Najib, ministers to distribute flags for Merdeka month

Malaysiakini
 | Jul 20, 11

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin and cabinet ministers will distribute Jalur Gemilang to the public in conjunction with the upcoming independence month celebration.

Information Communication and Culture Minister Rais Yatim said the flag distribution would be carried out at KL Sentral after the weekly cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

“The prime minister and cabinet ministers will take a ride on the ERL from here to KL Sentral,” he told reporters in Putrajaya.

Earlier, Rais accompanied Muhyiddin who were shown the batik shirt to be worn by cabinet ministers at the launch of the flag-raising campaign.

The specially-designed batik incorporates multi-ethnic motifs in line with the 1Malaysia concept.

Muhyiddin later chaired the cabinet meeting.

– Bernama

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 20 July 2011, 2:30 pm and is filed under
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Najib, the Queen and the Pope

By
Luke Hunt

The Diplomat

July 19, 2011

Marrying the demands of international diplomacy with the political realities of home is a tough ask for most countries and their foreign ministries. The two can be a difficult fit, as Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has found out all too well.

Some back home seem determined to provide an unwanted backdrop for his whistle-stop European tour designed to shore-up his country’s vastly improving relations with the West and bring in some much needed foreign investment.

However, echoes of the Bersih movement and their demands for electoral reform have dogged Najib and his entourage from London to Rome, while the prime minister’s own supporters have provided the nastiest thorn in his political side with wild and unsubstantiated claims of unwanted foreign meddling in domestic affairs.

Much of the initial fault lies with Najib. He declared the July 9 Bersih rallies in Kuala Lumpur and across the country illegal and failed to muzzle his own party, the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), and fringe elements threatening what should have been a simple and peaceful march.

The police moved in with a heavy hand. Protesters were baton charged, tear gassed and beaten. People wearing yellow, the colour synonymous with the Bersih movement were arrested.

Najib defended the police action, deeming it necessary to keep the peace while attempting to demonize what was as much a mums and dads rally calling for clean elections as an opposition attempt to topple the government.

Playing to a home audience, his government quickly blamed prejudices in the international media for the negative portrayal that made headlines around the world, and Najib was probably hoping the mess would be quietly forgotten as he packed his bags for England.

No such luck.

Supporters of Bersih, which means clean in Malay, in London booed Najib as he went to Downing Street for lunch with his British counterpart David Cameron. He and First Lady Rosmah Mansor later met with the Queen, who surprised all by wearing yellow against a backdrop of yellow flowers.

The choice of outfit from such an astute and experienced head of state was widely interpreted as a sympathetic sign of support for Bersih, although the Queen’s dress sense seemed to escape the attention of fashionistas on state-linked newspapers in Malaysia.

Next stop Rome, and a truly historic moment with Kuala Lumpur and the Holy See agreeing to establish diplomatic ties. It was signed off with Pope Benedict XVI at his Papal summer palace in the small Italian village of Castel Gandolfo.

Similar ties have also been established by other Muslim-majority nations like Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iraq, Pakistan, the Arab League and most members of the Organization of Islamic Conference.

Moves to establish diplomatic ties with the Vatican began more than two decades ago, and given the global push to improve relations between the West, Christianity and the Muslim world, Najib was entitled to stand on ceremony and push his doctrine of Islamic moderation.

But there was no respite from the head banging over Bersih back home, with government-linked TV stations initially claiming the movement was receiving funds from the United States and this was a threat to national security because Bersih was in league with foreign interests.

What made even less sense were further claims from the Malay-language Utusan Malaysia daily, which is owned by UMNO, suggesting that foreign Jewish groups might use Bersih to interfere with the country and Malaysians ‘cannot allow anyone, especially the Jews, to interfere secretly in this country’s business.’

‘When the drums are pounded hard in the name of human rights, the pro-Jewish people will have their best opportunity to interfere in any Islamic country,’ the newspaper said. ‘We might not realize that the enthusiasm to support actions such as demonstrations will cause us to help foreign groups succeed in their mission of controlling this country.’

No evidence was offered and no specific groups named. Najib no doubt hardly appreciated such silly allegations of a Jewish conspiracy when meeting the Pope, amid high hopes of improving relations between the world’s religions.

Frustrated, Najib’s office issued a statement saying Utusan’s claim did ‘not reflect the views of the government.’ It added: ‘Regardless of their political views, it is unacceptable for anyone to stir up hatred and suspicion against any religious group in the way we have seen today.’

Such wise words would have also been welcomed in the lead-up to the July 9 Bersih rally, and would have no doubt improved the toxic atmosphere of the march. If heeded, the election reform movement would have made its point and gone home quietly, and Najib’s historic trip to Europe would have been allowed to strike the right chord.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 20 July 2011, 9:37 pm and is filed under
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Putrajaya, the days of censorship are over

Malaysiakini Your Say
 | Jul 20, 11

‘Is this where our indelible ink from March 2008 went, to black out a report on clean elections rally? Shameful and pathetic.’

Economist report on Bersih rally ‘censored’

Lynn:
 Other than the obvious stupidity of blatant censoring, this also shows how bloated the civil service is – to have people on payroll sitting around manually blacking out thousands of copies of The Economist. What a waste of time and typical of the inefficiencies of our government today.

Jaguh:
 These cowardly acts indicate shallow thinking. Whoever suggested it has no brains. There is the Internet. This really reflects on the whole cabinet (they all should be in a ‘cabinet’) and frankly, compared to other countries, they have no class, no standards and no morals. A change is imminent.

Tsc:
 The reactions of the government post-July 9 Bersih march border on the childish. It shows the calibre of the cabinet we have. These simpletons will not be able to hide the police’s excessive force.

The more they try to hide the truth, the more it proves that this government was bent on holding on to power by hook or by crook. Otherwise, why the over-reaction to black out the ‘unfavourable facts’?

Humored:
 I have to wonder if they realise that most subscribers/readers to The Economist would likely have Internet access and so this action will spur them to go online to check it out even more.

It’s going to help with increasing the hits on the article online, making it look even more popular than necessary. The PR agency the BN regime has hired to advise them on such matters ought to be given a prize by us as it helps highlight matters that we would otherwise have no access to.

Mohd:
 In the 21st century, censorship is still practiced by many countries. However, only in Malaysia is there such an outdated and laughable censorship approach by using black ink to censor the paragraphs is just unbelievable and funny.

Seriously, do they really think all Malaysians are stupid and ignorant like their supporters?

Anonymous:
 What are they trying to prove? Anyone can just read the full text here.

JBGUY:
 The Home Ministry is paranoid for they are responsible for the mess in the first place. The home minister should resign for his incompetency and sheer stupidity.

He has not demonstrated any sort of competency in handling the job and instead has within a short frame of time earned dubious titles like ‘Kerismuddin’, ‘cow-head minister’, etc. He is a disgrace to his father and grandfather.

Fillio:
 The BN government shall not decide what the rakyat can read, hear and see. In this cyberage, a government behaving in this manner must be very sick, dumb, silly and have lost almost all senses to govern.

In a way, this government is akin to a retarded person suffering terminal diseases about to die.

Black Mamba:
 The Home Ministry is either still living in the dark ages under the coconut shell or nonchalantly stupid. Why is there a need to blacken out words when the whole episode can be viewed on YouTube in full colour?

Rais Yatim, you are not doing justice as an information and communication minister by not enlightening the cabinet.

Ghkok:
 I think the Home Ministry should black out more articles in more publications … so that it will attract even more attention to those articles.

Lim Chong Leong:
 The more they try to hide, the more is revealed. Those who do not want to face the truth are cowards. We have cowards calling themselves our leaders. We must change them.

Is this where our indelible ink from March 2008 went, to black out a report on clean elections rally? Shameful and pathetic.

Anonymous_40a7:
 “Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth” – Buddha.

Total revamp of local varsities needed, says don

Anonymous_4031:
 Professor Syed Farid Alattas, I agree with your views on the need for a total revamp of local universities.

Some salient points are as follows:-

1. Entry qualifications: A-level or STPM only, no matriculation or SPM students. Set a benchmark for entry. Minimum grades – two principal and two subsidiary passes.

2. Vice-chancellors to be recruited worldwide. Present vice-chancellors can apply. However, gauge their achievements (if any) since they took over the post. A five-member recruitment panel be picked from among universities overseas to show impartiality. No racial quota, please, if we want to get the best brains.

3. Faculty deans must have done research papers written in recognised journals. Only respectable deans could attract professors and lecturers of high acclaim. Mediocre deans will attract mediocre staff, for no reputable professor or lecturer would like to work under them.

4. Quality lecturers and quality students will produce quality graduates, who will be marketable for high-income jobs.

JBGUY:
 Politics is the bane of a quality education system in Malaysia. We had a reasonably good system left behind by the British but since the advent of the BN government, the education system has been spiraling down.

Each education minister wants to play to the gallery by proclaiming he is fighting for the sake of the Malays and the Malay language while the quality of the universities suffer. English is so very important and is crucial for the improvement of our universities.

The Malays are at the losing end for most of them are only fluent in one language. Ask the numerous unemployed grads who suffer owing to a poor command of English.

DontPlayGod:
 Syed Farid, what you stated is already well-known by the academics in all our universities, and it is a relief that now at least someone of your calibre is giving a slap in the face for Umno and its racists.

