I was watching the documentary “UMNO 25 Tahun” on RTM1 last night and was overwhelmed with nostalgia at the leadership of the late Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Razak, our nation’s first and second Prime Ministers. The magnificent leadership qualities in these two gentlemen shone through from the sincerity of their struggles for the nation’s independence.
I am a beneficiary of their struggles and a product of their times. I have much to be thankful to them for the sacrifices they made on behalf of future generations of Malaysians, irregardless of race or religion. Yet I now hate politics or rather politicians whose prime motivation is wealth and power. It does not matter which political party if their intentions are less than noble, the emptiness of their speeches ring louder than a tong kosong.
Listening to Tunku and Tun Razak, I want to fight for my country too not as a politician but as a loyal and patriotic citizen who loves this nation Malaysia. I sing-a-long with the rousing Malaysiaku Gemilang that Roy sings with so much energy and wave the Malaysian flag just as energetically. But my heart bleeds right now for this country. What would Tunku and Tun Razak think of this nation today?
What are we to do when young innocent children are killed for baffling reasons. It seems Kha Man may have been accidentally drowned, as The Star says here . I am not sure what to make of it. I was also puzzled as to the report on Preeshena. All said and done, the two little girls are now dead. I need to echo Datuk Seri Shahrizat’s reminder to all parents. When the dust settles and the media no longer picks up the story, it is the parents who will suffer the most for their child’s death. Prevention should be the first priority. My condolences to them and urge them to be strong in facing the days ahead.
I will understand that the Police will need to do their job from every angle. The parents, family members and neighbours will need to be questioned according to procedures. Do your job Tuan but please also get the killers. Get them no matter what!
While we fight on for Nurin Alert, I have to admit that the system cannot prevent the death of a child under these baffling circumstances. But if a child, under whatever circumstance, were to go missing, the Nurin Alert will give the Police a chance of finding the child alive. Anyone have any better ideas?
The Star:
Tragic news for housewife who went to work
GOMBAK: The mother had only started working about a month ago after years as a housewife. They had been looking for someone to look after their older daughter. Their only son was away at a boarding school and their younger daughter was at the baby-sitter’s place. Nine-year-old Preeshena Varshiny was home alone. On Thursday, the family paid a heavy price for leaving her alone without a minder.
The little girl was raped, sodomised and murdered before being pushed off the balcony at the posh Casa Mila Tower condominium in Selayang. Police believe someone with access to the condominium could have been responsible for the vicious crime. The condominium is a gated community and anyone who wants to access the premise must first report to the guardhouse.
“We are investigating this,” Gombak OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Abdullah said, adding that police also believed somebody at the condominium could have seen the girl being lured out from her unit. Those with information can call Gombak district police headquarters at 03-6138 5222 or the Rakan COP hotline at 03-2115 9999 or send an SMS to 32728, or log on to www.rakancop.net. (Please click on title for full story)
Berita Harian:
Ibu bapa diminta tidak abai keselamatan anak
KUALA LUMPUR: Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat akan mengarahkan pegawainya menyiasat kenapa kanak-kanak perempuan yang ditemui mati menyayat hati dalam longkang berhampiran rumahnya tinggal di rumah berseorangan ketika kejadian pada Khamis lalu. Menterinya, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, berkata beliau akan segera mengarahkan pegawainya membuat siasatan terperinci.
“Saya minta ibu bapa peka dengan keselamatan anak walaupun di rumah sendiri. Kita faham ramai ibu bapa sekarang sibuk dengan kerjaya mereka, namun tidak seharusnya mengabaikan kebajikan anak mereka. Seharusnya mereka mencari alternatif memastikan keselamatan anak mereka terjamin. Saya rasa sedih dan kesal dengan tragedi yang menimpa Preeshena Varshiny dan mahu polis segera mencari pembunuhnya kerana kita tidak mahu kejadian yang terjadi kepada Allahyarham Nurin Jazlin Jazimin berulang.
