TwoSen

IT is an utter disgrace that the media has paid so little attention to the deportation of the United Nations special rapporteur for the Palestinian territories, Professor Richard Falk, from Israel on Dec 15. Even those that provided some coverage were clearly biased against Falk.

Falk is an honest, upright intellectual who for decades has endeavoured to tell the world the truth about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the situation in occupied Palestine.

Who can deny that the blockade imposed by the Israeli authorities — a blockade supported by the United States and the European Union — on Gaza after Hamas won a decisive victory in the Palestinian legislative council election in 2006 has created immense suffering among the people of Gaza?

Food and medicines are in short supply. Fifty per cent of Gazan children are victims of acute malnutrition.

Seventy per cent of the population has been deprived of gainful employment. More than 80 per cent live below the poverty level.

It is this catastrophe that Falk rightly calls a “crime against humanity”.

It is because collective punishment of this sort is reminiscent of what the Nazis did to the Jews that Falk warned some time ago that if the situation persisted it could lead to a Holocaust.

Falk is not the only individual of standing to have made such an observation.

It may be because the Israeli government did not want Falk, in his capacity as UN rapporteur, to provide eyewitness confirmation of the atrocities it has committed in Gaza that it detained him at Tel Aviv airport for 20 hours and then deported him to Geneva.

But a lot of people know what is happening in Gaza and have even sought to beat the blockade and reach out to the Gazans.

Activists from other countries have brought humanitarian aid via ships since border crossings are closed.

It is not just Israel that has sealed its border. The Egyptian authorities are also collaborating with the Israelis to ensure that there is no breach of their border with Gaza.

In spite of this, there are Egyptians, just as there are Israelis, who are defying the blockade.

These courageous attempts to help a beleaguered people are not highlighted in the mainstream media.

Even if, once in a while, the media censures Israel in relation to the Palestinians, it is done with velvet gloves.

Is it any wonder then that the deportation of Falk was blacked out by the media?

DR CHANDRA MUZAFFAR for International Movement for a Just World

Source: NST – December 29, 2008

IT seems there is no end to rape cases involving teen-agers, adults and elderly men. Some of these perpetrators kill their victims because, in many cases, the victims know their rapists.

Last year, I was disgusted to read about the rape of a lone elderly woman in her house (”Intruder rapes granny, 70″ — NST, March 26, 2007). Today, I am even more disgusted to read of the rape of a toddler (”Year-old baby raped: Two held” — NST, Dec 23).

The latest news was too much for me to digest. The report stated that two suspects were detained to facilitate investigations. It was a miracle the baby survived her ordeal.

Whoever was responsible for this crime should be subjected to a heavier dose of caning than other rape cases.

I say this because I think convicted rapists are not afraid of doing time even if they are given the maximum sentence.

What they fear is the cane.

I wish that there is a law allowing public caning. This would not only shame rapists but also deter others from committing sexual crimes.

Caning in public has never been done in this country, but there is always a first time, isn’t there?

MOHD FAIZAL ABDULLAH, Kuala Lumpur

Source: NST – December 29, 2008

I REFER to your report “Feasibilty study first for bridge to Sumatra” (NST, Dec 24). This idea is nothing new. It was mooted by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 1995 when he was the prime minister. The public outcry against the idea put paid to the subject.

Now, once again the suggestion has surfaced. Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said “the bridge would have great economic potential, considering the population in Sumatra has reached 70 million compared with Singapore with only four million”.

We must not forget that although Singapore has a population of four million, it is providing hundreds if not thousands of jobs for Malaysians.

Singapore and Malaysia are like Siamese twins. They were together as Malaya at one time whereas Indonesia is an independent sovereign country in its own right.

Right now, it is shocking to note that foreigners in our country outnumber some of our own minorities.

If you venture into certain parts of Kuala Lumpur, like Chow Kit, you begin to wonder which country in the world you are in.

What is alarming is that foreigners are getting involved in a lot of criminal activities.

If the proposed bridge were to materialise, it would surely facilitate the inflow of foreigners.

Such an inflow would be unstoppable. Our enforcement authorities are already at their wits’ end trying to secure our borders. What more if we open a new channel for outsiders to come in?

The cost of the bridge is estimated at US$11 billion (RM38 billion). Offhand, we can say that the beneficiaries would be foreigners and not us. We would only be inviting trouble.

