The New Nation - Internet Edition

Expanding OIC activities

THE two-day eleventh Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) concluded on Saturday in Dakar, capital of Senegal. The moot question raised and discussed in the summit was bringing changes to the summit charter with a view to modernising it. The OIC leaders have rightly felt that the summit charter needs to be changed to face the complex and rapidly changing global situation. OIC was formed in the later part of the 20th century when the global situation was different from what it is now. Change in OIC charter has thus become inevitable.

While bringing changes to the charter certain things shall have to be borne in mind. One of such things is to boldly assert that there is no relationship between Islam and terrorism. Hence, the non-Muslim or Judio Christian world need not have to be phobic about Islam. The other important point is to widen the horizon of cooperation and help between and among the Muslim countries.

God has blessed some Muslim countries with much resources. Some other Muslim countries are poor. If the rich Muslim countries take a sympathetic view of the poor ones and extend development cooperation poverty from the Muslim countries can be removed at a faster pace. That shall strengthen the bond among Muslim countries and the Ummah, as a group, would become stronger and be better able to tackle the odds. Their governance should be good based on transparency and accountability. A weak Ummah shall never be counted. The OIC has made certain contributions to the economic and social development of the Muslim countries. In Bangladesh, Arab Muslims are developing different kinds of institutions which include welfare and financial institutions such as banks and hospitals. The Islamic Development Bank has emerged as a reliable multilateral development agency. After the Sidr cyclone Muslim Ummah's help to Bangladesh was noteworthy. The OIC can become more influential by helping expand development assistance to less affluent Muslim countries.

The sound pollution threat

SOUND pollution in the city has reached a high level and poses a serious threat to human health. Permissible sound measures range from 35 decibel [dB] to 75 dB from place to place. According to the Department of Environment, tolerable sound limits for daytime and night are respectively 45 dB and 35 dB in peaceful areas, 50 dB and 40 dB in residential areas, 60 dB and 50 dB in mixed areas, 70 dB and 60 dB in commercial areas and 75 dB and 70 dB in industrial areas.

But noise levels at different places in the city have surpassed the set limits. The noise intensity varies from 67 dB to 83 dB in the city. According to the World Health Organisation, 60 dB sounds can make one completely deaf and lead to different other physical and mental ailments. In the absence of control over creation of sounds the problem has been worsening Control of noise pollution has become urgent because of the threat it poses to human health. The concerned authorities must take up the matter with utmost seriousness. Though blowing of hydraulic horns is banned in the city, users are found to care little about it.

Establishment of factories and commercial enterprises in or near residential areas, the use of machinery and equipment in those without arrangement for sound proofing are some of the factors that lead to sound pollution. The absence of restrictions on the use of horns by automobile operators increases the intensity of the problem. The use of loudspeakers for entertainment purposes sometimes causes serious inconvenience to neighbours if such programmes are not organised at secluded places. However, mere knowledge of sound pollution going above tolerable limits would be meaningless if such knowledge is not followed up with preventive and curative measures. Above all, awareness of the people about the adverse effects of sound pollution is needed to enlist their participation in solving the problem.

Time to tell the West: No more Islam bashing acceptable

Aijaz Zaka Syed

A JOURNALIST friend of mine, his tongue firmly in cheek, calls it 'Oh I See!' in a not so veiled reference to the seldom fruitful deliberations of the OIC. Which is why it's interesting to see the body representing the 1.6 billion Muslims take on some real issues for a change at its summit in Dakar, Senegal this week.

Giving voice to the fury of their people, Muslim leaders and heads of states have protested against the growing Islam-bashing in the West warning of "serious implications for global peace and security".

The warning articulates the outrage over the republication of the Prophet's caricature by 17 Danish newspapers and the film attacking the Holy Quran by a Dutch lawmaker.

When the Jyllands-Posten first published that despicable caricature three years ago, our friends in the West had explained it as a necessary phenomenon of a free Press.

So even as the agitated believers around the world came out on the streets burning Danish flags, the West shrugged off the protests as something of a minor nuisance. More than a hundred innocents died in those protests that rocked the world from Morocco to Malaysia as well as Europe and the West.

But the Western establishment went to great lengths to defend the Jyllands-Posten's freedom - the freedom to mock other people's beliefs and sensitivities.

