Hindraf NO to ABU January 29, 2012
www.nst.com.my
The NST Editorial
"There should be no subject which you should pursue the truth"The NST
REWRITING or resetting story can be the wily business, akin to traversing fields dotted with landmines, especially if it threatens to meddle with loving memories. So, when historian Tan Sri Professor Emeritus Khoo Kay Kim pronounced there was no created jot down which the 15th century Malay soldier Hang Tuah, his friend Hang Jebat, or the princess Hang Li Po, existed, the reply to this startling avowal was not primarily educational curiosity.
Rather, various parties hastened to debunk Khoo's theory by contributing their own assertions of since they believed which Hang Tuah as great as his friends existed. Malaysian Archaeologists' Association boss Datuk Professor Emeritus Dr Nik Hassan Shuhaimi Nik Abdul Rahman opined which even yet the expect era in which Hang Tuah is suspicion to exist is not unequivocally known, which the 15th century burial ground attributed to him did not have the specific name upon it, as great as which Hang Tuah as great as his friends competence be fabulous figures, this did not mean which studies connected with them could not still continue.
In the little ways, although coming from hostile camps, Nik Hassan's perspective partly echoes Khoo's, who pronounced which Hang Tuah as great as company could still be studied, though as fabulous total rsther than than chronological ones. The emanate has arisen from work being finished by the Education Ministry's History Review Committee, of which Khoo is the member. The panel was appointed to analyse as great as review the H! istory c urriculum. Khoo opined which propagandize History textbooks should be rewritten so which they contained chronological contribution as great as not myths or legends, as great as which hearsay should not be presented as chronological fact.
Although the matter might take the little while to resolve, the Hang Tuah disturbance is the undiluted 
platform upon which to test how most you worth history; some-more specifically, either you dare to risk possibly having to give up the sentimental memories for the sake of pursuing as great as obtaining an accurate as great as accurate history. From the intellectual perspective, there should be no subject which you should pursue the truth.
And, Islamic erudite enlightenment places the highest worth upon educational honesty; the formidable as great as technical mechanism for authenticating hadiths (sayings of Prophet Muhammad) have been the clearest e.g. of the significance of accurate referencing the single questionable link in the sequence of flawlessness automatically excludes the hadith from being spoken sahih (authentic). Ibn Khaldun, the 14th century Muslim reflective thinker as great as historiographer, was during large reputable for establishing mechanisms by which to substantiate history. In teaching schoolchildren History therefore, you should strive to cultivate in them the erudite enlightenment which places the premium upon honesty as great as accuracy.
Don't Ignore Real Heroes
Tan Sri Prof Emeritus Khoo Kay ! Kim anno yed the charge of debate when he pronounced which there was no justification which mythological soldier Hang Tuah ever existed. Malaysian Archaeologists Association boss Datuk Prof Emeritus Dr Nik Hassan Shuhaimi Nik Abdul Rahman has refuted this claim, observant the burial ground of Hang Tuah in Malacca proves the mythological warrior's existence. Literary figure Dr Kassim Ahmad, who compiled the Hikayat Hang Tuah, additionally stressed which Hang Tuah was the genuine person. So did he exist or not?Question: Can you discuss it us how this emanate initial came about?
Answer: During the talk during the local university, you posed the subject to the audience.I asked since in the nation currently you lend towards to play up fabulous total instead of people who unequivocally contributed the lot to the country.
Very often, when you ask people who was the initial Malay to be engrossed in to the polite service, they will contend they do not know. Nobody remembers who was the initial Malay doctor, too, for example. Many of these genuine purpose models have been forgotten. Western multitude remembers the chronological total as great as separates parable as great as history. Unfortunately, the same can't be pronounced here.
Question: There has been extensive hue as great as cry from the open after you pronounced which Hang Tuah might have been the myth. Many people remonstrate with you. How do you feel about this? What caused you to speak up?
Answer: Hang Tuah was made renouned by the Bangsawan theatre during the pr! e-war er a. There is no disbelief which he was unequivocally popular. But during the finish of the day, what do you wish to learn about in propagandize as partial of history? Myth or fact?
