Malaysia's diversity should be source of our strength, but half-past-six only !

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DEBATES over rights, race, religion, language, education and government handouts or spending do not appear to cease anytime soon.

We often wonder whether those championing these issues are for the rakyat, or to serve their vested interest, such as boosting their own popularity.

As the disagreements are mostly over the means to an end, the ultimate aim remains largely unknown. Many issues are in stalemate with no outcome.

It would be more fruitful to arrive to a consensus on common goals first and then allow various approaches to attain them.

Our diversity should be harnessed as a source of strength. For example, multi-racial Malaysia has succeeded in being among the top three outsourcing nations globally, behind India and China.

Indeed, Malaysians can stand tall in the global arena if all its citizens are given the opportunity and support to work for anything they so desire.

We should adopt the motto “Work for it”.

Rent seeking, corruption, stealing and cheating should be equally loathed as all these activities rake in money without putting in an honest day’s work.

Likewise, our children should work for any electronic gadget they fancy, through either getting good grades or doing chores in the house. They would also treasure what they have earned.

Similarly, fighting for rights to enjoy freebies, discounts and prolonged use of crutches further weakens the recipients when they should be strengthened to compete, at home and abroad.

The only way to compete successfully is investing in quality education.

Malaysians may take pride that many of us can speak in several languages or dialects. Unfortunately, most of us are master of none.

As language is the key to learning, we need to master at least one language to speak, read, write and think deeply and clearly, in order to excel.

We have been trying to get more non-Malays enrolled in national schools but have overlooked the fact that most of the students in national schools have not mastered the Malay language.

This becomes evident after they graduate from universities and start working. They are not able to think or write a report well.

Sadly, the scourge has affected even some top disciplines. Already, senior lawyers and doctors are ringing the alarm bells on recent graduates.

The all round deterioration of education can be attributed to the students not putting in sufficient genuine work.

This endemic culture is continued in the workplace where people look for shortcuts to acquire wealth or success instead of working for them.

Those who are prepared to work for the things they truly need deserve the support of all parties and should be given every opportunity to do so.

We should stop spoiling our children and citizens.

“Work for it” should become the clarion call for all responsible parents and leaders.

Y.S. CHAN,
Kuala Lumpur.

Internet scams rise targeting e-banking accounts

By P. ARUNA  aruna@thestar.com.my

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PETALING JAYA: If you have an Internet banking account, like many do in this modern IT era, take immediate notice.

The number of Malaysians falling prey to Internet banking scams is increasing by the day.

Cyber criminals are on the prowl looking for account holders gullible enough to reveal the two most vital pieces of data — their username and password.

They use fake banking websites, known as “phishing” sites, to try and trap the account holders.

If you fall for it, you can have your entire account wiped out in minutes, depending on the amount of money you have and the transfer limit set by the bank.

According to CyberSecurity Malaysia, a total of 1,426 reports were made last year compared to 634 received in 2009.

It said at least 900 unique phishing sites targeting local financial institutions have been discovered.

The body said those who fell prey are usually new Internet banking account holders and people who don’t understand Internet security.

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E-banking scams on the rise

Stealth Fighter Jets - F-22 Raptor & F-35 Lightning II

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F-22 Raptor

(US Air Force)
Updated: 2011-02-15 17:30

Two US Air Force F-22 Raptor stealth jet fighters fly near Andersen Air Force Base in this handout photo dated August 4, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]

The sophisticated F-22 aerodesign, advanced flight controls, thrust vectoring, and high thrust-to-weight ratio provide the capability to outmaneuver all current and projected aircraft. The F-22 design has been extensively tested and refined aerodynamically during the development process.

The F-22's characteristics provide a synergistic effect ensuring F-22A lethality against all advanced air threats. The combination of stealth, integrated avionics and supercruise drastically shrinks surface-to-air missile engagement envelopes and minimizes enemy capabilities to track and engage the F-22. The combination of reduced observability and supercruise accentuates the advantage of surprise in a tactical environment.

The F-22 will have better reliability and maintainability than any fighter aircraft in history. Increased F-22 reliability and maintainability pays off in less manpower required to fix the aircraft and the ability to operate more efficiently.

