"THE SITUATION IS UNDER CONTROL" - REALLY?

I have lost count of the number of times I've seen these words "The situation is under control" in the local media. The words are beginning to hold little meaning especially when uttered by the Home Minister.

The day after the first three churches were targeted with firebombs, the minister reassured the people that the situation was under control. The very next day two more churches and a convent school became the latest victims. The unrest had spread to other states - Perak, Negeri Sembilan and Sarawak.

"The situation is under control," repeated the minister who was beginning to sound like a broken down tape recorder. Shortly after that, the total count shot up to nine churches.

Two days ago a Sikh temple was vandalized, prompting the Home Minister to issue a warning that the Internal Security Act (ISA) would be used against anyone caught instigating racial tension.

"The situation is under control", he assures the people. Who will believe him now? He has lost credibility.

"We will not hesitate to use the law, and will act against anybody (the culprits) regardless of their background," he warns. More hollow words with no bite.

To date, no one has been arrested. Meanwhile, the unease continues...

Related article:

Muslim blogger raises S$3,000 for church

ONE-ON-ONE WITH RAZALEIGH

The Singapore Straits Times today carried three articles that are worth checking out. The first is an interview with Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, and his views on what's ailing the country. (Wed 13 Jan update: Just realized that links to news articles on ST are valid only on the day of publication, unless you are a subscriber like me. However, you may access all three articles featured in this blog at the Malaysian Insider.)

The second "What makes a confident Muslim?" first appeared in Marina Mahathir's blog on 2 January. She has since written a few more on her blog. Check them out.

Finally, here's an article "The Danger of Paranoia" by a London-based independent journalist.

Lots of food for thought from all three articles.

WHAT AN IRONY

Right now I'm suffering from eye fatigue, a result of too much reading of small print on my pc screen and in the papers.

Ever since the furore broke on 31 Dec over the court's decision to allow the Catholic church to use the word "Allah" in their weekly newsletter Herald, there has been no end to the views expressed by Malaysians - from learned scholars like Dr Farish Noor to the humble taxi drivers that I have spoken to on the subject.

Click here if you want to read some comments from the Dayak community.

The very Name that some quarters of the Malaysian Muslim community seek to protect and safeguard from what they fear as possible misuse by non-Muslims in the country is now publicly used by all and sundry in print and online publications worldwide, in the blogosphere, on Youtube and even in cartoons.

So much for exclusivity. The irony of it all!

1MALAYSIA CLINICS NOW, 1MALAYSIA SCHOOLS NEXT?

Good news for retirees and pensioners. The first two of the 50 1Malaysia clinics were opened yesterday at Lembah Pantai and Lembah Subang. Access to the healthcare services at these clinics starts at a very affordable RM1 (30 cents in US currency). These 1Malaysia clinics, as the name implies, offer general health services to all citizens regardless of race.

Why not extend the same concept to our schools? Any school which reflects a healthy racial mix in their student and teacher population should be recognized as a 1Malaysia school. We already have Sekolah Bestari (Smart Schools) and Sekolah Kluster (Cluster Schools), so why not Sekolah 1Malaysia?

The racial imbalance in our schools is getting more pronounced each year. When the new school year began last Monday, anyone passing by a national school would have noticed that parents and guardians accompanying the Year One pupils were predominantly Malay, whereas at the vernacular schools they were mostly Chinese and Indian.

Our young should be taught to mingle freely irrespective of race, colour or creed. Only then will they grow up to have friends of all races. We may be of different colours , have different beliefs and customs, but we all belong to the same human race.

Why are national schools shunned by non-Malay parents? And why are vernacular schools so popular that they had to turn away thousands of applicants (in total) due to limited places?

I remember attending school back in the 1950s and 60s with schoolmates of all races. It was the same during my undergrad years at the University of Malaya. Race was a non-issue. But by the time my children started secondary school in the 1980s, the racial divide had already reared its ugly head.

To ensure a better racial mix in our schools, the onus is on the government to provide quality education for all. Standards should not be lowered. Instead pupils should be given every help and support to meet the standards set. After all, parents want the best for their children.

For 1Malaysia schools to be a reality, the key words are QUALITY and EQUALITY.

2009 TOP TEN HEALTH INNOVATIONS

If you have yet to grow weary of the 2009 reviews published in virtually every magazine and newspaper, here's more! Below are six of CNN's pick of the top ten health innovations of 2009. To find out what the others are, click here.

As you have noticed, I have focused more on innovations that will make a positive difference to our health and well-being. Do share if you know of any other health or medical innovations that will benefit older adults.