It is the bit upsetting which around Kuala Lumpur, you can find streets declared after Hang Jebat as great as Hang Tuah though not declared after genuine chronological total of the past. There is the street name Jalan Maharajalela, though was it declared after the male accused of murdering J.W.W. Birch? That man's name was Maharajalela Pandak Lam. Maharajalela was usually an honorific title.
We all know Jalan Raja Chulan, though do you know who Raja Chulan was? The total indicate is there is the lot of story which people do not know about.
Question: You have been an academic, though you now have to deal with the unequivocally politically charged topic. How have been you doing all this?
Answer: Times have changed. Once, the multitude was unequivocally particular about the truth, as great as whenever people have statements, they have to be means to behind up their matter with facts. Today, you can contend anything you similar to in public. You can read the essay of bloggers online as great as they contend anything they like.
In the educational field, you have been not authorised to do which . When someone writes the thesis, he is not authorised to contend anything he likes. He has to behind up his matter with facts. Unfortunately, the little people have started to attack me.
you even learnt which someone asked (Malay rights group) Perkasa to inform to the military which you insulted royalty, which is rsther than absurd really.
The great tradition underlying the Malay kingdom was how they could snippet their origin behind to Iskanda! r Dzulka rnain (Alexander the Great). Hang Tuah was usually the "Laksamana" as great as had nothing to do with royalty.
This is additionally the initial time I'm being attacked by Dr Syed Husin Ali, though he is not the historian . He was never trained in history.
Question: The Sejarah Melayu (Malay Annals), which is the primary jot down of story during the Malacca Sultanate, did mention Hang Tuah. How accurate is it in recording history?
Answer: The Sejarah Melayu is not accurate historiography. It is the chronological document if you wish to know how people used to think in those days. But you cannot endorse how most of it is fact, as great as how most of it is pristine fable. It does not jot down dates, as great as has characters which you cannot endorse existed.
For example, it does not discuss it us when Malacca was initial founded or when the woman monarch ascended the throne or passed away. We have no believe when Hang Jebat died. History cannot be similar to that. It has to be unequivocally precise.
On the alternative hand, Ming annals from China have been unequivocally precise. They accessible the names of the initial ruler, second woman monarch of Malacca, along with the dates of their reign. These contribution were accessible during which particular time, as great as not the little time after the incident.
We know from these annals which in 1414, Megat Iskandar Shah came to China to inform the death of his father, Parameswara. China had close ties as great as protected Malacca during the time. It is accessible which their initial envoy to Malacca left in 1403 as great as arrived there in 1404. Ming Dynasty annals have been the best documents upon history.
Answer: Hang Li Po was not mentioned in the Ming records. Sejarah Melayu is 
not considered historiography. It is the literary text. Hang Tuah was never mentioned in the Ming records.
Question: What does Hang as in Hang Tuah or Hang Li Po signify? Is it an honorary title?
Answer: This still can't be resolved from the stream physique of knowledge.
Question:Could Hang Tuah as great as his rope of men have been Chinese similar to the little people claim?
Answer: How can you clear which Kasturi is the Chinese name when it's the usual Indian name?
Question: If Hang Tuah did not exist, afterwards since is there the burial ground which presumably holds his physique in Malacca? Malacca state recognises this as Hang Tuah's tomb.
Answer: How come there is the burial ground when he did not come behind from the mountain (Gunung Ledang)? How come they accept partial of the story as great as not accept the alternative part?
Question: Malacca State Museums Department Director Datuk Khamis Abas pronounced Hang Tuah was the mythological Malay soldier as great as this was proven in the research. What do you have to contend about this?
Answer: He used the word "legendary", right?
Answer: From the time you started investigate story severely in 1956, you never talked about legends. We were always trying the best to find primary sources to write the story of Malaya.
Today, you have great bodies of believe during the disposal. There have been hundreds of theses created by university students. Most of them have been unpublished as great as in the libraries. Good articles can additionally be found in ? la mode newspapers.
You have to be committed in going by these sources. We do not encourage historians to sit upon the comfortable chair as great as imagine things. If you have been the male of letters, afterwards you can do as you like.
Question: What alternative chronological total or contribution in Malaysia have been myths as well?
