Justice for the deserving

Being religious means having honesty, integrity, sincerity and many other virtues that come with it. The Quran underscores that to be just is what being a faithful adherent is all about. And justice is not limited to only those of the same faith. By MARINA MAHATHIR, THE STAR SYMBOLS , as we know, can be potent. One of those that many set great store by is the tudung, meant to signify religious identity and piety. Presumably that identity comes also with religious quality, that is, you expect that anyone who wears it to display a certain level of behaviour and integrity. The other day I had an experience that taught me never to expect too much from symbols. As I was about to pay for some coffee, I noticed the young female cashier had rung up a more expensive price than that quoted on the menu on the wall. Fully expecting there to be a legitimate reason, I asked her why. To my shock, the look on her face spelt guilt and she hastily changed the price of my coffee. It may well be that she was told by her management to add a little something to each bill because I don’t see how she could have personally benefited from it. But the point is that if one takes on religious symbols such as the tudung, one therefore needs to ensure that it means something. Dishonesty is not one of them. Which goes back to that old argument about form and substance in religion in this country. It is perhaps unfortunate that Islam is the religion that most lends itself to public symbolism, mostly through dress. Even more unfortunate is the fact that the focus has entirely rested on women’s dress and not anything else. So while we may take on the tudung as one step towards heaven, we don’t insist that it carries more weight than that, that is we expect honesty, integrity, sincerity and many other virtues to come with it. The question will always be, does a dishonest person who wears a tudung or a kepiah have a better chance of going to heaven than one who doesn’t? And if the answer is yes, then we have something seriously wrong with our value system that prizes the outward rather than the internal, the form over the substance. One of the major themes of Islam is justice. Over and over again, the Quran underscores that to be just is always what to be a faithful adherent is all about. In Surah An-Nisa, Verse 35, God says: “O ye who believe! Be ye staunch in justice, witnesses for Allah, even though it be against yourselves or (your) parents or (your) kindred, whether (the case be of) a rich man or a poor man, for Allah is nearer unto both (than ye are). So follow not passion lest ye lapse (from truth) and if ye lapse or fall away, then lo! Allah is ever Informed of what ye do.” It says nothing about whom one has to be just to, except that they be those who deserve it. Certainly justice is not limited to only those of the same faith. Thus, I welcome the announcement that minor-aged children of people who convert will be brought up in the original religion that their parents were when they got married. This is to stop the sort of vindictive men who try to inflict as much as misery as they can on women they no longer love by trying to take away their children in any way they can. Unfortunately, the state has only helped to support this vindictiveness by mostly refusing to decide on what is just. But as they say, the proof of good intentions will always be in the pudding. These announcements must translate into fact. Already the negative noises are out, alleging doom if certain processes are supposedly not followed. Forgotten is the fact that those processes may not be necessarily just. Almost all these voices are, interestingly enough, male. These are the same people who insist that a woman’s primary role is to be a mother. Of course, if her husband converts to Islam and takes away her children, her mothering role becomes nullified. He suddenly becomes the martyred single father, even though he created the situation in the first place and can easily find another woman to tend to his brood. Meanwhile, the mother remains married to the father of the children she is forcibly separated from and cannot move on. And this is what people call the Islamic thing to do? I hope the Cabinet cracks the whip on these issues once and for all. No doubt this will require Parliamentary approval and that will take time. But so much misery has been caused by these injustices and what suffers most is the image of Islam as a religion that upholds justice and equality. It is not possible to be unjust and call oneself a Muslim. Unless all we care about is the form and never the substance.

written by SCM, April 29, 2009 15:58:07
Marina,

You write well. Unfortunately, you are part of a family that has caused so much misery to so many Malaysians. Your dictator father is the cause of mega racism and mega corruption in Malaysia, and you condone it by not openly defying him in public. So, whatever you say, doesn't carry an iota of weight or wisdom.

You say "if one takes on religious symbols such as the tudung, one therefore needs to ensure that it means something". How much more shallow can your thought be. Is that why your family only on occassions use religious symbols (like the songkok) on them? They use it only when they want to fool the public?

You ask, "does a dishonest person who wears a tudung or a kepiah have a better chance of going to heaven than one who doesn’t?" Ask the expert...your senile old dad. He wears a songkok once in awhile to fool the Muslims into believing that he practices Islam. If we go by what RPK stated in his recent article, your family members are NOT Muslims and are hypocrites of Islam.

You also state "Certainly justice is not limited to only those of the same faith." So why did your senile old dad only allow justice to the elite Malays called UMNOputras?

Stop your pretentious writing as we do not want to hear hypocrites say anything. Some time ago when someone asked you about your brothers millions and the shares he owns, your response was something along the lines of "Do you expect him to sell nasi lemak?" With that one sentence, you showed the world that you'd rather your family rape this nation of it's wealth than to do honest work.


written by akef, April 29, 2009 16:46:46

Marina, if you dont want to wear tudung or hijab, so be it. We dont give rat's ass. But dont patronise people who wear tudung. yes, tudung is a symbol or epitome. But when you wear tudung, you must also quipped yourself with other basic religious teachings. You dont necessarily be a good muslim by wearing tudung, nor you are a good muslim if you pray 5 times a day. Some do pray, but commit sins all day long. Its not the tudung to be blamed. It is the misconception of the underlying principle behind it, this is what comes out.

Anyway, my questions to Marina are:

1. Could you perform the umrah or hajj rituals with no tudung on your head?
2. If you had worn tudung during umrah or hajj times, I would like to ask you, from which verse of the Quran that you drawn conclusion that wearing tudung is necessary during hajj or umrah rituals?
3. Or did you bent down to the arab people that they force you to wear the tudung? if this is so, then you wore the tudung because of Allah or because the Arab people? you call yourself a Muslim?
4. Some people wear tudung only in Mecca, but not in Malaysia. What..You think Allah only lives in Mecca?

And all my questions also go to Muslim women who dont want to wear tudung, albeit calling themselves as Muslims of good faith.

