This article was written by Richard Wachman, for guardian.co.uk on Saturday 21st August 2010 23.06 UTC

BHP Billiton’s £28bn hostile bid for Canada’s Potash Corporation sets the scene for one of mining’s biggest takeover battles. But this is more than a clash between multinationals intent on self-aggrandisement.

Certainly, the usual arguments are wheeled out by the predator about diversification, synergies and the prospect of fatter profits, while the target company complains about the offer price being pitched too low.

But behind the rhetoric is a bidding war that lays bare the global struggle for resources on a planet struggling with water and food shortages, overpopulation and pollution. And it highlights a question that overshadows the 21st century: how to provide enough food for a global population that is set to rise from 6.8 billion to more than 9 billion by 2050, according to the United Nations.

Potash Corporation, based in Saskatchewan, is the biggest producer of potash, a key component of fertilisers used to maximise the supply of healthy crops. The company also makes nitrogen and phosphate, two other primary constituents of fertiliser products.

With demand for grain rising and less farmland available per person, “the need for fertiliser – especially potash – has never been greater,” says the Potash Corp website.

Giles Parkinson of the Australian business news website Business Spectator says BHP’s bid is not just an attempt to diversify: it’s a major bet that rising food demand will cause a significant growth in the use of the fertiliser.

According to Potash Corp, more people are eating meat, and as incomes rise in developing nations, millions of people are switching from starch to protein-based diets. “Every pound of beef requires seven pounds of grain to produce, and this has a substantial impact on demand,” says a Potash official.

Analysts agree the use of fertiliser is bound to rise in the attempt to feed the world’s growing population. A report from HSBC flagged up its growing importance as extreme weather events increasingly disrupt production. This year’s failure of the Russian wheat harvest, as well as the flooding in Pakistan, are cases in point.

Experts say crop yields are low in many regions, partly due to the historical under-application of fertiliser in many developing countries. China has 20% of the world’s population but just 6% of its arable land – which has dwindled as Chinese industry has ruined previously fertile tracts of ground through pollution and heavy industrialisation. The Fertiliser Institute in Washington says China and India use only half as much potash on their fields as American farmers.

A recent paper published by the Royal Society says there are limits on the amount of land that will become available for crops even though it estimates that global food supplies need to increase by 70% in the next 40 years. But better fertilisers and chemicals could hugely increase yields and cut water use.

No wonder Potash Corp boss Bill Doyle is holding out for a higher price from BHP, the Anglo-Australian colossus headed by Marius Kloppers. Doyle is sitting on a valuable asset, says Charles Kernot, mining analyst at Evolution Securities. “We expect more demand [for fertiliser] from China and other parts of the world where agricultural land must become more productive,” he says.

Before its bid for Potash Corp, BHP had been spending millions in Canada buying up potash deposits and acquiring small producers such as Athabasca for C0m (£210m). But developing a potash business from scratch is viewed as more expensive than buying a business that already accounts for nearly a quarter of global production.

“In one fell swoop, BHP could become one of the most important players in the industry,” says Kernot. “High entry costs favour major acquisitions over digging new mines. It can take seven or eight years to build a new site.”

But Kloppers will almost certainly have to return with a higher price to woo Potash Corp’s investors. The Canadian firm issued a statement last week claiming: “BHP Billiton intentionally launched its proposal just as the fertiliser industry emerges from an unprecedented demand decline associated with the global slowdown in order to seize the value that Potash Corp is poised to create for its shareholders.”

The market for potash plummeted in 2009 as farmers put projects on hold. But the signs are that demand is rebounding after sales fell by a half to 30m tonnes a year ago: Potash Corp’s profits in the first half nearly tripled. In 2008, the price of potash was hovering close to ,000 a tonne, way above the current price of 4. But analysts believe that the cycle is about to change.

Corporations believe it too. Merger and acquisition activity was on the rise months before BHP’s move on Potash Corp: in March, US-based CF Industries agreed to buy rival Terra for .7bn. That deal trumped Canadian company Agrium’s hostile bid for CF, closing a year-long bid battle.

The bidding war for Terra, which produces nitrogen-based fertilisers, came at about the same time as Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov acquired stakes in Uralkali and Silvinit as part of an attempt to combine the two to create the world’s second-largest potash producer – and to establish a Russian champion.

What is happening in the fertiliser sector mirrors the scramble for natural resources throughout the world, as governments and corporations jockey for position to satisfy rising consumption.

For companies, there is the lure of huge profits via consolidation. In the last week alone, there have been two big moves by resources firms. First, Agrium launched a Abn offer for AWB, the Australian wheat trader. Then India’s ambitious minerals group Vedanta Resources announced plans to buy a controlling stake in Cairn Energy’s Indian oil fields. It is the Indian company’s first major investment in oil and marks a milestone in its development as a diversified commodities producer.

In Africa, the Chinese are forging mining joint ventures and investments linked to China’s hunt for resources to fuel its fast-industrialising economy. Africa is also seeing a land grab that has been likened to Europe’s carve-up of the continent at the end of the 19th century. An Observer investigation earlier this year established that 50m hectares – more than double the size of the UK – had been acquired in the last few years by foreign governments and wealthy investors with state subsidies.

Ethiopia alone has approved 815 foreign-financed agricultural schemes since 2007. Saudi Arabia is thought to be the biggest buyer as it turns to Africa to meet domestic demand, a move that helps it to conserve water at home.

Charities have complained that foreign expansion has been at the expense of African smallholders and that overseas investment exacerbates hunger as land is increasingly turned over to growing crops for export. There have also been reports of evictions without compensation, bullying and rising crime.

Some of the African deals have been eye-wateringly large: China has signed a contract with the Democratic Republic of Congo to grow 2.8m hectares of palm oil for biofuels. Before it fell apart after riots, a proposed 1.2m-hectare deal between Madagascar and South Korea’s Daewoo would have included nearly half the country’s arable land.

It is against this backdrop that BHP’s move on Potash Corp should be viewed. Its foray is not without risks, as new technology and GM crops could also play an important role in helping to secure larger and more reliable food supplies. But that is a distant hope at the moment.

BHP has been eyeing Potash Corp for around a year, insiders say. Kloppers knows he will be under pressure if he fails, after his company was forced to withdraw a bid for rival Rio Tinto in late 2008 as the credit crunch worsened.

Potash Corp is bound to seek a white knight in its efforts to extract a higher price, with Chinese competitors and Vale of Brazil possible counter-bidders. But BHP, the world’s largest mining multinational, has more than £7bn of cash and will be hard to dislodge.

Kloppers knows he is on to something big. As food prices head north, fertiliser will play an increasingly important role in boosting supply – something that is critical in a time of uncertainty. HSBC says: “Hoarding and trade barriers for wheat and other soft commodities are a real threat. In the longer term, climate change is likely to increase the frequency of extreme weather events such as heatwaves, flooding, and droughts – with knock-on implications for food output.”

The stakes could scarcely be higher.

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010

Translated into Malay by Rudy Herman Sinen

Tuan-tuan dan puan-puan di TED kita banyak berbicara mengenai kepimpinan dan bagaimana memulakan sebuah gerakan. Mari kita tonton sebuah gerakan yang sedang terbentuk, dari mula sampai akhir, dalam kurang tiga minit dan ambil iktibar daripadanya.

Pertama, tentu anda tahu, seorang pemimpin perlu berani untuk menonjolkan diri dan diperkecilkan. Tetapi apa yang sedang dia buat mudah untuk diikut. Ini dia pengikut pertamanya yang memikul peranan penting. Dia akan tunjukkan kepada orang lain bagaimana untuk mengikut.