Just where are our priorities? RM38 billion can be used profitably instead on education and healthcare, both fields in which we are behind.

We should commence building the second bridge to Penang, which is a dire necessity.

We can build better schools and hospitals with state-of-the-art equipment, and give more scholarships to deserving students to do medicine to narrow the doctor-population gap. We can give higher pensions to the retired, food for the destitute and build homes for squatters.

In short, we can make Malaysians a happier lot. Please scrap all notions of building the bridge.

DR A. SOORIAN, Seremban

Source: NST – December 29, 2008

I REFER to Mariam Mokhtar’s letter on Malaysian tourism, “We have got to improve our welcome” (NST, Dec 25).

I do not think we should exploit with glee the problems facing our immediate neighbour in the wake of the recent anti-government protests and the shutting down of the airport in Bangkok.

Instead, we should look within ourselves and bank on our own strengths rather than capitalise on others’ misfortunes.

And I don’t think we have been doing too badly in drawing tourists to our shores or providing tourism-related facilities. Langkawi is my case in point.

In a relatively short span of 15 years, the growth of Langkawi as a destination for foreign and local tourists has been phenomenal. It now has a vibrant tourism industry.

Its man-made and natural attractions, shopping, food, accommodation and transport facilities are well developed and maintained, and now stand second to none in the world.

On a recent visit to this island of a thousand legends, this was what I found: the cable car was packed to capacity, the shopping malls, especially Haji Ismail’s and Teow Soon Huat’s stores, were overflowing and restaurants were doing brisk business throughout my three-day stay.

To cope with the influx of tourists, there were visible signs that much was being done to improve the roads and transport service.

The authorities are also obviously doing a great job preserving the natural beauty and attractions. At the marine park in Pulau Payar, for example, it was evident that much effort has been expended to preserve the ecosystem.

The corals are alive and growing. Because of strict monitoring and enforcement, the beaches are clean and littering has been greatly reduced, compared with a year ago.

But the icing on the Langkawi cake is the accommodation it offers. The resort’s hotels are run by highlytrained Malaysians who have had many years of experience in the hospitality business.

One such asset is James Lim, assistant manager of the Andaman Resort. The standard of personal service and care he extends to each and every guest is legendary.

It complements all that is being done by his colleagues in other resorts there to bring in business travellers, foreign tourists, naturalists, convention organisers and Malaysians to its pristine shores.

P. MAT, Kuala Lumpur

Source: NST – December 29, 2008

MY family and I have been visiting Malaysia regularly since our children were born in the 1980s. Our trip this year has prompted me to write in.

We’ve seen the advanced growth in Kuala Lumpur with its highways, shopping centres, hotels, KTM Komuter and KL Monorail, theme parks, golf courses and more buildings. We love how the night-lighting beautifies the city.

But what has happened to the good old taxi service? We first experienced it degenerating a few years back. We expect a service where you hail a taxi, get in, state your destination, the meter is switched on and you’re on your way.

However, today, you’ve the taxi driver who decides whether your destination suits him; no meter usage, and charges you exorbitant fares (e.g., RM15 fom Jalan Bukit Bintang to Petaling Street and RM25 from KL Sentral to Jalan Bukit Bintang at midnight).

What is this poor excuse “jam everywhere” (no matter what time of the day), so as not to take you? Even if he chooses to take you, you have to pay extra. Extra also if it is raining.

Then there is the same bunch of arrogant taxi drivers who hang out at hotels and shopping centres.

If they had their thinking caps on, they would have noticed that most tourists walk right past them as the tourists already know of their scams from not only other tourists but also the locals.

Malaysians are friendly, polite and hospitable people. It saddens us to see these drivers tarnishing that image.

At the same time, we would also like to say terima kasih to drivers who did provide us with the “good old taxi service” and made our day that much nicer. We hope to hear things will improve for both locals and tourists in future.

C. KING, Werrington Downs New South Wales

Source: NST – December 29, 2008

I WAS shocked to read your report on the proposal to increase ticket prices to RM20 for Hollywood movies.

It is unreasonable and illogical to initiate this move in the hope that it will increase box-office collections for local films.

As a regular moviegoer, let me remind the Malaysian Film Producers Association that this will not improve anything. It might irritate moviegoers and they might boycott local movies.