MENGENAL KAPITALISMA GLOBAL - TukarTiub.blogspot.com

GLOBALISASI MODAL

PUTRAJAYA 22 April - Kerajaan hari ini memutuskan untuk meliberalisasikan 27 subsektor perkhidmatan berkuat kuasa serta-merta tanpa sebarang syarat ekuiti dikenakan. Ini bermakna syarat peruntukan ekuiti 30 peratus tempatan untuk subsektor berkenaan tidak lagi terpakai.Mengumumkan perkara itu di sini, Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak berkata, subsektor yang diliberalisasikan itu adalah dalam bidang perkhidmatan kesihatan dan sosial, pelancongan, pengangkutan, perniagaan, komputer dan yang berkaitan. Kata beliau, liberalisasi sektor perkhidmatan bertujuan membentuk satu persekitaran perniagaan yang kondusif bagi menarik pelaburan, teknologi serta menjana peluang pekerjaan bertaraf tinggi. – DI PUNGUT DARI UTUSAN MELAYU

Minggu ini kita terbaca bagaimana Najib Razak terpaksa membuka lagi pasaran Malaysia kepada syarikat multinasional. Kaum pemodal luar negara kini dibenarkan membawa masuk modal untuk melabor dalam 27 subsektor termasuk juga bank dan hospital. Kalau dulu pelaboran luar hanya dibenarkan memiliki kepentingan pelaboran tidak lebih dari 30% kini dinding dan atap itu telah diruntuh.

Ini buktinya bagaimana perancangan kapitalisma global telah berjaya untuk memindahkan harta kekayaan rakyat dari Asia, Afrika dan Amerika Latin ke saku para banker dan pemodal Anglo-Amerika. Inilah buktinya bagaimana dasar pasaran terbuka dapat menerbus masuk ke dalam Dunia Ketiga.

Hujah memberi peluang pekerjaan selalu digunakan sebagai khidmat yang akan kita terima jika kaum pemodal antarabangsa ini masuk melabor. Kapitalis antarabangsa ini juga dikatakan akan membawa modal. Apakah ini betul ? Untuk memahami mari kita melihat dan memahami kembali apa itu duit dan apa itu modal.

Seperti yang telah saya terangkan dahulu duit yang kita gunakan ini adalah fiat money - kertas yang nilainya dipaksakan ke atas kita. Kertas ini dipaksakan ke atas kita kerana kita terikat dalam sistem kapitalis global. Kita menjerut leher kita dengan menerima dasar Bank Dunia, International Monetary Fund ( IMF) dan World Trade Organisation.

Dasar yang diajukan oleh lembaga-lembaga ini tidak pernah berniat untuk membantu kita. Tugas kapitalisma bukan membantu umat manusia tetapi membuat untung. Tidak ada orang yang memulakan satu perniagaan dengan tujuan untuk membantu. Kapitalisma bukan badan amal seperti Food Not Bomb.

Kita selalu mendengar bahawa banyak kilang ditutup di Singapura, Pulau Pinang atau Thailand kerana berpindah ke China atau Vietnam. Kenapa? Kerana upah buruh lebih murah di sana. Inilah buktinya bahawa kapitalisma bukan datang untuk membantu tetapi mencari untung. Jadi hujah mengatakan modal luar membuka peluang pekerjaan terbukti satu dongeng.

Dari mana modal datang? Modal ialah tenaga manusia. Justeru tidak munasabah jika kita katakan Malaysia tidak memiliki modal. Ini bohong. Di Malaysia ada lebih dari 20 juta warga – semua ini adalah modal. Apabila politikus mengatakan kita tidak memiliki modal atau dana – apa yang dimaksudkan ialah kita tidak memiliki kertas dolar.

Juga jangan lupa - keuntungan yang dibuat oleh kaum pemodal antrabangsa akan dibawa pulang ke negara masing-masing. Yang dibawa pulang itu ialah modal. Inilah sebab utama kenapa negara di Asia, Afrika dan Amerika Latin terus menjadi miskin. Tenaga yang dicurahkan oleh warga dihisap oleh lintah-lintah darat ini.

Kerana kita tidak memiliki kertas dolar maka kerajaan kita ke hulu ke hilar meminjam dari Bank Dunia, IMF, bank-bank dari Eropah atau negara menjual bond. Ertinya kita meminjam duit dari para banker dan pelabur dari luar negara. Mereka sedia meminjamkan kepada kita untuk mendapat untung buta melalui bunga dan riba.

Mari kita lihat satu contoh sejarah yang berlaku di zaman Perang Saudara ( 1861-1865) di Amerika Syarikat. Ketika itu Presiden Abraham Lincoln cukup terdesak. Presiden Lincoln mungkin terpaksa meminjam duit dari para banker di Eropah yang amat bersedia meminjamkan duit dengan riba dan bunga yang tinggi.

Lincoln telah dinasehatkan untuk mencetak duit sendiri agar dapat membebaskan diri dari lintah darat para banker yang sedang memasang lukah di Pasar Selayang. Sebanyak 450 juta dolar - yang dipanggil greenbacks - telah dicetak. Wang ini berjaya membantu Lincoln membayar hutang piutang negara. Amerika di zamam Lincoln telah bebas dari berhutang dengan para banker dari Eropah. Dari segi sejarah ketika Lincoln menjadi Presiden ekonomi Amerika berkembang permai.

Ringgit yang kita gunakan hari ini dinilaikan dengan bandingan kertas dolar. Tetapi kertas dolar yang menilai ringgit ini pada hakikatnya tidak memiliki apa-apa nilai. Majoriti warga Malaysia hanya memiliki nilai keyakinan untuk menjalankan pertukaran melalui ringgit. Kertas ringgit ini bertujuan untuk menyenangkan kita berjual beli tidak lebih dari itu. Kertas ringgit ini juga adalah fiat money yang tidak berasaskan emas atau perak. Ia hanya berasaskan keyakinan warga Malaysia.

Justeru jika sesebuah negara dapat membebaskan dari belenggu kertas dolar maka negara itu boleh mencetak duit mereka sendiri – seperti yang telah dilakukan oleh Abraham Lincoln. Jika negara mencetak duit sendiri maka negara tidak akan memiliki masalah hutang. Kita mencetak kertas ringgit kita sendiri tanpa merujuk kepada Bank Dunia atau IMF. Atau meminjam dari mereka.

Saya yakin warga akan menerima pakai kertas ringgit yang kita cetak untuk kita bersama membangunkan negara. Tidak timbul masalah negara tidak memiliki modal. Tidak timbul masalah negara tidak ada dana. Kenapa kita menjadi bodoh meminjam kertas dolar dari IMF atau Bank Dunia atau menyimpan dolar sebagai duit simpanan negara walhal kertas dolar ini juga tidak bersandarkan emas atau perak. Nilainya dipaksakan ke atas kita.

