If only carrot can run…

The unexpected terrorist attacks at the luxury and prominent Taj Mahal hotel had left 195 dead; with 26 of them are foreigners.

The attack by the Islamic militants, claimed to be Malaysian student when they entered Mumbai several months ago. But according to Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, the group has no link at all to Malaysian group and India has not contacted Malaysia over the attack at all.

After the third day of the attack, with hundreds of personnel being held as hostages for more than 60 hours, the episode was finally over when every single terrorist had been killed.

In the Mumbai Jewish center, six Israeli hostages including US-based rabbi and his wife were murdered.

The horrible terrorists were cold and remorseless as they killed anybody that came in front of them without second thought.

A horrifying senseless act of violence. Tragedy.

However it is believed that the Taj Mahal will regain its glory again as it gives foreigners a feel of how the Maharajas lived.

Picture from TheStar

Many of the families in our countries hired maid to manage their everyday lives. Most of them family from working parents, unable to cope with children and their lives without help. Indonesian maids are pretty affordable to middle class.

But there are plenty of pros and cons with having additional stranger living under the same roof with you. Can you trust them with your house, kid and lives?

And how about them? Have we tried to think from their perspective, trying to stand in their feet and see their view?

One of the news we heard often is maid abusing. It was a big news about the news about the maid Nirmala Bonat was abused by Housewife Yim Pek Ha by hot iron, hot water and a metal cup. She is sentenced to 18 years of prison for the charge.

Reasonable?

It is a terrifying attack in Mumbai as the number of death has climbed up to 101 and more than 250 is wounded! The terrorists had opened fire with machine guns and grenades at few places; the Mumbai train station, crowded restaurants and hotels and headquarters of ultraorthodox Jewish group Chabad Lubavitch. The main targets appear to be the westerners.

Around 15 foreign hostages, half with either American or British passports were held at the famous Taj Mahal hotel. 12 policement have been killed, including the chief of the city’s anti-terrorist squad!

Both the President Bush U.S. President-elect Barack Obama condemned the deadly coordinated attacks  which involves innocent civillians.

It is suspected to be done by a group of Muslim militants. The attack is taken credit by a group calling themselves Deccan Mujahidee.

Simply an horrifying attack!

The number of foreign workers has been growing steadily, reaching about 2.6 million people which is higher than the number of Malaysian Indian in the country.

Foreign labour has stood about 10% of our population and the number is very high! Foreign workers would result in the social problems especially from the safety perspective as well as outbreaks of disease. Not to mention crime and insecurities by the local people.

The government is looking of cutting back the number of foreign workers by 400000 and cutting the fees for medical check up as the economy is slowing down.

Well, let’s hope we can keep the numbers under control and let us feel safer and in control.

Finally the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi spoke about the topic of Yoga for the Muslim here. He said that those who performed the yoga exercise can carry on with their activity as long as they do not chant any mantra.He added that a physical regime with no elements of worship can continue, meaning, it is not banned as that Muslims are not easily swayed into polytheism! I couldn’t agree more on that!

The prime minister believes that the yoga exercise is good for health and general well being. However, he was aware that yoga fatwa would only be implemented if it got the consent from the Conference of Malay Rulers.

Well, that is sort of relieving to hear, isn’t it?

The Bangkok protest seems to be getting worst as now they are swarming to the airport complex on Tuesday. It has forced the closure of the city’s main international airport, which means all flights has to be cancelled.

AirAsia and MAS have to cancel all flights to and from Bangkok on Wednesday. It would be messing up on travelers’’ plan on visiting the shopping and temple city.

All these while, even though there are street protests, it is still safe to visit the city. Let’s hope the condition will go back to normal again as it have disrupted many plans & schedules.

After the much hoo-ha from the banning of yoga from many people especially Muslim yoga practitioners, it is now up to the each state and the rulers to decide whether yoga is to be banned at respective states.

The council edicts will be discussed by each state Fatwa committees (appointed by the respective Rulers) so that no hasty decision will be made on this great matter that will greatly affect the Muslim.

And next, the decision will be brought before the Sultan for his final consent before carrying them out.

There is suggestion that the yoga with the non-Muslim elements removed should be alright and allowed to be practice by the Muslim. But it has not be discussed and agreed upon the state Fatwa committee.

Well, let’s sit back and wait for the result from the each state’s Fatwa committee and Sultan’s decision then.