65-Day Countdown to 13GE – Will Najib establish four dubious political records as Malaysian Prime Minister?

Datuk Seri Najib Razak said last Saturday that he knew when to see the Yang di Pertuan Agong to ask for the dissolution of Parliament and there is no need to “
jolok
” (pester) him on when the 13th general elections will be held.

It is not the Prime Minister who is being “jolok” about the dissolution of Parliament, but 28 million Malaysians who had been “jolok” by Najib in the past two years to be on “13GE mode” – all because Najib is the most  indecisive, hesitant  and flip-flop Prime Minister in Malaysian history.

Already, Najib has established two dubious political records as Prime Minister.

The question is whether he would establish another two more dubious political records by the time the 13GE is finally held.

Najib is already the longest Prime Minister without an elected mandate of his own – close to three years and10 months, longer than four Prime Ministers before him, namely Tun Abdullah, Tun Mahathir, Tun Hussein and his father Tun Razak before they sought a mandate of their own after taking over the mantle of premiership.

Najib has also established a second dubious record as PM – with the Parliament during  his term  serving out its longest tenure.  The last general elections of the “political tsunami” fame was held on 8th March 2008, which is one month and three days away from its 5th anniversary.

It is generally thought that Parliament must be dissolved five years after the previous general elections, i.e. “308” of 2008 for the current 12th Parliament.

But this is not the case, as under the Constitution, Parliament’s five-year tenure is calculated from the date of its  first meeting, i.e. on April 28, 2008 and not from the previous polling date of March 8, 2008. This means that the five-year life of the  present 12th Parliament will only end on April 27, 2013, when Parliament will stand automatically dissolved with general elections to be held within 60 days without the need for the Prime Minister to meet the Yang di Pertuan Agong to dissolve Parliament.

Will Najib set a third dubious record – with the 12th Parliament exceeding its  five-year natural term beyond March 8, 2013, having to rely on the constitutional definition of Parliament’s five-year tenure, which would make this the first time in Parliament history in 55 years!

But it is the fourth dubious record which is haunting and hounding Najib – whether he would be first Barisan Nasional to lose power in the general elections to become the last UMNO Prime Minister in Malaysian electoral history.

The 13GE, however, should not be about Najib or even UMNO/Barisan Nasional’s political future.  It should be about the future of the Malaysian nation and that of 28 million Malaysians half a century after Merdeka.

Najib’s invitation of South Korean superstar Psy to Penang to perform his global hit Gangnam Style on the second day of Chinese New Year should drive home this point to all Malaysians.

Fifty years ago, when South Korea was much poorer and more backward than Malaysia,  it is completely unthinkable that there could be a South Korean superstar who could be received as a national and global sensation in Malaysia, just as today, it is just  unimaginable that a Malaysian could be a superstar whose performance in South Korea would be a national and global phenomenon as to take South Korea by storm.

What went wrong in the past half a century, that the tables were turned so dramatically and definitively between Malaysia and South Korea.

The magnitude of the change of fortunes between Malaysia and South Korea could be plotted from the data of  GDP per capita data for the two countries for the past half a century from World Bank and International Monetary Fund data bases, viz:

GDP Per Capita (in US dollars)

Year

Malaysia

South Korea

1960

299

155

1970

392

279

1980

1,769

1,689

1990

2,374

6,308

2000

3,992

11,347

2010

8,737

20,540

2012

10,578

23,021

In the half century from 1960 to 2012, Malaysia’s GDP per capita increased by 35-fold, which is chickenfeed compared to the 148.5-fold increase of South Korea’s GDP per capita during the period.

Psy’s performance of Gangnam Style in Penang on the second day of Chinese New Year will be a real contribution to and even a game-changer for  Malaysia’s national transformation if it can cause more and more Malaysians to search answers to the critical question – how South Korea could transform in half a century from a poorer and more backward country than Malaysia into a country which is two to three richer than Malaysia and more accomplished and successful in almost all fields of human endeavour, and to apply the formula for Malaysia’s “Second Merdeka”.

This should be what the 13GE is all about – how Malaysia can stop the national rot, stop the widening gap between Malaysia and  South Korea, and start the painful, arduous and challenging process to catch up with South Korea’s economic progress and match its accomplishments in all fields of human endeavour.

Artikel ini juga boleh didapati dalam Bahasa Malaysia di:
https://blog.limkitsiang.com/2013/02/06/pengiraan-detik-65-hari-ke-pru13-adakah-najib-akan-mencipta-empat-rekod-buruk-sebagai-perdana-menteri-malaysia/

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 5 February 2013, 3:09 pm and is filed under
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Psy, the Answer to BN Penang’s Psychosis

By Martin Jalleh

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 5 February 2013, 9:11 pm and is filed under
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64-Day Countdown to 13GE –Commemorate Tunku’s 110th “birthday anniversary and support the  “Spark the Change” campaign to accomplish Merdeka2 which Tunku dedicated final decade of his life

Friday, 8th February 2013 is the 110th birthday anniversary of Bapa Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman.

History and the world at large acknowledge his contributions as a statesman, a nation builder and as a singularly unique historical figure. He personified decency, a deeply-held belief in the rule of law and respect for tradition.

This is an occasion for all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or political beliefs to come together to pay  tribute to a man who laid the foundations for a modern, democratic, secular Malaysia welded out of a diverse mix of ethnicities, faiths  and cultures.

It is most unfortunate and regrettable that Tunku’s good name and memory and those of our forefathers  had recently been  sullied when derogatory references were made by one of his successor-Prime Ministers who falsely accused Bapa Malaysia of having granted citizenship to one million “unqualified” non-Malays before Merdeka in 1957 – hypocritically claiming that the treasonous “citizenship-for-votes” rackets for illegal immigrants in Sabah were  more honourable and worthy deeds!

When the nation achieved independent nationhood on August 31, 1957, followed by the formation of Malaysia in 1963, it heralded the beginning of a new era where Malayans and later Malaysians could dare to dream big dreams to remake the world.

Reading out the Merdeka Proclamation in the Merdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on that auspicious day 55 years ago on August 31, 1957, Tunku pledged that Malaya “shall be for ever a sovereign democratic and independent State founded upon the principles of liberty and justice and ever seeking the welfare and happiness of its people and the maintenance of a just peace among all nations”.

These aspirations were reiterated by Tunku six years later in the Proclamation of Malaysia on September 16, 1963 on the formation of Malaysia, pledging that Malaysia “shall forever be an independent and sovereign democratic State founded upon liberty and justice, ever seeking to defend and uphold peace and harmony among its people and to perpetuate peace among nations”.

The multi-million ringgit invitation to the South Korean superstar Psy to Penang for the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s  Chinese New Year Open House to perform his global hit “Gangnam Style” is a powerful symbolism of the multiple  failures of Malaysian nation-building in the past half-century as promised in Tunku’s Merdeka and Malaysia Proclamations on democracy, liberty, justice, people’s welfare and happiness.

On the Chinese New Year of the Snake, let Malaysians have fun and enjoy Psy’s “Gangnam Style” but it should be a powerful reminder that Malaysia has a lot to catch up whether in terms of political democracy, economic competitiveness and justice, educational excellence, technological prowess or nation-building as highlighted in the reversal of fortunes of the two countries in the past half-century with South Korea rising up from greater poverty and backwardness than Malaysia to be a global economic powerhouse while Malaysia is struggling to escape from the trap of “middle-income countries”.

There is no better way to commemorate Tunku’s 110th “birthday anniversary by supporting  the  “Spark the Change” campaign launched by the DAP National Publicity Secretary Tony Pua today to accomplish Merdeka2 which Tunku had dedicated the final decade of his life.

Let 2013 on the occasion of   Tunku’s 110th birthday anniversary mark Malaysia’s beginning of the new journey of the  Second Merdeka through UBAH in Putrajaya in the 13th General Elections, to see the fulfillment of the promises of the Merdeka and Malaysia Proclamations on democracy, liberty, justice, people’s welfare and happiness particularly in the face of the relentless challenges of globalization in the 21st century.

Artikel ini juga boleh didapati dalam Bahasa Malaysia di:
https://blog.limkitsiang.com/2013/02/06/pengiraan-detik-64-hari-ke-pru13-memperingati-ulangtahun-kelahiran-ke-110-tunku-dan-menyokong-kempen-cetuskan-perubahan-untuk-mencapai-merdeka-2-yang-tunku-usahakan-pada-de/

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 6 February 2013, 12:02 pm and is filed under
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Chinese New Year

by Allan CF Goh

When the New Year eve comes to call,

When the Old Year has ended all,

Bringing home those close and dear,

It’s that joyful time called New Year.

When the first dawn of Spring appears,

May all our problems disappear,

Bringing home a blessed reunion,

For a family communion.

The swallows are back in their place,

The land has returned to its grace,

Bringing home cherished hope that looms,

Spring has brought forth the fresh new blooms.

The dawn, the morn of the New Year,

Must be made auspiciously clear,

Bringing home the dreams that come true,

And our wishes to fruition, too.

The year will spring good beginnings,

And banish all bad happenings,

Bringing home to us real, good health,

Together with abundant wealth.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 6 February 2013, 5:25 pm and is filed under
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Pengiraan Detik 64 Hari ke PRU13 – Memperingati ulangtahun kelahiran ke-110 Tunku dan menyokong kempen “Cetuskan Perubahan” untuk mencapai Merdeka 2 yang Tunku usahakan pada dekad terakhir hayatnya

Jumaat, 8 Febuari 2013 merupakan ulangtahun kelahiran ke-110 Bapa Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman.

Sejarah dan dunia tahu akan sumbangan beliau sebagai seorang negarawan, pembangun bangsa dan sebagai tokoh sejarah yang unik. Beliau melambangkan kesopanan, kepercayaan yang mendalam terhadap kedaulatan hukum dan menghormati tradisi.

Inilah saatnya untuk semua rakyat Malaysia, tidak mengira kaum, agama dan kepercayaan politik bersama-sama memberikan penghormatan kepada seorang insan yang telah membina asas kepada Malaysia yang moden, demokratik dan sekular yang dipaterikan dengan perpaduan etnik, kepercayaan dan budaya yang pelbagai.

Amatlah malang dan kesal apabila kenangan indah dan nama baik Tunku dan nenek moyang kita baru-baru ini difitnah apabila kata-kata menghina dilemparkan oleh salah seorang Perdana Menteri terkemudian yang menuduh Bapa Malaysia memberikan kewarganegaraan kepada satu juga bukan Melayu yang “tidak layak” sebelum Merdeka pada 1957 – dengan hipokritnya mendakwa bahawa pengkhianatan “kewarganegaraan untuk undi” untuk pendatang tanpa izin di Sabah sebagai perbuatan yang lebih terhormat dan layak!

Apabila negara mencapai kemerdekaan pada 31 Ogos, 1957, diikuti dengan pembentukan Malaysia pada 1963, ia menandakan permulaan satu era baru yang mana rakyat Malaya dan kemudiannya Malaysia berani untuk berimpian besar dan mengubah dunia.

