By Farish A. Noor
That the discourse of the ‘War on Terror’ is a terribly useful one for governments that wish to exteriorise, dehumanise and brutalise an enemy is a foregone conclusion for many of us by now. Since the day when the term was first coined by the administration of President Bush Junior, it has made its rounds all over the planet and has been seized upon with gusto and delight by many an authoritarian regime seeking a pretext to detain and eliminate their enemies. Til today we do not have a tally of the figures of those who have been summarily arrested, detained without trial, tortured and ‘disappeared’ as a result of this War on Terror which, as any linguist will tell you, doesn’t even signify anything meaningful in the first place.
The current onslaught on Gaza is proof of the utility of such a discourse when it falls into the hands of those currying favour with the Washington administration – and here it doesn’t really matter if the man sitting in the oval office is Bush Junior or Mr Obama. Israel’s relentless attacks on the Palestinians has been couched and justified as part of the global war effort against terrorism, and as a result the Palestinians have in toto been summarily labelled as terrorists who, by extension, deserve neither mercy nor understanding.
Even more worrying still is the manner in which the metanarrative of the war on terror has been appropriated by other countries and governments that are likewise in a bellicose mood and warlike demeanour. The mainstream media in India, for instance, have likewise hopped on to the anti-terror bandwagon and have taken to it like a duck to water. In the wake of the Mumbai attacks – which were indeed an instance of terrorism at work – the right-wing parties and political demagogues of India’s hard-right have upped the ante even further calling on the Indian government and armed forces to ‘do a Gaza’ on Pakistan next door.
Calling on the Indian armed forces to ‘do a Gaza’ on Pakistan is what the world needs the least at the moment, what with the global recession spiralling out of control and the economic fortunes of many a developing countries laid low. Worse still would be the political fall-out for both India and Pakistan, two countries that enjoy the dubious distinction of having nuclear parity and the potential of wiping each other out for good. The hawks of India find their kindred spirits next door, among the hawks of Pakistan who likewise feel that the peace and dialogue process has gotten both countries nowhere, and that a final settlement has to be reached through force of arms.
But in both cases, we see once again how the discourse of the ‘War on Terror’ has been used to demonise and dehumanise the other across the border. And sadder still is the fact that today all acts of terrorism are immediately and casually equated with the Arabs, and with Palestinians in particular.
So has Gaza become the leitmotif and metaphor for the year 2009? If the ‘War on Terror’ is based on a zero-sum logic of eliminating one’s enemies without mercy, then ‘doing a Gaza’ on one’s opponents seems to be the standard operational tactic to be employed at the moment. Having dehumanised the Palestinians and robbed them of their identity, history and the very same historical basis of their existence and justification for their acts, the world community now sits passively by as Israel ‘does a Gaza’ on the people of Palestine who have been rendered inhuman and reduced to statistics.
It is therefore painfully and pitifully ironic to see how the victims of Israeli aggression and expansionism have been doubly dealt a low blow thanks to the adept utilisation of the ‘War on Terror’ discourse on the part of the Zionists. Israel’s constant demand to have groups like Hamas and Hizbullah labelled terrorist organisations is simply part of a bigger process of discrediting the Palestinian struggle and the demands of the Palestinian people as a whole; rendering them a people without a past, a land, an identity and bereft of justifiable demands and aims.
Yet have we grown so cynical and jaded today that we do not see a repeat of history taking place before our very eyes? In the bad old days when we grew up watching John Wayne movies we were taught that the nasty native Americans were the ‘bad injuns’ whose only purpose in life was to slaughter and scalp poor innocent white people. In time however we grew up and came to learn that the native Americans were in the fact the real victims of a massive genocide which led to the extinction of five hundred tribal nations and the creation of the United States of America on what is basically a massive graveyard of native Americans.
Today we are witnessing the aggressive onslaught on the Palestinians that is likewise justified and rationalised on the basis of a war on terror and terrorists; and where the Palestinian people – who have been robbed of their land, rights and self-respect – have been discursively reconfigured as irrational, fanatical terrorists instead. A return to the genocidal politics of John Wayne via the route of the ‘War on Terror’? It doesn’t take much intelligence to see how the discourse of the war on terror has terrorised others on both the physical and epistemic level.
Can’t Hamas stop the terrorist activities and both sides sit down to reach a real cease fire agreement?
If the international community will be behind Hamas, and Hamas can be a terrorist organisation, that would be very strange isn’t it?
If you have a naughty boy at home, who is not good in real fighting but constantly going out to instigate others, and when got beaten has to run home to ask dad for help. How many times would dad do it for you? Dad will tell you to behave well.
A father who started calling others to boycott US products, etc., is not a good father. He should perhaps take over Palestine
I wish Farish A. Noor write something about UMNO.
He is so knowledgeable on the Gaza war..which Malaysians can talk alot…like Dollah and Mahathir doing now…yet just send US1million donations…but not one thousand UMNO muslim jihad men.. to protect their Muslim brothers being slaughtered.
So…Farish deep thoughts on the mentalities of UMNO politicians and Malaysians…more useful to Malaysians.
Does he supports… a Malaysian Malaysia?
The Mighty Pen says:
This stupid fellow called Mahathir is a clown. Again he will blame Abdullah for not sending the Malaysian army to fight against Israel. Perhaps Mahathir must fight alongside Hamas to defend the rights of the Palestinians. He is already at his prime age….f the Malaysian government can send Mahathir to the battle front, at least he can…..
http://sjsandteam.wordpress.com/2009/01/05/mahathir-says-pepsi-is-better-than-coke/
Withdrawal Symptoms… said…
This morning I refused my usual dose of Coke refreshment.
