My objective writing to Singapore's Attorney General is hope there's synergy cooperation between Singapore government and dissident.
Economy stagnantation due to COVID19 will be burdensome for government around the world including Singapore. Thus, climate change activists should not exacerbate the situation by creating unnecessary protest or pressure to government but to work hand-in-hand to find viable solution targeting carbon emission reduction.
From legal point of view, I do not think some laws inherited from colonial era still relevant and effective since most of them are inconsistent with Constitution. Constitution is the supreme law of the land and shall prevail against any law made inconsistent with it thus it doesn't show any wisdom for Singapore to keep those obsolete law that suppress the civil liberty of the people. Those law were made to facilitate British control over their colony with purpose none other than gaining profit for themselves rather than protect the interest of local people. British is not wrong because this is what all other colonial master do but to keep them alive after independent is a sign of weakness in Singapore democracy and make the country look so frail to stand as an independent sovereignty. However, Singapore still far better compare to any country within ASEAN in terms of equality and judiciary independence.
Westerners, mainly the Spanish and American, contributed good governance, wider globalization, culture, technology&science.
Governance is more easy say than done. Soon after American left, Ferdinand Marcos came to power and become a dictator rule over Philippines from 1965 to 1986 with iron first& corruption. What once rank top economy in ASEAN plummet down to rock bottom. Replace what once striving under America Commonwealth to a crime infesting& slum sporadicting state.
Philippines have their own civilization, language, writing system, architecture, agriculture&art that were parallel to others during Butuan era but they didn't progress further until the arrival of western influence. Indigenous Men&women remain largely topless and living primitive life.
Picture: Igorat people of Philippines.
Philippines are mostly descendants of Austronesian& Melanesian with some earlier human(Negritos) arrived Philippines first.
The colonization of Spain also brought christianity, Hispanic Constitution, Spanish language, Spanish cuisine, fashion, music, literature and their gene pool into Philippines. Without which Philippines would have fallen into the hand of Islam, like the rest of Malay Archipelago/Nusantara. Christianity also allow Philippines more easily assimilate with American after the war.
The American introduce:
free education to Philippines (Thomasite- Increase literacy rate), taught Philippinos about nutrition and public health,
founded the oldest university (Siliman University), extend railway from 200km to 1,000km, introduce democracy&civil liberty, and improve trading and economy.
In regard to the tweets from Dr. Mahathir, Former Prime Minister of Malaysia& currently Member of Parliament, twitter account dated 29th October 2020, I think it is absolutely preposterous and abhorrent.
*Police should investigate and confirm whether Dr. Mahathir indeed commented on France terror attack in his Twitter account. Cunning and deny every wrongdoings is his forte.
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None of the tweets make any sense. Not difficult to see he is misogynistic(gender bias), undemocratic, selfish& irresponsible. Those tweets carry rhetorical agenda. Perhaps to gain political mileage to come back the third time as PM.
Respond to Mahathir 1st tweet, may I know how is it justifiable to vent anger by killing a human just because of a caricature?
How it is not Islam radicalising people when people from others religion will not react violently for such trivial matters?
To Mahathir 2nd tweet. 'Killing is not an act of Muslim he would approve' and hope the sufism Islam Malaysia preach the same message. However, his 12th tweets approved the killing by quoted "angry people kill". If he would to refer the Algerian war between 1954 to 1962 then it has got nothing to do with religion or angry.
Refer to the YouTube video above. This may be the reason why Mahathir would quote "angry people kill" because Muslim always hallucinate of having 'priveledged immunity' and cultivated to belief Islam is absolutely right (and intolerance to people from others religion) thus easily being radicalised and commit violence in the name of Allah/Islam.
Another possibility for Mahathir disagreed Muslim for the killing might because showing of caricature of Mohammed is not blasphemy in the past. China CCTV proven that. However, Muslim radicalism is beyond what between permissible. in general Muslim are instill with the notion to eliminate all non-muslim (disbeliever of Islam).
I totally disagree with him on his 3rd tweet. It is as if he had forgotten May13 incident where Chief of Armed Force Tunku Osman Jiwa and Inspector General Police Salleh bin Ismael order 'shoot-to-kill order' to 2,000 Royal Malay Regiment army and 3,600 police to kill innocent Malaysian Chinese.
Thereafter the massacre, NEP (New Economy Policy) was introduced to exacerbate the situation that systematically marginalizing minority ethnic (mostly Malaysian Chinese&Indian) in almost all aspect of life.
Article: Prior attempt to kill non-muslim.
