Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Much work for Umno leaders after the general assembly
- Election hype and debates
- That liberalism, pluralism menace
- The fear to hold polls
- DAP must stick to Pakatan plot
- God, Comedy and the Umno General Assembly
- Musa Hassan’s motives
- PAS should accept public rejection of its puritanism
- Best to get it over with fast
- Wan Azizah should contest in Penang
- Numbers do not denote strength
- Just words and lip service
| Much work for Umno leaders after the general assembly Posted: 03 Dec 2012 03:17 PM PST
There are as many as 2.9 million new voters in the next general election. Umno can sit back and relax only after it has convinced these young voters aged between 22 and 29 years old. Lim Sue Goan, My Sinchew The recent Umno general assembly has once again proved the enthusiasm of the Malays in politics, and their allegiance to leaders. However, no matter how successful the assembly was and how well it demonstrated solidarity, the party's general assembly will never be the battlefield of the party. The assembly was filled with tears. Party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak successfully touched many delegates. However, the most important thing would be to touch voters. Therefore, no matter how high the morale was, Umno leaders still have much work to do to bring the momentum to the general election. Firstly, Najib must rectify the problem of overconfidence and arrogance in leaders at all levels. For example, Wanita Umno leader Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil's May 13 statement triggered concern while Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob even said that the MCA should "close shop" if it loses Bentong in the next general election and he will also cut off his ears and jump into the Pahang River. Such a cavalier attitude has been turned into a ready-made issue to be attacked by the alternative coalition, while making voters uncomfortable. Adnan also said BN will win 13 of the total 14 parliamentary seats in Pahang, while having half chance to win the remaining one seat. He even said that the number of parliamentary seats BN wins in Pahang will be equal to the number of Kuantan residents in favour of the Lynas rare earth refinery. It is puzzling how he can so amidst the strong opposition against the Lynas project? The top priority now would be to teach leaders about humility. Only those who are modest will know their own inadequacies. Secondly, Umno must restore the people's confidence as soon as possible. Various controversial issues have eroded public confidence in the existing system, including whether the rise of the national debt would cause the reduction of subsidies after the election or, worse, lead the country towards bankruptcy? The government has guaranteed the safety of the rare earth refinery but it has not fully explained about the Asian Rare Earth (ARE) plant in Bukit Merah. The construction of ARE's second permanent disposal facility is scheduled to be completed in March 2013 and it will be monitored by the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) for 300 years. Three hundred years involve a few generations and it is afraid that the country might have to bear a huge cost. The government also said that Lynas must ship rare earth waste abroad, but Lynas said that all waste will be converted into commercial by-products. Who should we listen to? Who can ensure that all waste will be converted into by-products? There are as many as 2.9 million new voters in the next general election. Umno can sit back and relax only after it has convinced these young voters aged between 22 and 29 years old. Thirdly, Najib must offer the people a new direction. The transformation plans have reached a bottleneck and failed to solve corruption problems as well as boost vitality in the economy. The RM40 million political donation and former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan's criticism of the police force have reflected the lack of transparency in the existing system. The government-related enterprises' performances are also poor. MAS's accumulated loss has reached RM8.19 billion and it has to implement a reorganisation plan. Meanwhile, Petronas posted a 21.3 per cent fall in third-quarter net profit. What should we do if the world economy encounters a recession next year? Transformation and reforms are not just about adjusting the minor parts. It should not be controlled by politics either. If the BN is able to put an end to the various problems which are shaking its credibility, it will then be on the way to success. The problems come from them, instead of the alternative coalition.
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| Posted: 03 Dec 2012 03:04 PM PST It is not up to the political elites to decide what is, or what is not, Malaysian culture, especially when it comes to the much anticipated prime ministerial debate. Three generations have passed; 12 general elections have come and gone; six prime ministers have helmed the bridge of the beautifully built but badly sailed ship of Malaysia; yet, there has only been one government, one ruling party, one business plan and one corrupt hole that those at the top keep digging at the expense of the rakyat. By Howard Lee, FMT The general election is just around the corner. At every corner you turn and in every conversation you hear, the election is being talked about passionately. Regardless of whichever side of the political divide one stands on, the future of the nation is at stake, our fates as well as those of our children and their children hang in the balance. The Malaysian experiment in democracy had at its core the guiding principles of progress through 'check and balance', and mechanisms such as the 'separation of powers' and two tiered parliamentary representation built in to ensure a progressive union of the rakyat. However instead of progress, the experiment has pushed our country further away from its goals. Three generations have passed; 12 general elections have come and gone; six prime ministers have helmed the bridge of the beautifully built but badly sailed ship of Malaysia; yet, there has only been one government, one ruling party, one business plan and one corrupt hole that those at the top keep digging at the expense of the rakyat. All this has been garnished by lies after deceptions, time and time again. I was recently lucky enough to