Linundus Mirror Page

Beginner’s Kadazandusun Dictionary: Comments and Proposals.

2010-02-13T00:08:00.000-08:00

Beginner’s Kadazandusun Dictionary: Comments and Proposals.
AA) Comments from Group A - ‘Pro-Kadazandusun’.
1) Rita Lasimbang posted on February 3, 2010 1:21 PM
a) "Tinaru' Kadazandusun is NOT created by KLF (Okon ko' KLF o minonoodo).
b) ‘We are, as implementors, merely used this term (‘Kadazandusun’) which was being used at that time, this work was undertaken before 1999. (If there is a need to change, then we have to go back to those who created it, we only implement.)’
c) Nga' iso' dati' o kinomungkangan dagai do ontok dii...ontok nopo do ponoodo di projik, ii nopo "bangsa" om "race" nga' dahin dagai do "tinaru'"; om au' dati' dii koontok do baino iho' (maybe use "Indigenous group" instead of "race").
d) And as with any other publishers, we will revise our books based on comments received from our readers and users of our books. Seperti juga dengan penerbit lain, kami akan mengusahakan Edisi Semakan bagi buku-buku terbitan kami dengan mengambil kira komen-komen yang kami terima daripada pembaca dan pengguna buku terbitan kami. Sekian.

2) Clement Jaikul said... posted on February 2, 2010 5:46 AM

a) The only agenda behind this subject i.e. to promote Kadazandusun as a race is essentially to unite this two ethnic tribes, who long ago was hunting each other heads.
b) The Penampang " Kadazan " used to mock me as the Dusun Tagahaas< and they were enjoying laughing and making fun of the Tagahaas. I and my other DUsuns were proud of the name because according the folklore it was Tagahaas the victor for having collected the highest number of head from the Tanggara tribe.
c) Unless the only agenda by those promoting the "Kadazan' as a race is to disunite the Kadazan and Dusuns.
d) The fact remains that Kadazan is a race and Dusun is also a race, what it so wrong if this two name are united as KadazanDusun. By right the name should be changed to 'DusunKadazan" simply because the Dusuns are the majority( you cannot deny this fact). February 1, 2010 11:34 AM
e) I was asked whether the name " Dusun ' is to be included in the Dictionary. I am proud and all the Dusuns in Sabah are proud of their heritage. In fact the word ' Dusun ' is not something new in the Malay dictionary. Back in 1882 the first Governor of British NOrth Borneo Mr. William Hood Treacher had mentioned the name ' Dusun' when writting a special report to the Chartered Company Board of Directors baed in London. The British then already recognised the ' Dusun' as the predominant race in North Borneo. This historic event must be passed to the new generations, and for that no reason why the name "Dusun' is to be omitted from the dictionary.. If one would stick to the fact of the subject in question, I dont see any confusion.
f) The question seems to me is whether " Kadazandusun' is acceptable or not as a race. Every one has his own say and opinion, so may I suggest that a ' gallup poll ' be carried out and let us (Dusun and Kadazan) decide once for all.
3) Clement Jaikul said... posted on February 7, 2010 7:39 AM

a) Why all this ' splitting of the hairs' why revived this old wounds. Did you and i gained tangible out of all these arguements even to the extent of running down our political leaders? To my mind, our motto should be unity in diversity.
b) Look around and see for yourself what is our greviences in terms of marginalisation in governance, jobs and education. These grievances needed to be corrected and rectified. True our rights as sons of the soils are guaranteed under the constitution, but it is a right we have to fight for and fight hard to win for it. Our greviances are genuine and are we happy about it by simply sweping these greviances under the carpet.
c) The fruits of our rights does not come along on a silver plate. Where do we go from here. Can some one over there enlightened on this very serious and important subject.

4) Clement Jaikul said...posted on February 7, 2010 7:44 PM

a) You mentioned about creating a new race? The Dayaks are now known as Ibans, and I believe the Ibans are proud of thier new name. Why can we be proud as Kadazandusun and still maintains our respective culture, and there is really nothing wrong if when addressing a function or crowd in salutation by saying Tobinai Kadazan and Dusun ngavi.........
b) I admit that I have sidelines a bit when I discussed about our greviances. What I am try to infer is unless we are united and unified in our stand, our greviances cannot be addressed effectively and bring about results.
c) As you have said leave it to the politicians. I agree very much. As individual or a group of concerned people or assocation can also contribute and in fact more effectively.
d) I think our politicians and leaders were sincere in their deliberations and not for anything else, but as politicians they cannot escape the perceptions that it wasnt politically motivated.
5) Anonymous said... February 9, 2010 11:44 PM
a) We should use this term KadazanDusun because all the other indigenous ethnic groups are already included as this word is meant to be inclusive.
b) KadazanDusun as a term includes Muruts, Rungus, Tindal, Bundu, Tangara, Liwan and all the 36 other tribes.
c) The significance of this word KadazanDusun is Unity by Diversity. It unite everybody that we are one people, one race and one voice.

6) Clement Jaikul said... posted on February 9, 2010 11:52 PM
a) Quite often I am puzzled that to some the name 'Dusun" implies as uncivilized race etc, whereas the literal meaning of it is ' orchard or farmer. Nothing unsavoury to me more so we are basically are farmers.

7) Anonymous said... posted on February 1, 2010 11:30 PM

a) There is no such thing as Dusuns, Kadazans and other ethnic until the Christian missionary and the British colonial came and educate us in the late 1880s.

Things changed especially politics came to the picture when the British North Borneo was invited by Malaya to formed the new country called Malaysia somewhere in 1960 or 1961.

I think you people know the history of the friction between the Kadazans and the Dusuns which started in 1961 in the then Jesselton Community Centre until the rise of the Dusun nationalism in the PBS era 1985 to 1994.

As what CBM said "Compromise", the term KCA was transformed to KDCA in 1989 and the rest was history. I wonder what is CBM's race stated in his Birth Certificate. I heard his race is Dusun and there are copies available.
b) And now we are in the 21st Century year 2010 we are still wrangling in this issue. Why? So what if the KLF said the Kadazandusun is one of the ethnic race. Maybe they have the justification.

Like the others, I agree that if you are happy to be Kadazans, Dusuns, Kadazandusuns, and others so be it. The late Tun Fuad has learned his lesson that nobody can go to the extreme.

We should compromise because if the term Kadazandusun is fit to the present time where it can unite the two biggest ethnic tribe the Kadazan Tangara and Dusun Bunduliwan well United we stand, Divided we fall.

I think this Kadazan v Dusun and now v Kadazandusun should put to rest and we must move forward. We are far, far behind in our education, employment, business, communication technology and many many more than the other race like the Malay, Chinese, Indian and Iban/Dayak.

Our situation now is just like the "Boiled-frog syndrome".

8) Anonymous said... posted on February 2, 2010 10:51 PM

a) The crux of the problem started when the late Datuk M Koding left PBS and formed AKAR, he made it a political platform. In order to get support from the Dusun politicaly, he intensified the use of the name 'Dusun' and even engaged the late Datuk G S Sundang as he was among those who did not agree to the term 'Kadazan' being used in 1961 by the late Tun Fuad Stephens to unite the community under a single identity.
b) The late Tun Fuad Stephens admitted his mistake as reported in KST dated 19/2/1967. The mistake can still be corrected as what the KCA leaders had done on 05/11/1989 by introducing the term "Kadazandusun" at the annual congress of delegates. It has since came to be known as KDCA.
c) The justification was because all the other indigenous ethnic groups are already included as this word is meant to be inclusive. Kadazandusun as a term include the Rungus and all the 40 other tribes. This is the stand of KDCA to coin the term with a view to uniting everybody psychologically and mentally so that they don't fight over who is Kadazan and who is Dusun anymore. That is the idea, it is a good idea and should be supported.
d) Although the term "Kadazandusun" is not 'universally used' or 'accepted', it was a good start and there are signs that the same-speech community are beginning to be aware of this term.
e) The people are slowly getting into that idea and accepting it. Those who disagree will gradually and eventually accept its usage. Tan Sri H Luping has written his book titled "The Kadazandusuns". (Very familiar statement – Moderator.)
f) Opening suggestions, the move towards correction can be initiated from the official side (NRD). The official side (NRD) who prepare our demograhy and population statistic should call us just Kadazandusuns in their documentation. To do this, there must be an official instruction on the adoption of the term "Kadazandusun".
g) Present-day leaders like Huguan Siou Datuk J Pairin, Tan Sri B Dompok, Tan Sri J Kurup, Datuk Ayub Aman, Datuk Dr J Kitingan, Tan Sri G Gilong, Tan Sri S Koroh, Tan Sri H Luping, Datuk M Leiking, Tan Sri S Sipaun should get together in an effort to arrive at a consensus so that will sort of solve this so-called problem of identity.

9) Anonymous said... February 3, 2010 11:23 PM
a) Why Kadazadusuns? An article written by the late Rev Fr A L Gossen compiled a Kadazan Dictionary which was published by Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic society in November 1924 stated that "In this vocabulary, I have followed the pronounciation of Kadazan as used in Papar. Dusun call themselves Kadazan, page 87"
b) There is some older records in the writing of Ivor H N Evan's book " Among Primitive People in Borneo" published in 1922 read,"The Dusun apply different names to themselves in different parts of the country; for instance, I have it on the authority of Father Duxneuney that the Putatan people call themselves Kadazan, while I found that the natives of the Tempassuk dub themselves tindal, page 79 and 286."
c) If you said so what? Well going back to my point that the stand of KDCA to coin the term Kadazandusun with a view to uniting everybody so that they don't fight over who is Kadazan and who is Dusun anymore. That is the idea, it is a good idea and should be supported.
d) But if you said it's rubbish then there will never be a final answer to this. It will go on and on. I think it's time for us to move on.
e) The agreed-on-name was the closest approach. But most of the communities including the above commenter still don't see it positively. Now that we have reached the millennium, there was still conflict among the Kadazans and Dusuns which was resulting in the identity crisis again.

10) Anonymous said... posted on February 5, 2010 10:41 AM
a) Anyway, the term "Kadazandusun" was coined as the best alternative approach to resolve the "Kadazan/Dusun identity crisis", which have crippled and impeded the growth and development of the Kadazandusun multi-ethnic socio-culturally, economically and politically - eversince Kadazanism versus Dusunism sentiments wre politized in 1960's.
b) On the other hand, I concurred KSS and other individual's stance that those who identify themselves as 'Kadazan' or 'Dusun' should be respected.
c) To resolve this debate amicably and to reach a "win-win situation", I therefore welcome KSS President's proposal that the Kadazans or the Dusuns can be identified under the new term "KadazanDusun" (with the capital K and D) as published in your blog on 30/3/2009.
d) Last but not least, we must make it official and there must be an official instruction on the adoption of the term "KadazanDusun" and NRD should be instructed on correct term to use.
(Note from the moderator: If I am not too presumptuous, the Anonymous participants in C (1-4) above are one and the same person. If this is so, then there are only 3 participants from this group).