Just now, at lunch, I refused to take my kid to her favourite McDonalds, the one with the playground. She barely touched the Yee Foo mee lunch I bought for her instead. She’s still not in a good mood yet….
I haven’t yet figured out how to avoid using a Microsoft Windows/Intel computet…..
Try as I may, its going to be hell of a tough time trying to avoid these Damned Yankee products….
3:41 PM, January 06, 2009
Anonymous vinnan said…
To Withdrawal Symptoms,
Sell everything you have then find a remote cave somewhere and live like the Neanderthals. Whoops, I forgot you should not accept payment in ringgit for the reserve currency backing the ringgit is the US dollar. Better yet donate everything to charity then go live in a cave. Whoops, can’t do that either. The charity has funds in ringgit backed by evil US dollars. Use your brain man, in our highly integrated world today trying to live without one another economically is just impossible. Give your daughter a break and stop listening to a senile dictator. Mugabe listened to Mahathir and look at where Zimbabawe is today. Do you know of anyone who lost everything to Mugabe’s Mahathir inspired policies. I do. The guy died a broken man in Malaysia.
4:52 PM, January 06, 2009
The clever F. A. Noor presented his intellectual arguments (or should I say one-sided views?) without mentioning the word “Hamas” at all. Hamas is an obstacle to peace in the middle east. As a group bent on aggression and the destruction of Israel, it is not interested in peace unlike Fatah. If the present Israeli attack on Gaza is considered an aggression then it is one provoked by Hamas’ rockets fired on Israel. The unfortunate victims are the innocent Palestinian civilians whom Hamas use as a shield.
this is not a religion or races issue…
this is a human issue!
we want peace!
Berita-Berita Terkini P36 Kuala Terengganu
Egypt, the new Superpower!
Ahh, at last, the day of my dreams has finally arrived. The day that set my egyptian patriotic heart aflutter with joy. The day when Egypt- under the wise direction and leadership of our dear leader Hosny Mubarak- has finally ascended to its rightful place and joined the ranks of the World’s Super Power club is here, and I am happier than Andrew Sullivan with a bag full of dicks. How do I know that we have reached that monumentous plateau amongst the world’s elite? Well, ladies and gentlemen, the signs are all around us. We are getting blamed for all the world’s ills, just the like the americans, russians and chinese, we are having our business interests portested against, just like the americans and the brits, we are having our Embassies attacked and our Flags burned, just like the americans and the Israelis, and now, today, I am happy to announce that we have cemented our membership in the super powers club by reaching the final landmark: The posters of our President depicted dead, with open calls for his assissantion, in Iran.
Ohh yes. The Persian plague has decided that they can not tolerate Egypt’s place as the leading regional power any longer, claiming that we are always outshining them and making them look fat, and have set their eyes on taking out the man responsible for our exemplery progress and power: El Presidente Mubarak. Today, in Iran, Forooz Rejaii, the secretary general of the organization titled “Rewarding The Martyrs of the World of Islam” has announced a bounty of one million dollars to whomever assassinates Hosny Mubarak for being just too cool and awesome for them to bear, and also for the whole closing the Rafah crossing thing.
Our very own Mubarak mask. Right next to Olmert and Barak Obama’s. HELL YEAH! That’s how prominent we have become. We have masks of our leaders made and worn by smelly inhabitants of third world countries. Die from envy, jealous Bitches of the world. Egypt has arrived.
However, we need to be careful, because anyone can become a hated worldly Super Power once, and get its busniesses protested against, embassies stormed and flags burned. Just ask Denmark. They used to matter back in 2006, and now, nobody even rememebrs to hate them anymore. No, we can’t be a One-Hate wonder. We can’t allow that to happen to us, espeically after we waited so long for it. So, I propose that we start threathening the world to never open the Rafah crossing ever again, and start blackmailing them to do so, and see what we can get out of them for it. That crossing now is a startegic advantage, just the like hormuz crossing is to the jealous fat hairy Iranians, and we should totally capitalize on it to maintain our strategic importance. Let the Haters eat their hearts out.
These international communities are spoiling Hamas by giving the Palestine money. What the Palestinians need is a real caring government, not one that creates wars and send their own people to hell. If they elect a bad government, they all go to hell.
If we elect UMNO, we all go to hell. We know the consequences
Send Mahathir to be the leader of the Palestine. He will do a better job
hm… it takes both hands to clap.
Hamas is a useless naughty devil that are hiding cowardly behind the civillian of Palestine.
I’m not here to praise Israel nor support them, but one should look at the whole picture of the war, who’s the instigator that provoke the other side first, then who’s the one who is using civilian as their shield.
“Calling on the Indian armed forces to ‘do a Gaza’ on Pakistan…”
Calliing the Indians to do a “Gaza” on Pakistan is like calling the Chinese in Malaysia to do a “Lim Kit Siang” on Najib.
Huh?
When the two fractions of Muslims in Iraq are killing each other, using suicide bombers, why no one said anything?
People now would want to gain political mileage by seeing the situation in Gaza.
pulau_sibu Says:
Today at 19: 35.10 (4 minutes ago)
When the two fractions of Muslims in Iraq are killing each other, using suicide bombers, why no one said anything?”
Because both are dead??
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/CNN_U.S._weapons_create_Gaza_civilian_0102.html
As Israeli warplanes continue to bomb Gaza, attention is turning to the role of American-made weapons in the deadly attacks, which have now killed over 400 and wounded 2000, including many civilians.
CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr believes that Israel’s use of American weapons against civilians “is becoming very problematic.” She notes, for example, that the 2000 pound bomb which killed a Hamas leader and members of his family on Thursday “is part of the billions of dollars that Israel has spent buying weapons from the United States.”
Israel’s use of American-made weapons in attacking Gaza has been a matter of offical concern for years. In 2002, the State Department announced it was monitoring possible violations of the Arms Export Control Act after the Israeli military used an American-made jet to drop a laser-guided bomb that killed a Hamas leader and 14 civilians in a crowded Gaza City neighborhood.
Just last September, Congress approved a $77 million dollar deal to sell a thousand Boeing GBU-39 bunker-buster “smart bombs” to Israel. The Jerusalem Post reported on Monday that these small, GPS-guided missiles have now been used on underground tunnels and launchers in Gaza.
“Precision guided bombs are only precision in that they hit the target they are aimed at,” Starr explained. “We’re getting these civilian casualties. These weapons are supposed to be used for a country’s self-defense. Israel, obviously, believes this is its self-defense against Hamas, but you see these civilian casualties. That’s not why the US sells weapons abroad — for the killing of innocent civilians.”
“The world community only is going to stand for this for so long,” continued Starr. “It’s this reason that you’re seeing people look for a political settlement.” She added that Israel now intends to launch a ground campaign in Gaza to “get rid of Hamas once and for all,” but — as the US has learned in Iraq and Afghanistan — it is impossible to wipe out an insurgency by military force along without first getting the civilian population on your side.
Quote:pulau_sibu Says:
Today at 19: 35.10 (4 minutes ago)
When the two fractions of Muslims in Iraq are killing each other, using suicide bombers, why no one said anything?”
ANSWER : No – people are making lots of noise – They are condemning America for the Iraqi ‘invasion’.
AAB is sending US$1M of donations to the Palestinian people. I suppose this money comes from the govt coffers, which comes from taxes, which is the rakyat’s money.
If that’s the case – totally unfair. The money may indirectly go to Hamas. There are many who sympathizes with Israel. Is it fair that this donation from the people’s money go to the ‘wrong side’ for some instead?
I sympathize with both the victims of the Hamas rocket attacks in southern Israel and the innocent Gazan. But this conflict, war, invasion, attacks whatever we want to call it is getting out of hand. The humans are damaging the earth.
I don’t see why the OIC cannot do anything about this. Emergency meetings in Egypt, UNSC emergency sessions, this & thats, but the US just vetos it so simply. Why is OIC so daft? – Just take the simplest step of imposing an Oil Embargo worldwide! Simple right?!?!
Can the world handle the supply only from Russia & Venezuela??? I bet Russia will be more than happy to join the embargo! Russia is a staunch supporter of the OIC to balance world power. China will also help a lot – they are an ally to Iran, Pakistan & many muslim nations. I bet if Israel prolong this conflict, OIC will impose this embargo & Obama will be blowing his top off & have sleepless nights.
The Israelis and the US rail againt Hamas as a gang of terrorists ,yet most of the governments of the region started out as “terrorists” gangs. 2 were called Irgun and the Hagamah ,the revolutionary movements that carried out attacks on civilians including the British as well as the Arabs in their battle to establish the state of Israel. Hamas wil do no more and no less in their bid to establish a Palestinian state-justin.
Only Insignificant Lives…
Is the recent genocide taking place in Gaza related to OIL again? We know that the Iraq war had a lot to do with oil and war profiteering by the Americans.
After oil prices had gone down to USD40+ a barrel in recent times, isn’t it convenient that there is a sudden renewal of conflict in the Middle East again? Isn’t it suspicious that the price of oil has shot up to USD50+ a barrel just these past few days?
For all the conspiracy theorists, is there really a cartel of powerful business people running the world’s economy, who will do anything for a quick buck? Greedy tycoons who don’t mind bathing in blood money?
You know, if Madoff can run his ponzi scheme for years and cheat investors out of USD50 billion, then I guess anything is possible.
Let’s see how much the price of oil is once a truce is called between Israel and Palestine. Wanna bet that the price will be around USD100 per barrel?
From financial scandals to high oil prices to war profiteering, I see a common link – don’t you?
SPEAK UP MALAYSIA:
STOP HARMING
INNOCENT CIVILIANS
FOR PROFIT
“If we go on the way we have, the fault is our greed and if we are not willing to change, we will disappear from the face of the globe, to be replaced by the insect.”
– Jacques-Yves Cousteau
For every story, there are two sides of the coin to look at. The map of Israel tells us that she is surrounded by Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt. 4 against 1. Then each time something happens, the media will show people getting emotional, people getting physically charged up and the tactic they use these days are surprise attacks. Of all the places in the world, Mumbai is chosen. A synagogue is nearby. We live in this sin ridden world. Everybody claims to be right. If everybody is right, then who is wrong ? If nobody is wrong, then why the fighting ? If nobody is wrong, this should be heaven and people should live in peace.
The issue is compounded by a party guided by a doctrine which is bent on wiping out the other party who is certainly stronger and better equipped grey matter. It certainly looks like this conflict would not end until the end of the world. With Iran loudly expressing her desire to send Israel to heaven and is bent on getting nuclear; Armagedden is indeed the next change! I wouldn’t be surprised Iran would be the 1st to try the nuke after Hiroshima! Then we can only pray because Israel will never take it lying on her back. With her arsenals, we can just wonder how many capitals around her would be left half-cooked if not completely flattened! Surely at this stage of the human development, doctrines that are found wanting by the majority of the world population need be reviewed. This is easier said than done. Hatred indoctrinated over so many years will keep cropping up, we need more than preaching to stop such illogical scenario!
