Malaysian Sentinel : Malaysia's Politics from a Malaysian Citizen Blogger

Umno's Plan B for Malaysia

2011-06-10T17:33:00.001+08:00

By the time Prime Minister Najib Razak announced his newly tweaked National Economic Model, Malaysia had experienced net capital out flows in the excess of US$27 billion from mid-2008 to mid-2009. Foreign Direct Investment had slowed to a trickle, US$15 billion of portfolio investment departed in 2009 and was slow to return.

This means that, despite the hype, Najib’s plan to revitalize the Malaysian economy was already too little and too late. And the greatest obstacle to economic reform and change was UMNO itself.

US Embassy communicates made available via WikiLeaks pointed to the various initiatives Najib had planned and was working on. At the core of these initiatives was a need to reform the whole economic model Malaysia had been relying on. In layman terms, this meant dismantling the NEP, a brainchild of former premier Mahathir Mohamad.

The turn of events ruffled feathers within UMNO itself, especially amongst the ruling elite, as these power barons depended on the various economic packages in the NEP to line their nests.

Full Article: The Malaysia Chronicle.

What does UMNO have to live for?

Why a non-Muslim would prefer PAS to Umno

2011-06-10T17:32:00.003+08:00

Since the late 1980s, PAS has been painted by the government of the day as being the worst thing to walk the planet. That non-Muslims in Malaysia will suffer the wrath of hell, if PAS ever forms the government. And this fear was played to great effect, with the majority of the non-Muslim votes going Barisan Nasional’s way.

For most Sarawakians and Sabahans, PAS was the epitome of evil in Malaysia. A phantom whose only agenda was to deprive the non-Muslims of their right to practise their faith of choice.

This was the religious propaganda fed by Barisan Nasional to the masses, but of late, the 'spin' has boomeranged back into its own face.

Adapting to the times

As PAS moves forward, adapting itself to meet a progressively changing world, UMNO is stuck in a rut of its own making and has now been reduced to being the spectator-stand critic.

So what if PAS decides to have a change in management? At least, PAS is not afraid to take on the risk of changing or to try and take on new ideas. It certainly seems more secure about its supporter base than UMNO.

Full Article: The Malaysia Chronicle.

Seems like the tables have turned on UMNO.

Bankruptcy now firmly in sight: Are political games being played to hide this

2011-06-10T17:32:00.001+08:00

For the 1st quarter of 2011, the central government debt sits at RM430,151 million compared to RM407,101 million for the same period in 2010, i.e up RM23 billion. Of the RM430,151 million, RM425,831 million is medium and long term debt.

Domestic debt sits at RM414,217 million whereas in the same period in 2010 it sat at RM390,356 million. Again the medium and long term debt is the bigger bulk of the debt at RM409,897 million.

Plainly stated, the Government of Malaysia owes the central bank and funds like the Employee Providence Fund monies that run into the billions. Such debts are a mystery when you take into account that the central government operational expenditure has actually decreased. For April of 2011, the figure stands at RM13,769 million; a reduction compared to RM19,416 million for the same period last year.

Bear in mind the figures above are for the first quarter of 2011, there are still eight more months to go for 2011, and this figure would surely be on the rise if we take into consideration the pending General Elections and various other government initiatives.

Full Article: The Malaysia Chronicle.

Malaysia is in a grim state, heading the way of Greece.

Sodomy II: Why Najib and Rosmah won't testify and who is stopping them

2011-06-10T17:30:00.001+08:00

It should not be any surprise to Malaysians when Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s third attempt to dismiss the judge was turned down. The judiciary has firmly been working against Anwar since Sodomy 1 in 1998 and now in Sodomy 2.

The charge made against Anwar Ibrahim is under Section 377B of the Malaysian Penal Code. A rather odd and mind-boggling section to begin with.

Section 377 defines oral sex and any forms of sexual activity other than what is deemed natural both illegal and punishable by law.

Section 377B reads, “377B. Committing carnal intercourse against the order of nature - Whoever voluntarily commits carnal intercourse against the order of nature shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to twenty years, and shall also be liable to whipping.”

Note the word “voluntarily” - for the charge to be proven exactly, it must be proven that the accuser Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan voluntarily allowed the act to be commit, which makes him also liable for charge under the same statute.

Full Article: The Malaysia Chronicle.

Why there is no such thing as a fair trial for Anwar Ibrahim.

Scorpenes and Altantuya: Does Khairy hold the key to Najib's Pandora Box

2011-06-10T17:25:00.000+08:00

Khairy is no ordinary Youth leader. He is not only enormously wealthy but also richly connected. Khairy is the son-in-law of former premier Abdullah Badawi and has previously been reported to have said he wants to be PM by age 40. The Oxford graduate is now 34.

There is widespread belief that during the 2006 Altantuya trial, Badawi was prepared to take Najib out of the picture. It would have worked if not for the insistent hand of Mahathir Mohamed, who still itched to control and govern the country despite retiring in late 2003.

Dr M wanted to ensure that Najib, who was then the DPM, would replace Badawi, whom he hated for scrapping several of his beloved mega-projects and thereby stopping the tap of benefits accruing to these deals from flowing back to him.

The grandfather of Malaysian politics was pulling strings to eject Abdullah and his hand is evident in how the whole trial was mismanaged by the Malaysian judiciary and police department. A fact which was clearly stated in the US Embassy cables released via WikiLeaks, with one cable calling it, “prosecutorial misconduct”.

The cables also drew attention to an attempt by Badawi to use the Altantuya trial to sink Najib. It was an attempt which Najib fended off successfully with help from the powers that be in UMNO and their corrupt hold on the various institutions of government, such as the police, the immigration and even the judiciary.

Full Article: The Malaysia Chronicle.

There is a new player in town.

Why is Anwar Ibrahim STILL the opposition leader?

2010-03-05T10:49:00.000+08:00

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jama luddin said this was because Parti Keadilan Rakyat no longer held the majority among the Opposition following the defection of several MPs.

He said political convention dictated that the opposition party with the most number of seats in Dewan Rakyat should have the honour of having one of their MPs become the Opposition Leader.

Source: The Star Online

Sometimes you just want to ask this fellow to put a sock in it. Seriously, KJ; this is the reason why Anwar is still the Opposition leader. He holds the popular vote, not the majority vote.

All because one holds the majority vote, does not mean they can lead effectively. Instead, a popular leader may have the charisma and the personality to hold various entities together because he becomes a point of reference; much like a light-house during a storm.

Obviously, KJ is not the popular or majority vote.

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Malaysia should only have TWO political parties to accomplish 1Malaysia.

2010-03-01T08:41:00.000+08:00

The PM has called for all to accept our differences and to celebrate Malaysia's diversity. It is a call to move forward from just being tolerant and to acceptance. It must be noted that at the beginning of the nation's creation there was a sense of acceptance of the nation's diversity, yet it was politics that changed everything.

PETALING JAYA: Total acceptance of Malaysia's diversity - that's what we need to move forward, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The Prime Minister said Malaysians should move from being merely tolerant to accepting fully the country's rich cultural and racial diversity to become united, harmonious and prosperous.

"We started with the paradigm of tolerance. We say that we tolerate or we live in a society which is tolerant of one another.

"But under the concept of 1Malaysia, being tolerant of each other is just the beginning," he said at Sin Chew and Guang Ming Daily's Chinese New Year open house yesterday.

Source: The Star Online.

In order for acceptance to truly take root in Malaysia, first and foremost; the political environment needs to change. All race based parties should be abolished and instead Malaysia should have two parties, Government and Opposition.

Whoever holds goverment, has the right to call themselves the Government and the other group shall be called Opposition. Should the Opposition take government, then they would be called Government and the previous Government will be called Opposition.

Makes life easy, doesn't it?

A change in politics is the way to go, if Malaysia is to truly move forward and be a society of acceptance and not mere tolerance towards one another. And that means, we all need to be open to the idea that the world comprises of people from different backgrounds, and that everyone has equal rights to pursue success in whatever field they choose.

No one ethnic group should be push aside in favor for another, instead equal opportunity should be given and allowed for. Then truly, we would be able to accept one another.

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Protest note causes emotional response.

2010-02-18T11:32:00.000+08:00

KUALA LUMPUR: About 500 people protested outside the Australian High Commission here against interference by Australian MPs in the sodomy trial of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

They carried banners criticising the action of the 50 Australian MPs who signed and handed over a protest note to the Malaysian High Commission in Canberra on Thursday.

Leading the noisy but non-violent protest here were Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, his deputy Datuk Razali Ibrahim, Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club deputy chairman Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin, Perkasa president and Pasir Mas MP Datuk Ibrahim Ali, Makkal Sakhthi's R. Thanenthiran and MIC Youth chief T. Mohan.

After about 30 minutes, Khairy and the others were invited in to meet High Commissioner Penny Williams at about 10.35am.

People from various political parties and organisations holding placards and banners demonstrating outside the Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. They were protesting against the interference of 50 Australian MPs, who signed and handed over a protest note to the Malaysian High Commission in Canberra against the sodomy charges faced by Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. - AZHAR MAHFOF / The Star

Full Article: The Star Online

It was a protest note. A protest note and that is deemed as interference by the Australian MPs? It is clear that this matter is over-blown and taken totally out of proportion.

What then about the super-fly news coverage of the trial that skews the truth before the truth has even been revealed?

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Billboard politics

2010-02-17T13:56:00.000+08:00

KLANG: The removal of a giant billboard welcoming Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to Pandamaran near here for the national-level Chinese New Year celebrations received more criticism yesterday.

Selangor Umno information chief Abdul Shukor Idrus said the state government had ordered the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) to remove the billboard.

"This is a blatant show of disrespect to the prime minister," he added, as the billboard was put up to acknowledge Najib's impending visit to Klang.

Article: The Star

Stuff like this makes the news..always a case of ruling government against the opposition.

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Dr. M at it again

2010-01-22T10:49:00.003+08:00

Dr M panned over statement
By NURBAITI HAMDAN

nurbaiti@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: The statement by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that the Sept 11 attack was “staged” could not come at a worse time when the nation is facing its own issues, says the Merdeka Centre.

Its director Ibrahim Suffian said Dr Mahathir’s statement did not help with the country’s image at a time of religious tension.

Source: The Star Online.

Don't you just love this man. He still takes a swipe at the powers that be and I must say, you have to admire his bravado.

Not one to be thought of being out of the picture, Dr. M had to speak his mind. And issue aside, it must be said that this guy has guts. Taking on those around him with statements that continue to cast him into the limelight. Great stuff.

Court to decide on use of word.

2010-01-04T09:53:00.000+08:00

It's up to the courts to decide on the use of the word Allah by the catholic publication The Herald. No doubt this has stock some sentiments from the muslim community in Malaysia, clearly shown when about 30 NGOs submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister concerning the court's decision. The PM has called for calm among muslims in the country and I hope it will be like that, or else; what form of example muslims would show if a few bad apples run amok?

I like the comment by the former National Fatwa Council chairman Datuk Dr Ismail Ibrahim on this matter. It's good to have leaders who are able to comment on the broader issue at hand;

However, Ismail said Muslims must accept with an open heart whatever decisions made by the court and whatever perceptions made by the general public on the word Allah and its different concepts.

“They should strengthen their faith and knowledge so that they are not easily affected by any interpretations or challenges that may come from time to time.

“The kind of resistance by Muslims in the country towards this challenge is very important in maintaining their tolerance and openness while not compromising their faith and religion,” he added.

He said the morality and dignity of Muslims should not be jeopardised because of a few court decisions because courts have the liberty to interpret the laws and if it concerned a subjective matter, several stages of decision-makings will be involved.

“The concern that this matter would confuse the young Muslims should be a motivation factor for Muslim scholars to strengthen their agenda in order to give a better understanding about the religion to fellow Muslims,” he added.

Article: sun2surf

Time to write...

2010-01-03T22:58:00.000+08:00

I've been keeping quiet in this section of the blogosphere. Partly because I got disgusted at the state of matters in Malaysia. The same old problems keep swirling around with no solution in sight. Every year brings about the same issues and yet no real solution in sight. Corruption is still a problem, but then as a friend pointed out; corruption in our sights may not be corruption at all. Given the asian habit of giving gifts to their leaders. So corruption in the view of many may not be corruption but rather abuse of power.

So as of this new year, I hope to have the heart again to write and comment about the stuff in Malaysia.

So keep me in sight. I'll be writing again.

Relocation minus the abuse to animals

2009-09-03T15:26:00.003+08:00

It's amazing that an issue of relocation can turn ugly and envelope the country in a us versus them stance. It would have been perfectly normal to see a group of rather zealous residents protesting in front of a building but to bring in the head of an animal to prove a point is a little too much.

Thus, the issue has escalated into something short of a religious row. The sacred should not be brought into a man-vs-man argument. Which is exactly what this whole matter is about.

Would the placement of a religious building within range of a majority group hasten the "backsliding" effect on that group? Instead, it can be used as an image of tolerance and togetherness. A sign that two communities can co-exist in harmony together. Transcending any notion of race or religion. That all citizens are accepted on the basis of being a Malaysian and not by creed or belief.

This is the true loser in the whole matter. Malaysians are the losers as long as the lens of creed and belief clouds our eyes.

External links gone BAD

2009-08-26T10:19:00.002+08:00

My external links are all bad. I apologize for that, and I am in the process of fixing the problem.

Race = [ MALAYSIAN ]

2009-08-19T11:41:00.003+08:00

Stating your race on official forms will no longer be a requirement soon.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the Cabinet was studying the move to drop the column requiring a person to provide information on his race in official forms.

“There is a need for us to look at Malaysians not from the perspective of race,” he said.

“But there are also views saying there is a necessity to continue with the race requirement for the purpose of gathering information,” he told reporters here after launching the book Leadership Evolution Serie 1: A Look at Selected Theories” by Prof Khairil Annas Jusoh, a special officer to the Prime Minister.

Source: The Star Online

What is there to mull about? What "purpose of gathering information" is so important? A Malaysian is Malaysian, any given way. What is there to think about? If we are to identify ourselves as a 1Malaysia, as harped so much by the local media of the day, then steps should be made to create a 1Malaysia. Rid those forms of the race box. I believe even the box marked "Religion" should also be struck out.

What does race and religion have to do with applying for a driving license? Or bank loan? Or applying for an educational institution?

Instead, the box should state whether we are Malaysian or Non-Malaysian and nothing more or less.

Same old bash the blogger tune

2009-08-18T13:41:00.002+08:00

Here we go again.

Bloggers who incite hatred or harp on sensitive issues like race and religion in their postings can be prosecuted for sedition, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

He said the Government would put in place a mechanism to monitor and prevent seditious content from being displayed on blogs.

“The proposed mechanism will not only protect Islam or the Malays but all Malaysians,” he said after attending a state Umno gathering at Batu Burok here yesterday.

Hishammuddin said issues relating to the monarchy, race or religion were sensitive in a plural society like Malaysia and there must be some laws to prevent seditious postings on the Internet.
Source: The Star Online

You can really get tired of the same tune being repeated over and over again. What I really want to know is, what about the other forms of media? Especially those that are in direct control by the government of the day? These jokers are ever ready to twist the truth in order to keep the government in place. These are the ones who really instigate the hate between various groups, who play up issues or scare the populace. They too need to be regulated, not just bloggers.

1Malaysia. We don't need tolerance, we need respect.

2009-06-15T15:42:00.000+08:00

For 1Malaysia to work, we do not need tolerance. No! Tolerance will only delay the inevitable, the decay of relations between all the groups living in Malaysia. What is needed is respect. The need to respect our differences and to live with them.

Being different is the key-stone of nature. All things are different, even identical twins are not truly identical. Our individuality gives us our personality. It is this that needs to be allowed precedence in Malaysia. Yes, we are different, we believe different things, we disagree yet lets live together and learn to understand what makes us different and find ways to come to a consensus on what can be shared values.

Yes, we are different yet our differences are what makes us unique. It is what makes Malaysia unique.

Yes, we are different, and yet we are all equal. We are Malaysian. We are equal. Equal opportunities. Equal say. Equal rights. No-one above the other. All allowed to carve a living on this fair country we call Malaysia.

We don't need tolerance, we need respect.

A win is still a win by any other name

2009-06-02T00:16:00.000+08:00

Penanti is a win for PKR and honestly, BN should just keep quiet and be the gentleman. But BN being BN, had to say something and it is not surprise that the two top BN leaders in Malaysia had to say something.

A win is still a win. All because BN did not contest doesn't mean the win is empty or hollow. Instead, BN chose not to take part in the election citing a million and one reasons but the obvious - if BN took part, it was a sure lost. So BN did not take part and when PKR won, BN turn sore losers. True, the voter turn out was low but it doesn't mean people did not want to vote PKR, it just means people did not turn out to vote. If BN was so sure that the people who did not come out to vote were BN-supporters, why then did you not field your candidate? At least, it would have cut the majority by half or PKR may not have won at all.

Whatever statement that comes out of the BN camp, after the Penanti election, to me are statements from sore-losers. They should keep quiet and concentrate on managing this fair country.

Of DVDs and distraught candidates

2009-05-31T15:14:00.000+08:00

In Malaysia all things are lead to a lonely place called politico-alley. It's an alley where one can sell their soul to the highest bidder and make a quick buck at the expense of the ordinary bloke living on the street. They pawn themselves to the masses and all they want is our super-fly ability to mark the ballot paper. And what happens when a candidate does not get the money they yearn to gain from politico-alley? Draw out a DVD of recordings that prove someone tried to buy you out. Use the DVD to blackmail and hopefully get back at those whom spurn you. Ironically, nothing is gain from this desperate act to gain 15 minutes of fame and glory on national television. It merely taints the very system from which the citizen elects its representatives. It exposes the fact that in Malaysia anything and everything is tied to politics. From the education system, concession to buy land, the right to one's own religion and the use of certain words in daily living; are all governed by politics.

In Malaysia nothing is spared. All are used for political gain.

In an environment such as this, it is small wonder that a candidate can claim that they were offered money to be a candidate. No surprise when it is the norm. So aside from selling the idea that the Opposition in Malaysia are all crooks, such revelation only serves as a headline to sell more newspapers or feed the Government propaganda machine.

I would welcome this distraught candidate to reveal all and allow the citizens to decide for themselves. If she can claim that the Opposition are crooks, then what more the current Government, whom have more resources and money to offer to the Opposition in order to manipulate them for the government gains. If a little is revealed, then allow the whole to be made visible.

Will this happen in Malaysia?

So what the hell is the motive? And other questions needing answers...

2009-04-13T12:32:00.000+08:00

The predominant question from the whole Altantuya case is "What is the motive?". Why? Why was she killed? Did the two police officers decided on their own accord to randomly pick up a woman from outside the compound of the Aquitted One and drive her to a jungle location, just to strap military grade explosives and blow her up? What's the story?

I guess this is a question will forever hang in mid-air. A question never answered but forever asked. What other questions would you like the new PM to answer? Post your questions in the comments area.

New PM, Same Old Problems.

2009-03-27T10:57:00.000+08:00

I took a long break from writing, primarily to focus on other matters in my life and also because looking at the current state of Malaysia, one would end up blogging about the same matter every week. Anyway, for those who have been wondering where I have been, well; I'm still here. And I'd like to put in a little two (2) cents bit on the UMNO General Assembly.

A new PM will step up and this is a most undemocratic step up. It is a PM by consensus, namely the President of UMNO will be PM of Malaysia. He was not voted in, neither were the other members of Malaysian society (namely non-UMNO) consulted or allowed to take part in the voting. Wait, for the presidency there was no voting...right, everyone kind of opted to save the trees by not printing ballot papers for president and just step up whoever the previous president said was good for the post.

So we'll have a new PM by next week. Still new PM but same old problems. PM-to-be spoke about eliminating corruption from the party polls. I think I heard the same speech last year and the year before. Same problem seems to appear every general assembly. Then there was that call to have more representation from the grass-roots in electing their leaders.

Currently, about 2500 delegates cast votes. PM-to-be wants to introduce a new system to elect the UMNO leaders. Sounds good but it would mean the rewards for votes would be slightly higher.

Talking about delegate votes. The PM-Son-In-Law won the delegate votes eventhough it was clear Former-PM-Son won the popular vote. So it shows, even if the grass-roots support you, it is still the delegates that determine the victor. The voice of the 3 million UMNO members can be stifled by 2500 who stand in as delegates.

Come next week and we'll see the new PM strut his stuff as he face three(3) by-elections which I am sure BN must win as a gift for the incoming new PM. Yup, new PM, same old problems.

The Political Police

2009-03-04T13:04:00.000+08:00

It is funny that whenever our politicians do not agree on anything, they make a police report. Take Perak for instance when the House Speaker suspends its members from doing their duties. Is the suspension a crime? Is suspension of a politician a cause for investigation by the police? This is funny indeed and far more funnier being that the PM was the one advising the BN fellas in Perak to make police reports.

So can the rakyat make police reports to say that their elected representatives are not doing their jobs? That these MPs have been squabbling over petty issues since March 8th and the rakyat have been suffering all along because of their irresponsible actions.

Can the Pakatan Rakyat make a police report on the disobedience of the BN representatives who question the power of the House Speaker?

No wonder our police force is over burdened with cases. Most of the cases fall outside their jurisdiction, yet due to the politicize nature of Malaysia, they have to entertain the powers that be.

The Perak government should just have fresh elections. What is BN scared about? If the people are behind the BN then surely fresh elections will solidify BN's hold on Perak. Or is the case otherwise? Is BN really afraid that Perak would grant PR greater footing into Malaysian governance? For all signals seem to point this way, that the threat of PR winning Perak completely is real...very real.

Right now, Perak is a confused state. Who is the government of Perak? For all you know it, the very people who would decide this may just be the police.

Who is looking after our welfare?

2009-02-21T10:03:00.000+08:00

We have been subjected to a deluge of silliness unheard off, these pass few weeks. This country is caught in an endless tug-of-war for the right to govern. And in all this noone is really listening to the people. Do we need to pull off a "People Power" movement in order for the government to hear us out? Do we need to sit in KLIA, ala Thailand government toppling movement, and force this government to listen to us?

The whole clock and dagger scenario which we are caught in should be put away and our elected representative start the process of looking after the welfare of our people. I can imagine the scene in parliament, where everyone is looking over their shoulders, wondering if they will be the next to pull the rabbit out of the hat. Our government is so caught up in this spiral of political intrigue that it has lost focus to what it should be doing, looking after the citizens of this fair nation. These are the people who have taken the choice to make this country great. The one's sitting in the August house are merely governing, but it is the citizens who make up this nation. It is on the shoulders of the everyday citizen that this nation is stand upon. It is the normal day citizen that suffers from this downward spiral of governance.

As a citizen of Malaysia, I would want a nation that is strong and stable for my children. I would want a strong economic environment where my children can seek a secure financial future. I would want an environment where knowledge is freely available, so my children can gain a fair education that allows them to express themselves to be the best they can be.

Stop the politics and start looking after the citizens welfare.

So who is playing the frog game?

2009-02-06T08:31:00.002+08:00

So what happened to the idea where there should be a ruling for "political frogs"? Much like everything else in Malaysia, if BN is the one doing it then it is alright but if anyone else does it...then it's downright sinful.

BN is just better at the game and they sure pulled out their joker in Perak. The government can call the Pakatan Rakyat sinners while BN hide their sins and still get away smelling like a saint.

So the drama would be long and straining for Perak as the power struggle continues and in the midst of it all, the people of Perak suffer. Malaysians suffer as the political game continues while the real issue of governing the nation takes a back seat. Have we all forgotten that the world is currently dealing with the worst financial crisis ever? And here we are, still squabbling over the spoils of a war played out by greedy politicians.

When will Malaysia seriously look at getting its act in place?

No News unless its political

2008-12-30T11:25:00.000+08:00

There is hardly any news in Malaysia unless it's political. Don't you agree?

