也只是浪费钱而已。”
“不过，在我决定修读博士学位后，购鼓的计划就变得坚定了。决定修读博士学位和购鼓恰好发生在同一个时间，这是很难得的机会！”
星洲日报‧2010.04.06
来源：http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/155804?tid=1
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
DAP wants EPF, MRCB probed for insider trading
By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani
KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 — The DAP’s Tony Pua demanded today that the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) be investigated for alleged insider trading of Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (MRCB) shares following the government’s announcement last week that 3,000 acres of land in Sungai Buloh would be developed into a new hub for the Klang Valley.
MRCB is likely to be appointed master developer of the Sungai Buloh project which Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak last week said would be a joint venture between EPF and the government.
Pua (picture), who is Petaling Jaya Utara MP and DAP economic strategist, claimed today that the EPF and MRCB appeared to have engineered the fund’s control of 33.7 per cent of the company’s shares during its recent rights issue exercise.
Following the rights issue, EPF made a general offer to buy the rest of the company’s shares at RM1.50 each.
Pua said that EPF was already in control of more than 41.5 per cent of MRCB shares on March 29, a day before Najib announced the project.
“At the point of EPF’s rights issue on 4 December 2009, EPF had a 30.6 per cent stake in MRCB. Since the rights issue was oversubscribed by 1.74 times, as disclosed, EPF should have at best maintained its percentage ownership of MRCB with a 30.6 per cent allocation of rights issues.
“However, EPF was, for one reason or another, allocated a disproportionately higher percentage of rights issued. which was 171.47 million of 455.39 million, or 37.7 per cent of the rights issued, resulting in EPF owning 33.78 per cent of MRCB,” he said.
Pua said that under takeover rules, the investor must make an offer to buy the remaining shares once it has more than 33 per cent of a listed company.
“EPF was forced to make a general offer to purchase all shares of MRCB at the price of RM1.50 per share on 4 March 2010. EPF had in fact continued to actively purchase shares from the open market since and has increased their stake in MRCB to approximately 41.5 per cent as of 29 March 2010.
“It is hence clear now that the rights issue has been an exercise intended and engineered to allow EPF to increase its stakes in MRCB, including via the general offer which was made.
“While the above may appear above board under the normal circumstances, the fact that the Prime Minister announced the 3,000 acres mega-development joint venture project with EPF, which is touted to appoint MRCB as the developer on the 30 March 2010, throws up the very obvious question of insider trading on the part of EPF in the entire exercise above,” he said.
Pua said that it was “completely ridiculous” if EPF now claims that they did not know of the project.
“Discussions on the above joint venture must have been concluded well before 30 March, for the rumours of the project being awarded to EPF and MRCB had been circulating in financial circles since the end of 2009.”
Pua said that EPF and MRCB should be investigated under the Capital Market and Services Act (CMSA) 2007. Those found guilty of an offence under the law can be punished by imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or a fine of not less than RM1 million.
“The failure of the Securities Commission to investigate the above transactions will seriously jeopardize our efforts in promoting confidence and trust in Malaysia’s capital market and in helping the market to function efficiently based on adherence to internationally-benchmarked principles of corporate governance,” he said.
Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/58844-dap-wants-epf-mrcb-probed-for-insider-trading
Monday, April 5, 2010
人意不可取代《圣经》
作者：陈淑芳
读了一连串关于同性恋课题争辩，想表达个人看法。基于欧阳文风身份特殊，既是一个牧师也是一个同性恋者，总难免让一些人士以为同性恋是基督教和天主教所准许的。
其实同性恋并不是近代的，在圣经头一本书几千年前的创世记已经记载了，当时该书已经记载男男性交的可恶，结果导致所多玛和蛾摩拉灭城。换句话说，对于犹太教，基督教和天主教禁止同性恋乃一开始就是圣经的训示。信徒和非信徒可以用人意辩驳这样的行为，但人意却不可能取代圣经的。
因此同性恋者近代争取“平反”，乃是人意，并不因此改变圣经的一点一划。他们可以改变法律，但不可以改变经训。在一些国家，同性恋已经正式合法化了。美国已经有一些州合法化了，并且其他州将迅速一一地沦陷。
我有一个马来西亚朋友在加拿大做牧师，加拿大几年前同性恋合法化。他说牧师们担心的是同性恋者要求他们主持婚礼，因为如果你拒绝的话，你就是违反法律。这岂不是喧宾夺主吗？自有教会以来牧师和神父都不主持这样的婚礼的，立法维护同性恋者之权利，却剥夺了一个为了要遵守圣经者之权利？
坦白说，坚守圣经的牧师们不少已经表态万一发生这样的事情，宁愿丢饭碗也不会妥协去主持婚礼的。在许多回教国家，除了有民事法庭外，也有回教法庭。对于基督教而言，并不需要来到一个地步增设基督教法庭，为那些欲遵守经训者利益而打官司。公道自在上面那个大法官的心，信徒只需循规过生活就好了。
所以，即使欧阳文风带领他的教会有自己的一套形式，他有自己一套的神学，他可以高举理性胜过圣经，他可以软化某些经训为寓意，但希望他无须经常抨击那些因按圣经讲真理的信徒（他常说的“基督教原教旨主义信徒”）为压迫同性恋者。
到目前为止，没有一项权威的研究说同性恋是先天的。世界各地的基督教组织设立了许多协助同性恋者治疗的事工。他们大多数都成功扭转过来，被治疗好了的人士可见证同性恋并非是先天性的。
读了一连串关于同性恋课题争辩，想表达个人看法。基于欧阳文风身份特殊，既是一个牧师也是一个同性恋者，总难免让一些人士以为同性恋是基督教和天主教所准许的。
其实同性恋并不是近代的，在圣经头一本书几千年前的创世记已经记载了，当时该书已经记载男男性交的可恶，结果导致所多玛和蛾摩拉灭城。换句话说，对于犹太教，基督教和天主教禁止同性恋乃一开始就是圣经的训示。信徒和非信徒可以用人意辩驳这样的行为，但人意却不可能取代圣经的。
因此同性恋者近代争取“平反”，乃是人意，并不因此改变圣经的一点一划。他们可以改变法律，但不可以改变经训。在一些国家，同性恋已经正式合法化了。美国已经有一些州合法化了，并且其他州将迅速一一地沦陷。
我有一个马来西亚朋友在加拿大做牧师，加拿大几年前同性恋合法化。他说牧师们担心的是同性恋者要求他们主持婚礼，因为如果你拒绝的话，你就是违反法律。这岂不是喧宾夺主吗？自有教会以来牧师和神父都不主持这样的婚礼的，立法维护同性恋者之权利，却剥夺了一个为了要遵守圣经者之权利？
坦白说，坚守圣经的牧师们不少已经表态万一发生这样的事情，宁愿丢饭碗也不会妥协去主持婚礼的。在许多回教国家，除了有民事法庭外，也有回教法庭。对于基督教而言，并不需要来到一个地步增设基督教法庭，为那些欲遵守经训者利益而打官司。公道自在上面那个大法官的心，信徒只需循规过生活就好了。
所以，即使欧阳文风带领他的教会有自己的一套形式，他有自己一套的神学，他可以高举理性胜过圣经，他可以软化某些经训为寓意，但希望他无须经常抨击那些因按圣经讲真理的信徒（他常说的“基督教原教旨主义信徒”）为压迫同性恋者。
到目前为止，没有一项权威的研究说同性恋是先天的。世界各地的基督教组织设立了许多协助同性恋者治疗的事工。他们大多数都成功扭转过来，被治疗好了的人士可见证同性恋并非是先天性的。
Friday, April 2, 2010
Charismatic Renewal Marks 50 Years
Left: Dennis Bennett
by Troy Anderson
Wednesday, 17 March 2010 11:59 AM EDT
April 3 marks the golden anniversary of the day Dennis Bennett told his church he’d had a ‘personal Pentecost’
This month marks the 50th anniversary of what many consider to be the origins of the modern charismatic movement.
On April 3, 1960, the late Father Dennis Bennett told his 2,600-member Episcopal congregation at St. Mark’s church in Van Nuys, Calif., that he had experienced a “personal Pentecost.” While attending a prayer meeting, the Britain-born minister had been baptized in the Holy Spirit and began to speak in an unknown language.