BB) Comments from Group B - against ‘Kadazandusun’.
1) S. Bernard said... February 1, 2010 6:13 PM
I am a Dusun and I am proud to be one. Why dilute my dialect name by making Kadazandusun? Who was the crazy guy who thought of this in the first place? And by the way, what unity? Are we not already United as Sabahans? Very Very strange to create a new race.
2) Kenneth J said... February 1, 2010 6:31 PM
a) I noted from your blogs attachment, on the Dictionary proposed by KLF, Why is Murut, the Lotuds and the the Rungus a "Race" of its own and the "Kadazandusuns" fused into one?
b) So my vote is for Kadazan and Dusuns to be recognised a Race and Dialect which we must defend and preserve for all enternity. What is a race without its language?
3) raynerstuelgalid said... February 1, 2010 8:41 PM
a) My father lived in Inanam and his boros is Dusun; my mother is from Tunon, obviously a Kadazan-Tanggara. They wed at St.Micheal in 1955. Living in Inanam but always close-knit with relatives from Tunon and Dabak, we, the siblings, can speak Inanam-Dusun and Tanggara dialects equally good. My birth cert list me as Kadazan but some of my siblings are put down as Dusuns (put it down to the different clerks at the Registar).
b) As far as I know all of us siblings are happy to be referred to as Kadazans, and we take no offence when called Dusuns.
4) Anonymous said...
a) Whatever you call our community, Kadazan or Dusun, we are one and the same. To "kahwin it" into a generic name like the despicable fusion of "kadazandusun" only shows how shallow these people are.
b) It should always be Orang Sabah berbangsa "Kadazan" atau "Dusun". If the Muruts can have it their way as a distinct race, why not we?

5) Johnny SM (SKG-Prod) SG said... February 2, 2010 7:48 PM
a) I am a Kadazan, so I not agreeing nor permitting this. I wholly disgaree with this term "Kadazandusun"
b) We will end up to be the first race in the world to be unsure of our race? So much that we need to rename our race into something unnatural in as far I am concerned.
c) If the people who wants to change my race wants to and insists to, please tell them to leave me and my family out of it.
d) So NRD, please record me, John S. M, of Papar (will provide our IC and Statutory Declaration-when the time comes for NRD to attempt to make me "Kadazandusun") wishes to remain as I was known when I was born and that is a "KADAZAN".
6) Anonymous said... February 2, 2010 8:13 PM
a) My brothers and sisters, there is no such race as Kadazandusun! We are either Kadazans or Dusuns. We can check with JPN and confirm that no such race exists. Neither one of us want to lose our identity. We should never allow this to happen. The term is coined by politicians. They try to manipulate all of us for their own gain.
b) The creation of a new language(kadazandusun) which is totally different from kadazan & even dusun language would definitely confuse not only our people but in fact will give a new identity for those who wish to be included into this new kadazandusun race...and worst still its gonna be taught in the school curriculum.
7) Anonymous said... February 2, 2010 10:30 PM
a) I for one am not ashamed to be called a Dusun. So what. We just ignore those people who wants to make us Dusuns even more marginalised by making our race Dusun to be after the Kadazan peoples' race.
b) Why must the Dusun come in Second or why must the Dusun name be obliterated into Kadazandusun.
8) My Dignity is my Race said... February 2, 2010 11:29 PM
a) I am a Kadazan and will probably be the last few who will stand by that name.
b) So leave me out. If you and the rest of these "so called" community leaders what to so called unite yourselves", then go ahead but but a proviso to the NRD to exclude specifically the "minority" like me, who will live and die as a Kadazan. I am sure that there are some "minority" Dusuns who thinks like and probably we will be the last few who will continue to preserve our identity as it was and as it is.
9) FREEDOM said... February 3, 2010 3:54 PM
a) This confusion must be STOPPED. Once a Kadazan always a Kadazan and likewise the Dusuns, Muruts etc.... United we stand as a race but we do not fall, we multiply as a race.
b) Citizens are given the freedom to chose what race they what to be termed as but please do not form another race combining all the ethnic groups (I give my highest due respect to all ethnic groups, I respect their culture,their practice, etc... do not make our future generations life COMPLICATED. We must have a sense of belonging as an individual race.
10) Anonymous said... February 3, 2010 11:26 PM
a) Whether you are Kadazan, Dusun, Murut, Rungus, Kimaragang, Lotud and so and so on, your political leaders since Donald Stephens, Pairing Kitingan, Mark Koding, Bernard Dompok and Joseph Kurup were the ones who were not united.
b) The solution is to not change the race identity. Keep intact, what the late Tun Fuad said, call yourselves any of either Kadazan or Dusun, after all you are the same. Putting the word the together as "kadazandusun" serves no one well at all but only serves the message of the politicians who indeed as someone said in this blog, have long overstayed their welcome and service.
11) Regi Puvok said... February 4, 2010 5:15 PM
a) Au zou sama sakahi kosokodung do tondom-ondom nu kokomoi do 'If you cannot accept the term Kadazandusun so be it, nobody is forcing you'.. agazo om poinghundat kozo oh vaza do ahal diti, okito tokou do nabaagi nodi do tohu.. Kadazan, Dusun om Kadazandusun.. onu di oh kovosian diho do baino? … and some of us diehard Kadazan, Dusun and some wanted to proceed Kadazandusun..
b) So what (has) this group achieved to unite this 2? In fact they (have) successfully divided us into 3.. I strongly suggest that any book bearing 'Kadazandusun' (should) be changed to Kadazan and Dusun.
12) Angry with (….) who manipulate the truth said... February 4, 2010 8:47 PM
a) Hi all you people who are propagating the newly alien race called "Kadazandusun", please remember that it was purely a political ploy by these ( ….) of politicians who have really shoved up all our arses (with) their imaginary Kadazan and Dusun disunity.
b) The Kadazans and Dusuns have never hated each other nor have they ever questioned each other. Creating this Kadazandusun terminology is evil […].
13) Pensioner said... February 5, 2010 12:39 PM
a) The Muruts, the Lotuds (as described in the Dictionary by KLF), the Rungus and others will maintain their own NRD Description as it seems you guys (had) never (had) any bloodshed or disunity (before).
b) We naughty Kadazans and Dusuns have messed up, it seems, at least from the many comments made in this blog and that is why Kadazandusuns (term), as proposed by these political parties and leaders, is the (option).
14) Anonymous said... February 5, 2010 5:20 PM
a) Even if you change the term from ‘Kadazandusun’ to ‘KadazanDusun’, though the spelling is different but, mind you, the sound is the same, and eventually it will go back to the old spelling. ‘Bolikon om tiyan’ or ‘iri om iri amu kasari’.
b) No lar ... Datuk Marcel, I disagree with you to change the term to ‘KadazanDusun’. I respect your proposal but, as I said, there will be no end to it. I believe you were only trying to seek a compromise at that material time by clarifying the capital K and D. But why ‘piroputon wagu’.
c) I am a dusun and do not wish my ethnic group to be ‘subsuming or subservient (in name-sake) to the Kadazans as what the earlier commentator (raynerstuelgalid dated February 1, 2010 8:41 PM) has said.
15) Anonymous said... February 6, 2010 4:06 PM
a) I wish to remain as a "Kadazan". People should respect the "Dusuns" too. Let us be one and the same people with different Dialects only.
b) Let the Dusuns be known as Dusuns and the Kadazans as Kadazans. I see no reason to change it.
16) Anonymous said... February 7, 2010 7:21 PM
a) I agree with Regi Puvok. One should either be a Kadazan or a Dusun. There's no such thing called as Kadazandusun. And please don't try to confuse people by saying that KadazanDusun (Capital K and D) is acceptable.
17) Anonymous said... February 7, 2010 7:28 PM
a) Don’t ever agree to be called a Kadazandusun or even KadazanDusun. It should be either Kadazan or Dusun.
b) We come from different parts of Sabah and therefore it is natural that some of us are Kadazan and some of us are Dusun. But we should not be called Kadazandusun for whatever reasons.
18) DSDAK said... February 8, 2010 9:31 AM
a) I do not understand why 'Dusun' is not listed as an ethnic group in the said dictionary.
b) In my Birth Certificate, my parent (God Bless their souls) are Dusun. Can anyone (including the writer, editor, sponsor, etc. of this said dictionary) say "In my Birth Certificate, my father is a Kadazan and my mother is a Dusun. Hence, I am a Kadazanduzun?"
19) Anonymous (Nat from Canada) said... February 8, 2010 8:04 PM
a) Our hearts goes to all our Kadazan and Dusun kins who may have been hurt or suffered in this ‘war’ which our two wonderful race have had.
b) I think the solution however is to talk it over and not to fuse (merge) our (two) race(s) into Kadazandusun.
c) The Assiniboin and Cree dialects or tribes, two of the many native canadians have never fused their race names. These are all strong braves who are proud of their dialects and culture albeit both Natives but different in dialects. Yes they use to have their fights but it was more territorial and misunderstanding rather.
20) Anonymous said... February 9, 2010 1:46 PM
a) It was a mistake to bull-dozed the Dusuns as admitted by the late Tun Fuad Stephens in 1967. However, the Kadazan/Dusun identity crisis continues. It was the 5th KCA Delegate Conference in 1989 that amended the KCA Constitution. This was in response to the strong request by those who still want to be called Dusuns, they they be accomodated in name in the Association.
b) The KDCA leaders prefers "Kadazandusuns" (one word) instead of "Kadazan-Dusun" (two words), the acronym KDCA is, therefore wrong in the first place. It should still stick to the old acronym KCA.
c) My point here is people should be given the liberty to identify themselves as Kadazans or Dusuns or this new term Kadazan-Dusun because what I concerned about is even within KDCA and KSS there are other informal and formal groupings under the shadows of certain personalities.
d) Since it is more personalize and therefore very personal in nature, it is this splinter-group rivalry, not KDCA v KSS, which does more harm to the unity of the community.
21) Regi Puvok said... February 10, 2010 10:48 AM
a) While I respect your opinion (Anonymous said... February 9, 2010 11:44 PM) of the use KadazanDusun, we are all opinionated anyway. To me it is an act of brushing-off the Kadazan and the Dusun.
b) Why not MurutRungus term (to represent) the Lotud, Kadazan, Dusun, etc..? Doesn’t this (term) look complicated?
c) Don’t confuse our future generation who would (be) keen to track their ancestries.
d) I will be ashamed if Kadazan and Dusun are no longer classified (as races) in the dictionary.
22) Anonymous said... February 11, 2010 5:40 AM
a) I am not one who will ever be able to accept this generic label "Kadazandusun" or "KadazanDusun".
b) We are either "Kadazans" or "Dusuns" and that is that!
c) By the way, whoever derogated the label the race "Dusun"? I have never heard of it.

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ENGLISH LANGUAGE CONTROVERSY IN MALAYSIA

2009-06-17T02:53:00.000-07:00

Posted by: cheaman

The English language has generated a lot of interest recently. From using English as a medium of instruction for Maths and Science to a proposal to make it a compulsory subject at SPM level from the Education Minister himself, the avalanche of pro and con opinions from educators, politicians, NGOs, parents and students themselves has turned this lingua franca of the world into a controversial quagmire.

The liberal Education Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has invited further feedback from the public before a decision is made by the Cabinet. Being an educationist for over 40 years, permit me to give my two cents worth.

Perhaps a calm analysis of the entire issue and some basic understanding of education concepts on testing and evaluation, may put this ‘controversy’ into some perspective.

1. Language acquisition is a skill . It is not a talent which is inborn (e.g. an alto or soprano singer has an inborn ‘voice box’ which can reach higher levels of sound). If it is a skill, then it can be taught and learned. A child can learn any language if he is exposed to it.

2. English is the lingua franca of the world. It is the language of the internet and ICT. It is the language of mathematics, science, research and knowledge. I’m not saying that knowledge cannot be acquired from Russian or Chinese. But how many of us can understand Russian or Chinese? English is also the global language of communication and international trade. If we don’t use it and master it, we may lose out (in terms of knowledge, progress and economic development). Pragmatism is the better part of valour here.

3. Logic tells us that we should not retrogress. We have only eleven more years left to achieve industrialized nation status! It would bring shame and demoralize the nation when the people suddenly realized that Malaysia “Tak Boleh” comes 2020.