It can be said that Malaysia is a land of the politician. Almost every aspect of life is controlled by the whims and fancies or statements of our politicians. Our politicians dictate what we read, hear, see and almost to a great degree, what we eat, drink and indulge in. Not to mention that funny fella who stated that those with AIDS should not be given the choice to marry (he has since retracted that statement).

When there is nothing political to report, our news becomes really boring stuff. Our whole economy is driven by political news. The local mamak store or kopitiam would not thrive if we did not have those "professional political analyst" who sit around, all day, drinking their coffee. Business as usual if there is political news floating about.

So come 2009 and we are in for a great 3 months of sensational political news. Namely, the row within PKR would be exaggerated while the tranquility of the UMNO change of guard would be carved into legendary status. Politics in Malaysia is a contrast of the evil Opposition versus the eternal BN-Government. This epic struggle is great for newspaper vendors, helps sell papers and keeps local television relevant. Hopefully they don't plaster news in the cinema, even if they feel it would add value now that there is this idea to bump up the price of a movie ticket.

Where are the human stories? What is Malaysia, without the politics? I'd like to know.

One Malaysia?

2008-12-20T13:29:00.000+08:00

After 50 years of independence, we still need to find a way to gain a One Malaysia. This is what the BN Youth wing is saying. They will be discussion this matter and are hoping to move some initiatives to have a One Malaysia. Does this mean all this while Malaysian were never one?

In fact, the real Malaysia is indeed united. The people are united in living a simple life without strife or controversy. But it is the politician who turns any other matter into an issue that is highlighted on the national scene and this is the cause all our problems in Malaysia. The politicians are the ones causing the issues which seem to be big-time issues in Malaysia. Even the little things can be blown out of the water by our "good" politicians.

It is high time, the people should be asked on what would make a One Malaysia. What do you think? What makes a One Malaysia, lest we allow politicians to decide what they think is good for us.

Sum of Many Parts

2008-11-26T09:43:00.001+08:00

Malaysia is not about a particular group nor is it only one ethnic class. Unlike Japan or Korea where the Japanese can proudly call themselves Japanese due to a majority ethnic class (bar the indigenous groups), Malaysia is a sum of many parts. Malaysians are made up of dozens of ethnic groups all striving to irk out a living.

So for one group to claim "lordship" over others just sounds wrong when, politically, this group needed the help of those from outside their party to stay in government. It is wrong to assume they have total say in everything Malaysia without a thought for those who help keep them in power. Now, we are seeing a jostling for position in the said party. Position in the largest political party in Malaysia comes with much perks. It is an open secret that these top party officio live off government projects and what-nots. In fact, by being the largest stake-holders in government, they continue to enrich themselves.

But here-in lies the problem. The people of this fair country are automatically forgotten by those in power when in truth it was these people who put them into power. And when the public speaks out via street demos or blogs, the government is quick to clamp down on them. Arrests are made in the name of "doing the public a favor" (I thought favors are asked for?), media is twisted to spin lies and corruption on the highest level is sugar-coated to hide the truth.

It is the people who make up this fair country and the government is a servant to the voice of the majority - the people of Malaysia. And the people of Malaysia is a sum of many parts. The people of Malaysia sweep across political, religious and racial lines. Malaysians are Malaysians and is known by no other name. So why do our politicians seem to think other-wise?

Ministry watching blogs playing up controversies

The Home Ministry is monitoring blogs to check if bloggers are posting comments that confuse the people on controversial issues.

At the moment, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung said the ministry was merely advising bloggers against the misuse of blogs.

“So far, we are only telling them not to use their blogs as a mechanism to confuse people or as a weapon against those they don’t like.”

Source: The Star Online

We the people of Malaysia are a greedy bunch, just ask Shahrir Samad.

Shahrir says Malaysians are greedy

Datuk Shahrir Samad, the minister who has faced the brunt of criticism over oil prices, courted even more controversy today when he suggested Malaysians were greedy if they expected subsidies to continue.

The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister, whose job is to regulate prices, said subsidies are meant to only cushion the burden of high prices.

"When prices come down it will just be greed on the part of consumers to insist that they be subsidised," he said.

Source: Malaysia Today

Sometimes you just sit and wonder...

Auto Pilot Administration (APA?)

2008-11-21T14:12:00.001+08:00

I must apologize for my in-frequent blogging these pass week. I've been caught up with work and have not found the time to sit down and churn out my thoughts on what is happening in Malaysia. To a few friends, I must state here, "No, I've not been detained under ISA!" I was just busy with work and also editing my second novel, which I hope to send to a publisher come the new year.

For the record, I've not received my royalty for my first book. The recession seems to have hit the publisher of my first published novella. Sad but well, I'm writing not for the money but it would be nice to see a fat check come Christmas.

Sometimes I wish I could just go into autopilot mode. Get all my work to work themselves out. Get my blog to write itself, posting out articles that spurn and turn your minds. Get my iBook to write all my books, while I sit and merely think about the plots and twists to the story. Autopilot is the best thing since chocolate ice-cream waffles.

But Malaysia is run like that. Our leaders love to leave things to autopilot while they frolic elsewhere. Take the statement by the Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak who mentioned that politicians need a strong civil service. It doesn't matter if the politicians are bad, as long as the civil service is strong.

In a world that is heading towards recession and what-nots, we need leaders with enough balls to lead us through it. The civil service of Malaysia is only as good as the leaders it has. Lead by example. The politicians should lead the way in showing a good example for others to follow. They are wakil rakyat - people's representative. If the leaders are stooges then can we infer that the people they represent are equally stooges?

Herein lies the deepest problem in Malaysian politics. The politicians leave things in auto-pilot mode.

Where clear leadership is needed, we are left with hapless officers who merely tell us, "I have to refer to boss.."

Separate Race, Politics and Religion

2008-11-17T13:38:00.002+08:00

Malaysia is multi-racial and steps need to be taken to ensure that Malaysia would be known as such for the life-span of the nation. To be multi-racial means that all citizens would be called MALAYSIAN and nothing less. Thus, the government of the day should be looking into ways to ensure that our children would identify themselves as MALAYSIAN first and foremost and then secondly by their ethnic background.

I say ethnic background because, the MALAYSIAN of today may not be from a singular ethnic group. Their parents may be from different ethnic groups thus they themselves are a composite of various groups. A testament to the roots of our Malaysia.

But this is not reflected in the minds of those in top governance. Again and again we hear statements that imply the supremacy of one ethnic group over another.

Why are we still talking about the elevation and supremacy of a particular ethnic group over others? Does this mean, the said ethnic group has never been able to attain any standing in Malaysia?

Why is it that after more than 50 years of independence and control over government, the leaders of this country still talk about the supremacy of the Malays? And why is it that criticism of UMNO be equated as an attack against the Malays and in turn a criticism against Islam?

In the minds of those in governance, UMNO = MALAY = ISLAM and any criticism or comment against these three would mean you criticism the three as a whole.

Thus, would this also mean, if UMNO has failed than the three has failed in unison?

There should be a separation in the minds of the country leaders, who are almost all from UMNO, that any criticism of the establishment is to the role of the elected leader in government.

If the Finance Minister has failed in sustaining national economics, then the role of Finance Minister has failed and not the Malay person or the Muslim who held that post.

So when statements uttered by other leaders from other political parties are leveled at the Malays, UMNO should be gracious to accept such statements because UMNO itself makes statements that also tickle their friends in Barisan Nasional. UMNO should be the model of tolerance as this is commanded in Islam.

If UMNO is tolerant then the Malays would be seen as tolerant which is good because a Muslim is called to be tolerant. Instead, we have UMNO leaders using the racial card at every juncture and worst still, it becomes a religious card too and saying things that imply the Malays have little tolerance to live in a multi-racial nation.

Such inability to be tolerant shows how UMNO has de-matured (if there is a word) over the years. Malaysia's founding fathers were able to carve out a nation that was home to various ethnic groups and people (in those days) lived together in harmony. But come today, we have politicians who seemed to like contesting the racial card.

UMNO leaders of today should read their statements standing in the shoes of those who are not Malays and tell me if they don't feel anything.

Separate race, politics and religion and I believe the state of governance in Malaysia would be better.

Government wants CONTROL over media

2008-11-11T09:39:00.006+08:00

From Malaysiakini:

Top editors and media interest-groups have been invited to meet government officials tomorrow for a fresh round of discussions on the proposed - and much contested - National Media Council.

Source: Malaysiakini

Why a need for a council in the first place?

The Malaysian public is wise enough to determine for themselves what they would believe and what not to believe. I see this council as merely another layer for the government to use against independent voices that highlight the government's failings. This is something the current political-party-owned newspapers would never do. Open criticism in Malaysia is frown upon, deemed as a threat to the powers that be.

It seems a fallacy for the government to say that they encourage an atmosphere of openness while at the same time seeking to maintain an iron clad grip on all things.

In the end, all news is sugarcoated to hide the truth. Much like the way the North Korean government controls all news reports concerning its top officials. Everything seems fine and dandy with the government while millions starve and die in the country side.

This divide between the fantasy and reality is beginning to show itself in Malaysia. The government seems to be living in a world of fantasy, created by its own denial of their real state while at the same time, the citizens of Malaysia suffer in the real world.

This move to hide the truth to me is purely STUPID!

Anybody can become Prime Minister of Malaysia...if...

2008-11-10T09:49:00.000+08:00

I am over-joyed that RPK is free from ISA. But I would not be too over-enthusiastic about the matter because I think the judiciary is testing the waters, to see how far they can stretch as the government shifts and turns to re-establish itself under new leadership. So don't count your eggs until they hatch, we never know what lurks in the minds of those bent on keeping their power over this fair country.

Last thursday, Pak Lah said something, which made me want to roll over and laugh. It was funny because it came out of his mouth and yet, also mind-blowing, it it ever happened.

He said, "Anyone can become Prime Minister."

This was in response to the news that Barack Obama had just been elected as President of USA. I wonder if Pak Lah really knows what he just said and what it really imply. For in order for anyone to become Prime Minister of Malaysia, they need to consider the following things:

1. The people do not choose who becomes Prime Minister of Malaysia.

The PM come from the leader of the biggest stake-holder in BN, UMNO. Traditionally, the PM is the President of UMNO. Who chooses the President of UMNO? The people of UMNO. Even then, the choosing process is not a direct members-cast-their-ballot process. Instead, divisions nominate candidates for the post which will then be decided at the UMNO General Assembly. But in recent years, there has only been a single nomination for President and he would just need to be endorsed. In effect, the people of Malaysia do not choose who becomes PM.

In fact, not even the Malays can choose who becomes PM. It seems the choice is passed down from President of UMNO to President of UMNO.

Unless, a direct vote is taken. No-one outside of UMNO can ever be Prime Minister of Malaysia.

2. Racial based parties.

Will we ever see a minority-group individual become PM? It's an idea as crazy as expecting to see a Penan sitting in the seat of government. As it goes, seats in government are divided out among the parties and the political parties in Malaysia are race base. Let's use another term here, Ethnic-Group-Based (EGB).

The notion of race is a fallacy. Genetically, there are only three (3) races of humans. Caucasian, Mongoloid and Negroid.

We, in Asia, belong to the Mongoloid race. From this root we are then divided into Ethnic-Groups. It is these ethnic groups that band together to form the political entities we see now. But as society becomes more lax towards each other, we find more individuals crossing their ethnic lines and the border of differences between ethnic groups become blur and non-existent. If that can happen on a human level, why can't it happen on a political level, especially in Malaysia?

Unless, political parties stand along non-ethnic lines, we will never see a minority becoming PM of Malaysia.

3. Pleasing the minority at the cost of the majority.

The majority here is the rakyat. The minority are those who sit closest to the seat of governance. It seems the trend in Malaysia is to keep those closest to you or at least those upon whose shoulders, you stand on, happy. You award contracts and whatever to keep them happy. At the expense of the Majority.

It amazes me, that Malaysian taxpayers (90% who are Chinese) are paying for a dis-service. Taxpayers money is being used to fund the pockets of the minority that sit within the confines of those in the seat of governance. Unless this is dealt with, there will be no-way just anyone can be PM. Cronyism and Nepotism need to be dealt with if ever anyone has a chance to become PM.

So those are my thoughts on this matter. It is something I hope for, maybe not in my generation but I hope possibly in my children's generation. What do you think?

Barack Obama's Victory Speech - inspiring!

2008-11-06T10:13:00.001+08:00

PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA: If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

Its the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.

Its the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled - Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.

Its the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.

Its been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.

I just received a very gracious call from Senator McCain. He fought long and hard in this campaign, and hes fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him and Governor Palin for all they have achieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nations promise in the months ahead.

I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on that train home to Delaware, the Vice President-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.

I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last sixteen years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nations next First Lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy thats coming with us to the White House. And while shes no longer with us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them is beyond measure.

To my campaign manager David Plouffe, my chief strategist David Axelrod, and the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics - you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what youve sacrificed to get it done.

But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to - it belongs to you.

I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didnt start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington - it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.

It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give five dollars and ten dollars and twenty dollars to this cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generations apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered, and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this Earth. This is your victory.

I know you didnt do this just to win an election and I know you didnt do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime - two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how theyll make the mortgage, or pay their doctors bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America - I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you - we as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who wont agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government cant solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way its been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years - block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek - it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, its that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers - in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.

Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House - a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity. Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, We are not enemies, but friendsâ€¦though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn - I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too.

And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world - our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down - we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security - we support you. And to all those who have wondered if Americas beacon still burns as bright - tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.

For that is the true genius of America - that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one thats on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. Shes a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing - Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.

She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldnt vote for two reasons - because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.

And tonight, I think about all that shes seen throughout her century in America - the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we cant, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.

At a time when womens voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.

When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.

When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.

She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that We Shall Overcome. Yes we can.

A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes we can.

America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves - if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time - to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth - that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we cant, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:

Yes We Can. Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.

Acquitted but not innocent.

2008-10-31T15:39:00.001+08:00

Razak Baginda has been acquitted by the courts for abetting in the murder of the Mongolian, Altantuya. Acquitted because the persecution failed to put together a case to show his involvement. Fault lies with the persecuting team. But acquittal does not mean innocence. One may be guilty as hell but if the persecution fail to put a case together against you then there will not be any case at all. The courts cannot hold you accountable to any crime if it cannot be proven. And this is the case with Razak Baginda.

Yes, he admitted to having an affair with Altantuya and this is (thus far) his involvement with the Mongolian but did he kill her? That's the bigger question. Is he innocent? It is open to debate. Acquittal merely means there is no court case against you.

So now the case will shift to the two accused, who must now enter their defense for the murder of the Mongolian.

A certain Incoming Prime Minister is sighing a relief. The one connection he had with this murder is now set free. It would fair to say that this case is closed and would only be looked upon as another murder case. Suffice to say, Malaysian's will move on to other matters and whatever shadowy dealings that conspired to bring about the demise of the Mongolian will never be brought into the light of day.

This is the real tragedy of this case. The suppression of truth. We will never know how C4 was obtained. We will never now how immigration records can be deleted. We will never know who gave the order to terminate the Mongolian's life.

Too many questions are left unanswered. The so called police investigation only points to the fact that two police officers stepped out of their way to shoot and blow up a helpless Mongolian woman.

The truth is definitely still out there.

When public money is taken for a spin.

2008-10-29T11:41:00.005+08:00

Malaysiakini has the latest juice on the eurocopter deals. The whole deal was brought into the public light when letters, complaining about the purchase of the helicopters appeared on Malaysia-Today.

The purchase of the helicopters have been shelved and the money to be allocated to more public interest projects, thus says Pak Lah in his capacity as Defense Minister. It must be noted that the whole affair was initiated by the former Defense Minister, Najib Razak, and if followed through would have made some people really rich. Instead, only after public outcry, has the whole project been shelved.

The main question is, "Why pay double for the helicopters?" Of course the government's reply was that the helicopters cost more because of customization works but that answer still cannot satisfy the public.

As a tax payer, I really want to know (besides paying double for it), why the tender board should choose an expensive product when there was a cheaper quoted helicopter on the list? This act alone goes against the general order for purchasing, which is set out by the government itself. So the government is actually side-stepping its own requirements for purchasing by selecting an expensive product over one that is the cheapest.

So rather than explain themselves, the government shelved the project and the money (public money) would be use elsewhere. Smart. In the end we never will get the answers to our questions.

It's high time the government showed they are more responsible towards the people. Their dealings should be more transparent and the public should be in the know with what the government is planning to do with their money. It is the role of our elected Member of Parliament to scrutunize every project that involves the rakyat's money. Yet we do not see this.

Money Politics is Money Politics

2008-10-28T13:41:00.002+08:00

The longer campaign period leading towards next year’s Umno polls could actually help reduce money politics and not worsen it, said Perak Umno chief Datuk Seri Mohammad Tajol Rosli Ghazali.

“The longer the campaign period, the fewer chances there are for money politics as it is not easy to ‘look after’ people for months.

Source: The Star

Reading through this report by The Star, I can safely say that money politics is alive and well in UMNO. It seems to be the normal practice and part and parcel of climbing up the ladder of the political tower.

So the longer period would mean it will cost more to 'look after' the people; making it a non-viable way to gain support in UMNO but what happens when we have candidates who have war-chest that are limitless? Mind you, career politicians are ready for the long haul and their war-chests run into the millions. Money is not the issue to them and neither is buying or selling out one another. So really, the length of time till the party elections is not an issue here.

In short, money politics should be irradicated.

Wasn't this one of the promises of Pak Lah when he came into office? It seems he has forgotten or merely given up. It is not an easy thing to rid off when the whole structure of the political party basically survives on who can pay off the most. It is not only during nomination time that money is passed around. Even during the lull moments, money is passed around through the awarding of contracts and favors. This is the ROI for money passed during nominations.

So what is a few million when you can make back billions?

So money politics is money politics and nothing will change in the way politics is done in Malaysia. The fact that statements like the above make it into prime time news just shows how real the matter is and how deep it is instilled into the very fabric of UMNO itself.

Much ado over Bollywood

2008-10-24T15:14:00.000+08:00

Is it really a big deal? Or merely our politicians trying to raise a storm in a teacup?

Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) getting a datukship can be a good thing taken in a positive note. The guy does have influence and that influence can be turned into tourism ringgit. So why the sudden call for Malacca to retract when not only Malacca but the whole of Malaysia can benefit from the influence of SRK?

I like what Tun Mahathir wrote about this matter in his blog. It's clear and simple to grasp, clearly showing why Tun initiated this move to attract Bollywood to Malaysia. Tun had vision and a far-sight strategic plan to put Malaysia in the eyes of the world. Sadly, none of the current MPs share this ability to see into the future for the good of this nation. Yes, we may not like Tun but you can't help notice, he is a statesman above all the rest. His mind still clear even when he walks in his 80s.

So give SRK his datukship and encourage more people to visit Malaysia. The tourism ringgit would help move the nation's economy, translating into income for those in the cottage industries (souvenirs) and local eateries. Isn't that what the government should be doing - spurring the growth of our nation's economy?

What is Justice in Malaysia?

2008-10-22T14:47:00.001+08:00

It's great to receive comments on your blog. You feel like you have contributed to the bigger body of knowledge by allowing people to post their views and (hopefully) generate meaningful discussions. There have been times in my blogging life (since 2003) where some people have not been happy with my postings and even at one time a reader threatened to sue me for a comment posted by another reader.

But I must say something to arjun who graciously commented on my post "ISA for Crimes of Opinion". He made a reference to my post "Khairy Jamaluddin in ISA?" where I mentioned that KJ would never be caught under ISA. KJ will not be caught under ISA, not because he did not have an opinion or stuff to say but rather because he is the SIL to the current PM. arjun should read the article again and see the angle I am writing from.

KJ will never be caught because he is UMNO. KJ will never be caught because he is not Opposition. So KJ will go on saying whatever he wants to say and nothing will be done to him. Make as many police reports as you want against KJ, yet no action will be taken. Remember, KJ is KJ and the rising star of UMNO young turks. His veil ambition to be the next prime minister at the age of 40 is an open secret so do you honestly think this bastion of UMNO young blood would be caught under ISA?

So arjun, read my article again and hopefully you will see my point. The hope now is for KJ to not be elected as the UMNO Youth head. Stop his rise and let's see justice take its place. It is only just that the one person who has had influence in the dealings of this country be made to pay for his misdeeds.

What is Justice in Malaysia?

Justice is when we have a government that returns back to what it was destined for - to care for Malaysians. But over the years, this BN government has set out to enrich a select few and elevate their own into positions of power. They ship-wrecked the economy by hiking up the fuel prices and then asking that we all change out lifestyles while they live off our tax-money.

Now, will I be caught for a Crime of Opinion? I don't know, ISA is a funny tool that seems to be selective in its implementation.

ISA for Crimes of Opinion

2008-10-22T11:58:00.001+08:00

It seems the ISA is being used to detain and question any person who holds an opinion which goes against the current (insecure) government. Reporters, Bloggers, Opposition MPs and even Innocent Citizens are placed under this draconic act. What was their crime?

The Crime of Opinion.

Opinions deemed able to incite the populace to rebel or to induce fear among the populace. The latest case is another weird incidence where the ISA was used to question a SUARAM activist, Cheng Lee Whee, for making a report on the Johor Police website concerning the arrest of 27 people at Kampung Baru Plentong Tengah. Her report on the police portal was deemed able to caused worry among the populace and thus, the writer questioned. The odd thing was, why use the ISA? Isn't there a Sedition Act that can be used or is this simply a case of no case?

I believe Lee Whee did not commit any crime and thus she is uneligible to be questioned nor arrested under any law. So the police (wise folks these people) decided to use the ISA which can be used as long as the Home Minister sees it fit. The only crime Lee Whee committed was a Crime of Opinion. Whatever she wrote did not go down well with the Johor police and they decided to take action.

This is a worrying state of affairs for Malaysia. If the citizens are not allowed to voice out their opinions then why have a nation in the first place? The basic component of any nation is the citizen. It is the citizen who works and earn a wage which in turn is used to pay taxes that support the government. Those same taxes are used to provide wages for the police force and Ministers in office. Yet, the establishment seems to have forgotten that they are suppose to safe-guard the interest of the populace rather than their own interest.

What is wrong with a citizen reporting on the perceived abuse of power by the police force via official channels? It is not as if Lee Whee is going to organize a rally to drum up local support to criticize the arrest of these 27 individuals. Instead she posted her opinion on the Johor Police portal for all to see and evaluate. For that she was brought in for questioning under the ISA. This in itself is abuse of power by the Johor Police and Home Minister.

If there was a crime committed than please use the available laws and not the ISA. Allow Lee Whee her day in court to defend her report and seriously look at why people are not happy with the arrest of the 27 individuals. Why shoot the messenger? Read the message and allow the court of law to decide.

In this regards, the government (via the Home Minister) has seriously lost its case in the Court of Public Opinion.

Khairy Jamaluddin in ISA?

2008-10-20T17:38:00.001+08:00

A MCA youth delegate called for the detention of Khairy Jamaluddin (KJ) under the ISA and the fella is sticking to his guns. Alas, it may only be a call, small talk which would make the headlines now but forgotten tomorrow.

KJ would never be caught under the ISA, in fact it is near impossible for anyone closely associated with Pak Lah to be detained under the ISA. Look at Ahmad Ismail, he is still walking about with a 3 year ban from UMNO, when Najib was asked why ISA was not used on Ahmad Ismail, Najib replied that Ahmad had been punished already. So, all this MCA fella could see, if disciplinary action is taken against KJ, is a 3 year ban from membership and a lame excuse for not using ISA against KJ.

Understand that the ISA has now become a tool for those in the corridors of power to shut up whoever they deemed "too noisy". Take into account the SUARAM girl that posted the report on the PDRM portal. She was caught under ISA for making a report against the police. The police deemed it a danger to public order - yes, a report against the police is destructive to public order, only in Malaysia folks!

