Awang Selamat gets an ‘F’

Comment By
Kee Thuan Chye

Free Malaysia Today

July 3, 2012

SINGAPORE’s ruling party, the People’s Action Party (PAP), is conniving the downfall of the Barisan Nasional government in Malaysia, and it’s doing it through its local proxy, the Democratic Action Party (DAP).

This is the most preposterous thing anyone has heard about what could happen at our upcoming 13th general election. The leaders of the PAP must be rolling on the floor with laughter.

That this piece of nonsense came out of Utusan Malaysia truly speaks badly of the Umno-owned newspaper. It is bandied about without any shred of evidence to support it. Instead, it comes with a wild allegation that the PAP has been waiting 48 years to achieve its “dream” in Peninsular Malaysia.

What “dream”? What would it benefit the PAP to see the fall of BN? And after that, what?

Whoever wrote that article (under the pseudonym of Awang Selamat) has no sense of logic. If Pakatan Rakyat wins the 13th general election, does it mean the DAP can invite the PAP to come into Peninsular Malaysia? It’s that easy, is it? The DAP’s coalition partners, PAS and PKR, would welcome the PAP with open arms?

Even schoolboys would not think that!

OK, only the DAP that helms the leadership of the Penang state government will make a pact with the PAP … but to do what? And again, its partners in the Penang administration will readily agree … to whatever it is?

OK, OK, why would Singapore want to have a stake in Malaysia? Why doesn’t Awang Selamat enlighten us on this?

He gives us nothing but circumstantial factors, like the DAP having been a splinter group of the PAP (yes, that was decades ago); that relations between the two parties have been enhanced since 2008 (pray tell, how?); that Lee Kuan Yew had visited Penang (yes, at the same time as he visited other states and also Rosmah and Najib).

Then he lamely states that he doesn’t want “to make too many assumptions but the great interest in Penang shown by Singapore begs questions”. That’s a cop-out. Does Awang Selamat really know? Or is he simply tembak-ing?

And he claims that Singapore plans to help Pakatan Rakyat in any way it can, including via “illegal demonstrations” (yes, it must be from the fuss over the presence of the three Singapore diplomats at the Bersih 3.0 rally) and other closed-door activities that will soon be exposed.

He expects us to be persuaded when he concludes: “All these should be seen as a signal (that they want to see) Malaysia’s government fall and be replaced with a new government where DAP is dominant”.

Poor track record

A student submitting an essay with this kind of reasoning would straight away get an F!

Why did he not think even a little bit before he made the allegation? Is he not aware that in having proven nothing, he will be seen as stupid?

Come to think of it, given Utusan Malaysia’s track record in the past few years of spinning lies, its Awang Selamats do seem to be stupid.

For instance, last year, how could they have thought that people would believe their lie about church leaders conspiring with the DAP to take over the government and Christianise the country?

First of all, how could the DAP take over the government when in 2008, it won only 28 parliamentary seats? Is it likely to win at least 112 seats (out of the total 222) this coming general election to take Putrajaya by a simple majority? Goodness! It may not even contest half that number!

OK, if Awang Selamat says the DAP does win Putrajaya as part of Pakatan Rakyat, that’s possible, but then how would the DAP proceed from there to Christianise the country? Would it try to get two-thirds majority to amend the Constitution to make Christianity the religion of the Federation, thus replacing Islam? Would PAS and PKR, both headed by Muslim leaders, allow it to even get to Parliament? As DAP strongman Karpal Singh might say, “Over their dead bodies!”

Also last year, who could have believed Utusan Malaysia’s lie about the DAP wanting to turn Malaysia into a republic by doing away with the Malay rulers?

How on earth could that have been possible? Doesn’t Awang Selamat know how stringent the legal process is to accomplish something like that, not to mention the emotional resistance? If the DAP were to merely suggest the idea, it would already spark an uprising; its leaders would also be locked up for sedition. The party would not even have a chance to propose the motion in Parliament. And even if it did, how would it be able to move a two-thirds vote in Parliament to remove the royalty?

Do the Awang Selamats of Utusan Malaysia live in some kind of fairyland where politicians can make things happen just by wishing for them to happen? Have they not progressed beyond primary school – or, worse, nursery school?

How does Utusan Malaysia get away with publishing such falsehood, not once, not twice, but more, without the Home Ministry taking stern action against it?

The one occasion in recent times the ministry did take some action was when it merely issued the newspaper a warning letter over its publication of the Christian conspiracy story. There was cause to slam it with sedition, since – in the words of the Sedition Act – it raised “discontent or disaffection amongst the inhabitants of Malaysia”, but the ministry chose to ignore that.

It’s sad indeed for the state of journalism in our country that newspapers do the opposite of what they should really be doing – presenting lies instead of the truth. Such practice is the hallmark of gutter journalism. It should have no place in decent society.

A desperate Umno?

How can the leaders of Umno stand by and watch what Utusan Malaysia publishes and say nothing against it?

Keeping silent is a form of endorsement, so how can they endorse such rubbish? The newspaper is, after all, owned mainly by the party.

Thus, what it does can make the party look bad. What it does also subverts Najib’s 1Malaysia. Why has he said nothing to bring Utusan Malaysia back to honest journalism?

More than anything else, Utusan Malaysia’s lying has managed to reinforce the public perception that in light of the upcoming general election, Umno must be desperate.

A confident party would not allow the newspaper it owns to resort to lying. In the end, this might actually hurt the Umno cause.

But what should concern us more is the harm articles like this can do to ordinary people, especially young students who read the newspaper. They will be exposed to lies and the practice of lying. They will be recipients of wrong values.

That is something no decent person or organisation can condone. Shame on Utusan Malaysia for not taking this into account. Shame on the Home Ministry for letting it happen.

* Kee Thuan Chye is the author of the bestselling book No More Bullshit, Please, We’re All Malaysians, available in major bookstores.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 3 July 2012, 2:10 pm and is filed under
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Awang Selamat terus menghasut

Oleh
Aspan Alias

The Malaysian Insider

July 02, 2012

2 JULAI — Sesiapa pun, apabila dalam keadaan lemah dan tidak sihat akan mudah merasa miskin di jiwa dan memandang semua dikelilingnya dengan perasaan takut. Memang ramai orang takut kerana “creativity”nya sendiri. Dikampung-kampung hingga sampai masa kini masih ada yang takut kepada setengah pokok yang rimbun kerana kononnya pokok itu berhantu. Oleh kerana terlalu percaya yang pohon rimbun itu berhantu maka akhirnya hantu itu akan timbul.

Kita lupa yang jika kita masih berbentuk Muhamad (mim ha mim dal) tidak ada apa elemen yang lain boleh mengatasi kita. Tetapi apabila kita lemah maka yang tidak berhantu itu pun dianggapnya ada hantu. Hantu dan syaitan itu sebenarnya takut dan tidak akan dapat mengatasi kita kerana kita adalah makhluk yang secantik-cantik kejadian. Manusia itu lebih mulia dari malaikat tetapi oleh kerana ada manusia yang lemah jiwanya maka yang mereka tidak sepatutnya takut pun mereka akan takut.

Dalam politik pun begitu juga. Umno sekarang amat takut jika ditewaskan oleh pembangkang dalam pilihanraya untuk menguasai kerajaan persekutuan. Rasa takutnya begitu jelas dan menonjol sehinggakan media yang menyokongnya seperti Utusan Malaysia mencari jalan untuk membantu BN dengan menulis perkara-perkara yang berunsur menakut-nakutkan rakyat. Awang Selamat dalam tulisannya semalam menulis tentang PAP Singapura yang kononya berkait rapat dengan DAP.

Utusan sebenarnya sedang cuba untuk menjauhi sokongan orang Melayu terhadap DAP dalam pilihanraya kali ini kerana undi orang Melayu merupakan sokongan yang sangat penting untuk Pakatan Rakyat atau BN menentukan kemenangan masing-masing. Awang Selamat tahu yang orang kaum Cina memang sudah mengambil keputusan untuk perubahan dan kita lihat dengan jelas yang kaum Cina memberikan sokongan padu kepada PAS yang suatu ketika dahulu amat ditakuti oleh kaum Cina.

Tetapi selepas beberapa lama PAS telah membuktikan yang parti itu merupakan parti yang adil dan kaum Cina pun mahu menerima PAS sebagai salah satu parti “alternative” kepada Umno. Dalam siri ceramah anjuran PAS yang saya sering dijemput untuk memberi penerangan tentang permuafakatan diantara PAS dengan DAP serta PKR, saya nampak dengan jelas orang kaum Cina tidak lagi kekok untuk bersama-sama memberikan perhatian terhadap ceramah yang saya lakukan itu.

Ini merupakan satu keindahan siasah sebuah negara “cosmopolitan” seperti negara kita ini. Itulah sebabnya saya jarang-jarang lupa untuk menyebut yang saya amat merasakan nikmat hidup dalam kemuafakatan diantara kaum dan agama. Saya tidak mengurangkan Melayu saya apabila menyertai DAP dan lebih-lebih lagi saya tidak melemahkan akidah saya terhadap Tuhan yang satu. Tuhan mewujudkan manusia dari berbilang-bilang bangsa dan puak untuk memahami serta menghormati diantara satu dengan yang lain.

Dimana-mana saya pergi dalam siri ceramah saya, amat jelas persefahaman ini semakin hari semakin jitu dan inilah yang akan memperkuatkan perjuangan untuk mencapai sebuah negara yang bersatu padu diantara semua kaum yang hidup dalam negara yang di lindungi oleh perlembagaan yang telah digubal untuk menjaga semua kaum dinegara ini.

