salam lebaran

selamat hari raya kepada seluruh umat islam di muka bumi ini. mudah mudahan ramadan yang telah berlalu memberikan kita suntikan baru kepada kita untuk berubah kearah kebaikan. Moga dosa dosa kita diampunkan oleh allah dan kita sentiasa diberkati dirahmati dan dikasihani, insyaallah.

Happy Merdeka Day!

Tomorrow, 31st of august we Malaysian will celebrate our independence day. it has been 52 years our country has freed from the colonization. Today, Malaysia has developed rapidly and well known by the world. Our achievements are undeniable and we have become role model in many things. We are now moving towards vision 2020 in attaining the developed nation status.

Since independence we have attained so many achievements. Nearly forty years ago, we moved very slowly. We don’t have enough expertise among Malaysians to help the government in developing the country. We faced many difficulties during that time. May 13 racial riot also has deteriorated the situation and scare us till now. From the past, we learn from mistake. Our government has taken action and did their best to make policies which can ensure our competitiveness in economy for the sake of the people.

Government also is looked concern in promoting the social welfare where the rate of poverty has decreased drastically. The national education policy has succeeded to form intellectual societies. Since 1960, our local universities have born many experts as well. This achievement has undoubtedly contributed a lot for the development in many fields.

The movement to attain independence was very difficult. We face many challenges and tribulations. Some nationalist, leaders, and armies died in their strive to attain the independence. We cannot forget their contributions to free this country and their efforts will be remembered forever. They are willing to do everything. Many nationalists such as Dato’ Onn Jaafar and Tunku Abdul Rahman had led the people to oppose the Malayan Union and made them realize that people in Tanah Melayu want to be independent.

However, we also cannot forget the efforts and contribution of left movement’s leaders during that time. Dr. Burhanuddin Al-Helmy, Ahmad Boestamam, and Pak Sako had strived to free this nation from imperialism. Nowadays, young generations think only Umno strive and led the people to push for independence. But, not only Umno. Before Umno was formed, many associations like API, AWAS, and Parti Kebangsaan Melayu Malaya (PKMM) played important role to increase the awareness of the people about the bad impact of colonization, imperialism and so on.

It must be noted, even the weak become strong when they are united. Therefore, unity will help a lot in the development of economy, social, education system, etc. Today there are many problems, disputes and crisis which plague us. As a multiracial country which lived by 3 main races we face such big challenge in ensuring a better future for Malaysia. Peace and harmony need to be guaranteed. Racial integration must be consolidated and strengthen.

Right now, racial issues and religious issues are still being played especially by politicians. If this happen continuously, our nation is at stake. We cannot prejudice our future. Basically, we don’t have difficulty to encourage unity. The problems appear when it comes to politic. Sometimes differences of opinion cause uncomfortable atmosphere and it makes hard for them to live together.

Independence means not only free from the colonization. it must be defined broadly. Independence also means we are free from corruption, abuse of power, poverty, mismanagement, crime, riot etc. we cannot let this things happen. Independence includes respect for human rights, human dignity and social justice as well. We must uphold the supremacy of the constitution, rule of law and equality before the law.
This country should be governed by law.

We need to comply and respect what has been enshrined in the federal constitution which becomes the supreme law of the land. A truly independence judiciary must be put in place. Besides, the government and the people should also understand the constitution and constitutionalism. We must ensure that the people do not live in fear. Crimes should be prevented seriously. The people should be given freedom subject to limitations provided by the constitution. This is the real meaning of independence.

Happy Merdeka Day!

Right to information and cyber freedom -Part 1

Nowadays, access to information is becoming easier. World now is well known as no boundary. In most developed and developing countries internet is a necessary and without internet people will face difficulties. It is undeniable that internet play important role in managing all businesses in our daily life. It has something to do to form an informed citizenry as well. The access to the internet has widened from day to day and right now people have very wide access to information. Any latest news are kept updated from time to time which enables the people to know what is going on around them. This development also has eradicated the communication barrier where people don’t have to take so much time to convey such information among them through email etc.

Recently, the government proposed to censor websites which contain pornography elements. This suggestion got many reactions from the people. Those who disagree think that the proposal not only restricts the pornographic elements but also the restriction of all materials which harm to the public. This broad definition may include seductive articles or any writing seems to criticize the government. This what they think and in their opinion, the intention of the government is not to censor the porn but to restrict access to political blogs or website. They just use this ground in order to shut the people voice.