spend two weeks in America, during the last frantic few weeks of campaigning for the recent US presidential election. Though I am no stranger to foreign politics – having been involved in British politics with the Liberal Democrats – being in New York two weeks before the acid test of Obama's new politics of Hope and Change, was nothing short of an eye opener. Fortunate enough to be present for three out of the four most important debates in the US legislative term; namely the vice presidential debate, the presidential town hall debate, and the presidential foreign policy debate, I never knew where my threshold for overdosing on politicking was, until now. Polls in the US On TV, analysts and spokespersons from both sides of the divide were interviewed on split screens around the clock and across time zones, whilst live debates and polls assessed every nuance, slip, or hidden meaning behind the speaker's words. Competition raged amongst the countless TV channels to deliver the most impressive visual presentations of the latest polling figures, not to mention opinion pieces on candidate's choice of words, narrative style, perceptive strategy, body language, and last and sometimes seemingly least, their stand on the various pressing issues and topics they stood for. Granted, the buzz surrounding the debate does tend to verge on the side of overkill. More often than not, both parties employ huge resources and go startling lengths to tear apart their opponent with minute details. But this façade (although it must be navigated with care) does not take away from the ultimate purpose: to inform and to get people talking about each candidate and what policies they stand for. My daily 15-minute queue for my Sumatran Macchiato in Starbucks saw students of all hues and accents discussing politics; teenagers whining about how uncool one candidate was compared to the other; and a group of high-powered well-dressed business women biting at one of the talking points. It was a big deal! Whether it was the substance that they cared about, or simply the presentation, they were certainly participating in the discussion. All that, can be said for every elections, in every democratic nation in the modern world. It's definitely applicable to our political reality in Malaysia. But one could be quite surprised to find that the above paragraph is a statement made by an American citizen of Mexican descent in his 20's named Miguel working as a barman in New York. And it's not Malaysia he's talking about. Ultimately, through extensive debates and the public dismantling of policy; each and every member of the public has the opportunity if he or she wishes to become part of the debate.
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| That liberalism, pluralism menace Posted: 03 Dec 2012 03:00 PM PST The writer takes a cynical and satirical look on how the Malays must come to terms with themselves. Racism has been around in Malaysia for half a century, so why bother to dismantle it? And why must they blame Umno for looking after the Malays with affirmative action, when MCA and MIC conveniently ignored their own people? Great leaders like Dr Mahathir Mohamad has reaffirmed that those race-based parties are here to stay. PAS is but a fine example. Iskandar Dzulkarnain, FMT Liberalism and pluralism have engulfed the nation, and this negative phenomenon is slowly afflicting the Malays, causing them to turn away from the path of righteousness. Even Umno which has been lovingly protecting the Malays for the last 50 years and the various religious authorities are now watching open-mouthed in horror as liberalism sweeps across the land unhindered – infecting unsuspecting Muslims. Yes, once this affliction manifests itself, it will cause widespread confusion among the Malays causing them to question themselves, question the state and question their religious beliefs. Sometimes they may even question each other. Some are already questioning why there is so much repression of their individual freedoms, in comparison to the non-Malays. Unable to control themselves, they are also starting to question the royalty, the state and the religion. And worse, they are now questioning the hand that feeds them (Umno). Some are even questioning the need for Malay supremacy. How disappointing is that? It is a pity that there are so few organisations like Perkasa around to protect Malay rights. Ibrahim Ali is a rare breed and he epitomises the true towering Malay. Racism has been around in Malaysia for half a century, so why bother to dismantle it? And why must they blame Umno for looking after the Malays with affirmative action, when MCA and MIC conveniently ignored their own people? Great leaders like Dr Mahathir Mohamad has reaffirmed that those race-based parties are here to stay. PAS is but a fine example. When there was lack of jobs for the Malays, Umno absorbed them into the civil service. Yet the Malays remain unappreciative of the fact, due largely to liberalism. They think if they choose Pakatan Rakyat, there will be more individual freedom and liberal thought. They think there will be lesser interference to the way they want to live. Malays have been warned That's why, what Nurul Izzah said also had me and the whole nation quite confused, even though I can "a little speaking". What she said was too liberal and the Malays must not entertain such pluralistic thoughts. The younger generation could go quite berserk. The state doesn't ask very much of the Malays. Only once every five years to give them our mandate to carry on whatever they are doing and they will leave us alone to our fate. And yet some Malays seem to think that the state wants to control our minds and our thoughts. Already, Umno has warned us many times that PAS is out to get us, and if we believe in their extreme ideologies, we will be even more entrapped. Let Pakatan Rakyat deceive the public with its Malaysia for Malaysian slogans or a caring government that will serve the people and accord all citizens individual freedoms. The Malays do want to be part of such liberal ideologies. We are contented with the status quo and many of us are preparing in earnest for the hereafter. Yes, liberalism has caused many Malays to leave Umno's fold and to dine with the enemy (PAS). Today, there are many liberals in PAS, questioning Umno's impeccable religious credentials, and even have the cheek to call Umno murtad (apostates). Now, isn't that a