The Truth Revealed

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

MERRY CHRISTMAS! EVERYONE

"...Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10,11

Believe! This is the week of Christmas — and it is so important that we believe God and receive Christ.

When the angel Gabriel spoke to the virgin Mary over 2,000 years ago and said she would have a Son even though she was a virgin, she did not doubt — she believed. She said “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” Mary believed God — and she received God’s promise, the Christ child.

When you celebrate Christmas this year, focus on Christ — the wonderful son of God who came to earth to be our Savior. Believe in Him as the Son of God; receive Him in to your heart if you have not done so already. And let’s pray that:
  • Millions of people across the whole world will believe in God and in Jesus Christ as the Son of God
  • People everywhere will receive Christ as their Savior and Lord
  • Your own friends and family will all welcome Christ as their personal Savior

When Christ came to be born on earth, people had a simple choice — would they believe in Him as Savior?

Would they receive Him into their lives?

Would they welcome Him?

Our choice is the same today.

Let us celebrate the birth of Christ into the world — and into our hearts. Merry Christmas!

Please pray for all the people who are lonely this Christmas.

For many people, Christmas is a time of great joy.

Other people may be alone, and afraid, and not have anyone to spend the holidays with.

Please pray that others would come around them and show them love.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Saturday, December 15, 2007

A TRUE WARRIOR OF MALAYSIA: “Heroes and High Achievers”

SERI PAHLAWAN GAGAH PERKASA KANANG ANAK LANGKAU
A living legend, an IBAN WARRIOR who's the most deserving to be awarded the title TUN.

TUN KANANG ANAK LANGKAU

IBAN WARRIOR KANANG ANAK LANGKAU is the only living recipient of the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP) medal and the Pingat Gagah Berani (PGB), the two highest gallantry awards, and the only soldier to have received both awards.

He received a letter of commendation from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong yesterday for his service and bravery in the army.

In terms of protocol, one of his awards ranks above a Tun's. But the nation's two highest awards for gallantry rest lightly on retired Warrant Officer (I) Kanang Langkau's shoulders.

According to Colonel (Rtd) Fabian Wong, no award was higher than the SP but it did not carry any title.

“It’s not listed in the federal list of importance,” said Wong, who had received the State gallantry award, ‘Pingat Keberanian Sarawak’ (PK).

He hoped Sarawak would accord protocol and importance to SP holders, adding that SP holders should be recognised as “heroes and high achievers” because its (SP) standing is higher than the ‘Tun’.

Stressing that the SP is ranked first in the federal list of awards, Wong said, the ‘Darjah Kerabat Diraja Malaysia’ is second while ‘Darjah Utama Seri Mahkota’ (third), ‘Seri Maharaja Mangku Negara’ (fourth) and Seri Setia Mahkota (fifth).

The second and third awards were only accorded to deserving members of the royal family while the fourth and fifth award - both of which carry the title ‘Tun’ - are for any other Malaysians, he said, adding that all those information could be obtained from the relevant website.


In 1961 he joined the British 42nd Royal Marines Commandos as an Iban tracker, and was later absorbed into the 8th Ranger Battalion.

"I served my country during my army days. I've sacrificed the quality time I should have had with my family. I didn't get to see my children grow up. Now that I'm retired, I spend most of my time with my grandchildren.

"That alone makes me feel like I'm the richest man in the world. A normal civilian life in peacetime is priceless," said the 67-year-old after the 3rd Army Infantry Brigade's 48th anniversary celebration in Semenggo Camp yesterday.

On June 1, 1976, Kanang and his 8th Ranger Intelligence task force were part of Operation Gerakan Setia in the Korbu Forest Reserve, Perak. They stormed the communist terrorist headquarters, killing three terrorists and disrupted the enemy supply route.

For his bravery in that operation he was awarded the PGB on June 4, 1980.

Another fierce encounter that earned him the SP was during Operation Gerakan Pukat in Tanah Hitam, Perak, on Feb 20, 1980. Kanang's platoon was ambushed while hunting a communist unit in Ladang Kending, Sungai Siput, Perak.

Despite serious gunshot wounds in the chest and stomach, as platoon sergeant, he organised a counter attack before passing out.

For his bravery that day, he received the highest award from the king on June 3, 1981.

"I never regretted joining the army. It's the best job anyone could have. And no one can beat the army in terms of welfare.

"Deep in my heart, I will remain a soldier till the day I die," said Kanang.


Kanang terima watikah PGB, SP

KUCHING 14 Dis. – Pegawai Waran Satu, Kanang Anak Langkau, (gambar) yang dikagumi atas keberaniannya menentang pengganas di Sungai Siput, Perak pada tahun 1980, hari ini menerima sijil Watikah Pingat Darjah Keberanian Tertinggi Negara, Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP) dan sijil Watikah Pingat Gagah Berani (PGB).

Anugerah itu disampaikan oleh Panglima 3 Briged, Brigadier Jeneral Jeyabalan S. sempena ulang tahun 3 Briged yang ke-48 di Kem Briged Kuching.

Kanang, 62, kekal menjadi ‘mentor’ dalam kerjaya Angkatan Tentera Malaysia lebih tiga dekad di atas keberaniannya itu.

Pada 3 Jun 1981, beliau diperkenan oleh Yang di-Pertuan Agong untuk menerima Darjah Keberanian Tertinggi Negara, Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP) iaitu lebih tinggi daripada penerima Darjah Seri Maharaja Mangku Negara (SMN) yang membawa gelaran Tun.

Sebelum itu pada 4 Jun 1980, Kanang juga pernah menerima anugerah Pingat Gagah Berani Yang di-Pertuan Agong iaitu darjah keberanian kedua tertinggi negara.