Amat jelas - Bank Dunia, World Bank dan IMF adalah lembaga kapitalis yang menjual kertas kosong kepada kita. Kenapa kita membeli kertas kosong dengan harga yang mahal walhal kita boleh membuat kertas itu sendiri.

Apa yang saya katakan ini kelihatan cukup enteng. Lalu timbul persoalan – kalau bagini senang kenapa kerajaan tidak melakukan sesuatu? Jawabnya juga cukup enteng – kerajaan Malaysia hari ini sedang mengamalkan sistem ekonomi kapitalis. Negara kita terikat dalam satu sistem kapitalis global.

Perangkap kapitalis global ini telah dipasang oleh kabal Illuminati untuk kepentingan para banker seperti Rockefeller dan Rothschild telah memerangkap kita. Pemimpin politik kita tahu jika mereka cuba membebaskan diri dari sistem kapitalis global ini maka mereka akan dijatuhkan.

Sejarah menunjukkan bahawa United Malays National Organisation ini dinaikkan oleh penjajah British melalui Tunku kerana gerombolan ini tidak akan melawan atau menentang kepentingan kaum pemodal Anglo-Amerika. Gerombolan ini dipilih oleh British kerana mereka akan menjaga kepentingan kaum pemodal melalui seribu satu macam undang-undang yang bukan bertujuan menjaga kepentingan kaum pekerja dan buruh tetapi menjaga kepentingan kaum pemodal.

Hanya sebuah kerajaan rakyat yang berpaksikan kekuatan rakyat sahaja yang dapat membebaskan diri dari belenggu kapitalis global. Satu ketika dahulu Indonesia dibawah pimpinan arwah Bung Karno adalah contohnya. Iran di bawah pimpinan arwah Mussadigh satu lagi contoh.

Hari ini contoh terdekat ialah Cuba yang dipimpin oleh Castro, Korea Utara yang dipimpin oleh Kim Jong-il , Venuzuela di bawah Chavez dan Iran di bawah Ahmadinejad – adalah negara-negara yang cuba membebaskan dari sistem kapitalis global. Lihatlah berapa banyak konspirasi dan propaganda telah, sedang dan akan dilakukan untuk merobohkan benteng ekonomi negara-negara ini. Modal global melihat negara-negara yang ekonominya berdiri bebas sebagai musuh mereka.

Lalu persoalan timbul kenapa kita semua tidak melakukan sesuatu dan membiarkan diri kita terus ditipu bulat-bulat untuk sekian lama?

Sesiapa yang berani mengeluarkan soalan seperti ini maka susuk ini adalah susuk yang memiliki fikrah merdeka. Susuk ini berfikiran progresif kerana ingin membebaskan diri dari belenggu kapitalisma. Susuk-susuk yang sedar dan tidak mahu ditipu oleh kertas dolar. Jika semakin ramai yang menimbulkan soalan ini ada kemungkinan Malaysia negara kita ini akan menuju ke zaman pencerahan. (TT) Tulisan ini boleh diambil untuk membuat kebaikan.

Pertandingan Lagu '1Bihun' Cetus Polemik Bahasa - Faisal tehrani

Batu Berendam, 28 April 2009 - Pertandingan mencipta lagu '1Bihun' anjuran UBMO kini menjadi kontroversi setelah sekumpulan penyokong PPSMI menyatakan mereka mahu lagu-lagu '1Bihun' yang menyertai pertandingan tersebut dinyanyikan dalam bahasa Inggeris. Bagi menerjemahkan hasrat mereka, kumpulan penyokong tegar PPSMI bercadang untuk menganjurkan sebuah konsert bertaraf antarabangsa yang akan mengundang artis terkenal dari seluruh dunia untuk menyanyikan lagu-lagu hit mereka mengenai bihun. Objektif konsert tersebut ialah supaya hadirin yang datang dapat belajar tatabahasa Inggeris menerusi lirik lagu-lagu dengan bahasa internasional.

Konsert tersebut dijangka akan dianjurkan pada 30 Mei ini di Penanti.

"Kami telah menghubungi Datuk Michelle Yeoh dan Datuk Shahrukh Khan untuk menjadi pengacara konsert hebat ini kelak. Tapi belum dapat jawapan." Kata penganjur 'Konsert 1Bihun International', Cik Sharon Mok. Tema konsert antarabangsa ini adalah 'I Felt Very Clever Singing 1Bihun in English'.

"Antara lagu-lagu yang bakal dinyanyikan ialah 'My Bihun Will Go On' oleh Celine Dion, 'I Will Always Bihun You', dan 'I Wanna Bihun With Somebody' oleh Whitney Houston, juga 'A Bihun to Cry On' oleh Tommy Page, 'I Drove All Nite to Bihun with You' nyanyian Cyndi Lauper, Opps I Ate Bihun Again dendangan Bitney Spears; dan bagi menyuntikkan minat generasi muda, kami juga telah berjaya mendapatkan Kelly Clarkson untuk menyanyikan lagu 'My Life Would Bihun Without You.' Acara pembukaan akan diserikan oleh kumpulan underground Meet Auntie Bihun. Untuk memastikan konsert ini tidak dibantah oleh mana-mana pejuang bahasa atau sasterawan negara kami telah mendapatkan isteri Datuk Mujib, Rokiah Manja sebagai penaung. Jadi tidak ada media akan membuat bantahan melainkan media alternatif. Kami hanya ingin memastikan pelajar-pelajar kita dapat kerja dan pandai bertutur bahasa Inggeris setelah mendengar lagu-lagu best ini."

Cik Sharon Mok juga menambah pemilihan Rokiah Manja ialah kerana kegemarannya memakan bihun. Untuk memeriahkan konsert, pelekat kereta istimewa dengan slogan 'No Bihun No Life' akan diberi percuma untuk setiap pembelian tiket berharga RM 45 ke atas. Konsert dalam bahasa Inggeris ini juga akan dilancarkan oleh Che Det, pengasas PPSMI. "Kita pilih Che Det sebab dialah satu-satunya rujukan intelektual PPSMI. Kita cari juga kalau ada rujukan intelektual yang lain. Tapi tak jumpa. Nak buat macam mana."

Buletin Berita Hairan menghubungi pengarang prolifik Faisal Tehrani yang telah menyatakan bantahan rasmi mengenai usaha penganjur konsert tersebut, "Saya terperanjat. Ini tidak dapat diterima akal. Bila saya kata saya setuju dengan pertandingan lagu '1Bihun', saya bersetuju kerana ia dinyanyikan dalam bahasa Melayu atau bahasa Malaysia. Bukan bahasa Inggeris. Saya telah menghubungi rakan-rakan di Kena dan Sindiket Soljah (yang terkenal dengan slogan 'Jom Pekena Bihun'), jika mereka tidak membatalkan rancangan itu, kita akan ambil tindakan. Kita akan berdemonstrasi."