4. So, the most logical thing to do is to speed up the process of learning English! This can be achieved through creativity, innovation, technology and a sense of purpose. I propose the following:

a. Revamp the English syllabus. Place special emphasis on teaching basic grammar and sentence structure. Teach ‘survival English’ during the early stages (Primary level).

Include the proper teaching of ‘auxiliary verbs’ (there are only about 25 of them). Deterioration of the English language can be found even in MUET level students. I was shocked to find students attending my MUET classes uttering expressions like: “What does Minah wants to know?.... Why did Ali went there?.... Why must Lily says such things?... What have they doto the maid? … (sic)…”

b. Communication English should be properly taught together with relevant grammar and structure. No effective communication can take place if we use broken English. (E.g. Overheard advice from one student to another: “No one can force you do nothing you not want to.”). I am reminded of Confucius’ diction: “If language is not correct then what is said is not what is meant. If what is said is not what is meant, then what ought to be done, remains undone!”

c. Incidentally, communication has a purpose. For what purpose do you want to use English? Do you want to use English in the sales department or the tourism industry? Or maybe you just need to prepare a report for the department or produce a catchy phrase or jingle for advertising. English usage has multifaceted genres. Maybe the education ministry should consider introducing ESP (English for Special Purposes) in schools. This approach was used inSingapore some 25 years ago! Then maybe we will look at how English is used to teach Maths and Science in a different light. To appease vernacular language diehards the education ministry could always publish bilingual or trilingual Maths and Science textbooks (i.e. BahasaMalaysia or Chinese or Tamil and English) just like what was done before when the medium of instruction was switched from English to B.M. back in the mid-seventies.

d. Revamp the set of English vocabulary items and make it more relevant for Malaysian learners to learn at each stage. Perhaps in year one, 200 words. In year two another 200 words and so forth. I remember in the fifties and sixties we had class readers based on certain vocabulary range, and I enjoyed reading them. Children are put off when they read things they can’t understand. Do teachers still teach the usage of such words in the vocabulary lists? (When I was with the Examination Panel setting questions for the Local Examinations Syndicate, we always referred to such lists, less we be accused of setting questions “outside the syllabus”!).How many local textbook writers ever refer to such vocabulary lists? Most students will tell you that the vocabulary found in most of the reading passages in their school texts is beyond their comprehension. If students can’t even understand the ‘surface structures’ how can they delve below them? More professional writers (such as retired teachers) should be employed on full time basis to write more interesting and creative textbooks. Perhaps, something along the line of the ‘books for Dummies’ series. Interactive textbooks could also be produced on CDs.

e. After the pilot project of introducing computers as another teaching tool in school during the 1990s, most schools are equipped with computer labs by now. So introduce interactive English learning in schools. This may reduce the need to import native speakers of the language. Just train teachers on how to use the interactive teaching software. Teachers themselves can also relearn some proper grammar and structures from these professionally prepared programmes from native countries overseas. There are a lot of commercial software teaching packages out there which are capable of speeding up the process of learning. Interactive lessons include situational dialogues with clear explanations of relevant grammatical usage and sentence structures with correct pronunciations, intonation, rhythm and stress patterns (in native mode). Students can also record and playback their own voices and correct their mistakes, etc. The present generation of students are computer literate and they can adapt to the new learning environment in no time. Believe me, I have been involved in teaching and using such programmes for a number of years and I have found them to be quite effective.

f. Another alternative is to permit ‘vernacular’ English schools to be set up and allow parents to make their own choice as to where they want to send their children. If the 1Malaysia concept is really meant for all Malaysians, then it should also cater to those whose first language at home is English.

5. With regard to making English a compulsory subject to pass at SPM level, I am glad to find an Education Minister who is finally touch with reality. No student will ever take English seriously if he doesn’t have to pass it from year one until university! Even the MUET exam is not compulsory at the moment. (The ministry stipulation is that students must register and sit for the exam, but nothing is mentioned about passing it, to enter university).

And why are people so riled up about passing the English paper? In the old days, any good test is based on Bloom’s taxonomy where various aspects of the syllabus will be tested based on a ‘Test Blueprint’ which sets out the weighting and criteria for questioning techniques. After various sets of tests are completed, they are then sent for ‘tryouts’ in various schools all over the country, including urban, rural and ‘interior’ schools in Sarawak and Sabah. A thorough ‘item analysis’ will be carried out on the test results and a ‘discrimination index’ will be done on objective test items. ‘Cross validations’ will be made to see if the items are not urban or rural biased. The items are then carefully edited and reassembled into the final ‘paper’, usually two years in advance of the date for the actual public examination. All this is done to ensure the validity and reliability of the test construct so that all students will sit for a fair exam. The Malaysian Examinations Syndicate set stringent standard and control over local public examinations which are equivalent to the best in the world.

Even after the examination, the results will be tabulated in a ‘bell shaped’ graph. This is where the mean (national average score), the median (the most number of students falling into this category) and the standard deviations will be determined. There will usually be the 10% of high and low achievers at both ends of the bell curve in any subject. It is not always possible to get a perfectly symmetrical bell curve with the apex right at the middle of the 50 percentile score. In my numerous years as a Co-Chief Examiner with the Local Examinations Syndicate, where my group of team leaders was responsible for thousands of exam scripts, my bell curve for the English Paper (1119/1 & 2), always had an askew slightly to the left. The mean score ranged from 38 to 47, depending on the year. But this was only a segment of the population and not the national average.

So, why are politicians, parents and students worried about rural students not getting a fair deal in the English paper, or any other subjects, for that matter? It is an open secret in most schools that the passing mark for Additional Mathematics is only around 20%. Most students who consistently failed their Add. Maths, with scores of 30 and below in school, were found to pass their SPM actual paper. The students were taught by experienced teachers who were also examiners. Just go and sit the paper and stop worrying about the ‘compulsory’ stigma. The “passing mark” is based on the national average and it may just be around 20% !

6 I’m in full support for any move to make a pass in English compulsory. It is high time to place emphasis on English as an important global language for communication and knowledge assimilation and to make students study this language seriously for the good of their future as well as the survival of our nation. Survival too is a skill. All skills can be learnt. And if English is needed to survive in the modern global arena, just make a little extra effort and learn it!

The author is an English lecturer and Coodinator, currently attached to the Terengganu Language Centre at the Terengganu Public Library. He can be contacted at: cybercheam@yahoo.com or cheam@trglib.gov.my

Source: StarOnline

RM149m project to ensure stable KK power supply

2009-05-19T06:17:00.000-07:00

RM149m project to ensure stable KK power supply

Published on: Tuesday, May 19, 2009

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Kota Kinabalu: The quality and certainty of electricity supply in the city and surrounding areas will be addressed with the RM149 million Kota Kinabalu Outer Ring System phase two project.

The deal was sealed between Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) with YBS Tenaga-Global Globe Sdn Bhd consortium in a ceremony witnessed by State Resources Development and Information Technology Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai, representing Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, Monday.

"Today marked another effort by the SESB to galvanise the electricity supply system in Sabah," its Managing Director Baharin Din, said at the signing ceremony in Pacific Sutera here. Representing the consortium was its Director, Rayner Miling.

The scope of the project includes installing underground 132kV cables from the transformer in Kepayan to Lok Kawi, installation of the 22km 132kV transmission cable to the Kolopis transformer and installation of the security, communication and data monitoring system between the transformers and load distribution control centre in Penampang.

Baharin said the project was important, as it is to enhance the security, stability and quality of the existing supply system in the State Capital, Putatan, Penampang, Lok Kawi and surrounding areas.

Among the main challenges in carrying it out would be obtaining the wayleave because the underground cable and transmission cable path not only covers government land but also highly populated areas.

In this respect, SESB hoped to get co-operation from all, especially the State Railway Department, Public Works Department, Land and Survey Department as well as the Papar and Lok Kawi district offices.

"SESB will carry out its responsibility as the implementing agency and we hope the contractor (YBS Tenaga-Global Globe Sdn Bhd Consortium) will play its role to complete the project according to schedule," he said.

Baharin assured that SESB would continue to take the initiative to muster effort to ensure power supply in Sabah is stable through short and long-term measures in its generation, transmission and distribution system.

SESB thanked the Government for the RM600 million in the form of grant and soft loan under the Ninth Malaysia Plan to develop the power transmission and distribution system in Sabah and Labuan.

He said the consortium was a smart partnership between Yayasan Bumiputera Sabah, a State agency, with peninsula-based Global Globe Sdn Bhd.

The agreement, he said, was a manifestation of the solid cooperation between the government, SESB and contractor.

The project proved that the Barisan Nasional (BN) Federal and State governments are working very closely towards delivering its election manifesto promised during the last general election, he said.

It is also in line with the Prime Minister's vision in promoting the One Malaysia concept where People's First Performance Now.

DAP lauds Khidmat private hospital plan

2009-05-19T06:14:00.000-07:00

DAP lauds Khidmat private hospital plan

Published on: Tuesday, May 19, 2009

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Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Democratic Action Party (DAP) welcomed the proposal to set up a State-owned private hospital at the Khidmat Complex in Karamunsing here.

In a statement Monday, its Chairman Dr Hiew King Cheu said even though it came late, with all the problems related to medical health services in Kota Kinabalu, it is better than nothing.

The proposal was to convert the vacant building into a RM100 million private hospital under the State Government-linked Sabah Credit Corporation (SCC).

Dr Hiew, nevertheless, said the 18 per cent shareholding of the State Government in the Sabah Medical Centre (SMC), after the sale of the SMC complex to the Health Ministry of the Federal Government, should be disposed off.

This, he said, would increase the value of the share to about RM70 million.

The amount, he said, should then be used to finance the initial cost of the new State hospital here.

He also suggested that the State Government revive the portfolio of Ministry of Health in the State Cabinet, with jurisdiction on all health matters and developments as well as administration in Sabah.

"The Federal Government shall provide our share of the money under the Malaysia Agreement for the purpose," he said.

In the past, he said Sabah had its own Health Ministry until after it was handed over to the Federal Government.

Dr Hiew said many people supported the idea of Sabah Health Ministry because of its significance.

The "hospital saga", he said, has caused discomfort, agony, anger and also loss of lives.

He suggested that Sabahans manage the hospitals in Sabah because they can handle better the problems.

Kasitah caused SLDB to lose RM137m

2009-05-19T06:10:00.000-07:00

Kasitah caused SLDB to lose RM137m

Published on: Thursday, May 14, 2009

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Kuala Lumpur: Tan Sri Kasitah Gaddam did not disclose the parallel offer by PPB Oil Palms to the Sabah Land Development Board (SLDB) resulted in the board suffering a loss of more than RM137.5 million in 1996, the High Court heard, Tuesday.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Masri Mohd Daud submitted that Kasitah had concealed the information from the board members which resulted in the board on Oct. 22, 1996 approving the sale of Sapi Plantation shares to Briskmark Enterprise Sdn Bhd at a much lower price.

Masri said evidence adduced via prosecution witnesses revealed that the board members would not have approved the sale of 16.8 million Sapi shares to Briskmark if Kasitah, who at the material time was the Chairman of SLDB, had disclosed the details of the PPB Oil Palm's offer.

"Kasitah had intentionally deceived the board members on the offer made by PPB Oil Palms and induced the members to approve the sale to Briskmark where he did not disclose his interest in the sale of the shares," submitted Masri.

Masri pointed out that Kasitah himself chaired the board meeting at the Fairlane Hotel in Kuala Lumpur which was the first board meeting outside Kota Kinabalu, where the accused had actively participated in the decision making after he was promised 3.36 million PPB Oil Palms shares by Briskmark Director Datuk Wasli Mohd Said.

He pointed out that evidence also showed, before the board meeting on Oct 22, 1996, that Kasitah had some pecuniary interest in the sense that he was going to benefit from the sale of the shares.