This issue deals with freedom of speech and expression. Federal constitution has enshrined this kind of liberty in the article 10. However article 10 needs to be read as a whole together with some limitations. Generally, in constitutional law, freedom of speech and expression is a combination of many rights in many forms. It includes so many things such as communication by word of mouth, signs, symbols and gestures and through work of art and so on. Press freedom is one of them but the constitution silent about this where there is no mention in the constitution about freedom of press and electronic media.

The drafter of the constitution couldn’t foresee the development of cyber technology. That’s why there is no clear provision in the constitution to govern this. But we do have a few acts such as defamation act, sedition act, computer crimes act etc as a guideline. The cyber world has globalized the information and simplifies the way for the access. At the same time, some people abuse this rights by circulating rumors, alleging someone falsely, defaming, reveal confidential and secret things and so on. To what extent the law can cover this scope still remains in question

Permatang Pasir

i think it’s not too late for me to comment on the recent by election. It’s Just a short note. Pas has retained the permatang pasir seat. Even though the majority decrease but they are still the winner. This is expected since the majority previously was about five thousands something. Actually the victory of pas was also contributed with the issue of BN candidate’s disbarment from the legal practice. If this issue not arises, I expect that most probably the majority will be lesser. We could see PAS played this issue every day since the election campaign started. This has affected Rohaizat’s reputation and credibility which implicitly causes the voters to lose their hopes and confidence towards him. What makes me curious is why BN choose that kind of person as candidates. Is he the best choice that BN can put as candidate? we must remember whenever by election is held many people will concern and keep focusing to that constituency to follow on what is happening from day to day until the election day. Every eyes focus to that area and indirectly the election’s result has a big influence towards the voters as a whole. That’s why every political party cannot take it for granted. Since the last GE, Pakatan Rakyat has won 8 times and lost once. BN has been given so many opportunities to restore the public confidence. Seems that they are not really serious in convincing people that they are still relevant. If BN keep losing continuously in other by election next time, don’t get shocked when suddenly a day after next GE, they are no longer in power.

Hudud laws based on constitutional perspectives

Hudud issue is not a new issue. It has been debated for quite long. A few years ago, PAS, an Islamic political party introduced an enactment relating to hudud laws. What actually hudud means? Hudud generally is laws relating to crimes, punishments and rights and duties that are mention in the quran. During PAS’s administration in Kelantan and Terengganu, there are 3 versions of hudud. First, syariah criminal enactment 1993 which contains 72 articles. Second, the bill tabled in 2002, named syariah criminal offences enactment bill (hudud and qisas) containing 74 articles. The last, syariah criminal offences enactment ( hudud and qisas) which contains 67 articles. The state government during this time claimed that they have power to enact such laws. In this writing I will comment on this based on constitutional perspective.

Legally, my stand towards hudud is, it cannot be enacted in Malaysia. Malaysia is a federation comprising 14 states and have dual systems of government, federal and state government. When talking about hudud, we are dealing with constitution and federalism. Malaysia as a federation has strong central government than the regional government. Constitution is the highest law as stated in article 4(1) and any law which contradict with the constitution, state law contradict with the federal law, and any law which is made not within the jurisdiction shall be null and void. All these are provided in our constitution which is the supreme law.

Reasons why hudud cannot be enacted in Malaysia. First, schedule 9 in the federal constitution provides that state legislative has power to make law relating to the punishment and offences by person professing and practicing the religion of Islam against percept of that religion except in regard to matters in the federal list. This means, state has power to make and enact any law but subject to the matters which included in the federal list. Any matters contained in the federal list, the state has no power. In list 1 of the constitution, among matters which included in the federal list, administration of justice, jurisdiction and power of all courts, criminal law and procedure, creation of offences in respect of any matters are in the federal hands.

Federal penal code has made it clear. Any criminal offences like rape, incest, gross indecency, murder, homicide, robbery, and theft are stated in the penal code which is the federal law. This is in accordance with the list 1 or federal list. Let say hudud is implemented in state. We need to deal with the criminal offences which within the federal list but hudud law is law enacted by state. It is clearly unconstitutional. This is an intrusion towards the federal power.

