theSun | FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 4 2009 9

speak up!

Malaysian hospitality Maintenance

A SCHOOLBOY gives up his place at a bus stop to work for bridge
a woman whose arms are heavy with the morning’s WE REFER to “Why put netting below
purchases. This photograph, which beautifully captures MRR2?” (Aug 28), regarding the fixing
Malaysian Hospitality, was submitted by Angelene Khoo of safety nettings on the cross-beams of
of Penang. the MRR2 bridge structure near Kepong.
It is one of the winning entries of an online photo- We wish to thank him for his concern.
graphy contest organised by Malaysia Airlines and The Public Works Department is
theSun. Based on the airline’s code MH (Malaysian carrying out maintenance work on the
Hospitality), the contest ran from the last week of August bridge structure. As a safety precaution
to Sept 1. Prizes of two tickets each to any destination to prevent materials or debris from
within Malaysia are sponsored by the national carrier. falling onto the road below, the nettings
A total of 10 prizes were set aside for the contest. have to be installed.
Of the dozens of entries received, the judges zeroed in PWD would like to assure road
on half a dozen which best fit the theme. Many entries users and the public in the said area
depicted the harmony and unity among the various that there is no cause for alarm in so
races. Unfortunately, they were disqualified. far as their safety is concerned.
And the winners are Angelene Khoo Ee Penag, Lee If there are any queries, feel free to
Xiao Mei, Lim Kien Hock, Seow Poh Hing, Tan Wei Wei contact us at Communication Corporate
and Teh Soo Kheng. Affairs (03-26967609).
Congratulations to the winners. MAS will notify them
where to collect their prizes. The winning entries can be Communication Corporate Affairs
viewed at www.sun2surf.com. Public Works Department

letters
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Rights of minorities well-protected Cow-head protest

I AM dumbfounded by the claims
made in “Of democracy and minori-
ties” (Sept 3) that minority groups’
rights are not protected. The writer
should have given examples to
substantiate his allegations that the
laws do not safeguard the welfare of
the minority groups.
He refers to “dominant groups”. Is
he not aware that the economically
and financially dominant group in
Malaysia is actually the Chinese,
whose population in Malaysia is
only about 25%? Is he not aware
that Malaysia is the only country
that has laws that allow the minori-
ties, not only to have government-
funded schools that uses the national
language of other nations or states
as the medium of instruction (like
Mandarin and Tamil) but also,
private schools to do the same?
Is he not aware that the number
of non-Muslim houses of worship
(Hindu temples, Buddhist temples,
Christian churches, etc) is far greater
than the mosques and surau despite
Muslims accounting for 60% of the
population? If there is news that
houses of worship are being demol-
ished, it is because these structures
are illegal or have to make way for
development. Many mosques and
surau have been demolished too, for
those same reasons.
B.B. King refers to “justice for all”.
Isn’t it social justice to provide help
to segments of the society who are
in need? Isn’t it fair that efforts are
being taken to do social engineering
to rectify the economic imbalances
in society?
Are the minorities in Malaysia not
allowed religious freedom? Are they
not allowed or not assisted by the
government to seek education and
get healthcare? Are they not allowed
or assisted by the government to seek
employment or set up businesses or
create wealth for themselves? Are
their wealth being robbed from them
to be given away to others?
If the writer is referring to the
special position that is accorded to
the Malays by the Constitution, then
he needs to research, learn and un-
derstand how the Constitution and
independence came into being. Even
with that provision in the Constitu-
tion, it does not impede nor neglect
the legitimate rights of the minorities
in Malaysia.
Admittedly, there are problems
of unfairness and injustice in the
actions of some individuals be it
in the government or the private
sector. But this is not due to lack
of the democratic practice nor
legislative provisions.
Adri Hemy Abdul Ghani
Jeddah
a dastardly act
THE home minister said that he
is satisfied with the explanation of
the residents of Section 23, Shah
Alam, over the cow-head protest,
the explanation being that the pro-
testers did not mean to incite racial
hatred but wanted to only show
their dissatisfaction with the state
government. And he put the blame
squarely on the state government.
However much one chooses to
rationalise and deflect criticism and
public outcry over this unfortunate
incident, the fact remains that it
was a dastardly and irresponsible
act that, but for the patience and
maturity of the intended target of
the demonstration, could have led
to chaos. Surely there are other
more civilised and civil ways of
expressing one’s displeasure with
the state government.
This undesirable bloodied cow-
head incident reminds one of the
novel The Godfather by Mario Puzo,
where the underground elements
issue threats to their enemies using
bloodied horse-heads! Whether it’s
a horse’s or a cow’s head, the all
too familiar threat and symbol of
bloodshed is present.
The perpetrators of this unfortu-
nate cow’s head incident must be
brought to book.
Can justice be seen to be done
with the mere acceptance of the
perpetrators’ explanation and no
further action taken, while some
attendees at a certain peaceful
candlelight vigil were not spared
the long arm of the law?
Tam Yong Yuee
Muar