Background

The Advanced Tactical Fighter entered the Demonstration and Validation phase in 1986. The prototype aircraft (YF-22 and YF-23) both completed their first flights in late 1990. Ultimately the YF-22 was selected as best of the two and the engineering and manufacturing development effort began in 1991 with development contracts to Lockheed/Boeing (airframe) and Pratt & Whitney (engines). EMD included extensive subsystem and system testing as well as flight testing with nine aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The first EMD flight was in 1997 and at the completion of its flight test life this aircraft was used for live-fire testing.

The program received approval to enter low rate initial production in 2001. Initial operational and test evaluation by the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center was successfully completed in 2004. Based on maturity of design and other factors the program received approval for full rate production in 2005. Air Education and Training Command, Air Combat Command and Pacific Air Forces are the primary Air Force organizations flying the F-22. The aircraft designation was the F/A-22 for a short time before being renamed F-22A in December 2005.

General Characteristics

Primary Function: Air dominance, multi-role fighter
Contractor: Lockheed-Martin, Boeing
Power Plant: Two Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 turbofan engines with afterburners and two-dimensional thrust vectoring nozzles.
Thrust: 35,000-pound class (each engine)
Wingspan: 44 feet, 6 inches (13.6 meters)
Length: 62 feet, 1 inch (18.9 meters)
Height: 16 feet, 8 inches (5.1 meters)
Weight: 43,340 pounds (19,700 kilograms)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 83,500 pounds (38,000 kilograms)
Fuel Capacity: Internal: 18,000 pounds (8,200 kilograms); with 2 external wing fuel tanks: 26,000 pounds (11,900 kilograms)
Payload: Same as armament air-to-air or air-to-ground loadouts; with or without 2 external wing fuel tanks.
Speed: Mach 2 class with supercruise capability

Range: More than 1,850 miles ferry range with 2 external wing fuel tanks (1,600 nautical miles)

Ceiling: Above 50,000 feet (15 kilometers)
Armament: One M61A2 20-millimeter cannon with 480 rounds, internal side weapon bays carriage of two AIM-9 infrared (heat seeking) air-to-air missiles and internal main weapon bays carriage of six AIM-120 radar-guided air-to-air missiles (air-to-air loadout) or two 1,000-pound GBU-32 JDAMs and two AIM-120 radar-guided air-to-air missiles (air-to-ground loadout)
Crew: One
Unit Cost: $143 million
Initial operating capability: December 2005
Inventory: Total force, 137

F-35 Lightning II

(lockheedmartin.com)
Updated: 2011-02-15 17:30

F-35 Lightning II [Photo/lockheedmartin.com]

The F-35 Lightning II, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), integrates advanced very low observable stealth into a supersonic, highly agile 5th generation fighter. The capabilities built into the F-35 Lightning II provide the pilot with unprecedented situational awareness and unmatched lethality and survivability.

While each variant (F-35A, F-35B, F-35C) is uniquely designed to operate from different bases, all three variants set new standards in network-enabled mission systems, sensor fusion, supportability and maintainability.

The world's most experienced aerospace industry leaders (Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems and the Fighter Engine Team—Pratt & Whitney and GE Rolls-Royce) combine sophisticated manufacturing, engineering and technological capabilities to develop the F-35 Lightning II. This, along with global partnerships, has been an integral part of the JSF Program. Setting the stage for reliability and maintainability, the F-35's built-in sustainment establishes new levels of operational readiness and helps meet the needs across the spectrum of military operations.

With its host of next-generation technologies and unprecedented capabilities, the F-35 is the world's most advanced multirole fighter.

Division of property

ARTICLES OF LAW By BHAG SINGH

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A person may not care much about what happens to his property in the event of his demise, but this may change once he gets married.

WHEN a person gets married, it is a turning point in more ways than one. In most cases, it can involve a change in lifestyle and the way in which things are done. One significant area is property rights. For working couples, each party may have his or her own property or assets. This could be in terms of money, landed property or other security. It may have been inherited or acquired through the person’s own efforts.

After the parties are married, whatever is acquired may be said to have been earned through the joint efforts of both and therefore belongs to them jointly. Of course, it need not be the case that each has contributed equally in financial terms. This is because a contribution can be made in many ways.

However, prior to the marriage, the people closest to each individual would usually be the parents and siblings, though this may not always be the case.

At this stage, an individual who is single may not give much thought to the subject. He or she may be quite happy for the parents or siblings to sort matters out if anything happens. In fact, at a young age, the question of such an event happening would not be given much thought.

