Day of 428 当天

We attended a Mass in the morning of 428.

We offered ourselves, our intentions and 428 to the Lord. We prayed for a peaceful and successful day.

At 10:30 am, we left for Sultan, one of the designated assembly points.

The Policemen along the roads to Jln Sultan were friendly and smiling, signifying a good day ahead.

Jln Sultan was packed with protesters as early as 9 am. It was a carnival-like atmosphere ... people shouting, singing and chatting... peaceful and orderly.

We started our march towards Dataran Merdeka at about 12 noon. The more than 15,000 strong crowd advancing slowly, orderly and peacefully.

It was a hot and sunny day but the emotion and spirit of the crowd was even hotter!

At 1:20pm, we reached police check point at Jln Hang Lekiu, in front of Malaysia Bar Council building. We were merely 200 meters away from Dataran Merdeka, our destination.

The crowd sat down, singing and shouting but very orderly and peaceful.

I later joined the crowd from Pasar Seni, another assembly point, at Lebuh Ampang. They were not be able to proceed further towards Datarn Merdeka also due to Police road block. They sat down,singing and chanting ... yet peaceful and orderly.

At about 2:30, crowd started to disperse due to no progress.

In fact I was walking towards Jln Pudu, SMS my daughter and nephew to meet me at our "safe location".

Suddenly, I saw water shooting from the direction of Bar Council Building where our group was there an hour ago.

I turned and walked back towards Lebuh Ampang, where Pasir Seni group was.

Then eyes started tearing .... must be the teargas floating in the air...

We quickened our pace to disperse .... we heard more "pong...". the firing of teargas towards our direction.

Unbelievably, teargas still flying at us, the dispersing crowd... the beastly Police wanted to kill us !

I put on my mask, wet my small towel. As the smoke got thicker, many people started coughing.

I opened a packet of salt, put some in my mouth, and also shared with those besides me.

Luckily no stampede. The crowd did not panic but remained calm in dispersing although many are tearing and coughing badly.

Excessive forces were used on peaceful and orderly assembly.

It was a successful 428 sit in protest rally. People has spoken.

The water cannon, teargas and violence from the police would make people more resolute:

1. Barisan government is a barbaric, inhuman regime. It uses teargas and water cannon freely to attack (and kill) its own people.
2. Malaysian police is a violent force that need not be accounted for its action. Policemen on riot control are animals.
3. Malaysians are more united and resolute in changing this government.

Whoever support this government are perpetrators of crime against own fellow citizens.

(All pictures in Facebook)

(Video in Youtube)

（Innocent victim of Police teargas Youtube)



428当天早上，我们参加了一台弥撒。

我们把个人，意向及428奉献到主的手中。我们祈求平安，和平及成功的一天。

早上十点半，我们从住宿处出发，到苏丹街集合。苏丹是吉隆坡428许多集合地点的其中一处。

路上遇见许多警察，他们都很友善，脸露笑容，象征美好一天的开始。

苏丹街在早上九点就人潮出现了。人群在叫喊，唱歌及谈天，充满大日子的气氛。

中午十二时，各路人马齐集后，人群开始向独立广场前进。

超过一万五的人潮，非常和平及有秩序的漫步，有时坐下，有时站立 。。。缓慢的往目的地前进。

这是艳阳高照，炎热的一天，但人群的热情，更是热得膨胀！

下午一点二十分左右，我们抵达了律师公会大厦，被警方设立的路障挡住，不能再前进（除非硬闯）。我们离开独立广场，只有二百米之遥而已。

大家席地而坐，唱歌，喊叫，但仍然是和平及有秩序。

过后，我到附近另一个地点（安邦路），参加来自中央艺术坊的群众。中央艺术坊是另一个集合点。

他们人数也如我们一样，超过一万五千人，也是非常的有秩序及和平。

前面的警方路障，也阻碍了他们的前进。大家坐下，或站，或唱歌，喊叫 。。。秩序井然。

在大约两点三十分左右，因为停滞不前，有些群众开始疏散。。我自己本身已经开始离开，也用短讯通知一起出席的女儿及外甥，回到我们的住宿处集合。

突然间，我见到水炮在律师公会大厦的方向射出，人群在喧哗。。。

我往回头走，到回安邦路，去看个究竟。。

接着，我的眼睛开始觉得刺痛，知道是来自空气中的催泪弹烟雾。。。

接着，听到数声”砰。砰“。。。 更多催泪弹的发射。

真的不可思议，无人性的警方，继续向解散的人群发射催泪弹，简直就是要干净杀绝！

人群加快脚步逃跑，但幸运的，大家都很镇定，避免了互相践踏，虽然许多人已经泪如雨下，大声的在咳嗽 。。。不然后果是不堪设想。

我把面具戴上，倒水弄湿小毛巾来抹眼睛，再拿出带来的粗盐，放一些进嘴里，同时也分派给身边没有带盐同胞。

警方使用过度的暴力驱散和平示威的人群。

不过，这是一个成功的428 ，人民已经表达了他们的心声！

每个人带着感恩，欣慰及满足的心情，结束了这项历史性的和平抗议, 但心中已经坚决的领悟：

1.这个政府简直就是野兽（畜生），没有人性。它很随意及轻易的使用射水车，催泪弹来对付(谋杀）它的子民。
2. 马来西亚警察部队是个充满暴力的部队。那些执行群众管理的人员，犹如野兽。
3.马来西亚子民更加的团结，也更加的决心反对这个洪水野兽政府。