Sekarang, perhatikan pemimpin itu memeluknya sebagai tanda setaraf. Jadi, sekarang bukan lagi mengenai pemimpin itu; ia mengenai mereka, secara jemaah. Sekarang, lihat itu, dia memanggil kawan-kawannya. Sekarang, jika anda perasan, pengikut yang pertama

sebenarnya ialah bentuk kepimpinan yang tidak boleh diremehkan. Ia perlukan keberanian untuk menjadi terserlah seperti itu. Pengikut yang pertama yang menjadikan seseorang “tidak waras” itu menjadi pemimpin. (Ketawa) (Tepuk tangan)

Nampaknya pengikut kedua menyertai mereka. Sekarang bukan seorang, bukan dua orang, tetapi tiga orang dan tiga orang sudah ramai. Jadi, sebuah gerakan mesti berada di khalayak umum. Adalah penting, bukan sahaja menonjolkan pemimpinnya, tetapi juga pengikutnya sebab anda dapati pengikut yang baru akan mencontohi pengikut, bukan pemimpinya.

Sekarang, dua orang lagi datang dan sejurus selepas itu, tiga orang lagi. Kini kita sudah ada momentum. Inilah detik penentuya. Kini sebuah gerakan telah wujud. Perhatikan, semakin ramai orang menyertainya, semakin kurang risikonya. Mereka yang berkecuali sebelum ini, kini tidak ada alasan lagi untuk tidak ikut. Mereka tidak akan terserlah. Mereka tidak akan diejek. Tetapi mereka boleh jadi sebahagian dari khalayak “yang popular” jika mereka cepat. (Ketawa) Jadi, dalam beberapa minit lagi anda dapat lihat mereka yang masih bersama-sama khayalak sebab akhirnya mereka akan diejek kerana tidak ikut serta. dan begitulah bagaimana anda memulakan sebuah gerakan.

Mari kita imbas kembali iktibar dari peristiwa ini. Pertama, jika anda jenis orang, seperti lelaki yang menari seorang diri tanpa baju itu, ingatlah pentingnya memupuk beberapa orang pengikut awal anda supaya setaraf dengan anda supaya jelas tujuannya ialah mengenai gerakan itu, dan bukan anda. Okey, tetapi mungkin kita terlepas pandang iktibar yang sebenar di sini.

Iktibar yang terbesar, jika anda perasan — anda dapat saksikan — ialah kepimpinan sesuatu yang terlampau diagung-agungkan, memang betul, lelaki tanpa baju itu orang yang pertama, dan dia patut mendapat pujian, tetapi hakikatnya pengikut yang pertama itulah yang menjadikan lelaki keseorangan itu menjadi seorang pemimpin. Jadi, dalam masa kita semua digesa menjadi pemimpin, ia tidak akan mendatangkan kesan,

Jika anda berazam mahu memulakan sebuah gerakan, beranikan diri untuk mengikuti dan menunjukkan orang lain bagaimana menjadi pengikut. Bila anda jumpa orang yang melakukan sesuatu yang hebat seorang diri, beranikan diri untuk menjadi orang yang pertama ke depan dan bersama-samanya. Dan tempat yang paling sesuai untuk melakukannya ialah di TED.

Terima kasih. (Tepuk tangan)

Burj Khalifa
At the Top, Burj Khalifa, on Level 124 of the world’s tallest building, is celebrating the Holy Month of Ramadan with special timings and an unprecedented and first-time ever opportunity to break your fast from a vantage location. Guests can reflect on the spiritual values of the Holy Month, watch the sun set into the scenic horizon of the Arabian Sea, and break their fast with dates, complimentary of La Ronda Dates, and water, complimentary of Masafi Mineral Water, from At the Top, Burj Khalifa From August 10 to September 9,

At the Top, Burj Khalifa will open daily from 5pm to midnight. Admission is AED 100 for Adults and AED 75 for Children up to 12 years. Tickets are time stamped in 30 minute intervals to enhance the visitor experience and to avoid long queues. Fast-track entry tickets are priced AED 400 per person and subject to availability.
Website

Raffles Dubai
Iftar at Azur Enjoy Iftar with family and friends this Ramadan Break your fast with a regal array of traditional Arabic favourites with classic specialties that are exceptionally true to their origin. At AED 175 all inclusive, Iftar at Azur All Day Dining is a delightful Ramadan experience in a refined, intimate setting. Azur overlooks the enchanting Raffles Botanical Garden where you can enjoy the picturesque location while dining. Relax in an informal setting of cozy armchairs and enjoy magical moments of reflection with family and friends in this scenic atmosphere. Experience true lounging, Raffles style.

During Ramadan Azur is open for Breakfast and Lunch. Our opulent Iftar buffet is from Sunset to 21:30 hrs
For reservations, please call +971 4 314 9888
E-mail: dining.dubai@raffles.com
Raffles Dubai Sheikh Rashid Road, Wafi, P.O.Box 121800 Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Tel: +971 4324 8888 Fax: +971 4324 6000

Media Rotana Dubai
For a traditional Iftar, break your fast in style at Channels Restaurant. Bring your family, friends or work colleagues and savor the ultimate Iftar. A massive array of Arabic, Oriental and International buffet for only AED 140* net per person inclusive of special Ramadan juices and soft drinks.

Or for a more relaxed ambiance, The Ramadan Tent at The Terrace promises an unforgettable authentic Ramadan experience. Relax and enjoy the authentic feasts, oriental seating, shisha and live entertainment.

Media Rotana Dubai-Al Barsha South-TECOM
For Reservation or more information, please call 04-435 0201
E-mail: fb.media@rotana.com

Website

Al Bustan Rotana Choices Restaurant
This Ramadan, you will surely feel the true meaning of the holy month at Al Bustan Rotana's Choices Restaurant. Gather all your friends and friends for a traditional Iftar at Choices extended into our magnificent lobby and enjoy an extensive spread of authentic Ramadan dishes showacsing the rich culinary heritage of the Middle East. Have an authentic Iftar exprience at the live cooking stations of your favourite delicacies which includes fattoush, tabouleh, hommos, motabal and a large variety of hot selection  and sweets. Make Iftar special and head to Choices for only AED 145* per person, inclusive of Ramadan juices and soft drinks.
Website

Traders Hotel, Dubai

Embrace the Ramadan month at Traders Hotel, Dubai with special offers.

This offer includes:

• Accommodation in a Superior Room
• Daily in-room Sohour or Iftar buffet for two persons at The Junction restaurant
• Complimentary broadband internet access
• Complimentary shuttle service to Deira City Centre and Al Mamzar Beach Park

Saudi Arabia

The Coral International Hotel Al Khobar
Coral International Al Khobar
P.O. Box 4616, Al-Khobar 31952
King Abdullah St. Al-Khobar
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966 3 869 6666
Website

Turkey

Istanbul Marriott Hotel Asia
Escape Dining Package for Ramadan at Istanbul Marriott Hotel Asia. Enjoy our special offer for the holy season of Ramadan with our escape dining package that includes iftar, accommodation and sahur in your room!
Join us for an authentic iftar (dinner) at Orange Southern Mediterranean Grill and Garden Terrace featuring buffet of the finest Turkish and Ottoman specialties.  Make sure to arrive on time for the exclusive dervish 'sema' ceremony before dinner.

Istanbul Marriott® Hotel Asia
Kayisdagi Caddesi No 1/1, Atasehir Istanbul, 34750 Turkey
Phone:  90 216 5700000

Website

• Where to spend Ramadan
• Ramadan in Singapore and places for Iftar.

Translated into Malay by Rudy Herman Sinen

Murray Gell-Mann membicarakan perihal leluhur bahasa

Saya terlibat dalam kajian-kajian selain fizik. Malah, kebanyakannya kini dalam hal-hal yang lain.

Satu perkara ialah mengenai kaitan di antara bahasa-bahasa manusia. Ahli bahasa profesional dan sejarawan bahasa di Amerika Syarikat dan di Eropah Barat kebanyakannya cuba menjauhkan diri dari sebarang kaitan jarak jauh; perkumpulan yang besar, perkumpulan yang kembali ke zaman dahulu, lebih lama daripada keluarga-keluarga biasa. Mereka tidak suka begitu; mereka fikir itu karut, Saya tidak fikir ia karut. Dan ada juga ahli bahasa yang pintar, kebanyakannya orang Rusia, yang bekerja di Institut Santa Fe dan di Mosko, saya berminat untuk melihat apa hasilnya.

