Malaysiakini: CAP wholesale rejection of WiFi based on inconclusive studies

The justification of CAP in opposing the statewide free wifi initiative of Penang state government is based on a precautionary principle and an inclusive scientific report.

The report cited by CAP is itself reporting that the results of studies of the harmful effects of WiFi or similar non-ionizing electro-magnetic waves are inclusive. What CAP failed to tell the public is that in the reports, half of the studies shown some form of harmful effect to cell growth while the other half had shown no sign of any harms caused to cells when exposed to non-ionizing electro-magnetic wave under lab conditions. About 50% of the times, the scientist were not able to proof that WiFi or similar wireless signal waves are harmful to organic cells growing in a disk. That is why the reports concluded that the studies are inconclusive.

So, what does inconclusive study result really means? Well, it's the way scientists are saying they failed to prove that WiFi is harmful and yet they are reluctant to tell the public that it is 100% safe. For history have taught the scientist that it is scientifically impossible to prove something that is 100% safe. All technologies carry with it some form of risk and hazards. The real issue here should be is the risk and hazards as espoused by CAP realistic? For this more studies are needed.

Then why is CAP harping on the "harmful" effect of Wifi? Actually, in my personal opinion, CAP has no concrete scientific backings in its objection against Wifi aside from fear mongering under the guise of precautionary principle. Now, why such harsh words from me? The reason being is CAP application of precautionary principle is based purely on an incomplete and worse still "inconclusive" findings. Putting it in a more layman terms, what CAP is saying:"I am not able to prove that WiFi is harmful, but take my word: it could be dangerous, so because there is a chance that it could be harmful, it should be banned from public space based on the precautionary principle to avoid exposing the public to this possible hazard that may or may not be there." That is all that to it in CAP's stand.

What CAP should have done is to adopt a more re-conciliatory approach. Rather than the current confrontational stand, CAP should have issue cautionary warning on the potential public health hazards WiFi may pose and hence make recommendations to the Penang State Government to include WiFi free zone (meaning areas and places where there is no WiFi signals). CAP could identify critical locations and public spaces like kindergarten, schools, and hospitals be free of WiFi and Buildings be established WiFi safe zone for people who suffered from WiFi hypersentivity. Alas, that is not the case, instead, CAP chose to hurl allegations against the Penang State Government that the government is irresponsible for implementing an "unproven" technology.

Speaking of WiFi hypersensitivity, CAP has itself mentioned there are atmost about 10% of population in countries like Denmark and U.K. are diagnosed with WiFi Hypersensitivity and it is recognized as a form of disability. If such is a case, WiFi hypersensitivity is a form of abnormally rather than a public health hazard. In layman terms, what WiFi hypersensitivity means is there are people allergic to WiFi Signal just as there are people allergic to prawns, animal furs, and penicillin. The way CAP has put it out is such that any prolong exposure to WiFi will make everyone sick. And this far from the truth, as the scientific reports that CAP repeatedly cited have failed to prove just that!

I also take to issue the way CAP have demonized WiFi technology as if it is as poisonous as lead plumbing and asbestos ceiling without any concrete scientific proof. In any case, CAP should voice out more vehemently against the adoption of nuclear energy by TNB. The risk and hazards posed by a nuclear fallout is several magnitude higher than that of WiFi, a non-ionizing radio wave. Mind you, nuclear waste emits ionizing radiations which is proven to cause mutations in babies and cancers in adults.

What Malaysia needs

Actually, Malaysia wasn't doing as badly as what most Malaysians perceived. Malaysia is still one of the most dynamic economic power in South East Asia, despite more than 20 years of economic mismanagement: a testimony to the resilient of the citizens and the wealth of the country natural resources. Malaysia still have the potentials to become one of the Asia Economic Powerhouse if it sorts out some of its internal political, societal, and cultural woes.

Whether Malaysians admit it or not, Malaysia is slowly loosing out to its neighbors. Singapore is decades ahead of Malaysia in terms of social and economics development, and Malaysia is fast falling behind Thailand, while Indonesia, Philippines, and Vietnam is fast catching up with Malaysia. In terms of Purchasing Power Parity Gross Domestic Products (PPP GDP) Malaysia is already behind all of its neighbors listed above.