We all know, too, the reason why local graduates are almost unemployable in this country. Poor standards is one thing, the other thing is their command of the English language. Even now, having a good command in Mandarin is gaining ascendancy. But our local graduates can hardly string a simple sentence in English.

And we all know the reason for the continual fall of standards in our universities, the NEP, which is pervasive in our daily lives. As for the lack of freedom to discuss and partake in the country’s politics by students and academics, one can easily blame this on Umno, headed by the then Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

I share your belief that it would take a Herculean effort to reverse standards in our universities, and I can’t see it happening any time soon.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 20 July 2011, 11:48 am and is filed under
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Scorpene subs: The French edge closer to Najib

John Berthelsen

Malaysiakini

Jul 20, 11

The noose could be tightening on one of Malaysia’s greatest military procurement scandals, the US$1 billion purchase of French-built Scorpene submarines, commissioned by then-Defence Minister Najib Abdul Razak in 2002.

The latest developments come at a time when Najib, as prime minister, toured Europe, meeting with Queen Elizabeth and Pope Benedict XVI in an effort to repair an image battered by an ugly crackdown on July 9 against tens of thousands of protesters asking for reforms of Malaysia’s electoral system, which is regarded as rigged to keep the ruling national coalition in power.

The scandal allegedly involves French politicians, the giant state-owned defence contractor DCNS and politicians and military procurement units across the world.

The scandal netted a company owned by Najib’s close friend, Abdul Razak Baginda, €114 million in “commissions”, according to testimony in Malaysia’s Parliament. Some of the money is rumoured to have been kicked back to French and Malaysian politicians.

French investigators have been pouring over DCNS records for months in connection with the larger scandal. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has declined to investigate the scandal, maintaining that the giant commission was payment for legitimate services.

“It is likely that in September, we should have access to the first police conclusions from all the investigations that have taken place over the last 18 months,” Paris-based lawyer William Bourdon told Asia Sentinel. “We know that the police seem to have obtained quite crucial documents.”

Bourdon, the leader of a team of lawyers investigating the case, is to visit Kuala Lumpur this week to confer with Suaram, the NGO that has filed a complaint with French authorities over the scandal.

The question in France is whether, under French law, an NGO can act as a complainant. That will be decided in coming days by a French judge, Bourdon said. He added that he is confident he will succeed.

Kept under wraps

For years, Malaysian authorities have been trying to keep the scandal under the carpet. The matter broke into the open in 2006, however, with the gruesome murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu, who had served as a translator for part of the submarine deal.

She had been shot in the head and her body was blown up with military explosives. Her last words, according to a confession by one of her killers, was that she was pregnant. The fact that her body was blown up has led to suspicions that the killers were trying to hide evidence of who the father might be.

The French prosecutors are not expected to investigate Altantuya’s death as such. Instead, they are following the case on the basis that it is illegal to pay or take kickbacks in France. If the €114 million is found to be a kickback, the French prosecutors can act, Bourdon said.

According to Altantuya’s final letter, which was found in a hotel room after her death, she was supposed to have received a US$500,000 fee for her work. After a whirlwind courtship, during which she was given thousands of dollars and whisked off to Paris and other destinations by Razak Baginda, who is married, according to testimony, Altantuya was jilted and she turned up in front of his Kuala Lumpur house, calling him a “bastard” and demanding that he come out to face her.

Shortly after that, a sedan full of Malaysian police officers pulled up and took her away. She was never seen alive again. In the letter left behind before her death, she said she had been blackmailing Razak Baginda, at that time a well-connected political analyst.

Two of Najib’s bodyguards have been convicted and sentenced to death for her murder. Abdul Razak was acquitted in a trial seemingly held to make sure top government officials’ names would not come out.

International scandal

French investigators have been going through the state-owned DCNS records for months. In France, the scandal has major implications. Tied to the global sales of weaponry have been deaths and scandal not only in Malaysia but in Pakistan, Taiwan and France itself.

Allegations of kickbacks being examined by French prosecutors go clear up to former French president Jacques Chirac, former prime ministers Dominique de Villipin and Edouard Balladur and the country’s current president, Nicholas Sarkozy, in addition to an unknown number of current and former French defence executives. Military procurement officials in Taiwan, India, Chile and Brazil may be involved, in addition to Malaysia.

Lawyers for the families of 11 French engineers killed in a 2002 bomb attack in Karachi were quoted in April as saying they would file a manslaughter suit against Chirac, allegedly because he cancelled a bribe to Pakistani military officials in the sale of three Agosta 90-class submarines to that country’s navy. Sarkozy was minister of the budget when the government sold the subs, built by the French defence giant DCN (later known as DCNS) to Pakistan for a reported US$950 million.

Prosecutors allege that Pakistani politicians, military officials and middlemen received large “commissions”, with as much as €2 million in kickbacks routed back to Paris to fund Balladur’s unsuccessful 1995 presidential campaign against Chirac.

As budget minister, Sarkozy would have authorised the financial elements of the submarine sale. At the time, he was also spokesperson for Balladur’s presidential campaign and, according to French media, had been accused of establishing two Luxemburg companies to handle the kickbacks.

It is alleged that when Chirac was re-elected, the president cancelled the bribes to the Pakistanis, which resulted in the revenge attack on a vehicle in which the French engineers and at least three Pakistanis were riding. For years, the Pakistanis blamed the attack on fundamentalist Islamic militants, including Al Qaeda.

L’affaire Karachi, as it is widely known in France, has been called the most explosive corruption investigation in recent French history. It may well be far bigger than just unpaid bribes to the Pakistanis.

Executives of DCNS then embarked on a global marketing drive to sell the diesel-electric Scorpène-class subs, a new design. They peddled two to the Chilean navy in 1997, breaking into a market previously dominated by HDN of Germany.

DCNS also sold six Scorpènes in 2005 with the option for six other boats, to India, where the defence procurement agency has been involved in massive bribery scandals in the past. Then-defence minister George Fernandes was forced to step down in 2001 after videos surfaced showing procurement officials taking bribes.

In 2008, General Sudipto Ghosh, the chairperson of the Ordnance Factory Board, was arrested and seven foreign companies were barred from doing business in India as a result of a bribery scandal.

In 2008, DCNS also won a bid to supply four Scorpènes to Brazil. DCNS is to provide the hull for a fifth boat that Brazil intends to use as a basis for developing its first nuclear-powered submarine.

In Malaysia

At about the same time the French engineers were murdered in Karachi in 2002, Malaysia placed its US$1 billion order for two Scorpènes in the deal engineered by Najib. In exchange, a company wholly owned by Najib’s close friend, Abdul Razak Baginda, was paid the €114 million in “commissions”, according to testimony in the Malaysian Parliament.

Although the Malaysian government has done its level best to ignore the case, it remains alive in France. In April, Bourdon, Renaud Semerdjian and Joseph Breham filed a case with prosecutors in Paris on behalf Suaram, which supports good-governance causes and, Malaysian officials charge, is closely linked to opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Any investigation into corruption at the levels now under way in France is inherently unpredictable, given the interests involved. What began as a ripple in Paris may yet build into a tsunami, threatening individuals and plans previously thought impervious to such a threat. Questioning Abdul Razak Baginda in the UK might be a place to start.

This report first appeared in Asia Sentinel.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 20 July 2011, 10:11 pm and is filed under
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The political impact of Bersih 2.0

By
Johan Saravanamuttu

Free Malaysia Today

July 20, 2011

The BN is still haemorrhaging from the Sarawak state election of April 16, where it lost the urban vote. Bersih 2.0 shows a continuing slide.

COMMENT

The repercussions of Bersih 2.0 will no doubt be profound. It has already been dubbed as Malaysia’s “Hibiscus Revolution”. The question that is now uppermost in the public imagination is whether the current government will also suffer a severe blow for its inept handling of the event.

Bersih started out in 2006 as a movement of civil society forces and political parties calling for clean and fair elections. Its demands for cleaning up the electoral rolls, reviewing postal votes, including allowing for voting from abroad, fair access to the media, the elimination of corrupt practices are nothing radical or revolutionary and yet the government’s resistance to it has allowed the opposition parties and those not in support of the present government to easily latch on to a ready-made platform for galvanising support.

Bersih’s first political rally on Nov 10, 2007 saw some 40,000 Malaysian streaming into the heart of Kuala Lumpur, setting a benchmark for peaceful political protest in Malaysia.

On July 9, 2011 almost the same number of demonstrators were out in the streets of Kuala Lumpur, as estimated by the independent “politweet”, despite a ban on the rally and police roadblocks at every point of entry into KL. If the political impact of Bersih 1.0 on the general election of March 2008 is now axiomatic, would Bersih 2.0 have a similar impact on the next general election?

It is important to first understand the character of the rally itself. The outpouring of material on the social media and through social networking websites reached proportions which, in my view, have been unprecedented and have not stopped. At the point of writing, over 200,000 facebookers have called on premier Najib Tun Razak to resign. The webpage has picked up 20,000 votes or more in one day.

The people who showed up at Bersih 2.0 came from a cross-section of Malaysia’s multicultural society, with Malays and youth as the dominant groups. This spoke well for the continuation of the trajectory of Malaysia’s non-racialised “new politics”. The involvement of national literary laureate A Samad Said who wrote a touching poem about Malaysia’s “wounded democracy” was highly inspiring to the would-be Bersih rallyers.