Apakah ia menjurus kepada satu keturunan kira-kira 20, 25,000 tahun yang lalu? Bagaimana jika kita susur lebih lama sebelum keturunan yang satu itu, di mana dikatakan terdapat persaingan di antara banyak bahasa? Berapa lama sebelum itu ia terjadi? Berapa lama sebelum itu bahasa moden tercipta? Berapa puluh ribu tahun sebelumnya ia tercipta?

Chis Anderson: Apakah rasa hati atau harapan anda mengenai jawapannya?

Murray Gell-Mann: Saya agak bahasa moden seharusnya lebih tua daripada lukisan di gua dan goresan di gua dan ukiran di gua dan bekas tapak kaki penari di tanah liat lembut di gua di Eropah Barat. semasa Zaman Aurignacian kira-kira 35,000 tahun lalu atau lebih awal dari itu. Saya tidak percaya mereka lakukan semua itu tetapi tidak ada bahasa moden. Saya agak asal sebenarnya bermula sekurang-kurangnya seawal itu atau mungkin lebih awal.

Tetapi bukan bererti semua atau banyak atau kebanyakan bahasa yang diperakui kini tidak berasal dari satu bahasa yang lebih baru daripada itu, katakanlah 20,000 tahun, atau yang seperti itu. Ia apa yang dipanggil sebagai cerutan.

CA: Mungkin, pendapat Philip Anderson itu benar. Anda mungkin tahu lebih banyak mengenai semua perkara lebih dari orang lain. Sesungguhnya ia satu penghormatan. Terima kasih Murray Gell-Mann. (Tepuk tangan)

Translated into Malay by Rudy Herman Sinen

Lalitesh Katragadda: Mencipta peta untuk melawan bencana, membangunkan ekonomi

Pada tahun 2008, Puting Beliung Nargis melanda Myanmar. Jutaan manusia memerlukan bantuan. Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu mahu segera menghantar penyelamat dan bekalan ke sana. Tetapi tidak terdapat peta, tidak ada peta jalan raya, tidak ada peta hospital, tidak ada cara untuk membantu mangsa puting beliung itu.

Apabila kita melihat pada peta Los Angeles atau London sukar untuk mempercayai bahawa sejak 2005 hanya 15 peratus kawasan dunia yang dipeta ke tahap perincian geokod. Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu berhadapan dengan masalah yang dihadapi oleh kebanyakan negara ramai penduduk: tidak mempunyai peta yang terperinci.

Namun, bantuan sedang tiba. Di Google, 40 orang relawan menggunakan satu perisian yang baru untuk memeta 120,000 kilometer jalan raya, 3,000 tapak hospital, logistik dan bantuan. Mereka mengambil masa empat hari. Perisian baru yang mereka gunakan? Google Mapmaker.

Google Mapmaker ialah satu teknologi yang memperkasakan kita untuk memeta apa yang kita tahu di peringkat tempatan. Orang ramai menggunakan perisian ini untuk memeta segala-galanya dari jalan raya hingga sungai, dari sekolah hingga perniagaan tempatan, dan kedai video hingga kedai sudut.

Peta adalah penting. Calon Hadiah Nobel Hernando De Soto mengiktiraf bahawa kunci kepada pemacuan ekonomi bagi kebanyakan negara-negara sedang membangun ialah untuk menggunakan kawasan tanah yang luas yang tidak dimanfaatkan. Sebagai contoh, di India sahaja hartanah bernilai trilion dolar tidak dipermodalkan.

Pada tahun lalu, ribuan pengguna di 170 buah negara telah memeta jutaan cebisan maklumat, dan mencipta sebuah peta dengan tahap perincian yang tidak pernah difikirkan boleh. Dan hal ini berlaku dengan kuasa pengguna yang penuh semangat di mana-mana.

Mari kita lihat beberapa buah peta yang sedang dicipta oleh pengguna sekarang. Jadi, sedang kita berbicara, pengguna sedang memeta dunia di 170 buah negara ini. Anda boleh lihat Bridget di Afrika yang baru memeta sebatang jalan raya di Senegal. Dan, lebih dekat dengan negara kita, Chalua, sebatang jalan raya N.G di Bangalore.

Ini adalah hasil daripada geometri perkomputeraan, pengenalan gerak isyarat dan pembelajaran mesin. Ini merupakan kemenangan bagi ribuan pengguna, di ratusan bandar-bandar, seorang pengguna, satu suntingan setiap masa.

Ini adalah satu pelawaan kepada 70 peratus daripada kawasan planet kita yang belum dipeta. Selamat datang ke dunia baru. (Tepuk tangan)

Translated into Malay by Rudy Herman Sinen

Formula Arthur Benjamin untuk mengubah pendidikan matematik

Jika Presiden Obama menawarkan saya untuk menjadi Ketua Matematik yang baru, maka saya ada satu cadangan untuknya yang saya fikir akan dapat banyak memperbaiki pendidikan matematik di negara ini. Dan ia mudah untuk dilaksanakan dan tidak mahal.

Kurikulum matematik kita adalah berdasarkan pada asas aritmetik dan algebra. Dan segala-gala yang kita pelajari selepas itu membina ke arah satu subjek. Dan di puncak piramid itu ialah kalkulus. Dan saya di sini mahu memperkatakan bahawa itu adalah puncak piramid yang salah… puncak yang betul — di mana semua pelajar kita, setiap lulusan sekolah tinggi perlu tahu — sepatutnya ialah statistik: kebarangkalian dan statistik. (Tepuk tangan)

Maksud saya, jangan salah faham. Kalkulus ialah mata pelajaran yang penting. Ia suatu hasil minda manusia yang hebat. Undang-undang alam ditulis dalam bahasa kalkulus. Dan setiap pelajar yang mempelajari matematik, sains, kejuruteraan, ekonomi, mereka tentu belajar kalkulus di akhir tahun pertama di kolej. Dan di sini saya mahu memperkatakan, sebagai seorang profesor matematik, bahawa segelintir orang yang benar-benar menggunakan kalkulus secara sedar, bermakna dan dalam kehidupan seharian mereka. Sebaliknya, statistik – itu satu mata pelajaran yang anda boleh, dan patut menggunakannya secara harian. Betul? Ia mengenai risiko. Mengenai ganjaran. Mengenai kerawakan. Mengenai pemahaman data.

Saya fikir jika pelajar kita, jika pelajar sekolah tinggi kita — jika semua warga Amerika — faham mengenai kebarangkalian dan statistik, kita tidak akan berada dalam kecelaruan ekonomi yang kita hadapi sekarang. Bukan sahaja – terima kasih – bukan sahaja itu… [tetapi] jika ia diajarkan dengan betul, ia menyeronokkan. Maksud saya, kebarangkalian dan statistik, ia adalah matematik permainan dan perjudian. Ia adalah menganalisis tren. Meramalkan masa depan. Lihat, dunia telah berubah dari analog kepada digital. Dan sudah masanya kurikulum matematik kita berubah dari analog kepada digital. Dari matematik yang lebih klasikal dan selanjar, kepada matematik yang lebih moden, diskret. Matematik ketidakpastian, kerawakan, data — dan itulah kebarangkalian dan statistik.

Ringkasnya, daripada pelajar kita belajar teknik kalkulus, saya fikir adalah lebih bererti jika mereka faham apa itu dua sisihan piawai dari min. Dan saya bersungguh-sungguh mengenainya. Terima kasih banyak. (Tepuk tangan)

Cyberita

Oleh

Mohd Guntor Sadali

MEMANGLAH orang Melayu di Singapura minoriti. Namun golongan minoriti ini berlainan daripada minoriti lain di dunia.

Begitu juga, ada yang melihat Singapura sebagai satu titik merah di kawasan Asia yang besar. Tetapi ia bukan titik merah sembarangan.