Sebenarnya Umno telah diberikan mandat begitu lama untuk menjadi penyatu kepada semua kaum sebegitu lama, tetapi kepercayaan yang telah diberikan oleh rakyat sebegitu lama itu telah diambil kesempatan oleh pemimpin-pemimpinnya dan telah lari dari matlamat penyatuan kaum itu. Mandat dan kepercayaan yang diberikan terhadap BN itu bukan setahun dan bukannya dua tahun: BN telah mendapat mandat itu selama lima puluh empat tahun sehinggakan BN mengambil semuanya “for granted”. BN merasakan mandat rakyat itu adalah hak mutlak mereka dan tidak ada pihak yang lain yang berhak keatas mandat itu.

Tetapi seperti yang saya katakan selalu masa dan waktu sentiasa berubah tetapi BN tidak mampu untuk bersama-sama berubah mengikut zamannya. Pemikiran rakyat begitu jauh berubah dan telah meninggalkan cara Umno dan BN berfikir. Justeru Umno sedang dalam kedudukan seperti telor dihujung tanduk. Bila-bila masa PRU di adakan parti “alternative” merupakan pilihan rakyat yang sangat kepingin kepada perubahan dan “ambience” politik yang baru yang lebih mementingkan “transparency”, tanpa rasuah dan salah gunakuasa seperti yang sering berlaku sekarang ini.

Keadaan inilah yang meresahkan BN dan media massa seperti Utusan sedang mencari segala cara yang ada untuk mencantas sokongan rakyat kursus orang Melayu kepada PR terutamanya DAP. Isu PAP Singapura berkumandang lagi dan membuat tuduhan yang Lim Kit Siang merupakan seorang pemimpin didikan PAP Singapura. Lawatan Lee Kuan Yew ke Pulau Pinang dijadikan isu dan Utusan cuba mengaitkan lawatan itu sebagai simbol kerjasama DAP dengan PAP.

Tetapi Utusan tidak pula memberikan ingatan yang Lee Kuan Yew juga telah melawat Kelantan dan bertemu dengan Nik Aziz. Malahan Lee Kuan Yew juga berjumpa dengan Rosmah, wanita yang paling berpengaruh dan digeruni oleh Najib sendiri. Lee Kuan Yew berjumpa dengan semua pihak bukan sahaja pemimpin DAP.

Pilihanraya mesti sampai maka Utusan dan Awang Selamat menulis perkara-perkara dan isu yang sudah tidak lagi termakan oleh sesiapa yang berfikir dan mengetahui sejarah sebenar politik negara kita dan Singapura. Isu mengaitkan kejadian berdarah 13 Mei dengan LKS sudah tidak termakan lagi oleh sesiapa yang siuman kerana itu merupakan fitnah yang tidak henti-henti di berikan terhadap pemimpin veteran DAP itu.

Awang Selamat sepatutnya memberikan teguran terhadap rasuah yang tidak dapat dikawal lagi dalam kerajaan dan agensi-agensi kerajaan sekarang ini. Awang Selamat sepatutnya menulis tentang RM28 billion ketirisan yang berlaku dalam kerajaan setiap tahun seperti yang dilaporkan oleh Ketua Audit Negara.

Awang Selamat juga sepatutnya menulis tentang perkara yang positif seperti kejayaan kerajaan P. Pinang, Selangor, yang telah berjaya memenuhi aspirasi rakyat yang mahukan pentadbiran yang bersih dan kedua-dua negeri ini telah menyumbang 40 peratus kepada GDP negara. Utusan juga sepatutnya menulis yang Kedah serta Kelantan adalah negeri-negeri yang jauh lebih bersih dan secara relatifnya amat baik dalam kesucian pentadbirannya dan isu rasuah.

Apa yang Utusan dan Awang Selamat perlu tulis juga ialah keadaan yang sangat harmonis yang berlaku diantara kaum setelah PR bercambah pengaruhnya di seluruh negara. Utusan perlu memberitahu yang penyatuan diantara kaum ini sedang terbentuk dimana semua kaum yang terbesar telah bersama-sama berusaha untuk bersatu dibawah PR.

Ini adalah kerana mereka tidak akan dapat kerjasama dan kesatuan itu di dalam BN yang telah diberikan peluang untuk melakukannya selama lima puluh empat tahun kerana isu perkauman yang dimainkan oleh Umno sebegitu menebal. Awang Selamat sepatutnya menasihatkan Umno supaya jangan memainkan isu kaum dan agama dengan sewenang-wenangnya semata-mata kerana politik.

Nasihatlah Umno itu supaya menjadi “gentleman” dan menerima kekalahan jika sudah sampai masanya kerana kekalahan di dalam demokrasi itu memang perkara yang biasa. Kalau tidak mahukan demokrasi kenapa pilih sistem ini semasa kita membentuk kerajaan yang kita tadbir sendiri dahulu? Katakan kepada rakyat yang jika tidak dipilih sistem demokrasi pun, kerajaan akan bertukar tangan juga seperti yang berlaku dibanyak negara. Ia baru sahaja berlaku dibeberapa buah negara Arab baru-baru ini.

Awang Selamat sepatutnya memberikan pandangan yang “magnanimous” supaya dihormati oleh pembaca dan rakyat. Awang Selamat perlu terima hakikat yang rakyat tidak gemar dengan pandangan yang bersifat menghasut yang dimainkan oleh saudara selama ini. — aspanaliasnet.blogspot.com

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 3 July 2012, 2:15 pm and is filed under
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Newly registered Malaysian voters should unanimously reject the return to ‘Mahathirism’ and end 55 years of cronyism, corruption and abuse of power under the BN

Tun Dr. Mahathir’s recent statements that the ‘Chinese are the kingmakers’ in GE13 and that ‘GE13 will be about race’ shows that he and the BN are increasingly afraid that a majority of the 3 million newly registered voters will cast a decisive vote against the BN and end 55 years of cronyism, corruption and abuse of power under the BN.

Increasingly, we are seeing a new generation of Malaysians who are rising up to reject the old style politics of the Mahathir era. We saw this in the Reformasi movement in 1998. We saw this in the GE 2008 political tsunami which swept away the BN governments in the states of Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor as well as 2/3rds control of the parliament.

We saw this in the first Bersih public rally on the 10th of November, 2007. We saw this in Bersih 2.0 on the 9th of July, 2011. And we saw this most recently on the 28th of April 2012 when hundreds of thousands of Malaysians of all races, backgrounds and age groups flooded the streets around Dataran Merdeka to demand for free and fair elections.

The success of the Bersih 3.0 rally coupled with the disgraceful acts of police brutality on the participants has shaken Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s confidence in calling for an election before July despite his supposed confidence that the BN would win in all 13 states and in the Federal Territories.

This historic demonstration has also no doubt caused Dr. Mahathir some discomfort in fearing that the BN would lose control of Putrajaya in the next general election. This would explain his recent attempts at trying to revive the old style divide and conquer politics of ‘Mahathirism’ in evoking old , tired and irrelevant images of racial conflict while the political reality is that all Malaysians – young and old; male and female; Malays, Chinese, Indians, Ibans and Kadazans;  Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and Sikhs – are uniting on various fronts and for various causes – for free and fair elections, against corruption, to promote public safety, to protect and safeguard the environment.

There are almost three million newly registered voters on the electoral roll since the 2008 general elections. Many of these voters have been motivated to register because of the possibility of political change in the next general election. They comprise almost a quarter of the 13 million voters in the current electoral roll. Approximately 60% of these voters are below the age of 60.

If 60% of these newly registered voters cast a vote against the BN government, Pakatan Rakyat would win as many as 100 parliament seats, assuming that 2008 voting patterns prevail. If 65% of these newly registered voters cast a vote against the BN government, PR would win as many as 110 seats, just 2 short of an overall majority. If 70% of these voters cast a vote against the BN, it would deliver 123 parliament seats to PR, enough to form a new government in Putrajaya.

This is the nightmare scenario for Dr. Mahathir and the BN – that the newly-registered and newly-mobilized voters will swing their support towards Pakatan Rakyat because they want to end 55 years of corruption, cronyism and abuse of power under the BN.

The role of these newly-registered in the next general election is even more significant because of presence of the many phantom voters which have been put on the electoral roll in what is expected to be the dirtiest elections in Malaysian history.

I call upon these three million voters to lead the charge on behalf of all Malaysians to cast their vote for a free and fair election, to cast a vote against the old divide-and-rule politics of ‘Mahathirism’, to cast a vote for change and for a brighter future in and for Malaysia, and to end 55 years of cronyism, corruption and abuse of power under the BN.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 3 July 2012, 7:00 am and is filed under
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The last mile

— Liew Chin Tong

The Malaysian Insider

Jul 02, 2012

JULY 2 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was today slapped with an additional charge in addition to two existing ones over the April 28 Bersih rally.

Fifteen years ago today, on July 2, 1997, the Thai government was forced to float the Thai baht after failing to defend it from attacks, sparking an unprecedented Asian-wide crisis. Contagious free falls in Asian currencies led to economic meltdowns and political crises subsequently.

Hence the start of the Malaysian epic tragedy of political and economic stagnation. It was the beginning of the end of sort for Barisan Nasional’s political monopoly. It exposed Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s emperor-with-no-clothes game.

After a painfully long 15 years, Malaysia is now a nation in waiting for change. And, we are walking the last mile of a long, tedious journey.

Chow Kon Yeow, MP for Tanjong, has called Anwar a “bakal perdana menteri” (future prime minister) in an interview with a Penang-based Chinese newspaper recently, to which Anwar half-jokingly replied that he has had that title for the last two decades.

When the Thai baht was floated, Anwar was acting prime minister, supposedly to succeed Dr Mahathir soon after. Instead Anwar was sacked, detained, beaten to near death in custody by the then national police chief in September 1998 and imprisoned, only to be released six years later in September 2004.

For the past 15 years, instead of being accorded a level playing field to vie for national leadership, much of Anwar’s time was wasted in prison cells and court rooms for charges that would never be levelled at a political opponent in a genuine democracy.

But this is not just about Anwar. This is about all of us. I was just 20 when the worst-ever haze clouded the Malaysian skies in July 1997. The haze still troubles us 15 years later, similar to that of our political stalemate.

