Master English to ensure we are not re-colonised, says Mahathir

(Dec 14, 2009): Malaysians have an extremely important role of mastering English to acquire knowledge at a faster pace to ensure there is no 're-colonisation' of the country, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Without a good command of English, the former prime minister noted, the people would not acquire knowledge quickly. He said this would, in turn, open doors to those knowledgeable to dominate and influence them, either directly or indirectly.



"English is the language of the Knowledge Age. Countries which do not master English will not only be left behind but risk being colonised, either directly or indirectly.

"Without knowledge, countries will be oppressed and even invaded," Dr Mahathir told reporters after delivering his keynote address entitled, 'The Leadership and Policy Components for the Knowledge Society: A Proposed Best Practice for Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) member countries at the 17th Islamic World Academy of Sciences (IAS) conference.

Mahathir said that only by mastering English, could the people in this country acquire knowledge at a faster pace so as not to be left behind by development. He said, the people would not lose their identity by seeking knowledge in English. "English is not only for English people but (it is) a universal language. I am not an Englishman but I speak English," he said. “Are you an Englishman?” he asked a reporter.

But today, Mahathir said the government was “ignoring success” by abolishing the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) and reverting to Bahasa Malaysia.

"I don't think the government understands the importance of English as a language of knowledge when they decided to switch from English to Malay (in teaching Science and Mathematics)," he said.

Recently, Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the government had decided to reverse the PPSMI policy and revert to Bahasa Malaysia in national schools, and Chinese and Tamil in vernacular schools from 2012.

The PPSMI policy was implemented in phases, beginning with Year One, Form One and Lower Six students in 2003, under Dr Mahathir's administration.

Earlier, when delivering his keynote address, Mahathir said knowledge was expanding rapidly, especially in science, and books and writings on this subject were in English.

He said that possibilities are there to override past beliefs in the field of science, which cannot be done in geography and history. "Knowledge in science is not static unlike geography and history where facts are structured and limited.

"In science, we can always go back and question the scientific principles and decide whether they are right or not," he said, adding new discoveries are coming out in torrents in English. -- Bernama

Dr Pornthip to attend Teoh's second post-mortem

"As for me, I am just trying to help...I know my limitation," she said.

2009/11/05

BANGKOK: Thailand's forensic expert Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand said Thursday that she would attend the second post-mortem on late Teoh Beng Hock despite being barred from carrying out the autopsy herself.

Dr Pornthip said she was informed by the deceased's family lawyers and an official from the Selangor State Government about Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas' decision to have Teoh's remains exhumed to carry out a second post-mortem.

"I was told the post-mortem is likely to take place next Saturday, but I can only observe because of the legal implications," she told Bernama here today.

She added that she was aware of fact that she was not allowed under the law, to take part actively, adding she even raised the matter last July when the Selangor State Government contacted her to carry out a post-mortem on Teoh.

"I didn’t go at that time because the family did not allow me to carry out the post-mortem.

"But I was then invited to give testimony in the inquest," said the director-general of the Central Institute of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice.

Only a practicing physicians registered with the Malaysian Medical Board, are allowed to do so as stipulated under the Medical Act 1971.

Coroner Azmil also ordered that the second post-mortem be handled by a medical officer in the presence of four forensic experts, namely Dr Khairul Azman Ibrahim, Dr Prashant Naresh Samberkar, Dr Pornthip and another expert to be appointed by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Teoh, who was political aide to Selangor state executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead on the fifth floor of Plaza Mazalam in Shah Alam on July 16, after being quizzed by the Selangor MACC on the 14th floor of the same building.

The family applied to exhume Teoh's remains, following Dr Pornthip's testimony in the inquest, into his death that there was an 80 per cent probability that he was tortured and strangled.

Asked if she could come to a conclusion despite not being able to carry out the post-mortem herself, Dr Pornthip said it all depended on the degree of decomposition.