“My tongue tripped, just as it might when you are trying to recite a tongue twister, and I began to speak in a new language,” Bennett recalled. “Right away I recognized several things. First it was not some kind of psychological trick or compulsion. There was nothing compulsive about it. ... It was a new language, not some kind of ‘baby talk.’ It had grammar and syntax, it had inflection and expression—and it was rather beautiful.”
The revelation angered some church leaders, who eventually asked Bennett to resign. “His experience was explosive because the Episcopal Church is known to be a very proper, intellectual and historic church,” said Rita Bennett, the rector’s widow and president of the Christian Renewal Association in Edmonds, Wash. “Some people were happy and said they wanted to be prayed over too. But others were not happy at all. They didn’t understand.”
Rather than fight about charismatic renewal, Bennett stepped down and was soon invited to “bring the fire” to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Seattle. He served as the pastor of St. Luke’s for two decades, ran Holy Spirit workshops and wrote the best-selling book, Nine O’clock in the Morning, in which Bennett shares his testimony and tells of how the charismatic movement spread throughout the nation.
Although Bennett wasn’t the first mainline denominational pastor to experience the baptism in the Holy Spirit, he was the first to openly share his testimony. The news of Bennett’s Pentecostal experience even made the newspapers and wire services, and was featured in Time and Newsweek magazines.
The membership at St. Luke’s quadrupled as renewal began to spread across the U.S. Within just a few years, people in virtually every major Protestant tradition—Baptists, Lutherans, Mennonites, Methodists, Presbyterians—were receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Charismatic renewal has since swept the globe, though Pentecostal scholars say its growth has slowed in the U.S. “The movement began to wane in America by the mid-1990s, but it continued to grow all over the world tremendously, especially Africa, Asia and South America,” said Pentecostal historian Vinson Synan, dean emeritus of the Regent University School of Divinity. “Today there are 640 million Pentecostals and charismatics. It’s still the fastest-growing part of Christianity.”
Stanley M. Burgess, a professor of Christian history at Regent University and editor of The Encyclopedia of Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity, says one-third of the world’s 2 billion Christians are charismatic or Pentecostal. “The greatest explosion is now occurring in China,” Burgess said. “It’s a combination of Pentecostal and charismatic. Within 10 years, we expect that China will be the most Christian nation on Earth, and that’s just stunning.”
This year, several events are being planned to celebrate Bennett’s legacy and the 50th anniversary of the movement, including Empowered21: Global Congress on Holy Spirit Empowerment in the 21st Century, which is being held April 8-10 in Tulsa, Okla. The Rev. Billy Wilson, executive director of the International Center for Spiritual Renewal and chair of Empowered21, says the event will explore what’s on the horizon for the “Spirit-empowered” movement.
Wilson said charismatic leaders worldwide have told him there is a growing need for authentic leaders with integrity. Pastors also say there is a huge need to teach younger generations about the gifts of the Holy Spirit and to answer their “heart cry” for spiritual fathers and mothers, Wilson noted.
“They have a huge desire for what I call primitive Christianity—New Testament Christianity in its purest form,” Wilson said. “They want the miraculous. They want the gifts of the Spirit, but they don’t want to make a show of it. I think this generation is positioned to not only see the movement grow, but really experience the Holy Spirit in a totally new dimension.”
In early March, the Regent University School of Divinity planned to celebrate Bennett’s legacy by archiving his papers in their library. Meanwhile, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Seattle will honor Bennett, who died in 1991, with a series of events July 26-31, marking the month when Bennett was assigned to the Seattle church. Rita Bennett, author of You Can Be Emotionally Free, also will honor her husband’s legacy during her annual Emotionally Free seminar July 19-24.
Bennett said she recently found some of her husband’s unpublished papers that shed light on how he learned to “pray from the Spirit.” She said the message is still relevant. “The reason for speaking and praying in the Spirit as often as possible is to keep in touch with your Friend, not just to fulfill a process,” the late Episcopal minister wrote. “The experiencing of gifts fulfilled is very important, but the feeling of fellowship with Jesus is far more so.”
Source: http://www.charismamag.com/index.php/component/content/article/1079/26550
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