To say our economy has stagnated is an understatement. And, we know the human cost of an economy which does not unleash its full potential. We know the effect to society when government fails to distribute fairly.

Whether the general election is called within this year or by April next year, it does not matter anymore.

The month of June has come and gone. We, the people, can declare a victory of sort because our resolve for change has scared Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak from calling the much-touted June election.

The next general election is not just about the conclusion of the tumultuous post-2008 years or a platform for Najib to look for political legitimacy. The 13th general election is the one that we bid farewell to Malaysia’s ancien régime.

Not only Pakatan Rakyat, representing the voice of the majority, must win the next general election and consign Barisan Nasional to the opposition, we must win with a convincing majority.

Not only do we want to reclaim our nation from cronies, pirates, thieves, racists and gangsters, we must go beyond just tweaking the current opaque system.

The last decade-and-a-half was a sad episode in our history. It is our collective onus to update the nation’s visions with new mindsets, paradigms and frameworks that will shape the lives of millions of Malaysians for the better.

This is our historic opportunity to do the right things, together, in the last mile of a long walk that began 15 years ago. — The Rocket

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 3 July 2012, 12:40 am and is filed under
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The Police Must Act Against Perkasa

Kee Thuan Chye

Malaysian Digest

02 July 2012

Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa) is getting out of control. Its latest brush with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng that resulted in a scuffle is testimony to its growing tendency towards verbal and physical violence. More than that, it seems to be presuming that it is above the law and can say and do what it likes with impunity.

It was reportedly holding a demonstration in Telok Bahang at the same place where Guan Eng was visiting the local residents. The scuffle broke out when the group of 50 Perkasa members threw anti-Guan Eng posters at him and his delegation, and then one of them reportedly charged at him.

Penang Perkasa leader Mohd Rizuad Mohd Azudin claims that the fracas was orchestrated by Guan Eng’s people to make Perkasa look bad to the Telok Bahang residents. But in the first place, why did Perkasa choose to hold the demonstration where Guan Eng would be? Why did they come armed with anti-Guan Eng posters and even paste them all over at least one of the shops there? Who was orchestrating what?

According to Penang Chief Police Officer Ayub Yaakop, the police were not informed ahead by Perkasa about their intent to hold a demonstration. This therefore transgressed the Peaceful Assembly Act, which requires any party wishing to hold a public gathering to inform the police 10 days before the event.

That being so, why did the police not break up the gathering? When at other times, especially at pro-rakyat rallies, the police have been more than enthusiastic in dispersing the crowds, why were they so accommodating with the Perkasa group?

It is only after the fact that the Penang CPO comes out to say, “I am not happy with the way Perkasa carries out its activities.” This is like ticking off the class bully after he has broken his victim’s nose, but the damage has been done, the victim has suffered, and the bully is allowed to go free.

No action has been taken against Perkasa for breaking the law in not informing the police about its gathering. Guan Eng has complained that the police did not even arrest the Perkasa member who charged at him and threatened his safety. It’s all hot air from the Penang CPO.

This, sadly, has been the story of how the police have been dealing with Perkasa over the last two years of the NGO’s existence.

Earlier, in February, Perkasa and Umno Youth members disrupted a peaceful anti-Lynas gathering at Speakers’ Corner, Penang, created mayhem and injured two reporters. On that occasion, too, the police just stood and watched.

Guan Eng was there to address the anti-Lynas crowd, but the Perkasa and Umno Youth members shouted profanities at him. When he left, they surrounded his car and blocked it from leaving. This was abusive, aggressive behavior but the police took no action. It seemed then and it still seems now that not even the Penang Chief Minister is safe from verbal and physical violence. It is unheard-of that someone holding such a high position is not protected from thuggish behavior.

The question also needs to be asked: Why was Perkasa involved in going against an anti-Lynas protest? In fact, on that day, its members and those of Umno Youth were chanting support for Lynas – apart from shouting profanities.

It’s understandable if Umno Youth is pro-Lynas since it is affiliated to the ruling party, which has agreed to the setting-up of the Lynas rare earth plant in Gebeng, but Perkasa is an NGO that was set up to defend Malay rights. Lynas has nothing to do with Malay rights.

Perkasa seems to have morphed into something else. This became evident when it startlingly went against the Bersih 2.0 rally last year. It announced it would hold a counter-rally to the Bersih 2.0 one – for reasons it wasn’t even sure of. How did Bersih 2.0’s call for free and fair elections impinge on Malay rights? So what was Perkasa’s real agenda in wanting to stage a counter-rally?

Has Perkasa become an eccentric body that does things for no good reasons? Is it an organization of nuts who run around with more than one screw loose? Or is it really an Umno proxy that pretends to be unaffiliated?

More and more, it seems likely that Perkasa is an Umno proxy. In its joining up with Umno and its associates to threaten anti-government groups, like they did in Merlimau, Melaka, in May, an event that also resulted in violence, Perkasa is probably the stormtrooper outfit of Umno.

Besides, let’s not forget that its patron is none other than Mahathir Mohamad. This fact alone should give some credence to the speculation.

Is that why our apparently partisan police have their ears closed when Perkasa issues statements that could, in the words of the Sedition Act, incite “feelings of ill-will and hostility between different races”? Mahathir has on occasion done that too.

Is that why the police do nothing when Perkasa members behave like gangsters – in Penang, in Merlimau, in Seremban last September at a protest against PAS leader Mat Sabu?

Such gangster behavior, such violence should not be allowed to be repeated. But because the police have been so tolerant of Perkasa, the NGO has become all the more bold, all the more brash in flexing its muscles.

Perkasa is already proving to be a menace to society; how long more will it be allowed to throw its weight around before something disastrous happens? Who knows what big mischief it might conspire to do if it is not pulled up for what it has done?

Our prime minister is too feeble to rein in Perkasa – he is afraid of losing the Malay right-wing votes – so it is up to the police to do the right thing. The police must admit that it is because they have been lax with Perkasa that the rate of violence has increased. They must recognize that stemming such violence will be for the good of the country.

It’s surprising that no government leader has yet to come out and say that gangsterism is not part of our culture when they have been quick to say that street protests are certainly not. But then it suits their purpose well that such gangsterism is inflicted on their political foes. And they no doubt hope it will help them win the next general election.

But this is not the purpose of the police. Their job is to protect the peace. Their job is to be non-partisan. If they cannot carry out this job, they will be letting down Malaysia.

* Kee Thuan Chye is the author of the bestselling book No More Bullshit, Please, We’re All Malaysians. The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the writer.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 3 July 2012, 1:14 am and is filed under
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Enough with the conspiracy theories

Dr Kamal Amzan

The Malaysian Insider

JULY 4 — Some say DAP is an ally of the PAP. Even if it is true, so what?

Yes, I am aware that PAP championed Malaysian Malaysia back in the 1960s, and was blamed for Singapore’s expulsion from the Federation of Malaysia. I also understand the politically correct term now is not Malaysian Malaysia, but instead a totally different, not straightforward meaning, not fully embraced concept of 1 Malaysia.

I am also very well aware that PAP led a Chinese-majority republic as opposed to an Umno-led majority Malay Malaysia.

Now, why is that a problem to us? Why did one newspaper dedicated its last weekly column to painting a racist picture of PAP, also insinuating a repeat of August 1965 in Penang?

Okay, first let us assume that PAP is racist and DAP is also racist by association, but which political party here isn’t? 1 Malaysia Barisan Nasional or the Muslim-Malay majority PAS who is bent on implementing hudud? Or perhaps MCA, MIC?

Who is the one supporting Perkasa and Pekida?

One BN minister even said that they are not ready for non-racial politics even if Malaysians are. Who is the pot calling the kettle black now?

So what if PAP and DAP are racist?

Leaders from PAP have visited Penang and have established cordial economic and social ties with the current state leaders. To be frank, I would want Malaysia to emulate Singapore, Australia, Japan, and Korea when developing the country instead of constantly comparing this country to Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Singapore has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, with first-class infrastructure and an economy that is very resilient to the global climate. They are home to world-class universities, such as Nanyang Technology University and National University of Singapore that produces top notch graduates, who are sought after even before they graduate.

So why the egoistic stance towards PAP? And secondly, to insinuate that Penang may leave the federation of Malaysia because of the good relationship between PAP and DAP is just plain stupid.

We have witnessed our leaders shake hands with George Bush, Tony Blair and even Bashar Assad of Syria. Just because we maintain good working relationships with their leaders, does it mean we will bomb the innocent and fabricate evidence to support one war? Does maintaining a good working relationship with foreign powers spell a traitorous end on our part?

If no, then why such connection between PAP and DAP? But let me play the devil’s advocate and assume that it’s true. Don’t we have a Federal Constitution that will never allow a repetition of August 9,1965? Even back then, wasn’t it our Parliament that voted 126–0 in favour of a Constitutional amendment expelling Singapore from the federation?

Those with evidence and proof to suggest such a treasonous act should step forward and lodge a report so that these leaders can be put to trial and punished before the court of law.

Otherwise, enough with conspiracy theories and let’s get back to developing the country.

I read recently that the Chinese have succeeded in docking a spacecraft to another in orbit. Sometimes I wonder if the average school-going child out there even knows what a spacecraft or an orbit is, while our leaders bicker about who is more Malay/Chinese/Indian.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 4 July 2012, 3:14 pm and is filed under
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Dr M, you are wrong

Azrul Mohd Khalib

The Malaysian Insider

July , 2012

I was quite disappointed to read of Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s prediction that the upcoming general election would be more focussed on race and ethnic issues than ever before.

I think you are wrong, Dr M. Speaking as a product of your policies and far-sightedness in the creation of a Vision 2020 generation, I am happy to inform you, Dr M, that you have actually wildly succeeded in pushing us towards the formation of a more united, integrated and mature democratic Malaysian society (remember the Vision 2020 concept document?).