Dr Abu Hasan Hasnullah dari UM turut menyelar usaha pihak terbabit, "Ini suatu yang ajaib. Kalau dilihat dari segi future studies usaha ini akan membantutkan perkembangan budaya kita."

Beberapa blogger anti '1Bihun' juga mulai memperkenalkan logo 'Tak Nak Bihun' di alam maya.

Sementara itu Pengarah Dewan Bihun dan Popia yang dihubungi enggan mengulas perkara tersebut. "Oleh kerana mereka telah mengambil Rokiah Manja, kita terpaksa tutup mulutlah. Lagi pun kita tak suka isu bihun dipolitikkan."

Namun begitu pengarah Dewan Bihun dan Popia yang bertanggungjawab menjaga kepentingan bihun dan popia sebagai makanan kebangsaan mengakui pihaknya sedang berusaha memperkasa bihun dalam rangka memantapkan konsep '1Bihun'.

"Selain berjaya menjadikan bihun dan popia makanan rasmi setiap kali selepas miting dan seminar, kita juga telah mencipta banyak pepatah dan peribahasa baharu supaya bihun tidak dipandang rendah lagi. Ini pun ada enam yang baru disahkan oleh jawatankuasa penilai."

Antara pepatah dan peribahasa yang dimaksudkan ialah:

1. Terperanjat bihun: Terperanjat yang tidak begitu terperanjat.
Contoh ayat - Zinni terperanjat bihun apabila disergah temannya, Zan.

2. Seram bihun: Tidak begitu seram.
Contoh ayat - Pengulas filem terkenal Manisha berpendapat filem Rasukan Ablasa hanyalah seram-seram bihun sahaja.

3. Lemah bihun: Betul-betul lemah, sangat lemah.
Contoh ayat - Bohsia yang dibelasah sekumpulan mat rempit itu ditemui lemah bihun ditepi belukar berdekatan Kampung Cubadak.

4. Buta bihun: Pura-pura tidak nampak.
Contoh ayat - Yasmin sengaja membuta bihun apabila bertembung dengan Ammar.

5. Putih bihun: Putih yang tidak begitu melepak, putih yang menyamai putihnya warna bihun mentah.
Contoh ayat - Nabil mencintai Erma kerana kulit teman wanitanya itu putih bihun.

6. Seronok bihun: Terlalu seronok sehingga mengalir air mata.
Contoh ayat - Kami seronok bihun pada malam keraian kelmarin.

Oleh kerana itu, pengarah Dewan Bihun dan Popia berpendapat mereka tidak perlu lagi terlibat dalam budaya politik jalanan dalam usaha menjadikan bihun kembali bertakhta sebagai makanan kebangsaan. "Itu sahajalah yang terdaya kita lakukan dalam rangka memperkasakan bihun." Ujar beliau dengan nada tidak bermaya.

Exco kebajikan UBMO, Datuk Muis Piatu yang bertanggungjawab menganjurkan pertandingan lagu '1Bihun' bagaimanapun melihat usaha penyokong PPSMI tersebut dengan nada positif, "Saya seronok-seronok bihun mendengarnya. Ini bermakna '1Bihun' telah mulai berakar umbi dalam kalangan masyarakat. Tidak lama lagi semua kita akan berjaya dibihunkan yakni semua kita akan kembali makan bihun."

Cik Sharon Mok menjelaskan selain konsert '1Bihun International' mereka juga bercadang untuk mencari sutradara bagi mengarah filem baharu 'BihunTime' yang akan menampilkan penyanyi terkenal Jack Victor berlakon. "Filem ini juga dalam bahasa Inggeris." katanya lagi sambil senyum terkulum.

On Perak royal families rotation

https://airkosong.com/_/2009/04/20/on-perak-royal-families-rotation/

This post carries only edited content from a comment posted in an article on Stocktube. The comment was written by one “Ailin”, which I must admit I cannot establish any credibility on. But the interesting thing is, I have heard of the same thing from a professor here in a seminar, therefore I believe it has its substance and have decided to post it here. I have been making online research on the subject matter but to no avail still. If you have any reputable reference, please contact me. Thanks. But, read the following with a pinch of salt and make your own judgement.

Extracted from the comment written by “Ailin” on Stocktube:

Before the fall of the Perak State government, many people wrote and admired the Sultan and Raja Muda for their stand on many things. Raja Nazrin has said we should RESPECT THE CONSTITUTION and THE SPIRIT OF THE CONSTITUTION and THE SPIRIT OF THE AGREEMENT. This is something of a FARCE as what many people don’t know is that Raja Nazrin is NOT THE RIGHT Raja Muda of Perak!

In Perak, the son is NOT the automatic number 2 unlike the other states. Only Negeri Sembilan and Perak differs from the other states. There are 7 Raja Bergelar in Perak. They are The Sultan, The Raja Muda, Raja Di Hilir, Raja Kecil Besar, Raja Kecil Sulong, Raja Kecil Tengah and the most junior Raja Kecil Bongsu. This list is from the most senior to junior in the right order. This rotation was AGREED upon since the very beginning. THERE WAS AN AGREEMENT AMONG THE FAMILIES.

More than 20 years ago, the late Raja Muda of Perak passed on during Sultan Azlan’s tenure. Sultan Azlan had just been Sultan for a few years. If Sultan Azlan RESPECTED THE SPIRIT OF THE AGREEMENT between the Perak Royal Families, Sultan Azlan would not promote Raja Nazrin to be Raja Muda! The right candidate was the Raja Di Hilir at that time. But Raja Nazrin came from out of the blue to be Raja Muda! He passed more senior family members who were in line to the throne. They were the families of the late Sultan Abd Aziz and Sultan Idris. Sultan Idris was the Sultan before Sultan Azlan. This was the same scenario in a way to Negeri Sembilan. Tunku Laxamana was acting as number 2 for many years instead of his cousin the Tengku Besar Seri Menanti who was the RIGHT NUMBER 2! But as we all know recently the right person, Tengku Besar Seri Menanti was promoted to be Yam Tuan Negeri, Tuanku Muhriz.