"As for me, I am just trying to help...I know my limitation," she said. - Bernama

Sourse: New Straits Times. http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/20091105201825/Article/index_html



Court orders exhumation




KUALA LUMPUR - A MALAYSIAN court on Wednesday ordered the exhumation of the body of an opposition aide who fell to his death from anti-graft offices where he was being questioned, his family's lawyer said.

The coroner's court order will allow a second autopsy of Teoh Beng Hock's remains, assisted by prominent Thai pathologist Porntip Rojanasunan, lawyer Gobind Singh said.

Ms Porntip last month told an inquest into Teoh's mysterious death that the 30-year-old aide may have been strangled and beaten before he died.

The flamboyant expert, well known for challenging authorities in her home country, said there was an 80 per cent chance that 30-year-old Teoh was murdered and just a 20 per cent chance of suicide.

Mr Singh said Ms Porntip would not be conducting the new autopsy but would assist Malaysian medical examiners in the task.

Teoh's crumpled body was found on July 16 on the roof of an adjacent building after he had undergone questioning on the 14th floor of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) until the early hours of the morning. He was not accused of any crime, but was being questioned as part of a probe into the opposition-held Selangor state government. -- AFP

Source: The Straits Times, Nov 4, 2009. http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/SE%2BAsia/Story/STIStory_450254.html


Wanted: Pornthip's head!
2009-11-01

Thai pathologist Khunying Pornthip Rojanasunan has promised to bring Teoh Beng Hock's case to justice by requesting an exhumation of the dead political aide's body for a second post-mortem, making her a well-known legendary figure across this country.

She fears no evil, and has over the past three decades brought justice to countless unjustifiably killed victims.

That explains why a million-baht tag has been placed on her head!



Pornthip is a highly respected pathologist in Thailand. This, coupled with the commotion in southern part of the country and her job nature, has put her under constant danger. Photo courtesy: Guang Ming Daily

Guang Ming Daily travelled all the way to Thailand to talk to her. Other than seeing her dissect dead bodies in her white overall, we also saw her tender side as a Thai woman, a mother, and a wife.

Teoh Beng Hock's mysterious death has yet to be solved. Under the recommendation of their lawyer, Teoh's family agreed to invite internationally acclaimed pathologist Pornthip Rojanasunan to conduct a second post-mortem with the hope of unearthing any hidden truth.

Thanks to the intervention by Pornthip to conduct a second post-mortem on a wealthy Thai MP back in 1999, earlier police reports pointing at him committing suicide was overturned, resulting in a drastic twist in the development of the case.

Heads-on with the authorities

Pornthip fears no evil and would even go against the will of the authorities just to bring out the truth.

She has gained tremendous popularity since, but that has also made her a target of some people. Her life has been constantly under intimidation.

Pornthip said after she overturned the police report that the wealthy MP had committed suicide, she had received numerous unidentified calls threatening her life.

She was warned to stay clear of the case, or "a post-mortem will be conducted ON YOU tomorrow!"



That was only a beginning. Pornthip said the analyses she did on the six pieces of earplugs found at the site of an explosion in southern Thailand three years ago allowed the police to detain two suspects. One of the suspects was subsequently sentenced to death while the hearing of the other is still being conducted.

Since then, she has been told by the police that her head was wanted by certain people in southern Thailand.

"They offered at least one million baht (approximately RM100,000) for my head, but I'm not afraid of it!

"I'm well aware that my head fetches a good price, but I won't chicken out, but will instead be more determined to get the truth out of the dark."

A good price on the head of "Doctor of Death"

Popularly known as the "Doctor of Death," Pornthip is someone who would never give up things easily. That said, she is well aware of the fact that she is constantly walking on a tightrope, and does not know when she will miss and fall to her death.

Militants, underground outfits, even hostile politicians have been offering rewards to get her wiped out from the face of the earth.

She often leads her team to the sites, especially of cases involving explosions, and believes DNA technology could be employed in the police force to assist in the identification of leaders of the militants in the troubled Deep South.

Pornthip said she had no regret of any sort for the sake of the safety of majority of Thai people.

