Season of goodwill

MIND MATTER
By RAJA ZARITH IDRIS


If Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Isa (Jesus), a prophet respected and revered in Islam, is it so wrong to wish a blessed day for those who celebrate it?

DURING the days before Christmas last year, I wished my friends who were celebrating it “Merry Christmas” in much the same way they would wish me “Selamat Hari Raya” or “Happy Eid”.

I find it rather sad that such a simple greeting – one which I grew up with and which I have never regarded as something that would compromise or de-value my own faith – is now regarded as something so religiously incorrect for us Malaysian Muslims.

When I was at boarding school in England, I had to go to church every Sunday because it was part of the rules. My father advised me to consider it as part of my “education” and he had no doubt that the experience would strengthen rather than weaken my own faith.

I was able to see the similarities and differences between Christianity and Islam. I learned more than the average Malaysian Muslim would about Christianity. I learnt that just as we Muslims categorise ourselves according to the four different schools of thoughts of the four Imams (Imam Malik, Imam Al Shafi, Imam Abu Hanifa and Imam Ahmad Abn Hambal) and are either Sunnis or Shias, so Christians too are divided into different sects or churches.

Going to church did not make me less of a Muslim when I was a young girl, and neither does saying “Merry Christmas” make me less of a Muslim now. My faith has not been shaken just because I wished some friends a time of joy with their families. Neither will I suddenly suffer from amnesia and forget what my religion is.

What I do not wish to forget, however, is that there are good, kind people who are not of the same faith as me.

As Harun Yahya, the Turkish writer (he was selected last year as one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre of Jordan) noted: “Islam is a religion of peace, love and tolerance.

Today, however, some circles have been presenting a false image of Islam, as if there were conflict between Islam and the adherents of the two other monotheistic religions. Yet Islam’s view of Jews and Christians, who are named ‘the People of the Book’ in the Quran, is very friendly and tolerant.

“This attitude towards the People of the Book developed during the years of the birth of Islam. At that time, Muslims were a minority, struggling to protect their faith and suffering oppression and torture from the pagans of the city of Mecca. Due to this persecution, some Muslims decided to flee Mecca and shelter in a safe country with a just ruler. The Prophet Muhammad told them to take refuge with King Negus, the Christian king of Ethiopia. The Muslims who followed this advice found a very fair administration that embraced them with love and respect when they went to Ethiopia. King Negus refused the demands of the pagan messengers who asked him to surrender the Muslims to them, and announced that Muslims could live freely in his country.

“Such attitudes of Christian people that are based on the concepts of compassion, mercy, modesty and justice, constitute a fact that God has pointed out in the Quran.”

I do not wish to be a self-centred Muslim who expects friends of other faiths to wish me Selamat Hari Raya or, for those who are not Malaysians and therefore do not know about Hari Raya, a Happy Eid and yet do not return their goodwill when it is Christmas, Chinese New Year, Deepavali or Vesak Day.

Every year, friends who are Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs or those without any faith come to our home to celebrate Hari Raya with us. They do so with sincerity and as a mark of respect for one of the most important days in the Muslim calendar. Why should we not reciprocate their kindness, show them the same mark of respect for their religion and wish them the same joy on their holy days of celebration?

An Islamic scholar and lecturer also reminded me that as Muslims we must remember the importance of both the five Pillars of Islam and in the six Pillars of Iman (Faith), which are:

> Belief in Allah;

> Belief in the angels;

> Belief in the revealed Books (which include the Bible, the Torah and the Holy Quran);

> Belief in the Prophets (May Peace be Upon Them);

> Belief in the Resurrection and the events of Kiamah, the Day of Judgement; and

> Belief in the predestination (Qada’ and Qadar) by Allah in all things.

The prophets include not just Muhammad (May Peace Be Upon Him) as the last prophet and as the Messenger of Islam, but also in the 24 earlier ones who are mentioned in both the Bible and the Quran. Four of them are Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), Daud (David), and Isa (Jesus).

So, if Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Isa (Jesus), a prophet respected and revered in Islam, is it so wrong to wish a blessed day for those who celebrate it?

We are now in the second decade of the 21st century. Surely, we should, now more than ever, be far more enlightened at a time when information of any sort and of all kinds are so readily available to us.

What is most important is that we regard one another as fellow citizens and treat each other with respect, regardless of our race or religion.

> The writer is Royal Fellow, School of Language Studies and Linguistics, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), and holds a BA (Honours) degree in Chinese Studies, University of Oxford.


Season of goodwill

Himpunan sejuta umat hanya tarik 5,000 peserta

Sebelum ini penganjur dakwa dapat sokongan 2,000 NGO dengan keanggotaan mencecah 4 juta orang


SHAH ALAM: Himpunan Sejuta Umat (Himpun) di Stadium Shah Alam, semalam, terpaksa dimulakan lewat 90 minit dengan jumlah kehadiran hanya sekitar 5,000 peserta - jauh lebih rendah daripada sasaran penganjur seramai 100,000.


Kempen yang mendapat liputan meluas bagi membincangkan isu murtad di kalangan masyarakat Islam di Malaysia itu hanya dimulakan pada 3.40 petang ekoran sambutan dan penyertaan yang dingin, lapor laman berita The Malaysian Insider, semalam.


Acara perhimpunan tersebut dimulakan dengan lagu-lagu nasyid untuk menghiburkan para hadirin, tetapi kemudian terganggu seketika oleh satu pengumuman yang mengecam senaskah buku kecil bertajuk, Siapa Bertanggungjawab Kristiankan Melayu di Selangor?.


Sekretariat Himpun sebelum ini berkata, mereka meletakkan sasaran kehadiran lebih 100,000 peserta kerana mendakwa mendapat sokongan sekitar 2,000 pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang mewakili sekitar empat juta anggota dan penyokong.


Namun, jumlah kehadiran pada hari perhimpunan itu mengecewakan dan jauh lebih rendah berbanding dengan perhimpunan Gabungan bagi Pilihan Raya Bersih dan Adil (Bersih) 2.0, pada Julai lalu, yang mahukan pembaharuan dalam proses pilihan raya.


Para penceramah Himpun, bagaimanapun, tetap menunjukkan sikap bersatu mereka dalam usaha gerakan itu menentang apa yang disifatkannya sebagai 'ketidakadilan' terhadap Islam di kalangan para penganut agama lain di negara itu.


'Kita harap dapat suntik keberanian dalam diri kita, semuanya akan gerakkan perubahan dari segi undang-undang, dasar dan sikap, terutamanya di kalangan mereka yang berkeras ingin murtadkan umat Islam, sedangkan ia satu kesalahan untuk sebar agama lain kepada orang Islam,' kata pengerusi bersama Himpun, Dr Mohd Yusri Mohamad, yang dipetik dalam laporan laman berita Malaysiakini.


Berucap seterusnya ialah Encik Farhan Abdullah, seorang pendakwah dari Sabah, yang mahukan perlembagaan persekutuan dipinda untuk menyekat kejadian murtad.


Beliau berkata, Perkara 11 dalam perlembagaan itu menyatakan bahawa terdapat kebebasan beragama untuk semua warga negara yang berumur 18 tahun ke atas.


Bagaimanapun, Encik Farhan menggesa para ahli parlimen (AP) Dewan Rakyat untuk meminda perlembagaan itu bagi menambahkan satu peruntukan bahawa 'kebebasan agama hanya untuk orang bukan Islam'.


'Tidak ada kebebasan (untuk menukar agama) untuk orang Islam,' tegasnya, tanpa mengulas lanjut tentang bagaimana usaha memurtadkan orang Islam berlaku di Malaysia.


Selanjutnya, bekas timbalan naib canselor Universiti Teknololgi Mara (UiTM), Datuk Ibrahim Abu Shah, pula membangkitkan kegiatan Kristian militan yang didakwa mempunyai 13 orang mubaligh di Malaysia, Indonesia dan Filipina dengan matlamat memurtadkan orang Islam.

Berita Harian Online | Isu kaum sering halang bentuk Malaysia harmoni

Oleh Imlan Adabi

2011/08/22

SEORANG doktor perubatan yang kembali bertugas di negara ini merungut; “Saya dikenali sebagai rakyat Malaysia ketika berada di luar negara. Saya bangga dengan sebutan itu kerana saya lahir dan dibesarkan di Malaysia. Hanya apabila tamat belajar di luar negara, saya berkhidmat di sana kerana Malaysia menghadapi masalah ekonomi ekoran spekulasi mata wang pada 1998.

“Jiwa saya tetap Malaysia di perantauan. Saya menyokong Datuk Lee Chong Wei dan Datuk Nicol David ketika mereka beraksi di kota penghijrahan. Saya tidak segan silu mengarak Jalur Gemilang kerana menyokong atlit sukan dari Malaysia.

“Kini saya kembali ke Malaysia dan bertugas di sebuah klinik. Malangnya saya tetap dianggap sebagai orang luar. Inilah dilema saya. Dianggap sebagai rakyat Malaysia di luar negara, tetapi rasa diketepikan di tanah kelahiran sendiri.”