To the supporters of Sultan Azlan, I would like to remind you that when Sultan Idris was ruling, the Raja Muda of Perak seat fell vacant due to the death of the Raja Muda of Perak at that time, Raja Muda Musa bin Sultan Abd Aziz. Sultan Idris DID NOT promote his son to be Raja Muda. He allowed the right rotation to continue. The son had to be promoted from the bottom. He did not infringe on the rights of his cousin and nephew, and one of them was Raja Azlan Shah who is now the Sultan. If Sultan Idris did the SAME THING then, Sultan Azlan WILL NEVER BE SULTAN!

Sultan Azlan and Raja Nazrin … put Raja Nazrin as Raja Muda. If the proper rotation was followed, Raja Nazrin will only be Raja Kecil Besar or Raja Kecil Sulong at best. This is only 4th or 5th in rank but now, with what happened more that 20 years ago, Raja Nazrin is number 2! What happened shocked me because I expected better from a retired TOP JUDGE OF MALAYSIA. The AGREEMENT ON THE ROTATION is PART OF THE PERAK CONSTITUTION. So how would I buy what Raja Nazrin is saying with great publicity that we MUST RESPECT THE CONSTITUTION AND SPIRIT OF THE CONSTITUTION?

I hope one day the right Raja Muda of Perak and the the right Menteri Besar will serve the Perak State. As a Perakian, this is only right.

It took Tuanku Muhriz 46 years to regain his seat. Hope Perak will do the same. Ironic that Raja Nazrin talks about his role as a SERVING ROYAL when THE SEAT IS NOT HIS!

The People’s Declaration

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

The People’s Mission

1. We, Malaysians of all races and of various faiths, are resolute in our desire for change and are determined to give birth to a system of governance, built upon the fundamental, spiritual and ethical values that are part of the teachings of all the great religions, that:

· is honest, dynamic and truly accountable;

· has a truly democratic parliamentary system that represents the interests of the people;

· has truly independent and clean judicial institutions;

· has a police force which is professional and executes its duties in a just and fair manner, according to the tenets of law;

· has a mass media that is free and not beholden to those in power;

· values accountability and transparency as its fundamental elements;

· respects differences of views; and

· supports a dynamic, resilient and just economy which is also internationally competitive.

2. We, Malaysians of all races and of various faiths, pledge to uphold at all times the foundational principles of the Malaysian Constitution, namely:

· the supremacy of the Constitution over all other laws;

· the Yang DiPertuan Agong as the Constitutional monarch;

· the separation of the powers of government and in particular the independence of the judiciary;

· that fundamental liberties and freedoms guaranteed the rakyat shall not be interfered with, denied, or rendered illusory;

· one man, one vote, both of equal value;

· that Islam is the religion of the Federation, and all other religions shall be practiced in peace and harmony;

· Bahasa Melayu as the national language, whilst safeguarding the unfettered right to use and learn other languages;

· the special position of the Malays and the indigenous rakyat of West Malaysia, of Sabah and Sarawak, and the legitimate rights of all other races; and

· A federal administrative system that fulfills its responsibilities, and protection and respect for the special position of Sabah and Sarawak.

3. We, Malaysians of all races and of various faiths, pledge to collectively:

· work to create a just and prosperous Malaysian nation based on a truly democratic system of government;

· protect and defend the rights and dignity of all the people and guarantee justice for all;

· act to enhance economic prosperity through greater productivity, efficiency, and sound economic management in order to enable the country to face global challenges;

· channel the country’s resources not only to meet the basic needs of the people but, more importantly, to ensure that the quality of life and social harmony are enhanced;

· distribute wealth and opportunities fairly among all; and

· develop quality social infrastructure and a clean and comfortable physical environment; enhance the quality of education, health and other social services; build mosques and other places of worship; build public parks and libraries; build arts and cultural centres; and provide the widest opportunities for information technology and other methods of communication.

The People’s Plan

1. We will initiate measures towards a democratic, transparent, accountable and ethical system of government that will provide the environment for a strong and sustainable economic recovery, for social harmony and prosperity, and justice and equality for all. To that end, we will institute measures to:

· promote national unity;

· build a genuine democracy;

· enhance administrative transparency and accountability;

· strengthen the national economy; and

· give full effect to our social contract.

A. Promote National Unity

1. We will initiate measures to build and foster unity among the various ethnic and religious groups, having as our aim the evolution of a people with the common aspiration of justice and equality for all. To that end, we will :

· immediately dismantle any and all remaining practices of “divide and rule” in public administration from the days of the BN administration;

· cause to be established a Ministry in charge of Non-Islamic Religious Affairs;

· put in place an affirmative action programme at Federal and all State levels to eradicate poverty and marginalization from amongst the weak and backward groups irrespective of race, social background and religion;

· pay special attention to the Orang Asli in the Peninsula and all the indigenous groups in Sabah and Sarawak, and amend various laws and regulations pertaining to them so that justice is served, including establishing a Commission to protect Native Customary Rights (NCR) land and to resolve disputes relating to such lands while respecting their traditions and customs;

· strengthen national integration by restoring the rights and privileges that were promised to the people of Sabah and Sarawak;

· establish an independent Ethnic Relations Council, reporting directly to Parliament to help in building a united Bangsa Malaysia;

· establish a Commission for Shari’ah Law at the Federal level;

· reduce the influence of party politics in the respective State Religious Councils, mosques and other religious institutions;

· allocate land for graves and places of worship for all faiths without any discrimination;

· increase inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogues to strengthen mutual understanding among the people; and

· encourage the development of a Malaysian culture based on common moral values and ideals. This requires an open attitude towards the diversity of cultures of the various ethnic and sub-ethnic groups in the country, taking account of the country’s history and evolution.

