Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Talam under MACC probe
- Zahid: AG confirms legitimacy of Scorpene purchase
- Does Najib really want feedback?
- Sign of desperation for Najib
- Putrajaya tightens screws on SUARAM, probing alleged civil service snitch
- 6 NGOs lodge reports against Anwar, 3 MPs
- It’s a threesome now as Faekah Husin joins in feud!
- Malaysia Week kicks off in London
- Faekah comes under fire from PKR
- Pakatan’s floor wage may cause RM7.2b outflow
- Politics in Malaysia is the most profitable business
| Posted: 06 Oct 2012 02:46 AM PDT
(Bernama) - The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has conducted preliminary investigations into allegations of questionable deals worth over RM1 billion between the Selangor government and Talam Corp, MACC deputy chief commissioner (operation) Mohd Shukri Abdull said today. "We investigate without fear or favour all information that we receive. If there is a sufficient basis that offences have been committed under the MACC Act, we will proceed with further investigations," he told Bernama here today. Shukri, however, refused to eloborate. He was commenting on a statement by MCA Young Professionals Bureau chief Chua Tee Yong that the Selangor government had bailed out financially distressed Talam and had acquired the company's assets in a debt restructuring exercise at a much higher price than officially valued. Chua had challenged the state government to explain how its exercise to recover a RM382 million debt from Talam ended in questionsble deals worth over RM1 billion.
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| Zahid: AG confirms legitimacy of Scorpene purchase Posted: 06 Oct 2012 02:40 AM PDT
(Bernama) - Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the Auditor-General has already explained that the purchase of Scorpene submarines was made according to legal procedures and his official report must be accepted by all quarters. In response to the opposition's plan to bring in a French lawyer, William Bourdon, to brief the Malaysian lawmakers on court proceedings in France on the purchase of the submarines, Ahmad Zahid (picture) hopes no quarters would twist the existing facts on the matter. He was also of the opinion that the lawyer was invited to Malaysia by the opposition merely with political motive and not so much for legal business. Ahmad Zahid said this to reporters after opening the Sekolah Agama Rakyat Al-Ulum Al Tarbiah's Sports Day in Kampung Tanah Lalang here today. The purchase of the submarines should be seen from the aspects of an offset programme, training, and performance assurance for certain period of time, he said, adding that it was really an old issue brought up to create public anger and confusion. On the request for the government to pay a monthly allowance of RM500 to army veteran who served during the emergency era, Ahmad Zahid said it was up to the prime minister to decide according to the government's financial ability. "It is quite difficult for the government to meet the request, but we have to be grateful that during the tabling of the 2013 budget the government had announced the one-off payment of RM1,000 for the army veterans as a token of appreciation for their contribution during the emergency era," he added.
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| Does Najib really want feedback? Posted: 05 Oct 2012 06:32 PM PDT
Now can you see why Najib is desperate? And now can you see why Najib needs to do better than what Abdullah Badawi did in March 2008? And now can you see why that makes Najib a very dangerous person? A person fighting for his life is more desperate and dangerous than a person fighting for his dinner. THE CORRIDORS OF POWER Raja Petra Kamarudin PM admits mistakes over Anwar BARRY PORTER in Singapore Malaysian premier Mahathir Mohamad has admitted making some fundamental mistakes in his heavy-handed treatment of his sacked former deputy Anwar Ibrahim. During a secret meeting with some of his closest political allies, Dr Mahathir confessed his hard-line strategy had partly backfired and said he and his colleagues should adopt a more diplomatic approach, acknowledging Anwar's good deeds while portraying him as a man of many weaknesses. A leaked document from the meeting Dr Mahathir had secretly with a circle of trusted supporters from his United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) in November has just been obtained by the Singapore Business Times. Citing party intelligence, Dr Mahathir pointed to almost daily defections of UMNO members to the Anwar camp as well as to the opposition for a need to change tack. "UMNO members are angry with the party leadership whom they view as having mistreated Anwar," he said, directing his colleagues to try to find means to pacify UMNO members within the party. "Do anything so that they can let off their steam on UMNO - in