支持这个无人性政府的人，就是对自己同袍伤害罪恶的帮凶。

（全部照片Facebook）

（录影Youtube）

（警方乱射催泪弹 Youtube）

428

Today, April 28 (428), 300,000 fellow Malaysians withstood the barbaric assault of the ruling Barisan regime, and triumph heroically.

My 428 conclusions:

1. Barisan government is a barbaric, inhuman regime. It uses teargas and water cannon freely to attack its own people.
2. Malaysian police is a violent force that need not be accounted for its action. Policemen on riot control are animals.
3. Malaysians are more united and resolute in changing this government.

Whoever support this government are perpetrators of crime against own fellow citizens.

I was with crowd at Jln Sultan and Pasar Seni (numbering more than 20,000). We have a very peaceful march towards Dataran Merdeka. When we reached barricades put up by Police, we sat down and sang songs, it was like a carnival. No provocation. The police started shooting chemical-laced water and teargas without warning, causing harm to women and aged protesters.

I would like to extend my warmest regards and highest respect to our heroic comrades who were either injured or being arrested. Your sacrifices would be greatly appreciated by all Malaysians. ( More than 200 were arrested, many injured and one death)

(more pictures later)

Peaceful sit in (moment before the tear gas)
和平的坐下 （不久就遭受催泪弹的攻击）

今天，四月二十八日（428），大约三十万马来西亚子民，成功的抵挡了国阵政府的兽性般的攻击，英勇的凯旋！

我对428的结论：

1.这个政府简直就是野兽（畜生），没有人性。它很随意及轻易的使用射水车，催泪弹来对付它的子民。
2. 马来西亚警察部队是个充满暴力的部队。那些执行群众管理的人员，简直如野兽。
3.马来西亚子民更加的团结，也更加的决心推倒这个洪水野兽政府。

支持这个无人性政府的人，就是对自己同袍罪恶的帮凶。

我今天与在苏丹街及中央艺术坊集会的群众同行（大约二万人），很和平的游行到靠近独立广场的警察路障地点。大家都坐下及唱歌，好像是嘉年华会，但却遭到警察发生水炮及催泪弹，是的许多妇人及老者受到伤害。

向那些站在前线的勇敢同袍们，至上最高的尊敬。你们的被捕，受伤，马来西亚的子民都会铭记在心里。你们给这个国家希望。（超过二百人被捕，许多受伤，一名死亡）

（照片容后补上）

水炮攻击 water cannon attack
( 2 Policemen pics are from the Nets 上两幀 警察照片取自网页)

Eve of 428 前夕

Yellow T-shirt, salt (against tear gas), water, gas mask, rain coat and Roasary!
黄衣，T-shirt, 盐（防催泪弹），水，面罩，雨衣及念珠！

All my things are packed, I'm ready to go ........ to the 'safe house' in KL for the night and on 428... that is April 28, to the Bersih 3.0 Sit In protest rally.

SMS and Facebook messages of police roadblocks were spreading Friday evening. It has been proven false.

I started journey at 9:30 pm. It took me less than half an hour to reach KL from Kajang. Traffic were light in the city and roads leading into it.

The city was quiet ... the calm before the storm.

Joy, the Catholic Lawyer Society Chairman briefed us (more than 30) on the current situation and the do and don't during the rally.

Telephone numbers of lawyers were given to us in face of emergency (being arrested by Police).

Lord have mercy, grant us a peaceful and violence-free sit in rally! Amen.



全部装备都准备好了， 我要入城了 。。。到吉隆坡的“秘密地点”住宿，以避过明天428和平集会可能引起的警方封城.

手机短信，面子书讯息如火般的传播，通知警方已经设置了路障，及有关地点。但这都被证明并非如此。

进城的交通顺畅，没有路障。吉隆坡市区不见星期五往常的拥挤交通。

这是风暴前的宁静！？

天主教律师公会主席到场向我们（超过三十人）讲解了当今国家的状况，及428集会可能引起的事故，包括我们在集会时，该做及不该做的事。

他也提供了律师团里好多律师的电话号码，供我们在紧急的时候（被警察逮捕）联络。

主，求你垂怜，保护我们，赐给我们一个和平，没有暴力，成功的和平集会428。阿门。

Important Notice 重要通告

Picture from Facebook
面子书的照片

Important Notice

『 Owner is going in advance to Kuala Lumpur on27/4 (Friday) to participate in Bersih. Coffee shop is closed for a day. Business will resume as usual on night of 28/4 (Saturday）。』

Yes, me too. I am going into the city on Friday night, a day ahead for the Bersih 3.
是的，我也是提早一天，在星期五晚进城，以参加隔天（星期六）的Bersih 3 （净选盟 3）

Happy finger 快乐的手指

Another happy finger!

