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well, this won’t go down well with the myopic few. Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim said that he agrees with suggestion by state executive councillor for higher
education Dr Halimah Ali, who said there was nothing wrong in opening
up UiTM to non-Bumiputeras. He went further to suggest that 10% of the places are reserved for non-Bumiputeras and foreign students (something like matriculation).

He said the move would be timely as it followed the changes in the education system. At the same time, it would give early exposure to UiTM students to be more friendly towards other races.

“UiTM was set up to uplift Malays and Bumiputeras from Sabah and Sarawak in the education sector. This effort must continue.

“But at the same time, UiTM should think more globally to ensure their graduates are more friendly with people of different races in the nation.”

He said inter-ethnic interaction was crucial for UiTM graduates as they would be better prepared to step into the working world, which was far different from life as they knew it.

I can guess that the responses will be - “there are many other ways to create inter-ethnic interactions, why pick on UiTM”, “number of students in UiTM small compared to private colleges/universities, so not much effect”, “over my dead body”, “don’t dare to question our rights”, “normal Malaysians won’t be interested to join UiTM”, etc etc.

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While there is a protest over building of a surau in Desa Mentari, the new Selangor government faces another potential bomb in Shah Alam, this time over a Buddhist park. The Bodhi Park project by Young Buddhist Foundation Malaysia is to be located in Section U12, Shah Alam. The project was kick off by Ong Ka Chuan, Housing And Local Government Minister. Just like the Desa Mentari surau, this protest happened during the ground breaking event.

According to Star, six people who claimed to be residents from the nearby Desa Alam neighbourhood led by Ahmad Shakri Tarmuchi handed a memorandum to Ong, urging him to scrap the project citing that the neighbourhood was a Muslim-majority area and Bodhi Park should not be built in there. Ahmad Shakri told reporters the residents were not informed of the project by the City Council and there was no notice board at the site announcing the project from the time they had occupied the housing estate in December 2006. Minister Ong replied that “people there should live in harmony”.

Bodhi Park is being built by the Young Buddhist Foundation Malaysia ona 0.68ha of land and the building committee chairman Goh Seng Chai said it would serve as a leading centre for Buddhist educational outreach and cultural activities. A Bernama report mentions that the park will comprise an auditorium, a centre for Buddhist research and studies, a multipurpose hall, and a main shrine for devotees.

In the early 1990’s, the foundation bought a 0.6-hectare piece of land in Section 24 for the project but the state government found it unsuitable for religious use and offered the alternative site in November 2002, Goh added. He said the land for the project was bought from the Selangor Economic Development Corporation for RM95,844 and the sale-and-purchase agreement was signed in April 2004. Goh said the development order for the project was approved on April 24 this year and construction was scheduled to commence in September.

What is your take on this? Is it the previous government’s fault for allocating land in a Muslim majority area for a Buddhist park? Shah Alam itself is 90% Muslim populated, so not much place will be suitable. Generally, I find Buddhist programs are not noisy, so it won’t be disruptive as other religion’s function. So, should the park?

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I guess all Malaysians already know that MP for Kelana Jaya, Loh Gwo Burne got punched in the corner of his eye by the aide of fellow PKR state assemblyman, Nik Nazmi (currently overseas). As reported in Malaysiakini, Loh says he has forgiven the attacker, Mior Azam Shah Mior Yahya and had talked to him later. Loh made a police report, nonetheless, and police has taken statement from Azam. Says Loh:

I do not hold any grudges against Azam. I still do not fully understand why he hit me but I am not angry at him. When he saw me at the police station, he apologised. He made a mistake.

However, Loh stated that he will not retract his police report because it was necessary to send out the right message.

I will not retract the police report. If I do so, that sends out a message that anybody can whack me and I don’t want that.
I only hope there will be no serious consequences against him. I don’t want him to go to jail.

The reports in NST and Star did not mention details except saying that its over a place of worship, but Malaysiakini had more details, for example mentioning that the place of worship is actually a surau!