And would doing an ‘Altantuya’ on Najib more lethal than doing a ‘Lim Kit Siang’ on Najib??
AhPek,
Rosmah has been there, done that. Get Lim Kit Siang to do a ‘Rosmah on Najib’!! Hoepfully he’ll get choked!
Jews playing politics with US.
US will have a non-white president soon.
US will be a white minority nation in 30 yrs.
Obama marks the begining of change in US.
Will Israel still be able to rely on US for support in future?
Test it.
Use some real victims.
Gaza residents are ready guinea pigs.
Fighting Hama is a convenient cause for them to start the test.
Start it before Obama became president.
Its easier because Bush will ok the test.
But will Obama continue with Bush’s ok subsequently?
Now that is the test.
A case of killing many birds.
Possible?
According to Jewish tradition, the history of Judaism begins
with the Covenant between God and Abraham (in Quran,
pronounced as Ibrahim), who is considered a Hebrew…
Ancient Hebrew and Arab people are generally classified as
Semitic peoples…Those closest to them in culture and
language were generally deemed to be descended from their
forefather Shem, one of the sons of Noah (in Quran,
pronounced as Nuh)… Everybody live in PEACE…
But suddenly there was emerging the movement of
Zionism – international political movement that originally
supported the reestablishment of a homeland for the
Jewish People in Palestine, they call this home as Eretz
Yisra’el (means the Land of Israel)… And they use the
RELIGION as a reason to kill muslims Palestinian. Is it funny
same species killing each other? EERRRGGHH!!!
From: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/US-Israel/jewsens.html …….
— Jewish Members of the U.S. Senate —
.
— Name — — Party/State — — Years of Service —
Frank Lautenberg D-NJ 1982-2001, 2003-
Jacob (Chic) Hecht R-NV 1983-1989
Herb Kohl D-WI 1989-
Joseph Lieberman D-CT* 1989-
Paul Wellstone D-MN 1991-2002
Dianne Feinstein D-CA 1992-
Barbara Boxer D-CA 1992-
Russ Feingold D-WI 1993-
Ron Wyden D-OR 1996-
Charles Schumer D-NY 1999-
Norm Coleman R-MN 2003-
Benjamin Cardin D-MD 2007-
Bernard Sanders I-VT 2007-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zionism
Zionism
The political movement was formally established by the Austro-Hungarian journalist Theodor Herzl in the late 19th century. The movement seeks to encourage Jewish migration to the Promised Land and was eventually successful in establishing Israel in 1948, as the homeland for the Jewish people. Its proponents regard its aim as self-determination for the Jewish people.
About 40% of the world’s Jews now live in Israel.
Why the Israel did not attack Jordan, Iran, Iraq or Malaysia? why they only attacked palestine?
It takes two to tango!
If palestine hamas did not attack Israel first, the Israel won’t attack the palestine hamas.
hamas is the trouble maker, Israel is just protecting its peoples….
it’s difficult to judge who is right n who is wrong!
it’s a very lengthy stories dat involved land,religion,culture,war n ancestors’ conflict issues!
the one who walks in the corridoors of power in middle east is israel,not even one arab country dares to touch them,even iran is merely verbal yelling on the other side of it!
imagine,it’s more amazing dat their population is only 7 million,slightly more than the tiny red dot!
oh,by the way,their yankee brothers had completely destroyed another threat,i.e.iraq!now, a real toothless tiger!
undergrad2,
If by doing a Rosmah on Najib means delivering a knock-out punch,
then I have to concur fully with you.
poor Israel, it just like the poor Singapore, surrounded by muslim countries…..
both have to be strong in order not to be bullied by neigboring countries….
Hamas believe in the eventual extermination of Israel. They’re not interested in a handshake on the White House lawn.
In this new game, both sides seek the destruction of the other, but neither has the power to achieve it. They are engaged in a struggle that has no near-term practical end. Hamas’ goal is to kill as many Jews as possible and wait for God (or Iran) to kill the rest. Israel’s goal is to restrain the brazenness of the extremists until their movement somehow burns itself out or is destroyed from within Arab society.
It’s bizarre and disgusting to see much of America’s media making excuses for a bloodthirsty, openly genocidal death cult. Something is deeply wrong with journalism in that country.
“In the past week, the Fourth Estate’s Hamas cheerleaders have stripped away any pretense of being honest or neutral, with the New York Times continuing to take the side of the terrorist group in one of the most shameful journalistic episodes I have ever seen. In following the Times coverage for the past six months and checking external sources of information, one can see a clear pattern of propagandistic reporting favoring Hamas that selectively suppressed or willfully misrepresented information.”
thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-01-06/why-does-the-times-love-hamas
Quote “where the Palestinian people – who have been robbed of their land, rights and self-respect – have been discursively reconfigured as irrational, fanatical terrorists instead.”
Not all Palestinian wanted to shoot rockets. Thus your quote is rather “irrational” Aren’t the Fatah, Palestinian too ?
If shooting rockets is not irrational, then what the Israeli’s army did isn’t irrational too, cruel yes but rational !
It irrational or rather stupid to have so many rockets but not enough medical support and food supplies. For every rocket, how many mouths could have been fed ?
That the discourse of the ‘War on Terror’ is a terribly useful one for governments that wish to exteriorise, dehumanise and brutalise an enemy is a foregone conclusion for many of us by now. – Farish Noor
Do you mean the constant references to apes, pigs, cattle and other animals also re:
FP: Abul Kasem, welcome to Frontpage Interview.
Kasem: Thank you.