Adalah satu kesilapan besar untuk menyamakan saiz dengan keupayaan, seperti silapnya andaian bahawa golongan minoriti dan kecil itu lemah dan tidak penting.

Piala Dunia yang baru lalu membuktikannya. Sedang Sepanyol menjadi juara dunia, kuasa kecil bola sepak, Switzerland, merupakan satu-satunya negara dalam pertandingan itu yang menewaskan Sepanyol.

Sudah 45 tahun berlalu sejak Singapura meninggalkan Malaysia, namun masih lagi kedengaran ulasan kurang elok dari seberang Tambak mengenai masyarakat Melayu setempat.

Yang terbaru datangnya daripada mantan perdana menteri Malaysia, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, yang secara bersahaja mengingatkan Melayu Malaysia agar tidak menjadi seperti Melayu Singapura.

Beliau tidak menjelaskan apa makna sebenar hujahnya, cuma komen ini dibuat dalam konteks kemungkinan Melayu Malaysia hilang kuasa di Malaysia. Sekali lagi beliau tidak menjelaskan kuasa jenis apa, cuma agak selamat menyatakannya sebagai kuasa politik.

Apa yang telah berlaku kepada orang Melayu di sini sepanjang empat dekad lalu? Apa yang mendorong Dr Mahathir untuk melahirkan keprihatinannya dan memberi peringatan kepada Melayu Malaysia? Saya musykil.

Masyarakat Melayu di Singapura tentunya tahu apa yang telah berlaku pada mereka. Pertama sekali, kita telah menjadi masyarakat yang amat berlainan berbanding 45 tahun lalu. Kita telah membangunkan identiti dan falsafah hidup kita sendiri yang berbeza daripada saudara kita di seberang Tambak.

Kita mungkin pakai pakaian sama, makan makanan sama, berucap dalam bahasa sama dan mengamalkan budaya sama. Tetapi persamaan itu berakhir di situ.

Kita sekarang adalah sebuah masyarakat yang mendokong sikap mahu berdikari, atau berdiri atas kaki sendiri.

Kita tidak percaya kepada pendekatan selalu diberi bantuan atau terlalu bergantung kepada bantuan pemerintah. Dalam erti kata lain, kita tidak mahu mentaliti menopang (crutch mentaliti).

Kita benar-benar yakin bahawa sebuah masyarakat yang mempunyai mentaliti menopang akan menjadi masyarakat dua ‘M’ – manja dan malas. Kita tidak mahu dilabel sebagai masyarakat yang manja dan malas.

Inilah sebabnya masyarakat Melayu kita sentiasa berusaha gigih demi meraih dana membina masjid, madrasah dan bangunan-bangunan lain kita sendiri dalam negara Singapura yang terbatas tanahnya selain nilai tanah yang tinggi.

Sepanjang masa lalu, kita telah meraih jutaan dolar dan menjadi pemilik bangunan-bangunan ini. Melalui usaha kita sendiri dan bantuan badanbadan lain, kita juga telah membantu golongan memerlukan bukan sahaja dari segi kewangan malah juga melengkapkan mereka dengan kemahiran baru agar mereka dapat meraih pendapatan bagi sara hidup mereka.

Namun bagi Dr Mahathir, apa semua yang telah kita lakukan dan capai tidak mencukupi. Beliau mengambil pandangan negatif dalam perubahan sikap dan minda kita, justeru mengingatkan Melayu Malaysia agar usah menjadi seperti kita.

Apa pula tentang kuasa? Bagi Melayu di Singapura, kuasa bukanlah bermakna menghunus keris. Bagi kita, ilmu itu kuasa. Malah kita percaya ilmulah merupakan kuasa sebenar.

Penekanan berterusan oleh masyarakat tentang pentingnya pendidikan dan meraih ilmu telah mendorong pembentukan institusi seperti Mendaki, Angkatan Karyawan Islam (AMP), Lembaga Biasiswa Kenangan Maulud (LBKM) dan banyak lagi.

Badan-badan bantu diri ini bukan sahaja menyediakan bantuan kewangan kepada pelajar memerlukan, tetapi juga membimbing pelajar kita agar memenuhi potensi mereka. Pada masa yang sama, badan-badan ini juga membantu menangani masalah sosial yang dihadapi masyarakat.

Sekali lagi, semua ini kita lakukan sendiri.

Kanak-kanak Melayu menghadiri sekolah sama seperti warga Singapura lain dengan satu matlamat sama – meraih pendidikan menyeluruh, dan tentulah mendapat keputusan peperiksaan yang baik.

Ya, memang ini mencabar. Seperti kanak-kanak lain, pelajar Melayu kita tiada pilihan selain bekerja keras. Ini satu hakikat kehidupan di Singapura yang telah kita terima – bahawa tiada jalan pintas bagi meraih kejayaan.

Kita tidak percaya kepada penerimaan layanan istimewa kerana ini akan hanya mengurangkan nilai pencapaian kita dan merendahkan harga diri kita.

Sistem meritokrasi yang diamalkan di sini memanglah satu sistem mencabar tetapi mendorong kita bekerja keras dan mengelakkan kita daripada menjadi manja dan malas.

Apa pun, Dr Mahathir dan beberapa pemimpin Melayu di seberang Tambak tidak suka dengan cara kita lakukan di sini dan telah memberi amaran kepada Melayu Malaysia agar tidak menjadi seperti kita. Bagi kita, kita tidak boleh memandang ke belakang.

Meritokrasi telah terbukti sebagai sistem yang baik dan adil. Ia mendorong kita bekerja keras dan menjadikan kita bangga akan pencapaian kita. Kita telah melihat bagaimana sistem ini telah memberi manfaat dengan bertambahnya bilangan doktor, peguam, majistret, jurutera, pemimpin korporat dan karyawan lain dalam kalangan kita.

Kejayaan dan pencapaian sebilangan mereka inilah yang mahu ditonjolkan dan diraikan Berita Harian apabila kita melancarkan Anugerah Jauhari 12 tahun lalu.

Malam ini kita mempunyai seorang lagi contoh model bagi masyarakat kita.

Kita, orang Melayu di Singapura, seharusnya bangga dengan pencapaian kita kerana kita meraihnya melalui kerja keras.

Memang benar apa yang kita capai sejauh ini mungkin bukan yang terbaik, dan kita masih ketinggalan berbanding bangsa lain. Masih terdapat sebilangan besar anggota masyarakat kita yang menghadapi masalah sosial.

Kita telah mencapai banyak kejayaan, namun perjalanan kita masih jauh lagi. Tetapi kita tidak harus berputus asa. Kita boleh lakukan lebih banyak lagi secara sendiri jika masyarakat kita bersatu dan berpadu.

Dalam isu-isu kritikal, kita harus berseru dengan satu suara.

Kita perlu saling membantu dan mengukuhkan dan pada masa yang sama mendekati masyarakat lain dalam negara Singapura yang berbilang bangsa dan agama.

Singapura yang berjaya dan makmur hanya boleh bermakna sebuah masyarakat Melayu yang berjaya dan makmur.

Bolehkan kita melakukannya? Meminjam cogan kata kempen Presiden Barack Obama, ‘Ya, kita boleh’.

Nota: Makalah ini berupa sedutan ucapan Editor Berita Harian dan Berita Minggu, Encik Mohd Guntor Sadali, di majlis Anugerah Jauhari Berita Harian 2010 di Hotel Shangri-La Rabu lalu.

29 Jul 2010

Kejayaan Melayu/Islam di Singapura hasil usaha sendiri

PENCAPAIAN masyarakat Melayu/Islam Singapura adalah hasil usaha mereka sendiri – menerusi kerja keras dan kesungguhan – selaras dengan nilai meritokrasi.

Tiada bantuan khas mahupun layanan istimewa daripada pemerintah yang membantu memacu kemajuan Melayu/Islam di sini.

Namun, walau perlu bersaing dalam sekitaran yang begitu sengit, masyarakat Melayu tidak mahu mencapai kemajuan dengan cara lain.