So the Incoming UMNO Youth Leader would never be caught under the ISA and he would have the liberty to spill out more words that are destructive to public order and peace. My hope is that Mukhriz would beat KJ to the post and put an end to KJ's narcissistic rise. And from the looks of things that may happen but we will never know until March 2009. KJ may just pull our the money bag and roll out the dole in order to gain the post.

So this MCA youth delegate can go screaming for as long as he wants, KJ will never be caught under ISA.

Irresponsible (incoming) Prime Minister

2008-10-15T16:46:00.001+08:00

Will this get me into trouble? I think it will because going by track record, most people who written critically about him have been put into prison. ISA and all have been used and well I may even be strapped to C4 and made into fireworks.

The person I'm talking about is our Incoming Prime Minister (IPM). When asked about the accusations concerning the Altantuya case especially in light of the SMS messages that appeared on Malaysia Today, he merely replied by pointing out that Abdullah Badawi has commented on it.

"Was there any abuse of power?" The reporter asked.

"Oi, my boss already say, he thinks I am not the kind of guy to abuse my power," was the reply.

Having Abdullah Badawi answering for you is kind of cute in a way because then you are cleared of every charge without having to acknowledge or deny anything. How convenient, we all should do that or at least work for bosses like Abdullah Badawi. In truth this reply by IPM is really irresponsible. It clearly shows a leader who would wash his hands clean of any fault and point it at another guy. Childish behavior like this have no place in the highest office of Malaysia.

Abdullah Badawi believes he is incapable of abusing his power. This is what Abdullah Badawi believes in but it may not be the truth of the matter. If what we read in the SMS are true and if they show a non-abuse-of-power, then surely the state of our governance in Malaysia is so, so poor. Minister's can and will be involve in court cases or police investigations if it is detrimental towards them. Abdullah Badawi's statement and IPM affirmation of that same statement suggests that the actions of IPM in the SMSes should be expected of all our high-ranking ministers.

Why can't IPM answer for himself? Deny the allegations and tell the truth. Stop trying to hide behind other people or abuse the laws (ISA) and make your problems disappear (literally).

I see trouble times ahead with IPM in power. There will be increased persecution of people who bring out the truth in governance. Bloggers may end up cell mates with RPK and anyone speaking up against the establishment may find themselves turned into impromptu Roman Candles of the exploding kind.

Race Based Business Politics

2008-10-14T15:02:00.001+08:00

Something our incoming Prime Minister said just makes you roll your eyes:

"Kerajaan tidak mahu perniagaan diuruskan berdasarkan soal perkauman," kata Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Oleh yang demikian, katanya, kerajaan sentiasa menggalakkan semua syarikat di sektor swasta supaya memainkan peranan membangunkan vendor tempatan, termasuk vendor bumiputera.

Source: Malaysiakini

On one hand you say do not manage business along racial lines yet you also ask corporations to give more incentives to bumiputra companies. So what are you really saying here?

In fact, business in Malaysia is so skewed it's almost impossible to run away from race based management. The way tenders are supposed to be awarded speak volumes to this fact. Bumiputra companies are given priority and this is the way things are done in Bolehland. And if one was to follow the rule book then these are the rules, one need to follow.

So if Najib does not want businesses to be managed on a race base platform then he has to remove all form of preference to a particular race. This way, the business scene will be open and the best business-man wins. In turn, only the shrewd and best in their area of expertise will survive and wouldn't this be good for the nation? But is Malaysia prepared for this?

In the same statement, Najib also asked corporations to help build up local vendors meaning Bumiputra vendors. So no management along race-based lines yet please help the Bumiputra vendors. See the contradiction?

It'll be interesting what would happen when Najib Razak is PM. We can only hope that this "British trained economist" would be able to bring a revival in the way business is done in Malaysia. As such we see, abuses and enrichment of a select few in the Malaysian business world. Projects are tendered and awarded in dubious ways (helicopters anyone?). Yet, the man at the centre of dubious military business scandals is now telling us how to do business.

Hey, if we pay attention we may learn how to gain millions in kickbacks without lifting a finger. So folks, listen to your incoming PM.

Our Leaders do not seem to be able to talk right.

2008-10-14T13:26:00.000+08:00

Singapore announced it's anti-recession measures and just across the cause way our PM (Pak Lah) announced, "Hey, we're ok. We're fine. Everything is going to be alright!" Ok, he didn't say it that way, but it was to the same effect.

It was funny because I was expecting something along the line of, "The leaders are concern and are monitoring the situation. We will have the best interest of the people in mind and would put measures into place if the situation worsens. For now Malaysia is fundamentally strong...."

Hence, the problem with our leaders is that they lack communications skills to reach out to the masses. Instead, they probably only know how to talk to one another but not to the people who voted them in. So we get rather crude statements that are insensitive to the general populace. By right, there is something wrong in the economy, if not why would so many governments (richer than ours) prepare for the worse? Yet, our leaders seem to have care-free attitudes when it comes to real pressing issues, which affect the nation.

Instead, our leaders attention is focus on party elections and nothing else. Their own squabbling become news (we read this daily) while the whole world brace for a recession. Everything our leaders talk about is skewed for their own political millage. They lower themselves to say anything that would garner those votes, which would set them up for a lucrative life as a career politician. Honestly, would any of our leaders work for free? Working for the sake of the people of this nation, literally taking no pay but merely giving service to the people of Malaysia? Would they be willing to serve and only to serve?

I doubt it.

In times like this we need leaders who can motivate and encourage the populace. Leaders who can reach out with words that inspire and calm. Yet, we have slapstick comedians who stumble and flop over their own statements and at the end of the day people wonder whether their vote was really worth it. Don't you think so?

Utusan Malaysia is not equal to Islam.

2008-10-13T11:01:00.001+08:00

Teresa Kok is suing Utusan Malaysia to the tune of RM30 million. It is a legal process when one feels that one's reputation has been tarnished by what has been written in a newspaper which commands a large readership. The newspaper can chose to defend itself or admit its mistake. In this case. Utusan Malaysia is putting up a fight and it's got backing from UMNO. Nothing wrong in that because UMNO is the owner of Utusan Malaysia (not directly) and has huge influence on the news reported in the said newspaper.

Today, it was reported in Utusan Malaysia that they (Utusan Malaysia and UMNO - Cheras Division) have set up a Tabung Azan to collect funds to help local mosques to acquire audio systems to facilitate the call to prayers. Nothing wrong in that because it is an initiative for the betterment of society. What doesn't make sense is the statement that it is also to help Utusan Malaysia counter Teresa Kok lawsuit because "the act of suing Utusan Malaysia is similar to an act of suing Islam."

Don't believe me? Read the front page of today's Utusan Malaysia.

Selain itu, tabung tersebut turut mendapat sumbangan sebanyak RM12,000 daripada individu-individu yang menjadikan keseluruhannya berjumlah RM32,000.

Jelasnya, setiap bahagian UMNO diminta memberi bantuan kepada tabung itu.

‘‘Ini pendekatan yang dibuat untuk membantu akhbar orang Melayu. Semua pihak seharusnya tidak mempertikaikan, malah menghormati perbezaan agama masing-masing.

‘‘Kita terpanggil apabila timbul isu ini. Tindakan Teresa yang mengambil tindakan kepada Utusan Malaysia sama seperti dia menyaman agama Islam,” ujarnya.

Source: Utusan Malaysia Online.

The Star reported on the same matter but they seemed to have watered down the said statement:

Kicking off the fund with a RM20,000 contribution, division head Datuk Syed Ali Al Habshee said the Tabung Azan would also be used to assist mosques and suraus that needed money to buy loudspeakers for the purpose of the azan (call to prayer).

“Teresa has challenged the honour of Malays by suing Utusan Malaysia as it is a newspaper owned by the Malays.

“Challenging the Malays is similar to challenging Umno,” he said in urging other divisions to contribute to the fund.

Source: The Star

So is Utusan Malaysia equal with Islam? If so, then does this mean any newspaper which is Malay owned is above the laws of the land? So a citizen who has been victimized by the writers of Utusan Malaysia has no means whatsoever to counter Utusan Malaysia.

It must be noted that Teresa Kok has denied her involvement in the allegations by Utusan Malaysia and the surau in question has also issued a statement which backs her up. So why does Utusan Malaysia and UMNO continue to pursue this matter? Why has this matter been turned into a Teresa against the whole Malay community when initially it was the (false) reporting by Utusan Malaysia that stated it?

It is clearly an attempt at inciting anger among the populace and one which is glaring. So where are the police in this? Why hasn't the writer of the article Azan, Jawi, Jais, UiTM dan ba-alif-ba-ya, Mohd. Zaini Hassan, not been called in for questioning or better still put under ISA for reporting on a sensitive issue? Remember, the ISA was used against a reporter from Sin Chew last month. What difference does it make here?

Utusan Malaysia is not equal to Islam. Statements such as above, spoken at the UMNO Cheras division meeting and reported in Utusan Malaysia, does not help heal racial hurts. Instead, it continues to propagate the "Us and Them" mentality which stands to further fragment Malaysian society. Utusan Malaysia should be sensitive (themselves) to the feelings of Malaysians, plus division head himself should show more respect when making remarks during his speech.

The right to take to a fair trial in a court of law is for every citizen and should not be turned into a political banner by UMNO to garner the Malay vote. If the report is true, then let the court of law decide, if not then grant Teresa Kok what she demands and let it serve a lesson to Utusan Malaysia.

A lot has been said about bloggers spreading lies and half-truths but here we see a clear case of Utusan Malaysia not practicing Reponsible Reporting.

With all eyes on the UMNO elections, whose eyes are on the nation?

2008-10-10T09:34:00.001+08:00

Do we give a dipstick on who would be the next UMNO president or VP? Does it really matter except the fact we kind of know, who the next PM and DPM would be since by pure default it has to come from UMNO? Does it really matter who gets the nominations to vie for the post (up for offer) in the coming UMNO convention?

In fact, if you really look at it; it doesn't really matter at all. When all eyes are turned to the squabbling of career politicians looking to secure their positions in UMNO, the state of the nation is not addressed.

Who is looking into the state of the country's economy? Who's going to put into place, safeguards to protect the populace when the recession hits Malaysia? While all these UMNOputra folks are squabbling over position and status, who is looking after you and me?

The American DOW JONES tumbled to its lowest level in 5 years yesterday. Governments in Europe are preparing bailout plans to save their financial institutions and these same governments are watching Asia. Markets all over Asia (and the world) are taking a tumble, Malaysia included. A few years back, Pak Lah used the KLSE as a barometer to gauge the health of the nations economy (that time we were riding high) and commented that Malaysia was moving along strong. Well, take a look today at our KLSE and with the current slide, the economy is headed for a heart-attack.

The economy is sliding down-wards yet the cost of living is going up. Why? Because the current BN government raise the price of fuel so drastically it took everyone by surprise. The populace cried foul but our BN MPs rubber-stamped the decision and told us to change our lifestyles. Was there not a decent brain in parliament at the time they debated the bill to increase the fuel price?

Raise the fuel price and traders will raise the price of goods. Simple logic, you don't have to be a "British trained economist" to know this. Then we get the announcement, the government will review the price of fuel on a month-to-month basis. They have since reduced the price of fuel twice and I'm expecting another price cut at the end of this month because the price of crude is hovering below USD90 per barrel.

Reduce fuel price but has the price of goods been reduced? No.

Even if the price of fuel returns to a point below RM2 per liter, the price of goods will remain where it is now. It makes pure business sense to keep it there. Business is about making the highest return on your investment, no business minded trader would want to lower the price of their goods when they are already making huge profits now.

So the BN government, in saving their subsidies, placed stress on the populace. Where is the rational in that? Did the BN MPs have that in mind when the bill was tabled in parliament after the fuel hike? So with Najib as Finance Minister and PM in waiting, will we see a reversal of all these "smart" economic decisions?

It seems a trend in Malaysia in recent years; if a Minister express discontent with a particular group then the police would investigate. This can happen even after the incident, then the police would step in, do some questioning and arrest a few people, and Minister happy, BN happy and people confuse.

HINDRAF would be investigated for unruly behavior at the Raya event the PM had last week. Question-why weren't any arrests made at the time of the offense? The police were there, the press was there and the PM was there, yet no arrest for "unruly" behavior. Why only now, a week after the incident, there is a call for the police to investigate HINDRAF and since when was "unruly" behavior at a Raya gathering threatening to national security?

This is a trend that needs to be checked and countered. It clearly shows the police agency under the influence of those in government positions and the directive seems to flow from these ministers. It should not be this way, the police have to investigate when there is clearly a crime committed and not on the perceived pretext that a crime was committed.

In the wake of all these things happening to our nation, the limelight is on the UMNO elections. Reading about who gets the highest nomination from the divisions is better than watching paint dry but what relevance does that have to me? I want to hear news about policies the government will put into place to counter the global crisis hitting our economy, which in turn will affect whether I can put food on the table. I want to know whether next year I can afford to put my kids into school as the cost of education steadily rise.

With all eyes on the UMNO elections, whose eyes are on the nation?

Would a change in leader fix anything?

2008-10-09T17:41:00.001+08:00

I'm being pessimistic. I don't really think a change in leadership would bring any good for Malaysia, if the leader comes from the same political affiliation as the past leader. Reason being? Same baggage.

Najib Razak will carry into his term the same old stuff Abdullah had to deal with and probably have the same support team also. Would this change anything? The same old gang is running the palace and the same practices will still be in place. Nothing has change. Everything is just as it was before. So whether Pak Lah leaves today or in March makes no difference. The same state of affairs will still be dominate over Malaysia. Our economy will be heading south, the people would still be facing bleak times and there will still be political chaos. It doesn't really address the root problem - poor governance at large.

The MPs should be allowed to lead by conscience and by party lines. The MPs should highlight the problems of the citizens living in their areas. Government policies should strive to better the lives of the people of Malaysia rather than enrich a certain group of people or party members. What is really needed is a change in governance style.

Can Najib bring about this? I really do not know. With the Altantuya case coming to conclusion, the results will no doubt haunt Najib not to mention the stigma that case has brought onto the Prime Minister in waiting. It will be Najib that has to face a bleak 13th General Election where the BN may finally be tumbled from its pedestal. At the rate the current government is going, BN may just be opposition after the 13th General Election.

Can Najib handle Anwar Ibrahim? Another case to watch for in the coming months after March 2009. It would be interesting if Anwar Ibrahim can install his government before March 2009 then all this wondering if Najib is capable can be put to rest and at least we know, RPK would be set free from ISA. I do not think Najib can handle Anwar Ibrahim. Left to his own devices Najib may be as weak as Pak Lah.

What we need is a leader who has fire in his belly. Someone who would grab Malaysia by it's collar and say, let's move on. Someone who can tell off the parliament. It should be a leader who inspires the populace to step forward and be counted. This is the leader we need and currently, I don't see that in UMNO.

Raya visiting by Hindraf and Anwar's "Idol" Image

2008-10-08T12:32:00.001+08:00

It's been an interesting Raya week, to say the least and its incredible how the smallest of things can be turned into an issue akin to the countries economic woes.

Firstly on the cards, Hindraf paying a visit to the PM's open house over at PWTC on the first day of Raya. Government Main-Stream-Media (MSM) has spun the incident into something way beyond what it should be. Utusan Malaysia even called for stern action against Hindraf for creating a ruckus at the gathering. The RPK fellas also where there along side their Hindraf brothers and they too took a lot of slack from the MSM. It is reported that various individuals and bodies have asked that sterner action be taken against these people, who are deemed as disruptors of a grand celebration.

So this whole issue has been blown out of proportion. Why can't, for the sake of national peace, this incident be downplayed? Raya visiting can also make the news and this incident with Hindraf has further cemented people's opinion that these guys are mere trouble makers.

Secondly, someone in Batu Caves decided to erect a large poster of Anwar Ibrahim and this has made headlines. Yup, a poster (for lack of a better name) can also make news. Apparently, it hit the news when the Mufti of Perlis called it an idol. PAS was quick to come out to say it is perfectly alright to have the poster and it's not an idol or carved image.

So the nation is heading for a hard time economically and we have our leaders fighting over Raya visiting and a large poster of Anwar. All these are mere smokescreen to the true state of the nation. The KLCI tumbled 14 points yesterday, markets around Asia are reacting to the US financial crisis which is underway now. If everyone is watching all these sensational news, then who is watching Malaysia?

Scanning through the news MSM is feeding the populace, it seems clear that they are trying hard to win back the trust of the people. News, nowadays, seem balance; just that BN gets all the front portion of the paper while news on PR gets a place close to the obituary.

Not all things are bad and should be politicized. Yes, I bet you the Hindraf folks would have never made the news if they did not identify themselves as being from Hindraf. The huge poster of Anwar may not have been an issue if it was an image of Pak Lah. So what really is the problem? Would a visit by Hindraf to a public open house be detrimental to the nation's security? Would a poster be detrimental to the believers of various faiths in Malaysia? So what is the issue?

Only in Malaysia!

Is Pak Lah leaving?

2008-10-06T14:27:00.001+08:00

Everyone is looking forward to Thursday (9th October 2008) in expectations of Pak Lah making an announcement on his decision to defend is post as president of UMNO. Most analyst think it is very likely, Pak Lah would opt to not contest the presidential post, giving way to Najib Razak to assume presidency and eventually to take over as Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Not all choose to believe Pak Lah would step down unless they see it happen for sure, Tun Mahathir is one of the "seeing is believing crowd" and to be honest, I count myself in that camp too.

Too much talk has been flying about these pass few months and nothing to show for. A lot of hot air yet nothing substantial that can really be attributed to walking the talk by those in high office of governance. To be fair this stance is also adopted by the PR camp too but then they are already up to their necks learning to govern five states and having the full brunt of the BN smear machinery going against them.

So the biggest question now - Is Pak Lah leaving?

It would be something Anwar Ibrahim would be watching for as long as Pak Lah stays in power the better it is for him. The case may be different if another person is in charge but for lack of better candidates, Anwar may have to contend with Najib Razak. But troubled men tend to gravitate to one another, I suppose. Both Anwar and Najib have skeletons out of the closet and in public view. Anwar being the worse of the two yet the big suspicion hanging over Najib over hte Altantuya case may tip the scale Anwar's way.

A friend said something to me, "I prefer a sexually weird person than a (suspected) murderer as PM."

Yet others may want to have Pak Lah stay on because rather than choose between a (suspected) Sodomite and a (suspected) Murderer, they rather have a Sleepy Leader.

Would it make any difference if Pak Lah leaves or stays? The same team is in place regardless of whether Pak Lah or Najib Razak is in place. The same policies and management norms would be carried through under the BN governmental style. In truth, we will still be stuck with the same problems with or without a new PM. Unless a radical change happens within the ruling BN, nothing good is in store and all this is purely a political play being stage out so there's something interesting to talk about over coffee.

Is Pak Lah leaving? We can only be sure until it happens.

Open Letter by Datuk Zaid Ibrahim to Pak Lah - Abolish ISA!

2008-10-03T14:57:00.001+08:00

For those who have not read it yet, there is an open letter from Datuk Zaid Ibrahim addressed to Pak Lah asking the latter to abolished the ISA. I find Datuk Zaid Ibrahim's reasoning on the matter well thought out and an eye opener. It is very clear, the ISA has been abused by those in government in order to remain in power.

Here an excerpt of that letter that I find very interesting:

Pada 2001, aktivis-aktivis 'reformasi' Keadilan telah ditahan dalam satu tindakan yang kemudiannya diisytiharkan sebagai dibuat secara tidak betul dan tidak sah oleh Mahkamah Persekutuan. Penahanan berterusan mereka yang tidak dibebaskan lebih awal di pusat tahanan Kamunting hanya dibolehkan kerana ISA telah dipinda dalam cara yang meragukan pada 1988 bagi tidak lagi membenarkan semakan kehakiman dibuat ke atas arahan Menteri untuk menahan. Rakyat Malaysia dimaklumkan bahawa tahanan-tahanan ini telah cuba menggulingkan Kerajaan melalui cara-cara militan dan demonstrasi-demonstrasi liar.

Tujuh tahun telah berlalu sejak kejadian ini berlaku tetapi hingga kini belum ada sebarang bukti bagi menyokong dakwaan ini dikemukakan. Menambahkan lagi kekeliruan rakyat, salah seorang daripada mereka yang dikatakan "ganas dan militan" itu ialah Ezam Mohamad Noor. Inilah orangnya yang baru-baru ini disambut kembali ke dalam UMNO dengan sambutan besar-besaran, seolah-olah ianya merupakan satu kejayaan besar.

Source: Malaysiakini

Obviously, the BN government can decide how to label you depending if you are for or against them. Take the case of RPK, who claims trial yet is caught under ISA for being the most vocal blogger against the current establishment. What's worst according to Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, the courts have no say in ISA detentions. Instead, the guy with all the power is the Home Minister. This minister can determine who gets detained and who goes off free. Yes, folks. The executive that is in charge of ISA is part and parcel of the government. Now, would this strong hand of the government ever use ISA against their own?

This is partly why, Ahmad Ismail, the joker that called Chinese "immigrants" was never detained under ISA for threatening the nations peace. It's an un-written rule - NEVER use ISA against our own people. You can use it against the opposition MPs, reporters and bloggers but NEVER against BN (or UMNO) guys who spew racist comments left, right, front, back and center.

Datuk Zaid Ibrahim is a brave man and I have gain immense respect for him. He made a stand and is now addressing Pak Lah and asking him to abolish this cruel tool of the government. Bear in mind, if Anwar Ibrahim comes into power and PR becomes government, this tool should still be abolished. It is a cruel tool that has no place in a modern democratic country.

Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, you have this bloggers two thumbs up!

When the ship loses its captain.

2008-09-30T09:52:00.000+08:00

Its idiotic to think that at this very moment, Malaysia is still very much in the docks. Who is running the country? There is no clear firm image of leadership and this reeks of instability and confusion in the top management.

Abdullah Badawi seems to have called it a day and is only bidding for time. The right time to move along and pass the baton to Najib Razak and Anwar Ibrahim seems adamant he would snatch power cleanly in the very near future. What is in store for Malaysia is either men take the highest office in Malaysia?

The first priority now for the BN led government is not the UMNO elections but rather the failing economy, hasten by the problems America is having with its financial sector. If America cannot fix its financial problems, the whole world goes into a nose-dive. Things get shaken up and everyone stands to suffer. Yet in Malaysia, our top leaders do not seem to bother about this. Instead we get the normal, "We are fine" statements. But all is not fine. The UMNO leaders who effectively head the major offices in government are more interested in safe-guarding their own rice-bowls in the coming party elections.

Several component parties in BN are contemplating leaving and Pakatan Rakyat are having hiccups of their own especially the mess in Selangor over the Hindu temple demolition. The whole seat of government, the bridge where the ship is commanded is in chaos. The captain has left the bridge and everyone had no idea what they are suppose to be doing or they are simply doing whatever they choose.

In recent events it is a tragic comedy to watch several ministers stumble over themselves when issuing statements. Some contradict themselves or each other and some are made tactless. Mud-slinging is common place in Malaysian politics and it's no surprise for MPs to call each other names in parliament. All hot air and the real issues are lost in transition.

I believe the people are getting fed-up and worn out by all these shenanigans and would just want to get on with their lives. We just want to know when the next meal is coming and that we are able to have enough to get us through the month. It is time the captain gets back to what he should be doing and that is to captain the ship and let everyone know he is in charge.

A fallacy of composition - the immaturity of Malaysian politics

2008-09-25T13:18:00.000+08:00

fallacy of composition

noun - the error of assuming that what is true of a member of a group is true for the group as a whole.