B. Build A Genuine Democracy

1. Genuine democracy must provide meaningful space for the people to express their views and to participate in various processes of daily administration and not merely to voting once in five years. All interest groups must be allowed to present and debate their views. Information will be free available subject to strictly defined restrictions. To that end, we will :

· repeal the Internal Security Act and and all laws that presently permit detention without trial;

· form an Independent Commission to consider if any form of preventive detention laws are necessary and, if thought so, to draft a bill to provide for the same and the necessary checks and balances;

· form an Independent Commission to review all acts and laws (such as the Official Secrets Act, Sedition Act, Police Act, University and University Colleges Act, Printing Presses and Publications Act, etc.), with the objective of repealing whatever violates basic human rights;

· take the necessary measures to ensure and safeguard the freedom of the press and the rights of peaceful assembly, expression and organisation, by amending the appropriate acts and laws and RTM will be corporatised and subject to an independent Broadcasting Commission;

· ensure that the Human Rights Commission is independent and has representation from all major groups;

· formulate a Freedom of Information Act to guarantee transparency and free flow of information from the government to the people;

· to pass the necessary legislation to provide for local council elections;

· so at to allow for more certainty in the electoral process, thereby affording to all parties participating in that process the most equitable opportunity to make preparation for the same and to remove any and all elements of surprise, make all necessary amendments to the law so that the date of dissolution of Parliament and general elections following thereafter shall respectively occur and be held every 5 years on a date or within a fixed period stipulated by law;

· review and, where necessary, revise all previous redelineation of constituencies so as to ensure that differences in the numbers of registered voters in any two constituencies shall not exceed 20%;

· enact a law to protect “whistle-blowers” of official misconduct and corruption;

· sign and ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights;

· improve the quality and effectiveness of human rights education at all levels of education and institutions of higher learning as well as training centres for public servants; and

· improve prison administration and conditions in line with with international standards.

C. Enhance Administrative Transparency & Accountability

1. The need for more transparent governance is pressing. Transparency and accountability must be integrated into all aspects of administration, without damaging efficiency. We will work towards the decentralization of power to the local level so that state governments will be more involved in their respective states’ development. To that end, we will :

· establish a Royal Commission to review the judiciary and legal administration in the country, and to recommend proposals to enhance the independence of the judiciary, to regulate appointment and sacking of judges and to end abuse of the law on contempt of court;

· strengthen the authority of Parliament by a system of all-party permanent committees with the power to name the Attorney General, the Chief Justice and other judges, the Inspector General of Police, the Governor of Bank Negara, who will be appointed by the Yang diPertuan Agong according to the Constitution;

· limit the term of office of the Prime Minister, the Menteri Besar and Chief Minister to two terms;

· guarantee freedom of the press so that they can monitor and expose any corruption and abuse of power;

· implement effectively all existing laws that presently require a public hearing before any project is implemented or any regulation amended, such as the Environmental Protection Act, property re-valuation, and so forth;

· review the method of appointing members to the Senate with the objective of introducing a method which reflects the interests of all the people;

· reintroduce elections for local government so that local leaders can be made accountable;

· introduce an ombudsman system for a more independent and effective public complaints body;

· protect by law any individual or group that exposes mismanagement, abuse of power and corruption especially at the highest levels;

· make the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) an independent body protected by the constitution and directly responsible to Parliament, and headed by a prominent person of standing;

· make compulsory annual public declaration of assets by the people’s representatives;

· enhance the independence and authority of the Elections Commission by giving full power to Parliament to appoint the Chairman and other members of the Commission through a process of open hearing;

· clean up the voter register so that it is free from “phantom” voters, “overlapping” voters and foreign citizens;

· reduce the voting age for Malaysian citizens to 18 years and introduce automatic registration for all citizens;

· abolish postal balloting;

· restore the image and status of the Royal Malaysian Police by means of a permanent committee as the Police Commission to receive and consider petitions by the people on police behaviour;

· introduce legislation so that the Attorney General will no longer be a voting member of the Pardon’s Board, but will only act as advisor and resource person to the board;

· separate the lower judiciary from the legal services so that they are not both controlled by the Attorney General;

· strengthen the system of checks and balances by amending all laws, such as the Printing and Publication Act etc., that presently deny the power for judicial review;

· review the position, administration and implementation of the Shari’ah laws to guarantee that justice is implemented and the beliefs of the Muslims are protected;

· restore the integrity of the public services, by fully utilising its expertise and experience;

· recognise members of the public services as equal partners in the effort to develop the country;

· institute public sector reforms to raise efficiency and improve morale, work ethics, and working conditions within the public sector;

· attempt to abolish the gap in service conditions between the public and private sectors, especially among those who have equal qualifications and carry out similar functions;

· narrow the salary gap between the highest, medium and lower levels to set an example to the private sector; and

· encourage members of the public services to a renewed determination to serve the people and country, and not the political leaders.

D. Strengthen The National Economy

(1) Reducing the people’s burden

(a) Reduce the tax burden

· Raise the level of personal income tax exemption, in addition to increasing child allowance to a reasonable level;

· Raise the level of personal income tax deduction for wives who are full-time home makers in recognition of their important contribution;

· Raise the level of service tax exemption to a turnover exceeding one million ringgit a year;

· Review the tax system with the objective of strengthening government revenues while reducing the tax burden on the people, especially the low- and middle-income groups.

(b) Eradicate absolute poverty

· Eradicate absolute poverty by the middle of the next parliamentary term;

· Reduce poverty levels in the next parliamentary term to half the levels of 1999;

· Improve poverty eradication programmes so that they are free from political interference and truly help the poor;

· Streamline various existing poverty eradication programmes;

· Narrow the income and wealth gap without infringing on legitimate rights.

(c) Assist petty traders and hawkers

· End the practice of using the licensing of small traders and hawkers as a source of revenue and as a party political tool, and instead use it purely for management and regulatory purposes to safeguard the well-being and health of the people, small traders and hawkers;

· Provide comfortable, clean and attractive infrastructure and facilities for hawkers.

(d) Improve public transport services

· Improve the quality of public transport and reduce fares to a level commensurate with the people’s living standards;

· Issue taxi permits to individual entrepreneurs and their cooperatives, rather than to large companies;

· Enhance the efficiency and quality of taxi services by private entrepreneurs through the establishment of cooperatives, associations, councils and the like;

· Reduce the fares of domestic flights between Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak to promote national unity and domestic tourism;

· Modernise and enhance rail services in Peninsular Malaysia;

· Develop the road system in Sabah and Sarawak;

· Provide suitable facilities and regulations to reduce of road accidents and enhance public road safety;

· Study the possibility of new forms of public transport in the main towns to improve the quality of urban life;

· Provide more orderly and reasonably-priced school services bus to reduce the burden on parents.

(2) Just economic growth

(a) enhance domestic demand and productive, not wasteful, domestic investment

· Review the existing regulatory framework and address its weaknesses;

· Enhance private sector corporate governance, transparency and responsibility, and end the abuse of the banking and finance sector;

· Give priority to projects which generate the greatest benefit to the people, projects such as medium and low-cost housing, modernisation of the railway system, road projects in Sabah and Sarawak, and others;

· Halt mega-projects which are wasteful, environmentally destructive and of little or no benefit to the people;

· Enhance economic opportunities for all by giving specific emphasis and appropriate support to groups that are weak, and effective support to local businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises.