Tony suffered from Trigger middle finger for quite a while. Lately, the pain became unbearable.

I went with him early this morning to Tung Shin Hospital to see Dr. Low Eu Huat, Consultant Orthopedic for treatment.

He is the doctor who treated my wife's trigger thumb 2 years ago without surgery. (see old post Trigger finger)

One minute procedure enabled Tony to avoid the costly thousand Riggits operation!

Before： A locked middle finger 之前：僵住的中指

手术后的半个小时。手指已开放自如，箭头针孔
Half hour after the procedure. Finger functions normal. Arrow shows pin hole.

又一根快乐的手指。

东尼患上扳机指有一个时期了。最近痛得使他不能再忍受了。

今早，我陪他一同到吉隆坡同善医院看骨科专科刘医生。

他是在两年前，治好太太扳机拇指的同一个医生。（参阅旧帖子扳机指）

一分钟的治疗，使东尼免去进行数千元的开刀手术。

Bersih 3 净选盟3

我一定要支持Bersih 3 (净选盟 3）在四月二十八日举行的静坐抗议集会。

马来西亚选举委员会是被政府利用的机构，以达到他们的政治目的，所以使用好多肮脏的手段及技俩来操纵大选。

我和太太就是选举委员会的肮脏手段的受害者。

我必须给予支持，继续的整顿选举委员会及选民记录。

脏污，脏污，脏污，就要净洗，净洗，净洗！

预计会有五十万人参加这次的抗议行动。

净选盟3 的三个目的是：

1. 选举委员会（委员）必须辞职，因为他们没有负起责任，人民已经对它失去信心。

2. 在第十三届大选之前，选举的整个程序必须整顿。

3. 邀请国际观察员，到来监督第十三届大选。

根据【净选盟】的报告，目前有三百四十万，或27%的选民记录出现问题，必须进一步的给予调查。


I must attend Bersih 3 rally to be held on April 28, wherever it is.

Bersih 3 is held because the government failed to fulfill the demand made in Bersih 2 (see The Heroes).

My wife and I are registered voters. We moved out of Cheras (strong hold of Opposition) about 30 years ago, and have numerous times requested the Election Commission (EC) to change our voting address to Kajang but to no avail.

The last time being 6 months ago. We went to EC head office in Putrajaya to submit yet again our "change of address" request. As at today, #@%$f%%B**& !

Fraud, Fraud, Fraud ... so we need Bersih, Bersih, Bersih !

I must support the continued cleaning of electoral frauds in this country!

Half a million is expected to attend this sit-in protest.

Bersih =Malay acronym for Coalition for Free and Fair Elections

(Bersih in Malay means clean)

Official statement of Bersih 3
The coalition is wholly unsatisfied with the PSC report, and has written a response to each of the 22 recommendations put forth in the report. The response is here. In light of this unsatisfactory PSC (Parliamen Select Committee) report, the coalition has announced BERSIH 3.0.

BERSIH 3.0 will take the form of a sit-in (“duduk bantah” in Bahasa Malaysia) on April 28^th 2012, and will take place across Malaysia and throughout the world. In addition to the demands of the previous BERSIH demonstrations, BERSIH 3.0 has three demands, namely:

1. The Election Commission must resign, as it has failed in its responsibility and has lost the confidence of the public.

2. The electoral process must be cleaned before the 13th General Elections.

3. Invite international observers to observe the 13^th General Elections.

Through BERSIH 3.0, we will continue our struggle for clean and fair elections, assembling and expressing our views peacefully as are our rights as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

See related article : At least 3.4m cases or about 27% of the electoral roll need to be further investigated

Triang, St. John's Chapel 直凉，圣若望小教堂

Mother of God Pdm, Triang 直凉天主之母支团

Fr. Thomas Loh (right) 罗秀彪神父（右）

Triang is a small rural town about 2 hours drive from Bentong.

The controversial intended eviction and demolition of 85 years old Chapel of St. John by the state government attracted national attention in 2009. It was met with strong protest from the Catholic population and non-Christian local community in Triang.

I was in Triang on a fact-finding trip in 2009 (see old post Chapel of St John (1) and Chapel of St John (2) )

After 2 years, I am back again to Triang. The chapel is safe for now from demolition due to the vigilant defense of parishioners and leaders and untiring negotiation with parties concern.

According to a church leader, the state land office had agreed that the lease hold land where the chapel is sited, would not be acquired for development but gazetted as a place of worship.

But until and unless an official notification is issued, they would not let their guards down.

A building plan of a new church has been submitted to the relevant authorities for approval. If approve, the problem would be solved completely.

Pray that the dream of Triang community would be fulfilled in the near future.

We were welcomed warmly by the parishioners of the chapel in the evening and treated to a community pot-luck dinner at one of parishioners' home.