“Apabila saya baca mengenai kejadian itu melalui akhbar, saya rasa marah dan kecewa dengan penjenayah yang tidak berperikemanusiaan itu. Sepatutnya kejadian itu tidak lagi berlaku di saat kita masih menangisi pemergian Nurin Jazlin yang juga menjadi mangsa manusia tidak berhati perut,” katanya ketika ditemui pada majlis rumah terbuka hari raya Umno bahagian Lembah Pantai, di sini, semalam.
Shahrizat berkata, kejadian itu tidak seharusnya berlaku jika masyarakat mengambil tahu keadaan sekeliling. “Kekejaman terhadap kanak-kanak harus dihentikan. Saya mahu semua masyarakat menjadi mata dan telinga kepada apa-apa yang berlaku di sekeliling mereka. Saya yakin pembunuh itu dapat ditangkap kerana mustahil jika tiada siapa yang ternampak kejadian itu,” katanya.
Khamis lalu, Preeshena Varshiny, murid Tahun Tiga Sekolah Kebangsaan St Mary, Selayang ditemui mati dalam longkang Kondominium Casamila Tower, Batu Caves oleh pengawal keselamatan yang meronda sebelum melaporkannya kepada polis. Laporan forensik menunjukkan mangsa cedera kepala, tangan kanannya patah, lebam pada dada dan belakang badan selain dirogol dan diliwat. Mangsa dipercayai tinggal berseorangan di rumahnya sebelum kejadian kerana ibu bapanya keluar bekerja, manakala adiknya berada di rumah pengasuh.
New Straits Times:
Shahrizat appalled, wants parents questioned
KUALA LUMPUR: Officers from the Welfare Department are expected to interview the parents of the girl who was raped and murdered on Thursday. Preeshena Varshiny, 9, was raped, sodomised and thrown off the balcony of her condominium unit.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said she was “appalled” that Preeshena’s parents had left their daughter home alone. I’m sad to say this, but we have to talk to the parents and ask them why she was left alone and not sent to the babysitter like her sister. She’s only 9. I will be sending my officers there to find out.”
“It sickens me to hear of such cases. I want the police to go all out to find the person responsible for this. Do a manhunt if you have to.” (Please click on title for full story)
Father: She was left alone for only 2 hours
KUALA LUMPUR: Preeshena Varshiny’s parents want justice for their daughter. They say that if need be, they will search for her killer themselves. Only moments before the 9-year-old was cremated, her mother made her a solemn promise. I told her she will be at peace in heaven. I promised her that I will fight till the end to find her killers. I will not rest until those responsible are caught. I want them to be put to death.”Preeshena was raped, sodomised and thrown off a condominium balcony on Thursday.
Her 30-year-old mother is racked by guilt, her mind filled with “if only”. My daughter was murdered just 30 days after I went back to work, after two years at home. It wouldn’t have happened if I had stayed home. Preeshena’s mother, who did not want to be named, works in the human resource department of a private firm in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur. She said she decided to work as her family needed the income.(Please click on title for full story)
Good Morning Tembam,
2 more children dead and my heart bleeds for both children and parents. I used to leave my 3 kids at home when I go to work at my nearby office, I dont think I can do that now. It’s not safe everywhere, not even our own home. Seems like we have to guard our children 24/7. I agree with you that this could be a copy cat murderer. When the Police fail to find Nurin, and failed to capture her murderer/s, they failed BIG TIME. All the wrong messages sent out to would be paedophiles and killers, that they can do anything they want and GET AWAY WITH IT. Its proven with Nurin’s case-murder unsolved!