Ketika membaca Pemasyhuran Kemerdekaan di Stadium Merdeka Kuala Lumpur pada hari bertuah itu 55 tahun lalu yakni pada 31 Ogos, 1957, Tunku berikrar bahawa Malaya “akan kekal menjadi sebuah negara yang merdeka dan berdaulat serta berdasarkan kebebasan dan keadilan dan sentiasa menjaga dan mengutamakan kesejahteraan dan kesentosaan rakyatnya dan mengekalkan keamanan antara segala bangsa.”

Kehendak ini kemudiannyan diulang semula oleh Tunku enam tahun kemudian di dalam Pemayshuran Malaysia pada 16 September, 1963 berkenaan pembentukan Malaysia, berikrar bahawa Malaysia ““akan kekal menjadi sebuah negara demokrasi yang merdeka dan berdaulat serta berdasarkan kebebasan dan keadilan dan sentiasa mempertahankan serta memelihara keamanan dan kemesraan umatnya dan mengekalkan keamanan diantara segala bangsa.”

Undangan berjuta ringgit kepada bintang Korea Selatan Psy ke Pulau Pinang untuk Rumah Terbuka Tahun Baru Cina Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak bagi mempersembahkan “Gangnam Style” adalah simbol kegagalan berganda pembinaan bangsa Malaysia sejak setengah abad lalu seperti yang dijanjikan di dalam Pemasyhuran Kemerdekaan dan Malaysia Tunku tentang demokrasi, kebebasan, keadilan, kebajikan dan kebahagiaan rakyat.

Pada Tahun Baru Cina yang merupakan Tahun Ular, biarlah rakyat Malaysia bergembira dengan “Gangnam Style” Psy tetapi ia juga sepatutnya menjadi peringatan bahawa banyak yang perlu Malaysia kejarkan baik dari segi demokrasi politik, daya saing ekonomi dan keadilan, kecemerlangan pendidikan, kehebatan teknologi atau pembinaan bangsa seperti mana yang ditonjolkan dalam perubahan nasib dua negara sejak setengah abad lalu, yang mana Korea Selatan bangkit daripada kemiskinan dan kemunduran menjadi kuasa ekonomi global sementara Malaysia masih berjuang untuk keluar daripada perangkap “negara berpendapatan pertengahan”.

Tiada cara yang lebih baik bagi memperingati ulangtahun kelahiran Tunku ke-110 melainkan dengan menyokong kempen “Cetuskan Perubahan” yang dilancarkan Setiausaha Publisiti DAP Tony Pua hari ini untuk mencapai Merdeka 2 yang Tunku usahakan pada dekad terakhir hayatnya.

Mari jadikan 2013, pada ulangtahun kelahiran Tunku ke-110 sebagai permulaan baru Malaysia menuju Merdeka Kedua dengan berlakunya UBAH di Putrajaya dalam Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13, melihat tercapainya janji Pemasyhuran Merdeka dan Malaysia terhadap demokrasi, kebebasan, keadilan, kebajikan dan kebahagiaan rakyat terutamanya dikala tanpa henti berdepan dengan cabaran globalisasi abad ke-21.

This article is also available in English at:
https://blog.limkitsiang.com/2013/02/06/64-day-countdown-to-13ge-commemorate-tunkus-110th-birthday-anniversary-and-support-the-spark-the-change-campaign-to-accomplish-merdeka2-which-tunku-dedica/

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 6 February 2013, 5:31 pm and is filed under
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Pengiraan Detik 65 Hari ke PRU13 – Adakah Najib akan mencipta empat rekod buruk sebagai Perdana Menteri Malaysia?

Datuk Seri Najib Razak Sabtu lepas berkata bahawa beliau tahu bila masanya untuk menghadap Yang Dipertuan Agong bagi membubarkan Parlimen dan tidak “menjolok” beliau untuk tahu bila pilihan raya ke-13 akan diadakan.

Bukan Perdana Menteri yang “dijolok” berkenaan pembubaran Parlimen, tetapi 28 juta rakyat Malaysia yang telah “dijolok” oleh Najib sejak dua tahun lalu supaya sentiasa berada dalam mod “PRU13” – semua disebabkan Najib merupakan Perdana Menteri yang paling tidak mampu membuat keputusan, teragak-agak dan berubah-ubah dalam sejarah Malaysia.

Najib telah pun mencipta dua rekod buruk politik sebagai Perdana Menteri.

Persoalannya ialah sama ada beliau akan mencipta dua lagi rekod buruk politik menjelang PRU13 diadakan.

Najib telah pun menjadi Perdana Menteri paling lama tanpa mandat pilihanrayanya sendiri – hampir tiga tahun dan 10 bulan, lebih lama daripada empat Perdana Menteri sebelumnya, iaitu Tun Abdullah, Tun Mahathir, Tun Hussein dan bapa beliau Tun Razak sebelum mereka mendapatkan mandat mereka sendiri selepas mengambil alih tampuk pemerintahan.

Najib juga mencipta rekod buruk kedua sebagai PM – dengan Parlimen di bawah pemerintahannya berjalan untuk satu penggal yang paling lama. Pilihan raya umum lalu yang terkenal dengan “tsunami politik” diadakan pada 8 Mac 2008, tinggal satu bulan tiga hari daripada ulangtahun ke-5 pilihan raya umum itu.

Secara umumnya ramai berpendapat bahawa Parlimen mestilah dibubarkan lima tahun selepas pilihan raya umum sebelumnya, iaitu “308” pada 2008 untuk penggal ke-12 Parlimen.

Tetapi yang sebenarnya bukan begitu, memandangkan menurut Perlembagaan, lima tahun penggal Parlimen mula dikira dari tarikh mesyuarat pertamanya, iaitu 28 April, 2008 dan bukannya daripada tarikh pilihan raya 8 Mac, 2008. Ini bermakna bahawa jangka hayat lima tahun  Parlimen ke-12 hanya akan berakhir pada 27 April, 2013, ketika Parlimen akan terbubar dengan sendiri dengan pilihan raya umum bakal diadakan 60 hari tanpa memerlukan Perdana Menteri menghadap Yang Dipertuan Agong untuk membubarkan Parlimen.

Adakah Najib akan mencipta rekod buruk ketiganya – dengan Parlimen ke-12 melepasi 8 Mac 2013 melebihi lima tahun tempoh semulajadi Parlimen, terpaksa bergantung kepada takrif perlembangan untuk penggal lima tahun Parlimen, buat pertama kalinya dalam 55 tahun!

Akan tetapi rekod buruk keempat yang benar-benar menghantui Najib – sama ada beliau akan menjadi yang pertama dari Barisan Nasional kehilangan kuasa dalam pilihan raya umum dan Perdana Menteri UMNO terakhir dalam sejarah pilihan raya umum Malaysia.

PRU13, bagaimanapun, tidak sepatutnya berkenaan Najib atau masa depan politik UMNO/Barisan Nasional. PRU13 sepatutnya tentang masa depan bangsa Malaysia dan 28 juta rakyat Malaysia setengah abad selepas Merdeka.

Undangan Najib kepada bintang Korea Selatan Psy untuk mempersembahkan Gangnam Style pada hari kedua Tahun Baru Cina sepatutnya menyampaikan poin itu kepada rakyat Malaysia.

Lima puluh tahun lalu, Korea Selatan lebih miskin dan mundur berbanding Malaysia, ketika itu tentu tidak terfikir bahawa akan ada bintang Korea Selatan yang mampu diterima sebagai sensasi nasional dan global di Malaysia, seperti hari ini, tidak dapat dibayangkan bahawa rakyat Malaysia mampu menjadi bintang yang membuat persembahan di Korea Selatan dan menjeadi fenimena nasional dan global yang menggemparkan Korea Selatan.

Yang menjadi masalah setengah abad lalu, keadaan berubah secara dramatik antara Malaysia dan Korea Selatan.

Magnitud perubahan nasib antara Malaysia dan Korea Selatan dapat dilihat pada data KDNK per kapita kedua-dua nehara untuk setengah abad lalu dari Bank Dunia dan International Monetary Fund:

KDNK Per Kapita (dalam US dollar)

Tahun

Malaysia

South Korea

1960

299

155

1970

392

279

1980

1,769

1,689

1990

2,374

6,308

2000

3,992

11,347

2010

8,737

20,540

2012

10,578

23,021

Dalam setegah abad dari 1960 hingga 2012, KDNK Malaysia per kapita meningkat 35 kali ganda, amat sedikit dibandingkan dengan peningkatan 148.5 kali ganda KDNK per kapita Korea Selatan dalam tempoh itu.

Persembahan Gangnam Style Psy di Pulau Pinang pada hari kedua Tahun Baru Cina akan menyumbang malahan menjadi pengubah keadaan buat transformasi nasional Malaysia sekiranya mampu membuatkan lebih ramai rakyat Malaysia mencari jawapan kepada soalan yang penting – bagaimana Korea Selatan boleh berubah dalam tempoh setengah abad daripada negara miskin dan mundur menjadi negara yang dua atau tiga kali ganda lebih kaya daripada Malaysia dan mencapai lebih banyak kejayaan dalam hampir semua bidang yang diusahakan, dan mengamalkan formula itu bagi “Kemerdekaan Kali Kedua” Malaysia.

PRU13 adalah tentang ini – bagaimana Malaysia dapat menghentikan kerosakan nasional, menghentikan jurang melebar antara Malaysia dan Korea Selatan, dan memulakan perkembangan ekonomi dan menandingi pencapaiannya dalam semua bidang yang diusahakan.

This article is also available in English at:
https://blog.limkitsiang.com/2013/02/05/65-day-countdown-to-13ge-will-najib-establish-four-dubious-political-records-as-malaysian-prime-minister/

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 6 February 2013, 5:28 pm and is filed under
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Pengiraan Detik 66 Hari ke PRU13 – Mengapa cuma sasarkan 60,000 orang untuk persembahan “Oppa Gangnam Style” Psy pada Tahun Baru Cina di Pulau Pinang, sepatutnya mensasarkan 100,000 atu 250,000 orang dari Pulau Pinang, seluruh Malaysia dan negara jiran untuk sebuah acara yang sensasi bersama Psy

Topik terhangat di kalangan rakyat Malaysia tidak kira kaum, umur atau jantina di seluruh negara untuk dua hari berturut-turut masih lagi Psy dan “Oppa Gangnam Style”, terutamanya laporan yang mengatakan kos sebanyak RM3 juta untuk membawa bintang Korea Selatan itu ke Penang bagi memastikan kehadiran 60,000 orang untuk Rumah Terbuka Tahun Baru Cina Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Semua rakyat Malaysia bergembiralah dengan Psy dan “Oppa Gangnam Style” di Pulau Pinang pada hari kedua Tahun Baru Cina pada 11 Febuari.

Malah, mengapa cuma sasarkan 60,000 orang dan tidak cuba capai 100,000 orang atau 250,000 orang dari Pulau Pinang, seluruh Malaysia dan negara jiran untuk menjadikannya acara sensasi bersama Psy benar-benar bersejarah dan menjadi kenangan?