Answer: Not many. But during the single time there was the big debate about either Mat Kilau was still living. We have British ? la mode annals which showed he died the prolonged time ago. Then you heard stories, which could not be confirmed, which pronounced this male was essentially the Bangsawan actress from Singapore.
Question: What direction will the brand new story curriculum take after this?
Answer: It's not ready yet. They have been still deliberating it. They have essentially forsaken him from the propagandize textbooks for the little time. In the fin! al four, 5 years, you have not seen him in propagandize textbooks.
Question: What alternative heroes have you mislaid though could be partial of the propagandize syllabus?
Answer: Panglima Awang. He was taken to Portugal from Malacca as great as essentially sailed with Ferdinand Magellan's fleet. When they came behind to Malacca, he had completed the tour around the world. He was the initial male to cruise around the world.
This is the genuine favourite as great as his story is proven as great as accessible in history. It's inestimable to move this behind to the propagandize syllabus. Another e.g. is the initial Malay doctor, Dr Abdul Latiff Abdul Razak, from Selangor. In the old P. Ramlee films, you competence notice which the alloy is always declared Dr Latiff.
Question: As the work of literature, do you think Hang Tuah the favourite was the great purpose model?
Answer: When Tuah mislaid his weapon, Jebat authorised him to pick up it up again. When Jebat mislaid his weapon, Tuah took advantage. If you wish to teach nilai murni (good values), who is the genuine hero? But, during the finish of the day, it is up to multitude to decide, not me.
Of course, for the Malay Muslims, the Quran will give you the right answer for each situation. Still, Hang Tuah had his great values. But while praising him, it is important which you do not neglect the genuine Malaysian heroes of history.
If you have the hero, afterwards the favourite contingency be means to cope with any kind of questions multitude might ask. Surely, the younger generatio! n, with the scientific mind, contingency ask most things. You cannot discuss it them, do not be endangered about either he is real, usually accept these values which you put opposite to you.
Question:Our people have been unequivocally poor recorders of story in the past. Do you think something drastic needs to be finished so which you not usually jot down story though rightly appreciate it in the future?
Answer: History in this nation has been so neglected. Our story is the jumble which has not been scrupulously verified by veteran as great as well- trained historians. Our schools contingency educate the children scrupulously about history. Children contingency know about their own multitude as great as country.
Malay story tends to be churned together with fables. English as great as even Chinese story had tendencies to set up up epics as well. But once they entered the modern age, scholarship as great as technology became important. It is crucial which immature people looked logically as great as critically during things. A lot of questions need to be answered.
You cannot give answers based upon fables. The immature people, when they remove confidence, won't respect their own society.
Question: How do you verify the contribution of history?
Answer: We always have to rest upon empirical evidence. You can assume whatever you like, though during the finish of the day, you have to confess which it is purely speculation.
In the past, they did not have the eminence between parable as great as parable when they accessible history. You additionally have to consider the actuality which these hikayat were detected unequivocall! y most l ater.
They were not accessible to the open in those days. One of the initial people to pick up Malay manuscripts was Sir Stamford Raffles when he came to Singapore in 1819. If you take Sejarah Melayu, there have been no less than about twenty versions.
Question: Dr Kassim Ahmad (left) pronounced which Hang Tuah contingency have been based upon the little genuine person. What is your perspective upon this?
Answer: We have no justification of any kind. That's the total trouble. The modern investigate of story is almost considered the scholarship you contingency have proof without proof how do you draw the conclusions?
Question: As the historian given the 1950s, do you think Malaysians appreciate history?
Answer: It is usually commencement to be taught in the universities. Universiti Malaya was founded in 1949. The story dialect was unequivocally strong as great as unequivocally endangered about essay story from the Malayan perspective.
Before that, the story strong upon what British officials did, as great as not asked the locals. The dialect of story began to write the initial Malayan-centric history.
Question: There have been the little people who do not care either Hang Tuah existed or not. They usually wish someone who represents their worth sets as great as aspirations. What would you contend to them?
Answer: If you have been endangered about investig! ate the values of which period, afterwards it's the different discipline.
For example, it is unequivocally important which Sejarah Melayu as great as Hikayat Hang Tuah be partial of Malay classical novel since they teach the worth sets, though you should not upset them with history.