Suara kesal doktor berusia 40 tahun itu bukan cerita lama. Ia berulang kali berlaku apabila membabitkan isu kaum dan semangat patriotik. Jurang kaum masih menebal dan kita tidak tahu siapakah yang sepatutnya meredakan keadaan selaras konsep 1Malaysia.

Hari ini menjelang 54 tahun mencapai kemerdekaan, Malaysia masih lagi berada di ambang isu kaum yang saling berentetan. Kajian sebuah badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) mendapati jurang kaum semakin menebal selepas Pilihan Raya Umum 2008. Pelbagai isu dipolitikkan dan dikaitkan dengan sentimen perkauman walaupun pada asasnya kehidupan ini bukan semata-mata membabitkan isu ras, etnik, agama dan cara hidup.

Orang politik sering membuat jenaka kononnya Malaysia sebuah negara bangsa. Mereka menyebut bangsa Malaysia. Kita hairan bagaimana bangsa Malaysia boleh disebut sedangkan dalam kalangan kita ada Melayu, India dan Cina serta pelbagai etnik lain lagi. Selama 54 tahun Malaysia berusaha membina persamaan dan persefahaman, tetapi amat mustahil untuk mewujudkan sebuah negara bangsa kerana kepelbagaian yang ada. Keadaan di Malaysia seperti juga di Amerika Syarikat, Kanada, Australia dan Singapura yang tidak mungkin melahirkan negara bangsa kerana keragaman kaum, agama dan cara hidup. Kita berbeza dengan Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos dan Kemboja kerana kewujudan bangsa teras. Negara itu hanya mengutamakan sebuah bahasa pengantar di sekolah dan perlembagaan negara serta tidak membiarkan kelainan etnik menimbulkan jurang kaum yang tinggi.

Berbeza dengan Malaysia yang bukan saja bahasa rasminya boleh dipertikai nilai ekonomi dan sosial, malah ada dalam kalangan Melayu sendiri yang merendahkan bahasa ibunda untuk subjek Sains dan Matematik di sekolah. Aneh sekali apabila sebuah negara yang 54 tahun merdeka tidak mahu mengiktiraf kepentingan lingua franca yang jutaan tahun diguna pakai di perairan Nusantara.
Isu kaum dan agama sering merumitkan. Perasaan saling curiga hatta membabitkan hal remeh dipolitikkan. Sepanjang tempoh merdeka, kita saling bergeser isu agama walaupun ada pihak yang cuba mewaraskan keadaan. Kita bimbang isu Melayu di gereja dan penggunaan nama Allah oleh penganut Kristian bakal menjadi api yang merebak tanpa melihat kepada persekitaran sebenar.

Seperti telahan doktor yang berasakan dirinya ‘rakyat asing’ di negara sendiri, kita terlalu banyak berpolitik dan menjadikan isu kaum sebagai halangan untuk membentuk Malaysia yang harmoni. Ketika kaum Melayu berasakan sudah terlalu banyak memberi kepada pihak lain, kaum Cina dan India pula masih menuduh kerajaan berat sebelah dan menyisih mereka dalam pelbagai sektor pembangunan dan prasarana ekonomi.

Selagi perasaan ini muncul, isu kaum seperti yang dikaji selidik Merdeka Centre tidak akan mudah berakhir. Apa saja cetusan bakal memberi riak yang berbeza. Lebih parah apabila setiap isu yang timbul, diledakkan pula oleh orang politik yang akhirnya menambahkan lagi jurang perbezaan dalam kalangan kita.

Berita Harian Online | Isu kaum sering halang bentuk Malaysia harmoni

Hanya 'Pure Creamery Butter-Golden Churn' Keluaran New Zealand Tidak Halal - JAKIM

 KUALA LUMPUR, 19 Ogos (Bernama) -- Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM) memutuskan hanya mentega jenama 'Pure Creamery Butter - Golden Churn Butter' keluaran syarikat Ballantyne Food Pty (New Zealand) tidak halal.

Ketua Pengarahnya, Othman Mustapha berkata keputusan itu dibuat hasil perbincangan JAKIM dengan Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri, Koperasi dan Kepenggunaan, Jabatan Kimia Malaysia, Bahagian Keselamatan dan Kualiti Makanan, Kementerian Kesihatan, Jabatan Agama Islam Sarawak serta Jabatan Agama Islam Johor pada 8 Ogos lepas.

Sehubungan itu, JAKIM menegur media yang menyiarkan maklumat atau memaparkan gambar produk selain keluaran syarikat beralamat di Allen Street Morrinsville 3340, New Zealand berkenaan, katanya dalam kenyataan Jumaat.

Pada 19 Julai lepas, Jabatan Agama Islam Sarawak mengisytiharkan produk itu, yang digunakan segelintir pengusaha kek lapis, sebagai tidak halal kerana dikesan mengandungi DNA babi, menyebabkan industri makanan berkenaan terjejas.

-- BERNAMA

It’s all in the Constitution

Nation building is a daunting task because it depends on a desire for moderation, a belief that all humans are equal, the practice of inclusivity and a huge dose of common sense. But the guidelines are all there.
MUCH care went into the creation of a promising new country called Malaya in 1957 and then Malaysia in 1963.
Nation building and the setting up of democratic institutions were then entrusted to those governing the country, especially after the May1969 riots.
But nation building is not something to be left in the hands of a few regardless of their political philosophy.

Compromise and compassion: Some of the participants at the closed-door discussion on ‘Fostering the Spirit of Moderation in Nation Building’ at Universiti Malaya’s Law Faculty on June 21. Among them are the speakers (far left) Dr Shad, Muhammad Shafee (fifth from left) and Dr Koh (on the left of the Proham banner).

Since 1969, the largely race-based political parties have tried to keep their hold by instilling distrust with their chants, “this is our land don't trust them or give them a chance or they'll take everything from us” or “they're lazy, they want everything but don't want to work for it like the rest of us.”

But each of us is just as guilty. Every time we allow one person in local or federal authority to get away with a bigoted act or words or gender/religious discrimination, we pave the way for such actions and thoughts to be institutionalised.

For example, Article 153 of the Constitution allows for the establishment of quotas for entry into the civil service but before long, they came into play even during promotions.

Dark clouds have been looming over the past two decades, said UiTM Emeritus Professor of Law Dr Shad Faruqi.

They have manifested as problems in either planning permission for places of worship or their forced relocation, disputes over the child in a non-Muslim marriage where one party converts to Islam, the ban (now lifted) on Malay Bibles, the use of Allah by Christians, apostasy and the Islamic state.

Others relate to the “overzealous enforcement of Article 153 quotas, acts of incitement to religious and racial hatred in public speeches and Internet discussions”, said Dr Shad at a recent closed-door discussion themed “Fostering the Spirit of Moderation in Nation Building”.

Held at Universiti Malaya's Law Faculty, it was organised by Proham, a non-governmental body comprising former commissioners of Suhakam and the Royal Commission on the Police.

Other speakers were Asean Human Rights Commissioner Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon who oversees National Unity and Performance Management.

Fostering moderation in nation building is a daunting task because it depends on a desire for moderation, a belief that all humans are equal, the practice of inclusivity and a huge dose of common sense.

But the guidelines are all there in the Constitution, which Dr Shad calls a “masterpiece of compromise and compassion”.

Shafee described the constitutional definition of Malay as one such compromise.

Noting only the Jews and Malays linked ethnicity to religion, he said the definition here linked also to Malay traditions and culture and language was a compromise.

“It is a fantastic formula that included the Arabs, Indian Muslims and Indonesians spread throughout the states,” Shafee said.

Understand the Constitution

It's crucial for us now to study the history of our land, learn our rights and responsibilities as citizens and know that moderation is the bedrock of our Constitution, and to counter those who say otherwise.

“(Datuk) Ibrahim Ali (Perkasa president) says the Government can't help non-Malays. I don't know which Federal Constitution he is reading,” said Dr Shad.

“Instigators rely on ignorance. We need to use the Constitution to rebut the false and dangerous interpretations we hear.”

There is no better guide than the nine “Rakyat Guides” distributed by the Bar Council's Constitutional Law Committee's during its two-year MyConsti campaign.

Launched on Sept 13, 2009, by deputy minister in the PM's Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong, the RG's explanation in simple layman's terms are clearly effective because they drew the attention of those who would rather the public remain in the dark.

Can early education in the Constitution lead to moderation?

Maybe, if we learnt as children that the Constitution guarantees equality before the law for all. There would be no need to feel marginalised because we are different, or have the desire to discriminate against someone who is different. Then, if we saw people being marginalised or discriminated against, we would have the courage to stand up for them.

But Dr Shad felt the Government was not keen on this. He had tried to help Suhakam draw up a syllabus for schools some years ago.

He was told there was “no need” for it because pupils “did it in Civics”, which was a fallacy because Muslim students attend religious classes during civics/moral studies.

There's some discussion of the Constitution in Pengajian Am (General Paper) in Form Six but a 20-something-year-old I asked could only remember Article 153. The fact that Articles 5 (equality) and 11 (freedom of religion) are a vague memory speaks volumes for what she learnt at school.