· Ensure that economic development is equitable and sustainable, and does not threaten social integrity or destroy the environment and natural resources;

· Develop special development programmes for the poor and the low income in traditional villages, new villages and estates so that they are brought into the mainstream of development and provided with better income sources, jobs and title to land;

· Ensure that special privileges are not abused to enrich only a small elite of those in power and their cronies.

(b) strengthen competitiveness, greater geographical dispersal of industry, develop resource based and hi-tech, information- and knowledge-based industries

· Modernise and expand high productivity industries to increase the country’s economic competitiveness and to encourage high-value exports;

· Address our technological weaknesses, in particular the technology gap between the backward and the advanced industries;

· Ensure that large projects, including heavy industry projects, are managed in an integrated manner and in line with a practical industrial development master plan;

· Provide incentives and greater support for small and medium-sized industries;

· Encourage, by means of appropriate incentive schemes, further linkages between local, especially small and medium-sized industries, and large international corporations in order to accelerate technology transfer to local industries and increase the use of local inputs;

· Support local entrepreneurs and encourage the upgrading of local skills and human resource capacity;

· Utilise foreign capital, expertise, markets and technology in order to reinforce local economic fundamentals;

· Enhance the role of science and technology by strengthening basic science education and developing appropriate technical training facilities;

· Increase and improve the efficiency of financial allocations and other incentives for scientific and technological research and development.

(c) Strengthening small and medium-sized agriculture and fisheries

· Enhance food production for the security and stability of the country;

· More research in agriculture, particularly in areas of high technology, food crops and the industrial use of agricultural output;

· Protect biodiversity and encourage research in biodiversity conservation and the use of natural products;

· A review of FELDA, FELCRA, RISDA, MAJUIKAN and other agriculture and fisheries development agencies to improve management and technology use for the benefit of settlers, farmers and fishermen;

· Restructuring government monopolies to become more efficient, effective and market-driven;

· Firm implementation of laws regulating fisheries exclusion zones to protect in-shore fishermen against encroachment by large fishing vessels and trawlers which cause extensive damage to coastal fisheries resources;

· Development of idle land.

(d) Information technology and economy for all

· Speed-up the installation of telecommunications and electricity infrastructure nationwide and seek to reduce usage costs;

· Expand information technology (IT) education in all schools, beginning with primary schools;

· Develop more effective IT appreciation programmes for the general public;

· Launch a “One Village, One IT Centre” programme by giving appropriate incentives to encourage the dissemination of information technology facilities to small towns and rural areas;

· Make compulsory information technology infrastructure planning in all new housing schemes, including low and medium cost housing, and push for the modernisation of the infrastructure in existing housing schemes;

· Negotiate with software manufacturers to obtain cheaper software for the local market.

(e) Prioritising small and medium enterprises

· Establish an investment fund, under-written by the government, for the development of small and medium enterprises and allocated according to performance and not political favouritism.

(f) Reorganising the privatisation policy framework

· Details of privatisation contracts to be made public in the interests of transparency. The interests of consumers and workers, and the rights of the people, will be safeguarded. All future privatisations to be conducted on the basis of competitive bids;

· Ensure that public monopolies do not become private monopolies;

· Basic public facilities and services – such as water, education, health and public housing – will only be corporatised to improve management but will not be privatised;

· Public enterprises that have already been privatised will be monitored closely to safeguard public interests. Enterprises that have been privatised will not be re-nationalised but any invalid contracts can be terminated in the interest of the people and the country;

· Establish an independent commission to audit all large privatised projects in the interests of transparency and accountability.

(g) Strengthening the financial system

· encourage and promote investment and credit facilities to productive sectors and not to speculation;

· rehabilitate the image, prestige and integrity of Bank Negara;

· ensure that Federal expenditure is channeled particularly to enhance the standard of living of the poor, and to interior and rural areas which are still marginalised.

E. Give Full Effect To Our Social Contract(1) Education

· Education is a fundamental responsibility of the state, although private education is allowed;

· Establish a National Education Consultative Council to ensure that the practice and implementation of the national education policy and philosophy is both effective and just;

· Stop the privatisation of public institutions of higher learning and review the implementation of the corporatisation policy so that it adheres to the principles of education and not financial gain;

· Allocate the education budget in a fair and equitable fashion, without neglecting any group;

· Provide more scholarships and other financial assistance on the basis of need;

· Increase nursery and kindergarten facilities, especially for the lower income group;

· Guarantee access to compulsory and free and compulsory education at the primary and secondary levels;

· Improve standards and facilities for schools in the interior, especially in Sabah and Sarawak;

· Review the schemes of service for teachers and introduce additional incentives for serving in the interior;

· Raise the standard of teacher training for all levels of schools and increase the number of trained teachers according to demand;

· Increase advanced training opportunities for teachers and lecturers so that they are always current in their respective knowledge and skills;

· Strengthen the position of Malay language as lingua franca among the people;

· Encourage and develop the Malay language as a dynamic literary and cultural language, which is accepted and used by all communities in Malaysia;

· Recognise the right to study the mother tongue like Chinese, Tamil, Iban, Kadazandusun and others in schools, and improve the implementation of policies on mother tongue education, so that it is more efficient and responsive to the demands of parents. Trained mother tongue language teachers must be supplied by government schools when at least ten students need such teachers, and the training of mother tongue teachers must be improved at teacher training colleges and public institutions of higher learning;

· Retain the various language streams in primary schools while encouraging greater integration among students of different ethnic groups, for example through co-curriculum activities;

· Increase the number of mother tongue schools and upgrade their facilities according to need and demand;

· Improve the teaching and learning of international languages, especially English and Arabic languages;

· Improve the quality of and facilities in primary and secondary religious schools;

· Strengthen the position of the existing public institutions of higher learning and improve their performance;

· Systematically increase the number of public institutions of higher learning without weakening the existing ones, so that more qualified students have access to higher education at minimum fees or for free;

· Guarantee the autonomy and standards of universities and other institutions of higher learning by establishing a Universities Commission as an independent supervisory body, and amend the University and University Colleges Act to ensure the fundamental rights of the academic community, including students;

· Provide an educational television channel to complement formal education and to encourage life-long continuing education, with the help of the private corporate sector as well as public and private educational institutions;

· Widen the scope of the National Accreditation Authority to monitor, investigate and propose recognition of certificates, diplomas and degrees outside the national education system. Degrees from institutions of higher learning in Arabia, Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan, India, Pakistan, China and other countries, and local educational certificates such as the United Independent Schools Examination (UISE) will be considered based upon academic standards.