And in a classic case of adding insult to injury, 17 Danish dailies and several other publications across Europe have now reproduced the caricature. Why? Apparently to express 'solidarity' with the Jyllands-Posten that is allegedly facing threats from 'the Islamic terrorists'.

What's going on people? What's it that the West is trying to prove? Why does Islam repeatedly become the target of the Western freedom? And why are its own religious icons spared this creative licence? Is it because Denmark's laws and those of other European states strictly prohibit any attack on Christian beliefs and icons?

While Islam and Muslims are the world's favorite punching bag, you could be imprisoned for so much as questioning the Jewish Holocaust. If this isn't a case of double standards, what is? And what's the difference between these newspapers and some of those misguided young men targeting the West? Those behind the 9/11 and 7/7 strikes were also driven by their sense of solidarity - however misplaced - with fellow believers. Why were those people then called terrorists and those applying the same logic are being lionized as the defenders of the freedom?

But the West knows as well as we do that this has nothing to do with the freedom of speech. There is something really rotten in the state of Denmark, as Shakespeare put it. In fact, this is not confined to Denmark. This sickness pervades the whole of Europe and the Western world. While there has always been deep-seated animosity and hatred against all things Islamic in the West, of late this is acquiring alarming proportions. More worryingly, these are not isolated incidents of some fanatics going berserk. There's a clear method in the madness. From the Jyllands-Posten cartoon to the numerous books and movies targeting the Prophet, Islam and Holy Quran, just about everything we believe in seems to be fair game.

Right now, at least two films attacking the Book are ready for release. Despite angry protests from Muslim countries, Dutch MP Geert Wilders is going ahead with his movie on Quran. In the past, Wilders has demanded a ban on the Holy Book likening it to Hitler's Mein Kampf.

The movie is not the first of its kind. Another film, Submission, by another Dutch filmmaker, Van Gogh, featured Quranic verses against a naked female body. The film was supposed to be a protest against the 'mistreatment' of Muslim women. It touched off a storm of protests across the Islamic world. Yet no lessons were drawn from the episode. Not even after Van Gogh was assassinated by an agitated young Moroccan immigrant. And now we have another film targeting the Book. Can you then blame ordinary Muslims if they see a grand, never-ending conspiracy against their faith? Yet our friends in the West turn around and ask: "Why do they hate us?" Well, this is why they hate you! When will the West wake up to the fact that it is its utter contempt for everything they revere that infuriates ordinary Muslims? How many innocents have to die before the European governments decide to rein in the sickos who have made a career out of their pathological hatred for Islam and Muslims?

And what will it take to convince the liberated, anything-goes West that it really hurts us when you target the Man who we love more than our own parents and children?

This is particularly unfair to a Prophet who repeatedly taught his followers to respect other people's beliefs. He warned us you are not a believer if you do not respect and believe in the messengers of God - including Moses and Jesus - who came before him. Which is why it's such a shame that the West should tolerate these disgraceful attacks on Islam and its Prophet.

But this has gone far enough. It's time the Western governments are told in unambiguous terms that this vicious campaign against Islam must stop and stop right away.

Not because it really hurts the Muslims everywhere, which it does, but because it is not in the West's interest. Successive generations of young Muslims are growing up loathing the West for this pathological campaign against their faith.

It's good that the Muslim states at the OIC summit have expressed their outrage at growing Islamophobia in really forceful terms, without any spin and without beating about the bush.

Apart from the historical Western doublespeak and double-dealing in the Middle East, it is the endless demonization of Islam and Muslims that is fuelling the clash that Samuel Huntington promised us. It's about time the West got this message - loud and clear - from the Muslim states that Islam-bashing is JUST NOT ACCEPTABLE. And this should be done by going beyond those regulation OIC, UN and Arab League resolutions. It's time for more meaningful and concrete steps. Just stop doing business with countries like Denmark and the Netherlands. That will teach them the lesson they refuse to learn, hitting 'em where it hurts the most. And there will be quick results-quicker than you could say Jyllands-Posten!

(Aijaz Zaka Syed is a Dubai-based journalist and commentator.)