UMNO." Anwar, who is being tried for sexual misconduct and corruption, appears to have won considerable popular support for his accusation that he was victim to a political conspiracy. UMNO has 17 months in which to win sufficient public support to stage a general election. Dr Mahathir said the party had erred in being too graphic in its accusations about Anwar's sexual deeds. "People found it difficult to believe," the Prime Minister said. "It seems from the reports I received, this strategy doesn't really work, maybe because when we hentam [attack], the more sympathetic people will be towards Anwar." Dr Mahathir expressed shock that pro-UMNO newspapers, particularly the Malay-language Utusan Malaysia, had lost up to 40 per cent of their readership while 10 million Internet surfers had logged on to pro-Anwar Web sites. He urged pro-government newspapers to give more space to "pro-Anwar" stories to draw readers back to the establishment. This may explain the recent more balanced coverage of the Anwar trial. In another shift in stance, Dr Mahathir said greater concern should be given to international public opinion if Malaysia was to continue to attract investments. He cited criticism by futurist management guru Alvin Toffler, who threatened to quit as an adviser on Malaysia's Multi-media Supercorridor project in protest at Anwar's treatment. Dr Mahathir said: "If an adviser says 'don't invest in Malaysia', what's going to happen?" Dr Mahathir told Japan's Mainichi Shimbun yesterday that Anwar could become active in politics again if he was found not guilty. (SCMP, 14 Jan 1999) ******************************************** Najib wants a strong mandate Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak hopes that he will be given a strong mandate in the upcoming 13th general election to continue to deliver to the people and make Malaysia a fully developed nation by 2020. Najib, speaking in an interview with "CNBC Conversation" hosted by renowned anchor Martin Soong that was aired on Astro CNBC (Channel 518) today, said the next five years were very crucial for the government to fulfil commitments and promises made by previous leaders to the nation. "I'd like to have a strong mandate, Martin, because to achieve our vision of a fully developed nation by 2020, the next five years would be very crucial. Crucial, because you're talking about the last lap." "You're talking about going down the stretch and this is the most critical part because we really have to deliver, " he said. Najib was responding to a question as to how important the upcoming election was for him and also the importance of receiving a fresh mandate, especially in transforming Malaysia into a developed country by 2020. He said the transformation was a firm commitment made by the then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the early 1990s with his (Najib's) predecessor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi implementing part of it, and now it was his turn to deliver to the people. To a question, Najib, who is also Finance Minister, agreed that achieving sustainable and inclusive economic growth without upsetting the political landscape too much was one the challenges Malaysia faced in becoming a developed nation. However, he stressed that the key to make Malaysian society more equitable was to get growth to redistribute income back to the people. "Without growth, it will be a lose-lose situation. So if we get 5% to 6% within the time frame, then we will able to at the same time, ensure a more fair and equitable distribution of wealth in this country." In the 30-minute interview, Najib said the move (to get growth) was working and that the numbers were looking more positive in terms of Bumiputera participation. "…but it's not just about the equity numbers. We must also make sure that there is a fair distribution of income between the different levels of income groups in this country," he said. (Bernama, 6 Oct 2012) ******************************************** Last night, TV3 reported that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak welcomes feedback and criticism. Well, I do not know whether this is just a political statement or something that Najib really means. According to Free Malaysia Today, Najib is getting very desperate (read here: Sign of desperation for Najib). I have been aware of that for some time. The question is, though, what is Najib doing about it? Read the two pieces above. One piece is called PM admits mistakes over Anwar from SCMP dated 14th January 1999, and another called Najib wants a strong mandate of today's date. Actually, Najib's main concern is not Pakatan Rakyat. In the 2008 general election, Pakatan Rakyat won 82 Parliament seats and five states. And that saw Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi getting ousted from office. If Najib does as bad, or worse, then for sure he too is going to be ousted from