Thesun 2008-11-20 Page02 Raja Nazrin Warns Against Modern-day Tribalism

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theSun

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| THURSDAY NOVEMBER 20 2008

RUKUN NEGARA: THE PRINCIPLES

BELIEF IN GOD

LOYALTY TO KING AND COUNTRY

THE SUPREMACY OF THE CONSTITUTION

THE RULE OF LAW

COURTESY AND MORALITY

THE OBJECTIVES TO achieve greater unity among Malaysians

TO maintain a democratic way of life

TO create a just society in which the wealth of the nation shall be equitably shared

TO ensure a liberal approach to her rich and diverse cultural traditions

TO build a progressive society which shall be oriented to modern science and technology

Raja Nazrin warns against modern-day tribalism

briefs Farmer’s 20-year jail term for incest upheld

other religions. Islam itself is built on a PETALING JAYA: Mankind is failing Diversity is not only something to be cherished history of myriad traditions. badly at creating a sense of combut is essential ... what has built this country “I know this as a Malaysian for what munity and is instead allowing race, has built this country and made it strong culture and religion to dominate and made it strong are the contributions of its are the contributions of its different discourse, Raja Muda of Perak Raja different communities. Malaysians of different communities. Dr Nazrin Shah said yesterday. “Malaysians of different races and “When we think of social fragmen- races and religions have come together to put their religions have come together to put tation as good rather than bad, some- shoulders to the collective plough despite their their shoulders to the collective plough thing is awfully wrong. Our moral gy- differences, something that many countries have despite their differences, something roscopes have gone completely awry. not been so fortunate enough to share.” that many countries have not been so If we continue on the present path, fortunate enough to share.” great dangers lie ahead,” he said in Raja Nazrin said multicultural societies are fast He said the idea behind multiculturalism is his speech at the Diversity Matters Forum on becoming the rule rather than the exception. that countries with people of different cultural Diasporas in the Commonwealth held at Monash “Contrary to the rhetoric, however, it is not backgrounds should allow them to live a free University’s Sunway campus here. life without being forced to do things they don’t Raja Nazrin cautioned against falling into a becoming a source of strength. Mankind is failing – and failing badly – at creating a sense of com- want to do. “new and destructive form of modern-day tribalmunity. Instead race, culture and religion have “What characterises democratic life is that ism”. become the dominant discourse.” it is the person who decides whether he or she “Cultures can cooperate as much as clash. We Raja Nazrin said diversity is not only somewants to adjust more and be absorbed or remain need to reclaim religion from those who would aloof. distort its truths. We must reject radicalism and thing to be cherished but is essential. “I know this as an educationist for the store “At the same time, the need to forge a extremism of all types. of knowledge does not increase until and unless community of people with shared values and “If there is someone in my society who is there are differences in thinking. It is when there interests remains paramount,” he said. hungry or unemployed or sick and cannot afford treatment, then it diminishes me even if he is of is stultifying uniformity that stagnation occurs. “I know this as a Muslim for Islam recognises (See full text of the speech on sun2surf.com) a different race or religion,” he said.

No list for PM yet on MCA cabinet positions KUALA LUMPUR: The MCA has yet to present its list of proposed party representatives in the cabinet to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi following the party elections last month, MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said yesterday. Speaking to reporters at Parliament House, Ong dismissed a rumour that such a list had been sent to Abdullah. Asked when he would present the list, he said: “We will cross the bridge ...” At last month’s MCA elections, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan lost to former health minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek in the contest for deputy president. Deputy Home Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung lost in the contest for a post of vice-president while Deputy Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Teng Boon Soon failed to make it to the central committee. Asked whether Ka Chuan had vacated his

ministerial post, as reported by Sin Chew Daily, Tee Keat said whether anyone resigned or not would become academic once the list of the candidates is presented to the prime minister. Meanwhile, MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong declined to comment on the reported resignation of Ka Chuan and dismissed it as a rumour or speculation. “I do not know. I just came to know from friends that there has been a press report on the matter,” he said. An aide to Ka Chuan, however, confirmed that the latter had handed in his letter of resignation as minister to Tee Keat. The source said Ka Chuan had submitted an “undated resignation letter” after his defeat in the party elections on Oct 18. “Yes, he (Ka Chuan) did submit the resignation letter to Datuk Seri Ong (Tee Keat). That’s all I got to say,” the aide told Bernama. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad

Badawi, who is in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, for a two-day visit beginning yesterday, did not rule out the possibility of a cabinet reshuffle soon should an MCA minister vacate his seat. However, he said, the minor cabinet reshuffle did not necessarily mean filling that vacancy alone but could also involve change of portfolios and some adjustments to the present portfolios. “The possibility of a cabinet reshuffle is always there,” he told Malaysian journalists yesterday when asked to comment on a news report that Ka Chuan had tendered his resignation. Abdullah said he would monitor MCA’s next move before deciding on the matter. He said so far he had not received a resignation letter from Ka Chuan but would respect the latter’s decision to resign should he have valid reasons to do so. – Bernama

» See also Page 8

ALOR STAR: The High Court yesterday upheld the 20-year jail term and 12 strokes of the rotan imposed on a farmer for committing four counts of incest on his niece four years ago. Judicial commissioner Zamani Abdul Rahim, in dismissing the 38-year-old farmer’s appeal, said the Sungai Petani sessions court judge did not err in passing sentence. The man was jailed for 18 years each on the first two counts of committing incest on his 17-year-old niece in Taman Mutiara Indah, Sungai Petani, on May 25, 2004, and at Taman Sri Tanjung on June 5 the same year. He received another 20 years’ jail each and total of 12 strokes of the rotan for committing the offences at the same places on June 19 and June 29, 2004. The sentences were to run concurrently.

M’sia Net penetration rate among Asia Pacific’s highest BANGKOK: Malaysia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and Singapore are the most connected countries in the Asia Pacific region, with 55 % to 80 % of their populations having access to the Internet by 2007. The bottom five – Myanmar, Timor-Leste, Tajikistan, Bangladesh and Cambodia – have less than 1% of their population using the Internet while the average for region is 20%. The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Unescap) said despite significant progress Asia and the Pacific had made in using information communication technology (ICT), a significant disparity still remained in Internet access between high-income and low-income countries. – Bernama

State govt accepts blame for King of Tennis no-show PENANG: The Penang state government accepted blame for the cancellation the “Kings of Tennis” that was supposed to be held at the Esplanade last weekend. State exco member Chow Kon Yeow said action would be taken against the organiser of the event. “We accept and agree that the failure of the event had tarnished the image of the state and those concerned would be dealt with accordingly,” he said during the debate on the 2009 Supply Bill and 2009 Penang Development Estimates Bill in the state assembly last night. – Bernama