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Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News


Penang state assembly: Guan Eng apologises for no Q&A

Posted: 05 Jul 2013 06:44 PM PDT

(The Star) - Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has apologised for the lack of question and answer session during the current sitting, saying Jagdeep Singh Deo (DAP-Datuk Keramat) has been appointed to handle matters related to the state assembly.

Lim said Jagdeep would be fully responsible for the state legislative assembly to ensure that matter such as the Q&A session would not be dropped in future.

"Jagdeep Singh's role will be to review the recommendation and advice (from the state legal advisor) to ensure the effective functioning of parliamentary democracy as well as to hold talks with the opposition leader after receiving guidance from the Speaker," he said in his winding up speech at the 13th state legislative assembly sitting.

Earlier, Lim apologised for the lack of Q&A session for this sitting.

He said traditionally, the first sitting of the first term after the general election would start with the swearing-in ceremony without the Q&A session.

"This sitting is based on the tradition although the swearing-in ceremony is organised with the officiating of the first session of the sitting.

"However, if the sitting is not held together with the ceremony, then the Q&A session will be allowed.

"This happened in 2008 after the 12th general election when the ceremony was held on May 2 while the sitting only started 21 days later on July 5," he said.

His comments were in response to an explanation by State Assembly Speaker Law Choo Kiang who cited "lack of time" on Wednesday for not having the Q&A session.

Read more here: http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/07/05/Penang-state-assembly-lim-guan-eng-q-and-a-session.aspx 

 

NGO leader harassed after exposé

Posted: 05 Jul 2013 06:34 PM PDT

(FMT) - An anti-crime non-governmental group (NGO) leader has lodged a report at the Sepang police station today claiming harassment by several individuals. 

MyWatch chairman R Sri Sanjeevan said he was followed by a group of five men when he was having drink with his friend at a popular coffee joint at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT).

"Three men were watching us from the restaurant entrance and the other two monitoring us near an auto-teller machine.

"One of them approached my table but my friend and I immediately got out. However, they kept following us but disappeared a while later," he said.

Recently, Sanjeevan highlighted a case where an ex-drug dealer claimed to have bribed policemen for information on impending stakeouts.

The former drug dealer had claimed that he allegedly paid the cops between RM30,000 and RM50,000 a month.

The man, who is said to have turned over a new leaf, further alleged that some officers are persuading him to go back to his old activities and offered protection.

When contacted, Sanjeevan said the suspicious individuals tailing him earlier today could be linked to the drug syndicate.

"It is obviously linked to the exposé I made regarding the ex-drug pusher," he added.

Sanjeevan urged the police to look into the matter as he feared for his life.

"I have already lodged three police reports on threats against me but no action has been taken. I hope the police will take the matter seriously," he said.

Read more here: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/07/05/ngo-leader-harassed-after-expose/#sthash.NvWHWnp9.LejHlXC9.dpuf

Don’t give two thirds majority to BN or PR’

Posted: 05 Jul 2013 06:23 PM PDT

Calling Malaysia a secular state, an activist said that Malaysia could be turned into a theocratic state if any of the coalition were given too much power the the Parliament. 

K Pragalath, FMT

Malaysians are urged not to give neither the Barisan Nasional (BN) nor Pakatan Rakyat a two thirds majority in the Parliament to ensure Malaysia remains a secular state.

"Malaysia can be turned into an Islamic with two thirds majority. So, please do not give two thirds majority to any coalition, regardless whether they are BN or Pakatan," said Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF) chairman Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa, at a forum held by the Bar Council.

The forum was titled "How Secular is our constitution?"

Recently, the government received brickbats from various NGOs and BN MPs on the Administration of the Religion of Islam (Federal Territories) Bill 2013, which allows unilateral conversion of a child should one parent converts to Islam.

But on Wednesday, controversial Perak Mufti Harussani Zakaria defended the Bill saying the proposed legislation was only formalising a standard practice which was agreed upon "since Merdeka Day".

He also alleged that the Bill was being used by certain quarters to incite hatred towards the Muslim community.

The government subsequently withdrew the Bill citing the matter needed further study.

Ahmad Farouk said that based on historical facts, the Reid Commission drafted a secular constitution for the then-Malaya as people in power during that era envisioned a secular country.

"The report also stated that they should be no discrimination based on race, religion and creed," he said.

Citing court cases, Ahmad Farouk cited the case of Che Omar Che Soh vs Public Prosecutor in 1988, where then-Lord President Salleh Abas ruled that Malaysia is a secular state.

"He ruled that laws need not conform to Islamic principles," said Ahmad, adding that Islamic laws were only meant for to administer Muslim family issues.

Training his guns against the government, Ahmad Farouk criticised the religious authorities for attempting to regulate on how one manages religion.

"How can there be only one version of Islam – the Jakim and Jais style?" he asked, in regards to the government's move to restrict the practise of Islam based on other denominations.

READ MORE HERE

 

PKR man complains BN workers not investigated over aide’s murder

Posted: 05 Jul 2013 06:19 PM PDT

(The Malay Mail) - Police have not questioned Barisan Nasional (BN) workers from MIC vice-president Datuk M. Saravanan's Election 2013 campaign on the murder of his opponent's aide during the poll, PKR's K. Vasantha Kumar complained today. 

 "So far, none from BN's side ― no investigations, no statement taken from M. Saravanan," Vasantha told reporters at the PKR headquarters here.

Instead, he said, police have focused their investigation on Pakatan Rakyat supporters.

"I got to know from the Batu Gajah IO (investigating officer) that 22 suspects have been remanded and investigated. The 22 are (K.) Murugan's friends and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) supporters," he added.

Vasantha, who lost the contest for the Tapah federal seat to Saravanan in the 13th general election, also alleged that three ballot boxes containing early and postal votes for Tapah and two state seats ― Ayer Kuning and Chenderoh ― had been removed by Election Commission (EC) officers from the Tapah police station on May 2, three days before the May 5 polling day.

But he conceded that the killing of his aide, K. Murugan, was likely not linked to the alleged polls fraud as the latter went missing earlier on May 1, before the body was discovered on Polling Day in Batu Gajah, Perak.

Vasantha also said that a suspect from BN fled to Indonesia after Perak deputy police chief Datuk A. Paramasivam released a statement last month that police was looking for two men to help in the murder case.

PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli, who was also at the press conference, said the Tapah campaign was characterised by violence and constant brawls between the MIC and his party.