Amat bersejarah sekiranya kehadiran julung kali Psy di Malaysia dapat turut membuatkan Malaysia mencontohi Korea Selatan yang berusaha memperbaiki keadaan negara bagi menjalankan transformasi negara yang jujur dalam tadbir urus, politik, ekonomi, pendidikan dan pembinaan bangsa bagi membolehkan Malaysia membuat satu anjakan dalam segenap aspek kehidupan nasional dalam kemerdekaan kedua Malaysia.

Biar kehadiran Psy ke Malaysia memulakan satu debat nasional dan mencari diri bagaimana Korea Selatan, daripada negara yang miskin dan mundur mampu berjaya melontar dirinya menjadi penjana ekonomi yang kini lebih kaya daripada Malaysia, dengan pendapatan per kapita dua hingga tiga kali lebih tinggi daripada Malaysia, dan lebih maju berbanding Malaysia di dalam semua bidang.

18 tahun Indeks Persepsi Rasuah (CPI) Transparency International (TI) berikut memberikan kunci kepada jawapan itu:

Tahun

Malaysia

Korea Selatan

Kedudukan

Mata

Kedudukan

Mata

1995

23

5.28

27

4.29

1996

26

5.32

27

5.02

1997

32

5.01

34

4.29

1998

29

5.3

43

4.2

1999

32

5.1

50

3.8

2000

36

4.8

48

4.0

2001

36

5.0

42

4.2

2002

33

4.9

40

4.5

2003

37

5.2

50

4.3

2004

39

5.0

47

4.5

2005

39

5.1

40

5.0

2006

44

5.0

42

5.1

2007

43

5.1

43

5.1

2008

47

5.1

40

5.6

2009

56

4.5

39

5.5

2010

56

4.4

39

5.4

2011

60

4.3

42

5.4

2012

54

49/100

45

56/100

[Dari tahun 1995 hingga 2011, skala daripada 10 (sangat bersih) hingga 0 (sangat korup) telah digunakan, yang kini telah diubah kepada skala 0-100 bermula 2012]

18 tahun siri tahunan CPI TI 1995 – 2012 menunjukkan:

Bagi 11 tahun pertama daripada 1995-2005, Malaysia mendahului Korea Selatan dilihat sebagai lebih  bersih dan kurang korup berbanding Korea Selatan, walaupun mencapai perbezaan 18 kedudukan pada 1999, mewakili perbezaan mata 1.30.

Korea Selatan menewaskan Malaysia pada 2006, dengan kedudukan 42 jika dibandingkan dengan kedudukan 44 Malaysia, dan selepas seri pada tahun 2007 dengan kedua-duanya berada pada kedudukan 43 dengan 5.1 mata, Korea Selatan tidak lagi menoleh kebelakang dalam mencapai kedudukan dan mata lebih baik untuk lima tahun dari 2008 – 2012, malah menewaskan Malaysia dengan perbezaan 18 tempat pada 2011.

Kedudukan dan mata CPI TI Malaysia empat tahun lalu  (2009 – 2012), yang merupakan tahun pemerintahan Datuk Seri Najib Razak adalah yang terburuk dalam tempoh 18 tahum; sementara kedudukan dan mata Korea Selatan untuk empat tahun lau adalah antara negara terbaik di dalam siri itu.

Pengajarannya jelas. Sejak 18 tahun lalu, dan terutamanya empat tahun lalu, tadbir urus dalam ketelusan dan akauntabiliti Korea Selatan telah semakin berjaya memulihkan kepercayaan orang ramai dengan mengubah pandangan ramai terhadap korupsi tetapi sebaliknya berlaku di Malaysia.

Ini salah satu pengajaran Malaysia perlu belajar dari Korea Selatan. Adakah rakyat Malaysia bersedia untuk itu?

This article is also available in English at:
https://blog.limkitsiang.com/2013/02/04/66-day-countdown-to-13ge-why-only-aim-at-60000-people-for-psys-oppa-gangnam-style-performance-on-cny-in-penang-should-aim-for-100000-or-even-250000-people-fro/

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 6 February 2013, 5:24 pm and is filed under
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63-Day Countdown to 13GE – Can Psy and Gangnam Style salvage BN Government’s popularity among the Chinese voters, which plunged from 17% to 6% in ten months from February to December last year?

The war of nerves to shape voters’ perceptions in the run-up to the 13th General Elections has entered into its final lap, with Parliament expected to be dissolved in the next two to three weeks.

The latest script of the UMNO/Barisan Nasional spin-doctors and mind-benders is three-pronged:

•	to concoct false and baseless reports and allegations to defame DAP and Pakatan Rakyat leaders especially through faceless, nameless and soulless sites on the social media and the UMNO/BN mainstream media;

•	to foment distrust and suspicion intra-party in DAP, PKR and PAS and  to provoke animosity and tension inter-party in Pakatan Rakyat, with the ultimate aim to cause the break-up and disintegration of Pakatan Rakyat especially the co-operation between DAP and PAS  to save UMNO/BN from their  “life or death” challenge in the 13GE; and

•	to create the perception that UMNO/BN under the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak has finally succeeded in turning the tide of popular support in favour of UMNO/BN, whether among the Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan or Iban voters.

This is the rationale for the highlight of Najib’s Chinese New Year Open House in Penang on February 11 –  the multi-million ringgit performance of  the South Korean superstar and his global hit Gangnam Style.

But will the sensational appearance of  Psy and Gangnam Style in Penang be a “wish come true” for Najib as far as turning the tide of popular support among the Chinese voters for UMNO/BN in the 13GE?

Here it is useful and interesting to note  the opinion poll conducted by pollster Merdeka Centre at the end of last year (15th – 28th December 2012) that found that only six per cent of the Chinese voters polled were “happy” with the Barisan Nasional Government while 65 per cent were “dissatisfied” or “angry” with the BN Government.

In six polls conducted last year, Chinese voters  “happy” with the Barisan Nasional Government had fluctuated from 17% in Feb to 19% in April, 18% in May, 13% in June, 19% in October plunging to 6% in December.

Can the appearance of Psy and Gangnam Style in the Prime Minister’s Chinese New Year Open House in Penang salvage BN Government’s popularity among the Chinese voters, which plunged from 17% to 6% in ten months from February to December last year?

It is noteworthy that overall, only 45 per cent of voters from all racial groups polled in December  were “happy”  in their perception of the Barisan Nasional government, as compared to a high of 48% in February and 51% in April.

Asked about their perception towards Barisan Nasional as a coalition as distinct from Barisan Nasional government, 16% of the Chinese voters polled were “happy”  as compared to 57% who were “dissatisfied” or “angry”.  There was hardly any movement in the percentage of the Chinese voters “happy” with the Barisan Nasional coalition  in the 10 months polled last year, viz. 16% in February, 17% in April, 17% in October and 16% in December.

The same poll showed that although Najib’s popularity rating is higher than UMNO/BN, it has overall fallen six per cent from 69% in February to 63% in December, while the drop is a chunky 22% in ten months among the Chinese voters, i.e. from 56% in February to 34% in December 2012.

Will Psy and Gangman Style perform the miracle for Najib and UMNO/BN in raising his and UMNO/BN popularity ratings, or has this issue never entered the minds of the UMNO/BN spin-doctors and mind-benders, as they seem to claim?

Be that as it may, let the premier appearance of Psy and Gangman Style be a joyful memorable occasion for all Penangites and Malaysians to celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Snake.

This is why on Monday I asked why only aim at drawing 60,000 people to Psy’s Gangman Style performance when the occasion justifies a more ambitious target of 100,000 people or even 250,000 people from Penang, all over Malaysia and the neighbouring countries!

I welcome reports that Najib’s CNY Open House featuring Psy and Gangnam Style at Han Chiang College is open to all with no restriction on anyone.

This is as it should be. We are all Malaysians first and last, and on national festive occasions like Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Deepavali, Vesak Day or Christmas, let us exude goodwill, peace, harmony and solidarity where we can fraternize freely without thought of political differences.

However, to make it more meaningful and worthwhile, while Malaysians enjoy the show and fun with Psy and Gangnam Style, let us not miss the occasion for a  nation-wide soul-searching why South Korea is so far ahead of Malaysia  in all fields of human endeavor  when  half-a-century ago,  Malaysia was twice as rich as the “Gangnam Style” nation!

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                This entry was posted on Thursday, 7 February 2013, 3:00 pm and is filed under
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It’s over for MCA

Mohd Ariff Sabri Aziz | February 7, 2013

Free Malaysia Today

If the voting trends go along the same lines as it did in 2008, it is then the end for both Umno and MCA.

COMMENT

If only 30% of the Malay electorate in each of the parliamentary seat where MCA is the incumbent vote for PKR, then MCA is wiped out.

But Umno wants to save its Islam-bashing partner at all costs even if it means speaking like an infidel.

MCA, on its part, must do everything to keep the Chinese intact but it’s facing an uphill battle.

MCA has lost its credibility and relevance. It goes to town, saying if Pakatan Rakyat wins, then PAS will “Talibanise” everything.

It claims if Pakatan wins you can’t play mahjong, eat pork, bah kut teh, wash hair, yam seng and all that.

But we all know that MCA must say that PAS will restrict everything.

Umno and MCA are playing two sides of the same coin, but the subterfuge is not fooling everyone.

So, how do we kill off MCA for good? There is a simple formula.

If only 30% of the Malays vote for Pakatan and 80% of non-Malays vote the same way, MCA is finished. This is all we need.

MCA can lose all its 15 parliamentary seats in the next general election.

50% Malays with Pakatan

MCA has 15 parliamentary seats, most of them in Johor. Out of the seven seats in Johor, only two have Malay majority.

The fact is MCA is safe only in two parliamentary seats – Air Hitam and Alor Gajah. The rest are shaky if not gone already.

The prospects of eliminating MCA as such is good. Some 80% to 85% of non-Malays are supporting Pakatan and 50% of the Malays will vote for Pakatan.

We have many instances where voters in areas with Malay majority gave substantial support to Pakatan.

In Jerantut, Pahang, for instance, the almost 90% Malay community gave 46% support to Pakatan.

Therefore Umno can’t assume that just because an area has a majority Malay electorate, it has their big support.

In 2008, Umno candidates got only two 2 million votes from the 5.7 million Malay voters. That’s only 35% Malay support.

Let us now assume Pakatan has 30% Malay support and the backing of 80% of non-Malays. This will be enough to ensure MCA is finished. All we need to ensure is the 30:80 formula.

And if voting goes along the same line as it did in 2008, then Umno is doomed.

The writer is a former Umno state assemblyman but has now joined DAP. He is a FMT columnist.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 7 February 2013, 5:23 pm and is filed under
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Last chance for MCA to change history for the better

— Koon Yew Yin

The Malaysian Insider

Feb 07, 2013

FEB 7 — As the curtain comes down on the MCA and its demise as a force in Malaysian politics, Malaysians are being treated to demonstrations of desperate behaviour by the MCA top brass to show that they are still relevant.

The latest is the attempt by MCA deputy president Liow Tiong Lai to reach out to Chinese voters by offering health tips for the Chinese New Year season.