little too extreme? PAS' consistency in belittling the faith of its Muslim political opponents shows that it lacks legitimacy as reformers, said Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein. Isn't that food for thought? Although liberalism has a broad meaning, it does not mean moderation. Moderation is practised by the Muslims in this country but PAS has a higher agenda and intent on introducing a more Islamic outlook. It is not contented that Malaysia is already an Islamic country and wants a purer and more unadulterated version. So the Malays will have to get ready for a better version to their existing way of life some day. Religious authorities have made the call to curb liberalism among the Muslims. Compared to Muslims around the world, the Muslims in this country are relatively weak, especially the younger generation that needs to be constantly nurtured. A borderless world has distracted the Muslims from their focus, causing them to embrace liberalism and pluralism and to seek for political change. PAS Youth has called for more religious education to fill this vacuum. Liberalism begets forgetfulness Young Scholars Secretariat (Ilmu) working committee chairman Ustaz Fathul Bari Mat Jahaya said pluralism was an understanding which adopted extreme tolerant attitude based on western perspective. "I am waiting for the National Fatwa Council to issue a clear fatwa [edict] on the understanding for Muslims to refer to," he said. The fatwa needs to be implemented with strict religious action and enforcement to eradicate such ills effectively. Meanwhile, the Ulama have questioned the Malays who believe in celebrating the diversity and plurality of Malaysian society. This is a tradition that should not be overly promoted as it may threaten the faith of Muslims. Certain guidelines for proper intermingling have been drawn up as intermingling between the races has become too close for comfort. What the government has done for the Malays in the past have been conveniently forgotten, and today the Malays have become rebellious. They have lost respect for the authorities and the government. This needs to be checked. Liberalism has gone out of control until the Malays are willing to vote against the very government that has nurtured them from day one. It has gone so bad that the Malays cannot be depended upon to make the right choice even though they have been given the freedom to exercise their vote. Today, even affirmative actions for the Malays are being questioned and dissected by liberal Malays themselves. They question the role of BTN (Biro Tata Negara or National Civics Bureau), and is efforts to unite the Malays.
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| Posted: 02 Dec 2012 12:59 PM PST After frightening the rakyat into believeing that only Umno can ensure peace and prosperity in this nation, Najib himself is now in fear of calling for the election CT Ali, FMT Why are we talking about who will be prime minister after the 13th general election? Why are we wondering if Pakatan Rakyat will be our choice or if Barisan Nasional will still be in control of our destiny? Why? Are we even going to have a general election? This prime minister of ours, who has been putting fear into our hearts, is himself afraid to call for a general election. Was it not this prime minister who told the Chinese that if they do not want to lose all the wealth that they have gained thus far, then they must vote BN because if Pakatan comes to power, they will lose it all? This same prime minister told the Malays that they must be united and make sure Umno is still in power if they do not want to lose all that they have gained under Umno these last 50 over years. If the Malays do not vote, Umno they will lose Ketunanan Melayu (Malay supremacy), lose their Sultans, lose their privileges. And it is this same prime minister who put fear into all the other races in Malaysia, telling them that only Umno can ensure peace and prosperity in this nation of ours. And this prime minister who has put all this fear into us all is now himself in fear of calling an election? Why is he so much in fear of calling for the 13th general election? Is it because all the information available to this prime minister tells him that BN will lose in the 13th general election? That Special Branch has reported to him that BN will not be the rakyat's choice for government after the 13th general election? This, in spite of the RM500 already given to so many of them; in spite of the tyres already bought for taxi drivers; in spite of the Hari Raya bonus for civil servants; in spite of all the transformation programmes and economic initiatives started by Najib Tun Razak. Win or lose, Umno is in for the ride of its life! Everything has changed for Umno and yet nothing has changed within Umno. The world outside Umno has evolved towards an open, responsible and accountable society where everyone wants to have a voice and a role to play (if they so choose) in their future. But nothing has changed within Umno. Desperate plea Few people think that Najib can deliver what he has been promising. Taxi drivers could not care less – they already have their tyres. The civil servants will have their bonus and all those who would have benefited from any cash handouts have had their cash. So would they remember that it was Najib and BN that gave them the cash and vote for him and BN in the 13th general election? Maybe they will, maybe they will not. As Mahathir said, "Melayu mudah lupa" and the same can be said of many Malaysians. Najib desperately hopes that this time around the people of Malaysia and the "pendatangs" (immigrants) who have been given right of abode and the right to vote, all of them will be translated into votes for BN . If it does not, then Najib has a problem. And that makes him very afraid of what the 13th general election will bring him. I do not envy the game Najib is playing but he has no other choice. He has nothing to draw upon from his years in public service to validate his desperate plea to the people to give him an elected term in office as their prime minister. Do you want Najib as your prime minister? What credentials does he possess to ask us for the privilege of leading us after the 13th general election? And do not forget that it is a privilege to be leader of any nation – not a right! And who will give him the privilege of leading this nation again come the 13th general election?