Dalam ucapannya di majlis Anugerah Jauhari di Hotel Shang-ri La semalam, Editor Berita Harian/Berita Minggu, Encik Guntor Sadali, berkata asas pembangunan Melayu Singapura sejak 45 tahun lalu adalah berlandaskan prinsip berdikari.

‘Kita tidak mahu disuap atau terlalu bergantung kepada pemerintah. Dalam erti kata lain, masyarakat kita menolak sikap menopang (crutch mentality),’ ujar beliau dalam majlis yang dihadiri lebih 300 pemimpin dan tokoh masyarakat daripada pelbagai bidang.

Turut hadir di majlis yang mengiktiraf Jauhari masyarakat Melayu itu ialah Menteri Tenaga Manusia, Encik Gan Kim Yong.

Intipati ucapan Encik Guntor itu ialah sebagai respons kepada teguran mantan Perdana Menteri Malaysia, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, baru-baru ini supaya Melayu di negaranya tidak ditimpa nasib yang sama seperti Melayu Singapura.

Menurut Encik Guntor, komen sedemikian sering dilemparkan kepada masyarakat Melayu di sini, bukan sahaja daripada Dr Mahathir, malah sesetengah pemimpin lain di seberang Tambak.

Tetapi beliau menggesa masyarakat supaya tenang.

‘Masyarakat kita kini sudah berubah daripada 45 tahun lalu. Kita telah membangunkan identiti dan falsafah hidup sendiri yang berbeza daripada saudara kita di seberang Tambak.

‘Kita mungkin pakai baju yang sama, makan makanan yang sama, bertutur bahasa yang sama dan mengamalkan budaya yang sama. Tapi persamaan kita berhenti di situ,’ katanya.

Beliau menegaskan bahawa Melayu Singapura pastinya tidak mahu dilabel sebagai malas dan manja.

Lantaran itulah masyarakat Melayu bekerja keras untuk mengumpulkan sendiri dana bagi membina masjid dan madrasah, dan kini boleh berbangga sebagai pemilik bangunan-bangunan tersebut.

Menerusi usahanya sendiri juga, Melayu Singapura boleh berbangga dengan peranannya membantu anggota-anggota masyarakat yang memerlukan sama ada dari segi kewangan, pendidikan dan latihan pekerjaan.

Menurut Encik Guntor, komen Dr Mahathir itu mungkin merujuk kepada kuasa politik Melayu di sini.

Namun, beliau menekankan bahawa Melayu Singapura tidak menyamakan kuasa dengan menghunus keris. Sebaliknya, Melayu di sini berpendapat ilmu itulah kuasa sejati.

‘Anak-anak kita menghadiri sekolah yang sama dengan kanak-kanak lain dengan tujuan menerima pendidikan menyeluruh dan mencapai keputusan yang baik.

‘Memang mencabar, seperti kanak-kanak lain, anak-anak kita tidak ada pilihan lain selain bekerja keras. Inilah realiti kehidupan di Singapura yang kita terima. Pastinya tiada jalan mudah untuk mencapai kejayaan,’ ujar beliau.

Encik Guntor akur walaupun semakin ramai Melayu yang kini memegang jawatan profesional, tetap ada sogolongan Melayu yang masih ketinggalan.

Walaupun demikian, beliau menegaskan bahawa masyarakat enggan menerima layanan istimewa kerana ia hanya akan merendahkan nilai pencapaian Melayu sehingga terpijak maruahnya.

‘Meritokrasi ternyata sistem yang baik dan adil. Ia mendorong kita bekerja keras dan berbangga dengan pencapaian kita.

‘Bagi masyarakat Melayu Singapura, kita tidak boleh memandang ke belakang,’ ujarnya.

Speech by Berita Harian editor Guntor Sadali, at the Berita Harian Achiever of the Year Awards ceremony on July 28, 2010

It is a fact known to all that Malays in Singapore is a minority. However this minority is quite different from other minorities in the world.

Similarly, to some, Singapore is just a red dot in this vast Asian region. But it is no ordinary red dot.

It is a grave mistake to equate size with ability, just as it is wrong to assume that being small and in the minority is to be weak and insignificant. The recent World Cup proved this. While Spain may be the world champion, it was minnow Switzerland that became the only country in the tournament that was able to defeat Spain.
Forty-five years have passed since Singapore left Malaysia, yet every now and then we still hear non-complimentary comments from across the Causeway about the Malay community here.

The latest came from former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who casually reminded Malaysian Malays not to become like Singaporean Malays. He did not make it clear what he actually meant, but the comment was made in the context of the possibility of Malaysian Malays losing their power in Malaysia. Again he did not specify what type of power, but it could safely be interpreted as political power.

Now, what could have happened to the Malays here in the last four decades? What could have driven Dr Mahathir to voice his concern and to caution the Malaysian Malays? I wonder. The Malay community in Singapore, of course, know what has become of us here.

First and foremost, we have become a completely different community from what we were 45 years ago. We have developed our own identity and philosophy of life that are distinct from our relatives across the Causeway. We may wear the same clothes, eat the same food, speak the same language and practise the same culture. However, the similarities end there. We are now a society that uphold the philosophy of wanting to stand on our own feet, or what is known in Malay as ‘berdikari’ or ‘berdiri atas kaki sendiri’.

We do not believe in being spoon-fed or being too dependent on government help. In other words, we do not have a crutch mentality. We firmly believe that a community with such a crutch mentality will soon become a “two M” community – the first ‘M’ stands for ‘manja’ (spoilt), and the second for ‘malas’ (lazy).

We definitely do not want to be labelled as a pampered and lazy community.

That is why our Malay community here constantly work hard to raise funds to build our own mosques, madrasahs and other buildings in expensive and land-scarce Singapore. Over the years we have raised millions of dollars to become proud owners of these buildings. Through our own efforts and with the help of other organisations, we have also helped the needy not only financially, but also in equipping them with new skills so that they can earn their living.

For Dr Mahathir, however, all that we have done and achieved so far are not good enough. He takes a negative view of our changed attitudes and different mindset, and has therefore cautioned Malaysian Malays not to be like us.

What about power? For Malays in Singapore, power is not about wielding the keris. For us, knowledge is power. In fact we believe that knowledge is THE real power. The constant emphasis by the community on the importance of education and acquiring knowledge has led to the formation of institutions such as Mendaki, Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP), the Prophet Mohamad Birthday Memorial Scholarship Board (LBKM) and many others.

These self-help organisations not only provide financial help to needy students, but also strive to nuture our students to their full potential. At the same time, these organisations help to tackle various social ills faced by the community. Again, we do these all on our own. Malay children here attend the same schools as other Singaporeans with a shared aim – to obtain a holistic education and, of course, achieve good examination results.

Yes, it is tough. Like all other children, our Malay students have no choice but to work hard. It is a reality of life in Singapore that we have come to accept – that there is certainly no short cut to success. We do not believe in getting any special treatment, because it would only reduce the value of our achievements and lower our dignity. The meritocratic system that we practise here is, without doubt, a tough system but it
helps us to push ourselves and prevent us from becoming ‘manja’ and ‘malas’.

Still, Dr Mahathir and some Malay leaders across the Causeway do not like the way we do things here and have therefore warned Malaysian Malays not to be like us. On our part, there is certainly no turning back.

Meritocracy has proven to be a good and fair system. It pushes us to work hard and makes us proud of our achievements. We can see how it has benefitted us by looking at the growing number of doctors, lawyers, magistrates, engineers, corporate leaders and other professionals among us. It is the successes and achievements of some of these people that Berita Harian wants to highlight and celebrate when we launched this Achiever Award 12 years ago.

Tonight, we have another role model to present to our community. So, the question is: Shouldn’t our friends and relatives across the Causeway be like us – Malays in Singapore? It is definitely not for us to suggest or decide. And we too have no intention of asking our own community if we would like to be like them either, because we have already chosen our very own path for the future.

We, the Malays in Singapore, should be proud of our achievements, because we have attained them through hard work.