Masri added prior to the sale of shares to Briskmark, Kasitah initially had obtained the approval of Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, the Minister in charge of SLDB, where he had proposed two bumiputra companies to purchase the Sapi shares.

"Evidence was adduced that these two companies were either newly incorporated or dormant, or that their accounts were not in order and that they did not have permanent offices," Masri told the court.

He said even though there was no direct evidence to show that Kasitah had direct interest in both the bumiputra companies, his action during that period of time by threatening to transfer SLDB General Manager Datuk Mohd Tahir Jaafar showed that he would be benefiting from the sale.

Kasitah, 60, is alleged to have used his position as SLBD Chairman for his financial gain by taking part in the decision to approve the sale of 16.8 million Sapi Plantation shares held by the board to Briskmark Enterprise Sdn Bhd.

He is also charged with deceiving the SLBD by omitting to disclose the offer by PPB Oil Palms Sdn Bhd to allocate five shares of the company for each Sapi Plantation shares held by the board to Brismark.

Meanwhile, Deputy Public prosecutor Datuk Azmi Ariffin, who also assisting the prosecution team, submitted that without doubt Kasitah had used his public office for his pecuniary gain.

He said Kasitah was in dire need to settle his RM10.9 million bank loan, where DCB Bank (now known as RHB Bank) had issued three notices of demand to settle the loan.

"Kasitah saw the opportunity to obtain money by involving in the sale of Sapi shares," said Azmi.

He said as a first step, Tahir, who had been opposing the sale of shares to the two bumiputra companies, was abruptly transferred out to Yayasan Sabah and Kasitah worked with Wasli, the new General Manager of SLDB, to sell the shares to Briskmark and subsequently settled his loan with the bank.

Azmi also said there was no evidence that Kasitah had disposed of his Intra Oil Sdn Bhd shares in settling the bank loan as contended by the defence.

"We submit that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against the accused. We urge the court to call the accused to enter his defence on both charges," concluded Azmi.

Kasitah's counsel, Datuk Muhammad Shafee Abdullah will reply the prosecution's submission before justice Suraya Othman on Friday.

Cops to follow up on feedback provided by DAP

2009-05-19T06:08:00.000-07:00

Cops to follow up on feedback provided by DAP

Published on: Thursday, May 14, 2009

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Kota Kinabalu: A Democratic Action Party (DAP) delegation paid a visit to Sabah Commissioner of Police Datuk Noor Rashid Ibrahim, Wednesday, to further understand the police's functions and also to voice out various problems faced by Sabahans.

MP Dr Hiew King Cheu, who led the group, said among the matters discussed during the one-hour meeting were illegal moneylenders and 4-D lottery, lack of police patrol, police beat base in Kingfisher Park and Lintas Square/Plaza, lengthy procedure to file police reports and difficulty to file reports in rural districts, especially in plantation areas in the East Coast.

"The Commissioner gave explanations and said he will look into these (problems) for improvement.

"He said sometimes he was faced with some limitations on getting things done but he will try his best, and take note of the things forwarded by DAP."

These also covered the various proposals to upgrade the operation and efficiencies of the police in terms of crime prevention, crime solving and long term education training, he added.

Hiew said Noor Rashid mentioned that certain allocations had been made by the Federal Government to the Sabah Police Contingent to upgrade their facilities and to provide training.

"We will be happy to help when there is the need to bring matters up in Parliament in the aspect of security, safety and to protect the rights of the people."

Thanking the police for their efforts to fight crime, he hoped they would try harder to reduce the crime rate in Sabah, especially in the city.

Noor Rashid also hoped the MP office and the DAP will work closely to assist the police on various problems here.

Kids without birth certs can now register for schooling

2009-05-19T06:04:00.000-07:00

Kids without birth certs can now register for schooling

Published on: Friday, May 15, 2009

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Kuala Lumpur: Children without birth certificates are now allowed to register for schooling, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

However, she added, the penghulu, village head or any figure with similar authority must verify that the children concerned were born in this country.

She said in this regard, the ministry had liaised with the National Registration Department (NRD) and non-governmental organisations in carrying out the delayed birth registration to lessen the children's burden.

"The ministry is urging parents and guardians to obtain the necessary identity documents for the children so that they will not be deprived of schooling which will affect their future," she said during her visit to the Taman Megah Handicapped Children's Centre, here, Thursday.

The NRD's Birth, Death and Child Adoption Division director, Mohd Azmin Hassan, assured that the department would issue birth certificates to such children if their application forms were duly filled and they had met the conditions set.

"The NRD will approve the delayed birth registration based on the report by the Welfare Department and supported by documents such as a court order, doctor's report and police report," said Mohd Azmin who was present during Shahrizat's visit. - Bernama

Hoping Unduk Ngadau can raise RM150,000

2009-05-19T06:03:00.000-07:00

Hoping Unduk Ngadau can raise RM150,000

Published on: Friday, May 15, 2009

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Kota Kinabalu: The State-level Sodop Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan (Gala Nite) Dinner to be held at the Kadazan-Dusun Cultural Association's (KDCA) Hongkod Koisaan hall in Penampang on May 28 aims to raise RM150,000.

Organising chairperson Dr Azlina Ekat said the amount sought is meant to finance 40 contestants from throughout the State who would be coming to compete for the Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan 2009 title.

She said the organising committee aimed to raise the sum through the sale of tickets at RM3,000, RM2,000 or RM1,000 per table. About 80 per cent of the tables were already sold so far, particularly the RM1,000 per table.

Besides that, she said the committee would also raise some fund for the Sabah Thalassaemia Association during the event, through a certain percentage of tickets sold as well as auction of special T-shirts.

Speaking to reporters in a Press conference at Le Meridien Hotel here Wednesday, Dr Azlina said Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Infrastructure Development Minister Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who is also Huguan Siou (paramount leader) of the Kadazandusun, would be the guest of honour during the Gala Nite that will start at 7pm.

On programmes for the event, she said it would start with a video presentation on the Unduk Ngadau, followed by a cultural dance performance and Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan 2009 Splendour Presentation, a Thalassaemia T-shirt Auction, artiste performances featuring Abu Bakar Ellah, Felix AF and last year's Unduk Ngadau Jo-Anna Sue Henly Rampas, among others.

There will also be lucky draw (10 prizes for gallery and table ticket holder), special appearance by ex-Unduk Ngadau of the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, as well as special appearance by Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan Reigning Queen.

Pairin's wife, Datin Genevieve, will also present prizes to winners of subsidiary titles: Tati Tosuau (Miss Friendly) and Tati Topiodo (Miss Natural Beauty).

The night will also be highlighted with special appearance by former Miss Malaysia World Deborah Henry, who will be showcasing some fashion collections from Couture Butik, owned by Datin Rahmah Jan Sulaiman Khan.

For more details, contact the organising committee at telephone 088-720337 or 019-8404887.

Enter legally; stay illegally

2009-05-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

Enter legally; stay illegally

Published on: Friday, May 15, 2009

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Kota Kinabalu: The State is no longer facing a problem of foreigners sneaking in illegally but one where they enter through proper channels but overstay and become illegal immigrants.

Sabah Special Federal Task Force Director, Misri Barham, said currently there were altogether 3,727 inmates undergoing time and awaiting deportation at the four existing detention centres.

Most were in the Menggatal detention centre with 1,681 (1,435 Filipinos, 224 Indonesians and 22 others), followed by Tawau with 1,156 (963 Filipinos, 179 Indonesians and 14 others), Sandakan with 559 (471 Filipinos, 123 Indonesians and 5 others) and the Kota Belud centre with 331 (253 Filipinos, 35 Indonesians and 1 others).

Misri also disclosed that between January and May 13, this year they had sent another 3,747 illegal immigrants back to their respective country of origin.

Of this most were Filipinos (2,688), while 943 Indonesians and 116 others (including India, Pakistan, China, etc).

Meanwhile, the capacity of the temporary detention centres will increase to 12,000 inmates at any one time with the construction of two new ones at Sungai Sibuga in Sandakan and Papar, as well as expansion of the existing centre in Tawau.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said the expansion of the centre in Tawau, involving building of new blocks, was ready while construction of the centres in Sandakan and Papar would be ready by end of the month.

The other existing temporary detention centres in Sabah are in Batu Dua Sandakan, Menggatal in Kota Kinabalu and Paradise Camp in Kota Belud.

He told reporters this after he chaired the State Security Committee's second meeting for the year at Wisma Innoprise.

Musa said the Ops Bersepadu Phase Two currently ongoing in Sandakan, Beluran, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Kinabatangan, Sugut and Tawau - in the East Coast had rounded up 9,988 suspected illegal immigrants.

This figure is up to the 10 series (January to May 15) out of the altogether 30 series of operations planned under the Ops Bersepadu until December this year.

Of the figure, some 1,217 were detained for deportation after the second level of screening held the temporary holding centres. The rest were released after they produced valid documents.

The next series of the Ops Bersepadu operations would concentrate on the plantation areas, he said.

Wisma Khidmat to become medical facility under SCC

2009-05-19T05:54:00.000-07:00

Wisma Khidmat to become medical facility under SCC

Published on: Saturday, May 16, 2009

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Penampang: The State Government will turn the vacant Wisma Khidmat Complex into a RM100 million private hospital under its government-linked company Sabah Credit Corporation (SCC), Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman said, Friday.

He said the decision to proceed with an initial plan to convert the complex into a medical facility was made after he discussed with SCC Chairman Teo Chee Kang, General Manager Datuk Vincent Pung and Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary Datuk Yusoff Kassim.

"We feel it is better to carry on with the plan to build a hospital in order to create more health care facilities in the State," he said after a working visit to the SCC in Donggongon, here.

Opportunity to go big into rice growing

2009-05-19T05:48:00.000-07:00

Opportunity to go big into rice growing

Published on: Sunday, May 17, 2009

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Tuaran: The increase in the price of rice is an opportunity for farmers to go into large-scale rice cultivation, said Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor.

Speaking at the district-level Kaamatan Festival here, Saturday, he said with proper organisation and planning, the yield will no doubt bring lucrative returns to the farmers.

"It is high time for the farmers here to realise the importance of the agriculture sector," he said, noting that there is an abundance of land suitable for rice cultivation here but were left idle.

He recalled that not too long ago, rice fields could be seen along the road from Berunggis to Topokon in Tenghilan but sadly, this was no longer so.

"If one cannot use the land commercially, then use it for one's personal consumption," he said, adding it was important not to leave arable land to waste.

Hajiji said 65 per cent of the people here were involved in agriculture, followed by fisheries (15 per cent), trading (11 per cent), services (five per cent) as well as tourism and manufacturing, with two per cent each.

On the complaints by some farmers that irrigation problems hampered their activities, he said the matter had long been a problem and he had referred it to the relevant authorities with the hope it would be resolved as soon as possible.

In another matter, he suggested idle lands be planted with Gaharu or sandalwood, saying the venture promised lucrative returns.

Touching on the Kaamatan celebration, Hajiji said the celebration brought together all the races of different religion in a harmonious environment.

"I hope we will use the Kaamatan celebration to further strengthen unity, in line with the this year's theme 'Together, We Mould a Better Future'," he said.

Also present were Assistant Youth and Sports Minister, Datuk Jahid Jahim, Member of Parliament, Datuk Wilfred Bumburing, Kiulu Assemblyman, Datuk Louis Rampas, and invited guests.

Set up an Energy agency

2009-05-19T04:38:00.000-07:00

Published on: Sunday, May 03, 2009

Set up an Energy agency I fully agree and support the suggestion by Sunny Sabah that the government subsidize solar panels as they did for diesel so that it could be affordable by all consumers.