Through the programmes put in place under your leadership, the opportunities for education and learning provided by your administration, and through the shared experiences, heartache and pain that we have had over the past three decades, you have much to be responsible for the current state of affairs which resulted in the evolution of our people.

And the evolution is a good one. When you look at the young people today below the age of 35, there is much to be proud of. We used to gripe about how apathetic Malaysians in general were about the state of the country, how they often took for granted that which they are able to benefit from, and did not really want to participate in the political process. Well, things, as you well know, certainly have changed.

Though we are not quite there yet, we are getting ready to leave racial identity politics behind. We see the possibility of a new Malaysia. One that concentrates on addressing the real issues affecting Malaysians such as alleviating poverty and economic hardship, reducing unemployment, addressing corruption, improving livelihoods and preventing crime. Whether you are Melayu, Cina, India or lain-lain, it just doesn’t mean much to people any more. Everyone is in the same boat and we need to work together.

We should be wary and turn away from these guys who scream, shout abuse, and threaten violence in order to get their way. These are the people who claim to be the champions of speaking out and defending the rights and privileges of their race yet are the same ones who are still robbing these same communities and the rakyat blind for themselves and their families.

They do this while securing sweetheart deals and line their pockets with public funds. They distract us from the bread-and-butter issues by abusing and misusing religion to promote bigoted and racist agendas against those of other ethnicities and religions.

These are the ones who are obsessed in continuously speaking about race and are racist themselves, who jump at shadows, yell “traitor” and point to others at every single turn, offer luxury cars to encourage the intimidation of others, threaten physical harm and insist on maintaining the status quo for the benefit of the privileged few.

Look around you, Dr M. Does it sound familiar to you? If all you hear is race, it is because you surround yourself or are surrounded by people who are terrified of positive change and are only looking out for their own selfish interests. Maybe it’s time to find a new group of friends.

Meanwhile, we are moving on.

There has never been a more proud moment for Malaysians to be Malaysian. We have progressed far from my parents’ generation of “siapalah kita” to the current one who answer back “kita adalah rakyat Malaysia.” We are experiencing an empowered sense of shared destiny and a common vision.

If you had been at the rally on July 9 last year and the many rallies organised around the nation this year, particularly the one on April 28 at Dataran Merdeka, you would realise that this generation is neither an apathetic one nor are they troublemakers.

If you had been there standing and sitting with us and seen the peoples of Malaysia from all walks of life reflected in the faces of those gathered there that day in solidarity, you would realise that this is a group of people who care and love their country and who want to see a better Malaysia. You would have been proud of us.

When you see people standing in solidarity and unified together for no other reason than that they care about an issue of mutual and common concern which affects all Malaysians, are you not proud that we have looked beyond race?

Isn’t this what we sought to be and do? Are we forever going to be chained by the divisions created and cast by our former colonial masters? We cannot afford to be forever mired in racial identity politics

Today, to talk about race is to be selfish, narrow minded and to lack vision. A leader of today’s Malaysia must rise above race and communal politics. To remain relevant, the ruling coalition must learn to adapt and to accept the dawning reality that the old rules are increasingly fading into obscurity. It must reinvent itself or risk being obsolete, as some political parties are already finding out the hard way.

We need to move beyond the dinosaurs of the past who are fossilised and only know of the importance of race and their own selfish concerns.

We are moving on.

This will be Malaysia’s proudest moment when we take the first tentative and courageous steps towards a future where the divisive race-based politics will be increasingly less of a factor.

Perhaps the coming elections will be about race. It will be the beginning of how race ceases to become the unifying factor for people of this country. It will be the starting point when Malaysians saw something greater themselves and reached deep down and found courage in striking out into the undiscovered country and leaving the baggage of race in the dustbin of history.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 5 July 2012, 11:15 am and is filed under
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Chief of the rentier class and his economic transformation

— Sakmongkol AK47

The Malaysian Insider

Jul 05, 2012

JULY 5 — In practical sense, the term rent-seeking or rent-seeker or rentier classs, refers to the activity by some people in capturing offices of state and using the power of the state to capture economic benefits.

So, the rentier class consists of the people making use of their official and political positions to capture economic benefits. They get these benefits not by actually providing or actually producing a service or product, but by virtue of holding a political or bureaucratic position.

So what? So the above arrangement leads to disparities in income not due to natural abilities or difference in character. Such arrangement becomes objectionable and unconscionable when the disparities in income do not arise because of abilities or character.

The lazybones and laggards get ahead of the industrious and those more clever because they have found a way to cut corners by earning state positions. And so because of the positions they hold, in the offices of state, political positions and being proximate to the corridors of power allow them to get ahead of others.

Generally speaking, that is why some people are very critical of the New Economic Policy because it allows and perpetrates such “economic arrangements”. Those who get ahead are those having political and bureaucratic powers and their cronies and fronts.

We don’t believe in organic growth. We want to give those Bumiputeras shortcut solutions by giving them licences and monopolies instead of creating the culture of organic growth.

We prefer the picking winners strategy instead of allowing the people go through the learning curve and process and making them into the rugged and robust society. We have created wimps who can’t take on the world and we create a system that reinforces the people to be overly dependent on the state.

I am reminded of an instructive story of an economics professor who failed an entire class to disprove the students’ insistence that some form of centrally-directed economic arrangement would ensure that no one would be poor and no one would be rich.

In other words, a centrally-directed arrangement by people who also insist the age of big government is still very much alive and kicking will be an equalizer.

So the professor informed them that from now on, he will give the same average grades in exams so that everyone will receive the same grade; no one will fail but no one will receive an A.

After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who studied “hard” were upset and the students who studied “little” were happy.

As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied ‘even less’ and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied ‘little’. The second test average was a ‘D’. No one was happy. When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F.

As the tests proceeded, the scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.

To their great surprise, they all failed and the professor told them that “central command economy  would also ultimately ‘fail’ because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great, but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.

A simple story has provided us with some useful insights on how to manage society.

1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity.

2. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation.

Take the case of the FGVH listing recently. The people actually involved in producing the economic resource, i.e. the settlers and Felda workers, get 5.5  per cent of the benefits while those holding positions( in Umno) and in government and those who hold executive positions in Felda get the lion share of the shares issued.

Also benefiting are those in close proximity to those in first line of power. We know them by the term “cronies”. So friends of the deputy trade minister were allocated handsome number of shares because he has plans to move higher up the political ladder.

This is the kind of economic arrangements perpetuated by Umno and Barisan Nasional that create mistrust and animosity and lower economic output eventually.

Most inimical is the creation of an entire race of dependents on the benevolence of big government. So, the next time anyone comes along and says, “The age of big government is over”, let us all show him the patriotic one Malaysia finger and in unison say, up yours! — sakmongkol.blogspot.com

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 7 July 2012, 1:24 am and is filed under
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I do not hate Mahathir at all but like three former Prime Ministers, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Hussein,  Tun Abdullah and majority of Malaysians in 2012, I am opposed to Mahathirism and its return to Malaysian politics in 13GE

I have just returned from a four-day visit to Myanmar and I am most intrigued  by the statement by former Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad saying he did not know why I hated him so much.

Let me assure Mahathir that I do not hate him at all but like three former Prime Ministers, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Hussein and Tun Abdullah and the majority of Malaysians in 2012, I am opposed to Mahathirism and its return to Malaysian politics in 13th general election.

Mahathir cannot be more  wrong when he claimed that Abdullah was rejected by voters for “mistreating” him, asserting:

“Last time when Abdullah wasn’t good to me, the people did not support BN. So some people still have some sympathy for me.”

The reason why Abdullah suffered the worst UMNO/BN electoral defeat in the 2008 general election is because he failed to live up to his promise in the landslide 2004 general election victory to begin the serious task to  dismantle the Mahathirish legacy of corruption, cronyism and abuses of power.

Recently, Mahathir has resurrected the worst strains of Mahathirism viz  rabid racism,  to the curses of corruption, cronyism and abuses of power, when he stoked racial fears among the Malays with his warnings that Malays will lose power if Umno loses the next general election, that  Najib is a weak Prime Minister and that reforms could spark unrest, that the 13GE will be about race and that the Chinese voters are the kingmakers for the 13GE and will decide who forms the government – exhortations which are not only untrue, most incendiary and highly provocative, but totally against five decades of Malaysian nation-building,  his own Vision 2020 of  Bangsa Malaysia and Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia concept.

While denying that there is such thing as “Mahathirism”, Mahathir is working very hard to restore and entrench Mahathirism as the official creed of the UMNO/BN after the 13GE, whether led by Najib or somebody else.

Malaysian voters, especially the three million new voters in the 13GE, must unite to prove Mahathir wrong, that the return of Mahathirism is  rejected conclusively and decisively to send out the clear message that the 13GE is not about race but about the future of a united, harmonious, just and progressive Malaysia where corruption, cronyism and abuses of power are relegated to the dustbins of history.

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 7 July 2012, 1:32 pm and is filed under
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If you want to break anything, give the job to Umno

— Aspan Alias

The Malaysian Insider

Jul 06, 2012

6 JULAI — Terlalu banyak spekulasi tentang pilihanraya umum yang telah tertangguh sebegitu lama. Najib akhirnya merupakan satu-satunya PM dalam sejarah negara yang tidak memanggil pilihanraya untuk mendapatkan mandat dan ‘endorsement’ tentang kepimpinannya. Sekali gus Najib merupakan seorang PM yang paling lemah dalam sejarah negara merdeka kita.

Selemah-lemah Pak Lah, beliau berani memanggil pilihanraya dalam tempoh lima bulan untuk mendapatkan ‘endorsement’ rakyat dan beliau telah mendapat meraih 90% sokongan dalam Dewan Legislatif semasa pilihanraya yang ke11 yang lalu. Peratusan itu hampir sama dengan pilihanraya 1955 dalam mana Perikatan hanya kalah satu kerusi di Pulau Pinang yang ditandingi oleh Sulaiman Palestin.