Touching on the 5% to 15% housing discount for bumiputras, Bar Council Human Rights Committee chairman Andrew Khoo noted: “If a well-off Malay takes up a 7% discount for a RM600,000 new house, he is taking away RM42,000 the equivalent of a low cost house.”

“All that must be in the new version of the Constitution,” was Dr Shad's pithy response.

Can moderation in nation building result in the simultaneous exercise of one's fundamental rights peaceably and respect of others?

Dr Koh saw for himself how difficult it was to manage national unity when he was caught in the riots in Washington DC in 1968 after the assassination of Dr Martin Luther King.

He reckons Malaysia should consider reviving the Vision School concept that was mooted 10 years ago but had been rejected by the Chinese community.

“The issues we face today cut across ethnic/religious divide. If we can overcome them, we have a greater chance of getting rid of bigotry,” he said.

Khoo pointed out that while Najib spoke of a global movement of moderates overseas, there was no action locally.

“There is no dialogue, just diatribe. If the moderates are silenced, we are just leaving more space for the extremists.”

Dr Koh stressed, however, that the “existence of some deviants” did not invalidate the 1Malaysia concept.

Naming the Constitution, Rukunegara and Vision 2020 as his preferred building blocks for moderation in nation building, Dr Koh said that under 1Malaysia, more Chinese and Indians had been recruited into the civil service and promoted.

“Six out of 28 KSUs (secretaries-general) now are non-Malays, despite threats from those like Ibrahim Ali.”

Set standards for moderation

The usual targets for public criticism are policymakers, the legislature and schools, but Shafee feels the judiciary should bear some responsibility too.

“They might have contributed to the disunity today by their decisions in cases involving religion, inter-racial matters and conversion. They have not been courageous enough to make a stand on the law.”

Shafee challenged the courts' interpretation of Article 121(1A) in recent cases, saying they couldn't decide on a matter if it was a jurisdiction of the syariah court.

Citing several older cases where the courts had done so even though one party was non-Muslim, he said they should read Article 121(1A) to mean cases exclusive to Muslims.

In re Moorthy, he said, the civil court could have heard the suit by the Everest climber's widow challenging his conversion to Islam and then reach the same decision as the syariah court that Moorthy was Muslim, so he should be buried as one and the larger population would have accepted it.

Malaysian Gurdwaras Council president Harcharan Singh suggested that “someone has to tell them (the judiciary) differently to focus on justice and not political leaders.”

Lawyer Edwin Rajasooria agreed, saying the judiciary should set standards for moderation. But he felt the media should also be responsible.

Unsubstantiated reports in the traditional media and some blogs recently have shown the damage they can cause. If any media is publishing rubbish, the public should turn its back on it. Media freedom and media responsibility go in tandem.

Proham secretary Datuk Michael Yeoh stressed that moderation was not an option but an imperative.

Apart from reconsidering the proposal for an Equal Opportunities Commission, he said, the best way forward was to support the proposed National Human Rights Action Plan.

Shafee's personal story shows we can live together with compromise and compassion (key components for moderation), and that we just have to build from them and ignore the racists.

In 1981, his fiancee Wai Lan, a fellow lawyer, died in an accident two days before she was to officially convert and two weeks before the wedding. She had already been practising to live according to Islam and the kalimah syahadah (declaration of faith) before him and his mother.

“To me, she was a Muslim although she had not been converted officially and I naturally wanted her buried as a Muslim,” Shafee said.

Realising the possible complications, he quickly had her body cleansed according to Islamic ritual at the hospital.

“I called my former Islamic law professor (the late Tan Sri Dr) Ahmad Ibrahim. He told me, The dead remains in the domain of the dead; how kindly we treat the dead is only comfort for the living. If you insist, you may end up breaking relations with her family whom you cherish.'”

In the end, Wai Lan was buried at the cemetery in Sg Besi.

A harmonious arrangement was reached because both sides acted with compassion and sensitivity to the others' feelings.

Study shows Kelantan Malays in peninsula first

ACCORDING to a Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) genetics research, the Kelantan Malays could be the first of its race to have stepped foot in the peninsula, Berita Harian reported.

Their presence was said to have been traced back to 60,000 years.

The research, led by USM health science studies centre deputy dean (research and graduate studies) Assoc Prof Dr Zafarina Zainuddin, was funded with a RM1.4mil grant from the Higher Education Ministry.

The research studied the origins of 10 sub-ethnic groups of Malays in Peninsular Malaysia Jawa Malay (Johor and Selangor), Acehnese Malay (Perak), Minang Malay (Negri Sembilan), Banjar Malay (Selangor and Johor), Bugis Malay (Selangor and Johor), Rawa Malay (Perak), Champa Malay (Perak, Kedah and Kelantan), Patani (Kelantan), Langkasuka Kedah and Kelantan Malay.

“This genetics research is the first of its kind that studied the origins of the Malay race,” said Dr Zafarina.

Of the groups that were studied, only those of the Kelantan Malay presented a unique haplogroup, which is mitochondrial DNA group specific to a particular race and geographic location, she said, adding that their genetic make-up showed links to Jawa Malays.

TV station removes controversial public service announcements

PETALING JAYA: Local TV station 8TV will pull out its controversial Ramadhan Public Service Announcements (PSA), following criticism and public outrage.

Media Prima chief executive officer Ahmad Izham Omar sent out a tweet Tuesday that they were withdrawing the PSAs.

"Ok guys. We're pulling out the ads. Thank you very much for your concern," he tweeted.

The PSAs drew a lot of flak from the online community, which accused the station of stereotyping and being racist.

All three announcements, which run for 30 seconds respectively, show the same Chinese girl acting obnoxiously in different situations at Ramadhan bazaar stalls. They depict her being rude, greedy and dressing inappropriately in a public space.

The announcements are then followed by public service messages urging viewers to act appropriately.

All the ads end with three 8TV presenters telling people not to get carried away and to understand the significance of Ramadhan, before wishing its viewers Selamat Berpuasa (Happy fasting).

TheStar : Johor folk want taxi coupon system to stay

JOHOR BARU: While taxi drivers have been protesting against the implementation of the coupon system, many passengers are giving it the thumbs up.

Trainee teacher Jane Henry, 28, said the coupon system was definitely a good move as it helped safeguard the rights of passengers.
“Many of us have been cheated by taxi drivers who mark up the price and the coupon system will help put an end to this,” she said at the Larkin Sentral terminal here yesterday.

She added that although the coupon system required users to pay an additional RM2, she was willing to fork out the extra money to ensure she was not cheated.

Angry taxi drivers staging a protest against the coupon system outside Plaza Angsana yesterday. Student Haliza Mohamed, 24, also expressed support for the system.

“There should be more awareness created so that passengers will not be taken advantage of by taxi drivers,” she said, adding that whenever she hired a taxi, she ended up paying more.

Store superintendent M. Vetrivel, 45, also said it was a good move by the authorities.
 “We always hear of taxi drivers who charge extra, tamper with their meters or demand excessive fares,” he said, adding that because of this, many people prefer to drive.

Student Nor Khalif Fitri, 18, also welcomed the implementation of the coupon system.
“I don’t mind paying a little extra as many of us have been intimidated by rude taxi drivers,” he said, adding that there should be strict enforcement.

The prepaid coupon system is currently being used at three locations in Johor Baru – Plaza Angsana, Larkin Sentral terminal and the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex.

Over 600 taxi drivers at these areas, however, are unhappy with the system and want it withdrawn.

Sila Baca/ read also : Utusan Malaysia : Kupon RM2 tindas penumpang

Utusan Malaysia : Kupon RM2 tindas penumpang

Sebahagian pemandu teksi bersama Pemuda UMNO, MCA, MIC dan NGO mengadakan piket membantah sistem kupon di Terminal Pengangkutan Awam Larkin, Johor Bahru, semalam.

