Thesun2008102016: Citizennades | Two Wrong People Doing The Right Thing
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theSun
| MONDAY OCTOBER 20 2008
speak up! letters
[email protected]
No protection for fossil IN PERAK’S Gua Naga Mas, there is a fossil of a mammal embedded in the cave wall. It was found in 1992. No real tests have been done, but the fossil is thought to be a leopard or other cat, and may date to the Pleistocene, 1.8 million to 10,000 years BP. The Department of Museums and Antiquities erected a sign at the base of the steps leading up to the cave. My first visit to the site was in 1996. On subsequent visits, by comparing my photos over the years, I could see that pieces of the fossil have been removed. It is disheartening to find that unscrupulous people have been removing these
ancient bones, and that nothing has been done to protect them. I tried to get to the cave recently and found that the sign was missing, and the steps were overgrown. Also a factory has encroached right up to the hillslope. This fossil is thought to be the only one known in Southeast Asia. It is sad to see that the authorities have done nothing to protect this site. I hope the museums or tourism departments will take action to preserve such an important piece of Malaysia’s past. Liz Price Kuala Lumpur
Take more care with titles I AGREE with “In a tizz over Datukship” (Down2Earth, Oct 14). Honorific titles are being bestowed on any Tom, Dick or Harry without regard for their contribution to society and nation. It further reinforces the belief that titles nowadays are worthless in the eyes
of the public. We are so particular about honorifics that there is not a single local TV drama without a character who is a Datuk, Datin or Tan Sri. Koh Via Email
Shocking imaginary picture I REFER to the article, “Incitement is not Press Freedom” (Down2Earth, Oct 17). You have put in perspective how journalists should behave especially in a multi-cultural and multiracial society. I can’t comprehend what Chamil is trying
to achieve by painting an imaginary picture of the assassination of YB J. Please continue your good work. Guan Via email
Two wrong people doing the right thing
CitizenNades by R. Nadeswaran
ON hindsight, Gary Hart who made a bid to become the president of the United States probably regrets his challenge to the posse of journalist on his campaign trail in his 1988 bid. “Follow me around. I don’t care. I’m serious. If anybody wants to put a tail on me, go ahead. They’ll be very bored,” he challenged. The press (and public) found Hart’s liaison with 29-year-old model Donna Rice quite fascinating. The fact that it took place on the unfortunately named Monkey Business yacht only fuelled the fire. Hart was forced to drop out of the race. John Profumo was the United Kingdom’s secretary of state for war in 1963 when he began an affair with Christine Keeler.
Unfortunately for him, she was also seeing a Russian spy. Lying in the House of Commons didn’t help his cause. He resigned. Just because stories of such nature have never been written about local personalities, the dramas at court trials and on Internet sites, suggest that the intrigues of politics and sleaze exist in our society. Although it is not a case of spies, showgirls and intrigue by the pool, such incidents do suggest that even people on the local “A-list” have their own personal preferences which they have chosen to do in the privacy of the bedrooms or their hideouts in up-market condominiums or some hill resort. And even if such liaisons are made public, the guns seem to be pointing at the media, whose journalists have often turned out to be the biggest targets when such news is made public. In the UK, the media, especially The News of the World spares no one – from potsmoking footmen of the Queen to ministers who hide their mistresses in closets. Soon after he was made foreign secretary in 1998, Robin Cook was caught with his pants down. The newspaper exposed that he was keeping a mistress in a London flat – an exposure which led to him effectively dumping his wife in a VIP lounge at Heathrow Airport just as the couple were setting out on a holiday. On the home front, values are different. One-night stands or sex outside marriage is frowned upon although some openly
flaunt their many wives. There may be nothing legally wrong for a government official, if he or she is single, to take his or her partner on official trips, provided the taxpayer does not foot the bill and that the partner does not attend official functions. But in our society, values are different and it would be morally wrong. In a society where gays and lesbians are treated worse than lepers, many have gone out of their way to tell all and sundry that they are straight. In the process, individuals are identified and invited on the trip to act like “partners”, giving the impression that claims of their sexual leanings are wrong. However, it would be wrong if the travelling and hotel expenses of such partners – guised as etiquette advisers, grooming assistants or fitness instructors – are paid for by people with business interests in the government department or agency in which the official is part of the decision-making panel. What about the businessmen and women who accompany the prime minister or his deputy on trade missions? No, this group is different where everything is open and everyone knows each other. But if a government officer goes to say Hawaii on an official trip with a group of five, and gets one of the suppliers to pay for the personal trainer, would that amount to misdemeanor? No, says the supplier. He paid for the trainer’s trip to “get close to the official.” And proudly adds: “That’s how we do business in Malaysia…” Food for thought and much more… Is this a figment of someone’s imagination or the truth? You, the reader have to make the decision and to those involved in such activities, all that can be said is: Siapa makan cili, dia rasa pedas! R. Nadeswaran is getting loads of insights into the nocturnal activities of many people in high places. However, for legal reasons, he is unable to name them. He is editor (special and investigative reporting) at theSun and can be reached at: [email protected].