No doubt the book launch speech by the health minister has been widely reported in the mainstream media.  His backroom boys will probably be flattering the minister about how clever he is in referring to the lucky number of 8888 and its association with wealth and health in reaching out to the Chinese electorate.

But will it work on the Chinese electorate?

What Chinese voters want

Will Chinese and Malaysian voters be easily swayed by such gimmicks which can be expected to intensify as we get closer to the elections?

My view is that it will not.

In fact, even MCA insiders realise that the Chinese electorate is a more sophisticated and discerning one.

MCA veteran Woon See Chin, a former deputy education minister, for example, has admitted that generous handouts such as the RM200 smartphone rebate and RM500 1 Malaysia People’s Aid would not help win back the support of disenchanted young Chinese voters.

His observation that “Chinese youth are more independent” and that “they don’t rely on any political parties; some of them have never received any financial aid from the government” is true not only for Chinese youth but also for the majority of the Chinese and Indian voting population.

What will the Chinese (and other Malaysian) voters be influenced by?

Chinese voters want change. They want a party that can stand up to Umno and its almost 60 years of self-serving politics of racism, cronyism and opportunism that have damaged our economy, ruined our educational system and made the future darker for all Malaysians, especially for non-Malays.

Make a stand against the top dog

How to change our system? I have been told that guidance to the MCA is akin to casting pearls before swine and that the leopard will never change its spots. Nevertheless I would like to offer some advice to MCA leaders and its supporters for the coming elections.

According to feedback obtained from the Chinese community and through my participation in political ceramahs and interaction with the man in the street, the MCA and Gerakan will be wiped out as political parties in the elections. This is because few if any of its candidates will be able to win enough votes to be elected even in Umno-dominated constituencies.

This worst-case scenario is based on two important considerations:

1. the Chinese view that Umno cannot and will not change its hardline “ketuanan Melayu” and “ketuanan Islam” ideology and policies which have scarred our nation and ruined the future of most Chinese youth

2. the general view that the MCA will never be allowed by Umno to be anything but a toady and boot-licking party

Faced with an impending disastrous performance in the elections which could mark the end of the party, there is only one option that is available for the party and its members to pursue between now and the elections.

This option is that MCA leaders and members should not support the Barisan Nasional. Of course, it is too late for the party as a whole to take action and make the momentous decision to get out of the BN coalition. This historic decision should be left to another time.

But in the meantime, individual leaders and members can signal their disapproval with the way that Umno has been running and ruining the country and their disgust with the way in which it has treated the MCA as a lap dog.  This can be done by abstaining from taking part in the elections and by not supporting BN during the elections.

Such a decision may be difficult for the likes of the top MCA leaders and central committee members who have profited from lucrative contracts, commissions, datukships and tan sri-ships. But for the party’s middle-level leadership, this is the right time to shift their allegiance to the opposition coalition and for them to work to ensure a Pakatan Rakyat victory.

Their contribution to ousting Umno from power can come in many ways such as urging constituency members not to vote blindly for BN candidates; secretly providing support to opposition candidates; alerting the NGOs monitoring the elections of the BN’s dirty tricks and likely abuses; dragging their feet on being co-opted as a BN election worker; etc.

Unlike the party’s leaders who have accumulated so much wealth by being cronies of Umno, the middle-level and grassroots leadership have gotten crumbs while being kicked around. Only by working for change will they be able to win back the respect of the Chinese community and convince their friends and children that they have not sold out the Chinese community by being members of the MCA.

The coming election provides the last chance for MCA leaders and members to change the course of history — positively. I and millions of Malaysians urge them — make a stand for change by working to ensure that the BN loses and for the opposition to take over Putrajaya.

Only in this way can the MCA — a thoroughly politically discredited and morally bankrupt party — make amends for the harm that it has inflicted on Chinese and the country.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 7 February 2013, 3:43 pm and is filed under
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My Beautiful Malaysia, My Dream Malaysia

by Allan CF Goh

Feb 7, 2013

My dream Malaysia is full of charms,

With white beaches and tall swaying palms.

The redolent air is fresh and cool,

Blowing with gentle, caressing balm,

Not ravaged by ugly constructions,

Mother nature is blessedly calm.

Malaysia empowers greenery;

Forests grow in protected freedom.

Myriad flowers bloom in ecstasy,

To thrill us from unwanted boredom.

Native animals are free to roam;

Their habitats are saved by wisdom.

This country is a peaceful nation,

Where people live in real maturity.

Each respects the other’s differences,

Celebrating our diversity.

We live within shared common values,

Forging a lasting unity.

Malaysians embrace creative fun;

Citizens live with true harmony.

They pursue fruitful activities,

Undisturbed by vile cacophony.

People are endowed with civil rights

Sharing their lives’ blissful symphony.

My dream land boasts of a government,

Most answerable to the people;

Its’ job is to run the State wisely,

Not to indulge in foolish squabble.

Parliament must ensure full justice,

And make people’s lives rich and simple.

My country exudes inspired fairness;

True justice is the accepted norm.

Laws are applied with good clarity,

In a good legally balanced form.

The aspirations of citizens,

Are not crushed in any man-made storm.

My dreamland always enjoys free press.

Print “The truth nothing but the truth” must

Be the media’s guiding principle,

And be its true professional mast.

All lies in any form must be purged

By principled people in its cast.

The authority runs elections,

Which are really fair and transparent.

Every eligible citizen

Is entitled, in ways coherent,

To be enfranchised without much farce,

To guarantee his right inherent.

My dream Malaysia supports fair voting,

Where the ratio of seats to voters

Are justly, sensibly determined,

To ensure people-power better.

Elections are for choosing good folks,

Not having rascals from the gutter.

The good educational system

Produces the best true scholarship,

In knowledge, thinking and new research.

It maintains a clear, proud leadership,

To provide the best learning chances,

Even to those in hapless hardship.

The country is full of genteel folks,

Who are learned and humbly courteous.

People know their civil liberties,

And firmly stand by what are righteous.

Yet they are very compassionate,

In solving plights in ways courageous.

People in beautiful Malaysia,

Are free to pursue their potential.

There is no uncalled for obstacle;

This is premised by the judicial.

We can all thrive without racist strife,

Pursuing real needs, nothing racial.

Can beautiful Malaysia really

Come true? A real possibility?

Yes, if all good citizens come forth

And bear their responsibility.

To lead and serve the State truthfully,

We need people of morality.

The nation cannot afford at all

Selfish leaders, men incapable,

Corrupt men and prejudiced visions

Will lead the State to ends ignoble.

My dream is for a best Malaysia,

A Malaysia that is laudable.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 7 February 2013, 4:35 pm and is filed under
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The Desperate CNY Charmer

By Martin Jalleh

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 7 February 2013, 12:34 pm and is filed under
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The second Merdeka

by Mariam Mokhtar

Malaysiakini

Feb 4, 2013

When food bags were given out by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak at Semenyih recently, it is alleged that there was a near stampede to acquire the goodies. Najib must have felt smug satisfaction at being able to control people like that.

One does not want to judge or question why people would demean themselves by pushing others out of the way to receive the goods. Perhaps, the people who grabbed the offerings were poor, and gaining some rice and flour seemed like winning a jackpot.

It is despicable that Najib and his advisers have not learnt to treat people with more dignity. Why should these people be filmed acting like refugees from a war-torn area? Why do political parties make ordinary people feel and act like beggars?

On the other hand, why should the taxpayer be burdened with the extra expense when the money could be put to better use?

If the truth be known, the goods were probably provided by some crony company and sold at exorbitant prices. The organisers arranging the transaction were possibly from another crony company and charging an inflated rate for completing the deal. The transport company delivering the goods may also be another crony company and presenting another excessive bill. In the end, the taxpayer will pick up the tab for the inflated invoices.

If the rakyat stopped rushing up to Najib to receive his goods, his money or his election offerings, Najib would not know how to react and Umno would be flabbergasted. Corruption does not work if there are no takers for the gifts.

People cannot be told what to do, and to stop needy people from taking these goods is easier said than done. There are many underprivileged people whose needs are varied, but what if the majority of us stuck to our principles and stopped giving Najib the attention he craves?

Umno’s all hype and no substance

Najib is prepared to spend a few million ringgits on bringing Korean singer Psy to perform his ‘Gangnam Style’ dance at the Chinese New Year party in Penang. Why is BN prepared to spend money frivolously on a foreign entertainer and disregard Malaysian artistes like Namewee?

To counter the claims that BN is not involved, the event organiser, Mega Ultimate, has issued a statement saying that they are paying for Psy’s appearance.

A few years ago, a similar denial was issued, when it was alleged that the government had spent several million ringgits, to buy a centre-fold spread promoting the self-styled First Lady, Rosmah Mansor, in the New York Times.

Umno has been revealed to be ‘all fur coat and no knickers’. The party has plenty of hype and no substance. An internal battle rages within its ranks and it may implode, but the extremists pose a greater risk for Malaysia.

Given half a chance, the Umnoputras and pseudo-Malays would eradicate all of Malaysia’s history and heritage. They would erase the contributions of the non-Malays, and the bumiputeras who are repulsed by Umno’s warped vision of Malaysia.

When Pol Pot grabbed control of Cambodia in 1975, he declared it to be Year Zero and executed intellectuals or anyone associated with Cambodian culture and traditions. Centuries earlier, the French started a new calendar, when they abolished the French monarchy in September 1792. Umno’s methods of brainwashing are insidious but just as deadly.

Friends, who are parents or schoolteachers, are appalled that the teaching of history in our schools has become distorted, with extraordinary emphasis placed on Umno, Islam, and the Malays.

As the opposition coalition gains ground, Umno is getting desperate and is alleged to be responsible for sporadic acts of violence, from Bible-burnings to thuggish behaviour at opposition seminars.

Fifty-six years ago, Tunku Abdul Rahman, the Father of Independence, was a royal prince with the common touch, which endeared him to many.

Just and ironic retribution has been dealt upon the man who was one of the Tunku’s fiercest critics in the fifties and sixties. The former prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, is now being criticised. Even those who once sucked up to him are now joining in the bear baiting.

It is ironic too, that Mahathir with his ‘Look East’ policy, who hated everything the West had to offer and who sought to erase all things to do with colonialism, should now be at the receiving end of a similar treatment. Malaysians are desperate to undo his legacy.

Mahathir was the typical con-man – he conned the Malays in Umno with his ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ and got away with it because many of them were greedy. They wanted instant riches without the hard work.

Mahathir destroyed three generations of Malaysians and kept them in check with his various laws to silence them. In today’s world of immediate access to news, Mahathir would not have gotten away with his alleged crimes.

M’sia is without a strong leader

Today, Malaysia is without a strong leader. Few, if any, of its politicians and people in positions of responsibility uphold high standards in the office.

The loss in public confidence in many of our institutions is because these people of responsibility failed to challenge their peers and superiors when there was something that was obviously wrong or illegal – as in the provision of citizenship to foreigners, in exchange for votes.