"Vasantha had to have security," said Rafizi.

Vasantha said Murugan had received threatening calls before disappearing on May 1 after a ceramah in Bidor at night.

Murugan's body was found four days later in a disused mining pool in Bemban Industrial Park, Batu Gajah.

Vasantha also revealed several photographs to the media showing men in black shirts with EC logos carrying a ballot box marked Ayer Kuning in the Tapah police station on May 2. He said that the photographs were taken by his aides.

One of them — D. Allapah @ Dr Raja — told reporters at the same press conference that the EC officers snubbed his questions on why they were moving the ballot boxes before Polling Day.

"It's none of your business. We're doing our duty," Allapah quoted them as saying. "They said we cannot snap photos."

Vasantha said six EC officers were involved in moving the three ballot boxes.

He added that the ballot box for Tapah contained 2,195 votes, but was unsure about the other two boxes.

Vasantha lost the Tapah seat to Saravanan who is now the youth and sports deputy minister, by 7,927 votes.

Read more here: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/pkr-man-complains-bn-workers-not-investigated-over-aides-murder?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter#sthash.UJL8BPh8.dpuf

Disappointing wait for FOI implementation in Penang

Posted: 05 Jul 2013 06:08 PM PDT

(FZ.com) - More than a year after it was enacted, Penang's Freedom of Information (FOI) Enactment has still not been implemented.

Chief Minister today said the process is still being managed by the state Legal Advisor, who is incidentally appointed by the Attorney General.

Stressing that the state is uncomfortable with the progress, Lim told the Penang State Assembly that legal advisor Datuk Faiza Zulkifli needs to oversee some steps before it can be put into effect.

The lengthy wait is despite the legislation having been approved by the assembly as far back as in November 2011 and gazetted last year.

When it was first tabled in October 2010, it was referred to a select committee for revision.

It was also opposed by Barisan Nasional assembly members who called it unnecessary, maintaining that it flies in the face of the existing (federal) Official Secrets Act (OSA) 1972.

These steps by the legal advisor include examining the guidelines for implementation, as well as outlining and approving the procedures for the FOI appeals board and the regulations for accessing information.

"According to the Legal Advisor, this enactment will be put into force after all regulatory necessities and related fee payments are gazetted beforehand," Lim, who is Air Putih assembly member, said in his winding-up speech during the motion of support for the Governor's speech.

He stressed that the state is disappointed with the progress made so far.

"The state government still hopes that all the relevant affairs can be settled by the Legal Advisor in early 2014," he added.

He was responding to a question by Wong Hon Wai (DAP-Air Itam) on when the FOI would be up and running.

The Freedom of Information Enactment 2012 would allow Penangites to access various forms of documents, minutes and decisions of the government

Queried further by reporters at a press conference later on the role of the Legal Advisor, Lim said: "You know what the problems are. You can read between the lines."  

The state government had wanted to introduce the FOI since 2008.

However, Lim said that Faiza had advised him and the executive council against tabling the bill because it was considered ultra vires the Federal Constitution. Information comes under the federal government, she had reportedly asserted.

It was only when Selangor tabled its FOI bill in July 2010 and passed it in April 2011 that Penang used that as a precedent in getting around her objections.

Meanwhile, Lim also said the state would consider a suggestion by Teh Yee Cheu (DAP-Tanjung Bungah) that the administration set up a 'Big Data' system where all relevant information of the state government and its departments can be accessed from a single portal, in line with the FOI.

Read more here: http://www.fz.com/content/disappointing-wait-foi-implementation-penang#ixzz2YFsRGGuP

EC approves ballot count coverage, to study existing laws

Posted: 05 Jul 2013 06:01 PM PDT

(The Malay Mail) - The Election Commission (EC) has agreed to Putrajaya's proposal for live coverage of the ballot-counting process during elections but says it needs to study existing regulations before accommodating the request. 

EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof (picture) said the idea, mooted yesterday by minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, would help prove the transparency of the regulator's operations that has come under heavy fire since Election 2013.

"We have nothing to hide," he told The Malay Mail Online when contacted.

But Abdul Aziz also said the EC must check the law to see if government-owned Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) can be allowed to place its cameras in the vote-counting rooms.

He indicated that the EC currently has strict rules on those who are allowed to go into the tallying room.

"At the moment, a limited number are permitted in the counting room — candidate agent, [polling centre chief], EC clerks and a few others permitted by the EC," he said.

Despite the restrictions on entry into vote-tallying centres, Abdul Aziz said the matter could still be discussed with the EC, saying: "I don't see a problem with that, we can discuss with them. We have to discuss what's the implications."

The proposal yesterday by Ahmad Shabery, the new communications and multimedia minister, comes even as the EC remains under constant fire for its alleged failure to ensure a transparent and fair polls process.

Abdul Aziz and his deputy Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar are at the centre of allegations of vote fraud, which many opposition lawmakers and civil society activists believe had occurred during the just-concluded May 5 general election.

Among others, they have been put under the microscope for allegedly failing to implement key electoral reform demands effectively, from the running of the polls process to technical matters like the handling of the indelible ink that fell short of its name on Polling Day.

Opposition leaders and polls watchdog have been calling for the duo's resignations, while urging the government to carry out bolder and more decisive reforms to current practices in the polling process.

The struggle has resulted in several massive street protests over the years, many of which resulted in running battles on the streets of the capital and have even been credited for the major electoral losses suffered by the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) in the last two general elections — Election 2008 and 2013.

Electoral reform group Bersih's Maria Chin Abdullah yesterday said the live coverage would be nothing but "icing on rotten cake" if Putrajaya skips bold and major reforms such as the cleaning up of the electoral roll which purportedly contains numerous discrepancies.

Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, president of another polls watchdog Mafrel, had also said the key issue was in the integrity of EC officers in conducting the polls rather than live coverage of the elections.

Tindak Malaysia's PY Wong has said live coverage does not address the alleged lack of public confidence in the EC.

Read more here: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/ec-approves-ballot-count-coverage-to-study-existing-laws?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter#sthash.XJvGmiZD.dpuf

 

Khalid: Selangor wants the rights to develop, operate and maintain Langat 2

Posted: 05 Jul 2013 03:37 PM PDT

(The Star) - The Selangor government wants the rights to develop, operate and maintain the Langat 2 water treatment plant.

Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said on Saturday the state government had asked the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry to consider its request by giving the rights to its subsidiary companies.

Khalid said the state government, via its subsidiaries, would like to develop the main package of Langat 2, as well as operate and maintain the plant.

This is because the state government has allocated 179ha of state land out of the 400ha needed for the project without getting anything in return, he said.

"Selangor is also the signatory to the raw water purchase agreement with the Pahang state government, and all payments of raw water to Pahang will be borne by Selangor," he said.

He added that the raw water licence will also be issued by the Selangor state government, while the Cabinet had agreed on Jan 16, 2008, for state investment arm Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Berhad (KDEB) to be appointed as the "operating and maintenance company" when Langat 2 is complete.

The RM3bil Langat 2 water treatment plant will receive raw water from Pahang via an underground tunnel, which is almost complete, and can process 1,130 million litres per day (MLD).

On a related matter, he explained that the different figures of water reserve issued by state water distributor Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) and the state government was due to different methods of calculation.

"Syabas claims that the water reserve is less than 1% as it used the current average production of 4,700 MLD compared to its distribution capacity of 4,661MLD.

"The state government based it on the maximum production capacity of 34 water treatment plants, which is 4,832MLD as opposed to the distribution capacity of 4,661MLD. That's how we estimated the water reserves to be at 3.5%," he said.

 

EGYPT UPDATE: At least 26 dead in protests across Egypt

Posted: 05 Jul 2013 03:16 PM PDT

(AFP/Bernama) - CAIRO - At least 26 people were killed in clashes across Egypt on Friday as tens of thousands of supporters of deposed president Mohamed Morsi turned out to protest his ouster by a popularly backed military coup.

A coalition of Islamist groups including Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood vowed  further "peaceful" protests in a statement early Saturday, demanding the  military restore the country's first democratically elected leader.

In the restive north of the Sinai peninsula, armed Morsi supporters stormed  the provincial headquarters in the town of El-Arish after a gunfight and raised  the black banner of Al-Qaeda-inspired Islamist militants, an AFP correspondent  said.

 At least 12 people were killed in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria as  Morsi's supporters and opponents fought a pitched street battle, the official  MENA news agency said.

 Police continued to round up top Islamists, announcing the arrest of  Khairat al-Shater, widely seen as the most powerful man behind Morsi in the  Muslim Brotherhood movement.

 A spokesman for UN chief  Ban Ki-moon quoted him calling for a peaceful end  to the crisis. "There is no place for retribution or for the exclusion of any  major party or community".    In Cairo's iconic Tahrir Square, at least two people were killed when Morsi  supporters traded fire with his opponents, state television reported.

The clashes subsided when the army separated the protesters using armoured  vehicles.

 "We are not taking sides. Our mission is to secure the lives of  protesters," military spokesman Colonel Ahmed Ali told AFP.

 Four protesters were killed outside the Republican Guard headquarters after  breaking away from a pro-Morsi demonstration, the official MENA news agency  reported.

 The bodies of two people were covered with sheets, said an AFP  correspondent, adding that another protester was shot in the head.

 Soldiers had warned a protester waving a picture of the ousted president  not to approach their barbed wire cordon.

 They opened fire when he ignored them, and shots were then heard from both  sides, an AFP reporter said.

 The Islamists accuse the military of conducting a brazen coup against  Morsi, Egypt's first democratically elected president, after millions called  for his ouster on the June 30 anniversary of his first turbulent year in power.
   Friday's violence came as the supreme guide of Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood,  Mohammed Badie, vowed that members of the Islamist movement would throng the  streets in their millions until his presidency is restored.

   Badie appeared at Cairo's Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque to screams of joy from  jubilant supporters, following reports he had been detained after Wednesday's  ouster of the president.

   "Millions will remain in the squares until we carry our elected president,  Mohamed Morsi, on our shoulders," Badie told the crowd, before leading chants  of "Military coup!" and "Invalid!"

   Violence between Morsi's supporters and opponents also left one protester  dead at Assiut in central Egypt and another in Minya, officials said.
   In the Sinai, where gunmen killed five policemen and Islamists killed a  soldier in a machinegun and rocket attack.

   In El-Arish, at least 16 people were wounded in clashes before armed Morsi  supporters stormed the provincial HQ.

   The armed forces have already sworn in Adly Mansour as interim president,  and he issued his first decree on Friday, dissolving the Islamist-led  parliament and appointing a new intelligence chief.

   Before Friday's rallies, around a dozen low-flying military jets screamed  across Cairo, but the show of force failed to deter Morsi's supporters.

   Morsi, who has not been seen since Wednesday, had issued a defiant call for  supporters to protect his elected "legitimacy", in a recorded speech aired  hours after his removal.

   The military had said it supported the right to peaceful protest, but  warned against violence and acts of civil disobedience.

   Ahead of Friday's rallies, Mansour had called in a television interview for  unity.

   "All I can say to the Egyptian people is to be one body. We had enough of  division," he told Britain's Channel 4.
   Prominent liberal leader Mohamed ElBaradei defended the military's  intervention, saying "the other option was a civil war.

   "We were between a rock and a hard place, and people need to understand  that," the former UN nuclear watchdog chief told the BBC.

   Army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced Morsi's overthrow on  Wednesday night, citing his inability to end a deepening political crisis.
   Military police rounded up senior Brotherhood members, although two were  later released.

   Morsi himself was "preventively detained", a senior officer told AFP.

   A judicial source said the prosecution would on Monday begin questioning  Brotherhood members, including Morsi, for "insulting the judiciary".    Morsi's rule was marked by accusations that he concentrated power in the  hands of the Brotherhood.

   His supporters argue Morsi was confronted at every turn with a hostile  bureaucracy left over by Hosni Mubarak, overthrown in the Arab Spring-inspired  uprising of 2011.

Meanwhile, Deputy chief of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB), Khayrat al-Shater, was arrested Friday in Cairo on charges of inciting violence against opponents, China's Xinhua news agency said quoting the official Middle East News Agency (MENA)'s report.    

Also on Friday, the police arrested the official lawyer Abdel-Moneim Abdel-Maqsood of MB, to which the ousted President Mohamed Morsi belongs,and former Salafist presidential candidate Hazem Salah Abu Ismail.    

Earlier reports had said that MB's general guide Mohammed Badie had been arrested, but the man delivered a speech to throngs of Morsi's supporters in Rabia al-Adawiya Square in Cairo on Friday evening, denying the news as "fake."    