---

JOHOR BAHRU 29 Julai - Kira-kira 300 pemandu teksi di Terminal Pengangkutan Awam Larkin di sini, berpiket membantah kaunter tiket teksi yang mengenakan kupon RM2 bagi setiap penumpang yang dikuatkuasakan mulai semalam.
Piket yang turut disertai oleh wakil Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO, MCA, MIC dan pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) itu tidak bersetuju dengan sistem tersebut kerana didakwa membebankan penumpang.
Seorang pemandu teksi, Samsul Kahar Othman, 45, mendakwa sistem baru itu bukan sahaja menyusahkan penumpang dan pemandu teksi, malah, dilihat menguntungkan Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam Darat (SPAD).
“Kita dapati SPAD dan pihak yang ditugaskan mengutip duit iaitu Mesra Indah Jaya Sdn. Bhd. (MIJ) mempunyai kepentingan dan hanya mahu untung ‘atas angin’.
“Bayangkan jika lokasi yang dituju mengambil masa lebih lama daripada biasa kerana kesesakan, sudah tentu tambangnya akan lebih dan ini tentu merugikan pemandu teksi,” katanya kepada pemberita di sini, hari ini.
Rakannya, Rozano Salleh, 47, pula mendakwa sistem itu menyusahkan mereka kerana kupon tersebut hanya boleh tuntut dalam masa seminggu selepas dikumpulkan.
“Keadaan ini membuatkan kami susah kerana apa yang kami mahu makan kalau kena kumpul kupon dalam seminggu lepas itu baru boleh tuntut wang,” katanya.
Seorang penumpang, Ibrahim Azamat, 46, yang menggunakan perkhidmatan teksi di situ setiap hari berkata, sistem itu tidak perlu kerana sistem sedia ada menggunakan meter memberi kepuasan kepada pemandu dan pelanggan.
“Saya berulang-alik setiap hari dari Larkin ke Kampung Majidee dengan tambang RM6 dan sekarang RM8 pula. Bukankah ini bakal menimbulkan kemarahan penumpang,” katanya.
Sementara itu, Ketua Pemuda UMNO Bahagian Johor Bahru, Khaled Mohamad berkata, Pemuda Barisan Nasional (BN) Johor Bahru akan menyerahkan memorandum bantahan kepada SPAD dalam masa terdekat.
Menurutnya, sistem tersebut menguntungkan sebelah pihak sahaja dan perlu mendapat persetujuan persatuan teksi dan penumpang sebelum dilaksanakan.
Presiden Pertubuhan Penyatuan Pembelaan Melayu Malaysia (PPPMM), A. Rahman Mahadi pula berkata, sistem sedia iaitu dengan menggunakan meter adalah paling praktikal dan tidak banyak menimbulkan masalah.

Sila baca TheStar : Johor folk want taxi coupon system to stay

Seafront garden project in Johor

JOHOR BARU: Plans are already in the pipeline to establish the first garden-by-the-sea at Danga Bay overlooking the Straits of Johor.

Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said the 8.09ha seafronting garden would probably be taking shape in the next one to two years.

He said it would be part of the multi-billion development to transform Danga Bay into one of the most sought-after waterfront development addresses in the world.

Several up-scale waterfront property development projects would be coming up along the Danga Bay stretch within the next 12 to 24 months including hotels, office towers and retail complexes.

“We want to position Johor Baru as a City in the Garden by establishing as many green areas as possible within the Johor Baru district,” Abdul Ghani said at the opening of Taman Merdeka at Jalan Tasek Utara here.

The 12.14ha Taman Merdeka, built at a cost of RM13mil, is divided into nine components with each portraying the country’s independence roadmap from the Malay Sultanate era to the Japanese Occupation to the day Malaya was declared independent.

He said a site has been identified in Danga Bay for the proposed garden project which would involve land reclamation.

Abdul Ghani said Johor would ensure that the state would adopt a balanced approach in its development to ensure folk would continue to enjoy greenery and open spaces within the city.

“We are taking a cue from the late Sultan Ibrahim’s far-sighted vision of opening the 53ha Istana Gardens in the compounds of Istana Besar to the public,” he said.

Abdul Ghani said the 90-year-old Istana Gardens is a popular spot among city folk.

Separately, he said developers undertaking massive housing development projects were no longer allowed to sub-divide the 10% compulsory green lung into smaller components within the scheme.

Abdul Ghani said the 10% green lung must be the main component of the entire development or the core of the project to ensure residents were not shortchanged in terms of green areas for outdoor activities.

Bunuh kawan pasal bilik air

Oleh NASRI JAMALUDIN
mohdnasri.jamaludin@kosmo.com.my

MOHD. HASNAN menunjukkan bilik air yang menjadi tempat Juli mati ditikam rakannya di Kampung Bakar Batu, Johor Bahru semalam.

JOHOR BAHRU – Seorang lelaki Indonesia bertindak membunuh rakannya hanya kerana mangsa enggan membenarkannya menggunakan bilik air dalam kejadian di Jalan Pantai, Kampung Bakar Batu di sini semalam.

Kejadian pukul 6.30 pagi itu menyebabkan buruh yang dikenali sebagai Juli, 37, mati akibat ditikam di dada dengan pisau pemotong sayur.

Sebelum kejadian, suspek mengetuk pintu bilik air dan meminta Juli yang sedang mandi supaya keluar kerana dia ingin mengambil wuduk bagi menunaikan solat Subuh.

Geram dengan tindakan mangsa yang enggan menuruti kehendaknya, suspek berusia 30-an itu bertindak menendang pintu lalu berlaku pertengkaran.

Suspek yang gagal mengawal emosi kemudian mengambil sebilah pisau lalu menikam mangsa sebelum melarikan diri.

Rumah yang mempunyai dua bilik itu disewa mangsa bersama isterinya. Pemilik rumah berkenaan, Mohd. Hasnan Anbia, 31, berkata, dia bergegas ke situ sebaik terdengar bunyi wanita menjerit dan menangis.

Al-Fatihah

Marilah bertutur tanpa canggung atau dipaksa-paksa

SINGAPURA 15 Jul 2011; Ucapan Editor Berita Harian/Berita Minggu, Encik Mohd Guntor Sadali, di majlis Anugerah Jauhari di Hotel Shangri-La malam kelmarin.

'SALAH satu kesan nyata daripada Pilihan Raya yang lalu ialah negara kita perlu menyemak beberapa amalan dan dasar-dasar sekarang.

Semakan ini dijangka membawa idea-idea baru untuk membaiki lagi dasar- dasar yang mungkin lapuk dan tidak berkesan.

Beberapa amalan yang gagal memperolehi keputusan yang diinginkan juga perlu dihapuskan.

Atas kesedaran ini, saya ingin mengambil peluang malam ini untuk menyentuh sesuatu yang dekat di hati - iaitu bahasa Melayu.

Kita kini sedang menyambut Bulan Bahasa 2011. Ia merupakan acara penting yang mempromosikan penggunaan bahasa Melayu. Dan Berita Harian merupakan salah satu penyokong kuat Bulan Bahasa.

Terdapat satu perkembangan besar dalam sejarah bahasa Melayu di negara ini, iaitu satu usaha oleh tiga negara - Indonesia, Malaysia dan Singapura - untuk membakukan penggunaan bahasa Melayu.

Ia berlaku pada awal 1990-an dan merangkumi dua aspek - penulisan dan sebutan.

Saya memang setuju dengan penulisan bahasa Melayu yang dibakukan. Malah, ia telah dilaksanakan dengan berjaya sejauh ini. Semua sekolah dan media cetak kini menggunakan ejaan baku.

Terdapat beberapa peraturan khusus dalam ejaan Melayu, tetapi terdapat pengecualian bagi peraturan ini.

Sekiranya timbul keraguan, kita boleh merujuk kepada buku panduan ejaan baku yang dihasilkan oleh Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka di Malaysia. Ejaan baku telah dilaksanakan dengan baik.

Namun, perkara yang serupa tidak berlaku bagi sebutan baku. Sejak dahulu lagi saya mempunyai keraguan mengenai sistem sebutan baku sejak ia dilaksanakan pada 1993 di sekolah rendah dan pada 1994 bagi sekolah menengah.

Sebab utama ialah, tidak seperti orang Melayu di Malaysia yang bertutur loghat berbeza bahasa Melayu, bergantung kepada negeri asal mereka, masyarakat Melayu setempat telah pun bertutur dalam versi baku iaitu Melayu Johor-Riau.

Orang Melayu di Kelantan, Kedah dan Pulau Pinang, sebagai contoh, bertutur bahasa Melayu yang berbeza berbanding orang Melayu lain di Malaysia, dan kita sendiri sukar untuk memahami mereka.

Namun, ia amat berbeza dengan orang Melayu di Singapura. Kita mungkin tinggal di Woodlands, Bedok, Sengkang atau Jurong, tetapi kita bertutur bahasa Melayu yang sama, iaitu Melayu Johor-Riau.

Malah, ini juga merupakan bentuk baku. Ia bukan sahaja ditutur secara biasa di rumah, malah cara sebutan itu diajar di sekolah. Bentuk serupa juga digunakan oleh media penyiaran nasional.

Namun, percubaan untuk mengubahnya dibuat apabila sebutan baku diperkenalkan. Secara tiba-tiba, apa yang dianggap sebagai bahasa yang ditutur secara baku dianggap tidak cukup baik sebagai alat perhubungan.

Dengan perubahan dibuat dalam sistem ejaan baku, kanak-kanak diajar dengan ketat untuk menyebut perkataan mengikut ejaannya. Menyusulinya, media penyiaran menerima sebutan Melayu baku baru ini.

Kini, selepas dua dekad sebutan baku di sekolah-sekolah diperkenalkan, saya fikir sudah tiba masanya untuk kita memikirkan dengan mendalam matlamat yang ingin diraih dan bertanya sama ada ia wajar, selain kita perlu meninjau semula keberkesanannya.

Saya secara jujur percaya kita tidak bergerak maju dalam sebutan baku. Sekiranya ada, kita hanya berjaya merumitkan lagi pembelajaran bahasa ibunda.

Akibatnya, kita kini ada dua sebutan Melayu - satu yang diajar di bilik darjah dan yang digunakan dalam situasi formal, dan satu dalam dalam perbualan seharian.

