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

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.

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

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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Same old bash the blogger tune

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.

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Of DVDs and distraught candidates

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?

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No News unless its political

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.

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One Malaysia?

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.

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Sum of Many Parts

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...

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Acquitted but not innocent.

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.

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ISA for Crimes of Opinion

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.

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Khairy Jamaluddin in ISA?

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.

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

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!

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Is Pak Lah leaving?

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.

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

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!

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When the ship loses its captain.

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.

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Remember the 16th September 1963

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

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A weird week in Malaysian governance.

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.

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The BN government is running scared

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!

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The fantasy of Malaysian Unity

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.

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Damage control BN style - send the MPs away.

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.

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Anwar Past and Anwar Present

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.

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