FP: We are here today to discuss how Islam views non-Muslims. What is
the best way to start this discussion?
newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Alt/alt.politics.bush/2008-07/msg00408.html
Suppose some terrorist jokers in Singapore decide to fire mortars and rockets into south Johor. Would Malaysia shrug it off as a prank by some naughty kiasu schoolboys? No, it would only encourage them to fire longer range missiles into Putrajaya
The population of Jews worldwide is 13.2 million of which 5.2 millions are found in Israel as well as in US whilst the rest are distributed in communities of varying sizes throughout the world.The Jews as a whole constitute 0.2% of world population.The 5.2 million Israelis are surronded by a sea of muslims in the middle east totalling 197,000,000 people representing 3% of world population,a size more than 35 times in numbers.Perhaps that’s the reason why they feel so threatened and xenophobic.Maybe they are also not to be entirely blamed cos the neighbours are also responsible for fanning such xenophobia in them
Together For 1 Nation, 1 Malaysia as 1 United Bangsa Malaysia
“Terrorising The Victims” in Faraway Land Called Gaza But Malaysian Leaders and The Rakyats Have No Time for Terrorised Malaysians Condominium (MC)
Dear YB LKS and All Malaysians,
Israel, Hamas, Gaza and Oh My God (Moslem/Chritians/Buddhist/Hindus/Kuan Ying/Taoism/AliBaba/SaidBaba and Free Thinkers) why waste time and resources on an issue faraway from HOME when CHARITY should start from HOME.
The talk and more talk, the action of provocation and counter action with WMD of lives termination proportion will not resolve long lasting peace and harmony in Israel/Palestine without humility.
If The World is genuine in lasting peace and stability it is so simple. Just like ABC by
ACCEPTANCE of Israel and Palestine existence and in time of conflicts simply BY ASSEMBLING caring HUMAN RACE preferably lead by courageous leaders and not CLUELESS, GUTLESS, BRAINLESS and BA….ess leaders at the HOT BED of conflicts for immediate defuse of fire because Israelies and Palestinians would not risk killing INNOCENTS HUMAN RACE. Then with the full CONGREGATION of peace and stability minded HUMAN RACE in deep consultation THE ROOT CAUSE9s) of Israel/Palestine ISSUES will surely be ironed out with lasting CORRECTIVE and PREVENTIVE ACTION(s) implemented. This may include PERMANENT CONGREGATION of THE WORLD’s PEACE KEEPERS in faraway land.
What is your thought HUMAN RACE?
YB LKS and All Malaysians, when will Malaysians Condominium (MC) be able to live in peace and not terrorized by MINORITY GROUP with FOREIGNERS presence in THE JMB?
MC is a clear case of blatant abuse of power and mismanagement of funds by the developer cum joint venture partner with the Local Council as the land owner, follow by the property manager appointed by the Local Council and now the Joint Management Body (JMB) since April 2008 because of Act 663.
Although Act 663 is meant for protection of owners of strata title properties, Act 663 have now been used by the Minority Controlled JMB with foreign parties to the bane of Rakyats Malaysia. The issues was raised initially with The MP before JMB formation on 29 March 2008 and thereafter with The Local Authority and Housing Ministry but the issues are still in LIMBO as of TODAY.
1 United Bangsa Malaysia; therefore, take this opportunity on FARAWAY LAND to reproduce the article below for YB LKS and All Malaysians for a “BRIGHER DAYS for ALL MALAYSIANS CONDOMINIUMS (MC)”.
Together for 1 Nation, 1 Malaysia and 1 United Bangsa Malaysia
(Initially posted on a Leader’s Discussion Blog since 17 December 2008 but not responded by the Leader and The Party and ow repropduced for YB LKS)
6 January 2009
To YB LKS and all Malaysians,
Malaysians Condominiums/Apartments/Strata Title Properties (MC) – Kisah Benar
(MC developed by JV with Local Council as land owner.(Managed by JMB since April 2008 – Act 663)
In view of the happenings in Bukit Antarabangsa, I would like to raise the issues on MC which is common to > 2/3 majority of all strata title properties in Malaysia. It is my fervent hope that our leaders and All Malaysians could stand as 1 for a solution. For, this forum, please find herewith synopsis of Kisah Benar in MC as follows:-
Despite repeated explanation that the issues raised in numerous letters since 21 May 2008 are not legal in nature and could easily be resolved via a dialogue with all stakeholders and the relevant authorities, JMB was unable to provide any answer but instead appointed a lawyer to explain the issues. (The Chairman of JMB had agreed to a dialogue within 7 days of The First JMB meeting on 29 March 2008!)
Lawyer & Partner’s AR Registered Post letter dated 21 October 2008 was posted at KL but received on 28 October 2008 when letter could easily be hand delivered, since the law firm operated from a residential unit bearing address at the condominium! This is sheer inefficiency and unacceptable as the letter failed to resolve anyone of the issues raised in numerous letters but confirmed the flaws stand and decisions made by JMB. In particular :-
1 JMB election on 29 March 2008 and Office Bearers
The property manager had reported a conflicting figure of 30% of owners qualified that is 90 owners in total. However, there are 502 units for MC and 30% should be 150 owners and not 90 owners as reported.
None of the12 office bearers is representing the developer. One of the elected office bearers was left vacant based on the notice given by JMB due to not qualified because of non payment of maintenance charges. 3 of them are foreigners and 4 of them are related by marriage and blood tie. The equal representation of 6 each for MC and Plaza Shopping Arcade (49 Shop Units only) is also not fair representation.
2 15 sens per square foot (Current Maintenance charge)
No working paper to justify that 15 sens per square foot is the correct sum for maintenance for the facilities and services provided by JMB.