Various attempts made to delegitimise Bersih by Umno-related groups had a counter-productive effect. Thus it was alleged that it would be “unIslamic” for Muslims to participate in an illegal rally. The bogey of May 13 was also invoked and the Chinese were asked to stock up on food and stay at home. Such racialisation of the event by Perkasa and the Malay paper Utusan Malaysia helped to further augment multiracial supporters on the other side. The lame counter march of a couple of hundreds of Umno Youth “patriots” proved to be the proverbial drop in the bucket in terms of its impact.

The event received a crucial boost when Suhakam chairman Hasmy Agam weighed in to opine that it was legitimate. Najib had called for the rally to be held at a stadium and the organisers obliged after meeting with the King but the police were adamant about not giving a permit for use of the Merdeka Stadium.

The heavy-handed action on the part of the police – some 1,700 arrests, heavy use of tear gas, water cannons, and some argue, responsibility for one death – has put the government in a no-win situation vis-à-vis the common Malaysian citizen.

BN in damage control mode

In public imagination, Bersih 2.0 would stand out even more than Bersih 1. Already folklore about Bersih has gone “viral” on the Internet. A few examples should suffice. “The Lady of Liberty”, an elderly woman well into her 60s, who braved the water cannons, holding a branch with two daisies has been reproduced ad infinitum in multiple incarnations and web designs.

Numerous individuals present at the rally have written first-hand accounts to show why as ordinary citizens their participation was a morally and socially uplifting experience. Not least of all, Marina Mahathir, the daughter of Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the patron of Perkasa, wrote in her blog that she had gone to participate in the Bersih rally in support of her daughter and all the young people who were drawn to the cause.

Admittedly, Bersih 2.0 is largely an urban phenomenon. But this is not to be taken lightly, if urbanites are fast becoming the voting majority. The prime minister and his ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional, are now in damage control mode.

The BN is still haemorrhaging from the Sarawak state election of April 16, where it lost the urban vote. Bersih 2.0 shows a continuing slide. Umno’s vote banks in the rural areas alone cannot assure it of regaining a two-thirds control of Parliament – which Najib must get to prove he is better than his predecessor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The premier is now surely conflicted about waiting out till the mandatory date for the next election in early 2013 or holding it much earlier in 2012. Another difficult budget awaits in October this year and with the Malaysian economy invariably on the verge of a dip, prospects are somewhat dim for the ruling coalition.

Larger than the issue of the next general election, which would now likely to be in early 2012, is the changing nature of Malaysian politics. Political parties like his, which continue to mobilise support purely on the basis of race, after Bersih 2.0, are on a short political tether.

The writer is senior visiting research fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. The article first appeared on Aliran. http://aliran.com/6077.html

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 20 July 2011, 10:51 pm and is filed under
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Utusan hitting the streets with blacked-out headlines, blotches of black and full pages in black if it gets “Economist” treatment from Home Ministry

The UMNO official organ, Utusan Malaysia, will be hitting the newsstands every day with blacked-out headlines in front or inside pages, blotches of black or even full pages in black if it is given the Economist treatment by Home Ministry “censoring incorrect and misleading information”.

And what a sight it would be!

This is because no other mainstream media in Malaysia could compete with Utusan for the tonnage of garbage, lies and falsehoods it purveys everyday!

It would undoubtedly make Utusan Malaysia the only one newspaper of its kind in the world as to justify to get into both the Guinness and Malaysia Books of Records!

Furthermore, it would give such a boost to the black-ink industry as to make it one of the most profitable lines of business in the country!

Not trying to be facetious or funny, but Pakatan Rakyat cannot find a better candidate to helm the most inappropriately-named Publications Control and Quranic Text Division of the Home Ministry as it takes quite a special genius to be able to turn both the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak into  instant home and international jokes with one stroke of the pen!

Furthermore, Najib’s 1Malaysia Government Transformation Programme has also suffered a fatal hit – as what serious government transformation could the Prime Minister intended when important government departments are blissfully unaware of the advent, impact and consequences of Internet and an information society.

If the idea is to create an enormous public interest in a print article which is also available online, the most effective way is for the government to ban, censor or “blacken” it for it will create such enormous interest as to immediately drive readers online to read the full article or the “censored” parts – which is exactly what  happened to  the Economist article entitled “Taken to the cleaners — an overzealous government response to an opposition rally” on the police high-handedness and  the gross government mishandling of the 709 Bersih 2.0 rally.

There are now many times more readers of the Economist online as a result of this article “black-out” – no wonder the Economist management took the ham-fisted Home Ministry action with considerable aplomb. In fact, Economist should send a complimentary contribution to Home Ministry for helping to boost its  overall readership!

The Home Ministry inked out four lines in the Economist article, one of which notably reported on the death of Baharuddin Ahmad during the 709  rally – a martyr for the cause for free and fair elections and a Clean Malaysia.

The ministry also inked out three other lines in the article which spoke of “heavy-handed police tactics”, the controversial teargas and chemical bombardment on the Tung Shin Hospital and how the government withdrew its stadium offer.

The blotted out parts read: “The march itself was then banned, although the authorities offered Bersih a stadium to meet in — and then withdrew the offer” and “The heavy-handed police tactics have provoked a lot of anger; the government has conceded an official investigation into claims of police brutality. In one instance (caught on film), police seemed to fire tear gas and water cannon into a hospital where protesters were sheltering from a baton charge”.

Has it ever occurred to those responsible for the Publications Control and Quranic Text Division that their action is downright antediluvian and stupidest that could be thought of, as it is totally self-defeating in promoting greater interest and readership of the Economist article concerned.

If Najib is serious about Government Transformation Programme, he should totally revamp the Home Ministry to ensure that it could be “smart” by firstly, ensuring  that only those with IT and information age mindset fully primed that there is no way to curb information flow  are placed in charge; secondly, splitting up the two departments as Publications Control and Quranic Text should not come under one roof.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 20 July 2011, 3:24 pm and is filed under
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Applying Prospect Theory To Ending Affirmative Action

By M. Bakri Musa

An insight of cognitive psychology (that sub-discipline dealing with mental processes like thinking and decision making) is that humans are far removed from the ideal of a rational self-interested Homo economicus (Economic man) when making decisions, contrary to the core assumption of traditional economics.

            Two factors weigh heavily when we make decisions, given a set of alternatives. One, we are loss averse; that is, we magnify the value of a potential loss and minimize the potential gain even if the two are quantitatively the same. The other is that how those alternatives are framed very much influences our decision.

            Although these insights refer to individual decision-making processes, nonetheless they can be extrapolated to the societal level, on how we collectively make decisions. This has relevance to the central wrenching issue dividing our Malay community today, on whether to continue or do away with affirmative action.

            The example (minus the intricate mathematics and fancy graphs) used to illustrate the Prospect Theory (as this new insight is called) is the potential epidemic of an Asian disease hitting America that is expected to kill 600 people. When asked to choose between an intervention that would save 200 people and another that would have a 1/3 probability that 600 people would be saved with 2/3 probability that no one would, most would approve the first. Both propositions state exactly the same thing. The first however, framed it more positively with the element of undue certainty thrown in.

            There are other variations on the same theme. Thus we willingly drive across town to save $5 on a $15 calculator but not on a $125 suit. The savings are the same – $5 in both cases – but what decides is the framing. Never mind that you spend $10 on gas to drive across town! Marketers make full use of these insights of cognitive psychology when advertising their products. Thus the grabbing banners: “Fifty percent savings!”

            Returning to the difficult issue of affirmative action, we have made it unduly contentious as we have framed it unwisely. One, we have stated it as taking away special privileges, and being risk averse, we rightly reject that. Two, we have framed special privileges as being part of our character, our right by virtue of being the indigenous people. We forget that affirmative action was instituted for the explicit purpose of overcoming disadvantages we suffered under colonialism. Those privileges were meant to jumpstart our development so we could be on par with the rest of the community.

New Frame of Reference

We can deal with the issue of special privileges more effectively and less acrimoniously by tapping the wisdom of modern cognitive psychology. First, we must reframe the discussion differently, away from privileges and the taking away of them, to the more general but pertinent issue of enhancing Malay competitiveness; and second, we must amplify the benefits and minimize or lessen the loss of doing away with these crutches.

            By making affirmative action part of our culture and character, we have made it difficult to critically examine it. No matter how noble in intention and beneficial the results, any scrutiny would be viewed as an attack on our values, character and heritage. Those are formidable obstacles.

            Instead we should focus not on special privileges per se but on how to prepare our people for this new highly competitive economy. Indeed I would specifically eschew any talk of doing away with special privileges; all that does is to inflame passions and further polarize us. Once we are competitive, then the need for special privileges would simply melt away. Then we can talk of about ending them more rationally as they would have become irrelevant in the lives of most Malays.

            What made affirmative action so highly effective at its inception was its emphasis on education and rural development. Under Tun Razak, schools were literally mushrooming in the villages, bringing both development and education. I vividly recall that in the seven-mile bus ride from home to my high school in town, there were no fewer than seven primary schools being built! In the afternoon when the children were finished, those schools would still be full, this time with adults attending literacy classes.