Saya diberitahu bahawa di sekolah- sekolah, pelajar dan guru akan menggunakan Melayu Johor-Riau, dan tidak terus menggunakan baku, sebaik sahaja mereka melangkah keluar dari bilik darjah.

Dan jika anda mendengar stesen radio Melayu atau saluran berita TV Melayu, anda akan dapati bahawa penggunaan baku hanya tertumpu kepada sebutan 'a' tetapi bukan vokal yang lain.

Kita perlu hadapi kenyataan yang pahit - selepas dua dekad mempromosikan penggunaan Melayu baku, tiada, atau mungkin sejumlah kecil individu Melayu, selesa dan efektif dalam menggunakannya setiap hari.

Malah di Malaysia, percubaan memperkenalkan sebutan baku juga sia-sia. Media penyiaran mereka telah kembali menggunakan versi awal sebutan Melayu baku.

Lantas persoalannya ialah perlukah kita meneruskan amalan pengajaran sebutan baku di sekolah-sekolah? Bagi saya, ia merupakan usaha sia-sia.

Salah satu hujah yang saya sering dengar ialah pelajar bukan Melayu mendapati sukar untuk memahami logik sebutan Melayu Johor-Riau menerusi ejaannya. Lantas sebutan Melayu baku boleh membantu pelajar-pelajar ini mempelajari bahasa Melayu dengan lebih mudah kerana sistem itu berdasarkan ejaan.

Tidakkah kita perlu lebih prihatin tentang bagaimana masyarakat kita mempelajari dan menggunakan bahasa kita sendiri daripada lebih bimbang mengenai bagaimana masyarakat lain mempelajarinya?

Saya tidak melihat orang Perancis, Jerman, Jepun atau orang Inggeris, sebagai contoh, mengambil langkah serupa untuk memudahkan orang lain mempelajari dan bertutur bahasa mereka.

Lantas agak aneh, bahawa kita, orang Melayu, terlalu bimbang mengenai orang bukan Melayu mempelajari bahasa kita. Dan kesediaan kita mengubah cara kita bertutur hanya untuk memudahkan pembelajaran orang lain, amat memelikkan.

Apa yang ingin saya tekankan ialah 'Marilah kita bertutur bahasa Melayu secara biasa. Marilah kita bercakap dengan cara yang membolehkan perkataan itu dapat ditutur dengan mudah tanpa kedengaran canggung atau dipaksa-paksa'.

Saya percaya bagi ramai Melayu, pilihan mereka ialah versi Johor-Riau, dan bukan sebutan baku, kerana bagi kebanyakan Melayu, ini merupakan bahasa yang digunakan oleh ibu bapa dan datuk nenek untuk berhubungan dengan kita sejak kita dilahirkan. Dan menerusi Melayu Johor-Riau jugalah kita boleh berhubungan dengan anak-anak dan cucu-cicit kita.

Kita tidak perlu membebankan anak- anak mempelajari sebutan dengan cara yang dianggap asing kepada lidah mereka, sesuatu yang mereka ketepikan sebaik sahaja mereka keluar dari bilik darjah.

Percubaan itu bukan sahaja tidak perlu malah membazir sumber.

Bagi saya, selagi bahasa Melayu yang dituturkan difahami oleh masyarakat dan berupaya menyatukan rakyat sebagai satu bangsa, itulah bahasa Melayu yang patut kita terus gunakan, pelajari dan promosikan kepada anak-anak, selain penutur bukan Melayu.

Apabila kita bercakap dalam versi Johor- Riau - yang kita gunakan sekarang - kita sebenarnya menggunakan Melayu baku. Ia merupakan bahasa baku yang difahami dan selesa digunakan semua orang. Tidak perlu mencipta satu cara bertutur yang berbeza.

Izinkan saya mengakhiri ucapan saya dengan melahirkan harapan agar orang Melayu dapat bertutur bahasa Melayu secara biasa.

Lantas sekiranya saya ingin berkata 'I like to eat burgers', kita berkata Saya suka makan burger, dan bukan Saya suka makan bur-ger dalam sebutan baku.

(Deraian ketawa hadirin)

Anda mentertawakan saya. Itulah perkara yang ingin saya sampaikan. Kita tidak seharusnya ditertawakan apabila kita bertutur bahasa kita sendiri.

Cukuplah hujah saya.'

Akur sebutan baku bahasa Melayu hambat penutur, harus dihenti

Singapura 15 Jul 2011 : Saranan Editor BH/BM dirasa tepat pada masanya, perlu dilaksana

Oleh
Hisham Hasim Dan Linilidia Abdul Hamid

SARANAN agar disemak pengajaran dan penggunaan sebutan baku bahasa Melayu tepat pada masanya dan harus dilaksana.

Ini kerana sebutan baku tidak digunakan dalam perbualan harian, sebaliknya terhad dalam bilik darjah dan media massa.

Demikian pandangan beberapa anggota masyarakat Melayu berhubung saranan Editor Berita Harian/Berita Minggu, Encik Mohd Guntor Sadali, itu.

Membuat saranan itu dalam berucap di majlis Anugerah Jauhari anjuran Berita Harian/Berita Minggu kelmarin, Encik Mohd Guntor berkata penggunaan sebutan baku di sini sejak hampir dua dekad lalu tidak menunjukkan kemajuan.

Mereka yang dihubungi akhbar ini turut bersetuju dengan pandangan Encik Mohd Guntor bahawa usaha membakukan ejaan baik dan perlu disokong.

Yang menjadi 'masalah' ialah aspek sebutan baku, kata mereka.

Mantan ketua Jabatan Bahasa dan Kebudayaan Melayu di Institut Pendidikan Nasional (NIE)-Universiti Teknologi Nanyang (NTU), Profesor Madya Kamsiah Abdullah, berkata: 'Sebutan bahasa Melayu dalam percakapan harian berdasarkan loghat Riau Johor adalah sebutan yang telah pun baku.

'Perlu disedari bahawa gerakan sebutan baku di Singapura bukanlah usaha pembakuan sebutan bahasa Melayu tetapi mengubah sebutan bahasa Melayu yang telah sedia baku kepada suatu bentuk baru yang tiada penutur jatinya.

'Tiada suatu kelompok besar ataupun kecil yang menggunakannya (sebutan baku sekolah sekarang) dalam kehidupan sehari-sehari, di luar dari bilik darjah bahasa Melayu.'

Profesor Madya Kamsiah berkata beliau bersyukur kerana akhirnya masyarakat sedar usaha hampir 20 tahun membakukan sebutan bahasa Melayu 'perbuatan sia-sia'.

Memberikan reaksinya, pengerusi Angkatan Karyawan Islam (AMP), Encik Nizam Ismail, berpendapat bahawa sudah tiba masanya pemerintah menyemak dasar penggunaan sebutan baku itu.

'Sejak sekian lama sebutan baku masih tidak digunakan masyarakat am dan hanya terbatas pada ruang formal.

'Oleh itu, ia tentunya sesuatu usaha yang tidak berkesan.

'Sebutan bahasa yang digunakan haruslah mencerminkan realiti kehidupan dan identiti sebenar masyarakat Melayu kita.

'Tentu sekali sebutan baku tidak menonjolkan sedemikian,' kata Encik Nizam, seorang peguam.

Seorang pensyarah politeknik, Cik Nur Dian Mohamad Rasid, berpendapat tekanan yang dirasai untuk bertutur dalam sebutan baku sesuatu yang 'tidak perlu wujud', yang hanya membataskan keupayaan seseorang itu meluahkan pemikirannya.

'Ia juga mengurangkan keyakinan diri seseorang itu untuk bertutur dalam bahasa Melayu, yang seharusnya digunakan secara natural sebagaimana yang kita tutur hari-hari,' kata Cik Dian.

Isu mengenai penggunaan sebutan baku telah banyak kali ditimbulkan sebelum ini dalam forum akhbar dan perbincangan bahasa serta di ruang siber seperti di Facebook.

Ramai melahirkan rasa 'lega' mengenai saranan Encik Mohd Guntor itu dan berkata semakan harus dilakukan kerana sudah terlalu lama.

Sebuah laman Facebook bertajuk 'Beku Baku' turut dibangunkan baru-baru ini bagi tujuan serupa.

Menyuarakan pandangannya, Ketua Pegawai Kreatif, Mini Monsters, sebuah syarikat yang menjalankan program pengayaan bahasa Melayu di sekolah-sekolah, Cik Rilla Melati Bahri, berkata penggunaan sebutan baku menyukarkan dan tidak menambah nilai kepada para pelajar yang berusaha menjiwai semangat bahasa itu sendiri.

'Di rumah kita bercakap Melayu loghat Riau, tetapi di sekolah ia terpaksa berubah.

'Sebagai pengacara, saya berbahasa baku tetapi penonton atau peserta yang menyertai program saya tidak berbuat demikian, jadi ini satu kejanggalan,' katanya.

Sinaran Dan Manusia Dalam Aktiviti Harian

KUALA LUMPUR, 23 Jun (Bernama) -- Sebaik saja kita mendengar perkataan "radioaktif", secara automatik terlintas di fikiran bahawa radioaktif adalah bahan yang sangat berbahaya, tidak boleh didekati apatah lagi disentuh.

