Human bondage & state brutality

IIPM International Student Exchange Programme

The in-human Malaysia laws prevent multi-racial couples from living in peace & harmony

Years back, noted Indian author & journalist Khushwant Singh, writing on the man-woman relationship, had remarked that only death & adultery can end a relationship. Khushwant, may have been right, if the bonds were only dependent on the internal dynamics operating within a relationship. However, there are scores of religious & social pressures, which add malleability to an otherwise strong relationship. This fact is being regularly proved right in Malaysia, where married men & woman belonging to different faiths are being ruthlessly separated to prove the predominance of faith over an individual’s right to lead a life of his/her choice.

Recent reports have revealed that Malaysian authorities adhering to Islamic tenets have declared the marriage between a Muslim girl, (Najeera Farvinli Mohamed Jalali – an ethnic Indian) & a Hindu boy (Magendran Sababathy) as illegitimate & charged them for “illegal cohabitation”. Not only this, before pronouncing the verdict the authorities had imprisoned the girl for four months under gruelling conditions. The archaic Malaysian laws prohibit cross-religious marriages. However, with Najeera denying adhering to Muslim religion, it is arguing that she isn’t obligated to follow the Islamic law. “I don’t think there’s a legal basis for them to do it,” says Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, a human rights lawyer.

The so-called ‘progressive Islamic’ state (which claims to be secular) has three major ethnic communities (Malays, Indians & Chinese). However, the polity is overtly pro-Malay. The constitution guarantees freedom of worship but forces Islam on all ethnic Malays & treats them under the ambit of Sharia law. While Indians & Chinese can seek justice in civil courts, the Malays perforce have to go through the rigours of Sharia courts. And this Malaysia proudly describes as its unique form of pluralism, distinct from the European discourse on multiculturalism. It is this very distorted form of secularism, which has prevented Najeera from conjoining with her husband.

Earlier in May 2007, the country’s apex civil court had denied Lina Joy to remove ‘Islam’ from her identity card. The court had denied her the right to convert to Christianity on the grounds that “You can’t at whim and fancy convert from one religion to another.” All these laws and actions of the Malaysian state are only widening the racial fissures in the society. The government cannot go on endlessly appeasing the cohorts of political Islam and then take refuge under the fact that their definition of Human Rights is different from that of the Europeans.

The defiant Malaysian couples should continue their struggle humming the English poets words – “One who falls in love without taking it to the final conclusion, is like one who goes on a sea voyage only to become sea-sick.”

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2007

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Is it the beginning of the end of Nokia’s dominance?

It surely feels great to be there up on the cloud number nine. But a trip down to Earth from cloud nine can be equally hurting. And who can better understand this pain currently than the Finnish handset behemoth Nokia. Nokia has been enjoying a euphoric dominance in the handset market worldwide for years. But for quite some time now, with other players gaining momentum, it seems as if the ecstasy of Nokia’s dominance is at the beginning of its end. And the recent battery recall incident, has only made the situation worse.

All across the globe, 46 million batteries in Nokia phones are affected by this battery fiasco. However, Nokia claims that so far, only 100 problematic cases have been reported worldwide. The important consideration, though, is what would be the long term result of this battery debacle. As Jeff Kagan, one of Americas most influential telecom analysts, points out, “The customers may not like it. It’s something to worry about… if it happens again or if this worsens, we’ll have to watch the customer reaction.”

The damage however, is already reflected on the bourses. Nokia’s share prices were down by 3% in the London Stock Exchange as of August 17 against its prices on August 13, a day before the battery issue rose. NYSE, however, seems a little less reactive with a fall of 1.1%, but the damage is still there. The way Nokia handles this issue will actually determine the actual damage and Nokia’s fate in long term. As Albert Lin, Co-head, Director of Research, American Technology Research, states, “I hope Nokia does not commit some consumer relations mistakes…. Consumers are never tolerant, nor should one expect them to be for product performance issues.” Moreover, Nokia should also be careful to avoid repeated incidences of exploding batteries in next generation products because today’s buyers are vastly more concerned about what features they want and what kind of price they are willing to pay and are not willing to forget negative incidents like these in a hurry.