Humans are creatures of habit and though change is constant, not everyone would welcome constant. Worst still if change would disturb the established norm and destroy any form of benefits or rewards one would have enjoyed when change was not present.

This is the situation facing the Barisan Nasional government. After 51 years of governance, this group of politicians do not know any other form of life. For those holding the highest position in government, the feel of power is indeed so good, they refuse to let it go even when prompted to do so. Desperate to hold on to power, they use every known apparatus at their disposal to protect their hold on power. The police, courts of law and media are all instruments used to create an image that all is well with the government. While the government goes along the notion, everything is going along well in this country, the discerning public knows better.

In their desperation to stay in power the BN government has lost touch with the very people who voted them in. I am sure, we vote the government of the day because we want to be taken care of. We want a government who looks into the welfare of its people, a government that is interested to see the betterment of its people.

Instead, what we get is totally the opposite. We have a government running scared, detaining people who voice out discontent against them, bent on pulling strings to keep friends and foes at bay, we have politics in our face but no solution for the woes striking the general populace.

Switch on the tele or read the UMNO owned newspapers and what we get is a fallacy of composition.

It may have been a strategy which worked ten years ago but this is 2008 and Malaysians have woken up to the realities of the ruling government. In the 12th General Election, people voted for CHANGE. The people has had enough of talk from politicians only interested to remain in power for financial gain.

We have woken up to the realization that Pak Lah is not all he is cut out to be. All because he has the image of Mr. Clean, does not mean that the whole government is such but the picture is painted in the mass media that everything is dandy and good. The statements coming out of Main Stream Media seems to show that Pak Lah has great support among the UMNO base yet that is not what is evident on the ground.

Only yesterday, we had a collection NGO leaders coming out with resolution warning people not to question the transition plan between Pak Lah and Najib Razak. Looking at the news clip, it is evident that all who were present were UMNO members who were pro-Abdullah Badawi. Where were the Chinese or Indian NGO leaders? Why weren't their views taken into consideration? Even if this group, who say that they represent all NGOs in Malaysia, pass such a resolution, I believe it is not reflective of all NGOs.

Main Stream Media is also painting a picture that if Anwar Ibrahim is flawed then the whole Pakatan Rakyat bunch is flawed. They pump up the image of Anwar Ibrahim as a sodomite yet down play any wrong down by an UMNO member say for instance Ahmad Ismail.

Ahmad Ismail, mind you, has done more damage against race relations in Malaysia than any article Raja Petra Kamaruddin has ever written.

This is the state of Malaysian politics. We are so bent on painting fallacies of composition, all over the place in order to win a vote. There is no consideration of policies that would move the country forward. We elect leaders base on image rather that capacity to deliver. We base voting on a logo rather on the ability of the person to serve his/her constituency. At the end of the day, we have a parliament of career politicians and the sad thing is that we are paying them for sitting in parliament.

It's a fallacy of composition when the idea that only BN can assure us of fair treatment as citizens of Malaysia. Look at the spate of arrest under ISA, where RPK gets sent to detention when Ahmad Ismail is scot free, why? Because UMNO has already slapped a three(3) year ban on him.

It's a fallacy of composition to think that everyone is united behind the idea of detention without trial (ISA) when our everyone knows it is a cruel tool of the government.

It's a fallacy of composition to say this democratic government is mature and on par with other democracies of the world. By saying we practice "Guided Democracy" is akin to saying that Pol Pot's regime was the best government to rule Cambodia.

This government is immature and unable to meet the aspirations of those that voted them in and thus, it is high time for change.

Malaysia's bravest blogger, RPK, sent to Kemunting

2008-09-23T15:50:00.001+08:00

The powers that be cannot keep a good man down and so they hit him with the most unjustified form of detention imaginable - detention without trial, the ISA. I hope the Home Minister and every BN member of parliament sleep easy for they have sent an innocent man to jail for the act of speaking out. Sending him to two (2) years of confinement for exercise his right as a free citizen of Malaysia. For speaking out against what is unjust and wrong.

They justified the act by saying RPK had insulted Islam and the government of the day. What else is new? Why can't they charge him in a court of law where the infamous Sedition Act can be used? Or maybe it was because there was nothing to pin RPK with, all charges against could not pin him. Why? Because RPK was telling the truth and had too much up his sleeve for them to counter in a right and just way. The government reverted to throwing a jab under the belt. The more the need to for a change in government. The more the need to restore the rule of Law and not the rule of Lone Nepoleons who sign detention orders and order the use of C4 on people.

What then can the rakyat do? We do what we do best, vote for change. Come the next election or if a miraculous snap-election gets force, vote in a new government. Vote for change. Vote for a system that rids Malaysia of racism and xenophobic politicians. Vote for people who are for the people and not out to fatten their own pockets.

RPK was sure of his fate long before today yet he had faith in the people who believe that change is coming to Malaysia. He trust that this change would be the one that would release him from detention under ISA. It would be this change that would rid Malaysia of ISA altogether.

Something is really wrong when people are detained for speaking out against injustice. Something is really wrong with Malaysia and we can make a change. Remove this government, the people should not be afraid of their government instead it is the government which should be afraid of its people.

Remember the 16th September 1963

2008-09-21T13:54:00.000+08:00

The 16th of September came and went and this year it would be remembered for all the wrong reasons. Most eyes and ears were waiting for news of a government take over by the opposition coalition lead by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. It came and went and everyone went about their lives.

16th September came and went and all the people remembered was the politics of the day. Yet for Sarawakians, 16th September is the day Sarawak joined Sabah, Singapore and the Malay Peninsula to form Malaysia.

16th September came and went and it was not even a public holiday. Instead, even the whole issue of a public holiday was turned into a political argument between the Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat. My humble opinion, it should have been a holiday because on that day a nation was born. A nation we call Malaysia which has been steadily making it’s mark on the world state. There should be no argument whatsoever on the status of the 16th of September, neither should it be turned into a political trump card.

16th September should be remembered as the day Malaysia was born and it came with a price. For when wind of Sarawak’s decision to join the collection of independent states to form Malaysia reached Indonesia, they retaliated with an armed response. An episode in history called The Confrontation. Lives were lost on Sarawakian soil to protect the decision to form Malaysia and this fact seemed lost to most Malaysians. Sacrifices were made and great deeds were sown in order for Sarawak to partner along side Sabah, Singapore and the Malay Peninsula, to form Malaysia.

Many in Sarawak feel that 16th September should be given equal standing as the 31st August. Commemorated for the fact it was the day Malaysia made its debut onto the world stage. The whole process of fighting for independence is alien to a normal Sarawakian for Sarawak in those days did not take part in protesting against the formation of the Malayan Union neither did we take part in an arms struggled against the British. In fact if examined properly, Sarawak was ruled by an Englishman but never was part of the British Empire. Sarawak could be called an independent state much like the city states of ancient Greece. Thus, the decision to form Malaysia along with Sabah and Singapore was made with the understanding that Sarawak would still retain a fair amount of autonomy. This is a fact, in most cases, relegated to a mere footnote in history books.

Sarawak has been in Malaysia a good 46 years and most still remember life before the formation of Malaysia. The remnants of the White Rajah are evident in those above the age of 46 years. I have met pensioners in their 60s who speak impeccable British English. Walk through Kuching city and you will find colonial buildings and mission schools dating to 1843. Fort Magrita still stands guard over the Sarawak River overlooking the Waterfront and alongside the new August House.

46 years of being a partner in Malaysia and Sarawak still has kept it’s identity. Bahasa Malaysia is spoken alongside Sarawakian Malay, Iban, Bidayuh and Hokkien. It is a known fact that Chinese shop-owners plying their trade to the locals can often time be heard speaking Malay, Iban or Bidayuh. This is typical Sarawak where communal respect is very much woven into the fabric of living in Sarawak.

16th September came and gone and this year it was remembered for all the wrong reasons. Focused for political matters and not for the fact it was the day a nation was born. It is the birthdate for Malaysia and it should be commemorated as such. Give credit to the ordinary Sarawakian who is not mindful of the the politics of the day but instead only knows the simple fact, that on the 16th of September our fore fathers decided that for the interest of all communities living in Sarawak, we should join Sabah, Singapore and the Malay Peninsula to form Malaysia. It was a wise and good decision.

Hopefully, due credit will be accorded for the 16th of September in the coming years as we all mature towards a unified Malaysia.

p/s: My article that came out on MySinChew.com and Malaysia-Today.net

A weird week in Malaysian governance.

2008-09-19T10:12:00.000+08:00

I had network problems from where I normally connect to blog and this has been a point of frustration to me. But that should not keep a good blogger down, so I have found another location where access to my blog is permitted. It seems, the organization I work for has been running some filtering software across the network with some rather queer results. My workplace seems to be practicing selective blocking where Blogger.Com seems to be unaccessible yet just down the hall at another location, access is super-fast. So its a mystery to me, much like the events of the pass week in Malaysia.

16th September came and went and all we have is a bunch of politicians calling each other liars and the sorts. At the rate we are going, all the members of parliament are liars. Since the 12th General Election, the country has been caught in a stalemate and I think the tortoise overtook the rabbit in the race to normalcy. Our economy is headed for hard times as mentioned by Tun Mahathir in his latest posting on Chedet.Com and I agree with him. I have stop watching local news and instead prefer that abomination of networks - CNN. Yet, at least I can get an almost non-bias look at what's happening in the work unlike the spin on our local main stream media.

The American's having a bad financial crisis with several bail-outs initiated by the government. Much like what happened in Malaysia in 1997 but at a larger scale. A scale enough to send the world into the dumps with Malaysia included. We are heading for a time of high inflation rates as already reported sometime in August which lead to the lowering of the fuel prices in time for the Permatang Pauh by-election. Still, I hope there will be another reduction before the Raya celebrations as the price of crude has dropped below USD100 per barrel.

Abdullah Badawi has swapped portfolios with Najib Razak. Now, Najib has to contend with the headache of reviving a sagging economy. I agree with Tun Mahathir's opinion that if anything goes wrong with the economy at this time, Najib would be blamed. Smart move by Abdullah Badawi and as expected his friends in UMNO all lauded the move as wise or a step up for the transition plan to have Najib Razak as Prime Minister by July 2010. Typical UMNO stuff. Divert attention from the root cause of all our problems. In short Abdullah Badawi needs to take responsibility (Japan style) and resign. Call for fresh elections and get the people to choose who they want in charge. Mind you, not many people are keen on Najib Razak.

Anwar Ibrahim needs to get his act together. If he wants to seriously make a charge to Putra Jaya then do it or wait till the 13th General Election. Honestly, just play the waiting game. Anwar has nothing to lose, since by then the people's trust in Barisan Nasional would have gone south and anything either than BN would be good enough for Malaysia. In the pass few years, BN has really been wrong-footed by their own people. They have no-one else to blame except themselves for all the problems hitting Malaysia now. Anwar should just sit back and watch the show. Maybe whisper a little here and there, point out some funny dealings here and there and just allow BN to implode. Come the 13th General Election and Pakatan Rakyat can safely claim that the rakyat has voted them in.

Yet, if Anwar really wants to claim the government now then push for fresh elections. I'm no politician but I think that is a better move. Get the people's backing and BN would have nothing to say about the matter. The people would have decided and made their voices heard.

RPK and Theresa Kok are still under ISA. In Theresa Kok's case, I find it funny that the police reports were lodge after she was caught under ISA for the very things the police reports were made against. It's as if the whole thing is an after thought. Catch the person first and then settle the procedure later. Catch Theresa Kok and then make police reports base on why she was arrested under ISA. What use is the police investigation now, if she is under ISA which means detention without trial.

It's ironic that the ISA has been compared to the Patriot Act of America by our leaders in Malaysia. Clearly a move to justify the ISA but their comparison is flawed to the max. The Patriot Act's main function is to capture terrorists and to date cannot be used against an American citizen. The ISA is used to capture bloggers, reporters and opposition MPs for stuff that can be charged under the Sedition Act.

So what gives?

Our leaders must get their facts straight and don't simply try to justify when they have no idea what they are talking about.

Yes, it has been a weird week for Malaysia and it will get even weirder in the coming weeks. Things to watch for, reduction of fuel prices, Anwar pushing for a parliament session, UMNO or BN's slandering of Anwar as he deals with his court case, the American financial crisis hitting the Malaysian stock market and more calls for the amendment to the ISA. Something for everyone and the day is still young.

The blame game begins in arrest debacle.

2008-09-15T09:41:00.000+08:00

Now a comedy of shorts has begun.

The government via the statement from the Home Minister is saying that the arrest under ISA against the Sin Chew Reporter, RPK and Theresa Kok was purely the decision of the police. The Home Ministry did not make the decision, it was purely and surely only the police. Now, the BN government ministers have jumped up to point fingers at the ISA, obviously sensing that they can now be seen as champions of the people.

I pity the police. They have been left high and dry and are now living to take the blame.

Political Milage is the name of the game and in times of political trouble, such as now, everyone needs any measure they can obtain. Be it the BN or PR, all politicians need to gain it in order to ensure their own political survival. I pity the jokers in Taipei, they miss the party and instead they themselves have been turned into jesters and pawns for the bigger political game to claim the Malaysian government.

This spate of arrest has created ample opportunity for the rakyat to stand up and be counted. I hope the palace sees the injustice being leveled on the citizens of Malaysia and take action. It would be a slap in the PM's face if the palace where to call him in and give him the riot act and I think they should. A leader needs to take charge and if the PM is unable to maintain control over the actions of the agencies under him, then we all have cause to worry. Because there lies the bigger problem.

The government has lapse into a state of internal chaos. Communication between agencies have broken down and I bet you, the PM doesn't know much of what's going on unless someone tells him. I suggest he starts looking around and making sure his advisors are channelling him the correct information because he has no-one else to blame but himself, if anything goes wrong.

The blame game would continue and the matter of running this country would be lost in a swamp of politics. Who is looking after our economy? Who is looking after the needs of the people? Who are raising the issues close to the people's hearts? How to raise, when all this while the politics in the land has be in a state of near-death? Everyone looking out for their own interest and not of the people.

I pray that all Malaysians remember that Malaysia should NEVER be sacrificed as a pawn in a political game.

The BN government is running scared

2008-09-13T20:23:00.001+08:00

It is amazing to watch the BN government lead by Abdullah Badawi stumble over and over again. The recent exercise in arresting a DAP MP, RPK and a journalist is not going to score points with the populace. At a time when they should be busy building bridges with the very people that have kept them in power, the BN government instead has instilled a sense of dread and fear in them. Who would not be outrage at this spate of arrest?

The US government has called the Malaysian ambassador and Anwar Ibrahim will bring up this matter with Abdullah Badawi. International eyes are now focus on Malaysia for all the wrong reason. The BN government has given more proof that a government lead by Anwar Ibrahim is far credible than them. Anwar Ibrahim does not have to do much, the government lead by Abdullah Badawi will do it for him. Anwar does not have to lead a campaign to point out the misdeeds of the current administration, Abdullah Badawi and company will do for Anwar.

It is a mark of a government that is running scared and confused. Instead of nation building, they instead choose to blow up all form of unity. The people are increasingly loosing trust in the administration. How can we trust them, the reporter that reported on Ahmad Ismail's racist comments is imprisoned, the DAP MP is caught on a charge that has not been investigated and RPK is imprisoned for speaking for the people.

The BN government in arresting them, has done them a favor. These three people (minus one, for the reported was released) will become folk heroes, simple folks who stood up against a government bent on maintaining power through whatever means possible. They are not criminals in the eyes of the people, rather as of today, these three have become heroes. Heroes who dared speak the truth and paid the price for it.

I say, Anwar Ibrahim make swift your promise to take over by 16th September. For the rakyat cry out for justice, for a government that is people-centric and a government for the people not one against the people.

Let September 16th be a reality. Let it be!

The fantasy of Malaysian Unity

2008-09-09T17:00:00.000+08:00

MCA and Gerakan has severed ties with UMNO Penang. Not a shocker considering the aloofness of Ahmad Ismail who called for Gerakan to leave Barisan Nasional and continues to play the racial card. I am surprise no immediate action by UMNO has been imposed on him, instead they have chosen to meet him talk to him about his allege remarks that have fractured the support of the chinese for the Barisan Nasional.

This incident clearly shows the rhetoric of the ruling government when they talk about Malaysian Unity. In fact, such a term is a fantasy. It doesn't exist as long as we have leaders who think they deserve to lead and should lord over the citizens of Malaysia.

May I remind such leaders that the non-Malays are the people who are paying for the wages of government servants. 90% of government servants are Malays and tax money paid by non-Malays are support he livelihood of these government servants. We should instead be thankful that the non-Malays contribute towards nation building.

Ahmad Ismail is both dumb and deaf and horribly ignorant to the role of Chinese in Malaysian nation building. To utter statements that undermine the support of the Chinese community is equivalent to hara-kiri. The Chinese hold the economic pulse of the nation and it through their efforts the Malaysian business scene has prospered and bloom. The rewards are enjoyed by all Malaysians and it has been so for the pass 51 years, Malaysia has been around. The typical Malaysian Chinese know no other home yet this Ahmad Ismail calls them immigrants.

Its a sad thing, for this man, a leader within UMNO, clearly does not know what it means to live in a multi-racial country.

The Barisan Nasional who has held on to governance all this while is now living in its twilight days. Pakatan Rakyat is looking more attractive by the day and I hope 16th September would change everything.

Cut the crap, we're all RACIST!

2008-09-08T14:26:00.000+08:00

Let's not be apologetic. We're all RACIST and it's the truth. 51 years on and Malaysia is still grappling with race issues and its no fault of our own. It's is in fact a collage of problems heap into one and perpetuated by a weak government unable to deal with the tide of transparency hitting the populace.

We have a political system with race-centric parties. We have government policies to "protect" various races from exploitation or from getting too weak. We have ideologies that segregate the haves and the have-nots. So is it any mistake that we all turn out RACIST?

So stop pointing fingers at each other and acknowledge the fact that for 51 years Malaysians have been fed by ideas and policies that promote RACISM. We see it in the politicians who create government policies, we see it in division of education, we see it in the banking systems, we see it in the breakdown of civil servants, we see it in the make-up of the arm forces, we see it in the jigsaw puzzle called the Malaysian economy. RACISM has tainted every strata of Malaysian society.

Ahmad Ismail blames his out-of-context statement on Chinese reporters, Now, at least two(2) Chinese reporters have come forward to say he did say those words. Yet Ahmad Ismail refuses to apologist and he's backed up by the Penang UMNO members, and this goes against the opinion of his boss, Abdullah Badawi, who is himself (the PM) from Penang. What gives?

Everyone is crying bloody RACISM yet no-one is owning up to their mistakes. The government has been at naught in tackling this matter because to do so would mean they are siding with the Chinese and Indians and justifying the notion that they have been practicing RACISM all this while.

Scrap all RACE base parties and just setup a two(2) party system. GOVERNMENT and OPPOSITION. The majority wins the label of GOVERNMENT and the minority the label OPPOSITION. Let the politicians play their game, jump or not jump is totally up to them AS LONG AS the people get what they want. Low cost living, high level of education for our children and the opportunity to fulfill a comfortable life. Equal opportunity by merit. The harder we work, the better the opportunity to gain monetary rewards. No hint of RACISM, no hint of FAVORITISM. Instead, everyone living the MALAYSIAN DREAM.

Damage control BN style - send the MPs away.

2008-09-08T12:50:00.000+08:00

The recent actions by the Backbenchers club to organize a study trip to either China or Taiwan is interesting. Smack in the month of Ramadan and over-lapping with the 16th of September dead-line set by Anwar Ibrahim for Pakatan Rakyat to take control of government, the government denies its a way to keep BN MPs from jumping ship.

Of course none of the BN lads would say it is a way to keep their members in check, of course it is a mere study trip, of course Anwar Ibrahim's words are not to be trusted. Yet again BN attempts to insult our intelligence.

It is best for BN to just turn the ship into the storm and ride out the winds. Instead, BN is tripping over themselves and that in itself has proven, to many, that this government is wobbling at the seams. Too many actions point in one direction, Anwar Ibrahim is scaring the wits out of them and totally undermining their credibility as a working government.

At best Anwar Ibrahim has kept them distracted from their role as governors of Malaysia's move into the future. Their is a impending economic crisis and fuel related stress on the ordinary Malaysian citizen which needs managing yet our politicians are busy shifting their sampans about they forget the bigger ship needs a captain.

So while our BN MPs run off on a study tour we are left with a question and answer game. Would those MPs left behind would jump ship and the returning BN MPs would come back to a new government come 16th September? Let's see how the plot twist itself.

Anwar Past and Anwar Present

2008-09-05T15:54:00.001+08:00

It is amazing to hear some BN ministers pointing out that when Anwar Ibrahim was the Deputy Prime Minister he failed to fulfill his promises. The latest reminder coming from the Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak, Alfred Jabu who reminded people that Anwar had promised the state funds when he was the DPM and Finance Minister and those promises have gone south. With that argument, Anwar is not to be trusted because he would still promise Sarawak funds and what nots and still not fulfill them.

I am amazed at this reasoning primarily because the failure of Anwar Ibrahim as DPM back then is a failure for Barisan Nasional because Anwar Ibrahim was the DPM under the BN government of the day. Any unfulfilled promised was made within his capacity as DPM for a BN government. Thus, Anwar Ibrahim did not failed but Barisan Nasional did collectively. If those promises were not fulfilled, why was a complaint not launch back then? Why bring up these grouses now?

This seems to be the practice of BN at this juncture of time when all they can do is discredit Anwar Ibrahim. Tell of his failings during his time as DPM yet be blind to the fact that he was (back then) a Barisan Nasional DPM. If he made such glaring mistakes back then, why was it not address there and then? Why wait 10 years to point it out to the populace?

The Anwar Past was Barisan Nasional and the Anwar Present is Pakatan Rakyat. BIG difference. If Anwar failed in the past then Barisan Nasional was the one who failed. Collectively Responsibility? That's a term I heard the PM used some time ago. So BN was collectively responsible for all the failings, Anwar had during his tenure as DPM.

So for those minister's who wish to harp on the failings Anwar had when he was DPM should also know that they too were part of the mistake. They should have been responsible enough to point out those mistakes back then and not use it now for political milage.

Knee-jerk Government

2008-09-04T13:07:00.001+08:00

It is now pretty obvious the current government is one that is knee-jerking it's way. It's reactive in nature and seems to have no proper direction. We now hear that the government would lower the price of fuel before the onset of Aidilfitri. Remember what can be lowered can also be raised and the trend of the government to lower the price at will seems headed for disaster.

Disaster as it would throw the price of goods into a chaotic frenzy. It takes time for prices of goods to adjust itself to market forces and the strongest force at the moment is the cost of transportation which is passed on to the consumer to bear. If fuel prices bounce around like a ping-pong ball in a box, the prices of goods would also bounce around like a ping-pong ball. Traders would have a hard time fixing prices for essential goods. Though this may ultimately be good for the consumer whereby they can scout around for the best price, in the long run it may even slow the market down. Uncertainty is the root product of such a volatile market.

When people are uncertain about a situation then they tend to react in fear. With the government being uncertain about the price of fuel and with no clear measure on how they would control the price of essential goods, traders would react in fear. They would price goods at a price that they perceive would blanket them from these mad fluctuations of cost. Some goods may be overpriced and remain overpriced over market price in order to cushion the traders pockets. Fair enough, the traders are entitled to protect themselves.

Would the government react to this?

I think they would. This is after all a knee-jerking government, who doesn't seem to know what's going on and worst still, the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. Gone are the days when Malaysia was a trend setter in Asia. Instead, we now have a government that reacts badly towards whatever situation it gets itself into.

Sure, lower the fuel price in time for the Hari Raya holidays and maybe the price of essential goods would catch on fast enough and everyone would have an affordable raya. If they lower it now, would they raise it again if the price of crude increases?

Ahmad Ismail is the real immigrant.