However, different matters may have to be considered after an individual gets married. Initially it would be concern for the spouse should anything happen. The need to provide for the children will also be given due attention, when there are additions to the family.

Even though a person may get married, the need to care for parents or siblings may not immediately cease. So how does one ensure a balance between care for the parents and siblings who need help, and the spouse and children?

This is especially so when an individual who is married continues to care for his parents and siblings who may need help. The option to make such choices through the use of a Will on an unqualified basis is only possible in the case of non-Muslims.

In the case of Muslims, the syariah law lays down who the beneficiaries are and in what proportion they are entitled to the inheritance. One-third of the estate can be willed away to non-beneficiaries but the legal beneficiaries cannot have their shares altered.

Back to non-Muslims, in the absence of a Will, a person who dies leaving a wife, children and parents, will see one-quarter go to the parents. In cases where the parents are well-off, the one-quarter that goes to the parents may appear unnecessary, if all that the individual has is required by the immediate family.

In such a case, one would expect the parents to waive their entitlement in favour of their daughter-in-law and grandchildren who may need the money more. However, in some cases the parents may be very old and dependent on their children, that is, the brothers or sisters of the deceased. In such a case, the decision made by the parents may be influenced by their other children who may be eyeing the former’s entitlement.

Options

Whilst this may appear unfair and unlikely to happen, it is unfortunately a fact of life that relationships can count little when money is involved. Human greed often assumes a more prominent place in the mind of the individual concerned in such a situation. It is thus necessary for the individual, when he gets married and starts his family, to evaluate and balance the various needs.

When the children are not yet in sight, the needs of the wife who is also working, are likely to be less. This situation can allow for a bigger part of the estate to be left to needy parents and siblings or other relatives. However, the parents may pass away and the needs of the siblings may get smaller. Or the needs of his own immediate family may have increased.

The Will then can be changed to meet the children’s needs. A Will is not an inflexible document. Its contents or provisions can be changed depending on the circumstances. A Will is only effective when the testator, that is, the person making the Will, dies.

Thus a testator who makes a Will to give property to his immediate family, can where the circumstances require and warrant, revoke the Will and give everything to charity. If this is done, there is nothing the immediate family can do. The rights of the testator are extensive.

However, the usefulness of a Will lies in the testator being able to provide for the needs of those he cares for. To achieve this purpose, the testator needs to be alert to changes in circumstances so as to make the necessary adjustments. Failure to do so can have the effect of defeating the objectives and intentions of the testator at a material time. If in such circumstances changes are not monitored and acted upon, it may well result in unfairness to those it was intended to help.

Then again, there are those who do not get married or having been married, for one reason or another, are single again and have no children. In the case of such persons, as they grow older, assets are likely to increase.

Such persons may think differently with regard to what happens to their property after their demise. Instead of letting the law take its course, they may well chose whoever they like to pass on the property. This could include people who have been near and dear to them or a charitable cause or a cause that they are passionate about.

Love train rekindles romance!

Love train rekindles romance for 20 senior citizens
By ISABELLE LAI newsdesk@thestar.com.my

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KUALA LUMPUR: Twenty senior citizens had a roaring Valentine’s Day in a one-day train ride to Ipoh organised by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB).

Dubbed the “Retro Love Coach”, the senior citizens sat in a KTMB event coach that had a stage area, karaoke station and colourful retro seat covers and decorations.

Senior citizen Norsiah Nordin, 58, said the train ride was a romantic way of bringing her husband Ishak Abd Rahman, 61, and her closer.

“We had time to talk and enjoy the view with the leisurely pace of the train. It was like old times,” she said.
Both husband and wife agreed that Valentine’s Day was an expression of love and was not an issue for married couples.

“It’s good for married couples to be loving towards each other in daily life,” said Ishak, adding that he and his wife of 36 years often went travelling together to keep their romance alive.

Amir Rusli, 63, said the secret of a healthy marriage was to have “lots and lots” of patience.

”Don’t fret and squabble over small things. Think long-term,” he said.
Other than the married couples, eight senior ladies who had been friends for over three decades also took the train ride.

Retired widow Minah Abdul Majid, 62, said she and her friends often went on such trips together to have fun.
“Life as a senior citizen is great. We have the freedom to enjoy ourselves with friends that we have known for a lifetime,” she said.