Malaysia - A maturing democracy

Dr Terry Lacey

Malaysia has just elected a new Federal Parliament and State Assemblies in which the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) or National Front coalition led by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has lost support to several opposition groups, including the leftist Chinese backed Democratic Action Party (DAP) which won 28 seats, the Islamist Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS) which won 23 seats, and the Parti Keadilan Rakayat (PKR) or Peoples Justice Party led by Anwar Ibrahim which won 31 seats.

The National Front (BN) has ruled Malaysia, led by the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) since 1957 and for the first time failed to reach a two thirds majority in the Federal Parliament, (gaining 62% of the 222 Parliamentary seats) and losing control of 5 States out of 13 (Kedah, Kelantan, Penang, Perak and Selangor). This is seen as a personal defeat for Prime Minister Badawi by Opposition Leaders and some younger UMNO leaders, but perhaps something like this would have happened whoever was UMNO leader.

UMNO and its coalition allies, led by Prime Minister Badawi, previously won a landslide victory in March 2004 when they took 12 out of 13 states and won 90% of parliamentary seats with 64% of the votes, leaving only Kelantan State under PAS control. Now in 2008 the distribution of parliamentary seats corresponds much more closely to the distribution of votes for different parties over the last four years, when opposition parties were clearly under-represented in terms of seats.

Young UMNO activists and political commentators including the BBC,s Robin Brant were surprised at the extent of ruling coalition losses, with falling support amongst ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities whilst some UMNO voters switched to PAS, DAP or the Justice Party. Malaysian voters seem no longer content to vote along traditionally partisan lines and are more concerned about crime, corruption, economic uncertainties, and ethnic tensions. A younger world wide web generation may also be searching for a new balance of interests between ethnic groups and a more modern political framework.

There is relative economic success and a revolution in rising expectations throughout the ASEAN region which may have influenced these elections. This is not about the economic failures of UMNO, which has done well on the economy and infrastructure, with the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur as a symbol of modernity. There is however, a new economic nervousness which is global, with fears of negative impacts from a US recession on Europe, on tourism, and on Asia, and perhaps a perception that Malaysia has become a net importer of oil in a world of rapidly rising energy prices.

Although asserting Muslim identity is important, and UMNO and PAS contested this ground, this was not the unique determinant of political success. The Islamic party PAS may have improved its image with non-Muslims and floating voters. Islamic Parties in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan and Turkey face similar realities. They cannot win on Islamic arguments alone and must have wider appeal to join winning coalitions.

Meanwhile Anwar Ibrahim has managed to re-launch his Justice Party and himself nationally, as the leader of a secular opposition with multi-cultural support, whilst the DAP has done well in industrial heartlands. The opposition also did well in the capital Kuala Lumpur.

It was inevitable that UNMO and the National Front could not keep winning landslide victories for ever and that the time would come when Malaysia would settle down to a multi party secular democracy instead of guided democracy led by one ruling party. This was however a shock for young UMNO activists who until now had perhaps assumed that UMNO would always inherit the political crown. The prospect now is for more balanced political contests in the future and it becomes possible for the first time to realistically contemplate that UMNO could lose a future election.

This is quite an achievement for the opposition parties which had to push uphill against some built in advantages for UMNO and the National Front. Opposition parties are beginning to pull their weight politically. This result has radically changed the political landscape in terms of parliamentary representation and government at State level.

Previous Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed dominated the political stage with his highly effective autocratic style, including his correct rejection of IMF advice in the 1997 crisis, but his style perhaps left less room for liberal political development. Prime Minister Badawi had the more difficult job as a less charismatic and more democratic leader, to take a more moderate reformist path, with a continued push towards economic development and technological modernization. This is an interesting lesson for Middle Eastern political leaders because it shows that in the end economic progress, new buildings and infrastructure may not be enough to convince voters.

Badawi also released opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, jailed by his predecessor, but Anwar remained barred from standing as a candidate for the Justice Party on a technicality from a previous corruption conviction. Despite this he won the election without standing himself and possibly the technical barrier helped him to do this.

Malaysia is now evolving a more mature democratic system where secular multi-cultural democracy will be based on the capacity to cope with dissent and a more lively opposition, although not yet strong enough to challenge the ruling party for power. Paradoxically this is an achievement for Prime Minister Badawi, which can be projected positively abroad more than at home, as well as an opportunity for Anwar Ibrahim.