(2) Health

· Establish a National Health Council, with the objective of protecting the interests of the people and advancing the quality of health;

· Abolish all programmes to privatise the public health system;

· Review the cost and quality of service of all the health support services that have been privatised;

· Increase expenditure allocations for the health sector;

· Restructure the scheme of service for government medical staff to be more commensurate with their work load and responsibility;

· Maintain low cost healthcare services for all the people;

· Establish a commission to study the deficiencies in the existing health system and to make recommendations for improving the public health system;

· Monitor private medical services and check any abuses;

· Establish a national centre for disease control;

· Increase continuing educational and specialist training opportunities for doctors, nurses and laboratory staff;

· Review the possibility of incorporating complementary healthcare menthods such as homeopathy and traditional medicine within the Malaysian health system;

· Step up health promotion activities, health education, preventive measures and monitoring of diseases;

· Encourage the greater involvement of women in the health sector, including training more women doctors to handle female patients.

(3) Housing

· Increase the number of good and comfortable low cost houses which meet household space and environmental needs;

· Overcome the “squatter” problem as quickly as possible, preferably through development of housing in situ and/or land sharing;

· Mandate a system of consultations between the “squatters”, developers and the authorities to reach settlement on matters of alternative housing or land or other compensation;

· Provide public facilities around flats to ensure a balanced and healthy personality development;

· Carry out efforts to provide easy and cheap credit facilities to help “squatters” to buy and own their houses.

(4) Social Services

· Carry out the responsibility of the government to provide comprehensive social services that are fair and efficient;

· Ensure that every housing project above a particular size provide social facilities, such as playing fields, public recreational clubs, libraries and so forth, for the use of the general public;

· Provide a systematic and comprehensive arrangement to protect and provide assistance to the poor, orphans and single parents;

· Ensure equal opportunities for the disabled to achieve self-improvement, education, careers, social participation and the provision of the necessary facilities to enable them to be independent in all public areas, facilities and buildings.

(5) Environment

· Formulate a long term sustainable development policy involving all strata of society, to promote full support from all levels of government, non-governmental organisations, political parties and the public at large;

· Amend the Environmental Protection Act so that no project can be started without the approval of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment and the written commitment of the project proponents to implement all provisions for mitigation, as determined by the Department of Environment, with clear procedures for providing information and for consultations in the Environmental Impact Assessment process involving the main stakeholders;

· Coordinate the environmental protection laws at the state and federal levels so that enforcement and supervision can be more efficient and cost-effective;

· Implement laws relating to the protection of the national heritage, and increase fines for breaching the Environmental Protection Act and laws to protect our natural heritage;

· Ensure that every state gazettes a reasonable number of national parks, conservation parks, sites for new urban centres and housing development areas in its master plan;

· Work towards the standardisation of laws relating to forestry and logging among the various states and establish an independent inspection system to ensure that all these laws are firmly implemented;

· Encourage all the states to immediately gazette sufficient water catchment areas to meet the needs of the future;

· Consult with the state governments so that they implement the existing conservation plans and provide new conservation plans wherever necessary.

(6) Consumerism and Prices

· Strengthen consumer protection laws, especially those relating to price control, cost of services and their quality, particularly during festive seasons;

· Review the Consumer Act so that an independent Tribunal can be established, with participation from non-governmental organisations, to identify the list of necessary products and control price increases by establishing a price index for the purpose;

· Encourage the cooperative movement for production and distribution of necessary goods;

· Encourage consumer organisations to be more active in raising the awareness of consumers regarding their own rights;

· Regulate advertisements so that they will not degrade the dignity of women or other groups.

(7) Workers

· Form a framework of tripartite consultation that is effective, just and democratic, and amend laws relating to labour, trade unions and industrial relations consistent with it;

· Repeal or amend laws which restrict the right of workers to form, participate and be active in trade unions;

· Review and update retrenchment benefits and study the establishment of a national retrenchment fund to help retrenched workers;

· Fix a reasonable minimum monthly wage for daily paid workers;

· Fix a reasonable monthly wage for estate workers and seriously implement a housing scheme for estate workers;

· Provide an example for a five day work week with normal working period of not more than 40 hours a week;

· Review methods of recruitment and pay for foreign workers and reduce dependency on them;

· Recognise the right of trade unions and union leaders to participate in national politics;

· Increase the retirement age to 60 years for the public sector, consistent with the improvement of health and life span;

· Ensure equal pay and benefits for men and women doing equal work or performing similar duties;

· Increase maternity leave in the public sector to 90 days and introduce leave of 7 days for the husband;

· Develop programmes with the private sector for continuing education and training in order to improve flexibility, expertise and productivity of workers;

· Introduce retraining programmes for retrenched workers;

· Review the effectiveness of the National Institute for Work Safety and Health and overcome its deficiencies.

(8) Women

· Enforce strictly laws regarding the rights, interests and dignity of women and abolish laws and regulations that discriminate against women;

· Protect the rights and welfare of women who have been abandoned by their husbands without any reasonable support;

· Continue payments of pensions for widows even after they remarry;

· Provide creches within the community and also at places of work;

· Introduce flexible working hours for working women;

· Study the Women’s Agenda for Change in order to implement appropriate recommendations therein.

(9) Youth

· Give encouragement and facilities to youths in order to improve their talents in the fields of arts, sports and culture;

· Provide projects aimed especially at discovering leadership talent in individual, cultural, entrepreneurial and social development;

· Overcome problems, such as unemployment, drug abuse, drop-out and moral questions, faced by some youths with innovative methods;

· Provide greater opportunities for youths of different social backgrounds to participate in skills training and in economic projects;

· Provide more effective rehabilitation centres and work opportunities for youths that have become victims of social problems, so that they can be absorbed back into the community.

(10) The elderly and pensioners

· Fix a minimum pension level that will enable pensioners to sustain themselves;

· Encourage pensioners who are still able to work to contribute towards national development;

· Have a half fare system for the elderly and pensioners for all types of public transport;

· Make it obligatory for children or close relatives to look after the aged and support such moves by tax exemptions or some other incentives;

· Ensure that the elderly are given priority to go on the pilgrimage;

· Encourage non-governmental organisations to develop programmes and courses for the elderly and pensioners to improve their talents, develop new skills, participate in study tours; language courses, physical education and so forth.