Revisiting Malaysia this month

On Teoh Beng Hock's case, Pornthip said the family's lawyer Gorbind Singh had contacted her, but whether she would come to Malaysia would depend on whether the court would approve the application by Teoh's family.

She admitted that it was inconvenient at this juncture for her to divulge any detail of her recent court statements in Kuala Lumpur, as the case is still on trial.

However, she said she would go to KL for a forensic conference in mid-November.

On Teoh's mysterious death, Pornthip said boldly that it shared a lot of similarities with many of the suspense cases she had handled earlier on.

She cited an example in which a woman was found hanging herself at home in Bangkok not too long ago. According to post-mortem reports, the woman hanged herself to death, but after two weeks, the victim's son and other relatives suspected foul play and requested Pornthip to conduct a second post-mortem to find out the truth behind her death.

After reading the post-mortem reports, Pornthip found some irregularities that did not match scientific evidences.

Generally, those hanging themselves to death will present injuries on the upper part of their throats, but this female victim had obvious injuries further down!

Moreover, Pornthip also found other injuries around the victim's body, including bruises on her arms.

As a result, she felt it necessary to revisit the site. Besides, the victim was said to have hanged herself with a certain type of cloth that did not match the actual situation.

Consequently, Pornthip got the victim's husband to explain these irregularities, but her husband was unable to provide proper answers to her questions.

Pornthip said collecting evidences was of paramount importance in solving a case.

Solving a mysterious death

The next example that Pornthip cited, was the case in which she conducted a second post-mortem on a victim for the first time.

The victim was a Thai man who died under police custody.

According to post-mortem reports presented by the police, the victim died at about 11.00 p.m. while under police custody.

The family of the victim sought Pornthip's assistance three months later, and wanted her to exhume the victim's body for a second post-mortem, during which four apparent injuries and bullet shells were found on the body.

Besides, there was undigested food in his gastrointestinal tract.

Pornthip said the victim took his meal at 4 p.m., and this was contradicting the police's claim that he died at 11 p.m.

Six months later, the Thai Legal Association issued a statement that the victim's blood was found in the bush.

The victim had apparently been killed by someone else before his body was moved to another location.

Unfortunately, the case was put to an abrupt stop without any solution, as a member of the victim's family met his doom during the process of finding the truth; and for their own safety, the family agreed to accept a 3-million baht "reconciliation" offer from the police.

Pornthip said helplessly, "Thailand lacks the say when it comes to human rights protection."

Every dead body tells a story! Pornthip allows the speechless evidences to talk on their own! Watch out for Part Two of the mind-boggling interview on Monday.

(Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Guang Ming Daily)

Source: http://www.mysinchew.com/node/30881

Kematian Teoh: Pakar kata 80% kemungkinan homisid

Seorang pakar patologi dari Thailand, Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand membuat pendedahan yang mengejutkan dalam inkeus kematian Teoh Beng Hock pagi ini dengan menyatakan bahawa setiausaha politik itu mungkin telah dicekik sebelum jatuh dari tingkat 14 Plaza Masalam.

Katanya, terdapat tanda bulat pada leher Teoh yang menunjukkan dia 'dicekik'.

Menurutnya lagi, retakan pada tengkorak Teoh bukan satu kecederaan akibat terjatuh.



Manakala kecederaan pada lubang dubur Teoh, katanya, boleh disebabkan dicucuk dengan objek sebelum dia jatuh.

Ini, katanya, berdasarkan kepada gambar-gambar yang diambil di tempat Teoh ditemui jatuh.

Dr Pornthip membuat kesimpulan bahawa terdapat 80 peratus kemungkinan homisid dan 20 peratus kemungkinan bunuh diri.

Beliau juga tidak bersetuju dengan pandangan pakar-pakar forensik bahawa Teoh "jatuh dalam keadaan sedar" tetapi sebaliknya menegaskan bahawa mangsa mungkin tidak sedar.