theSun
| MONDAY OCTOBER 20 2008
speak up! letters
[email protected]
No protection for fossil IN PERAK’S Gua Naga Mas, there is a fossil of a mammal embedded in the cave wall. It was found in 1992. No real tests have been done, but the fossil is thought to be a leopard or other cat, and may date to the Pleistocene, 1.8 million to 10,000 years BP. The Department of Museums and Antiquities erected a sign at the base of the steps leading up to the cave. My first visit to the site was in 1996. On subsequent visits, by comparing my photos over the years, I could see that pieces of the fossil have been removed. It is disheartening to find that unscrupulous people have been removing these
ancient bones, and that nothing has been done to protect them. I tried to get to the cave recently and found that the sign was missing, and the steps were overgrown. Also a factory has encroached right up to the hillslope. This fossil is thought to be the only one known in Southeast Asia. It is sad to see that the authorities have done nothing to protect this site. I hope the museums or tourism departments will take action to preserve such an important piece of Malaysia’s past. Liz Price Kuala Lumpur
Take more care with titles I AGREE with “In a tizz over Datukship” (Down2Earth, Oct 14). Honorific titles are being bestowed on any Tom, Dick or Harry without regard for their contribution to society and nation. It further reinforces the belief that titles nowadays are worthless in the eyes
of the public. We are so particular about honorifics that there is not a single local TV drama without a character who is a Datuk, Datin or Tan Sri. Koh Via Email
Shocking imaginary picture I REFER to the article, “Incitement is not Press Freedom” (Down2Earth, Oct 17). You have put in perspective how journalists should behave especially in a multi-cultural and multiracial society. I can’t comprehend what Chamil is trying
to achieve by painting an imaginary picture of the assassination of YB J. Please continue your good work. Guan Via email
Two wrong people doing the right thing
CitizenNades by R. Nadeswaran
ON hindsight, Gary Hart who made a bid to become the president of the United States probably regrets his challenge to the posse of journalist on his campaign trail in his 1988 bid. “Follow me around. I don’t care. I’m serious. If anybody wants to put a tail on me, go ahead. They’ll be very bored,” he challenged. The press (and public) found Hart’s liaison with 29-year-old model Donna Rice quite fascinating. The fact that it took place on the unfortunately named Monkey Business yacht only fuelled the fire. Hart was forced to drop out of the race. John Profumo was the United Kingdom’s secretary of state for war in 1963 when he began an affair with Christine Keeler.
Unfortunately for him, she was also seeing a Russian spy. Lying in the House of Commons didn’t help his cause. He resigned. Just because stories of such nature have never been written about local personalities, the dramas at court trials and on Internet sites, suggest that the intrigues of politics and sleaze exist in our society. Although it is not a case of spies, showgirls and intrigue by the pool, such incidents do suggest that even people on the local “A-list” have their own personal preferences which they have chosen to do in the privacy of the bedrooms or their hideouts in up-market condominiums or some hill resort. And even if such liaisons are made public, the guns seem to be pointing at the media, whose journalists have often turned out to be the biggest targets when such news is made public. In the UK, the media, especially The News of the World spares no one – from potsmoking footmen of the Queen to ministers who hide their mistresses in closets. Soon after he was made foreign secretary in 1998, Robin Cook was caught with his pants down. The newspaper exposed that he was keeping a mistress in a London flat – an exposure which led to him effectively dumping his wife in a VIP lounge at Heathrow Airport just as the couple were setting out on a holiday. On the home front, values are different. One-night stands or sex outside marriage is frowned upon although some openly
flaunt their many wives. There may be nothing legally wrong for a government official, if he or she is single, to take his or her partner on official trips, provided the taxpayer does not foot the bill and that the partner does not attend official functions. But in our society, values are different and it would be morally wrong. In a society where gays and lesbians are treated worse than lepers, many have gone out of their way to tell all and sundry that they are straight. In the process, individuals are identified and invited on the trip to act like “partners”, giving the impression that claims of their sexual leanings are wrong. However, it would be wrong if the travelling and hotel expenses of such partners – guised as etiquette advisers, grooming assistants or fitness instructors – are paid for by people with business interests in the government department or agency in which the official is part of the decision-making panel. What about the businessmen and women who accompany the prime minister or his deputy on trade missions? No, this group is different where everything is open and everyone knows each other. But if a government officer goes to say Hawaii on an official trip with a group of five, and gets one of the suppliers to pay for the personal trainer, would that amount to misdemeanor? No, says the supplier. He paid for the trainer’s trip to “get close to the official.” And proudly adds: “That’s how we do business in Malaysia…” Food for thought and much more… Is this a figment of someone’s imagination or the truth? You, the reader have to make the decision and to those involved in such activities, all that can be said is: Siapa makan cili, dia rasa pedas! R. Nadeswaran is getting loads of insights into the nocturnal activities of many people in high places. However, for legal reasons, he is unable to name them. He is editor (special and investigative reporting) at theSun and can be reached at: [email protected].
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