The well-known alim said this was to thwart rape and incest and to protect women “from sex maniacs”.  

A day after the ensuing furore, Abu Hassan reportedly said his comment was merely a joke and not to be taken seriously.  

Unfortunately, the joke is now on Malaysia. Like some of our politicians and bureaucrats who suffer from “foot in the mouth disease”, Abu Hassan has again made a Malaysia a laughing stock.  

News of our improved economy and the bullish stock market should have occupied the attention of Malaysians and foreigners. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be that way.  

It’s not the kind of news one would expect from Malaysia. Maybe Afghanistan, when the Talibans governed it.  

There seems to be no end to this kind of news relating to “sex obsession”. Surely, politicians and government servants have more urgent matters to handle.  

For example, the numerous projects under the 9th Malaysia Plan, worth billions of ringgit, need to be carried out as the economy becomes more upbeat. 

But wait. The Terengganu Religious Department has initiated a plan where “Mat Skoding” or spies would be recruited to tip off the department of immoral activities.  

These “Mat Skoding,” who are sometimes dismissed as mere peeping toms, will be part of a voluntary squad under the guidance of the state religious department.  

These vigilantes, as the department authorities have called them, could be waitresses or janitors at hotels who would act as auxiliary undercover agents for the department, it was reported.  

According to state Islam Hadhari and Welfare Committee chairman Datuk Rosol Wahid, these trained “spies” would be on the lookout for unmarried couples behaving suspiciously or engaging in vice throughout the state.  

I had a tough time explaining to foreign friends during CNY that Terengganu is a conservative state. There can’t be that many sex offenders and the state is no longer run by PAS ulama, right?  

And surely this is not what the Prime Minister has in mind when he talks about Islam Hadhari.  

Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, a moderate leader, is also not in the mould of Datuk Seri Hadi Awang, the former firebrand PAS mentri besar.  

Surely, we must have learnt from the khalwat raid in Langkawi by religious officers on an elderly American couple, which led to the Tourism Ministry being flooded with protest letters from across the world. 

Or, the on-going court case involving a young non-Muslim couple arrested by Kuala Lumpur City Hall enforcement officials at the KLCC Park.  

I would like to believe that these are isolated cases involving a few eccentric figures but we have reason to be concerned with such influential and powerful personalities in government institutions.  

A dean from the business faculty of a top Malaysian public university, for example, makes alleged spot checks during lectures to check on the dressing of female students.  

Students who he perceives are wearing tight T-shirts or blouses are singled out. At least on one occasion, they were asked to bend down to see whether parts of their bodies would be exposed.  

Fortunately, this senior lecturer, who has just returned from overseas, is the odd one out in the university. The other faculties have not had any complaints about students being pulled out of examination halls by invigilators.  

But the university authorities have to stop him immediately. It would be an embarrassment if the university were named later.  

A university is not a high school and it is not the dean’s job to worry about students’ dressing.  

It’s their academic performance and his – whether he has produced enough research and articles for international journals – he should be worried about.  

Last week, PAS reportedly issued a statement objecting to the celebration of Valentine's Day on religious grounds.  

The celebration of love for decades has been merely for fun, and mostly commercial reasons, but never for religion.  

Why does PAS have to complicate matters – and the party still harbours ambitions of running this country. Get real!  

The point is that Malaysia is a plural country enriched by different faiths, cultures and ideas. More importantly, we are a tolerant people who place importance on moderation and modernity.  

We cannot accept bureaucrats in government offices and universities who want to impose their narrow-minded beliefs on others.  

Nobody elected them and certainly the self-appointed guardians of morality must know their limitations.  

What is the message we are trying to send, when “spies” are appointed at restaurants, hotels and parks, and even get paid for their tip-offs?  

We have been reading in the newspapers about the country's numerous economic successes but the trickle-down effect has yet to be felt. Ordinary Malaysians will tell you that their biggest worry is the increasing cost of living. 

For many wage earners, it is a daily struggle to keep their bills down as they juggle with their expenses. 

Still, the series of feel-good announcements is important because it is an indicator of the country’s economic performance. 

Last week, it was reported that a record RM46bil was invested in 1,077 approved projects last year by local and foreign investors, a 48% jump from the RM31bil invested in 2005. 

Last year’s figure was the highest chalked up to date, exceeding Malaysia’s Third Industrial Plan target. The projects approved are expected to create about 90,000 jobs. 

Foreign direct investments (FDIs) have also soared with the Japanese investing RM4.4bil last year, followed by the Dutch, Australians, Americans and Singaporeans. 

Last year, Malaysia attracted prominent players to set up regional headquarters in the country, including General Electric (US), Eppendorf AG (Germany), Aker Kvaerner Group (Norway) and Nippon Electric Glass (Japan). 