According to my sources, the area in Desa Mentari already has 3 surau. The large Indian community there were upset when plans to put up fourth one came up as it will cause more noise. They were expecting a playground instead.

The Star version:

The alleged incident occurred during the ground-breaking ceremony for a place of worship at Desa Mentari here at about 3pm. It seems residents living in the area had protested against the construction of the building there and Loh, who was present, had approached them.
After speaking to the group, Loh approached the organisers of the function to discuss with them the protesters’ concern when he was allegedly punched by Azam. Loh said he went to the scene after being informed about the protest.He said he was surprised because the matter was supposed to have been resolved on Thursday. He said the problem started two weeks ago when residents complained about construction of the building and he was unable to find out who was responsible for the construction.
“When I arrived there today, I kept on asking him (the aide), ‘Who was responsible for this?’ I must have asked him about 10 times and pointed at him saying that, ‘You as a PA should know’. That was when he punched me in the face above my right eye,” he said.The crowd then stopped the individual, he said.“I do not think I provoked him,” Loh said.He added that the party should do something “comprehensive” against his alleged assailant.

Malaysiakini version:

The parliamentarian went to see what was going on after learning there was a protest by residents living in the area against the construction of the surau. He said the problem started two weeks ago when residents complained about the construction of a surau but he could not find out who was responsible for the construction.
He also noted that the structure has no permit from the local council and the residents disagree with the structure. “The residents wanted a playground for the children, not another surau. “I am not opposed to anything that people want to build as long the
residents are properly consulted and have agreed to it,” he stated.
After speaking to the protesters, Loh approached the organisers of the function to discuss with them the residents’ concern and was suddenly punched in the face by Azam. “I kept asking (Azam), ‘Who was responsible for this?’ for about 10 times and pointed at him saying, ‘You as a PA should know’. That was when he punched me in the face above my right eye,” he said.
Immediately after the incident, the police controlled the crowd who tried to reprimand Azam themselves.

Loh then said that the people behind this construction had decided to halt the project as they await further consultation with about 6,000 of the residents there.

Selangor MB, Khalid Ibrahim said that the assault issue has been resolved after apologies were exchanged by the two persons involved. He claims that incident is due to “young PKR leaders eager to bring forward their respective opinions as representatives of the local people”. Does he mean that there are gangsters in PKR? In The Star, the MB is quoted as saying this issue is an internal dispute.

It’s among the young ones of PKR. We see it as an internal dispute that has been solved between both individuals. Both men have apologised and it’s a neighbourhood issue that will be resolved in an amicable manner with the help of Kelana Jaya division chairman Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud.

Khalid said no disciplinary action would be taken on either individual as it was just a difference of opinion.

The young ones are eager to do their best for the people, express the people’s views but it has to be done through constructive
consultation and must not get physical at any moment of time.

One good thing that has come out of this is the high level of transparency, accountability and the presence of the people’s representatives in the neighbourhoods to solve issues.

Asked how it could be an internal dispute when the incident occurred in public, Khalid once again played the matter down by saying that it was all right as it shows that the party members are very much involved in the field and are with the people.

Differences of opinion take place but we encourage constructive consultation and views shared. It also fosters a better understanding among the leaders and its people in a particular neighbourhood.

Khalid said to avoid future misunderstandings; construction of all places of worship must obtain approval from the respective local authorities. But isn’t this ALREADY a rule for non-muslim places of worship???

By the way, UMNO’s Muhammad Muhammad Taib took this opportunity to tell some lies. Read this:

During Barisan Nasional’s administration, since 1957, there were never incidences about fighting over places of worship. “We
usually resolved everything through a consensus. We allowed churches, temples, mosques and all … but now they have to get physical about it

Does he think we forgot about Padang Jawa?

Question now will arise on how Pakatan Rakyat goverment will solve this problem. Will they allow building of a unapproved place of worship? Will rules be bent to get the plans approved? Does the surau actually have an approval? Were residents’ view taken into consideration before construction? What if the residents continue protesting? What is Hindraf’s stand on this? Will MIC say something?

Hmm… so many questions arising.

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