These have resulted in the rakyat having contempt for authority and disdain for religious clerics. The different races eye each other with mistrust.

The Tunku’s vision of Malaya/Malaysia is not the Malaysia we see today, where race and religion come to the fore, and where royal households either play ball or are blackmailed by the ruling party.

In his vision of Malaysia, the Tunku advocated tolerance, moderation and inter-communal harmony. He may not have been perfect, but his vision did not exclude the many Malayans whose contributions were invaluable.

Today, the non-Malays have to realise that religion is not just about the word ‘Allah’, or the demolition or erection of temples.

Many moderate Muslims are also enslaved by the increasing conservative Islam being practised in Malaysia. They cannot celebrate Valentine’s Day. They are afraid to wear swimsuits in some states, and some claim that the wearing of the tudung (headscarf) is strictly regulated. Some schoolchildren have been scolded by their teachers for sharing the contents of their tuck-boxes.

Moderate Muslims are afraid to speak out. They fear that Umno will accuse them of not being true Muslims.

When we go to the polls, in a few weeks’ time, are we prepared to tell our political parties that they must dance to our tune? Are we ready to do away with race-based politics and policies? Will we go one step further and tell the incoming government to stop gathering information on race and treat every genuine Malaysian equally? Are we ready to call ourselves Malaysians and pick up where the Tunku left off?

——————————————————————————–

MARIAM MOKHTAR is a non-conformist traditionalist from Perak, a bucket chemist and an armchair eco-warrior. In ‘real-speak’, this translates into that she comes from Ipoh, values change but respects culture, is a petroleum chemist and also an environmental pollution-control scientist.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 7 February 2013, 11:22 am and is filed under
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62-Day Countdown to 13GE –  Fulfil Bapa Malaysia’s dream in 1990 general elections to promote a two-coalition system and lay the basis for Malaysia to close the gap with South Korea

Today is the 110th birthday anniversary of Bapa Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman – two days before the 2013 Chinese New Year of the Snake and two or three weeks before the dissolution of Parliament for the holding of the 13th General Elections.

On the second day of the Chinese New Year on Feb. 11, South Korea’s global pop sensation Psy whose “Gangnam Style” is the first video to be watched over 1 billion times (latest record: 1.27 billion times)  on YouTube, has been invited to Penang to  make Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s CNY Open House a historic and unprecedented event.

I am on public record as saying that Malaysians should enjoy Psy’s show, but before and after the fun and entertainment, Malaysians must conduct a soul-searching  as to why there had been a reversal of national fortunes in the past half-a-century,  with South Korea now two to three times richer than Malaysia and ahead in all fields of human endeavour when this nation was twice as rich and developed as South Korea when we achieved Independence in 1957.

I have no doubt that if Tunku is still with us today, this will be topmost in his pre-occupations, as he would feel even sadder than anyone at Malaysia’s regression instead of progress when comparing Malaysia with South Korea.

Not only in the field of democracy and good governance, economic progress, technological advance, human resource development, art and culture, but also in the field of sports, South Korea has shot well ahead of Malaysia in the past half century.

As Prime Minister, Tunku launched the Merdeka Cup tournament for football in honour of the National Day and in the 60s and 70s, with football stars like Soh Chin Aun, R.Arumugam, Isa Bakar, Santokh Singh, James Wong and Mokhtar Dahari, our national teams have no difficulty in routinely defeating South Korea.

Malaysia won the bronze medal at the Asian Games in 1974 and qualified for the Moscow Olympics in 1980. Today, our FIFA ranking is 158 out of 207 countries, in great contrast to South Korea’s international prowess as a soccer nation –  34th FIFA ranking and as a bronze medallist  for football in the 2012 London Olympics.

But Tunku’s greatest disappointment about Malaysia’s lagging behind South Korea would be the nation’s failures in the past decades to make the most critical advance in the twin areas of economic development and  democratisation to end UMNO’s political hegemony and usher in a two-coalition system where there is peaceful and regular alternation of political power through the ballot box.

South Korea’s charted a remarkable ascent from poverty in the 50s and 60s to prosperity in the eighties and supergrowth in the ensuing decades.

From  International Monetary Fund data bases, 1980 was the last year when Malaysia had a higher  GDP per capita than Malaysia, i.e.  US$1,769 for Malaysia and US$1,689 for South Korea.

Since then, South Korea had left Malaysia far   behind but it was after the South Korean democratisation process in 1987 that the South Korean economy reached an entirely new level of innovation with that last, difficult push into the realm of the truly advanced economies, it  catapulted  from the “middle-income trap” which Malaysia is still struggling to escape from.

The magnitude of the reversal of fortunes between Malaysia and South Korea could be plotted from the GDP per capita data for the two countries for the past half a century from World Bank and International Monetary Fund data bases, viz:

GDP Per Capita (in US dollars)

Year

Malaysia

South Korea

1960

299

155

1970

392

279

1980

1,769

1,689

1990

2,374

6,308

2000

3,992

11,347

2010

8,737

20,540

2012

10,578

23,021

In the half century from 1960 to 2012, Malaysia’s GDP per capita increased by 35-fold, which is chickenfeed compared to the 148.5-fold increase of South Korea’s GDP per capita during the period.

The lesson Malaysia must learn from South Korea is that the country could not escape from the “middle-income trap” and become more innovative and competitive without a meaningful process of democratisation.

Since 1987, South Korea has undergone two peaceful and successful alternation of power through the ballot box between two political coalitions when the Opposition candidate won the presidential election against the candidate of the governing coalition – first time in 1998 under Kim Dae-jung and the second time under Lee Myung-bak in 2007.

Can Malaysia undertake the first step of such a democratisation process in the 13th general elections to effect a peaceful alternation of power transferring the Federal Government in Putrajaya from Umno/Barisan Nasional to Pakatan Rakyat?

Twenty-three years ago, Tunku had campaigned  for DAP and Gagasan Rakyat in the 1990 general elections, hoping to bring about a peaceful alternation of power from Umno/BN to Pakatan Rakyat and promote a two-coalition system in Malaysia.

I can still remember the 87-year-old Bapa Malaysia insisting on campaigning for DAP and Gagasan Rakyat and speaking at the Batu Lanchang community hall in Penang in the 1990 general elections despite his  frail health.

The best way to remember Tunku on the occasion of his 110th birthday anniversary is to fulfil his dream and aspiration in the 1990 general elections in the 13GE to promote a two-coalition system and lay a solid democratic basis for Malaysia to reach a new level of economic progress and development by effecting the first political and democratic change in the nation’s 56-year history.

Only then can Malaysia begin to close the gap with South Korea in all fields of human endeavour.

There can be no better way to mark the 2013 Chinese New Year of the Snake.

Wish all Malaysians a happy and prosperous Chinese New Year.

(2013 Chinese New Year Message  Kuala Lumpur on Friday, 8th February 2013)

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                This entry was posted on Friday, 8 February 2013, 8:33 am and is filed under
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Can Psy horse power boost BN?

Jeswan Kaur | February 8, 2013

Free Malaysia Today

Is getting Psy a pathetic reflection of how desperate BN has become in gearing up for the coming 13th general election?

COMMENT

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad just cannot have enough of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, finding any excuse possible to meet the actor, be it here or in India.

But the rendezvous with Shah Rukh Khan is always a private affair for Mahathir unlike the desperately seeking-attention Barisan Nasional, which is banking on South Korean “happening” rapper Psy do deliver them the much-needed people’s support.

BN has invited the rapper to grace its Chinese New Year open house in Penang on Feb 11, a move which comes at a cost of RM1 million to RM3 million.

Psy will be doing his “horse riding dance” or tarian kuda in the presence of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and some 60,000 guests expected at the CNY open house.

Where will BN get the money from? Has it “appointed” sponsors to take care of the massive payment Psy wants for his debut performance here?

Does BN or rather Najib seriously think getting the 35-year-old singer, songwriter, rapper and dancer Psy to do his “Gangnam Style” dance moves will bring in the crowd to its CNY open house?

If yes, then it is a pathetic reflection of how desperate BN has become in gearing up for the coming 13th general election.

Looks like BN will rope in anyone famous to help it get the rakyat’s support and going by the fact that Psy’s “Gangnam Style” exceeded one billion views on YouTube last year, BN is under the delusion that he is the man who can help deliver the much-needed grassroots support.

But then why waste money on Psy? Why did BN not turn to Mahathir for help in getting Shah Rukh Khan to perform at the CNY open house?

With the Bollywood actor and Mahathir being chums, it would have been a case of “entertainment for free for all” with SRK enthralling guests with his famous “Chamak Chalo” item number.

BN feeling the heat

Resorting to a foreigner to pull in the crowd paints a less than impressive picture of BN, which is no longer certain of its appeal in the eyes of the rakyat.

If BN, as its chairman Najib claims, is doing wonders for the people, why the sudden insecurity over the number of people turning up for its CNY open house?

Irrespective of whether BN is playing to the gallery, the end result is disastrous in that it has made the party a laughing stock among the rakyat.

To blame its nemesis, the opposition Pakatan Rakyat as Penang Gerakan vice-chairman Wong Mun Hoe did, of having started such a trend is not going to help.

Wong claimed if PAS could showcase its ability of luring local artistes, there was no harm in BN following suit.

The lame excuse by Wong does not justify the millions BN is willing to part with just to boast of a full house turnout at its CNY open house.

Rather, it is the point that PKR deputy information head Sim Tze Tzin has raised that should worry BN – that the Psy act shows that BN is desperately trying to woo support among the young.

Sim says the people would question the costs involved in bringing the South Korean to Penang.

Shaky confidence and rap not helpful

As always, BN’s member parties, the MIC and MCA, have little to say over the Psy act coming to town; maybe the fact that 60,000 guests are due at the BN-organised CNY open house has silenced them into speaking against such costly move.

Meanwhile, the move by Psy’s Malaysian fans pleading with the rapper to reject the invitation seems to have fallen on deaf ears.

The Malaysians fans flooded Psy’s Facebook webpage with messages pleading that he not become BN’s political tool.

A lengthy English-language message has been copied and pasted on almost all of Psy’s recent Facebook updates by many Malaysian Facebook users and with some even posting the same message in the Korean language.

“Dear our idol, Psy, we love your song and we love how Gangnam Style can rock the party. However, please choose not to come to Malaysia this time.

“If you choose to come to Malaysia, you will become the political tool of Barisan Nasional. It is a political party which is seriously corrupted and always abuses power to persecute Malaysians,” reads the message.

The message also claims that the CNY event came from the taxpayers’ money. But BN claims the open house would be sponsored by a private company.

Looks like there is no stopping BN and Psy, not when it suits the former

                This entry was posted on Friday, 8 February 2013, 6:07 pm and is filed under
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MCA’s empty threats

— An SME businessman

The Malaysian Insider

Feb 08, 2013

FEB 8 — Many argue that the most important reason why Pakatan Rakyat must be elected the new federal government in the forthcoming general election is to bring an end to 55 years of Barisan Nasional government. While Umno’s frequent threats that May 13-style riots will occur if the elections produce a new government have lost their effect, the MCA has now joined this “threat game”.