Later, we attended the meeting of Mother of God praesidium meeting.

I was very touched by their fervent devotion to our Lady and commitment to serve the church.

We are grateful to Fr. Joseph Low for his hospitality and arrangement for our visit to Bentong and Triang. Besides meeting fellow legionaries in two places, we also met Fr. Thomas Loh, who is serving in Canada and back to Malaysia for some official business and holidays.

Praise the Lord.

(See more pictures in Facebook)



直凉是彭亨州内陆的一个小镇，离开文冬大约两个小时的车程。

在2009年，州政府意图征用及拆除已有85年历史的圣若望小教堂，引起全国的注意。当地的教友及非教友，在各地的天主教徒的支援下，展开强烈的抗议及反对。

在2-4-2009, 我也到了直凉做实地的了解情况。（参看旧帖子圣若望小教堂（1） 及 圣若望小教堂 （2）。


两年过去了，在当地的教友及支持者大力的捍卫下，经过冗长的协商，圣若望小教堂是被保住了。

根据一位教友领袖透露，州土地局已经答应不再发展该地，而将教堂的土地列为宗教膜拜用途。不过，一天没有正式的公文，他们都不敢掉以轻心。

目前他们计划重建教堂，并把需要的资料及文件呈上政府部门。假如重建获得批准，征用教堂土地的问题，才一劳永逸的给解决掉。

祈愿他们的愿望，能够早日实现。

我们在傍晚抵达直凉，受到当地教友的热烈欢迎，并以百乐晚餐招待。

过后，我们参加了该地新成立的『天主之母』圣母军支团的开会。

我很感动的见到他们对圣母的敬爱，及对教会奉献的精神。

这次的文冬-直凉行，非常感谢得到罗志明神父的接待，除了能够与两地的圣母军友见面，还见到了在加拿大服务，回来度假及办理一些事务的罗秀彪神父，真是感谢天主。

(更多照片Facebook)

Proposed new church 新教堂构想图

Bentong, Bukit Koman 文冬，武吉公满

Gate of Heaven Pdm, Bentong 文冬上天之门支团

I learned about the formation of Legion of Mary in Bentong and Triang ( state of Pahang ) recently, a great news indeed.

Through the arrangement of Fr. Joseph Low, Parish Priest of Sacred Heart Church, Bentong, we visited the two new praesidium on April 19 & 20 respectively.

Unknowingly, I was opportune to be present at a historical moment ... the handing back of Sacred Heart Church, which has been developed and managed by CDD (（Congregatio Discipulorum Domini Disciple of the Lord - lacking information in English) for the past 55 years, to the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur.

Fr. Andrew Kooi, a diocesan priest, will take over the parish from Fr. Joseph Low on May 1, 2012, thus signifying the closing of CDD mission in Bentong.

Sacred Heart Church and the adjacent Bentong Catholic High School are two historical and testimonial landmarks recording the great sacrifices and contributions of CDD to our local Catholic church in general, the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur in particular.

In 2008, the Catholic church has informed the Ministry of Education of its intention of taking back possession of the land of the Catholic High School on or before 31-12-2012. It meant the school has to move out before the stipulated date. (The school was built by the CDD in 1957. However, due to changes in education system in the seventies, the land belongs to church, the management of school is under the Ministry of Education in order to receive grant from the government)

The Bentong Chinese community was upset over the decision of the church. The school is a semi government aided Chinese school with 87 % students from Chinese, 10 % Malay and 3 % Indian families.

Many non-Christian students joined Bentong Catholic Youth Leage formed by the CDD pioneer Rev Fr. Ma (deceased) in 1962. It produced many leaders and a priest. In 1976, Fr. Ma formed the Holy Rosary Catholic Youth leage in Holy Rosary Church, Brickfieds, and it is still very much active and alive today after more than 35 years.

Shifting a school is a big event of the community.

As the school and church are as old as our nation, it prompted some comments from the local residents that the church is following the example of the government in "purging" foreign elements ... the foreign priests and non-national type schools. In this case, the church is "purging the missionary priests and non-English school".

I hoped they are wrong, and prayed that whatever decision made by the church, is for the good of the people of God, the church and the community at large.

Man can manipulate history, but not a single entry or record in the Kingdom of God written in blood.

Whatever it is, there is one thing must be purged, not only by the church, but by all people - the use of lethal cyanide in gold mining near a new village.

My friend Lim Chee Keong brought us to Bukit Koman New Village for the ONE and ONLY "bak Zam" duck in Pahang (most probably in the country also) !