I am so sad
From the website http://www.projectsafechildhood.gov, President George W.Bush make a strong statement as follows:
“Our nation has made this commitment: Anyone who targets a child for harm will be a primary target of law enforcement. That’s our commitment. Anyone who takes the life or innocence of a child will be punished to the full extent of the law.” President George W. Bush, October 23, 2002
“We cannot, and we will not, tolerate those who seek to abuse or exploit our children.” Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, April 20, 2006
Malaysia has evolved tremendously in the past 50 years and I share the same sentiments with you as to our previous and current leaders. Before we can move on to a be a greater country in 2020, let’s start with the basic first, SAFETY FOR OUR CHILDREN, SAFETY FOR US. It is shameful and appalling to read ACA investigation on our top gun for 27millions, shameful to us Malaysian and to the world. What is happening, the Government and Police who are responsible to protect its people are more interested in their personal gains and vested interests, is this why crime rates is at the highest? Killers roams freely in our society, parents living in fear and locking up their children.
Nurin, Kha Man and Presshena was unnecessary death, irrespective of parents fault or not. It seems now their deaths have come full circle, its no longer just one Nurin, but the 3 children respresenting our 3 major races. This shows that the killers are bolder and more daring, they seemed to be very confident that they will not be caught, and extremely SAD to say, this may well be the case.
If only we have this commitment from our PM as what Bush did, NurinAlert will be up and running immediately, rather than going the usual, slower pace.
How many more deaths before we get the killers, how many more deaths before our Government and Police realised that its people are suffering. So sad
I SUPPORT NURIN ALERT
My God! What’s is happening here? After Nurin, a spate of copy-cat MO’s? Or is/are the perp(s) the same psychopath(s)? Or is it because they have become emboldened since PRM has yet to apprehend them?
PDRM must put this on the NUMBER ONE priority list!
Mary Kate and Mat Salo, something is really wrong with this nation. I frankly am against all the horrible details of the crime being splashed across the pages of the newspapers and on air. There has to be a limit. I read a very interesting post on the blog of British expat “KlingKlangman” who said “I am no psychologist, and I grew up in the UK where we are fairly well protected from gory images (The BBC rarely shows anything remotely unpleasant and the papers never do), but I really can’t understand the purpose of displaying gory images… ”
It’s all these issues and more that needs to be addressed. Maybe our media has to go read their Code of Ethics again. Copycat criminals are a definite possibility until the fear of God or the long arm of the law can make them stop.
Mary Kate, the love for children makes even President Bush sound like a man with a heart. What are we doing about our nations children? They are our future.
Utter madness.
Nurin’s killer/s still out there.
Police said Kha Man drowned. She was not sexually assaulted.
Still…so tragic because the man with whom she and her friend were with, did not report the incident.
Anyway, I dont really know what to make out of the story.
Preeshena’s death. How sad. She was at home. Gated community. She was lured out…
SO so sad all this is happening.
It just gets worse. You think they would debate the state of our nation’s children in UMNO? I wonder how low in the ranks of national priorities the fate of our children lie? Baffled is putting it too mildly when insanity prevails.
Tembam, I read in Rocky’s blog that Bernama reported that UMNO’s giving out money for those who register as voters. Am I reading this correctly, I read and reread the article, wondering if my eyes were playing tricks or my English had deteriorated, trying to make up what’s the actual message. How come it keeps coming back to me as “buying votes”, is it just me, my eyes, brain or what? Or there’s another meaning to it as I could not really understand this. In many countries, people fight and even die for their voting rights. How come we need to lure voters with money? BTW, how do I put a link into the blog, I only know how to copy and paste, sorry la, not so IT and blog savvy.
Hi Mary Kate. Haiyah, if the politicans want to play games with money I am not going to waste my time with them! I am getting this feeling that politics has become an SMS reality show now. Can we take any of those seriously? Pure entertainment! Ever watched some of the more ingenious “witty” speakers? On second thoughts don’t torture yourself. Entertaining like the media too you think?
On linking into the blog, you need to highlight the word or phrase that you want linked and click on the icon “Insert/edit link (Alt + a)” – just run the cursor over it to see whic one. A little box will pop up for you to paste the url of the link. Then click “insert” and you’re done.
Cheers.