2008-09-03T09:37:00.000+08:00

Najib Razak apologized for the failings of one Ahmad Ismail's alleged racist comments during the Permatang Pauh is baffling to me. Ahmad Ismail is the one who is suppose to apologize not Najib Razak and for the life of me, why did Najib Razak even agree to apologize on his behalf? Apologizing on behalf merely makes the matter even graver, it gives the impression that BN concurred with Ahmad Ismail on the remarks and is now making a party stand. Or is this because Najib Razak was the one heading the BN campaign in Permatang Pauh and as leader he has to make apology for any misbehavior of his BN campaigners?

But apology aside and the fact I feel the response by the Chinese component parties of BN is akin to throwing a wet towel into the kitchen sink, let's look at the point Ahmad Ismail raised that shot BN's support among the non-Malays out the window.

Ahmad had allegedly called the Chinese pendatang (immigrants) and was also reported to have said that “as the Chinese were only immigrants it was impossible to achieve equal rights amongst races” during a ceramah in Permatang Pauh on Aug 25.

Source: Malaysia-Today.net

The New Oxford American Dictionary defines IMMIGRANT as:

a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country.

Ahmad Ismail's calling Chinese pendatang should not be a surprise because this is the mind-set of those from UMNO who believe Malaysia really means MALAY-sia disregarding the vibrant and colorful history this region has over the millennia. I believe Ahmad has truly forgotten that the Chinese first settled in the Malay Peninsula during the Malacca sultanate with the arrival of the Chinese courtesan Hang Li Po. These were true immigrants in the real sense and their descendants thereafter became citizens of Malacca.

Immigrant status changes with the birth of one's self in a country of residence. One can claim citizenship and be known as a national of the country of birth and thus is no longer an immigrant. For one to call Malaysian-Chinese pendatang (immigrant) is a total farce and also a direct attack on one's right to citizenship in one's country of birth.

The same goes for Malaysian Indians. Indian influences has been prevalent in South East Asia since the dawn of sea travel. In fact the influences are still around until today. It was the flight of one Sumateran prince from a Hindu empire that sparked the beginnings of the Malacca sultanate and thus the beginnings of the Malay states. Indians born on Malaysian soil are not immigrants, they are citizens of the land.

For Ahmad Ismail to utter such labels to the Chinese is mere stupidity and arrogance on his part and the party he represents. Let's push this a little further.

On the 16th of September, Sarawak, Sabah and Singapore along with the Malay States formed Malaysia. It is a partnership in which Singapore pulled out of and subsequently is who they are today. Sarawak and Sabah can also do the same, if they wanted to. So in actual fact, this partnership is much like city-states forming the Greek Empire of old. All can run independently but all are united in defending a singular nation.

Now, if Ahmad Ismail were to step foot into Sarawak, he can be considered an immigrant, if he chooses to stay permanently in Sarawak. But a piece of paper says he is a citizen of Malaysia so we have to accept him. Citizenship of Malaysia entitles him to privileges only citizen of Malaysia can have so he is free to practice his rights as a Malaysian in Sarawak even-though in truth he is an immigrant. These rights of passage are part of the agreement Sarawak and Sabah had with the Peninsula at the forming of Malaysia.

I suggest Ahmad Ismail come to Sarawak and live here a few years and maybe he'll learn from us Sarawakians on how to live with those of different ethnic backgrounds. I have Chinese friends who speak my mother tongue, we have Sarawakian Malays sitting together with Sarawakian Chinese and Sarawakian Indian friends talking over tea. We have Ibans, Bidayuh, Lun Bawang, Melanau, Kenyah, Penans and a host of other groups living together and never have we ever thought of the issue of immigrants. Only in recently has this whole issue of immigrants really played on our minds.

We are bothered by UMNO race politics as they advocate a supreme race doctrine that goes against everything the people of Sarawak hold to. We live in unity. It is all we need.

Ahmad Ismail and UMNO, know one thing. In the not so distant past we all were immigrants to this land. Yet in Malaysia we were granted citizenship and that makes us CITIZENS not immigrants regardless of our creed, religion or backgrounds.

Leaping Politicians - it's the norm not the exception

2008-09-02T11:46:00.000+08:00

A lot has been said about leaping politicians or to put it crudely - frogs; in the parliament. As the 16th of September draws near, suspicion clouds the August house as MPs eye each other wondering who would jump ship first. It is amazing that Anwar Ibrahim has been able to do what no other man has been able to do in the 51 years Malaysia has been independent - hold the nation hostage.

Anwar Ibrahim is holding the government hostage and whether they want to acknowledge it or not, Anwar is in-directly controlling their every move. He has the Barisan Nasional running scared as evident in the need for BN MPs to sign a letter pledging their support for Abdullah Badawi, a pledge the Sabah MPs are unwilling to sign.

Shouldn't the MPs loyalty be towards the people that voted him and not to a singular person (the PM)? Why sign a pledge unless you are really scared of loosing these MPs to the Pakatan Rakyat side. Aren't the MPs in the August house matured enough to make their own minds who they want to support for the good of their voters?

Yes, Anwar Ibrahim has the BN running scared and holding hostage the whole government. The BN government is reacting to Anwar Ibrahim's every move, something which will spell doom for them for Anwar can easily maneuver them which ever way he wants to.

As for leaping politicians, it's the norm and not the exception. A politician would always chose the path of least resistance so where he stands clearly is up to him. If BN MPs leap over to the Pakatan Rakyat side than by right they can also leap back if they wanted to. Can we ever stop one from leaping? For the BN to say that all this is unethical then BN should also look at their checkered past where they too have accommodated politicians who leaped from the opposition into their camp and they was not much furore over that. Only when it would hurt BN, would BN erupt into an emotional fit. Desperately trying hard to protect their interests.

Let the politicians leap, let them join whoever they want. It is time for the MPs to be loyal to their real masters. The real masters of the MPs are the people and the people are suffering under the mis-management of the BN government. Eliminate race politics and parties and allow the MPs to affiliate themselves with whatever entity that promotes a one Malaysia.

You see, regardless of whoever becomes government, development will still be given out. It is a given. But the sense of fairness, equality and needs met has to be earn and this cannot be bought with sweets in the form of a "friendly" budget. People need to see leadership in practice not mere promises and sleepy reactions.

So let the politicians leap as much as they want because all this while that's what the politicians been doing. Leaping about gathering personal wealth at the expense of the people who voted them in.

Budget 2009 - will we get what we want?

2008-08-29T14:57:00.000+08:00

All I want is for things to be cheaper and life a little easier. Is that too much to ask for? But this government is bent on spending my tax-money on stuff, which makes no sense. Why not plow all the tax money into lowering the cost of fuel? Wait, if they do that then there will be no left-overs for some cronies to eat from. Our tax money is being used to feed the jokers whom lead government.

Forget the one month bonus, it will help nothing. Instead, increase the basic pay or introduce minimum wage. Up the salary scale and this will help the fix income earners in the long run. Up-lifting the lives of 1.2 million civil servants would spill over to the private sector. Increasing the income of civil servants would pump money back into the market, moving local and generating business for local businessmen. It would also be a relief for banks who suffer when money lies stagnant in bank accounts.

All I ask for is to have more money in my pocket and it should be channelled in directly. Not via rebates or hand-outs but directly through tax-cuts, low cost of living or lower contributions to the EPF. It is all I want, more money and I believe all Malaysians want this yet the government has been so caught up in itself, it has failed to see this.

Don't expect much from the Budget for 2009. I suspect it would just be a reactive budget. Trying to fix fires yet not moving anything forward.

Malaysian bloggers vs the BN government.

2008-08-29T11:50:00.000+08:00

Malaysia-Today has taken the bullet from the BN government, yet you can't keep a good man down so Raja Petra has moved it to another location that by-passes the government-controlled-kow-towing ISPs. Is Malaysiakini going to be next? Or will bloggers fall like dominoes in the wake of a cyber "Operation Lalang"?

Looking at the parliament, we now have more active bloggers joining it. Anwar Ibrahim has a blog, Lim Kit Siang has been blogging for ages, Jeff Ooi, Tony Pua and a host of other MPs have a presence on the internet. Forget the BN lame attempt at joining the blogosphere since they are hesitant at being labeled as monkeys. A term the BN government used against bloggers before the 12th General Election.

But the BN government lost because of the monkeys in a lawless jungle.

So now the BN government is bent on sending these monkeys the way of the Dodo. Malaysian jails will not be housing the robbers, rapist or murderers but bloggers. Yes, the robbers, rapists and murderers will be plying their trade on the Malaysian streets while the police round up the bloggers and dump them into crowed prisons. This is the state of the Malaysian BN government now, paranoid at the prospect of loosing their grip on power and resolving to putting their critics into prison.

Stupid and ridiculous because there is no way for the BN government to stop bloggers. It is akin to cutting telephone lines and telling people to resort to using carrier pigeons for their messaging needs. Remember, it was the government under Tun Mahathir that opened up Malaysia to the Internet and now the government after Tun Mahathir is resorting to clamp it down. There is really something wrong in the minds of our ministers who agree that this is the best course of action to take in the wake of their defeat at Permatang Pauh.

Sore losers!

I say, go ahead. Clamp down on bloggers and independent news providers or the alternative media. Go ahead, round them up, put them into prison or slap court charges against them. Go ahead and see what would happen. The people will take to the streets to demand justice, the people would un-subscribe from using the services of ISPs who kow-tow to BN government pressure, the people would stop listening to government propaganda channels such as RTM and TV3. The people would take matters into the own hands and come 13th General Election, the BN government would be relegated to a sentence in our history books. Heck, it could happen as early as 16th September if Anwar Ibrahim follows through with his plan.

I say, BN government go ahead with the clamp down and you will see a fight between Malaysian Bloggers and you. The winner has been decided, the results were seen during the 12th General Elections. Bloggers won and pushed your 2/3 majority out of the window, bloggers exposed your wrong doings, bloggers shifted the mind-set of the people. Bloggers can do it under the pressure of everything the BN government threw at them and who says bloggers cannot survive a clampdown now?

And may I suggest that they also investigate the comments and postings on BN blogs or blogs by BN MPs because they also have seditious and "hot" issues. Look at the WHOLE Malaysian blogging community, not just the opposition blogs. Some of the most racist comments are found on pro-UMNO blogs. Why aren't they investigated and brought to court? You tell me.

Friend or Foe? Abdullah Badawi and Anwar Ibrahim

2008-08-28T16:46:00.001+08:00

It would be interesting to see the body language of these two tomorrow when Abdullah Badawi deliver the budget speech. Primarily because both Abdullah Badawi and Anwar Ibrahim are from the same era. Both have served under Tun Mahathir and are no strangers to each to other. They may defer on policy but the two once shared the same camp together during Tun Mahathir's time. No doubt there is no ill blood between them as seen by Anwar's statement in his first press conference after being sworn in as a MP this morning.

Tomorrow would be doubly interesting as Anwar Ibrahim is no stranger to budgeting, Malaysian government style. He was the former finance minister before his in-famous sacking by Tun Mahathir so he would be keenly listening to what Abdullah Badawi's government can offer the people of Malaysia for the coming year.

Anwar Ibrahim is also a better orator compared to Abdullah Badawi and maybe better than anyone else in the house. Anwar is capable of tearing apart the arguments thrown at the opposition by the BN MPs. It would be interesting to see what he has to say about the budget. I am sure Abdullah Badawi would be feeling quite uncomfortable having Anwar Ibrahim stare down at him in the house.

It would be interesting. Anwar may still see Abdullah as a friend outside of politics and I think the respect is mutual but what would the other BN MPs think? I am sure some would feel a bit guilty for slandering Anwar when he was outside of parliament, easy to do when Anwar was at a distance. Now, Anwar sits under the same roof as they do and facing up to the man would be something that would rile them. Shame on them!

It will be interesting indeed. Anwar and Abdullah Badawi under the same roof, staring at each other. I wonder if they would share a round of tea together?

Malaysian Government's censorship of the Internet.

2008-08-28T12:32:00.000+08:00

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission's (MCMC) order to all the 21 ISPs to block Malaysia-Today.net is really a throw back to the stone age. Raja Petra Kamaruddin has vowed to fight this injustice and bring MCMC along for the ride.

Clearly there is now a move to censor the Internet in Malaysia. Main Stream Media (MSM) is so controlled, that only news favoring the current BN government is allowed while the rest is covered over, Malaysians have turn to alternative media especially portals and blogs for news. It is no secret that such bias reporting cost the BN dearly during the previous election. Yet they still did not learn their lesson, repeating it again in Permatang Pauh. Now, the BN government is taking it a step further - control of the Internet.

Word is out, that sooner or later; such control will also be extended to the blogosphere. Blogs deemed "un-appropriate" would be blocked on the ISP level. This goes against everything the MCMC stand for and it is obvious the directive came from the top ranks of the Malaysian BN government.

This does not augur well for Malaysia. Too much forced control would ultimately create chaos and the people of Malaysia are not going to let that happen any time soon. The government seems bent on dictating what we see, hear or know and this overbearing attitude towards the general citizen merely shows how the BN government view it's citizens. We are only good when we vote for BN. Outside of that, we are opposition. Any form of opposition is automatically deemed bad or evil and requires banishment or censorship.

MCMC please do not insult our intelligence. The citizens of Malaysia are wise enough to determine what they can read and comment on. And a little criticism is good for a nation. Too much sugar is never a good thing, we all need a bit of bitterness too.

What next Anwar Ibrahim?

2008-08-27T18:13:00.001+08:00

CONGRATULATIONS to Anwar Ibrahim. Though I'm not so great a fan of this fella but anyone other than an UMNO guy is a better guy to me right now. So now, what next Anwar Ibrahim?

Will you make good your promise for September 16th?

Why is Abdullah Badawi so silent in the face of this defeat for UMNO? Only Najib Razak has issued a mild statement. What happened to the other BN ministers that came down on mass to speak out against Anwar Ibrahim, where are their voices now?

So what next?

PERMATANG PAUH for the people.

2008-08-26T16:29:00.001+08:00

It's nearing the end of polling for the people of Permatang Pauh and I feel it in my bones. Unless, Barisan Nasional puils off the most dirtiest of stunts; Anwar Ibrahim has this in the bag. Mine you, BN can still win if they play real dirty because all indications seem to point Anwar Ibrahim's way.

I'm not an out and out supporter of Anwar Ibrahim because I do have my reservations but I'm not a fan of the current establishment either. But I am on for the people and the people are fed-up with the way this country is being managed. The current establishment is cracking up along the seams and the biggest losers are the people. The ones running this country can do just that..run. Run away from being responsible leaders. Run away from the main reason the people voted them in and simple tell us what to do when they are no better (if not worst) than us.

Najib Razak said the stupidest thing the other day. Reminding the people to be thankful to BN for running this country. Hello! BN should be thankful to the people for keeping them around while they rob the country. We are the reason these jokers are in parliament. We are the reason these fellas have a wage to take home every week. We are the reasons these fellas can do business whether legal or illegal. We are the reasons these fellas exist in the higher strata of society.

What we can give, we can take back and I for one want the BN to be taken to task. Forget forming a new government, Pakatan Rakyat may not be ready for it, but the day will come when BN themselves would implode and in turn sit on the opposition side while the people take back control and run this country.

13 reasons why BN can win Permatang Pauh.

2008-08-25T13:18:00.001+08:00

BN has a fighting chance to win Permatang Pauh for very simple reasons:

Pakatan Rakyat got lazy and the people of Permatang Pauh can't see beyond the present day,

RM200 is good enough to get my vote for BN, cause I can buy groceries and drink coffee after that,

EVERYTHING Najib Razak promised for the Chinese and Indians will be fulfilled including giving scrap metal licenses,

I believed everything EZAM said about Anwar, not withstanding the fact he really bitter he didn't get all he wanted in BN,

I believed everything SAIFUL swore about even when the whole swearing ceremony is turning out to be a scam,

I totally believe that BN has got it's act together after the 12th General Election and we're going to see better days,

The IMMEDIATE fuel decrease had nothing to do with Permatang Pauh,

The Government will not give a BONUS to the 1.2 million civil servant if Anwar wins, even when civil servants are suppose to serve the CURRENT government and not BN,

EVERYTHING the main stream media said about Permatang Pauh was true even though Khairy Jamaluddin has a holding stack in Media Prima which has a hand in ALL main stream media you get on television,

All the BN ceramah was well attended which means people of Permatang Pauh are throwing their support behind BN,

The voters of Permatang Pauh DO NOT MIND waiting another 5 years until the 13th General election when they'll hear the same promises BN promised them for the by-election,

Permatang Pauh voters DO NOT LIKE change, so staying with the status quo would mean things would get better,

and Permatang Pauh voters just DO NOT LIKE Anwar Ibrahim.

So you think you have more reasons?

BN propaganda hitting them in their own faces in Permatang Pauh

2008-08-22T11:28:00.001+08:00

It's interesting to see that as we are nearing the Permatang Pauh by-election polling day, the amount of pro-BN propaganda churned out by the main stream media and BN ministers has hit a level that skims the bottom of the barrel of human decency.

BN has attacked Anwar Ibrahim both directly and indirectly. Character assassination plots extend further than just the sodomy charges, now there is even a charge that Anwar Ibrahim acted inappropriately towards a datuk's wife. On top of all that, Anwar Ibrahim's pass performance in government is back under the spotlight.

It is ironic why BN never point to the fact that whatever Anwar Ibrahim put into place when he was a BN minister was fully endorsed by the BN administration at that time. It was not a decision, solely, made by one man but a decision made by the establishment; so pining the responsibility on only Anwar Ibrahim is wrong all together.

In-direct action against Pakatan Rakyat has also intensified during the days leading up to and also during the campaign period for Permatang Pauh. The arrest of the Perak Keadilan Exco Members screams bloody "political conspiracy", a charge Najib Razak denied. But the timing of all these things point sole to the under-hand tactics employed by BN to build perception of the negative kind towards Anwar Ibrahim and also towards Pakatan Rakyat. Old tactics are employed with the hope of turning the voters towards their UMNO candidate.

But BN will fail in this regards. These tactics may have worked in the past but not anymore. The voters that stepped out to vote during the 12th General Election for Permatang Pauh are still the same who would vote on the 26th August 2008. The angry sentiments of the voters towards BN are still fresh and these are the sentiments that would guide voters to vote come 26th August 2008. With the blatant attacks by BN, both directly and in-directly towards Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Rakyat, the voting public in Permatang Pauh feel their intelligence insulted. All that is portrayed in main-stream-media about the resounding support BN is getting from the Permatang Pauh people does not tell the real story.

PAS was quick to note, the people you see in those pro-government news reports are party workers. The general public's turn out is minimal. The support for Anwar Ibrahim is huge and it does not get reported in main stream media. Such bias reporting by main stream media (an old BN tactic) is actually helping the Pakatan Rakyat's cause.

Having Khairy Jamaluddin (KJ) screaming his head off, calling for Anwar to take the oath (much like Saiful did) to prove his innocence is not going to help either. KJ himself has much to answer, over his role in the whole sodomy debacle especially when he had fore-hand news about Anwar's arrest even before the rest of parliament knew about it. Having KJ present in Permatang Pauh would only aggravate the situation because he is really not that popular among the populace who see him as merely getting where he is by virtue of being the Prime Minister's son-in-law. As Kit Siang pointed out, KJ is the richest unemployed man in Malaysia. As member of parliament, KJ is neither here or there, making lots of noise but little to show for.

Najib giving out the RM 300,000 cheque to Lee Chong Wei in Permatang Pauh has not helped anything at all. It merely shows the blatant abuse of power practiced by BN all this while, which the public is very much aware of now. Najib could have presented the cheque in Kuala Lumpur rather than in Permatang Pauh.

So why fly Chong Wei to Permatang Pauh? Propaganda stunt and it was such acts that irked the people during the 12th General Election. The BN never learnt their lessons. The people are not interested in BN's show of power or supremacy, instead they just want a leader who would meet their needs. Not just show or tell them what to do but actually get their hands dirty are really bring about change in Permatang Pauh.

The BN propaganda machine has got it all wrong. Discrediting Anwar Ibrahim in order to gather the Malay votes, pumping funds towards the Chinese and Indian communities and scare tactics in places outside of Permatang Pauh will not do any good for them. The general public has wised up to everything BN has to offer. The blatant abuse of power on all levels of the government is glaring and no amount of bias reporting by main stream media can cover it up. The misdeeds of the BN politicians that have gone unpunished all this while is heavy on people's mind.

All the calls for Anwar to swear his innocence in the sodomy charge should by right be balanced out by calls for Najib to swear his innocence in the Altantuya's case or KJ's to swear his non-involvement in the running of the country by proxy.

Najib was right to say that everything they do now is considered political conspiracy because the rakyat is also looking at your pass deeds not just merely what you are doing now and it is not just limited to things in Permatang Pauh but to everything that the BN government is doing.

Permatang Pauh is going to be more than just a lost of a parliamentary seat for BN. A lost in Permatang Pauh would further erode every inch of credibility BN has as an institution that governs this country.

Permatang Pauh has cemented further the resentment the rakyat has towards BN and this would only translate towards more votes for Anwar Ibrahim.

The Mud slinging has begun - so Malaysian politics.

2008-08-21T13:48:00.001+08:00

Reports from Malaysiakini indicate that the mud-slinging among the candidates for the Permatang Pauh election have begun. Yup, character assassinations are the norm in Malaysian politics. Any and everything can and will be used against you in the public court of opinion. And in truth, the candidates would be voted in on just that - public opinion. Don't you think so?

Everyone has an opinion about someone else and everyone has something to scream about. So the one who can grab the greater crowd of opinion-guided-voters win even if they don't have a track record to show for.

So when the "X" is placed on the ballot paper it will be largely base on impressions, opinions and perceptions. All the voters would know would just be what they have heard. Strange but voter would be voting in someone they may not have seen in action. It's interesting to note (if Malaysiakini is to be believed) that even Anwar Ibrahim is seen as a candidate who doesn't meet his people, especially to those in Permatang Pauh. Instead, some prefer Wan Azizah because she goes down to see her people.

Sometimes it is better to be seen and not heard.

So mud slinging and everything is normal and believe me, when the candidate does not perform; we only have ourselves to fault.

Politics of service for the people

2008-08-21T10:35:00.001+08:00

Reading through some of the news reports, we can get a good picture of what the people of Permatang Pauh expect from their elected representative in Parliament. The needs are simple, they want someone who can walk the talk and not merely hand out sweets during the campaign period.

I am skeptical of whatever the Barisan Nasional has promised especially to the Chinese and Indian communities in Permatang Pauh. Primarily because BN do not have a good track record of fulfilling their promises in places not represented by their own. Look at how the federal government (BN lead) handled their affairs for Penang in general.

So why would Permatang Pauh be any different than the rest of Penang? If BN wants to be "nice" to those in Permatang Pauh then they should be nice to the rest of Penang. Don't you think so? It makes perfect sense, if BN is really mesra rakyat (as they claim) than BN should be benevolent towards all the states they do not control. They should rise above all the politics and treat everyone as Malaysians even if they voted for the opposition.

But this is not the case. So would Permatang Pauh be a different thing all together after polling day?

All the people want in Permatang Pauh is someone who would come to their level and meet their needs. They want development, they want a better life for themselves and their children, they want less talk and more actions and frankly, they don't really care about all the politics of the day. All the dirt flinging going about does not matter to simple folks who want a chance at a better life.

Come polling day, Permatang Pauh residents will vote and whoever they vote into parliament must fulfill their promises. Be it Pakatan or BN. Promises must be worked out and given to the people. All the funds, allocated (as promised) must reach the people because that is what they need. This is what real politics is about - service to the people and only the people because it was the people who allowed these characters to become politicians. It is the people who pay taxes so that the politics of the day can use them for the betterment of the people.