            The emphasis on rural development made great sense; the overwhelming majority of Malays then were rural dwellers. Under FELDA, massive land development schemes were initiated, with mass relocations of landless kampong folks, an internal migration of sorts, so they could begin a new life away from the stifling atmosphere of their old villages. Its sterling success in mass relocating poor people remains the only shining example in the world up to this day.

            Today the noble mission of FELDA has been hijacked, the entity itself being “corporatized,” another government-linked company (GLC). Tell me, how does the building of a RM 670 million headquarters in the glittering part of KL make those FELDA settlers in Ulu Pahang more competitive? Headquarters are nothing but expensive overhead. Likewise, I fail to see how FELDA’s plantations abroad would help the poor people back in my kampong.

            The same query could be posed on the billions spent on GLCs. Najib, like his predecessor Abdullah, cannot find a GLC he does not love. He and we accept that because those expenditures are being framed as furthering NEP and not on the more pertinent issue of making Malays competitive. Had we done that, then obviously those funds would be better off diverted to making schools in FELDA settlements have the best facilities and teachers, as well as making sure that those settlers have electricity and potable water.

Maximize The Gain, Minimize The Loss

The other insight is of risk aversion. For us to favor a decision, we have to be convinced that the promised gains would vastly outweigh the potential loss, and that the majority would benefit and the loss suffered by the minority, preferably a minority we (the majority) are not enamored with.

            If we dispense with inflated contracts to UMNO cronies and instead get the best price through competitive bidding, then we could build two schools for the price of one. Even if that contract were to be won by a non-Malay or even a foreigner, the benefits would fall on the hundreds more Malay families whose children would now have safer and better schools. The losers would be the handful of UMNO-connected “contractors” and Ali Baba “entrepreneurs.” Again, many more gainers with far fewer losers! Besides, those losers are the types we have difficulty identifying or sympathizing with.

            Similarly with the billions spent on GLCs; again if we divert those resources to improving our schools and universities by recruiting superior teachers and professors from abroad, thousands would benefit. The losers would be few, those has-been politicians and near-retirement civil servants seeking cushy corporate jobs. Again, those are the people we do not readily sympathize or identify with.

            I advocate this in my forthcoming book, Liberating the Malay Mind. Sell all those GLCs including and especially such jewels as Petronas and MAS, and put the proceeds in a professionally-managed trust fund with the returns to be used exclusively for education and improving the lives of our urban and rural poor. To me, it is far more important to train young Malays to be pilots, airline mechanics, geologists and petroleum engineers than to own an airline or oil company.

            One big benefit to selling those GLCs would be the elimination of a major source of undue lobbying and influence peddling by politicians and senior civil servants. Currently they, especially the near-retirement civil servants, are preoccupied with ingratiating themselves to their political superiors in the hope securing a coveted chairmanship of a GLC on retirement from government service. With that no longer an option, these civil servants would then be emboldened to challenge their political superiors should they embark on some silly policies. Were that to happen, we would have a far superior civil service, and the whole country would benefit.

            Another benefit to ridding these GLCs is that those highly accomplished Malays presently in Petronas and Khazanah would be free to sell their talents to the highest bidder and then be appropriately compensated. Right now they are being unfairly taken advantage of, in fact seduced by such silly sentiments as national service and misguided notions of patriotism.

            As for those less talented who infest the many money-losing GLCs, well, those companies were not created to be public work projects for them.

            The other reality to the discussions on special privileges is this. If today we were to embark on a policy to enhance Malay competitiveness, assuming that it is highly effective, it would take a while for its results to be apparent. Further, we do not know or can predict specific potential winners except for the amorphous “Malay masses” and the aggregate results. Hence there will be no one to lobby or vigorously advocate for the changes.

            On the other hand, if we were to terminate affirmative action today, the losers would feel the loss right away. Not being saints, they will fight it; they will immediately be on the streets protesting, as those in Perkasa are doing. That is predictable.

            This dilemma is the greatest challenge facing policymakers everywhere, especially in a democratic society. China does not have that problem. Thus it would take an extraordinarily enlightened and farsighted leader to achieve this, someone focused on the long term and not on the next election. Such leaders are also the ones most likely to tap the wisdom of others, including that of behavioral economists and cognitive psychologists.

            Unfortunately for Malaysians, Malays specifically, our current leaders are content parroting the latest buzzwords of those disciplines, while their long-term strategy never extends beyond the next party elections. Self-interested they very much are, rational they are not.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 21 July 2011, 10:44 am and is filed under
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Auntie Bersih: The arts my political awakening

By
Nigel Aw
 | Jul 21, 11

Malaysiakini

EXCLUSIVE When Anne Ooi arrived in Kuala Lumpur eight years ago, this Penangite was no political animal. But the move to the city centre was a pivotal change – climaxing in the events of July 9 – the day an iconic picture of ‘Auntie Bersih’ was captured.

The image of a lone, elderly and frail woman clad in a yellow T-shirt, drenched to the bone in chemical-laced water amid the backdrop of a vanguard of riot police flanked by water cannon trucks, has become a symbol of resilience and resistance in the face of oppression.

After much reluctance and contemplation, Ooi mustered her courage to speak out for the first time in an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.

“When I came to KL, the Five Arts Centre was already doing shows. They pointed out many things about the government to create awareness. Since my daughter is involved in the arts scene, her friends were my friends. I didn’t know anyone else in KL,” she said.

“Marion D’Cruz did a piece on the Internal Security Act; Chee Sek Thim did one on May 13 (1969), called That was the Year, and it just went on and on and I enjoyed those performances because fun was poked at the government,” she added.

The Five Arts Centre is a collective of artistes and producers dedicated to generating alternative art forms and images in the Malaysian creative environment, which includes theatre, dance, music, visual arts and a young people’s theatre.

The 65-year-old retiree said the works and efforts of the creative community were an ‘awakening moment’ about what was going on in the country.

‘I marched against injustice’

Indignant over the state of the country, Ooi, an English language teacher who had worked in government schools for 35 years, took to the streets in heart of KL, together with tens of thousands of fellow Malaysians in the Bersih 2.0 rally.

The rally, organised by electoral reform group Bersih 2.0, may have been to champion for free and fair elections, but for Ooi and many others on that day, it was more than that.

“Injustice. Arrests. The ISA. People locked up for no reason. I myself don’t want to be locked up. I don’t want to be handcuffed, be arrested or locked up for no reason,” she said, explaining her cause.

On protest day, Ooi had made her way into locked-down KL alone, in her bright yellow T-shirt and with nothing more than a pouch wrapped around her waist, under the watchful eyes of the ‘black crows’ as she referred to the police.

“My daughter said to have a nice walk. All of us were happy, just (by) being there, all the faces… I was prepared for the walk, and I was prepared for the dirt,” she said.

Little did Ooi know that the ‘dirt’ she thought of would become a powerful image on the Internet that could also serve as an inspiration for many netizens.

‘I was frightened by Facebook’

As the image of this resilient ‘Ah Ma’, drenched in chemical-laced water fired by the police spread across cyberspace like wildfire, netizens set up Facebook fan pages in her honour.

The most prominent among these is the
‘Malaysian Lady of Liberty’
, with close to 41,000 likes.

While netizens started dropping messages of admiration on the fan pages, Ooi was less than pleased about her new-found fame.

“It was just an ordinary walk, but day by day, I was stunned by the fan pages. I couldn’t accept it… it was overwhelming for me. I do not know about Facebook, I do not know what netizens do, so I hid.

“I just don’t want to see anybody anymore. I wasn’t sure how I was going to live my life. How am I going to walk to the market or to the church?” she lamented.

Spooked by her sudden celebrity status, Ooi, who lives on her own, sought refuge in her daughter’s house.

“My own children, they reacted… one saw the thing (fan page) and started laughing… when I came to her house, it (the fan page) had 5,000 (likes) and she was screaming at me: “Look, Ma! 5,000 (likes)!” She and her husband were laughing.

“I have another son in Penang. My daughter passed the information to him and he cried. He was speechless, and he and his wife cried. After that, my son said, ‘I will be with you next time’.

“One more son, he got on the phone with me and was angry. He asked why did I have to do this, that I should not do it again,” Ooi added.

‘A silent revolution’

However, after the shock, Ooi admitted that the sudden turn of events could be used as a force for the good of all the people.

“At first, I just wanted to kill them all. Why did you do this to me? I didn’t give you permission (to take my picture),” she said in reference to the iconic image of her taken by photographer Hugo Teng and its dissemination on Facebook.

“But now, I have to thank him for his creativity. The country needs to see everything in action, and I will thank him one day,” she added.

Asked if she wished the Facebook “madness” – as she called it – would stop, Ooi said that it depended on what it was used for.

“Sometimes (there’s) the vanity, right, and I get a bigger head! I know there is power in these kinds of things… I can use it to get whatever I want, but my son did ask me, ‘Ma, do you know what this is? The young people are starting a silent revolution, and you are in it, they need you there’.

“So, do I want it to stop? For that, no. If using computers, networking (with) one another, passing information here and there, feeling anger – good anger – and acting upon it, I don’t want it to stop.

“But if it is just for honour, I want it to stop. I don’t want honour, it’s not mine. It’s everybody’s fight.” she said.

Asked if her children had framed the photograph in the house, Ooi shot it down in her fluent Hokkien dialect, saying that it was too embarrassing for her.

‘I’m just an ordinary person’

Ooi also expressed her gratitude to the Facebook community, but hoped that the praise would stop and that the experience would not change her in ways that are bad.

“I just want to say I’m very grateful and I don’t deserve this. I’m just an ordinary person.

“Things are being put in my hands now – here’s a handphone, take this book, corruption starts from taking little things… I don’t want to be corrupted, I want my own clean life back, I just want to be with my God and work with the poor and do what people need me to do,” she said.

However, there is one thing that has changed since Ooi’s roller coaster ride in the past 10 days – she has promised to herself that she will polish up her knowledge about Malaysian politics.

Just as the image of Ooi at the Bersih rally has served as an awakening for many Malaysians, her traumatic post-July 9 experience did the same for her.

“Right now I need to read up, I’ve been left behind, I’ve been living selfishly. I have to read up everything about politics, about parties.

“In this week itself, I read what Raja Petra (Kamarudin) said, about Lim Kit Siang’s detention (in the past)… I didn’t know a lot of people were imprisoned,” she said.

For many, ‘Auntie Bersih’ Ooi is an idol, but for the woman herself, she was simply an ordinary citizen playing her role in a greater struggle for a better country.

——–

This interview was jointly conducted by Kow Gah Chie and Nigel Aw.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 21 July 2011, 10:51 am and is filed under
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Bersih 2.0 rally – a basketful of faux pas by BN Government, before during after and still ongoing!

If someone had been assigned beforehand to a  special task to script the worst-possible scenarios for the Najib administration in relation to the July 9 Bersih 2.0 peaceful rally for fair and free elections, nobody could be so creative as to pre-plan the basketful of faux pas committed by the Barisan Nasional government before, during and after “709” and still ongoing.

Before

The basketful of faux pax before 709 included:

1.	Arbitrary declaration of Bersih 2.0 as unlawful.

2.	Ban on Bersih T-shirts and paraphernalia, to include even yellow T-shirts, coupled with indiscriminate arrests.

3.	Police and government disrespect to the Yang di Pertuan Agong who had met with Bersih 2.0 leaders and suggested a compromise of a stadium rally instead of a march – accepted by Bersih 2.0 but reneged by the authorities.

4.	Police roadblocks causing infernal traffic congestions in and out of Kuala Lumpur and  police lockdown of the federal capital on 709, alienating the general public.

5.	Intemperate, extremist threats of counter-demonstrations and racial riots, even another May 13 by Umno Youth and Perkasa’s Ibrahim Ali.

6.	Abuse of court process in securing an ex parte injunction to ban 91 Bersih and Pakatan Rakyat leaders and activists from key areas in KL on 709.

7.	Baseless invective and vicious campaign to demonise Bersih leaders, particularly Bersih Chairperson S. Ambiga, with wild and reckless charges to incite religious and racial hatred and tension.

8.	Daily incitement of hate and campaign of  lies by BN msm, both printed and electronic, particularly Utusan Malaysia.

9.	Gross abuse of power in the arrest of PSM MP Dr. Michael Jeyakumar and other PSM activists first on the ridiculous charges of “waging war against the Agong” and “reviving communism” and later on EO detention-without-trial for being Bersih activists.

10.	Refusal/failure of the Election Commission to respond to Bersih 2.0’s eight demands for free, fair and clean elections.

During

1.	High-handed police action of mass arrests and individual cases of police violence and brutality.

2.	Causing death of Baharuddin Ahmad.

3.	Criminal police landrover ramming of PAS Deputy President Mat Sabu on motor-bike.

4.	Reckless and indiscriminate firing of tear gas without notice and into KL sentral tunnel – an enclosed space – heedless of the safety of the Bersih and Pakatan Rakyat leaders and the public.

5.	Wanton and criminal firing of tear gas and chemically-laced water cannon into Tung Shin Hospital grounds.

After

1.	Najib’s fire-breathing speech to 6,000 UMNO leaders the morning after 709.

2.	Further plunge in public credibility with police and Umno leaders disputing that 50,000 people had gathered in support of Bersih 2.0 rally, with IGP claiming that it was only 6,000, upped to 10,000 by Hishammuddin with Najib later topping it to 15,000 in London!

3.	Denial of responsibility for gross mishandling of 709 Bersih 2.0 rally, in particular denial of police brutality and violence and unwarranted tear gas and water cannon attacks at Tung Shih Hospital (by Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai)  and KL sentral tunnel despite mountain of evidence whether eye-witnesses or video.

4.	Warning by the Deputy Finance Minister, Awang Adek that Bank Negara could freeze the assets of Bersih leaders.

5.	Censorship of Economist article ““Taken to the cleaners — an overzealous government response to an opposition rally”.

6.	Continued BN msm campaign of lies and falsehoods about imaginary “ghosts” and  “foes” to the extent that the Prime Minister’s Department had to issue a rare statement directed to the foreign media only distancing itself from Utusan’s preposterous Bersih-Jewish link to topple the BN government – which also illustrates the impotence of the PM and UMNO President to exercise check and control over Utusan, UMNO official organ .

How is it possible for any government to commit such a basketful of faux pas before, during and after the 709 Bersih 2.0 peaceful rally?

As a result, the overseas visit of the Prime Minister to the United Kingdom, the Vatican and France has proved to be quite a disaster with the Prime Minister pursued by the international media over the government’s mishandling of the Bersih 2.0 rally.

Is Najib capable of finding out why he and his government had gone so seriously wrong in grossly mishandling the Bersih 2.0 rally for free and fair elections, causing one faux pax after another and to rectify all these mistakes?

Can Najib and the BN Ministers ever understand that Bersih 2.0 rally was an exquisite and precious national experience where Malaysians regardless of race, religion, region, class, age or gender came together as one Malaysian people bonded by love for the country and a common cause for a just and clean Malaysia – which no amount of flag distribution by Ministers as decided by the Cabinet yesterday can ever duplicate?

It is not too late for Najib to embrace Bersih 2.0 meaning and experience of uniting all Malaysians in a common cause for justice and a clean Malaysia and save his 1Malaysia slogan but he must act fast.

Najib should retire all those responsible for the basketful of faux pax before, during and aftter the 709 Bersih 2.0 rally and as earnest of his seriousness to embrace Bersih 2.0, his first announcement on his return from his overseas trip must include the following:

•	Lifting the ban on Bersih 2.0 and end the BN’s ridiculous xanthophobia and xanthomania (fear and mania over yellow);

•	Royal Commission of Inquiry into free, fair and cleans elections to reform the electoral system in time for 13th General Elections;

•	Immediate and unconditional release of the PSM6 under EO; and

•	Royal Commission of Inquiry into police excesses over the Bersih 2.0 rally.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 21 July 2011, 11:54 am and is filed under
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Daddy’s letter brought tears to my eyes

Malaysiakini Your Say
 | Jul 21, 11

‘My son asked what is Bersih and why people want to march? I told him I’m marching so that he does not have to do so in future.’

Why Daddy chose to stand with the crowd

Anonymous 7:
 Well done, Da Huang Daddy. Your letter brought tears to my eyes. Yes, this is our country, and I want it for my child too. I feel sad for not being there, but thank God for people like you, Da Huang, and the tens of thousands of others.

Judging by the numbers of people at rally, that itself is a victory.

Viral:
 My son asked, what is Bersih and why people want to march? I told him I’m marching so that he does not have to do so in future. I marched for a better Malaysia and I’m glad that we are all Malaysians and no matter what Umno says – all the races are one and Bersih 2.0 proved that.

140V:
 After the march that day, my bed-time story to my two boys was about how “Appa joined a group of people that Appa never met before and fought an evil monster”.

They asked if Appa killed the monster, I said no, but the monster knows that we are getting stronger and one day Appa will go once again fight the monster, with many, many aunties and uncles to make it safe for you and your friends to play outside and never worry about the monster again.

Malaysian_1st:
 I have to admit this: I am ashamed for not being one of the Bersih marchers – the so-called silent majority. But be assured that our heart are with you, Da Huang.

Moontime:
 It was truly a historic moment especially for those who participated in the rally. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with the rest of us.

When I read your experience in the rally, goosebumps came all over me as I knew that we as Malaysians have reached the desired level of maturity, unity and the ‘muhibbah’ spirit. This is the real 1Malaysia.

I’m so proud of you. It is a legacy worth sharing with your descendants for generations to come.

Rayfire:
 Thanks Da Huang, you have just summarised the feeling most had on that very day. I may have bumped into you at Tung Shin Hospital or at Jalan Pudu during this event. Though I may not know you, I am thankful that you, along with many more true Malaysians, were there with us to stand up for our rights to clean and fair elections.

To those who think this is an opposition event, you don’t know what you have missed. The true meaning of unity when we sang ‘Negaraku’ with pride and humility was simply overwhelming. There were no Malays, Chinese, Indians and Others on that day – just Malaysians.

Big Picture:
 I’m in tears reading this. To all Malaysians who took part in the Bersih rally: well done. You have made us proud. Da Huang, thank you for sharing your story. Your daughter must be very proud of you.

AnonymousA:
 Yes, this is another touching Bersih story from an eyewitness. I think only those who attended the 709 rally can testify that they have lived as Malaysian on that Saturday. Da Huang, you are another brave soul, and surely goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life.

Mirror on the Wall:
 Nothing the ruling regime does will come anywhere near this patriotic surge that individuals felt during the Bersih march.

And all it took was just a few fair-minded individuals, who have transcended all racial, religious and cultural barriers without any fanfare or big bucks, to bring together Malaysians. There are no words that can aptly describe this phenomenon – just ‘Bersih’.

AnakPinang:
 Thank you for that moving account – my tears welled up reading about how we came together as a nation that day. I am humbled by acts of kindness, care and solidarity shown by Malaysians of all races and ages.

Yes, 709 was historic and brought home the enormity of the deceptions and divisions that have separated us all this time. Those who didn’t manage to go should know that when the going gets tough, they can rely on fellow Malaysians.

Shanu:
 I cannot help but be proud of you as I let my tears flow freely. I wish I was your daughter.

Auntie Bersih spooked by Facebook attention

Nik V:
 Many of us do understand, Anne Ooi. We’re all sorry as it must feel like you’ve been dragged into the deeper end of the Malaysian struggle without your permission. You wanted to do your part, but on your terms like most of us.

The one thing I hope you will see from this is it shows how the rakyat is so desperately looking for a hero in our troubled times and we turned to you because the pictures of you were so meaningful to each and every one of us.

We wish you the best and that God will provide you the solitude and answers you seek.

Lucia:
 That’s Anne Ooi for you, whom I have known many years back when she was at the same church as me (in Penang). Always humble and modest and friendly. I’m glad that a lady her age managed to catch so much attention.

Swipenter:
 A reluctant heroine but what a heroine nevertheless. Our country and her people need you in their hour of need to inspire us to fight for a clean, transparent and accountable government.

KJ John:
 Real heroes are not invented by Hollywood or Bollywood. They are made by circumstances of life and based on their choices. It took courage for Auntie to make the choices she made that day. May God continue to bless Malaysia with more souls like her.

Detergent Bersih:
 Dear Auntie, we do not mean to cause you trouble. But your courageous act humbled us and makes us question ourselves – on what we did not do and what we could possibility contribute next.

Geronimo:
 Auntie Anne Ooi is sure some lady of substance. She was not afraid to face tens of police ready to blast her (and in which they did) with tear gas and chemical-laced water, but a simple social network media like Facebook is scaring the daylights out of her.

It is certainly a case of, when faced with injustice, the heart and spirit fears no one, not Najib Razak, not Hishammuddin Hussein and certainly not the PDRM. They can break Auntie Ooi’s body, but they can’t break her spirit.

Solaris:
 Ambiga Sreenavasan, Maria Chin Abdullah, Anne Ooi. Women are moving democracy and social justice forward with their integrity, steadfastness and courage. They are more than deserving of their right to gender equality in this country. God bless these ladies.

Compass:
 Anne, you shared your salt with me on the steps of Tung Shin Hospital before the FRU came in to flush us out. Remember?

Proarte:
 Politicians may see themselves as the main motivators in the Bersih campaign. However, if they are smart, they will understand that keeping Bersih politically neutral will be more effective in garnering the rakyat’s support.

The reason is party politics by its nature is divisive. Bersih’s ideals and aims cut across party politics and is a unifying factor. It is self evident that anyone who is opposed to Bersih is undemocratic and fascist in mindset.

‘Aunty Bersih’, who is a retired Chinese lady, would surely have not supported Bersih if it had been a PAS-directed endeavour headed by Mat Sabu.

Paradoxical as it may seem, the fact that it was a coalition headed by Ambiga, the highly educated Hindu lady with a ‘pottu’ on her forehead emphasised the non-partisan nature of the protest as it was a given that the majority of the rally participants would be Muslim Malays.

It is this reality which panics and petrifies Umno, whose political modus operandi is based on racial division.

Good men:
 Doing what is right, because it is right, not for the limelight, or any other reason. Anne Ooi is a true Malaysian heroine.

JSTOM: She doesn’t watch TV or read newspapers – that cuts out the BN propaganda. She doesn’t know computers – that cuts out the alternate views. So where does she get her info from?

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 21 July 2011, 10:55 am and is filed under
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DAP Dayak Consultative Council (DCC) formed

by
Dr. John Brian Anthony

Chairman

DAP DCC

On his  visit on 11th of June to Sarawak, DAP Adviser Saudara Lim Kit Siang proposed the formation of a Dayak Brain Trust (DBT) which was discussed in this blog earlier.

LKS vision for DBT is for it “to advise DAP Sarawak and DAP Malaysia on a strategy to end Dayak marginalization and spur a Dayak awakening as a integral part of a Malaysian renaissance”.

DAP has also stated that it is interested to go into some Dayak areas in Sarawak and are looking for Dayak who has interest in joining DAP. In this respect, DAP is interested to get the support from Dayak and also their services.

Formation of Dayak Consultative Council

After some serious work and preparation the name “Dayak Brain Trust” has now being changed to “Dayak Consultative Council” (DCC) to capture the essence of the role and spirit of the new organization.

The formation of the Dayak Consultative Council was officially announced by Sarawak DAP Chairman YB Richard Wong Ho Leng on the 18th of July at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall at a “Dayak Reawakening” forum attended by all the 12 DAP YB members from Sarawak and  Dayak working in the Klang valley. There are some NGOs present with interest to see solution and progress for Sarawak.

In the  launching of the Dayak Consultative Council YB Richrad Wong Ho Leng announced that Dr. John Brian Anthony has been appointed to lead the DCC. The other member appointed to DCC is Duwen Babat. The DCC is expected to have a 10 member council. The rest of the council members will be announced indue course.

The road towards the formation of this Dayak Consultative Council was not easy with the following objection from some Dayak.

Some of the objection

Some Dayak felt that the socio-economics gap between Dayak and Chinese is not conducive to their working together. Many Dayak expressed bad past experience of working and collaborating with Chinese. Most commonly cited example is SUPP sidelining of Dayak and riding on Dayak vote and with very little “what is it in me” given to Dayak.

Some fear that the Dayak would get to be more disunited or divided and therefor diluted in their political effectiveness.

Another common objection to DCC formation is that the Dayak do not want DAP to be the “trustee” for the Dayak people. The Dayak wanted to keep their future in the hand of the Dayak themselves. Dayak prefer to run and manage their issues themselves.

Nevertheless there are many who supported the idea of getting Dayak to be involved in DAP effort for a Dayak Reawakening. It is therefor up to Dayak to take their opportunity and work hard to make sure that they get what they want in politics or in other fields.

There are strong reason for Dayak now to consider joining DAP seriously.

Some of the reasons

DAP is a national party and is an important partner within Pakatan Rakyat. For Sarawak, DAP is a stronger party as a platform for Dayak to get into national level politics. Dayak issues can be brought up into Parliament as DAP has two MPs. In the State DUN, the 12 DAP YBs is a bigger force to fight for Dayak issues.

DAP has acknowledged that many of their DUN seats were won with Dayak support. Meradong and Kidurong are DAP seats with large Dayak voters with Kidurong having 51% Dayak voters. It is therefor natural for DAP to reciprocate the Dayak support in their services and support for the community.

DAP is a multi-racial party and the Chinese centric DAP is incidental as DAP is mostly contesting in urban seats. Thus by actively canvassing for Dayak support and support is perfectly in line with its multi-racial nature.

Personally I have many more reasons on why Dayak is strongly encourage to join DAP as a platform for Dayak interest. The general view is that religion would not be in the way of a Dayak -Chinese relationship. Actually in Sarawak is is complimenting each other. I have always held the view that Chinese education is more suitable to Dayak to improve themselves in the cognitive function and personal discipline as demanded and taught under Chinese school syllabus.

What I like most about DAP is the party is action oriented.

Not all things are rosy. I must admit to have some concerns over certain issues.

The issues that can bring failure to Dayak Consultative Council

The DCC must never be “manipulated”  by DAP to further split the Dayak. Information collected and suggested by DCC must be carefully studied and understood by DAP. Output from such studies should be incorprated into DAP policy documents and statement of key DAP leaders.

The DCC must be given sufficient independence to carry out it works for it to operate with integrity on behalf of Dayak interest. No undue influence is encourage and politics of patronage can only bring negative working environment for DCC. By the same token DCC members should not make use of DCC as a platform to launch their political ambition. Let DCC be a complimentary and in synergy with the overall DAP political strategy and struggle.

Finally it is important that DAP do not allow disillusion over the progress made by DCC but instead attempt to work together to find solution to the many problems face by Dayak that would become part of  renaissance within DAP.

Conclusion

The Dayak Reawakening would be aided by the Dayak consultative council. I would want DayakBaru to study this matter carefully and make suggestion to ensure its success.

It would also be appropriate for me to state that through doing this work I would also be able to contribute towards strengthening Pakatan Rakyat effort to win Putra Jaya. I cannot be sitting in two boats and thus I am resigning from PKR and with the best of intention to join DAP as soon as possible.

The journey of change we must require great personal commitment and sacrifice. Today I am taking this step to make the change that I felt is important and urgent. So let us join together in our fight for a stronger Dayak politically.

Change WE Must.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 21 July 2011, 11:57 am and is filed under
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‘Fourth interrogation’ broke Teoh, postulates RCI

By
S Pathmawathy

Jul 21, 11 | MalaysiaKini

The Teoh Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report claims that the MACC instituted the “fourth interrogation” during the wee hours of July 16, 2009, from 3.30am to 7am, which “must have been the final straw that broke the camel’s back”.

According to the report, after having to endure three strenuous rounds of interrogations, the RCI panel believes that DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock was put through yet another round of intense interrogation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

This is the theory postulated by the RCI to explain how Teoh was pushed to the brink and eventually committed suicide.

“The acts committed by these three persons, namely Hishammudin Hashim, Mohd Anuar Ismail, and Mohd Ashraf Mohd Yunus, were most probably in the form of another round of intensive interrogation of Teoh to coerce him into making a statement that it was Ean Yong Hian Wah who directed him to commit unlawful acts in handling the allocation.

“This session must have been very taxing on Teoh, both physically and mentally. He had been deprived of sleep throughout the night and into the morning and had to endure persistent, aggressive and unscrupulous questioning.

“His physical condition, as described by (Mohd) Ashraf when fetching him the glass of water, was that Teoh had moved to sit in an upright position, very slowly.

“This is the fourth interrogation session to our minds (and) must have been the final straw that broke the camel’s back,” says the report.

MACC officers had contended at both the inquest and RCI that they ended their interrogation of Teoh at 3.30am and the political aide was released. However, instead of going home, they claimed that Teoh had decided to sleep on a couch in the MACC office.

But the RCI report stated that Teoh was not released after the MACC interrogation.

At a press conference this morning, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said the government would ensure that “appropriate action will be taken against those officers involved who went against MACC procedures, based on the rules and laws already in place”.

RCI argues its case

The RCI gave three reasons to back up its theory:

1. Hishammudin was simply too stubborn to retreat from his mistake in mounting such a massive operation against Selangor elected representatives over the alleged misuse of their constituency allocations, particularly when it had received wide and extensive press coverage.

To overcome his disappointment at the negative results obtained from these witnesses, he must have resorted to a personal and more aggressive interrogation of Teoh since Teoh, as the commission has explained, held the vital link between Ean Yong and the suppliers or contractors, and if anything were to be made to “stick” on Ean Yong, it would have to be through Teoh.

2. The commission believes that Hishammudin must have been assisted upon this foray by Anuar and Ashraf. The commission names Anuar because his alibi had been proved to be false. As disclosed during the inquiry, hardly anyone saw him sleeping at the place he claimed to be at between the hours after 3.30am and 7am on July 16.

Even guard Khairudin who said that he saw Anuar sleeping in the visitor’s area pointed out an area which was different from the area where Anuar claimed to have slept at. The evidence of Khairudin itself was not credible as he was found to have with him a prepared script while testifying in the witness box, which proved beyond doubt that he had been coached.

Further, Anuar lied about the role he had played in order to cover up for Hishammudin. And on top of these factors, he was a trusted senior officer of Hishammudin who was prepared to sacrifice himself for Hishammudin. The other officer, Hairul Ilham, having gone home by that time.

3. The commission found it most unusual for Ashraf to fetch Teoh a glass of water at about 4.40am on July 16. This established three things – first, Ashraf was around during this time.

Second, though Teoh knew where the pantry was and could have gone there himself to get a drink of water, yet he demanded Ashraf’s services.

This was most extraordinary in view of Ashraf’s poor track record on physical abuse of suspects, which made it unlikely that he would entertain a demand from a person who was inferiorly situated in relation to him at that point in time. Though Teoh was termed a “witness”, he was treated more like a suspect.

Third, was the rather impolite and demanding nature of the request: “Hoi! I want to drink water” (according to Ashraf). This could be said to be downright rude, yet Ashraf complied.

From this, the commission drew the inference that Ashraf was not thoughtful and generous in performing this service but had done so out of remorse for some of the improper things that he and those involved had done to Teoh during the hours of 3.30am to 7am.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 21 July 2011, 8:33 pm and is filed under
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Kit Siang: Forced suicide is homicide

By
Yow Hong Chieh

July 21, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 — Lim Kit Siang has likened Teoh Beng Hock’s suicide under duress from graftbusters to murder and said that those responsible for his death must “face the full consequences”.

The DAP parliamentary leader said any layman would agree that being forced to commit suicide by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers was not the same as suicide but was “equal to homicide”.

“You cannot have a situation it’s not homicide but (rather) forced to commit suicide,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

Lim (picture) claimed the national anti-graft body was “overzealous” in pursuing the case involving Teoh’s boss, Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah, because it was under orders to “destroy” the opposition.

A royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into Teoh’s death ruled today that the DAP aide committed suicide as a result of pressure from aggressive and continuous questioning by MACC officers.

The officers had wanted to pressure Teoh to be a witness in their case against Ean Yong for alleged abuse of public funds.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Nazri Aziz disclosed the finding today which, he said, was unanimous.

Ean Yong said he did not believe Teoh committed suicide but pointed out that the RCI report clearly showed that MACC officers had abused their power and failed to follow procedures.

“The people of Malaysia will have their own judgment on this case and we will continue to find the truth about the death of Teoh,” he said.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 21 July 2011, 4:44 pm and is filed under
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Kit Siang labels Najib, Hisham ‘instant jokes’ over Economist black-out

By
Debra Chong

The Malaysian Insider

Jul 20, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, July 20 – Putrajaya’s decision to black-out portions of international magazine The Economist’s latest issue has backfired on the prime minister and home minister who both are now the target of jokes worldwide, DAP leader Lim Kit Siang said today.

The veteran opposition lawmaker recommended that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak also overhaul the home ministry led by the latter’s cousin Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and appoint as officers in charge those who were more tech-savvy and up-to-date on current affairs.

Lim poked fun at the Najib administration for blotting out large segments of the weekly magazine’s July 16 edition that covered the Bersih 2.0 rally earlier this month, despite
the article being also available online
.

“It takes quite a special genius to … turn both the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak into instant home and international jokes with one stroke of the pen!” Lim said, before blaming overzealous and outdated home ministry officials in the publications control and quranic text division for compromising the dignity of the country’s top leadership.

The Ipoh-Timur MP claimed that page views of The Economist article titled “Taken to the cleaners — an overzealous government response to an opposition rally” had spiked online as a result of the government censorship.

“There are now many times more readers of The Economist online as a result of this article “black-out” – no wonder The Economist management took the ham-fisted home ministry action with considerable aplomb,” he said.

“If Najib is serious about the Government Transformation Programme, he should totally revamp the home ministry to ensure that it could be ‘smart’ by firstly, ensuring that only those with an IT and information-age mindset, fully primed that there is no way to curb information flow, are placed in charge,” Lim advised.

The federal lawmaker also suggested splitting up the publications control and quranic text division into two units “as they should not come under one roof.”

The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition has been hit hard at home and abroad with Najib being forced to explain on an official visit to Britain his administration’s clampdown on dissent in the weeks leading up to — as well as during — the July 9 Bersih 2.0 rally.

Police arrested close to 1,700 individuals on the rally day alone while six more people who are members of the registered Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), including Sungai Siput MP Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj, have been locked up since July 2 after they were found with T-shirts bearing the likenesses of former communist leaders.

The police said the six are detained under the Emergency Ordinance (EO) for allegedly waging war against the King.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 21 July 2011, 9:45 am and is filed under
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RCI rules Beng Hock committed suicide

By
Debra Chong

Jul 21, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 — A royal commission has ruled that Teoh Beng Hock committed suicide as a result of pressure from aggressive and continuous questioning by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers.

The MACC officers had wanted to pressure Teoh to be a witness in their case against a DAP assemblyman for alleged abuse of public funds.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Nazri Aziz disclosed the finding today which, he said, was unanimous.

The royal commission of inquiry also found three MACC officers to have breached standard operating procedures.

It recommended that action be taken specifically against the three MACC officers.

Nazri told reporters the government would leave it to the police to take the necessary action against the three MACC officers.

He said the police would have to open an investigation and take the matter up with the Attorney-General’s Chambers for any potential prosecution.

RCI chairman Tan Sri James Foong Cheng Yuen submitted on June 22 the report by the RCI into Teoh’s death two years ago.

The five-man RCI wrapped up its report on June 15 after having heard testimony from 70 witnesses in its bid to unravel the mysterious circumstances behind Teoh’s death.

The 30-year-old DAP political aide was found dead on July 16, 2009 on the fifth-floor corridor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam after he was questioned overnight by MACC officers at their then-Selangor headquarters on the 14th floor.

The coroner’s inquest had in January returned an “open verdict” ruling out both suicide and homicide some 18 months after Teoh’s death.

The government was then forced to establish the RCI, which first met in February, with two terms of reference: to probe how Teoh plunged to his death and to look into MACC’s investigative methods.

Foong also said only three copies of the report were prepared, one each for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, and himself.

The other four members of the RCI were retired Federal Court judge Datuk Abdul Kadir Sulaiman, former Court of Appeals judge T. Selventhiranathan, Penang Hospital senior consultant forensic pathologist Bhupinder Singh and Mohamed Hatta Shaharom who is dean of the Cyberjaya Medical Science College University and a consultant forensic psychiatrist.

The report will be on sale from 10am tomorrow at the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya.

The 124-page report is retailing at RM45 a copy and is available in both English and Bahasa Malaysia.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 21 July 2011, 3:07 pm and is filed under
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RCI: Senior graftbuster launched Selangor investigation on ‘mere belief’

By
Debra Chong

July 21, 201 |The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 — A senior Selangor anti-graft officer launched a full-scale fund abuse investigation solely on an informant’s “mere belief” and without supporting facts, the royal panel reviewing the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) procedures said.

In its report released today, the Foong Commission found Hishammuddin Hashim (HH) “passionately involved” in the graft operation against a Selangor DAP lawmaker, leading to the death of his political aide Teoh Beng Hock.

“There was no direct evidence to prove that HH had a hand in the death of TBH. But as the senior most officer involved in the operation… he should be held responsible for the actions taken by him and his officers which propelled TBH to commit suicide,” the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) said.

“We found him to be arrogant, given to falsehoods, untruthful and uncompromising in his stand,” it said, noting that Hishammuddin had persistently denied being part of the operation.

The panel said they only learnt the truth when two of Hishammuddin’s men testified the former Selangor MACC deputy director was the one who issued all instructions and even directed the officers on who and how to interview witnesses.

Hishammuddin is now the Negri Sembilan MACC director, the panel noted.

“From the start we observed that he was fully convinced of the truth of the information he had received. However, he was fully aware of the fact that information was grounded on the belief of the informant that Selangor state assemblymen were receiving monies from the allocation without the programmes being held or the projects being carried out,” it said.

It noted that Hishammuddin who had 19 years experience then “should have exercised every caution as the complaint was serious in nature and involved the State government of Selangor”.

The RCI added that instead of carrying out basic groundwork to confirm the truth of his informant’s claims, “he launched a full-scale operation involving a large number of witnesses and mobilised the whole Selangor MACC and sought manpower support from other MACC officers as well for this purpose”.

The panel said Hishammuddin could have checked by interviewing independent persons who had previously attended the events, or visited the project sites, or even call up the land or district offices to know if the budgeted programmes had been held.

The RCI also noted an anonymous letter, purportedly from all MACC officers in the country, addressed to its chief, which accused Hishammuddin of misconduct and power abuses in connection with Teoh’s case and former Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo.

The letter was submitted as evidence although there was no proof to suggest a formal investigation was ever carried out.

The RCI noted that Hishammuddin had been described by his fellow officers as a “workaholic” and an ambitious person who put fear in his colleagues.

“Thus, it was not at all surprising that most of his officers… had the inevitable habit of lying,” it said.

The RCI recommended that the MACC Act passed two years ago be amended to prevent further abuses and misinterpretation of the law and to afford protection to witnesses and suspects against human-rights abuses as well as to take a more balance approach in the fight against corruption.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 21 July 2011, 10:52 pm and is filed under
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Use indelible ink for GE, not on the Economist

Malaysiakini Your Say
 | Jul 21, 11

‘It would have been more beneficial if the ink was used to blank out racist hate articles in Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia.’

‘Economist’ to investigate censored Bersih report

Malaysian Born:
 Someone should get a message to Home Ministry Publications Control and Quranic Text Division secretary Abd Aziz Md Nor. Next time you want an opinion on what to do, please check with someone at the ministry and the police who are qualified, preferably someone with a basic level of common sense.

There is no point censoring the truth especially after it has been posted online. There was no part of the article in The Economist that was even marginally exaggerated, so what is the point of blacking out sections in the magazine given that it is also available online – you just made it important for everyone to check it out, and they will.

You are behaving like you are from a 20-year time warp. You all look like a bunch of illiterate desperate buffoons, but much worse, you make the country look terrible which is unforgivable.

3com:
 Here are the missing parts:

1) “…and one man died of a heart attack.”

2) “The march itself was then banned, although the authorities offered Bersih a stadium to meet in – and then withdrew the offer.”

3) “The heavy-handed police tactics have provoked a lot of anger; the government has conceded an official investigation into claims of police brutality. In one instance (caught on film), police seemed to fire tear gas and water cannon into a hospital where protesters were sheltering from a baton charge.”

AnesthMO:
 The mature and responsible thing for the government of Malaysia to do would be to write a letter to the editor rebutting the points that it is in disagreement. Instead, the government resorted to childish and infantile behaviour.

Anonymous_3e86:
 Stupid move by the government. Those copies that are blanked out are only the Malaysian copies. Elsewhere around the whole world, the uncensored version circulates.

And what’s the use of blanking the Malaysian copies when the rakyat have witnessed the rally through YouTube and other online media. In fact, the whole Malaysia has already viewed the online videos.

The blanking out merely shows that the government is trying to “hide” the facts. Now, everyone is curious to know what was blanked out.

WangMalaysia:
 “Meanwhile, Home Ministry’s Publications Control and Quranic Text Division secretary Abd Aziz Md Nor said action was taken to censor parts of the article which he claimed to be incorrect and misleading.”

Abd Aziz, who do you think you are? God? Were you there at the rally to verify those statements to be false and misleading? While you are free to state your version, you should not stifle others from doing the same.

SusahKes:
 Every time their big boss goes overseas to promote the country and try and bring back FDI (foreign direct investment), these jokers climb out of the woodwork with their cave man mindset and muck it up. What’s the point of the PM going abroad?

Not Confused:
 To censor an international publication by using black marker pen? If it were not so serious, I would be rolling on the floor with laughter.

Do they seriously and honestly think that this is a sensible thing to do in this day and age? It just shows how scared and delusional they all are. Malaysia is becoming more of an international joke every day and the idiots at the ‘top’ just don’t see it at all – how sad.

Lusiapa:
 A truth is a truth even if it is mentioned only once; a lie remains a lie even though it is denied (in this case, censored) a thousand times!

Fly Emirates:
 I am very surprised the Home Ministry is resorting to censorship in this day and age of Internet and social media. Instead of censoring the article, the Home Ministry should have issued a rebuttal to the Economist, unless of course those folks in Home Ministry cannot argue their case.

One suggestion – Malaysiakini has excellent social media and SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) courses. Perhaps the Home Ministry can send all their top officials to attend these courses so they can stay abreast of current developments.

TehTarik:
 What a waste of black ink on a world-class weekly. It would have been more beneficial if the ink was used to blank out racist hate articles in Utusan Malaysia.

Anonymous:
 What an irony. The police come under the Home Ministry but they have to consult the police first before censoring. It only goes to show a police state in existence.

Borg Kinaulu:
 These government servants are again wasting money and time doing unnecessary, unproductive, ineffectual tasks without thinking things through.

Why censor that few lines in The Economist? The target readers of that magazine are likely to be upper middle class, educated, Internet savvy, intelligent people who will feel insulted by the censoring.

Please concentrate your efforts on the readers for the likes of Utusan and other mainstream media. And of course, don’t forget to keep up the efforts to keep young Malaysians ignorant and ‘dummified’ through the national education system.

You can’t do anything to those who are already educated, so don’t waste time there. Just stay focused on safeguarding BN’s fixed deposits of votes. Let’s see how long the flames will remain under wrap.

Mimi:
 Censor this.

Lin Wenquan:
 A desperate regime will do anything to hide any unpleasant truth about their failings and misrule. The censoring of parts of The Economist’s article termed as ‘incorrect and misleading’ by the home minister is both a juvenile and stupid move.

What did he hope to achieve when the cyber world was ablaze with first person accounts, and pictures and videos to match, about the police brutality? If he had not mutilated the article it would not be such a sensation. After all, we have been fed a constant diet on Bersih 2.0’s ordeal with the frightened government in the e-media.

Instead, this ludicrous action has now attracted the curious who are non-subscribers of The Economist and further expose the regime to more ridicule and ignominy for trying to hide the truth. The forbidden fruit is always sweeter.

Teh:
 The Malaysian government should use the indelible ink for the coming general elections instead of using it to censor parts of the Economist.

MCA: Censoring of Economist is ‘bad press’

Hibiscus:
 It is frightening that in this age of the Internet, our country has people in power who could be so silly as to think that blacking out lines in The Economist will prevent people from reading the lines.

If this type of ‘strategic’ thinking represents the best of brains in the government, we as a nation is really in deep, deep trouble. Certainly, to excuse such ineptness is unacceptable.

Instead of trying to suppress information, which arouses deeper suspicion onto itself, the government should be more engaging and argue out its case.

Remember, we are living in a borderless world. This means the world has become a village, a kampong. In a kampong, you cannot stop people from sharing truths, rumours, lies, etc.

You just have to manage it ethically and not make yourself out to look like an ignorant fool or a big bully, especially if you represent the government.

TehTarik:
 If the criteria for censoring The Economist article is “false and misleading” news, then we will need to open a giant ink manufacturing factory to produce sufficient black ink to censor Utusan Malaysia.

For years, Utusan has been publishing racist articles to inflame racial and religious disharmony. Also the paper is full of lies and half truths. Yet the Home Ministry has kept mum.

Double standards and lies are now the way of life of our leaders and their media lackeys. The credibility of Najib Razak and his cousin is somewhere around zero. We should rename Malaysia as ‘Bohongland’.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 21 July 2011, 11:00 am and is filed under
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