Ada yang mengatakan, barangkali radioaktif itu boleh meletup, menyebabkan kematian atau boleh menyebabkan seseorang individu itu terkena penyakit seperti kanser dan sebagainya. Itu persepsi umum masyarakat terhadap radioaktif.

Bukan itu sahaja, radioaktif turut dikaitkan dengan peristiwa-peristiwa hitam yang telah berlaku di seluruh dunia antaranya seperti letupan bom atom di Hiroshima, Jepun pada 6 Ogos, 1945; kemalangan loji kuasa nuklear di Chernobyl, Ukraine pada 26 April, 1986; dan terkini ialah peristiwa kebocoran radiasi di loji kuasa nuklear di Fukushima akibat gempa bumi dan bencana tsunami pada 11 Mac, 2011 lalu.

Peristiwa-peristiwa seperti ini menyebabkan masyarakat semakin berasa bimbang dan gusar kerana mereka beranggapan radioaktif adalah punca kepada segala-galanya iaitu kehilangan nyawa, kerosakan harta-benda, pencemaran terhadap alam sekitar dan mengidap penyakit berbahaya seperti kanser.

Sememangnya stigma masyarakat terhadap radioaktif sukar untuk diubah. Namun begitu, pada hakikatnya dan tanpa kita sedari, radioaktif sebenarnya wujud secara semulajadi di sekeliling kita yang mengeluarkan sinarannya secara semulajadi dan kita terdedah kepadanya dalam kehidupan kita seharian.

Umpamanya pendedahan sinaran dari tanah-tanih dan batu-batan yang kita duduki, dari angkasa seperti kosmik, bahkan kita turut memakannya melalui makanan dan minuman kita seharian seperti di dalam buah-buahan dan sayuran.

Tubuh badan kita sendiri mempunyai bahan radioaktif semulajadi seperti potassium-40 (K-40).

Data UNSCEAR 2000 (United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation to the General Assembly) menyatakan purata dedahan dos sinaran semulajadi di sekeliling kita yang terdedah kepada kita setahun adalah sebanyak 2.4 milliSievert (mSv).

Malah di dalam semua tanah di dunia terdapat bahan radioaktif semulajadi (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials - NORM) terutamanya kandungan uranium-238 iaitu dalam julat 16 - 110 Becquerrel/kg[Bq/kg] (bersamaan 0.016 - 0.1 Bq/gm) dan kandungan thorium-232 dalam julat 11 - 64 Bq/kg (bersamaan 0.011 - 0.064 Bq/kg).

Di Malaysia, kandungan uranium dan thorium semulajadi ini adalah dalam julat 49 - 86 Bq/kg (bersamaan 0.049 - 0.086 Bq/gm) untuk uranium dan dalam julat 63 - 110 Bq/kg (bersamaan 0.063 - 0.1 Bq/g) untuk thorium.

Apa itu radioaktif?

Radioaktif atau sinaran yang terhasil daripada bahan radioaktif ialah satu bentuk tenaga yang dipancarkan oleh atom atau molekul yang disebarkan melalui ruang atau jirim sebagai partikel/zarah ataupun gelombang elektromagnet.

Sinaran mempunyai pelbagai istilah antaranya seperti gelombang cahaya, gelombang radio, sinar infra-red (haba), gelombang mikro dan sinar X.

Antara sinaran mengion yang wujud ialah zarah Alfa, zarah Beta, sinar Gamma, sinar X dan juga Neutron.

Bahan radioaktif ini terhasil melalui dua pendekatan iaitu ada bahan radioaktif semulajadi seperti uranium dan thorium dalam alam sekitar (tanah, pokok, air dan udara) dan yang satu lagi bahan radioaktif "buatan" manusia seperti Technitium-99m yang digunakan di dalam perubatan dan Iridium-192 yang digunakan di dalam industri termasuk penjanaan kuasa nuklear.

ISU LYNAS: Isu terkini yang melibatkan bahan radioaktif di Malaysia dan heboh diperdebatkan adalah mengenai projek Lynas. Secara ringkasnya, Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd ialah syarikat subsidiari milik penuh Lynas Corporation Ltd, Australia.

Perniagaannya berkaitan dengan pengeluaran serta penjualan nadir bumi.

Hasil dari pemprosesan nadir bumi sebenarnya digunakan oleh ratusan aplikasi industri contohnya bateri bagi komputer riba, telefon mudahalih serta kereta hibrid, tiub "cathode-rays" bagi monitor TV dan komputer, wayar "fibre-optic", aplikasi aeroangkasa sehingga ke magnet bagi penghasilan tenaga dari sumber angin.

Syarikat Lynas di Kuantan dijangka dapat menghasilkan hampir 30% dari bekalan dunia (di luar China) apabila mula beroperasi kelak.

Pertikaian masyarakat mengenai "residue" yang mengandungi bahan radioaktif semulajadi (NORM - naturally occurring radioactive materials) yang dihasilkan.

Punca utama kebimbangan orang awam khususnya bagi masyarakat Pahang ialah Lynas bercadang untuk membawa masuk bijih Lathanid dari lombong Mount Weld di Australia Barat dan bijih tersebut akan diproses dan diekstrak di kawasan perindustrian Gebeng, Pahang.

Sisa sampingan yang bakal dihasilkan daripada proses pengesktrakan nadir bumi itu menyebabkan orang awam mempertikaikan ketelusan kerajaan dan agensi-agensi yang terlibat dalam menjamin keselamatan rakyat.

Malah, isu ini telah digembar-gemburkan oleh segelintir pihak yang sebenarnya bermotifkan politik semata-mata.

Apa yang dikesalkan, orang awam menjadi mangsa keadaan kerana mereka telah dihidangkan dengan maklumat yang mengelirukan sehingga menyebabkan mereka berfikir bahawa pemprosesan rare earth atau nadir bumi oleh Lynas adalah sama dengan pemprosesan syarikat Asian Rare Earth (ARE) dan peristiwa yang berlaku di syarikat Asian Rare Earth pada awal tahun 80'an yang lalu akan berulang.

Kerajaan Malaysia telah mengambil langkah berjaga-jaga bagi mengelakkan kejadian ARE berulang. Pelbagai agensi kerajaan, antaranya Jabatan Alam Sekitar, Lembaga Pelesenan Tenaga Atom dan Jabatan Keselamatan dan Kesihatan Pekerjaan, bertanggungjawab dalam memastikan keselamatan dan kesihatan rakyat terjamin serta mutu alam sekitar sentiasa berada dalam keadaan baik dan terpelihara.

Orang awam mempersoalkan kredibiliti agensi-agensi bertanggungjawab yang terlibat antaranya tindakan AELB dalam mengeluarkan lesen serta sejauh mana ketelusan panel pakar bebas yang dijemput dalam memberi keputusan berhubung projek Lynas ini.

Sebenarnya dalam projek melibatkan pengilangan bahan radioaktif, kelulusan pembinaan akan diberi tetapi pemberian lesen operasi hanya akan diberi selepas syarikat Lynas mematuhi kesemua langkah serta syarat keselamatan yang telah dinyatakan dalam lesen dan juga dokumen Program Perlindungan Sinaran yang dibangunkan oleh syarikat berdasarkan keperluan yang termaktub dalam Akta 304 dan peraturan-peraturan subsidiarinya.

Malah, kerajaan juga telah menjemput panel pakar bebas antarabangsa dari negara yang tidak mempunyai kepentingan dengan projek Lynas ini bagi menjalankan kajian semula dari aspek kesihatan dan keselamatan. Ini membuktikan bahawa kerajaan Malaysia benar-benar telus dalam proses membuat keputusannya.

Sejauh manakah tahap selamat yang diwar-warkan itu adalah selamat?

Berdasarkan fakta serta analisis sampel-sampel yang telah dibuat oleh agensi-agensi yang bertanggunjawab, residue yang akan dihasilkan oleh projek Lynas adalah rendah iaitu 0.165% kandungan thorium [bersamaan dengan 1650 bahagian per juta [parts per million, (ppm)] iaitu bersamaan dengan 6.7 Becquerrel per gram[Bq/g] (atau 6500 Bq/kg). Ia 60 kali lebih rendah berbanding projek Asian Rare Earth yang mengandungi 10% kandungan thorium iaitu sebanyak 100,000 ppm (bersamaan dengan 406 Bq/g (atau 406,000 Bq/kg).

Kandungan thorium yang terdapat dalam residue Lynas, iaitu Water Leach Purification (WLP), menghasilkan dedahan sinaran sebanyak 0.002 mSv/tahun yang jauh lebih rendah dengan dedahan yang sepatutnya terdedah kepada orang awam sebanyak 1 mSv/tahun.

Sehubungan dengan itu, penduduk setempat khususnya yang tinggal di kawasan berhampiran kilang tersebut tidak perlu risau kerana projek itu tidak meninggalkan kesan kesihatan kepada mereka.

Tahap dedahan dos sinaran untuk orang awam adalah sebanyak 1 mSv/tahun atau 0.50 microSievert/jam (uSv/j).