KTMB marketing manager Mohd Noordin Kimi said the Retro Love Coach package was organised for the senior citizens in conjunction with the launch of the company’s 1Malaysia Couples Train package. The new package provides a 25% discount for groups of three couples.

“For example, a Malay couple should find Chinese and Indian friends (also couples) so the six of them can qualify for the package.”

KTMB will be organising a trip for couples to Singapore on May 16. The one-day package costing RM300 aims to attract around 300 couples of all ages and races. Those interested can call him at 019-2291486.f

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Love, actually, is really all around us

MONDAY STARTERS By SOO EWE JIN ewejin@thestar.com.my

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WHO is your neighbour? The most obvious answer would be the people living along the same road, to your left, your right, front and back.

You can be blessed with good neighbours who are not only friendly but also look out for your safety and welfare.

Or you could have neighbours from hell who throw rubbish into your garden or scratch your car if it so much as intrudes into one inch of his space. But that is a very restrictive meaning to the word neighbour.

A neighbour, in my opinion, is the person who is placed next to you at any moment in time.

It could be the person on the same bench in the park, or the one waiting in line next to you to board the LRT.
As a cancer survivor, my neighbours are also fellow survivors and their family and friends.

And, what about your neighbours in the workplace? From the security guard to the cleaning lady, from the colleague in the next cubicle to the manager in the room on the same floor, they are not next to you by sheer coincidence.

If we see neighbours in this context, I believe we can then have more opportunities to practise neighbourliness and aspire to love our neighbours as ourselves.

Love, contrary to what the movies tell us, is not about emotion. It is a verb, an action word.

Taken to the extreme, it is possible to love someone without actually liking him, because love makes us want to do something good and right for that person.

For example, if your colleague is looking very sad, you will want to know why, and perhaps do something to help out. Never mind that he or she is a real pain in the office.

At the workplace, many of us have to struggle, on a daily basis, with disagreements over how things are done, or should be done. The problem is that sometimes what is a genuine disagreement on an issue is seen as a personal attack on an individual.

And so the problem remains, and festers to become an even bigger problem.
In the business world, showing love could also mean that integrity must be the basic building block for doing business.

As Ron Ashkenas wrote recently in the Harvard Business Review, “Nobody wants to get involved with a company that lies, cheats, and tricks its customers; nor do people want to work for a company (or a manager) that is dishonest and disingenuous with employees.”

Many Malaysians, whatever our ethnicity, faith or status in life, still lack the understanding on how to disagree without being disagreeable.

Which is why some of the discussions on many current issues, by politicians especially, tend to spiral out of control because we have yet to learn to love one another. There is much wisdom in the saying that we are to hate the sin, but to love the sinner.

Love, therefore, is more than just the celebration of a day, whatever its origin. It is an attitude that helps us to see the needs of others over ourselves.

Love can be expressed in so many ways but I am proud our very own Terima Kasih says it all – asking the other person to “Accept My Love” in thanksgiving.

■ Deputy executive editor Soo Ewe Jin believes if you forgot to buy that bouquet of roses for your loved one today, but has generally been a loving person the other 364 days of the year, you will surely be forgiven. The headline for today is inspired by one of his favourite movies, Love Actually.

Valentine’s Day - Muslins have no business celebrating

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Activists of the right-wing Hindu organisation the Shiv Sena along with other demonstrators burn greeting cards during a demonstration denouncing Valentine's Day in Amritsar on February 13, 2011. The Shiv Sena strongly oppose Valentine's Day celebrations citing them as a cultural invasion on the Hindu way of life. AFP PHOTO/ NARINDER NANU  By (AFP)

Muslims have no business celebrating Valentine’s Day

by M. SIRAJUDIN, George Town.

I DON’T understand what the big fuss is over the preventive measures adopted by PAS and other Islamic bodies against Muslims who indulge in Valentine’s Day celebrations.

Muslims should have no business celebrating such an occasion as it is forbidden to do so in Islam.

Only Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadhan, and Eid-ul-Adha, commemorating the annual pilgrimage to Makkah, are Muslim festivals. There is no other.

Muslims should be aware of this and if they are not, they should be educated. Ignorance is no excuse.
Second, only unmarried Muslim couples who are involved in illicit affairs forbidden by Islam need to be concerned.