Beliau memberi tiga sebab dalam membuat kesimpulan tersebut, iaitu:

1) Laporan bedah siasat menyatakan mangsa masih hidup ketika jatuh di tanah, tetapi beliau (Dr Pornthip) tidak menemui kecederaan untuk melindungi diri.

2) Beliau menemui luka-luka yang kelihatan berlaku sebelum mangsa jatuh.

3) Kecederaan pada bahagian dada adalah akibat impak awalan.

Beliau memberi keterangan sebagai saksi pakar di inkues tersebut yang diadakan untuk menentukan punca kematian Teoh.

Dr Pornthip adalah pengarah dan pengasas bersama Institut Pusat Sains Forensik Kementerian Keadilan Thailanad dan dianggap pakar dalam siasatan kes-kes pembunuhan yang rumit.

Teoh - setiausaha politik kepada exco Selangor, Ean Yong Hian Wah - ditemui mati selepas memberi keterangan kepada Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) di tingkat 14 Plaza Masalam berhubung dakwaan salahguna wang negeri pada 15 Julai lalu. [Baca berita penuh]

Sementara itu, Bernama melaporkan, Dr Porntip mempunyai 27 tahun pengalaman dalam bidang sains forensik.

Pakar Thai itu tiba di mahkamah pada jam 8.50 pagi. Beliau turut mengadakan tayangan slaid bagi membantu mahkamah memahami keterangannya.

"Dari gambar post-mortem, saya dapati ada kesan lebam di bahagian kanan leher, yang kami (pakar patologi) panggil 'handle bruise', dan kecederaan ini selaras dengan kecederaan disebabkan cekekan," kata Dr Porntip yang telah mengendali lebih 10,000 bedah siasat.

Beliau berkata kecederaan itu tidak dinyatakan dalam laporan autopsi disediakan oleh Dr Khairul Azman dan Dr Prashant, yang telah diberikan kepadanya untuk diperiksa.

"Saya juga dapati kecederaan tusukan di bahagian dubur yang boleh disebabkan perbuatan memasukkan objek dalam bahagian berkenaan. Saya tidak pernah melihat kecederaan seumpama itu dalam kes jatuh dari tempat tinggi," kata beliau, sambil menunjuk kepada gambar-gambar bedah siasat yang dipaparkan pada slaid.

Dr Pornthip berkata beliau juga mendapati kesan melelas di paha bahagian atas Teoh yang mungkin disebabkan disebat.

"Satu lagi kecederaan yang saya temui ialah keretakan tempurung kepala, yang mungkin disebabkan oleh hentakan tumpul yang tepat kepada tempurung kepala sebelum jatuh," kata Dr Porntip, saksi ke-30 di inkues itu.

Beliau berkata kemungkinan Teoh tidak sedarkan diri bila ia jatuh dari tingkat lima, berdasarkan tiadanya kecederaan reaksi pada badan, dan menambah luka-luka kelihatan seperti kecederaan sebelum jatuh, dan kecederaan dada yang teruk adalah akibat impak primari di lantai.

Ditanya oleh peguam Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, bagi pihak kerajaan Selangor, tentang kes melelas di bahagian bawah kasut Teoh, pakar itu berkata: "Kelihatan seperti badannya telah diheret.

"Dalam kes-kes jatuh biasa dari tempat tinggi, kasut tidak meninggalkan kesan melelas seperti ini," jelas beliau.

Ditanya oleh koroner Azmil Muntapha Abas sama ada permukaaan lantai mungkin menyebabkan kesan heretan, Dr Porntip menjawab: "Permukaan keras dan kasar".

"Bagaimanapun, pasukan forensik saya tidak menemui sesuatu yang boleh menyebabkan kesan ini bila mereka memeriksa tingkat 14 (pejabat MACC) pada kali terakhir," katanya.


Source: Malaysiakini. Okt 21, 09 11:43am

The right to leave

Australian Prime Minister does it again!!

This man should be appointed King of the World. Truer words have never been spoken.

It took a lot of courage for this man to speak what he had to say for the world to hear. The retribution could be phenomenal, but at least he was willing to take a stand on his and Austrilia's beliefs.