If we look to the list 2 of ninth schedule, syariah court has jurisdiction towards muslims only means person professing the religion of Islam. This has been stated by the court for example in the case of subashini, it was held that non Muslim cannot be brought to the syariah court. That means syariah court has no jurisdiction over non Muslim. If hudud is enacted by state, Muslim offender will be charged in syariah court and non muslim will be charged in civil court. Where is the equality before the law and equal protection of the law?

Next, the syariah law is not naturally provided. It must be derived and subject to the federal law. Refer to the ninth schedule in list 2 clearly provides that sayriah court has no jurisdiction in respect of offences except in so far as conferred by federal law. Syariah courts act 1965 (criminal jurisdiction) is a federal law. The limit of punishment imposed by this act towards the syariah court is it can only sentence maximum 3 years jail and rm5000 fine and 6 lashes. That is why the syariah court can only impose punishment towards offenses such as khalwat, arak, not fasting, missing Friday prayers and etc. The syariah court cannot impose punishment other than permitted by this act. This is the consequences by this limit. Meaning that, any punishment other than these permitted penalties shall be unconstitutional. Hudud law comprises the punishments like amputation of hands, stoning, or death sentence for qisas are outside the permitted limit. So implicitly, it against the federal law and therefore shall be unconstitutional, null, and void.

The next issue aroused is the enforcement of the hudud laws. The question is who has the jurisdiction to enforce such laws? It will cause constitutional dispute when it comes to the enforcement, the arrestment and detention of the hudud offenders. The problem may be settled if the state set up their own enforcement unit. But surely they will seek help from the federal police. Indirectly, constitutional problem will arise since the police’s powers are derived from the federal constitution and federal laws like police act 1967. Lastly, the ninth schedule list 1 of the federal constitution provides that, police, prisons, remand homes, and places of detention are in the federal list. If the state wants to run their own detention centre, it will be outside the power of the state authorities and therefore is submitted unconstitutional.

If we still want to enact hudud laws, we will face so many difficulties. It is not easy to enact. Hudud laws cannot be enacted by state and state needs the help from the parliament to enact hudud. The implementation of hudud in Terengganu and Kelantan has been challenged by Zaid Ibrahim in court but the case was revoked by him. The implementation of hudud can be done constitutionally by amending many provisions in the constitution. That is why it is difficult and to amend since any constitutional amendment needs to get the support of two thirds lawmakers in parliament. This is almost impossible.

Pemikiran Rasional

Rakyat Malaysia sebenarnya mempunyai kecendurangan dalam memberikan pendapat yang terlampau dipengaruh dengan sentimen kepartian. Sebagai contoh, kebanyakan penyokong Pakatan rakyat akan menyokong segala pendapat pemimpinnya dan menolak bulat-bulat pendapat pemimpin Barisan Nasional. Begitu juga sebaliknya. Kita tidak terbuka untuk menilai idea pihak lain. Kita merasakan hanya pihak yang kita sokong sahaja betul. Ini pemikiran di bawah tempurung yang menyekat kebebasan berfikir. Kadangkala bila kita menyokong pendapat Anwar, kita akan dilabel pembangkang dan pengkhianat kepada kerajaan. Bila kita menyokong pendapat Mahathir orang akan melabel kita orang UMNO. Bilamana seorang pemimpin pembangkang menyatakan sokongan kepada idea kerajaan, dia akan dianggap mahu melompat parti.

Penyokong kuat Mahathir sama sekali menentang dan tidak boleh menerima walau satu idea dan pendapat Anwar. Begitu juga sebaliknya. Sebab itu , kebanyakan rakyat Malaysia memberikan pendapat tentang suatu isu dipengaruhi oleh sentiment kepartian. Ini menghalang kita berfikir secara terbuka. Lihat shaja media. Utusan Malaysia semua mengampu kerajaan dan mencela pembangkang. Harakah hampir seratus peratus mengkritik kerajaan seolah olah semua yang dibuat salah. pas dikatakan memperjuangkan kebebasan media tetapi harakah juga tidak tebuka sebenarnya. Barangkali mengikut contoh utusan dan berita harian. Sebab itu, dalam soal pendapat kita harus terbuka dan rasional. jangan anggap orang yang menentang sesuatu idea kerajaan, terus akan dilabel sebagai pembangkang. Isu PPSMI umpamanya, a samad said yang menentang idea tersebut akan dituduh sebagai orang pembangkang dan penyokong pakatan rakyat. Ini budaya pemikiran tertutup dan jumud.

english.english.english

While I was in uitm, many law students speak English fluently and make it as a language for daily conversation. This indirectly help me to improve my English by communicating with them. Right now, I live in an environment where most of the people cant speak English. i dont mean to underestimate but that is the truth. maybe i never heard. How can I improve my English? This makes me quite worry and im still thinking the way to speak very fluent.