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Very unapproachable of how my colleagues during Raconteur, a amicable media division of Maverick, have been using their knowledge, savvy as well as expertise of a Indonesian cybersphere to keep a rest of us informed about what a online village is saying, what's prohibited with them as well as how they have been reacting to offline events, like a tragedy during Tugu Tani when a car driven by a women stoned out of her wits, ploughed into a crowd of pedestrians killing seven people together with a pregnant lady as well as multiform children.
In this week's update a Raconteurs additionally discuss what's at a back of a online breakthrough of using a countenance "KOWAWA \(`)/", a urban legend at a back of a heedful tweets about Nenek Guyung as well as how Telkomsel's online tricks as it launches a IPhone 4S.
The idea at a back of these weekly updates is which old fogeys like me who aren't on a Net as most as we should, as well as corporations as well as communicators who need to keep abreast of a conversations in Indonesia's amicable media scene, have an easy way of accessing this information.
What do we guys consider of this service?
Read More @ Source Hindraf NO to ABU
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 Datuk Haron Taib has shielded Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razaks move to mount by a University as well as University Colleges Act (UUCA), observant such a preference was a prerogative of a Kedah mentri besar.
The PAS ulama arch was quoted by a News Straits Times as observant which Pakatan Rakyat (PR) partners DAP as well as PKR should respect Azizans views upon a issue.
Azizan is a mentri besar as well as has a right to have any decision, regardless of whether others have been happy with it.
It is easy for PKR to criticize us as they have been not in Azizans position, Haron was quoted as saying.
Haron pronounced which PAS should have a freedom to act upon the own, as well as which it did not need to determine with all which the other PR partners had said.
Although you have been in a pact, which does not mean you have to determine with all which a other party says, you contingency have a freedom to act upon our own, he said.
Azizan (picture) had previousLY been criticised by inherent expert Prof Abdul Aziz Bari for fortifying Kolej Universiti Insaniah (Kuin)s cessation of 5 students underneath a UUCA in May last year, something which Azizan has pronounced he is peaceful to be sacked for.
The 5 Kuin students were hauled up before a disciplinary committee upon May 25, 2011 for breaching a UUCA by participating in a demonstration, making speeches with loudspeakers as well as land a press discussion to criticism a use of a religious teaching block to residence a smart school.
Mohd Faiz Mohd Arshad was dangling for two semesters whilst a rest were barred for a single semester as well as since warning letters.
Although a cessation was meted out nearly eight months ago with 4 of a 5 carrying already served their one-semester bans, a activists have one after another to pursue a matter! in cour t.
However, a Kuala Lumpur High Court deferred a Jan 18, 2011 conference upon a fit to challenge a cessation but giving a brand new date.
PAS has demanded Azizan insist a cessation of a 5 students during the executive leadership meeting this coming February 12.
GEORGE TOWN: Pakatan Rakyat will annul fee collections in a North-South highway as well as upon Penang Bridge as well as it will also hand out RM1,000 annually to comparison citizens, if it captures Putrajaya in a next ubiquitous election.
PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Rakyat might be biting off more than it can gnaw in wanting to competition 52 out 60 seats in Sabah in a 13th ubiquitous election.
Among them were a framed journal front page with a headline "Headmaster calls upon students to lapse to China" as well as a design of Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein waving a keris (Malay dagger) during an Umno general assembly, an incident which had influenced confusion in a Chinese community.
As he pronounced this to himself, he was wiping a framed design of former MCA boss Ling Liong Sik as well as former MCA deputy boss Chan Kong Choy being escorted by police, both confronting swindle charges.
Everyday they have sound about fairness. In this house, how can there presumably be fairness? By changing 'wu tong', do we consider things will improve? I'l! l cut (c astrate)!
January 28, 2012
The essay by Tan Sri Mohd Radzi Abd Rahman (below) is shallow as well as it shows his lack of understanding about what Wisma Putra should be about. That is disappointing since he is a Secretary-General whose pursuit is to yield much indispensable strategic meditative in a shaping of Malaysian unfamiliar routine as well as a control of a diplomacy.