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| DAP must stick to Pakatan plot Posted: 02 Dec 2012 12:52 PM PST The DAP is yet another party, like PAS, that has joined the 'reformasi' and benefited largely from the electoral 'tsunami' of 2008. Ali Cordoba, FMT The big question being asked is whether the DAP has turned itself into a "submarine", using the Chinese voters, to "tag" along with PKR and impose its agenda after the general election. The party is still moving on the fringe of the Malay-Muslim community despite its association with Pakatan Rakyat and its landmark rule in Penang. The extent of their "fright" was seen with some PAS members voicing their "concerns" at the Islamist party's collaboration with DAP. And this, after having enjoyed the victories that came with PAS' association with the "ogre". The most hard-hitting criticism of the PAS-DAP alliance came from Umno, with Perkasa taking the frontline offensive. The DAP has been linked to former communist elements, yet this is only part of the heavy criticism that PAS had to contend with in recent times. The demonising of DAP will continue into the final days of the 13th general election. The risk with this state of affairs, is that Pakatan may end up losing more support if the DAP is continuously portrayed as "traitors" and as the "ogre" that will eat the Malays once it is in power. If the DAP's role in the Pakatan coalition is to represent the Chinese community, it is certain that it does not have 100% support from the community. PKR has a wider appeal for the fence-sitters in the Chinese community since it is well represented in the party. The Chinese seem more comfortable with Anwar Ibrahim's leadership in PKR than with MCA's junior role in BN. The DAP is yet another party, like PAS, that has joined the "reformasi" and benefited largely from the electoral "tsunami" of 2008. The party has also benefited from its association with Pakatan in Sabah and Sarawak and will continue to do so as long as it is associated with Anwar and Pakatan. These are facts DAP cannot deny. Henceforth, any "hidden" agenda by the DAP, if any, to subvert Pakatan's victory parade in the corridors of power will be futile. Why is that so? Pakatan is today a transformed organisation. The people voting for Pakatan are those voting for change. There will only be change in Malaysia if Pakatan remains a solid and united political coalition after it takes power. Any attempt by the DAP to impose any of the anti-Malaysia and anti-Islam agenda will fail as there will be no majority in the Parliament to support such a move. Status quo Likewise, a Pakatan cabinet will be Muslim-dominated. Unfortunate as this sounds, the reality is that the next regime in place will be forced to continue to play along "communal" lines. There is no way Pakatan can deny the role played by the Malay-Muslim community in local politics. PAS and PKR, under Anwar, will have to ensure that the status quo on the communal field is respected. The DAP will, nevertheless, get to play a more active and a greater role in enhancing Pakatan's avowed policies of equality, justice and fairness for all Malaysians. If this is what the Umno-BN and pro-Umno, pro-extreme right Malay voices within the PAS are afraid of, then there is nothing they can do if Pakatan is in the seat of power in Putrajaya. There are reports, unconfirmed of course, of the DAP being infiltrated by former communist elements. There again, it is doubtful that these elements – if they are given a chance to be in Parliament – will be able to influence any decision-making that may affect the Malays. In the event former communist elements within the DAP are catapulted into the cabinet, one wonders whether they will be able to carry out subversion in the country. The claims that such elements have infiltrated the DAP is indicative of a total failure of the strict and draconian laws that were in place to curb subversive elements. If 54 years of the Internal Security Act (ISA) did not stop the "communists" from camouflaging and infiltrating into Pakatan on the onset of the "reformasi" era, then what can stop them? Does the DAP have a pro-China agenda that will boost the Chinese community's progress report card in Malaysia? There is little doubt that a regime under the helm of Anwar will have a very pro-Western approach. Pakatan in power, if it wins the general election, will tend to consolidate Asean's new-found trust in the US. It will also kowtow to the "Asian values", promoted by Anwar while he was deputy prime minister. Pakatan will not allow Malaysia to become a "mini-China" as it will be guided – as mentioned above – by the need to protect the majority community while it enhances the role of the minorities. Here again, we see how DAP will be limited in its scope to influence even the foreign policies of a country run by Pakatan. The opposition coalition has, on many occasions, shown support for the "revolts" in the Arab world and is against the survival of the Bashar Al-Assad regime in Syria. If this is any yardstick to measure the DAP's real influence in Pakatan, then one might just say that China will lose more under a Pakatan regime in Malaysia than it is under a BN regime. China is a supporter of the Assad regime and has vetoed attempts by the West to declare total war against Syria. This is against Pakatan's foreign policy, which is a pro-war approach in Syria.
