bobjots : redux

Not everyone is called to take up the role of an activist or a politician. The mantle of the prophet is given to few. But one thing we can all do is to intercede and pray for the nation in this uncertain and troubled time. Many of us, irregardless of our faith traditions or lack thereof, are used to praying or at least hoping for peace. I remember that as a kid, before making the choice to embrace the Christian faith, I used to be taught to pray for 平安 (peace and tranquility).

As a Christian today, my posit is that peace requires justice. In the chaotic geo-politics of today, a lot of people are clamouring for a just peace. It is not enough to merely impose peace but also to bring it about justly. Martin Shaw of the University of Sussex suggests:

Peace entails justice, indeed, not merely in this sense of criminal responsibility, but in the larger sense of a just political and economic settlement for the people

In order to faithfully live in community, the Church must prayerfully support the elimination of poverty, war, racism, sexism, hate, and the like. True peace is intimately entwined to real justice and our own scriptures testify to it very strongly :

Continue reading "Prayer Chain For The Nation" »

Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn (1918-2008)

Known also as the Dostoyevsky of 20th century, the 1970 Nobel Prize for Literature winner, playwright and a Gulag guest of Stalin died at the age of 89. Rest in Peace. I am at a loss for words .. I'll let others do it :

Continue reading "RIP Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn" »

Anwar Ibrahim was arrested as a suspect under Section 377A (according to the NST) and/or Section 377C (according to The Star) of the Penal Code :

Carnal intercourse against the order of nature
377A. Any person who has sexual connection with another person by the introduction of the penis into the anus or mouth of the other person is said to commit carnal intercourse against the order of nature.

Explanation—Penetration is sufficient to constitute the sexual connection necessary to the offence described in this section.

Committing carnal intercourse against the order of nature without consent, etc.
377C. Whoever voluntarily commits carnal intercourse against the order of nature on another person without the consent, or against the will, of the other person, or by putting the other person in fear of death or hurt to the person or any other person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term of not less than five years and not more than twenty years, and shall also be liable to whipping.

Punishment for defamation
500. Whoever defames another shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine or with both.

Raja Petra, who was arrested earlier today, has been released after the magistrate's court ruled that the charges filed against him were incomplete and insufficient to proceed with a trial. He will be free until the Attorney General's Chambers files new charges against him :

KUALA LUMPUR, 17, Julai (SK) - Hakim Mahkamah Majistret hari ini bersetuju untuk mengatakan bahawa pertuduhan keatas Raja Petra Kamarudin adalah tidak lengkap.

Beliau akan dibebakan sehingga Peguam Negara meminda dan membuat satu lagi pertuduhan baru keatas beliau.

Sebelum ini, Raja Petra enggan berkata apa-apa berhubung akuan berkanunnya di Mahkamah yang mengaitkan isteri timbalan perdana menteri dengan pembunuhan Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Beliau pagi tiba di IPK KL kira-kira jam 10 pagi tadi dan seterusnya dibawa ke Mahkamah Jalan Duta.

Menurut laporan berita Malaysiakini, beliau dijangka didakwa mengikut Seksyen 500 Kanun Keseksaan berhubung akuannya 18 Jun lalu yang mengaitkan Rosmah Mansor dengan pembunuhan wanita Mongolia itu.

- (Source : Suara KeADILan)

Anwar Ibrahim was arrested outside his house just before 1.00 pm while he was making his way to the Kuala Lumpur Police HQ to meet his 2.00 pm appointment. Apparently masked men were involved, reminiscent of his initial arrest in 1998. And its been reported that it required 15 cars to escort him to God knows where. I guess when you're in the (un)civil service, its ok to waste fossil fuels since taxpayers have already paid for it.

Then again, if some of his detractors are to be believed, who knows .. this might just be another sandiwara by KeADILan and the Pakatan Rakyat to gain sympathy. I guess some won't be satisfied until they see him leave custody feet first.

Hmm .. perhaps the threat of defections was more real than many of us imagined?

This is for the benefit of those who missed it :

Anil Netto captured most of the salient points and some of the Q & A in his blow by blow account here. Most of the SMS'es I received were of the opinion that Anwar pawned Shabery. What do you think?