The Australian gold mining company which uses cyanide in processing gold, is just sited next to Bukit Koman New Village! (see latest news in Bukit Koman)

(See more pictures in Facebook)

(Ban Cyanide Facebook homepage)













白斩鸭 Bak Zam Duck











听到了一个好消息，彭亨州的文冬及直凉成立了圣母军。

透过文冬圣心堂主任罗志明神父的安排下，我和太太在四月十九及二十日，拜访了这两个支团。

在不知道情况下，这趟拜访，也使我体验了历史的重要一刻 - 在文冬经营了五十五年的主徒会，将会在五月一日，正式把圣心堂交回给吉隆坡总教区。

罗神父将在五月一日，正式把堂区交到一位教区神父手中，这就意味着主徒会在文冬的传教使命也宣告结束。

圣心堂及毗邻的文冬公教中学，是主徒会在文冬超过半个世纪的牺牲及奉献的见证，记载了它对本地教会，特别是吉隆坡总教区的卓越贡献。

在2008年，天主教会向教育部及校方发出通知信，指天主教会最迟将于2012年12月31日收回文冬公教中学的土地，该校必须于上述日期搬迁。

文冬国民型中学是于1957年由天主教会创建（主徒会管理），至今已有53年历史，曾经孕育许多在政坛举足轻重的人物，它于70年代由政府接管，成为改制中学。教会保留土地拥有权，而政府则管理权则归政府。、

文冬的华社当时对教会的行动非常的不满。文冬公教中心目前有大约六百多名学生，87%来自华人家庭，10%来自马来人，及3%来自印度人家庭。

已故主徒会先驱马海声神父，于1962成立了文冬公教青年会（公青）。该会吸引了许多非基督徒学生及青年的参加，形成了一股青年动力。许多非教徒领先成为天主教徒。该会造就了许多教友领袖及一位神父。在1976年，马海声神父在吉隆坡玫瑰堂成立了『玫瑰公青』。经历了超过三十五年的洗礼，玫瑰公青今天仍然非常的活跃及蓬勃。

公教中学到搬迁，是文冬华人社群一件关注的大事。

因着教会及学校都有着如国家般的悠久历史，当地的人们就做出了许多评语。其中一个如此的评述说，教会也向政府学习，建国后，“驱除”外来（国）因素 。。外国传教士及非国语源流学校。而教会则是“驱除”传教修会及非英语源流学校，做法是同出一辙。

我希望并非如此。我祈求教会的任何决定，都是以天主子民，教会及当地团体为重，造福大家。

人可以操纵历史，但却不能挪动天国里，以鲜血书写记载的任何一字或一句历史记录。

不过，有一点我是觉得赞成要“驱除”的，那就是在新村旁以剧毒山埃采金。

老友林志强带我们到武吉公满新村，除了见识到澳洲采矿公司的所在，也第一次品尝了“只此一家，别处没有”的白斩鸭！

(更多照片 Facebook)

(禁止山埃面子书）

Depressing 低落

A depressing day.

Visited my old friend at the nursing home. She has shrunk further .... and depressed (compressed) further.

The place she is being moved into recently is a hell house. It is a bungalow by the road side with cement compound all around. She is staying in a small room with 2 other inmates. Ventilation is poor, the cheap ceiling fan produces noise instead of wind ..., the room is warm. With sunlight piercing through the closed windows and thin curtains, it is an oven.

This is the fourth home she is has been moved into. Moving places itself is traumatic for an 80+ years old.

Her room-mate is a 60 years old lady with Parkinson's disease. Today her condition takes a sharp turn. Her limbs shake, voice trembles ....

"I am going to die...".

Requesting the home staff to sit her on a wheelchair for easier feeding was fallen into deaf ears. Their attitude and manners are simply #$%$#@& disgusting!

It is a living hell ....

Dear Risen Lord, set them free ....
from human sinfulness,
anger and sorrow,
lies and betrayal,
sickness and pain
physical restraints.

Dear Lord, restore their freedom,
breaking free from this living hell,
soar high into your everlasting peace and happiness!

Amen.

Later in the afternoon in a supermarket, thinking of buying a packet of groundnut (my favourite) to enjoy myself, it is priced at RM3.50 (120gm/pkt)... swear not to touch this brand again... with the 『 like』 sign， #&*^%$ More depressing !

这是令人情绪低落的一天。

今天我们到老人院探望老朋友。她更消瘦了。。。也更消极，身体也更收缩了。

她刚被送进的这间老人院，简直就是人间地狱。它是坐落在大路旁的一间洋楼，四周都是水泥覆盖，热气腾腾。

她住在一间三床的小房间，空气不流通，里面闷热。那支便宜的电风扇，只发出声音，不觉风的足迹。房间窗门关上，太阳穿透薄薄的窗帘，简直就是火炉。

这是她第四次被换的老人院。对一位八十多岁的老者来说，搬迁到一个新地方，本身就是一个很大的冲击。

她的其中一位室友，是一位六十岁的妇人，患有帕金森氏症。今天她的状况很差，四肢颤抖的很激烈，但却不能移动身体。

“我要死了。。。”

我要求员工帮忙把她从床上扶坐上轮椅，以便喂她食物，但他们不理睬。他们的工作态度及礼貌，真是他&%￥#@王八乌龟种。

这是人间地狱！

复活的耶稣，求你解放他们。
从人类的罪恶，
谎言与背叛，
疾病与痛苦，
肉身的束缚。

亲爱的主，给他们重拾自由，
从人间地狱中获得释放，
高翔的进入你那永恒的平安及喜乐。

阿门。

在下午，到一间超级市场，想顺便买一包最喜好的花生来享用，但一看价钱，RM3.50 一包！誓言以后不要动这个牌子的花生。。*&^%$# .. 心情更加更加的低落。加上『赞』的手势，简直就是讽刺！

Happy holiday 快乐假期

Malaysia is having most public holidays in the region.