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| God, Comedy and the Umno General Assembly Posted: 02 Dec 2012 07:59 AM PST
It is the level of intellectuality that comes from decades of playing to the gallery, of pandering to the masses who have been deliberately manipulated to remain politically immature and intellectually challenged through being provided sub-standard education. And so to reach out to these masses, our so-called leaders appeal to the lowest common denominator. Kee Thuan Chye The Umno General Assembly has often come across as reality comedy. Its 'performers' unwittingly amuse us with their unintentionally comic turns. This year, they didn't disappoint. Wanita chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, whose family is embroiled in the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) scandal that cost her the renewal of her senatorship, says that for the upcoming general election, she is a winnable candidate. God help her. Indeed, God was invoked on several occasions throughout the general assembly, sometimes for the sake of seeking His help. President Najib Razak urged Umno members to pray hard to God in order to win the general election. "Let us pray so that with His blessings, we will continue to be the country's ruling party," he said. The subtext of that smacked of a loss in confidence. In fact, Najib's rhetoric in the past several months has been reflective of that. He has been practically begging his audiences to "give us another term", an appeal no Umno leader has ever stooped to. They had always taken it for granted that they would rule long-term. He has been persuading voters not to change the government, as if he were expecting them to. He has been bashing the Opposition parties at every available opportunity, to influence voters not to vote for them. At the general assembly, he even entertained the prospect of losing: "We can replace treasures or honour that are lost, but if we lose this fight, we will be left with nothing." He was of course exaggerating – because not winning Putrajaya doesn't amount to losing everything – but he was nonetheless acknowledging the possibility of defeat. No other Umno president before him has ever had to countenance that. Now Najib cannot bank on the confidence of the Umno of the past to carry him cockily to the general election; it has been too deeply mired in corruption and cronyism, and the rakyat have got wise to it. He even apologised at the general assembly for all the wrongdoings of Umno and the other parties in the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. But, as they say, it may be a case of "too little, too late". And it certainly is of no use if the corrupt practices are still continuing. Why, for instance, has he not answered the allegations of businessman Deepak Jaikishan that for his help in facilitating a project deal, his family was paid by the latter, and that Deepak got involved in the case involving the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu because he wanted to help Najib's family? Why did Najib leave it to Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to volunteer to reply to Deepak? This exposé, the NFC scandal and the question surrounding the RM40 million "political donation" received by Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman have caused untold damage to Umno. It may not fully recover from the blows. Even so, there was much bravado flaunted at the general assembly. There was talk among Umno leaders of winning the general election with a two-thirds majority and recapturing all the four states now in Pakatan Rakyat's hands. They might have prayed to God first before they offered these predictions. Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob even said to the media, "I tell you, DAP cannot win in Bentong. Cannot win! If DAP wins in Bentong, you cut off my ears and I'll jump into the Pahang river." Such haughtiness! Well, just to see if he will keep his word, the electorate should vote BN out of Bentong. Earless Adnan might be a more humble person after that! Hey, but the next day, probably feeling scared that his Bentong prediction might actually prove wrong, he did a flip-flop. That, however, made him even more laughable. He said he didn't mean "cut off my ears" literally. He said he was using figurative language. "Do you know figurative speech? In English language, we have figurative speech. We have simile, we have metaphor, hyberbole," he said. "So when I say cut off my ears, that means they (DAP) can never win ... not that if we (BN) lose, they (the Opposition) take the knife and cut off my ears literally." And why did he use "figurative language"? His reply: "… to let people learn English"! Hahaha! That got me rolling on the floor – because "cut off my ears" is not at all a figure of speech in the English language! Adnan doesn't know that and he wants others to learn English? What a clown! The epitome of the know-nothing who behaves like a know-all! Or a case of someone who's caught and simply tembak (shoots)! And since there's no such figure of speech, dear voters, please continue sharpening your knives. Meanwhile, enjoy the most hilarious, most misplaced joke that came out of the assembly – courtesy of Umno Youth information chief Reezal Merican Naina Merican, who said Umno is the party chosen by God to liberate the chosen land of Malaysia. Woweee! This is fresh! This is creative! This is … divine! He even said God's chosen people are the Malays living in Malaysia. But hang on! Doesn't "God's chosen people" traditionally refer to the Israelites? And the chosen land to the Nation of Israel? Jews, baby! Did Reezal make a boo-boo in associating with the enemy? Was he even aware of it? He said God is the true authority over all governments, the giver of power to those that He has chosen, so he must believe that Umno-BN will win the next general election. But what if it doesn't? Will he stop believing in God? What kooky thinking! Here's something Adnan could learn from in terms of the English language – an example of hyperbole. Reezal was probably trying to outdo his Umno Youth boss, Khairy Jamaluddin, by waxing so hyperbolic. The day before, Khairy quoted from Winston Churchill's famous speeches in his call to fight Pakatan Rakyat, but he obviously went overboard. He was comparing the next general election to World War Two. But come on la, brudder, they're not the same la. While Churchill's "we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets" and "we will continue hand in hand like comrades and brothers until every vestige of the Nazi regime has been beaten into the ground" are inspiring, Khairy's "we will debate them in Parliament, we will smash their arguments in coffee shops, we will expose their lies in cyberspace … we will lay this wretched Pakatan coalition into the ground!" sounds terribly frivolous. Schoolboyish even. The scary thing about all this comedy is that among the people spewing this rubbish are holders of high public office, and that some of the Umno Youth upstarts may one day become ministers. Even outside of the general assembly, you get the Chief Minister of Melaka, Ali Rustam, accusing Singapore of interfering in Malaysian politics simply because the briefing by French lawyers on the Scorpene investigations in France were recently held there. Worse, last week Deputy Defence Minister Abdul Latiff Ahmad disparaged the name of French lawyer William Bourdon by changing it to "Bodoh" (stupid). The jury may have no difficulty in deciding who was being "bodoh" in this case, but it showed the level of class and intellectuality among our so-called leaders. It is the level of intellectuality that comes from decades of playing to the gallery, of pandering to the masses who have been deliberately manipulated to remain politically immature and intellectually challenged through being provided sub-standard education. And so to reach out to these masses, our so-called leaders appeal to the lowest common denominator. They are the avatars of "the devil we know" – the phrase Mahathir Mohamad recently coined to describe Umno-BN – and they often exhibit the worst characteristics of politicians. The crucial question is: Do we want these types to continue leading the country? Do we want them to be the chosen ones, i.e. chosen by us? At the coming general election, do we vote them in – again? All I can say is, God help us if we do. * Kee Thuan Chye is the author of the bestselling book No More Bullshit, Please, We're All Malaysians, available in bookstores together with its Malay translation, Jangan Kelentong Lagi, Kita Semua Orang Malaysia.