It is true that what we have achieved so far may not be the best, and that we are still lagging behind the other races. There are large pockets in our community facing various social problems. We have achieved so much, and yet there is still a long way to go. But we should not despair.

We can do a lot more on our own if the community stay united and cohesive. In critical issues, we should speak with one voice.

We need to help and strengthen each other while at the same time reach out to the other communities in multi-racial, multi-religious Singapore. A successful and prosperous Singapore can only mean a successful and prosperous Malay community.

Can we do it? Well, to borrow US President Barack Obama’s campaign slogan, “Yes, we can”.

Straits Times

First, I’d like to thank the organizing committee for inviting me to close the conference. Perhaps that is an understatement. Really, I should say that words can’t convey my profound appreciation for the ‘slings and arrows of outrageous fortune’ that your organization has to suffer by inviting me here. But then again, I see it as a mark of conviction and fortitude that you have stood your ground in the face of adversity. Therefore, I mean it in the truest sense when I say that I am greatly honored to be here to give my humble address to such a distinguished audience.

Today I shall depart from the usual practice of poking fun at lawyers. So let me take issue with Justice Oliver Holmes when he said that lawyers spend a great deal of their time shoveling smoke. This remark is totally uncalled for. Speaking from personal experience, I have seen the toil and the tears that some lawyers have to go through in handling certain cases. I tell myself there must be some kind of masochistic tendency in them that they can carry on in spite of so much pain. And then on closer reflection, it has to do with the nobility of the profession and certain values in life. Of course, in any basket there are always some bad apples but as they say that shouldn’t spoil the whole bunch.

Indeed, I am fortunate to be able to count among my close friends, lawyers of the highest integrity and dedication to their calling. Which is why I stand here before you in humility to speak on a subject that I believe is close to all of us.

So, with apologies to the eminent legal philosopher Ronald Dworkin, I have chosen to title my speech today as “Taking Justice Seriously”.
As one saying goes, the principle of justice is so central in a civil society that without it the concept of law has no meaning. The Holy Qur’an enjoins us to “judge with justice.” According to St. Augustine, kingdoms are but great robberies if justice is taken away. In my own humble view, no civilized society can exist without it, for justice is so central that bereft of it, the very foundation of our humanity crumbles.

To be sure, in talking about justice, we are not confined to the judges and the judicial system of a country though that is a crucial component. Nor are we limited to discussing only the role of lawyers or the law enforcement agencies, though that too is essential. And justice is not only about subjecting the actions and policies of the Executive to intense scrutiny. That too is of utmost importance.

Indeed the subject encompasses all that have come to be associated with the idea of justice: freedom and democracy, the rule of law, constitutionalism, equity and fair play, social justice and the dignity of man. Let me begin with a historical account that is still relevant to the very idea of justice.

More than a century ago, the great French writer Émile Zola published his famous open letter entitled “J’accuse” on the front page of a leading Parisian newspaper. Expressed in highly emotional language, Zola charged the nation’s military top brass with conspiracy and anti-Semitism in dealing with the infamous Alfred Dreyfus affair. But instead of bringing the culprits to book, the authorities lost no time in arresting Zola, charging him with criminal libel, and having him tried as a common criminal. The show trial was so well managed that an angry bloodthirsty Parisian mob gathered outside the court house clamoring for Zola’s head.

Anatole France, another eminent man of letters, came to his defence and valiantly testified to Zola’s “admirable good faith and absolute integrity.” But this was of no consequence as Zola was hastily convicted and sentenced to jail. However, thanks to his quick thinking and survival instincts, Zola chose freedom instead and dashed off to England. By his reckoning, there was a total failure of justice and it would be foolish for him to submit to an utterly corrupt and unjust system.

Today as we sit here in closing three days of very spirited discussions about the state of law, of human rights and of justice in the nation, we find ourselves in a situation not much different from what I have just recounted. As you can readily gather, there is indeed an uncanny parallel between the Zola episode and what is currently going on here. And I am not talking about my case here. I am referring to the persecution of a famous blogger who published not “J’accuse” but an equally sensational expose which shook the nation, and who has also chosen freedom in London.

So, at the root of this episode is the issue of the people’s participation in matters which have a bearing on society – they comment, they criticize and they expose the wrongdoings and shenanigans of those in power. Because of this, they are branded as enemies of the state and are hounded like common criminals.
From one angle, we could see this as a classic case of the tyranny of state power. Yes, we can view it that way or we can go beyond mere emotional outburst and look at it as a failure of the state to allow for government by discussion and participation.

According to one of the most influential public thinkers of our time, Nobel laureate Professor Amartya Sen, “the central issues in a broader understanding of democracy are political participation, dialogue and public interaction.”

The failure to allow for ‘government by discussion’ can be seen for example in the deprivation of a free and independent press. Without this, the advancement of public reasoning is constrained and is forced to find its voice through other channels. The benefits of a free and independent media have been well expounded by leading writers and empirically we know what that is all about. So, I need not and should not attempt to reinvent the wheel here. Unfortunately for us, far from having a free and independent press, we have one which is essentially a propaganda machine for the powers that be. As a result, the people’s voice can only be heard through an alternative media, one which thrives in spite of the constraints imposed by the authorities. As you know, we have a plethora of laws aimed at curbing freedom of expression enforced with the full might of the organs of state power.
Arbitrary, whimsical at times, but more often tyrannical and politically motivated. This is how I would characterize the Executive in their use of power. The fact that just a month ago, all three newspapers of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition were suspended speaks volumes about press freedom in this country.

The point is that media freedom is so central to the democratization process that without it there is neither democracy nor justice. To my mind, where the voices of truth are muzzled, where dissent is stifled and where opinions are censored, it is a travesty to call it democracy.
As Amartya Sen puts it so succinctly, “the media is important not only for democracy but for the pursuit of justice in general. ‘Discussionless justice’ can be an incarcerating idea.”

The suppression of the people’s voice is not restricted to just the media. The freedom to assemble and to listen to ceramahs (public lecture) is also severely curtailed and that is a violation of the people’s constitutional rights. In this regard, I must commend the Bar Council for having taken much initiative in its outreach program to educate the public about their fundamental rights as citizens of a nation founded on a constitutional charter.

Closely linked to this is what is known as the protective power of political liberty in securing justice. This is not a new concept. It is already laid down in our constitution. It is supposed to protect us from harassment and highhandedness of the authorities; it should protect us from arbitrary arrest and selective as well as vindictive prosecution; and it should protect us from the oppression and persecution of a less than impartial judiciary.

Now this protection is essential for the proper functioning of a true and viable democracy; not a democracy which is spun by an elaborate network of public relations campaigns at home and abroad with millions of the tax payers’ money to foot the bill; neither are we talking about a democracy that buys its way through op-ed columns and full page ads in foreign newspapers paid for by unknown sources; and most certainly not a democracy where the state rides rough shod over the rights of the people, treating the property of the state, the land and the rich resources like a private fiefdom, for the amassing of wealth and to live out the good life at the people’s expense.

In a true democracy, justice prevails in a system where the rule of law governs the administration of justice. That means judges will exercise their powers in accordance with the rule of law and will be mindful of the legitimate expectations of the people as to their competency, dedication and impartiality. Our society is maturing and with it, expectations of the moral dimension of justice become greater. As John Rawls has said, laws and institutions, no matter how efficient and well arranged, must be reformed or abolished if they are unjust.

In a real democracy, sham trials will not see the light of day because the principles of justice and due process will prevent the arbitrary use of prosecutorial powers. Unfortunately, we have now become familiar with this scenario in various parts of the world: first, because of the fear of losing power, a strategy is unleashed with the sole aim of crushing the political threat. This is done by neutralizing the leader or leaders. Trumped-up charges are leveled no doubt aimed at putting them behind bars for good. Then, despite the best efforts of lawyers to mount a fool-proof defence, the judgment is a foregone conclusion.
The point is when the rule of law is crushed under the tyranny of politics the administration of justice becomes farcical and perverse. We would expect that in a real democracy, the use of the judicial process to bring down political opponents will not be tolerated. However, where judges are unable to stand up to the political masters, those prosecuted for political reasons are condemned even before the trial begins. At every step along the arduous path to finality, all manner of obstacles are thrown to frustrate them in their effort to secure a fair and just trial.