In other developing countries especially in Europe, the government through their respective local governments, councils or local authority have been implementing a wide variety of programs on renewable energy incentives such as providing subsidies, grants, loans, rebates and tax incentives for the installations of solar panels to generate electricity, supply of heating and most importantly to achieve a high standard of energy efficiency as part of the battle against global warming.

The government here should establish an energy statutory agency whereby its main focus would be fully on renewable and energy efficiency. This agency should work very closely with the construction industries, property developers and local government by encouraging them to incorporate sustainable energy design and technology features for new homes which could deliver significantly superior energy and CO2 performance.

Touching again on the solar hybrid systems installed throughout the rural areas of Sabah as part of the rural electrification programme for villages and schools, if those parties against solar hybrid continued saying that its expensive for the purchase and transportation of diesel for the back-up generators to these isolated areas, I suggest that the Government consider looking into introducing vegetable oil generator as an alternative to diesel-run generators.

In Africa and Indonesia, the system has been very successful apart from converting solar energy to electricity in a generator that runs on a pure vegetable oil as well as inverters and batteries.

The solar vegetable oil systems provides electricity to many rural schools, clinic and villages in Africa. In Indonesia, a solar hybrid system with a vegetable oil generator transformed a training centre on Sumba island into an independent electricity producer supplying electricity to the islanders.

The government in Africa encourages their remote villagers to plant Jatropha plant which originate from South America. Its nuts contain high degrees of oil and edible for humans and animals. The government bought these nuts from the villagers where the solar hybrids are installed which then converted it into vegetable oil to run these generators in their respective villages.

It not only solves the problem of high fuel costs, the inefficient transport of diesel fuels over long distances by river and roads as well as the environmental hazards posed by diesel can be avoided.

The rural population can generate additional income from planting and selling jatropha. Thus, on the basis of renewable energy, reliable and sustainable energy supply can be established.

As for the Sipitang proposed coal-fired plant, why not the relevant authorities or agencies consider a Green Coal plant instead since there are plenty of dead branches to be collected from the forest floor of the Sabah Forest Industry areas.

Burning such wood holds appeal because its local, clean and renewable. When burned, wood releases significantly less sulphur and almost no mercury. And wood doesn't add to the atmospheric greenhouse gases that are believed to cause global warming.

Recently, the state government was urged to set up an Independent Committee to carry out an in-depth study on the proposed coal powered plant in Sabah by the LDP Youth Law and Political Bureau chief Tsang Hieng Yee.

Apart from that, I would suggest that the State Government establish a state forum to discuss the development of renewable energy with representation of the full range of environmental interests present alongside other stakeholders including local community and amenity interests.

A legislation by the State Government should be introduced to control for the development of new energy which take better account of environmental and local amenity interests and the effective use of public funds in support of renewable energy development.

The Sipitang and Sandakan coal fired plants should be debated at length before any approval is granted. If there is such an open state forum and relevant legislation in place at least it would give concerned parties an opportunity to voice out their opinion so that decisions could be made best for the consumers and the environment.

Nordin Thani

Mentality of the car scratches

2009-05-19T04:36:00.000-07:00

Published on: Sunday, May 03, 2009

Mentality of the car scratches The psychology of people who have the "excitement" of scratching other people's cars really boggles my mind. No simple theory can explain this negative anti-social behaviour. But we see this continuing to happen in KK and sometimes our own cars become victims of nasty scratches.

I am a victim of frequent car scratches, to the extent I often inwardly ask God, what wrong have I done to these people to justify their foolish acts? When I look around, I also see cars of various makes, from old models, 4WDs, to luxury cars mercilessly scratched by god knows what sort of peoples.

What really explains their negative behaviour? There are two aspects to this question. First, who are these people and, secondly, what drives such people into committing such wanton act?

My theory holds that these people have the inability to relate themselves to the real world around them. Instead of looking at people around them, as comprising different individuals with different personalities, they see people through one glass, as if they are all hostile, indifferent, uncaring, and "out to get them".

By eliminating individuals who have right religious upbringing, moral and ethical dispositions, we can zero-in towards people who come from dysfunctional families, have troubled childhood, and with a motive for venging their anger, frustration and dissatisfaction tot he world around them.

These people would experience high, a kick or a sense of satisfaction upon seeing the mark of their hands on the cars, equating scratches with innocent graffitis. Yet, graffitis are not exactly the same as car scratches as some are literally dents, gashes or even punch and kick marks!

If the motive is revenge, why must they take revenge indiscriminately on the public? The public at large has done them nothing wrong! If they feel aggrieved and violated by another person per se, why not institute legal action and get matters settled in court? Yet they to on senseless pilfering and destruction of public properties which only serves to reinforce their true character as cowards.

The action does not follow the Rule of Law under the Rukunegara which implies that when something wrong has been perpetrated by one person against another, the rule of law and its processes must prevail.

One is, therefore, compelled to make an observation that a certain segment of our society (if they are part of our society!) are misfits, socially maladjusted, insolent, and troublesome to others.

Perhaps, the School of Psychology and Social Work of Universiti Malaysia Sabah might like to conduct research to get to the bottom of this social problem. There are plenty of "laboratories" to conduct research on this problem by working with City Hall, the juvenile department of law enforcement agencies, and reform institutions.

The output of such research would be useful to generate pro-active measures to prevent occurrence of car pilferage (and of public properties as well), and improve monitoring and evaluation of action programs.

I urge City Hall to set up a preventive unit tasked with monitoring and surveillance of car parks to photograph, identify and arrest on-the-spot culprits?

Democrats

Capture a very worthwhile experience, says Adlin

2009-05-19T04:33:00.000-07:00

Published on: Sunday, May 03, 2009

Capture a very worthwhile experience, says Adlin By: Kan Yaw Chong A "really worthwhile experience" for all who turn up for it is engineered into 'Mystical Sabah' - theme of May 2-11 Sabah Fest 2009, Tengku Datuk Dr. Adlin, Chairman of of Sabah Tourism Board, declared.

"Don't miss it, make a serious effort to see especially experience what most people have never seen before," Tengku said in a message to the people of Sabah.

He singled out the staging of a very rare Lotud ritual Mamahui Pogun at the May 3 Premier Show at Sutera Magellan grand Ballroom.

But that's only one element of a rich and diverse content of two-day (May 2-3) morning to night Cultural Extravaganza means exactly that: Lavish display of age old ritualistic talisman, sacred jars, diverse crafts, live demos, art works, music, dances, climaxing in an elaborately staged and costumed Premier Show which will be officiated by Head of State and attended by the Chief Minister and his Cabinet Ministers.

Everything is open to he public, the May 3, 8pm Premier Show included, organisers promised.

What makes 'Mystical Sabah' a very worthwhile experience?

"We have rituals - the living heritage most people have never ever see, far less experienced," he said, citing the Mamahui Pogun or 'Cleansing of the Universe."

"That's really something," Adlin said.

"You are going to see all the authentic bobohizans and tatangas (high priestesses ) and their rituals, their talisman of more than 150 years , their 200 year-old sacred jars which are really authentic and original," Adlin added.

"In all, about 700 people are involved in the Cultural Extravaganza and more than half of them come out from real life villages across Sabah some of who have never seen Kota Kinabalu before," Adlin noted.

"What I want to tell Sabah people, Malaysians in Sabah and visitors alike is it'll be a worthwhile experience when you talk to the elders from the villages, see the philosophy behind their rituals and find out so much substance and meaning as to why they did so much of this in the past," Adlin said.

"We are very proud that people can come and experience the 'mystics of Sabah' which is still relevant today. But the most important message is Harmony in Diversity which resonates 1-Malaysia and Sabah Truly Malaysia," Adlin said.

Give your 'hearts' to the poor and needy

2009-05-19T04:28:00.000-07:00

Published on: Sunday, May 03, 2009

Give your 'hearts' to the poor and needy By: Mary Chin RECESSION or no recession, Food for the Hungry International (FHI) Federation will continue its noble work as usual in line with its motto "Bringing Hope to the Poor".

Chairman of FHI Federation Executive Elders Council (EEC), Dr Akira Horiuchi, 75, from Japan, stressed that the economic downturn would not affect the ongoing programmes of FHI.

Not all foreigners in the State playing useful role

2009-05-19T04:26:00.000-07:00

Published on: Sunday, May 03, 2009

Not all foreigners in the State playing useful role I REFER to the letter by Jul "PTIs Do Menial Jobs, So What's The Worry?" in Forum recently.

Maybe the writer is not aware but not all the PTIs in the State are working as labourers, odd job workers, etc. The way I see it, many are mere troublemakers and doing "jobs" that are against the law, i.e., drug pushers, smuggled fags vendors and pirated DVD sellers.

With their numbers increasing, social problems have been cropping up. It is only that the politicians and families who are sympathetic to them are insulated by their chaffeur-driven cars and security-manned compounds.

As for Jul's notion that PTIs are working as labourers in the construction sector and as such should not be viewed negatively, I would like to ask him: What about locals, especially those who have undergone training who want to work in the sector?

Construction companies would rather hire foreigners and PTIs, not so much because they have the skills, but hiring them is much cheaper.

To makes matters worse, there are locals who it seems have a policy of hiring foreigners first rather than their own.

The authorities must conduct more stringent checks at all the entry points in the state as well as the "unofficial" entry points or 'laluan tikus' as some people call it.

With the downturn affecting their countries more of them will be forced to come here to join their relatives and friends and cause a headache to the police, especially, by committing crime.

Save Sabah

Of intellectualism in Malaysia and Sabah

2009-05-19T04:20:00.000-07:00

Published on: Sunday, May 03, 2009

Of intellectualism in Malaysia and Sabah By: Nilakrishna James Sometimes I would go to the ends of the earth to find a very interesting conversation. At other times it would surprise me that the best dialogues I've ever engaged in occurred in my own hometown. I am ready to admit that part of the reason I came back to serve in Sabah was because my own grandfather (Sedomon) had felt very strongly that we were not ready to form Malaysia if natives had not reached that level of educational excellence to engage competitively in the political realities of this country. Educated, intellectual Sabahans were therefore seen as a necessity to Sabah's own autonomous growth. It is for this reason that my fate has allowed me to walk into the lives of many illustrious people in Sabah who continue to do this country proud.

Putatan Church To Hold Ground Breaking Ceremony In May

2009-05-18T19:24:00.000-07:00

Putatan Church To Hold Ground Breaking Ceremony In May

PUTATAN(CS).- The construction of the new St Catherine of Siena Church in Kg Dimbaan Putatan is expected to commence as soon as the groundbreaking is done by Archbishop John Lee May 18.

Site preparations have been completed and the steering committee headed by Stephen Sondoh is now making preparations for the important occasion.

Among the items included to coincide with the groundbreaking are:

- Handing-over by church members or participants of contributions for the building of the church to the archbishop. It is hoped that as many donors as possible will come forward to give the committee their support and participate in the programme.

At the moment, the committee has in its list more than 50 registered donors. The target for the day is 100,000 pieces of bricks, 300 cubic metres of stone and 300 cubic metres of sand.

- Tree planting in the vacant spaces to prevent soil erosion and to beautify the surroundings of the church.

Trees used are local species such as takobakob, tabaus, fruit trees, ornamental trees and shrubs.

Sondoh said anyone can participate in this programme by contributing a minimum of five bricks at RM0.40 per brick or a minimum of one bag of cement at RM17.50 per bag depending on the ability to contribute.

He also said that contribution can be in the form of a pledge payable by installment.

Contributions can be channelled through appointed members or through their bank account (Maybank) payable to "RTDKK St Catherine of Siena Church, Putatan, Sabah Malaysia," the account number is 510189007514.