Seeking to claim its traditional role of the party of big business, its president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek was reported in the mainstream media over the weekend as saying that Bursa Malaysia will drop 500 points if Pakatan wins, which would “have a direct impact on the national economy”.

Chua went on to say “PAS has also mentioned that it will close Genting and the Bursa. All these will frighten investors, be they local of foreign”. Clearly these are empty threats.

For Pakatan to be elected the new federal government it must have a simple majority in the 222-member Dewan Rakyat, say, about 125 seats.

Because of the gerrymandering of constituencies by numerous Barisan administrations, Pakatan must receive a popular vote exceeding 55 per cent in order to win that number of seats required to form a working government with a comfortable majority that can also withstand any party-hopping that may occur thereafter.

In this scenario, surely the 55 per cent of Malaysians who voted for Pakatan will not wish to have their newly elected government destabilised at any level, including our economy.

I for one would personally support the stock market if there is a panic sell by the weak-hearted or the cautious, as would many of my business colleagues. I have no doubt that millions of our fellow Malaysians would rally to support the stock market, as we did during the 1998 financial crisis.

It is our public duty to support the new government which we hope to elect, and if that means buying shares on the Bursa, sufficient Malaysians will do that.

In any event, if a major sell-down occurs in the Bursa as a result of a Pakatan victory, the nation’s economic institutions like EPF, PNB, Khazanah and other GLCs would have to do their national duty by supporting the market, something they have done time and again under the Barisan government.

Next, the PAS bogey. PAS has administered Kelantan for more than 20 years, and Kedah for five years. These two PAS state administrations have neither acquired nor appropriated property, assets or businesses belonging to non-Muslims.

The rakyat should also consider the Selangor and Penang experience. The treasuries of both states have been prudently managed, deficits reduced and investments increased. Penang is, as a matter of fact, a grand success story.

The four PR states of Penang, Selangor, Kedah and Kelantan have proven their ability by beating the other 10 BN states by attracting RM25 billion in investments comprising 53 per cent of Malaysia’s total investments of RM47.2 billion in 2010.

For the first time in history, Penang is the new champion of investments in Malaysia, coming out top in 2010 with RM12.2 billion. Even, the one-year administration of Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin in Perak was business friendly.

The facts speak for themselves.

There is therefore no factual basis for threatening that our economy would suffer, and calamity would follow if Pakatan comes to power.

In countries like Britain, Australia, India and Japan where governments are frequently replaced at the ballot box, the stock market and foreign investors respond negatively if a party not perceived as business friendly (say, the Labour Party in Britain) is returned to power rather that one that is (like the Conservative Party in Britain).

But such market reactions are temporary, and once the new government assumes power, sets policies and takes decisions, normalcy returns.

Contrary to Dr Chua’s prediction of economic doom and gloom, the business community is confident that the Malaysian economy will thrive under a Pakatan federal government.

Dr Chua’s threats are therefore empty and hollow, and yet again demonstrate the MCA’s desperation.

Only businessmen who have secured corrupt business deals through their connections should be concerned with a change of government. Businessmen who are prepared to do business honestly in an open, transparent and level-playing environment will thrive when Barisan is defeated, just as I, and my other business colleagues, both Bumiputeras and non-Bumis, have discovered in the Pakatan-run state governments.

Malaysians will rise to the occasion to defend the government that they have just elected against all attacks, real or imagined, local or foreign.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 8 February 2013, 10:31 am and is filed under
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Pengiraan Detik 62 Hari ke PRU13 – Memenuhi impian Bapa Malaysia dalam pilihan raya 1990 untuk memperkenalkan sistem dua perikatan dan meletakkan asas kepada Malaysia untuk merapatkan jurang dengan Korea Selatan

Hari ini merupakan ulangtahun kelahiran ke-110 Bapa Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman – dua hari sebelum Tahun Baru Cina 2013 dan dua atau tiga minggu sebelum pembubaran Parlimen bagi diadakan Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13.

Pada hari kedua Tahun Baru Cina yakni pada 11 Feb, bintang pop Korea Selatan Psy yang video “Gangnam Style-nya” telah ditonton lebih daripada 1 bilion kali (rekod terkini: 1.27 bilion) di Youtube, telah dijemput ke Pulau Pinang untuk menjadikan Rumah Terbuka Tahun Baru Cina Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak sebuah acara yang julung-julung kalinya dan bersejarah.

Secara terbuka saya katakan bahawa rakyat Malaysia sepatutnya bergembira dengan persembahan Psy, tetapi sebelum dan selepas keriangan dan hiburan, rakyat Malaysia perlu melakukan pencarian diri terhadap persoalan mengapa nasib negara terbalik sepanjang setengah abad lalu, dengan Korea Selatan kini dua hingga tiga kali ganda lebih kaya berbanding Malaysia dan jauh kedepan dalam semua usaha yang dilakukan sedangkan negara kita pernah tiga kali ganda lebih kaya dan membangun berbanding Korea Selatan ketika kita mencapai Kemerdekaan pada 1957.

Saya percaya sekiranya Tunku masih hidup lagi hari ini, itu akan menjadi perkara yang paling  diberi perhatian dalam  urusan beliau, tentu beliau akan menjadi lebih sedih berbanding orang lain melihat kemunduran Malaysia bukannya kemajuan apabila membandingkan Malaysia dengan Korea Selatan.

Bukan sahaja dalam demokrasi dan tadbir urus yang baik, perkembangan ekonomi, kemajuan teknologi, pembangunan modan insan, seni dan budaya, tetapi juga dalam bidang sukan, Korea Selatan telah jauh mendahului Malaysia dalam setengah abad lalu.

Selaku Perdana Menteri, Tunku melancarkan pertandingan Merdeka Cup untuk bola sepak sempena Hari Kebangsaan dan pada tahun 60-an dan 70-an, dengan bintang bola sepak seperti Soh Chin Aun, R.Arumugam, Isa Bakar, Santokh Singh, James Wong dan Mokhtar Dahari, pasukan kebangsaan kita tidak mempunyai kesukaran untuk menewaskan South Korea dengan mudah.

Malaysia memenangi pingat gangsa di dalam Sukan Asia 1974 dan layak untuk Olimpik Moskow pada 1980. Hari ini, kedudukan FIFA kita adalah di tempat ke-158 daripada 207 negara, jauh berbeza dengan kehebatan Korea Selatan sebagai negara bola sepak – tempat ke-34 FIFA dan pemenang pingat gangsa untuk bola sepak di Olimpik London 2012.

Namun kekecewaan paling besar Tunku berkenaan ketinggalannya Malaysia di belakang Korea Selatan tentu sekali kegagalan negara dalam dekad lalu untuk melakukan kemajuan kritikal dalam dua perkara iaitu perkembangan ekonomi dan pendemokrasian untuk menamatkan hagemoni politik UMNO lalu mewujudkan sistem dua perikatan yang mana akan membawa keamanan dan kuasa politik bergilir-gilir mengambil tempat melalui peti undi.

Korea mencatatkan kenaikan luar biasa daripada kemiskinan pada 50-an dan 60-an kepada kemakmuran pada tahun lapan puluhan dan pertumbuhan besar dalam dekad berikutnya.

Daripada data International Monetary Fund, 1980 adalah tahun terakhir Malaysia memperoleh KDNK per kapita lebih tinggi daripada Korea Selatan, iaitu US$1,769 untuk Malaysia dan US$1,689 untuk Korea Selatan.

Sejak itu, Korea Selatan telah jauh meninggalkan Malaysia di belakang namun itu selepas berlakunya proses pendemokrasian di Korea Selatan pada 1987 yang mana ekonomi Korea Selatan mencapai satu tahap baru dalam inovasi dengan anjakan terakhir, sukar ke dalam ruang ekonomi yang maju, terkeluar daripada “perangkap pendapatan pertengahan” yang mana Malaysia masih bergelut untuk melepaskan diri.

Magnitud perubahan nasib antara Malaysia dan Korea Selatan boleh dilihat daripada data KDNK per kapita untuk kedua-dua negara bagi setengah abad lalu daripada data Bank Dunia dan International Monetary Fund, iaitu:

KDNK Per Kapita (dalam US dollar)

Tahun

Malaysia

South Korea

1960

299

155

1970

392

279

1980

1,769

1,689

1990

2,374

6,308

2000

3,992

11,347

2010

8,737

20,540

2012

10,578

23,021

Dalam setengah abad daripada tahun1960 sehingga 2012, KDNK Malaysia per kapita meningkat 35 kali ganda, sangat kecil berbanding peningkatan 148.5 ganda KDNK per kapita Korea Selatan waktu itu.

Pengajaran yang Malaysia perlu ambil dari Korea Selatan ialah bahawa negara itu tidak mungkin dapat keluar daripada “perangkap pendapatan sederhana” dan menjadi lebih inovatif dan berdaya saing tanpa  proses pendemokrasian yang bermakna.

Sejak 1987, Korea Selatan telah melalui dua peralihan kuasa yang aman dan berjaya melalui peti undi diantara dua perikatan politik apabila calon Oposisi memenangi pilihan raya presiden menewaskan calon perikatan pemerintah – pertama kalinya pada 1998 di bawah Kim Dae-jung dan kedua di bawah Lee Myung-bak pada 2007.

Bolehkah Malaysia mengambil langkah pertama untuk proses pendemokrasian dalam pilihan raya ke-13 lalu mewujudkan peralihan kuasa dengan memindahkan Kerajaan Persekutuan di Putrajaya dari UMNO/Barisan Nasional kepada Pakatan Rakyat?

Dua puluh tiga tahun lalu, Tunku telah berkempen untuk DAP dan Gagasan Rakyat dalam pilihan raya umum 1990, berharap mewujudkan penggiliran kuasa dari UMNO/BN kepada Gagasan Rakyat dan memperkenalkan sistem dua perikatan di Malaysia.

Saya masih ingat Bapa Malaysia yang berusia 87 tahun bertegas mahu berkempen untuk DAP dan Gagasan Raktyat serta berucap pada dewan masyarakat Batu Lanchang di Pulau Pinang pada pilihan raya umum 1990 meskipun tidak begitu sihat.

Cara terbaik untuk memperingati Tunku pada ulangtahun kelahirannya yang ke-110 adalah dengan memenuhi impian dan kehendaknya pada pilihan raya umum 1990 dalam PRU13 untuk memperkenalkan sistem dua perikatan dan meletakkan asas demokrasi yang kukuh untuk Malaysia mencapai satu tahap baru perkembangan ekonomi  dan pembangunan dengan melakukan perubahan politik dan demokratik pertama dalam tempoh 56 tahun.

Hanya pada waktu itu Malaysia boleh mula merapatkan jurang dengan Korea Selatan dalam semua bidang usaha.

Tidak akan ada cara yang lebih baik untuk meninggalkan kesan pada Tahun Baru Cina 2013.

Saya mengucapkan kepada semua rakyat Malaysia selamat menyambut Tahun Baru Cina.

