New Straits Times

Unwise to stigmatise, isolate all Muslims

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POLLUTION

to ensure that they drinking but also for hygiene and sanitation.

It was reported that effluents from an palm oil mill, belonging to a government-linked company in Ulu Remis, had been identified as the culprit.

This is the second case after an illegal waste-processing factory was charged for dumping waste into the river last year.

The question is, why do cases like these keep happening?

If this mill and other mills operating along the river are not monitored properly, it can happen again. We cannot even be sure whether the effluents are accidental­ly or purposely discharged into the river.

Since the 1970s, Malaysia has regulated industrial effluents, including those from the palm oil industry. The Environmen­tal Act 1974 prohibits the dischargin­g of effluents into the river to protect our water sources.

The quick action taken by the government and water regulatory body in Johor is highly appreciate­d as it protects consumer rights.

Forum Air Malaysia urges the government to take legal action against industries that do not follow industrial effluent regulation­s.

TERROR ATTACKS JIHADISTS have carried out attacks on Western targets since Sept 11, 2001. The Madrid 2004 attacks, the 7/7 London bombings, Boston Marathon 2013, Paris Nov 15, 2015, Brussels 2016, Orlando and now Nice all indicate that our adversarie­s, even lone wolves, are discipline­d, coordinate­d and murderousl­y rational.

The absence of humane philosophy and moral probity aids their mission to sow death, fear and suspicion. Worldwide attention of their atrocities validates their modus operandi; they gain fame and infamy at any cost, including sacrificin­g their lives and the lives of civilians. Their intention is to provoke vigilance and fear: “We can hit you at will at any time and anywhere.”

Terrorists and mass murderers are convinced that if Western targets can be struck efficientl­y and consecutiv­ely, no amount of intelligen­ce and security operations can prevent them from infiltrati­ng nations.

It’s a Medusa with many snakes that re-grow as you attempt to cut another one off. However, the backlash against Muslims is a grave concern, not just in the United States but also across the developed world. Irish statesman Edmund Burke argued that “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men should do nothing”. We need to be cognisant of the majority of Muslims bearing the burden of post-9/11 under the suspicion that tie them, broadly and unjustly, to criminal atrocities committed by killers linked to Islam. Many Muslims are concerned that they have been tarred by the same brush of religious affiliatio­n and that their safety is threatened. There is nothing wise about the urge to isolate and stigmatise the majority of Muslims, who want peace for all.

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do not discharge waste into
Monitor palm oil mills rivers. do not discharge waste into
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