Alternatively, Sondoh said contributions can be channelled through Stella Maris Tg Aru, St Thomas Kepayan, Sacred Heart Cathedral KK, Church of Mary Immaculate Bukit Padang and St Simon Duvanson.

He gave the following statement regarding the contributions:

If you want to be part of the church's growth please forward your contribution to the Chairman, St Catherine of Siena Building Fund c/o Stella Maris Parish Church, P.O. Box 10533, Kota Kinabalu or call the chairman at 013-8658333 or 088-764330. When making the contribution please let us know your name, address, tel/cell phone number and the amount sponsored and most of all, 'be with us on May 18 at 8:00 am.'

Sondoh said the targetted amount to be raised to complete the church is RM4 million.

He said that although the target has not been met yet, "we will go ahead with the project and with God's blessing and your support and commitment I believe we can do it."

He added that experienced and professional volunteers (architect, civil and electrical engineers and consultant) have "pledged to work with the committee to make the church a reality."

At this stage, Sondoh continued, earthworks, survey and other site preparations have been completed.

He said that in order to save costs, the building committee is doing the following on a gotong-royong basis:

- access and exit roads - surrounding drainage system - parking bays outside the church compound - painting the church building - beautification and landscaping

The chairman said that while they have members who are willing to join them for the gotong-royong for the above, the committee wants to have more church members living around KK and Penampang to be involved and be part of the growth of the new church.

Source: CS

Jesus vs Satan

2009-05-14T00:34:00.001-07:00

One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation.

Satan went to visit Jesus in the Garden of Eden,

and Satan came all happy and boasting. (Lk 4: 1-12; Job 1: 6-12)

"Yes, Lord, now I have everybody captive,

(well nearly everybody down there).

I set traps, I used the baits of temptation,

I know well what each one of them can't resist.

I nearly caught them all!" (I Pet 5: 8-9; Eph 6: 10-17)

"What are you going to do with them?" Jesus asked.

and He was praying to God the Father.

Satan answered "Oh, I am going to have some fun with them!"

I'll make them divorce after they have married

so the foundation of humanity will never be able to be established

"the family" (Mt 19: 4-6; Mal 2: 16)

I will make them hate each other and abuse each other,

make them fall into alcohol and drugs without control. (Rom 13: 12-14)

I will teach them to make weapons and bombs,

so they kill each other

"I am really going to have fun!"

"And when you are tired of playing with them, what will you do?"

Jesus asked. And continued praying

"Oh, I will kill them all and their souls will be mine forever"

"Lord by all respect, it's their decision" (I Jn 3: 8-10)

"How much do you want for all of them?" Jesus asked.

"Oh, you don't want these people. They aren't anything good.

Why do you want them if they neither follow you nor love you?

Many hate you! I have seen many of them spitting on you, cursing you and even denying you."

"What's more, they love me a lot" (Mt 24: 10-13)

"You don't want these people!!"

"How much?" Jesus asked again

Satan looked at him with a nasty face

"All your tears and all your blood,

all the pain of the entire world, all together" (Is 53: 4-10; I Pet 2: 24)

Jesus said..."DONE"

"and He paid the price" (II Cor 5: 21)

How terrible it is that people don't seek for God,

and then ask themselves why the world is going to hell!

How terrible that we seek the newspaper everyday to read tragedies

and we never seek the Bible

How insensible it is how everybody wants to go to heaven,

thinking they can get there without having to believe,

without loving God above all things,

or doing what the Bible says...the Laws of God.

It is terrible how some people can say "I believe in God"

but still follow Satan (Who as matter of fact, does fear God)

(II Tim 4: 3-4; II Jn 1: 7-11)

Don't you think it's pathetic how they send

each other thousands of jokes by email,

so they spread like plagues.

But when it's about the Lord's messages,

we think about it twice before we share them;

and we leave the mailboxes of our friends without this message

Don't you think it is outrageous that the obscene,

vulgar and crude is allowed freely to pass through the internet

that even many people would desire to get into the screen.

But it is forbidden to speak publicly about Jesus

in the schools, places of work

self-helping groups, etc... (Acts 4: 19-20)

Even after knowing what He did for us.

Because the Romans didn't kill Him. It was our sin.

that we may be forgiven

and know Him in His glory with the Father.

Doesn't it seem incredible to you how somebody can be a light

on Sabbath in the Church,

worshipping and thanking the Lord for His mercy,

for one more day to live etc.

But during the rest of the week he is an invisible Christian! (II Tim 3: 1-5; Rom 10: 9-13)

Does this seem just to you?

Don't let Satan stop you sending this Mail

to all your contacts on the Web,

It doesn't matter if he tells you that many don't believe this

Don't let him get through with his plans!

Stop worrying what the others may think about you

It is time to worry about what "God thinks about you"

Please brother and sister, pass it on?

"I already did it"

May God bless you always (II Cor 13: 13)

Did Jesus rise from the dead? Pt. 2

2009-04-16T23:18:00.000-07:00

Cynics And Skeptics

But not everyone is willing to fairly examine the evidence. Bertrand Russell admits his take on Jesus was “not concerned” with historical facts.⁴ Historian Joseph Campbell, without citing evidence, calmly told his PBS television audience that the resurrection of Jesus is not a factual event.⁵ Other scholars, such as John Dominic Crossan of the Jesus Seminar, agree with him.⁶ None of these skeptics present any evidence for their views.

True skeptics, as opposed to cynics, are interested in evidence. In a Skeptic magazine editorial entitled “What Is a Skeptic?” the following definition is given: “Skepticism is … the application of reason to any and all ideas—no sacred cows allowed. In other words … skeptics do not go into an investigation closed to the possibility that a phenomenon might be real or that a claim might be true. When we say we are “skeptical,” we mean that we must see compelling evidence before we believe.”⁷

Unlike Russell and Crossan, many true skeptics have investigated the evidence for Jesus’ resurrection. In this article we will hear from some of them and see how they analyzed the evidence for what is perhaps the most important question in the history of the human race: Did Jesus really rise from the dead?

Self-Prophecy

In advance of his death, Jesus told his disciples that he would be betrayed, arrested, and crucified and that he would come back to life three days later. That’s a strange plan! What was behind it? Jesus was no entertainer willing to perform for others on demand; instead, he promised that his death and resurrection would prove to people (if their minds and hearts were open) that he was indeed the Messiah.

Bible scholar Wilbur Smith remarked about Jesus:

“When he said that He himself would rise again from the dead, the third day after He was crucified, He said something that only a fool would dare say, if He expected longer the devotion of any disciples—unless He was sure He was going to rise. No founder of any world religion known to men ever dared say a thing like that.⁸

In other words, since Jesus had clearly told his disciples that he would rise again after his death, failure to keep that promise would expose him as a fraud. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. How did Jesus die before he (if he did) rose again?

CLICK HERE to continue reading: Did Jesus rise from the dead? Pt. 3

Did Jesus rise from the dead? Pt. 3

2009-04-16T23:16:00.000-07:00

A Horrific Death And Then. . . ?

You know what Jesus' last hours of earthly life were like if you watched the movie by road warrior/brave heart Mel Gibson. If you missed parts of The Passion of the Christ because you were shielding your eyes (it would have been easier to simply shoot the movie with a red filter on the camera), just flip to the back pages of any Gospel in your New Testament to find out what you missed.

As Jesus predicted, he was betrayed by one of his own disciples, Judas Iscariot, and was arrested. In a mock trial under the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate, he was convicted of treason and condemned to die on a wooden cross. Prior to being nailed to the cross, Jesus was brutally beaten with a Roman cat-o’-nine-tails, a whip with bits of bone and metal that would rip flesh. He was punched repeatedly, kicked, and spit upon.

Then, using mallets, the Roman executioners pounded the heavy wrought-iron nails into Jesus' wrists and feet. Finally they dropped the cross in a hole in the ground between two other crosses bearing convicted thieves.

Jesus hung there for approximately six hours. Then, at 3:00 in the afternoon—that is, at exactly the same time the Passover lamb was being sacrificed as a sin offering (a little symbolism there, you think?)—Jesus cried out, “It is finished” (in Aramaic), and died. Suddenly the sky went dark and an earthquake shook the land.⁹

Pilate wanted verification that Jesus was dead before allowing his crucified body to be buried. So a Roman guard thrust a spear into Jesus' side. The mixture of blood and water that flowed out was a clear indication that Jesus was dead. Jesus' body was then taken down from the cross and buried in Joseph of Arimathea's tomb. Roman guards next sealed the tomb, and secured it with a 24-hour watch.

Meanwhile, Jesus' disciples were in shock. Dr. J. P. Moreland explains how devastated and confused they were after Jesus’ death on the cross. “They no longer had confidence that Jesus had been sent by God. They also had been taught that God would not let his Messiah suffer death. So they dispersed. The Jesus movement was all but stopped in its tracks.”¹⁰

All hope was vanquished. Rome and the Jewish leaders had prevailed—or so it seemed.

CLICK HERE to continue reading: Did Jesus rise from the dead? Pt. 4

Did Jesus rise from the dead? Pt. 4

2009-04-16T23:14:00.000-07:00

Something Happened

But it wasn't the end. The Jesus movement did not disappear (obviously), and in fact Christianity exists today as the world's largest religion. Therefore, we’ve got to know what happened after Jesus’ body was taken down from the cross and laid in the tomb.

In a New York Times article, Peter Steinfels cites the startling events that occurred three days after Jesus' death: “Shortly after Jesus was executed, his followers were suddenly galvanized from a baffled and cowering group into people whose message about a living Jesus and a coming kingdom, preached at the risk of their lives, eventually changed an empire. Something happened. … But exactly what?”¹¹ That's the question we have to answer with an investigation into the facts.

There are only five plausible explanations for Jesus' alleged resurrection, as portrayed in the New Testament:

Jesus didn't really die on the cross.
The “resurrection” was a conspiracy.
The disciples were hallucinating.
The account is legendary.
It really happened.

Let's work our way through these options and see which one best fits the facts.

CLICK to continue reading: Did Jesus rise from the dead? Pt. 5

Did Jesus rise from the dead? Pt. 5

2009-04-16T23:12:00.000-07:00

Was Jesus Dead?

“Marley was deader than a doornail, of that there was no doubt.” So begins Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, the author not wanting anyone to be mistaken as to the supernatural character of what is soon to take place. In the same way, before we take on the role of CSI and piece together evidence for a resurrection, we must first establish that there was, in fact, a corpse. After all, occasionally the newspapers will report on some “corpse” in a morgue who was found stirring and recovered. Could something like that have happened with Jesus?

Some have proposed that Jesus lived through the crucifixion and was revived by the cool, damp air in the tomb–“Whoa, how long was I out for?” But that theory doesn’t seem to square with the medical evidence. An article in the Journal of the American Medical Association explains why this so-called “swoon theory” is untenable: “Clearly, the weight of historical and medical evidence indicated that Jesus was dead. … The spear, thrust between His right ribs, probably perforated not only the right lung, but also the pericardium and heart and thereby ensured His death.”¹² But skepticism of this verdict may be in order, as this case has been cold for 2,000 years. At the very least, we need a second opinion.

One place to find that is in the reports of non-Christian historians from around the time when Jesus lived. Three of these historians mentioned the death of Jesus.

Lucian (c.120–after 180 A.D. referred to Jesus as a crucified sophist (philosopher).¹³
Josephus (c.37–c.100 A.D.) wrote, “At this time there appeared Jesus, a wise man, for he was a doer of amazing deeds. When Pilate condemned him to the cross, the leading men among us, having accused him, those who loved him did not cease to do so.”¹⁴
Tacitus (c. 56–c.120 A.D.) wrote, “Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty … at the hands of our procurator, Pontius Pilate.”¹⁵

This is a bit like going into the archives and finding that on one spring day in the first century, The Jerusalem Post ran a front-page story saying that Jesus was crucified and dead. Not bad detective work, and fairly conclusive.