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| Posted: 01 Dec 2012 04:37 PM PST
Some notable retired senior officers have joined PAS, including former Bukit Aman CID chief Fauzi Shaari, former chief secretary for the ministry of land and cooperative development Nik Zain Nik Yusof, former solicitor-general Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden, and former TUDM officer Mohd Nazari Mokhtar. Lim Sue Goan, Sin Chew Daily The policy speech by the Umno president at the annual general assembly is often a kind of political show the entire nation closely watches. Unfortunately, this year's show has been hijacked by former IGP Tan Sri Musa Hassan. Even as Najib Razak hit out hard at Pakatan Rakyat and tabulated the accomplishments of the Barisan Nasional government, Musa Hassan's shocking revelation has nevertheless exposed the administrative weaknesses of our government agencies. Musa Hassan is no ordinary retired civil servant, and as such the government should seriously consider setting up an independent panel to probe his accusations which must not be downplayed as immaterial or be trifled with. If Musa Hassan's accusation that politicians have intervened in police affairs is true, the operation of the police force will be adversely affected and its integrity eroded. The police force is tasked with the responsibility of keeping the social order intact and, therefore, must exercise its professionalism to achieve this in the absence of political intervention. Musa said when the police were about to arrest some heavyweight suspects, they would often receive calls from those in power. If the country's laws cannot be justly upheld, how do we expect the public to have faith in our law enforcement? The Malaysian police force should be an unbiased enforcement institution. If it fails to operate independently, it would be very difficult for it to carry out its duties during the upcoming general election. Musa Hassan also exposed links between senior police officers and illegal gangs, an accusation that would jeopardise the integrity of the police force. When police discipline is involved, things will suddenly become very sensitive. Because of Musa Hassan's previous objection to the setting up of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), the issue of police misconduct remains unresolved to this day. The MACC investigations and subsequent charges against Musa Hassan and former CID chief Ramli Yusof are nothing we can be proud of. The police force must strive to improve its image instead of persistently rejecting supervision. If a split takes place at the top ranks of the police force, how do we expect them to set a good example for their subordinates? Thirdly, Musa Hassan also queried the reliability of the police's crime data, and this has begun to arouse public suspicion. Well familiar with the modus operandi of the police force, Musa Hassan highlighted the fact that some police officers have resorted to converting unresolved cases to "no further action" cases in a bid to achieve the government's crime reduction targets. Without true and genuine figures, the minister will be kept in the dark and thus wrongly assess the actual crime situation in the country. This August, the Centre for Policy Initiatives (CPI) received a letter said to be from an anonymous police officer making the same accusations. As such, it is imperative that the police's crime figures be appraised by an independent third party institution with the hope the root cause of the problem could be identified. Fourthly, why do some senior civil servants continue to slam the government after their retirement? Some notable retired senior officers have joined PAS, including former Bukit Aman CID chief Fauzi Shaari, former chief secretary for the ministry of land and cooperative development Nik Zain Nik Yusof, former solicitor-general Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden, and former TUDM officer Mohd Nazari Mokhtar. The BN government has been taking very good care of our civil servants; the defection by any of them could deal a serious blow on Umno.
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| PAS should accept public rejection of its puritanism Posted: 01 Dec 2012 04:26 PM PST
Even more troubling is that both parties failed to rebut firmly such proposed interference by PAS. Far from blaming Barisan Nasional for raising these embarrassments to Pakatan Rakyat, the coalition must look within itself to make peace with modern social realities, particularly as a general election approaches. The Star ALL sane and responsible people understand the need to live by certain ethical values and moral standards. Malaysians, generally, have never been an "anything goes" people. But at the same time, many of us also realise that these values and standards tend to be subjective, being personal or communal in scope, limits and interpretation. All modern societies are heterogeneous spaces with myriad tastes and expressions, afforded between the rights of citizens and the laws of the land. However much we may sometimes wish to see our values and standards apply throughout society, beyond what is commonly provided for by societal consensus and existing laws, formal codes that set the limits still need to undergo due process in being fashioned by enlightened minds and fettled by mature policymakers. That means we must avoid imposing our values and standards on others beyond what is deemed acceptable by society at large. When imposition involves political application, and more so the actualisation of a particular group's supposed norms on the whole country, we need to be doubly circumspect. That is why the PAS edict in Kelantan barring hairdressers of one gender from attending to clients of another is so troubling. The worst is assumed in the business relationship between all vendors and customers without any basis whatsoever, incurring business losses to many innocent parties through unjust fines and unwarranted prohibitions. Such unreasonable strictures apply on various fronts, including entertainment and sports. At the recent PAS party conference, there was self-criticism over a perceived failure to "set policies" for PKR and DAP on these issues. Even more troubling is that both parties failed to rebut firmly such proposed interference by PAS. Far from blaming Barisan Nasional for raising these embarrassments to Pakatan Rakyat, the coalition must look within itself to make peace with modern social realities, particularly as a general election approaches. PAS has ventured overzealously into similar issues before and had been rejected roundly by the people. It should accept the unpopularity of its stand and seek to revise it, renounce it or just forget it. We understand that PAS now wants to press the Information, Communications and Culture Ministry for tighter curbs on future music concerts. It should try an independently monitored referendum on the subject instead, and see how the public respond.