Before this, the Government announced that Malaysia’s trade figure hit RM1tril, reportedly the highest in the country’s history. 

While government leaders have highlighted the figure as a big achievement, critics have dismissed it as a gross simplification because import numbers were not stated. 

But the fact is the stock market has been bullish. It has continued to chart new heights over the past weeks as foreign funds pour into Malaysian stocks. 

There are reasons why foreign fund managers are eyeing Malaysia. Bangkok is no longer on their radar screen following the flip-flop decision on currency control by the military regime. 

More importantly, there is no bad news in Malaysia. Yes, we can do without some of the silly, foot-in-the-mouth statements by some of our politicians but generally Malaysia is a stable country. 

We are often too critical of ourselves. We tend to overlook our successes and when the slew of upbeat stories is published, it is received cynically. 

The private sector, the driving force of the country’s economy, has done well in terms of corporate earnings and in transforming itself. 

While there are concerns that foreign hedge fund managers will pull out once they have made their profits, most analysts believe that the bullish trend will continue until next year. 

There are no good reasons why foreign funds should leave Malaysia if there are profits to be made. 

Another point is that the ringgit has become stronger. 

However, we should not be too quick to claim that the good times are back – many restaurants and retail outlets are not exactly doing fantastic business. 

Let’s not kid ourselves, lest we lose credibility. The small and medium enterprises still face problems, including getting loans, and many have expressed concern over the low purchasing power of consumers. 

Small businessmen – and not only gamblers – have had to turn to loan sharks because of cash flow problems. 

Second-hand car dealers will tell you how bad they have been hit while taxi drivers quite willingly share their unhappiness with passengers. 

Graduates find it hard to get jobs because businesses are careful about hiring new staff to keep costs under control. 

It would be more appropriate to say that better times are ahead. The many projects worth billions of ringgit under the 9th Malaysia Plan will begin soon and the spill-over effect will follow. 

Once the physical structures are up, Malaysians will be able to see and feel the development that has been planned. 

Economists have predicted a growth of between 5.3% and 5.5% for the country, which is considerably good. 

To sustain this economic drive, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has correctly set up the 23-member task force to promote quicker reform of the delivery system. 

If we do not improve our delivery system and cut down on red tape, we will lose our competitive edge. It does not make sense for a developer to seek approvals from 144 government agencies or wait three to five years for a building plan to be approved. 

Even Vietnam, which is a socialist state, has gained a reputation for being fast and efficient while in Dubai, builders are told within two weeks whether their plans have been approved. 

The weaknesses have been identified and new mechanisms are being put in place to make Malaysia more attractive to investors. 

Malaysians expect more good news in the coming months leading up to the National Day celebrations.  

As Malaysians celebrate the Chinese New Year, they can toast each other for better times ahead. 

For the Chinese community, the daily showers for the past few days have been a relief during this season of hot weather. For many, lok sui (rain in Cantonese) rhymes with money. 

Gong Xi Fa Cai!  

Henry and Choo, like many celebrities in London, are regulars to the restaurant owned by Malaysian Eddie Lim. 

“This is a very nice restaurant. You must meet the owner, he is from Kuantan and very proud that he is from Malaysia,” Choo half shouted, competing with the loud music blaring out from two speakers at the bar.  

But the fashion icon has little privacy in London. Malaysians know Choo as an internationally renowned couture (custom made) shoe designer and master craftsman, but few have an idea how big he is in London. 

It was an eye-opener for this writer, who joined him for dinner, together with Lim, his wife Joyce and Afghan-born Haleena Rashid, the wife of Jermaine Jackson. 

Jermaine, who now calls himself Muhammad Abdul Aziz, is the elder brother of Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson. He was in town to take part in the hit reality TV show Celebrity Big Brother, where he was voted second after Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty in the final. 

Hot favourite: Choo with Haleena Rashid (next to him) and some of his ardent fans at the Mango Tree restaurant in London.

As Choo sat down for the dinner, a group of young women diners walked over to ask for his autograph. He sportingly posed for pictures with them, even though his meal was being interrupted. 

Heads turned, hands waved, and approving smiles and nods were directed at Choo as word went around the restaurant that he was present. 

After all, the Mango Tree is known not just for its good food but also as a hangout for rock stars like Coldplay’s lead singer Chris Martin. It is a place to see and be seen. 

“We must always be humble and polite at all times. I bear that in mind like any Chinese gentleman,” Choo said. 

Having made his name in his legendary shoes, Choo preferred to speak about what he could do for Malaysia, which he kept referring to as home, and how he could inspire the young. 

As a British Council-appointed education ambassador, Choo travels regularly in Commonwealth countries to talk about his career. However, that role has now extended to include non-Commonwealth nations in Asia, including China. 