A number of MB and Islamist leaders have been arrested since the ouster of Morsi by the military on Wednesday and a couple of affiliated TV channels were also shut down.    

Security sources said the actions are meant to prevent the Islamist leaders from urging their supporters for acts of violence against the security forces or the public celebrating Morsi's removal. 

 

Taib has 14-year travel ban on my Sarawak lawyer, says activist Rewcastle Brown

Posted: 05 Jul 2013 12:21 PM PDT

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(TMI) - There is a curious twist to the story of the British activist banned from entering Sarawak.

The same security office of Chief Minister Tan Sri Taib Mahmud that would not let her enter the state last week to defend herself in a legal suit there, has apparently also banned her Malaysian lawyer from leaving the country – for the past 14 years.

Activist Clare Rewcastle Brown revealed this about her lawyer See Chee How in an exclusive interview with The Malaysian Insider.

"See is restricted from travelling outside Malaysia on similar orders from Sarawak CM, even though he is an elected member of the state assembly," she said.

See, the state assemblyman for the urban area of Batu Lintang in Sarawak, confirmed the ban on him when contacted by The Malaysian Insider yesterday by phone.

He said the last time he left Malaysia was to Myanmar 14 years ago for an international campaign.

"After I returned, I was then prohibited from leaving the country," he added.

Rewcastle Brown said in an email interview: "His offence was to show support many years ago for a demonstration requesting the liberation of Aung San Suu Kyi. It tells you all you need to know about Taib Mahmud and how he runs Sarawak."

See was with Rewcastle Brown when she tried to enter Sarawak to meet him to discuss the defamation suit brought against her.

But the way the lawyer and his client are handling their different bans is itself another twist to the tale.

The one-term assemblyman laughed off the ban, saying it was not a hindrance to his daily life, as "there was a lot of work to be done here."

His client, Rewcastle Brown, who is also the sister-in-law of former British prime minister Gordon Brown, said her entry ban into the state was "nothing personal" and it would not make her more determined to expose Taib's alleged wrongdoings.

The former BBC journalist is the founder of the influential blog, Sarawak Report and Radio Free Sarawak, which are both critical of the chief minister.

"I would not be criticising Taib out of some sort of wounded pride. I am just focused on exposing a great wrong that has taken place in Sarawak because it has not been adequately covered for a variety of reasons," Rewcastle Brown told The Malaysian Insider.

Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/taib-has-14-year-travel-ban-on-my-sarawak-lawyer-says-activist-rewcastle-brown 

Putting the contest in context: why only Shahrizat and Azalina for top Wanita

Posted: 05 Jul 2013 12:16 PM PDT

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(TMI) - Call it the Umno dilemma: two spirited, headstrong women who believe they have unsullied reputations and are fit to contest the top position in Wanita Umno.

They are completely deaf to opinion outside the party and totally cheered their party's strong showing in the last general election, where it won the largest share of national seats – 88 out of 222.

What about Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil's critics? Malaysians remember that her family snared a RM250 million grant from the government for the National Feedlot Corporation project.

They also know of the expensive condominium purchases, luxury cars and how the venture failed miserably. She has critics from Perlis to Johor who think she should make way for younger leaders.

Shahrizat's response? "They can go to hell."

What about Datuk Azalina Othman's critics? Malaysians remember the reports about corruption in the Tourism Ministry, the allegations that ended her once promising ascent in Malaysian politics.

Azalina is equally nonchalant about the negativity surrounding her offer to contest the top position in Wanita Umno.

She said: "My records are clean. If I am on-the-go now, winning the Pengerang seat even, that means I do not 'owe' the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) anything.

"What wrong did I do when I was the Youth and Sports Minister? What did I do? I had executed my tasks very well!"

Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/putting-the-contest-in-context-why-only-shahrizat-and-azalina-for-top-wanita/ 

Dr M: DAP destroyed racial power-sharing balance, rift will widen

Posted: 05 Jul 2013 12:13 PM PDT

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(The Malay Mail Online) - The indisputable fact is that the DAP has succeeded in destroying the collaboration or sharing between the different races as exemplified by the BN coalition

Malaysia's delicate racial power-sharing balance has been upset by the DAP and the Malay-Chinese schism exposed by the outcome of the May 5 polls will only deepen, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (picture) warned today.

The still-influential former prime minister continued to paint a dark future for this Southeast Asian melting pot despite Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's pledge reconcile a nation divided.

"The indisputable fact is that the DAP has succeeded in destroying the collaboration or sharing between the different races as exemplified by the BN coalition," he said in his chedet.cc blog post, of the racial power- and wealth-sharing formula long practised by the 13-member Barisan Nasional (BN).

The man who held office for 22 years has been leading a campaign of blame against the opposition party as being responsible for whipping up "hatred of the Malays" through its "Malaysian Malaysia" slogan as the nation's ethnic minorities grow more vocal in seeking affirmative action policies based on merit as proposed by the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pact rather the racial policies long-practised by the ruling BN.

Dr Mahathir, who turns 88 on July 10, continued to weave the same spiel, accusing the minority Chinese of falling for the DAP ruse to enlarge the community's control not just of the nation's economy but its politics, which Dr Mahathir appeared to believe to be the territory of the Malays.

"If today the schism between the races is deeper it is because the DAP reject the Malay/Chinese/Indian 'kongsi'," Dr Mahathir said, using the Malay word for "sharing".

"The DAP wants the Chinese, who already dominate the economy, to dominate Malaysia's politics as well. It is clearly racist and reject inter-racial sharing of power and wealth as advocated by the BN," he added.

Read more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/dr-m-dap-destroyed-racial-power-sharing-balance-rift-will-widen  

New rules for property buyers

Posted: 05 Jul 2013 12:09 PM PDT

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(The Star) - Property buyers will no longer have the option to take loans for longer than 35 years. Anyone taking a personal loan can now only do so for a period of up to 10 years.

These are new rules set by Bank Negara with the aim of helping to reduce household debt in the country.

Before the new caps, property buyers could take loans for up to 45 years, while personal loans could be paid back over a period of up to 25 years.

Bank Negara is acting because Malaysia's household-debt-to-Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio is a high 83%. It is the highest in emerging Asia.

The stricter lending guidelines also saw the central bank prohibiting the offering of pre-approved personal financing products.