Maintenance charges invoiced in lump sum and not itemized according to the facilities and services provided.
The maintenance charge and late interest payment was also not decided at the first JMB meeting on 29 March 2008 or at any subsequent meeting convened with all stakeholders. JMB have no legal right under Act 663 to decide unilaterally.
3 Sinking Fund
Many owners were misled by JMB letter dated 8 May 2008 waived the 7 sens Sinking Fund from the original 22 sens per square foot billed by the developer/property manager/Local Council since Day 1, from April 1998.
JMB actually intend to collect Sinking Fund yearly preferably in December at a quantum to be determined by JMB!
Sinking Fund was billed at 2 sens per square foot by Developer which was then revised to 7 sens per square foot, simple mathematic calculation would arrive at a figure of RM3.2 millions Sinking Fund over 1 decade to April 2008.
No action was taken by JMB on RM3.2 millions Sinking Fund not accounted for.
4 Commercialization and Surau
JMB notice under Lampiran 2 at mesyuarat on 7 Ogos 2002 states “Wakil Persatuan mencadangkan surau dipindahkan ke ruang bilik bacaan sekiranya bilik bacaan berpindah ke ruang cafeteria.”
It was recorded that Developer “Mengambil maklum ke atas cadangan pihak persatuan dan akan mempertimbangkannya.”
It also minuted under Unit-Unit Dijadikan Tempat Berniaga that “Developer diminta menyiasat perkara ini dan mengambil maklum bahawa unit-unit kondominium adalah untuk tujuan kediaman dan bukan untuk komersil/perniagaan.”
All these items were not acted on and instead JMB decided to put up notice to commercialise by tendering for tuision centre/hair saloon/cafeteria, etc? Car wash operator had since started business operations using owners parking lots in November 2008.
5 Financial Statements before JMB
For 1 decade since April 1998, no audited financial statements were provided to the owners by Developer/Property Manager/Local Council.
JMB had posted on the notice board a set of financial statements as at 30 April 2008, purportedly by Property Manager, with a net Current Assets/Year to date surplus or profit of RM5.2 millions.
There is no full and proper accountability of the huge sum of money.
JMB put up notice on RM380,000 outstanding bills of service providers incurred by the previous property manager which JMB seek collections from owners for settlements!
6 Financial Statements under JMB
8 months had lapsed since the first JMB meeting on 29 March 2008, JMB is not able to produce a single timely monthly financial statements. JMB buy time will have the accounts audited within the stipulated time pursuant to the Act, when owners have suggested that timely accounts be produced and be audited internally before the yearly statutory audit for proper accountability and full transparency.
JMB refused assistance from volunteer owners to have timely monthly accounted presented and audited?
7 Arrears Maintenance charges
JMB seek to collect RM5.6 millions “arrears” before JMB legal tenor when facilities not provided and shoddy maintenance services provided. For example, there is no working gymnasium and library facilities provided which are facilities indicated in the project plan for MC.
Basic intercommunication facility to Security Office and Management Office is also not functional for many units.
Security is lacking and lifts are not properly maintained. In addition conversions to use of property were made with the 2 way private access road trespassed by pedestrians and motor vehicles and owners faced harassment from the authority for use of the private access road.
8 Strata Title
A bombshell that strata title is not applied after 1 decade. Owners are also to pay additional sum for the strata title when this is to be done by the developer without additional costs to the owners.
To compound matter, the land is still caveated by someone when the property is supposedly sold to purchasers free from encumbrances.
Appeal to YB Minister/YB Member of Parliament/Persurujaya Bangunan
Although official appeal in writing TO THE ABOVE AUTHORITIES were made for assistance to resolve this decade long issues on property maintenance, the matter is still not resolved.
In the meantime, the minority controlled JMB with foreign presence and numerous blatant breaches of Act 663 continues to rule over the majority Malaysian owners.
Open Invitation to YB LKS and All Malaysians at large
Dear YB LKS, it does not need courage to resolve this matter. All that it requires is for the authority to do their work and a simple letter to the Chairman of JMB that their only authority is in Act 663, the Project/Building plan and Sales and Purchase agreement would go a long way protect the rights of the owners and Rakyats long suffered due to abuses by the developer/property manager and now JMB!
Do not wait for BA to repeat itself when the lifts crashed.
Fellow Malaysians strata title owners, please stand up as 1 Voice, as you may not be aware that when the property needs to change name due to subsequent sales or even death the JMB would forced full payments for outstanding maintenance charges without the need to address facilities and services not provided.
Just imagine the pains we will pass on to our children if the issues are not resolved over decades. Your children may be told your property belongs to JMB due to “outstanding maintenance charges” for decades!!
Malaysia Boleh! Rakyats MC pun boleh! Bersamasama kita sepasukan hapuskan semua penyelewengan mencapai kesejahteraan dan keadilan!
Thank you.
Together for 1 Nation, 1 Malaysia and 1 United Bangsa Malaysia
(THE END)
Dear YB LKS and All Malaysians, while we look forward to end to conflict in far away land and Dream “The Malaysians Dream” for a better tomorrow for a NEW MALAYSIA, Rakyats of MC seek to have their Rights Protected under Act 663 and not be “HAMBA di TANAH TUAN” to the JMB.
With 90% majority Pakatan MPs in Wlayah Persekutuan and only 1 MP cum The Minister from UMNO surely 10 LONG MOTHS since 308 for STATUS QUO on a SIMPLE ISSUE on properties maintenance which is into its 11 years speaks volume on the spirit of service to THE RAKYATS by Malaysians Political Leaders from both side of the political divides!