Mandat yang ada pada hari ini merupakan mandat Pak Lah. Baik buruknya Pak Lah mempunyai kredibiliti yang lebih baik dari Najib sekarang ini. Pak Lah seorang yang berani memanggil pilihanraya walau pun beliau dalam ‘tidur’. Setidak-tidaknya Pak Lah dapat mempertahankan kuasa BN walaupun kehilangan kemenangan tradisi 2/3 di Dewan Parlimen.

Sesungguhnya tindakan Najib menangguhkan pilihanraya merupakan tindakan yang betul. Kenapa betul? Jika dipanggil sekarang pun Umno/BN akan tewas, jika dipanggil setelah penggal ini tamat pun Umno/BN akan kalah. Beliau tahu itu. Umno/BN sememangnya tidak lagi mempunyai formula baik untuk mempertahankan kuasanya kerana persepsi rakyat yang Umno/BN itu parti yang sudah luntur sudah menjadi stigma dan melekat dalam pemikiran rakyat khususnya dari yang muda-muda.

Umno Baru tidak mungkin boleh bertahan kerana untuk memperkuatkan kubu pertahanan Umno, ia berkehendakan pengorbanan semua barisan kepimpinan yang adalah dalam Majlis Tertinggi parti dan kerajaan. Caranya ialah dengan Najib, Muhyiddin serta semua pimpinan pusat berhenti dan mencari seorang pemimpin lain untuk membawa Umno untuk perubahan. Walaupun ia boleh dilakukan sekarang tetapi pimpinan pada hari ini mempunyai ‘lubang-lubang’ yang besar yang sulit untuk ditutupi oleh sesiapa.

Saya selalu memberikan kritikan ini semasa bergiat dalam parti itu tiga puluh tahun dahulu. Kita telah memohon kepada kepimpinan semasa itu Dr Mahathir Mohamad supaya mengenepikan pemimpin-pemimpin yang tidak elok kerana semasa itu belum seramai ini pemimpin yang tidak berkelakuan baik. Umno lalai dan tidak mahu melakukan pembersihan awal, kerana Dr Mahathir lebih mementingkan untuk berkuasa lama-lama. Asalkan mereka memberikan sokongan kepada beliau, mereka (pemimpin-pemimpin tidak berguna) masih kekal dalam barisan pimpinan beliau (Mahathir)

Kalau Mahathir jujur dengan negara dan parti, pertamanya kita tidak akan mendapat pemimpin seperti Pak Lah untuk memimpin kita dan juga Najib untuk menggantikan Pak Lah. Sekarang berani kah kita memberikan mandat kepada Muhyiddin jika Najib berhenti dan bersara? Tanyalah orang ramai yang jujur memberikan pandangan.  Kita akan mendapat jawapan yang jika Muhyiddin mengambil alih keadaan akan lebih teruk lagi.

Mahathir telah menukar ‘mould’ kepimpinan negara. Sesiapa sahaja yang datang dari ‘mould’ yang sama tidak akan mampu membawa perubahan. Jika Umno Baru berani bertindak parti itu mesti berani untuk mencari seorang pemimpin lain dari Umno Baru yang tidak dibentuk oleh ‘mould’ yang dibina oleh Mahathir. Tetapi jika kita memberikan pandangan seperti itu penyokong Umno akan marah kerana mereka juga adalah dari ‘mould’ yang sama.

Justeru itu, Umno Baru tidak mungkin berjaya mempertahankan kerusi yang sedia ada, jauh sekali untuk menambah dan merampas kembali dari yang dimenangi oleh pembangkang sebelum ini. Rakyat sudah merasa jelak dengan Umno Baru dan perangainya. Itulah sebabnya yang muda-muda memilih untuk menyertai Pakatan Rakyat kerana mereka tahu nasib mereka lebih baik dari berada dalam Umno/BN,

Orang ramai tahu tidak ada parti yang ‘perfect’ tetapi Umno dan BN terlalu lemah dan tidak berkualiti lagi. Itu sebabnya saya selalu sangat berkata. ‘the worst of Pakatan Rakyat is lot better than the best of BN’.

BN sepatutnya memahami kehendak rakyat tetapi pimpinan mereka tidak dapat langsung mengawal diri mereka untuk mengelak dari melakukan perkara-perkara yang dibenci rakyat. Pimpinan BN sudah begitu ketagih dengan salahguna kuasa dan mengambil semua kesempatan untuk mengelirukan rakyat bagi kepentingan peribadi mereka.

Pimpinan Umno/BN terlalu ketinggalan zaman kerana mereka tidak menyedari yang rakyat sedang memerhatikan setiap gelagat mereka dan mereka telah jauh kehadapan dalam pemikiran mereka. Pimpinan Umno/BN masih lagi menyanyikan lagu-lagu lama yang berlirikkan ungkitan dan mengenang jasa, isu yang sudah basi dan tidak dapat diterima oleh rakyat lagi. Masakan rakyat mahu menyokong orang yang berjasa semasa dahulu jika orang itu bertindak merogol dan memunah ranahkan kita.

Bagi rakyat, sudah nampak jelas yang mereka telah mengambil keputusan. Umno/BN perlu duduk dibelakang buat lima tahun ini. Perbaiki parti dan kembali berjuang selepas segala yang buruk itu sudah tiada lagi dalam Umno/BN.

Tetapi pula, saya pernah berkata yang Umno/BN diibaratkan seperti ayam daging. Apabila keluar sahaja dari reban ia tidak dapat menempuh kehidupan lagi. Ayam-ayam itu akan mati kerana selalunya mereka disuapkan makanan tidak berhenti-henti. PAS dan DAP pula di ibaratkan sebagai ayam kampung, sudah biasa untuk mencari makanan sendiri.

Bagi Umno/BN, satu-satunya peluang untuk menjadi parti yang relevan, ia perlu mencari kepimpinan baru yang tidak terbentuk dalam ‘mould’ yang dibina oleh Dr Mahathir. Selagi pimpinan dari ‘mould’ yang ada pada hari ini seperti Najib, Muhyiddin dan lain-lain Umno/BN akan menjadi sejarah yang sangat enak dibaca oleh generasi yang akan datang.

Kita mesti ingat, yang dialami oleh Umno sekarang ialah krisis keyakinan yang terlalu buruk dan tidak mungkin barisan yang mengalami krisis ini akan berjaya membawa apa-apa perubahan dan transforsi.

Ingat kata-kata saya ini: “If you want to break anything give the job to Umno. If you want to make it worse, get Umno to fix it.” — aspanaliasnet.blogspot.com

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 7 July 2012, 10:17 am and is filed under
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We shall overcome

— Jacob Sinnathamby

The Malaysian Insider

Jul 07, 2012

JULY 7 — How often have you heard this statement? Those who do evil and wicked things in Malaysia seem to prosper but the good-intentioned are jailed, demonised and subject to continuous harassment by the mainstream media and authorities.

Or this line? It is so unfair that the crooked politicians can get away with anything.

These statements are often then followed with a burst of anger and frustration, and a despairing rant about how little we can do to bring the wicked to justice and bring about change in Malaysia.

But there is no reason to despair. I am a Catholic and I also sometimes find myself wallowing in the cycle of “nothing can be done”.

But every time I read Psalm 37 I am brought back to the realisation that the corrupt, wicked, evil will face their day of reckoning.

I put down a few verses which points out that God will reverse things, rewarding the good and punishing the wicked here on earth.

“Do not be provoked by evildoers;

Do not envy those who do wrong.

Like grass they wither quickly

Like green plants they wilt away.

“Be still before the Lord;

Wait for God.

Do not be provoked by the prosperous nor by malicious schemers.”

“The wicked plot against the just;

And grind their teeth at them

But the Lord laughs at them

Knowing their day is coming.

“Those whose steps are guided by the Lord;

Whose way God approves,

May stumble, but will never fall,

For the Lord holds their hand.”

I am sharing some of these verses because there is a danger that sometimes we get too despondent surveying the political landscape and the wanton actions of those in power. We seem helpless to act against the power of incumbency and the use of the institutions of the state.

In those times, we must remember to trust in God’s promise: “I have seen ruthless scoundrels, strong as flourishing cedars. When I passed by again, they were gone.”

                This entry was posted on Saturday, 7 July 2012, 10:24 am and is filed under
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Applying people power to public choice

— Sakmongkol AK47

The Malaysian insider

Jul 07, 2012

JULY 7 — We are familiar with the seasonal bargain sales whenever we approach the days of cultural and religious festivities. Even before Hari Raya (the Muslim religious festivities after a month long of fasting), the public is flooded with all sorts of bargain sales.

A popular clothing merchant has launched its pre-Hari Raya sales of fine textiles. Other merchants have also launched their own bargain sales.

These bargain sales, however, pale in comparison with the bargain sales offered by the chief snake-oil peddler in Malaysia — the PM.

By means of logrolling bargains, he dishes out economic morsels large enough to secure the votes from the public. Logrolling is a term used commonly in the US to refer to the granting of fevers by politicians seeking re-election to selected groups in exchange for their support and votes.

Najib’s grant of an advance of RM 15,000 to Felda settlers is a logrolling act. Now, Felda settlers realize they have been short-changed. The 15,000 is a sweetener to lessen the anger at receiving 810 units of share amounting to around RM 600 gross value in profit. Settlers have been used and piggybacked by rent seekers to make a killing at the stock market.

Najib announces the grant of free tyres to cab drivers is another example of logrolling act aimed at getting votes from tax drivers.
 The RM 500 assistance after 50 years amounting to RM10 a year of our existence is another sorry example of a logroller. Why the necessity of giving the RM 500 in the first place unless your policies of ameliorating poverty has failed miserably?

Indeed, if one observes carefully, this is how he thinks he solves people’s problems. Providing short-term solutions to long-term problems. Providing snake oil for short-lived relief rather than long-term and longer-living solutions.

