Today is the 50th anniversary of independence of Malaysia. I would like to salute you all, Viva, Malaysia!The below is a reproduction of the latest news report from the Malaysian National Agency, Bernama.com.(Lily) ‘States Stage Grand Merd…

Puji-pujihan dalam Bahasa MelayuTerpujilah Tuhan pencipta alam Kami bershukur atas roti ini Hasil bumi Usaha kami Jadi minuman rohaniPuji Tuhan, Puji Tuhan, Puji Tuhan SelamatNya Amin (x2) (Tamat)

Malaysia will be planning to hold a national celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Merdeka(Independence) on 31 August 2007. Economically, she has advanced much more than expected, but the national identity seems to be still in question. I…

"The Jewel Stairs' Grievance" by Ezra Pound (1885-1972)The jewelled steps are already quite white with dew, It is so late that the dew soaks my gauze stockings, And I let down the crystal curtain And watch the moon through the clear autumn…

"Everyone Sang" by Siegfried Sassoon(1886-1967)Everyone suddenly burst out singing; And I was filled with such delight As prisoned birds must find in freedom Winging wildly across the white Orchards and dark-green fields; on; on; and out o…

Rose, oh reiner WiderspruchvonRainer Maria Rilke(1875-1926)Rose, oh reiner Widerspruch, Lust, Niemandes Schlaf zu sein unter soviel Lidern. (Ende)

Malaysiakini.com ‘Tamil daily Makkal Osai suspended’ Dated 24 August 2007 The government today slapped a one-month suspension on Makkal Osai after the Tamil daily published an image of Jesus Christ holding a cigarette and a beer can four d…

Bernama.com ‘MCCBCHS(sic) Calls For Probe And Action Against Tamil Daily’ by S. RetnaPUTRAJAYA, Aug 22 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism (MCCBCHS)(sic) wants the authorities to …

Dr. Alex Tang is a Presbyterian Christian and a consultant Paediatrician of Johor Specialist Hospital in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. He has his own blog entitled "Random Musings from a Doctor's Chair" (http://draltang01.blogspot.com) to write h…

Today I found a well-analysed article from "Asia Times Online" (www.atimes.com) regarding the Islamic issues in Southeast Asia such as Malaysia and Indonesia. Here is the copy from the website. (Lily) ‘De-demonizing Southeast Asian Islam’ …

Yesterday the latest issue of Catholic Herald (19 August 2007, Vol.14, No.32) reached me from Malaysia. An interesting but significant news report from Jakarta, Indonesia appeared on page 10. As far as I know, his news was not reported her…

The below is a copy from the CCM (Council of Churches of Malaysia) website (http://www.ccmalaysia.org/reports). I know Rev. Dr. Hermen Shastri for several years. We should read it carefully to understad what he really would like to indicat…

‘next to of course god america i' by Edward Estlin Cummings (1894-1962)"next to of course god america i love you land of the pilgrims' and so forth oh say can you see by the dawn's early my country 'tis of centuries come and go and are no …

Today I wrote about my view on Esperanto and its movement in the Japanese version of 'Lily's Room'. The below is the old article related the Esperanto movement in Malaysia I found from my collected clippings in the 90s. (Lily) ‘Esperanto i…

In response to the news report in the ‘Religious Liberty Bulletin'(26 July 2007) of this 'Lily's Room', I would like to show you here another news report from "The Independent" (http://www.independent.co.uk) dated 11 August 2007.'(Lily) So…

Today I would like to introduce you two pieces of interesting news reports from Bernama.com, the Malaysian National News Agency.(Lily) 1. Stop Using The Phrase "The West", Says Islamic Expert August 09, 2007 22:51 PM KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 9 (B…

Muslim Reception/Rejection of Modernity (Part 2) in Social-Cultural Analysis, Islamdated 08 August 2007 by Dr. Ng Kam WengIslamic History and Civilizational Studies It has been noted above that Islamists opt for a selective appropriation o…

Today I received the latest issue of the Catholic Weekly Herald (5 August 2007, Vol.14, No.30) from Malaysia. This weekly newspaper has been using the four languages; English, BM (Bahasa Malaysia), Chinese and Tamil. There are more English…

‘Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom’ by John Henry Newman (1801-90)Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom, Lead thou me on; The night is dark, and I am far from home; Lead thou me on. Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to se…

Today the latest issue of “Berita CCM (Council of Churches of Malaysia)” reached here from Malaysia. The topics I find most urgent and important for Malaysia are:1. ‘United to build & to be a blessing’ (p.2-3) 2. ‘CCM urge government rethi…

I leave for Tokyo tonight. I am supposed to come back on 4 August 2007. ‘Lily’s Room’ will be closed for a few days. Thank you.