Let's look at some Purchasing Power Parity GDP figures, the table below sum up the figures:

2007 PPP GDP figures of Malaysia and her neighboring countries

Country	GDP (in billions)	Per Capita
Malaysia	$165	$6,648
Singapore	$172	$39,952
Indonesia	$1,038	$4,356
Thailand	$520	$8,000
Vietnam	$263	$3,100
Philippines	$467	$5,365

Looking at the figures listed in the table should awake all thinking Malaysians. We are blessed with rich natural resources, so then why are we so far behind Singapore and are now falling behind Thailand?

The answer to the question is obvious to me. We were too occupied with our individual communal interests that we have not developed the most important resources of the country: Human resources.

The reason that why Singapore is so much more advanced compared to Malaysia is so obvious that it's glaring at us right in our face: Human Capital development. While Malaysians are arguing over issue of "Ketuanan Melayu", the Singapore government were busy attracting our talents over. It should be apparent that ex-Malaysians were the one that help Singapore to develop and become the advanced nation that it is today. While Malaysia is pre-occupied with bumiputras, scores of non-bumiputras were lured to Singapore, Australia, U.S., and other Europeans country with better treatments and opportunities offered.

When Lee Kuan Yew were talking about how Singapore could compete with the developed Nation like U.S. and the rise of China to attract the talent pool available in South East Asia, our Tun Dr Mahatir is talking about Malays loosing their political power with no regards whatsoever to the plight of the non-Malays (Senoi, Semang, Kadazan-Duzun, Dayak, Kayan and other orang asli included).

What Malaysia needs is not the like of Tun Dr Mahatir who churns out racist rhetorics. There are a whole scores of political and societal issues that are plaguing Malaysia in an increasing globalized world. So Malaysians need to look beyond the narrow lenses of racism and start focusing on uniting as one to compete with the rest of the World, as Malaysians.

The critical issues that are plaguing Malaysia are as listed below:-

Lack of Freedom of Speech

Institutionalized Racism

Patronage Culture that breeds Corruptions

Lack of Freedom of Speech

This is improving with the current Datuk Seri Abdullah administration. However, the opening up of spaces for public discourse is only temporary as there were no concrete steps in the legislative branch. There are too many laws enacted to stiffened public discourse and too little law enacted to protect freedom of speech. To list them out, there are the Official Secret Acts, the Printing Press Acts, the Seditious Acts, and the Universities and Colleges Acts. The government and the ministers continue to justify these laws with the arguments that people of Malaysia just can't be trusted with freedom of speech as they would abused such rights to libel and hurl false accusations against the government. The problem with their argument is that they are exactly the same excuses used by the communist party to curtail freedom of speech in China.

In contrasts to the scores of laws that denied Malaysian citizens their freedom of speech and expressions, there were no laws enacted to provide and protect such basic basic human rights in Malaysia.

In all developed democratic countries, they have laws that uphold their citizens freedom of speech and the public rights to know like for examples the whistle blower protection acts and the freedom of information acts.

In the California state, they have what they called the Brown Acts where "The people of this State do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies which serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist on remaining informed so that they may retain control over the instruments they have created."

In Malaysia, we have no such laws provided. We need such laws to be enacted and the government of Malaysia needs to enact such a law to show to the people of Malaysia that they are genuinely serving the people. Without the freedom of information acts, all talks of good governance, transparencies, and accountabilities are mere rhetorics with no substances. As corrupt politicians will continue to hide behind the official secret acts, while continuing with their shoddy deals to siphoned off public funds in the millions.

Laws that curtail freedom of expressions must be repealed or, at the minimum, reviewed to minimize its scopes. Official Secret Acts should not be used to charge people for revealing lopsided contracts signed that are against public interests. The printing press acts should be repealed as the acts as it stands now only serve those in power. The day that the printing press act is not repealed in Malaysia, there will not be good governance and there will not be independence of the three branches of democracy in Malaysia. Media scrutiny is the best check and balance against any form of abuse of powers, conflict of interests and corruptions in the legislative, executives and judicial branch. With the printing press act, there will never be true media scrutiny.