So he does the entirely opposite to what the second PM of Malaysia resolved to do — to give people fish instead of providing them the means to fish. So the short-term handing out of the fish will allow recipients to eat once. That, to Najib, is his most effective way of resolving problems.

Public choice theory

I have been receiving comments from one particular individual who has been writing on the subject of public choice theory. I believe this person has done some extensive reading on the subject or he/she is a lecturer at a university teaching that subject.

The issue of public choice has also been studied by economists especially in their attempts to explain how public choices are determined. I am sure readers can read on this subject freely at their own time. I don’t want therefore to impose my own lack of understanding on this subject on them.

Here, I am going to write on my interpretation of one aspect of public choice. Knowing that it’s too risky to allow decisions affecting our lives to be made by a single person or even a legislative body, we need to demand the setting up of institutions to compensate for the inherent weaknesses of the legislator.

We must insist on the setting up of institutions and institutionalised rules and regulations and strict adherence to them to establish respect to law and order. We don’t have strict adherence to them now because the snake oil salesman keeps on moving the goalposts. Otherwise we are going to be manipulated by a maverick and a trickster such as the snake-oil salesman.

We need an institutionalised system even if Pakatan Rakyat takes over to compensate, like I said, for the inherent weaknesses and excesses of the legislator. Decisions are made by a committee or the entire legislative body is a myth, really.

Because decisions are made by individuals and when made by individuals, they reflect invariably their personal motivations and values. Najib’s motives, for example, are purely to seek re-election and to stay on as the worse half of the first couple.

Contrary to popular thinking, the decisions involving the lives of the public (education, business projects) are not determined by the people collectively. We only have the illusion that the legislators we elected before, give form and substance to what we want.

The reality is the choices that eventually affect the lives of the public are made by the select few because of their own self interests. Here is the upshot of the whole theory: When framing the choices that are made out as choices decided upon by the public; it’s done essentially by the lone or select few decision makers.

The choices these people make have nothing to do with the wishes of the general public. They are done mostly to ensuring the longevity of the re-election seeker.

Furthermore, the choices made by the chief decision maker reflect his personal motivations. He is not entirely motivated by the pursuit of public welfare but more by the pursuit of his self-preservation. He trades favours by logrolling. Money in exchange for allegiance and support.

Money to taxi drivers to get their support. The long-term solution of giving direct taxi permits will only be implemented in two years’ time. By that time, the Umno division heads and those proximate to corridors of power would have filled up their bellies. The small morsels will be handed to tax drivers.

Why not now? In two years’ time, some of the taxi drivers may even be dead. — sakmongkol.blogspot.com

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 8 July 2012, 1:32 am and is filed under
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Choice is yours – let us change so we can have liberty and live with dignity

(Prepared closing remarks by DAP Secretary-General/Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng at the debate with MCA President Datuk Dr. Chua Soi Lek on “DAP & MCA: Whose Policies Benefit the Country More?” at Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre on Sunday, July 8, 2012)

Since Merdeka, two million Malaysians have migrated overseas because they do not see a future for themselves and for Malaysia. It is time that we don’t live in our past that is filled with hatred and fear. We should look to the future filled with hope and harmony between all Malaysians.

	To put the past behind us, we must stop the politics of race and religion.

	To put the past behind us, we must end corruption.

	To put the past behind us, we must abolish the suppression, oppression, repression of our basic human rights and freedoms.

	To put the past behind us, we must demand good governance and performance from our ministers.

To put the past behind us, we must stop the politics of race and religion

Mengapakah kita terperangkap dalam permainan perkauman Barisan Nasional yang cuba menakutan orang Melayu bahawa mereka akan kehilangan hak mereka dan jawatan Perdana Menteri. Selagi kita mendukung Perlembagaan Persekutuan, hak Melayu dan bumiputera terjamin bersama-sama dengan hak sahih orang bukan Melayu. Sekiranya Pakatan Rakyat menang, calon yang paling layak akan menjadi Perdana Menteri, iaitu Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Jangan kita biarkan Barisan Nasional terus memperalatkan isu perkauman anti-bukan-Melayu hanya untuk mengekalkan kuasa. Adakah ini menguntungkan rakyat apabila BN tak mahu jawab mana pergi RM52 bilion  saham yang sepatutnya diberikan kepada orang Melayu dan bumiputera miskin. Kita mesti faham bukan semua orang Cina yang kaya. Sama juga, bukan semua orang Melayu yang miskin. Ada ramai orang Melayu yang kaya macam Tan Sri Syed Mohktar dan Pengerusi Eksekutif SYABAS Tan Sri Rozali Ismail. Mengapa minta rakyat Malaysia berbangsa Cina balik China tetapi tak tanya sama menteri Cina yang pernah pohon PR Australia.

Barisan Nasional akan menggunakan perkauman untuk menakutkan kita kerana mereka sudah tiada isu lagi. Jangan kita menakutkan diri sendiri dan terus menyokong sebuah kerajaan yg bersifat kroni & rasuah. Hanya dengan perubahan kepada ketuanan rakyat dan bukan ketuanan UMNO barulah kita boleh bebaskan diri daripada rasuah dan hidup bermaruah.

To attain peace Malaysians must stand united and reject those who wish to divide us by preaching racial and religious hatred. If we want to benefit from equal opportunities and realize our human potential we must stop extremists from continually degrading others as inferiors so as to uplift ourselves. Why should Allah not be allowed to be used in the Bible when it is used in the Middle East?

We can only achieve harmony together. Despite our differences and diversity, Malaysians can make our common aspirations of freedom, justice, democracy and truth come true if we remember key values.

That it is not who we are that is important, but what we are that is important; not the colour of our skin that is important but the content of our character; and not our past ancestry that is important but how we connect with the present and with each other to face the future.

We can only be prosperous together. The time has come to focus on the economy, in employment, education and business opportunities as the conditions for prosperity. We must build human talent and be performance-based.

For those who say that PR do not know how to govern, the 4 PR states of Penang, Selangor, Kedah and Kelantan have proven our ability by beating the other 10 BN states by attracting RM25 billion in investments comprising 53% of Malaysia’s total investments of RM47.2 billion in 2010. For the first time in history, Penang is now the new champion of investments in Malaysia, coming out top in 2010 with RM 12.2 billion.

To put the past behind us, we must end corruption

Tentang rasuah berapa banyak wang lagi yg kita nak hilang. Seorang penternak lembu yang daripada muda sehingga tua tak boleh dapat pinjaman berjuta-juta ringgit. Tetapi seorang keluarga menteri sungguhpun tak ada pengalaman menternak seekor lembu pun boleh mendapat 250 juta ringgit. Tapi wang digunakan untuk membeli kondo pula. Bukan sahaja pemimpin-pemimpin kita jadi orang terkenal, tetapi lembu kita pun terkenal. Tengoklah skandal-skandal lembu & kondo. Sampai negara Singapura yg banyak kondominium pun nak belajar macam mana boleh menternak lembu dalam kondominium.

Mengapakah dalam skandal Forex Bank Negara pada tahun 90an apabila Malaysia rugi lebih 15 bilion ringgit orang yg bertanggungjawab tidak dihukum tetapi sekarang dilantik menjadi menteri dalam Pejabat Perdana Menteri?

Bilakah kita nak hentikan kerugian wang ini lagi? Adakah 100 billion tak cukup? Kita nak 12 billion lagi. Jangan lupa 1 ribu billion ringgit wang haram sudah mengalir keluar dari negara. Janganlah biarkan wang negara terus disia-siakan, kita mesti berani membuat perubahan yg boleh menjaminkan kehidupan anak-anak kita.

Barisan Nasional cannot reform to end corruption. Remember, if we do not end corruption, Malaysia dies. If we end corruption, BN dies. The choice is clear.

To put the past behind us, we must abolish the suppression, oppression, repression of our basic human rights and freedom

How can we have a clean government when we do not have clean elections? Hanya pilihanraya bersih boleh memastikan sebuah kerajaan bersih. The next government should be decided by Malaysians and not by phantom voters or Bangladeshis or Myanmarese. Saya percaya kita mahu rakyat Malaysia dan bukan pengundi hantu atau rakyat asing yang menentukan siapa menang kalah dalam pilihanraya umum ke-13.

We do not want our children to live in fear of oppressive laws as we have lived. A Pakatan Rakyat government will abolish the UUCA, the Sedition Act and the Printing Presses and Publications Act and restore local government elections.

Kita tidak boleh menerima penyalahgunaan kuasa dimana rakyat Malaysia boleh mati dalam tahanan.

When can we find justice for Teoh Beng Hock, Ahmad Sarbani and A Kugan? When will we have Freedom of Information & Freedom of Speech? When can we have justice that is not only done, but is seen to be done.

To put the past behind us, we demand good governance and performance from our ministers

Malaysia can be an international and intelligent country. We must have digital intelligence with broadband connectivity. We must also have integrity intelligence, so ensure that only honest people are the decision-makers. We must have institutional intelligence under the rule of law. We demand good governance and performance from our ministers.

Has the Transport Ministry done its duty to run our airports and seaports well? Look at the Penang International Airport whose completion has been delayed more than 3 times. And the Penang Port is to be reduced to be a feeder port and privatized to a 3rd party at the expense of Penangites. Why is there no consultation with the people of Penang to restore the port to its former glory? Instead of looking after airports and ports, the Transport Ministry is more interested in vehicle registration numbers and wants to increase the maximum traffic fines to RM2,000.

Director-General of Tourism is wrongly charged of corruption but the Tourism Minister finds nothing wrong with spending RM1.8 million in doing up her Facebook page, when we all know that it can be done for free.

The Health Ministry wants to privatise healthcare when it should be a public good given as an affordable right to all Malaysians. Why allow the wastage of public funds and affect the quality and affordability of drugs when drugs are bought through a middleman at higher prices when it could be bought cheaper direct from the manufacturers, some of which are operating in Malaysia.