office (even if Barisan Nasional wins the election). So, while most of us think that Najib's 'enemy' is Anwar Ibrahim and/or Pakatan Rakyat, that is not who Najib considers his real enemy. Najib's enemy is Umno and ex-Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Najib needs to do better than what Abdullah Badawi did in March 2008. And that means he cannot afford to lose five states and 82 Parliament seats (or more than that). He has to make sure that Pakatan Rakyat gets less than 80 seats in Parliament and less than five states. Then Najib can claim a 'victory' and would still remain Prime Minister right until the 14th General Election expected to be held around 2018 or so. As I said in a previous article, he who runs for his dinner is not as desperate as he who runs for his life. He who runs for his dinner merely misses a meal if he fails. He who runs for his life will die if he fails. Anwar Ibrahim is the Opposition Leader and Pakatan Rakyat is the Opposition party. If they fail to win enough seats to form the federal government nothing changes. Anwar will still remain Opposition Leader and Pakatan Rakyat will still remain the Opposition party. But the same can't be said for Najib. If Najib fails, he gets kicked out. And if he succeeds but with not enough seats to better the 2008 election performance, he will still get kicked out. Hence winning is not good enough. It has to be a win better than in 2008. Winning as bad or worse than in 2008 means Najib is dead either way. And the man who will decide whether Najib remains the Prime Minister is Dr Mahathir. And Dr Mahathir will not accept just a win. Just a win is not good enough. It has to be a win better than March 2008. Now can you see why Najib is desperate? And now can you see why Najib needs to do better than what Abdullah Badawi did in March 2008? And now can you see why that makes Najib a very dangerous person? A person fighting for his life is more desperate and dangerous than a person fighting for his dinner. Anwar has nothing to lose and everything to gain if he fails. Life will remain the same for Anwar even if he fails. Najib, however, cannot claim to be in that same situation. Do you think Pakatan Rakyat will leave Najib, Dr Mahathir, Umno, etc., alone if Barisan Nasional gets kicked out? So this is not just about winning or losing an election. It extends beyond just an election. And this is what GE13 is all about. So now can you understand what is going on and why it is a no holds barred situation? Come hell or high water, Barisan Nasional must not only win but must perform better than it did in March 2008. |
| Posted: 05 Oct 2012 05:27 PM PDT
The Economist says the prime minister has been keeping the country on an 'election footing' ever since he took over the helm. Free Malaysia Today Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is showing a "sign of desperation" besides acquiring a reputation for dithering over the election date, according to international weekly The Economist. "He now has the regrettable distinction of being Malaysia's second-longest-serving unelected prime minister, just behind his own father, the country's second prime minister [Tun Razak]," said the paper. Najib must call for an election by April the latest, but he has kept the country guessing on the actual date for the 13th general election. The paper noted that latest survey conducted by Merdeka Centre gave the prime minister an approval rating of 64%, "down from the high point of his popularity in the middle of 2010". But the popularity of the ruling coalition, the Barisan Nasional, "is much lower than the prime minister's own", it said. The weekly added that the prime minister's options are now diminishing fast. The paper also said that Najib is becoming more like former British prime minister George Brown who, instead of calling for an early election and securing his own mandate while he was still popular, preferred to play a waiting game. Brown had succeeded in pushing aside his predecessor Tony Blair, but "Mr Brown, unelected and indecisive, watched his authority drain away…", said The Economist. When Brown finally called for an election at the end of his term, he lost. Likewise, The Economist said, Najib took over the premiership after "an internal party coup in April 2009 against the then prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi". Ever since he took over the reins, Najib has been keeping the country on an "election footing". "All along, Malaysia has been on an election footing, with the cautious Najib ponderously cultivating the voters," said The Economist. Busy wooing voters The paper noted that in the meantime, Najib has been busy wooing voters. "He has crafted new policies for Malaysia's younger, unaligned citizens while giving away plenty of money to retain his party's traditional supporters, especially among the ethnic-Malay (and Muslim) majority," it said.