The consular use is a teenager aspect of a Malaysian Foreign Office. As a former Foreign Service Officer underneath a Late (Tun) Ghazalie Shafie, we know which Wisma Putra is about critical open tact as well as projecting as well as representing Malaysia's seductiveness to a rest of a world. Certainly, it is not a transport agency specialising in a care of roving VIPs as well as a arising visas for visitors to Malaysia!
When we was in Phnom Penh in a early 1990s, we was absolved to declare how Malaysian diplomats underneath a Ambassador Dato' Deva Ridzam's care worked to plan a interests in Cambodia. Our goal was involved in advising Malaysian blurb operation investors, as well as aiding then a frail supervision in genius building, providing invaluable intelligence to a Malaysian Government upon political as well as mercantile developments in a horde country, as well as networking with horde nation leaders as well as officials as well as members of a political opposition.
The Malaysians visiting Cambodia sought utilitarian recommendation from a Ambassador as well as his senior staff. we was a declare to instances when Dato Deva intervened to safeguard which Malaysians who got upon a wrong side of a Cambodian law were since a satisfactory treatment. we am, therefore, astounded to review which "many Malaysians abroad do not see a need to hit a embassy unless they have been in trouble".
Does this Secr! etary-Ge neral not understand which Malaysians do hit embassy officials when they have been confident which they can get great blurb as well as personal advice, not since it has a "wander-ful use for travelers." If Malaysians equivocate a embassy, it is since they do not believe which a goal can assistance them.
Maybe, Tan Sri Radzi is right away confirming a reality which Wisma Putra is right away reduced to a consular office, post bureau as well as a VIP transport agency, all rolled in to a single combination whole, staffed by over paid, common as well as incompetent personnel. And which is indeed a great pity.
The essay additionally reflects a intellectual quality of this top Wisma Putra official. we have yet to see a critical essay from him about a unfamiliar routine or attend to or listen to of him articulate during any open forum upon Malaysia's diplomacy. That is not surprising possibly since all he can do is to write an essay upon consular administration, which should posted upon a Wisma Putra website, or since to BERNAMA for wide coverage.
I have additionally not listened a Foreign Minister, Anifah Aman, speaking in Parliament even with rebuilt answers upon unfamiliar routine issues. It is an open secret which a Foreign Minister is afraid to face his adversaries in Dewan Rakyat. It is indeed unfortunate which Wisma Putra is no longer what it was when a Late Tun Ghazalie Shafie was a Permanent Secretary as well as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Today, in open diplomacy, Malaysia is punching below a weight. Our diplomats can neither write nor talk English, a language of international tact as well as commerce. During a 1960s, a diplomats were respected by their colleagues in a region as well as elsewhere for their capability to draft treaties, com! muniques . as well as press releases.Din Merican
AT YOUR SERVICE
By Tan Sri Mohd Radzi Abd Rahman
Although most Malaysians abroad do not see a need to hit a embassy unless they have been in trouble, a Foreign Ministry's consular use is always ready to help.THE open face of a Foreign Affairs Ministry is a consular service. This is an critical arm of a method which Malaysians have been familiar with.In a past year alone, around 15 to twenty-five million people entered as well as left a country. With a augmenting series of Malaysians roving abroad as well as unfamiliar expatriates creation Malaysia their proxy home, consular feat has right away turn a single of a yardsticks to measure a efficacy of a Foreign Service smoothness system.
Unlike a economic, political, bilateral as well as multilateral tact a Malaysian shrewd chairman is familiar with, consular use is a "citizen service" which deals directly with a ordinary people, who have been treated as critical clients.
The duty of a consular bureau during Wisma Putra, or during a twenty-one Malaysian consulates as well as 81 embassies abroad, is guided by a Vienna Convention upon Consular Relations 1963.
The consular functions embody notary duties, attestation of documents, estimate certificates of great conduct, bieing born registration, fluctuating assistance to vessels as well as aircraft, as well as arising of passports, transport papers as well as visas to persons wishing to transport to Malaysia.
Paramount between these functions is aiding a nationals within boundary permitted by international law.