Being a public holiday today, we brought Sister Rosalind (above)out to rub shoulders with the happy crowd in a shopping complex.

In a place where everything seems happy and jovial, the crowd is oblivious of the hot weather and events happening outside the complex, including the cause of the public holiday they are enjoying today.

Sr. Rosalind from Singapore is here to join the golden wedding anniversary celebration of her old friend in Petaling Jaya on April 15. (see old post Golden Jubilee)

Trolly of Joy 喜乐之车

Five kids on a trolly 推车上的五小福
（cared by a Cambodian maid 柬埔寨佣人看顾）

马来西亚是本地区最多公共假期的国家。

今天又是全国公共假期，我们到了来自新加坡的陈修女（Sr.Rosalind,最上图）到购物中心逛逛，擦擦人群的热闹。

在一个快乐热闹的场合里，人群根本对外面的炎热天气及发生作的现实环境，漠不关心，包括今天为公共假期的原因。

陈修女是到来参加她的一位老朋友，在四月十五号庆祝的结婚金禧周年庆典。（参阅2008年旧帖子金庆）

When Malay silence is not golden

An article from Malaysiakini, an online news portal

When Malay silence is not golden
Mariam Mokhtar
9-4-2012

The average human brain weighs about 3 lbs and is 80 percent water. When Einstein’s brain was set aside for research, people were surprised that it was not unusually large. Perhaps, we have to remind ourselves that it is not size that matters, but what we do with our brain that really counts.

If there was an opportunity to dissect Malay brains, and separate the brains of extremist Malay/Muslims from the moderate Malays, would we find any differences in the pathological specimens?

Would the extremist brains be abnormally heavy because they were weighted down by the condition known as Ketuanan Melayu? Would the moderate brains show lesions on the lobes which govern speech?

It is a simple question, but no one has been able to answer it: where are the moderate, smart Malays who should speak up about issues which affect all Malaysians?

I pose the question because extremist Malays appear to dominate the affairs of Malaysia. Are the moderates consumed by apathy? Are they afraid of drawing attention? A few may think they are not articulate, or that their views do not matter. Perhaps, the moderates are content to carry on as we have done for the past 54 years; hence their silence.

If they are as disgruntled as the rest of the nation, they must speak out now because their opinions would send a clear message to Umno, that enough is enough.

Last week, Perkasa Youth announced that Muslims should boycott the Bersih 3.0 rally for clean and fair elections on April 28. This extremist NGO insulted Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan and called her the “anti-Christ for Muslims” and a “traitor” to the nation. They continued their diatribe by ridiculing the national laureate A Samad Said.

The divisive war-cry 'untuk agama, bangsa dan negara' often used by Umno and their support groups do not seem to perturb the moderate Malays.

Umno will never accept that they do not represent all Malays. Umno fears Malays with a mind of their own. The sedition law, the Internal Security Act and police reports are used against the very few Malays who dare criticise the government. Not because they are “a threat to national security” but because Umno’s existence is threatened.

Using stealth tactics, the Malay is told that his education and the democracy he lives in, are the “best in the world”. Which Malay wants to be accused of besmirching national pride?

Without Malay support, Umno is nothing. Without Umno, MCA and MIC are doomed. Their collective effort has to be to convince the Malay, that Umno is best, even if it means cheating at the 13th general election to continue the BN dictatorship.

Why so timid?

If it were possible to praise Umno, then it is for their brainwashing. Apart from our Malay minds, Umno also controls the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and makes it act in its interests.

Muslim men will recall that in the 1970s, the Friday khutbah (sermons) were apolitical and covered moral issues reminding the congregation of their religious obligations and community duty.

Dr Mahathir Mohamad, when the premier, changed all that. Mosques have since lost their independence and sermons rarely cover immediate community issues. Nowadays, Friday sermons have to be sanctioned by the religious authority and are a euphemism for Umno political speeches.

Will anyone dare walk out in protest? No. If they did, their Friday prayers are deemed ‘incomplete’. There is little point praying at a different mosque because all mosques will have a similar political message. If this was Indonesia, the congregation would have walked out and sought out other mosques. Why are Malays in Malaysia so timid?

If Malays are so proud to wear their religion on their sleeve, why do they not demand that the sermons cover corruption issues?

When a Florida preacher threatened to burn the Quran we demanded retribution. When we dragged the head of a cow through the streets or confiscated several thousand copies of the Bible before defacing them, we weren’t even aware of the hypocrisy.