These new measures to tackle household debt will also be extended to all financial institutions and credit cooperatives regulated by Bank Negara, the Malaysia Co-operative Societies Commission, Malaysia Building Society Bhd, and Aeon Credit Service (M) Bhd.

All these institutions will also need to follow responsible lending limits. New borrowers, especially those with lower incomes, can only take on debt amounting to 60% of their monthly take home pay.

The new limits will not affect loan applications made before yesterday.

Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz, in a briefing yesterday, said the household debt was not yet at an alarming level, but based on present trends it would eventually be so.

Extremely long property loan periods "encourage excessive debt accumulation by households and increases the vulnerability of this (the household) sector," she said.

Industry players said the measures would have a limited impact on the property market because the older generation of Malaysians had already bought into the property cycle.

They said the latest caps would mainly affect the younger generation.

"They are the ones who will need loans with the extra tenure, not the older generation who are mainly able to afford (higher monthly repayments)," said IOI Properties' director Teh Chin Guan.

"In the short term, the level of affordability for the younger generation will be lower at today's prices," he added.

Elvin Fernandez, managing director at property consultant Khong & Jaafar, said these moves by the central bank should be applauded because property loans with a tenure of more than 40 years was not advisable.

Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association of Malaysia president Datuk Seri Michael K.C. Yam believed the measures were a "good pre-emptive move because Malaysians are not very disciplined when it comes to these matters".

"In other countries the maximum tenure is usually 25 years or until the person reaches the retirement age of 55," he added.

Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations president Datuk Marimuthu Nadason also supported the new measures.

"But I urge Bank Negara to work with civil societies like us on financial literacy education, which Malaysians sorely lack," he said, pointing out that 51 people were declared bankrupt daily in the country.

Korisatan Karu­ppiah, Penang Consumers Protection Asso­ciation president, said borrowers should be allowed to repay their loans ahead of schedule, without penalty.

"The lenders argue that they have already made plans with your money over the tenure you agreed with, and that paying back the sum early affects their plans," he said.

He said the penalty was a fine, of between RM10,000 and RM35,000, depending on the size of the loan. 

Matriculation intake: MIC hoodwinking everyone?

Posted: 05 Jul 2013 12:05 PM PDT

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mic-logo.jpg 

(FMT) - In the future, Indians will only need to highlight their woes directly to the government for it to be addressed and attended to. And this will effectively render MIC, its ministers and deputy ministers irrelevant.

The party's failure to ensure 1,500 Indian students get matriculation seats points towards that direction.

Has MIC been hoodwinking the Malaysian Indian community? If the recent matriculation seat allocation fiasco is any measure then it seems so.

When Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak announced in 2011 that the government would allocate 1,500 matriculation seats for Indians from the 28,000 seats available nationwide, there was euphoria. But in actual fact only 900 Indian students were allocated seats in the 2012 intake.

The government gave no reason for the shortchange and MIC which claims to have 680,000 members said "nothing".

In 2013, an astounding 6,185 Indian students applied for the 1,500 seats but according to the Matriculation Department only 892 students took up the offer. But NGOs campaigning on the issue claimed the numbers were less.

The drop in numbers from the previous year sent shock waves in the community with many questioning why so few were picked. Many who obtained 10As in their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) had not secured seats and were, strangely enough, deemed "unqualified."

The disclosure saw affected students, parents and NGOs protesting the injustice.

New truth?

Following the outcry, deputy Education Minister P Kamalanathan, who is also an MIC central working committee member, issued a statement defending his ministry.

He said 1,850 seats were allocated but only 892 students took it up.

Two days later on June 26, Education Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin confirmed that 1,800 Indian students were offered matriculation seats. He later reportedly said that the cabinet had discussed the issue and decided to fulfill the government's promise to allocate 1,500 seats for Indian students.

The question now is which one of the two elected Education Ministry official is lying?

Why is there an inconsistency in the numbers of seats allotted for Indian students?

A new 'controversy' arose yesterday when some 50 angry parents, NGO and opposition leaders gathered to protest in front of the Education Ministry in Putrajaya.

Their actions earned a response from the Matriculation Department, who until now had been silent on the issue.

While the department said it would re-look at 333 applications who were earlier rejected, a more interesting 'truth' emerged which further surprised parents and NGO leaders.

According to the protesters, they had compiled a list of eligible students who had applied but were rejected and had forwarded the list to MIC deputy president-cum Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam and Kamalanathan.

A copy of the list was also forwarded to the MIC headquarters.

Wealthy MIC leaders?

But according to the Matriculation Department, they had not received any list from MIC leaders. 

Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2013/07/06/matriculation-intake-mic-hoodwinking-everyone/ 

Bung Mokhtar to quit politics if ...

Posted: 05 Jul 2013 12:00 PM PDT

http://www.thestar.com.my/~/media/Images/TSOL/Photos-Gallery/Nation/2013/07/06/015580860.ashx?w=620&h=413&crop=1& 

(The Star) - Controversial Kinabatangan MP Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin has issued a warning - he will quit politics if he sees no development in his constituency within the next five years.

This will be the last term for the Sabah Umno politician in his poverty-stricken constituency bigger than Pahang if the government did not meet the demands of his voters for basic infrastructure especial sealed roads.

"I have been told by my voters to make sure the government give enough money to build roads. If not, I'm worried.

"Maybe they won't vote for me or for BN again. I myself have decided that if the government doesn't give my people good kampung roads, I will not contest anymore," the 53-year-old firebrand MP told The Star Online.

The fourth-term MP said the current tanah merah (laterite) roads in the villages were flooded and became muddy whenever it rained, leaving villagers stranded for days.

Bung Mokhtar, who is married to actress Zizie Ezette, he had forwarded his voters' request to Putrajaya and he was waiting for a positive reply.

"They just need small roads for their daily use, not highways. They are not asking for mega projects like the second Penang Bridge or the LRT that costs billions of ringgits.

"The people gave us the mandate during the elections. Barisan National's tagline is Janji Ditepati (promises fulfilled), so I need this to be ditepati (fulfilled)," said the politician who is no stranger to controversy.

Bung Mokhtar hit the headlines for the wrong reasons and is often criticised for his uncouth remarks in Parliament.

On Wednesday when debating the motion of thanks on the Royal Address, Bung Mokhtar called Air Asia X chief Azran Osman Rani a Melayu biadap (an uncouth Malay) and said that he did not deserve to be a citizen for criticising Utusan Malaysia.