“I like to impart my knowledge to the young. I am committed to promoting education,” he said, maintaining his silence when I asked whether he would like to see himself as a sifu (master). Of course, his humble personality does not permit him to even say it. 

Still, Choo said he was ready to accept selected interns to be trained by him at his shop at Connaught Street. 

The young, especially teenagers, idolise him. He has received more attention following the recent release of the movie The Devil Wears Prada, a film about life in a New York fashion magazine. In the movie, actress Meryl Streep wore Jimmy Choo shoes. 

His shoes have also been featured on the hit TV series Sex And The City where the character Carrie Bradshaw, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, was addicted to the brand. 

The late Princess Diana was a client, and so are Madonna, Beyonce, Lindsay Lohan, Gwyneth Paltrow, Uma Thurman, Naomi Campbell, Elizabeth Hurley, Nicole Ritchie, Natalie Imbruglia and Cherrie Blair. 

Besides several websites from fans dedicated to Choo on the Internet, there are over 1.5million postings in Goggle and 480,000 entries in Yahoo, the world's two largest search engines, on the man and his work.  

Madonna’s husband, English film-maker Guy Ritchie, was once quoted in newspapers saying that he had to buy her a pair of Jimmy Choo’s to appease the diva after a row. 

There’s even a hit song about the man and his shoes by hip hop artiste Shyne featuring Ashanti titled Jimmy Choo. 

Education is a favourite subject for Choo these days as he talked excitedly about the recognition now given to the industry. 

It was not easy for him. Much has been written about his humble family background in Penang, especially how he learned to make shoes at the age of 11 from his father, who was a cobbler. 

He studied in England, struggling through the lean years, and returned to Penang. But he soon set his sights on London again, knowing well that his future was in the fashion city. 

Despite his achievements and celebrity lifestyle, his heart is very much in Malaysia, and he insisted upon this writer to update him on the politics and economy back home. 

Said Lim: “Jimmy talks endlessly about Malaysia at functions here. He is always promoting Malaysia. We are really lucky to have him here because, as an icon, he can do a lot for the country. I regard him as a national treasure.” 

These are certainly flattering words from Lim, who has made a name for himself in the restaurant circuit and also owns the nearby Awana Chelsea restaurant serving top notch Malaysian and Asian food. 

However, few can dispute Choo’s commitment to two projects he has pledged to do, one of which is to train students of Universiti Teknologi Mara following a meeting with Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed in London recently. 

“The apprenticeship of the UiTM students would be good as the exposure in London would be really beneficial. I believe there are many talented students at UiTM and certainly they deserve to be given a chance,” he said.  

Under the university’s Young Lecturers’ Programme, three students would be sponsored for training under Choo. 

UiTM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Dr Ibrahim Abu Shah has also agreed to appoint Choo as a visiting professor and academic adviser, which is surely another feather to his cap. 

Choo himself attended a shoe college in London, the Cordwainers Technical College, now known as the London College of Fashion, where he is a professor. 

But that’s not all. Choo also plans to set up a shoe design institute, and he intends to make Malaysia the first country to house it.  

“I am Malaysian and I want to give something back to the people for the respect and support they have shown me over the years, that is the right thing to do,” he said. 

Aspiring shoe makers must understand that the talent to design alone is insufficient as they need to know about marketing, trends, promotions, accounting and business, which are all important parts of the industry, he said. 

“I want the young to understand respect for the elders, especially their employers and clients. They must always uphold confidentiality and be down-to-earth. 

“It’s about hard work and not just glamour. They won’t become millionaires or become celebrities overnight, so they must be prepared for the tough work ahead of them after they get their diplomas. 

“I want the young to work passionately, and it must not be just about money. It must be love for the work that will eventually help them become successful.” 

Choo spoke fondly of respect for his family members, his regular telephone calls to an octogenarian sister who lives in Prai, Penang, and his elderly in-laws in Hong Kong.  

More importantly, Choo, a devout Buddhist, said he believed in doing good for people and society, and stressed on the importance of karma and spirituality. 

As the dinner ended, Choo got up from his seat and walked towards the restaurant’s entrance, only to be stopped, again by other diners who wanted to be photographed with him.  

That was not all: even the waiters, who included several college students, wanted to be photographed with him even though he is no stranger there. 

Jimmy Choo is still as hot as ever.

It started with Malcolm Glazer’s buyout of Manchester United for an estimated US$1.4bil (RM4.76bil) in 2005. 

Former investment analyst turned businessman Randy Leaner, the owner of the NFL side Cleveland Browns, bought Aston Villa last year for US$130mil (RM442mil) and last week, tycoons Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr Hicks bought Liverpool for US$900mil. 