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| Putrajaya tightens screws on SUARAM, probing alleged civil service snitch Posted: 05 Oct 2012 03:50 PM PDT
(The Malaysian Insider) — Putrajaya will investigate claims that a civil servant has received bribes from Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) in return for national secrets, the latest move against the human rights group, which is already under probe for having "misleading accounts". SUARAM has been at the forefront of exposing alleged corruption in the multibillion ringgit Scorpene submarine deal this past year but has in turn been the subject of investigation into its funding, along with several other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and news portal Malaysiakini. "I cannot confirm or deny the allegations but we will monitor sensitive matters pertaining to national interest be it information, funds or outsiders," Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein told reporters after launching a Women's Safety Campaign at a school here yesterday. The minister was commenting on Thursday's newspaper statement by Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) president Azwanddin Hamzah, who claimed that RM100 million in foreign funds were believed to have been brought into the country since the human rights group was set up. Azwanddin had claimed several government servants were also believed to have been bribed with the funds to make decisions in favour of SUARAM associates and for government information and secrets. SUARAM has denied the statement that it bribed government officials to cover up information on its foreign funding and to gather information related to national security and government secrets from the Prime Minister's Department, Finance Ministry and the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM). It has also asked JMM to substantiate its allegations, and demanded an immediate apology and retraction of the allegations. Several groups and Putrajaya have focused on SUARAM after it revealed that former political aide Abdul Razak Baginda had sold Malaysian naval secrets to France. In April this year, the Tribunal de Grand Instance in Paris began its inquiry into SUARAM's claim that French naval firm DCNS had paid some RM452 million as a bribe to Malaysian officials to obtain a contract for two submarines. SUARAM had filed the complaint with the French courts in 2009. In a May 30 press conference in Bangkok, French lawyer Joseph Breham had revealed that a classified government document on the Malaysian navy's evaluation of the Scorpene submarines it was then planning to buy had been sold by Terasasi (Hong Kong) Ltd to DCNS for RM142 million. Abdul Razak, a former think-tank head who was at the centre of the 2006 investigation into the murder of former Mongolian model and translator Altantuya Shaariibuu, is listed as a director of Terasasi with his father, Abdul Malim Baginda. Weeks after the revelation, SUARAM came under close scrutiny of the CCM over its foreign funding sources, and the government agency said last week that it plans to charge the activist group for its "misleading accounts". Yesterday, the Young Journalists Club lodged a police report against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers Chua Tian Chang, Datuk Mahfuz Omar and R. Sivarasa for bringing three foreign lawyers to Parliament to discuss the Scorpene submarine issue, and demanded to know SUARAM's link to the case. Club president Dzulkarnain Taib said the organisation did not want foreign interference in the country's affairs. "What is the opposition's right to bring foreign lawyers to give a briefing in Parliament? "What is SUARAM's locus standi in the case?" Dzulkarnain said after lodging a report at the Dang Wangi police station here. The former Suara Keadilan editor identified the three lawyers as William Bourdon, the French lawyer who was deported from Malaysia earlier this year, Breham and Oliver Netzer. The journalist also asked about the ties between the opposition and SUARAM as well as the funds to bring the three lawyers here.
