The year 2010 is coming to an end and we welcome the coming year 2011 with open arms.
Much has been done and happened in our country over the year 2010,from the recent northern flood to the murder case of Sosilawati. Well, while we prepared to welcome the year 2011 with much anticipation and new resolution, I have several monthly issues which worth of my reminisce and of which catch my attention over the year 2010.
January 8th: Involve yet another religious issue in which the Metro Tabernacle Church in Desa Melawati was damaged after a group of youths threw flammable materials into its premises. Worst still, two other churches in PJ , the Assumption Church and the Life Chapel Church were also targeted . Malaysia is well-known to be a country of multi-ethnicity and all other religions should deserve the rightful respect. Everyone has the freedom for devoting to their own religion as well as preserve the mutual respects to other religions as well. ISA should be used against the offenders.
February : China launched a 10 day emergency crackdown on tainted milk product after several were found creeping back into the market on 2nd February . Haiz, yet another China food contamination, earlier on, I remember vividly there is this melamin contaminants which cause kidney damaged among many people. Luckily the China Health Minister Chen Zu had promised a thorough crackdown to destroy all the melamin -tainted milk. Please, if this problem yet to be resolved, people would lose trust of the product of China!
March : MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek and 20 other leaders resigned from the central committee on 4thMarch to pave the way for fresh election within 30days. Out of surprise, incumbent Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and former president Datuk Seri Ong Kah Ting were defeated by Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek at the 28th March party polls after a protracted crisis that had dogged the party since its AGM last October . Datuk Seri Chua staged a stunning victory and he was elected as the 9th President of MCA.
April : Remember the Bangkok red shirted protest. These protester/demonstartors stormed the ground of parliaments ,forcing government ministers to flee by helicopters and raising pressure for snap elections. The red-shirted supporters of ousted premier Thanksin Shinawatra protest in Bangkok’s main shopping district , causing injuries and 50 deaths. A curfew was declared between midnight and 6am. Lucily, the issue was resolves when Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dissolve the parliaments. He also called for calm and reconciliation in Bangkok.
May: 11th of May had seen a remarkable history for UK as British Prime Minister Gordon Brown resigned from his post following his announcement that he would stand down as Labour leader ,thus making way for Conservative Party Leader David Cameron to become premier.
June: Proud to see Malaysians and Irish activists involve in the humanitarian aids by taking the MV Rachel Corrie ship heading to Gaza with its cargo of aid. However, Israeli forces boarded the MV Rachel Corrie after it ignored orders not to head to Gaza.Pro-Palestinian organisers accused the Jewish state for ‘hijacking’ the ship. On the other note, a very memorable history for Australians on 23th June - Julia Gilliard became the first female prime minister of Australia after the ruling party installed her in place of former premier Kevin Rudd.
July: There are two Malaysian heroes in which I think they are well-deserved to be remembered. The first one is MCA founding member Tun Omar Yoke Lin Ong. Aged 93,he was laid to rest at the Warriors Mausoleum in Masjid Negara . He was the nation’s last independence fighter and the last member of the country’s first cabinet under our Father of Independence-Tunku Abdul Rahman. The second one is the conferment of Datukship to Malaysia ‘s first Mount Everest conquerors ,N. Mohandas and M.Magendran. Both of them are Malaysian proud icons, Malaysia Boleh!=)
August: the most memorable time in the world history, to combat terrorism and war and to promote peace in the world we live in. The Iraq war and insurgency have caused the America’s oil production to drop below pre war levels , creating the largest cumulative oil disruption since World War 2.It had been more than 7 years since the US led coalition invaded the country and more than 4000 US troops have been killed. Now, Americans troops celebrated the end of their war in Iraq on 19th August as the last 4000 soldiers crossed the border into Kuwait. World peace is indeed achievable.
September: The murder case of Sosilawati which strike the whole Malaysia as to how cruel a person in high profession could become. Two lawyers brothers –the main suspects behind the slaying of cosmetics millionaire and three others were picked up along with their six workers. The 5 victims’ body were then burnt and their ashes scattered in a river after being stabbed to death. It is really gruesome,indirectly portraying the cruelty of mankind. On other note, the day worth to celebrate in the month of September- Malaysia day. Good news comes as the government declared September 16 as a national public holiday. This will make more Malaysians to remember and celebrate the day when our country gain the name of ‘MALAYSIA’.
October: Think of the In-vitro Fertilisation( IVF) dad- Robert Edward from Britain won the 2010 nobel prize in medicine for developing in-vitro fertilisation, a breakthrough that ignited heated controversy in the 1970s but has helped millions of infertile couples to have children.
November:There are good as well as bad memory lingering in my mind, and I shall categorise them.
Bad:
Still fresh in mind is the protest where thousands of British students marched through London and stormed the Ruling Conservative Party’s Headquarter to protest against plan to triple university tuition fees. This is really a bad news as education should be made affordable to all people.
Bad news of two natural disasters strike. Mount Merapi violently erupted hot gas and ash again and that caused more than 60 people killed overnight.. We also know that usually during this monsoon month ,flood will strike certain areas .Non-stop rain caused flood in Perlis and Kedah, forcing people to abandon their home and seek shelters in temporary centres.
Moral of the lesson: natural disasters can happened at any time , we should always beware all the time of the risk that might befall us.
My condolences to Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu’s family. Tun Dr Lim has been well known as the father of modern Penang passed away on 24th Nov after he suffered a stroke .
Looking back on the year 2010, what have happened will make a history and lesson to all of us. Try to absorb the lesson and do our best part for this new year 2011!~