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| Posted: 01 Dec 2012 10:21 AM PST No one should complain about the campaigning period being limited because the reality is that since the 2008 general election, where Barisan lost its two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat, both Barisan and Pakatan Rakyat have been busy campaigning. Everything has been seen to be political since then and no one has been spared. Wong Chun Wai, The Star Most of us now expect the general election to take place in March. Hopefully, we can then all get back to some sanity and not waste time on silly political antics. I KNOW most of us would have said this of the past few years: The year has passed on really fast. But seriously, this year has REALLY gone by fast. Just a few weeks from now, another year will be over. Everything seems to have just zapped past our eyes and it's frightening because I can still remember vividly the parties I attended during the festive seasons. The only thing that has not happened is the general election. For many, lives seemed to have been put on hold because of it. There have been so many wrong predictions, postponed vacations, cancelled meetings and false starts. Our plans have been disrupted in many ways. The next popular date now is some time in March, which is based on the assumption that the Prime Minister would seek the dissolution of Parliament after the Chinese New Year celebration, which begins on Feb 10. There isn't much time left because the Barisan Nasional term ends on April 28, which means that by the next two months, the momentum for the elections should be peaking. No one should complain about the campaigning period being limited because the reality is that since the 2008 general election, where Barisan lost its two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat, both Barisan and Pakatan Rakyat have been busy campaigning. Everything has been seen to be political since then and no one has been spared. Even badminton hero Datuk Lee Chong Wei found himself the target of a Tweeter attack from a mindless DAP politician who was apparently cheering for his Chinese opponent Lin Dan. Lee also found himself being belittled by supporters of Pakatan Rakyat on Facebook because of his wedding plans. As it was his wedding, he had the right to decide who he wanted to invite and who he wanted to sit with. Even his big day was the target of incredulous political connotations. Then there is the Automated Enforcement System (AES) speed trap plan. That has become a political bombshell too. Strangely, no one from either side of the political divide has demanded that the police stop putting up roadblocks along the highways. These roadblocks are irritating and give rise to suspicions of corruption. Most of us, especially those who claim to despise corruption, would want to end any perception that conversations in the middle of the road revolve around the "macam mana selesai" (how to resolve this) question. So, if you are not speeding or breaking any speed limit, why would you complain about the AES? Going to church or the mosque can turn political too in this over-extended silly political season. If Barisan supporters find it painful listening to imam or pastors who seem to be inclined towards Pakatan Rakyat, the same must surely be felt by supporters of the latter who have to listen to a pro-Barisan preacher. I believe those who advocate loudly about purported political consciousness in places of worship wouldn't be so enthusiastic if their preachers were inclined to Barisan in their sermons. But there shouldn't be different sets of rules. Going for a haircut in a unisex salon can become political too if you are in Kelantan because the PAS-controlled state wants to impose its brand of religious fervour on the people. Going gay has taken a different meaning now. Older Malaysians like me were taught that "going gay" means "being happy" but now it means adopting a certain sexual preference. For PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan, it can mean that you become "hedonistic and gay" after attending an Elton John concert. And simply by questioning every concert coming to town with his political-religious stance, Nasrudin has made it into the world news. Now, he is demanding that the Information, Communications and Culture Ministry consult him on any concert to be staged in Malaysia. Good luck to PAS supporters; he deserves your vote. I wonder how he missed protesting against Jennifer Lopez who will be performing at Stadium Merdeka tonight. Maybe he does not find the Latino singer hot since he has already found the pencil-thin Avril Lavigne to be hot. I really can't wait for 2013 to start. Hold the general election, accept the results and we can all get back to some sanity, focus on keeping businesses healthy in a softening economy and not waste time on silly political antics. As an aside, I wonder why my wife questioned me suspiciously when I came back to my Petaling Jaya home before midnight after the concert. It was too early for me to be home, it seemed. And I looked and felt happy after a great concert. I must not use the word gay, though. But I must remember to show her the clipping of the front page of The Singapore Free Press dated Aug 31, 1957. "A So Gay Merdeka Day" was its headline, and the subheading read, "Not even a heavy downpour could dampen their enthusiasm."