Another thing that Nokia needs to watch out for is that this should not turn into a fortune for other players for whom the incident is like an answer to their silent prayers. As Albert clearly states, “Nokia also knows that all the mobile phone makers are hoping that they do a poor job and alienate customers…” Five-six years back there was a time when almost everyone vouched to buy a Nokia phone. But off late, the handset combat zone has been simmering with the increasing popularity (followed by a similar trend in the market share) of other players like Motorola, Sony Ericsson, Samsung et al. Motorola has reached a global market share of close to 18%, thanks to its flamboyant models like RAZR; while Samsung commands a reasonable 12% & LG & Sony Ericsson corner 7% each. Though, Nokia still corners the lion’s share of the global handset pie with 35% market share, but the swift growth of other handset majors is surely a major SOS distress signal for this giant from Finland. It would have to see that this slip-up is last one but it could indeed take quite a while for Nokia to return back to cloud number nine.

B&E research: Pallavi Srivastava

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Source : IIPM Editorial, 2007

An IIPM and Professor Arindam Chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist) Initiative

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Except crime, nothing is growing…

The world associates Guyana more with ‘Jonestown’, the murder-suicide of the priest Jim Jones’ thousand followers in Guyana in 1978 than as the lowest populated American nation. Jonestown was a gloomy representation of Guyana’s struggles at a crossroad of totalitarian governance. However, much has changed since then. Forbes Burnham with his political party, People’s National Congress, has been replaced by People’s Progressive Party. But, Guyana finds itself again at a crossroad because of a combination of political, environmental & economical problems as the country come to grip with democratic governance & liberal economics. Caribbean Developmental Bank stated in 2003 that Guyana achieved GDP-per capita of $986 & with mere 0.7% growth. Though, later the economy has recuperated to 3.2% growth in 2006 but it still remains hopelessly one of the poorest economies in western hemisphere. Despite debt relief from developed economies & international financial agencies, it carried a debt burden of $1.08 billion in 2004. The 2005’s highest rainfall since 1988 has caused severe damage, costing US$500 million to the economy & the consequences seriously tested efficiency & effectiveness of the government. Dynamics of party campaign financing is an example of how illegal entrepreneurs & few affluent individuals influence electoral selection & civic policy. Horrific crimes like murders have declined but kidnappings, arm robberies increased by 50% in 2005 over previous year. While the government has miles to go, it needs to resolve the issues with judiciary which will fortify the transparency of judiciary chancellor appointment, which in turn is expected to fortify the transparency of judiciary system. But then, are they listening???

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Nigeria has only itself to blame for its current scenario…

Even in the 7th year of democratic rule, Nigeria is still, less of democracy & more of something else. While social & democratic consolidation still remains contentious issues, the country is still hostage at large to some self proclaimed godfathers of the nation.

With 130 million population & an oil output of 2.5 million barrel per day (increasing to 4 million within a decade), Nigeria is an ideal example of how a wonderful dream can become the worst nightmare. Twenty years of brutal & corrupt military rule made sure that whatever chances it had to be among the top African nations, got nullified. Politics in federal, state or local levels are dominated by mandarins who have made a profession out of pilfering public wealth for metamorphosing personal fortunes & nurture personal militias to safeguard that fortune. More oft en than not instigating armed conflicts in oil rich areas is a big money spinner for them. The presence of more than 250 ethnic groups with unique customs has made sure that social harmony remains a daydream. Different political parties in state governments from federal are roasting federal-state relation. Basic amenities like health, transport or electricity still remain beyond the reach of the common man. All these made sure that it gets the dubious distinction of being named to be among the least liveable nations by United Nations. Police torture & military brutality remains rampant.

Incidents of gunfire to innocent women who protested MNCs in delta regions for lack of investment in community development or police firing on Abuja market traders for non-payment of bribes, amply vindicates how much the country is in dire need of the right kind of social and political revolution. Yet this still remains as distant from reality as it gets! Will it wake up or slip further?

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Star‘bucks’ at supermarkets!

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If everything goes as planned, consumers would soon be able to purchase their favourite Starbucks coffee beans, ice creams & chocolates from convenience stores & supermarkets. Considering it as a potential market, the Starbucks Corp., might take this route to increase its sales. As per Gerry Lopez, President, Consumer Products Group, Starbucks, the company is yet to optimise the potential of selling its brands to outside retailers. Last year, supermarkets and other retailers sold a whopping 25.4 million kilograms of Starbucks packaged coff ee. Th e company is mulling to make ‘Limited Reserve’ coff ee available at supermarkets throughout the US market and that includes rare coff ee beans from Asia, Latin America & Africa.

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