To most Malaysian diasporas, tourists as well as students studying abroad, a embassy is a consular office, as well as zero more. The alternative functions of a embassy which understanding with a absolved entities such as a palace, president's office, ministries or people holding high! appoint ments have been frequency known to them.
In fact, Malaysians roving or vital abroad do not see a significance of coming in hit with a embassy unless out of necessity such as to register a newborn, a renovation of passports, or when requiring puncture assistance such as during a tsunami, a Bali bombings, 9/11, a SARS widespread crisis of 2003 or a 2010 volcanic eruption in Iceland which put air transport throughout Europe during a standstill.
A great series of Malaysians additionally crop up during a consulate or a embassy when they have been in distress, in cases where their passports, air tickets as well as income have been stolen or mislaid as well as they have been stranded with no change of clothes.
When this happens, a single has to determine with Paul Theroux which transport is glamorous usually in retrospect. Losing a pass through theft, loosening or disasters is a single of a inconveniences for Malaysians when abroad.
In a box of a mislaid passport, a consulate or embassy is not authorised to emanate a brand brand new pass to reinstate a mislaid one; it can emanate an puncture certificate, a temporary, one-way transport request enabling a single to transport home, though not current to be used to transport to alternative countries.
All Malaysian embassies as well as consulates can promote a renovation of a Malaysian passport, though not all of them can emanate a brand brand new Malaysian passport.
Where it is necessary for a embassy or consulate to brazen an duplicate for renovation or for a brand brand new Malaysian pass behind to a Immigration Department in Malaysia, a routine will inevitably take longer.
Within a bounds of a consular functions, those who come for assistance have been expected to be served with a top level of professionalism.
The consular bureau can assist in notifying next-of-kin in a eventuality a Malaysian is injured, arrested or detained.
It can communicate with a family or friends to request for puncture repat! riation funds or arrange for a return of a stays of a defunct to Malaysia.
The consular military officer additionally identifies bodies during a mortuary, visits those incarcerated or detained should there be a request from them to do so as well as safeguard which due routine of a law is accorded to them in a nation they have been arrested or detained.
To a Malaysian embassies abroad, a hit with Malaysian nationals is a pleasant experience. Especially during a embassies which have been located where frequency any Malaysian travels, it is a pleasure for a Malaysian shrewd chairman to encounter an additional fellow citizen.
With a Government's diaspora routine in place, a accessible hit with Malaysians working abroad is additionally useful. These people describe stories of their businesses, their imagination as well as a fascinating researches they have been tasked to lift out during their brand brand new place of work.
With affordable travel, a universe has turn a smaller place.This equates to a consular offices have to be an effective problem-solver. In carrying out this task, a Malaysian shrewd chairman is infrequently swayed by sympathy rsther than than logic.
On a single occasion, a stranded Malaysian lady who was back-packing around Europe was "adopted" by a embassy staff with each a single taking turns to yield her with food whilst watchful for her family to send over income for her return sheet home.
Upon reaching home, she sent a postcard to a embassy thanking them for a "five-star hotel" use as well as a glorious dishes as well as warm clothes. Such instances have been an exception rsther than than a rule.
There is usually so much a consular bureau can do. Some consular offices have been under-staffed as well as when incompetent to encounter a expectations of a clients, they have been sternly criticised as well as infrequently unfortunate stories get to a press.
What is helpful for a Malaysian caucasian tribe is to know what it takes to be in an add! itional country.
They should come prepared, take heedfulness to know whether a visa is compulsory to come in a country, safeguard which their passports surpass a six-month validity, bring enough money, have a transport as well as medical word ready, check websites of embassies as well as consulates in a nation they have been roving as well as as a prevision in box of puncture or natural disaster register themselves during a embassy possibly by e-mail or in person.
The poet Saadi is apt when he said which a caucasian tribe though regard is a bird though wings. As a significant writer to open diplomacy, a consular bureau assumes an critical purpose in current-day tact though when Malaysians work in tandem with them, a end-product benefits not usually themselves though additionally their nation as well as not all those who ramble have been mislaid (J.R.R. Tolkien).
