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
Thursday, June 23, 2011
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
Saturday, June 18, 2011
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.
Monday, February 28, 2011
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
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
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Diversity is our great wealth
Malaysian Muslims need to travel more, even within the Muslim world just to see its diversity. Muslims all over the world have just as many different cultures and traditions as they do similarities.
I was really hoping to end the year on a happier note. But in a very fractious year, there is simply no let-up. The long list of intolerance and human rights abuse continues unabated.
We live in a country of a great diversity. Our people are of many different ethnicities and religions. That is our great wealth and strength and undoubtedly we have managed to live better with that diversity for more than 50 years.
Now, however, diversity is a fact that can’t even be acknowledged.
What does plurality mean? It just means that we are not homogenous, that we have many different streams among our people, whether it’s ethnic makeup, beliefs or opinions.
Being plural is just a statement of fact, not a judgement call on which of these streams are better than the other.
Yet, there are people warning us about the dangers of pluralism, because apparently pluralism makes equal what they believe is not. Where they got this is not stated.
All of us believe that our religion is the best one. But the fact that other religions exist is something we have to accept.
In parts of the world, our religion is not accepted and indeed discriminated against. If we complain about that, is it not hypocritical for us to do the same at home?
In the Quran, God talks about believers and defines them this way: “Believers are only they whose hearts tremble with awe whenever God is mentioned, and whose faith is strengthened whenever His messages are conveyed unto them, and who in their Sustainer place their trust.” (Surah Al-Anfal, Verse 2).
Can we seriously go around and decide who are believers and who are not? And even if we could, can we do anything about it? As God says, “Behold, God lets go. Astray him who will (to go astray), just as He guides unto Himself all who turn unto Him” (Surah Al-R’ad, Verse 27).
Nor does pluralism refer only to us and the other but also within our own communities. How is it we can be so intolerant even of those within our own fold, unless we don’t know our own religion?
“All believers are but brethren. Hence, (whenever they are at odds) make peace between your two brethren, and remain conscious of God, so that you might be graced with His mercy.” (Surah Al-Hujarat, Verse 10).
And yet, our leaders are calling us to hound people whose beliefs differ from ours, even when their roots go back to the same source as ours.
Sometimes, I think Malaysian Muslims need to travel more, even within the Muslim world, just to see its diversity.
Muslims all over the world have just as many different cultures and traditions as they do similarities.
Not everybody does things exactly the way we do it. Yet their core beliefs, what makes them Muslims, are all the same.
So who are we to decide whether they are wrong or not?
More practically speaking, if we insist that Shiites are deviants, then how do we explain the Islamic Republic of Iran and its membership in the OIC? Or is inconsistency simply part of politics?
Not only are we a plural society in terms of race, religion and within religion itself, we are also plural in other ways, including sexuality.
Here again we go against our own core beliefs in order to act out our own prejudices.
If we believe that God determines everything, then surely our sexuality is not a matter of choice either.
Therefore, if we did not choose to be heterosexual, it stands to reason that nobody chose to be homosexual either. In this way, we are equal before the Divine.
How then does this justify the type of savage discrimination that some of us insist must be inflicted against those of minority sexualities?
If we persecute every single gay man, woman and child in this country, would God guarantee that no disaster will ever befall us henceforth?
If I sound frustrated, it is because I am completely tired of the abhorrently arrogant way that those in authority have conducted themselves in the past year.
Somehow supremacist beliefs about just about everything is gaining ground, not just about race and religion but also about gender, sexuality, age, disability and everything else not considered the “norm”.
Those of us who complain about discrimination and abuse become the ones who are branded irreligious.
Did we forget this verse? “O men! Behold, We have created you all out of males and females, and have made you into nations and tribes, so that you might come to know one another”. (Surah Al-Hujarat, Verse 13).
Could there be nothing clearer about a pluralistic world?
Try and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, everyone!
For enlightenment, do read this http://www.ammanmessage.com/.
Diversity is our great wealth
I was really hoping to end the year on a happier note. But in a very fractious year, there is simply no let-up. The long list of intolerance and human rights abuse continues unabated.
We live in a country of a great diversity. Our people are of many different ethnicities and religions. That is our great wealth and strength and undoubtedly we have managed to live better with that diversity for more than 50 years.
Now, however, diversity is a fact that can’t even be acknowledged.
What does plurality mean? It just means that we are not homogenous, that we have many different streams among our people, whether it’s ethnic makeup, beliefs or opinions.
Being plural is just a statement of fact, not a judgement call on which of these streams are better than the other.
Yet, there are people warning us about the dangers of pluralism, because apparently pluralism makes equal what they believe is not. Where they got this is not stated.
All of us believe that our religion is the best one. But the fact that other religions exist is something we have to accept.
In parts of the world, our religion is not accepted and indeed discriminated against. If we complain about that, is it not hypocritical for us to do the same at home?
In the Quran, God talks about believers and defines them this way: “Believers are only they whose hearts tremble with awe whenever God is mentioned, and whose faith is strengthened whenever His messages are conveyed unto them, and who in their Sustainer place their trust.” (Surah Al-Anfal, Verse 2).
Can we seriously go around and decide who are believers and who are not? And even if we could, can we do anything about it? As God says, “Behold, God lets go. Astray him who will (to go astray), just as He guides unto Himself all who turn unto Him” (Surah Al-R’ad, Verse 27).
Nor does pluralism refer only to us and the other but also within our own communities. How is it we can be so intolerant even of those within our own fold, unless we don’t know our own religion?
“All believers are but brethren. Hence, (whenever they are at odds) make peace between your two brethren, and remain conscious of God, so that you might be graced with His mercy.” (Surah Al-Hujarat, Verse 10).
And yet, our leaders are calling us to hound people whose beliefs differ from ours, even when their roots go back to the same source as ours.
Sometimes, I think Malaysian Muslims need to travel more, even within the Muslim world, just to see its diversity.
Muslims all over the world have just as many different cultures and traditions as they do similarities.
Not everybody does things exactly the way we do it. Yet their core beliefs, what makes them Muslims, are all the same.
So who are we to decide whether they are wrong or not?
More practically speaking, if we insist that Shiites are deviants, then how do we explain the Islamic Republic of Iran and its membership in the OIC? Or is inconsistency simply part of politics?
Not only are we a plural society in terms of race, religion and within religion itself, we are also plural in other ways, including sexuality.
Here again we go against our own core beliefs in order to act out our own prejudices.
If we believe that God determines everything, then surely our sexuality is not a matter of choice either.
Therefore, if we did not choose to be heterosexual, it stands to reason that nobody chose to be homosexual either. In this way, we are equal before the Divine.
How then does this justify the type of savage discrimination that some of us insist must be inflicted against those of minority sexualities?
If we persecute every single gay man, woman and child in this country, would God guarantee that no disaster will ever befall us henceforth?
If I sound frustrated, it is because I am completely tired of the abhorrently arrogant way that those in authority have conducted themselves in the past year.
Somehow supremacist beliefs about just about everything is gaining ground, not just about race and religion but also about gender, sexuality, age, disability and everything else not considered the “norm”.
Those of us who complain about discrimination and abuse become the ones who are branded irreligious.
Did we forget this verse? “O men! Behold, We have created you all out of males and females, and have made you into nations and tribes, so that you might come to know one another”. (Surah Al-Hujarat, Verse 13).
Could there be nothing clearer about a pluralistic world?
Try and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, everyone!
For enlightenment, do read this http://www.ammanmessage.com/.
Diversity is our great wealth
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