“Sejak darah dari badan saya menitis ke bumi ketika bertempur dengan musuh negara, semangat perwira masih lagi kekal dalam jiwa saya sampai bila-bila pun, saya masih seorang askar,” kata Kanang kepada pemberita di sini.

Kanang berkata, beliau tidak pernah menyesal menjadi tentera walaupun ketika zaman mudanya beliau tidak menyimpan cita-cita untuk menjadi askar.

Ketika ditanya apakah pekerjaannya setelah 21 tahun meninggalkan kerjaya sebagai ‘soldadu’, Kanang berkata, beliau mahu berehat dan menghabiskan masa bersama cucunya yang masih kecil.

– Bernama

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Indonesia unveils giant Jesus statue

December 12, 2007 - 10:37AM

Muslim-majority Indonesia has unveiled one of Asia's tallest Jesus Christ statues in the mainly Christian town of Manado on North Sulawesi island, the company behind it said today.

Indonesian real estate developer Ciputra built the 30-metre-high statue in its CitraLand residential estate, hoping it will lure tourists and become a religious icon, the company's marketing manager Sonya Lasut said. "It looks like the Jesus is flying to bless people," she added.

The giant Jesus Christ statue in the mainly Christian town of Manado, Indonesia.
Photo: AFP

The white monument - which shows a robed Christ with his arms and palms outstretched above his head - took nearly three years to complete and cost five billion rupiah (about $A611,000). It also consisted of 25 tonnes of metal fibre and 35 tonnes of steel, Lasut added.

She said the Indonesian Museum of Records had certified the statue as Asia's tallest Jesus - overtaking the 27-metre tall Cristo Rei in East Timor's capital Dili - during a ceremony on December 2.

However, Vietnam's state-run tourism agency SaigonTourist says on its website that the southern coastal resort city of Vung Tau is home to a 32-metre-tall Jesus Christ statue. A museum official said he did not have a record of the Vietnamese statue.


AFP

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Who was Altantuya Shaariibuu?

John Berthelsen
Asia Sentinel, 05 December 2007

A murdered woman fades into a caricature as the trial of her accused killers in Malaysia drags on into obscurity

On October 18, 2006, a pretty young Mongolian translator named Altantuya Shaariibuu was brutally murdered at the age of 28. Her mutilated body was found in a jungle clearing near the Kuala Lumpur suburb of Sha Alam. Her reputation has been brutalized as well. The pictures printed here may give some of her back to the world.

After her remains were found about a month after the murder, Altantuya’s accused killers, Abdul Razak Baginda, her former lover and the head of a politically well-connected think tank, and two bodyguards for Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, were arrested almost immediately in a blaze of newspaper headlines that all but convicted them.

She had also worked as Abdul Razak’s translator on a shady deal he was brokering for the Malaysian government to buy submarines from France. The pair seem to have travelled to Paris together. A letter found after she was killed appeared to be a demand for money from him for the care of her child, which he may have fathered. She was last seen by eyewitnesses getting into a car outside Abdul Razak’s house with the two elite bodyguards. Abdul Razak had requested help in dealing with her vocal demands for money and presence at the house.

The trial has now been underway for six months while prosecutors wade through a tangle of jurisdictional disputes and take testimony from a tedious list of tangential witnesses. Both prosecution and defense seem intent on keeping the obvious political ramifications of the trial out of the courtroom. It almost seems as if the trial is being delayed just to lessen the impact of a mistrial or even the acquittal of the politically prominent defendants.

In the meantime, Altantuya’s name has been dragged through the mud for so long that she almost has ceased to exist as a person. After being identified by local newspapers following the murder, she was first characterized as a part-time model (code language for a high-priced call girl). She also has been reviled for being an unwed mother, and for jet-setting to Europe with Abdul Razak. She has been described as a bitter, spurned lover demanding money from her rich boyfriend. Her family, meanwhile, has said she worked hard and was just trying to find her way in life.

In a letter found after her death (spelling corrected), she sounds like any jilted young woman: “To see your lover is nothing criminal right? Yes (I) was in shock. I wrote some stupid letters to him where I said I kill myself I want help. Yes I try to blackmail him. Maybe it’s my fault but no I really understand he doesn’t love me anymore and I need to stop that I asked money from him to go back how he promised to me. He lied to me to help and ruin my life. I came to KL to see him to face to face and ask why acting like that. Maybe rich person and he got family doing this. But when I come I did some thing stupid I write letter where I said I will kill myself and thing like that.”

And, she adds: “They say Malaysia is different from Mongolia and said they know people in police so can easy put me to jail. If in Malaysia law goes like that I can’t complain. But true is I did nothing to him. I’m just normal girl trying to meet my lover who lied to me and promised many things but now wants to put me in jail or kill.”

From a series of pictures made available to Asia Sentinel by Syed Abdul Rahman AlHabshi, the honorary Mongolian Consul General in Malaysia, Altantuya looks like nothing more than an attractive young woman off on the trip of her life to Europe. AlHabshi declined a request to say where the pictures came from but they are believed to have been found among her possessions after she was killed. She looks happy. Perhaps she was with her lover when these were taken. Her family has declined to elaborate on the circumstances of the pictures.

According to trial testimony by Burmaa Oyunchimeg, Altantuya’s cousin, who accompanied the victim to Kuala Lumpur to attempt to get Abdul Razak to give her money, there was one more picture. It depicted Altantuya having dinner with Abdul Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Najib. The picture was not in her possession when her decomposed body was found last October. The court has made no attempt to find the picture and Najib has not been called as a witness by either side.

The final picture here is perhaps the most disheartening. It is the three urns in which her bones sit while the trial drones on.

View picture Here