The Housing and Local Government Ministry opposes local government elections in Penang, denying our fundamental democratic right to elect our councillors and our mayors.

We believe that Malaysians deserve better. For the last 50 years, the wealth of the nation has been robbed. Let us protect the future of our children by ensuring we have a people-centric government that protects you instead of harming you, that rewards you instead of stealing from you, that respects you instead of abusing your rights. Let us clean up Malaysia to save our children’s future.

We must put the past behind us where profits matters more than our health. Lynas concerns all of us because if Lynas is allowed to operate, Barisan Nasional will proceed with building two nuclear reactors. If we continue to put health above profits, what is the use of having all the money in the world if you cannot enjoy it healthily?

The next elections shall be fought on the economy. We refuse to allow BN to use race as the issue in the next elections. We need to increase the incomes of our poor or else they will fall victims to the Ah Longs. For example, Bank Negara’s Annual Report 2010 revealed that Malaysia’s household debt at the end of 2010 was RM581 billion or 76 per cent of GDP, thus giving us the dubious honour of having the second-highest level of household debt in Asia.

In addition, the Malaysian household debt service ratio stood at 47.8 per cent in 2010, meaning that nearly half of the average family’s income goes to repaying debts. As a rule, banks would not lend money to those whose total servicing of loans exceeded one third of their income. In other words, we are spiralling into an indebted nation.

According to the New Economic Model documents, the bottom 40% of Malaysian households are living with a monthly average income of RM1,500 (and three-quarters of them are bumiputera) while 60% of the households (of four persons averagely) live with a less than RM3,000 income, which is near subsistence if one lives in the cities.

These are families living in fear. We will help them live with dignity and not in fear, by increasing their incomes and cutting down their costs, with a minimum wage, getting rid of monopolies, expanding internet connectivity and encouraging creativity, innovation and productivity.

South Korea is a very good example of a nation that chose democracy, performance and freedom of opportunity to become a developed country. With a population of 48 million, its GDP per capita of USD20,000 is more than double Malaysia’s. But in 1970, South Korea’s per capita GDP was only USD260 compared to Malaysia’s USD380 we used to regularly beat South Korea at football. And now our children are fans of K-pop culture and their football team are regulars at the World Cup.

Only when we free ourselves of fear of change, can we be free to prosper. BN cannot change. They need to be changed, for BN wants to rule by fear.

Thomas Jefferson has said “When the governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny”.

The choice is yours, my friends. I urge you – Let us change so we can have liberty and live with dignity.

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 8 July 2012, 10:27 pm and is filed under
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Drinking from the same fountain

— Justin Santiago

The Malaysian Insider

Jul 08, 2012

 JULY 8 — When I was very young I remember looking at a set of pictures of post World War 2 America. The picture that struck me most was a water cooler with two taps on either side. The one on the left said Blacks Only and the one on the other side said Whites Only.

To many parents in Malaysia that picture still exists when their children choose to go for government subsidised pre university education. The non Bumiputeras will be shunted to the left to take the Form Six route and the Bumiputeras will be shunted to right to take the Matriculation route.

From the statement made by Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin there appears to be a difference between the two. There was a perception that matriculation courses were far better than Form Six and that Form Six was viewed as a last resort for getting into tertiary education.

A plan is being put into place to boost the image and perception of Form Six. A “rebranding” exercise would be carried out to boost the perception of Form Six. The syllabus and structure will be revamped. Logistical aspects of centralizing students and strong support systems would be looked into. Students would no longer have to wear the school uniform.

Public policies on education in Malaysia appear to segregate rather than bring Malaysians together. The vernacular education system already divides students into Malay, Chinese and Tamil streams. Now segregation is being fine tuned and tweaked at pre University level. The policies seem to be engineered to keep young minds apart.

A much simpler solution would be to integrate the Form Six and Matriculation systems into one. All Malaysians should study together and to take the same entrance examinations and qualify for university. Why not open up the superior Matriculation system to all Malaysians regardless of racial or religious background? If the Matriculation system was so superior why not offer it to everybody?

What is so wrong with that?

Policies on education should focus on being more inclusive and to allow for greater diversity. A mixture of cultures can produce creative thinking and innovations.

On one hand you have the 1Malaysia slogan but on the other hand the many races of Malaysia can’t enjoy the same standard of education and learn and grow together. This is the reason why the people don’t believe the government anymore.

We need more than just a revamp of the Form Six system. We need a revamp of the way public policies are formulated and implemented. We can’t be drinking from the same water cooler with two separate taps anymore.

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 8 July 2012, 12:33 pm and is filed under
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Playing along with Macom Bhd

Mariam Mokhtar

Malaysiakini

Jul 2, 2012

Every Malaysian has, in their daily activities, had dealings with Macom Bhd., the company which flourished under the tenure of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Even foreign investors have been involved in transactions with Macom. Just in case you’re not aware, Macom stands for ‘Makan Commission’.

At some point in the past, our integrity was compromised. Umno and to a large extent, Mahathir, were responsible. Umno Baru was created to keep the Malays ignorant and stupid (Melayu di perbodohkan), as Mahathir might say.

It is a story which has been told repeatedly. The Malays, under Mahathir, became rich beyond their wildest dreams. In one generation, the Malays and their values were compromised. The non-Malays are not blameless, especially the ones who played along with Macom.

The people who control Macom don’t want things to change. The Malay who prefers to keep quiet and not rock the boat, is preferable to one who makes his government and leaders accountable for their every action.

During Mahathir’s time, it is alleged that one Malay lawyer, who sold a listed company which was owned by an Umno crony, received RM10 million in commission. It is also alleged that bank managers, who earned good money, would resign to become remisiers and make fortunes from insider trading.

In those days, teachers took their responsibilities seriously because they wanted to provide their charges with a sound education. Many helped finance, with their own money, the poor children who could not afford pencils and exercise books. Nowadays, teachers are more interested if the contents of the students’ tuck-boxes, in case they contain haram food that will upset the sensibilities of the “Umno Muslims”.

Today, the Malay is but a shadow of his former self. He brandishes his kris, knows not what he is talking about and is more suited for a role in drama. He champions violence in the name of Malay supremacy.

He talks about the sanctity of the Malay race and Islam, but when he is abroad, he is the devil incarnate. He says nothing about corruption, but gets angry about yoga or the poco-poco dance. He is holier than thou and at the thought of PAS making inroads into any state, the Umno man declares that hudud law is good and that Umno will implement it first. The first cut is the deepest and who in Umno will get the first punishment under hudud, for stealing from the rakyat?

The ‘Chinaman’ who built a textile empire can still be found stitching away, despite his success.

The first to flounder

He does not go out and buy fast cars. When the economic bubble burst, the ‘Chinaman’ scaled down his trade, but the Macom men went out of business. The Macom men were the first to flounder because they did not build their wealth on a bedrock of hard work and perseverance.

Recently, a few people have spoken up against the injustice and wrongdoings of the past.

Former EC chairperson Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman claimed that in the 2008 election, he was criticised for not using indelible ink to stop multiple voting because of security concerns. This prompted Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Abdul Aziz to confess that he had blocked the use of the ink.

Former minister Dr Lim Keng Yaik in an interview with The Edge was cynical about Najib: “I give up lah, talking to this government,” and added, “Politicians who think they can become rich quickly by joining politics should be condemned and kept out of politics and government.”

Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said that the government had paid inflated prices for the procurement of weapons and described it as buying toys for the boys. Meanwhile, former deputy minister Tan Kee Kwong Tan criticised Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for “single-handedly destroying” Felda’s prudent management, siphoning off its wealth and misleading both parliament and the public.

Mohamed Rahmat, the late information minister, admitted that he was more of a ‘propaganda minister’ tasked with toppling the Kelantan PAS government in 1977. Former minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir said that BN used government agencies to court rural votes and resorted to bribery during elections.

Why did they wait until now, to speak up?

Why are there are so few men of character and integrity like student Adam Adli, Professor Aziz Bari and cartoonist Zunar who are prepared to shatter the myth of the comatose Malay and speak up. They faced arrest, persecution and suspension.

Despite being pestered by two Umno datuks behind the cheap publicity stunt involving the cartoonists recently, Zunar (left) rejected his award and RM10,000 prize money.

Ambiga Sreenevasan has risked her life to bring hope and change to Malaysians in the form of clean, free and fair elections. Najib says it is “not our political culture to debate”, then is the sight of Malay men showing off their butts, part of Malay culture?

Many performers who have openly supported the opposition, like Hairie Othman, Aishah, Dayangku Intan and Bob Lokman, have found that they no longer get exposure on RTM or government events. In contrast it is alleged that artists like Jamal Abdillah, Amy Search and Ibnor Riza, are rewarded with RM10,000 each and every time they declare their support for Umno.

Annie Ooi, better known as Auntie Bersih is another of the courageous women of Malaysia. We all remember the picture of her, drenched with chemically laced water in the Bersih 2.0 march. She wants an end to corruption and injustice like another of her fellow Malaysians, Irene Fernandez, who for giving a voice to migrant workers, was charged with sedition.

A few with guts

Even in BN, there are a few with guts. Kian Sit Har, the Malacca MCA Wanita chief, attended the Bersih 3.0 march and declared, “As a responsible citizen, I support two issues highlighted at the gathering, namely eradicating corruption and for the coming general election to be fair and clean.” For this act of treachery, she was told to resign by Ali Rustam, the Malacca Chief Minister.

These men and women are to be commended for they have inspired others with their bravery and their sacrifices.

The culture of fear which Mahathir bred and which Najib has promulgated has encouraged two things; thugs who use violence to get their own way, and people who are too afraid to speak.

How much longer should we tolerate the “cari makan” excuse that these men used, to justify their silence in the past? Perhaps, we should overlook their reasons waiting until now to speak out and encourage more to come out in the open. Umno cannot thrive when all of its secrets are exposed.