We see the work of the ubiquitous unseen hand here, its invisibility made possible because of the utter lack of accountability and transparency in governance. Because of this, not only do we see the substitution of the rule of law by the rule of men but we see the entire system and process of governance being turned on its head.
Without accountability, those who wield power can get away with anything. Contracts and projects worth millions of ringgit, even hundreds of millions, are doled out without any regard to proper and due process. There are also ventures which have cost the nation billions and when they fail, the ones responsible for the fiasco not only go unpunished but actually get to benefit from it. We may shake our heads in utter disbelief but the reality is staring us in the face. That is why taking justice seriously is no longer an option but an imperative.

As government is power, we must hold to account those who wield that power. The moral imperative lies not in accountability for the sake of political expediency but in the dictates of justice. This imperative must apply to all those holding power regardless of whether they are from the Federal Government or State Governments. Access to information is essential to enable citizens to challenge actions of public officials and to seek redress for misconduct. While freedom of information laws will secure open government by fiat, the question remains as to why the moral imperative seems to evaporate along the corridors of power. In this regard, I am proud to say that, the government of Selangor has passed the Freedom of Information Enactment in spite of the obstacles thrown in its path. This is part and parcel of the Pakatan Rakyat reform agenda. In terms of governance, there shall be no compromise on accountability and transparency. We see what is wrong, we make good and we move forward. On the other hand, the Federal Government appears to be hell bent on turning back the clock.

They say that this enactment is bad law because it contradicts the Official Secrets Act. On the contrary, we say that it is the Official Secrets Act which is bad law because it violates the basic guarantees of the Federal Constitution. And more importantly in the context of justice, we believe we are on the right side of the moral argument because if there is nothing to hide, why is there a need to keep secrets? If we can defend our actions, why do we need to hide behind secrecy laws?

The amassing of wealth through corrupt means, the abuse of executive power for material gain, and the squandering of tax payers’ money – these are some of the hallmarks of the failure to have accountability and they impact directly on the question of justice. Every ringgit squandered or misappropriated is every ringgit that should rightly have gone to the people for their benefit, for free education, and for free health care. The demands of social justice alone therefore warrant the absolute need for accountability.

In Islam, the idea of social justice or al-Adala al-Ijtima’iyya enjoins upon the equitable distribution of wealth while protecting the higher objectives of the Shari’ah or al-Maqasid al-Shari’ah. Among these is the safeguarding and preservation of property, that is, protecting the wealth of the community from being pillaged and plundered by those in power. By extension, good economic governance is a moral imperative and any government which prides itself as being responsible to the people must be committed to a sound and balanced economic agenda.

This is why we have a reform agenda that aims at reducing the socio-economic inequities of the people while at the same promoting healthy economic growth. In this agenda, we welcome domestic and foreign private-sector investment initiatives, generate full employment opportunities, and ensure robust development that adds long term value to the economy. But we will have no truck with the rent-seeking practices, crony capitalism or ostentatious and wasteful development of our predecessors. Sustainable development is not a mere numbers game. As an integral part of the notion of justice, development must proceed on an even keel with the other elements so as to enhance the quality of life and uplift the dignity of all. We are not saying that this can be achieved at the blink of an eye. Indeed, with Federal power still concentrated in the hands of an elite few the odds are heavily stacked against us. The path ahead is fraught with danger and obstacles. But despair not. Let us fortify our resolve to take justice seriously and fight for the future of our generations. For in the words of Anatole France: “We will win, because we are right, and because reason is on our side.”

Thank you.

Are you ready to rock?  I should hope so.  I’m giving your hands a rest and your ears a workout this week, for none of the apps in the ol’ "freeware roundup" this time around are actually downloadable.  That’s right.  Zero.  After you read this, you will spend the course of your week installing absolutely nothing.

So what, then, am I profiling in this roundup?  Dust?  Nope.  Rock.  Every single Web app in this collection is specifically geared toward an audio pursuit of some kind.  I’ll show you apps you can use–through the comfort of whatever browser you’d like–to both create music and find new music to jam to.  If you want to go worldly, I’ll show you how to find the latest music streams from all over the world.

That’s not all, however, for not everything audio-related has to involve music.  The other two cool Web apps in this week’s roundup center on audio usability.  One lets you edit files online as if you were rocking an offline audio editor, and the other lets you craft up a message to your friends that will be read by one of those lovely, synthetic computer voices we’ve all come to know and love.

So that’s that.  It’s audio week in the Freeware Files–even though you won’t have to download a single executable to reap the benefits of these awesome finds!

Blindspeak

Nothing says, "thanks a lot, bro," like receiving a message, full of insults, being read to you by a synthetic computer voice.  At least, that’s the first thing I would think of to do after stumbling across Blindspeak.  But in all sincerity, this Web app is the perfect thing to use when you want to send a loving note to your elderly grandparents / lazy friends who, for whatever reason, aren’t down with the text, yo.

"Download" it here!

Myna

Sometimes, you just need to get your hands on an audio editor real-quick, but you just don’t have the permissions (or time) to install something like Audacity.  That’s where Myna comes to save the day.  This super-handy Web app lets you import (or record) audio and perform basic tasks like trimming, shuffling, and multitracking your selections.  You can fiddle around with a  few different effects–delays, equalizers, et cetera–in an Acid-like environment. It’s not a perfect replacement for the power of an offline editor, but I have no complaints!

"Download" it here!

Antenna

Finding new music or audio streams to listen to can be difficult, especially if you’re trying to make sense of the lists, upon lists, upon never-ending lists of possible online stations and/or streaming sites on today’s Web.  Yikes.  Antenna attempts to reduce this cacophony a wee bit by combing a list of online radio stations with an easy-to-navigate global map. Not only can you narrow down your search by country or genre, but you can also rate your favorites for easy access at a later time.

And, yes, this is an Adobe AIR app, so I suppose it’s not a true Web app per se.  Close enough, eh?

Download it here!

We Are Hunted

Want new music to listen to?  Unsure of where you’re going to find the latest-and-greatest jams that are popular in "the scene" before they hit the top-40 charts?  We Are Hunted is an awesome site for getting yourself more invested in music that’s cool before it becomes… cool.  Click on a band and title to stream the track.  If you like it, you can buy it, add it to a personal chart, or otherwise share it with friends.  The service itself determines popularity based on a crazy algorithm that considers blog posts, mainstream press, and other popularity-driven places to determine the 99 daily songs that are, simply, "cool."

"Download" it here!

Audiotool

Here we go.  Audiotool is a crazy, feature-packed Web app for creating your own music from the ground up.  And I’m not just talking about some cheesy "loop a few WAV files and call it a day" kind of an app.  Use actual virtual synthesizers to concoct your beats, riffs, jams–whatever–and assemble a pretty neat track (or remix someone else’s track) in a manner akin to an offline tool like Propellerhead’s Reason.  Well, a trimmed-down version of Reason, that is.

"Download" it here!

David Murphy (@ Acererak) is a technology journalist and former Maximum PC editor. He writes weekly columns about the wide world of open-source as well as weekly roundups of awesome, freebie software. Befriend him on Twitter, especially if you have an awesome app or game you’re dying to recommend!

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H.E. Governor Rasheed Mohammed Al Maraj, Central Bank of Bahrain,

H.E. Governor Sultan Bin Nasser Al Suwaidi, Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen

Introduction

1. Good morning and a warm welcome to our overseas guests. First of all, let me thank Governor Rasheed and Governor Sultan for joining us at this inaugural World Islamic Banking Conference: Asia Summit (WIBC Asia). Your presence here today is testimony to the strong and long-standing ties that Singapore enjoys with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and warm relationships between MAS and your respective central banks.