Not sure May13 massacre was a pre-planned or not but it does coincide with Quran 9:29 and Hadith Sahih 19:4294 perfectly.
Quran (9:29) - "Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued
Sahih Muslim (19:4294) - "Fight against those who disbelieve in Allah. Make a holy war... When you meet your enemies who are polytheists, invite them to three courses of action. If they respond to any one of these, you also accept it and withhold yourself from doing them any harm. Invite them to (accept) Islam; if they respond to you, accept it from them and desist from fighting against them... If they refuse to accept Islam, demand from them the Jizya. If they agree to pay, accept it from them and hold off your hands. If they refuse to pay the tax, seek Allah's help and fight them."
All the police and army deployed under the shoot-to-kill order were Muslim. Not only no prosecution them thereafter the massacre (as if killing people is OK) but NEP or jizya were introduced to levy on non-muslim (as defined by article 160- Constitution).
NEP has been ongoing for 51 years and still haunting Malaysia minority ethnics (non-muslim). If only his tweet 7th refer to this but less likely so.
Hence, Malay/Muslim is not sensitive but oppressive and only stop violence because the non-muslim is paying jizya (NEP) as per Quran 9:29. However, non-muslim have to be sensitive because our life is at stake!
Mahathir's 10th tweet is applicable for himself when he was Prime Minister of Malaysia.
His 4th, 8th & 9th tweets about copying west clothing and becoming wearing less. It seems like either he just born yesterday or he is alien to Malaysia because the reality is just opposite.
Malay barely wear anything (probably topless and totally naked) prior to Srivijaya era. Sarong were introduced by the Indian. Likewise, the Orang Asli and indigenous people of Borneo(East Malaysia) were largely naked prior to the arrival of westerners. It is the west (especially the industrialization) that introduce modern clothing to Malaysia and make clothing affordable.
Without Indian, Chinese and The west introduced more proper clothing to Malay, indigenous of Borneo (also Austronesian, share same ancestor with Malay) and Orang Asli (Negritos, Proto-Malay), they probably still naked living in the jungle. Nevertheless, how much clothing to put on or nude is individual freedom.
Nudity as indecency bylaw is influenced by culture and religious beliefs politician want people to believe they having!
Being nude is not wrong morally if it does not cause harm to anyone. How Muslim perceive it as consent for rape is a matter of self-control they obviously lack of.
Malay didn't wear hijab in the 80's. Hijab is a relatively new trend as Islamism becoming more aggressive.
Arrival of westerner bring civilization and more clothing to Malay.
Borneo women were naked. If it is tradition then what's wrong? Isn't it is the west following our traditional fashion?
Women don't wear hijab
The west naked on beach, we were naked everywhere we go. The west is following our forefathers trend, aren't they?
Frequent terrorist attack by Islamist Jihadist prompted France& affected countries to impose safety measure such as no face cover (no burqa) unless for health reason e.g. covid.
France didn't stop Islam country like Iran to impose rule for wearing hijab so where come the force others? France only impose rules in their own country for the safety of their people.
Negritos migrated to Malaya and Borneo from Africa directly >65,000 years ago.
Austronesian (Malay ancestor) migration route to Malaya only 3,500 years ago.
For Mahathir's 5th & 6th tweets, please don't forget, Malay is not the first people arrived in Malaya or Borneo, it is the Negritos (orang asli). Did Malay ask their permission to land? Did Malay get permission before alter the land? In fact, not only orang asli did not enjoy the special privileges allocated only for the Malay but their rights also being denied. Constantly being force to convert to Islam.
If his 5th tweet's late comer refer to Malaysia minority ethnics (Malaysian chinese& Indian mostly non-muslim) then he is right because if more Chinese and Indian would to migrate earlier then Malaysia would probably more develop now.
New ideas, science&technology and hardship invested in Malaysia by these LATER comer (that can be trace more than 5 generation and as early as year 1400) contributed most of Malaysia economy development despite being minority.
Muslim tend to be misogyny, narrow minded and not open to new ideas and changes probably due to the edicts of Islam caliph that Quran can not be change. The intolerance, misogyny, inflexible& xenophobia(treat non-muslim as foreigners/enemy) nature of Islam may lead to Muslim resistance to the new ideas.
Nonetheless, some verses of Quran were abrogated and replaced by Mohammed himself. This proof that Quran is not evergreen and it can be changed. It was Caliph Othman that prevent further amendment of Quran in afraid of dispute that lead to bloodshed within Muslim at that time because there's several version of Quran emerged and authenticity is hard to confirm.