YB LKS and ALL MALAYSIANS, do not TINKER anymore on whether MC is in The Minister’s constitution, before service is rendered. With 90% majority voice and a SIMPLE ISSUE dear to THE RAKYATS can not be resolved, RAKYATS MALAYSIA must empathize with BN without 2/3 majority since 308. 1 UNITED BANGSA MALAYSIA dare not think of 100% majority for PR in KL and GE13!
YB LKS and Privileged Leaders with Authority and fellow Malaysians please be ISSUES CENTERED for a BLUE SKY and SUNNY DAY is EVERYDAY for a brighter tomorrow for THE RAKYATS for Together for 1 Nation, 1 Malaysia and 1 United Bangsa Malaysia
YB LKS do not disappoint THE RAKYATS and show THE RAKYATS that Malaysian Political Leaders Boleh without being BA…ess to be ABC in GAZA!
Thank you.
Together for 1 Nation, 1 Malaysia and 1 United Bangsa Malaysia.
The poverty and the death and the despair among the Palestinians in Gaza moves me to tears. How can it not? Who can see pictures of children in a war zone or a slum street and not be angry and bewildered and driven to protest? And what is so appalling is that it is so unnecessary. For there can be peace and prosperity at the smallest of prices. The Palestinians need only say that they will allow Israel to exist in peace. They need only say this tiny thing, and mean it, and there is pretty much nothing they cannot have.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/daniel_finkelstein/article5461544.ece
Of all the infidels who can be, and should be, exterminated proudly, the Zionist entity is No. 1. Here is a fabulous breach of sovereignty justified to many by Koranic announcement. It is worth martyrdom and sacrifice of bread for missiles and concrete tunnels.
This is a mystifying and impossible central theory. However, it is the glue to a series of grisly human communities for whom such nihilism is the only perfect elixir. The rapture of raptures is killing Jews. They have no better or more skillful business plan.
The leaders of Hamas know full well that, like any other nation, Israel could not abide such a frank and visceral violation of sovereignty as throwing dozens a day of near-random missiles from Gaza apartment buildings at civilian habitations. When the predictable missiles and drones arrive in response, so does CNN, the Arab League, and mortified–mortified!–international leaders and university professors everywhere. Once again they will demand protection of the civilians at risk from responses to actions taken by their sovereign elected leaders. As experienced Wall Streeters routinely grumble, “You can’t fight the tape,” and in this case you can’t fight the videotape. It is all horrible, worse of course because it is entirely unnecessary.
Just across the street the Israelis and the Mahmoud Abbas government operate and cooperate and have learned to do so without igniting the flames of jihad or anything else other than grills and bakery ovens.
So we now must endure the customary period of Urgent Appeals by Foreign Ministers of countries such as Denmark, which would declare total war should a country such as Norway lob one missile a month at their cities. They will engage in the standard seminars about proportionality, civilization, unfairness and the need for an immediate ceasefire. There will of course be an immediate ceasefire at some point, once the addresses of Hamas military leaders (probably provided by Fatah) have been visited noisily, the territory is virtually exhausted and the population is ever-more adrift between “Our great Leaders are brave in Allah’s Eyes” and “What do the Fatah Leaders Know That Ours Don’t?”
forbes.com/opinions/2009/01/06/israel-gaza-hamas-oped-cx_lt_0107tiger.html
The majority of Palestinians had choosen the wrong party i.e. HAMAS to be their govt, a govt that used to use the violent way to settle issues instead of negotiations!!! The Palestinians people (the Rakyat) will suffer when there’s any issues between Israel and Palestine’s govt run by Hamas!!!
Similarly, if there’s any issues between Malaysia and our neighbours which ended up in war, we cant complaint much as the govt of the day i.e. BN govt decision (whether wise or dumb) will determine whether we go for war or we go for peaceful settlement!!!
Farish pointed out that the whites had taken over America from the Red Indians, how about Malaysia??? the Malays had taken over from the orang Asli, too!!!
Bottomline is, planet Earth belongs to God and not individual race, they may be caretaker for a short period of time, but not eternally!!! Else, someone may argue that they owned the Earth because they were created by God first!!!
How does the West respond to the obvious exploitation of Palestinian refugees? Soon after my meeting with Mr. Abbas’s chief of staff, I met with the ambassador of one of the West’s most enlightened countries. I asked: Why are the Palestinians not willing to help their own refugees? “I can understand them,” he answered. “After all, they don’t want the refugee problem to be taken off the agenda.”
This reflexive “understanding” for the Palestinian leaders’ abuse of their own people is the heart of the problem. For decades, the international community has actively assisted in building the terrorists’ unique system of control — over where Palestinians live and in what conditions, and over what they think — by allowing terrorists to turn the refugee camps into the center of the Palestinian war machine
online.wsj.com/article/SB123120586642556073.html?mod=djemEditorialPage
We are reading history of Hitler…..slightly more than 60 years old.
And we know.how powerful American and British brain washing tactics are…at that time…..even now.
Just look…observe and see which race is the most heartless…with such great cunningness..
Which race….kill a Messiah..
Which race is the most racialist people on Earth.
Which race is the smartest…and use that talent…..to screw up things….only for their benefits.
Which race is most stingy…never help others..except their own race.
And many more……
Then you may have different opinions of Hitler.
War mongerer he was.
Cruel and ruthless… he was. That’s war time personality..to each his own style…kill or be killed.
Was he a genius?
The war cannot end with pity … sympathy or donations.
It has gone far beyond hatreds.
It’s defending the land and religion…by the Palestinians.