In the case of MU, there were some initial misgivings from the fans of the world’s richest football club who held demonstrations, but the purchase has been largely accepted. 

What all this means is that foreign participation is not seen in a negative light by the English. They see the foreign talents as being good for the future of the EPL and that the American buyouts may lead to a bigger and more lucrative market in the United States. 

They see business opportunities with huge economic returns, and do not take a narrow nationalistic view. 

The world has changed and the tide of globalisation simply cannot be stopped. Businesses are functioning without borders and many countries have become one big economic space. 

Insular politicians who continue to cling to their myopic views will not help the country become more competitive. Malaysia, or for that matter any country, will risk disappearing from the radar screen of investors simply because many countries are trying to make themselves more attractive and more competitive. 

In one country, officials go to the extent of securing places at universities for the children of investors and offer permanent residence status to induce them to come to their country. 

Take the case of Danga Bay in Johor, a massive waterfront project that will be developed over the next 15 to 20 years. The city-within-a-city project, which was launched by Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in August, encompasses residential, commercial, recreational and social amenities. 

When completed, Danga Bay will be three times the size of Singapore. But Malaysia alone cannot ensure the success of the project. 

Johor needs Singapore as much as the city-state needs Johor. Danga Bay can only be successful if Singaporeans and foreigners are prepared to invest in and support the project, which will see more than 800,000 jobs being created. 

Johor politicians, however, often send wrong signals to their neighbours. The leaders in Putrajaya understand and appreciate the strong bilateral ties with Singapore. 

The statistics tell the story: of the 16.4 million tourists who visited Malaysia in 2005, 9.6 million or 58% were Singaporeans. More than 1.7 million passengers travelled by air between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore in 2005, similar to the number reported in 2004. 

Investments from Singapore came up to over S$1.3bil (RM2.96bil), especially in the manufacturing of electrical and electronic parts, with more than half of the projects located in Johor. Malaysia-Singapore bilateral trade accounts for almost 70% of total intra-Asean trade. 

It does not help Malaysia when Johor politicians blame Singapore for the massive floods in the state, particularly when the arguments are unconvincing. The state should just look at its drainage problems first before they look for a scapegoat. 

Neither does it make much sense when accusations are levelled at Singapore investors who put money in Malaysian institutions. 

Similarly, there should be some caution at the manner by which some Malaysian politicians have bashed the Bush administration. The United States, with its 297 million consumers, is Malaysia’s biggest market. Let us not deceive ourselves – we need the US. 

We should not over-react to a statement by one US Congressman who called for the suspension of talks because a Malaysian firm signed a US$16bil energy deal with Iran. 

The US cannot dictate who we do business with but we should always bear in mind, as with all negotiations, there will be areas of agreement and disagreement. 

Malaysia is America’s 10th largest trading partner. The volume of trade has quadrupled over the last 15 years, from US$8.7bil in 1990 to more than US$44bil in 2006. 

To suggest that the Sept 11 attacks on the Twin Towers was the work of Americans themselves and not the evil plot of terrorists is going too far in attacking Bush. 

To call for the halting of the Free Trade Agreement is also irresponsible because a comprehensive pact will surely benefit both countries in the long run. It may have hit a snag but both sides need to iron out the problems. 

Malaysian politicians must realise that their ludicrous statements will be reported internationally. They may assume that they will gain some points with their constituents and supporters but they need to see the damage they cause. 

From making khalwat arrests to banning models with pan-Asian looks, we have continued to make international news for the wrong reasons. And what do our politicians tell us when we shoot ourselves in the foot? The standard line is that the foreign media is jealous of the Malaysian success story. 

For Malaysia’s sake, let’s not lose the game by scoring an own goal.  

According to National Unity and Integration Department director-general Datuk Azman Amin Hassan, the programme would be held during school holidays. 

This is similar to Singapore’s Community Engagement Programme and the National Youth Forum, both of which promote racial interaction at various levels. 

For a start, the department, with the support of the Education Ministry, should consider carrying out small-scale camps at district or even neighbourhood level. 

A few schools in a selected area could send students for a field trip on Saturday to places of worship.  

There is no reason why young Malaysians should not be encouraged to visit mosques, temples and churches. 

Some Malaysians who have an inclusive concept of religion find it sensitive to visit places of worship other than their own.  

This is sad because we live in a plural society and no one should feel uncomfortable visiting these places of worship. 

For reasons best known to these people, they have no qualms visiting a mosque, church or temple overseas but they seem reluctant to do so in their own homeland.  

Often, it is nothing more than just a remark from a peer that puts pressure on them. 

These young minds should also visit cultural organisations. Show them the beauty of dikir barat, dondang sayang, and the lion and peacock dances. 

The unity camp idea will not work if there is a perceived biasness towards one particular religion and community. 

Youngsters should be taught to express simple greetings and thanks in Malay, Chinese and Tamil.  

Our politicians do that when campaigning during elections but seem to forget the practice once the polls are over. 

Films made by Malaysians, not necessarily Bahasa Malaysia movies, should be screened to participants of these camps. 

It has long been a sore point, for example, that Malay films get government grants but non-Bahasa Malaysia movies made in Malaysia by local directors do not, even if they win awards overseas. 

Movies such as Sepet and Gol dan Gincu, which have broad multi-cultural themes, should be encouraged. 

The Unity Camp and National Service programmes are serious steps taken by the Government to promote national integration.  

The signs are staring at us: Malay students at national schools and a majority of non-Malays, especially Chinese, at vernacular schools. 

There is little racial mixing that many older Malaysians had the privilege of enjoying in English-medium schools, which were regarded as neutral grounds. 

Sadly, there is no political will to revive English-medium schools even as our leaders know that our proficiency in English, especially among the young, is very low.  

And while the slide continues in national schools, we find that our leaders are sending their children to international schools or overseas. 

Those of us who attended English-medium schools made friends with children of other races, and this friendship has lasted until today. 

We attended Catholic missionary schools and never in our hearts believed that we would be converted to Christianity.  

But today, narrow-minded educationists and bureaucrats even attempt to stop churches from putting up the cross outside church buildings, let alone schools. 

Imposing their prejudices because of their authority, they have made it harder for Christians to obtain approval for church buildings. 

I can sympathise with Chinese-Muslims who express their frustrations in getting approval from state governments to build a Chinese-Muslim-styled mosque although they have their own land and money. 

Their plight has been highlighted by the New Straits Times and certainly deserves the support of Malaysians of other faiths.  

It is outright unreasonable to reject their application by suggesting that they use only Mandarin and not Bahasa Malaysia at their sermons. 

Unity camps can help promote racial interaction only if government policies are seen to be fair to all communities. 

Young Malaysians will feel further alienated if affirmative action programmes aimed at helping the poor end up benefiting the wealthy and those with political connections. 

Our government leaders tell us that all Malaysians are equal and their rights are guaranteed under the Federal Constitution but they must make sure that bureaucrats do not push their agenda unfairly. 

Our leaders must be brave enough, whether at Cabinet or Barisan Nasional supreme council level, to point out any unfairness and review the implementation of unjust policies. 

National unity does not end at camps and schools. Our young will continue to ask whether there is true national unity when they apply for entrance into universities, scholarships, their first job and possibly their first pitch at a contract. 

The bigger publications with deeper pockets are naturally the main targets. A myriad of people – including businessmen, politicians and advertisers – who feel they can get some reward from such suits are ever ready to pounce. It is not always about reputation. 

But journalists must be ready to face the legal consequences of what they have written. If journalists talk about press freedom, they should also remember the rights of the subjects they write about. 

In Malaysia, the hands of Malaysian journalists are tied, although under the present administration there is more room for press freedom. 

From the annual permit renewal to a host of other media-related laws, reporters and readers have long complained that the Malaysian press should be freer. 

These laws have become obsolete because of the Internet. A new medium with almost no censorship has emerged and the authorities must understand, and even learn to deal with, the new media. 

Over the past few years, journalists in mainstream newspapers have tried to adapt themselves to this new environment. 

Today’s newspapers offer more interactivity by incorporating elements of the mobile telephone and the Internet in the print version. They have added podcasts and videos to their news websites as added multimedia services. 

Not only is the competition among newspapers getting tougher, journalists working from their offices also have to contend with faceless bloggers pounding away on their keyboards from home. 

Some like Jeff Ooi, Ahirudin Atan @ Rocky and Patrick Teoh put their names on their blogs but many others don’t. But that does not mean they cannot be traced. 

Jeff Ooi and Rocky have made a name for themselves with their fearless comments and even breaking news. They have a huge following among Malaysians and, in the case of Screenshots, there are even advertisements, which is unprecedented in Malaysian blog journalism.  

Their blogging has made Malaysian democracy more meaningful although not everyone agrees with their views. They should not be regarded as dissenters because democracy is about tolerance. 

They have been bold enough to bring up issues that mainstream newspapers have not done. 

It is unfortunate that many Malaysians only look at the political scene in black and white. 

It would be meaningless if Malaysians were to agree to everything our political leaders say. We would be doing a great disservice to the country’s leadership if we do not speak up. 

Unlike newspapers, where journalists can consult each other on the legal implications of stories, the one-man show depends entirely on the blogger. 

But political bloggers, as opposed to teenage bloggers who write about their lifestyles and love lives, must realise that they cannot “print and be damned”.  

Bloggers and journalists are alike even if the medium is different. They cannot claim that their right of expression has been denied when they are sued. 

Many people who have been named in some blogs regard themselves as victims. Lives have been destroyed because of unsubstantiated reports on these blogs. The false news may be forgotten after a certain time but the damage has been done. 

Ironically, these irresponsible bloggers are still hailed as heroes even after being proven wrong eventually. 

Bloggers must be responsible enough to remove malicious postings from readers, some of whom use false names because they have an axe to grind. Surely, libellous and racist remarks have nothing to do with freedom of expression. 

If newspaper editors can refuse to print such letters or e-mail from readers, bloggers should exercise such discretion. 

Credit should be given when it is due. It should not be just a case of hentam (bashing) only. I believe that many of our bloggers, too, value fairness. 

Their popularity does not give them the right to hurt innocent people, particularly the family members of their targets who have nothing to do with the bitter politics they engage in. Neither does it make sense to target one or two personalities nearly every day. 

A few bloggers seem to have political ambitions, which makes a mockery of what they claim to strive for. 

Journalists and bloggers believe they are committed to making Malaysia a better country. Journalists are certainly not the highest paid professionals in town while bloggers have committed their own money but both believe passionately in what they are doing. 

The feuding parties need to stop at some point to re-evaluate what they are doing in order to bring down the political temperature.  

Just ask around and you will find that a number of our politicians have sent their children to international schools or overseas, even at secondary school level. 

Don't they have faith in their own education system? Or they, too, think we have lost the quality. 

Something isn't right but we are not willing to talk about it. The rot didn't begin recently but more than 20 years ago. 

We did nothing to stop it. Instead, we let it continue while we deceived ourselves with the objective of turning Malaysia into an educational centre of excellence. 

So we talked about building world-class educational facilities without enough input on the contents. 

Last month, Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed revealed that many lecturers in public universities lacked proficiency in the English language. 

He said preliminary findings of a recent ministry study found that the level of command of the language among students and lecturers had to be improved to produce graduates capable of meeting the challenges of a highly competitive global environment. 

Basically, Mustapa is saying what most of us already know – many of our students do not have a strong foundation in English grammar. Without knowing when to use past or present tense, how can our students be proficient in English? 

We have compromised our standards so much that we now find some students who scored a distinction in the language in public examinations are in reality of average level. 

Not many of our politicians and educationists are prepared to admit this but employers often come across graduates who are unable to draft a simple job application letter. 

First impressions matter most to employers, especially in the private sector. If school-leavers are shoddy, they are unlikely to grab the attention of job interviewers. 

Mustapa has suggested intensive refresher courses in English for lecturers. It is worth a try but those of us who studied English during the days of the LCE and MCE know that one cannot learn the language overnight. 

A minimum of 11 years of studying proper usage of English – and a pass in the subject was compulsory – was how one learned to speak and write English correctly. 

It was a time when a top student in LCE scored only 5A's. Failing Bahasa Malaysia, English or Mathematics meant having to re-sit the exam. 

Today, no student fails in an examination. Except for Bahasa Malaysia, there is no fear of flopping other subjects. 

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad decided to use English to teach Mathematics and Science during his final years as prime minister. He knew the level of English had gone down the drain. 

The move came too late. Unless we teach English seriously, using the language for these two subjects will not help much. Maths and Science are about remembering formulas, not grammar. 

It is strange to hear Universiti Malaya Vice-Chancellor Datuk Rafiah Salim reportedly saying that the lack of fluency in English among lecturers was not a major problem. 

However, she acknowledged that steps to improve the standard of English among lecturers "is not to give English supremacy" but because "Malaysia is a trading nation and needs to use this global language". 

We should have gone past that juncture years ago. We should stop worrying about whether Bahasa Malaysia would lose its status as the national language because it won't. 

In fact, we have come to the point where learning English alone is no longer enough because the Chinese language and Arabic have also become useful. While many of us are still struggling over the teaching of English, others have gone ahead to pick up languages with economic value. 

If our teachers and lecturers continue to have a poor grasp of English, we should perhaps hire teachers from India and South Africa.  

They have read about the situation and watched the images on television
but many still cannot apprehend the magnitude of the destruction. 

The reality is that the monster floods in Johor have become a national
disaster. The death toll following the first wave of floods in December
and January may be only 17 but many thousands of people have been
affected. 

The rainfall has been the heaviest in 100 years. On Dec 18, 35cm of
rain was registered (compared with the average annual figure of 240cm),
causing over 30,000 people to evacuate their homes. 

When the water receded, they went home only to find most of their
possessions washed away. Clothes, beds, blankets and even simple
household items like plates, spoons and pails were all gone. 

For victims in the worst-hit areas like Kota Tinggi, Muar and Segamat, it is a case of rebuilding their lives from scratch. 

Unlike people in urban areas who work in offices and commercial areas
away from their homes, these people work in nearby shops, offices and
factories that were also hit by floods. Now, many of them face
short-term unemployment. 

It has been devastating for those who run small businesses. A Chinese sinseh found
his entire stock of herbs destroyed by floodwaters, and a mobile phone
trader's gadgets are now useless. Even crucial documents in police
stations are all water-soaked.  

These people have practically nothing left – no money and possessions. 

But before they could even pick themselves up, they were hit by a second wave of floods on Friday. 

Some 20,000 people had to be evacuated, including many in new areas like Johor Baru and Tebrau. 

The floods this time caught many unaware and certainly at the worst
possible time. Many Johorean politicians whose assistance was needed
were away because of the year-end holidays. 

Even the press initially took the December floods lightly, thinking
that it was another wet season, until the casualties started to roll
in. 

The slow response to the floods should serve as a lesson to us in handling emergency situations. 

Obviously we need to re-look at our drainage systems, especially in
towns located near rivers. For example, the Department of Irrigation
and Drainage is well aware that the Johor River at Kota Tinggi and
Segamat River in Segamat are prone to floods. 

If we can commit ourselves to spending money on projects that are
sometimes not useful, there is no reason why we should not take care of
basic flood mitigation infrastructure. After all, we are talking about
preventing the loss of lives and properties. 

Advanced flood warning systems such as flood alarms, variable message
systems and flood measurement systems must be installed in more areas,
especially in the East Coast, because the annual monsoon season always
causes flooding. 

Poor development planning and environmental degradation, too, have been
blamed and the authorities should not be too quick to dismiss these
factors because Johor is not located in the monsoon zone. 

Then there is the question of mop-up operations after the water has
receded. No doubt many council workers were also victims but the
clean-up process surely needs to be improved. 

We should seriously consider dispatching members of our armed forces to
help in such operations. They have the numbers, the training and the
facilities for such jobs.  

One major concern among the victims is the fear of an outbreak of dengue fever. 

But the biggest complaint from the victims has been the distribution of
financial aid. Many of them claim they have not received the RM200 that
was promised to each person. The Johor government has said RM5.2mil was
given out – but obviously not fast enough. 

This is not the time for bureaucratic delays. This is an emergency and the people need help fast. 

After four years, one would have thought that this sort of mix-up should not happen but it has recurred since the National Service programme was launched in 2004. 

Providing transport for the trainees at pick-up points is a basic necessity and if those involved in the running of the NS programme are unable to handle it, they should be sacked. 

It is obvious that the departments involved in the NS operations – which come under the Defence Ministry – need to be revamped. 

The public can understand, and even forgive, the hiccups and confusion on Feb 16, 2004, when many pick-up points nationwide were in disarray. It took almost the entire day before most of the 28,000 teenage trainees were settled at their camps. 

Some of the participants, accompanied by their parents, had turned up at the pick-up points as early as 4.30am. 

We were told there were "teething problems" and that "action would be taken to rectify them". 

In April 2005, the NS transport problem was again in the news. This time, bus operators in Selangor threatened to disrupt field trips if they were not paid for their services. 

One excursion involving 400 trainees at Kem Setia Ikhas in Semenyih was cancelled when the owner of two buses did not send the vehicles because he was not paid. 

In July, 40 Perak schoolbus operators who provided transport at six camps claimed they were owed RM300,000 and had to wait four months for their money. 

It was the same story last week. Over 800 trainees in Kelantan were told to go home because 19 of the 36 buses hired to ferry them did not have the required permits. 

Another 1,000 trainees bound for camps in Sabah and Sarawak were "stranded" for up to 12 hours at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal due to hiccups in flight arrangements. 

Fingers have been pointed at the Road Transport Department but the officials of the Defence Ministry's Jabatan Perolehan (Procurement Department) have much to explain for the recurring problems. 

For instance, the selection criteria for the six bus operators in the six zones in the peninsula. Surely there should have been stringent rules to ensure that these operators use roadworthy buses with proper permits. 

These operators had successfully bid for the contracts, reportedly amounting to between RM500,000 and RM2mil, so they should not be allowed to sub-contract the service to middlemen. And they certainly must not try to cut cost by using school or factory buses. 

The six operators are responsible for sending the trainees to camps. Another group of operators are responsible for transport around the camps, such as transporting trainees to and from their outdoor activities. 

It has been suggested that army trucks be used but most parents are against this idea for safety reasons. 

Unfortunately, NS Training Council chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye has been blamed for the problems. Some people have even called for his resignation.  

He has become the face of NS because he has worked hard to make the programme a success but he does not have a magic wand. Neither does he have the executive powers and authority. 

Since his appointment in 2005, no one can deny that he has resolved several problems involving food and leave from training during major festivals. 

Transportation glitches aside, trainees have complained about the lack of manpower at pick-up points. In some places like Penang, only a handful of officers were present to register several hundred trainees. And the officers worked from a printed master list, not from computers. 

Poor supervision and lack of staff are to be blamed for such inadequacies. The demands of having to deal with a huge turnout should have been expected and dealt with smoothly. 

To accuse the JPJ of sabotaging the NS training programme is ridiculous. The JPJ has, in fact, carried out its job well by stopping those buses which did not have proper permits because the safety of the trainees is a priority. 

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has good reason to be angry because the Defence Ministry comes under his purview. 

He has correctly called for a full investigation. He should now consider transferring out those officials who are not interested in the NS programme. 

The NS programme has been accepted by Malaysians, thus the Government should not allow a few rotten apples to kill the enthusiasm of the trainees and parents. 

We would like to celebrate Malaysia's 50th anniversary as one people and one nation – simply because we share one common destiny and future regardless of race, religion and culture. 

2007 should be the year when we shut out the voices of politicians who attempt to use racial undertones to gain popularity. 

The mass media could cooperate to keep out the extremist views of such people who proclaim themselves as leaders when narrow personal interest is their only objective. 

Last year, and certainly 2006, would have been better for Malaysian race relations if not for the ignorant utterances of such people. 

The rhetoric, the fireworks, the parades, the slogans and the media hype will count for nothing if Malaysians are not made to feel they are one people.  

There is no need to debate over whether we should call ourselves Bangsa Malaysia, Rakyat Malaysia or Anak Malaysia. 

As Najib said, these terms are merely a state of the mind. What is important is that we are all citizens of Malaysia. 

Are we ready to discard the need to state our race when filling up forms as we wax eloquent about racial unity or will we continue to kid ourselves that this is a requirement for statistical reasons? 

Incredible as this may seem, it is only in recent years that younger television interviewers use the term orang kita to mean one particular community and not Malaysians when on air.  

They seem unaware, ignorant or indifferent to the fact that other Malaysians of various races are watching them. 

Malaysia will be half a century old by August. We are no longer a young nation, yet many of us sometimes behave like spoilt brats who are unable to control their tantrums. 

Elderly Malaysians who have experienced the growth of Malaysia better understand the concept of nation building. They value the fact that Malaysia was built with the sweat and strength of all races. 

Malaysia cannot move further ahead, in the face of global competition, if we do not pool our resources.  

We should not impose more rules and conditions on ourselves when other countries are pushing hard to open up their economies. We can no longer blame our colonial masters, after 50 years of independence, if we fail to uplift ourselves. 

It is not just about harnessing the best brains but keeping them.  

We cannot pretend we have managed to stop the brain drain, neither have we managed to convince the best to return because we have not offered an attractive wholesome package. 

The only country which has been able to do that is Singapore. Instead of sneering at our neighbour because of age-old rivalry and envy, we should take an honest look at ourselves. 

As we turn 50, most Malaysians are able to talk about strengths and weaknesses in a mature way.  

We should speak out rationally if we truly love Malaysia, and not because of the need to win some votes from party delegates. 

Certainly, we have our strengths. While American and European businessmen who are eyeing the Chinese and Indian markets are signing up cultural diversity courses to equip themselves, we already have links with these two nations – as well as the huge Indonesian market. 

We can bake a larger cake together if we stop spending so much time talking about the size of each other's share. If we harp too much on that, the cake could end up being baked elsewhere. 

Talk of company listing in foreign bourses by Malaysian companies, an increase in migration enquiries and outflow of money from businessmen is surely disturbing.  

For 2007, let's hear more comfortable news. For once, let us all keep the religious and racial bigots in the closet if we wish to make Visit Malaysia Year a success. 

The majority of hard-working Malaysians realise we are all in the same boat regardless of race and religion. 

In the words of Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, all Malaysians should bridge the divides that separate them and build on the similarities that connect them. Sadly, there are some who are bent on building walls instead of bridges. 

In his Christmas message, the Prime Minister rightly reminded Malaysians that they share the same future and destiny.  

Let us respect our differences while we strengthen and celebrate our unity in diversity, he said, adding that he would dedicate himself to creating a thriving and progressive multi-racial society. 

Pak Lah's pledge to commit himself to a progressive Malaysia is reassuring. On our part, we should emphasise to the world that we are truly a plural society. 

Malaysia is not a Middle East country and there should be no attempt of Arabisation of our culture.  

We love Malaysia for what it is and we want to keep it that way. 

Goodbye 2006, welcome 2007! Let's make the year ahead a special one so we can have fond memories of our celebrations.