Ability to speak English fluently is a an important skill which only certain people have it. This skill is essential due to the reason that, English is a global language. English is used as medium of communication in the entire world. It can be said that English is the most used language in the world. In Malaysia, all students are compulsory to take English subject. All Malaysia students learn English for 11 years.

Not all people can speak English fluently even though we have learned it quite long. People who can speak English will have good impression and respected. In my view, some Malaysians cant speak English because they don’t use it in daily life. They use malay all the time and become used to that language. Malay is their official language while communicating and they use English very seldom.

The way to improve English is only one word. Application. Language need to be applied. In other word, it need to be always used. When we always use that language, we will become used and comfortable to the language. Everything that we want to convey will automatically appear in our mind if use that all the time. Everything in the mind must be in English. What we say to ourselves must be in English. So that, we got no problem in communicating in English because every single words in our mind are in English which implicitly make the words that we want to say appear automatically.

Talk to yourself in English ,thinking in english and make everything in my mind in English is my own way to improve that language. As a lawyer( god willing) to be, it is compulsory for me to be able to speak English. Lawyer need to deal with clients and arguing in the court. Some of the clients might speak English and certain judges tend to use English. Lawyer has no choice. By hook or by crook, i need to have that ability. lets hope and pray for that.

if all malaysians speak english and make it as daily conversation, how about the supremacy of malay language like what the ppsmi's protestors strive for?

corak pemikiran Sun Tzu

Filasuf dan strategist besar dunia sun tzu mengungkapkan senjata paling ampuh semasa peperangan adalah strategi. Karya art of war atau seni berperang merupakan suatu bacaan wajib bagi tokoh-tokoh besar dunia, panglima perang termasuk ahli-ahli perniagaan berstatus billionaire. Karya ini mempengaruhi pemikiran dan tindakan pembacanya. Idea sun tzu memberikan pengaruh besar kepada genghis khan dalam meluskan empayar taklukannya. Begitu juga dengan Napoleon yang mempelajari buku ini daripada para rahib yang menterjemah dari bahasa cina. Di tahun 1991, dalam operasi Desert Storm dan Desert Shield di kawasan Teluk, setiap anggota Marinir Amerika memiliki dan mempelajari buku strategi perang Sun Tzu.

Strategi memberikan suatu panduan yang memandu manusia mencapai sesuatu. Strategi dilakukan dengan pelbagai cara. Untuk merangka strategi yang berkesan itu memerlukan kekuatan fikrah atau berfikir pada kadar maksima dan menilai dari semua sudut. Strategi yang berkesan sebenarnya memerlukan seseorang melakukan penelitian yang terlalu rapi, merangka dengan sistematik, mengatasi kelemahan, handal menggunakan peluang , dan bijak menjangka masa depan. Strategi juga boleh berupa muslihat. Dalam peperangan strategi yang berkesan sama sekali tidak dapat dijangka oleh lawan. Strategi muslihat akan menyebabkan lawan terleka dan menganggap sesuatu yang tidak wujud itu sebagai wujud dan sesuatu yang wujud itu sebagai tidak wujud, sesuatu yang dekat itu dianggap jauh, sesuatu yang jauh itu dianggap dekat. Strategi yang baik adalah suatu strategi yang sukar dijangka dan orang langsung tidak merasakan bahawa itu adalah strategi.

Karya sun tzu ini adalah bacaan wajib seluruh umat manusia. tanpa ragu, pemikiran sun tzu cukup dinamik bila melihat corak penulisan beliau dalam karya ini.. strategi sun tzu tetap relevan walau telah merentasi rentang 25 abad.

Anggun

saudara haris azman dalam pengucapan awam bahasa amerikanya mengungkapkan 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder'.

kecantikan merupakan sesuatu perkara yang subjektif. setiap orang mempunyai pentafsiran sendiri terhadap erti kecantikan. setiap orang juga mempunyai kayu ukur tersendiri dalam menilai keanggunan seorang perempuan. sebab itu, seseorang ini akan dilihat anggun bagi pandangan mata seseorang lelaki tetapi tidak bagi lelaki lain. begitu juga sebaliknya. sesetengah lelaki memerlukan darjah yang tinggi dalam mengiktiraf keanggunan seseorang.