Berdasarkan pemantauan dan kajian, orang awam yang tinggal di sekitar kawasan projek Lynas antaranya seperti di daerah Balok, Beserah, Sungai Ular dan Sungai Karang tidak perlu khuatir waima berasa bimbang kerana anggaran dos dedahan yang bakal diterima adalah sebanyak 0.002 mSv/tahun.

Malah, kajian yang dilaksanakan oleh badan bebas berkelayakan menunjukkan kadar dos dedahan maksimum yang dapat diukur di sekitar Kuantan ialah lebih 0.00012 milliSievert/jam saja (1000 microSievert = 1 milliSievert).

Kadar dos dedahan ini adalah jauh lebih rendah jika dibandingkan dengan kadar dos dedahan yang diterima sewaktu menjalani pemeriksaan CT Scan dan juga X-Ray dimana dos dedahan yang diterima sewaktu membuat CT Scan adalah sebanyak 6.9 mSv/dedahan iaitu bersamaan 41.4 mSv/jam (data dari Japan Atomic Industry Forum, JAIF) manakala sinar-X untuk dada (chest X-ray) pula ialah 0.5 mSv/dedahan iaitu bersamaan dengan 18,000 mSv/jam (UNSCEAR, 2000).

Bukan itu sahaja, lantai marmar yang kita pijak, cawan atau pinggan porselin yang kita guna, tanah yang anak-anak kita bermain, batu yang dipakai untuk membuat rumah dan pejabat sebenarnya mengandungi bahan-bahan yang mempunyai unsur-unsur radioaktif seperti thorium, uranium dan lain-lain lagi.

Tetapi, unsur-unsur tersebut hanya menyumbang kepada dos yang sangat rendah dan tidak menyebabkan ancaman terhadap kesihatan manusia.

Antara contoh penggunaan harian yang melibatkan kadar dos dedahan yang agak tinggi adalah seperti berikut:

Pinggan Porselin 0.000323 mSv/j (bahan kadar dos dedahan sejam)

Gelas 0.000227 mSv/j

Loket rantai yang diperbuat daripada gunung berapi (pendant) 0.002128 mSv/j

Tanah 0.000227 mSv/j

Pasir 0.000161 mSv/j

Batu-Bata Simen 0.000257 mSv/j

Batu Bata Merah 0.000239 mSv/j

Sumber: Lembaga Pelesenan Tenaga Atom Malaysia

Kegunaan Sinaran: Sinaran sebenarnya banyak digunakan dalam industri perubatan di mana sinar Gamma dari kobalt-60 digunakan untuk membunuh sel-sel barah dalam rawatan radioterapi dan digunakan juga untuk membunuh kuman dalam proses pensterilan alat perubatan seperti termometer, jarum dan picagari suntikan, alat pembedahan dan sebagainya.

Sinaran radioaktif daripada radioisotop turut digunakan untuk membunuh serangga perosak.

Sinaran juga digunakan dalam sistem pengawalan ketebalan secara automatic dalam pembuatan kertas, kepingan plastik dan kepingan logam.

Dalam industri pembungkusan makanan dan minuman, teknologi sinaran dimanfaatkan bagi tujuan pengukuran kandungan yang tepat dan pengesanan bendasing yang boleh memudaratkan kita.

Pek atau tin yang mengandungi sebarang bendasing atau mempunyai kandungan kurang daripada yang ditetapkan akan secara spontan disingkirkan. Imbasan sinar-x turut mampu mengesan sebarang ketidakseragaman pada susunan lilitan keluli radial di tayar kenderaan yang tidak kelihatan pada mata kasar.

Di Malaysia, Lynas (M) Sdn Bhd bukanlah satu-satunya syarikat yang menjalankan aktiviti pemprosesan mineral. Antara syarikat lain yang menjalankan aktiviti tersebut ialah Petronas Carigali (M) Sdn Bhd, TOR Mineral (M) Sdn Bhd, Tioxide Hunstman (M) Sdn Bhd dan Samsung Corning (M) Sdn Bhd.

Selain Malaysia, aktiviti pemprosesan nadir bumi turut dijalankan di Afrika, India, Kanada, Vietnam, China dan Brazil.

Justeru, adalah tidak adil sekiranya sinaran dikatakan mendatangkan bahaya sahaja. Hakikatnya sinaran telah membawa banyak faedah kepada manusia terutamanya dalam rawatan dan diagnostik ke atas penyakit kanser.

-- BERNAMA

Students of Riseisha High School in Osaka visit SMK Sri Tebrau in JB

JOHOR BARU: Eighty Japanese students and teachers from the Riseisha High School in Osaka received a warm welcome from students of SMK Sri Tebrau here.

They were greeted with a lion dance, dragon dance, silat and kompang performed by students upon arrival at the school recently.

Time to sing: Takashi Tanibayashi entertaining his new friends from SMK Sri Tebrau in Johor Baru recently.

This was followed with several other performances including the Johor traditional zapin dance.

The trip gave the 75 students and four teachers an insight on Malaysian culture, traditional games and food of the three major races.

“I have heard so much about Malaysia, the beautiful scenery, friendly people and multi-racial culture, and am happy to see the real Malaysia today.

Handicraft: The Japanese students teaching their Malaysian friends the art of paper folding.

“It’s a wonderful trip for me and the first time I'm meeting people of another country,” said Taiki Ishikura, 16.

Ishikura said he would like to know how classes were conducted in Malaysian schools.

During their three hours at the school, the students tried their hands at batik-making, and played congkak and sepak takraw.

In return, they taught origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, to the Malaysian students.

“The dances are interesting and the food is yummy.

Roaring welcome: The Japanese students and teachers from Riseisha High School in Osaka being greeted with a lion dance.

“This is my first trip to Malaysia and I have fallen in love with the country,” said Maiko Hada, 17.

Form Five student Melvin Chew picked up some Japanese words for the occasion.

“A few friends of mine are studying the language, and I asked them to teach me a few words to communicate with the guests.

“The Japanese are polite and willing to learn new things. We should adopt this spirit,” he said.

Form Four student Norazizah Md Yusup, who was keen to study in Japan, grabbed the opportunity to find out more about the country.

“I admire their advancements in science and technology. I can learn a lot from the Japanese,” she said.

She said she exchanged addresses with her new friends to continue the friendship.

The school's Parent-Teacher Association chairman Michael Tay said the programme could foster a better relationship between students and educationists of the two countries.

He proposed that the Education Ministry organise events for our students to visit Japan or other countries.

Students of Riseisha High School in Osaka visit SMK Sri Tebrau in JB

Perjalanan lebih pantas ke JB, pusat bandar menjelang 2018

[B]MRT Laluan Thomson dirancang bermula di Politeknik Republic dan dijangka disambung dengan sistem transit pantas ke Johor
[/B]
PARA penduduk di Woodlands, Admiralty dan bahagian utara Singapura yang mahu ke Johor Bahru atau ke pusat bandar akan menikmati perjalanan yang lebih pantas menjelang 2018.

Ini kerana Laluan Thomson (TSL) sepanjang 30 kilometer yang bermula di Politeknik Republic dan melalui stesen MRT Woodlands akan menghubungkan para penduduk ke Ang Mo Kio, Sin Ming, Thomson dan pusat bandar.

Laluan sistem transit pantas (RTS) pula akan menghubungkan Tanjung Puteri, Johor Bahru, ke laluan Thomson (TSL) di Poliktenik Republic.

Malah para penduduk di Woodlands juga masih boleh memilih meneruskan perjalanan menerusi Laluan Utara Selatan (NSL) ke Yishun, Orchard Road dan City Hall dengan membuat pertukaran di stesen MRT Woodlands.

Menurut Penguasa Pengangkutan Darat (LTA) dan Penguasa Tanah Singapura (SLA) dalam kenyataan bersama semalam, pembinaan TSL merupakan sebahagian rancangan membangunkan sistem rangkaian rel yang menyeluruh bagi memenuhi keperluan perjalanan masa depan.

'Semua Laluan TSL adalah terowong bawah tanah dan akan melintasi koridor Utara-Selatan dari Woodlands menerusi kawasan pusat bandar ke Marina Bay. Terdapat rancangan bagi membina pusat pertukaran di stesen MRT Woodlands sekarang, dan bagi pembinaan stesen terminal di bahagian paling utara berdekatan Politeknik Republic.

'Laluan sistem transit pantas (RTS) yang sedang dicadangkan antara Singapura dengan Johor Bahru dirancang disambungkan dengan TSL di stesen terminal di bahagian paling utara (Politeknik Republic). Satu kajian kejuruteraan terperinci kini sedang dijalankan bagi TSL,' menurut kenyataan itu lagi.

Sebagai permulaan, sebuah Depoh TSL akan mula dibina menjelang akhir 2012 di Mandai.

Depoh seluas 32 hektar itu akan berupaya menempatkan sehingga 90 rel dan menempatkan Pusat Kawasan Operasi dan menyediakan kemudahan mengandangkan dan penyenggaraan rel.