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| 6 NGOs lodge reports against Anwar, 3 MPs Posted: 05 Oct 2012 03:38 PM PDT
(Clockwise, from top left) Datuk Mahfuz Omar, Tian Chua, William Bourdon and R. Sivarasa (NST) - Six organisations, including five non-governmental organisations (NGOs), lodged police reports against opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and three members of parliament at the Dang Wangi police headquarters yesterday urging the home minister to investigate Anwar, Pokok Sena MP Datuk Mahfuz Omar, Subang MP R. Sivarasa and Batu MP Tian Chua for planning to bring three lawyers, including two from France, to represent Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) in briefing the Parliament on the Scorpene issue. The group's representative, Young Malaysian Journalists Club (YMJC) president Dzulkarnain Taib, said the three MPs had announced this during a press conference at the Parliament lobby on Wednesday. They said Anwar had given a written invitation to the lawyers to talk about the judicial inquiry on the purchase of Scorpene submarines. "The Scorpene issue is an internal matter. What is the opposition's plan in bringing in foreigners to talk about our country's matter?" One of the lawyers invited was Frenchman William Bourdon, who was arrested and deported in July last year for a visa violation. "We believe the opposition leaders attention was an attempt to mock and ridicule our Federal Constitution and our King." He said Anwar and the three MPs should also be questioned by the Parliament's disciplinary board. "This is a matter of principle. Outsiders should not interfere in our country's internal matter. Let the government handle it." He said YMJC and five other NGOs -- Jaringan Melayu Malaysia, Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa, Lembaga Kesedaran Pencegah Jenayah, Lembaga Pelindung Kebajikan Pengguna Malaysia and Muslim Consumer Association -- believed the move by the opposition leader could also disrupt harmony in the country. |
| It’s a threesome now as Faekah Husin joins in feud! Posted: 05 Oct 2012 03:32 PM PDT
(mynewshub) - The Azmin Ali-Khalid Ibrahim fued has grown more exciting! The plot has thicken! The Mentri Besar's ever so loyal political secretary Faekah Husin has joined in the fray by hammering the PKR number two, describing him as not so politically smart. "Politically, that is not a smart move. That alone can cause instability in the state administration," she was reported as saying. Instability in the state administration – these are powerful words. That's insubordination for sure. Actually, Faekah is telling Azmin to go and fly kite. But we know what emotions can do. Azmin was simply speaking up his mind. He wanted Khalid out of Selangor. It is an open secret he wants to replace Khalid. Well, good for Faekah. She better speaks up and defends her boss because if Azmin takes over as MB, she will be kicked out of Shah Alam too. She shouldn't be traveling so much in a private jet with Tian Chua and the other PR leaders. Better worry about your own seat in Shah Alam, stop jet setting to Sabah and Sarawak. The fight for the MB has started because Pakatan Rakyat seems cock sure of retaining Selangor. The jockeying for positions have started and knives have been sharpened as the various factions ensure only their men gets in. It's the same old story like how the warlords in Umno tries to sabotage their enemies during the polls. We can expect to see more of the same in PKR. Watch this space for more updates on the bitter feud in PKR.
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| Malaysia Week kicks off in London Posted: 05 Oct 2012 03:28 PM PDT
(Bernama) - LONDON: Malaysia Week 2012 in London kicked off with Malaysia Night, an event to showcase the vibrant culture and traditions of Malaysia to Britons, especially tourists visiting London, yesterday. Hosted by Malaysia Kitchen, it was held for the third time at Trafalgar Square, the prestigious landmark in London, from 12pm to 10pm and was opened by Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) Dr Wong Lai Sum. The event was held in collaboration with the five-day Malaysia Week celebration beginning today at South Bank, here. Also present was Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim. Others present were Malaysian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Datuk Seri Zakaria Sulong, famous Malaysian shoe designer Datuk Dr Jimmy Choo, Member of London Assembly, Greater London Authority, James Cleverly and United Kingdom Member of the European Parliament, Dr Syed Kamall. Besides providing Malaysian delicacies by 17 of London's leading Malaysian restaurants, visitors were also entertained to cultural performances, fashion shows and had the opportunity to buy textiles, crafts and art works. Dr Wong in her speech said organising such an event was to share the best of Malaysia, from its enchanting cuisine and quality products, to its mesmerising culture and tourism attractions. "For the past two years, the Malaysia Kitchen programme that has been run in London and various other parts of the United Kingdom has made a great leap and been a huge success in promoting and creating greater awareness about Malaysia," she said. She said the government had taken the opportunity to showcase Malaysia further and invite people to visit the country. "We want to introduce you the enchantment of Malaysia so that you can see for yourself and to get firsthand experience of this multi-ethnic and diverse culture and even while doing business in Malaysia," she said. She said Malaysia was a great place to do business in as well as a great place to do business with. "By the end of tonight, I hope you will have a better perspective of our country and you would want to visit Malaysia," she said. |