"If he said he is muak (disgusted) with Utusan I don't care, but threatening to cut off all business deals with them is a threat to Malays," he said.

Bung Mokhtar remains unapologetic for using the parliament space to attack Azran.  

"He used his position as a CEO to blast Utusan on his Twitter and Facebook. It's the same thing," he said.

Bung said he wouldn't change his style of dealing with issues, especially when it concerned the public. 

"If I try to be like Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad (Johor Baru MP) maybe there is no more Kinabatangan or Bung Mokhtar. When I feel there is an issue I have to speak out, I will. I don't care if it's against the opposition, government or individuals," he said.

He said he recently criticised the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) for not being able to control social media and the police for not being able to curb the drug problem.

Bung Mokhtar said he was not affected by criticisms against him. 

"They have their right to condemn me but I also have my right to reply and condemn them. This is a democratic country," he said.

Denying that he was an attention seeker, Bung Mokhtar said it was the media that was sensationalising him.

"My voice is in the Dewan Rakyat, but the moment I speak, the reporters pick it up and put in the paper. I love some of it (the media coverage), but sometime I feel they put an ugly picture. But I don't care because they are making me more popular," he said. 

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net

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No tradition without representation

Posted: 05 Jul 2013 07:04 PM PDT

Still, though some ugly ethno-nationalist authoritarians hate our Westminster system (one called democracy a "cancer"), the concepts of elections and representation are embedded in our culture. 

Tunku 'Abidin Muhriz, IDEAS

I nipped down to the Dewan Rakyat this week and caught a glimpse of the parliamentary action that has been widely reported in the newspapers. The foyer around the chamber was buzzing with special officers and interns brisk-walking, hands clutching mobile devices and their bosses' bags, hoping that their efforts will make some difference to the country, or at least, enjoying feeling important in the corridors of power. I always gaze up to the portraits of long-forgotten Dewan Ra'ayat [sic] speakers and Dewan Negara presidents, who in their copious wigs oversaw debates in impeccable English enriched by witty retorts.

Reading the Hansard of the sixties it seems impossible that our august house could descend to a level where an MP (or newspaper) could ask a Malaysian citizen to leave the country because of a difference of opinion (or misreporting of opinions). Unfortunately this does now happen; tragically we are unsurprised by it, so routine it has become. Though the general election ejected some thugs, remnants of ugly ethno-nationalist authoritarianism continue to stain the Dewan Rakyat's plush chairs. Thankfully (and finally), now that the election is over, there are at least some sensible voices from coalition partners condemning these immature comments.

One of those asked to leave the country was Tony Pua, who along with Dato' Saifuddin Abdullah kindly launched my latest compilation of uncensored and unabridged articles (Roaming Beyond the Fence, RM39.90 at most bookstores!) on Sunday. I read some excerpts from the book to ignite discussion on issues that will be hotly contested in the next few years, including English-medium schools, subsidies and a lack of trust in national institutions. Their acceptance of the fact that patriotic Malaysians can have different views on policy issues is something that should be emulated by all parliamentarians.

Indeed we have already seen disagreement on issues even amongst the BN ranks at this early stage of the parliamentary sitting. I particularly enjoyed Kalabakan MP Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh stating matter-of-factly that, if faced with armed intruders at home, he would "ambik shotgun dan terus tembak". He was arguing that the response to the invasion of Lahad Datu was too slow and too tepid – a view that seemed to have cross-party support.

More current is the opposition from two ministers to a clause of the Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) Bill 2013 that would allow the unilateral conversion of children to Islam. Theoretically, such open dissent should never happen in cabinet government, in which every minister is supposed to support the government in public (or resign, as Dato' Zaid Ibrahim did on the ISA). While questions are raised about the extent of discussion within the cabinet on such important measures, the growing momentum of opposition to a controversial, potentially abused piece of legislation will be welcomed by many quarters. (Still, even if it goes through, matters pertaining to Islam remain decentralised to the states, so this law would only apply in the Federal Territories.)

The doctrine of cabinet collective responsibility notwithstanding, the expressing of independent views from our politicians is a good thing. Our electoral system assumes that MPs are individuals who primarily represent their constituents. The phrase "political party" does not appear once in our Federal Constitution, and the appointments of Prime Minister, Menteris Besar or Chief Ministers are based on the likely support of a majority of individuals in the legislature regardless of party. This may become extremely important in light of the upcoming by-election in Terengganu.

As we have seen though, most Malaysians seem to vote more according to the party logo than the individual: when coupled with undemocratic means of candidate selection, it means good people end up being defeated and bad people end up continuing the stain the plush chairs.

Still, though some ugly ethno-nationalist authoritarians hate our Westminster system (one called democracy a "cancer"), the concepts of elections and representation are embedded in our culture.

On Tuesday the 18th Penghulu Luak of Gunung Pasir was formally introduced to the Yang di-Pertuan Besar at Istana Besar Seri Menanti. As per the adat, he was elected in a three-stage process after the demise of the previous penghulu (chieftain) by the lembaga (headmen) of Gunung Pasir, out of the Tanah Datar clan (not the Seri Lemak Minangkabau clan as misreported by a certain newspaper apparently ignorant of the fact that membership of a suku (clan) is matrilineal).

Each of the five luaks (districts) in the Tanah Mengandung – constituent parts of Negeri Sembilan which do not have an Undang – have their own histories and customs, but each penghulu is charged with upholding the democratic adat and representing their kinsfolk to the sovereign institution. Sounds familiar, no?

Read more here: http://ideas.org.my/?p=6911 

 

Malay journalists leader lays out elaborate theory on another community, no guesses which

Posted: 05 Jul 2013 03:31 PM PDT

Lee Shi-Ian, TMI

Forging alliances with Malay opposition parties and using the democratic parliamentary process has been the cornerstone for the DAP's slow but inexorable rise to power in Malaysia, said Dr Alias Mohamed.

Alias, who is the president of the National Association of Malay Journalists and Writers of Malaysia and the Kelantan Malay Journalists Association, wrote in Utusan Malaysia that Malay leaders were worried that years of compromising with the Chinese would eventually lead to the loss of Malay authority and influence.

"The smooth strategy employed by Chinese leaders, despite their numbers being less than 30 per cent of the nation's 29 million population, culminated in a golden opportunity when they allied with Parti Keadilan Rakyat and PAS in the 2008 general election," Alias said.