This article is also available in English at:
https://blog.limkitsiang.com/2013/02/08/62-day-countdown-to-13ge-fulfil-bapa-malaysias-dream-in-1990-general-elections-to-promote-a-two-coalition-system-and-lay-the-basis-for-malaysia-to-close-the-gap-with-south-korea/

                This entry was posted on Friday, 8 February 2013, 12:49 pm and is filed under
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Pengiraan Detik 63 Hari ke PRU13 – Bolehkah Psy dan Gangnam Style menyelamatkan populariti BN di kalangan pengundi Cina, yang menjunam daripada 17% ke 6% dalam tempoh 10 bulan dari Febuari sehingga Disember tahun lalu?

Perang saraf bagi membentuk persepsi pengundi menjelang Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-13  masuk ke pusingan akhir, dengan Parlimen dijangka akan dibubarkan dalam dua atau tiga minggu lagi.

Skrip terbaru tukang putar UMNO/Barisan Nasional adalah serampang tiga mata:

mereka-reka laporan dan dakwaan palsu serta tidak berasas untuk menfitnah DAP dan pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat terutamanya melalui laman tak berwajah, tak bernama dan tak berjiwa di media sosial dan media perdana UMNO/BN;

menimbulkan kesangsian dan rasa tidak percaya di dalam parti DAP, PKR dan PAS serta memprovok permusuhan dan ketegangan  di antara parti dalam Pakatan Rakyat, dengan matlamat utama untuk memecahbelahkan Pakatan Raktyat terutamanya kerjasama antara DAP dan PAS untuk menyelamatkan UMNO/BN daripada cabaran “hidup atau mati” dalam PRU13; dan

 untuk mencipta persepsi bahawa UMNO/BN di bawah Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak akhirnya berjaya meraih sokongan popular kepada UMNO/BN, baik di kalangan pengundi Melayu, Cina, India, Kadazan atau Iban.

Inilah sebabnya mengapa ditonjolkan Rumah Terbuka Tahun Baru Cina Najib di Pulau Pinang pada 11 Febuari – persembahan berjuta-juta ringgit bintang  Korea Selatan dan lagu terkenalnya Gangnam Style.

Tetapi adakah kemunculan sensasi Psy dan Gangnam Style di Pulau Pinang adalah “harapan menjadi kenyataan” untuk Najib sehingga meraih sokongan popular di kalangan pengundi Cina untuk UMNO/BN dalam PRU13?

Di sini amat berguna dan menarik untuk memberikan perhatian kepada tinjauan pandangan yang dijalankan Merdeka Centre pada penghujung tahun lalu (15 – 28 Disember 2012) yang mendapati hanya enam peratus pengundi Cina “gembira” dengan Kerajaan Barisan Nasional sementara 65 peratus “tidak berpuas hati” atau “marah” terhadap Kerajaan BN.

Dalam enam undian dilakukan tahun lalu, pengundi Cina yang “gembira” dengan Kerajaan Barisan Nasional telah jatuh dari[ada 17% pada Febuari hingga 19% pada April, 18% pada Mei, 13% pada Jun, 19% pada Oktober menjunam ke 6% pada Disember.

Mampukah kemunculan Psy dan Gangnam Style di Rumah Terbuka Tahun Baru Cina Perdana Menteri di Pulau Pinang menyelamatkan populariti Kerajaan BN di kalangan pengundi Cina, yang menjunam daripada 17% ke 6% dalam tempoh 10 bulan dari Febuari ke Disember tahun lalu?

Perlu diberi perhatian bahawa secara keseluruhan, hanya 45 peratus pengundi dari semua kumpulan kaum yang ditinjau pada Disember “gembira” dalam persepsi mereka terhadap kerajaan Barisan Nasional, dibandingkan dengan 48% pada Febuari dan 51% pada April.

Ditanya tentang persepsi mereka terhadap Barisan Nasional sebagai perikatan bukannya kerajaan Barisan Nasional, tinjauan menunjukkan 16% pengundi Cina “gembira” dibandingkan  57% yang “tidak berpuashati” atau “marah”. Hampir tiada sebarang pergerakan di dalam peratusan pengundi Cina yang “gembira” dengan perikatan Barisan Nasional dalam undian 10 bulan tahun lalu, iaitu 16% pada Febuari, 17% pada April, 17% pada Oktober dan 16% pada Disember.

Tinjauan yang sama menunjukkan walaupun kedudukan populariti Najib lebih tinggi berbanding UMNO/BN, secara keseluruhannya jatuh daripada 69% pada Febuari hingga 63% pada Disember, manakala penurunan ialah 22% dalam sepuluh bulan di kalangan pengundi Cina, iaitu daripada 56% pada Febuari sehingga 34% pada Disember 2012.

Apakah Psy dan persembahan Gangnam Style akan membawa keajaiban buat Najib dan UMNO/BN dalam meningkatkan popularitinya dan UMNO/BN, atau apakah isu ini tidak pernah masuk ke dalam fikiran tukang putar UMNO/BN, seperti mana yang mereka dakwa?

Apa pun, biarlah kehadiran julung kali Psy dan Gangman Style menjadi majlis yang menggembirakan untuk semua orang Pulau Pinang dan rakyat Malaysia menyambut Tahun Ular.

Sebab itulah pada hari Isnin, saya bertanya mengapa hanya mensasarkan 60,000 orang ke persembahan Gangnam Style Psy apabila acara itu boleh mencapai sasaran yang lebih besar seperti 100,000 orang atau 250,000 orang dari Pulau Pinang, seluruh Malaysia dan negara jiran!

Saya mengalu-alukan laporan bahawa Rumah Terbuka Tahun Baru Cina Najib yang memaparkan Psy dan Gangnam Style di Kolej Han Chiang terbuka untuk semua tanpa sekatan ke atas sesiapa.

Inilah yang sepatutnya. Kita semua rakyat Malaysia dahulu dan kemudian, dan pada perayaan seperti Tahun Baru Cina, Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Deepavali, Hari Vesak atau Krismas, mari kita mengamalkan sifat muhibah, keamanan, harmoni dan solidariti yang mana kita boleh bergaul dengan bebas tanpa menghiraukan perbezaan politik.

Bagaimanapun, untuk menjadikannya lebih bermakna dan berguna, sementara rakyat Malaysia menikmati dan bergembira dengan Psy dan Gangnam Style, biar kita tidak terlepas untuk satu pencarian diri seluruh negara menjawab mengapa Korea Selatan jauh meninggalkan Malaysia dalam semua usaha mereka apabila setengah abad lalu, Malaysia pernah dua kali lebih kaya berbanding negara “Gangnam Style”!

This article is also available in English at:
https://blog.limkitsiang.com/2013/02/07/63-day-countdown-to-13ge-can-psy-and-gangnam-style-salvage-bn-governments-popularity-among-the-chinese-voters-which-plunged-from-17-to-6-in-ten-months-from-february-to-december-las/

                This entry was posted on Friday, 8 February 2013, 12:42 pm and is filed under
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Star Headlines (07/02/13) “150k loans for students”

By  PW Cheng

Feb 7, 2013

I would like to remind those students and parents who had read the Star today (07/02/2013) on “150k loans for students”, do not feel ecstatic about it. Please be prepared for a rude shock. No banks or any financial institutions in their right mind will give loans without any collateral. As according to Najib “this is a creative way of helping the rakyat”, I do not see anything creative about this.  The interests charged is far too high and much higher if you were to take a mortgage loan. Najib should be sent back to school to study mathematics and calling it as creative, do not emanate intelligence.

In 2004 or 2005, the government has a loan scheme for tertiary students studying overseas. I was one of the few who knows about this loan scheme. Not even Dr Wee Ka Siong ( who was then  the MCA Education Bureau chief) knows about this.  I tried applying the loan for my son who was studying in Australia then but PSD kept on giving various excuses by twisting  their terms and conditions  to turn the loan down.

The same methodology was applied by the PSD when I applied again for the loan for my second son a year later and when everything  was in compliance to their twisted terms and conditions;  a new twisting took place. Well what I can say is the moron has always some silly way of depriving your rights.

I  had all the records as proof. Getting Dr Wee Kar Siong to help and with due respect and gratitude for all his efforts , it gets no where except more frustrations and chide.  With all their twisting and turning, is like chasing after the rainbow. Is this loan scheme still available, I do not know and I do not wish to know as I had given up hope on this Government, the BN government run by UMNO.

The silly idea of getting Financial Institutions to dispense study loans is called creative. Any takers?

                This entry was posted on Friday, 8 February 2013, 5:31 pm and is filed under
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The decline and fall of Najib

Mariam Mokhtar | February 8, 2013

Free Malaysia Today

The prime minister had the perfect opportunity to act, but he neglected to do so. Consumed by greed and power, like many politicians in Malaysia, he looked the other way.

COMMENT

As soon as Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak announces the date for 13th general election, it will probably sound his political death knell.

For the benefit of the rakyat, and in front of the television cameras and news photographers, Najib and his Cabinet present a united front; but behind the scenes, another story emerges.

Damaging leaks about the shortcomings of his leadership continue to undermine Najib. His grip on the party is tenuous. His strongest ally, the self-styled First Lady Rosmah Mansor, will do her utmost to ensure he succeeds.

Last month, the independent organisation, the Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research, found that Najib had high popularity ratings of 63% among voters in Peninsular Malaysia.

For the sake of “completeness”, why not a survey among voters in Sabah and also, Sarawak? It would have been interesting to gauge Najib’s popularity in Sabah, before and during the proceedings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) for Sabah.

If the same survey had been conducted among ministers in Najib’s own Cabinet, the results would be a good gauge of their confidence in his leadership.

The war that is being waged against Najib is on two fronts – he has to defend himself against the opposition and fight off guerrilla raids from invisible enemies, within Umno.

Najib, the son of Malaysia’s second prime minister, has had a poor grounding in life. Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, he is only exposed to the suffering of the rakyat, in the months before election. To alleviate their pain, Najib distributes bags of rice and food, and tars their roads, rather than sorting out the issues which have plagued the people, over the past five years.

The prime minister’s privileged schooling is denied to the ordinary Malaysian. Najib may have been a product of a mission school, but mission schools are dying a slow death, deprived of money and support from the Education Ministry.

In his secondary schooling at Malvern College, a Church of England school, Najib would have attended daily chapel services, compulsory Sunday service, Remembrance Sunday, and Carol services in the Christmas term.

Najib has remained a Muslim despite attending these services, but he would have gained a thorough understanding of Christianity. Despite that, he has said nothing to persuade the extremists in Malaysia to practise tolerance and moderation.

He missed the chance

What can one expect from a career politician? When he defended his father’s seat, which had become vacant on his death, he won, presumably because of the sympathy votes.

How can a man who has not experienced the perils faced by the unskilled worker, the struggling graduate, working man and father know what it is like to live in Malaysia, where house prices are beyond most people’s reach, where car prices are jacked up, where justice is sold to the highest bidder and where most services require a sweetener? Najib’s education has not been put to good use to help his fellow Malaysian.