Mahathir 5th &6th Tweet, Not wrong to say men&women are physically different but it is this differences that should empower women to defense for themselves through universal suffrage and adequate representation in Parliament, especially in this region where men are apathy.
Democracy always care for the voiceless and upholding the principle of equality. He don't seems to understand what is democracy and human rights.
Mahathir's tweet 10th overtly deny France sovereignty and disrespect to freedom of religious beliefs. It is freedom of religion that French can have freedom of choice to belief whichever religion or not to belief any at all (atheist).
This is exemplary for freedom of believe and faith in a democratic country Malaysia should follow. This freedom is guaranteed by France Constitution that we all should respect their sovereignty right, especially it is a very good law.
Since it is a law, France should enforce it so that everyone enjoy the freedom. Those who disrespect freedom of others shall not be respected in return.
Quran (3:56) - "As to those who reject faith, I will punish them with terrible agony in this world and in the Hereafter, nor will they have anyone to help."
Quran (3:151) - "Soon shall We cast terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers, for that they joined companions with Allah, for which He had sent no authority".
Quran (4:89) - "They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah (From what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them; and (in any case) take no friends or helpers from their ranks."
Quran (9:5) - "So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captive and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them."
Quran (9:30) - "And the Jews say: Ezra is the son of Allah; and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah; these are the words of their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before; may Allah destroy them; how they are turned away!"
Quran (9:123) - "O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness."
There are over hundreds of violence verses in Quran and Hadith Muslim obligated to follow. All these are risk and threat to society (especially for non-muslim) and not just because of one or two killing incident by the Muslim. Thus, not wrong to say 'Islam is in crisis' because it is what the book (Islamic teaching) translating in real life.
Mahathir 11th tweet about the killing "is not keeping with the teaching of islam", is not accurate because it is indeed within Islam teaching to kill for those committed besphemy (although the definition of besphemy maybe open) or just any non-muslim (disbeliever to Islam).
Probably, the Islam Mahathir understood in his life is not what the Islam original value or maybe he is just being an apologist to disassociate Islam for the crime committed.
This is preposterous because Islam is base on Quran and Quran is violence. Reaction from Muslim worldwide also endorsed the crime is Islamic.
Thus, Who is disrespecting others value& religion?
There is no law in France prohibit Muslim from their religious practices as long as it does not break the law.
In which area France is disrespecting others value?
Everyone is free to practice their religion in the West. Unlike Malaysia where non-muslim is bind by conditions and receiving unequal treatment despite contributed the most.
If Malaysia respect freedom of religious believe then Article 160 of Malaysia constitution should not bind Malay to Islam and afforded special privileges to Malay under article 153.
The existence of law is for public order and peace. If anyone can kill people as they wish then what law is for?
Normally, parent complain to principal about discrimination. In extreme case report to police. There's many avenue in France to let his grievances heard. Glorify killing is akin to inducing more terrorism.
Emmamuel Macron is not primitive, he is civilize since he pathway for legal recourse for all people disregard race &religion thus he is also not anti-islam because law apply to all.
Algerian war is not as a result of angry French. The war is not related to religion. Is Mahathir trying to confuse people worldwide that French had killed many Muslim thus it is OK to kill French in return?
Angry because French kill many Muslim in the past?
He don't even know basic rules of law. Should his children and grandchildren be prosecuted for his cronyism, corruption& squandering public money? Of course no, unless they too involved.
So why French people have to be punish for their grandfather/ancestor killing?
Furthermore, it was war, killing is inevitable. He should not compare religion and colonization. Nature of colonization is to extract resources and profit from it. Whereas religion is for mental& spiritual growth and social well-being. No others religion other than Islam ask to kill or persecute others. This is the different between islam and others religion.
What sort of punishment Mahathir think fit for the French?
I would suggest French to erect a friendship monuments to express regret on the lost from both sides due to the war.
Should Malay be punish for their crime in May13 massacre?
If yes, how?
I would rather Malaysia King and Prime Minister officially apologize to victim of May13 massacre and minority that suffering from unequal treatment due to NEP, as well as, abolish the foolish article 153 (special privileges) and article 160 (Malay definition). We don't want to kill Malay (they are our friend), we just want dignity and equality.
Mahathir words(if indeed his) is misleading& dangerous. As MP represent Langkawi, he shall be accountable for his words. He is not commoner. his word bring impact and may cause real damage as he is financially and personally capable of inflicting such terrorism. He should be prosecuted and Malaysia government should come out to distance the country from his personal statement.