To encourage conversion to Islam, several thousand ringgit are rewarded to the religious person who can convert and marry an Orang Asli woman. He is also given perks like a 4WD and housing. Yet, we are outraged when Malays dine with non-Malays and discuss charitable works. Umno feels insecure when Muslims socialise with non-Muslims.

Last Friday, a police study on rape in Sarawak found that over half the victims were school students. Over 70 percent of the rape victims were Malay and over 40 percent of the rapists were Malay.

The Muslims have seen a rise in religious teaching and strict adherence to faith in their day-to-day living. Foreign music groups and dance troupes face strict religious guidelines. If the results of the police study on rape are anything to go by, increased religion has not made the slightest impact on the Malay psyche.

It is alleged that in Peninsular Malaysia, the highest incidence of incest, underage sex, unmarried mothers, abandoned wives and abandoned babies are from the Malay community. Why are the moderates not questioning this?

When a Malay man takes on a trophy wife as his second, third or fourth acquisition, he quashes any criticism of his actions by saying that it is his right under Islam. He ignores the conditions imposed for polygamy, one of them being that he must have sufficient income to support all his wives equally.

The Malay woman is afraid of complaining because she fears being replaced. Her role as a wife has been reduced to a throw-away commodity. The Malay men who frown on polygamy remain silent on such issues.

When the NEP was first introduced, many Malay lives were transformed. This is no longer true. The new middle-class Malays keep quiet about the abuse of the NEP. They are trapped in their own secure world, fearing they might lose it. They are too selfish to help poorer Malays and the other non-Malays.

The backward Malay mind should stop blaming the non-Malays and other faiths of undermining their existence. If corruption was controlled and cronyism was eliminated, there would be more money for everyone.

Lives would be enhanced. Infrastructure would be improved. Education, medical and community services would be available for all. What is so difficult for the Malay mind to see that and voice it out loud, now? Before it is too late.

---

MARIAM MOKHTAR is a non-conformist traditionalist from Perak, a bucket chemist and an armchair eco-warrior. In ‘real-speak', this translates into that she comes from Ipoh, values change but respects culture, is a petroleum chemist and also an environmental pollution-control scientist.

The Lord is risen ! 主复活了！

Easter Triduum - day 3

Easter vigil - Tonight we attended the Easter Vigil starting from 7:30 pm and ending at 11:00 pm.

Part 1: Service of light
Part 2: Liturgy of te word
Part 3: Liturgy of Baptism
Part 4: Liturgy of Eucharist

The Lord has indeed risen, alleluia. Glory and kingship be his for ever and ever!
Happy Easter to you all !

复活节三日礼仪 - 第三天

复活前夕守夜礼 - 今晚我们参加了复活守夜礼，从傍晚七时半，到十一点结束。

第一部分 ：烛光礼
第二部分 ：圣道礼
第三部分 ：圣洗礼
第四部分 ：圣祭礼

主真的复活了，阿肋路亚，光荣及王权归于祂，直到万世万代！
祝大家复活节快乐 ！

Good Friday 耶稣受难日

Easter Triduum - day 2

Good Friday - Christ's suffering and dying on the Cross.

This is the wood of the cross, on which hung the Saviour of the world.
Come let us worship.

复活节三日礼仪 - 第二天

圣周五，耶稣受难日 - 耶稣受难及被钉死在十字架上。

请看十字架，基督藉着它拯救了整个世界。
请大家前来朝拜。

Holy Thursday 圣周四

Easter Triduum - day 1

Holy Thursday - Commemorating Jesus' Last Supper and washing of the feet of his disciples.


Jesus says:

"If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should wash each other's feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you" (John 13: 14-15)

"I give you a new commandment: Love one another as I have loved you" (John 13:34)


（video - washing of feet)

(录影 - 洗脚礼）

复活节三日礼仪 - 第一天

圣周四 - 纪念耶稣建立圣体圣事及为门徒洗脚。

耶稣说：

“若我为主子，为师傅的给你们洗脚，你们也该彼此洗脚；我给你们立了榜样，叫你们也照我 给你们所做到去做”。（若13：13-14）

“我给你们一条新命令：就是你们要彼此相爱，如同我爱了你们一样”（若13：34）

Black shop 黑店

Politicians from the ruling coalition Barisan National (BN), especially members of MCA (Malaysia Chinese Party) have had always trying hard to put fear into Chinese community that PAS ( Party Islam) would implement Islamic Hudud laws if it wins the election. So do not support PAS.

They needed not to do so because Chinese community knows this very well. As its name suggests, it is an Islamic party - like a shop, it sells openly Islamic products and items up front. We know. Period.

However, UMNO (the controlling partner of the BN ) is a more evil party. It is not an Islamic shop ( claims to promote multi-racil, multi-culture and multi-religious) but selling Islamic products and items in disguise, under misleading labels and untrue contents to unsuspecting customers (voters)!