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Syed Hassan (left) pronounced whilst Perkasa arch Ibrahim Ali has in a past organized similar events in his genius as Pasir Mas MP, this is Perkasa's initial official Chinese New Year open house.January 28, 2012
The essay by Tan Sri Mohd Radzi Abd Rahman (below) is shallow as well as it shows his miss of understanding about what Wisma Putra should be about. That is disappointing given he is a Secretary-General whose job is to provide most needed strategic thinking in a moulding of Malaysian unfamiliar routine as well as a conduct of a diplomacy.
The consular service is a teenager aspect of a Malaysian Foreign Office. As a former Foreign Service Officer under a Late (Tun) Ghazalie Shafie, we know that Wisma Putra is about critical open tact as well as projecting as well as representing Malaysia's interest to a rest of a world. Certainly, it is not a transport group specialising in a caring of roving VIPs as well as a arising visas for visitors to Malaysia!
When we was in Phnom Penh in a early 1990s, we was absolved to declare how Malaysian diplomats under a Ambassador Dato' Deva Ridzam's care worked to project a interests in Cambodia. Our goal was involved in advising Malaysian business investors, as well as assisting then a frail government in genius building, upon condition that invaluable comprehension to a Malaysian Government upon domestic as well as economic developments in a horde country, as well as networking with horde nation leaders as well as officials as well as members of a domestic opposition.
The Malaysians visiting Cambodia sought utilitarian recommendation from a Ambassador as well as his senior staff. we was a declare to instances when Dato Deva intervened to safeguard that Malaysians who got upon a wrong side of a Cambodian law were given a satisfactory treatment. we am, therefore, astounded to read that "many Malaysians abroad do not see a need to hit a embassy unless they have been in trouble".
Does this Secretary-General not understand that Malaysians do hit embassy officials when they have been assured that they can get great commercial as well as personal advice, not given it has a "wander-ful service for travellers." If M! alaysian s equivocate a embassy, it is given they do not believe that a goal can benefit them.
Maybe, Tan Sri Radzi is right away confirming a being that Wisma Putra is right away marked down to a consular office, post bureau as well as a VIP transport agency, all rolled in to a single combination whole, staffed by over paid, mediocre as well as amateurish personnel. And that is in truth a great pity.
The essay additionally reflects a intellectual quality of this tip Wisma Putra official. we have yet to see a critical essay from him about a unfamiliar routine or attend to or listen to of him talking during any open forum upon Malaysia's diplomacy. That is not startling possibly given all he can do to write an essay upon consular administration, that should posted upon a Wisma Putra website or given to BERNAMA for wide coverage.
I have additionally not listened a Foreign Minister, Anifah Aman, vocalization in Parliament even with rebuilt answers upon unfamiliar routine issues. It is an open secret that a Foreign Minister is fearful to face his adversaries in Dewan Rakyat. It is in truth regrettable that Wisma Putra is no longer what it was when a Late Tun Ghazalie Shafie was a Permanent Secretary as well as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Today, in open diplomacy, Malaysia is punching next a weight. Our diplomats can't conjunction write nor speak English, a denunciation of international tact as well as commerce.Din Merican
AT YOUR SERVICE
By Tan Sri Mohd Radzi Abd Rahman
Although most Malaysians abroad do not see a need to hit a embassy unless they have been in trouble, a Foreign Ministry's co! nsular s ervice is always ready to help.THE open face of a Foreign Affairs Ministry is a consular service. This is an important arm of a method that Malaysians have been informed with.In a past year alone, around 15 to 25 million people entered as well as left a country. With a increasing series of Malaysians roving abroad as well as unfamiliar expatriates making Malaysia their proxy home, consular feat has right away become a single of a yardsticks to magnitude a effectiveness of a Foreign Service delivery system.
Unlike a economic, political, bilateral as well as multilateral tact a Malaysian shrewd person is informed with, consular service is a "citizen service" that deals directly with a ordinary people, who have been treated with colour as important clients.
The duty of a consular bureau during Wisma Putra, or during a twenty-one Malaysian consulates as well as 81 embassies abroad, is guided by a Vienna Convention upon Consular Relations 1963.
The consular functions embody notary duties, profession of documents, estimate certificates of great conduct, bieing born registration, extending benefit to vessels as well as aircraft, as well as arising of passports, transport papers as well as visas to persons wishing to transport to Malaysia.
