You are absolutely right about the sacrifices of Siti Hajar. I betrayed my male-centric focus by not pointing that fact out. Thank you for the timely reminder!

M.Bakri Musa

I wish I had RM5,000 to help out the flood victims. My hometown Muar was one of the worst hit. The Korban period is not over yet. Happy New Year and Salam to you and BM.

Virginity is just like age. It is a mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter. I reckon you realy mind about having not one but 72 virgins. Virgins are for virgins. If you have been screwing around, don’t expect any befall to you.

To Pak Din aka Anonymous aka Al Akal aka Vibol, the genuine Al Jihad has not interest in virgins. He is fine with his Mak Virgin on planet Earth.
Have fun in Cambodia or is it KL?

Mr Al-Jihad,

Why do you ask such a stupid question? You are concerned about 72 virgins!! Is sex all that important to you? Are all Muslims in Malaysia like you?

You should be worried about the challenges facing the Ummah in the 21st century. I rather hear what you have to say about how we all can revive and motivate Muslims to embrace modernisation, put a premium on the quest for spiritual understanding and secular knowledge in the sciences and to recognise the need to be competitive.

For me, the Number One Priority is knowledge. Quality Education must be given to all Muslims without regard to gender. It is not education defined by the Taliban and the Mullahs. Dr. Bakri, whose writings I read with great interest, has written a book on Education in Malaysia. He is kind enough to make it available on his website for readers like me who cannot afford to order his book via amazon.com.Why is it so difficult for your authorities to adopt some of his ideas?

Cambodian officials are now reading his book for some ideas about how our education system can be changed and made more relevant to the needs of foreign investors. We are emphasing the use of English for business and public administration. I am confident that we can overtake Malaysia in the next 20 years, if Malaysians like you are focused on your 72 virgins and nothing else.

You and your types in Malaysia fail to appreciate how difficult it is for us in Cambodia to have access to good schools and other basic infrastructure. This is perhaps because you were spared from the tragedy we experienced in our country in the 1970-1990, and you also fail to appreciate how fortunate you are today compared to us. Having said that, I feel that your country can do better, given all the resources available to your Government and your private sector.

From my reading of articles and comments on the website and others, you have poor leadership, ultra-conservative Islam, and a colonial type civil service which requires urgent reform. But I am encouraged by the fact there is an active blogger community in Malaysia which is making critical yet useful comments on many issues. If only your Government and the bureaucrats can be humble enough to listen and learn, your country will not be in a limbo as it is today.

The above is a view from a friend of Malaysia who admires your previous Prime Minister, Mr. Mahathir, very much.

The answer to your question is very straight forward. Here it is: when you drop dead!!

The answer to your question is very straight forward. Here it is: when you drop dead!!

When you stop asking the question and start thinking and focusing on what ails our country.

2007 is going to be a rather difficult year for the world. Being an exporting nation, Malaysia too will be adversely affected if the US economy slows down. Even China is dependent on the state of the US economy.

If we are all affected (as we certainly will be) and our Government cannot implement counter-cyclical measures, I do not think you will not be able to afford even a single virgin. You will need bank financing and lots fo stamina to manage the balance of 71 virgins.

Please, let us get real and appreciate Dr. Bakri’s message to his brothers and sisters at Morgan-Hill, California and reflect on our present situation with floods continuing to cause severe damage to the livelihood and homes of Malaysians in Johor, Melaka, Negri Sembilan and Pahang. Now we are on the alert in Kedah, Perlis and Kelantan.