In fact, there is no historical account from Christians, Romans, or Jews that disputes either Jesus’ death or his burial. Even Crossan, a skeptic of the resurrection, agrees that Jesus really lived and died. “That he was crucified is as sure as anything historical can ever be.”¹⁶ In light of such evidence, we seem to be on good grounds for dismissing the first of our five options. Jesus was clearly dead, “of that there was no doubt.”

CLICK HERE to continue reading: Dis Jesus rise from the dead? Pt. 6.

Did Jesus rise from the dead? Pt. 6

2009-04-16T23:10:00.000-07:00

The Matter Of An Empty Tomb

No serious historian really doubts Jesus was dead when he was taken down from the cross. However, many have questioned how Jesus’ body disappeared from the tomb. English journalist, Dr. Frank Morison. initially thought the resurrection was either a myth or a hoax, and he began research to write a book refuting it.¹⁷ The book became famous but for reasons other than its original intent, as we’ll see.

Morison began by attempting to solve the case of the empty tomb. The tomb belonged to a member of the Sanhedrin Council, Joseph of Arimathea. In Israel at that time, to be on the council was to be a rock star. Everyone knew who was on the council. Joseph must have been a real person. Otherwise, the Jewish leaders would have exposed the story as a fraud in their attempt to disprove the resurrection. Also, Joseph’s tomb would have been at a well-known location and easily identifiable, so any thoughts of Jesus being “lost in the graveyard” would need to be dismissed.

Morison wondered why Jesus’ enemies would have allowed the “empty tomb myth” to persist if it wasn’t true. The discovery of Jesus’ body would have instantly killed the entire plot.

And what is known historically of Jesus’ enemies is that they accused Jesus’ disciples of stealing the body, an accusation clearly predicated on a shared belief that the tomb was empty.

Dr. Paul L. Maier, professor of ancient history at Western Michigan University, similarly stated, “If all the evidence is weighed carefully and fairly, it is indeed justifiable … to conclude that the tomb in which Jesus was buried was actually empty on the morning of the first Easter. And no shred of evidence has yet been discovered … that would disprove this statement.”¹⁸

The Jewish leaders were stunned, and accused the disciples of stealing Jesus’ body. But the Romans had assigned a 24-hour watch at the tomb with a trained guard unit (from 4 to 12 soldiers). Morison asked, “How could these professionals have let Jesus’ body be vandalized?” It would have been impossible for anyone to have slipped by the Roman guards and to have moved a two-ton stone. Yet the stone was moved away and the body of Jesus was missing.

If Jesus’ body was anywhere to be found, his enemies would have quickly exposed the resurrection as a fraud. Tom Anderson, former president of the California Trial Lawyers Association, summarizes the strength of this argument:

"With an event so well publicized, don’t you think that it’s reasonable that one historian, one eye witness, one antagonist would record for all time that he had seen Christ’s body? … The silence of history is deafening when it comes to the testimony against the resurrection."¹⁹

So, with no body of evidence, and with a known tomb clearly empty, Morison accepted the evidence as solid that Jesus’ body had somehow disappeared from the tomb.

CLICK HERE to continue reading: Did Jesus rise from the dead? Pt. 7

Did Jesus rise from the dead? Pt. 7

2009-04-16T23:03:00.000-07:00

Grave Robbing?

As Morison continued his investigation, he began to examine the motives of Jesus’ followers. Maybe the supposed resurrection was actually a stolen body. But if so, how does one account for all the reported appearances of a resurrected Jesus? Historian Paul Johnson, in History of the Jews, wrote, “What mattered was not the circumstances of his death but the fact that he was widely and obstinately believed, by an expanding circle of people, to have risen again.”²⁰

The tomb was indeed empty. But it wasn’t the mere absence of a body that could have galvanized Jesus’ followers (especially if they had been the ones who had stolen it). Something extraordinary must have happened, for the followers of Jesus ceased mourning, ceased hiding, and began fearlessly proclaiming that they had seen Jesus alive.

Each eyewitness account reports that Jesus suddenly appeared bodily to his followers, the women first. Morison wondered why conspirators would make women central to its plot. In the first century, women had virtually no rights, personhood, or status. If the plot was to succeed, Morison reasoned, the conspirators would have portrayed men, not women, as the first to see Jesus alive. And yet we hear that women touched him, spoke with him, and were the first to find the empty tomb.

Later, according to the eyewitness accounts, all the disciples saw Jesus on more than ten separate occasions. They wrote that he showed them his hands and feet and told them to touch him. And he reportedly ate with them and later appeared alive to more than 500 followers on one occasion.

Legal scholar John Warwick Montgomery stated, “In 56 A.D. [the Apostle Paul wrote that over 500 people had seen the risen Jesus and that most of them were still alive (1 Corinthians 15:6ff.). It passes the bounds of credibility that the early Christians could have manufactured such a tale and then preached it among those who might easily have refuted it simply by producing the body of Jesus.”²¹

Bible scholars Geisler and Turek agree. “If the Resurrection had not occurred, why would the Apostle Paul give such a list of supposed eyewitnesses? He would immediately lose all credibility with his Corinthian readers by lying so blatantly.”²²

Peter told a crowd in Caesarea why he and the other disciples were so convinced Jesus was alive.

We apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Israel and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by crucifying him, but God raised him to life three days later….We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. (Acts 10:39-41)

British Bible scholar Michael Green remarked, “The appearances of Jesus are as well authenticated as anything in antiquity. … There can be no rational doubt that they occurred.”²³

CLICK HERE to continue reading: Did Jesus rise from the dead? Pt. 8

Did Jesus rise from the dead? Pt. 8

2009-04-16T22:59:00.000-07:00

Consistent to the End

As if the eyewitness reports were not enough to challenge Morison’s skepticism, he was also baffled by the disciples’ behavior. A fact of history that has stumped historians, psychologists, and skeptics alike is that these 11 former cowards were suddenly willing to suffer humiliation, torture, and death. All but one of Jesus’ disciples were slain as martyrs. Would they have done so much for a lie, knowing they had taken the body?

The Islamic martyrs on September 11 proved that some will die for a false cause they believe in. Yet to be a willing martyr for a known lie is insanity. As Paul Little wrote, “Men will die for what they believe to be true, though it may actually be false. They do not, however, die for what they know is a lie.”²⁴ Jesus’ disciples behaved in a manner consistent with a genuine belief that their leader was alive.

No one has adequately explained why the disciples would have been willing to die for a known lie. But even if they all conspired to lie about Jesus’ resurrection, how could they have kept the conspiracy going for decades without at least one of them selling out for money or position? Moreland wrote, “Those who lie for personal gain do not stick together very long, especially when hardship decreases the benefits.”²⁵

Former “hatchet man” of the Nixon administration, Chuck Colson, implicated in the Watergate scandal, pointed out the difficulty of several people maintaining a lie for an extended period of time.

"I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, and then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Every one was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren’t true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world—and they couldn’t keep a lie for three weeks. You’re telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.^"26

Something happened that changed everything for these men and women. Morison acknowledged, “Whoever comes to this problem has sooner or later to confront a fact that cannot be explained away. … This fact is that … a profound conviction came to the little group of people—a change that attests to the fact that Jesus had risen from the grave.”²⁷

CLICK HERE to continue to read: Did Jesus rise from the dead? Pt. 9

Did Jesus rise from the dead? Pt. 9

2009-04-16T22:54:00.000-07:00

Were The Disciples Hallucinating?

People still think they see a fat, gray-haired Elvis darting into Dunkin Donuts. And then there are those who believe they spent last night with aliens in the mother ship being subjected to unspeakable testing. Sometimes certain people can “see” things they want to, things that aren’t really there. And that’s why some have claimed that the disciples were so distraught over the crucifixion that their desire to see Jesus alive caused mass hallucination. Plausible?

Psychologist Gary Collins, former president of the American Association of Christian Counselors, was asked about the possibility that hallucinations were behind the disciples’ radically changed behavior. Collins remarked, “Hallucinations are individual occurrences. By their very nature, only one person can see a given hallucination at a time. They certainly aren’t something which can be seen by a group of people.”²⁸

Hallucination is not even a remote possibility, according to psychologist Thomas J. Thorburn. “It is absolutely inconceivable that … five hundred persons, of average soundness of mind … should experience all kinds of sensuous impressions—visual, auditory, tactual—and that all these … experiences should rest entirely upon … hallucination.”²⁹

Furthermore, in the psychology of hallucinations, the person would need to be in a frame of mind where they so wished to see that person that their mind contrives it. Two major leaders of the early church, James and Paul, both encountered a resurrected Jesus, neither expecting, or hoping for the pleasure. The Apostle Paul, in fact led the earliest persecutions of Christians, and his conversion remains inexplicable except for his own testimony that Jesus appeared to him, resurrected.

From Lie To Legend

Some unconvinced skeptics attribute the resurrection story to a legend that began with one or more persons lying or thinking they saw the resurrected Jesus. Over time, the legend would have grown and been embellished as it was passed around. In this theory, Jesus’ resurrection is on a par with King Arthur’s round table, little Georgie Washington’s inability to tell a lie, and the promise that Social Security will be solvent when we need it.

But there are three major problems with that theory.

Legends rarely develop while multiple eyewitnesses are alive to refute them. One historian of ancient Rome and Greece, A. N. Sherwin-White, argued that the resurrection news spread too soon and too quickly for it to have been a legend. ³⁰
Legends develop by oral tradition and don’t come with contemporary historical documents that can be verified. Yet the Gospels were written within three decades of the resurrection.³¹
The legend theory doesn’t adequately explain either the fact of the empty tomb or the historically verified conviction of the apostles that Jesus was alive.³²

CLICK HERE to continue reading: Did Jesus rise from the dead? Pt. 10

Did Jesus rise from the dead? Pt. 10

2009-04-16T22:48:00.000-07:00

Why Did Christianity Win

Morison was bewildered by the fact that “a tiny insignificant movement was able to prevail over the cunning grip of the Jewish establishment, as well as the might of Rome.” Why did it win, in the face of all those odds against it?

He wrote, “Within twenty years, the claim of these Galilean peasants had disrupted the Jewish church. … In less than fifty years it had begun to threaten the peace of the Roman Empire. When we have said everything that can be said … we stand confronted with the greatest mystery of all. Why did it win?”³³

By all rights, Christianity should have died out at the cross when the disciples fled for their lives. But the apostles went on to establish a growing Christian movement.

J. N. D. Anderson wrote, “Think of the psychological absurdity of picturing a little band of defeated cowards cowering in an upper room one day and a few days later transformed into a company that no persecution could silence—and then attempting to attribute this dramatic change to nothing more convincing than a miserable fabrication. … That simply wouldn’t make sense.”³⁴

Many scholars believe (in the words of an ancient commentator) that “the blood of the martyrs was the seed of the church.” Historian Will Durant observed, “Caesar and Christ had met in the arena and Christ had won.”³⁵

A Surprise Conclusion

With myth, hallucination, and a flawed autopsy ruled out, with incontrovertible evidence for an empty tomb, with a substantial body of eyewitnesses to his reappearance, and with the inexplicable transformation and impact upon the world of those who claimed to have seen him, Morison became convinced that his preconceived bias against Jesus Christ’s resurrection had been wrong. He began writing a different book—entitled Who Moved the Stone?—to detail his new conclusions. Morison simply followed the trail of evidence, clue by clue, until the truth of the case seemed clear to him. His surprise was that the evidence led to a belief in the resurrection.