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| Wan Azizah should contest in Penang Posted: 01 Dec 2012 05:20 AM PST The PKR president should contest for a state seat as that would derail attempts by BN from playing up issues about marginalisation of Malay leaders by the DAP. Amir Ali, FMT Reports that PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail will be a candidate in the next general election is a hotly debated issue among the public. Will she be a candidate or not? Where will she be a candidate to fight her way back into mainstream politics? These are the main questions. The answers are not easy to come by since it is not known where will she lean to in the end. However, there may be a solution to the corny issue that might simply tame Umno as well as hunt them for the next five years. Wan Azizah may well be a candidate for a state seat, rather than a parliamentary seat, and it should be in Penang. There are already two members of the Anwar Ibrahim family who will contest in their respective parliamentary seats in the next general election – Anwar in Permatang Pauh and daughter Nurul Izzah in Lembah Pantai. This leaves way for Wan Azizah to be a candidate for a state seat and Penang seems to be the best bet so far. There is the possibility that the Malay voters in Penang may be giving some credence to the BN-Umno propaganda in Penang. The opposition should not allow any lapses in their campaigns and they may need a stalwart politician from the PKR to fend off this menace. With this in mind, Pakatan Rakyat may as well allow Wan Azizah to contest in the state rather than Selangor – the two states reportedly interested in paving way for her return. The decision to let her contest in Penang may just render BN's anti-Pakatan campaign in the state to be ineffective. It will be an unexpected move as it will mean the communal campaign led by the BN will have been diluted with the presence of a major Malay opposition figure in the Penang state assembly contest. Her campaigning in Penang may altogether divide the pro-BN supporters and this will surely cause a steep fall in the BN's expectations to retake Penang back.
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| Numbers do not denote strength Posted: 29 Nov 2012 12:41 PM PST The number of people at an event does not determine the strength or weakness of a political party. By Shen Yee Aun, FMT The numbers at any political event is not the right and accurate benchmark to indicate a political party's weakness or strength. I wonder how can some claim that the current Himpunan Hijau protest is a sign of a death knell for MCA ? In the past when Barisan Nasional was at its peak, we saw large numbers attending opposition ceramah but the opposition still failed to make inroads during the polls. MCA's mega dinners have drawn an attendance ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 in each division but did MCA ever claim that it would win the next general election or that Pakatan Rakyat is losing steam? MCA only claimed that it was recovering and was stronger than before. MCA would never take the numbers game for granted to brag that it was a sign of early victory. In 1998, the Reformasi movement saw huge crowds, bigger than those who turned up for the Bersih and Lynas rallies, taking to the streets. But still MCA did well in the 1999 general election. If the strength and weakness of a political party were just based on the impact of the numbers at a protest, then we must also include the 1,500 NGOs that participated in a rally with Barisan Nasional recently. Do we interpret this as BN's strength? If we want to play the numbers game, then 1,500 NGOs is much bigger compared to Himpunan Hijau. If we are talking about numbers, then it would be 1 (Pakatan) vs 1,500 (BN). What about the recent 2,000 single mothers who protested against the Selangor Pakatan government that had cheated and manipulated them with empty promise after taking over the state? Is this the death knell for Pakatan in Selangor? Selective environmentalism The Lynas issue is actually one of the most successful political deceptions, lies and manipulations in history. Until today, there are still many who believe Pakatan that Lynas is actually a nuclear plant. Any neutral science expert would tell you that the radiation of Lynas is way lower than the radiation from our mobile phones and even the radiation of taking flights. In reality, Lim Guan Eng's solar plant in Penang would produce more radiation than Lynas.
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| Posted: 29 Nov 2012 12:35 PM PST The Umno president's speech lacked substance and had no clear policy direction for the people and country, says Chua Jui Meng. By Chua Jui Meng, FMT It was also an amazingly short policy speech, if not the shortest, ever delivered by an Umno president. To quote William Shakespeare's Macbeth, Najib was "full of sound and fury signifying nothing". Pre-Umno assembly Najib had also claimed that change can be initiated within Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) in general. After 55 years, did we see any change in the attitude of the party national delegates, in the quality of debates at the assembly? It was the same old rhetoric featuring inflammatory issues coupled with ridiculous claims like "God has chosen Umno". The May 13 bogey was still used to intimidate Malaysians to continue to support Umno and BN, racist remarks like "Malays will lose power if Pakatan Rakyat (PR) rules" and "May 13 will recur if PR rules". Is Umno claiming that only Umno Malays are Malays or Muslims? What about the Malays and Muslims in PKR, PAS, and others? What changes are Najib and his deputy, Muhyiddin Yassin, talking about? Clearly, there has been no change after 55 years and after the March 2008 political tsunami. The same arrogance is displayed by Umno and BN. Do you mean there are no important and serious public issues covering competency, accountability, transparency, integrity, abuse of power, corruption and economic policies to discuss or debate? If Umno has really changed, how could its top leaders go into the assembly pretending as if the following did not happen:
Compare the above with what the Umno leaders focused on their debates:
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