I would like to congratulate Nayang Technology University of Singapore for announced the "The Moonshot", a six storey wooden campus, 40,000 sq m GFA（Gross Floor Area), costing S$180 million. The Mass-Engineered Timber building come with a price tag of S$4,500/ sq meter (GFA), double of average construction cost using reinforced concrete, S$925 to S$1,165 (as of 2015 Primary& Secondary school) or S$2,854 to S$3,152 if compare with shopping mall construction cost per square meter as of 2017.
Arcadis: Cost Index year 2015.
Note that I derived S$4,500 from GFA instead of construction area which the two are different though negligible. The cost comparison also didn't take into consideration of the cost index of the period. Broadly speaking, timber building is 1.43 to 4.8 times more costly than building built with reinforced concrete.
So what make the highly efficient Singapore chose to invested in the timber building? What more it is (The Wave) the biggest of its kind in Asia.
I personally very proud of Singapore for pioneering the modern wooden building. It will act as a yardstick for future building to follow suit, at the same time building local industry expertise in wooden building construction. Nonetheless, my support only applicable if the materials is sourced from sustainable manage forest, certified by FSC(Forest Stewardship Council) or equivalent.
What so great about wooden building that still stay reasonable despite its high price tag?
Many would argue that isn't chopping down trees is bad for the environment? It is true if not done properly. Unsustainable logging will cause lost of biodiversity, flooding, landslide, soil erosion, water pollution, lost of carbon sequestration potential of the forest and land (yes, land also sequestrate carbon) and carbon emission. Others negative impact directly affected human are loss of shelter for the indigenous people, loss of livelihood(hunting and small scale agriculture), loss of source of water.
The coming 2020 Olympic games stadium in Japan for example is an unfortunate story for the rainforest. There are at least 4 Japan based NGO protest and pursue the unsustainable source plywood from Sarawak for the Olympic stadium construction. However, government from both country is mute and blind about it as though they never acknowledge any petition and protest on the matter. The disappearance of pristine rainforest and suffering of force eviction of the indigenous settlement is irreversible.
Cash is King here!
Forest that support 1.6 billion people is losing it presence by 30 million acres every year and contributed to 20% of the world carbon emission. Reality is sad, despite FSC is meticulously designed to be environmentally and socially just but its adoption is only up to 10% of the world total working forest. Ten basic principles of FSC reflect the holistic approach of the certification yet there is little motivation for government around the world to make it into by-law. For some egoistic reason or what not, different country may want to create their own certification with their own logo but the bottom line is the content. These certification may mutually recognise each other to have the same effects and gain wider acceptance worldwide since timber industry is very much an international business.
The Ten Principles of FSC are:
PRINCIPLE 1:
The Organization shall comply with all applicable laws, regulations and nationally-ratified international treaties, conventions and agreements.
PRINCIPLE 2:
The Organization shall maintain or enhance the social and economic wellbeing of workers.
PRINCIPLE 3:
The Organization shall identify and uphold Indigenous Peoples’ legal and customary rights of ownership, use and management of land, territories and resources affected by management activities.
PRINCIPLE 4:
The Organization shall contribute to maintaining or enhancing the social and economic wellbeing of local communities.
PRINCIPLE 5:
The Organization shall efficiently manage the range of multiple products and services of the Management Unit to maintain or enhance long term economic viability and the range of environmental and social benefits.
PRINCIPLE 6:
The Organization shall maintain, conserve and/or restore ecosystem services and environmental values of the Management Unit, and shall avoid, repair or mitigate negative environmental impacts.
PRINCIPLE 7:
The Organization shall have a management plan consistent with its policies and objectives and proportionate to scale, intensity and risks of its management activities. The management plan shall be implemented and kept up to date based on monitoring information in order to promote adaptive management. The associated planning and procedural documentation shall be sufficient to guide staff, inform affected stakeholders and interested stakeholders and to justify management decisions.
PRINCIPLE 8:
The Organization shall demonstrate that, progress towards achieving the management objectives, the impacts of management activities and the condition of the Management Unit, are monitored and evaluated proportionate to the scale, intensity and risk of management activities, in order to implement adaptive management.
PRINCIPLE 9:
The Organization shall maintain and/or enhance the High Conservation Values in the Management Unit through applying the precautionary approach.
PRINCIPLE 10:
Management activities conducted by or for The Organization for the Management Unit shall be selected and implemented consistent with The Organization’s economic, environmental and social policies and objectives and in compliance with the Principles and Criteria collectively.