But if these promises by these politicians are merely spoken as "sugar" for the campaign trail then I suggest come next election, Permatang Pauh vote in a farmer or rubber tapper or construction worker from their area who would serve his people.

Fulfill your promises and serve the people.

Hey Najib! Only now do you remember the Chinese and Indians?

2008-08-20T16:44:00.001+08:00

This is the state of our government when come election time, they suddenly remember their voters. Come on, don't tell me all this while Najib Razak forgot that in Permatang Pauh there were Chinese and Indian Malaysians? Dishing out RM500,000 for the Chinese and scrapping scrap metal licenses for the Indians would change the fact the BN government forgot about these Malaysians? Or would such promises remain promises cause BN has the tendency to withdraw their election promises should it not be in their favor.

But that's the truth of the matter isn't it? BN forgot about these Malaysians. They FORGOT that these Malaysians also need the same support every other citizen deserves. Or is it because all this while Permatang Pauh has been in the hands of the opposition and giving aid to the enemies camp is really very un-UMNO like. Too bad, UMNO never read Sun Tzu's - The Art of War where it is prudent to be favorable towards the enemies army so you can win them over. The BN government should have done this in their time of plenty. To support the enemies camp, to show a benevolent spirit when dealing with people even those considered the enemy.

Offering such sweets in the time of war would only be a slap in the face of Chinese and Indian Malaysians in Permatang Pauh. It is in the time outside of elections that they should have been remembered. It was during those times before the elections, where these people needed aid for their children, for their schools and their businesses.

Najib Razak and all BN parliamentarians, remember it was the simple Malaysian who voted you all in. When we put that mark on the ballot paper, it did not show our race nor religion but a choice. We did not asked to be discriminated but you all choose to separate development based on our race and religion. So now you want to sugar up to the same people you discriminate?

Please, do not insult our (the Rakyat's) intelligence.

Avril Lavinge not good enough for Malaysia

2008-08-20T14:50:00.001+08:00

I listen to a wide variety of music and personally in Malaysia we do have a lack of support and opportunity for the building up of local talent. It's even more depressing when international talents are barred from performing in Malaysia. The latest case being international pop star Avril Lavinge. At first there was a go ahead given for the concert and then due to protest from some quarters, it was eventually cancelled.

Several questions come to mind.

Firstly, if it was approved in the first place, shouldn't that mean it had passed all the requirements set by the Malaysian government? Instead, we have third party bodies protesting it on the grounds, it would bring about decadence among the youth of Malaysia. Heck, the youth are already listening to her music and it's being played over Malaysian radio, so why the protest? They say she is not "good" enough for the Malaysian public. Obviously, pointing towards her image rather than her talent. But showbiz is showbiz and the image does not necessarily reflect the true personality or character of a person.

Secondly, does Malaysian have a moral police? Meaning, it seems certain groups are acting as moral police who determines what I see or hear. To me Avril is mild compared to some of the local acts I see around me. Or does the image of a young woman, in full rock gear not to mention the fact she is also a mother, singing on stage strikes fear in the protesting groups? What gives?

Music is neutral, the rest is open to interpretation.

So I find it pretty stupid that my choices are decided by a group of people whom I have not entrusted in making those "moral" decisions. It is indeed a sad state for the Malaysian entertainment industry.

The Fear of Permatang Pauh

2008-08-20T12:21:00.001+08:00

All eyes are on Permatang Pauh and rightly so as Barisan Nasional (BN) goes into election mode and dishes out the norm. The Deputy Prime Minister, Najib Razak, has given out aid to the Indian community and has made calls for non-Malays to throw their support behind their UMNO candidate. Fat chance, hasn't Najib learnt anything from the previous election? Non-Malays would rather vote PAS than UMNO.

Abdullah Badawi's government are darn serious in making sure they cut the winning majority votes for Anwar Ibrahim. BN knows that it will lose, the point now is by how much? A small majority lost would show the level of support Anwar Ibrahim has and it would send a signal to the whole country on his standing as a popular leader. A huge majority may spell doom for Abdullah Badawi's government as the writing would be on the wall for the longevity of his stay as Prime Minister of Malaysia.

The results for Permatang Pauh is something UMNO fears and knows would determine the future for their shaky party. Already there is talk (as reported by Malaysiakini) that 13 Sabah MPs would join Pakatan Rakyat if Anwar wins. Najib Razak has denied this claim but in Malaysia denials normally point to the fact that there is truth in the claim.

The Rule of Opposites.

If the government say the economy is well, it means it is not; the government denies the sodomy conspiracy against Anwar, it merely means there is a conspiracy and so on, so forth.

So when the government said that Permatang Pauh would not put a dent in their standings, they were actually saying otherwise. It is pretty clear, UMNO would use any means possible to split the voters. To send a clear message to Pakatan Rakyat that support for them is very much, still strong. So UMNO is in fear of Permatang Pauh and such fears will be realized come voting day which falls on the 26th August 2008.

By whatever means possible - Religious versus Civil Court

2008-08-19T12:28:00.001+08:00

The Malaysian law clearly states that sodomy is a crime and that is the law Anwar Ibrahim is being charge with. It is a charge for consensual sex between two of the same gender. Now, if the act was forced upon Saiful then why not just charge Anwar with rape? If it's consensual sex then why not charge Saiful too? Isn't that the letter of the law and Malaysia does pride itself as being a nation that has laws, if not why bother telling America off when it commented on the events in Malaysia?

Still, why bother swearing on the Quran when there is no real provision for it (pertaining to sodomy) in the Syariah courts? And may I point out (I'm no expert) that producing four(4) witnesses is used in a case of adultery or rape. Now, sodomy is different (if you go literally), so does this mean in Syariah law sodomy amounts to rape and adultery? Saiful would need to produce four(4) witness and not swear on the Quran to prove his innocence because regardless of his swearing on the Quran, he still needs to produce the four(4) witness.

If you want to follow the Syariah way of doing things then better follow ALL the requirements. But then swearing on the Quran IN a mosque is not part of the requirement. So really, what is going on here?

It clearly points to one thing. The distrust, Saiful has for the function of Law.

If this case was as clear cut as it is supposed to be, then the Law would have been sufficient to prove the innocent from the guilty. So far, all we have are drama upon drama and the police seem to be cooking everything as they go along. Saiful made a police report first and by right, the Law takes precedence over all things. The Law swung into action, of course Anwar countered with the apparatus of the Law, while Saiful went into hiding (with aid from the police) and the courts took action. Yet Saiful pulls another stunt by initiating this swearing on holy book thing, obviously an attempt to gain what he wants since the Law was unable to swiftly do what he wanted. So now, which takes precedence - Syariah Law or Civil Law? Is this crime of Sodomy a case for Syariah or Civil courts? If Saiful treated it as a religious matter then he should have reported it to the Syariah court first and allow that court to take it due course. Yet he didn't and the whole thing is a muddle of sorts for me.

This then clearly points to an act of desperation by Saiful. Interestingly, Saiful's father now wants Anwar to follow suit and swear on the Quran that he never did commit Sodomy with Saiful. Again pushing something that is not asked for in Syariah law. Why? Why should Anwar even comply to such a request? Even if Anwar swears his innocence with the Quran in hand, what would it change? Nothing. It merely brings us back to square one - who is telling the truth? It merely points to the fact that someone is lying and the need to prove one's words is tantamount.

Who can prove better their case would win and that needs to be done in a court of Civil Law. Back to that place again, so this whole business of swearing on the Quran amounts to no more than a show of perceived innocence. It is unnecessary to do something that is not asked for by the Syariah Courts neither should statements be made in the public domain, challenging one another to prove one's innocence.

Ironically, I recall some BN ministers calling Anwar to swear by the Quran his innocence. I guess they too are ignorant of the fact that it is something that has no mention in the Quran.

It is sad to see that religion is used as a tool to validate a claim that could have been properly dealt with in the Civil Courts. Religion is used as leverage to twist the results of the Civil Courts to one's liking. If religious court, seemingly seen as higher due to its divine links, proves that Anwar is a sodomite than the Civil Court must follow suit even if the burden of proof say otherwise.

That seems to be Saiful's game.

Religion and Race should not determine Citizenship

2008-08-14T15:05:00.000+08:00

Everyone is entitled to nationality. Everyone is entitled to belong to a country, to be a member of a nation. It is called Citizenship and peek into your passport or onto your IC and you will see that we are all Malaysians. Yet why does reality defer from what is written in law?

All citizens of Malaysia have equal opportunity to succeed in this nation. We all should have the same opportunities to earn a living, to gain an education and to practice our beliefs systems. We all are Malaysians regardless of our background or where we came from because that's what our passports or IC say so. Last I check I was very much Malaysian regardless of the fact I live on in East Malaysia. Thus, it irks me when I read news reports (MSM and Independent) that seem to segregate Malaysians base on race.

"Malay, Bumiputras, Chinese and Indians". Isn't that a common sentence we see in news reports? I am a bumiputra yet not Malay. Does that make me less Malaysian then the Malays? My wife is Chinese and her relatives (cousins) are Indians. On my mother's side we have Malay relatives (via marriage) and all of us get along fine. Do we segregate ourselves when we meet up? Aside from religious practices, we all sit together and chat away like nobodies business because we're family. And family ties cut across race and religion. We're all Malaysian who are bound by ties stronger than race or religion. We're bound by blood and blood ties run deep.

So why do we have so much talk about race and religion yet emphasizing the need for Bangsa Malaysia? In order for Bangsa Malaysia to be a reality, then any talk along the line of race and religion needs to be totally stop both by the politicians and also the press. There should not be any policies that seek to uplift a particular race or religion instead policies should be broad reaching, sheltering all Malaysians regardless of creed or religion.

Talk about being unable to compete should be abolished. After 50 years, all Malaysians should be able to compete on equal footing or else until when must help be given in order for one's race or religion to be up to par.

Abolish all mention of race and religion in our official documents. It is silly to fill in a form that asks for your race and religion. Why? What significance would that information be when filling in a bank form? Would my race and religion determined whether I get the bank loan or be able to borrow a book at the local library?

Abolish all quota systems. Why offer quotas to the majority group? Why not offer quota to the minority group because they are the ones who need it the most. Quota systems help out the minority groups not the majority yet in Malaysia the reverse is practiced.

Evict politicians who are career politicians. They have no qualms about enriching themselves. Politicians work for the people and not the other way round. They serve us because we put them into office. We were the ones who entrusted them with the responsibility to look after us.

Give Malaysians the opportunity to make a living in this fair country and you will see Malaysia prosper. Allow all Malaysians the freedom to express themselves and to practice their beliefs. Teach respect for one another rather than a doctrine of superiority and you will see a society that is mature and capable of living with one another. Enough of talking about tolerance but instead teach understanding and accepting ones differences. Then truly, Malaysia would be truly Malaysian.

There is no Freedom in Malaysia

2008-08-13T11:21:00.000+08:00

It seems rather high-handed when the Home Ministry publication control and Al-Quran division deemed it upcoming editorial on Permatang Pauh outside the context of the publication's permit. The mere mention of Permatang Pauh has sent shivers up the Home Ministry and they have thrown their weight onto the Herald. The ironic thing is, the Home Ministry has yet to read or see the editorial according to the Herald's editor, Father Lawrence. Furthermore, according to Father Lawrence, the editorial is asking Christians to pray for a just and fair by-election.

What's wrong with praying for events affecting the country? And why jump the gun?

It shows that the BN government is getting jittery and they are going out of their way to maintain control over an explosive situation.

Suppressing the Herald, in the said manner, is in itself bad for Malaysia. Would the Home Ministry act the same if the editorial was in favor of the BN government? Would they still argue along the line the the publication should only talk about religious matters and not political matters if the Herald wrote about BN?

Is there fear that a small publication with a reach of 12,000 could have an impact on the by-election?

It is a mockery of freedom, when the Home Ministry quench news reporting the way they do here. It is a subtle form of blackmail. Forcing publications to write according to what is favorable to the current BN government. But all is not lost, by restricting permits in such manner, publications are force to move to alternative media outlets such as portals and blogs to have their views aired.

Main Stream Media (MSM) have become mere apparatus of the ruling government to spread their propaganda whereas alternative media has become the voice of the common man/woman. It will be in cyberspace where Malaysians can truly be free to express themselves and this cannot be controlled.

The Home Ministry needs to wise up and understand that in the Malaysia of today, religion and governance are so intertwined there is no separation from each other. If the Herald wishes to comment on an upcoming by-election, than let them comment because there is nothing wrong there, for any Islamic publication would comment about it sooner-or-later, so would action be taken against them too? I don't think so.

Remember, this government practices Double Standards.

A Government that Practices Double Standard.

2008-08-12T10:24:00.000+08:00

The recent Bar Council Open Forum to discuss the plight of Muslim converts has drawn it's fair share of comments from both sides of the political spectrum in Malaysia. The BN government (as always) oppose any kind of discussion that would under-mine the religious equilibrium in Malaysia while the Pakatan Rakyat is going into damage control as one of its own was the head huncho in leading the demonstrators.

Ambiga Sreenevasan (Bar Council Chief) is facing possibility of being a victim of the Internal Security Act:

It was an ironic finale but nevertheless fitting when Bar Council chief found herself answering questions on the possibility of being put away under the Internal Security Act after hosting a forum on one of the country's most oppressive laws

Source: Malaysiakini

It's regrettable that Ambiga is threaten with detention under the ISA when such detention should also be extended to the ones leading the demonstrators. I thought a short while ago, the government was against any form of demonstrations? So why the meek response (from the authorities) to the demonstrators who stormed a peaceful open forum, shouted abuse at the participants and threaten to resort to violence if the forum was not closed?

Why wasn't Kulim-Bandar Baharu MP Zulkifli Noordin (the head huncho) placed under detention for leading an illegal gathering and demonstration? Why go after just one party when there are others who show total disregards to the rule of law and order?

The BN government practices Double Standards and it is rotten to the core, just ask Tun Mahathir. He had a lot to say on his blog on how rotten UMNO is. With a government so rotten to the core, it is almost with certainty that people like Ambiga would be made to pay while jokers like Zulkifli would walk away with a slap on the wrist.

Pak Lah, the so called "Leader for All Malaysians", has issued a statement that he disapprove of sensitive forums. "Don't hold forums relating to race and religion," he says. Yet we all know this is not true. Such forums are held and approve only if it pushes the government agenda and works to the governments advantage. Pak Lah is not a "Leader for All Malaysians", a leader would foster dialogue among his under-lings. He would be fair to all, not under-mining those from his own camp but also being benevolent towards those not of his camp.

Double Standards are a way of life with the BN government. It is what has kept them in power all this while yet I hope Malaysians would wake up from their slumber and make a push to replace the current government with one that practices what it preaches and one that would look after its people. Replace all the career politicians who are merely warming the seats of parliament with those that would really work for the people.

There should be only one standard, meted out to all Malaysians and it should be one where all are treated equal and fair.

The Widening Religious Divide

2008-08-11T15:45:00.000+08:00

Forget tolerance and all that talk about respecting other peoples beliefs. Forget about cultivating open dialogue or free discussions in Malaysia. The people are just not ready for such things. In fact some are just too immature for any form of high level thinking. This includes those in the seat of power in this country. As long as we hide behind the excuse of "tolerance" and "religious sensitivity", Malaysia will forever be in the backwaters.

Discussing religious ideas in an open arena would not damage the religion. The belief system would remain intact and God would remain who He is. The Creator of the Universe has no insecurity issues but those He created seem to be very insecure about their beliefs.

Would open discussion derail the faith of many?

There is a Religious Divide that cuts across Malaysian society and it is eating away at any notion of a Bangsa Malaysia. Religion should be a personal matter and should not be used as a tool to oppress or put down another human being. Too many wars have been fought along religious lines and many more will be fought as long as we have people who think and believe in their superiority over others.

The religious zealots are do not only have an insecurity issue but they also have a superiority complex. This is a human trait especially when one is brought up in an environment where one is taught that he/she is superior to other people of other religion. But such superiority delusions also breed insecurity issues where any perceived "attack" on their religion is taken as a personal attack. And in the case of the disruption of the Bar Council open forum, most of the protestors came to defend their own insecurity issues.

If the religion is strong then it will stand the test of time and words.

I'm sadden by the whole event. It just shows how far we are from real dialogue among people of different religions. When will we ever have the forum to sit down together and discuss the various tenets of our beliefs, not to criticize but to understand and to take the path of being at peace with our neighbors?

Forget tolerance, being tolerant means we put up with one another's quirks and mis-deeds. Instead, lets just point out what bothers us and come to an agreement on how to tackle the issue. Stop sweeping the matter under the rug, using excuses such as "religious sensitivities". Just say it out and lets have a good discussion about it.

Would open discussion make you or me less a Muslim, Christian, Buddhist or Hindu?

The Malaysiakini Google search blockage is bad for Malaysian bloggers.

2008-08-06T07:36:00.000+08:00

It is an open secret among Malaysian bloggers that in order to get yourself listed on the Malaysiakini blog list, you have to have a reference to Malaysiakini. Literally, you must have the word "Malaysiakini" listed within your posting in order for it to be listed. Malaysiakini employs a GOOGLE search which spiders through the net, looking for any mention of the word "Malaysiakini" and then when finding one, it creates a link-back to the article.

It is a good thing to be listed on the list whereby a blogger can see his hit counter strike the thousands within a short time-frame. This in turn creates revenue for the blogger either through ADSENSE or NUFFNANG adverts. Not bad, considering Malaysian bloggers are desperately trying to create reach for their article and make a buck along the way. In leans times like the ones we face now, any form of passive income is welcome and what better way to earn money then by writing? Malaysian bloggers need all the help they can get, for the channels for Malaysian bloggers to make a small profit from their blogs are limited, minute even. Malaysiakini has that ability to help and develop Malaysian bloggers who are on par with their fellow brothers/sisters bloggers of the world.

But in recent months, Malaysiakini has started pruning this list, blocking some articles from being listed. Apparently, some bloggers have wised up and added the word "Malaysiakini" in the title of their posting. This is prime area for the GOOGLE spider bot to search and almost guarantees a listing on the list. What you have then, are articles that have content which does not refer to any Malaysiakini article and borders on personal opinion or advert-post. The primary goal of the said blogger is to merely get listed, the content is secondary.

Like the moniker, a bad apple spoils the whole barrel, this has lead to this pruning exercise by the Malaysiakini administration staff. I can understand why the Malaysiakini administrators are doing this, it is mentioned in their advisory where they use the term "lazy blogging" yet I also see the harm that this form of pruning does.

I can think of two areas where Malaysiakini irks me the most.

(1) It goes against the very independent ideals of Malaysiakini.

Malaysiakini strives to be an independent news portal for Malaysia. In fact, it is the only one of its kind for Malaysia. Yet, the very people that remain independent (bloggers) are restricted from having their articles appearing on their listing. Independent views constitute independent news even if it may be just an opinion because it can be news for some people.

Malaysiakini should encourage citizen reporting rather then mere referencing their own articles. Citizen Reporters are independent and they are not paid to write about the events happening around them. Their views showcase the actual grass-root feelings the people have towards the situations affecting Malaysia. Malaysiakini should open a channel whereby Malaysian bloggers can submit their RSS feeds and get listed on the Malaysiakini portal. Encourage responsible reporting and highlight bloggers who are contributing well. In time the bad apples will rot away and the good ones will remain fresh in the barrel.

(2) Isn't pruning Censorship?
Malaysiakini screams when the Malaysian government wants to introduce any form of control within the Malaysian blogosphere. Yet they practice a form of censorship on their own portal. By removing bloggers whom they deemed not worthy to be listed, Malaysiakini themselves are applying the very measure of control they so fervently speak against. By this act of pruning, Malaysiakini only allows those postings that are favorable to their own ideals and in turn stifle the only channel most Malaysian bloggers have to air their opinion. This very act by Malaysiakini leaves a bad taste in the mouth of this blogger.

My suggestion for Malaysiakini is simple - Malaysiakini should stop pruning the GOOGLE search results and instead encourage Malaysian bloggers to submit their RSS feeds to the portal.

The very nature of a portal works in this manner yet labeling oneself a portal and being a portal are two different things. If Malaysiakini calls itself a PORTAL than it should act like a portal. Portals collect information from different sources. In this case, Malaysiakini should source out Malaysian bloggers for Malaysian news and views. The only criterium for inclusion into the listing can be set by the administrators and Malaysian bloggers should submit based on the categories set by the Malaysiakini administrators.

We need portals like Malaysiakini in Malaysia where news is stifled and filtered by the current administration. We allow the current BN government to do the censorship and pruning of news but (please) Malaysiakini should not do it themselves. If you advocate freedom of expression then please practice it yourself.

Where is Malaysia heading?

2008-08-05T00:09:00.000+08:00

It is a question we all need to ask our leaders. Just where is Malaysia heading? What should the people aspire for? Just what should fellow Malaysians look up to or for?

During the reign of Tun Mahathir, we were given Vision 2020. To see Malaysia among the develop elite by the year 2020. Everything was geared towards achieving this vision. Strategic plans were made in areas of industry, information technology and nation economics. Malaysia was sold on the idea and we had the leader to take us to that goal. Yet after Tun Mahathir retired; there is little if not no mention of Vision 2020.

So where is Abdullah Badawi taking this nation?

In the early days of Abdullah Badawi's administration, there was a lot of excitement. Here was a man with the title of "Mr Clean" and he was going to clean up the administration. Corruption would be dealt with, abuse of power would be crushed, freedom of press, abolishment of ISA, the rule of Justice and the betterment of the quality of life in Malaysia. We enjoyed a robust and strong economy.

That was in 2004. In 2008, things are not as rosy as we thought it would be. Flip-flop decisions by the administration. Most time we see ministers announcing things only to have the Prime Minister reverse it and chief among the announcements was the fuel hike.

2008 and we are still treated to high drama. Chief among the dramas is the Altantuya Murder Trial, which has more twist than all the Korean soap operas put together. The question that begs an answer is the ability of the heir apparent to Abdullah Badawi, Najib Razak, to avoid having his day in court. Him and his wife are both entangled in a web spun by the murder of this Mongolian woman.

Another drama would be the recycled sodomy drama involving Anwar Ibrahim and Mohd. Saiful. It's pure Hollywood, that after a month of investigation, the police had yet to conclude their investigation and then a day after the Home Minister asks them to speed it up; they conclude the investigation and submit their report to the Attorney General's office. It takes a minister to prompt the investigation into high gear.

Now, Anwar Ibrahim is going to make a move to get himself into parliament and the government would surely make a move to create hurdles for him to achieve it. The government is running scared and succeeded in embarrassing themselves with their over-the-top arrest of Anwar Ibrahim for questioning concerning the sodomy charges and flapping attempt by the Information Minister at engaging Anwar Ibrahim in a live debate over the fuel hike.

So where is Malaysia heading while all this drama is going on?

In fact, I think we have gone backwards. Various projects have been introduced prior to the 12th General Elections and still have nothing to show for. The federal government has withdrawn various projects in Penang. Terengganu seems to be imploding, with the current administration seemingly carrying out a witch-hunt for the previous administration's faults. UMNO has been embarrassed by PAS after their so-called unity talks went flat like a dead fish.

Where are we heading?

We have lost sight of Vision 2020. What was clear has now been reduced to near-sightedness flip-flopping reactive decisions. The rakyat has been pushed into desperate mode with the sky-rocketing price of essentials. We are heading backwards and the government seems impervious to what is happening because they are too busy creating their dramas.

Political Drama - Anwar to stand in Permatang Pauh.

2008-07-31T18:50:00.000+08:00

A day after the Home Minister issue a statement asking the police to speed up their investigations, we hear today that the police have already concluded their investigation into the sodomy charges against Anwar Ibrahim. Such timing as Anwar Ibrahim has just announced his intention to stand for the Permatang Pauh by-election, which his wife has vacant for him.