2. The World Islamic Banking Conference has been held successfully in Bahrain for the past sixteen years. We are honoured that WIBC Asia is now anchored in Singapore. We hope that the Summit will become an important event on the Islamic finance calendar over time and catalyse even greater engagement between the Middle East and Asia. Hence, the theme: “Seeking New Growth Horizons” is highly appropriate for this inaugural Summit.

Strengthening Asia-Middle East engagement

3. Uncertainty and fear from the financial crisis have abated somewhat, but risks still remain. Global economic output had begun to pick up from the second quarter of 2009. The pace of recovery however varies across regions. Though global conditions have improved, recent developments in Europe have once again unsettled financial markets as doubts have arisen over the fiscal sustainability of several countries in the Euro zone. These episodic concerns serve as broad reminders that the world economy still faces serious challenges as governments, financial institutions and corporations adjust to the new realities of greater prudence, tighter market conditions and lower tolerance for weak governance and excessive leverage.

4. In Asia, economic growth has rebounded strongly above pre-crisis levels and become more broad-based. Fundamentals in Asia continue to be strong, boosted by robust domestic demand, healthy balance sheets and strong resurgence in intra-regional trade. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Asia is expected to grow by an average of 7.1% in 2010 and 2011, up from 3.4% in 2009. Having reformed and restructured their economies following the Asian Crisis a decade ago, Asia was better positioned with less fiscal imbalances or corporate excesses to emerge faster from the downturn. Prospects for sustained growth in ASEAN are also good. Its outlook is enhanced by continuing efforts to create an integrated single market by 2015. With improved trade links with the two Asian giants – China and India, ASEAN will become an even more dynamic and vibrant region within Asia.

5. The GCC countries too enjoy solid growth prospects, and look set to achieve around 5% GDP growth in 2010 and 2011, according to the IMF. They have implemented broad-based development strategies to diversify their economies away from hydrocarbons and harness new growth drivers. While the energy-related sector will remain an important pillar in Asia-Middle East relations, we should develop other complementarities between the two regions such as in financial and business services, infocomm technology and media, infrastructure development, tourism as well as green technology and life sciences.

6. In this respect, the linkages between Singapore and the GCC have deepened. We have signed the milestone GCC-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Singapore companies, such as Capitaland in Bahrain and UAE, Changi Airport International in Saudi Arabia, Keppel Corp in Qatar and SembCorp in UAE and Oman, have secured about S$26 billion of projects in the GCC. In addition, a strong cluster of Middle Eastern banks, such as Arab Bank, Emirates NBD, First Gulf Bank, National Bank of Kuwait and Qatar National Bank, is already based in Singapore. Quite a few are looking to expand their operations in trade finance and wealth management to capitalize on new growth opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region.

7. By strengthening linkages at all levels, the Middle East and Asia can then complement each other’s development and seek out new growth areas for mutual benefit. Inter-regional platforms have been established to achieve this; for example, the Asia-Middle East Dialogue (AMED) and the ASEAN-GCC Ministerial Meeting, which was held in Singapore recently. Growth in trade between ASEAN and GCC have resumed post-crisis and is expected to receive a further boost with the ASEAN-GCC trade and investment framework agreement and FTA. I therefore urge all parties to work swiftly towards a mutually-beneficial conclusion.

Reforming finance to sustain growth

8. The financial sector has encountered major turbulence and headwinds as a result of the financial crisis and has de-leveraged extensively in response to a more risk-sensitive environment. Significant changes in financial regulation are underway. Global regulators under the auspices of the Financial Stability Board, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, are working to put fractured financial markets back on a sounder footing. These changes include increasing the quality and quantity of risk-based capital, introducing new global liquidity requirements, and developing a fresh regulatory approach towards systemically important financial institutions. Such reforms should bring about greater stability to the global financial system.

9. These changes will not be dramatic for Singapore-based financial institutions because MAS’ regulation and supervision have been sound, prudent and effective. This has helped our financial system to remain resilient through the crisis. Last week, MAS communicated our long-standing approach in the latest monograph – “Tenets of Effective Regulation” where we reiterated that our approach to regulatory development is outcome-focused, risk appropriate and impact sensitive. MAS’ policies and actions need to be clear and consistent as well as responsive to industry and market changes and economic cycles. We believe that a stable and dynamic financial system that serves the needs of the economy and the public cannot be built on regulation alone. Responsible and competent board and senior management who manage the risks of their financial institutions well are also critical.

Growing interest in Islamic Finance

10. The general outlook for Islamic finance remains positive despite the negative spillover from the financial crisis. As a basic tenet, Islamic finance emphasizes that financing activities should underpin real commercial activities. Due to its widening acceptance and its appeal as a means for ethical investment, the industry is expected to continue growing at twice the pace of its conventional counterpart. As such, surveys estimate that the industry will soon cross the US$1 trillion mark in total assets.

11. But similar to conventional banks, Islamic financial institutions have been impacted by the economic slowdown and resulting weaker asset prices. Some financial institutions have been badly affected by the over-concentration in illiquid assets and overly-optimistic business plans. The Islamic industry therefore needs to take heed of the lessons learnt from the current crisis and pay greater attention to issues related to capital adequacy, market liquidity and risk management. Overcoming these challenges will require strong cooperation within the industry and across different jurisdictions. MAS, as a full and Council member of the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) since 2005, will continue to advocate and support multi-national initiatives that would bring about such improvements.

Singapore as a Global City for Business and Finance

12. As we have seen in recent times, financial centres are important nodes in ensuring that the world economy continues to function well. They need to be responsive to the dynamic market place in order to perform their critical roles to sustain growth by ensuring that capital is channeled to the most productive uses.

13. Singapore as a vibrant and cosmopolitan Global City is well-positioned for businesses to connect to Asia and international markets. Over time, we have established the necessary infrastructure, global connectivity and pool of expertise with the requisite knowledge, understanding and experience of local conditions in Asia that can add value to companies entering the region.

14. As a financial centre offering a full suite of financial services, Singapore stands ready to play a wider developmental role in promoting Islamic finance in response to rising regional demand for Shariah-compliant products and services. MAS has worked closely with the industry and other government agencies to ensure a level-playing field between Islamic and conventional finance such that Islamic finance is not disadvantaged for tax and regulatory purposes where the economic substance and risks are similar.

15. Many market players are already leveraging on Singapore’s strengths and capabilities to raise capital, create infrastructure and real estate funds and conduct wealth and asset management activities. For instance, the Islamic Development Bank and City Development Ltd have tapped our capital markets to raise Shariah-compliant Singapore-dollar funding. Another notable development is the joint venture by Singapore’s Keppel T&T and Saudi Arabia’s Al Rajhi Group to create the world’s first Shariah-compliant data centre fund. Last week, the fund managed to secure an initial US$100 million from institutional investors in Asia and Middle East. We also understand that various market players are in the midst of preparations to launch and list Islamic Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), which will further boost Singapore’s position as the largest REIT market in Asia ex-Japan.

16. In talent development, several credible players have initiated training courses and programmes to enhance the financial sector’s capabilities in Islamic finance. For example, the Singapore Management University has started an International Islamic Law & Finance Centre to promote high-quality research, training and professional education. Such efforts will further support the growth and innovation of Islamic finance in the region.

Conclusion

17. I am therefore pleased to launch the inaugural WIBC Asia Summit today. Such events serve to bring industry leaders together to explore and create business partnerships to capitalize on new opportunities in the Middle East and Asia. The financial crisis has not diminished the Asian growth story; in fact Asia has emerged even more compelling with growing exports and investment spending. Singapore is well-positioned to be the launch pad for GCC businesses entering and investing in Asia. The Middle East also offers plenty of opportunities for Asian businesses to participate in its growth.

18. With greater awareness and adoption in more financial centres, Islamic finance is poised to play a bigger and more central role in global finance. We look forward to WIBC Asia as a key platform that will buttress the development of Islamic finance as it takes root in the region. The industry, which is open to all participants, can only reach greater heights with your commitment and support. I therefore wish you a productive conference as you seek exciting new horizons for Islamic finance.

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