Religions other than Islam, in the past decades under BN government dominated by UMNO," have suffered a systematic and gradual constriction of public space for expression of our religious identity. Christians and non-Christians alike suffer restrictions in the form of the freedom to display and use religious symbols, prohibitions and unreasonable restrictions placed on construction of places of worship, the absence of burial land, the distortion of our history books and other issues concerning both religious freedom and other civil liberties." (Pastoral letter of Archbishop Murphy Pakiam dated April 1, 2011.)

The use of Allah is one of the many under the belt tactics. The recent religious teachers seminar organised by Johor Baru education department is another evidence of its evil intention.

Themed ‘Strengthening the Faith, the Dangers of Liberalism and Pluralism and the Threat of Christianity towards Muslims. What is the role of Teachers?’ the seminar for religious teachers from 55 national schools in the state has provoked concerns.

The government also allowed religious demagogues making sensational statements on Christianisation of Muslims without providing evidence.

Hassan Ali, a speaker of the seminar, has in many occasions made such claims. Besides the so called solar Bible to convert Muslims, the latest being Christians (some are Caucasians) dressed as Ustaz to convert Muslims... but without giving any proof!

Government is not taking action against these religious demagogues whose statements have caused disharmony and dis-unity in the country.

So, beware my fellow citizens, UMNO is a Black (evil) Shop (party), as Chinese idiom says "Displaying goat head, but selling dog meat"....

“open spear is easy to counter, hidden arrow is difficult to defend" is another Chinese idiom to sum up the situation.

Bewared and be-warned!

UMNO 巫统 及 PAS 伊斯兰党

来自执政的国阵政府成员党，特别是马华，常常危言耸听，警告华社，假如伊斯兰党在大选中得胜，将会实行伊斯兰法律，所以不可以支持伊斯兰党。

其实他们不必这样努力的去嘶喊。顾名思义，【伊斯兰】党，就如一间商店，挂名就是公开售卖伊斯兰产品，实行伊斯兰法律当然是他们的最终目的。无需多言，也一目了然，何须劳动我们这些“有头脑”的政客！

但是，比这个伊斯兰党更阴险可怕的其实就是【巫统】，国阵的当权伙伴。它标榜的不是伊斯兰产品，而是”多元文化，宗教及种族“的政党，但却掩饰的，以误导性的标签和伎俩，在卖着伊斯兰产品。

伊斯兰教以外的其他各宗教，在【巫统】为主导的国阵政府，过去的数十年里，”信仰自由遭受了系统性的压制及侵袭。基督徒及其他宗教信徒，在公开使用各自的宗教特征或标志上，受到约束；不合理的限制及 立法条规，使到建立新的教堂及庙宇，非常的困难，甚至不可能；非回教徒的坟地缺乏，不被受理；教会刊物受到严厉的管制，朝拜及祷告的马来文词汇受到禁止，历史被歪曲，人权的剥夺等“。（巴吉安总主教牧函 四月2011年）

使用Allah 字眼的禁止，扣留圣经，吊销出版执照，是好多肮脏手段之部分。最新的谋略是由新山教育局主办的一个教育研讨会，主题为『强化信德，自由主义及多元主义的危险，及基督教对伊斯兰的威胁。教师的角色是什么？』。

来自柔佛州 55所国民型学校的宗教老师出席了这个研讨会。

政府怂恿一些宗教狂热煽动者对”伊斯兰教徒被基督化“的课题无中生有的乱发狂言，但从没有拿出证据。

哈山阿里，研讨会的其中一名讲师，就多次信口开河的作出指责。之前有说过基督徒用太阳能圣经向砂劳越土著传教，最新的则是数天前作出的另一项新闻：有一组基督徒（部分还是白人）伪装伊斯兰宗教师，向伊斯兰教徒传教。到今天为止，他还没有出示过任何可信的证据。

政府假装耳聋，对这些不负责任的言论没有采取行动。政府实在的是暗中怂恿及鼓励这些煽动者的言论。

但这些举动，已经影响了国家的和谐及团结。

所以，我亲爱的同胞，要小心这间“挂羊头，卖狗肉”的黑店。

要常常警惕，古人说：“明枪易躲，暗箭难防”！

好自为之！

Friendly church 友善的教堂

Laity (user) friendly Holy Week !

As the Catholic Church has entered into the Holy Week, Parish Priest Fr. George Harrison has changed the daily Mass time (Monday to Wedsday) to 8:00 pm. This is to encourage more parishioners coming for Mass in preparation for the Easter Triduum.

Parishioners can make Confession immediately after Mass till 10:00 pm.

The Easter Triduum begins with the evening Mass of the Lord's Supper, is continued through Good Friday with the celebration of the Passion of the Lord and Holy Saturday, reaches its summit in the Easter Vigil, and concludes with Vespers of Easter Sunday.

I Like It ！

对平信徒友善的圣周！

我们的天主教会进入了圣周，纪念耶稣的受难及死亡，堂区主任赫神父，把平日弥撒（星期一至三）的时间该去晚上八时正。这是鼓励也让教友能够参加弥撒，更深切的准备耶稣的受难，死亡及复合。

教友也可以在弥撒后，一直到十时正，向神父办告解圣事。

赞 （我喜欢）！