The Chinese leaders had learnt from their past mistakes in 1969 when their blatant attempt to wrest powers from the Malay community failed. Alias claimed that during the reign of Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, he was pressured several times into giving concessions and exemptions to the Chinese, including the allocation of additional seats.

"After 1969, the Chinese realised that only through the democratic process could their political ambitions become reality. The same problem plagued the next three Prime Ministers after Tunku, who were pressured to give the Chinese community universities and recognising their language," Alias said.

"The Chinese hope that the opportunity to rule will emerge once the democratic door has been opened for them to seize the chance. Whether it is through demographic changes, opportunities through weaknesses in the democratic system or through allying themselves with Malay and non-Malay political parties," Alias said.

"The Chinese are very well aware that they will not be able to control the country in a short space of time, especially without the support of Malay opposition parties such as PAS and PKR. DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng himself admitted before the election that he would be happy if they won 100 of the 222 parliamentary seats up for contest."

Lim, who is also the Penang Chief Minister, is alleged to have said he hoped that there would be chaos within Umno and BN which would point towards a change in the composition of parliamentary seats in the august House.

In this context, DAP calculated that they would rise to power through two methods, one, in the short term, the party hopes that power falls into their hands as chaos in Parliament would encourage BN MPs or other parties to jump ship and join DAP.

Second, in the long term, they hope that there will be a major change in the population demographic due to oversights from the Malay leaders in the ruling party who will continue to press for developments both urban and rural, hence, it will encourage the migration of Chinese communities to these areas.

In the 2008 general polls, with the cooperation of PAS and PKR and exploiting the dissatisfaction of urban voters with BN, DAP conquered Penang and for a short while, Perak. With the same modus operandi, DAP merged with PKR and PAS to rule Selangor.

DAP also won parliamentary seats in the Federal Territory as well. Excluding Perak, in the 13th general polls, they repeated their success from 2008 by winning in Penang, Selangor and Federal Territory where Chinese voters were the dominant force.

On the surface, the Malay votes shifted from PAS to Barisan Nasional. Although PAS returned to control Kelantan and almost snatched Terengganu, but its influence seems to be declining and in the May 5 polls, they sacrificed Kedah to BN.

Alias said the role played by Chinese-language newspapers and magazines in spreading their influence, such as language, culture and the interests of the community in the economy and politics, could not be denied.

In line with their race, whose numbers are increasing, besides the economic interests and political voice, which is getting louder, the Chinese community continues to plan and exploit the various channels of power and democratic instruments to strengthen and consolidate everything they have accumulated since 1957.

READ MORE HERE

 

Which way for Malaysia after election petition?

Posted: 05 Jul 2013 03:26 PM PDT

It is too early to talk about the outcome of the lawsuits and what I am concerned about is, would the defeated party helplessly accept the court's decision like Gore or launch a new round of battle, after the court's decision is announced? 

Lim Mun Fah, Sin Chew Daily

The goal of national reconciliation seems still very far away. The Election Commission has so far received 60 election appeals, with some of them having their trial dates set.

It is the people's right under the law to challenge election results. Voters or candidates have the right to file election appeals as long as there is sufficient evidence.

According to constitutional experts, however, challenging election results in court is not easy. The judicial procedures are complicated and time-consuming. Most appeals might not be able to enter the trial phase due to technical problems.

The current political impasse in the country reminds me of the US presidential election in 2000.

The contest was between Republican candidate George W. Bush and Democratic candidate Al Gore, the incumbent vice-president.

A controversy broke out over the awarding of the state of Florida and the 25 electoral votes that came with it. Since the votes gained by the two candidates were very close, with Bush gaining only 1,784 more votes than Gore, votes were recounted again and again and appeals were filed.

The intense legal battle lasted for 36 days.

Eventually, the US Supreme Court ruled in a 5–4 vote that the Florida recounts could not be completed before a Dec 12 "safe harbour" deadline, and should therefore cease and the previously certified total should hold.

It put Gore in a hopeless situation and Bush won.

In fact, Gore received 543,895 more popular votes than Bush across the whole country.

However, the US President is decided by electoral votes. Therefore, although Gore won the popular vote, he still lost to Bush who gained more electoral votes.

For Gore, it was indeed a painful result.

Despite the Supreme Court's decision being accused of political bias, Gore still showed his respect to the rule of law and graciously accepted the defeat. He said, "While I strongly disagree with the court's position, I accept it."

He called for supporters to accept the finality of the outcome, put the country's interests before the party and unite behind the new President.

It is one of the most classic and controversial presidential elections in US history, not only because it is filled with intrigues, but also because it exposed the unfairness of the American electoral system of politics.

It could hardly be imagined that the Americans, who attach high importance to democracy and human rights, would still accept such a flawed electoral system even today.

The 13th General Election in Malaysia has also exposed a flaw in the electoral system.

Pakatan Rakyat lost the election even though it was able to win the popular vote. It has triggered a controversy over the electoral system, while leading to protracted lawsuits.

It is too early to talk about the outcome of the lawsuits and what I am concerned about is, would the defeated party helplessly accept the court's decision like Gore or launch a new round of battle, after the court's decision is announced?

 

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net

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No English, no problem: Macau and Hong Kong can do without them altogether

Posted: 05 Jul 2013 12:32 PM PDT

http://www.utusan.com.my/pix/2010/0103/Utusan_Malaysia/Hiburan/hi_02.1.jpg 

The talk by some vocal Chinese in Malaysia about the importance of English as an international language is pure propaganda. It has no real basis.

 

The only reason why they want to use the language as the main medium of instruction in the schools in Malaysia is because they want to obliterate the use of the Melayu language, which they know most of them cannot master.

 

Mansor Puteh 

 

However, even if the Melayu are forced to study and speak in English, they will excel more than the Chinese who can never speak or write it as well as the Melayu can.

 

In Chinese-dominated countries which were also under British rule such as Hong Kong, the Chinese there did not bother to study English and the main medium of instruction in the schools is still Chinese or Cantonese.

 

Even Singaporeans are speaking in Chinese more than English and all their major television and radio programs are also in this language instead of English.


Most of the Singaporeans speak passable English and not exactly perfect. And if they are interviewed on foreign television programs, chances are what they say has to be subtitled since they do not pronounce English words well.