Malaysia is a global player in terms of trade and investment especially for the plantation and energy sectors, as well as an important recipient of incoming direct investment. On reflection investors in Malaysia and Malaysian global trade and investment partners should be pleased to see a more balanced and robust democracy as the basis for continued economic growth.

Economic growth and globalization are bound to bring forward problems of social adjustment in relation to migrant labour and the ethnic balance, alongside the search for a changing political synthesis in relation to the modernization of the Muslim world, with Malaysia as one of the world leaders in this process. The best long term guarantee of stability will be a stronger democratic framework and accompanying grass roots civic culture.

Sights and sounds that charm tourists

Mohammad Shahidul islam

Are you planning to be a proud tourist in Bangladesh? For travel in Bangladesh are you mentally geared up? It has more than a tourist can ask for which Bangladesh will surely surprise you with its incomparable resources. Bangladesh is a land of tourism escapade and an oldest & greatest civilization from where every tourist has the will of tour through. Every year a large folk of tourists come for Bangladesh travel tours. They come to travel in Bangladesh for its prosperity of sights, heritage monuments, cultural excitement and diversity of picturesque backdrops. They come to Bangladesh in the hunt for amazing something and an extra knock that only Bangladesh tour offers and guarantees.

These days Bangladesh tourism is in the stage of flourishing and its recourses are infinite. There is a wide variety of tourism taste in Bangladesh. It provides unique taste of history and culture. It is said that a country is best known by its culture and civilization and Bangladesh has unique culture and civilization dating back approximately 5000 years. Bangladesh is perhaps the world's oldest and greatest civilization. During Bangladesh tours one can observe Bangladesh's greatest civilization and culture. During your tours to Bangladesh you will observe that Bangladesh charms at every step with something new and something surplus.

There are several scenic places to visit in Bangladesh. During your tours in Bangladesh you can visit many heritage monuments and picturesque locations weather they are world heritage Paharpur, beautiful hill stations, magnificent forts & palaces, unbroken longest beach or perhaps one of the most alluring tourist trail - Sundarbans. These places to see in Bangladesh will surely mesmerize you.

When you are in Rangamati tour, your fascination with its magnificent hills & lakes, blazing greeneries, enthralling wildlife and peculiar indigenous livelihood will definitely increase and be perpetual. But your Rangamati tour will be incomplete without taking part in one of the most important tourist attractions - Subolang Water Fall tour through the Lake Cruise. This tour may take you from Dhaka to Chittagong.

These two important cities (Dhaka - the capital city of Bangladesh where Moghul wonder Lalbag Fort, Ahsan Monjil, Dhaka-shari Temple catch up tourist's eye; Chittagong - famous for commerce, sea port, Patenga beach and Foy's Lake) of centre and south Bangladesh have its own charms. Apart from this enthralling tourist course of center and south Bangladesh, there are also many fascinating places to visit in center and south Bangladesh.

Many travel agencies from both private and government organize few days' trips from Dhaka to Chittagong and Cox's Bazar.

Also there are domestic flights in Bangladesh to cover entire major picturesque locations. If you are in Bangladesh travel tours and wish to travel around more of it, internal flights in Bangladesh fulfill your dream. Flights within Bangladesh have a good network to make easy your tours of Bangladesh. Bangladesh domestic flights make you enable to explore entire Bangladesh.

Say; beyond Dhaka, Chittagong, Jessore, Isherdi, Barishal, Sylhet and Cox's Bazar can easily be gettable by internal flights or could be very ideal to network around the country. Moreover, luxury bus and coach services are very popular to discover this wonderful country of South Asia.

If you have beach-mania, Kuakata, Cox's Bazar, Patenga, Parki and Saint Martin tours of Bangladesh will be for sure much stunning. If you are interested in losing yourself in the tallest hill, Banderban tours will be too much fascinating. With the boom in Bangladesh tourism industry, many travel agencies have started offering attractive Bangladesh travel packages; go and catch your dream package. These tailor-made Bangladesh tour packages are also very inexpensive and beneficial for tourists.

Travel Bangladesh and discover its incomparable treasures. A huge charm of Bangladesh awaits you.