Putting a Malaysian in space at the expense of taxpayers does not seem like a very wise move for a small nation with poverty still apparent within its population. Afterall, it's all about money. Without which of course, Dr Sheikh Muzaphar would not have had the opportunity to venture into space.

Thus, the argument of whether he is indeed a full fledged astronaut or just a space tourist has arisen. Training for space flight is rigorous and no doubt challenging. The selection is often extremely competitive and the eventual crew will usually represent contributing nations. Most astronauts perform such tasks as their vocation. In fact, the crew that accompanied Dr Muzaphar to space will be manning the International Space Station for a prolonged period as opposed to the one week stay of Dr Muzaphar. The Russians could have sent another person to relieve the ISS crew instead of Dr Muzaphar who occupied a space that would otherwise have been better utilised.

There is no harm in dreaming about space exploration but I feel Malaysia needs to concentrate on more important and fundamental issues. The hundreds of millions of ringgit could have been better spent improving local conditions rather than sending an individual that will hardly make any impact on international space exploration.

If we are serious about space, we should improve our space programme, if it exists. Training individuals in the science concerned with space travel will be paramount for a firm foundation in the field of space exploration. Like China, we should not be paying others to send our nationals to space but rather develop our very own programs.

Indeed, I see Dr Muzaphar's travel to space as a farce and a complete waste of public funds.

It is unfortunate but the coming festive period is bound to inflict casualties on the road as history will painfully remind us. Despite calls to be careful, such deaths are inevitable.

So it is no surprise that our recent spotlight on organ transplantation has links to road traffic accidents. The victims are potential organ donors to hundreds on the waiting lists for transplants. If every Malaysian were to pledge their organs, then there should be no shortages of eligible donors.

The current hype on organ transplantation should create a momentum to encourage Malaysians to pledge their organs. There must be a way as simple as registering as a voter. Telling Malaysians to pledge their organs without showing them how, will only create confusion as to what signifies a pledge. Is a verbal consent adequate? Or as recently proposed, identification through MyKad?

Many transplant recipients in Malaysia were forced to find donors in foreign lands like India and China. How these countries organise their donor programs is open for debates on ethics, with rumours of organ-selling rife in these nations.

The ball needs to get rolling on an issue that is certainly not new. This awareness of organ donations has to be maintained. The fire should not be allowed to die, only to be reignited due to a media highlight.

Surely, this gesture of pledging an organ epitomises giving life after death.

As the world shifts it's attention away from Burma, it's ruling military junta continues to oppress pro democratic reformists. Realising that the world can only watch haplessly, they have even bravely detained much revered Buddhist monks, even to the extent of defrocking them. I appears only God can help Burma now.

One cannot help but realise, where is the United States when it's help is much needed here? A military ruler not dissimilar to the one in Iraq minus the oil. Leaving the duties to a paralysed United Nations and an untalented negotiator, only signifies a lame attempt at diciplining a military regime that commits atrocities.

ASEAN is equally disappointing opting to stay away instead of intervening. Admitting Burma to ASEAN was a mistake that must be corrected. There cannot be economic co-operation when the nation of Burma is powered by an elite group of thugs. ASEAN needs to reinvent itself and not limit its role to just a historically economic one. It is a shame that Malaysia remains silent and not condemn a military regime that recognises no human rights. ASEAN may not act but Malaysia can.

A media blackout has silenced news of the atrocities that are probably ongoing. I am afraid that the monks and the people of Burma are alone on this one. We have let a golden opportunity to turn Burma into a democratic nation, slip by.

They came uninvited, knocking my initial defences out cold. It tears into a territory threatening to overthrow its inhabitants. I can only sit around hoping that my special forces are gaining an upper hand. I need to be up and about but my body appears anchored and preoccupied with a silent war. I'm down but certainly not out.