 

The demand by the Melayu and other patriotic non-Melayu in Malaysia to have the 'sekolah kebangsaan' as the only school in the country has basis, and if the students are to be forced to master the English language, they can do it within this one education system.

 

Many workers from Bangladesh, Myanmar, India and other countries speak good Melayu which is a lot better than most of the Chinese despite them not having studied Melayu formally.

 

The Mandarin and Tamil school systems have also not created Chinese and Tamils who are proficient in English as much as they are in Melayu.

 

Since many of the Chinese and Tamil students drop out of the vernacular Mandarin and Tamil schools early, the level of their understanding of Mandarin and Tamil is very low.

 

It is also the same with the Melayu and the others who drop out of the 'sekolah kebangsaan' after Form Five, whose understanding of Melayu is also so low that many cannot write in the language well.

 

Yet, most of them can still pass their driving tests to get their driving licenses which is given in Melayu.

 

How on earth did the Chinese and Indian taxi-drivers and petty traders get their driving licenses when they do not speak or write well in Melayu? 

 

The other reason why the Chinese do not favor sending their children to the 'sekolah kebangsaan' is because of the strong emphasis on Islamic studies and Islam, so they fear their children could be compelled to convert to Islam.

The truth is most of the Chinese Islamic converts are those with the vernacular Mandarin school backgrounds. Check with Perkim and watch their programs at 11.30 a.m. every Friday on TV2.

 

And if there are parents who can afford to send their children for ballet and piano lessons and excel in them, then surely they too could have sent their children to English lessons.

 

Why didn't the Chinese parents demand the government also provide their children with those ballet and piano lessons too?  

 

Hong Kong was returned to China from Britain on 1 July, 1997 and Macau from Portugal two years later after they were colonized by the two European superpowers of the day for so long.

 

They were under the colonization of Britain and Portugal for 99 years as opposed to Malaysia which was under them for a mere 176 years.

 

Britain benefited much from the colonization of Hong Kong and all the other more than fifty countries that provided the country with their natural resources while planting their social, cultural and not counting religious biases on the locals or natives.

 

Portugal on the other hand, was not so smart; while their country remained backward, Macau was able to develop.

 

Their experience in governing Macau for 99 years had caused Macau to be developed, but Portugal remained backward. And today even within the European Union, Portugal remains as one if not the most poorly developed country in the EU.

 

At the same time Portugal did not leave much legacy in Macau as did Britain in Hong Kong.


Portuguese may be the official language in Macau as is Mandarin, and English used to be the official language in Hong Kong as was Cantonese, yet, there is no loss for the locals that did not seem to favor these languages.

 

There was and also still is no clamor by the local Chinese to get their governments to have a single education system which uses only English or Portuguese as the medium of instruction.

 

The problem is that these countries are Chinese-dominated.


Whereas in Malaysia, the Melayu population is not yet overwhelming with the percentage of the Chinese which is still large enough to allow them to exert any demand on the Melayu who they have by design or by the mistake of the Melayu themselves, have been fractured to force them to be grouped into two or three groups, all of which clamor for the support from the Chinese who they have appointed to be the kingmakers of the country's political system, which is sad.

 

Yet, at the same time, the propaganda some Chinese have been using to say that English is an international lingua franca which is integral to the further development of the country is nothing but propaganda.

 

Some Melayu have also swallowed such propaganda and have appointed themselves to be the unpaid and unofficial spokesmen for the British who do not care for their personal sentiments.

 

The truth however, the Chinese in Macau and also Hong Kong do not care for English.

 

And on my recent visit to the two countries I found it so difficult to find a Chinese who could speak English.

 

I was lucky to be able to see some Filipino maids or those working in the travel industry in the hotels who I could approach to seek information and direction.


Even the Chinese staff at the hotel and airport do not speak much English. If they do speak the language they do it in a thick Chinese accent.

 

No Chinese in Malaysia has ever compared to the situation in Malaysia and in those two countries, to see if English had become too instrumental in the economic development of the two countries.

 

Even when Hong Kong was under direct British rule for 99 years, the main school system was still Mandarin-based, so those who could speak English were so few. 

And the number of the Chinese in Hong Kong who can speak in English today is even less, with the more Chinese from Mainland China who have come to seek a better livelihood had come to Hong Kong so in the end they are able to overwhelm the original inhabitants of the country who speak in Cantonese so much so that they too have to study Mandarin to be able to communicate with the Mainland Chinese.

 

Yet, both Hong Kong and Macau are countries which can be said to be developed economically with the people experiencing a modern lifestyle while speaking in Mandarin or Cantonese.

 

This goes to prove that the mastery of the English language does not automatically allow any country to become developed.

 

If this logic is good, then why is the Philippines still not at par with Hong Kong and Macau? There are many Filipinos who are able to speak in English although they may do so with a thick Filipino accent which is influenced by the Spanish upbringing.

Being under American occupation for a while after the Spanish left, the Filipinos were able to study English, but their country is still not so developed.

 

And on a more personal level, why then are there so many African-Americans and also Native Americans who speak excellent English who can be considered to be economically backward compared to the Caucasian Americans?

 

Even Singapore which had stressed the importance of English has not proven to the world how the language could unite all Singaporeans, especially with the many Chinese who still prefer to use their mother tongue.

 

And the television programs especially the dramas and travelogues and magazine programs are all in Mandarin and not in English.

 

If the Singaporeans speak in English, it will have a strong alien accent and not in proper English that we know today, so much so that what they say in interviews is subtitled. And they are not the ordinary Singaporeans, but the professionals such as engineers.

 

There are not that many places in Singapore and also Malaysia where one can speak proper English.

 

So even if one can write well in the language, one can still speak in the language with some alien accent.

 

And it is not just accent which is wrong with Malaysians and Singaporeans when they speak in English; it involves a host of other issues relating to their social and cultural upbringing and historical influences that can cause them to behave like idiots if they confront true English men or women and if they are in England or any other English-speaking country.

 

So if there are some Chinese and also Melayu in Malaysia who think if the people are excellent in English, only then the country can fully develop, they can go to Macau and Hong Kong and see for themselves how this is not true.

 

The people of Macau and Hong Kong can do away with English and they can still develop their own countries as much as the other developed countries in Europe and Japan, South Korea and even China which sends their 'taikonauts' to space speaking in Mandarin.   

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net
 

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