| Faekah comes under fire from PKR Posted: 05 Oct 2012 03:16 PM PDT
Selangor PKR says that the Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim's political secretary should not have commented on PKR deputy president Azmin Ali's statement recently. K Pragalath, FMT Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim's political secretary, Faekah Husin, has come under fire for defending her boss recently. "Selangor PKR leadership council is very disappointed with the unnecessary comments from Khalid 's political secretary which could have been made much more positively if she had taken the trouble to communicate with Azmin [Ali, the PKR deputy president] over the matter. "As far as Azmin is concerned, he has openly shown his full support in favour of Khalid," Selangor PKR deputy president Zuraida Kamaruddin said in a statement today. She was reacting to a statement by Faekah earlier this week that Azmin should not be deciding on the political fate of Khalid after the next general election. Azmin, PKR deputy president, had previously announced that Khalid would be offered a federal minister's post if Pakatan Rakyat were to form the next federal government after the 13th general election.
Zuraida, who is also Ampang MP and national PKR women's wing chief, said Faekah had "misunderstood" Azmin's statement. "Khalid's role at the federal level was unwisely misinterpreted by Faekah. If only Faekah held her breath for a second and finished reading the news report in good faith, she would understand the message that Khalid is a valuable asset to Pakatan," Zuraida added. She also advised Faekah to communicate with the state PKR leadership more frequently to avoid frictions within the party. "As an effective political secretary to the menteri besar, Faekah should concentrate on improving the political relationship between menteri besar and party leaders and not cause instability by unnecessarily jumping the gun," said Zuraida.
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| Pakatan’s floor wage may cause RM7.2b outflow Posted: 05 Oct 2012 03:10 PM PDT
Chua Tee Yong says the floor wage would benefit some three million foreign workers here, who send the money back to their countries of origin. Leven Woon, FMT MCA Young Professional Bureau chairman Chua Tee Yong has joined the fray over Pakatan Rakyat's RM1,100 floor wage proposal, claiming that it would cause RM7.2 billion capital outflow every year. Commenting on Pakatan's shadow budget 2013 in a statement today, Chua said the move to increase minimum wage from the current RM900 to RM1,100 would further add to the national debt burden. He pointed out that there are three million foreign workers in Malaysia, and a RM200 increase in salary would cost the market an extra RM600 million per month. "In one year, RM7.2 billion will be spent on these foreign workers. "The RM7.2 billion will be an outflow, as the money will be transferred out from the country to the respective countries of where the foreign workers reside," he said. Chua, who is also Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister, said the rakyat would eventually bear the consequences of this outflow. "The business owners will definitely pass all the incurred cost from the increase in the minimum wage to the rakyat and the rakyat will be the one to suffer from it. "The so-called facilitation fund from Pakatan [to help the employers], is only sufficient to last for less than two months. After that, the people will have to bear all the sufferings," he said. He noted that RM7.2 billion is equivalent to twice of the Barisan Nasional government's Bantuan Rakyat 1 Malaysia (BR1M) programmes, which only cost RM3 billion under the Budget 2013. Meanwhile, Chua also pointed out Pakatan's failure to include a mechanism to reduce oil price and highway tolls in its shadow budget. "How would they be able to reduce the petrol price? Where's the calculation?" he asked. Earlier this week, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin also criticised Pakatan's proposed minimum wage of RM1,100, saying it would bankrupt the small and medium industries (SMIs) and destroy the economy. However, Pakatan MPs insisted that this was not true as their floor wage comes hand-in-hand with financial assistance to the employers and a policy to stop dependence on foreign, unskilled labour.