The most urgent issue Malaysia needs to address right now is brain drain. Let's be honest, the biggest push factor of brain drain in Malaysia is its racial discriminatory policies and practices. As a normal Malaysian citizens, what we could do is to reject all things that are racist in nature, UMNO, MCA, and MIC included. They are political parties that formed from a racist ideal.

To be continue...

On The 2008 Election of Malays

Reading on what's happening around Malaysia, particularly what developed in the opposition alliance newly acquired 4 states: Penang, Kedah, Perak, and Selangor; I can't help but feel that we still have a long way to go and the changes that I'm hoping for is not going to come easy.

Of the 4 states; Penang, Perak, and Selangor are showing signs of cracks in the newly formed allied government. In Penang, DAP wants to do away with NEP but PAS wanted to keep NEP. In Perak, there are tussle over the Chief Minister Post, DAP CEC is even calling its Perak members to boycott the new CM swearing in ceremony. In Selangor, now appears that there could be a still born non-malay deputy chief minister as the Selangor Sultan is expressing doubt over such arrangment despite the fact that a Malay is made the Chief Minister. All of these events unfolding is a tell-tale sign that Malaysians are still very much racist to the core.

Being and not being a Malays is such a big issue in Malaysia. In this age and day, the general feelings amongst most of the Malays is that if you are not a malay in Malaysia, you are not entitled to the same standing as a Malay in Malaysia. After all, they would say, this is MALAY-sia. So, if you are not a malay, you are not entitled to be a Chief Minister in 9 out of 13 states of Malaysia. And this is stated in the constitution of those 9 states including the opposition held Perak, Kedah, Kelantan, and Selangor states.

The discriminatory constitution causes the most problem now in Perak, as currently amongst the newly formed uneasy alliance of DAP/PKR/PAS, DAP hold the most seat at 18, PKR 7 and PAS 6. The Regent of Perak have given the post of the Chief Minister to PAS, the least represented party in the new government. His intention might have been good but his selection has completely negated the true spirit of Westminster Democracy. So, it's understandable that DAP and many of their supporters are unhappy about it. Most voters voted for a change, but changes are not forthcoming, as the constitution, the system and the mindset of the majority Malays are so deep rooted in racism that I'm afraid that the type of democracy DAP and PKR are fighting for will not become a reality in at least another 10 years.

In Penang, though there are no issue of a racially discriminatory state constitution, cracks in the new government is also showing when the DAP Chief wanted to adopt a system without NEP but PAS is calling for a revamped NEP. Though PAS is only holding one state seat and DAP could form a Penang State Government with PKR, they have to show good will to PAS as they fought a united front in the election. Personally, I don't think doing away with NEP in a sweeping move is wise. NEP to the Malays is like a drug to the drug addicts: If it's withdrawn suddenly, the withdrawal symptoms would kill the addicts. The Chief Minister should instead work out steps in gradually moving away from NEP in a 4 years plan. Giving the Malays amble time to adapt and grow.

The Malay issue has the worst effect in Selangor. Not only that non-Malay can not be a Chief Minister, electing a non-Malay as the deputy Chief Minister has caused some ire amongst the Malays including the Selangor Sultan. In Saying that the Chief Minister position is to aid the Chief Minister, and there would be problem if the DCM is not a Malay as he/she would not be able to officiate the opening of Mosque, which is one of the responsibility of the DCM is a statement that is racist to the core. If the function of DCM is only to officiate the opening of Mosque then, it'd better be reserved for a Malay-Muslim then, from the old Malaysian paradigm, a Muslim in Malaysia is a Malay after all. Also, a DCM that's only good for officiating Mosque opening is not a DCM wanted by non-Malay muslim. The statement is using a part of a function of a DCM to justify racial discrimination against an ethnic minority from holding the post. Now if that's not racist to the core, I don't know what is.