Rudyard Kipling"
“When you're left wounded on Afganistan's plains and
the women come out to cut up what remains, Just roll to your rifle
and blow out your brains,
And go to your God like a soldier”
General Douglas MacArthur"
“We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.”
“It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.” “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.
“The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and be the deepest wounds and scars of war.”
“May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't .” “The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.
“Nobody ever defended, there is only attack and attack and attack some more.
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
The Soldier stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as bright as his brass
"Step forward you Soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint."
I've had to work on Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep,
The Soldier squared his shoulders and said
And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the Soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, you Soldier,
You've borne your burden well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
Brickbats for Mohd Fauzi Mustaffa instead of "Ketupat" and "Rendang"
Friday, October 13, 2006
A boycott of Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Bhd should be carried out by all Malaysians and Malaysians should drink more Coke.
Their business sought, their friendship not- by Terence Fernandez.
I received a disturbing e-mail recently from an employee of Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Bhd. She had forwarded an internal mail sent to all staff by the insurance company's management, prohibiting Muslim employees from extending Deepavali greetings to Hindus. The e-mail carrying the heading Durga Pooja Greetings / Lakshmi Pooja Greetings / Deepavali Greetings was sent on Oct 3 by Mohd Fauzi Mustaffa of Takaful Malaysia's syariah department of the CEO's office.
In the mail, Mohd Fauzi extensively and correctly describes Durga Pooja, Lakshmi Pooja and Deepavali and why they are important to Hindus. Explaining that they are directly associated with Gods in the Hindu faith, he says: "Seluruh kakitangan Malaysia adalah dilarang untuk mengucapkan ucap selamat kepada ketiga perayaan di atas dan lain-lain lagi yang sepertinya kerana ianya boleh menyebabkan berlakunya syirik."
He explains that Takaful Malaysia's corporate culture does not allow for such greetings to Hindu clients or those from any other faiths that involves "their God".
He goes on to tell Muslim employees who have "committed the sin of extending such greetings" to repent immediately.
Visiting Takaful Malaysia's website, one discovers that its products and services are extended to non-Muslims as well.
In fact, its corporate mission states that: The basis of Takaful Malaysia's operation is founded on the principles of syariah with the primary objective to provide comprehensive takaful facilities and services to Muslims and ALL Malaysians ...
So it seems that there is a conflict between Takaful Malaysia's corporate culture and its corporate mission.
While its "mission" includes providing services to non-Muslims, the "culture" as depicted in the e-mail seems to suggest that non-Muslim clients - in this case Hindus - are not regarded as mutually as the firm's Muslim clients.
What guarantees are there then, that the interests of non-Muslim clients will be equally protected?
It is reassuring to note though that its website stresses that Takaful is for non-Muslims too... and that ...a contract of any takaful product that applies to one shall apply to all...
So, as far as contractual obligations go, one can rest assured that the company will fulfil them. But can Ah Chong, Muthu and Joe expect any value-added services?
So, is it not hypocritical of Takaful Malaysia to enforce its culture of non-regard for other faiths but at the same time canvass for business opportunities among non-Muslims - some of whom do not have a choice but to be clients of the company (some national school insurance schemes come under the company)?
It would not be wise for the non-learned - both Muslims and non-Muslims alike - to decipher or interpret the reasonings of the Syariah.
But does wishing your neighbour a "Happy Deepavali" make you a lesser Muslim?
Does extending Aidilfitri, Aidil Adha or Maulud Nabi greetings make one a lesser Hindu, Buddhist or Christian? No religion preaches this and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Dr Abdullah Md Zin must be praised for coming out strongly against Takaful Malaysia's policy. He was quoted as saying: "Just because you wish someone Happy Deepavali does not mean that you have embraced his beliefs and religion."
Abdullah goes on to say that in a multi-religious society like Malaysia, it is important to greet each other.
While a majority within the private sector, including government-linked corporations, are doing their bit to help bridge ties among the various faiths and races, there are others which go that extra mile to widen the gap.
Such approaches do not help in nation-building and are against the principles of Islam hadhari (progressive Islam) which was mooted by the prime minister - who, incidentally, has declared that he is the leader of ALL Malaysians.
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi makes it a point to extend greetings to Malaysians during all ethnic and religious celebrations.
So, by extending greetings to non-Muslims during these festivals, is the prime minister also committing syirik (sin)?
For a firm that helped Buddhist-majority Sri Lanka start its first takaful programme and boasts of being an international player, Takaful Malaysia is not sending the right message to its clients, shareholders and business partners.
Whether in insurance or daily life, it is without a doubt that true Islamic practices are universal - and this is what Takaful stresses in its sales pitch.
However, by expressing its reservations over different religious practices, the company implies that non-Muslim clients are less important and this is something no religion preaches nor tolerates.
Note:Takaful Malaysia head of PR Lokman Abdul Rahman had this to say:This was an internal mail and so far we do not have any problems with our staff regarding the mail. There are about 1-2% non-Muslim staff. We even have a consultant from India.We have a syariah department whose job is to look into these things. They check with Islamic scholars to verify the facts and advise the staff accordingly, but it is up to the individual to follow this advice.- No repentance or remorse-Edit
Terence Fernandez is deputy news editor (special reporting and investigations) at theSun. Comments: feedback@thesundaily.com Source-Sun2surf