Whole world Needs A Leader Like This!










Prime Minister Kevin Rudd - Australia


Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia , as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks..

Separately, Rudd angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques.

Quote:

'IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians. '

'This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom'

'We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society . Learn the language!'

'Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.'

'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.'

'This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'.'

'If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.'

Maybe if we circulate this amongst ourselves, WE will find the courage to start speaking and voicing the same truths.

SEKADAR INFO KESELAMATAN UNTUK KELUARGA

Kepada mereka yang memiliki bayi lelaki atau perempuan, pastikan katil yang dibeli bersesuian dengan peringkat umur.

Seorang ibu mendapati anak kesayangan nya terbujur kaku tidak bernyiawa dengan kepala yang tersepit ditempat tidur. Bayi tersebut didapati gagal untuk melepaskan diri apabila cuba berusaha turun dari tempat tidurnya ketika bangun pagi. Melihat kepada tanda di tempat kejadian, bayi tersebut dipercayai meninggal akibat kekurangan oksigen. Dia tidak dapat membebaskan kepalanya yang tersepit, mulut dan hidungnya tertutup oleh cadar sehingga tangisan nya tidak dapat didengar oleh siapapun sementara kakinya terjuntai kebawah kerana tidak dapat menyentuh lantai. Melihat carikkan pada kain cadar, dapat dibayangkan penderitaan bayi tersebut ketika menghembuskan nafasnya yang terakhir.





Bagi rakan-rakan yang masih mempunyai bayi, diharap lebih berhati hati.
Perhatikan keselamatan mereka setiap waktu kerana ditempat tidurpun kecelakaan boleh berlaku apabila kita tidak mengutamakan keselamatan.

Blood Clots/Stroke - They Now Have a Fourth Indicator, the Tongue

INFORMATION EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW

STROKE: Remember the 1st Three Letters..... S.T.R.


My nurse friend sent this and encouraged me to post it and spread the word.
I agree.

If everyone can remember something this simple, we could save some folks.
Seriously..

Please read:

STROKE IDENTIFICATION:

During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) .she said she had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes.

They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food. While she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening

Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00 pm Ingrid passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today. Some don't die. they end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.

It only takes a minute to read this...

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke... totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Thank God for the sense to remember the '3' steps, STR. Read and Learn!

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

S * Ask the individual to SMILE.
T * Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently)
(i.e. It is sunny out today)
R * Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call emergency number immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

New Sign of a Stroke -------- Stick out Your Tongue

NOTE:

Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue.. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke.

THE BEST WAY OF STAYING OUT OF H1N1 TROUBLE

Unless you are yourself sick, stop using face masks!

RECENTLY, I saw photos in newspapers showing people wearing "surgical masks" at shopping malls, schools, mamak stalls and other public areas. I have even noticed people wearing them out in the open with no one around.

Because of this, I would like to explain why the mask may do more harm than good.
The H1N1 virus is not airborne . To be considered an airborne virus, the microorganism would have to survive or remain in the air for long periods of time. The H1N1 virus does not stay airborne.

I have noticed many people wearing masks in crowded places. However, places like airports, shopping malls and schools are full of germs and bacteria. If a small amount of bacteria gets into a hole in the mask, you will provide a breeding ground for the bacteria, which may lead to an illness or infection. The moisture you produce in your mask is perfect for bacteria and viruses, and may be a recipe for disaster.

The way to prevent exposure to H1N1 virus is to avoid physical contact with people who may be sick or infected. Also avoid commonly touched surfaces like escalator railings, poles and public toilet doorknobs.The H1N1 virus usually spreads when someone touches surfaces with the bacteria and then touches his own nose, eyes or mouth.

Washing your hands frequently is the best defense against exposure.
And yes, the virus may travel from point A to point B in the air. But it will drop, not stay airborne. Wearing a mask is only good at helping you not to spread your illness to others if you are infected.

Source: NST � Letter to Editor on August 7, '09 by Kiang Jau Sang Malacca