In his first chapter, “The Book That Refused to Be Written,” this former skeptic explained how the evidence convinced him that Jesus’ resurrection was an actual historical event. “It was as though a man set out to cross a forest by a familiar and well-beaten track and came out suddenly where he did not expect to come out.”³⁶

Morison is not alone. Countless other skeptics have examined the evidence for Jesus’ resurrection, and accepted it as the most astounding fact in all of human history. But the resurrection of Jesus Christ raises the question: What does the fact that Jesus defeated death have to do with my life? The answer to that question is what New Testament Christianity is all about.

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A key supporter of Khairy under mahathirisme pressure: MACC closes in on embattled Sabah Youth chief

2009-04-11T14:45:00.000-07:00

Sabah Umno Youth chief Japlin Akim, who was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on Thursday and remanded for three days to facilitate investigations, was released on bail today.

Japlin, who is also Sabah assistant minister for infrastructure development, is among the Umno leaders found guilty by the powerful Umno disciplinary board last month in the run-up to the party polls.

His party membership was subsequently suspended for three years. On Thursday, Japlin was detained along with a local contractor, Limus Jury, who was also freed on bail today.

Japlin’s bail was fixed at RM100,000 while Jury’s was fixed at RM300,000 bail. Their release from the Karamusing police station at around 6.15pm was facilitated by their lawyers, David Tan and Nobert Chin.

It was reliably learnt that magistrate Herlina Muse has during an ‘impromptu hearing’ held at the police station earlier, rejected MACC’s application to further remand the two for another four days after hearing arguments from both the MACC prosecuting officer and defence counsels.

“The arrest of the duo was conducted by MACC team from Putrajaya without the knowledge of the state MACC and it was believed to be connected to ‘money politics’ during the last Umno election,” said the source.

Sabah Chief Minister and state Umno chief Musa Aman had said thatJaplin could keep both his Usukan state seat and his assistant minister post despite having been found guilty by the party.

A key supporter of Khairy

Meanwhile, another two state Umno Youth leaders, Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan and Faizal Ampong were called in by the MACC for questioning.

They arrived at the Karamunsing police station shortly after both Japlin and Jury were released.

Nizam is currently the Sabah Umno deputy chief while Faizal is the former Batu Sapi Youth chief.

With the arrests in Sabah, it is believed that MACC is fast closing in on Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin who was given a slap on the wrist by Umno disciplinary board just before the party polls.

Japlin is known to be a key supporter of Khairy.

On March 17, Khairy was found guilty by the board for vote buying committed by one of his agents but was let off with a warning because of insufficient evidence.

Khairy, who has maintained he was innocent of any wrongdoing, was excluded from the cabinet line-up by new premier Najib Abdul Razak when he made the announcement on Thursday. MKINI

“Bumiputra Sabah” proposal by Johnny Mositun.

2009-04-10T18:52:00.000-07:00

On the “Bumiputra Sabah” proposal by Johnny Mositun.

I refer to Johny Mositun’s proposal (DE Thursday, April 9, 2009) that “Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) wants the ethnic races of Sabah to be known as Bumiputera Sabah and not as "other races" (dan lain lain) in Federal Government affairs and forms”.

I am appalled by his proposal to categorize the ethnic races of Sabah to be known as such when the term “Bumiputra” is not a racial definition at all.

Let us first get this point right. The term ‘Bumiputra’ is an economic designation/description of those given special affirmative action under the New Economic Policy. It was never intended to be a description of a race but rather to differentiate the non-Bumiputra with the Bumiputras when according special privileges to the beneficiaries of the NEP. The history and reasons for this is well documented and I urge Johny Mositun to peruse through the same from the collections of books that the State Assembly should have at his disposal.

Whilst we each know our own ethnic description, we in Sabah have an even more special group general description and which description is known as the ‘Natives of Sabah’. This description ‘Native’ is defined clearly in the Interpretation (Definition of Native) Ordinance Cap 64 and is recognised in the Federal Constitution likewise. We, the Natives of Sabah have special privileges in addition to the privileges in the NEP, and that is the right to own Native Titled Lands in Sabah, our special Native Customary laws and other privileges as guaranteed by the Ordinances, Statutes and the State and Federal Constitution to which the other races like the Malays (who are Bumiputras too) are not accorded with as far as Sabah is concerned.

To dwell into this interpretation would be too long but a short reading of the ordinance will suffice to put right the proposal made by Johny Mositun.

Johny Mositun who is holding a high post of Deputy Speaker in the Sabah State Legislative Assembly, should first get his facts correct before making, at least to me, an absurd proposal which, to my opinion, has far reaching consequential effect.

Mositun must have been prompted by me during the close-door meeting on “MESYUARAT TERTUTUP KETUA-KETUA MASYARAKAT KADAZANDUSUN BAGI PENGANJURAN KOLOKIUM BAHASA KADAZANDUSUN” held on 20th January, 2009 at the Hongkod Koisaan (KDCA) during which I caught his attention when I made a statement that “the natives of Sabah are now known as ‘Lain-Lain’.”

During the closed-door meeting, I specifically mentioned that the term “Kadazandusun” could not be accepted or recognised by the authorities concerned as a “race” under the definition of Interpretation (Definition of Native) Ordinance Cap 64 hence, therefore, the Natives of Sabah have been conveniently categorized as under “Lain-Lain” in all Federal Government affairs and forms.

Our political leaders, though aware of it, did not seem to make any real attempt to correct this mistake which has been highlighted by concerned Natives of Sabah citizens numerous times in the past through the newspaper Forum. With the proposal by Mositun to indentify us (Natives of Sabah) as ‘Bumiputra Sabah’, it is to my opinion, tantamount to relegating further the rights of Natives of Sabah.

It is already wrong in facts and in law, if I correctly deduce Johny Mositun’s reasoning as being one intended to be the description of a race, to be stipulated in the Government official forms i.e. there is the category race which requires you to describe yourselves amongst the following:-

(1) Malay, (2) Chinese, (3) Indian and (4) Lain-Lain / Others.

What we should be proposing rather is, whilst the term “Bumiputra” which covers all ethnic groups in Malaysia (inclusive of Sabah of course) as those having privileges or affirmative action entitlement under the NEP, the said term ‘Bumiputra’ should not be redefined or enhanced to describe the demography, geography or by religion as what has been happening of late when the new generic terms of ‘Bumiputra Muslims and Bumiputra Non-Muslims’ have emerged.

In my opinion there is no such thing as ‘Bumiputra Muslims and Bumiputra Non-Muslims’ but we (Natives of Sabah) should all be equal under the category of ‘Bumiputra’!

This is a creation of unscrupulous politicians to gain from such divisions and categorisation. Was it not the intention of the founding fathers and also the draftsmen of the NEP that the term ‘Bumiputra’ was wholly encompassing and was to be non-isolative at all?

How could we categorise the ‘Bumiputras’ into demography, geography or religion when it was intended as an economic definition to lift up all those privileged to be defined as “Bumiputras”?

Would it not give rise to favouritism or preferential treatment when we categorise the ‘Bumiputras’ by demography, geography or religion?

Sometime ago, some of our leaders in politics and commerce tried (for reasons only known to them) to categorise us (we in Sabah) as “the Minority Bumiputra”. This has further worsened the situation to the disadvantage of the Natives of Sabah. In this scenario, how could we compete with our own “Bumiputra” kin when we isolate ourselves as a “Minority” when it was never intended by the NEP to divide us by way of demography, geography or religion?

And we are now in a worst disadvantage when we in Sabah are further relegated by sub-demography.

I do not know the reaction of the Sabah Bumiputra Chambers of Commerce to that proposal sometime back as, I believe, their memberships are made up of so many members from different ethnicity. To have a Chamber representing the ethnicity is highly encouraged – hence we have the KCCI, Malay Chambers and others. But to sub-categorize any ethnic race in Sabah as “Minority Bumiputra” only re-affirms and satisfies the greed and ill-intention of those who have now divided or redefined the ‘Bumiputras’ by way of demography, geography or religion! We should not allow this to happen, nor play along with it. It is dangerous and is an affront to the merits that each of us have as a ‘Bumiputra’.

Let us not succumb to these people and their propaganda but fight on to claim our rights as ‘Bumiputras’ under the NEP on a level playing field and based on merits and not on sympathy.

Going back to Johny Mositun’s proposal, I am perplexed to ask if he was aware of the following factors to be considered before he made his ill-conceived proposal:-

• That the term “Bumiputra Sabah” is not a racial identity but rather a description of those entitled to the affirmative action of the NEP, and that there cannot be a minority at all as rightfully all ‘Bumiputras’ are of equal standing;

• That we only demonize and isolate ourselves should the term “Bumiputra Sabah” be considered as the description in Federal Government affairs and forms;

I repeat that the term “Bumiputra” is purely an economical definition, so we should leave it at that.

In line with the above, I propose that we should use the term “Natives of Sabah” instead, likewise our brothers and sisters in Sarawak should also be described as “Natives of Sarawak”, in the official Government Forms or similar documents. I am certain that our own ethnic description will not get lost in translation (if we were to describe ourselves in these forms a “Natives of Sabah”) as our ethnicity is/are clearly defined in the Interpretation (Definition of Native) Ordinance Cap 64 .

Even the Malays are not described or even describing themselves as “Bumiputras” in the official Government forms. So why are we, the Natives of Sabah, not even attempting to push forward the term “Natives of Sabah” as the official description rather than “Lain-Lain”? Aside from this and if the forms are big enough, I would love to have my ethnic/racial description of “Kadazan” as among the many racial categories to be emplaced in the official Federal Government affairs and forms. Should we not also consider this?

Anyway, if the insertion of “Natives of Sabah/Sarawak” is a problem or unacceptable to many or to the Federal Government or to Johny Mositun, then I suggest that the Government reformat its forms and categorise only the following as a racial description:-

(1) Bumiputras, (2) Chinese, (3) Indians (4) others/Lain-Lain

We should avoid categorizing the ‘Bumiputras’ into any racial description nor demography, geography or religious description and this should be the pillar or “embracing point” that we must keep intact as promulgated by our forefathers and which is in line with the original intention when the NEP was first formulated.

Note:

While the opinion in this article is mine, the comments are yours; please present them rationally and ethically. - LINUNDUS

PBS: We are not 'other races'

2009-04-10T09:53:00.000-07:00

PBS: We are not 'other races'

Published in Daily Express on: Thursday, April 09, 2009

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Kota Kinabalu: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) wants the ethnic races of Sabah to be known as Bumiputera Sabah and not as "other races" (dan lain lain) in Federal Government affairs and forms.

Its Chief Information Officer, Johnny Mositun, said this was in line with the "1Malaysia" concept introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak which emphasised on fair and impartial treatment of all ethnic races.

He said the categories of races in most forms listed major races as the Malays, Chinese, Indians and other races.

"As such, the ethnic groups of Sabah and Sarawak fall under the 'other races' category. It is high time that Bumiputeras in Sabah as well as in Sarawak are recognised as clusters of major races in Malaysia.

"There are more than 30 ethnic races in Sabah. This include Kadazandusun, Murut, Bajau and Rungus but it is suffice if the cluster is known as Bumiputera Sabah and not as other races," he said here Wednesday.

Mositun, who is also Sabah State Assembly Deputy Speaker, said all quarters should show their sincerity and forthrightness in making the 1Malaysia concept a reality.

"Actually this is a sore point for the people of Sabah, who long for fairness and impartiality in the country's administration. Hopefully, with the change in the country's leadership, the situation will be corrected," he said.

Gospel According to Mark.

2009-04-05T01:42:00.000-07:00

Mark 11:1-10

The Triumphal Entry

1As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3If anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.' "

4They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5some people standing there asked, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" 6They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" 10"Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!" "Hosanna in the highest!"