——————————————————————————–

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 Sunday, 8 July 2012, 1:20 pm and is filed under
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PR vs BN – future vs the past

(Opening speech by DAP Secretary-General/Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng at the debate with MCA President Datuk Dr. Chua Soi Lek on “DAP & MCA: Whose Policies Benefit the Country More?” at Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre on Sunday, July 8, 2012 at 2.30 pm)

CEO of ASLI Tan Sri Michael Yeoh, my learned opponent, ladies and gentlemen: Salam bersih kepada semua.

Kita berkumpul di sini untuk menentukan dasar parti manakah yang lebih boleh memberi manfaat kepada rakyat Malaysia. Seharusnya, satu perbahasan patut diadakan di antara Perdana Menteri, Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak, dan Ketua Pembangkang, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Malangnya Perdana Menteri enggan berbahas dengan Anwar. Adakah Najib enggan berbahas dengan Anwar kerana beliau bimbang selepas perbahasan, rakyat akan membuat pernilaian bahawa Anwar lebih layak menjadi Perdana Menteri Malaysia?

In fact, MCA is not qualified to be here to discuss about policies because MCA does not decide, it is UMNO that decides. MCA claims to speak only for the Chinese, and yet only the Chinese in the Peninsula, and not the Chinese in Sabah and Sarawak. This is different from the DAP, that wants to speak for all Malaysians. DAP mahu bersuara untuk semua orang Malaysia: Melayu, Cina, India, Kadazan dan Iban, kerana kita semua rakyat Malaysia, bukan macam MCA, yang kononnya mahu mewakili orang Cina sahaja.

Mengapakah mesti kita terus dipecahbelahkan mengikut kaum dan agama? Inilah kejayaan terbesar UMNO. Mereka mahu kita takut satu sama lain supaya BN boleh terus merompak harta dan kekayaan Malaysia. Tengoklah skandal lembu dan kondo. Pak cik yang ternak lembu sepanjang masa tidak dapat pinjaman berjuta-juta ringgit, tapi keluarga menteri yang tak pernah ternak lembu boleh mendapat pinjaman 250 juta ringgit yang disalahgunakan untuk beli kondo pula. Jangan-jangan orang Singapura yang ada banyak kondo nak datang ke Malaysia belajar macam mana ternak lembu di kondo. Skandal PKFZ sebanyak 12.5 bilion ringgit telah melibatkan pemimpin tertinggi MCA tetapi ahli politik yang aktif tidak dibawa ke mahkamah. Semua skandal ini MCA tidak bersuara tetapi sokong buta sahaja. Kedudukan Malaysia telah jatuh dalam persepsi rasuah Transparency International daripada 37 dalam tahun 2003 kepada 60 tahun lepas (2011).

Kita harus bersatupadu sebagai anak Malaysia. Kalau kita terus dipecahbelahkan, hanya kroni-kroni dan orang-orang ataslah yang untung. Kalau kita bersatupadu, baru dapatlah kita semua menikmati hasil kejayaan ekonomi Malaysia.

Mengapakah hanya pemimpin Melayu yang boleh membela hak orang Melayu, hanya pemimpin Cina yang boleh membela hak orang Cina. Tibalah masanya untuk pemimpin-pemimpin membela hak semua rakyat Malaysia dan membantu satu sama lain.

For the last 50 years, we have been consumed by race and religion. For the next 50 years, let us be consumed by the task of improving the economic wellbeing and protecting the civil and political rights of our fellow Malaysians.

We have many problems in our country that need to be addressed. But the biggest problem of all is the problem of corruption that results in abuse of power, low wages and an ever-rising cost of living. BN has never spoken truthfully to the Malaysian people. Let us speak truthfully now. If we can unite as Malaysians and not allow BN & UMNO to divide us, and discuss our problems together, I am convinced that we will succeed in overcoming them.

DAP believes that a clean government can always perform better than a corrupt government. The DAP believes that a clean government requires open competitive tenders, full disclosure of contracts between the government and the private sector, freedom of information and the public declaration of the assets of ministers, prime ministers and chief ministers. Why is it that the Federal Government dare not follow the Penang Government in having public declarations of assets? Is it because BN leaders have too much property to hide?

Kejayaan sebuah kerajaan yang bersih terserlah di kerajaan-kerajaan negeri Pakatan Rakyat. Di Pulau Pinang, kita telah mencatatkan lebihan bajet setiap tahun walaupun perbelanjaan Kerajaan Negeri dinaikkan sebanyak 55%. Kita membuat jalan, longkang, rumah mampu milik dan taman hijau. Berbanding dengan hutang Kerajaan Persekutuan yang naik ke RM480 bilion pada 31 Mac 2012, beban hutang Negeri pula dikurangkan sebanyak 95% daripada RM630 juta kepada RM30 juta, yang merupakan lagi satu rekod dalam sejarah Malaysia. Ini membolehkan wang bantuan diberikan kepada warga emas, ibu-bapa dan pelajar-pelajar sekolah dan IPTA, ibutunggal dan OKU. Semua sekolah pelbagai aliran diberikan peruntukan setiap tahun, dan bukan lima tahun sekali atau lima puluh tahun sekali, seperti BR1M RM500, yang menimbulkan soalan macam mana seorang datuk MCA dari Pahang pun boleh menerima RM500 yang diberikan kepada keluarga susah. Pulau Pinang merupakan negeri pertama di Malaysia yang menghapuskan kemiskinan tegar dan kita akan menjadi negeri pertama yang menghapuskan kemiskinan sama sekali menjelang 2015. Pulau Pinang juga merupakan negeri pertama yang memberikan WiFi percuma kepada rakyat di tempat-tempat awam di Pulau Pinang.

Ada mereka yang telah mengatakan bahawa sekiranya Pakatan Rakyat melaksanakan tender terbuka, maka orang Melayu akan rugi. Tetapi di Pulau Pinang di bawah kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat, 70% daripada tender-tender terbuka telah dimenangi oleh kontraktor Melayu yang berkeupayaan. Ini membuktikan bahawa kontraktor Melayu memang berdaya saing. Sebenarnya, yang tidak berguna hanyalah kontraktor dan kroni UMNO.

The DAP believes that the policies of our party and Pakatan Rakyat represent the future for our children, whereas the policies of the MCA and BN represent the past. No longer can we accept the culture of corruption and cronyism. Let us take our rights back from the BN cronies by abolishing the N-S Highway tolls and removing subsidies to the independent power producers. No longer can we accept the abuse of power that has led to Malaysians dying in custody, as happened to Teoh Beng Hock, Ahmad Sarbani and A Kugan. We must set up the IPCMC (Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission) to stop such abuses and custodial deaths. No longer can we allow our womenfolk to walk the streets and park their cars in fear. We should put policemen on patrol instead of monitoring Pakatan Rakyat politicians. No longer can we accept a policy of putting profits before the people’s health. Let us close down the Lynas rare earth plant in Kuantan and stop the building of nuclear reactors proposed by BN.

No longer should Sabahans be strangers in their own land with illegal immigrants getting citizenship. Let us have a royal commission of enquiry to weed out these illegal citizens. No longer should Sabahans and Sarawakians be denied the right to their natural resources by being given royalties of only 5%. We must increase it to 20% as their rightful share. No longer should vernacular schools be marginalised. We have a right to adequate funding for mother-tongue education. No longer can we accept a slow broadband service, let us have proper broadband and free wifi in public places.

No longer can we accept the cynical manipulation and division of the people of Malaysia by race and religion when we should be united by common principles of justice, freedom and democracy. Let us ensure that a minority Malaysian such as Bersih co-chairman Dato’ Ambiga Sreenivasan is not hounded and persecuted because she is an Indian, a Hindu and a woman.

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 8 July 2012, 2:56 pm and is filed under
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The difference between Pakatan and BN

 — Jaleel Hameed

The Malaysian Insider

Jul 08, 2012

JULY 8 — In terms of scale, the Talam Corporation Bhd debt settlement pales in comparison with the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) and Scorpene submarine cases.

The mainstream newspapers have been going at great guns with the so-called TalamCorp scandal. Understandbly because they are partial to the Barisan Nasional (BN) government. As for the alternative media, the reverse is true as some are partial to BN’s political foes, the Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

Yet, there’s a marked difference between PR and BN which can be seen by how each one has serious allegations of corruption and mismanagement and their respective reaction to the claims.

In the TalamCorp case, PR leaders are prepared to have a White Paper on the matter although it is puzzling why there has not been one since the case came up in 2010.

And PR MPs such as Tony Pua and Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad and even Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim are all willing to lift the veil of corporate secrecy and explain the numbers to the public. After all, it involves public institutions and funds from the time the deal was struck when Selangor was under BN rule.

Transparency is key to all this.

But how about the the other side. The PKFZ case took years after the Auditor-General and several journalists raised alarm bells. Even today. the federal government is paying money which should not be paid until the entire case is settled. What do you say, Mr Prime Minister, sir. Or Dr Chua Soi Lek or Chua Tee Yong? What do you say, sirs?

Or the Scorpene allegations and claims of the sale of state secrets. All we have is bare denial and some mumbo-jumbo from Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi that nothing happened. Well, ask the French if nothing happened. They have a full-scale inquiry going on about that and we do the Gallic shrug, sir? Really?

Absolute silence seems to be the norm from the BN side. Way back during the Carrian and BMf saga, silence was also the standard operating procedure for BN.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out how each side views such allegations or are prepared to come clean, admit faults and repair the damage. Is it too much to admit faults, sirs?

In the final analysis it seems is that: one coalition is quite prepared to be put under scrutiny and another coalition has something to hide. You know, sirs, that would be a great consideration when I do vote in the next general election.

I can’t speak for all Malaysians but I want an honest government, not one that runs down their foes but have a lot of dirt under the carpet.

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 8 July 2012, 12:23 pm and is filed under
Corruption
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Pakatan Rakyat
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