Recently, there is a dispute between the Muslims and the Chirstians because the Christians used the name 'Allah' as their God.

However, the Muslims did not allow that and it caused some vandalism and burn of church.

Three despatch riders, including two brothers, claimed trial at a Sessions Court here to setting fire to the Metro Tabernacle Church in Desa Melawati early this month.

They are siblings Raja Muhammad Faizal Raja Ibrahim, 24, and Raja Muhammad Idzham Raja Ibrahim, 22, and their 23-year-old friend Azuwan Shah Ahmad.

They are charged with committing mischief with fire at the church in Desa Melawati, Wangsa Maju with the intention to destroy it at 11.50pm on Jan 7.

The trio were said to have committed the offence with several others who are still at large.

If convicted, they could be jailed up to 20 years and fined under Section 436 of the Penal Code.

Raja Muhammad Faizal had burn marks on his hands, body and face and a urine bag hung on his right side.

His younger brother, clad in a brown striped T-shirt and dark shorts, also had burns on his hand.

Media photographers and cameramen however were not able to get any pictures of them as they were brought in and out of court through a tunnel.

DPP Anselm Charles Fernandis asked the court to set bail at RM20,000 in one surety in view of the gravity of the offence and because it is of public interest.

He added that there were direct and circumstantial evidence against the trio.

All three pleaded for lower bail, saying they were from poor families and were first offenders.

Sessions Court judge S.M. Komathy Suppiah set bail at RM20,000 in one surety for each accused.

She, however, said she would allow each of them to post RM10,000 as security for their release pending disposal of the case.

In expressing their intention to engage a lawyer, the trio asked for more time to handle legal matters.

Raja Muhammad Idzham asked for two months to appoint a lawyer, adding that they had also not met their family members for some time.

Komathy set March 12 for mention of the case.

The trio failed to post bail.

Earlier media reports stated that the police had arrested eight men involved in the arson attack on the church to assist in investigations.

Najib: Vital to mutually respect the religious beliefs of one another

I came across this news about religious belief and I would like to share with you about this

Respecting each other’s religion must be a key virtue to be vigorously defended, said the Prime Minister.

Malaysia being a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country, requires its citizens to mutually respect the religious beliefs of one another.

“I want to stress here that respecting each other’s religion is not only a key virtue that we must defend, it is also one of the principles in Islam,” said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said Islam in its true form, did not look down on other religions. It also disallowed Muslims from desecrating the places of worship of non-Muslims.

Najib added that in a multi-racial society, there could not be just one point of view all the time.

“It is also crucial for us to strive for a common goal in wanting to bring the country forward,” he said in his address to tens of thousands who flocked here on the eve of Thaipusam yesterday.

Those present included his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.

Najib pointed out that both his late father Tun Abdul Razak and former prime minister Tun Hussein Onn had also visited Batu Caves during Thaipusam when they held office.

Meanwhile, Najib on his blog yesterday, wished the Indian community a very happy Thaipusam.

“I hope that all witnessing this spectacular event will enjoy its colours and sounds in a grand demonstration of harmony and unity,” he said.

He added that the occasion was another chance to exhibit appreciation for the cultural wealth Malaysia had long enjoyed as a nation, in the spirit of 1Malaysia.

Reflection on Martin Luther King's speech

Please watch this video on Martin Luther King "I Have A Dream".

This speech was made by Martin Luther King in 1963 to free the Negro slaves in America, to end the segregation between the Blacks and the Whites in America. As everyone knows, the Whites in America in the 1800s and the 1900s treated the Negro badly and the Blacks were not respected in the American society. Segregation and chain of discrimination were rife. In this speech, Martin Luther King mentioned about the promise of a great American to free the Negro, the current situation of the Negro, how the Blacks were treated by the Whites in America and the demand for the Blacks to be included and not disrespected in the America society.

Personally, I think that this speech made by Martin Luther King is an excellent speech. There are a number of "allusion" used in his speech which was important as it gained support from the audience, he also used allusion to emphasize on certain points that he wanted to make.
For example, " But a hundred years later, we must face the tragic fact...
One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly...
One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island...
One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners... ".

Furthermore, the phrase "I have a dream" is used eight times to stress on what he hope after there is no segregation.
"I have a dream that one day this nation...
I have a dream that one day on red hills of Georgia...
I have a dream that one day even the states of Mississippi...
I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation...
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama...
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley...

The phrase "Let freedom ring" was also used nine times.
These use of allusion made his speech very interesting as it makes the tone of his speech very strict.

Moreover, there are also some use of repetition in his speech.
For example, the word mississippi is mentioned four times in his speech.

The part that I enjoyed the most is the part where metaphor is used.
He said" Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check which has come back marked "insufficient funds". But we refuse to believe to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vault of opportunity of this nation. So we have to cash this check - a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of the justice."

He portrayed a check as a request to free the Negro but the Whites did not accept their request and this is a great metaphor used.

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Kong Jayson
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