I belief Singapore, in this context is genuinely wanted to be showcase how wooden building is parallel, if not exceeding, the quality of conventional building construction. In comparison to reinforced concrete, timber has relatively lower weight ratio and able to perform the same fire resistance if properly treated and designed. Unlike reinforced concrete, instead of emitting carbon timber itself is a carbon sink store as much carbon as 50% of its weight. Trees sequestrate carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and use it for body building. Of course, not only the trees in the forest serve as carbon sink the soil on the forest serve the same purpose too thus it is important to manage forest sustainably because wipe up the forest irresponsibility not only lost the potential carbon sequestration from the trees but the carbon sequestration potential of the soil too. Likewise, if manage sustainably, trees is harvest when reach Optimum Rotational Age or Maximum Sustainable Revenue and replanting of trees to ensure regeneration of carbon sequestration potential by aforestation(plant trees at area not a forest)or reforestation while meeting the business objective (profitable).
The YouTube Video reveal how Sustainable managed forest to achieve both economy and environment objectives. Therefore it is almost certain that timber is a better choice as building materials if source from sustainable managed forest. The question that bugging me is whether land on earth is enough to supply for all human needs if would to build with wood? what is the break-even point for forest to cope with demand? is there technology that expedite the production of timber without negative side effects? Human population will hit 9.6 billion in year 2050, the world need answer for the future as much as solving the current problem otherwise we might not even have chance to see the future coming!
Not only wooden building technology improved tremendously to cater for the market needs but conventional building materials such as concrete and steel also evolving to become more environment sensitive. Conventionally, not only cement do not sequestrate carbon but its power intensive production and process that convert calcium carbonate into lime and CO2 as by-product is main reasons for 900kg of CO2 emission for every ton of cement produced. Concrete is made out of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), aggregate, sand and water. A 14% cement content emit up to 410kg/m3 of carbon dioxide which is approximately 180kg/tonne for a concrete mix with density of 2,300kg/m3. With the introduce of Fly ash, a by product from coal power plant generator, can replace up to 30% of cement content in the concrete mix effectively reduce carbon dioxide to 290kg/m3. One of the main culprit for the need to fire temperature to 1,500 °C is alite (Ca3SiO5), an ingredient of cement that responsible for early curing (gain strength) of concrete. to reduce the intensity of fossil fuel for that kind of temperature Belite (Ca2SiO4) is an alternative for replacement which can do the same tricks at 1,200 °C however it is not for sure Belite is greener since it take more energy to grind and require more time, like a few days even months to cure, though it yield greater strength than alite. Magnesium can be added to expedite the setting. Other than changes within cement, innovative ways to reduce CO2 is to pump liquid CO2 before the concrete mix thus making it storing carbon into the concrete.
In general, wood is still far superior as a building materials in terms of environmental friendliness, as well as, bring others benefit such as reduction of heat island effects in the urban area and healthier (if not treated with harmful chemical).
It is said that wood is link to spiritual property in many custom belief from the North West Viking to far East Japan and our very Malayunesia (Nusantara- Malay world).
MET(Mas Engineered Timber) is 30% lighter than concrete and has higher strength-to-weight ratio than concrete and steel, allowing The Wave spanning 3 basketball court or 13 badminton court equivalent distance without any internal column. Prefabrication of MET component reduce 25% of manpower and labour cost saving which is a way to improve productivity. Needless to say, it is more sustainable, not only itself act as carbon storage, to as much as 50% of its weight, but the nature of its fabrication allow smaller trees instead of large piece of solid dimension lumber to be used thus matching sustainable managed forestry. Unlike the old days, MET is treated to be more durable from moisture and termite invasion, better fire resistant and thermal insulation. it chars at 0.75mm per minutes instead of burn like what we imagine for BBQ. As for The Wave, it have 50mm allocate for the purpose hence 66.6minutes (~1hr) equivalent of fire resistance before fire meet MET's core.
*General assumption is 1 cubic meter of wood equal to 1 ton of CO2 stored thus prevent CO2 from release into atmosphere and cause climate change.
MET give an example that sustainable construction materials may be found in primitive materials. Others natural building materials are bamboo (have faster growth rate), earth(adobe and mud,), strawbale, hemp and stone. There are 2 billions people in the world still living in mud houses and there is every reason for it, from thermal comfort, affordability to cultural value. Green materials in the recent decades such as used tire (earthship house), glass bottle, aluminum cannes, plastic, ICF (Insulated Concrete Foam) and others recycled materials is used as building materials. Not only it is not any lesser meeting the functional requirements of building in comparison to the conventional building materials but offer benefits such as divert waste from landfill, reduce GHG emission, and provide very affordable option that contribute to social growth.
