PRESS STATEMENT: THE ISRAEL-PALESTINE CRISIS: WHY IT IS NOT LONGER ABOUT RELIGION BUT CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY

1. Malaysia is deeply saddened and disappointed by the war crime and violent attack by the Israelites against Palestinians which obviously violates the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention. The heartless and cruelty of the Israeli’s regime of violence and widespread bombing has clearly violated the international law, human rights law, international humanitarian law and the Charter of the United Nation.

2. As I follow closely with the latest developments and news updates in Palestine, I am deeply disturbed and devastated to know that until now, the UN Security Council has not issued any statement on the current situation in Palestine even after reports by the Palestinian Health Ministry on the innocent and brutal death of 213 Palestinians and 1,500 civilians greatly injured in the attacks. Why is the UNSC ignoring this? Why are the Palestinians getting murdered daily in the land that belonged to their ancestors? It is only natural for them to defend their land and home from the attacks of the Israeli militaries’ attempt in forcefully expelling the residents from Sheikh Jarrah’s neighbourhood. Palestinians are not terrorist. Palestinians are human beings and all humans have the right to live freely without fear. Innocent children in Gaza should not be killed and must be protected at all cost.

3. The international community especially the UN Security Council should act swiftly in compelling Israel to stop its oppressive and violent attacks on Palestine. The cruel and despicable actions of the Israeli military, without a slight hint of compassion and mercy for Palestinians must be strongly condemned not only in Malaysia but also the rest of the world. This is not an issue of religion. A person doesn’t have to be a Muslim in order to stand and support Palestine. This is a worldwide issue and plight. We must collectively stand together in voicing out our repugnance on this wicked crime by Israel.

4. The Malaysian government has also reiterated their stand in consistently giving their strong political, economical and moral support to Palestine. Malaysia will also continue to support all efforts for a peaceful, just and lasting solution through negotiation involving all relevant parties based on international laws and the relevant UN resolutions.

5. I stand in solidarity and support in saving Palestine from the hands of tyrants. I condemn the Israeli attacks against Palestinians and call for Israel to immediately stop its aggression across the territory of Palestine. Don’t lose hope, Palestine. We mourn with you. We cry with you. We stand with you. We are praying for you. We are with you until the end.

Ainie Haziqah
EXCO Srikandi BERSATU Malaysia

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Versi Bahasa Melayu

ISU ISRAEL-PALESTIN: BUKAN LAGI ISU KEAGAMAAN, TETAPI ISU KEMANUSIAAN

1. Malaysia berdukacita dan kecewa dengan jenayah perang dan serangan ganas oleh pihak Israel terhadap Palestin yang jelas melanggar Konvensyen Geneva Keempat 1949. Perilaku tidak berperikemanusiaan dan kekejaman rejim keganasan Israel serta pengeboman besar-besaran jelas melanggar undang-undang antarabangsa, hak asasi manusia, kemanusiaan dan Piagam Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB).

2. Saya mengikuti perkembangan terkini berita di Palestin, sejak bulan suci Ramadan hingga Aidilfitri dan saya sangat sedih serta kecewa mengetahui bahawa sehingga kini, Majlis Keselamatan PBB (UNSC) belum mengeluarkan kenyataan mengenai keadaan semasa di Palestin walaupun setelah laporan Kementerian Kesihatan Palestin mengumumkan kematian 213 orang Palestin dan 1,500 orang awam tercedera dalam serangan itu. Mengapa UNSC mengabaikan perkara ini? Bagaimana nasib anak-anak Palestin yang tidak bersalah menjadi mangsa kezaliman ini? Mengapa mereka dibunuh setiap hari disebabkan tindakan keji tentera Israel di tanah milik nenek moyang mereka? Tindakan mereka yang mempertahankan tanah dan kediaman mereka adalah wajar bagi membalas tindakan tentera Israel yang secara paksa mengusir penduduk Palestin dari kawasan Sheikh Jarrah untuk membina penempatan haram orang Yahudi. Palestin bukan pengganas. Palestin adalah manusia dan mereka berhak untuk hidup bebas tanpa rasa takut. Kanak-kanak di Gaza tidak boleh dibunuh. Semua orang awam, pelarian, kanak-kanak, wartawan dan pekerja media mesti dilindungi dengan apa cara sekalipun.