English dramatist John Lyly, in his Euphues and his England, wrote:
"...as neere is Fancie to Beautie, as the pricke to the Rose, as the stalke to the rynde, as the earth to the roote."

Shakespeare said

Good Lord Boyet, my beauty, though but mean,Needs not the painted flourish of your praise:Beauty is bought by judgement of the eye,Not utter'd by base sale of chapmen's tongues

Benjamin Franklin, in Poor Richard's Almanack, 1741, wrote:
Beauty, like supreme dominionIs but supported by opinion

David Hume's Essays, Moral and Political, 1742, include:
"Beauty in things exists merely in the mind which contemplates them."

sempoi,cool=kematangan

Kematangan meupakan sesuatu yang subjektif. Umat generasi muda mentafsir kematangan sebagai cool. Jika dahulu, seseorang yang punya sikap kedewasaan seperti pandai berkomunikasi, beretika, suka berbicara tentang isu semasa, dan mudah bergaul akan diannggap matang. Pendekatan pentafsiran perkataan matang ini telah berubah sejajar dengan kemodenan manusia. Anak-anak muda sekarang mengguna pakai perkataan cool sebagai memeperlihatkan kematangan dan kewibawaan seseorang. Apa sebenarnya kayu ukur atau elemen yang boleh kita katakan sebagai cool? Melalui pemerhatian, generasi sekarang melabel seseorang yang coo l mestilah bersikap gila-gila, riang tetapi ada kalanya serius, gemar berjenaka, suka muzik indie, berfikiran liberal atau tidak konservatif, dan juga semestinya gemar melepak serta banyak lagi elemen lain yang tidak mungkin saya sebutkan semuanya . Ini definisi matang bagi sebahagian anak-anak muda sekarang. Bagaimana dengan golongan sebaliknya? Adakah seseorang yang matang mengikut pentafsiran konservatif kini dianggap sebagai tidak cool atau skema? bagaimana sebenarnya gaya pemikiran atau falsafah yang dipegang anak muda sekarang? bersambung

Ekonomi: Pelaburan

dalam merentas arus dunia kompetan masa kini, Malaysia menuju pesat ke arah sebuah negara maju menjelang 2020. gagasan ini cetusan tun dr mahathir yang bakal menobatkan Malaysia sebagai negara dunia pertama. untuk mencapai gagasan ini bukanlah suatu tugas yang mudah. ianya memerlukan semangat daya juang dan daya tahan yang luar biasa. jika diimbau sejarah, kebanyakan bangsa mengambil masa cukup lama untuk membina tamadun. Rome tidak dibina dalam masa sehari. kita memerlukan semangat menyeluruh yang berterusan.

pengurusan ekonomi yang baik merupakan suatu kayu ukur kepada negara maju. waktu ini, pertumbuhan ekonomi agak perlahan. ini adalah fakta. kita seharusnya tidak boleh berpuas hati dengan kadar pertumbuhan ekonomi sekarang. kini , kita hidup dalam khayalan. catat ekonomi lima peratus kita anggap sudah cukup tinggi dan sukses. ekonomi kita katakan cukup stabil. pada persidangan asean 2006, dalam indeks pelaburan kita nombor 4. angka ini mungkin lapuk dan tidak relevan tetapi sekadar untuk memberi peringatan bahawa ekonomi kita perlu diperkasakan.

sekitar 80an, kedudukan ekonomi kita setanding dengan korea selatan, taiwan dan singapura. sekarang?? negara-negara tersebut melonjak naik menjadi negara gergasi ekonomi. sebab itu, saya katakan kita harus tarik pelabur-pelabur asing untuk melabur di negara ini dan galakkan pelabur2 tempatan untuk melabur semula dalam negara. ini pada hemat saya mampu menjana kekuatan ekonomi kita. suntikan pelaburan yang luar biasa bakal mengubah suatu bandar baru menjadi pesat membangun, sebuah pekan di pedalaman berubah menjadi bandar tumpuan, dan sebuah bandaraya menjadi kota metropolitan. pelaburan bukan sekadar menjana ekonomi, tetapi juga memberi pulangan kewangan kepada kerajaan dan rakyat yang akan mendapat manfaatnya.