Continue reading "Full Recording Of The Anwar - Shabery Debate" »

cow·ard·ice [kou-er-dis]

noun lack of courage to face danger, difficulty, opposition, pain, etc. [Origin: 1250–1300; Middle English: cowardise < Old French co(u)ardise, equiv. to co(u)art cowardly (see coward) + -ise -ice]

Synonyms pusillanimity, timidity

cowardice. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Retrieved July 13, 2008, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cowardice

I guess this is as good a reason as any to confer the Darjah Yang Utama Pelepah Putih (The Grand Order of the White Feather) which carries the title Mak Datuk.

Interesting how dysfunctional we can allow ourselves to be. Excuse me while I go throw up.

The July 3 edition of the Nairobi Star published the following piece :

Gays Told To Quit Church

The Anglican Church of Kenya now wants to stop gays attending church.

Gays and lesbians will not join the Anglican congregations anymore...unless they renounce their sexuality.

Eldoret Dioceses Anglican Bishop Thomas Kogo yesterday said the church had decided to forbid homosexuals from going to their churches if they could not repent and stick to biblical teachings.

Continue reading "I Am Troubled By This .." »

Opposition Leader, Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, has filed notice with the Dewan Rakyat to table a motion of no confidence against the Prime Minister. This is an unprecedented move and it is still unclear whether the Speaker of the Parliament, who has almost absolute discretion in deciding whether or not motions may be tabled, would allow it.

By the convention of the British Parliament, in which our Westminster system of government is based upon, a government which fails to win confidence by the responsible house (ie. the house of Parliament that's directly elected by the people, in our case the Dewan Rakyat), would either be compelled to :

• Resign, or

• Seek the dissolution of Parliament and call for new elections, failing which it has to resign and allow the head of state to appoint a new government led by a member of Parliament whom the head of state feels has the confidence of Parliament

Continue reading "Notice Given for Motion of No Confidence" »

The sociologist Max Weber observed :

Luther and Calvin did away with the monasteries and, in turn, made the whole world into a monastery

.. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (Die protestantische Ethik und der 'Geist' des Kapitalismus)

The world is my parish

I've just been extremely busy over the last 48 hours and expect to be so for the next few days. But its a good kind of busy :)

There was a good function yesterday courtesy of OHMSI. The only low point was that not many of the intended guests were able to make it. But a good start nonetheless.

I'll be back :)

Bernama (which is probably taking lessons on professionalism from the KCNA) claimed quite a few things in its report on the protest carnival (I'd like to call it a demonstration but it was way too surreal) held yesterday in the Kelana Jaya Stadium. I really must wonder. Why must tax payers fund institutions that make it a point to editorialise news reports with such an obvious spin?

Here are some notable quotes from the report that seem significantly irrelevant and out of context within a news report :

.. The poor response to the gathering which did not have a permit and organised by opposition leaders showed their failure to influence the public at large to protest against the government ..

Continue reading "Bernama Spins A Yarn" »

The event today turned out to be peaceful with people having the opportunity to express their general frustrations in a safe and secure manner. The general sense that things are still not all that well is still there and a cursory glance at the newspapers of the day will vindicate that feeling. For me personally, I get the sense that there are attempts to manufacture a scenario or a set of scenarios based on a lot of one sided pronouncements and opinions presented as objective truths.

So, the "battle" isn't over yet. The need for intercession and direct action is still necessary. Direct action doesn't necessarily have to be in the realm of macro politics or confrontational attitudes. Small shifts in how we engage and interact with the people around us can make a big difference.

Continue reading "Thanks For Your Prayers" »

According to Malaysiakini at least. I just got back from church and will be going over to the stadium shortly. I am thankful that the earlier fears have proven unfounded so far. Thanks to all of those who have kept the nation in prayer. The day is yet to be over, so I trust you will continue to pray (and if you can, drop by at the Kelana Jaya Stadium).

I saw this short post at Jonson's blog. I must admit I am not too far from his opinion on Anwar and the party :

I am in Keadilan to advance the people’s interests & position, not because it is headed by Anwar. And as you know, I was a member of PRM & became a member of Keadilan when the parties merged. Anyway, I feel that it is irrelevant whether I believe in Anwar or not. More importantly, do we believe he can help us bring our nation forward & are there other better alternatives?