Islam is not against love per se but it must be expressed within proper boundaries as allowed in its teachings. Coupling, dating and being in close proximity with members of the opposite gender in isolated and private venues is strictly prohibited as it would entail unhealthy consequences for both parties.

Baby-dumping is one such outcome we are faced with today.

Islam, in its practical dimension, endeavours to block the many winding paths to sinning and wicked conduct that attracts God’s displeasure.

It lays down basic rules and principles on how to identify the nature of sin and keep away from it.
Prevention is better than cure is an Islamic dictum.

A Muslim is expected to play his part not only in keeping away from things that have been forbidden but to ensure his fellow Muslims avoid the many roads to perdition.

Valentine’s Day is another sorry excuse to promote reckless consumerism and persuade gullible people to part with their hard-earned cash.

How could true love be measured with the likes of roses, chocolates and diamond rings?

For the young and immature, they tend to confuse love with lust and the seemingly romantic atmosphere just urges them on to have a go at their willing partner. Thus, it leads to gratuitous sex with far-reaching consequence for the couple.

It contributes to further increase in sexual immorality and perverse conduct, which are contrary to the true meaning and spirit of love itself. Furthermore, if you truly love someone you don’t need a Valentine’s Day to express it.

I agree that crackdown against sinful activities should not be confined to occasions like Valentine’s Day but should be a 24/7 operation.

We must ever be vigilant against this soul-ravaging menace.

Malaysian Muslims warned against Valentine’s Day

By (AFP)Posted Sunday, February 13 2011

As couples around the world mark Valentine’s Day, Islamic officials in Malaysia have warned Muslims against celebrating something “synonymous with vice activities”.

The warning follows plans announced last week by several Malaysian states who are planning a crackdown on “immoral acts” during Valentine’s Day as part of a campaign to encourage a sin-free lifestyle.

“In reality, as well as historically, the celebration of Valentine’s Day is synonymous with vice activities,” Mr Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abdul Aziz, head of the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM), which oversees the country’s Islamic policies, told state media.

“Islam would reject anything, even from the Eastern culture, if it contravenes the Islamic teachings,” he added. Wan Mohamad said a fatwa (ruling) issued by the country’s top clerics six years ago noted the day “is associated with elements of Christianity,” and “we just cannot get involved with other religion’s worshipping rituals.”

Trap’ campaign

JAKIM officials will carry out a nationwide ‘Mind the Valentine’s Day Trap’ campaign, he said, aimed at preventing Muslims from celebrating the day.

Nasrudin Hasan Tantawi, head of the Islamic party PAS’s youth wing said Wednesday that authorities in the opposition-controlled northern states of Kedah, Penang and Kelantan as well as central Selangor state will also carry out “immorality checks” on February 14.

PAS is part of the opposition alliance that won control of the four states in 2008 elections.

PAS Youth starts drive against V-Day

By SIRA HABIBU sira@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: Despite fierce criticism from various quarters, PAS Youth has started its campaign against Valentine’s Day.

The anti-Valentine’s Day campaign started on the eve of the event at lovers’ haunts around the country last night.

Taman Tasik Titiwangsa in Kuala Lumpur, Teluk Chempedak and Taman Esplanade in Pahang and Dataran Shah Alam in Selangor were among the hotspots visited by the anti-vice squads of PAS Youth.

Movement chief Nasrudin Hassan said PAS Youth was not acting as “moral police” but educating youngsters on moral values and self-respect.

For this reason, he said, the movement was against any form of celebration that encouraged youths to mingle freely. This included the New Year and National Day countdown celebrations, he added.

“We are distributing flyers in parks as part of our campaign to promote a sin-free lifestyle,’’ he said.

Anti-Valentine’s campaign at CNY do

KUALA LUMPUR: A Chinese New Year open house organised by the Hidayah Centre took a turn with anti-Valentine’s Day brochures being distributed to those who attended.

The brochures, which depicted a broken heart on the cover with the title “Threat to Islam”, carried some background on the Feb 14 celebration – claiming it was to celebrate love and affection between intimate companions – and a section on “reminders and advice.”

The brochures were handed out by officials from the Malaysian Muslim Welfare Organisation (Perkim), which was one of the four co-organisers of the event held at Restoran Cina Muslim in Pusat Bandar Melawati.

The brochures were also distributed to many non-Muslims who attended the event. Also present was PKR disciplinary committee chairman Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong.