Sexual harassment, so what?

By
Jeswan Kaur

June 9, 2011 | Free Malaysia Today

Comment
Seventeen years ago, the country was dumbfounded when a rising female athlete committed suicide. The youngster, Rabia Abdul Salam, apparently had been sexually harassed by her coach.

What drove Rabia to end her life? The shame of being a victim of sexual harassment, of not being able to face life as a result of that?

Unfortunately, the Rabia episode failed to move the government to put into place legislation to safeguard women from vile acts of sexual harassment. Women continue to face sexual distress, be it at the workplace or in public spaces, but the government is least bothered about providing a helping hand.

In April 2008, the then minister Jamaluddin Jarjis was said to have sexually harassed a female worker of a restaurant at a five-star hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

Jamaluddin’s disrespectful act far from shocked the government of the day. What, however, followed was that barely hours after the incident, the victim withdrew her statutory complaint against Jamaluddin, and the case was never heard again. He nows enjoys life as Malaysia’s ambassador to the United States.

More recently, a female tourist guide who was forced by a travel agency to share a room with a male tour bus driver had come forward complaining that she was sexually harassed by him. Sexual harassment, it seems, has been plaguing the female tourist guides for quite sometime. But these female tour guides remain silent for fear of losing their job. But for how long?

The absence of such invigilation also makes the perpetrator less fearful about the consequences of his actions.

While the government drags its feet in providing women protection from “crimes” like sexual harassment, the non-compulsory Code of Practice on the Prevention and Eradication of Sexual Harassment at the Workplace, put in place in 1999, is no help when it comes to providing women psychological relief from sexual harassment.

Indeed, it is appalling to note the government’s indecisiveness in swiftly putting in place the much needed sexual harassment law to protect women.

Sexist mindsets not welcomed

While the sexist mindsets found quartermiler Rabia’s death on Feb 25, 1994, not worthy of immediate action to protect more women committing suicide to hide the shame of sexual harassment, time is no longer a tool they can depend on to dismiss sexual harassment incidences taking place in the country.

In this respect, sexist remarks made against an act so damaging to a woman’s dignity must be dealt with severely. One such example was in 2009 when the Labour Department director-general Ismail Abdul Rahim commented that having a Sexual Harassment Act “could lead to a dull and rigid environment in the workplace”. Ismail’s words bear proof that sexual harassment is not viewed seriously.

But then Ismail is not the only culprit who needs severe reprimanding. Disrespectful Members of Parliament like Bung Mokhtar Radin (MP for Kinabatangan) and Mohd Yusof Said (MP for Jasin) earned the wrath of the women’s group for making fun of the female menstrual cycle.

Yet, the MPs never cease to learn from their mistakes and continue to regard the issue of sexual harassment as a trivial matter.

Had the government been serious about the issue of sexual harassment, it would long have criminalise sexual harassment. Instead, the government, in all its apathy, has been a big letdown to the women citizens of this country, who are left on their own in battling this disturbing emotional scourge.

The recent incident of a tour bus driver forcing himself on a tour guide while both were on an assignment received no feedback from Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, who has promised Malaysians that he is all about “people first, performance now”.

What is worrying is that the Malaysian Women Tourist Guide Association president Erina Loo Siew Ming, a tourist guide of 18 years, had also been sexually harassed in the cause of her work. However, the fear of becoming jobless forced these women tourist guides to endure such humiliation in silence.

Sexist comments

Last year, when Women’s Aid Organisation executive director Ivy Josiah lamented that Malaysia was still miles away when it comes to awareness on sexual harassment, she certainly hit the nail on the head.

Josiah cited the 90-day maternity leave proposal for women as one example.

“The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry and minister were all for it but the Cabinet wasn’t. So the ministry backed down and that was the end of it,” she was quoted by an English daily as saying.

Josiah added: “This government really needs to lead the nation in setting human rights standards.”

She then said only about 500 cases of sexual harassment were filed with the ministry over a 10-year period. The number, however, did not mean such cases were not prevalent.

Josiah said when the people were able to trust the system and believed they would get some form of justice, only then would they do something about it.

One such scenario was when the Domestic Violence Act came into being in 1996, there was a 200% increase in the number of reports made the following year. As Josiah said, “Women were just waiting for signs.”

Josiah was unequivocal when she said that the country had yet to accord women due respect and this was evident from views of people who hold on to the notion that sexual harassment was not an important issue to deal with.

“Even in Parliament, sexual harassment is rife with MPs making sexist comments. Parliament is the highest body and the parliamentary standing orders should have a clear clause to ensure that sexism and sexual harassment are not allowed,” said Josiah.

Sad day

In 2009, the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry announced that it was in discussions with the Human Resources Ministry regarding the proposed legislation. Its deputy minister Noriah Kasnon said sexual harassment incidents affecting women were more than the number of cases reported because most victims felt embarrassed or afraid to lodge reports.

Noriah said between 2005 and 2008, there were 3,906 cases of sexual violence and harassment cases, including rape and molestation reported to the police. Another 27 disciplinary cases involving the public sector, were reported to the Public Service Department.

“Besides, sexual harassment in whatever forms, be it physical, verbal or psychological, was a serious offence under the Penal Code,” Noriah had said.

While the two ministries take their time in deliberating the proposed legislation, women continue to face sexual harassment, both at work and in public domain. Just how much more longer will the “discussions” go on, that too at the expense of the peace of mind of women in this country?

Perhaps both ministries should take cognisance of how other nations dealt with sexual harassment complaints. One such case involved former Israeli president Moshe Katsav who on Dec 30, 2010, was convicted of two accounts of rape, sexual harassment and indecent acts.

To Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the conviction marked a “sad day for the state of Israel and its residents”. The premier added that the conviction sent out two clear-cut messages, “that all are equal before the law and every woman has exclusive rights to her body”.

Truly, as Josiah pointed out, Malaysia had a long, long way to go with regard to awareness on sexual awareness. And when a sportswoman kills herself because she was sexually harassed, that was a “sad day for Malaysia and her people”.

Log on to WAO’s website at wao.org.my for details on what constitutes sexual harassment, types of sexual harassment, employer’s responsibility and steps you should take in dealing with it.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 9 June 2011, 7:23 pm and is filed under
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Showing we really ‘boleh’

By
Chris Yip

June 09, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

JUNE 9 — I’m an automotive engineering student currently studying in England. I was born and raised in Selangor for a solid 20 years before leaving Malaysia to study abroad.

Many would say only the rich are able to afford an education in the UK, but I would tell you otherwise, or maybe in this case I’m the odd one out.

I come from a family of six whose sole breadwinner is my father, and he doesn’t earn a five-figure salary and has been retrenched more times than I can remember. I have a diploma from a technical college that does one too many advertisements around the country (NOT cheap to study there at all) but I managed to score a scholarship from them.

Since my parents know very well that education is the base of a person’s career, they made sure I was going to continue studying for a degree even if they had to survive on bread and water. Seeing that my interest and brains were victims to the automotive industry, and there was nowhere I could go to further my studies in Malaysia, it left me no choice but to study abroad.

My education now is currently paid for by my grand-aunt who literally emptied her funeral piggybank because she saw how everybody around me supported this path/vision of mine. I wouldn’t say that I’m an “A” student, but when it comes to cars, it’s my thing.

Enough about my roots; I just wanted everyone to know where I’m coming from because it will emphasise my point.

I live by two main principles: “You reap what you sow, but sow SMART” and “NOTHING is permanent.”

It’s summertime here, most Malaysian friends of mine who are also studying here in the UK are going back to Malaysia for the holidays but I managed to score myself a summer placement which everyone tells me I am lucky to get in the UK seeing that it’s the only placement that I applied for.

Why do they say it’s luck? I believe that it’s all hard work and hard selling of an individual. I did so many personal projects and research during my free time and included them in my CV and cover letter.

When I was interviewed by the director of the company, he was impressed with the amount of hard work I put in, and eventually I beat about 150 other applicants for that single seat.

This company is a highly reputable one, and I can see why. Currently I work eight hours a day, same as every worker in this company. Everyone comes on time and leaves exactly at 5pm, nobody does OT, but for the eight hours these people here really do proper work.

Everyone is VERY productive. I remember while in Malaysia, workers will boast about how much OT they do, but deep down we all know, you can say that you work 10 hours a day, but this includes a two-hour lunch break, two-hour tea break, smoking break, toilet break, etc.

And I haven’t even touched on Fridays. As much as I respect the Muslims, please do not use prayers as an excuse, also please lessen the kuih-muih-teh-tarik time (this goes out not only to Malays, but to all races in Malaysia). The lazy ones will perish one day anyway, so work hard and smart to improve the current situation.

Also, we Malaysians complain about EVERYTHING! Long queue — blame the cashier working slow. Have you seen queues in the UK? Brits would line up for an hour just to pay for a small item and not utter a single word about the long line.

Every developing country will have their bad points, but isn’t that how every country grows? Look into the mirror before shooting down the failure causes. Has anyone of you stopped to think why you aren’t earning as much and living a carefree life? Are you really working as hard and smart as you should be?

And so what if our government isn’t any good? Young Malaysians should be able to see that no matter how lousy our prime minister is, he will have to step down one day. If all the smart people in Malaysia vanished, who else is going to give the incoming prime ministers a challenge? You think that leaving Malaysia and working abroad is a better choice? Why not put that smartness of yours into real use and outsmart the “bodoh” people running the country? Or even your “bodoh” bosses/managers if that applies.

I have plans to study here till I finish my engineering doctorate if my finances and results are sufficient. My future actually lies within the automotive field which, in this case, if we talk about the automotive sector in Malaysia, Proton and Perodua come to mind.

Our national cars are of terrible build quality and pure bullshit engineering compared to European marques and such. But I take this as an advantage, because since I would have learned more than these fools designing terrible national cars, and all the other “Einsteins” have followed the brain drain movement, who else is going to bring improvement and growing space for the upcoming generation?

Somebody has to make sure that Proton and Perodua are no longer toy car companies. Furthermore, Asians are now buying up all the European/British car companies, it is proof that we are going through an evolution, a growth.

Same goes for the growth of Malaysia. If we had more “professors who do more than they talk”, they will be able to really once and for all outsmart the current diabolical guys who run the show.

I know most of you all say that it’s hard for a non-Malay to make a change, that Malaysia is a show run by Malays who claim themselves to be Bumiputeras, that we Malaysian Chinese/Indians will never earn as much as the Malays, etc.

Look at it this way, once the country begins to grow, everything will change. Our land is rich with lots of resources, all waiting for a brain and hard work to work it out. It depends if you are willing to work hard enough to earn it all or not. We really have to stop the stereotyping; hardworking Malays EXIST, as well as lazy Chinese and Indians.

So why are we still looking back at our ugly history? Don’t you all know, there is no FUTURE in history. I tell myself, Najib/Anwar/etc are so 2010.

Do you still want to be “bodoh”? Or are you ready to convert to “boleh”? Can we outsmart the current mentality, defy the norm and make an impact on this failing country?

I still see hope, my family and friends who put their trust in me to change the world, and of course my packet of nasi lemak and cup of Ipoh white coffee are waiting for me back in Malaysia.

Will I still head back to Malaysia after I’m done here? Yes I will, because I “boleh”.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 9 June 2011, 6:17 pm and is filed under
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Vernacular Education In Malaysia

By
Zhi Wei Lee

31 May, 2011 | loyarburok.com

A consideration of the debate on vernacular schools, and the important roles that both national and vernacular schools have to play in Malaysia.

The debate on vernacular schools in Malaysia is often misleading, unconstructive and damaging. I say this because much discourse and opinions about vernacular schools have a dangerous tendency to suffer from oversimplification; you are either for the vernacular school, or you are for its abolition. This is little more than politicised banter — on one hand, it preaches to the choir; but on the other, it unnecessarily stirs up divisive communal frustrations. We must acknowledge that this recurring controversy is deeply-rooted in the convoluted web that is the fabric of Malaysian society — some of which our own doing, others an indirect result of British colonialism. Either way, its complexity demands greater attention and certainly, deeper analysis.

To be clear, this article will advocate no position for or against the vernacular school; rather, it aims to highlight three key issues that matter — culture, nation-building and general quality of education — and to finally assess what they mean for the vernacular school (and indeed, its counterpart: the national school) in the future of the Malaysian educational landscape.

When discussing any Malaysian affairs with ethnic undertones, we must keep in mind one key thing: as much as an idealist would like to believe otherwise, the current Malaysian society does not yet view itself as a collective; rather, we identify ourselves — both consciously and unconsciously — as distinct entities which make up a whole. As such, our perspectives on issues that affect us are often viewed through communal lenses, depending on which entity we believe we belong to and our communal upbringing. This context rings strongly for the issue of vernacular schools, which is why culture should be at the crux of any discussion regarding its condition.

In particular, the survival of the vernacular school is often strongly associated with the survival of the minorities’ culture; in this case the Chinese and Indians. Traditionalists, especially those from previous generations, are usually quick to defend the vernacular school with the idea that it represents their identity as a people. The use of the mother tongue as a medium of instruction is seen to keep the young connected to their cultural roots, and the lessons culturally enriching through history, literature and ethics, all of which are believed to be exclusive to the vernacular system. As such, an attack on the vernacular school is held to be tantamount to an attack on culture.

There are two dimensions to this association.

The first one is politically and emotionally charged. Passionate defenders of the vernacular school will not hesitate to express their fears that without vernacular education, the younger generation will slowly forget their own culture and thus their identity. Coming from a national school, I can see where such fears come from: after all, when I compare myself to my peers who underwent vernacular education, they are clearly superior in their cultural awareness. The combination of passion, pride and fear creates an incredibly fragile atmosphere.It necessitates discourse that rises above the aforementioned for-and-against positioning; it calls for empathy and acknowledgement of these cultural insecurities. Put simply, taking this into account, an outright advocacy for abolition is politically unfeasible and counterproductive to the national cause, as it will exacerbate social discord.

The second dimension is more moderate and encompasses both cultural and quality concerns: some segments of the minorities associate the survival of culture with the survival of the vernacular school simply because they lack faith in the state’s ability to effectively protect (let alone execute) the education of culture through the national school system. When juxtaposed against the firmly established and time-tested machinery of the vernacular institutions, some are unconvinced that the national schools can even compete on the grounds of cultural education, let alone provide a superior option. To add further detriment, proponents of vernacular schools are quick to point out that the general quality of education in vernacular schools is simply higher, as evidenced by better results.

While traditionalists and the older generation are concerned with cultural politics, the second dimension is much more reflective of most parents today — they demand a quality, wholesome education for their children, and their children will be sent to institutions that meet that demand. The current status quo — with 90% of Chinese children and 60% of Tamil children attending vernacular schools — suggests that the vernacular school offers just that. Being a student from a national school and a firm believer in nation building, this is personally disappointing but the fact of the matter is, I have little reason to dispute the decisions of the parents.

However, the cause of national schools is all but lost. Merit must be given to national schools because they are potentially superior for nation building purposes. Nation building is a desirable goal because it lays down the appropriate social, cultural and political foundations upon which a country can effectively and efficiently utilise its resources. While the extent to which education systems can be relied upon as the state’ s instrument to shape society is a debate in its own right; what is certain, though, is that education systems are a strong reinforcing agent of values and perspectives. In the pursuit of nation building, the kind of values and perspectives we should seek to reinforce in schools should be those which celebrate diversity and recognize each ethnic community’s cultural complexities and nuances. In other words, our schools should be a microcosm of the real Malaysian society.

This idea of nationhood goes beyond sentimental patriotism; from a practical standpoint, the inability of a nation’s own citizens to feel a sense of belonging and a sense of shared destiny can lead (and in Malaysia, has led) to an outflow of human capital. In the domestic economy, lack of a “collective” view can be an impediment to fulfilling our full economic potential as we allow diverging communal interests to constantly act as a destabilising force — this is becoming increasingly relevant in Malaysia.

With these values and perspectives in mind, the national school is clearly superior. Albeit all its imperfections, the main positive of the national school, as it stands — from both a national and parental viewpoint — is that it serves as a much better platform for a child to grasp the idea of the Malaysian society; that is, the racially and culturally diverse Malaysia. If we accept that the environment is very capable of influencing the beliefs and behaviour of children, then we must accept that children who grow up in national schools are less likely to grow up in ignorance of their ethnically distinct peers. Consequently, with cross-cultural experiences, they are more likely to develop crucial skills in effectively engaging and communicating with a wider mix of people.

Based on experience of my own and my peers, this is a compelling argument which goes beyond rhetoric, especially when we look at less urbanised parts of Malaysia, where physical communal separation is relatively significant. Again, returning to the idea of schools as a reinforcing agent of values and perspectives, an arguably more “Malaysian” environment is primarily absent in vernacular schools. As a result, those who come from communities with a more monolithic cultural background (a highly common phenomenon in less developed areas) and go to vernacular schools are more likely to reinforce the biased cultural lenses through which they view the world.

Drawing upon these two fundamental elements of culture and nation building, there are important practical considerations for both national and vernacular schools. As national schools are essentially under the aegis of the state, their responsibility cannot be excluded from this discussion. The first step for Malaysian politicians and educationists is cease thinking about what to do with vernacular schools; rather, they should worry more about what to do with the national schools. Even if a one-school system, presumably under national schools, is the final goal, staunch opposition is not constructive.

Instead, a market-oriented view must be adopted; in layman’s terms, since parents dictate the terms of what they demand from the education system, the state must be responsive to these demands. If the state can rise up to the challenge, then surely, on a behavioral level, parents will be incentivised to send their children to national schools. As it stands, there are two primary demands from parents: one, they want cultural education; two, they want quality education. The state must seek to incorporate effective teaching of Mandarin and Tamil alongside the national language, and perhaps even compel every student to master all three languages from a primary level. It cannot afford to attempt to relegate cultural education to the household and assume that it will be sufficient; parents are clearly sending a different signal. In fact, instead of viewing vernacular schools with hostility, the state can be proactive and see how things are done differently in vernacular schools; surely, there are valuable lessons to be learnt by the national school system.

With regards to improving the general quality of education, the state needs to go beyond the idea that more spending is better; in fact, a reconsideration of the way funds are allocated and managed is required. There are two reasons for this.

The first is political; given the delicate state of affairs and the relatively low funding for vernacular schools, pumping more money into the national schools may serve only to galvanise the convictions of proponents of vernacular schools — particularly pro-vernacular parents — that the government cares little for their respective communities. What matters is not whether these claims are real, what matters is that they exist and that they are very legitimate in the minds of pro-vernacular parents, a formidable interest group in its own right. And because of that, the ignorance of these conditions — by increasing spending on national schools while starving vernacular schools of funding — will only widen the wedge between communal and national perspectives. The state’s aim of nation building that strives for a society that is able to view Malaysia as a collective whole will fall on deaf ears if the state itself will not listen to these political fears.

The second involves the systemic problems of our national schools. The state needs to deal with a multitude of things: various incentive problems within the teaching profession, the selection and training of our teachers, national schools which don’t really seem “nationalised” — the list goes on. These problems reflect much wider concerns about the implementation of our educational policies and can only be effectively elaborated in an article of its own (perhaps even that would not suffice). The truth is, many of the less traditional-minded parents would send their children to national schools — if only it would not compromise their children’s quality of education.

As for the vernacular schools, they are clearly in a better standing at the moment. Despite the little funding that they receive from the government, they continue to thrive and attract new students. This displays remarkable resilience on the part of the vernacular schools; their strengths as well as their unique educational culture are valid calls for preservation. Assuming that national schools do rise up to the occasion and eventually provide enviable standards of education, it still does not mean that vernacular schools will become an anachronism in Malaysia.

Having said that, the vernacular schools — as part of our nation’s education services — still have a responsibility in nation building as well. In the collective interest of the country, vernacular schools should detach themselves from their perceived role as the stalwarts of Chinese and Indian identity. Vernacular schools should not be on the defensive; they enjoy success and are very reputable academically — they should exploit this. To be more precise, they should thus actively pursue a wider demographic mix that is more reflective of the national population. Increasingly, more Malay parents are beginning to send their children to vernacular schools — vernacular schools should welcome this.

This strategy projects an important idea: that vernacular schools — contrary to popular belief — are not exclusive to those of a particular ethnic origin. This is important because it would represent a significant paradigm shift: no longer will vernacular schools be viewed as institutions that propagate and defend culture. Rather, they become institutions that are inclusive and offer a unique educational experience.

Ultimately, with regards to the issue of vernacular schools in Malaysia, the onus lies on the national schools (and thus the state) to prove itself as a better option to the general public. The idea of forcibly imposing one-school system under the name of nation building is out of the question, at least until the immense popularity of vernacular schools diminishes — and that is extremely unlikely. Thus, the government today has a clear ultimatum: it can either rebuild the good reputation that our national schools used to carry proudly; or, it can choose to allow that to remain as a forgotten relic of the past. For our country’s sake, I pray it does the former.

* Zhi Wei is big fan of music, big ideas and enjoys a good debate every now and then. He believes in the power of the simpler things in life, and expresses them vicariously through daily doodles of a fat penguin at www.afatpenguin.tumblr.com

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 9 June 2011, 8:12 pm and is filed under
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Anak Malaysia

 By
Kalimullah Hassan

June 10, 2011 | The Malaysian Insider

JUNE 10 – Funny, isn’t it?

It’s not easy to be categorised as anak Malaysia in Malaysia. Fact is, it’s impossible to have your official documents state that you are a Malaysian.

I admire Hannah Yeoh and her husband Ramachandran Muniandy’s attempt to list their child as anak Malaysia. Perhaps they have started the national debate that may one day see the change in policy that many of us anak Malaysia have wanted all these years.

When my eldest child was born in 1984 in Muar, Johore, I faced that dilemma. My birth certificate says I am a Pathan as are both my parents. But my wife is Malay, although she comes from a mixed background, tracing her roots to Sri Lanka and China as well. She is Singhalese, Chinese and Malay.

And so there was this weird conversation I had with the clerk at the district office in Muar. He asked what a Pathan was. I said it was an ethnic group dominant in the North West frontier, in Afghanistan mainly, but also well spread over the sub-continent in Pakistan and India.

“Agama Islam ke, Encik?” he asked. Yes, I said, it’s so stated in my birth certificate.

Then he says my daughter’s race should follow the father, so, she was listed as Pakistani. Hang on a minute, I argued. A Pakistani is someone who is a national of Pakistan. My daughter is a citizen of Malaysia and should be Malaysian. Or, if he insisted on following the father’s ethnicity, she should be a Pathan.

But the clerk, who held the power of determining what ethnic group or nationality my daughter belonged to, insisted there was no category for Pathans in the official list. So, after a while, I gave up arguing. What’s in a name? A rose, by any other……

My wife was not happy. She insisted that the children should grow up with one identity and it was not going to be Pakistani, a country we had till then never been to and where we had no roots at all. But despite her arguments and tantrums at the district office when she was out of confinement, the only compromise she achieved was that instead of putting —— daughter of (d/o) Kalimullah, they removed the daughter of (d/o) and left just the name we gave her.

My second and youngest daughters were registered as Malays. That, I suppose, was because both my wife and I are Muslims. But my son, the third in the family, who was also born in Muar and was probably registered by the same clerk in the district office, was listed as Indian.

When the children started going to school, we had to explain to them why all these happened; why, although they were of the same mother and father, they were categorised as Pakistani, Malays and Indian. But it had not ended.

A few years ago, I was cautioned by the Road Transport Department (RTD) that if I did not change my identity card from the old plastic version to the new MyKad, they would not renew my road tax for my car the following year. So, I proceeded to the National Registration Department (NRD) in Damansara and asked for a change.

Déjà vu.

The clerk looked at my birth certificate and asked what a Pathan was. I smiled and explained and then – this guy was a bit meeker and not assertive — he asked what race he should put me down in my IC. “Bangsa saya Malaysia,” I said.

He asked whether he could put me down as “India”.

Now, having been through this all my life, I decided to have a little fun with him. “No, you can’t,” I said. “I am Malaysian. I am not from India. I was born in Malaysia. I am a Malaysian citizen.”

I asked him a theoretical question. What if you were born in England? And what if they put down your bangsa as “British” or “English” in your IC? Would you accept?

“Of course not,” he replied. “Saya Melayu; saya rakyat Malaysia.”

Therefore, I said, I should be Malaysian in my IC, or if that was not possible, I was certainly a Pathan.

The problem was, he said, there is no category for Pathan in the NRD. I had to be either a Malay, Chinese, Indian or dan lain-lain (others). The clerk was perplexed and confused and I felt sorry for him. I had had enough fun but it was the policy makers who had to decide, not the employees who were only following instructions. Therefore, I told him that perhaps he should talk to his boss and decide.

The next week, when I came to collect the MyKad, I was happy to sign off and go away until he asked me whether I wanted a print out of the information on the imbedded chip. He gave me a copy and my bangsa was listed as “India.”

So there you are Hannah. My wife is Singhalese, Chinese, Malay and perhaps along the centuries of history, an Arab, Indian, Anglo-Saxon as well; I am Pathan and maybe something else. Our flesh and blood — our children — are Pakistani, Malays and Indian. And, according to Government records, I am now an Indian.

By the way, my brother is married to a Chinese, another to a South Indian Muslim, three of them to Malays (including a Bugis), and one to a Hindustani (probably a Pathan), and I have relatives who are Kadazan, Dusun and Iban; I have cousins who are married to Canadians, British and Americans. I guess they have the same issues as I do. Most of our relatives are Muslims but we also have Christians and Buddhists among them, and if we were to look carefully, probably a couple of animists and Hindus as well.

I don’t really care now what the records say though it often rankles my family and I. They can record what they want — we are Malaysians, first and last.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 10 June 2011, 11:54 pm and is filed under
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Guan Eng rounds on Soi Lek for Penang deficit ‘lies’

By
Yow Hong Chieh

June 10, 2011

The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 — Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has slammed MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek for “lies” in claiming that the state government was running on a budget deficit that will deepen next year.

Lim said that since Pakatan Rakyat (PR) took over the state from Barisan Nasional (BN), Penang has recorded the highest budget surpluses in the nation’s history with RM88 million in 2008, RM77 million in 2009 and RM33 million in 2010, as confirmed by the Auditor-General’s Report.

He added that the current Penang administration was the only government in Malaysia, whether state or federal, to be praised by Transparency International for its fight against corruption.

“MCA should stop believing its own lies,” Lim (picture) said in a statement today.

“Chua should seek truth from facts and not seek lies by twisting facts to gain popularity and attack PR.”

Lim said the PR’s solid financial management also saved the deficit-ridden Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) from bankruptcy in the space of only one year.

He said Penang’s administration, based on competency, accountability and transparency (CAT), allowed MPSP to post RM41 million in budget surpluses since 2008 compared to record deficits the council suffered every year between 2000 and 2007 under BN which amounted to RM230 million.

Dr Chua claimed in an interview with Malaysiakini yesterday that the DAP-led Penang government was running on a budget deficit which was expected to worsen this year.

In an interview that was picked up by The Star, he also said Penang had allowed water tariffs to increase by 20 per cent.

Lim today accused Dr Chua of “deliberately distorting” the facts about the state’s water tariffs, pointing out that his administration only imposed a water conservation charge to reduce wastage but did not increase heavily-subsidised rates for domestic users.

“Only water tariffs for business were increased to equivalent to production cost,” Lim said, adding that Penang still enjoyed the lowest water tariffs in Malaysia for both domestic and business users.

“If Chua is unhappy about such increases, why did he not oppose the water tariff increase in Johor until water tariffs in Johor are three to six times higher than Penang’s?” he asked.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 10 June 2011, 10:46 am and is filed under
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Key resignation, resentment hits new national innovation initiative

By
 Lee Wei Lian

June 10, 2011

The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 — Unik, the prime minister’s initiative tasked with restructuring the country’s public innovation ecosystem has hit a setback with the resignation of its technical advisor N Danaraj who was in charge of putting together the National Innovation Policy (NIP).

His resignation earlier this week could come as a blow to Unik due to the loss of experience as Danaraj has a masters degree in public administration from Harvard, a doctorate from Oxford and was also technical advisor to the National Economic Advisory Council (NEAC), a senior fellow at Khazanah Nasional and a research fellow at the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research.

His departure, which sources say was due to various disagreements with Unik CEO Dr Kamaljit Singh over the NIP, comes as several innovation agencies have been privately expressing concern over the Unik chief’s leadership style.

The innovation agencies are understood to be frustrated that their issues over proposed changes to the way federal grants are disbursed have not been adequately addressed and their growing resentment over the uncertainty could hamper Unik’s efforts to implement initiatives.

Their unhappiness came to a head when they learnt that Kamaljit had proposed a freeze on funding by innovation agencies by July at the Economic Council (EC) meeting earlier this month without consulting them.

Sources say that a decision on the proposed freeze was postponed following objections from several other members of the  EC, which is chaired by the prime minister.

Kamaljit is understood to be in favour of implementing a competitive bidding system where both government agencies and ministries that disburse technology related grants such as Biotech Corp, the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation (Mosti) and the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) bid against each other for the funds which will be put in a common pool, but agencies say it is unfair for agencies under the ministry to bid against the ministry itself.

One industry veteran familiar with the situation said that while some people might appear to “play ball” with Kamaljit because they believe he has the prime minister’s ear, the opposition might get more serious if he doesn’t get buy-in from the agencies.

“If you push things through without getting agreement, do you think the agencies will help you?” said the industry veteran.

One industry player said Unik is a good initiative but the main issue is lack of clarity from the top and claimed that the affected parties were being asked to trust Kamaljit without knowing all the details.

“Nobody’s afraid of competition,” said the industry player when asked about competitive bidding. “If we don’t perform, shut us down.”

“But you can’t put parents and children in the same basket and ask them to compete (for grant money budget), that’s not market forces,” he added referring to the concept of agencies competing against their parent ministries.

Some industry observers say however that Kamaljit may be trying to push things through because he feels that things will not get done otherwise.

“Unik has an ambitious agenda and when you are short of time, you may be forced to step on the toes of those more used to a drawn out consultative process,” said one observer. “That’s why Unik is under the prime minister’s department.”

When contacted, Danaraj confirmed the resignation but declined to comment further.

Kamaljit also declined to comment for the story when contacted.

Unik, which stands for Unit Inovasi Khas or Special Innovations Unit, was established by Datuk Seri Najib Razak to develop and implement strategies to stimulate and support innovation in Malaysia.

Its website states that it is a special-purpose body designed to focus on two core priorities – improving Malaysia’s innovation eco-system and directly cultivating innovation.

Over a period of 18 months, Unik in its current form, will focus on developing policy in support of an improved innovation eco-system while a statutory body called Agensi Inovasi Malaysia (AIM) will be set up to take over implementation and policy reform. Leading global strategy consultants, The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) were also engaged by Unik late last year to study the efficiency of funds disbursement in the public sector. The three key recommendations from the study, which leveraged best practice from Singapore, US and Korea, were for Malaysia to focus funding in strategic sectors where it has comparative advantage, to introduce a performance management system that allows standardised performance comparison on outcomes across funds, and for more comprehensive linkages within the innovation ecosystem — research, entrepreneurs, investors and the private sector.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 10 June 2011, 10:08 am and is filed under
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Kit Siang, Kota Belud MP in 2-week dam debate

By
Shannon Teoh
 | June 10, 2011

The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 — Although Parliament resumes on Monday, Lim Kit Siang and Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan have not ceased a two-week Twitter argument over the construction of a dam in the senior Umno backbencher’s constituency.

The two have been at it hammer and tongs over the RM450 million dam in Kampung Tambatuon, Kota Belud, with increasingly poisonous responses attracting widespread attention from other users of the micro-blogging service.

“Baru landing di KK. Buka phone, timeline dan DM saya flooded wt tweets abt @limkitsiang’s visit to my beloved Kota Belud. Ish..,” the Barisan Nasional (BN) backbenchers’ club vice president posted on May 29 after Lim had made a visit to Sabah.

Villagers of Tambatuon have protested against the project which will flood at least four villages in the area. However, the state government has said that the project is not confirmed.

Lim, DAP’s parliamentary leader, accused the Kota Belud MP of not meeting Tambatuon residents since being elected and being unaware of their “virtual unanimous opposition” to the dam.

The Ipoh Timur MP Lim (picture) yesterday mocked Abdul Rahmad for bowing to“Twitter Power! My info- u r finally 2visit KgT tmr. Classic case:power of “social media” 2force changes even recalcitrant MPs.”

But Abdul Rahman said he had already met locals months before and insisted that the dam would provide irrigation for paddy fields in a state that imports over two-thirds of its rice.

“Sabah imports 70% of its rice. No wonder you want Sabahans belajar makan tapioca. Balik zaman Jepun. Great!” he had posted earlier today.

Abdul Rahman also compiled a ten-point rebuttal against Lim which focussed on calling the DAP veteran a hypocrite for supporting a new dam in Penang but not the one in Sabah.

“What’s so special abt ur son’s state tht u don’t mind water from Beris dam? Penangites more special? Apasal diam?” he said today, referring to Guan Eng, who is Penang chief minister.

“New dam in Penang… are u gonna lie on the ground and block this. Dont be hypocrite,” he added, referring to the Mengkuang dam that will be built at the cost of RM1.2 billion.

But Lim simply called the Umno man’s claims an “embarrassing bout of hysteria.”

The matter looks set to spill over into the Dewan Rakyat sitting beginning next week, as Abdul Rahman has already issued a challenge to him that “come parliament next week, u better dont hide!”

                This entry was posted on Friday, 10 June 2011, 3:40 pm and is filed under
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Mat Zain wants PM to call for tribunal against AG

By
Hafiz Yatim

Jun 10, 11 | MalaysiaKini

Former Kuala Lumpur CID chief Mat Zain Ibrahim slammed the operations review panel of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission today for clearing attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail of any wrongdoing in the haj trip he took with an allegedly shady character named Shahidan Shafie.

Mat Zain has also called for the setting-up of a tribunal to properly put the attorney-general on trial over the issue.

In a hard-hitting open letter to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak dated today, Mat Zain said the move to clear Gani (right) was expected, but the people were fed-up with the MACC being seen to be lying just to save the attorney general from being prosecuted.

This, he said, would cause the people to lose confidence in the MACC, resulting in what good the agency was doing being seen as a sandiwara (show).

“The committee chaired by Hadenan Abdul Jalil does not possess investigative or prosecution powers, nor any revisionary powers on any decision by the MACC or the prosecutors.

“I am of the view the announcement is made as a ‘whitewash’ exercise, directed to prevent any criminal action from being taken on Abdul Gani,” he said.

Mat Zain was commenting on the announcement by the committee to clear Gani of any wrongdoing in his highly criticised haj trip.

Hadenan, a former auditor-general, was quoted to have said the investigation found no proof of Abdul Gani’s haj pilgrimage last year having been sponsored by others.

This comes after Abdul Gani had bared the details about his haj trip before all five MACC panels on Jan 4, where some members expressed satisfaction while some were expressly dissatisfied with the AG’s reply.

It had come to a point that even the Bar Council had raised the affair and conduct of the attorney-general.

Calling for tribunal against AG

Mat Zain said the issue was whether it was wise for Gani, as attorney-general, to be seen together with Shahidan, who is being investigated by the MACC, since the result of the investigations would be sent to the AG’s Chambers.

This is because the MACC is still investigating former Malaysia Airlines chairperson Tajudin Ramli following the discovery of new evidence over the RM8 billion losses made after the move to relocate MAS’ cargo operations in Amsterdam and Frankfurt to a single hub in Hahn, Germany, as the single biggest loss suffered under him.

Mat Zain called for the formation of a tribunal appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the advise of the prime minister to put the matter at rest.

He said that this had been done before with former Lord President Salleh Abbas.

“With investigations looming on Tajudin, can the MACC or the AG’s Chambers act independently and give a just decision into the on-going probe which had resulted in RM8 billion losses of the people’s money and Tajudin is still under investigation?” he said, adding that while Hadenan had absolved Gani, he did not mention the status of Shahidan in MACC investigations or verify whether Shahidan and Abdul Gani’s families had gone to Mecca together.

“This he said is a material fact in the investigation. If Hadenan hopes to recover the transaction record between Shahidan or Tajudin paying the amount it would be as if asking the obvious. Hadenan could be described as hiding a material fact in order to deceive the people as classified under the Penal Code,” he warned.

Mat Zain said the attorney-general should have good standing and high credibility with an unblemished record and protect the rights as mentioned in the constitution.

“Unfortunately Abdul Gani is prepared to be judged by anyone as long as the person is prepared to absolve him of any wrongdoing in public. If Abdul Gani cannot or dare not defend his rights and the special position of his post, how can the people expect him to be a protector of equality of the people within the scope of the federal constitution?” he said.

The former Kuala Lumpur CID chief said clearing the attorney-general should not be the role of the MACC.

“This is not the first time that the MACC has done it. The decision taken by the MACC is expected but the people will loathe the commission’s actions further in lying and protecting Gani from facing criminal action,”said Mat Zain.

He also alleged that sometime between 1994 and 1996, Gani played a role in closing the cases or information regarding ministers or chief ministers being investigated for abuse of power and corruption and such conduct was certainly questionable.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 10 June 2011, 11:46 pm and is filed under
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MCA out of sync with Chinese aspirations

Malaysiakini Your Say
 | Jun 10, 11 9:26am

‘What does MCA stand for? Do you subscribe to the doctrine of good governance? Or are you paying lip-service to it?’

Soi Lek: Chinese balancing act has gone awry

Cala:
 MCA chief Dr Chua Soi Lek, despite being well-educated, erred in the assumptions he made. He appeared to assume that it was MCA’s ‘birth right’ to have access to the support of the Chinese Malaysian community.

He was thinking illogically because he assumed that only MCA was capable of co- coordinating the Chinese for representation in the government. This kind of reasoning was obtuse.

In the utopian world of Dr Chua, he could of course dream that way. In the real world however, the ‘conscience’ of the Chinese somehow was telling the community into accepting just any party that would deliver good governance. As the saying goes, never mind whether it is a white cat or black cat.

Chua was right in his guessing that the community had abandoned it (MCA could not muscle more than 20 percent support from the Chinese). But he should also ask himself who had abandoned the community? On a more general note, is the corrupted regime (a point he was not disputing) deserving of people’s re-endorsement in the 13th GE?

What does MCA stand for? Do you subscribe to the doctrine of good governance? Or are you paying lip-service to it, the way your big brother, PM Najib Razak, had pronounced while on a ‘holiday trip’ in Kazakhstan?

But the sad story is the current ideology of Umno-BN is one of moral decadence. In that circumstance, only like-minded institutions (judiciary, MACC, police, AG’s Chambers, and government pathologists) can survive under its ‘stringent environment’. The incentive structure under that regime is predictable.

Everyone then seeks for personal glory and wealth, a far cry from the spirit of “the government of the people, by the people, and for the people”.

Me Malaysian:
 What balancing act? MCA has failed the Chinese community miserably and we are fed up. Even in the government, MCA has been happy with the token scraps Umno has given, and they expect us to be grateful?

All BN politicians are the only grateful ones. After all, they have enriched themselves. So, Soi Lek, you still don’t understand what we are telling you. What a pity.

YF:
 Balancing act? Excuse me, Chua, your political mindset is 20 years behind time. Today, it is not about balancing act but justice, fairness and freedom of speech.

The rakyat is no longer the same shallow minded and ignorant pakcik, makcik, apek, amoi, tambi, etc, of the past. We’re a new generation of voters who have seen the continuous injustices and blatant corruption in this country and it’s time to put it to an end.

Anonymous:
 Follow CSL’s (Chua Soi Lek) train of thoughts in this interview with Malaysiakini, you will realise he is talking about MCA this, MCA that. That means MCA 1st, Chinese 2nd.

He is so out of sync with the aspirations of Chinese Malaysians. CSL, talk about things Chinese 1st, then MCA may become relevant. Without the Chinese, there is no MCA. We, the Chinese, who are hurting, don’t care which platform we are using so long as our aspirations are acknowledged and met in a fair manner.

Tkc:
 If the playing field is level and transparent, the Chinese community – being resilient and industrious – do not really need any representation in government in order to survive.

The fact that CSL continues to talk about representation in government – to scare the Chinese community into voting for MCA – proves that the cabinet meetings are far from being level and transparent and are ‘master-slave’ in nature.

Given this scenario, what has the Chinese community got to lose by voting for change?

Quigonbond:
 CSL remains stuck in the past. The Chinese in Malaysia has gone global. They think of themselves as global citizens/Malaysian citizens first, and race second. All they want is for rules to be applied uniformly, so that they know what are the cost of investing their time, effort and sometimes money in doing something.

They have an increasing intolerance for incompetence, racism, bigotry, corruption and abuse of power. The Chinese in Malaysia no longer need an overlord to take care of ‘Chinese interest’ because there truly isn’t one. The only ‘Chinese interest’ that can be tangibly spoken of is financial interests of business tycoons who would have found their own cables through Umno politicians.

And these Chinese tycoons are not protecting the rest of the Chinese community so the middle-class and the poor Chinese are not gaining from them anyway. If MCA continues to deny this new reality, they will remain irrelevant.

Pants on Fire:
 We gave you 50 years and you have messed things up. Now after Pakatan Rakyat has been in power in a number of states for three years, you claim it hasn’t done anything.

We will give Pakatan 10 years to proof if they can do it better. We have already being seen some areas of improvement. Penang having a deficit budget? Look at the federal budget, for God’s sake.

Phra Ong Chao:
 Chua speaks as if it is MCA/BN’s eternal and divine right to be the government and DAP/Pakatan is condemned to be the opposition forever. To him, DAP/Pakatan can only become either a strong or weak opposition.

Who gave him the right to declare that the Chinese community is merely balancing between a strong DAP/Pakatan opposition and the MCA/BN governing party?

He misses the point altogether that many Chinese want the MCA/BN out of power and not voting for the opposition merely to have a strong opposition. For this, he and his party and coalition shall pay in the next general elections.

Joker:
 CSL, you are wrong to think that the Chinese balancing act has gone awry. It only looks that way because the BN government itself has gone awry. The Chinese is still doing a balancing act but because BN has gone so far right to accommodate extreme right-wing groups such as Perkasa/Gaps/Pembela, the Chinese have to go extreme left and vote for Pakatan.

For all intents and purposes, BN as a government does not exist anymore – there is only Umno.

Ethnicmalaysian:
 “Deep down, the Chinese community still wants to ensure that they are represented in BN government,” said Chua.

Soi Lek, if you go even deeper down you will find that the community has totally, unequivocally and undeniably do not want, or care, if they are represented in the Umno government.

And if you go even deeper some more, you will find that MCA is in total and utter denial of its impending demise, and the Chinese community is perfectly and readily comfortable with that fact.

You are saying that Umno will not take care of the non-Malay interests if MCA/MIC are not in government? Are you then implying that Umno is racist? OMG, now that’s a revelation.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 10 June 2011, 12:39 pm and is filed under
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Menolak pentadbiran Islam, Dr M lebih berjaya dari Karpal — Aspan Alias

The Malaysian Insider

9 JUN — Dr Mahathir Mohamad masih lagi hendak bercakap terlalu banyak dalam mempertahankan Umno. Niat beliau mungkin ikhlas untuk mempertahankan Umno kerana beliau adalah ahli Umno. Tetapi kata-kata beliau mungkin membantutkan usaha Umno untuk kembali mendapat penghormatan rakyat. Beliau sudah agak pelupa orangnya dan banyak kali apa yang beliau kata terhadap musuh politiknya, itulah yang beliau lazim lakukan.

Dalam isu PAS dengan pembaharuannya selepas muktamar parti itu hujung minggu lepas Dr Mahathir telah mengatakan yang Karpal Singh-lah yang berjaya mempengaruhi PAS supaya menolak perjuangan Islam parti itu sedangkan parti itu hanya hendak memberikan tumpuan yang lebih kepada negara kebajikan jika diberi mandat untuk memerintah. Itu adalah sebahagain besar dari pimpinan ciri Islam.

Tetapi semua rakyat ingat Dr Mahathirlah yang paling keras menentang perlaksanaan hukum hudud apabila Kelantan mahu melaksanakannya dahulu. Sekarang Nik Aziz Nik Mat telah mengingatkan Dr Mahathir sendiri yang beliaulah (Dr Mahathir) yang menentang keras terhadap perlaksanaan hukum hudud dahulu.

Nik Aziz berkata beliau boleh menunjukan surat Dr Mahathir kepada beliau (Dr Mahathir) jika beliau telah terlupa atau sudah mengidapi penyakit pelupa seperti yang di alami oleh kita yang sudah berusia seperti beliau ini.

Dalam surat beliau kepada MB Kelantan itu Dr Mahathir telah menolak cadangan untuk melaksanakan hukum hudud itu, bukannya Karpal Singh seperti yang dituduh oleh Dr Mahathir itu. Kelantan yang ditadbir oleh PAS selepas pilihanraya 1990 dahulu telah meminta Kerajaan Pusat untuk melaksanakan hukum hudud kerana bagi melaksanakannya ianya memerlukan kerjasama kerajaan pusat.

Mahathir telah menolak cadangan itu dan di mana-mana beliau berucap Dr Mahathir telah mempermainkan isu hudud ini dengan berjenaka seperti mengatakan jika hudud dilaksanakan ramai rakyat kita tidak akan bertangan kerana tangan tangan mereka akan dipotong kerana kesalahan mencuri.

Mungkin juga apa yang dikatakan oleh Dr Mahathir semasa itu ada benarnya kerana beliau takut terlalu ramai rakyat yang di dapati mencuri akan dipotong tangan mereka termasuk di kalangan ahli-ahli jemaah Kabinet beliau.

Kalaulah Karpal memberikan tentangan terhadap melaksanakan undang-undang Islam, ianya tidaklah menjadi isu kerana beliau bukan beragama Islam. Kita sebagai seorang yang beragama Islam pun memang tidak mahu melihat unsur-unsur agama lain berada di dalam kerajaan pemerintahan kita. Kita memahami kenyataan itu dan Karpal pun faham. Tetapi yang menolak undang-undang Islam ini datangnya dari Umno pimpinan beliau (Dr Mahathir) sendiri.

Kalau Mahathir tak bersetuju pun tak apalah, tetapi janganlah hendak meletakan isu penolakan kerajaan berlandaskan Islam itu kepada pihak lain apatah lagi kepada Karpal yang bukan beragama Islam.

Mungkin Nik Aziz patut menghantar surat yang beliau terima dari Dr Mahathir itu, setidak-tidaknya boleh mengingatkan beliau yang beliaulah yang secara formalnya telah menolak pentadbiran berunsurkan Islam itu.

Tetapi saya hanya berminat untuk mengingatkan Dr Mahathir supaya elok berfikir sebelum berkata-kata kerana jika salah cakap ianya mungkin membantutkan usaha ahli parti untuk mengembalikan keyakinan rakyat terhadapnya.

Dr Mahathir perlu faham yang Umno masih belum lagi mendapat kemajuan dengan apa yang dikatakan program transformasi politik yang sedang kononnya dilakukan oleh pentadbiran Najib sekarang ini. Kita belum pun nampak transformasi yang digembar-gemburkan itu, bercakap pula Dr Mahathir yang akan memburukkan lagi keadaan itu.

Tetapi kalau beliau masih hendak bercakap tidak berhenti-henti, itu terpulanglah kepada beliau. Itu hak beliau untuk bercakap. Samada betul atau salah itu pun hak beliau. Samada cakap-cakap beliau itu membantu Umno atau tidak itu pun hak masing-masing untuk menilainya. Ini negara demokrasi.

Hanya kalau boleh kita memohon, beliau tidak bercakap perkara yang beliau sendiri lakukan semasa berkuasa dahulu. Takut-takut ramai yang masih ingat apa yang beliau katakan dahulu. Kalau rakyat tak ingat, tak mengapa. Masalahnya masih ramai yang ingat bagaimana beliau mempersendakan hukum-hukum pentadbiran Islam, jauh lagi kerap dari apa yang dilakukan oleh Karpal Singh.

Sebenarnya bukan Karpal yang berjaya mempersendakan Islam itu. Ada orang lain yang lebih berjaya dari Karpal. Karpal tidak mungkin berjaya kerana beliau bukan Islam. Selalunya yang menggagalkan usaha Islam itu datangnya dari orang Islam sendiri. — aspanaliasnet.blogspot.com

                This entry was posted on Friday, 10 June 2011, 10:53 am and is filed under
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Notice of urgent Parliamentary motion next week on second MACC death esp report that Sarbaini had “no unusual or extraordinary wealth”

I have today given notice to the Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin to move an urgent parliamentary motion next week on the second Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) death since its establishment on 1st January 2009 – senior custom officer Ahmad Sarbaini, another mysterious fall-from-height death at MACC premises at Jalan Cochrane on April 6.

My motion for an urgent parliamentary debate will also focus on the revelation by blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin that the police had conducted a thorough check on Ahmad Sarbaini’s assets and found no “unusual or extraordinary” wealth.

Raja Petra had blogged: “He (Ahmad Sarbaini) had only three modest cars — a Perodua Kancil, a second-hand Honda CRV and a Proton Persona — and a Modenas Kriss bike, which he rode to the MACC office on that unfortunate morning of 6th April, the day of his death.

“He owned an apartment in Bukit Tinggi, Klang (RM65,872), an apartment in Puncak Alam (RM68,988), a Semi-D cluster house in Saujana Impian in Sungai Buloh (RM230,000) and RM35,000 in savings in Amanah Saham Bumiputra…All these were duly accounted for.”

The motion also demanded that the police accede to the request by Sarbaini’s family that the police reveal its probe into Sarbaini’s unusual death at MACC premises and to allow Sarbaini’s family to decide whether to have an inquest or a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the causes of Sarbaini’s death.

A full parliamentary debate on the second MACC death, coming less than a year from Teoh Beng Hock’s mysterious fall-from-height death at MACC headquarters in Shah Alam on July 16, 2009 has shaken public confidence to its very roots.

If Parliament is not prepared to take the first opportunity to demonstrate its deepest concern not only over Sarbaini’s death but at the plummetting drop in public confidence in the MACC, Parliament would be remiss in its duty and role as the highest political chamber in the land.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 10 June 2011, 2:05 pm and is filed under
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Soi Lek, Umno has ‘castrated’ MCA leaders

Malaysiakini Your Say
 | Jun 10, 11 9:11am

‘MCA leaders are now accomplice to the deepening of the country’s major problem by perpetuating the cycle of racial and religious politics.’

Soi Lek: Chinese balancing act has gone awry

David Dass:
 MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek’s logic is flawed. He wants the Chinese Malaysians to split their vote between the BN and the opposition so that the Chinese have representation in government and there is a strong opposition.

In effect, he wants the Chinese in opposition to do the work of the MCA. The fact is that the Chinese want Chinese representation in government to be effective and the feeling is that it is not. I think that it is too easy to blame Umno.

In a system where each ethnic party is to represent their ethnic group, the onus on them is to be effective. The fact that MCA representatives have to shout their position in the streets like the opposition indicates that the system is not working.

It is not enough to point to 20 Chinese tycoons and say how good the government is to the Chinese. There are millions of Chinese who are not tycoons. Most are employees. And they are concerned with bread-and-butter issues. And many Chinese are concerned about truth, fairness and justice for all Malaysians.

Lonestar:
 Right now without a two-horse race, the rakyat is in the dark about what the other horse can do. For all it may be, the present horse that has been running for more than half a century might actually be a donkey and has been taking the rakyat for a ride.

Take education (not just Chinese education) for example, the rakyat expects more. How sure is the MCA that Pakatan Rakyat cannot perform better?

After 50 years of BN misrule, why can’t the rakyat have a reversal of roles? The BN in opposition and Pakatan in the government. This will give the rakyat a golden opportunity to evaluate as to who can perform better. MCA might even be a better opposition than the DAP.

But then again, we know that the main aim of the government is to look after the rakyat irregardless of race or colour. This is what the BN has been unable to achieve after more than half a century in power.

Ade:
 Don’t take us for fools. TAR College (Tunku Abdul Rahman College) and Utar (Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman) were built because MCA failed to address the university intake for Chinese students.

You were subservient to Umno. Your job should have been to sit down at the table with Umno and fight for the Chinese students. You failed and you pulled wool over our eyes by putting up TAR College and Utar.

No matter how low the fees are, Chinese parents have to pay. The public university fees are below RM2,000 per year. Can TAR College and Utar bring down their fees to that?

You said Pakatan is not as effective as BN. Again, you take us for fools. BN is the federal government. Pakatan is only governing four states. You are comparing apples with oranges.

Kgen:
 MCA can do nothing for the Chinese community in terms of education, economic opportunities or protection of religious rights. The Chinese have woken up to this. When is the MCA going to wake up and realised that they have been ‘castrated’ by Umno?

For decades, MCA has not been able to resolve the non-recognition of the UEC (Unified Examination Certificate). Now the government is looking into this because the Chinese have swung to Pakatan. As usual, the MCA will shamelessly claim credit for this.

Ong Guan Sin:
 I am sick and tired of what CSL (Chua Soi Lek) is trying to articulate here. While MCA leaders still think that they do contribute to Malaysia and the Chinese community by ‘resolving’ issues, they have not realised that the issues that they have ‘resolved’ are repeating themselves, again and again.

Not only are they not resolving issues, they are now accomplice to deepening of the very problem of Malaysia by perpetuating the cycle of racial and religious politics.

I know of MCA leaders who have a good heart believe in working from within, but it’s time for them to realise that they are legitimising an evil regime that’s plaguing Malaysia for decades.

Soap Opra:
 Pakatan Rakyat has just taken over Penang, Selangor and Kedah, so you can’t expect much from them after 50 years of BN rule. And for Kelantan, give them the oil royalty and you will see how Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat can outdo Selangor.

Chua is still day-dreaming and pretending not knowing the real reason MCA is losing support. Only cronies who are benefitting from BN rule are the ones still supporting MCA.

Swipenter:
 MCA used to represent the Chinese community. Somewhere during Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s administration it came to represent the selfish interests of their leaders and as a result MCA was compromised by Mahathir/Umno.

All their leaders were and still are ‘castrated’ by Mahathir/Umno, and they in turn compromised the interests of the Chinese community. Look at how Umno insults MCA (also MIC), and what do the MCA leaders do?

MCA, you have forgotten the rights, the hopes and aspirations of the Chinese community – that is to be treated, recognised and respected as equal citizens of their country of birth. The Chinese do not ask for more, other than what is guaranteed under the federal constitution.

MCA is in denial mood if they think there is no official and institutionalised discrimination against the Chinese community.

Cinaputra:
 MCA is a toothless tiger subservient to Umno and getting only pitiful handouts at best. We have been told we are not equal citizens and now reduced to second-class pendatang citizens.

You may have brought the problems to the table but what’s the use if you have not been able to resolve them? Why do you think the non-Malays are fleeing the country by the thousands? We are only asking for a place in the sun due to us as equal citizens but clearly we have been receiving the short end of the stick.

Race-based politics has no place in a globalised world. The Indians have been marginalised and I forsee the Chinese will go the same way in the long run. If you are seen to be ineffective, you are deemed to be irrelevant.

Ph:
 Chua Soi Lek, you now have a chance to redeem yourself and the Chinese community and all true Malaysians will thank you if you can take this giant step to change the political landscape for the good of the country.

You will be remembered as the leader with guts who is willing to sacrifice your position for Malaysia. The giant step I am talking about is to take the decision to dissolve MCA and allow its members to join any other current parties, especially the opposition parties.

Show Umno that you are a man of principles and dare to do the right thing. All true Malaysians will salute you.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 10 June 2011, 12:23 pm and is filed under
MCA
,
UMNO
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Twitter Power – Tambatuon dam controversy – Why MP Kota Belud never visited kampong? (5)

Twitter sequel Part 5

Part 1
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Part 2
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Part 3
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Part 4

dredwinbosi Jun 07, 12:33am

@mpkotabelud @limkitsiang Food security should not be an issue if we don’t have a surge in pop of legalised illegal immigrants.

dredwinbosi Jun 07, 9:00am

@mpkotabelud @limkitsiang@junzwong Tambatuon is already a natural tourism attraction, no need a man-made lake.

dredwinbosi Jun 07, 9:03am

@mpkotabelud@limkitsiang@junzwong Promote hill padi, less water and fertilizer requirement.

dredwinbosi Jun 07, 9:05am

@mpkotabelud@limkitsiang@junzwong Give titled land to indigenous people and assist them to grow padi.

dredwinbosi Jun 07, 9:07am

@mpkotabelud@limkitsiang@junzwong Hope MPKB will attend dialogue with Tambatuon folks.

dredwinbosi Jun 07, 9:10am

@mpkotabelud@limkitsiang@junzwong Govt heeds Shafie Apdal call to grow tapioca. Cold war depriving rural develp.?

mpkotabelud Jun 07, 10:40am

@dredwinbosi U r missing the bigger questions. Answer them instead. Food crisis? Eradication of poverty? Stop being a politician 4 a moment.

dredwinbosi Jun 07, 11:17am

@mpkotabelud Be patient YB I will address the issue of food security in my forum.

mpkotabelud Jun 07, 11:28am

Good. I shall wait. I also want to hear options RT @dredwinbosi: Be patient YB I will address the issue of food security in my forum.

dredwinbosi Jun 07, 12:06pm

@mpkotabelud Focus on the massive water network in Tampasuk plain. Forget about the dam.

Iskandarbak Jun 07, 7:56pm

@mpkotabelud can u help me get existing padi acreage in hectares split bet PM, Sabah n Srwk? Trust Bernas shud hv it handy. Tks.

Iskandarbak Jun 08, 1:17am

@mpkotabelud can u help me get existing padi acreage in hectares split bet PM, Sabah n Srwk? Trust Bernas shud hv it handy. Tks.

limkitsiang Jun 08, 9:17pm

RT @mpkotabelud: Hah3… I think my article spooks u badly huh? Coz u r still ranting abt secondary issue. Focus big issues abang oi! RT @limkitsiang

limkitsiang Jun 08, 9:25pm

YB @mpkotabelud U cannot b more wrong. Though cannot follow tweet in China, u have been wriggling from @dredwinbosi @Iskandarbak @StanleyWTW

kaikiok Jun 08, 9:26pm

@mpkotabelud Sad, dam again, irrigation essential but not dam ask Sri Dusun and Sri Bajau, hw much rice unsaleable to SAZARICE it;s 1 issue

limkitsiang Jun 08, 9:27pm

@mpkotabelud Have YB visited KgTambatuon? Or r u 1st MP in history who dare not visit his own constituency cos u have gone agnst yr voters?

Iskandarbak Jun 08, 9:37pm

@limkitsiang @mpkotabelud @dredwinbosi @stanleywtw Ur yield rebuttal does not hold up at all. Prvd me acreage b/down as req n I’ll explain

JunzWonG Jun 08, 9:43pm

RT @mpkotabelud: Hah3… I think my article spooks u badly huh? Coz u r still ranting abt secondary issue. Focus big issues abang oi! RT @limkitsiang

mpkotabelud Jun 08, 11:27pm

I will unfollow u if u address my PM as “Najis” when u send ur tweet directly to me. C’mon, try it one more time.

mpkotabelud Jun 08, 11:33pm

Your SabahDAP boy said in the paper, YB Dahlan tak pernah lawat kg tambatuon. Lol! my name is Rahman lah! Fakta semua salah! RT @limkitsiang

limkitsiang Jun 09, 6:18am

@mpkotabelud Don’t be an ingrate YB. >95% of KgTambatuon voters voted 4 u . Now u refused 2visit/dialogue w them on T dam? R KgT ppl liars?

mpkotabelud Jun 09, 7:28am

@limkitsiang Ppl say the older one gets, the more he behaves like a child… I am inclined to believe.

mpkotabelud Jun 09, 7:30am

@limkitsiang They say once one gets to be 70, he will be more like a 7 year old. Rants incessantly &occasionally crying to get attention.

mpkotabelud Jun 09, 7:36am

@limkitsiang At 70 or 7, a person refuses to listen to reason, always think he is the centre of the universe & the world owes him a living.

mpkotabelud Jun 09, 7:40am

@limkitsiang And worse, at 70 or 7, a person likes to throw tantrum, display bravado but sometimes accidently pee in their pants. Gross!

hishamrahim Jun 09, 7:42am

I bet this what u try to tell Dr M RT @mpkotabelud: @limkitsiang At 70 or 7, a person refuses to listen to reason, … http://tmi.me/biNLI

mpkotabelud Jun 09, 7:42am

@limkitsiang But then again, thats what ppl say lah. What do u think YB?

mpkotabelud Jun 09, 7:50am

I am off to Kg Tambulion, Kaamatan DO. RT @azmahdahari: wah x sempat jumpa d parl dah debat n bahas d twitterjaya. Happy working ya.

limkitsiang Jun 09, 8:36am

@mpkotabelud who 2believe:U or KgTambatuon ppl who say u nvr visited KgT even once despite 2yr roiling Tdam controversy?Answer in Parliament

mpkotabelud Jun 09, 8:44am

Done deal! I will debate u in Parl based on facts not rhetoric! RT @limkitsiang: who 2believe:U or KgTambatuon ppl.. Answer in Parliament

limkitsiang Jun 09, 8:56am

@mpkotabelud U continue 2run from issue – Y u failed 2visit KgT/dialogue on T dam. Dare u visit KgT/dialogue b4 Parliament meets Monday?

limkitsiang Jun 09, 9:04am

@mpkotabelud YB stop equivocating. Just answer 1 simple Q: KgT say you never visited them even once. True? Can u give dates of your visits?

mpkotabelud Jun 09, 9:35am

@limkitsiang Told u already but u refuse 2accept. I let u know whn I did it if u tell me how many times &where u visited IpohTimur since 08?

mpkotabelud Jun 09, 9:45am

@imokman, @junzwong’s article is full of unverified facts. Plucking stats frm the air. No references. He even called me Dahlan. Amateur!

mpkotabelud Jun 09, 9:46am

@imokman have u read my blog re:dam?

mpkotabelud Jun 09, 10:03am

@imokman MADA, KADA all have dams. But I dont mind listening to alternatives if feasible.

ngehkooham Jun 09, 10:16am

@mpkotabelud @limkitsiang . Kit Siang visits Ipoh Timor regularly. So many times I lost count

JunzWonG Jun 09, 10:27am

@mpkotabelud it’s all from d folks themselves :) who could know it better than they themselves via the paddy farmers rite? @imokman

izaan14 Jun 09, 10:27am

RT @limkitsiang: @mpkotabelud U continue 2run from issue – Y u failed 2visit KgT/dialogue on T dam. Dare u visit KgT/dialogue b4 Parliament meets Monday?

mpkotabelud Jun 09, 10:57am

Still amateurish. RT @junzwong: @mpkotabelud it’s all from d folks themselves… the paddy farmers rite? @imokman

limkitsiang Jun 09, 3:31pm

Not surprised u prevaricate. I believe KgTambatuon ppl u nvr once visited KgT despite 2yr T dam issue. Onus on u 2overturn RT @mpkotabelud

tiamyong Jun 09, 3:38pm

@limkitsiang @mpkotabelud isn’t a MP suppose to be cocern about the welfare of his constituent? if not who would?

mpkotabelud Jun 09, 3:40pm

Yawnn…. RT @limkitsiang: Not surprised u prevaricate. I believe KgT ppl u nvr once visited KgT despite 2yr T dam issue. Onus on u 2ovrturn

BEN2dG Jun 09, 3:52pm

yawning is this politician’s rebuttal. classy RT @mpkotabelud: Yawnn…. RT @limkitsiang: Not surprised u prevaricate. I believe KgT ppl u nvr once visited KgT despite 2yr T dam issue. Onus on u 2ovrturn

limkitsiang Jun 09, 3:57pm

YB demonstrated air n arrogance acquired by BN MPs even b4 1term – cocky “So What?” attitude! Y KgT ppl want UBAH RT @mpkotabelud Yawnn….

limkitsiang Jun 09, 4:04pm

Tkz this is not our style. We want truth 2prevail @mpkotabelud shd make double apology 2KgT ppl RT @imFawziaariff Bro Kit, taruh sama dia!

l
imkitsiang Jun 09, 4:12pm

Tkz let us give @mpkotabelud chance 2show he understands whats d “Double Apology” needed from him RT @imFawziaariff – ..get him to admit..

dredwinbosi Jun 09, 4:14pm

@mpkotabelud @limkitsiang Minister Hajiji has given us idea how bad the poverty is in Sabah. 46000 hardcore poor is tip of iceberg

mpkotabelud Jun 09, 4:14pm

I don’t think u r darn ignorant not 2notice my responses 2him in the last 2weeks. RT @BEN2dG: yawning is this politician’s rebuttal. classy

mpkotabelud Jun 09, 4:17pm

@limkitsiang Me arrogant? Ask ur good friend SAPP in Sabah. They hv been saying how arrogant and bigheaded u r.

mpkotabelud Jun 09, 4:20pm

@limkitsiang I hv answered u many times. Wrote blogs to counter ur points. U refuse to accept or rebutt. That’s not my problem!

tiamyong Jun 09, 4:25pm

Sheer arrogance that we’re seeing so often.That’s the consequence when rakyat don’t hold these MPs responsible@limkitsiang @mpkotabelud

JunzWonG Jun 09, 4:31pm

MP running out of excuses? “@mpkotabelud: Yawnn….RT @limkitsiang: Not surprised u prevaricate. I believe KgT ppl u nvr once visited KgT

NormanLiew Jun 09, 4:55pm

Wow!!! I’m really speechless! That’s what a MP will reply? RT@mpkotabelud: Yawnn…. RT @limkitsiang: Not surprised u prevaricate….

mpkotabelud Jun 09, 5:00pm

Double yawnn… RT @junzwong: MP running out of excuses? “@mpkotabelud: Yawnn….RT @limkitsiang

skeatx Jun 09, 5:05pm

@mpkotabelud @junzwong @limkitsiang how Msia can progress if MP also keep on yawning aje?

mpkotabelud Jun 09, 5:14pm

Hah3.. Ketawa boleh? RT @skeatx: @mpkotabelud @junzwong @limkitsiang how Msia can progress if MP also keep on yawning aje?

JunzWonG Jun 09, 5:32pm

@mpkotabelud u hav sense of humour YB :) @skeatx @limkitsiang

dredwinbosi Jun 09, 8:15pm

@PhilipGolingai @mpkotabelud@limkitsiang@junzwong Rice millers said incr padi to rm2\kg will get farmers out of poverty,

JunzWonG Jun 09, 8:50pm

Is @mpkotabelud paying his constituency a visit at last? We thank u YB. Ur voters long to meet u @dredwinbosi @limkitsiang

limkitsiang Jun 09, 8:51pm

Outrageous YB does not take seriously “life-n-death” concerns KgT ppl re T dam. U owe 2apologies RT @mpkotabelud Double yawnn… @junzwong

limkitsiang Jun 09, 8:53pm

@mpkotabelud 2apologies YB owe KgT ppl (1) never visited Kg T even once (2) betrayed Kg T ppl in going against their stand/demand over T dam

JoeGomez001 Jun 09, 8:57pm

YB @limkitsiang Doesnt “irresponsible” better describe @mpkotabelud in this context? @junzwong

khalidkarim Jun 09, 8:59pm

@limkitsiang @mpkotabelud @junzwong yeah . .like Shanks said. .its not life n death. .its more important than that

limkitsiang Jun 09, 8:59pm

Is YB prepared 2make the 2 apologies 2KgT ppl n promise not 2go against the wishes of KgT ppl over T dam whthr in Parlmnt/out? @mpkotabelud

limkitsiang Jun 09, 9:03pm

If no visit 2KgT n no 2apologies, YB not fit 2attend Parliament Monday onwards as committed grave parl dereliction of duties @mpkotabelud

kaikiok Jun 09, 9:25pm

@limkitsiang @mpkotabelud so he is in Kg Tambulion instead, what abeauty and sparticular ha, if Tambatuan dam pecah the beauty will be gone

kaikiok Jun 09, 9:29pm

@limkitsiang @mpkotabelud OK ok nak dam juga, small dam with mini hydro supply eletricity will be ideal, not a bloody dam 30m height

kaikiok Jun 09, 9:31pm

@limkitsiang @mpkotabelud Visit the Tambatuan, ppl need your ears, listen and work. not dah buat baru menyesal, U r not forever needed ha

philipgolingai Jun 09, 9:32pm

Is padi still the poor man’s crop? @dredwinbosi @mpkotabelud @limkitsiang @junzwong

kaikiok Jun 09, 9:32pm

@limkitsiang @mpkotabelud YB sazarice does not buy local beras wangi, apa macam

abuhamka Jun 09, 10:52pm

@mpkotabelud YB why are u behaving like delinquent kid? U shld take the issue raised like a gentleman. Jgn bg malu org Sabah bah.

dredwinbosi Jun 09, 11:05pm

@kaikiok @limkitsiang @mpkotabelud BN Sabah Secretary can do something if he wants but..

dredwinbosi Jun 09, 11:12pm

@junzwong @mpkotabelud @limkitsiang Is he taking cover from UMNO best ally PBS leaders?

dredwinbosi Jun 09, 11:24pm

@mpkotabelud @limkitsiang Where do MP Rahman heading to? Looks like he is already 7.

limkitsiang Jun 09, 11:28pm

RT @kaikiok: @limkitsiang @mpkotabelud Visit the Tambatuan, ppl need your ears, listen and work. not dah buat baru menyesal, U r not forever needed ha

limkitsiang Jun 09, 11:37pm

@mpkotabelud @kaikiok @dredwinbosi YB KgT ppl can guarantee yr safety. Have confidence in KgT ppl. Don’t b afraid until u dare not visit KgT

limkitsiang Jun 09, 11:45pm

@mpkotabelud Twitter Power! My info- u r finally 2visit KgT tmr. Classic case: power of “social media” 2force changes even recalcitrant MPs

limkitsiang Jun 09, 11:49pm

@mpkotabelud Hurrah if u finally visit KgT tmr. Dialogue T dam issue w KgT ppl n b their voice in Parliament not the opposite – voice 4T dam

JoeGomez001 Jun 09, 11:57pm

@limkitsiang socialmedia did not help wth the notorious,recalcitrant @chedet_cc tho.But Godwilling @mpkotabelud will c the error of his ways

Mitchelltai Jun 09, 11:59pm

@mpkotabelud I applaud u for visiting KgT YB. At last the ppl can dliver their frustrtion for u to answer..

dredwinbosi Jun 10, 12:00am

@limkitsiang @mpkotabelud HS Pairin will lead the visit according to source. Dusuns unhappy.

limkitsiang Jun 10, 12:00am

@mpkotabelud apart from 2apologies 2KgT ppl yb shd personally apologise 2all Msians 4bluffing them. Dont b afraid. Truth must prevail.

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 12:14am

Had a fruitful meeting with Kg Rampaian folks. More development is on the horizon.

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 12:15am

@limkitsiang U amuse me lah YB. Anyway the visit is part of project timeline. Sorry, nothing to do with old geysers @dredwinbosi

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 12:18am

@dredwinbosi Your fact is wrong. Not Pairin, it’s Yahya Hussin, Minister in charge of the project. @limkitsiang

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 12:30am

@limkitsiang Penang got its water from beris dam. Why u dont mind dam 4 Penang but not 4 KBelud? Double standards? Politics? @dredwinbosi

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 12:33am

@limkitsiang What’s so special abt ur son’s state tht u don’t mind water from Beris dam? Penangites more special? Apasal diam? @dredwinbosi

Iskandarbak Jun 10, 12:34am

@mpkotabelud @limkitsiang @dredwinbosi Yb, the point is you dont need a dam to meet ur objective. It can be done with Yield imprvment.

BahaKuale Jun 10, 12:37am

@limkitsiang congratulation 4 forcing recalcitrant MP

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 12:42am

Yeah we just flood the heck of ppl kampung for fun. RT @Iskandarbak: @limkitsiang @dredwinbosi Yb, the point is you dont need a dam.

Iskandarbak Jun 10, 12:43am

@mpkotabelud @limkitsiang @dredwinbosi Since u r a director at Bernas, just tell me ur approx view of the split of the acreage bet PM n EM.

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 12:43am

Sebut pasal Beris dam utk Penang, semua diam! apasal? tak boleh jawab? Hypocrites!

Iskandarbak Jun 10, 12:44am

@mpkotabelud @limkitsiang @dredwinbosi I will explain wit clarity y u dont need a dam. Once u get my my explaination, u too will seek d same

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 12:47am

@limkitsiang Read this http://bit.ly/mrNfOe. Why u dont mind dam for Penang water needs for its agriculture and drinking but condemn KBelud?

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 12:49am

@limkitsiang @dredwinbosi @junzwong Here is another link for prove your hypocrisy http://bit.ly/lLm7Bn. ANswer me lah. Why quite now?

LeonLeeBMG Jun 10, 12:54am

@mpkotabelud I cn offer 2answer bt u might choose selective amnesia jst lk the Sabah stats I gv earlier @limkitsiang @dredwinbosi @junzwong

Iskandarbak Jun 10, 12:55am

@mpkotabelud @limkitsiang @dredwinbosi Not for fun la. For justified reason only. You said, if there is an option, u r willing to listen.

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 12:57am

@limkitsiang New dam in Penang. Read http://bit.ly/lIG2yY. R u gonna lie on the ground and block this. Dont be hypocrite. @dredwinbosi

Iskandarbak Jun 10, 1:01am

@mpkotabelud @limkitsiang @dredwinbosi U gave ur rebuttal is ur blog on yield consideratn n i wish to explain a serious flaw in it.

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 1:02am

See, I waited for this moment to reveal all these hoping u 2 could hv some sense. Now u two look like fools. @limkitsiang @dredwinbosi

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 1:03am

@limkitsiang If you wish to remain silent now, I understand but come parliament next week, u better dont hide!

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 1:06am

Check mate! Game over! RT @mkabmr: @mpkotabelud @limkitsiang @dredwinbosi Can I say game set match?

YiiSing Jun 10, 1:12am

RT @limkitsiang: @mpkotabelud Twitter Power! My info- u r finally 2visit KgT tmr. Classic case: power of “social media” 2force changes even recalcitrant MPs

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 1:13am

Apparently so RT @mkabmr: @limkitsiang @dredwinbosi does this suggests that uncle Lim presumes tht Sabahans r more gullible thn Penangites?

izaan14 Jun 10, 1:13am

RT @limkitsiang: @mpkotabelud Twitter Power! My info- u r finally 2visit KgT tmr. Classic case: power of “social media” 2force changes even recalcitrant MPs

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 1:13am

Memang pekak RT @dhanyaraam: Great way to ‘check’! YB LKS buat pekak! @mkabmr @mpkotabelud @limkitsiang @dredwinbosi

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 1:14am

RT @azmahdahari: @mpkotabelud tergigit lidah kot or jari patah nak jawab tweet u yb

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 1:14am

RT @azmahdahari: @limkitsiang @dredwinbosi satu jari pd org 4 lg pada kita jadi jgn asyik salahkan org lain penang pun byk sangkut hal

JunzWonG Jun 10, 1:16am

@mpkotabelud YB bcos it’s late now :) tomolo I m sure @limkitsiang @dredwinbosi wil clear ur doubts. U hav a great nite.

Iskandarbak Jun 10, 1:16am

@mpkotabelud If yield solutn can solve t rice securty, r u still pursuing dam bcoz of t othr reasons u stated? If yes, its a diff ball game.

JunzWonG Jun 10, 1:17am

@LeonLeeBMG let’s do it bro. Let’s see how @mpkotabelud wil react to ur answer this time around :) @limkitsiang @dredwinbosi

LeonLeeBMG Jun 10, 1:19am

@junzwong I spent so much time tryin2 enlighten yb @mpkotabelud with published stats and reports, he just ignore @limkitsiang @dredwinbosi

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 1:20am

Since you also spoke abt this issue to press, care to answer on behalf of ur bosses? RT @junzwong:

LeonLeeBMG Jun 10, 1:26am

@mpkotabelud each time we answered u with facts & figures, u ran away.. Mcm mana ni yb? Kita tak kelentong & lari la. @junzwong

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 1:39am

@LeonLeeBMG Check your timeline. Dont be lazy. I answered the first time you tweeted that. @johnnywongsgt @junzwong

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 1:42am

Good nite peeps. Couldnt wait any longer for that old man’s response.

HaziqAbdAziz Jun 10, 1:43am

@mpkotabelud gudnite YB!

JunzWonG Jun 10, 2:22am

@LeonLeeBMG try it again. Maybe this time around @mpkotabelud wil listen to ur explanations :) rite? Jus shoot it @limkitsiang @dredwinbosi

JunzWonG Jun 10, 2:25am

@mpkotabelud firstly I hav not read ur link secondly u would deal with an amatuer? If yes, it’s my honour n I wil read it immediately ;)

dredwinbosi Jun 10, 7:01am

@mpkotabelud More promises?

dredwinbosi Jun 10, 7:02am

@mpkotabelud U miss the pertinent point – villagers not in favor of dam

dredwinbosi Jun 10, 7:03am

@mpkotabelud When U meet Tambnatuon folks see who looks like a fool. Why take cover in Pairin skirt.

limkitsiang Jun 10, 7:15am

Sorry YB I slept n unable 2chk/save u from most embarrassing bout of hysteria which is now permanent record on twitterverse @mpkotabelud

JunzWonG Jun 10, 7:18am

RT @limkitsiang: Sorry YB I slept n unable 2chk/save u from most embarrassing bout of hysteria which is now permanent record on twitterverse @mpkotabelud

limkitsiang Jun 10, 7:22am

What was yr state of mind? YB missed entire pt. When did I declare (1) I am anti-dam (2) agnst idea of dam in KB/ Sabah? (sigh) @mpkotabelud

limkitsiang Jun 10, 7:25am

1st issue is Y u forgot u r MP KB n rode roughshod over opinion/interests of KgT ppl, championing RM450million T dam project? @mpkotabelud

limkitsiang Jun 10, 7:29am

KgT ppl 100% opposed T dam project which will flood/destroy KgT. U 100% support T dam project 2flood/destroy KgT. R u their MP? @mpkotabelud

limkitsiang Jun 10, 7:32am

If u really think RM450m T dam project good 4KgT n future generations, then ur duty is 2present case n win support of KgT ppl @mpkotabelud

limkitsiang Jun 10, 7:35am

But YB was arrogant n utter contempt 4KgT ppl who told me u never visited KgT even once whether b4 or after election as MPKB. @mpkotabelud

limkitsiang Jun 10, 7:37am

YB prevaricated squirmed in twitterjaya refused 2b honest humble 2admit u had never visited KgT despite 2yr T dam controversy @mpkotabelud

limkitsiang Jun 10, 7:40am

W highlypaid Umno cybertroopers, YB threw up smokescreen 2distract primary issue – Y u never consulted KgT ppl on T dam issue @mpkotabelud

limkitsiang Jun 10, 7:43am

All these prevarication smokescreen don’t work as truth must finally prevail. U r now forced by “twitter power” 2visit KgT 2day @mpkotabelud

mshaza Jun 10, 7:44am

Ala visit je yb, apa ada hal RT @limkitsiang: All these prevarication smokescreen don’t work as truth must finally prevail. U r now forced by “twitter power” 2visit KgT 2day @mpkotabelud

limkitsiang Jun 10, 7:46am

Make amends YB not only 4 failing 2visit KgT even once but 4going agnst KgT interests on T dam. Make 2apologies n 1 commitment @mpkotabelud

limkitsiang Jun 10, 7:50am

YB must promise 2b voice of KgT ppl in Parliament x speak agnst KgT ppl. Yr mandate is from KgT ppl x T dam interests/cronies @mpkotabelud

limkitsiang Jun 10, 7:54am

Last thing YB must do is 2sign/support memorandum launched by KgT ppl protesting T dam project which will flood/destroy KgT @mpkotabelud

limkitsiang Jun 10, 7:57am

Do all these as I suggested making yr 1st visit 2KgT memorable I will forgive u n greet u as a brother in Parliament on Mon @mpkotabelud

manofkkm Jun 10, 7:57am

@limkitsiang @mpkotabelud congrats uncle kit, uncle kit 1 – MPKB 0

manofkkm Jun 10, 7:59am

@mpkotabelud @limkitsiang , i think MPKB don’t understand the issue well

limkitsiang Jun 10, 8:04am

U r fantastic 2uncover scam. Dubious reading link until came 2Najib RT @Iskandarbak http://t.co/AFZF9fl @Khairykj @mpkotabelud @Najib_Razak

ChrisanneChin Jun 10, 8:09am

@limkitsiang TRUE!!! @mpkotabelud This cud b your last term going by the anger of Sabahans n KgT agst dam. KNOW WHO YOU SERVE-buck up fast.

Yagu4PM Jun 10, 8:24am

@limkitsiang and if @mpkotabelud doesn’t? :-)

jonlee75 Jun 10, 9:24am

@mpkotabelud did YB LKS reply and what’s your response? Who’s court is the ball on right now?

Swakheadhunter Jun 10, 10:06am

Is that all you can do? You don’t deserve to be a YB @mpkotabelud Yawnn…. RT @limkitsiang …

LeonLeeBMG Jun 10, 10:12am

@mpkotabelud last answer I gt fr u is poverty & per cap is different. Then u forward u stats & articles, X replies @johnnywongsgt @junzwong

dredwinbosi Jun 10, 10:17am

@LeonLeeBMG @junzwong @mpkotabelud @limkitsiang Keep on trying. A consistent drop of water on same spot can break a boulder.

LeonLeeBMG Jun 10, 10:26am

@dredwinbosi @junzwong will do. Let me work on it @mpkotabelud @limkitsiang

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 11:35am

@limkitsiang (1) Irresponsible. Willing to condemn thousands of poor kadazans, bajaus, irranuns rice farmers in KB to perpetual poverty.

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 11:36am

@limkitsiang (2) Hypocrite. Supported construction of dam in Penang but objected in KB.

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 11:39am

@limkitsiang (3) no qualms of seeing Msia forever dependent on foreign import of rice. He cares not if tmrow msians don’t hv rice to eat.

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 11:49am

@limkitsiang (4) vehemently objected 2Kudat’s Milau dam. Now Kudat wont hv water prob in the next 20 yrs. Dap Kudat? Silent as a mouse now.

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 11:52am

@limkitsiang (5) previously objected Penang bridge. Now enjoying it and dare to ask for one more! Hypocrite lagi!

dredwinbosi Jun 10, 11:53am

@mpkotabelud @limkitsiang Don’t use such tactic. Heed Shafie Apdal call to plant tapioca. U may not like him but his idea gd.

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 11:54am

@limkitsiang (6) Objected to dam but when asked for alternative, mulut ternganga! Fail!

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 11:59am

@limkitsiang (7) Forgets that I am also wakil rakyat to tens of thousands ppl of KBelud not just Tambatuon ppl.

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 12:02pm

@limkitsiang (8) Doesn’t know or care that pp of KgT could earn much more income when they co-share the RM13m profits of mini hydro.

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 12:05pm

@dredwinbosi @limkitsiang (9) Ask Msians to eat tapioca when there is no rice. Those of u who like that raise ur hands!

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 12:09pm

@limkitsiang (10) anti-dam, anti-development, anti-poverty eradication. Why? So he can whack the govt for not doing anything. Politics 24/7!

pmnicol Jun 10, 12:14pm

@mpkotabelud not kitsiang alone but most m’sian r anti the way u guys carry out this project!

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 12:17pm

@limkitsiang Those r the 10 points &my rebuttal at mpkotabelud.blogspot.com which u need 2respond2. O/wise wait 4me 2debate u in parl. Deal?

dredwinbosi Jun 10, 12:17pm

@mpkotabelud @limkitsiang U sh go to rural area and ask them. I c u haven’t travel much.

JunzWonG Jun 10, 12:23pm

“@SabahKini: sabahkini.net: TO DAM OR TO BE DAMNED? http://t.co/KF8NIyz” @limkitsiang @dredwinbosi @LeonLeeBMG

mpkotabelud Jun 10, 12:24pm

@dredwinbosi Y u object Kudat dam? Evn whn govt said it’s needed 4 critical treated water supply? U sanggup tengok org kg minum air perigi?

dredwinbosi Jun 10, 12:24pm

@mpkotabelud @limkitsiang I hope Shafie Apdal is following this twit.

dredwinbosi Jun 10, 12:25pm

@mpkotabelud U have not exhausted ur study on alternatives, u go for somethg drastic and make pple unhappy.

limkitsiang Jun 10, 12:26pm

R U alrite YB? After all d hysteria last nite making a fool of yrself, thot u wld sober up. Clearly not @mpkotabelud Those r the 10 pts..

limkitsiang Jun 10, 12:49pm

Pathos. Jackpot! Precise word describe feeling of pity 4u. What sad end 4foremost Umno cyberwarrior @mpkotabelud @dredwinbosi … Pathetic.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 10 June 2011, 5:20 pm and is filed under
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Umno a hypocrite for anti-PAS welfare state stand, says Muslim cleric

By
G. Manimaran

June 10, 2011

The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 — Former Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin has labelled Umno a hypocritical party for slamming its political foe’s pro-welfare state stand raised at the PAS annual general assembly last week.

The popular Muslim cleric said Umno, as the ruling Barisan Nasional’s (BN) lynchpin which is also supposed to represent the Malay voice, should have supported the Islamist party’s idea instead of slamming it as conservative and fanatical.

“I don’t know Umno’s actual stand. Previously, Umno criticised PAS for being controlled by the ulamas, now with the professionals in charge they are still whacking the party.

“I see Umno as a hypocrite… Previously, it (Umno) said PAS is jumud, so I don’t think this attitude is right,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

The vocal Asri (picture) said Umno’s attack on PAS was uncalled, noting it had transformed into a more open and inclusive party.

“If before the non-Muslims were fearful of an Islamic state, now PAS is more open, more progressive than Umno,” he said.

Last Friday, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang had raised the concept of a welfare state in a developing country in his speech at the 57th muktamar.

The party’s spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat had backed the idea yesterday, saying the welfare state as pushed for by the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pact, especially PAS, was in line with Islam.

Nik Aziz explained the welfare concept did not mean it had to be material benefits and gave as an example the Kelantan government’s action to shutter nightclubs to prevent social ills.

The Kelantan mentri besar said welfare was something that can assure citizens of their safety in the material world and the hereafter.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 10 June 2011, 10:33 am and is filed under
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