For those with hearing problems, this LYRIC HEARING AID might be the answer. It is embedded 4mm from the eardrum so it is invisible from the outside, and because it is so close to the eardrum, the wearer is able to receive sounds that are clearer and more natural. And you can wear it for 120 days without having to remove it. However, it is not for everyone. Click here to know why.

MIT's 'Electronic Eye' is still in the development stage, but it is giving hope to the visually impaired. A microchip encased in titanium is implanted onto the eyeball. The patient has to wear special eyeglasses equipped with a tiny camera that transmits images directly to the chip, which in turn sends them to the brain. However, the patient will enjoy only partial vision that will allow him to be more mobile and more independent.

The Neurostar Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Therapy System offers patients with depression an alternative to taking anti-depressants. It is the first and only TMS approved by the FDA in the US. In this non-invasive procedure, the part of the patient's brain that controls moods is stimulated by pulses of magnetic fields. Each session lasts about 40 minutes. The full course of treatment consists of 30 sessions over a 4-6 week period.

Scientists in Italy have discovered a technique to create new bone from wood. The spongy texture of old wood interacts better with the skeleton. Click here to find out why using wood might be a better alternative than using ceramics or metal to replace bone.

Stanford scientists have developed a low-cost, high-performance prosthetic knee joint for amputees in the developing world. Costing only USD20, the JaipurKnee will bring back mobility to people who have lost their legs in war or diseases such as diabetes.


If you are interested, you might want to check out TIME's pick of the top 10 medical breakthroughs of 2009.

INNOVATIVE IDEAS

Necessity may be the mother of invention, but in the case of retirees with loads of time on their hands and ideas in their head it can result in some truly innovative products like these below. With the right marketing, your product can rake in millions for you.

(Note: These pictures were forwarded to me. I have no clue who designed the products, or where these products might be available.)

WHEEL-MOVING BENCH - Whether you want to sit in the sun or in the shade, near the river or under the tree... now you have your movable bench, to sit wherever you like.

TOILET SEAT LIFTER - 'Who left the Toilet Seat up?' The PeaceMaker will end the battle of the toilet seat. Merely step on the pedal to activate the lifting mechanism. When finished, remove your foot from the pedal and the seat gently comes to a rest where it started.

LASER SCISSORS - Laser ScissorsCutting a straight line has never been easier. Just aim the pin-point laser and follow the line. The scissor blades are stainless steel and cut very clean with a micro-serrated edge.

DAYCLOCK - What day is today? You don't know? Then you need a DayClock. It's uniquely designed to keep track of weekly events like your golf day, card night, movie night, and so much more. It's ideal for vacations and cruises when it's easy to lose track of the day.

GIANT REMOTE - Never lose your remote again! With giant buttons, this extra-large remote is easy to use and impossible to lose. It's a 6-in-1 remote so you can use it to control your TV, VCR, DVD player, satellite, cable and auxiliary A/V device. It even features glow-in-the-dark buttons, so you can easily find the remote in the dark.

BUTTER CUTTER - One Click Butter Cutter controls your portion as an important part of staying healthy. This ingenious butter cutter delivers one standard pat with each click of the handle.



TRANSPARENT TOASTER - You love toast, but you always burn it? Then this invention is for you. This transparent toaster allows you to see the bread while it is toasting so you just have to take it out when the colour is right. This idea is based on a transparent heating glass technology.

If you are looking to buy a gift for yourself or someone in the older age group, do check out eldergadget.com. The website provides information and recommendations on the latest gadgets available for older adults.

TRUE FRIENDS

The new year started well with good news, but the past two days have been quite unsettling. Recent events have compelled me to put out this blog post.

Like the word 'love', the word 'friend' has degenerated into an overused and under-valued label loosely used by any Ah Chong, Aminah and Apu to falsely convey a relationship that probably does not exist in the first place.

Here is my definition of 'friend'. If you fit the bill, you are indeed a true friend. I would like to think that I am your true friend too.

A true friend

• respects your right to dignity



• knows when to be discreet



• protects your good name and image



• does not hold you up to ridicule or scorn, especially when you are not in a position to defend yourself



• looks out for you, even when you don't expect it



• knows when to step in , and when to stay out



• supports you through all weather



• holds your hand when you are afraid



• stands up for you when others are attacking you



• does not perpetrate lies about you or your loved ones

True friendship is measured not by the length of time you have known someone, but by the depth and strength of your bond with him or her.

In times of crisis, a true friend is like a candle in the dark. I thank God for the many true friends out there. Bless you all for your prayers and support even as the family faces another challenge ahead.