Comments on: Malaysia’s UN fan club http://www.thenutgraph.com/malaysias-un-fan-club/ Making Sense of Politics & Pop Culture Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:50:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Noel Dass http://www.thenutgraph.com/malaysias-un-fan-club/#comment-9225 Noel Dass Wed, 22 Jul 2009 02:26:10 +0000 #comment-9225 It's true that the UN is a bloated bureaucracy and it shows from time to time. However, the key thing to note is that the UN is only as effective as its member states want it to be. So the organisation cannot shoulder all the blame for its seeming ineffectiveness. That said, the work done via its specialised agencies such as UNHCR, UNDP, UNFPA, Unifem, Unicef etc. are invaluable to the lives of millions. As for the UPR process, having participated in it as part of the NGO team here, I have to say that whilst the outcome was rather disappointing, there is nonetheless value in the process. Someone has to engage with these institutionalised processes in order for some change to occur. That's part of activism. It’s true that the UN is a bloated bureaucracy and it shows from time to time. However, the key thing to note is that the UN is only as effective as its member states want it to be. So the organisation cannot shoulder all the blame for its seeming ineffectiveness. That said, the work done via its specialised agencies such as UNHCR, UNDP, UNFPA, Unifem, Unicef etc. are invaluable to the lives of millions.

As for the UPR process, having participated in it as part of the NGO team here, I have to say that whilst the outcome was rather disappointing, there is nonetheless value in the process. Someone has to engage with these institutionalised processes in order for some change to occur. That’s part of activism.

]]> By: OrangRojak http://www.thenutgraph.com/malaysias-un-fan-club/#comment-9149 OrangRojak Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:29:30 +0000 #comment-9149 People have funny ideas about what the UN is. In countries where the newspapers are more or less free to print what they want, a front page that says "UN considers us crap!" would cause widespread concern and intensify efforts to improve. The UN can't really help Malaysians in their efforts to bring about a better Malaysia, because most Malaysians will never hear or read of anything but praise from the UN. That's not the UN's fault. The UN is like an advocacy organisation. It can help, but only if you want it to. If you put your fingers in your ears and sing la-la-la-la, then it's just a reason for your leaders to spend public money on jolly holidays. People have funny ideas about what the UN is. In countries where the newspapers are more or less free to print what they want, a front page that says “UN considers us crap!” would cause widespread concern and intensify efforts to improve. The UN can’t really help Malaysians in their efforts to bring about a better Malaysia, because most Malaysians will never hear or read of anything but praise from the UN. That’s not the UN’s fault.

The UN is like an advocacy organisation. It can help, but only if you want it to. If you put your fingers in your ears and sing la-la-la-la, then it’s just a reason for your leaders to spend public money on jolly holidays.

]]> By: Sumat http://www.thenutgraph.com/malaysias-un-fan-club/#comment-9108 Sumat Mon, 20 Jul 2009 08:04:10 +0000 #comment-9108 United Nations of Cowards. United Nations of Cowards.

]]> By: Harisa http://www.thenutgraph.com/malaysias-un-fan-club/#comment-9107 Harisa Mon, 20 Jul 2009 07:22:29 +0000 #comment-9107 Thanks so much for this article. While on the one hand I find it absolutely mind-boggling, on the other hand I'm not surprised at all, and I find this exemplifies UN's overall ineffectiveness. Thanks so much for this article. While on the one hand I find it absolutely mind-boggling, on the other hand I’m not surprised at all, and I find this exemplifies UN’s overall ineffectiveness.

]]> By: Eric http://www.thenutgraph.com/malaysias-un-fan-club/#comment-9106 Eric Mon, 20 Jul 2009 06:27:03 +0000 #comment-9106 "True, these are so-called Western, secular democracies — and one of them is Malaysia's former coloniser. " Shanon, with all due respect. Your piece should read "two of them are" (UK and Netherlands). Take a drive to Melaka's Stadthuys to convince yourself. Editor's note: Eric, thank you for pointing this out. You are technically correct in that the Netherlands was also a colonial power in these parts. But Malaysia inherited its current legal and administrative system from the British, not the Dutch. The legal and political continuities are more entrenched between Malaysia and the UK, compared to Malaysia and the Netherlands. Your comment, though, points out the need for clear expression for the benefit of all readers, and we will clarify this in the story accordingly. Shanon Shah Columns and Comments Editor “True, these are so-called Western, secular democracies — and one of them is Malaysia’s former coloniser. ”

Shanon, with all due respect. Your piece should read “two of them are” (UK and Netherlands). Take a drive to Melaka’s Stadthuys to convince yourself.

Editor’s note: Eric, thank you for pointing this out. You are technically correct in that the Netherlands was also a colonial power in these parts. But Malaysia inherited its current legal and administrative system from the British, not the Dutch. The legal and political continuities are more entrenched between Malaysia and the UK, compared to Malaysia and the Netherlands. Your comment, though, points out the need for clear expression for the benefit of all readers, and we will clarify this in the story accordingly.

Shanon Shah
Columns and Comments Editor

]]> By: kahseng http://www.thenutgraph.com/malaysias-un-fan-club/#comment-9101 kahseng Mon, 20 Jul 2009 04:16:41 +0000 #comment-9101 Too many young idealists look up to the UN as the solve-all for international problems. The fact is UN is a pretender for leadership on liberty. UN is a compromise with evil regimes, a sad choice among a lack of choices. UN is unaccountable to anyone, gives power to irresponsible, authoritarian regimes, and is a coward when it comes to oppression. The press is often an accomplice in creating too much credibility for the UN. Good that this piece sees reality. Only people sensitized to oppression can see the UN hypocrisy. Too many young idealists look up to the UN as the solve-all for international problems.

The fact is UN is a pretender for leadership on liberty. UN is a compromise with evil regimes, a sad choice among a lack of choices. UN is unaccountable to anyone, gives power to irresponsible, authoritarian regimes, and is a coward when it comes to oppression.

The press is often an accomplice in creating too much credibility for the UN. Good that this piece sees reality. Only people sensitized to oppression can see the UN hypocrisy.

]]> By: Andrew I http://www.thenutgraph.com/malaysias-un-fan-club/#comment-9096 Andrew I Mon, 20 Jul 2009 02:41:38 +0000 #comment-9096 You don't want to offend anyone whilst you're on a paid holiday with them, do you? You don’t want to offend anyone whilst you’re on a paid holiday with them, do you?

]]> By: jew http://www.thenutgraph.com/malaysias-un-fan-club/#comment-9094 jew Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:20:33 +0000 #comment-9094 Malaysia should follow Israel's advice on repealing the ISA, abolishing the death penalty, and ending torture and other inhuman and degrading treatment, and supporting the legitimisation of State of Israel. I think the TNG has forgotten about Palestine ... Editor's note: To read more of our exclusive interviews with several activists during the Gaza crisis in January 2009, please go to: http://thenutgraph.com/liberating-palestine http://thenutgraph.com/pastor-for-palestine http://thenutgraph.com/representing-israelis-and-palestinians Shanon Shah Columns and Comments Editor Malaysia should follow Israel’s advice on repealing the ISA, abolishing the death penalty, and ending torture and other inhuman and degrading treatment, and supporting the legitimisation of State of Israel. I think the TNG has forgotten about Palestine …

Editor’s note: To read more of our exclusive interviews with several activists during the Gaza crisis in January 2009, please go to:

http://thenutgraph.com/liberating-palestine

http://thenutgraph.com/pastor-for-palestine

http://thenutgraph.com/representing-israelis-and-palestinians

Shanon Shah
Columns and Comments Editor

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