Be it Hamas or another…the late Arafat had a hand in it…..not to end the war…in his last dying days.
Palestine wants USA to show they are sincere for peace..or else.
They have years of experiences to know..USA govt. is the real devil in disguise.
Unarguably , Obama’s number one foreign policy objective is to get things right with the arab and muslim world. And that’s when you are going to watch the best circus in the world, because no a single leader, in the arab or the muslim world, really wants to get right with the US.
Hell, our rulers have justified their entire existence in power by positioning themselves as opposed to America. They continue, in their state-sponsored media, to point fingers at the US and go “See, those bloodthirsty Americans. They will kill you all, rape all of your women and drink the blood of your babies, if we are not here to protect you. So eat sh*t and shut up!”, and If you think I am exaggerating please check Egypt, Syria, Iran, Yemen, etc.. etc..
Those people have built their entire rule on that whole notion, you think they are going to give that up because the silly Americans voted for a 40-something inexperienced Black dude? Get real!
sandmonkey.org/2008/07/07/why-obama-will-fail/
And that is exactly what the USA Twin Tower bombing is all about…..twisted to prove…those are terrorists…and not brave..helpless…freedom fighters.
Now the whites will says Osama bin Laden is a murderer….yet Bush is a hero…….and he is still alive….only god knows why.
He dies..probably BUSH and whole family die too.
So you guys go talk wars that are ALL created by USA govt.
Ayman Al-Zawahiri, Al Qaeda #2 and presumed Democrat, crossed the line today when he verbally lambasted Barack Obama over his silence on Israel.
Being responsible for thousands of deaths, promoting the most noxious kind of hatred and racism, and trying mightily and perpetually to kickstart World War III is all something I would expect libs to tolerate well enough. I mean, look at the favorites of the left today. Castro and Ahmadinejad and Kim Jong Il. But criticizing Obama may put him on dangerous ground. I’m sensing a patchouli bomb on it’s way to Al-Z’s bunker soon.
Obama, for his part, says the USA only has one president at a time and so he won’t comment. Of course, any observer of politics knows US foreign policy has been to support Israel against the crazed psychopaths surrounding them. In my opinion, that and his history and friends are making it pretty clear to me that Obama plans to radically and fundamentally change our position on Israel.
The speech by Bin Laden’s right hand man was obtained by SITE Monitoring Service. I’m not sure who they are, but it sounds like someone has to spend a lot of time listening to Anti-American threats gutturally delivered in Arabic by guys who have enough money to buy a pro sports franchise, but instead spend their lives wandering around God-forsaken places surrounded by explosives. That has to be a fun job.
From the AP:
Al-Zawahiri described Israel’s actions in Gaza as a “crusade against Islam and Muslims” and called it “Obama’s gift to Israel” before he takes office later this month.
“This is Obama whom the American machine of lies tried to portray as the rescuer who will change the policy of America,” al-Zawahiri said, according to SITE. “He kills your brothers and sisters in Gaza mercilessly and without affection.”
One supposes that Obama’s obvious lack of support for Israel isn’t enough for the likes of Al-Zawahiri.
Al-Zawahiri shouldn’t hold his breath on that one exactly. But I feel pretty confident that Al-Qaeda and all those who hate America and what it stands for will be pretty pleased if they’re patient and just let Barack Hussein Obama do his thing.
The moral of the ‘Gaza incidence’ is don’t let your neighborhood become breeding ground of mosquitoes, or else your would be fined. The Palestinians is paying a hefty fines for letting their neighborhood become breeding ground for ‘mosquitoes’. And the Afghanistan too used to be the biggest nest for the ‘mosquitoes’. And the people had paid for the price.
k1980 Says:
Today at 13: 15.36 (10 hours ago
The Palestinians need only say that they will allow Israel to exist in peace. They need only say this …”
The mistake that is often made is to equate the Palestinians to thier leaders Hamas, an organization deemed ‘terrorist’ by the U.S. This is one ‘mistake’ that is being utilised by the Israeli government to its advantage.
When Iraeli jets bomb buildings where civilians are but where Hamas leaders are thought to be taking refuge, they no longer make the distinction between Hamas and the civilian population that ‘supports’ them. They want the Palestinian people to rise up against their leaders and they are prepared to exact a price on the Palestinian people for failing to stand up to them.
Israel acts because the world won’t defend it
The Palestinians need only say that they will allow Israel to exist in peace. They need only say this tiny thing, and mean it, and there is pretty much nothing they cannot have.
Yet they will not say it. And they will not mean it. For they do not want the Jews. Again and again – again and again – the Palestinians have been offered a nation state in a divided Palestine. And again and again they have turned the offer down, for it has always been more important to drive out the Jews than to have a Palestinian state. It is difficult sometimes to avoid the feeling that Hamas and Hezbollah don’t want to kill Jews because they hate Israel. They hate Israel because they want to kill Jews.
There cannot be peace until this changes. For Israel will not rely on airy guarantees and international gestures to defend it. At its very core, it will not. It will lay down its arms when the Jews are safe, but it will not do it until they are.
timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/daniel_finkelstein/article5461544.ece
“Of all the extreme fanaticism which plays havoc in man’s nature, there is not one as irrational as anti-Semitism. … If the Jews are rich they are victims of theft. If they are poor, they are victims of ridicule. If they take sides in a war, it is because they wish to take advantage from the spilling of non-Jewish blood. If they espouse peace, it is because they are scared by their natures or traitors. If the Jew dwells in a foreign land he is persecuted and expelled. If he wishes to return to his own land, he is prevented from doing so.”
http://www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/Why_Do_People_Hate_The_Jews.htm