Talk about timing. The BN government is moving fast to stop the juggernaut from moving forward with his plans to topple the government by September 16. Would Anwar Ibrahim even make it to the by-elections? Bear in mind the BN government would move everything in its arsenal against Anwar Ibrahim including the so called independent Election Commission.

The highly efficient police will take the first shot at him. They have submitted their investigation report to the AG Department and it is up to the AG department to see how to persecute. We all can fore-tell what it would be like. Anwar Ibrahim would be charge and blocked from standing for the by-election. Worst still, I hear ISA in the air. Why not? They can easily deem Anwar Ibrahim a threat to the nation and detain him under ISA. Keep him under wraps long enough until after the by-elections. They just need to play with time here.

So Anwar Ibrahim has pushed the BN government into a sort of frenzy. They need to block him without having to anger the rakyat but then we all expect them to pull a fast one and still keep us angry. Heck, the rakyat is already angry so what's wrong with more anger. I've got this snaky feeling, the BN government would not have any qualms in doing as they please. They don't care less, as long as they stay in power. The BN government just wants to stay in power even at the cost of angering the people.

Anwar Ibrahim has much to go against but in it will endear him to the rakyat. A lone man going against a stuttering government. We need heroes and I guess Anwar Ibrahim is turning into a folk hero.

Situations are getting similar to the Philippines when people power toppled the Marcus government. Could it happen here? Well, in Malaysia anything goes...Malaysia Boleh!

RPK challenged by Saiful's uncle/auntie?! Drama...

2008-07-30T09:34:00.000+08:00

The leaked medical reports prove (beyond a doubt) that there is a conspiracy against Anwar Ibrahim.

10 years back people would have been at odds with the idea that Anwar Ibrahim is innocent but in 2008, things are different. The general public believe that Anwar Ibrahim is innocent and this is all a political ploy to stop him from being the next Prime Minister of Malaysia. It is a desperate ploy involving the very people we entrust to up-hold law and order. Striking a death blow to the Abdullah Badawi's administration. An administration which secretly have been tugging at the ropes of the Police force and the Judiciary all this while. Using these bodies form their own devices.

But times have caught up with them and they will have to pay the price in the courts of public opinion. The Police would have to own up and admit there is no case against Anwar Ibrahim. Those behind the plot must be brought to justice but as of now I believe none of them will be caught. They will deny and hide behind the administration of the day. Politicians in the ruling government seem to be immune to the law but I believe their days are numbered. When (not if) Anwar Ibrahim comes into power, all this will change and this is why in the months leading up to September 16, we will see drama unfold like never before.

Another drama, unfolding before our eyes is the challenge by Saiful's uncle/auntie to RPK. It's comical but then strange things have happened before. As reported by Malaysiakini, Uncle Pet (what's his real name?) has "asked" to meet up with RPK:

A close relative of Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan echoed police sentiments today, rubbishing claims that his nephew had not been sodomised.

Source: Malaysiakini

I have to admit, Uncle Pet is very tech savvy; he's got the whole challenge on video which is available online. So while we all try to ascertain whether Uncle Pet is an uncle or should we called him/her Aunty Pet instead, I can imagine RPK laughing his head off at home. It's all drama, a true blue Malaysian drama to the max.

Yesterday, we had the Home Minister telling the police to speed up investigations. The Home Minister should keep his mouth shut because any statements from the establishment to the police would merely be seen as interference. Commenting on an ongoing investigation, especially by the government, should be seen as "abuse of power" and worthy of investigation by the ACA.

So clearly, the revelation brought about by the medical reports have started a new chapter in this on-going saga to bring down Anwar Ibrahim. Lets bring out the pop corn and see what else is in store.

Rotten Malaysian Police

2008-07-29T10:38:00.000+08:00

How rotten can you get? I guess in Malaysia, you can reek of dead road kill and still smell like roses.

The report of a doctor ruling out that Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan had been sodomised is an attempt to sabotage police investigations, said Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar.

Source: Malaysiakini.

The police are in the spotlight again and what is the first thing they want to do? Cover their tracks by investigating how the medical reports got out in the first place. It will be another tussle with RPK since he was the one who first release the medical reports that showed Saiful had not signs of having been sodomised by anyone or anything.

The Malaysian police are really good at chasing the messengers and not investigating the message. They are quick to use the lame "still under investigation" threat against any form of investigative reporting. Bare in mind, such release of information should be aiding the investigation unless the police already knew that Saiful's claims were false. Then Saiful should be brought to justice for making a false report and all those involve in the sordid case brought along for the ride too.

It would be interesting to see, who would make a police report against RPK for spreading false information or for having medical records, since medical records are deemed private documents. How swift would the police act against the news portals or owners of the news portals for spreading information which could affect police investigations? Again, the police would be "chasing the dragon" rather than focusing their efforts on the real matter at hand - the claim of sodomy by Saiful.

If there is no crime than the police should say so. For the moment, any statement by the police is met with in-difference as the people do not trust them anymore. Their high-handed tactics and bias tendencies have left an impression with the people.

The police's inability to tackle the real crimes on the street has frustrated the people and caused us to wonder, who would protect us when the protectors themselves are the instigators of crimes?

No sodomy, Najib and Saiful lied | MalaysiaKini

2008-07-28T16:54:00.000+08:00

The alternative news front is abuzz with the revelation by RPK which states the now-famous Saiful was never sodomized. The doctor who examined him hours before he made his police report concurred that the guy's butt was clean.

There is no evidence that Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan was sodomised, according to the doctor who examined him four hours before he lodged a police report alleging he was sexually assaulted by PKRleader Anwar Ibrahim.

Source: Malaysiakini

So, this makes him a liar and whoever is in cohorts with him or whoever encouraged him also a liar. Again, Najib Razak is suspect because he was the only other person we know who met Saiful before he made the police report. Again, Najib Razak is involve in controversy of his own making. Najib would need to explain himself even more now.

Maybe the whole affair was not to get Anwar in the first place. Maybe it was meant to get Najib. Anwar was a perfect excuse to create some measure of publicity. The police were mere pawns, arbiters to a sinister plot. Anwar can now blow this kettle of lies into pieces and point the fact, it was Najib behind the whole set-up. Thus, elevating himself as the only proper candidate to lead Malaysia.

The writing is on the wall and it would be really interesting how Najib is going to weave himself out of this mess he has walked into.

On UMNO and PAS - Jilted lovers meeting again - MalaysiaKini

2008-07-28T12:13:00.000+08:00

Strange times call for strange measures and much can be said of talks between UMNO and PAS. I can understand Karpal Singh's reservations on the matter when he voice our his thoughts in Malaysiakini.

"Selepas pilihanraya umum pada 8 Mac lalu, PAS telah mengadakan perbincangan dengan Umno untuk menubuhkan kerajaan campuran di Selangor," katanya yang menyifatkan tindakan itu berniat jahat kerana DAP dan PKR tidak dimaklumkan mengenainya.

Source: Malaysiakini

It has not been the first time that these two (2) political adversaries have met and attempted at a marriage of convenience. UMNO and PAS seem to thrive well in this love and hate situation where they now are entertaining thoughts of a nuptial to tie all Malays under a single political entity. But would it work?

I don't think so and I have to agree with Karpal Singh on his assessment of the situation. It is a direct treat towards DAP and PKR because the resounding victory in the last general election was not just a PAS victory but a shared victory with DAP and PKR delivering the goods too. PAS seems to be acting like a pompous brat because they know they have something the UMNO wants and craves - more Malay votes.

Isn't it what UMNO wants? UMNO wants to be supreme leader over all Malays in the country and UMNO is willing to pull any stunts just to gain that edge over the Malays, even to the extent of sleeping with the enemy. PAS tends to lose big time if they are thinking of aligning with UMNO.

It would seem right that DAP and PKR distance themselves from PAS as they inch themselves towards UMNO. The people would not be happy with PAS for this silly move. Angering the people is not the best thing to do, especially in these times when anything UMNO is deemed questionable. It's amazing that PAS may not see this latest need to talk by UMNO is merely a political ploy to strengthen UMNO's hold on the Malay vote and thus, assure that they remain in power. PAS should stand on its own as an alternative to UMNO and show it is friendly to all - Malays and Non-Malays.

So PAS, stay away from UMNO because the result would only be bad. Don't you think so?

The Bangsa Malaysia beyond politics | Malaysiakini

2008-07-26T14:26:00.000+08:00

Malaysia is multiracial, we all know that and I believe it is a norm for ordinary Malaysian citizens to sit together over coffee and talk about the weather. Take a trip into the rural areas and you will see what I mean. There is no distinction of race or religion, instead there is just the notion of everyone is a neighbor.

Go into the interior of Sarawak and you will find Chinese men speaking in Iban, I've even met Malays talking Iban and mingling freely among the longhouse folks. I've got Chinese relatives who are the nicest people in the world, Malay relatives who enjoy a good chat and Indian friends who just want to have a good time. We all have no issues when it comes to spending time together or just living together.

The picture of Bangsa Malaysia is true to form in the rural areas of Malaysia. I've spent time living in Perlis and I see this too. There is no issues involve when people of different race and religion want to live together. Malaysians, by nature, are peaceable and simple people. I've spent time with Malaysian Thais living in Kedah, who identify themselves as Malaysians rather than Thai. Some of these foreigners are more Malaysian than Malaysians themselves.

Bangsa Malaysia is alive and well.

Simple folks living life beyond the complexity of systems and ideology.

Yet it is politics that stain all this. Politics is like a virus which infiltrates the simplicity of life and creates tension. UMNO and PAS splits the Malay community along racial and religious lines. MCA and DAP seem to champion the ideas of an independent Chinese oppose to anything of a certain religion. MIC has done little in championing the Indian community. Politics stain the obvious, complicates the natural and creates conflict.

Politics create quotas in all levels of society from education to employment. We hear political parties championing "rights" of their respective communities but who is championing the Rights of Malaysians?

Politicians have politicize every aspect of everyday life in Malaysia. From the language used on road-signs, the type of cars to buy, varsity placements, freedom of speech, police arrests - the list goes on. Look at all the events and systems in Malaysia and you will find the stain of politics in all of them. Yes, politics is a virus which has latched itself into the very fabric of life in Malaysia and it is not doing us any good.

It can be said that politics is a bad taste in the mouth of Malaysians at a time when politicians are only seen as looking out for themselves. This is the stigma that would not disappear so soon. I believe only after this current crop of "career politicians" are gone would we truly see a Bangsa Malaysia rise. It would be the time when citizens are elected out of merit rather than by their political connections.

Until that time, it would be best that every mention of race or creed be kept to a minimum. National policies with racial undertones must slowly be dismantled so Malaysians can compete as Malaysians and not as members of a racial unit. Unity as Malaysians must be promoted while the beauty of diversity must be celebrated. This is the key to being unified under one flag, to know that we are all unique and different yet no-one is below the other. Everyone is equally a Malaysian living in Malaysia. Religion is personal and non intrusive. We respect our neighbor and love our differences and strive to see our nation become great.

Politics do not make Malaysia, instead it is the people who make Malaysia what she is. It is Malaysians who form the building blocks of Malaysia. We do not owe any political party any debts for the success of Malaysia but we do owe ordinary Malaysians a debt for being true to country and country men.

This is Bangsa Malaysia beyond politics.

Going bananas over cars - Malaysiakini

2008-07-25T13:40:00.000+08:00

Shakespeare would be amazed at the level of drama the Malaysian government is capable of performing. You can imagine the snickers coming out of some foreign embassy.

“So Bob, what’s the latest thing happening in Malaysia?” The voice over the phone crackled. The line was bad but it was a long-distance call using underwater cables for their satellite was not in range for a secure call.

“Is the line secure?”

“Can’t guarantee it, talk gibberish if you have to,” the reply came, referring to the Code they used when talking over unsecured telecommunication lines.

“Really?"

“Affirmative. Speak easy.”

“OK. They are now squabbling over the type of cars for use by government officers.”

“Come again. I didn’t get that last bit of gibberish.”

“It’s not gibberish. It’s the actual text.”

“Kidding?”

“No, I’m not kidding,” he could hear the long pause. His superior was deep in thought, accessing the situation and outlining their next course of action.

“Goodness. We have the Russians talking about refueling their bombers in Cuba, a bombing incident in China; days before the Olympic games, a hurricane baring down in the Caribbean and a standoff in the Middle East and in Malaysia they are squabbling over cars?"

“You heard me. There is even a police report over the high maintenance cost and I heard the Anti Corruption Agency is getting involve, plus it was even talked about in Cabinet. Now, its spilled over and has become an issue of national pride and buying Malaysian made products.”

There was a chuckle from the other end of the line and Bob knew what came next.

“Well, just keep us posted. Nothing to worry about there. As long as they squabble among themselves, there is no threat to anyone.”

“Wilco,” Bob answered and the line went dead but not before he heard laughter crackling over the unsecured telephone line in his office overlooking the capital city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.

(The above story is fictional and a blast of my imagination. I DO NOT have connections with any foreign powers.)

Get my drift?

I am amaze how this matter has clearly been blown out of proportion. Police reports, ACA and even the workshop director getting their day in the news. What does this hope to accomplish but only to prove how in-efficient the Abdullah Badawi’s has been all this while. If the maintenance costs were that high in the first place, why did no-one notice? They had four (4) years to raise the issue of high maintenance costs and would have sufficient time to take measures to lower the cost of maintenance.

Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) telah mengambil keterangan daripada empat pemandu exco kerajaan negeri Terengganu berhubung kos penyenggaraan Proton Perdana V6 Executive yang terlalu tinggi.

Enam pegawai BPR berkenaan telah datang ke Wisma Darul Iman, pusat pentadbiran kerajaan Terengganu, sejak petang semalam dan pagi tadi bagi mengambil dokumen-dokumen berkaitan untuk diteliti.

Source: Malaysiakini

But having said that, Proton should be taken to task for producing cars that are sub-standard. The Treasury directive that all government officials use the national car is merely a soft-form of bail-out to keep Proton afloat. We must give credit to the Terengganu MB for making a bold choice to switch away from Proton. I believe there is truth to what the MB is saying.

The initial purchase price for the Mercedes cars would be higher than for the Proton Perdana but in the long run, the Mercedes would be cheaper to maintain because Mercedes do not break down as often as the Proton Perdana and surely you do not have to replace the Mercedes gear-box on a regular basis as what was reported about the Proton Perdana.

Anyway, why is this whole matter concerning cars news when it only highlights the cracks in the current BN government? Does such a silly thing need the attention of the Prime Minister when the Treasury office can merely enforce their own general order?

This is the state of the Malaysian government where even such decisions need to be referred to the highest office and right now, that highest office is standing weak. Flip-flop decisions, vague public statements, inability to control subordinates, disconnection from the general populace and near-sightedness are all hallmarks of a weak leader.

Shakespeare would have commented, in this drama the real issue is not the cars. The issue is what would the leaders do? The twist of the tale is to see who has the greatest resolve to push their agenda through and I think the Terengganu MB is getting his way.

I heard, Selangor would follow suit but they are thinking of choosing Toyota rather than Mercedes. So, Abdullah Badawi what are you going to say now?

Who is the next Prime Minister? | Malaysiakini

2008-07-24T14:38:00.000+08:00

A transition of power from Abdullah Badawi to Najib Razak means nothing.

In fact it may just compound the issues plaguing the government at this time. This shift from Prime Minister to Deputy Prime Minister has no effect on policies or governance. It’s just a changing of the guard. The issues will remain and things will be left as they were from the onset.

Najib stands to inherit the same problematic government that Abdullah Badawi created. If there were no change in management styles when Najib is DPM then would there be any change when he is PM? I doubt it. The government is still made up of the same political players from Tun Mahathir’s era, maybe there are some new faces but the mangement style is still the same.

So it makes no difference if Najib or Abdullah Badawi is in office. The people will still be angry, corruption would still be rising, Malaysia would still be heading for an economic headache and let’s not forget the political shenanigans going around. Malaysia would still be caught up in the same old rut. No change.

What is needed is for a total change in top leadership. We need someone who is not afraid to go against old taboos. We need someone who would talk less, listen more and move as he pleases. We need someone who is far-sighted and not merely acting on impulsive-reactive-energy.

Do we have such a person in the current cabinet lineup?

Whoever it is must not come from the UMNO bastion. They’ve had their chance yet screwed it big time. I have great admiration for Tun Mahathir, though I hated some of his policies and methods, he still moved this country forward. Yet after he stepped down and passed the baton to his deputy, things just went down-hill. Obviously, the baton holder was not competent to follow in the foot-steps of Tun Mahathir. In fact no-one in the current parliament can.

No need to follow just imitate would also suffice but even that is found wanting. Instead, we find people merely paying lip service to those in the higher rung of things. No-one dare challenge the establishment outside of the opposition. No-one even dared voice strong statements against the whole idea of a two-year dead-line for passing on the baton. Except maybe from those who have vested interest in becoming the next Prime Minister.

It would be interesting, come September 16th to see if the transition from Abdullah Badawi to Najib Razak would happen or not. It would be really interesting to see if UMNO could accept the fact, it has a strong chance of being called the Opposition in a government ruled by Pakatan Rakyat. It would be an interesting scene and one I personally relish. I would love to see what the leader of UMNO would do in order to win back the government it has held for the pass 50 years. But who would be the champion to bring UMNO back into the lime-light? Abdullah Badawi or Najib Razak?

Back to the point of this post.

This transition of power means nothing. It doesn’t change anything. In fact I think it would worsen the situation in Malaysia. If (that’s a big IF) Najib becomes Prime Minister, he may prove to be a weak PM as evident with the way he handled his suspect involvement in the Altantuya case and also involvement with Saiful (Anwar accuser).

If Najib has nothing to hide than why not allow himself to be investigated and have the courts prove him innocent? He should have done this early on. Now, with the whole transition thing in place, Najib is hard-press to prove himself worthy to assume the premiership. So he has to work doubly hard at keeping his distractors at bay. Tough luck, when you have a lot of skeletons to hide.

Najib maybe just a scapegoat for Abdullah to hang. A fall-guy for the real person whom Abdullah may want to see as the next Prime Minister. Najib will become the PM and the people would revolt, Abdullah would admit it was a mistake, take over and than announce another person whom he deemed suitable for the post of PM. A certain someone whose ambition is to be the next Prime Minister of Malaysia…

Thus, the passing on of the baton from Abdullah Badawi to Najib Razak means nothing but merely as an exercise in passing the buck to the lame duck, who is gullible enough to take more blame and pave the way for the real puppet master, lurking in the background of all this. No harm in guessing but I think you guys know who that person is.

When a DEMOCRACY acts like a MONARCHY | Malaysiakini

2008-07-24T10:17:00.003+08:00

Malaysia’s government is decided through a democratic process and we are all aware of this. Every 5 years we all line up and put a mark on a ballot paper to elect Members of Parliament who would (or are suppose) to be our voice to the highest seat of government - the Prime Minister.

We have political parties who each have an agenda that we all can choose to agree or disagree with and align ourselves with. These political entities constitute a collective opinion over a given issue and represent a larger body of voters. Sometimes in order to have a bigger influence on the government, political parties form partnerships. Partnerships are then used to push agendas and policies through a majority vote in Parliament which is then announced by the Prime Minister.

All these things are consequences of a citizens choice on a piece of paper called a Ballot. So by right the person with the greatest power is not the Elected Member of Government but rather the one holding the that Ballot paper.

Malaysia has, according to a report by The Sun dated 28 February 2008 - (as of Dec 2006) 15.2 million Malaysians above the age of 21 but only 10.3 million are registered as voters. Of course this takes into account dead voters, postal voters and (the in-famous) phantom voters.

10.3 million voters has the right to decide the government of the day yet because of these 10.3 million, 26 million Malaysians are not have headaches and stress related ailments. But rest assured, come the 13th General Election; the 10.3 million voters (dead and all) would have wised up and replace this current BN government.

But that is not what I want to blog about. Instead, I want to talk about the way this current BN government is acting under the leadership of Abdullah Badawi.

10.3 million voters put this person into office as the Prime Minister of Malaysia and he totally forgets about them and starts acting like he is lord and all.

A DEMOCRATIC elected government cannot act like a MONARCHY. If it did then we would not have a Prime Minister as the highest post. We would have a Caesar.

The one time a democracy acted like a monarchy was during the time of the Romans. The Caesar’s were emperors of the Roman empire yet the council were elected and they inherited the idea of Democracy from the Greeks. There was a Senate of Senators (much like America) who went through a process of election but all was ruled by Caesar.

Now, the role of Caesar was not elected but rather passed on through the family. So it acted like a monarchy. A king who passed the throne down to the first son.

Sounds eerily familiar?

Our government is elected but our MPs are ruled over by a PM who seems to think he can control or comment over everything under the sun. Our elected MPs dare not speak up for fear of this PM and his party, who seems to have the bigger say over everything in Malaysia. Thus, the PM is thinking and acting like a monarch. Even passing down an ELECTED post to a successor.

The role of Prime Minister is an elected post. The Prime Minister’s post goes to UMNO, by virtue of the fact that UMNO is the biggest political party in Barisan Nasional (4 million members) so the elected leader of UMNO assumes the role of Prime Minister.

So, if UMNO loses its grip on government and Pakatan Rakyat takes over than the head of Keadilan (as head of the opposition) would become Prime Minister. Something to look forward to and it may not have to be Anwar Ibrahim eventhough he is trying to get back into parliament.

PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim has alluded that the election petition for the Kedah parliamentary seat of Kulim-Bandar Baharu, which is scheduled to be heard on Aug 19, could pave the way for his return to Parliament.

Source: Malaysiakini

Back to our story. So the Prime Minister’s post is elected yet he acts like a monarch. Naming a successor and even a succession plan that goes against the whole election process. By right Najib Razak has to be elected as the head of UMNO thus he may have the chance to assume the role of Prime Minister. Bare in mind, being head of UMNO does not automatically mean you become Prime Minister of Malaysia. There is no guarantee of this anyway, it is merely by virtue and consent of the other political parties in Barisan Nasional.

There is no direct passing of the baton, unless you analyze how Tun Mahathir did it. He retired and allowed his deputy, Abdullah Badawi, to assume the role and than get a majority vote from the populace to receive the role of Prime Minister.

The current turmoil in Malaysia is all down to the fact that the current DEMOCRATIC government is acting like a MONARCHY. They have forgotten the people who voted them into office. They make decisions without consulting the people nor taking into account our opinions and views as citizens of Malaysia.

The BN government and all its apparatus (police and courts of law) are mistreating the people and not serving the people. Petty squabbles that contribute nothing towards the welfare of the people are in the headlines of state run media.

For example, the Terengganu Mercedes/Proton debacle. Who cares about what car they drive to work in? I wonder how they can have the nerve to drive to work in a car bought with tax-payers money while the majority of the populace cannot even afford to buy fuel.

The BN government or any would be government ambitious political party must bear in mind, they were democratically elected and thus, what we can give them, we can also take back.

Stop acting like a MONARCHY and start working as elected representatives of the people. If the BN government cannot work in this mode than it is better for Malaysia to emulate the governmental system employed by the Romans and call our Prime Minister; Caesar.

Malaysians DO NOT own Malaysia, UMNO does | Malaysiakini

2008-07-23T09:02:00.003+08:00

Sit back and think. Do you truly own Malaysia?

All along we were made to believe that Malaysia was owned by Malaysians who transcend racial and religious divides. We are “Truly Asia” as the slogan goes but it is farthest from the truth. We are NOT “Truly Asia”. Why?

We squabble over road-signs in Chinese, we squabble over “racial rights”, set quotas for university acceptance base on racial lines, politicizing issues is everything and we are fed only what makes the government look good. Malaysia is not own by Malaysians instead we are own by UMNO.