3. Komuniti antarabangsa terutama Majlis Keselamatan PBB harus bertindak pantas dalam memaksa Israel menghentikan serangan yang menindas dan zalim ke atas Palestin. Ini bukan masalah antara agama dan tidak perlu menjadi Muslim untuk menyokong Palestin. Ini adalah isu sejagat. Kita harus bersama dalam menyuarakan bantahan terhadap kezaliman oleh Israel ini. Kerajaan Malaysia juga mengulangi pendirian mereka secara konsisten bagi memberikan sokongan politik, ekonomi dan moral secara padu kepada Palestin.

4. Malaysia akan terus menyokong segala usaha untuk penyelesaian yang damai dan adil melalui rundingan yang melibatkan semua pihak yang berkepentingan berdasarkan undang-undang antarabangsa dan resolusi PBB yang relevan.

5. Saya bersolidariti dan menyatakan sokongan untuk menyelamatkan Palestin daripada kezaliman Israel. Saya mengutuk serangan Israel terhadap Palestin dan menyeru mereka menghentikan segera pencerobohan di seluruh wilayah Palestin. Jangan putus asa, Palestin. Kami menyokong Palestin. Kami menangis bersama Palestin. Kami berdiri bersama Palestin. Kami sentiasa mendoakan Palestin. Selamanya kami bersama Palestin.

Ainie Haziqah
EXCO Srikandi BERSATU Malaysia

[#字正腔圓] 2016年寫的文章，關於RP accent。

I believe that the author of this passage was trying to criticize learners who imitate "British" accents like RP, which in fact is used by an extremely small proportion of the country's population. Learners who are learning the accent out of the belief that it is "the standard accent of English" and therefore should be preferred to other accents. The author also pointed out that the concept of a "standard accent" is a myth, because there is a large variety of accents and they should be held equally.
The crux of the discussion, thus, lies in this: Is Standard English (SE) a "myth"? Should there be a form of standard English we acknowledge and embrace?
Labelling SE and RP a myth subjects us to the vulnerability of letting the true issue at question slip. Where does this concept of SE come from and why is RP seen as the standard?
RP is deemed to be the standard for historical reasons such as the RP orientated policies of the BBC. It is, of course, ignorant to contend simply that RP is the standard without knowledge of the reasons behind its status, but to say that we don't have to care about accents at all in English learning is fallacious and simplistic because, as a matter of fact, different accents have been, are, and will likely continue to be perceived differently.
You may, of course, say that these perceptions are rooted in prejudices in the sense that they're impressionistic and stereotypical. You may argue that these prejudices should be eradicated, that there should not exist a standard form of English, and that no forms of English should be held superior or inferior to any other, but fair or unfair judgements asides, teachers of English should make this clear to learners of English: there do exist associations between accents and perceptions. This is a Sociolinguistic phenomenon and a matter of culture, which learners of English cannot afford to ignore.
One of the prejudices used to be commonly held in favour of RP is that its speakers are educated, and thus credible and intelligent. Things have changed, and now, RP is increasingly associated with pomposity and the undeserved privileges of the upper class -the tides have turned, but we have to be aware that these perceptions, in their nature, are still prejudices. The BBC and other advocates for RP may have manipulated prejudices on the part of the public to gain credibility in the past and there may be people who are doing the same now - by learning an accent so as to sound more posh and "hoax" people into admiring or believing them.
Is such pretense contemptible? It is, but stupidity is no less a vice than pretense. People who speak RP to impress may be despicable, but we should find equal repugnance in those happen to be stupid enough to be fooled into idolatry as well as those who hold RP speakers automatically guilty of an intention to sound posh.