It’s not that we don’t support local films; we do. But local movies are not of the high standards that Hollywood movies are in terms of storyline, special effects and other production aspects. While I would support other measures to encourage local movie production, the ticket price increase is just too much.

KHUD ZANZA, Bestari Jaya, Selangor

Source: NST – December 29, 2008

THE suggestion by Ahmad Puad Onah, president of the Malaysian Film Producers Association, that the price of foreign movies should be raised in order to encourage moviegoers to watch local movies is absurd.

As a cinema buff, my choice of movies is based on only one thing: their quality.

The problem with the Malaysian movie industry is that the standard is poor and these movies do not attract support from local moviegoers. It won’t help to make it more expensive to watch made-in-Hollywood films.

AHMAD SHAHRIZAL AZIZ, Petaling Jaya

Source: NST – December 29, 2008

THE Malaysian Film Producers Association thinks that raising ticket prices of Hollywood movies to RM20 while keeping prices for local movies at RM12 will boost the popularity of local movies.

I see no reason for local movies to be given protection in order to progress.

The proposed hike is also not fair as certain movies, especially those for children (Happy Feet, Madagascar, etc), are not produced in Malaysia. So how does the question of competition arise?

If the ticket price of foreign movies is raised, it will only result in an increase in movie piracy.

Many would rather get a pirated DVD rather than pay twice the current ticket price to watch a local movie that is not up to the standard of Hollywood productions. This RM20 a ticket plan will definitely not fly.

S.T., Malacca

Source: NST – December 29, 2008

THE suggestion by the president of the Malaysian Film Producers Association (MFPA) that the price of tickets for Hollywood movies be increased to RM20 (”RM20 to watch a Hollywood movie?” — NST, Dec 24) to encourage Malaysian moviegoers to turn to locally-made movies (at RM12 a go) is laughable.

It’s like suggesting that the government should compel KFC and McDonald’s to increase their prices so that Malaysians will be “forced” to patronise local restaurants.

Protectionism in any form will do more harm than good to the local film industry and local businesses. Increasing the ticket price of foreign movies will not automatically mean an increase in box-office collections for local movies.

Consumers will still go for movies that have better storylines, excellent special effects and international movie stars.

Adopting the MFPA’s suggestion will, in the long run, only help increase the business of illegal VCD/DVD syndicates.

The price of illegal DVDs in the market is slightly less than the cinema ticket of RM8-RM12. You can imagine what will happen if the ticket price is raised to RM20.

If the MFPA hopes that more Malaysians will go for local movies, it has to make sure that their quality is improved or, better still, on a par with Hollywood productions.

This is what the MFPA should work on rather than take the easy way out by suggesting Malaysians be penalised through raised ticket prices for foreign films for not supporting the local movie industry, whose products are characterised by low standards and a lack of appeal.

The MFPA has obviously run out of ideas on how to improve its products. I don’t think the government should molly-coddle local movie-makers by entertaining the MFPA’s absurd recommendations.

I hope all Malaysians will write in to the newspapers to condemn the MFPA proposal.

CHAN WAI KEONG, Petaling Jaya

Source: NST – December 29, 2008

THE Women’s Centre for Change (WCC) Penang is greatly disturbed by the recent position taken in relation to the I-Dance street dancing competition in Penang.

State PAS Youth chief Mohamed Hafiz Mohd Nordin has been quoted as saying that “elements like shuffle dancing … can lead to social ills amongst youngsters.”

The response by the state government, as conveyed by the state youth and sport committee chairman Lydia Ong Kok Fooi has been to impose the condition that Muslim male and female participants are not allowed to mingle with each other during the competition.

It is sad and ironic that an activity such as street dancing, which has tremendous capacity to unite young people from diverse backgrounds and encourage interaction which can only enhance multiracial and multicultural unity should now be demonised as a potential source of social ill.

What is also disconcerting is the state government’s decision to segregate participants on the grounds of gender and religion. This move is an apparent compromise in relation to PAS’s earlier demands that no Muslim participant be allowed in the competition.

In a multicultural society, the characteristics of diversity must be promoted and valued as the strength of the society. The I-Dance is a healthy competition for youths of all races. On the basis of equality for all races, WCC calls for integration and not segregation. We cannot afford to segregate the youths based on gender as we move towards developing a human capital with first class mentality.

Women’s Centre for Change Penang

Source: The Sun – December 26, 2008