This privileged son of a former premier has been in politics for almost 37 years. Those years have been marred by scandal and sexual intrigue. They have been stained by corruption and murder. The highlights are excesses and abuse of power. Najib started his premiership by betraying the Perak people. He claimed that he would tackle corruption but became deeply embroiled in it, himself.

When he became prime minister, Najib portrayed himself as a moderate, and his calls for moderation won praise from the delegates at the UN’s 65th General Assembly. The hollowness of his claims could damn him at the polls because he failed to take any action against Ibrahim Ali, the leader of a right-wing extremist Malay NGO, when he announced that he would torch Malay language Bibles.

Some quarters say that Najib’s weakness stems from his lack of control over his wife’s behaviour and spending habits. This is a disservice to women. What has a man’s poor leadership qualities got to do with his ability to “control” his wife? Do some Malaysian men marry to exert control?

When Najib announced his “1-Malaysia” slogan, Muhyiddin Yassin, his deputy, was among the first to stick a knife into him, thus precipitating further murmurings of dissatisfaction within Umno.

Perhaps, his only solace was to go abroad, which he did with increasing regularity. This did not endear him to the rakyat, as problems were mounting at home, and remained unresolved.

Embattled by dissatisfied and equally power-hungry Umno politicians, Najib found that he also had to dodge the master tactician, the former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. With a legacy to protect and a dynasty to propagate, Mahathir has already hinted that Najib should step down and hand over power to Muhyiddin.

The knives are already being sharpened in Putrajaya and Umno MPs are probably stoked up and on red alert, awaiting their orders, not from Najib, but from Mahathir. No other politician has perfected the art of treachery and vindictiveness, like the weasel Mahathir.

When Najib came to power, the country was sliding in many aspects: corruption, national debt, illegal immigration, unemployment among graduates, violence, crime, racist attacks, religious intolerance.

The prime minister had the perfect opportunity to act, but he neglected to do so. Consumed by greed and power, like many politicians in Malaysia, he looked the other way.

It was said that Mahathir would allow his ministers and cronies to be corrupt, so that he would have a “hold” over them and demand favours from them, in the future.

Najib is aware that the rakyat is consumed with hate for Mahathir. He knows that this country has lost faith in its once trusted institutions, and crucially, in itself.

Najib could have used the rakyat’s venom to regain the nation’s trust in its politicians, but he misused this chance.

Najib had the power to change things around and save Malaysia, but he fell prey to avarice and temptation. The “1Malaysia” that he governs is far less united than the Malaya that he was born into.

That is why, come GE13, it is the rakyat who will have to drag itself out of its apathy and make that change happen – for ourselves, our children and for the country.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 8 February 2013, 10:47 pm and is filed under
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The essence of journalism

— Bob Teoh

The Malaysian Insider

Feb 08, 2013

FEB 8 — The worst headline that can greet a journalist is this: Malaysia records worst-ever ranking on press freedom. Let’s face it, we have reached rock-bottom.

In the latest index compiled by Paris-based Reporters Without Borders, Malaysia has dropped 23 spots to a new low by ranking 145 out of 179 countries in the latest World Press Freedom Index.

Some are quite happy to live with this sorry state of affairs. After all we are three steps ahead of Singapore which is ranked lower than Malaysia at No. 149.

But this is no consolation considering Bangladesh, Libya, Kyrgyzstan, Thailand, Indonesia and Brunei are better off than us. And if that’s not bad enough, Myanmar is fast catching up — it climbed 18 spots to No. 151, just six steps behind us.

The moot point is that journalism as practised in Malaysia has fallen from grace.

Journalist, particularly senior editors, should start redeeming the profession. Sure there are many things we can’t influence or change but one thing we can do. We can change our attitude towards journalism and believe that press freedom is not only possible but essential.

That begs the question, what is journalism? The world over journalists who treasure press freedom subscribe to what is universally known as the Ten Commandments that define the essence of journalism.

They are:

Journalism’s first obligation is to the truth.

We can’t serve two masters. We either pursue truth or pander to half-truth and languish in self-deceit.

Its first loyalty is to citizens.

Our first duty is not the ruling or opposition coalition or to advertisers and media owners but to citizens. It is they who give us the primary reason for our being.

Its essence is a discipline of verification.

A good journalist is a professional and responsible one. Nothing is fit to be published until and unless the information received is verified. This requires time and hard work but needs to be done.

Journalists must maintain an independence from those who cover.

This is easier said than done in our prevailing culture but it is no excuse for not trying to be independent. We cannot afford to succumb to bias reportage.

It must serve as an independent monitor of power.

Again this is easier said than done. So like it or not someone has to bell the cat. If we are afraid to do so, then don’t be journalists.

Journalists must have an obligation to exercise their personal conscience.

If journalists do not exercise their conscience, they pose the first hindrance to press freedom.

Citizens too have rights and responsibilities when it comes to the news.

We can never understate the right to citizen’s privacy and protection from defamatory speech.

It must keep the news comprehensive and in proportion.

Essentially news must have context and even-handedness. A case in point is the current “Allah” controversy. The reportage thus far lacks both context and balance.

It must make the significant interesting and relevant.

The Malaysia experience, sadly, has been one that which is significant is often hidden between the lines.

It must serve as a forum for public criticism.

Such forums are often self-censored and I can find no reason for it. I can see merit in self-restraint or prior censorship but never self-censorship.

Break these Ten Commandments and we may end up burning in hell. — mysinchew.com

                This entry was posted on Friday, 8 February 2013, 5:44 pm and is filed under
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61-Day Countdown to 13GE –  Thanks to Najib and  Psy, Malaysians as patriotic duty must ask  why Malaysia failed to live up to our potential to be a leading global nation in all fields of human endeavour 56 years after Merdeka

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said Pakatan Rakyat is jealous of Barisan Nasional for scoring with Korean “Gangnam Style” star Psy because it derailed DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng’s plans  to invite Psy to a function under the Pakatan Rakyat name.

Whether Najib is gullible to believe such a canard when  DAP and Pakatan Rakyat just do not have the millions of ringgit to throw around as Umno/BN is doing in the run-up to the 13th General Elections and which would finally be paid by the taxpayers, the Prime Minister should not think that Malaysians as a whole are so gullible as to believe his “tall tale”.

This is reminiscent of his  “tall tale” at the 66th UMNO anniversary at Bukit Jalil National Stadium on May 11, 2012, when he made the ludicrous allegation that Bersih 3.0 organisers “want to fight…want to kick at the cops…or their story won’t come out in CNN, Al-Jazeera, BBC”, after defaming Bersih 3.0 “sit-in” at Dataran Merdeka held two weeks  before the UMNO anniversary as a “coup attempt by the Opposition to topple the government” with “salt and mineral water bottles”!

It was at the 66th UMNO anniversary that Najib claimed that he was so uplifted by the support and “jubilant mood” shown at the celebration that he was ready to seek an audience with the Yang di Pertuan Agong to dissolve Parliament the next day.

But nine months later, and with less than a month to go before the fifth anniversary of the watershed of Malaysian electoral politics – the 308 political tsunami of March 8, 2008 general elections – Najib is still dithering on when to hold the 13GE.

Nobody should be “jealous” about Najib’s alleged “coup” with Psy and Gangnam Style.  In fact, the nation should be very thankful to  Najib and  Psy, as Malaysians are now asking why Malaysia failed to live up to our potential to be a leading global nation in all fields of human endeavour 56 years after Merdeka.

Where would Malaysia be today if we had developed in tandem with South Korea, without overtaking or being overtaken by South Korea in the past half-century since Merdeka in 1957, when South Korea was so poor and backward as it  had only half our per capita income?

In the half century from 1960 to 2012, South Korea’s GDP per capita increased 148.5-fold from US$155 to US$23,021.  What would be Malaysia’s GDP per capita in 2012 if it had increased by 148.5-fold from US$299 in 1960  instead of the 35-fold it actually registered?

With an increase of 148.5-fold, Malaysia’s GDP per capita in 2012 would stand at US$44,401!

According to International Monetary Fund data, Malaysia with GDP per capita of US$44,401 in 2012 would be the 18th richest country –  in the top world league in the company of the following countries, as shown below:

International Monetary Fund (IMF) GDP (nominal) per capita

Year – 2012

Nation

GDP per capita

1

Luxembourg

105,720

2

Qatar

100,378

3

Norway

99,316

4

Switzerland

77,840

5

Australia

67,983

6

UAE

65,377

7

Denmark

55,448

8

Sweden

54,879

9

Canada

50,826

10

Singapore

49,936

11

United States

49,802

12

Japan

46,896

13

Austria

46,330

14

Kuwait

46,142

15

Netherlands

45,942

16

Finland

 45,545

17

Ireland

44,781

With GDP per capita of US$44,401 in 2012, Malaysia is not only well ahead of South Korea with US$23,021, but even ahead of Belgium, Germany, Iceland,  France, Brunei, United Kingdom, New Zealand and  Hong Kong whose 2012 GDP per capita is as follows:

Belgium

43,175

Germany

41,168

Iceland

41,151

France

40,690

Brunei

38,801

UK

38,591

New Zealand

37,401

Hong Kong

35,961

How did South Korea succeed where we failed – with South Korea transforming itself in half a century from a country which was poorer and more backward than Malaysia, with only half our per capita income to become two-to-three times richer than Malaysia – with stunning advancements reflected in every field of human endeavour, whether development of human resources, technology or even in the field of culture, as illustrated by the phenomenon of Psy and Gangnam Style?

Today, I received a long email from an exasperated Malaysian pouring out his frustrations at Malaysia’s lost opportunities in the “lost decades”. He wrote:

“Fast forward to the 2000s, a mere one generation or so and the difference is starling. Korea have well known multinational companies such as Hyundai Motor, Samsung Electronics, LG.

“Hyundai Motor started about 2-3 years earlier than Proton, and is now a world force in automobile with competitive models. Kia started much later than Proton. What has become of Proton?

“Korea economic model is conglomerate driven, supported by the government. Taiwan economical model is small and medium size industry, driven more by entrepreneurs on their own with limited support from the government.

“Now Taiwan is a leader in the electronic industry with well known names such as Acer, HTC, Taiwan Semiconductor, ViewSonic, and the world largest electronic contract manufacturer Foxconn and so forth.”

We thank Najib and Psy for the “Gangnam Style” on the second day of Chinese New Year Open House in Penang on Feb. 11.

Let all Malaysians enjoy, have fun and be joyous with Psy and Gangnam Style – but thanks to Najib and Psy, Malaysians as a national and patriotic duty, must come to grips with the question: Why has Malaysia fallen so far behind, not only South Korea but the rest of the world, when we started with our nationhood in 1957 and the formation of Malaysia in 1963 with such great promises?

Artikel ini juga boleh didapati dalam Bahasa Malaysia di:
https://blog.limkitsiang.com/2013/02/14/pengiraan-detik-61-hari-ke-pru13-terima-kasih-najib-dan-psy-sebagai-tanggungjawab-patriotik-rakyat-malaysia-perlu-bertanya-mengapa-malaysia-gagal-memenuhi-potensi-kita-menerajui-negara-nega/

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 9 February 2013, 1:07 pm and is filed under
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