Paramount among these functions is assisting a nationals inside of limits permitted by international law.
To most Malaysian diasporas, tourists as well as students study abroad, a embassy is a consular office, as well as zero more. The alternative functions of a embassy that deal with a absolved entities such as a palace, president's office, ministries or people land tall appointments have been frequency known to them.
In fact, Malaysians roving or living abroad do not see a importance of entrance in hit with a embassy unless out of necessity such as to register a newborn, a renovation of passports, or when requiring puncture benefit such as during a tsunami, a Bali bombings, 9/11, a SARS epidemic predicament of 2003 or a 201! 0 volcan ic eruption in Iceland that put air transport via Europe during a standstill.
A great series of Malaysians additionally appear during a consulate or a embassy when they have been in distress, in cases where their passports, air tickets as well as money have been stolen or mislaid as well as they have been stuck with no change of clothes.
When this happens, a single has to determine with Paul Theroux that transport is glamorous usually in retrospect. Losing a pass by theft, loosening or disasters is a single of a inconveniences for Malaysians when abroad.
In a box of a mislaid passport, a consulate or embassy is not authorised to emanate a brand brand new pass to reinstate a mislaid one; it can emanate an puncture certificate, a temporary, one-way transport ask enabling a single to transport home, though not valid to be used to transport to alternative countries.
All Malaysian embassies as well as consulates can facilitate a renovation of a Malaysian passport, though not all of them can emanate a brand brand new Malaysian passport.
Where it is necessary for a embassy or consulate to forward an application for renovation or for a brand brand new Malaysian pass back to a Immigration Department in Malaysia, a routine will fundamentally take longer.
Within a boundaries of a consular functions, those who come for benefit have been approaching to be served with a highest level of professionalism.
The consular bureau can assist in notifying next-of-kin in a eventuality a Malaysian is injured, arrested or detained.
It can communicate with a family or friends to ask for puncture repatriation supports or prepare for a lapse of a stays of a defunct to Malaysia.
The consular military officer additionally identifies bodies during a mortuary, visits those detained or detained should there be a ask from them to do so as well as safeguard that due routine of a law is accorded to them in a nation they have been arrested or detained.
To a Malaysian embas! sies abr oad, a hit with Malaysian nationals is a pleasant experience. Especially during a embassies that have been located where frequency any Malaysian travels, it is a delight for a Malaysian shrewd person to encounter another associate citizen.
With a Government's diaspora routine in place, a friendly hit with Malaysians operative abroad is additionally useful. These individuals relate stories of their businesses, their imagination as well as a erotically appealing researches they have been tasked to lift out during their brand brand new place of work.
With affordable travel, a world has become a smaller place.This means a consular offices have to be an effective problem-solver. In carrying out this task, a Malaysian shrewd person is infrequently convinced by magnetism rsther than than logic.
On a single occasion, a stuck Malaysian lady who was back-packing around Europe was "adopted" by a embassy staff with each a single taking turns to provide her with food while waiting for her family to send over money for her lapse sheet home.
Upon reaching home, she sent a postcard to a embassy thanking them for a "five-star hotel" service as well as a glorious dishes as well as comfortable clothes. Such instances have been an exception rsther than than a rule.
There is usually so most a consular bureau can do. Some consular offices have been under-staffed as well as when unable to encounter a expectations of a clients, they have been sternly criticised as well as infrequently hapless stories get to a press.
What is helpful for a Malaysian caucasian tribe is to know what it takes to be in another country.
They should come prepared, take heedfulness to know whether a visa is required to enter a country, safeguard that their passports exceed a six-month validity, move enough money, have a transport as well as medical word ready, check websites of embassies as well as consulates in a nation they have been roving as well as as a precaution in box of puncture or natural disas! ter reg ister themselves during a embassy possibly by e-mail or in person.
The producer Saadi is good when he said that a caucasian tribe without observation is a bird without wings. As a significant writer to open diplomacy, a consular bureau assumes an important purpose in current-day tact though when Malaysians work in tandem with them, a end-product benefits not usually themselves though additionally their nation as well as not all those who ramble have been mislaid (J.R.R. Tolkien).