Perincian mengenai stesen-stesen TSL yang lain hanya akan dikeluarkan selepas kajian menyeluruh mengenainya diselesaikan, menurut kenyataan itu lagi.

Menteri Pengangkutan Malaysia, Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, sebelum ini berkata Malaysia dan Singapura sedang menimbangkan membina terowong bawah laut bagi laluan RTS menyeberangi Selat Johor sepanjang kira-kira 1.5 kilometer menghubungkan Tanjung Puteri dengan Woodlands.

Dua cadangan lain ialah membina sebuah jambatan dan sebuah tambak.

'Pembinaan terowong merupakan cara paling mesra alam sekitar tetapi ia memakan kos yang lebih tinggi. Cara paling murah ialah membina sebuah tambak tetapi ia bukan pilihan yang baik dari segi alam sekitar.

'Kalau kita bina jambatan pula ia perlu dilengkapkan dengan pagar khas bagi membolehkan kapal melaluinya,' katanya.

Dalam pada itu, Datuk Kong berkata RTS akan memudahkan hubungan antara rakyat Malaysia dengan Singapura pada masa depan.

Sementara itu ketika dihubungi, seorang penduduk di Admiralty, Cik Liza Ahmad, berkata beliau ghairah menanti pembinaan TSL dan RTS yang akan memudahkan perjalanannya ke Johor Bahru.

'Dengan kesesakan yang sering berlaku di Koswe, sebarang perjalanan alternatif amat dialu-alukan,' ujarnya lagi.

Blurring race and religion

The Government’s effort in commemorating the inaugural World Interfaith Harmony Week recently is laudable, but many feel that more long-term efforts need to be taken to foster the right values in the most important target group – the young.

A GROUP of Chinese schoolboys see a tudung-clad Malay girl walking across the road and start wolf whistling. As soon as she passes them, one boy shouts, “Ninja, ninja!” while his friends bend over laughing.

In a classroom, tired of an Indian classmate’s incessant chattering, a Malay girl turns to her friend and says loudly, “Do you know why Indians talk so much? Because their fullstop is on their forehead.”

Kids will be kids, some might say, and we adults have our own share of “race and religion” jokes.
Interfaith advocates: Dr Gurusamy (left) and Father Philip Thomas holding the umbrella which states the golden rule: ‘Treat others the way you want others to treat you’.

Yet, if not checked, exchanges like these may well just escalate into full blow-ups.

The case might be closed now for the authorities, but the alleged prank on a Sikh National Service trainee whose hair was cut while he was asleep remains a sore point for many.

Currently, a video clip that is hotly making the rounds online is one of an Indian boy being “coerced” by two Malay boys – shot in what looks like school grounds – to say “Ke**** Babi.” Whether the clip is a hoax or not is a moot point. In a country like Malaysia where the lines between religion and race are blurred due to a lack of inter-cultural and religious knowledge, it should not be taken lightly.

Speaking from experience, TV personality Baki Zainal, 30, knows only too well how religious and cultural ignorance plagues the young here.

“One of the funniest incidents I had is a conversation with a Chinese friend who was afraid to put on the Baju Melayu thinking that it’s a religious symbol and he would be betraying his faith and culture,” he shares.

Understanding others’ culture and religion is vital, stresses the fluent Mandarin speaker.

“When you understand, you won’t need to ‘tolerate’ it for it would not even be an issue.”

It is sad that young Malaysians do not understand or know about other people in their community, says Dr Chandra Muzaffar, chairman of the Board of Trustees of Yayasan 1 Malaysia, conceding that “episodes” like these – which reflect a lack of religious sensitivity between communities – have become more frequent in the last 10 years.
Ananda: ‘They learn from the adults (at home and in school); they see what adults do and behave and simply copy.’

He attests that education is important. “We have to educate our people about each other’s religious sensitivities, practices and beliefs. We need to educate on how the different communities have certain practices and observances that are unique.”

This is something founding Director of Institute of Ethnic Studies (KITA) at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Prof Datuk Shamsul Amri Baharuddin has been recommending for years.

“The solution is not to go and have a durian party. The solution is to teach the young to understand and learn about other races. We are not making an effort in teaching Malay­sian studies or ethnic differences,” he argues.

In our schools there are no subjects that teach and expose our young to other cultures, he laments. “Previous attempts to introduce Ethnic Studies have been shot down and criticised.”

For Dr John Gurusamy, a Malaysian Interfaith Network coordinator, having interfaith studies is the answer.

“The Moral or agama classes that we have now mainly emphasise matters of indivi­dual faith. If we have interfaith studies, we can look at the customs of different religions, and students can learn to respect each other,” he argues.

Dr Gurusamy believes this can help overcome the lack of mixing in schools among our young.

“Many of our young are ignorant about other religions. They are not able to appreciate or accept the differences. Learning about each other’s cultures and religions will help open their minds and hearts,” he says.

Crucially, fostering interfaith harmony is a 365-day task.

A 20-something IT professional who only wants to be identified as N. Singh agrees.

“The government should encourage interfaith dialogues in schools to discuss and learn about each other’s religion and cultures. The leaders of each religious group should be active in dialogue engagement so that any misconception can be avoided. Worship places should be preaching kindness and compassion for all humans,” he opines.

Change from within

All agree that more needs to be done to train teachers to be aware of religious and racial sensitivities.

“Teachers who teach these classes should make it a point to talk through sensitivities and not trivialise other people’s cultures.

“But teachers have been wrongly taught and are not inculcated with the right moral values, so many are prejudiced themselves. Worse, many are politicised – many religious and moral teachers in school are teaching the wrong thing,” Dr Gurusamy alleges.

N. Singh, however, argues that it is not only teachers who need to be “educated” about respecting other cultures and religions.
Baki: ‘When you understand, you won’t need to tolerate it for it would not even be an issue.’

“For me, instilling respect and educating oneself on other cultures and religions needs to begin from a young age, at home,” he says.

Former ambassador and dhamma speaker Datuk Dr G.K. Ananda Kumaraseri concurs, saying that the home is where these values need to be instilled.

“The unwholesome behaviour we see is a manifestation or symptom of a deeper problem. We cannot just blame the younger generation because they are a product of society. They learn from the adults (at home and in school); they see what adults do and behave and simply copy. They think there is nothing wrong with it or that it is an acceptable behaviour.”

It is the responsibility of society to provide the young with the right “grooming”, he stresses, and it is all in the “mind”.

“We need to accept the fact that the uncultured mind is the root of the inter-ethnic issues, intolerance and insensitivity that are plaguing our society,” he says.

“We need to look at the childcare service before formal education starts – it needs to address the development of the mind of the young.

“It’s important to mould a child from the ages of one to five so they do not start behaving insensitively at the age of 13 or 17.”

Respect for other people, religions and cultures cannot be taught; the values need to be “programmed” or inculcated in the child, he continues.

“We need to look at this in a holistic way –how we can develop this human being from birth at home until they go to school – regardless of their social, cultural, religious make-up.”

Family life and parents are the biggest aspect, he points out.

“We need to recognise that bad parenting is part of the problem – parents need to instil good values where these problems are concerned. By the time they go to school it will be too late to start instilling these values; the first five years is essential.”

Ananda also proposes parenting courses for all couples planning to get married, “People are getting into marriage without understanding or guidance on how to create a good family environment, raise children well and instil good values.”

But as the second important place for the young, schools still have a big responsibility.

This does not necessarily mean a reform of our education system, he clarifies.

“What we need is to focus more on experiential learning and less on rote learning. There should also be less emphasis on examinations,” he adds.

Providing the right “grooming” is not so much about telling children what is good or bad, Ananda points out.

“When we talk about education for the child, we need to look at their minds.

“This is something that we don’t do. In school, under the national curriculum, we look at developing their physical development and imparting knowledge and information. That is not wholly effective. Whatever we teach is not internalised because we don’t focus on their mind,” he stresses.

Ultimately, says N. Singh , the government needs to review policies that just champion the cause of the majority and ignore the minorities.

A Psychology lecturer who only wants to be known as Sonya also believes that the unwillingness of those in power, or majorities, to take the trouble to appreciate or understand minority groups is an obstacle to interfaith harmony.

“It is putting race and religion ahead of humanity and respect that is the problem. If we see all Malaysians as individuals worthy of respect, there is no issue. But because we want to be ‘superior’, to feel ‘better’ than others (due to lack of confidence in ourselves), we look down on other races – put them down to elevate ourselves.

“There is little room for this kind of archaic segregation any more,” she opines.

Dr Gurusamy adds: “If we develop confidence and assurance in ourselves as individuals, groups and a nation, we will not need to prove how much ‘better’ we are, and we will truly respect each other. Treat others like how you want others to treat you.”

He believes that everyone is to blame when people behave insensitively to other religious communities, citing a famous quote from Mahatma Gandhi: “We are all children of God. All humanity is one undivided and indivisible family, and each one of us is responsible for the misdeed of others. I cannot detach myself from the wickedest soul.”

He quips, “For example, I cannot blame the Taliban for killing my family member. They are also my brothers, their behaviour is a reflection of what I’ve not done to help them.”

Blurring race and religion