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| Politics in Malaysia is the most profitable business Posted: 05 Oct 2012 02:59 PM PDT
Steve Oh, CPI I am sure most Malaysians will agree with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in a recent speech that there is more to corruption than government abuses. What more is not conjecture as much of it is in the public domain. Surely it must be evident from the various writings in Malaysiakini, CPI and other weblogs unless someone is so out of touch with the present reality and fails to recognise the angst and anger of many civic-minded Malaysians who see their country sliding down the slippery slope. It is true what Najib said that "What is often neglected, however, is the fact that corruption and corrupt behaviour is entangled deep with the moral fabric of all societies." He went on to say, "It is critical, therefore, people in positions of power and authority to exemplify the values they wish their constituents would follow". But does Najib believe what he says? And more importantly where is the walk besides the talk? All we have seen seems to be in the contrary. We are wont to ask, "Where is the example from the people in positions of power and authority?" Instead many blame successive BN administrations for the decrepit moral state of their country because of corruption and abuses of power, which Najib admits implicitly. And Najib has yet to shake off the ghost of Altantuya Shaaribuu whose murder still leaves the public with the question: "Who ordered the killing?" The incumbent government has much to answer for its failure to inspire the rest of the nation to higher moral conduct when it fails to apply the rule of law objectively across the board and involves its politicians and proxies in unbecoming acts such as the publishing of 'dirty videos' and other acts of political subterfuge. If inspiring is too much to ask, Najib will sound more convincing if he can stop his government from picking on Malaysians whose only crime is they want to see the greed he describes and the obsession with profit diminished. Excuses, excuses Najib's suggestion that "in some countries where severe punishment was meted out for corruption, it has not proven entirely effective" may explain why his administration is coy about allegations of corruption by some of his cabinet colleagues and the Sarawak Chief Minister Mahmud Taib. However I am not aware of the failure of strong measures to curb corruption that has not succeeded anywhere. Since Najib did not mention the countries, it is hard to substantiate the statement. However there is irrefutable and strong evidence we know that proves severe punishment works. Singapore is one success story worth noting. Singapore did not become what it is today – among the top nations on the global corruption index for squeaky clean governance – by making flimsy excuses like the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission for not having the power to take corrupt politicians to court. The Singapore no-nonsense approach has proven corruption does not pay, and where it is found it is dealt with harshly by the authorities and we have even seen a senior politician charged commit suicide. Surely the MACC's excuse of having no power in the light of much global evidence in the allegations of corruption by the political bigwig must send every anti-corruption agency around the globe scratching their heads. The truth is countries ensure there are laws to plug legal loopholes and every ploy by anyone to evade prosecution. Those governments ensure no one is above the law or out of its reach. There is even Interpol to help countries catch their criminals across borders. Let us not forget Dr Mahahtir Mohammed went to extreme lengths to change the country's constitution to get what he wanted and members of the royal family came under the scope of the law when he made it possible for them to be taken to court over civil and criminal matters where once they enjoyed legal impunity from prosecution. But if a government lacks the moral and political will, then it will give dishonest and lame excuses. And sadly that is the problem with the Najib administration that seems bent on punishing those who want to see improvements in the moral fibre of their politicians, and even a constructive group like Aliran is not spared from harassment. It begins with govt and its actions The government can't shirk its role in having created a political culture and society that has seen national integrity decline because of its corruption. Abuses of power filter outside of Putrajaya into the corridors of power and into the streets where cops are seen collecting bribes from illegal migrants and errant motorists. The people in their daily lives are confronted with corruption everywhere. With such moral insight that Najib exhibits in his speech, he ought to use his office and inspire his cabinet colleagues to lead Malaysia onto higher moral ground. After all, he espouses the virtues that Malaysians want to see badly after observing their nation bastardized by successive BN administrations. Even one that was relatively decent under Pak Lah was damned by Dr Mahathir Mohammed as "rotten".
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