Let’s face it, can we really make a change in Malaysia without ruffling the feathers of UMNO? A political party that boast close to 4 million members can demand anything and everything. And I don’t blame them because the silent minority have been just that…silent.
We have allowed UMNO to have their way, do their thing, run the show and play their game.

The whole debacle in Malaysia these passed few months have involved UMNO and their opponents. We are all caught in a turf war where the clear losers are the people of Malaysia. What do we get out of the in-fighting and out-fighting that UMNO has drawn us into?

Where is Malaysia today? Still running around in a circle, trying to catch it’s own tail. The Abdullah administration has failed to win back the confidence of the people. Turning to old tactics and using under-handed methods to destroy their enemies has not gone down well with the people. In fact, we want to see a government which is fair, condescending, malevolent and rational. Instead, we have a play-ground bully unwilling to share his lollipop.

The turmoil Malaysia points to the inability of an UMNO led Barisan National (BN) to win back the confidence of the people. The current government is so wrapped up in safe-guarding its hold on government that it has neglected the people. A 40% increase in fuel price without measures in place to reduce the fall-out, no clear measure to address corruption (where is the independent ACA?), a police force that has lost its “Mesra” tag and a judiciary scared to go against it “masters”.
Malaysians DO NOT own Malaysia.

Malaysians surrendered that right, at every election, into the hands of UMNO who have been championing their own cause all this while. UMNO is the largest political entity in Malaysia but with the smallest amount of empathy towards those outside of it’s convention walls.

Malaysians DO NOT own Malaysia.

We pay our taxes only to have it being used to pay the wages of MPs who endorse fuel price hikes (after the hike), stay silent when out-right injustice is committed by the police and judiciary, stay mute when people suffer from low wages and high food prices and debate over the use of national cars or Mercedes when 2/3 of the populace wonder if they can afford to own a vehicle. Our tax-money employ an administration that tells us to change our lifestyle, pay for Hydrofuel technology to reduce fuel expenses or buy electricity powered cars to reduce our dependancy on fuel. Idiots! We don’t even have enough money to get to work let alone spend more to “reduce” our expenditure on technology we can buy on eBay.

Malaysians DO NOT own Malaysia. SELF-SEEKING politicians own Malaysia.

Would change in government really change things? I don’t think so because the same old players are still in place. May I suggest that we by-pass there old geysers and have them implement the voice of the people. Our MPs should be willing to hold REFERENDUMS and accept the will of the people. Allow the people to have their say in the running of this country.

The government are merely stewards to the will and trust of the people. They are not lords over the people, instead the people are the ones employing them via our tax-money.

So it won’t be UMNO owning Malaysia, instead it would be Malaysians owning Malaysia and deciding on its future. UMNO, BN or Pakatan Rakyat are servants to the highest voice, the voice of the people.

Will there be a fuel price review? - Malaysiakini

2008-07-21T14:37:00.002+08:00

If I remember correctly, the government is suppose to review the price of fuel and make adjustments base on the market price of crude oil. Thus, if the price goes up, we pay more per liter but if the price goes down we should be paying less. The review would be a monthly affair and I am waiting to see what would happen at month end.

As of now the price of crude oil is USD130.28 per barrel. Way lower than the USD150 it hit some weeks back. So would the government review the price?

Abdullah Badawi MUST keep his word. If the price review is to come than we should see cheaper fuel at month end and the reduction must be a snap move much like the price hike.

Setting the price of fuel to the market price would have an effect on the price of goods, which in turn would be good for the consumer. We would be able to shop around for the best price. Marketeers would have to make adjustments as and when cost of transportation changes due to lower or higher fuel prices.

The amount saved from subsidizing fuel prices should then be allocated to improving the standing of local food producers. This would keep the price of local products down and thus, allow the people can enjoy a lower cost of living. This should be the goal of the government in light of the increase of crude oil, reduce the living cost for the people and thus, you uplift the living standards of the people. When people can eat or afford to eat, you will have happy people. Happy people mean greater respect and the current government needs all the respect it can muster.

Much hype over nothing - HYDROFUEL idea | Malaysiakini

2008-07-21T08:56:00.004+08:00

Last week Abdullah Badawi made a remark that on Friday (18th July) he was going to make an announcement about another measure the government had come up with in regards to lightening the people's burdens due to the recent fuel price hike. I gleefully waited, hoping that it would be some form of sustainable financial package.

Friday came and went and I had to ask friends what the measure was because I just did not see it.

My friends pointed out the Hydrofuel launch the PM had that day. "That's the BIG announcement," I was told. What no financial package? Was my response.

NOP! No SUSTAINABLE financial package. Instead we have to fork out more money to buy the so called locally-made hydrofuel technology to install into our cars. Furthermore, it was announced that we can save 50% on our fuel expenses when using this technology in our cars.

Question: How the heck can we save 50% on our expenses when the price of fuel is fixed? Does this mean we produce a discount card and get fuel at half the price that others are paying? Would this help reduce the cost of other essentials?

Come, Monday (21st July) and we hear nothing else about the launch on Friday (18th). It's just another case of "much hype over nothing." Yup, there was a launch and pictures of a smiling PM were taken and, obviously, this small bumiputra company that had been working on this solution since 2006 were happy.

But are we happy?

Whatever measure the current government puts in must be sustainable and long reaching. It must be an ECONOMIC solution not some gadget we install into our cars. It must address the matter at the source - the reduction of the price of fuel itself. Lower the RM2.70 and this would cause a domino effect on the market which in turn would trickle down to the consumer regardless of their income standing. Lower the fuel price and you would increase the spending power of the consumer thus you get the people to drive the economy forward. As we see it now, the Malaysian economy has grounded to a halt because no-one wants to spend. Why should we when right now when most of our money goes into fueling our commute to work or to power our airconditioning when the police decides to organized those crazy roadblocks.

What then from this government, who seems to have no idea on how to foster confidence in the people it governs? Free solar panels for home-owners? Windmill farms in Terengganu or Kelantan? Yup, sounds realistic in order to reduce spending on electrical expenses. Mandate it, make it law to have state government self generate reusable energy and you would see change not only for today for the future.

What we need are concrete solutions, not some lame statement that disappears after the launch. Come Monday and it's back to the normal political fare of yester-months.

Malaysia is so caught up in a political medley, we have all grounded to a halt. Real issues are left hanging and the people grow restless by the day. There is no confidence in the police nor the justice system and what more to say the government. I don't trust the MSM because they are merely throwing up smokescreens to protect the government but hide the real facts from the public. In the end, this would create disillusion among the populace and generate chaos. Malaysia has grounded to a halt and until we all wake up from this nightmare, we all might as well pump water into our fuel-tanks and hope the price of fuel will go down.

As stupid as it gets, Najib in trouble - Malaysiakini

2008-07-17T15:29:00.004+08:00

RPK has been arrested for his statutory declaration on the involvement of Najib Razak’s wife in the Altantuya murder. Taking this matter to court would be interesting, since we can finally see the evidence RPK has on Rosmah Mansur. RPK would have the perfect stage to bring out all evidence he says he has into the light of day because the evidence is the basis of his statutory declaration and an eager public awaits.

This would be a double whammy for the BN government. Regardless of whether RPK is proven guilty or innocent, Najib has a hard task ahead of him once he assumes the premiership. His reputation would have been stained and his every move scrutinized. Furthermore, in two (2) years time; Najib may be inheriting a broken government which has lost the confidence of the people and Najib may be the prime minister in which BN loses the general election. 13 may be Abdullah Badawi’s favorite number but it may spell doom for Najib.

Penulis blog terkenal Raja Petra Kamarudin ditahan hari ini dan didakwa di mahkamah atas tuduhan memfitnah isteri timbalan perdana menteri, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, dan dua orang lagi.

Beliau didakwa mengikut Seksyen 500 Kanun Keseksaan di Mahkamah Majistret Kuala Lumpur.

Raja Petra bagaimanapun enggan membuat sebarang pengakuan sama ada 'bersalah' atau 'tidak bersalah' terhadap tuduhan tersebut.

Beliau berkata berulangkali bahawa beliau enggan berbuat demikian kerana mendakwa tuduhan tersebut mengandungi kecacatan dan berniat jahat.

Pihak pendakwaraya bagaimanapun menganggapnya sebagai pengakuan 'tidak bersalah' dan memohon Majistret Nazran Mohd Sham membenarkan ikatjamin sebanyak RM10,000.

Source: Malaysiakini

RPK has been charge and is ready to take on the government. Somehow I believe, RPK had foreseen this all along. I think RPK was laying the stage for his confrontation with Najib Razak and the government at large. The Altantuya case was headed for obscurity, when RPK delivered his first salvo, that made him the first Malaysian blogger in prison and force Najib into the radar for his perceived direct involvement with the murdered Mongolian. This was followed by RPK 2nd shot in the form of a SD which pointed the finger at Najib’s wife, Rosmah Mansur and two (2) others; who RPK say was with the Mongolian when she murdered. The police conducted their investigation and (it was no surprise) the messenger got arrested but I figure RPK was counting on this. It would pave his way to stand in court and prove his case. This is where I believe, Najib and Rosmah may have dug their own grave.

For starters, Najib or Rosmah or both of them, may be called to give testimony in a court of law. Najib’s name was mentioned at the onset of the murder trial but he managed to evade investigation via a clever statement by the judge that only the three (3) accused were involved in the murder. This excluded Najib from any form of investigation. RPK’s day in court may finally drag Najib into the very thing he was attempting to avoid and under pressure Najib seems to say things detrimental to himself. Najib’s attempt at telling the public he did not know Saiful comes to mind. First he said he did not know the lad and then says he did meet with Saiful days before Saiful made the report at his residence. Would Najib finally admit he does know Altantuya?

Secondly, RPK would be able to drag in others mentioned in his SD namely Khairy and Abdullah Badawi into the court room. Though the father and son-in-law duo have flatly denied any involvement in the sordid affair but by right they to have to be investigated. To prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are clean. In fact, RPK could raise enough questions as to the role of the government in covering up Altantuya’s murderers. The deletion of immigration records and the readily available use of military C4 comes to mind.

So, RPK has managed to bring the government into the very stage he wanted them to be - the court of law. The courts are under immense scrutiny not only in RPK’s case but also in Anwar Ibrahim’s (recycled) sodomy charge.

The irony of all this, RPK and Anwar may be harassed and persecuted by the BN government but having the spotlight on these two (2) men only turns the spotlight on Najib Razak since he has some measure of involvement in both cases against the two men. It is Najib Razak who has to look over his shoulder, wondering when someone else is waiting to turn the key to the closet where old skeletons lie in waiting. In reality, putting RPK into a court of law may have just cancelled out Najib Razak’s credibility as the coming leader for Malaysia.

UPDATE:
When writing the above RPK was still under arrest yet now the charges against him has been drop because they were incomplete. The AG now has to draw up another charge against him. Pure coincidence or did they realized what I stated above?

Deja Vu - back to 1998. A Call for REFORMASI.

2008-07-17T11:07:00.003+08:00

You may have been having trouble accessing Malaysiakini or Malaysia-Today because people are just scrambling to get the real picture for the events affecting our fair country. Main Stream Media (MSM) was quick to downplay the debate and highlight the arrest of Anwar Ibrahim and today I believe the arrest of Raja Petra Kamaruddin (RPK).

The Barisan Nasional (BN) government has gone into paranoid mode, using every apparatus at their disposal to quieten the voices of dissent and to clampdown “thorns” in their flesh. It is moronic that the BN government is merely UMNO because the other component parties have been mute and barely a squeak is heard from them.

Yes, it is not BN that runs the country, it is merely UMNO. Forget MCA, MIC, Gerakan, Sarawak BN or Sabah BN. These affiliate bodies are merely needed to make up the numbers to grab government and keep government in the hands of UMNO. Isn’t all this squabbling only between UMNO and PR and involves no-one else?

Deja Vu. Don’t you feel it? It is 1998 all over again, the arrest of Anwar Ibrahim has sparked calls for REFORMASI and to be honest, I think 10 years down the road; this time the rakyat will win over. Things are different now.

Beliau ditangkap sewaktu hampir tiba di kediamannya di Segambut Dalam, Kuala Lumpur tengah hari tadi selepas memberikan keterangan kepada Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) di Putrajaya berhubung isu dakwaan pemalsuan laporan ketua polis negara Tan Sri Musa Hassan dan peguam negara Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail.

Source: Malaysiakini

Tun Mahathir had the tenacity and character to weather the storm of 1998. Abdullah Badawi stood flabbergasted as the results came in for the 12th General Election of 2008. The government of 1998 had the economic problems to deal with and the notion that Anwar Ibrahim charges were fabricated. The government of 1998 survived this period, scarred but seemingly intact. 10 years down the road and we have a prime minister who has lost the confidence of the people, his own party members and even the former prime minister. Coupled with the fact that under the tenure of Abdullah Badawi, the Malaysian economy has taken a nosedive. All because of poor management and flip-flop decisions.

The arrest of Anwar Ibrahim and RPK would merely turn them into folk-heros. No matter how the MSM paints it, the normal guy on the street would view their imprisonment as an attack on innocent Malaysians who dared to speak up against the establishment. Dare we say there is nothing wrong with Malaysia, as claimed by Abdullah Badawi? I say there is something SERIOUSLY wrong with the governance of this country and somehow I cannot help but feel, the rakyat has been cheated into believing the BN government can deliver a better life for all Malaysians. In fact, they have made out life harder.

How can we not think, the police would be un-bias when dealing with Anwar Ibrahim and RPK? The current IGP, Musa Hassan was implicated by Anwar Ibrahim in fabricating evidence in the 1998 fiasco. There is a clear indication of a conflict of interest here. The IGP has arrested the man that is implicating him in a case being investigated by the Anti Corruption Agency. The arrest has vendetta written all over it. Can the IGP say he will be un-bias and fair in the investigations? The Attorney General (AG), Abdul Gani Patail is also implicated by Anwar Ibrahim. The AG is the one who will build the court case against Anwar. Again there is a clear indication of a conflict of interest. There will NOT be any fairness in the whole matter and I believe Anwar knows this.

RPK will be arrested for fabricating a statutory declaration. A convenient way to silence him though I think it will further erode public support for Najib Razak (heir apparent to Abdullah Badawi). It would be amazing to see a prime minister in office with the specter of murder hanging over his head. The “Did he do it?” tag will haunt Najib Razak for a long, long time.

Peguam pengendali Malaysia Today menerima waran itu pagi ini dan
Raja Petra mengesahkan perkara itu dengan polis petang ini, kata isterinya Marina Lee Abdullah.

Dalam akuan berkanunnya bertarikh 18 Jun lalu, Raja Petra menuduh Rosmah antara tiga individu yang berada di tempat kejadian ketika wanita Mongolia itu dibunuh pada 19 Oktober 2006.

Source: Malaysiakini

What will become of Malaysia in the next coming months? Downhill as far as the immediate future is concerned unless real measures are put into place to address what the rakyat wants. The rakyat is already burdened by the fuel hike that in turned increased the cost of living and then we have a government that just seems to not care about our plight. Instead we have a government bent on personal vendettas against their opponents.

Absurd way of doing things - Anwar arrested before deadline

2008-07-16T13:08:00.006+08:00

Malaysiakini was hard to get into but the news is out and the whole world knows. After thumping the Information Minister in a live open debate and submitting himself to an ACA interview, Anwar Ibrahim was arrested an hour before his 2pm appointment with the police.

Why?

Because the police feared he would not make the 2pm deadline. ABSURD reasoning! If he did not make the 2pm deadline then Anwar should have been arrested. Yet again the police jumped the gun, went into panic mode and pulled a fast one.

Malaysiakini reported that there was a convoy of 15 police cars converging onto Anwar's location to arrest him. 15 police cars to arrest 1 man? They must really want him bad.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was arrested by the police just outside his home in Bukit Segambut, Kuala Lumpur, at 12.55pm.

Source: Malaysiakini

Once again the BN government under Abdullah Badawi have pulled off a stunt that would further damaged their already damaged reputation. This will only anger everyday Malaysians and draw the attention of the world. Anwar is now seen as a champion of the people who is being stomped on by a government that is desperately trying to hold on to power. This could be the final draw for most people as the manner in which Anwar is treated by the authorities is deemed over-excessive and ludicrous.

It was coming and Anwar Ibrahim knew it would come to this. Among the last thing he said at yesterdays open debate was that he would soon contest in a by-election. This obviously sent signals to those in power to stamp him out and it happened today. Putting him behind bars would thwart any move by Anwar to stand for election.

Abdullah Badawi has a lot to answer for if this is going to be the practice of the police force in Malaysia where a person can arrested at will even when they have volunteered to give a statement at a given time. High-handed and provocative; this merely shows the current BN government is so paranoid that it has lost all sense of common sense.

UPDATE: The police are also looking for RPK. This is totally absurd! The people should stand up and say enough is enough!

Prove your words...WHERE IS THE EVIDENCE FOR THE DEMONSTRATION?

2008-07-15T11:21:00.003+08:00

The bottom-line is:

(1). The police over-reacted to "whispers" and caused havoc,
(2). The government were caught with their pants down, so blame opposition,
(3). The opposition has no idea so give denial and walk out of parliament,
(4). Home Minister has to apologize yet say that it was good for everyone to be caught in jam (for the sake of national security),
(5). The police claimed the roadblocks were a success cause no demonstrations,
(6). ...NOW WHERE IS THE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE ACTION OF ROAD-BLOCKING HALF THE CITY?

Malaysiakini reports:

Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar claimed that his ministry had received crucial information indicating that a demonstration was to have been staged in Parliament today.

Source: Malaysiakini

Stop the "claims of having evidence" and just show it for the whole world to see. Like if its evidence then it is evidence and evidence needs to be seen by people in order to be judge whether or not it can prove the authenticity of an action or act.

The government (Pak Lah) just last week lambasted bloggers and new media as people who spread lies and stuff. Yet the Home Ministry reads these "claims for a demonstration" on blogs and SMS and concluded that it would happen and in its wisdom gets the courts to stop Anwar Ibrahim from walking to parliament and blocks off half the city roads.

If what bloggers and new media spread lies, why bother reading them and listening to them?

Show us the evidence and let us judge for ourselves whether what you did is right or wrong. Throw yourself at the mercy of the people who were stuck in traffic jams and burning precious fuel and not to mention killing precious breathable air.

WHERE IS THE EVIDENCE? Or is it lying somewhere in a little black box? Or is this a mere case of the government being paranoid with one man? So if Anwar has no credibility, just a little man making noise or is a liar; why bother listening to him and going out of your way to stop whatever plans he may have mentioned or thought of?

We have a very paranoid government and the more you look at it, our government is beginning to look like those countries over in Africa that can't seem to get their politics right. The kind that kills off every opponent and then turns onto itself and caught in all that is the people. Innocent people trying to etch out a living.

Enough talking, just show us the EVIDENCE and let the people decide. Right now, everyone is saying a lot of things, calling names and trying to prove themselves. To me I consider everyone LYING until they can prove their words RIGHT with evidence. It doesn't matter whether you're BN or PR. You are LYING until proven TRUTHFUL. Fair enough?

When IDIOTS rule the land.

2008-07-14T15:57:00.004+08:00

It was a decision that shows even in the August house, things are bias. In a climate such as this, how will Malaysia ever get itself out of the rut. The people have sent a message, the opposition has sent a message and even the former prime minister (who brought him into office) has sent a message, yet he refuses to listen.

As reported by Malaysiakini at 3.32pm:

Usul tergempar hilang keyakinan pada perdana menteri Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yang dibawa oleh ahli-ahli parlimen Pakatan Rakyat ditolak sebentar tadi.

Yang dipertua Dewan Rakyat Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia menolak usul yang difailkan oleh ketua pembangkang Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Susulan keputusan yang dipertua dewan, semua anggota parlimen PKR, DAP dan PAS meninggalkan dewan beramai-ramai dan memulau sesi persidangan sepanjang hari hingga petang ini.

Source: Malaysiakini

The BN MPs seem blind to his flip-flopping ways, which have hurt the rakyat and when there are people who dare challenge him, these MPs rally behind him with such blind audacity. It's amazing that all reasoning has gone out the window.

Rejecting such a notion only points to the fact that the current BN MPs are so insecure and desperately clinging on to power with any means possible. What's wrong in debating this matter? What are the BN MPs afraid of? They have numbers on their side yet they are really scared that from among their ranks, some would chose to jump ship. It seems so this current government is more interested in self-preservation than in looking out for the needs of the people.

They've already created a panic induced traffic jam for most parts of the capital and had the nerve to blame everything on the opposition and at some demonstration that never came about. The police intelligence reports had been wrong about this one and in the end only cause people to get more frustrated at them.

The people need too be convinced to have confidence in their government and any move by the government must be tailored to build up the confidence of the people not break it. All the moves by the government in the pass few months have only serve the point that given the chance, the people would like to see a change in government the sooner the better.

So when IDIOTS rule the land expect such stupid things to come out of the August house as non-existent demonstrations, today no-hike but tomorrow still hike, "I never met him yet since you didn't ask...I remember meeting him", "your skirt too short", "I did not gesture like that but since the whole nation saw it but no one in the dewan did, then yes I did it but it was not meant to be like that".

Morons have entered the house!

A Paranoid Malaysian Government is a Weak Government.

2008-07-12T16:33:00.001+08:00

Folks living in the capital would be up in arms because certain roads have been sealed off due to security reasons - namely AnwarPhobia. The current BN government is in paranoid mode at the moment and fearing (rumored) demonstrations they issued a court order to block Anwar from coming near the Parliament building and stop any parliamentarian from bringing in guests into parliament.

Obviously, this current government is scared stiff, living in fear of shadows and they have the nerve to get the police and the courts to do their bidding. A weak and insecure government would act this way. A government desperately trying to cling on to power would act this way. A government out of touch with its people would act this way.

Malaysiakini reports:

Menteri Di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz berkata langkah keselamatan itu terpaksa diambil selepas beliau mendapat maklumat satu demonstrasi besar-besaran akan diadakan oleh pihak pembangkang sama ada di dalam ataupun di luar kawasan Parlimen, Isnin ini.

Source: Malaysiakini.

The stupid thing is, all this is a matter of "us against them" - government against opposition, BN vs PR, Anwar against the BN government, etc. The losers in all this is the rakyat. We are caught in all these politicking and no-one gives a damn to what's affecting our lives.

What has all this politicking done for us? It merely shows that our current government is WEAK. In the eyes of the world, we've never moved on. The act of governing the resources of the country has not taken off. Rather it has been side-lined by scandals and political rivalry that benefits us not. The rakyat is treated to a show of absurd proportions. A lot of "sweets" was given out by Pak Lah to placate the voices of dissent coming out from Sabah and Sarawak, but seriously how much of those billions will ever reach the people who need them most? So much talk about developing corridors and running projects but where are those projects now? What happened to the money being pumped into RMK9? We hear lots of promises and talk from the establishment but that is all it is, TALK!

No-one bothers with the fact that we struggle to buy the daily essentials, that financially, everyone is struggling to meet ends meet. No-one bothers about the fact, we all find the current political scenario very childish and that parliament now seems to be populated by insecure brats who succumb to playground bullying tactics and selfish little Napoleons making a quick buck at the expense of the rakyat.

I pay my taxes and this money goes to the running of the country yet I do not see tangible proof that this money is being used. Instead, I see ministers arguing over the length of a skirt, talking about little boxes of dirty proof, police chasing SD suspects and road blocks around seats of power. My tax money is being used to fund such stupid activities while I struggle to put food on the table because my pay is still the same yet the essentials to raise a family has gone up. It is sickening and down-right ridiculous that this government is more interested in protecting itself rather than then looking into the needs of those under their care.

In truth, the government do not see us a Malaysians, human beings struggling to live but rather, we are only people who put that "X" on a ballot paper that keeps them in power. Once our services are no longer needed, we are left to rot and fend for ourselves.